Advance Books

Disney's retelling of the old genie-in-a-bottle tale is beautifully illustrated and simple for young readers to follow. The pages at the end of the book are a nice educational bonus.

Goofy and Donald visit Mickey, who is house-sitting for his grandfather. Mickey shows them a bottle he found in the attic. When he rubbed it, a genie appeared and offered him three wishes. He needs to think about what those wishes will be, but he has to run to the store and asks his friends to watch the bottle. Temptation proves to be too great for Donald, who convinces Goofy that they should get some wishes, too. Things don't go exactly as they hope and by the time Mickey returns, they're more than happy to part with the bottle.

The lesson of "think before you speak" is one we could all probably stand to learn, so the chance to teach it to young kids shouldn't be passed up. And, of course, characters they recognize is an added bonus!

This textbook is an excellent text for learning all that needs to be known about a word processing program.

The book brings together selected contributions to the symposium a *Mirror Neurons and the Evolution of Brain and Language" (July 5-8, 2000 in Germany). The aim of the symposium was to discuss the status of so called 'mirror neurons' and their potential consequences on our understanding of the brain evolution, social intelligence, behavioral role identification and theory of mind.

It is hard to overestimate the importance of this discovery. First of all, it provides a new model of cognition which is based on neuro-biology rather than intellectual speculation on our private sense of 'existence'. Currently, it is widely believed that such specifically human activities as language and the use of tools depend on wide scale developments and re-organization of neural functioning. These hypothesized neural features involve cascading networks of neural circuits with the highest level of unification, effectively engaging 'the brain as a whole.' It is important to note the 'source' of cognition according to this model. Cognition is the final outcome of analysis initiated by reception of sensory data. By accumulating many small decisions, the 'whole' emerges. This cognitive entity (a thought, perhaps) ends up producing responses (actions). Action is thus the end product of analysis. In terms of pop psychology, network enough computers and cognition will eventually emerge.

The discovery of mirror neurons by Rizzolatti and Arbib provide a strong argument against the 'cognition requires the whole brain' theory. The properties of mirror neurons seem to suggest instead that the so-called 'motor functions' of the nervous system are more complex than we have expected. Instead of building the brain from a single neural cell type, there seem to be at least 3 nerve types:
1) Motor neuron which stimulate muscle contraction,
2) Communication neurons which link motor neurons to the brain
3) Mirror neurons which, for lack of a better term, make decisions.

Yes, mirror neurons demonstrate single cell decision making abilities. Not only do mirror neurons, on an individual level, demonstrate an ability to control and execute action, they also demonstrate the ability to maintain an internal representation and compare that representation to sensory input. This is the antithesis of the 'whole brain' theory. It posits cognition exists at the cellular level. In this view, action-control and action-representation are both capacities of individual mirror neuron. Cognition precedes sensation. It exists of and for itself. Cognition seeks sensation rather then being the product of sensation.

Think about it.

I apologize for going into such broad speculations and ignoring specifics on the book in question. Be assured the above is my attempt to summarize important concepts raised by various articles.

The book is organized into 4 sections. Of the 4, only the first specifically addresses 'mirror neuron' research. The four sections are:
1) Current mirror neuron research.
2) Neurology papers that shed light on areas of interest to mirror neuron research.
3) Evolution papers that seek to use insights gained by mirror-neuron research
4) Computational models based on mirror-neuron models

The articles are uneven in quality. Keep in mind the timing of the conference. The year was 2000, prior to the 2004 reports that mirror neuron disfunction was implicated in autism. Some of the articles (Birten) understand the paradigm shift and anticipate the link, others miss the point.

As always, Ron Miller is very thorough in his discussion of harmony in relation to melodic modes and scale sources. This book has opened up my harmonic language and helped bring a stronger sense of structure to my writing. For the intermediate jazz arranger, this book will help bring your writing up to the next level.

Another excelent book of Camacho. Great background theory and applications...A book that every control engineers must have in a book-shelf

Polly Perks disguises herself as a boy and enlists in the Army of the Duchess Annagovia in order to find her beloved brother, Paul. Not only does she have to cut off her long, blonde hair (which is an abomination unto the local god, Nuggan), she also has to learn how to pick her nose, scratch her crotch, and fart loudly in public.

So far the Borogravian army very much resembles a major league baseball team.

By the time she has been enlisted for a day in the Tenth Foot (also known as the 'Ins-and-Outs') under the command of the sadistic Corporal Strappi, Polly is cursing every folksong she ever heard on the romance of disguising herself as a boy and following the drum. Her fellow recruits, including a troll, an igor, a vampire, and a religious nut, fare no better, although the corporal goes easy on the vampire.

Then Corporal Strappi learns that he himself is going to be sent to the front, along with his band of raw recruits, and steals off into the night. Now fat, jolly Sergeant Jackrum is in charge.

Anyone who has ever read a fantasy or gone to a movie where a cunning, experienced sergeant takes charge, will know that the new recruits are now in for the ride of their short lives. Polly's life perks up (sorry) when a shadowy figure in the privy hands her a pair of socks and advises her to stuff them into her trousers. The advice that comes with the socks:

"'It's a funny thing," said the voice, 'but they notice what's missing more than they notice what's there. Just one pair, mark you. Don't get ambitious.'"

Polly follows her mysterious friend's recommendation, and the rest of "Monstrous Regiment" is a jolly-but-serious series of Terry Pratchett-falls as the recruits capture their first prisoners-of-war, visit their first tent-of-ill-repute, and generally learn how to survive in a war that their country is definitely losing.

But if Borogravia is losing, why are the recruits being stalked by newshounds from Ankh-Morpork, who insist they're war heroes? Why has 'Butcher' Vimes put a werewolf on their trail?

And why, oh why did Private Polly have to kick the presumed Heir of Duchess Annagovia right in his sock drawer?

"Monstrous Regiment" is vintage Pratchett and if I ever decide to cross-dress and take the Queen's shilling, here is the book that will guide me.

hypertensio

This book is a compilation of articles by the world's experts on muscle pain syndromes, including fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome based on presentations during the 1998 Myopain conference in Italy, sponsored by the International Myopain Society. It provides an excellent overview of the current knowledge base of these syndromes, the etiology, treatment options, etc. The book is intended for persons with some medical background and may be a bit too technical for others. Highly recommended!

From the back cover of "My Double unveiled" few short quotes written by scientists in the field:

``This book gives a very lucid presentation of a far reaching model for the brain functions, based on the theory of dissipative quantum processes. It is addressed to a general public, so that the main stress is on the basic concepts, without the exploitation of any explicite mathematical formalism. This has been quite a difficult enterprise, but the author succeded very well to convey the essential physical features participating to the model, in a way which is very clear and very deep.
It is worth to say that the book will be also well appreciated by physicist, and specialized people, for its clean conceptual presentation, and the availability of the mathematical formalism in the published scientific literature.
I think that the most important aspect of the book is to encourage the various scientific communities, as for example in Physics, Biology, Neurophysiology, Psycology, to reinforce a fruitful dialogue, based on the peculiar aspects of the various desciplines, and the comparison of different formulations of analogous concepts.
I also think that the young people can usefully benefit by reading this book, and meditating on the main issues. In particular, they will learn the beauty of working at the frontiers of knowledge, in a very important interdisciplinary field.
In conclusion, this book will be a very enjoyable and stimulating experience for a very large community of potential readers''.

Francesco Guerra
Department of Physics,
University of Roma "La Sapienza"

``...Prof. Vitiello writings provide a fundamental advance in the quantum theory of brain functioning, and astonishingly in the present book, without requiring any technical mathematics''.

Gordon Globus,
Irvine, USA

``...the clearest exposition of the theory of brain functions, based on highly abstract and mathematical theory of Quantum Fields. Professor Vitiello successfully carried out this difficult task without a single equation''.

Yasushi Takahashi,
Department of Physics,
University of Alberta

"My Double Unveiled" is an exciting and delightful book. The excitement stems from his innovative use of Quantum Field Theory (actually a doubling of such fields)to explain how brain processing can entail our awareness of our existential imbeddedness in the world and at the same time our awareness of the aware "self". The book is delightful in that it tells Vitiello's story without recourse to mathematical equations, a story of professors, students and colleagues working fruitfully to resolve the age old problem of human existance, as it has come down to us in terms of understanding how our brains allow such understanding.
Bravo!

Karl Pribram
Center for Brain Research and Informational Sciences
Radford University, Radford, USA

The Narrative Universe by Gianluca Bocchi and Mauro Ceruti is fascinating to read. It is indeed a remarkable feature of modern science, from high energy physics to chemistry and biology, that we have moved to a different view of nature that emphasises the narrative element levels of observation. Gianluca Bocchi and Mauro Ceruti present a global and impressive view of this narrative aspect starting with mythology and the early history of humanity and going from there to biology, physics, and chemistry. The Narrative Universe is a unique book. It will be of great interest for everyone who cares about the memory of the past as well as humanity's position in the universe.

Ilya Prigogine, Nobel Laureate
Free University, Brussels, co-author, Order out of Chaos

A remarkable work of transdisciplinary scholarship. The Narrative
Universe is a rich and fascinating work that offers a new perspective
on evolution that emphasizes the importance of human choices and
actions, and the possibility for creating a partnership world.

Riane Eisler, author of The Chalice & The Blade, Sacred Pleasure, and Tomorrow's Children

Drawing from biology, complexity science, cultural history, cosmology, linguistics, mythology, anthropology, as well as the history of religions, literature, and twentieth century film, Bocchi and Ceruti have crafted our time's most comprehensive and compact survey of contemporary science. Their choice of scientists is unfailingly accurate, and their presentation is simultaneously thorough and clear. Their book will be most appreciated by individuals who are outside the world of science, but have on occasion wondered what the excitement is all about. Here, in a single volume, is a record of most of our century's greatest scientific triumphs.

Brian Swimme, California Institute of
Integral Studies, co-author, The Universe Story

The Narrative Universe is a wondrous book, whose very title is the message. The authors takes us down the highways and byways of the world of knowledge, to tell us that we live not only in a contingent universe but are engaged in the creation of contingent knowledges (the plural here is
Important). We are forced to think about assumptions we never realized needed to be questioned. It is a resolutely hopeful, creative work about a creative universe. It is at the same time a very rigorous exercise - science at its best.

Immanuel Wallerstein, SUNY Binghampton, author, The end of the world as we know it. Social science for the 21st century

Reading The Narrative Universe was a real pleasure. Ceruti and Bocchi have written a challenging, brilliant book that is required reading for anybody who wishes to participate in the intellectual revolution through which we are now living.

Jerome Bruner, New York University, author, Actual Minds, Possible Worlds

A marvelous book in several senses: I marvel at Bocchi and Ceruti's erudition, and at the grace with which they apply it. Here we have a masterful narrative well told about the history of consciousness, from the earliest dawnings of human awareness to the latest reflections on evolutionary theory about our evolution.

James Ogilvy, Global Business Network, co-author, Seven Tomorrows, author, Living Without Goals