Book Description
Do you know what the best feature is in All New Square Foot Gardening?
Sure, there are ten new features in this all-new, updated book. Sure, it's even simpler than it was before. Of course, you don't have to worry about fertilizer or poor soil ever again because you'll be growing above the ground.
But, the best feature is that anyone, anywhere can enjoy a Square Foot garden. Children, adults with limited mobility, even complete novices can achieve spectacular results.
But, let's get back to the ten improvements. You're going to love them.
1)
New
Location - Move your garden closer to your house by eliminating single-row gardening. Square Foot Garden needs just twenty percent of the space of a traditional garden.
2)
New
Direction - Locate your garden on top of existing soil. Forget about pH soil tests, double-digging (who enjoys that?), or the never-ending soil improvements.
3)
New
Soil - The new "Mel's Mix" is the perfect growing mix. Why, we even give you the recipe. Best of all, you can even buy the different types of compost needed.
4)
New
Depth - You only need to prepare a SFG box to a depth of 6 inches! It's true--the majority of plants develop just fine when grown at this depth.
5)
No Fertilizer - The all new SFG does not need any fertilizer-ever! If you start with the perfect soil mix, then you don't need to add fertilizer.
6)
New Boxes - The new method uses bottomless boxes placed aboveground. We show you how to build your own (with step-by-step photos).
7)
New Aisles - The ideal gardening aisle width is about three to four feet. That makes it even easier to kneel, work, and harvest.
8)
New Grids - Prominent and permanent grids added to your SFG box help you visualize the planting squares and know how to space for maximum harvest.
9)
New Seed Saving Idea - The old-fashioned way advocates planting many seeds and then thinning the extras (that means pulling them up). The new method means planting a pinch- literally two or three seeds--per planting hole.
10)
Tabletop Gardens - The new boxes are so much smaller and lighter (only 6 inches of soil, remember?), you can add a plywood bottom to make them portable.
Of course, that's not all. We've also included simple, easy-to-follow instructions using lots of photos and illustrations. You're going to love it!
Customer Reviews:
Practical and Easy Gardening.......2007-10-10
I have been interested in gardening for years and have even attempted it a time or two. The results were never pretty. This book has helped me turn over a new leaf! I feel like I can garden without having to constantly experiment with the details - what soil mixture should I use, where can I find room, how much should I plant, etc. I followed his directions in making and gridding my box, the soil mixture, planting ,etc. I love the easiness of it all and how crisp and clean it looks! I am excited about my garden and have even intrigued my dad( who is an avid gardener) with this method! We are both experimenting together!
Helpful book.......2007-09-14
This a good book, but the author's ego is the size of the Atlantic Ocean. If you can get past his bragging and self-promotion, the book has some good ideas and helpful information. I like this book (the author can be inspiring and has obviously given a lot of thought to his ideas), but I like Gaia's Garden and Food Not Lawns better.
One idea the author doesn't mention is the use of free wood chips as a ground cover. Here in Portland, you can call most arborists and they will deliver free ground trees. It's better for the arborists than paying to dispose of the ground trees at a recycling center and they will schedule the delivery when they're in your area to minimize their delivery distance. You can minimize weeds by laying down a thick layer of newspapers or cardboard, and then covering them with wood chips.
Gardening with a bad back.......2007-09-09
I had back surgery 5 years ago and had to give up gardening. Last Spring a friend gave me a copy of Square Foot Gardening. I had someone build me a 4x8 foot garden on legs 4 feet tall and planted a vegetable garden that was so successful that we joked that it was going to take over the world! I have since had another built. It is so exciting to me to be able to grow things again! I would recommend that you have one built for a friend or parent who is unable to keep up with a regular garden. It is a wonderful feeling to eat what you have grown.
Diane Woodward
North Carolina
Great Book!.......2007-09-07
I love this book and can't wait to try out his methods of gardening. Pictures are very pretty. Instructions easy to understand.
Never too late (for SFG).......2007-09-05
This is a innovative, creative, common sense approach to engaging in the wonderwful world of gardening in a straightforward and easily managed way. Thanks Mel. (p.s. these words are from the person to whom I gifted this book)
Book Description
One of the bestselling garden books ever is fresher than ever! Ready to inspire a whole new generation of gardeners.When he created the "square foot gardening" method, Mel Bartholomew, a retired engineer and efficiency expert, found the solution to the frustrations of most gardeners. His revolutionary system is simple: it's an ingenious planting method based on using square foot blocks of garden space instead of rows. Gardeners build up, not down, so there's no digging and no tilling after the first year. And the method requires less thinning, less weeding, and less watering."I found a better way to garden, one that's more efficient, more manageable, and requires less work," Bartholomew explains. Not surprisingly, his method quickly received worldwide recognition and has been written up in every major newspaper and gardening magazine. His book, which served as the companion to the nationally acclaimed television series, has sold over 800,000 copies. Now freshened with new illustrations, the book Ingram calls "the largest selling garden book in America" is reissued for the delight of a whole new generation of gardeners.
Customer Reviews:
Best Garden Book for Beginers .......2007-09-05
I have owned this book for years. Worn out more that one copy. This copy was purchased to give to a new urbanm garden project in a develpomently challanged area of my city. We will be teaching at rick young people how to garden and landscape. This is one of many tools we will use and is as far as I am concerned the best how to do it garden book for people who have little or no knowledge about gardening.
Not "Just" for Small Spaces.......2007-05-12
Wonderful information is contained throughout this book for gardeners planting in small 4'X4' spaces to huge gardens. In fact, "Square Foot Gardening" is chocked full of useful information which can and should be used in any size gearden from a small container on the patio to very large gardens. The info saves a gardener many back-breaking laborous hours.
Before I read this book, I did not know that cantalopes can be trellised, which saves "those" vines from rambling all over the garden. There is too much info to be missed without this great book.
Square Foot Gardening: A New Way to Garden in Less Space with Less Work.......2007-03-11
All the information a gardener needs to begin this method of raising flowers and vegetables is found in this book, which pleases me greatly.
Love it -- it's so easy!.......2007-03-02
The techniques in this book ABSOLUTELY work! I have 3 4'x4' raised garden beds, and all seeds I planted are sprouting (and I have seeds left over for planting later in the season, too--no more wasted seeds).
Mr. Bartholomew explains all of his techniques very well and the book is very easy to read. I'm especially fond of his formula for good garden soil and planting with coarse vermiculite. I think this an extremely important step in preparing the garden, and I attribute my success, so far, to his detailed instructions regarding soil prep.
I'm not a great gardener by any stretch of the imagination, so I love the idea that I am growing more in a smaller space, plus my weeding HAS been very minimal. His technique of growing in "grids" is also very visually appealing and my children (ages 18 mos to 11 years) can very easily see what's happening and identify the vegetables that are growing.
Kudos to Mr. Bartholomew for writing such a helpful book for those not-so-green-thumb gardeners!
I just can't be this meticulous.......2007-02-02
Is anyone really this uptight about measuring everything and not overproducing vegetables? The methods are organic and the garden looks lovely, but can you truly guarantee that no matter how well you take care of your garden you will have no losses to critters or pests? Last year, I had a family of raccoons move in and eat half of my sweet corn. The only reason my family got any was because I planted more than what we needed. The coons also got the raspberries and grapes. I've also lost beans and peas to rabbits, and been invaded from time to time by various creepy-crawlies. A garden is not grown in isolation, at least, not mine. I preserve what we can't use in season or store it in the root cellar, and when I get extra veggies I share them with friends and family. They are always welcome.
The techniques are good and I agree that it is better to take care of a small patch of garden well than to care for a large patch poorly. I am just more of a "cottage garden" style gardener, so this was not the book for me. If you like this book you should read some books by Eliot Coleman. He's a very precise gardener, too.
Book Description
The Bogleheads’ Guide to Investing is a slightly irreverent, straightforward guide to investing for everyone. The book offers sound, practical advice, no matter what your age or net worth. Bottomline, become a Boglehead and prosper! Originally just the chat-line ruminations of Boglehead founder Taylor Larimore, and Morningstar forum leading cohorts Mel Lindauer and Michael LeBoeuf, their trusted advice has been brewed and distilled into an easy-to-use, need-to-know, no frills guide to building up your own financial well-being – so you can worry less and profit more from the investments you make. Invest like a Boglehead, and let their grassroots investment wisdom guide you down the path of long-term wealth creation and happiness, without all the worries and fuss of stock pickers and day traders. If you face a financial crisis or problem, or simply want to know what is prudent to do with the money you save, the Bogleheads will have the answers you need to help you gain your financial footing and keep it.
Download Description
The Bogleheads Guide to Investing is a slightly irreverent, straightforward guide to investing for everyone. The book offers sound, practical advice, no matter what your age or net worth. Bottomline, become a Boglehead and prosper! Originally just the chat-line ruminations of Boglehead founder Taylor Larimore, and Morningstar forum leading cohorts Mel Lindauer and Michael LeBoeuf, their trusted advice has been brewed and distilled into an easy-to-use, need-to-know, no frills guide to building up your own financial well-being so you can worry less and profit more from the investments you make. Invest like a Boglehead, and let their grassroots investment wisdom guide you down the path of long-term wealth creation and happiness, without all the worries and fuss of stock pickers and day traders. If you face a financial crisis or problem, or simply want to know what is prudent to do with the money you save, the Bogleheads will have the answers you need to help you gain your financial footing and keep it.
Customer Reviews:
I'm a diehard boglehead.......2007-06-27
The one book every invester must read. Besides simple to understand investing wisdom it tells you how to approach all of your financial decisions.
The Gospel According to John (Bogle).......2007-05-21
This book contains a wealth (hah! pun!) of useful information for two kinds of people: 1) novice investors; 2) experienced investors who have not had much success (probably because they didn't follow the strategies outlined in this book).
As the book explains, one of the most important things for investors to understand about people in the financial industry is that most of them are salesmen; i.e, they make their money by taking your money. As Woody Allen said, "A broker is someone who invests your money until it's all gone." Once you understand that fact, everything else falls into place.
Another important thing for investors to understand is that history teaches valuable lessons about investing. In particular, history teaches that no one can beat the market consistently, and trying to beat the market is expensive. No one wants to be an expensive failure, so being satisfied with merely tying the market, not beating it, is eminently sensible. Index funds are cheap, reliable ways to tie the market; therefore, investing in index funds is eminently sensible. You can't beat the market that way, but you can beat the vast majority of the fools wasting their money trying to beat the market.
Another important thing for investors to understand is that the market is volatile, therefore having a diversified portfolio of non-correlated investments is eminently sensible. The book provides specific advice about how to diversify, including advice about how the recommended asset allocation might change over time. (Bogle's company, Vanguard, has a reputation for being pretty conservative. Not surprisingly, the recommendations in this book are pretty conservative too. Personally, I think the recommended stock/bond allocations are too conservative by 10% or more at each stage of life, but that could be just personal preference.)
In addition to the central concepts and strategies summarized above, this book also has chapters on the importance of saving early and often, retirement calculators to help you figure out how much you need to retire, withdrawal strategies for making your retirement funds last as long as you do, the potentially devastating impact of inflation and taxes, why market-timing and chasing performance are doomed to failure, strategies for saving for college, the basics of insurance and annuities, and a very brief discussion of estate planning.
All in all, I thought this was a very informative book. Novice investors would certainly benefit from it. Unsuccessful investors would also certainly benefit from it. Experienced, successful investors are probably already following its recommendations, so they might not get too much out of it, other than confirmation of how clever they are. And that's not an entirely bad thing either!
Best Financial Advise.......2007-05-19
My employer loaned me The Bogleheads Guide to Investing to read. It is a simple and concise way to understand investing and finances. I wished it had been available years ago. After I gave it back to her I purchased my own copy to review it as I needed. My brother saw my copy and ordered 6 copies for himself and his grown children. I would recommend this book for anyone interested in acquiring a secure financial future. I would even recommend it even if you are not interested because one day you will be.
Excellent financial advice.......2007-05-13
Every ordinary working class investor should follow the advice in this book for financial success. I am a believer in Vanguard, and would recommend them to everyone.
Bogleheads' A++.......2007-04-07
As a recent college graduate with little to no expenses I found myself with a small nest egg and absolutely zero direction. My money was rotting away in a lowest interest savings account.
After reading many financial/investing books I feel like I have found the one that gives direction, realistic goals, and options. This book is honest and easy to understand. It teaches the power of combining indexing with compounding.
I recommend this to all that are new to investing. If you are an experienced investor you might find the book is a bit basic but keep in mind how much information the writers packed into this book.
Brian Campbell
Amazon.com
Recognizing each child's intellectual, emotional, and physical strengths--and teaching directly to these strengths--is key to sculpting "a mind at a time," according to Dr. Mel Levine. While this flashing yellow light will not surprise many skilled educators, limited resources often prevent them from shifting their instructional gears. But to teachers and parents whose children face daily humiliation at school, the author bellows, "Try harder!" A professor of pediatrics at the University of North Carolina Medical School, Levine eloquently substantiates his claim that developmental growth deserves the same monitoring as a child's physical growth.
Tales of creative, clumsy, impulsive, nerdy, intuitive, loud-mouthed, and painfully shy kids help Levine define eight specific mind systems (attention, memory, language, spatial ordering, sequential ordering, motor, higher thinking, and social thinking). Levine also incorporates scientific research to show readers how the eight neurodevelopmental systems evolve, interact, and contribute to a child's success in school. Detailed steps describe how mental processes (like problem solving) work for capable kids, and how they can be finessed to serve those who struggle. Clear, practical suggestions for fostering self-monitoring skills and building self-esteem add the most important elements to this essential--yet challenging--program for "raisin' brain." --Liane Thomas
Book Description
"Different minds learn differently," writes Dr. Mel Levine, one of the best-known learning experts and pediatricians in America today. Some students are strong in certain areas and some are strong in others, but no one is equally capable in all. Yet most schools still cling to a one-size-fits-all education philosophy. As a result, many children struggle because their learning patterns don't fit the way they are being taught.
In his #1 New York Times bestseller A Mind at a Time, Dr. Levine shows parents and those who care for children how to identify these individual learning patterns, explaining how they can strengthen a child's abilities and either bypass or help overcome the child's weaknesses, producing positive results instead of repeated frustration and failure.
Consistent progress can result when we understand that not every child can do equally well in every type of learning and begin to pay more attention to individual learning patterns -- and individual minds -- so that we can maximize children's success and gratification in life. In A Mind at a Time Dr. Levine shows us how.
Download Description
Different minds learn differently, writes Dr. Mel Levine, one of the best-known education experts and pediatricians in America today. And that's a problem for many children, because most schools still cling to a one-size-fits-all education philosophy. As a result, these children struggle because their learning patterns don't fit the schools they are in. In A Mind at a Time, Dr. Levine shows parents and others who care for children how to identify these individual learning patterns.
Customer Reviews:
Instruction manual.......2007-09-16
Thank you Dr. Levine for this instruction manual about the mind!!! I have read this book several times already and learn something new each time I read it. I continue to use it as a reference for when I am stumped about either my own behavior or a child's behavior.
Informative - should be read by all parents and teachers!.......2007-03-28
This book clearly defines how different minds learn and process the vast amounts of information encountered on a daily basis in school and in everyday life. The author is clearly at the top of his field and can very easily communicate his findings in a way that is easy to comprehend, extremely informative and interesting to read.
A Mind at a Time.......2006-11-05
This book provides an excellent explanation of the frustrations that some kids face on a day to day basis. This book should be required reading for all teachers, parents, and any other profession which works with children.
Thank you Dr. Levine.......2006-08-31
I loved this book because I believe that every child is unique and I appreciate being reminded about the complexity of the brain and why it should be expected that we all have little quirks. Educators can sadly have blinders to differences in learning style. Mel Levine's work reminds me of Howard Gardner's in many ways. I sense that he truly cares about kids and I like that he supports what is best practice in education. Levine says he can learn more about a child by getting to know that child than by reading a list of test scores........let's hear it for that! Levine says, "sometimes you fix a weakness by pursuing strengths." I support that positive approach. To enhance my teaching I found many great quotes perfect for Back to School night and parents who have borrowed his book have enjoyed it immensely.
An eye-opener and food for thought.......2006-05-03
I first picked up this book because I believe that every child is an individual and has individual needs. When I started reading the book I finally found someone else who believes that too. Levine carefully looks at each "learning disability" and breaks it down into various components. Upon reading, I began to see many of my own RSP students more clearly. Susie doesn't just have ADD,she has problems with auditory distrators. For those naysayers, perhaps Levine is ahead of his time, perhaps he has seen somethings others haven't yet (remember, there was a time when folks that blood-letting was appropriate). For me and several of my professional friends, this book is an inspiration to look more deeply at each student and it gives us the tools to do so. It is heavy reading, I will admit. I actually took the content and created a graphic reading guide to go with it for my staff because you can get lost in it if you are not a careful reader. This is not casual bedtime reading.
Book Description
Patriots: Surviving the Coming Collapse is novel set in the near future that describes a full scale socioeconomic collapse. More than just an exciting read, it is packed with useful survival and preparedness tips. It was described by one reviewer as "A survival manual neatly dressed as fiction."
An earlier short draft edition of the novel was distributed as shareware on the Internet in the early 1990s. At the time, despite the relatively small readership of the Internet, it had more than 82,000 downloads, making it the net´s most popular shareware novel of the decade. It was hosted at seven mirror sites on three continents.
"Patriots" is distinctly pro-Christian, pro-preparedness, pro-gun ownership, and anti-racist. It is considered a "must read" by those are concerned with the fragility of our society, and those interested in preparedness. It is also popular in Libertarian circles. "Patriots" was authored by James Wesley, Rawles, the editor of www.SurvivalBlog.com
Customer Reviews:
PATRIOTS Survivng the Coming Collapse.......2007-10-10
This is my second reading of "Patriots" and I also bought a second copy for a good friend. This book is loaded with technical and general survival information and is a very good action read. "Patriots" details a socio-economic collapse of the American way of life. A dedicated group of survivalists locate to Idaho and establish an enclave, independent of the power grid, fuel, and food support that fails during the big "Crunch". The story evolves into the group participation in a nationwide conflict called "The Second Civil War, whereupon United Nations troops have invaded the United States, supported by home grown American traitors.
The Group name themselves the Northwest Militia and become a major leader of American partisan resistence. This is a very believable story and will serve not only to entertain the reader but will likely prompt the reader to become more self sufficient, if ever such an event would take place. This is a very good read, and certainly one you don't want to miss.
"Patrriots" the Book.......2007-07-22
"Patriots" is one of the best books of its type I have ever read. Though written in a novel format, it can readly serve as a primer or manual of preparedness in these uncertain times. The author sets a very plausible background for the cause of collapse that is as current as today's headlines. AS well, it develops into dire case at the end, almost worst case. Throughout the book, the author through his characters (most of the main ones anyway)show their Christian beliefs and the dispensing of charity. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to prepare for uncertain times, regardless of their nature, invasion, pandemic, storms, etc.
Good reference.......2007-06-23
This a good read on basic survival skills. The best parts of this
book are author's recommendations on "existing" products.
Dressed as a novel, it provides a good reference book on guns and other
survival tools and materials.
The story line is poorly developed; it looks like the author wanted
to squeeze in as many details about the survival "tools/materials" and
the actual story takes a back seat.
It is a good read and I recommend this book even if you are not Christian
or don't like guns.
It is a must read for Christians and gun enthusiasts.
Militia-Style Survivalist Manual in a Fiction Format.......2007-06-08
Patriots is a TEOWAWKI , militia-style survivalist novel packed with information. While Patriots does mention stockpiling food and the use of non-hybrid seeds this is not a book about self-sufficiency. The premise of the novel is that an economic depression spirals out of control. The economy completely collapses, money becomes worthless, the mail stops, the power grid and phone system shuts down and the government at all levels disappears. In the story this period is understatedly call the Crunch, but no depression in the history of the United States has been nearly so severe. Even church services appear to stop for several years.
With the United States in turmoil and collapse, the United Nations and at least some international banks have survived. Together they become the catalyst behind a provisional federal government that seeks to exert near dictatorial control over America. Frankly, I believe there is much more strength in the institutions of the United States than there ever was in the United Nations and so this plot scenario strained believability for me. However, when asked, James Rawles stated, "I made the scenario in the novel a near `worst case' in order to make it more interesting reading, and as an opportunity to show the need for planning and preparedness in a variety of areas..."
Using the Crunch as a literary device Rawles packs the novel with data about guns, medicine, fuels, equipment and tactics. The book has been described in several online reviews as a "survival manual fairly neatly dressed as fiction." Indeed it is much more entertaining than reading the facts in a reference book or manual. But this is also the greatest weakness. It is hard to pack facts into a novel without the author intruding into the story. Much of this story is told in the form of narration, as opposed to showing within the flow of the events. Characterization is weak. Both author intrusion and narration weaken the literary quality of the story but add to the amount of information Rawles packs into the book
Recommendation: The information is five-star, the literary quality is two star. Buy Patriots for the "survival manual," not the fiction story.
Excellent source of information.......2007-05-15
As other reviewers have mentioned, this book starts out kind of slow. It goes through the description of the how the economy came to be in such a bad shape and then describes how it fell. It was not something I personally cared for. However once you get past the details of how the U.S.A. economy crashed the book takes you on a winding path of survival and patriotism.
The book is a great source for anyone wanting to know more about preparing for any long term emergency. The author goes into detail about what equipment the characters have and where they got modifications to those pieces of equipment. He then goes on to give an appendix listing where most of the items can be purchased or services rendered.
All in all, I gave it 5 stars not only for the great source of information but the very entertaining fiction read.
Also if you enjoy this book you will most likely enjoy "Lights Out".[...]
Book Description
Updated and revised, this new edition of the best-selling favorite enables readers to master the fundamentals of humor writing and better understand the demands of the comedic market. Comedy Writing Secrets now includes:
-Examples from comedy greats as well as cutting-edge contemporary comedians, including Jon Stewart, Chris Rock, and Tina Fey
-A complete spectrum of techniques, from writing one-liners and stand-up routines, to finding a market for one's work
-Step-by-step writing exercises accompanied with sample answers, so readers can practice and hone their skills
With this guide, aspiring comics can learn how to sharpen their comedic talent and turn it into a well-paying pursuit.
Customer Reviews:
You'll love it!... if you're 67.......2007-09-21
The reason there are no good books on comedy is because it is an inherently impossible field to "break down" and "explain." These guys do an okay job of relaying the history of comedy, but they do nothing to actually explain anything.
Besides that fundamental flaw, these guys are simply too old and the book reads like my grandfather's "1001 Polish Jokes." This advice would have been pretty helpful is honing your standup routine for Ed Sullivan but in 2007 it just seems pathetic and lame.
Dated, but useful.......2007-09-13
If you can get this book cheap, then I would recommend it simply for the fundamentals. However, it is a painful book to read; it is very old (1987) and, ahem, in some ways politically incorrect (but then again, everyone is so damn sensitive these days). I first read this book in 1989 - and it was useful. I picked it up again this year (2007) and realized two great lessons: 1) That some forms of comedy are classic and will always work. 2) That times change and humor does as well ... what might have worked for you two years ago may need to be reworked and changed around.
Well done!!!.......2007-07-26
This is a good book for anyone who wants to learn methods and concepts on comedy writing, or even how to construct material/jokes for their own personal life. This book is aimed toward people going into stand-up or comedy writing, but it is also very useful for people who just want to broaden their sense of humor. This book is broken down into different concepts and joke types, and each joke type is explained on how it is constructed. This book also has exercises on how to observe things differently, particularly how to "find the funny" in everyday things, and to take these observations and turn them into tools for laughter. I recommend this book to anyone entering the field of comedy, and also to people who would just like to expand their sense of humor. There are also some very good jokes inside! Very enjoyable read!
What other comedy books don't tell you.......2007-07-13
And it's not because they are withholding the information either!
Breaking down comedy into a scientific method is not an easy process. PLUS, there's a lot more to it than just understanding the core structure of comedy. With that being said, I think you'll find a lot of gems in this book that will make you funnier in your every day life.
Not just for writing comedy, this book will help you be funnier in general in your interactions with your friends and co-workers.
A lot of it deal with content. As this book was written for Comedy WRITING, it was written in mind that you cannot use your personality, way of acting as a shtick. So it relies heavily on the CONTENT... it's very potent, because communication is said to be over 90% body language.
If this is true, and you learn (and you can) to be funny with the remaining 10%, IMAGINE... how funny you could be if you started working on your general ating shticks and personas.
I've used this book to see how I could use it in my every day to be more interesting in general I think it will serve you well if that's what you're looking for.
VERY HELPFUL FOR ACTORS.......2007-03-09
THIS IS A GREAT BOOK OVERALL. AS AN ACTOR I HAVE FOUND THE TECHNIQUES HELPFUL FOR MY ACTING AND SCREENWRITING AS WELL. YOU REALLY NEED TO BE PATIENT WITH THIS BOOK AS IT IS LONG-WINDED AT TIMES. IT'S QUITE THROUGH THOUGH AND DOING THE LITTLE HOMEWORK EXERCISES IS IMPORTANT. THE FUDAMENTAL CONCEPTS ARE HERE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT BOOK IN THE SERIES, IF THERE WILL BE ON.
JAY MADHAV, HOLLYWOOD
Book Description
Written and field-tested by practicing consultants, The Consultant’s Tool Kit will save consultants both time and money-as it makes their work with clients much more effective. Each tool or activity is designed to solve a common consulting problem. Reproducible worksheets, exercises, and questionnaires are easily downloaded from the web and customized by consultants to fit the exact needs of each client—and help them effectively implement the solutions.
This collection of field-tested tools, customizable questionnaires, and techniques for working with clients provides crucial problem-solving help in areas such as:
• Managing and leading change
• Organizational initiatives
• Assessing team and organizational functioning
• Improving relationships between departments and business units
• Creative problem-solving techniques
Mel Silberman, Ph.D., (Princeton, NJ) is a best-selling author and editor. A professor of adult and organization development at Temple University, he is the author of Active Training.
Download Description
Written and field-tested by practicing consultants, The Consultant's Tool Kit will save consultants both time and money-as it makes their work with clients much more effective. Each tool or activity is designed to solve a common consulting problem. Reproducible worksheets, exercises, and questionnaires are easily downloaded from the web and customized by consultants to fit the exact needs of each client¿and help them effectively implement the solutions.
Customer Reviews:
A Solution Seeking A Problem?.......2007-09-08
A good book with some solid approaches to consulting that many have found to be useful.
The only downside, if you can call it that, is that quite a number of the solutions may not work well in a good number of real-world consulting assignments.
Overall not a bad read and worth further investigation if you're looking for something to lead you step-by-step through solving certain client problems.
Worth the Price.......2007-02-19
Part of my consulting practice is to create and facilitate group learning for various situations. I enjoy leafing through this book to both remind myself of tools, techniques and concepts I have explored in the past, and also to expand my options to incorporate new material into the mix. It is a bit like hanging out with a bunch of other consultants for a day to share ideas.
Valuable Book.......2006-07-17
This is a wonderful book that combines the expertise of a wide range of experts in the consulting field. Due to the different styles of the authors, the reader is bound to find several that really address their concerns.
The book is a useful toolkit as it has templates that one can easily adapt to meet their needs. Most of the common consulting problems are addressed. Among the readily useable tools are the various exercises, questionnaires and reproducible worksheets and techniques for working with clients, among others, which make this a very user friendly book that makes life easier for a consultant, particularly those like me that are relatively new to the profession.
This is a well written book that is easy to follow and understand and that should be a valuable tool to both the seasoned professional and the novice. It is certainly a very valuable reference book that can be used as a checklist when delivering services.
Awesome for Actionable Purchase.......2006-02-19
This book led me to synergist my P2P bottom-line best practices, to synergize both inside and outside the box, to leverage a value-added, results-driven mindset for their B2B core competencies in which their historical trends have led me to conclude that by doubling or even tripling their efforts of efficiency on the office front, it will yield a new entity of massive synergistic proportions.
A Good Thought Jogger.......2005-03-30
Silberman has brought together 45 different tools to help the consultant carry out a variety of projects. The book is probably due for a new edition, but many of the tools are as relevant now as they were when the book was published.
Because the book's scope is broad, it's best used as a way to frame your thinking on how to solve a problem, or to suggest a summary approach to a client issue. It's a good reference to be sure you're not leaving things out that you should think about, rather than a comprehensive guide to engagement problem-solving.
This is an ambitious book with lots of great ideas.
Michael McLaughlin, coauthor with Jay Conrad Levinson of Guerrilla Marketing for Consultants.
Amazon.com
To truly know Maya is to know MEL, and to know MEL, you should read Learning Maya 5: MEL Fundamentals. MEL (Maya Embedded Language) is the underlying engine on which Maya is built. MEL makes everything possible, and with MEL you can do almost anything, from creating your own interface for Maya to creating self-animating objects to making blanket changes to a single attribute for every object in a project.
But while explaining what MEL is takes only a sentence or two, learning how it works and making it do what you want can easily take many volumes, or one good one. MEL Fundamentals is perhaps the best introduction to MEL to come along in years. Twelve chapters, 250 pages, and a CD full of files takes the beginning MEL user/Maya artist on a trip into the inner workings of Maya and shows how to use MEL for everything from adding items to shelves to altering the workspace to controlling animated objects.
There are numerous outstanding examples throughout the book such as how to rig a light to flicker on each time it turns on instead of just switching on, or how to add countless railroad ties to a set of train tracks, or how to control the animation of the flowing wings of a Manta Ray by controlling one object. The section on creating custom UIs can turn into a very valuable chapter for those looking to save time by customizing the interface. Here, you'll learn how to create your own windows with your own buttons for the most frequently used commands, or create sets of windows that feature different toolsets for various modes of working. MEL is a powerful and complex tool, and one that shouldn't be overlooked or thought of as a geek's tool.
Learning Maya 5: MEL Fundamentals, part of the "Learning Maya" series from Sybex, includes a CD containing all files referred to throughout the book, and a DVD that introduces some of the features new to Maya 5, making this book and the whole series a valuable asset for any Maya artist. --Mike Caputo
Book Description
"This book...is long overdue, and something that Maya users will undoubtedly welcome with open text editors"
--Joaquin Kino Gil, CreativeCOW.net
Learning Maya 5: MEL Fundamentals is you key to harnessing the full power of Maya, and you don't have to be a programmer to learn.
MEL (Maya Embedded Language) is the scripting language used by Maya and is the foundation of the Maya User Interface and of many of its tools. Knowing MEL will permit you to customize the Maya UI, automate repetitive tasks, modify existing tools, and even create your own tools. Learning Maya 5 | MEL Fundatmentals is your key to solving production challenges creatively and efficiently. This book is written for the artist, so don't be intimidated if you have no prior programming experience.
Features:
Starting from an introductory level, this book will allow you to explore advanced concepts in a comfortable format. Each topic is explored in both theory and practice so that you'll not only understand the concepts presented, you'll be able to complete easy-to-follow, step-by-step tutorials to ensure that you master them. You'll benefit from sample scripts and examples that will prove invaluable to you as your Maya skills increase. In addition, you'll take advantage of valuable chapter-by-chapter overviews provided in QuickTime(r) format on CD-ROM. Offered by Glen Chang, and Alias|Wavefront(TM) Certified Instructor, these helpful movies will allow you to gain additional insight as you work through the book.
With this book you will:
* Explore MEL's role in Maya
* Customize the Maya User Interface with MEL.
* Understand Maya's architecture, Nodes, and Attributes
* Learn MEL commands and syntax.
* Explore variables and expressions.
* Write conditional and looking statements.
* Learn scripting and procedures.
* Get advanced scripting examples.
* Create UI windows, layouts and tools.
And much more...
Customer Reviews:
A good introduction..........2007-06-10
Finding a MEL scripting book with useful, simple examples has been quite challenging for me. MEL Fundamentals does provide a good basic foundation for
understanding what MEL script can be used for, but it could show more...
The book is broken down into several chapters, which cover the basics of the following:
-Understanding what MEL Script is used for
-Using MEL Script to customize the Maya interface
-Using MEL Script to create custom GUIs to control nodes in your scene (Graphical User Interfaces)
-Variables and Expressions
-Conditional Statements (If Else, If Else If, If Else If Else)
-Loops (FOR and FOR IN loops)
-Procedures
The book was written for Maya 5.0 - and I have yet to see an updated text that reflects the most current version of Maya to date (v 8.5 as of this review).
There are several 'real world' examples that will further help students understand how powerful MEL Script really is. One thing I wish the book covered is how to deal with negative numbers in expressions. MEL Fundamentals is sparse in several areas, but this book's intended focus is to provide a quick introduction and nothing more.
The book includes a DVD with all examples already typed in. In addition, the supplied code works in all versions of Maya I have used it with (v5.0, v6.0, v7.0, v8.0 and v8.5).
If you're curious about MEL script and want to learn more, this book provides a decent introduction. Intermediate MEL developers should look elsewhere for in-depth coverage.
Very good book.......2003-11-19
I have not bought this book till now but my friend has and he liked it very much. He should have given a review but he is lazy. So, I am doing his part. A very good book to learn MEL expressions and make use of them in animation. The DVD has some cool stuff focusing on Maya 5 Features and MEL Fundamentals!
Book Description
When it was first published in 1995, Mel Silberman's 101 Ways to Make Training Active became an instant bestseller. Now this revised and updated second edition offers the same dynamic approach and several completely new case examples. The examples support each exercise and highlight real-time uses of the highly successful Active Training method. In addition, the book includes 200 training tips that form the nuts-and-bolts of successful active training. These tips incorporated in the book's top ten lists show how to build quality, activity, variety, and direction into your training programs.
For the first time 101 Ways to Make Training Active features a CD-ROM containing all the original "Top Ten Trainers Tips and Techniques" lists for easy reproduction and distribution.
Customer Reviews:
Cute short kick off games for a meeting.......2007-06-13
See above....some are very good...most are to fill up the book
A good guide for most trainers.......2007-01-23
I found this book to be a useful reference for me in terms of adding some activities to the training routines that I regularly deliver.
The author is obviously a very experienced trainer and I have been able to easily take some of the techniques and integrate them immediately.
Some of the information is really only suitable to certain training environments within certain disciplines and I have had to avoid them as I find them a bit questionable from a credibility point of view. Some also do have the effect of forcing people who do not like interacting to be interactive. (Always an uncomfortable thing to watch)
All in all this is a good book and I would recommend it for people who are beginning in training as well as for those who are looking for a few areas that they can use to revitalise their older training routines.
Increase Learning - Train Actively!.......2005-12-14
As a professional trainer and coach I know my subjects well. That's my problem! It's too easy to stand up and lecture. The trick is to involve participants in meaningful ways. "101 Ways to Make Training Active" is just the ticket.
Silberman begins with 20 "top 10" lists of training tips. For example, "Ten assignments to give learning partners" and "Ten suggestions for activating a lecture" and "Ten options for role playing", etc. Each of the 200 tips are written in brief bullet-point style that stimulates creativity. Every list gave me ideas of how to improve my training - and that's the point!
The bulk of the book, 244 additional pages, are 101 ways to make training active. The activities are grouped together into 15 sections according the flow of a training program: How to Get Active Participation from the Start, How to Teach Information, Skills, and Attitudes Actively, and How to Make Training Unforgettable.
I love these ideas! These are some of my favorite.
Actively engage participants early on by handing out a "quiz" on the training topic. Have them work individually then compare answers with others. This allows participants to share information, build team work, and engage in the topic. Another idea with similar objectives is "Go to Your Post". Place 3 or 4 dichotomous choices around the room and ask participants to go the the post they most relate with. Groups at each post discuss why they relate to that choice, or characteristics of that choice, or how to use that choice, etc. Groups report back to the main group with their learning.
Do you have a lot of information to get across? Try lecture Bingo. Randomly arrange your main speaking points on a 3 x 3 grid, or Bingo card. As you speak, listeners take notes and mark the speaking points until they get a Bingo (3 marked squares in a row). Acknowledge the Bingo and keep going allowing others to Bingo using your speaking points. Sounds chaotic, but it's fun!
As a coach trainer, skill development is the main focus of my courses. Silberman includes some excellent variations on role plays and skill practice. "Show, But NOT Tell" is when the training demonstrates a skill before explaining it. Participants are asked to observe and then explain what the trainer did. Another non-threatening activity places the trainer in the key role and involves the group in providing responses along the way. For example, in a coaching role play, the trainer stops and asks the group, "What question might I ask next?"
Reviewing learning through the use of memorable methods will further increase the impact of learning. Fun, creative, and above all memorable methods of reviewing learning include Jeopardy and Who Wants to be a Millionaire game show reviews. Silverman gives instructions make either activity easy to create and to lead.
I've seen a lot of books on training games or activities. Most has a couple of "winners" but this one just doesn't quit. Buy it, use it, and watch participation, learning, and your course evaluations improve!
Must Have!.......2005-08-23
This is the best collection of games, activities, tips and ideas ever. Very useful and applicable to many situations. If I could have only one training book, this would be the one. This would be a great asset to any training library and a great gift for anyone in the training field, especially a new trainer.
The Best Guide To Active Participation Teaching.......2005-06-18
The standard old lecture followed by test has been around for a few thousand years. And it's probably still the most common training method used anywhere in the world.
But the technology has really moved on. Active participation on the part of the students has been proven over and over to result in both greater understanding and retention.
Ten years ago when the first edition of this book came out it clarified how to create an active learning environment And Dr. Silberman has finally revised his ten year old classic. It's updated, and now includes a CD with some 200 hints and tips covering everything from how to organize a classroom to forming groups that will work together on a project.
We can only wish that the teachers for our children could use some of these techniques and make the public school system less of a tiresome chore. No, that's not totally true, we can also wish that the teachers of the next training class that we take will have read this book.
Book Description
"Voluptuous Panic is simultaneously appalling and thrilling, repellent and seductive, grotesque and gorgeous-not a typical coffee table book. It would go better with absinthe drunk from a human skull."-Gary Meyer, Clean Sheets
When Voluptuous Panic: The Erotic World of Weimar Berlin first appeared in the fall of 2000, it inspired wide acclaim and multiple printings. Anticipating the expanded edition, Feral House placed Voluptuous Panic out of print, and for the past year buyers paid as much as $460 to online dealers for a used copy.
This sourcebook of hundreds of rare visual delights from pre-Nazi, Cabaret-period "Babylon on the Spree" has the distinction of being praised both by scholars and avatars of contemporary culture, inspiring hip clubgoers, filmmakers, gay historians, graphic designers, and musicians like the Dresden Dolls and Marilyn Manson.
Voluptuous Panic's expanded edition includes the new illustrated chapter, "Sex Magic and the Occult," documenting German pagan cults and their bizarre erotic rituals, including instructions for entering into the "Sexual Fourth Dimension." The deluxe hardcover edition also includes sensational accounts of hypno-erotic cabaret acts, Berlin Fetish prostitution ("The Boot Girl Visit"), gay life ("A Wild-Boy Initiation!"), descriptions and illustrations of Aleister Crowley's Berlin OTO Secret Society, and sex crime ("the Curious Career and Untimely Death of Fritz Ulbrich").
Mel Gordon is professor of Theater at University of California, Berkeley, and also the author of Erik Jan Hanussen: Hitler's Jewish Clairvoyant (Feral House), and The Grand Guignol: Theatre of Fear and Terror (DaCapo).
Customer Reviews:
Voluptuous Panic by Mel Gordon.......2007-07-06
Excellent book, which had lots of information regarding Berlin, Germany in the wild 20s. I only wish there was more in depth material to read and more photo's. Especially interesting was the "Occult" section, which could have had a more in depth coverage, but I'm not complaining. Dietrich Eckhart, who belonged to a number of Occult Societies introduced Hitler to Ernst Rohm The Criminal Elements or crime section was also heady. Overall, well put together and very interesting. I think including the individuals and activies of some subversive groups in Berlin at the time would have been helpful in understanding the rise of Naziasm in the 20's. I understand there were a number of "White Russian" exiles that supported Hitler's cause.
explosive!.......2007-05-11
voluptuous panic is a great title. it's an even greater resource of smut, art nudes, photos of cabaret artists from weimar berlin.
and there's text, too!
if someone is going to do 'cabaret' send them here for ideas for set decorations, costume ideas and makeup tips for the kit-kat girls. then look at what others did with information like this because this should be one of the primary sources in re-enlivining that crazy, mad and very short period.
a horrifying and unprecedented view of pre-nazi berlin.......2007-03-18
I suppose there is the inherent interest and entertainment of antique hardcore erotica for some people, which this book provides, but the things depicted (photographically) and described in this book may completely alter your view of the past.
I guess it is known that Berlin, prior to the rise of the nazis, was a decadant, burlesque place. But the variety and pervasiveness... and SEVERITY of this is not commonly known. In this book you will see gay nomadic boy scouts, theatrical spanking machines, nudist priests, gleefuly incestuous families (depicted in lifestyle journals for apparent mass consumption) and manuals of dentist chair molestation. It really is shocking - and all the more when you recognize these images as decisively in the past, and apparently NORMAL for this time period.
I used to look through this book whenever i went to this bookstore in 2000-2001, mostly browsing and skimming. It made a lasting impression and i have never been able to find similar information elsewhere. According to some of the reviews I've read, the author makes an unsubstantiated claim/conclusion that this period ended not because of social outrage or exhaustion, but because of particular economic and political circumstances. But for myself, foreign to this place and time (and culture), it completely changes my picture of germany, world war ii and modernity. Apparently there were sprawling nihilist fiends BEFORE mankind was confronted with the possability of nuclear annihilation.
I personally consider this a "coffee table book", albeit for S&M yuppies. It is way too flashy and consumable for research purposes. (I would hesitate to site it as a source for any paper.) However, as far as I can tell, it is one of the only accessable documentations of ...something I can't believe I've never heard of.
Weimar Berlin Is *ALIVE* and Electric!.......2006-07-26
This *is* the most comprehensive book about Weimar Berlin on the market. Full of never before seen pictures, illustrations, and information, this book is what any Deco era enthusiast needs. Mel Gordon's text is anything but dry, stuffy, or overly scholarly as these books can tend to be. No, instead, his enthusiasm and interests spill onto each page, electrify in a sence with his tell-tale approach and overwhelming details about Pre-War Weimar Berlin's enigmatic history. If Neo-Weimar studies are your cup of tea, then this book is the "on the rocks", "straight up", cold hard shot of gin! I recomend the 5th Edition (2006 Version) hardback that includes the original 2 sections that are omitted in the first few before it. The replaced sections are wonderful and if you've seen the book before, you will be quick to notice that Gordon has added *more* pictures and has corrected the color on the illustrations and paintings. In short, Mr. Gordon's work is quite simply the *ONLY* work out there worth reading about this subject. A UC Berkeley professor, accomplished writer of several books, and former New York Actor's Studio alumni how can one argue that his writings and lectures are not the most dead on and most effective out there? See him lecture, read his work, and keep tabs on this history agent provocateur; he is the future of our unique artistic and often risqué past. - Amanda Campa (of The Art Deco Society Of California)
Picture book for very decadent children.......2002-08-11
In glorious black-and-white pictures and color plates, Mel Gordon illustrates the splendour that was Weimar Berlin. This book is necessary for any uppity later generations who thought they came up with nightlife, sex and provocation.
Books:
- All That Glittered: The Golden Age of Drama on Broadway, 1919-1959
- Angels, Guides, and Ghosts
- Baby Bargains, 7th Edition: Secrets to Saving 20% to 50% on baby furinture, gear, clothes, toys, maternity wear and much more! (Baby Bargains)
- Best Friends, Worst Enemies: Understanding the Social Lives of Children
- Body, Soul, and Life Everlasting: Biblical Anthropology and the Monism-Dualism Debate
- Bone Volume 3: Eyes of the Storm
- Brian's Return
- Broken Boys / Mending Men: Recovery from Childhood Sexual Abuse
- By Order of the President
- Castle: Medieval Days and Knights (A Sabuda & Reinhart Pop-up Book)
Books Index
Books Home
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Container Gardening
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Cubed Foot Gardening: Growing Vegetables in Raised, Intensive Beds
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Carrots Love Tomatoes: Secrets of Companion Planting for Successful Gardening
The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control: A Complete Problem-Solving Guide to Keeping Your Garden and Yard Healthy Without Chemicals
