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A Letter from Brian Selznick
 Dear readers,
When I was a kid, two of my favorite books were by an amazing man named Remy Charlip. Fortunately and Thirteen fascinated me in part because, in both books, the very act of turning the pages plays a pivotal role in telling the story. Each turn reveals something new in a way that builds on the image on the previous page. Now that I'm an illustrator myself, I've often thought about this dramatic storytelling device and all of its creative possibilities.
My new book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, is a 550 page novel in words and pictures. But unlike most novels, the images in my new book don't just illustrate the story; they help tell it. I've used the lessons I learned from Remy Charlip and other masters of the picture book to create something that is not a exactly a novel, not quite a picture book, not really a graphic novel, or a flip book or a movie, but a combination of all these things.
I began thinking about this book ten years ago after seeing some of the magical films of Georges Méliès, the father of science-fiction movies. But it wasn't until I read a book called Edison's Eve: The Quest for Mechanical Life by Gaby Woods that my story began to come into focus. I discovered that Méliès had a collection of mechanical, wind-up figures (called automata) that were donated to a museum, but which were later destroyed and thrown away. Instantly, I imagined a boy discovering these broken, rusty machines in the garbage, stealing one and attempting to fix it. At that moment, Hugo Cabret was born.
A few years ago, I had the honor of meeting Remy Charlip, and I'm proud to say that we've become friends. Last December he was asking me what I was working on, and as I was describing this book to him, I realized that Remy looks exactly like Georges Méliès. I excitedly asked him to pose as the character in my book, and fortunately, he said yes. So every time you see Méliès in The Invention of Hugo Cabret, the person you are really looking at is my dear friend Remy Charlip, who continues to inspire everyone who has the great pleasure of knowing him or seeing his work.
Paris in the 1930's, a thief, a broken machine, a strange girl, a mean old man, and the secrets that tie them all together... Welcome to The Invention of Hugo Cabret.
Yours,
Brian Selznick |
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Brian Selznick on a "Deleted Scene" from The Invention of Hugo Cabret
This is a finished drawing that I had to cut from The Invention of Hugo Cabret. I was still rewriting the book when I had to begin the final art. There was originally a scene in the story where this character, Etienne, is working in a camera shop. On one of my research trips to Paris I spent an entire day visiting old camera shops and photographing cameras from the 1930's and earlier, as well as the facades of the shops themselves. I researched original French camera posters and made sure that the counter and the shelves were accurate to the time period. I did all the drawings in the book at 1/4 scale, so they were very small and I often had to use a magnifying glass to help me see what I was drawing. After I finished this drawing I continued to rewrite, and for various reasons I realized that I needed to move this scene from the camera shop to the French Film Academy, which meant that I had to cut this picture. I tried really hard to find ANOTHER moment when I could have Etienne in a camera shop, but, as painful as it was, I knew the picture had to go. I'm glad to see it up on the Amazon website because otherwise no one would have ever seen all those tiny cameras I researched and drew so carefully!
--Brian Selznick |
More from Brian Selznick
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The Houdini Box |
Walt Whitman: Words for America |
The Boy of a Thousand Faces |
Customer Reviews:
The Invention of Hugo Cabret .......2007-10-22
The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a great book about a homeless boy named Hugo Cabret. The main characters are Hugo Cabret, Isabelle, Etienne, Mama Jeanne, and the famous retired magician and movie maker George Melies. This book I would say is a sad and mysterious book. My favorite part is when Hugo finds the key that can turn on his automaton, and when he turns it on it draws a mysterious picture. I loved how it was told in words and pictures. Get this book and catch the magic!!!!
Best Book for Parent - Child to Read Together.......2007-10-12
My 5-year old and I read this book almost every night in about a month. The perfect blend of black and white drawings with increasing details and the captivating story line totally intrigued my son. He remembered all the little details that I'd forget and kept reminding me in the evening that it was time for us to read another chapter. After we finished it last night, he asked me - is there a Book TWO of Hugo Cabret, maybe called the Magics of Hugo Cabret, he suggested, is it coming out next year?
Now it will be hard for me to find a book to match this one.
The type of book you want your kids to read!.......2007-10-08
The Invention of Hugo Cabret is about an independent, intelligent young boy who maintains the clocks in a train station. Inheriting the job from his deadbeat uncle, Hugo lives within the walls of the station and must deal with the daily struggle of taking care of himself without any money. While he isn't working he obsesses over an automaton that his father had once worked on. Throughout the novel he strives to make it work again, hoping it will connect him to his dead father. Along the way he makes a new friend and learns that it is okay to depend on others for help.
What really makes this book unique are the hundreds of illustrations that are wonderfully drawn by Selznick. They actually take the place of words, they don't just illustrate what you have read. They are not meant to be skimmed over, but analyzed and appreciated.
This novel is the type of book you want your kids to read; it is well written, teaches lessons, presents strong characters and has a unique story.
Great Book for Boys.......2007-10-07
My 11-year-old son read this book in 2 days. He absolutely loved it, both the illustrations and the writing. "I liked the way the pictures told the story," he said. He wants to read more Brian Selznick now. Great books for boys don't grow on trees; this is a real winner.
Wonderful Blend of Pictures and Words.......2007-10-05
This was just an incredible book. A wonderful mix of pictures and words, it is fifty per cent graphic novel and fifty percent prose. An intriguing mystery set in Paris, certain to be enjoyed by readers both young and old.
It flows quickly - you will get much more out of it if you take your time with the pictures particularly. The detail in some of the scenes is well worth the time.
The characters are believable - youngsters forced to be older than their years in some cases, but still children at heart.
I was amazed to read the author notes at the end, about how much was based on actual creations.
Definitely an interesting, and recommended, read.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book!.......2007-09-21
This is a great book if you are trying to set up centers in your classroom. I really like these literacy stations, because these stations can last the whole year. You don't have to keep changing them! There are so so many activities your students can do at each station. The sections about differentation were very helpful.
Literacy Work Stations: Making Centers Work.......2007-08-13
This book was packed with wonderful ideas to get a teacher started with learning stations.
Powerful Centers.......2007-06-27
Alright, you want to differentiate your classroom instruction that really get kids involved. This powerful book will help any primary school teacher find their way with confidence in deciding which centers are most valuable, setting them up, and keeping them going. Debbie Diller is a master teacher who knows her stuff!
literacy workstations making centers work.......2007-06-08
If you need help setting up work stations or if you are in need of fresh ideas, this is the book for you. Great photos and very easy to read. I highly recommend this book.
Literacy Work Stations: Making Centers Work.......2007-04-01
This book is an awesome resource. I can't wait to get started.
Average customer rating:
- It's exactly what the title states, "Adaptive Filter THEORY"
- Not a bad reference book.
- A very good book for Adaptive DSP...
- Adventures in the development of stochastic DSP
- Adventures in the development of stochastic DSP
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Adaptive Filter Theory (4th Edition)
Simon Haykin
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
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ASIN: 0130901261 |
Customer Reviews:
It's exactly what the title states, "Adaptive Filter THEORY".......2005-03-17
I was introduced to this text in a graduate course. I was not too thrilled about learning from another Haykin book due to a previous experience with his Communication Systems text in an undergraduate course (Horribly confusing... Proakis's text is infinitely better). To my surprise, the book was very detailed and easy to read. The math is very clear and detailed (great for the self learner). Also, the second chapter, which serves as a review of stationary processes and properties, was written much better than most random process textbooks (I applaud Haykin for this given the section was only a review). In chapter 3 or 4, he shows the derivation of the Levison-Durbin Algorithm step-by-step. I strongly disagree with some of the other reviews stating this text is just the typical engineering manual or cookbook with no explainations.
However, this is either a love or hate text. If you are looking for a text about practical linear predictive filter design, this is NOT the book for you. This text is heavily geared towards understanding the theory behind the design... hence the title Adaptive Filter THEORY. However, it can make a great reference to engineers in the field of DSP.
Not a bad reference book........2004-06-17
This book looks very impressive, but if you try to understand it you'll find it very mechanical. There is not much motivation behind the many pages of formulas and derivations. I'm not even sure how many people actually read those derivations becuase even in its 4th edition the book and its solution manual both have many typos (see, for example, equations 8.11 and 12.5). Even the problems are more focused on derivations than on numerical examples. This is a good cookbook if you just want to implement an algorithm or find some pointers to the original research papers. Like many other reviewers, I beleive that engineering textbooks are losing their depth and becoming more and more like instruction manuals.
A very good book for Adaptive DSP..........2001-05-09
I have always wondered why many people have negative opinions about books by Simon Haykin, whether it is 'Communication Systems' or 'Adaptive Filter Theory'. Particularly, this book 'Adaptive Filter Theory', in my opinion, is one of the bestbooks on this subject. As Julius Kusuma correctly mentioned, this book is indeed an "adventure ride" into the field of Adaptive Filter Theory.
I discovered this book when I was doing a class project on Self-Orthogonalizing algorithms for Adaptive Beamforming and I felt that all the relevant information that I needed was present in this book. I did'nt really feel the neccesity to refer anything outside this book.
Apart from that, this book contains everything that a graduate student needs to know about this exciting field of adaptive filters. The author assumes some background on Random Signal Theory... I'd suggest to look up Sam Shanmugan et al's, "Random Signals: Detection, Estimation and Data Analysis" before beginning to read (enjoy) this "adventure ride" on Adaptive Filters.
Adventures in the development of stochastic DSP.......2000-07-24
Despite the commonly negative opinion against Simon Haykin's book, I find this book to be a very fun reading. It starts off with a very brief review of DSP (more useful just for getting familiar with the notation, really), properties of random processes, and a small section on linear algebra in the middle of the book.
The rest of the book can be viewed as a story of how different approaches and algorithms were developed, and is a little difficult to use as reference due to its lack of structure and over-dependency on the previous chapters, both for technical content and notation. I have to admit that the notation used in this book is very, very poor and can be a source of frustration. The dependency is also a pain because you always have to keep flipping 100 pages back because Mr. Haykin prefers to say "Eqn. (4.24)" instead of "an AR model".
But there's a lot of hidden treasures within this book that should have been more emphasized. For example, Mold's theorem that states that any discrete stationary process can be decomposed into a deterministic component and a random component, which are uncorrelated to each other. I'm sorry, but a reference to a proof in another book is not enough to really motivate me. This is a very fundamental theorem if you're interested in stochastic signal processing. Sure, you don't cover the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus in your very first calculus class, but then again this is supposed to be a fairly advanced book.
So if you're interested in learning certain things quickly, this is NOT the book to get. Consider Munson Hayes' book instead. Save this one when you feel like investing a little time to hear Haykin's story on stochastic signal processing.
Adventures in the development of stochastic DSP.......2000-07-24
Despite the commonly negative opinion against Simon Haykin's book, I find this book to be a very fun reading. It starts off with a very brief review of DSP (more useful just for getting familiar with the notation, really), properties of random processes, and a small section on linear algebra in the middle of the book.
The rest of the book can be viewed as a story of how different approaches and algorithms were developed, and is a little difficult to use as reference due to its lack of structure and over-dependency on the previous chapters, both for technical content and notation.
But there's a lot of hidden treasures within this book that should have been more emphasized. For example, Mold's theorem that states that any discrete stationary process can be decomposed into a deterministic component and a random component, which are uncorrelated to each other. I'm sorry, but a reference to a proof in another book is not enough to really motivate me. This is a very fundamental theorem if you're interested in stochastic signal processing. Sure, you don't cover the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus in your very first calculus class, but then again this is supposed to be a fairly advanced book.
So if you're interested in learning certain things quickly, this is NOT the book to get. Consider Munson Hayes' book instead. Save this one when you feel like investing a little time to hear Haykin's story on stochastic signal processing.
Book Description
Emphasizing the achievement of optimum insulation strength at minimum cost, this book presents up-to-date developments in power system insulation co-ordination. It comprehensively covers a myriad of insulation coordination techniques and examines electrical transmission and distribution lines and substations. Supplemented with end-of-chapter problem sets, tables, drawings, and equations, the book focuses on the deterministic method of insulation coordination and the probabilistic method with its emphasis on statistical analysis. Included are two disks that provide 20 computer programs that assist in the design of power lines and substations. A solutions manual is available to instructors only.
Book Description
A master spy's memoir of playing the game in the most strategically influential country in 1960s Africa.
Larry Devlin arrived as the new chief of station for the CIA in the Congo five days after the country had declared its independence, the army had mutinied, and governmental authority had collapsed. As he crossed the Congo River in an almost empty ferry boat, all he could see were lines of people trying to travel the other way--out of the Congo. Within his first two weeks he found himself on the wrong end of a revolver as militiamen played Russian-roulette, Congo style, with him.
During his first year, the charismatic and reckless political leader, Patrice Lumumba, was murdered and Devlin was widely thought to have been entrusted with (he was) and to have carried out (he didn't) the assassination. Then he saved the life of Joseph Desire Mobutu, who carried out the military coup that presaged his own rise to political power. Devlin found himself at the heart of Africa, fighting for the future of perhaps the most strategically influential country on the continent, its borders shared with eight other nations. He met every significant political figure, from presidents to mercenaries, as he took the Cold War to one of the world's hottest zones. This is a classic political memoir from a master spy who lived in wildly dramatic times.
Customer Reviews:
CoS Congo.......2007-08-09
An excellent biography, discusses what happened during the Cold War in the Congo from his point of view. I found it an enjoyable read.
Exciting times.......2007-07-05
A good book giving an overall flavor of the Congo in the early 60's. It would be nice if Devlin had filled in more details however perhaps this is proscribed in his publishing agreement (I presume that he had to run this through the CIA before publishing it). You do get an idea of just what a CIA COS does to try to guide events to follow US policy. He's rather blase about the physical risks of operating in an unstable environment although maybe this is because he survived to tell the tale. I don't think that I would have my family at my side in such an environment.
Charts his many encounters and is a top pick.......2007-06-17
Author Larry Devlin arrived as the new chief of station for the CIA in the Congo five days after the country declared its independence, the army mutinied, and the government had collapsed: as he entered the country, streams of residents were fleeing. During his first year he was accused of murdering a charismatic political leader, saved the life of the man who carried out the military coup, and found himself confronting unheard-of challenges in Africa. CHIEF OF STATION, CONGO charts his many encounters and is a top pick especially recommended for college-level and military holdings strong in African culture and history.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
-.......2007-06-12
A little too general, very maddening that he left out so many details. But a necessary read for those interested in the Congo in the 60's
History Lessons.......2007-06-07
This book rewards its readers with good deal of information on a variety of subjects. It undoubtedly provides a very accurate account of the struggle of the former Belgium Congo to become a variable nation state. In the course of doing this, its author provides a plausible description of the chaotic condition of an imploding nation state and its leading political players of the period, including the controversial Patrice Lumumba and the man who turned out to be his chief rival Sese Seko Mobutu. Finally the book opens a window on how the U.S -Soviet Union Clod War rivalry played out in an newly independent African state like the Congo.
On a rather different level, Larry Devlin provides a good explanation of what a pro-active CIA Station Chief (COS) of 1960 did to earn his keep. One can carry away a good deal of information about good `tradecraft', the use of non-official cover (NOC) agents, and the vital need for a close relationship between the COS and the U.S. Ambassador. For a long period Devlin was not only COS Kinshasa (Leopoldville), but also the only CIA representative in the Congo. As a result, he discloses quite a bit about the art and craft of recruiting and maintaining `agents' in the field. Although virtually all memoirs written by former intelligence folks tend to be somewhat self-serving, from this book it is clear that Devlin really was good at his job and did his best to protect the national security interests of U.S. and equally important to help the Congolese build a viable and independent nation state. That in the end the Congo continues to be a near failed state was due to factors well beyond Devlin's control.
The problem then as now of course is that a really good CIA operative like Devlin and a really poor operatives are treated pretty much the same way by CIA. The system is really designed to homogenize everyone into the same bland blend. Also it is clear that CIA of 2007 would never allow a COS the kind of freedom of action that Devlin had in 1960.
Anyone with an interest in Africa or the CIA or both ought to find this well written and informative book fascinating.
Average customer rating:
- Excellent book for the project engineer! Hard to enhance
- Great Reference
- Pumping Station Review By Straeffer Pump
- Fully covering
- Excellent!
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Pumping Station Design, Third Edition
Manufacturer: Butterworth-Heinemann
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ASIN: 0750675446 |
Book Description
The third edition of Pumping Station Design continues the award-winning tradition of previous editions. Written by 44 authors with expert input from 141 other contributors for manufacturers, utility managers, design engineers environmental engineers and all involved in the design of pumping stations, this book provides expert information. Understanding is given to the various disciplines important to the design and execution of reliable, easy to operate, low maintenance pumping stations. The depth of experience and expertise of the contributors and editors is unparalleled making this book the standard guide for the implementation of a well-integrated pumping station design.
Pumping Station Design, Third Edition is essential for professionals who will apply the fundamentals of various disciplines and subjects in order to produce a well-integrated pumping station which will be reliable, easy to operate and maintain, and free from design mistakes.
Inappropriate design can be costly and there simply is no excuse for not taking expert advice from the pages of this book!
* An award-winning reference work that has become THE standard in the field
* Dispenses expert information on how to produce a well-integrated pumping station that will be reliable, easy to operate and maintain, and free from design mistakes
* 60% of the material has been updated to reflect current standards and changes in practice since the book was last published in 1998
* New material added to this edition includes: the latest design information, the use of computers for pump selection, extensive references to Hydraulic Institute Standards and much more!
Customer Reviews:
Excellent book for the project engineer! Hard to enhance.......2007-07-24
One of the most comprehensive books in the area I have ever seen. I like its approach with guidelines of how to use it depending on the type of user.
It combines advices on mechanical, civil and electrical aspects obtained on years of experience of the authors (more than 100 specialist from the academy and industry).
A huge effort fron the editors. If you like the subject and want one bible-like book, this is it!
Great Reference.......2007-01-15
A great reference book that deals with all design aspects related to pumping stations. Furthermore, there is extensive information concerning procurement and commercial issues. The book is clear even when it goes into detailed information and should be considered as a must have for every engineer working in this field.
Pumping Station Review By Straeffer Pump.......2007-01-03
The book is informational and a great asset in our business. It has become an essential tool used daily to help us in our day to day functions in the office.
This was a difficult book to find and we were glad Amazon.com could fullfill our needs.
Fully covering.......2004-05-28
The Sanks' Pumping Station design is a mile stone in its field.
Having every aspect covered, Sanks has not only designed his book in a way that is easily readable for the field related people but also made it a basic reference for the people on the management side of it.
Owning such a book is a knowldge in itself !!!!
Excellent!.......2000-12-01
One of the very best engineering texts that I have run across in my career. Exceptionally clear, comprehensive, and practical.
Book Description
They call their sergeant the Oracle. He's a seasoned LAPD veteran who keeps a close watch over his squad from his understaffed office at Hollywood Station. They are: Budgie Polk, a 27-year-old firecracker who's begrudgingly teamed with Fausto Gamboa, the oldest, tetchiest patrol officer. Andi McCrea, a single mom who spends her days studying at the local community college. Wesley Drubb, a USC drop-out who joined the force to see some action. Flotsam and Jetsam, two aptly named surfer boys who pine after the petite, but intrepid, Meg Takara. And Hank Driscoll, the one who never shuts up. Together they spend their days and nights in the city's underbelly, where a string of seemingly unrelated events lures the cops of Hollywood Station to their most startling case yet: Russians, diamonds, counterfeiting, grenadesa reminder that nothing's too horrific or twisted for Los Angeles. Here, it's business as usual. For the first time in 20 years, Wambaugh revisits the kind of story he tells best: life in the LAPD. Not only have his fans been waiting for this comeback, but readers of the new generation of crime writing will have great interest in this book.
Customer Reviews:
Reviewed for Midwest Book Review.......2007-09-04
LAPD's Hollywood Division is not as glamorous as it sounds. Here the prostitutes and transvestites troll for johns while "tweakers" fish envelopes out of mailboxes in search of anything they can use toward the purchase of their next hit of crystal meth and celebrity clones stroll along the Hollywood walk of fame seeking gullible tourists. Since Rodney King, law enforcement officials, from the beat cops to the detectives, must bide by rigid rules and continual scrutiny, from their internal affairs division to Washington DC. But they have the protective eye of their Sergeant on their side, a man they refer to as the Oracle, who has been on the Job for 46 years.
The story centers around a tweaker named Farley Ramsdale and his girlfriend, whom he calls Olive because she resembles Popeye's Olive Oyl. Farley is a small-time crook who thinks he is being smart by making Olive do all the dirty work: fishing envelopes out of mailboxes, trying to pass counterfeit bills in stores, and stealing magnetic cards from hotels which Farley sells to other criminals specializing in identity theft. When Cosmo, an Armenian immigrant and Ilya, his Russian girlfriend, steal diamonds from a jeweler, Farley quickly puts two and two together; Farley is the one who passed on to Cosmo a letter from the jewelry store inventorying the diamonds. When Farley demands a cut of the action, Cosmo decides he and Olive must be eliminated, but from that point on, everything begins to spin out of control.
Wambaugh is a master at characterization and witticisms. His humorous style and observations make this a fun read, with quirky, offbeat characters and plenty of action. What seems at first to be a loose, albeit amusing, telling of the goings on within the Los Angeles Police Department Hollywood Station and the criminals that surround it, comes together at the end to form one heck of a good story. The situations the officers find themselves in are at times laugh-out-loud funny, as are the interactions between the characters. Hollywood Station provides a poignant look into the inner workings and ever-present political wrangling behind the scenes of the LAPD. Highly entertaining; recommended.
Wambaugh's return to his roots is not so memorable.......2007-08-23
Joseph Wambaugh has written some of the best "ensemble MacGuffin" police tales of our times. "Ensemble" in that he has created so many casts of cops who are as amusing as they are dark and sad; "MacGuffin," the term popularized by Alfred Hitchock, where the event that sets the cops into action is secondary to the "real" story about what it is like to be a police officer, both on and off duty. "The Choirboys," "Delta Star," the list of these great stories goes on. After a dozen years away from this type of novel, Wambaugh finally returns to his "roots," so to speak, with "Hollywood Station." Alas, this one doesn't quite capture the magic that captured the hearts and minds of so many back in the 70's and 80's.
We are immediately introduced to all the cops of the Hollywood precinct, including some "surfer dude" types, women cops, who have to deal with a few cops thinking about jumping their bones in addition to their desire to be treated like "one of the boys," the "grizzled" veterans, and a few others that make me think Wambaugh threw a bit too much into the kitchen sink. After the somewhat long intros, the "MacGuffin" part of the plot, a jewelry heist that is initiated by a crystal meth addict and a couple of Russian thieves that seem based on the old Boris and Natasha duo from "Rocky and Bullwinkle", kicks into gear. It all ends with the cast of characters coming together for a serio-comic ending.
I can't quite put a finger on it but I did not enjoy this one as much as I hoped I would. Maybe there were too many cops, some that were not so exciting to learn about, a too thin(and overly long) story thread, and/or the villains were not overly silly or overly horrible either. Granted, the locations and the fact Wambaugh weaves into his story the names of fallen real-life officers along with examples of true-life political machinations within Los Angeles, add a sense of reality(and Wambaugh makes his political inklings quite clear). Yet, I felt this book dragged and never got any solid momentum to make it the page-turner he is so capable of giving us.
All in all, I imagine Joseph Wambaugh fans should read this but if you haven't read anything by him, I suggest you not start here and go back to his early ones.
Back to the street.......2007-08-15
An average entry for an author who has been at the top before. It's good to get some real stories again. But nothing surprises or grabs the reader.
Light on plot, but still an entertaining cop story.......2007-08-06
I enjoyed this novel, even if it does wander aimlessly most of the time. Much of the novel meanders without an apparent plot, introducing us to the cops of Hollywood Station through a series of amusing cop war stories which are probably all based on real incidents (there's a fight involving Elmo from Sesame Street, a homeless guy who defecates in a cop car, and so on.)
I liked the central plot, which involves a pair of meth heads who get involved with some Russian / Armenians linked to a couple of armed robberies. This storyline is a little thin to carry a full novel, but it builds momentum near the end and provides some structure to an otherwise aimless novel.
I think Wambaugh has been away from the job for too many years now and no longer has his finger on the pulse of the LAPD (at least not the younger cops). His older cop characters feel authentic but his younger cop characters (particularly the annoying Flotsam and Jetsam) miss the mark.
Hollywood Station would have you believe that every problem with today's LAPD is the fault of political correctness and a liberal media. Wambaugh's characters are street cops, and therefore would likely share this perspective, but the constant railing against the Federal Degree wears thin after a while. It would have been nice if Wambaugh had offered at least one character with a different point of view.
Sure, some of the characters feel like they came straight from 'central casting', but I found quite a few of them (mostly the older cops) worth spending time with. Most of vignettes, which make up the bulk of the novel and fill the pages while the reader waits for a plot to develop, are quirky and entertaining.
Hollywood Station deserves 3.5 stars and is an entertaining (but entirely forgetable) read.
I wish I could give it more stars.......2007-07-24
This novel was so good I read it in two days. It's hilarious and very well written.
Average customer rating:
- An Important Book on Renewable Electric Power Systems
- A gem of a book
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Renewable and Efficient Electric Power Systems
Gilbert M. Masters
Manufacturer: Wiley-IEEE Press
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0471280607 |
Book Description
This is a comprehensive textbook for the new trend of distributed power generation systems and renewable energy sources in electric power systems. It covers the complete range of topics from fundamental concepts to major technologies as well as advanced topics for power consumers.
An Instructor's Manual presenting detailed solutions to all the problems in the book is available from the Wiley editorial department.
Download Description
This is a comprehensive textbook for the new trend of distributed power generation systems and renewable energy sources in electric power systems. It covers the complete range of topics from fundamental concepts to major technologies as well as advanced topics for power consumers.
Customer Reviews:
An Important Book on Renewable Electric Power Systems.......2006-01-11
Here is a book that is needed by those (especially engineers) interested in energy systems for the future. It has broad coverage and yet enough depth to allow design of new systems. Professor Masters' casual writing style and his sense of humor make the book fun to read.
The book covers wind systems, photovoltaic cells(PV) and PV systems, distributed generation (concentrating solar power, microhydro, fuel cells, biomass), and economics of renewable electric power generation and comparison with conventional thermal power plants. This book is important as the engineering world moves into the era of rising energy prices and is compelled to provide alternatives to fossil and nuclear fueled generation. There are abundant very helpful examples worked out in the text.
We used this book in a one semester introduction to renewable power taught as an elective for senior and first year graduate students. Since this was the first time the course was taught by the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the University of NH, and our first time through the book, the course covered only a subset of chapters.
The book provides solid engineering background for topics discussed in applied "how to" books on renewable energy systems. It will appeal to that person who wants deeper understanding of principles. The ideas - both theoretical and practical - are carefully developed.
We read a good number of the problems at the end of the chapters we covered and assigned a subset of those. We found the book problems to be very enlightening and carefully thought out. Many of the problems provided profound insight and preparation for understanding and using the material studied. Even the first chapter on basic electrical and magnetic circuits has problems involving models for photovoltaic modules.
Michael J. Carter, Associate Professor of ECE at UNH
Filson H. Glanz, Professor Emeritus of ECE at UNH
A gem of a book.......2005-09-08
Gil Masters is a master teacher, as every page in this book makes clear. The best summary is found in the preface:
"Engineering for sustainability is an emerging theme for the twenty-first century, and the need for more environmentally benign electric power systems is a critical part of this new thrust. Renewable energy systems that take advantage of energy sources that won't diminish over time and are independent of fluctuations in price and availability are playing an ever-increasing role in modern power systems. Wind farms in the United States and Europe have become the fastest growing source of electric power; solar-powered photovoltaic systems are entering the marketplace; fuel cells that will generate electricity without pollution are on the horizon. Moreover, the newest fossil-fueled power plants approach twice the efficiency of the old coal burners that they are replacing while emitting only a tiny fraction of the pollution.
There are compelling reasons to believe that the traditional system of large, central power stations connected to their customers by hundreds or thousands of miles of transmission lines will likely be supplemented and eventually replaced with cleaner, smaller plants located closer to their loads. Not only do such distributed generation systems reduce transmission line losses and costs, but the potential to capture and utilize waste heat on site greatly increases their overall efficiency and economic advantages. Moreover, distributed generation systems offer increased reliability and reduced threat of massive and widespread power failures of the sort that blacked out much of the northeastern United States in the summer of 2003.
It is an exciting time in the electric power industry, worldwide. New technologies on both sides of the meter leading to structural changes in the way that power is provided and used, an emerging demand for electricity in the developing countries where some two billion people now live without any access to power, and increased attention being paid to the environmental impacts of power production are all leading to the need for new books, new courses, and a new generation of engineers who will find satisfying, productive careers in this newly transformed industry.
This book has been written primarily as a textbook for new courses on renewable and efficient electric power systems. It has been designed to encourage self-teaching by providing numerous completely worked examples throughout. Virtually every topic that lends itself to quantitative analysis is illustrated with such examples. Each chapter ends with a set of problems that provide added practice for the student and that should facilitate the preparation of homework assignments by the instructor.
While the book has been written with upper division engineering students in mind, it could easily be moved up or down in the curriculum as necessary. Since courses covering this subject are initially likely to have to stand more or less on their own, the book has been written to be quite self-sufficient. That is, it includes some historical, regulatory, and utility industry context as well as most of the electricity, thermodynamics, and engineering economy background needed to understand these new power technologies.
Engineering students want to use their quantitative skills, and they want to design things. This text goes well beyond just introducing how energy technologies work; it also provides enough technical background to be able to do first-order calculations on how well such systems will actually perform. That is, for example, given certain windspeed characteristics, how can we estimate the energy delivered from a wind turbine? How can we predict solar insolation and from that estimate the size of a photovoltaic system needed to deliver the energy needed by a water pump, a house, or an isolated communication relay station? How would we size a fuel cell to provide both electricity and heat for a building, and at what rate would hydrogen have to be supplied to be able to do so? How would we evaluate whether investments in these systems are rational economic decisions? That is, the book is quantitative and applications oriented with an emphasis on resource estimation, system sizing, and economic evaluation."
Customer Reviews:
A Must-Have for Intermediate Grade Teachers.......2007-08-12
This book, like Diller's companion book for K-2 teachers, is a wealth of information for those teachers who recognize the importance of differentiating instruction, engaging the learner, and losing mindless worksheets that only serve the purpose of occupying the student's time while the teacher teaches small groups. Whether you are experienced with managing literacy workstations or a new convert, you will get an in-depth look at management of stations, keeping the stations meaningful and engaging throughout the year, and assessing the students' work. This book is the best I have seen for practical, easy to implement, true literacy activities. I highly recommend it for teachers and administrators of students in grades 3-6.
Literacy Work stations for Grades 3-6.......2007-07-29
I went for this book as soon as I saw it on line - there is little out there for grades 5&6 when it comes to centers. While I got some good ideas, I was disappointed overall. The examples seem to focus on the lower grades, 3rd and 4th, and it left me wanting more information and examples for older kids. I am also unclear on how the novel we might be using in class fits into this concept. One area I did find especially helpful was how to organize and get started at the beginning of the year. It eased some fears for this first time work station user.
Literacy Work Stations.......2007-06-28
Better than the "Literacy Work Stations for K-2"! Excellent and practical strategies for teaching, especially for the new teacher trying to figure it all out. A book worth having in the classroom professional library.
A Must Have for Guided Reading.......2007-06-27
This book has answered all of the questions I have had about organizing centers during my literacy block. During my reading groups, I have wanted to have centers going at the intermediate level, but have been intimidated by the amount of work involved in setting them up. The author has shared ideas in creating centers that are logical, smart, efficient, necessary and don't involve staying up until midnight each night. Too bad I didn't have this 10 years ago!
fantastic!!!.......2007-03-30
This book is full of wonderful ideas that are easy to implement. It is a great continuation of Literacy Stations for Sk to grade 2. I will use this book for a long time.
Book Description
This practical guide provides comprehensive and up-to-date information on the testing and maintenance of electrical power systems equipment and apparatus found in utility, industrial, commercial, and institutional facilities-demonstrating when and how to perform the appropriate tests to ensure maximum operational reliability. Integrating basic principles, theory, and practice, the book discusses routine and preoperational testing and maintenance procedures for assessing equipment reliability and dependability and shows how to inspect and test equipment and apparatus insulation integrity and other operating characteristics affecting performance.
Customer Reviews:
Missing Pages.......2006-08-28
I think this is a valuable piece of referance material the only problem is that my copy has 10-15 missing pages.
Excellent resource for electrical testing........2005-01-20
This book explains in detail the procedures for testing of most power type electrical equipment. The author explains in great detail the testing process, the purpose of the tests, and the acceptable and unacceptable results. Examples of data forms are provided. The author even reviews a process to set up a preventive maintenance program. Highly recommended.
testing & commissioning.......1999-07-31
all type of electrical power testing
An excellent overview for the practicing professional.......1998-12-10
This book provides the most comprehensive overview I have found thus far for engineers and field professionals involved in the maintenance and testing electrical power systems and equipment. The author presents the materials very effectively. The book is both an indispensible resource for the practicing engineer, as well as an ideal training tool for teachers and students engaged in primary and continuing education in this field.
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