Product Description
Visual note-taking relies on paring down thoughts to key words and pictures. This introduction to this technique illustrates how relationships among various concepts are highlighted and more information can be recorded on a page. This helpful tool can be used for personal self-expression, curriculum planning, group processes, and as a teaching strategy in daily lessons. Beginners are introduced to stroke-by-stroke exercises in drawing simple iconic figures that can be incorporated into one's mindscapes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

A great way to teach
I just taught a university course and wished I had read this before I planned out my lectures.What a great tool for students to take notes.I found that even at the university level students are not good at learning while they take notes--they want the easy way out and just have the powerpoint slides to review.This method of teaching would go beyond just bulleting information.I would love to take a course in this method.My only difficulty is how to teach this way in a large classroom setting.The simplest way would be use an overhead projector, but I think an opague projector would be better--even better would be to combine powerpoint and this method.How to do this?I would also like training in how to use this method to illustrate information for illiterate populations in the developing world.Great book!

Excellent overview of mindmapping
Mapping Inner Space is the first mindmapping book that I have purchased.There are many examples of mindmapping and many how-to guides on-line, but since mindmapping is most effective as a paper- or whiteboard-based process, having an actual book is helpful.Almost every left page has written text and the right page features mindmaps that illustrate the concepts discussed in the text or provide examples.There are color examples throughout the books.The mindmaps vary in quality, so you can see how complicated maps might look and also how quickly-drawn maps might appear.The application chapter covers many applications from using mapping as a daily and weekly planning process to problem-solving to sketching out your resume.There is also a chapter on creating your own symbols, again with several examples ranging from simple to complicated.In the short time I have had the book I have already used the visual mindmapping process to help memorize content.

Fun introduction to Mind Mapping
I love this book. It's very straight forward and makes for a really quick read. Theory and discussion are written on the left pages, while the right side contains full size, wonderfully hand drawn, mind maps featuring some topic or style or technique that is discussed next to it. The book is broken down contextually by chapters. First it teaches readers the basics, then it gets into a few good uses for maps, followed by teaching you how to build a personal symbology. The rest of the book discusses techniques and uses for mapping in educational environments, an adult's personal life and professional businesses. It also includes an extensive bibliography and resource listing.

An Excellent Resource for Teachers
As a teacher, I found this book invaluable. It offers numerous nontraditional and visual ways of presenting data, and can be used in any academic subject.

Nancy Margulies shows her creativity in other ways. She presents her ideas themselves in map form, and even suggests nontraditional resumes that summarize one's qualification in terms of maps. She includes simple sketches that can be used in maps, and these sketches, according to her, do not require artistic talent to draw.

Margulies stresses the fact that there is no right or wrong way to present information in these maps. And, of course, one has to practice mapping ideas in order to become comfortable doing so.

Who has the time?
I bought this book based on the 10 positive reviews it received.Unfortunately, my money would have been best spent on a Tony Buzan book.MAPPING INNER SPACE has serious downfalls.Mainly, all the mindmaps in the book are rich in color with excellent drawn pictures...how could I even attempt to duplicate this?Though the author states several times that drawing perfectly isn't required, her own examples demonstrate that her drawing skills are very superior.Also, the use of different colors made her mind maps frameable...how would have time during a meeting to draw such elaborate pictures?I would highly recommend that you buy one of Tony Buzan's earlier books on this subject...you won't feel so intimidated when you read them. ... Read more

Product Description
With a fresh approach and an A-list group of contributing artists, Creative Time and Space embraces the idea that making time and space is at the core of creativity. It is not just about managing your time or setting up a studio space, it is about your mindset and about making room in your life for your craft. Enjoy active sidebars alongside photos of the work and workspaces of the featured artists, as they speak with refreshing candor about how they carve out creative time and space in their own lives. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

excellent, practical, useful information for artists just starting out
This is a fabulous book for either artists who are just starting out or people who want to incorporate a daily creative practice into their every day routine. There are NO projects in this book, instead, this is more of a "owner's manual" for making time and space for more art in our lives.

Rice (pronounced "Lisa") Freeman-Zachery covers all the topics that are important to those wanting to add more time/space for art in their life- issues of time (how to make time, how to "wrangle" time, how to use the time you have- even if it's tiny), issues of space (big or small or out of a backpack, there are tips and inspiration for all of us), issues of "play" vs. "work" in art (which was most useful to me).

Along the way, there are lots of bits on information, tidbits, and suggestions from many working artists, and the book prominently features their artwork on every page. I do like the format of Freeman-Zachary's books, but I have to admit, when I was 3/4ths of the way through, I was wishing the book had more of a "traditional" layout. The book is sort of a scrapbook of images, text, and small "asides" with information and a lot of the time I lost my place (and focus) in the book because I started studying an artwork or reading something in one of the small boxes that are randomly placed right in the middle of a block of text. It's awfully nice to look through, but reading straight through is a bit of a challenge.

My other criticism is that it didn't quite cover time management in the way I was hoping it would, which is absolutely not the book's fault. I was hoping for examples of different artists' working schedules (an idea of how much time they spend "working" vs. how much time they spend "experimenting", examples of a typical schedule of a day spent in the studio, etc.)and these are not really covered. For those of you looking for firm guidance on time management in the art studio, this isn't the book.

While this book will not change your life, and probably won't be useful to more established artists who already have a studio and dedicated time for their art, for those of us starting out, it's a great guide. I highly recommend it.

Mind space for art, physical space for the finances of art.
Draw icons for a grocery list, organize all art tools within arm's length of your work chair, make space for the business of art (banking, shipping, email) separate from art-making work space, turn computer on only every other day (dedicate brain space for creativity instead of surfing your imagination away), schedule an appointment with your imagination in your desk diary.

With only a single life to live, decide to become an artist by living each moment with inspiration. Reserve sleep for artistic dreams. Journal about what you want to enter your life, sleep on your wish.

Rice Freeman-Zachery's Creative Time and Space interviews real working artists who make their living by art. Practical suggestions focus on the limited time working artists have to actually create, since so much time is spent traveling to shows, manning their booth, setting up, mailing art to customers, leading workshops, writing books. The most helpful suggestions relate to editing out from your physical and mental space what isn't useful to your being as an artist Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things, and assigning space and time to the finances of art.

If you are serious about making a living making art Creative Time and Space is a useful, realistic guide to the process. Also see Lynne Perrella'sArt Making & Studio Spaces: Unleash Your Inner Artist: An Intimate Look at 31 Creative Work Spaces

Inspired artist
No one can tell you how to be creative but you can get so many new ideas from reading how others are creative.Time is always a factor when it comes to when to make your art and how to carve out time to do what you love.Each artist explains in their own words how they handle the challenges and pitfalls that may hinder creativity.

I read the book a chapter at a time and go back and read bits and pieces when I want new ideas. The blend of artist work,space and ideas is the perfect jumping off point for any artist no matter what stage you are at.

Nurture Your (Creative) Spirit!
This is just what the doctor ordered! Almost more so for women, as we are raised from tiny girls,to be selfless. Now, I am not saying it is not important to work, tidy your home, and care for love ones,but when is it our time? Somewhere around 11:30 p.m.? It doesn't matter what "art form" you pursue, just DO IT, as Ms. Zachary encourages! It is so easy to get caught up tending to everyone and everything else, that we forget to even breathe,let alone create something beautiful! This lovely-to-look-at book will help you in a sweet, kind, and gentle way.It will make you get down to the nitty gritty, and re-evaluate your time.It will offer hints as to how to carve out those precious minutes/hours to be alone, and soak in the solitude, and create! I was recently thinking about this topic,when I stumbled across this book (Karma?!),and flipped through it.It really hit home! Now, I am mentally taking notes on how I can make time for creativity each day. Even if it is 20 min. to scribble in my journal! Art, to me, is a form of self-care, and as you know, when we neglect our self-care, we become sad, irritated, angry....you name it! Get this book....You will love it! So glad I bought it! Now, to stick to it!

Practical advice on making time for your art
I was reading an interview on Empty Easel (an art promotion website) with Rice Freeman-Zachery and it prompted me to buy her book: Creative Time and Space. Visually, the book does a fabulous job of showcasing the featured artists' work. As for the content, I found myself wanting more.

The author, Rice Freeman-Zachery, weaves her own thoughts amid the mish-mash of anecdotal references by the featured artists on the various chapter topics:

1. Exploring Time
2. Making Time
3. Corralling Time
4. Stuck in Time
5. Jumpstarting Time
6. Mental Space
7. Soul Space
8. Real Space
9. Creative Habits
10. Taking It on the Road

The book is for those who are struggling with "making room for making art." Rice includes little exercises in the form of "Try This" boxes to help you explore your own ideas about why you are where you are artistically and how to jump-start your passion for your art to get your back on track.

There is so much about this book that I wanted to like but much of it I had heard before. Surely, there is quite a bit here that is grounded in practicality, which just goes to show you why the reviews on Amazon were all positive. The author's style is very warm and engaging. You cannot help but feel her passion and desire to motivate you.

However, what disappointed me was the fact that the Empty Easel interview more clearly addressed what I needed to hear than the 171-page book. I expect an article that references a book to whet my appetite for the full-course meal that the book will provide me when I read it.

My Top 10 From Creative Time and Space

1. Take a notebook/sketchbook with you everywhere. As Freeman-Zachery puts it so well, "Writing down ideas reinforces the value of creative thinking and encourages your brain to spend more time in creative mode."
2. Set studio boundaries so my creative time is seen as important to me (and others)
3. Cut down on Web surfing and devote my time to painting
4. Stop (or severely cut back on) watching TV since it easily and needlessly sucks up my evenings
5. Consider implementing a schedule for myself (some of the featured artists' schedules encouraged me, others were overwhelming)
6. Write out my goals (both short-term and long-term)
7. Make a studio-efficiency list as I work that could make my next studio experience more enjoyable
8. Make a list of things that inspire me and when a rut hits, revisit it
9. Make a list of what attracts me and/or scares me about my art; then take steps to work through that list
10. Use my head-space as well as my studio space to infuse both thoughtful and spontaneous creativity throughout as much of my day as possible

You'll notice in my list, time management plays a key role (see #2-7 above). In fact, that is really the crux of the matter and so the first half of the book is devoted to giving the reader strategies.

Rice (and a few of her featured artists) strongly recommends journaling. I have not made time for this and haven't felt it to be a detriment. Who knows, you may find it essential. There were other pieces of advice throughout the book but I just didn't find them compelling. They seemed more fluffy than substantial. Of course, we are all individuals and such little bits of esoterica may inspire you towards productivity.

The chapter on your studio---Real Space---was probably one of my favorites because I loved hearing about the variety of places these professionals did their work. I found it very encouraging since I just cleaned out a small space in our bedroom to work.

Well, that's my take on Rice Freeman-Zachery's Creative Time and Space. I can't say I would definitely purchase this book again BUT I would have taken it out of the library and documented what I found that was practical.

I would have given this book 3 1/2 stars but that's not an option here, so the artist's enthusiasm for her topic earns her an extra 1/2 a star. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Terrific book
God Space is a terrific book. An easy read with real-life tangible examples of how to share your faith in a sincere, non-threatening, natural way. Great read!

Fresh Look At Witnessing for Christ!
This book offers fresh insights to sharing God's love, through Jesus, to a hurting world!If you have a heart for a hurting world this book will be a great asset!

God Space
I absolutely love this book! Doug has successfully accomplished relaying how to create a safe and caring space for us to reach out and offer non-judgmental friendship.
As I read through, I found that I was actually picturing his true life scenarios in my mind like watching a movie. Doug's life coaching skills and insight are right on target.I especially enjoy his writing style, he has simplified how we can use life coaching skills to help others want to take steps towards their salvation without turning them further away.
Ruth Beals
Health & Wellness Director/Wellness Coach
Countryside YMCA

Insightful, Challeging and Extremely Practical
Doug Pollock does an excellent job of looking at talking about spiritual matters from a holistic perspective.He doesn't just focus on sharing the gospel, instead he deals with everything from engaging someone who is far from God to others who might be very open to discussing faith issues.In addition, the book is full of practical suggestions anyone can begin using right away.I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in as Doug says, "increasing the quality and quantity of their spiritual conversations."

Take Your Ministry to a New Level
Off the charts.God Space will open your eyes to the real ministry opportunity that so many of us miss.It's so practical.This is a weekend read and it will change your view on how to minister to others, how to meet them where they are at in life, but more importantly to see them as Jesus sees them.Doug Pollock uses very easy to understand life examples of what he shares.This would be a great book for your church staff to read and put into play.Read it, discuss it, live it.Thanks Doug for giving me 20/20 vision.Chris@lifehousesa.com ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

Low-Cost Priceless Guide Worth Hundreds of Thousands
It's been my pleasure to know the author of this book ever since he hunted me down after my review of Wave Rider: Leadership for High Performance in a Self-Organizing World, and I have also had the benefit of being a participant in a number of Open Space sessions run by, among others, Peggy Holman, author of Engaging Emergence: Turning Upheaval into Opportunity and the older The Change Handbook: The Definitive Resource on Today's Best Methods for Engaging Whole Systems.

I cannot over-state the value of this book to anyone who has a complex and expensive problem but cannot afford to get the author there personally.While the book is no substitute for the genius, the intuition, the experience, and the sheer "quiet energy" that the author can bring to any endeavor, it is not just a starting point, it is more than enough to get you through your first self-organized event, and the results are sure to astonish as well as excite about the potential benefits of having the author lead the next session.

Here is how it works in a nut-shell, and I put this into the review because I am not happy with the minimalist marketing information the publisher has provided but happy that Look Inside the Book is activated--use that feature!

1)Everyone who cares is invited to a meeting in a space large enough to accommodate the group.Many events will charge a fee to cover the space, the food, and the travel costs of the facilitators, some event can be free especially if internal.HOWEVER, the diversity of who is invited (i.e. including outsiders, clients, journalists, the lowest ranking maintenance people), THIS MATTERS.

2)The outcome of the meeting is stated at the beginning.At lunch this week Harrison talked about one meeting focused on reinventing an aircraft door, something that would normally take years and hundreds of thousands of dollars if not millions.A group under his direction did it in two and a half days, and the humble tarmac guy responsible for actually turning the handle from the outside to open the door make a key contribution.

3)Everyone can propose a topic for discussion.Smaller meetings can have the topic read before posting, otherwise they are all posted for viewing over the self-organizing period where people sign up for the topics they want to join in discussing.

4)Spread over a day or more, the topics take place, and the topic proponents take notes and either keep a wiki updated or submit a final report, but these days, not only isthe wiki kept "live," but people can participate from all over the world.

5)Out of all of this comes another session in which the outcomes of the individual meetings are separated into do now, next step needed, or dismiss for now.From that comes both an action plan and personal commitments of, by, and for the group to get 'r done.

There are a few other techniques that work, such as World Cafe or Dynamic Facilitation of Citizen Wisdom Councils, see links below, but I have to say that in the ten years I have been embraced by this community and adopted it as my own toward the goal of creating a World Brain and Global Brain, Harrison's conceptualization remains for me the easiest to understand, the easiest to implement, and the most powerful in terms of outcomes from within--We are the power, We are the collective intelligence, We are the best possible synthesizers, aggregators, evaluators, and "deciders" of what will work best for We.

Among the handful of books I would recommend in addition to this one
Society's Breakthrough!: Releasing Essential Wisdom and Virtue in All the People
The Tao of Democracy: Using Co-Intelligence to Create a World that Works for All
Reflections on Evolutionary Activism: Essays, poems and prayers from an emerging field of sacred social change
The World Cafe: Shaping Our Futures Through Conversations That Matter
Emergence: The Shift from Ego to Essence
Conscious Evolution: Awakening Our Social Potential
Collective Intelligence: Creating a Prosperous World at Peace

Cell phones--and especially SMS--and the Internet--and especially back office aggregations and mapping of SMS or Twitter--have made the revolution that man could not complete without a digital noospere such as envisioned by Pierre Tielhard de Chardin.The World Brain or Global Brain is in its infancy, but it now exists in a manner completely separated from, autonomous from, governments and organizations.The "We" in back into humanity, and the year 2012 will in my opinion be the year of the great convergence and emergence.

Creating Space for Dialogue and Action
How many conferences or seminars have you been to where the most stimulating parts were the coffee break discussions between sessions? Harrison Owen, the originator of Open Space Technology, designed a strategy to power the whole event with the passion and energy of coffee break discussions.

Open Space is a facilitation strategy that enables groups of 5 to 2000 to create their own agenda and self-organize to dialogue about the important issues of large complex theme. The event participants are invited to identify issues or challenges related to the larger theme that they have real passion for and for which they are willing to take responsibility. With this self-organized agenda, participants move into groups to work on literally dozens of issues in a safe, open environment. This collaboration turns into greater understanding, innovation, and action.

Open Space has been used in business, government, and the social sector in 134 different countries over the past 20 years. The beauty of Open Space is the simplicity of how it functions and results in engaging all participants with a voice in what they are passionate about and willing to work on. The philosophical roots of empowerment and self-organization in Open Space will be refreshing to those tired of a command and control style meeting.

This book is a complete guide to what Open Space is, how to determine if this approach is appropriate for your event, and details on how to successfully facilitate an Open Space event. The book is very engaging and readable. I'm new to Open Space so I wanted details, but I also wanted it quickly so I could understand the flow of the process.

After reading this book I'm ready to dive in and try Open Space myself.

Action from Chaos
For some time I've been interested in how to effectively tackle complex problems.While I've picked up and learnt techniques and approaches myself over the last few years,it was great to find a 'Complex Problem Solving 101' text.I wouldn't go as far as to say this is a definitive text, but for anyone who wants to learn the principles and basics, this is a great place to start.

A highly recommended book for both personal and community library business collections
Organizing meetings can be a bit of an arduous task when the amount of participants reaches nearly two thousand. "Open Space Technology: A User's Guide" introduces a new concept for businesses to follow known as open space technology, where groups can self-organize in a short amount of time. To implement the technique into one's business, "Open Space Technology" lays out a step by step guide including all the resources one needs to get ideas off the ground. The third edition features a survey of open space technology's current usage around the world and an updated list of resources. A highly recommended book for both personal and community library business collections. ... Read more

Product Description
-->> ON SALE THROUGH NOVEMBER - only 99 cents! <<--

Space Junque, a novella.

Edited by USA Today bestselling author Anne Frasier/Theresa Weir

A paranormal space opera romance.

Char Meadowlark accepts an invitation to visit the Imperial Space Station from Mike Augustine, her dead sister's fiancé. While she's in orbit eco-terrorists start a planet-wide war.

Stranded above the earth, Char and Mike are thrown together. He wants more from her than friendship, but she can't stop thinking about Jake, the man who saved her life.

Jake Ardri is the bastard son of the Emperor's favorite courtesan. He hates politics and keeps to himself, running the rich and powerful to off-planet vacations in his shuttle, the Space Junque. When Mike Augustine asks for yet another favor, Jake thinks nothing of it -- just see that Mike's friend gets off planet safely. Jake doesn't expect to fall so hard and fast for the privileged "blue-carder" he finds in his Junque.

But is love even possible in flagrante apocalypto? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Super intense story
This novella starts out in the middle of the action and doesn't quit until the very end. It's a short read, but a very good one. The writing is very smooth and engaging and the constant action kept me reading until I finished it in one sitting. I will definitely be reading more from this author!

A good balance of genres, readable by many
Definitely a fast read, and a fast paced story. The characters are thrown into panic at the beginning and the pace continues throughout it. I found that this worked well for this story.

It didn't remain in simple space opera, which increased how much I liked the story, but had enough space opera for a strict sci-fi fan. Similarly there is enough romance for a romance fan, but not too much for someone who generally dislikes romance books such as myself. The balance for those who like space operas, more creative sci fi, romance, and general post-apocalyptic how to humans react, is very well done. I was not expecting for it to seem enjoyable to so many varying tastes when I started it, but that's the feel I got from it.

Enjoyable, fast, and wraps up the story enough to stand on its own while also giving enough to have a sequel (which is coming), this novella was better than I expected and even if it had only met my expectations, would have been worth the money I spent.

In for a wild ride
I've just finished Space Junque (Afterworld).I met LK Rigel over at The Spinning Wheel: An Old Fashioned Cafe & Book Store discussion group.After her reading, I decided I wanted to try this book, which is somewhat out of my box.Hold on to your seat! It takes of with a bang, but ends way too soon.It's setting is space, with earth in an apocalyptic tailspin.It's got romance, sex, adventure, friends, enemies & more.My only complaint is it ends too soon, but Bleeder, the next book coming is promised to be longer and will include some of the SJ cast.

Wow!Great world - this is going to be a romance series worth following.
There are a few paranormal romance series that I follow - Dark-Hunters, Dirk & Steele, Meljean Brook's Guardian, Nalini Singh's Psi-Changeling, to name a few.I think I just added another to my list.The world of Space Junque is futuristic in a very realistic way, but there are some paranormal aspects to it so I'd definitely put it in the paranormal romance category.The Hero, Jake, and Heroine, Char, are very likable and engaging.Their romance, though it happens quickly, is very believable.Rigel does a deft job of giving you a great romance while also doing her world-building and laying the foundation for the series.

Based on Space Junque, I can't wait for Bleeder.If you like paranormal romance, try this book - the only thing you might regret is having another series to follow ;-)

I want more!
I'm not a gusher when it comes to books.. but, I loved this book! I was left at the end looking for the next book in the series IMMEDIATELTY! Do you hear that LK Rigel? I rarely feel a desperate need to read the next book in a series, but I want your next book NOW! ... Read more

Product Description

Winning by Not Competing: A Fresh Approach to Strategy

Since the dawn of the industrial age, companies have engaged in head-to-head competition in search of sustained, profitable growth. They have fought for competitive advantage, battled over market share, and struggled for differentiation. Yet these hallmarks of competitive strategy are not the way to create profitable growth in the future.

In a book that challenges everything you thought you knew about the requirements for strategic success, W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne argue that cutthroat competition results in nothing but a bloody red ocean of rivals fighting over a shrinking profit pool. Based on a study of 150 strategic moves spanning more than a hundred years and thirty industries, the authors argue that lasting success comes not from battling competitors, but from creating "blue oceans": untapped new market spaces ripe for growth. Such strategic moves-which the authors call "value innovation"- create powerful leaps in value that often render rivals obsolete for more than a decade.

Blue Ocean Strategy presents a systematic approach to making the competition irrelevant and outlines principles and tools any company can use to create and capture blue oceans. A landmark work that upends traditional thinking about strategy, this book charts a bold new path to winning the future.

W. Chan Kim is the Boston Consulting Group Bruce D. Henderson Chair Professor of Strategy and International Management at INSEAD. Renée Mauborgne is the INSEAD Distinguished Fellow and Professor of Strategy and Management.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (226)

Change your mind about what matters in your business
This book does a great job of showing you how many well known companies that have gotten rid of what doesn't matter and focused on what does matter to the customer, and how you can do the same. At the end of the day, that's all that really matters.

Most business owners make the mistake of doing what they think is important, when they should be doing what their customers think is important.

I highly recommend this book for any entrepreneur in any industry.

A highschool book
The good news:
The book is not wrong. It is indeed a positive to find/create a market that is no contested.

The bad news:
It doesn't tell you how to create and sustain one.

The veredict:
A good book to give to highschool students, this might be "news" to them. But if you are more advanced in your career this is defo trivial stuff.

BLUE OCEAN STRATEGY
The book I purchased was supposed to be new, but it was not new and had highlighting in it which means someone else used the book.I have written twice complaining to the seller and Amazon that I want a used sales price and to be reimbursed the difference, but nobody has responded.This is very poor customer service!!!
Barbara Rose 301-890-0279

good book at the conceptual level
Good book at the conceptual level.The main idea is to identify new market where no competetion exists and establish your company.I find the book to be more inspiring than practical.The frameworks used are not original and I found them very academic.

A practical and powerful way to define your "secret sauce"
Kim and Mauborgne's approach to strategy is refreshing. Instead of measuring yourself against the competition, measure how much value you can create for your customers. The book is in three parts, first describing what is a "Blue Ocean Strategy", then how to define it for your business, and concluding with how to implement it. The second part of the book is what impressed me the most: the step-by-step process of zeroing in on what I call your "secret sauce", the specific elements of the value you bring to your clients that set you apart from everyone else. It is the best book that I've read so far that lays out a logical and demonstratable process to identify this. The authors provide many real-life examples to illustrate each aspect of the process. The third part of the book, on overcoming internal barriers to implementing the BOS in an organization, lays out the pitfalls that await a change leader, along with tactics to overcome them. I would have liked the examples to be a bit more varied for this third part.

Full of practical and real-life examples, the authors have convinced me of the power of this approach to business excellence. Now all I have to do is to get my colleagues and my clients to agree to the process, too...

This book was surprisingly quick for me to read despite the depth of the subject. Highly recommended both for startups and for existing SMEs who want to become the go-to provider in their field. ... Read more

Product Description
The study of human body measurements on a comparative basis is known as anthropometrics. Its applicability to the design process is seen in the physical fit, or interface, between the human body and the various components of interior space.

Human Dimension and Interior Space is the first major anthropometrically based reference book of design standards for use by all those involved with the physical planning and detailing of interiors, including interior designers, architects, furniture designers, builders, industrial designers, and students of design. The use of anthropometric data, although no substitute for good design or sound professional judgment should be viewed as one of the many tools required in the design process. This comprehensive overview of anthropometrics consists of three parts.

The first part deals with the theory and application of anthropometrics and includes a special section dealing with physically disabled and elderly people. It provides the designer with the fundamentals of anthropometrics and a basic understanding of how interior design standards are established. The second part contains easy-to-read, illustrated anthropometric tables, which provide the most current data available on human body size, organized by age and percentile groupings. Also included is data relative to the range of joint motion and body sizes of children. The third part contains hundreds of dimensioned drawings, illustrating in plan and section the proper anthropometrically based relationship between user and space. The types of spaces range from residential and commercial to recreational and institutional, and all dimensions include metric conversions.

In the Epilogue, the authors challenge the interior design profession, the building industry, and the furniture manufacturer to seriously explore the problem of adjustability in design. They expose the fallacy of designing to accommodate the so-called average man, who, in fact, does not exist. Using government data, including studies prepared by Dr. Howard Stoudt, Dr. Albert Damon, and Dr. Ross McFarland, formerly of the Harvard School of Public Health, and Jean Roberts of the U.S. Public Health Service, Panero and Zelnik have devised a system of interior design reference standards, easily understood through a series of charts and situation drawings. With Human Dimension and Interior Space, these standards are now accessible to all designers of interior environments. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Good buy
I didn't actually see the book.I bought it for my daughter who is in college and had it sent directly to her, but she said it was great!It was a good buy!

Not the best, but worthwhile none the less
I bought this book for school.It's redundant and some portions don't make much sense.But anyone trying to design a space that is functional and takes human size and shape into account should take a look at this book.

Human Dimension/content review
Ideal for the Architect, Interior Designer, Furniture Maker and Cabinet Maker.
This book is a valuable resource to those that produce items for direct interface with human beings.It covers almost every type of human interaction that might need to be considered for the vast majority of common applications, as well as the direct human measurements that would need to be considered for the application. Measurement tables are well laid out and easy to use after a brief familiarization period, and the suggestions given for most applications is explained well enough that one can, with relative ease, apply the information to situations that may not be explicitly covered in the text of the book.
Measurements are given in both Metric and Imperial systems.
Diagrams are helpful for understanding the reasoning behind each measurement suggested.
If you need a general reference for direct human measurement and interaction with other people and objects, I would recommend this book.

a must have!
I am currently in design school and I will say that this is one book you will reference all the time and should be in everyone's library!

Very Helpful
As a new designer, I find this book very helpful and intriguing.It goes through the basic standards of human dimensions separating each chapter into antrhopometric dynamics and functions.Currently I'm in the Seating Measurement section and I had no idea about the amount of calculations involved in the act of sitting.Though this book was written in the 1970's, the information inside this book is still relevant for today.It's easy to grasp and it has many diagrams, tables, and figures to visually explain the content.Well organized book; very researched. ... Read more

Product Description
In Lost in Space, a convincing case is made that the book'sreader is part of a "most awesome adventure" into realms previouslyunknown, and that due to the extremely intense nature of this quest,they've momentarily forgotten where they've come from, and even, whothey really are.

This amazing little book reveals the origins ofspace, time, miracles and more... Lighthearted yet philosophical, thisstory challenges its readers to re-think the very meaning of theirlife!

Sure to be a classic among those in search of the truth! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Wonderful Tale
Michael Dooley deftly and succinctly explains the story of our creation. Included are a few gems, such as "Everything is God," "there is only being," and "you are perfect."

Too many authors get caught up in verbiage when the "truth" is so simple.

Gems of wisdom
This little book contains gems of wisdom, which may seem to be delivered with tongue in cheek, but presents valuable insights into the how and why of our existence, in a very easy to read and understand format. I highly recommend it.

That's how you can see it
This small book gives another way to look at life. It's a really nice, philosophical, quick read.

book
Love Mike Dooley, his words and inspirations are excellent.I read one every day to put me in a better place.

Daughert Loved It
Got it for my daughter and she loved it read the whole book in one sitting. ... Read more

Product Description
The fascinating world of space is vividly presented to young children here in a combination of remarkable images and simple everyday language. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great First Encyclopedia for Space!
This book provides information that kids love and is great for ESOL students.My students often have a hard time getting information from a source they can actually read.These books help.I'm sure younger readers love them too.

Usborne Books are the best!
I love Usborne Books.I am hoping to someday own every one of them.They are great and they are truly helping my kids learn better and faster.

They are great books and I highly reccommend them, no matter where you get them.

Thank you so much.
... Read more

Product Description
Captain Invincible and his intrepid space-dog, Comet, are on a perilous journey back to Earth!

Customer Reviews (4)

Perfect!
1. I love the book, it's a great way to introduce 3D shapes.
2. The shipping arrived on-time.
3. I had no problems with the seller or the product! Thank you.

Sneaks in the geometry
For your little reader, this is a comic book about a little boy space hero, up past his bedtime.For moms and dads, this book introduces 3-D geometric shapes (spheres, cylinders, etc) and launches you into finding similar shapes around the house.

Contrived introduction of shapes in an unentertaining story.
3-dimensional shapes are named and described in a story about a boy and his dog pretending to be on a space adventure but their use in the story is very contrived. Example: when they go thru a meteor shower, they use the cube since "The radar beams from our directional cube will help us find a path to safety. Good thing the 6 square faces of the cube are working properly."About all you can expect from this book is a picture of 6 3-D objects and their names - not related in any way to where they really occur in the real world.I think my 5 year old, who likes space stuff was about as bored as I was.

Super book!
Set in a comic book format, this book has been a favorite of my 4 year old son since we bought it.A very simple book, and very appropriate for preschoolers. The writing is a little lame at one point, but my son doesn't care and thoroughly enjoys this book ( and he's learned some simple math concepts without realizing he's been taught). ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (43)

Dream Sewing Spaces
This is a wonderful book. Eye candy for anyone dreaming of putting together a sewing space.

Dream Sewing Spaces
This book has lots of pictures and really good information on storage for craft items. I was hoping it would have had more ideas for actual layout of rooms, and overall storage. I will get a lot of use out of it becuase of all the pictures.

Dream Sewing Spaces, Design & Organization
I really like this book.I haven't had time to go through the whole book yet, but what I have seen has excited me.It has a lot of good ideas for storage and organization.Since I am in the process of switching my sewing room from a very small room to my larger guest room, I will be using this book frequently for reference.I do alterations at home, so the section on Secondary Centers was very interesting and informative.Thank you Lynette Ranney Black!

Fix that mess
I love this book!I am embarking upon the project I've been wating for,redoing my sewing room. I have the time, themoney, the ideas but needed some guidance to put it all together.The lay outs in the book range from closet size to true studios.I fall somewhere in between.Hubby is a professional carpenter but needed to see what I need, not what he itches to build.This book could just save our marriage during the renovation.It is a wonderful source of infotrmation and inspiration.Thumbs up!

A Book to Feed Your Dreams
I'm in the planning stage for turning a small home office into a sewing room.This book contains both layout ideas and guidelines for determining appropriate heights for sewing, cutting, and pressing areas based on personal measurements.After looking for some time, I don't believe there's a better resource available to get you dreaming and designing! ... Read more

Product Description
Books on container gardening have been wildly popular with urban and suburban readers, but until now, there has been no comprehensive "how-to" guide for growing fresh food in the absence of open land. Fresh Food from Small Spaces fills the gap as a practical, comprehensive, and downright fun guide to growing food in small spaces. It provides readers with the knowledge and skills necessary to produce their own fresh vegetables, mushrooms, sprouts, and fermented foods as well as to raise bees and chickens—all without reliance on energy-intensive systems like indoor lighting and hydroponics.

Customer Reviews (25)

A great overview, plus enough information to get started
I ought to give this a 4.5, and if you just accept it as an introductory book, not a detailed treatise, its a 5. There are some things in this book that not everyone may be comfortable with, though.

I am a master gardener, so most of what's in here is not new, but there are some great ideas. For example, just seeing how the Europeans do fruit trellises on backstreets was inspiring. Learning how to make your own self-watering container is smart.

The book covers vegetable gardening, berries and fruits, sprouting, yogurt/kefir making, bees, chickens, compost and worms, mushroom growing, container gardening, cold frames and building arbors/trellises to use more vertical space. It is written clearly and points you to other books to read after you've gotten started. And that's all great. Could you have found all that on the internet for free?.... yes. But its still a nice book.

I think what I choked on while reading it is how much time is involved to keep up all these little projects. I would have also loved a "shopping list", with costs, for each project (like the self-watering container, for example, or how much it costs to build a trellis). If you've ever actually done any of these things, and I have, the sobering take away is how much work and time and money goes into getting the results, whether they are a couple of berries in your hand, or a small green salad with lettuce, sprouts and tomatoes you grew yourself. The book does not talk about this factor. It's significant. Most vegetable gardeners will get a merry twinkle in their eye if you ask them about $6 tomatoes, or even $2 zucchinis. Growing food is time intensive and labor intensive.

The other thing (and I like this, but I may not be in the majority) is the last chapter talks about resource depletion, and a time when peak oil or other factors may knock the stuffing out of our food production system. This may not sit well with some people, and this "prep because the world is at end" sensibility is very lightly woven through the book, especially at the beginning and the end. It is where the author is coming from. Again, I personally was reassured by this, because it meant the author and I were on the same page about why we should be learning about this stuff in the first place. But,my mother (for example), would be really thrown off by any "prep for the end is near" talk and might just put the entire book aside for even bringing up something as crazy as peak oil. If your mother is like that, too, you might want to get a different book for her.

A Good Start...
This book is an okay starting place if you need an introduction to urban gardening. The sections on getting enough light, water, and soil nutrients are the gold heart of this book.

Unfortunately, I was also looking forward to the chapter on honeybees--I thought, bees in small urban spaces? It's either the plot of a B-list horror movie or it might just save the world! But the chapter starts off with the acknowledgment that the author has never owned bees, and then it becomes apparent that he never get off his kiester to go research the topic in greater depth. He just says, "Here are a few books on bees." Well, thanks; I could have Googled that.

In the author's defense, the book was sloppily edited. There was the occasional missing word not here and not there. A good editor would have told Ruppenthal to get more dirt on honeybees or delete the chapter and stick the recommended books in a "Further Reading" appendix.

And yes, a "Further Reading" appendix and a list of all the websites and books mentioned in the text would have been really helpful.

It was a interesting read, it just wasn't a $24 read.

Introduction to Urban Homesteading
Great for the beginning urban homesteader.Ruppenthal gives a nice overview of everything from gardening to raising honey bees and chickens (I don't eat eggs, but feel that if you do, it's a good idea to have your own well cared for chickens).

Included are chapters on fermenting, sprouting, and vertical gardening.This is sustainable living right in the city by using available space tofarm your own fresh food.

A must have book for anyone growing food
This is a must have book, it covers just about everything you'd need to know about gardening, why, where, how and even takes you through sprouting, fermenting and making yogurts and kefir. Chickens and honeybees? It's in there. Recipes? In there. I throughly enjoy reading this book, it's one to refer to often..

Very Insightful
I really enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would.This book has some very good ideas for growing food in confined/urban place I had not thought of before.It also goes more into depth than a lot of books on areas other than traditional gardening.I have never kept bees, chickens, or grown mushrooms, but I feel I know much more on the topic after reading the book. ... Read more

Product Description
The Clone Wars have exploded across the galaxy as Republic forces and Separatists struggle to gain the upper hand. But while the Jedi generals work tirelessly to defeat Count Dooku and his rebels, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine is hatching his own dark plans.

The Separatists have launched a sneak attack on Coruscant. Obi-Wan Kenobi, wounded in battle, insists that Anakin Skywalker and his rookie Padawan Ahsoka leave on a risky mission against General Grievous. But when Senator Bail Organa reveals explosive intelligence that could turn the tide of war in the Republic’s favor, the Jedi Master agrees to accompany him to an obscure planet on the Outer Rim to verify the facts. What Obi-Wan and Bail don’t realize is that they’re walking into a deadly trap concocted by Palpatine . . . and that escape may not be an option.

Inspired by the full-length animated feature film Star Wars: The Clone Wars and the brand-new TV series, this thrilling adventure is filled with provocative, never-before-revealed insights into the characters of Obi-Wan, Anakin, Padme, Yoda, Count Dooku, and many other Star Wars favorites. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (38)

Star Snores ... Wild Space ... ha
*Probably contains a lot of spoilers*
I typically avoid spoilers, but I want to prove you can sum up the entire plot in one paragraph.

Plot: Obi-wan convalesces after Geonosis. Obi-wan nearly gets blown to tiny bits; he's back to log more time with the healers. Bail Organa learns of a deep dark dirty secret: the sith are back. Half the book later there's a short firefight on the way to this evil planet thing with the laughable name Zigoola. (Sounds like where evil teletubby lookalikes ought to dwell.) More meaningless conversations pass and they finally reach the planet itself. They crash and have to walk to the sith temple. Obi-wan fights his memories the whole time on the planet. They call for help. Padme swoops in to rescue them. Back to the temple for Obi-Wan; healer master's got her work cut out for her again.

The boring plot doesn't make this a bad or painful book. As other reviewers have mentioned, the dialogue sounds off in a lot of cases. Bail and Obi-Wan bicker like 3rd graders on a thirty-hour road trip. The conversations are repetitive. (It'll be dangerous. Yes, but we have to go. You stay here. No, you stay here. - on and on until you feel ready to smack them both.) Anakin and Ahsoka have cameos but that's about it.

The writing style is somewhat painful. Fragments abound.

Delving deep into the characters is a fine idea, but hit the characterization at least.

"I wonder how many ill things are done by those who believe that what they're doing is right?"
"I wonder how many ill things are done by those who believe that what they're doing is right?"
The Clone Wars rages on.Anakin and Ahsoka are sent to defend the Bothawui system from General Grievous while Obi-Wan Kenobi must work with Bail Organa to retrieve information about the Sith.

I Liked:
There is a lot to love about this book, but the first thing I will discuss is characters.Karen Miller, newcomer to Star Wars novels, has perfectly nailed each and every one that she attempts.The first that comes to mind is Yoda.I was astounded, absolutely astounded, when she wrote Yoda so beautifully--I could hear his voice from the movie in my head!Too many authors just mix up the sentences so they are backwards, but I could tell that Miller took the effort to work out the sounds and make sure it sounded like Yoda.Yeah, he's curt, but take a look at Yoda from Empire; wasn't he a bit...quirky?Plus, this is during a war, not everyone makes bad jokes like they do in Jedi Trial.
For one of the first times in a novel (yay!), Padme actually stops being a plot device and starts being her own person, with her own point of view.Again, Miller perfectly captures Padme's voice and her motivations.I adored how she gave Padme a reason for loving and sticking with Anakin: "Because her love could save him"!Also, Padme gets to show WHY she is supposedly such a great politician, acting as an intermediary for Bail and Obi-Wan.And I love it when she tells Anakin to stop trying to protect her from everything, to let her be her own person!You go, girl!(And take THAT, Bella Swan!)
Before I get to our major protagonists, I want to talk briefly about Anakin and Ahsoka.Anakin is well done here, a capable, yet confused Jedi.And Ahsoka is definitely more earnest, but fallible Padawan than the annoying Mary Sue from the movie.
As for Bail and Obi-Wan: they make the most amusing Odd Couple.I enjoyed their banters, because when they argued, you learned things about them.Such as "there is more suffering experienced by those Force-sensitives denied Jedi training than any Padawan you might meet".Or perhaps this: "the more systems the Separatist entice...the more suffering and fear the Republic experiences...the longer it takes the Jedi to end this conflict--the harder [the Jedi's] pedestal is going to rock.Especially if it's perceived that you're not suffering like everyone else."Or how about this one: "[Politicians] have a disconcerting habit of making up rules that don't then apply to you" (this one really resonates with me, as it seems to apply aptly to the Solo-Skywalker clans in the early 90's books).Tid-bits about Obi-Wan's past, revealed in the amazing children's series, the Jedi Apprentice series, make their way here, showing that Miller does her homework.We get to see how attached Obi-Wan is and how he struggles, and in that way, get to compare it to Anakin's struggle.As for Bail, we finally get an understanding of Leia's words, so long ago: "Years ago, [Obi-Wan] served with my father in the Clone Wars."He is a politician, but he is devoted to the Republic.
This is very much a character novel, meant to show the growing relationship between Obi-Wan and Bail, so the plot is very muted: an intelligence collecting mission to the Outer Rim, leaving plenty of time for our duo to spend hours cramped in a small ship and argue or trudge along on a deserted world.I thought I might be bored or might be upset that there wasn't more fighting sequences, but honestly, they would just clutter the book up.We need the time to figure out how Obi-Wan and Bail become friends.Throwing a needless lightsaber duel or big scale war would just undermine this and take much needed time away from this development.Plus, too many people associate action with dogfighting or lightsaber duels.In this book, Bail and Obi-Wan are stranded on Zigoola and have to make their way to a Sith Temple.Their travels are action.Their trials and struggles along the journey are action.No, it doesn't include blaster fire and people dying, but it is still action.
As for Miller's writing style, I found it enjoyable to read.It was brisk, clear, nicely written, easy on the eyes and good for going through it quickly.A perfect combination, if you ask me.

I Didn't Like:
All of these are very minor, but I wanted to at least bring them up again.
As I mentioned earlier, there isn't a lot of "traditional" Clone Wars action (not like in comparison to the Clone Wars movie adaptation by Karen Traviss), and this being a Clone Wars novel, some people may be upset with it.I really wasn't, but that's just me.Plus, as I explained earlier, a lot of the action here is different action, not war or battle action, but journey type action.
Some people may get a little tired of all the time Bail and Obi-Wan spend first en route to Zigoola and then en route to the Sith Temple.Again, I can understand, and I did get a bit tired too, but I realized that we are learning, watching, seeing Obi-Wan and Bail grow closer together.Plus, if I am tired, can you imagine how tired they must be?
The story begins with Yoda, Padme, Anakin, Ahsoka, and Obi-Wan and by the halfway mark, only Obi-Wan remains, with Bail included.I know Karen Miller was writing around a Clone Wars episode, but still it was kinda funny, a little off-balanced, almost.Fortunately, she brings back the characters towards the end and evens it out.

Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
"Stang" (yay, KM, for bringing back that curse and not making up a new one!!) and perhaps a few other Star Wars swear words.
Very notable here is the adult relationship, i.e. sexual relationship, that Padme and Anakin have.In the beginning of one chapter, it would be easy to imagine that both had just finished love-making or were about to.Definitely not typically seen in Star Wars, let me tell you.
Obi-Wan and Bail go through brutal, brutal trials to reach the Sith Temple.An explosion occurs in the judicial district on Coruscant.It is mentioned in passing how Bail's uncle and mother died.

Overall:
I am positively floored!I had to really be nitpicky and practically make up stuff to complain about.Karen Miller is an astonishing author and has beautifully captured the essence of Star Wars and the essence of the characters she is using.I am so glad she has joined the repertoire of Star Wars authors (she has done miles better than some of her predecessors!) and highly recommend this book!Go out, read it now!

Brought to you by:
*C.S. Light*

Jhaeman's Review
Of the many Star Wars books I've read since I began directing a role-playing game set in that universe, the best one I've come across is the recently-published Wild Space by Karen Miller. Judging by the cover, I was expecting a limp, kids-oriented tie-in to the animated t.v. series with a heavy emphasis on the clones. Instead, I found an engrossing tale of how Senator Bail Organa and Obi-Wan Kenobi forge a unique bond during a mentally-grueling and physically-punishing mission to uncover a rumored planet possessing Sith artifacts. One of the most surprising things about this book is how little there is in the way of "action scenes"--there's hardly a blaster fired or a lightsaber ignited in the whole book. Yet, the dialogue, the personalities, and the plot are more than sufficient to keep the pages turning. If novels tied to the animated series continue to be of this quality, I might just manage to forgive the annoying continuity mess the show makes out of Anakin's having become a Jedi Knight just weeks after the battle of Geonosis.

Two great characters transform into whiny babies!
So Obi-Wan Kenobi and Senator Organa are some of the most tolerant well spoken people in the star wars universe.
Well not in this book!
They act like spoiled children who moan and whine at each other.
Obi-Wan Kenobi makes wild generalisations about Organa simply because of his job.
And Organa is a whiney helpless character here.

Also the story is so boring you'll want to throw it out the window.
Still, it'll make it's money cause its star wars, but look for excitement elsewhere.

A great Clone Wars story!!!!
I absolutely enjoyed this SW Clone Wars title. Obi Wan Kenobi is my most favorite SW character, and I enjoyed how the author tried to show the relationship that is built between Kenobi and Bail Organa. A must read for all SW fans! ... Read more

Product Description
In 1980, William H. Whyte published the findings from hisrevolutionary Street Life Project in The Social Life of Small UrbanSpaces.Both the book and the accompanying film were instantlylabeled classics, and launched a mini-revolution in the planning andstudy of public spaces.They have since become standard texts, andappear on syllabi and reading lists in urban planning, sociology,environmental design, and architecture departments around the world.

Project for Public Spaces, which grew out of Holly’s Street LifeProject and continues his work around the world, has acquired thereprint rights to Social Life, with the intent of making it availableto the widest possible audience and ensuring that the Whyte familyreceive their fair share of Holly’s legacy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

This book is great
I read this book for school... but I would recommend it to anyone interested in the subject matter. (Reading it, I was always wandering around talking to friends and family about it). The book is short, but there is a lot to think about. :)

How urban areas work
Years ago I watched an episode of NOVA on PBS on William H. Whyte that explained the background and purpose and accomplishments of his project to study what makes urban spaces in cities work. I sat there riveted, as he methodically and carefully unveiled a vast range of urban phenomena of which I had hitherto been unaware.

The background to his study was this: following the enormous success of the plaza of Mies van der Rohe's Seagram Building in New York in the mid-1950s, the city began to give tax breaks to new buildings that included plazas as part of their design. At the Seagram, people found in the heart of the city a marvelous space in which to congregate, to eat lunch, to sit and talk, and just enjoy a few minutes away from the office. While the idea of providing an incentive to new plaza development was unquestionably a great aim, a small problem developed: many of the new plazas were, unlike that of the Seagram, just dreadful. Cold, austere, people unfriendly, unwelcoming, many of them seemed designed more to keep people away than give them a place to enjoy themselves. This is where Whyte comes in. New York City was concerned with codifying what made a successful plaza, and giving tax breaks based more on the kind of plaza being built, rather than any kind of plaza at all. So, Whyte was charged with discovering precisely what goes into a successful urban space. The results of his exhaustive study are summed up in this brilliant monograph.

Whyte took cameras and began filming all kinds of urban spots in plazas and parks, and on regular sidewalks. As a result of this study, he was able first to analyze how urban spaces work, and secondly on the basis of this make, to make suggestions as to how to make successful spaces. He discusses the enormous value and utility of using fountains or falling water both to provide aesthetic benefits and to create a barrier of white noise between an urban space and the street. He shows the value of having a variety of steps and levels in providing fun places to sit. He allays the fears of those who are afraid that a plaza will attract undesirables by showing that the homeless tend to go where other people are not. He displays the patterns of traffic on sidewalks and the function that street food can play. Whyte comes across not merely as a sophisticated urban planner and social scientist: he is revealed as a visionary.

I think that this ought to be a must-read for anyone with any curiosity about cities and the potential they possess for a vibrant and exciting social life. Here in my own city of Chicago, I constantly lament that Whyte's lessons go unheeded and unlearned. We Chicagoans take pride in how clean our downtown area is, but we possess very, very few plazas, instead having virtually all of our buildings coming all the way to the edge of the sidewalk. I lament that there are so few places in the Loop and the near North to sit at lunch, that so very, very little has been done along the river to make it people friendly, and that there are so few places to congregate. We have a gorgeous, inpirational skyline, but on the sidewalk level, things are different.I wish our city planners had more of Whyte's view of things.

A classic case study for urban design professionals
Although the photographs are dated, the material is classic.This book is a must for anyone who is involved with design or review of open spaces.It shows how people use open space and identifies the common elements ofsuccessful spaces.While the elements all seem logical, the book shows howwe often fly in the face of logic when using these spaces.The bookfocuses primarily on plazas and small parks in New York City, but includesa section for smaller cities with low rise buildings.The information canalso be applied to parks in any size town.This book is a facinating casestudy in social ecology. ... Read more

Product Description
All together in one beautiful 3 volume set are C.S. Lewis' "Out Of The Silent Planet", "Perelandra", and "That Hideous Strength. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (35)

great series
Since I am a C.S. Lewis fan, I looked forward to reading these books.They were better than I had even anticipated--full of meaning for life (the struggle of good and evil) in the midst of an engaging story.The same main character (Dr. Ransom) appears in all three.The last one ("That Hideous Strength")was so fascinating that I could hardly wait to pick it up.These books require a thoughtful reader.

Excellent Fiction
The C.S. Lewis space trillogy in my opinion is one of the more enjoyable works that C.S.Lewis wrote. It is a fantasy written to an older audience than the Chronicles of Narnia and like the rest of his fiction works has a numerous ties to christian theology. The three books in the trillogy, Out of the Silent Planet, Peralandra, and That Hideous Strength follow chronologically but any one of them could be read on its own and make sense. My favorite is Peralandra as it deals with the fall of man in the garden of eden while remaining a well written story in its own right.
I greatly enjoyed the format of the volume I purchased where all three books were in one hard bound edition, that is mostly preference and the series is also available as individual hard and soft bound books and, I think, a soft bound volume.

Loved it in the '70s and love Lewis now
Like the Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis's Space Trilogy is timeless. The story brings allegory to a new art.

Great series
. I love anything to do with space so naturally when I found out C.S.Lewis had written a trilogy I bought and read all three. I recently wrote a song with my band Red Umbrella loosely based on the first book 'Out of the Silent Planet'. The song begins as our hero Ransom has been drugged and stowed on a spacecraft to who knows where...http://www.redumbrella.net/freeaudio/RedUmbrella_CrazyAcoustic.mp3

enjoy

Philosophical Sci-fi
I find this a very provocative science fiction trilogy.Lewis' view of cosmology and theology is neat, and the story, though somewhat dated, is interesting. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (5)

Another Science Fiction
Really neat book. Cool retro advertizing art from a time now long since past and much more innocent.

Interest, but could be better
Very small print, could have been better. A little history, and picture, but they really did not tie together that well

Treasure
For those of us who grew up during the golden age of space exploration, this book is a treasure trove. Although I had never seen most of the illustrations they transported me back to those exciting days when America had vision, courage, and commitment. Now as we shut down the shuttle program, I wonder what happened.

To the Moon -- And Beyond!
I came across some old Look and Life magazines at a thrift shop recently. They all featured John F. Kennedy - his inaugural as president, his assassination, the funeral, Jackie and the kids one year after. Important and memorable topics, but when I actually sat down to look at the magazines, I found that I was flipping past the articles and studying the ads. Buicks and Studebakers and Chevys, cigarettes, whiskey and beer, typewriters, canned soup, TV dinners. They were fascinating.

Author Megan Prelinger collected the best and most interesting ads from five years worth of aviation and technology magazines. The result is Another Science Fiction, a document that is probably more revealing about the era than the collected articles in those same magazines, and certainly more entertaining.

The overall impression is one of optimism and the expectation that science and technology will pave the way to a bright future. We're going to the moon. ... and beyond!

Contrast that with aviation and technology magazines of today. The ads are overwhelmingly military-themed, featuring weapons and soldiers. They are utilitarian ads, using photographs and text.

The space age ads are also often utilitarian and direct, but just as often they are whimsical or futuristic. Many are works of art. The Martin Company (later Martin-Marietta, then Lockheed-Martin) used many paintings by graphic artist Willi K. Baum, most of which would not look out of place in a modern art gallery.

On opening Another Science Fiction, I first looked at all the images, and then read the text later. It was fun to start to recognize the style of some of the regular artists for the various companies. The text was informative, explaining what some of the ad campaigns were about (some of the products advertised were pretty technical and specific to the space and aviation industries). Prelinger also talks about how the space race influenced the appearance of books and magazines, TV and movies.

The result is a crash course in one brief shining moment in American history.

Nostalgia for the future that never was
If you were a youngster like me during the dawn of The Space Age, this book is a trip down memory lane.

I read and watched everything I could find about space travel and aviation, so most of these ads passed by my eyes at one time or another.

It was fun turning the pages and coming upon an image that I hadn't seen in 50 years or more. It recalled to me the wonder and the fabulous anticipation I felt at the time as man made his first baby steps into space.

The book is also kind of depressing, to see visions of a future that never arrived. The shuttle looks likes like a bus with wings, not the sleek streamlined spacecraft of the 50's. The ISS looks like a floating junk yard compared to the giant rotating wheeled space stations of those days. Damn it, I want my private spaceship, my vacations on the moon, tourist trips to Mars, day trips to the giant wheel space stations. What happened to the future we were promised in all these ads?

Oh well, if you're a Baby Boomer, and you were/are a space enthusiast who grew up in the late 50's and early 60's, you WILL enjoy this book. ... Read more

Product Description

Long Beach, California, homicide detective Danny Beckett is pouring the weekend’s first shot of vodka when the call comes in: Elizabeth Williams, a teacher at nearby Warren High School, has been brutally murdered in her classroom. When Danny arrives at the school, the blood-spattered crime scene turns even his veteran stomach. What could this young woman have done to make her the target of such a violent attack? And what is the significance of the victim’s left hand, taken by the killer as a grisly trophy? Beckett delves into the case with his usual tenacious cool, yet as he pieces together the facts, long-suppressed anguish from his own past rises up with stunning force. His hunt for the murderer soon morphs into a personal quest for atonement as he struggles to come to terms with the loss of his wife and family. A King of Infinite Space is a riveting crime novel that serves as a memorable introduction for Danny Beckett to the ranks of fiction’s favorite hardened detectives.

Amazon.com Review
Amazon Exclusive: Tyler Dilts on A King of Infinite Space

When I began writing A King of Infinite Space, I was in graduate school earning an MFA in fiction writing. As is the case in many such programs, there was a good deal of autobiographical introspection in the writing going on around me, and that was the last thing I wanted to do. I wanted to do something different. One of the primary reasons I’ve always loved reading is that it takes me away from myself and allows me to experience the lives of other people. What, I asked myself, could I credibly write about that was very different from my own experience?

My father was a Los Angeles deputy sheriff, and throughout most of my youth, I wanted to be a police officer. Although my career goals changed, I was left with a considerable amount of background knowledge that I felt I could put to good use. And it didn’t hurt that my favorite writers included the likes of James Lee Burke and Michael Connelly. It was settled, I thought. I’ll write a police procedural--I know enough about it (with a fair amount of research thrown in) to sound authoritative about it, and what could be farther from an English grad student’s personal experience than a story about investigating homicides?

I did decide to allow myself one autobiographical detail. My father died when I was very young, and I decided to have Danny Beckett, the novel’s protagonist, share this experience. It would, I thought, give the two of us a bit of common ground and help me relate to the character.

As the writing and rewriting progressed, I felt a reassuring sense of distance from Danny, a sort of critical perspective that thought allowed me to shape and hone the character with a studied and intellectual reserve that seemed properly authorial and intellectual.

So it came as quite a surprise when the novel was finished and my friends and family began to read it.Danny sounds just like you, they said. I refused to accept this, so I interrogated them. One by one they pointed out details and ideas and jokes and phrases that they’d heard me express, usually more than once. And a few of those closest to me commented on the similarity of our voices and perspectives. Eventually, I had to admit it. They were right.

It was only recently, though, when I had the occasion to look through and old family photo album and saw a picture of myself at four years old, around the time of my father’s death. In it I wore a clip-on tie, a makeshift shoulder holster complete with cap gun, and an expression befitting the most serious of detectives. It was me I was looking at, but I couldn’t help thinking it might just as well have been Danny Beckett.--Tyler Dilts

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Customer Reviews (46)

"...were it not that I have bad dreams."
Author Tyler Dilts has created a character, Danny Beckett, who still faces bad dreams about his deceased wife.He self-medicates with alcohol, and substitutes his work for a personal life.He is a detective, with an interesting female partner, Jennifer Tanaka.The two are called in on a case of a murdered school teacher.The author shows he is adept at both police-procedure and mystery as he leads the two to unravel the case.In the end the case is solved, with a twist (I figured it out ahead of time, but not too far in advance) and Danny is dreamless, with new possibilities.This is a well-written book with a good storyline, and great characters.May the next one be just as fulfilling.

Great Thriller
Tyler Dilts is a great writer. It's as if he put an HBO crime drama -- the best of HBO crime drama -- on the page. Highly recommended.

Jen Steals the Show
I enjoyed the breeze and ease of Tyler Dilts writing style.Very down to earth, realistic and funny.Danny Beckett is a lot of things, perfect by no means.I love the flawed, rebellious, relatable and sarcastic character of his.
Just as Zach Galifianakis stole the frames in The Hangover, I believe Jen Tanakastole the pages of this story! *saluting w/ a screwdriver* Here's to Dilts first, but certainly not last of the Beckett series.- Keshia Kola

A great read - I really enjoyed it
Spectacular debut novel. It really drew me in and made me try and think like a detective. Nicely paced character development which gives the reader a sense of exploring the two lead characters' histories and motivations rather than just being told what they are thinking. Great but sparing use use of both black and whimsical humour to lighten some fairly heavy sections. Flawed but appealing lead character is a great change from the rash of all knowing, super tough "crime fighters" emerging in crime fiction. I liked the feel and pace. Will buy the next one for sure

Exceptional!
This work is said to be in the tradition of Ed McBain and I dispute that.Ed McBain, the excellent writer that he was, has a totally different writing style.Though Tyler Dilts is no Ed McBain, he is nonetheless an exceptionally gifted author whose novel "A King of Infinite Space" is exceptionally well written.

"A King of Infinite Space" is written in a way that makes the characters come off of the page and seem actually alive in a story that is not only entirely credible and realistic, but also captivating and engrossing.It is difficult to put the book down after being hooked in the very first chapter and at the end I was hoping was left anxious for the next novel Dilts writes.I especially liked the fact that this is one of a very select few of crime novels where you cannot see the ending coming a mile away. ... Read more

Product Description
Streamline the processes vital to optimum performance

With over 100,000 copies sold worldwide, Improving Performance is recognized as the book that launched the Process Improvement revolution. It was the first such approach to bridge the gap between organization strategy and the individual. Now, in this revised and expanded new edition, Rummler and Brache reflect on the key needs of organizations faced with today's challenge of managing change. With multiple charts, checklists, hands-on tools and case studies, the authors show how they implemented their Performance Improvement methodology in over 250 successful projects with clients such as Hewlett-Packard, 3M, Shell Oil, and Citibank. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Step-by-step performance improvement method
The more involved you are with process improvement, the more you will benefit from reading this book. Consultants Geary A. Rummler and Alan P. Brache focus your thinking on their process improvement method by including detailed diagrams, practical examples and flow charts. They demonstrate how the traditional use of hierarchical organizational charts creates silos, isolated corporate operations that are separated by white space on the chart and, thus, are literally unconnected. The authors' "three levels" approach to management can mitigate performance issues within that organizational white space and avoid silos. They present their framework as a reliable method for upgrading organization design, improving processes and enhancing individual performance. Managing the "nine variables" that affect performance can help you develop a better understanding of your organization and build a strategic foundation for continuous process improvement, rather than wasting effort on ad hoc fixes. getAbstract recommends this book to thoughtful managers who don't need lots of buzzwords.

How to better design and manage your company processes and get rid of silos
This is a classic text that hardly needs my endorsement.However, if I can bring it to the attention of people who might not have benefitted from its proven insights and wisdom, I am happy to do so.The basic notion of the book is that too many people run their companies in the silos of the traditional org-chart.This creates all kinds of communications and management problems that must be broken down to get the optimal performance from your firm.This need has only grown since the first edition of this book came out in 1990.This second edition came out in 1995.

The authors want you to think of what your company is trying to accomplish rather than as a bunch of fiefdoms hanging from a hierarchical org-chart.They use a matrix of three levels of performance (Organizational, Process, and Job/Performer) and three performance needs (Goals, Design, and Management).Using the nine areas these create the authors show you how to handle focusing, operating, and managing every aspect of your firm.Sure, the book requires more thought and concentration than your typical "business book", but the substance it provides is well worth the effort.

Use it.

Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI

Best Process Book Ever
This book presents some interesting concepts on Process Design and Performance.

The best business improvement book ever written
Don't let the date this book was published influence your decision to buy - it is timeless.I am on my second copy of this book and would characterize it as the best book onbusiness process management that has ever been published. This is "The Book". Everyone I know in the Business Process Management field has this book. I recommend it to every client and every business improvement team member that I work with.

The information contained in this "gem" can help anyone involved in process improvement.Consultants, executives, managers, process team leaders, process team members - it doesn't matter whether you are working in manufacturing, finance, logistics, sales or human resources. It also doesn't matter whether you are new to BPM or have been in the field for 20 years. This book will change the way you think about organizational structure and approaching business process.

Trying to characterize what parts of the book were best, would be like trying to dissect what parts of the blue sky you like best.It is all great stuff - each chapter is better than the next, and will help you understand what needs to be done to make business improvement initiatives work.It is well written, easy to understand the concepts, with hundreds of useful illustrations and models to learn from.

I would give this book 6 stars if I could ...

Classic
This book will survive the trends, since most of the trends are based on the principles in this book.The names will change (Quality Circles, Just In Time, TQM, Re-engineering, Six Sigma, ...), but these principles and how well they are implemented will determine a companies' efficiency and quality. ... Read more

Product Description

Experience the thrill of flying some of the world's most important airplanes and spacecraft. Best Of The National Air And Space Museum provides unprecedented access to the most popular museum in the world.

The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum hosts more than 9 million visitors a year, and the newly opened Dulles Center –three football fields long and ten stories high – is a phenomenon in its own right: in the first week it was opened, some 250,000 people came through the doors.

Best Of The National Air And Space Museum features the best of both museums, from the Challenger space shuttle and the Wright flyer to the Spirit of St. Louis and the stealth bomber. Bob Van der Linden, curator of aeronautics, has selected the most historically important, popular, and just plain impressive aircraft and spacecraft from the collections of both museums to be captured in the book's beautiful full color layouts. Each layout includes intriguing facts of the item's design, use, mission, specifications, and dimensions. It's like your own guided tour!

Customer Reviews (3)

Great Guide to the National Air & Space Museum
I recently visited the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum. It was the first time I'd been there since they moved into their current facility in the mid-1970's. It was breathtaking. The best way to describe the effect of walking in the main entrance is to envision the bedroom of a boy who hangs model airplanes from the ceiling. Only at the NASM, the "models" hanging from the ceiling are full-size. I was a model-building boy in the 1950's, and my favorites were planes I'd built from kits. Unfortunately, the museum was undergoing some of its regular updating and a few of my favorite planes weren't on view, such as the F89 Super Saber. Fortunately, that plane and most (if not all) the permanent collection are profiled in the Best of the National Air and Space Museum. If at all possible, visit the museum. If you can't get there, buy the book. Actually, buy the book in either case. You won't be disappointed.

Nat'l Air & Space Museum review
Great photograghs with well written copy. This book makes me want to go to this museum and see first hand the items displayed. Highly recommend!!!

Great photo essay, history of aviation and space
i'm an engineer- worked rocket motors, and various satellite programs.this book was recommended by associate after visiting the museum at Langley.The pics are super, with short descriptions, and moderate on the tech.It's an amazing pulse of this wild history, and mostly is from America's lineage.St. Louis, Mercury, Atlas, and up to current Shuttle.There's also the SST, and unique turn of the century early birds.A fine read to be shared with a youngster (my son 10, digs it), or for the historyor engineering buff.amazon has it cheaper than at the museum. ... Read more