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Dr. Frechette has accomplished in the space of 129 pages what most professionals would fail to do in multiple bound volumes. This unique tour-de-force is a veritable wellspring of priceless expertise that is unparalleled. The text is filled with clear, concise explanations sprinkled with relevant figures and examples of case histories illustrating the principles contained within this tome. In summary, this reference is unsurpassed in its ability to educate the reader in the field of failure analysis of brittle materials. This work is to be included in any professional's list of ten references volumes to be saved in the event of a fire.

In this book Lawrence Boland critically explores the agenda of the neoclassical research program, especially some of the unstated assumptions of the "hidden agenda" which are seldom subjected to scrutiny. This approach is "imminent criticism", working within the assumptions of the system to explore their consistency and the capacity of the system to succeed on its own terms. "External" or "transcendent" criticism takes issue with the assumptions, working outside the system. These could be respectively called the "worm" and "sparrow" approach. This is written without prejudice against worms for which, like Charles Darwin, I have a high regard.

There is so little discussion of methodology among economists that some detective work is required to locate the methodological ideas that are at work. Boland was determined to identify the actual practice in the profession, as distinct from the incantations that are offered in the early part of textbooks.

He suggests that the hidden agenda of the field consists of two related but autonomous problems; first, the Problem of Induction; second, the Explanatory Problem of Individualism. These are explored in chapters 1 and 2. Their influence on research programs in neoclassical economics is pursued in chapters 3 to 6. Their influence on the practice of methodology in the field is presented in chapters 7 to 9. Alternative approaches are examined in chapters 10 to 12.

As to the Problem of Induction, this has mostly been shifted to the Problem of Conventionalism: "the problem of finding generally accepted criteria upon which to base any contingent, deductive proof of any claim to empirical 'knowledge'". In practice, the generally accepted criteria have produced a form of normal science where the puzzles are concerned either with econometric models or mathematical models. In the first instance, the requirements of science are met by using data, with some talk about falsification, confirmation and the like. In the second instance the criteria run along the lines of simplicity, economy, elegance and other considerations of mathematics.

Moving on to the other leg of the agenda, the Explanatory Problem of Individualism, otherwise known as Methodological Individualism (MI), this is the view that only individuals can be the decision-makers in any explanation of social events. Boland explains that the usual form that MI takes in the neoclassical research program is psychologism, "the prescription that psychological states are the only exogenous [unexplained] variables permitted beyond natural givens (weather, contents of the universe, etc)".

The bottom line of the argument here is that psychologism is retained because it is a part of the Conventionalist program to deal with the problem of induction. Boland turns to Popper as a corrective to inductivism. His views came to economists in the unhelpful form of "falsificationism" and various forms of his ideas are attributed to both Friedman and Samuelson, who are probably the most influential "methodologists" in the profession. However any celebrations about the Popperian triumph would be premature, because Conventionalism and Instrumentalism reign supreme in economics and Popper rejected both.

Boland usefully notes some soft spots in Popper's work, especially the over-emphasis on the demarcation problem and some work on degrees of corroboration, described as a source of intellectual fog. He then turns to explore what it would mean for an inclusion of Popper's methodology in the hidden agenda of neoclassical economics. The problem of induction would be eliminated and with it the excessive concern with choosing between competing theories. Instead there would be more exploration of alternative solutions to theoretical problems.

Proceeding to the second item on the hidden agenda, methodological individualism, Boland's move here is from psychologism to consider the theories (and especially the plans and the strategies) that are held by decision-makers. For example it makes a difference whether an economic actor is using a maximising strategy, a minimum risk strategy or a satisficing strategy.

"We wish to show here that by dropping Inductivism and Conventionalism and instead relying on Popper's views of knowledge and learning, the way is open to the development of real-time explanations in neoclassical theory".

He suggests four agenda items for a "Popper-Hayek" program of individualistic explanation of dynamic processes. 1, Anti-justificationism. 2, Anti-psychologism. 3, Rational decision-making, according to the "logic of the situation". 4, Situational dynamics - behavior can change as a result of learning as well as from changes in the situation.

He notes that Hayek's point about the importance of learning has been taken but has been blunted by persisting elements of inductivism, as though we just need more information of a different kind (concerning the psychology of actors) rather than a different explanatory model.

This book is packed with arguments that require close attention and defy adequate summary. If these arguments are robust then the book is a "white dwarf" that will exert enduring influence when it is more widely read and understood. This process will be assisted by a wider familiarity with Popper's thoughts on metaphysical research programs which coincidentally emerged in the same year as the first edition of this book (1982, in "Quantum Theory and the Schism in Physics").

The book is at present being revised for a new edition and it will be interesting to see how it is changed and improved after 20 years of work in the field, including some interesting experiences at the hands of journal editors and conference organizers. No comment on Boland's work would be complete without a tribute to his friend and teacher, Joske Agassi, who introduced him to the "Socratic Popper".

This is a well-written and well researched book on fungi and biotechnology. Dude knows his 'shrooms.

A beautiful compilation of facts and figures for both the novice as well as for the experts.I have been in this field for 20 years and for the first time I have seen work of such composite nature.

Sheri Graner Ray has written the book many of us didn't know we needed. Not only is it a sparkling resumé over one of the darkest, save most stupid, corners of our industry, it is also a good game design book, and a brief summary of the latest in gender research. In a market where female customers are tended to by either The Sims or making the cover art pink, any kind of change is welcome, and this book does look like the Holy Grail to me.

The book sets out with a brief history of our industry's less than intelligent moves to capture female gamers, as well as its tendency not to appeal to them at all. She then points out a few important points where girls playing games differ from boys. This first part of the book is explosive enough to boost your sales, if you read it carefully. Now, there are twelve more chapters like this, so you might as well buy the book right away. It'll pay back in no time.

See, the book is that relevant. I had already made a few plunges into this facet of game design earlier, so I kind of knew what to expect. Still, I had an aha! experience on at least every other page. Chapter 2: Evolution of Female Characters in Computer Games is a discourse on what the computer game industry still finds fully acceptable in a female avatar. (And to be honest, Monty Python couldn't have done it better than we do.) The chapter Reward & Gameplay outlines techniques to motivate female gamers and make them keep coming back to your games. No pink bunnies required.

The number of puzzling questions that are answered in this work is high. For instance - why do women prefer bombing runs over dog fights in flight sims? If the violence isn't a turnoff in beat'em-ups, what is? Why do guys feel OK about playing with female avatars, but seldom the other way around? This book is mandatory. I want you to buy this book so much. Why? Because our industry is dead without it. Dead, I say. We need this book so bad, so bad.

This book is, together with Chris Crawford on Game Design, and David Freeman's Creating Emotion in Games the absolutely essential game development book for the next ten years to come. The book is that irresistible. The book is that interesting. The book is a freaking TNT charge!

Andrea Del Jorio penned this work in the nineteenth century, and now Adam Kenton has gracefully brought it into twentieth-century English. Amusing, informative: a sheer delight to read, and you'll laugh heartily with recognition.

Do you bite your thumb at me, sir?

No, but I do bite my thumb!

Now, you'll know why.

This book is a must for anyone with an interest in Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)! The author successfully blends the theory of OHS, an often neglected area of Human Resource Management (HRM), with interesting and relevant case studies illustrating the practice and implementation, or lack thereof, of OHS policy. The author presents a thorough explanation and introduction of OHS and HRM policy and theory in the first half of the book, before contextualising this with case study illustrations set in the airline, call centre and nuclear power industries. The nuclear power and airline industry case studies, in particular, reveal some worrying and thought provoking examples of the failure of OHS policy in the workplace. The author suggests that these failures not only put employees at risk, but also customers and the general public, highlighting the need for organisations to take the health and safety culture seriously. The call centre case study illustrates a blatant disregard for employee safety, intimating that call centre organisations have a vested interest in ignoring employee health by choosing to encourage "burn-out", before replacement of staff. This book is not written in "traditional", dry, academic prose; instead the author uses a refreshing, almost conversational style. This makes it equally accessible to the academic and practitioner communities, and makes for absorbing reading, and is a particularly useful source of reference for students and researchers in this field.

Having taken many years of languages in high school and college, I am familiar with language programs and techniques. I was very pleased with this program and plan to advance through all of the courses. The basic course offers both useful dialogs with a dual speaker format, allowing the user to listen to spanish only, english only, or both. There are also exercises that require manipulation of basic grammar and vocabulary. It did, however, leave me wishing for a bit more in the basic program; four tapes went quickly.

This book is recommended to people that already have some background in GIS and logic (Graduate students, faculty).Due to it is written using math terms (many greek simbols!) sometimes became dry. But,the book cover from the begining almost every aspect to create an Intelligent spatial decision support system from scratch. The author also give an example applied to raster GIS. NO softawe or CD is provided.

As a researcher in the design-manufacturing integration field, I found this book pretty helpful to learn about past research. This book is written by many experts. Though the progress of research in the design and manufacturing`s field is pretty fast, I think this book will survive as a good reference book for students and researchers.