FO Books

Really enjoy the great detail on the opening of Operation Barbarossa.

Could use a little better map print outs, but as a newcomer to WWII and the Eastern front the detail is great.

We use it for War gaming research and really appreciate the unit detail and movement detail.

I was very delighted to get and read this book. As already described it shows the operations that the German Army and Red Army undertook when the Wehrmacht invaded the Soviet Union. Many will be surprised to see the amount of actual counter-attacks that the Red Army was able to launch which at times stopped the Germans for days while at other times caused more havoc among the Red Army's own troops rather than that of the Germans. Coordination was poor, combined arms operations were almost never seen on the battlefield as communication problems plagued the entire appartus of the Red Army from divisions all the way up through front headquarters. This book is an essential text and reference to understanding some of the operations undertaken in 1941 and their consequences as well as a great reference for Soviet tank forces and their composition when the war began.

The best reference available on the first 2 weeks of Barbarossa (particularly the opening week) for all three German Army groups, and then the Smolensk operation. Amazing operational and tactical detail (Corps level) with additional selected unit level descriptions. Particularly interesting are Glantz's insights into German perception of Soviet forces, and the reality, as well as Soviet tactical moves to counter the invasion. Written as a transcript of a 1980's military conference, in more of a "study" format, than strait recounting of events with Glantz acting as editor and conference participant.

David Glantz is probably the foremost historian of the Soviet forces in World War 2 in the English language. When he was still in the US Army, responsible for the study of the Red Army, he ran the so-called `Art of War' symposia during the 1980s. These were usually attended by then serving officers, who received lectures and presentations from German veteran officers of the fighting in the east from 1941, to 1945. Some of these officers had been in very prominent positions during the war, and other, more junior officers rose to high ranks in the Bundeswehr and NATO after the war.

`The Early Period of War' is an edited transcript of a symposium held in 1987 in Garmisch in Germany, dealing with the operations by German armoured forces during the early battles of operation Barbarossa. The unit of analysis is the axis of advance, and presentations are given by divisional officers of formations fighting on these axis - e.g. Graf von Kielmannsegg and Helmut Ritgen of 6. Panzerdivision present on the battles on the Siauliai (Schaulen) axis in Army Group North's sector of advance. This is extremely valuable in allowing an insight into the divisional operations in the context of larger operations at the time.

The book covers four main axis, Siauliai, Vilnius, Byalistok/Minsk, and Lutsk/Rovno. It also analyses the battle for Smolensk. These are framed by an introduction, in which David Glantz outlines the Soviet situation prior to the invasion, and a conclusion chapter in which the relevance of the experience is discussed. The book has a lot of maps that range in quality from poor to adequate. There are tables and graphical information on German formations, again of poor quality. An index is provided.

As an avid student of the war in the east, I found this book very helpful in giving me an in-depth view of the German experience of the first weeks of Barbarossa and the problems that faced the German side. It is unfortunate that no Soviet officers did contribute, but since the seminar was held with a view to help NATO defeat the armies of the Warsaw Pact, that maybe too much to expect.

The book is certainly not aimed at the general reader, but instead at the serious student of military history. It is relatively dry, and the quality of the maps does not help much either. While it can be read as a stand-alone document, it will be more helpful to read it in conjunction with a work that deals with Barbarossa more generally, e.g. the MGFA's volume IV `The Attack on the Soviet Union'. Otherwise there is a risk that events described in this book cannot be placed in context. In my opinion it belongs into the library of anyone seriously interested in German operations, and the war between Germany and the Soviet Union.

This book is essentially the transcript of a conference held at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and focuses on the early period of Operation Barbarossa. This could have been an awesome book; there is a wealth of data but it is poorly presented. There are day-by-day sketch maps of each sector, but they are almost impossible to read. Original German intelligence situation maps are included and they don't make German staff officers look very good; unit symbols are not used - they actually wrote "RD" for Rifle Division on the map. This book is very useful in showing how much of a fight the Red Army really put up in the first month of the war; the Red Army of 1941 was clumsy, but not toothless. Most readers will be unaware that the first big tank battle in Russia occurred when the Soviets were able to mount a very serious armored counterattack at Dubno on the Southwestern front. However, this book missed its opportunity due to very poor editing and wandering anecdotal reminisces of German veterans (one German officer concluded that combat officers need a good knowledge of military history AND the Bible!). There are over 200 maps, but most are crude and barely legible.

The advent of the personal computer and design software such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop have greatly changed the way in which design work is done. Still, at the fundamental level the essence of good design still require an understanding of the fundamental design theories. The old concepts of line, shape, form, value, color and texture are still fundamental to good design be it of a poster, a kitchen appliance, or an automobile.

This book discusses how to combine the traditional approaches with the advances made possible by digital techniques. This is the second edition and builds on the material covered in the 2003 edition by providing discussion of the more powerful software that is available now.

The CD that comes with the book includes several tutorial projects for the student to complete as well as links to provide trial versions of Illustrator and Photoshop.

Hashimoto teaches timeless precepts of visual design. Many of which predate the Internet. The book seems apt for someone already knowing something about Photoshop and Illustrator. It shows how to use those programs to apply changes to a design, in accordance with the precepts. But primarily you benefit at a higher level, in understanding through the book's examples how to use basic key ideas in design. Hence, the book is not necessarily restricted to users of those design programs. If indeed you favour another program not covered here, the book can still be very informative.

By the way, one chapter uses the example of typeface design. This has an air of antiquity about it. Designing letterforms goes back centuries, and has many subtleties that the chapter lets you appreciate.

The two other reviews seem questionable. They read like an add for the book.

Honestly, the book has nice illustrations. It is short on design princples, and long on examples. Check out Robin Williams Non-Designer's book as well.

Visual Design Fundamentals: A Digital Approach by Alan Hashimoto (Associate Professor of Graphic Design and Computer Art, Utah State University) is a superbly organized and presented resource and self-teaching guide for artists and designers seeking to take advantage of basic computer skills and techniques to create appealing, emotionally charged, and attention-gathering works of two-dimensional art. Visual Design Fundamentals includes straightforward tutorials and projects using Adobe Illustrator CS and Adobe Photoshop CS in order to provide hands-on experience with principles such as modular design, color theory, typeface design, figure abstraction, and more. An included CD offers files needed to complete the projects and trial versions of Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop. Highly recommended for an graphic artist seeking to create and utilize computer generated illustrations and/or designs, Visual Design Fundamentals is replete with both black-and-white and color illustrations throughout which wonderfully enhance the detailed, practical, "user friendly" instructions.

This book is for anyone new to design fundamentals, digital art and computer imaging software. The author, Alan Hashimoto, has written two books in one. First, he discusses the elements and principals of two-dimensional art design and how they apply to both traditional art mediums and the digital art medium. Second, the book is an introduction to digital imaging software. He discusses the difference between object-oriented and paint software. Throughout the book he teaches the basic skills needed for creating artwork on the computer using both Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. However the two objectives of this book are well integrated. The author has done a great job of demonstrating how to apply traditional design fundamentals to 2D digital art. He then reinforces this with seven digital art projects which help the reader to apply this knowledge while creating computer generated art.

Hashimoto discusses the design elements of line, shape, space, volume, value, color and texture and the principals of design such as unity, variety and balance. His explanations are easy to understand even for the novice and he uses many full-color digital art examples. However the best aspect of this book is the conceptual process used for completing the seven digital projects. This process starts by defining the design challenge and then brainstorming various approaches with thumbnail sketches. Next the design is further refined into roughs which incorporate more details. The final phases of the process are a trial run of the finished design and then the completed design.

The purpose of these seven projects is not only to apply the information in the book to real life examples but to demonstrate how the steps of the conceptual process can be accomplished using the computer. Hashimoto first discusses the traditional methods used for completing the process and then progresses on to digital methods. His step-by-step instructions for the Adobe software are very thorough and easy to follow. Even if you have not used this type of software before, these projects will teach you the basics of the software and how to use it. He also covers related topics such as scanning your artwork into the computer and printing your completed projects. I enjoyed all seven of the projects. But the one that I found especially useful was typeface design.

Project One - Modular Design
Project Two - Letterforms and Shape
Project Three - Figure Abstraction and Non-Objective Shape
Project Four - Value
Project Five - Color Theory
Project Six - Typeface Design
Project Seven - Digital Montage/Collage

Reading this book was like attending an art course at your favorite university. The author's presentation of the information resembled a class lecture which he reinforced with class assignments. So it is no surprise that Alan Hashimoto is an associate professor at Utah State University where he teaches graphic design and computer art. He is also an accomplished artist.

It's really very interesting and useful book for corporate finance and you can find many good and usful things in this book!

I am new to Finance aspects. This book very well served the purpose. Thank you

"Fundamentals of Corporate Finance" is a recommended textbook of finance which is simple to read and follow. I am a Senior Engineering manager and wanted to have a good grasp of financial principles and concepts. I found the book to be very user friendly. As I go up the corporate ladder, I need a good grasp of financial concepts and their practical implementation in the real corporate world. This book provided me with most the information I needed.

The book will enable the reader to use the theory underlying corporate financial decisions to assess advanced corporate issues and decisions. The major topics covered in the book include financial statements, valuation of cash flows, capital structure and budgeting, risk and return, use of debt and equity, cash and credit management and international corporate finance, among other topics.

The book has a wide range of learning tools that should facilitate the learning process. Reference to several website reinforces the concepts being presented in the book. Whether one is a student wishing to learn the important subject of finance or a manager wishing to manage the company finances more effectively, this is a good choice of book.

The only limitation I found in the book is its main focus on US systems only with few examples on what is happening in Europe and elsewhere. To learn about the City Institutions (London) or European Stock Exchanges, for example, you have to search for your information elsewhere. Notwithstanding this, I enjoyed reading the book, particularly self-assessing my understanding by attempting the exercises in the CD-ROM which comes with the book.

Wow! Great! Excellent! Amazing etc.., the list can continue.This is one book that any starter in finance area will want to learn from. Its a power-packed source of information for any student who is just starting to learn finance, however if you are already a pro in finance, then don't even considering this book because you'll finish reading the entire book in a couple of weeks.

I used this book for my exams preparation along with brealey myers text and the combination simply pushed my rank into the outstanding bracket.

This book is particularly useful for the following chapters:
5. Introductio to valuation: time value of money
6. Discounted cash flow - Interesting chapter opening
7. Interest Rates and Bond Valuation - Great Derivations
8. Stock Valuation - Once again great derivation on formula's
9-11: Capital budgeting - will be useful to only absolute starters. I liked the material in Brealey Myers text, it is more advanced
12. Some lessons from corporate market history
13. Return,Risk and Security Market Line
15. Cost of Capital
19-21: Short Term Finance - Best coverage, though not complete in all respects.

Finally one honest note, I didn't know how to produce PV/FV/Annuity tables by myself before I bought this book. Now I able to produce them all by myself.

I you want to dig deeper in finance, just like I am doing, then I suggest you buy this book and principles of corporate finance by brealey myers.This book will provide you with the base that is needed to cover the other book that I mentioned.

Believe the review on this page that says the book is astonishing. I've never read anything quite like it. Why would anyone who read it call it "senseless" - ? That reader really missed the mark. This is fascinating writing - the author is a master at seeing similarities between things which, on the surface, are dissimilar. From high culture to low, Haskell brings it all together into one frame. I recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone interested in ficition that isn't dead in the water. If you're tired of formulaic writing, this one will wake you up. This is infused with motion and risk. A lovely book, my favorite of many read in the last year.

Publisher's Weekly (editorial reviews) describes the nature of this book far better than the previous customer review. Haskell is ambitious, knows this work is perversely anomalous, but isn't motivated by difference for its own sake. He's winnowed down what really interests him in fiction and is relying on myth, news accounts, and film scenarios the way a composer might riff on familiar melodies.

None of these pieces (though in a sense the complete book has an inviolate structure of its own) was transcendent, however. I was interested but not rapt. No sirens or fireworks went off. But Haskell is nonetheless an artist in the best sense; he is after something beyond the familiar confines of fiction, is following his own muse without apology or a need to ingratiate himself with the reader, and I have a strong hunch that his best efforts lie ahead. He is original, focused, and definitely a writer to watch.

John Haskell is a writer new to the reading (though not the performing) world and his voice is one that stirs interest, primarily because it is unique. He tells these nine 'short stories' - they seem more like extended meditations or themes and fugues - in a manner that combines known public figures (a particular penchant for old movie stars and old movies) with imaginary cast members to explore the thin line of reality vs fiction. He makes bizarre choices in combining such people as Orson Welles, Joseph Coton, Falstaff, Prince Hal and Janet Leigh to ponder self perception:"...once we think we know who we are, to change who we are means giving up what we love, even if we hate it." The haiku poet Basho is intertwined with thoughts about John Keats; Keats falls short of relating to Fanny Brawne until he faces his moment of death; Basho confesses he "...wants to find beauty and harmony, but something is always distracting him - people usually - pulling him off the road." Mercedes McCambridge, the devil voice of Linda Blair in "The Exorcist", struggles with alcoholism, Joan of Arc is recallled historically and through the various guises of the actress who portrayed her in the film. Sound confusing? Well it is, and sometimes the obtuseness of Haskell's technique borders on not the absurd, but the senseless. I think we're seeing the early work of a mind that is rich in fluid imagination. I feel as though this author has a lot to say but is hiding behind the likes of Jackson Pollock and Joan of Arc and Ganesha for fear of not being noticed. I don't think he needs this gimmick and I eagerly await his next novel. He WILL be noticed on his own rights.

John Haskell's first short story collection takes key figures from history, identifies them at defining moments in their existence and builds a story around them to explain their significance. It's an interesting take on the short story, which some say is a dying art, and Haskell does good work, for the most part.

His premise, though, turns the "stories" into more analysis of moment than a narrative. Occasionally, the stories become bogged down and feel like essays, though this is itself is intellectually stimulating.

He gives the reader a look inside Jackson Pollock's head in one piece, granting you the opportunity to follow Pollock's reasoning.

In "Elephant Feelings," the best of the stories, Haskell takes three figures from culture and history and draws parallels between them. (It feels like a shorter version of "The Hours," even, except with mythical characters and an elephant playing the Virginia Woolf part.) But not enough is done with the premise, in my opinion.

As with all the stories, I felt like the characters and moments were well-drawn. But, to justify going into all this detail, I wished it'd featured less analysis and more plot.

Quite a good book and ideal to focus a course around

This is a comprehensive geology book with good graphics that illustrate hard to understand concepts. This edition is almost exactly the same as the 2003 fourth edition. However be aware that the chapters are in a different order in the third edition

The textbook is very well written and beautifully and effectively illustrated. Critical topics, especially plate tectonics, are thoroughly discussed. The review questions at the end of the chapters are very useful for recitations and laboratories. The glossary is also helpful, but not all bolded terms in the text (such as theory and hypothesis) are located in the glossary. The appendices include mineral identification tables, unit conversions, and information on topographic and geologic maps. The third edition has been extensively reorganized and most of the changes are definite improvements of an already superior textbook. One negative point: one of my students had a malfunctioning CD in her copy of the third edition.

I took a base-level intro course on geology and we used this book, and I found it to be very straight forward and casual. The soft cover was durable and easy to manipulate....which means a lot when you have to make the most of minimal space!

If you purchase the book use the data. One may follow a path to introspection and learn more about their higher self. An introduction that may assist one walking the path. The book is in my library, good quick read.

Meadows' clarity and easy-to-understand approach to the search for meaning and purpose guides a novice such as I along a path to self-identity and realization of inner potential and individual responsibility. This book is a must for readers who seek information on self-discovery, the many (often hard-to-understand) aspects of life science, self-fulfillment, and understanding of life's journey. Summary? Great book, hope you enjoy it too!

In the preface of this book it is written "In this very action of writing is sometimes contained an essence that is not of the mind, that essence comes from the Spirit and is conveyed to the Spirit of the one who reads the words with an Open Heart." These ancient truths can assist one in creating a relationship with the universe. The sun, the moon, and the stars are alive and they are not separate from us. This book contains a complete understanding of what one needs to know about Truth and Great Spirit. Many of the spiritual teachings out there in my opinion miss the mark where this hits it right on the money. Read and learn the Value of "Balance" according to the teachings of the "Medicine Wheel" and "Directional Technology" and see how even the teachings we have come to trust for many years are one step off. Contained within these teachings are the secrets to a happy marriage, a successful career, a healthy body and mind as well as a true spirituality. This book teaches you how to move from one direction to the next and keep them all in balance. These are not the teachings of Kenneth Meadows they are the teachings of Great Spirit, they are the ancient truths passed on in an oral tradition from the native people who have recieved their guidance in Ceremony communicating with the Ancient Ones. In these short words I cannot possibly decribe to you the depth of value hidden within this book, my hope is that everyone can read this book and see the truth and the widsom that is there for all of us. So trust me if you are seeking truth, you will one day come to see that most all of the teachings you will read about are only sections of the pie and what is taught here is the entire pie. I don't know Kenneth Meadows and may never meet him but I do recognize truth when I see it. Keep up the good work Kenneth our world needs the understanding.

While a fairly interesting look at shamanism (along with a few other peripherially related spiritual tools), this book is also published as Shamanic Spirt, under which title, it comes with a CD of shamanic drumming. Don't get confused and buy both!

This book has been enormously helpful for me! Although it is HUGE and HEAVY to lug around, I know that the material that is inside is both interesting and accurate. The concepts are explained in terms for lay people, and the pictures/graphs they use are usually helpful to re-define points.

Would I buy this book for fun? Likely not, but for the class I'm taking that requires it I don't think it was money wasted.

Easy comfortable transaction - shipped quickly. Item in the condition as listed. Thanks.

Alright. So, you're hopefully going into a biology class and this book is required for the course. If you plan on just reading the textbook for the hell of it, have at it, but its going to take some pure biology interest to want to even finish the first five chapters. But, for a bio. course, its an awesome book for its in depth details, numerous easy-to-understand figures, and readily available cd-rom. The book is def. helpful, especially when you don't like hearing useless lectures.

I am also a chemistry student and I found the book to be rather easy, but that is because the text is very clearly written with good presentation and concise wording. It is certainly a good place to start in trying to understand an environmental problem, especially if the readers background in chemistry is only on a general and limited organic level.

I took a web-based environmental chem course, and this book was used in lieu of lectures. The author does an outstanding job of presentation and the text is very well-organized. Includes a lot of current information. The problems within the text are very challenging and reflect real world issues (i.e., PCB concentrations in the Great Lakes) My only criticism is that the chapters are sometimes overly long. Other than that, this is one of the best E-chem texts I've come up against, and I certainly learned more from it than I would have from listening to a prof lecturing for a term. Recommended highly!

Environmetal chemistry is a very helpful book for studensts in environmental chemistry studies. But as a pure chemistry student i find some parts of the book too easy, even boring at times, specially the chapters on organic environmental chemistry.On the other hand the chapters on physical environmental chemistry are very good and contain challenging problems.

buy all three in this series and settle down to pure enjoyment.

While it lacks the originality of the first volume and the emotional intensity of the third, this second volume in Galeano's "Memory of Fire" trilogy is still extraordinary, essential reading for anyone who wishes to better understand the Western Hemisphere. (That should be everyone, right?)

This second volume leaves off where Galeano's "Genesis" left off...it continues in the same style with history breathing just as fresh as today's headlines...the struggle and minglings of many worlds come together clashing for better or for worse in the Americas, producing something entirely new...countries are born, with bloodshed and lust... I recommend this book on Latino history because it tells history passionately driven by the authors own views which he does not even pretend to hide...the writing itself is beautiful...the prose becomes poetic...and he weaves from many sources...I will definitely read this work again!

The text was brand new and a great savings over the college book store price. Came quickly.

The Lab Manual I purchase "used condition, some writing". Was in very good condition. Only 2-5 pages were written on and the remainder of the Manual was perfect. Shipping was in one weeks time with a guarentee, and option to send back if I wasn't satisfied. The Lab Manual met my need. *And much cheaper than buying the Manual from school.

While this book was helpful in my AP Biology class, we spent many periods debating over how to interpret certain diagrams, only to find out that the reason it was so hard to understand was because the diagram itself was badly drawn. Some are more complicated or more simple than they need to be, one or two are just wrong. However, I highly recommend this book to anyone who learns well by the written word rather than by pictures.