Book Description
Dr. Francis Collins, head of the Human Genome Project, is one of the world's leading scientists. He works at the cutting edge of the study of DNA, the code of life. Yet he is also a man of unshakable faith in God and scripture. He believes that God cares about us and can intervene in human affairs -- on rare occasions, even miraculously. Collins has personally discovered some of the scientific evidence for the common descent of all living creatures, even though he repudiates the materialist, atheistic worldview argued by many prominent Darwinists.
In short, Dr. Collins provides a satisfying solution for the dilemma that haunts everyone who believes in God and respects science. Faith in God and faith in science can be harmonious -- combined into one worldview. The God that he believes in is a God who can listen to prayers and cares about our souls. The biological science he has advanced is compatible with such a God. For Collins, science does not conflict with the Bible, science enhances it.
For many years Dr. Collins kept his views largely to himself, as he helped oversee the Human Genome Project's stunning sequencing of the code of life. Now, in what may be the most important melding of reason and revelation since C. S. Lewis's Mere Christianity, Dr. Collins explains himself in detail. The Language of God makes the case for God and for science. Dr. Collins considers and rejects several positions along the spectrum from atheism to young-earth creationism -- including agnosticism and Intelligent Design. Instead, he proposes a new synthesis, a new way to think about an active, caring God who created humankind through evolutionary processes.
He has heard every argument against faith from scientists, and he can refute them. He has also heard the needless rejection of scientific truths by some people of faith, and he can counter that, too. He explains his own journey from atheism to faith, and then takes readers on a stunning tour of modern science to show that physics, chemistry, and biology can all fit together with belief in God and the Bible. The Language of God is essential reading for anyone who wonders about the deepest questions of all: Why are we here? How did we get here? And what does life mean?
Customer Reviews:
A Reconcilliation Between Evolution and Faith.......2007-10-20
This is an outstanding book for many reasons. The author's credentials as a man of science cannot be questioned and he supports his religious views well with quotes from the Bible and CS Lewis.
If you are struggling to be able to believe in God and Evolution at the same time this is the book to read. Collins lays it out in a plain english, very logical progression. By the time he is done you will probably feel foolish not to at least consider the fact that you should beloeve in both Evolution and God.
His frequent references to CS Lewis' Mere Christianity led me to read that book as well.
If you are searching for God and have questions about Science vs Faith I strongly suggest you read The Language of God and follow it up with Mere Christianity.
gman.......2007-10-14
When I first received this book from a friend, not knowing anything about the book, I was excited to read. I thought there would be some wonderful explanations of DNA (perhaps in layman terms) and its elegance.
Big Disappointment. This book is just a defense of Theistic Evolution. With many of the same tired arguments.
His defense of faith is almost entirely quotes of C.S. Lewis... so please, just read C.S. Lewis.
His defense of Evolution has many of the same arguments we've heard before...
"But how did self-replicating organisms arise in the first place? It is fair to say that at the present time we simply do not know. No current hypothesis comes close to explaining how in the space of a mere 150 million years, the prebiotic environment that existed on planet Earth give rise to life." p. 90
He goes on to explain that someday we may know. Francis, what happens if we find out something different? This feels sort of like the Theory-of-the-Gaps.
"No serious biologist today doubts the theory of evolution to explain the marvelous complexity and diversity of life." p 99
Your basic Tautology argument.
He does a poor job dismantling the creationist and Intelligent Design arguments, basically claiming their arguments simply are not true, without much support.
I believe he tries to make you feel foolish if you do not believe in evolution, or are even attempting to make arguments against it.
There is a small portion of the book which is a bright spot, and I learned something new. That was the appendix, on bioethics, discussing stem cell research and cloning.
In the end, if you're looking for a good textbook on Theistic Evolution, this is the book for you. If not, don't waste your time.
Evolution of a Genetic Scientist.......2007-10-13
This book is a thoughtful, well-reasoned answer to extreme fundamentalists and to the extreme atheistic scientists such as Christopher Hitchins and Richard Dawkins. It is the evolution of a leading scientist from atheist to Christian. I found the book though an interview on Point of inquiry, a podcast devoted to rational humanism.
No Tower of Babel Here.......2007-10-10
The Language of God is genius in Dr. Collins' skill in conveying the complexity of science and the wonder of the divine in easy-to-understand language. No polemics, no rhetoric, just the facts and they logically point to the existence of God. At last, a credible read for both the science-minded and the evangelicals among us.
Suzette Martinez Standring
Believing in God Not a Problem for Scientists and Engineers.......2007-10-08
Having heard Francis Collins speak on this topic several years ago, I eagerly awaited the chance to read this book. I was not disappointed.
This book is one which will be appreciated by every scientist and engineer as being genuine. There is no white-washing science, or diminishing its importance in our world. Collins is a scientist and it is clear that he loves his life's work. And at the same time, he recounts his personal journey to faith in God. He does not leave his intellect behind when he searches for God. Every person's journey is different, but it is fascinating to read an account of how a smart, clear thinker fully reconciles his faith in God with the incredible world that God created, while also recognizing that neither diminishes the other.
As an engineer who also has worked for the Catholic Church, I most enjoyed the parallels that he made between scientific developments and his belief in God. I've found many parallels of my own during my journey and it was a pleasure to read about the connections Collins has discovered.
On the negative side, I found the part on evolution a bit too long. Evolution is a hot button for many people, however, which is probably why he dwelled on it for so many pages. Also, the Appendix had some opinions that were counter to Catholic teaching. But despite these shortcomings, this is a book that will bring much good in helping people realize that God and the world are not "opposites" but rather both co-exist extremely well together! This may be obvious to many of us since God created the world, but not to everyone, yet.
Amazon.com
As a scientist, Albert Einstein is undoubtedly the most epic among 20th-century thinkers. Albert Einstein as a man, however, has been a much harder portrait to paint, and what we know of him as a husband, father, and friend is fragmentary at best. With Einstein: His Life and Universe, Walter Isaacson (author of the bestselling biographies Benjamin Franklin and Kissinger) brings Einstein's experience of life, love, and intellectual discovery into brilliant focus. The book is the first biography to tackle Einstein's enormous volume of personal correspondence that heretofore had been sealed from the public, and it's hard to imagine another book that could do such a richly textured and complicated life as Einstein's the same thoughtful justice. Isaacson is a master of the form and this latest opus is at once arresting and wonderfully revelatory. --Anne Bartholomew
Read "The Light-Beam Rider," the first chapter of Walter Isaacson's Einstein: His Life and Universe.
Five Questions for Walter Isaacson
Amazon.com: What kind of scientific education did you have to give yourself to be able to understand and explain Einstein's ideas?
Isaacson: I've always loved science, and I had a group of great physicists--such as Brian Greene, Lawrence Krauss, and Murray Gell-Mann--who tutored me, helped me learn the physics, and checked various versions of my book. I also learned the tensor calculus underlying general relativity, but tried to avoid spending too much time on it in the book. I wanted to capture the imaginative beauty of Einstein's scientific leaps, but I hope folks who want to delve more deeply into the science will read Einstein books by such scientists as Abraham Pais, Jeremy Bernstein, Brian Greene, and others.
Amazon.com: That Einstein was a clerk in the Swiss Patent Office when he revolutionized our understanding of the physical world has often been treated as ironic or even absurd. But you argue that in many ways his time there fostered his discoveries. Could you explain?
Isaacson: I think he was lucky to be at the patent office rather than serving as an acolyte in the academy trying to please senior professors and teach the conventional wisdom. As a patent examiner, he got to visualize the physical realities underlying scientific concepts. He had a boss who told him to question every premise and assumption. And as Peter Galison shows in Einstein's Clocks, Poincare's Maps, many of the patent applications involved synchronizing clocks using signals that traveled at the speed of light. So with his office-mate Michele Besso as a sounding board, he was primed to make the leap to special relativity.
Amazon.com: That time in the patent office makes him sound far more like a practical scientist and tinkerer than the usual image of the wild-haired professor, and more like your previous biographical subject, the multitalented but eminently earthly Benjamin Franklin. Did you see connections between them?
Isaacson: I like writing about creativity, and that's what Franklin and Einstein shared. They also had great curiosity and imagination. But Franklin was a more practical man who was not very theoretical, and Einstein was the opposite in that regard.
Amazon.com: Of the many legends that have accumulated around Einstein, what did you find to be least true? Most true?
Isaacson: The least true legend is that he failed math as a schoolboy. He was actually great in math, because he could visualize equations. He knew they were nature's brushstrokes for painting her wonders. For example, he could look at Maxwell's equations and marvel at what it would be like to ride alongside a light wave, and he could look at Max Planck's equations about radiation and realize that Planck's constant meant that light was a particle as well as a wave. The most true legend is how rebellious and defiant of authority he was. You see it in his politics, his personal life, and his science.
Amazon.com: At Time and CNN and the Aspen Institute, you've worked with many of the leading thinkers and leaders of the day. Now that you've had the chance to get to know Einstein so well, did he remind you of anyone from our day who shares at least some of his remarkable qualities?
Isaacson: There are many creative scientists, most notably Stephen Hawking, who wrote the essay on Einstein as "Person of the Century" when I was editor of Time. In the world of technology, Steve Jobs has the same creative imagination and ability to think differently that distinguished Einstein, and Bill Gates has the same intellectual intensity. I wish I knew politicians who had the creativity and human instincts of Einstein, or for that matter the wise feel for our common values of Benjamin Franklin.
More to Explore
Book Description
By the author of the acclaimed bestseller Benjamin Franklin, this is the first full biography of Albert Einstein since all of his papers have become available.
How did his mind work? What made him a genius? Isaacson's biography shows how his scientific imagination sprang from the rebellious nature of his personality. His fascinating story is a testament to the connection between creativity and freedom.
Based on newly released personal letters of Einstein, this book explores how an imaginative, impertinent patent clerk -- a struggling father in a difficult marriage who couldn't get a teaching job or a doctorate -- became the mind reader of the creator of the cosmos, the locksmith of the mysteries of the atom and the universe. His success came from questioning conventional wisdom and marveling at mysteries that struck others as mundane. This led him to embrace a morality and politics based on respect for free minds, free spirits, and free individuals.
These traits are just as vital for this new century of globalization, in which our success will depend on our creativity, as they were for the beginning of the last century, when Einstein helped usher in the modern age.
Customer Reviews:
Couldn't put it down!.......2007-10-18
This was one of our Book Club's selections. I looked at its size and procrastinated opening it. But, when I began reading this book, I couldn't put it down. The author makes his life seem very interesting and the science is put in laymans terms. I loved this book!
Amazing.......2007-10-10
The book combines insights into Einstein's family sphere, scientific endeavors , and internal life that end up providing an entertaining an insightful view o his life that turns out to be more than the sum of its parts. A great view into the life of the greatest man of the twentieth century.
A well orchestrated mix of personal history and revolutionary scientific discovery.......2007-10-09
A story of amazing power of reason in Einstein's early years but in the later years a sad story of his reason being foiled by of all things, scientific observations ("spooky" ones to be sure). When he died Einstein was still struggling with the idea that..."The reasonable thing just doesn't work.".
Excellent!.......2007-10-09
Excellently written and researched book. Very fascinating and engaging.
Even the scientific discussions were easy to understand.
I highly recommend this book.
A Must Read.......2007-10-07
A wonderful book which gives full and equal weight to both the man and the ideas which made him great, as well as the lasting place of those ideas in the history of scientific thought, if not of human thought itself. And on that latter point, the reader's debt to Isaacson is undoubtedly primarily for his continuing emphasis on Einstein's modus operandi: thought experiments, by which through the exercise merely of pure thought and a perspective unhampered by received wisdoms, a man was able to change millennia-old views of how we viewed the universe, and by extension, changed the universe itself. Whose thinking could remain uninfluenced by such a display of the power of thought?
Book Description
Physics for Scientists and Engineers combines outstanding pedagogy with a clear and direct narrative and applications that draw the reader into the physics. The new edition features an unrivaled suite of media and on-line resources that enhance the understanding of physics.
Many new topics have been incorporated such as: the Otto cycle, lens combinations, three-phase alternating current, and many more. New developments and discoveries in physics have been added including the Hubble space telescope, age and inflation of the universe, and distant planets. Modern physics topics are often discussed within the framework of classical physics where appropriate.
For scientists and engineers who are interested in learning physics.
Customer Reviews:
Good deal.......2005-09-15
I got a quick response to my email. Happy to do business with an organization doing some good in the community.
Outstanding.......2005-03-18
I had to use this book during my two semesters of non-calculus college physics, and my first reaction to this 1000+ page monster was mathematical FEAR. However, as I kept reading the book I realized that it explained the majority of concepts clearly even for a person with limited calculus knowledge. The book does an excellent job early on with Newton's three laws, but it gets a little confusing on statics.
The last half of the book was covered in my second semester, and it was also excellent in explaining the topics of thermodynamics, DC and RC circuits, Magnetism and Optics among others. Nevertheless, there were times when the explanation and examples of the book were not enough to answer some of the problems at the end of each chapter. Furthermore, my only complain about the book is that sometimes it uses what my instructor called "Shortcuts" in the sample problems without explaining how the author arrived to a given equation or derivation of a formula. Physics is by no means an easy subject and to do well at it you will need a great instructor and a great book - I was lucky enough to have both.
There are very few books that I keep after I take a class, but I have to say that this book is an invaluable reference that will be in my professional bookshelf for many years.
excellent book.......2004-12-28
This book is very easy to understand and fun to study from. Very helpful for beginners.
Decent but way expensive.......2004-06-16
I had to buy this book for my two general physics courses. I must say this book is the most expensive I've ever bought. This leads me to my first bad critique: this book is unnecessarily large and expensive. The book is full of useless pictures (all in vibrant expensive color), it has too many examples and 1/3 of the majority of the pages are blank. I don't recommend this book if your a poor college student. My second bad critique is that some examples aren't fully explained (particularly with the some equations). Third bad critique: some problems require knowledge that you won't find in the book. There was an instance where I ran into a problem (a double Atwood machine problem) that required knowledge of Newton's laws in non-inertial frames which the book does not provide. I managed to solve this problem with outside help but I must say I felt cheated. My last bad critique: this book has no errata yet!
Now for some good points. The authors exposition of the material is fairly straight-forward. The book is full of problems (some which overly challenging but good nevertheless), covers a great number of topics (45 chapters worth), and uses very little calculus (the majority of the problems involve highschool mathematics).
Not a very good physics book.......2004-06-04
If you're a beginner or not interested in physics stay away from this book. Its mostly geared towards people with high interest and a good reference. Otherwise, the book is very boring to read and all they do is throw formulas at you. Stay away at all costs.
Book Description
The first edition, published in 1973, has become a classic reference in the field. Now with the second edition, readers will find information on key new topics such as neural networks and statistical pattern recognition, the theory of machine learning, and the theory of invariances. Also included are worked examples, comparisons between different methods, extensive graphics, expanded exercises and computer project topics.
An Instructor's Manual presenting detailed solutions to all the problems in the book is available from the Wiley editorial department.
Customer Reviews:
Great product & service.......2007-09-21
This was my first purchase from amazon and I was totally impressed by the quality of the product and the service! I would buy again from the same seller and recommend others to do the same.
A Very Bad Sequel.......2007-03-09
I have now used this book 3 times for a class. While the 1st edition did a nice job of covering the material in its time, the additions to in the 2nd addition are a disaster. What the book has going for it is that it at least lists the necessary material for such a course in the table of contents. However, all the additional material is poorly explained at best. The problem sets are too few and the ones that are included are generally weak.
I have tried to use this book, but after constant student complaints and my own difficulty with the text, I have finally concluded that the problem lies with the text and not with the users.
I think an indicator of problems was the large number of errors in the first printing; large here is an understatement. Even in later additions, the 4th, the size of the errata is huge. I think this is indicative of the authors' attention to detail and seriousness in preparation. I have found similar errors and ambiguities in the associate Computer Manual.
The bottom line is that this book has seen its final appearance in our curriculum. I would use any other text, even an older one.
There is simply not enough room or time to point out all the problems with this text. Do yourself a favor if considering this text for a class. Don't bother.
The best book for the discussed field.......2007-02-05
The discussed book is very explanatory and could be students' material for academic lessons.
great book.......2007-01-16
easy to read for computer scientists who are not necessarily experts in statistics. the code in matlab is very good, and helps a lot.
this book is a good introduction to machine learning.
Very well written.......2006-02-26
I liked this book because it does a great job explaining the concepts and the reasoning behind the mathematical formulae. Other books such as "The Elements of Statistical Learning" toss the Math formulas at you and expect you to figure out the significance or the importance of 'em. The book does not shy away from Math - but does a great job presenting it.
Book Description
Mastering the theory and application of electrical concepts is necessary for a successful career in the electrical installation or industrial maintenance fields, and this newly revised, full color text delivers! Delmar's Standard Textbook of Electricity, 3E trains aspiring electricians by blending concepts relating to electrical theory with practical 'how to' information that prepares students for situations commonly encountered on the job. Topics span the major aspects of the electrical field including atomic structure and basic electricity, direct and alternating current, basic circuit theory, three-phase circuits, single phase, transformers, generators, and motors. This revision retains all the hallmarks of our market-leading second edition, but displays enhancements such as new up-to-date photos, bonus learning features to advance student retention, and a new e.resource for instructors that takes the guesswork out of classroom preparation.
Customer Reviews:
Review for the purchase of Delmar's Standard Textbook of Electricity, 3E.......2007-09-16
The textbook that I purchased was exactly what I needed for my class. It was in PERFECT condition and I got it quickly. The purchase process was very easy and and the book was delivered as I had anticipated. Thanks!
Well written text........2007-03-08
This book was puchased for a class. It was a good selection for a textbook. It is written clearly and has many pictures and examples to further explain the theory. There are helpful summaries and review questions at the end of each unit. A great overall textbook.
Book Description
This best-selling, calculus-based text is recognized for its carefully crafted, logical presentation of the basic concepts and principles of physics. PHYSICS FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS, Sixth Edition, maintains the Serway traditions of concise writing for the students, carefully thought-out problem sets and worked examples, and evolving educational pedagogy. This edition introduces a new co-author, Dr. John Jewett, at Cal Poly ? Pomona, known best for his teaching awards and his role in the recently published PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICS, Third Edition, also written with Ray Serway. Providing students with the tools they need to succeed in introductory physics, the Sixth Edition of this authoritative text features unparalleled media integration and a newly enhanced supplemental package for instructors and students!
Customer Reviews:
Wow. All the colours blinded me........2007-03-30
Wow. The book was so illustrated and so colourful, I got distracted. And, boy, do they like to write...I guess it also combats illiteracy!
I foresee a crucial change in forthcoming editions: the style of the guy's pants in the elevator will go out of fashion and they will have to issue a new edition (it will cost more, however, because printing technology will allow you to see the guy in 3D).
I personally find the "features" in these American-style textbooks to be nothing but distractions. Besides, the level of physics students went down, not up, as physicists will tell you. So how are the pedagogical "features" helping? Accordingly, in truth, the level of the books went down. The reality is that they're targeting a certain niche market here, keep that in mind. Granted, this book has been around. But, for real, it's overpriced and if that is what they made you buy, well, I'm sorry. On the bright side, you could be using Halliday's, in which case you'd be even worse off. Seriously though, this book is representative of a slew of books that are full of fluff and overpriced.
If you feel adventurous, get yourself something with less colour and more math, straight out of the 70s, like Alonso and Finn, or McKelvey and Grotch. I garantee you will get to calculate the apparent weight of fishes in elevators. Besides, come to think of it, hey, all the good math and physics books from Springer and Kluwer are in black-and-white!
Excellent Textbook! .......2006-10-27
I really am impressed with this textbook. It is one of the most organized texts I have ever used in college. The authors and publisher do an excellent job of "formatting" the topics. All equations are very well marked and numbered. Many other texts throw an equation in the middle of a paragraph and you can never find it when you need it. Not so in this book! You will always find just what you are looking for.
They also do a great job of explaining the topics, with many many examples in each chapter. They provide "quick quizzes" in each chapter with answers at the end of the chapter that allows you to see how you are doing. They make liberal use of colors and illustrations which all help to ease the strain on the eye, and help the mind follow along.
Overall, VERY GOOD BOOK! This book will never leave my library reference collection.
Successful textbook.......2006-08-18
This is one of the most popular and most useful calculus based physics textbook in the market. Normally if you have a textbook and some problem books such as Thinking like a physicist, Problems for Physics Students etc and work through as many problem as you can, you shall have no problem mastering the concepts and getting A's from your class.
Solid introduction to college physics for scientists and engineers.......2006-08-03
Next to older editions of Haliday and Resnick, this is probably the best introductory physics text for "college level physics," and I have seen and used most of them after 20+ years of teaching physics. The material in this text does require previous experience with physics (high school or first term algebra-trig based general physics) plus knowledge of introductory calculus. (Limits, continuity, derivatives and integrals - first year calculus, frequently taken concurrently.) I have taught from, and used earlier versions of the text and have found them, (and this), to be good, reliable texts, with good, clear explanations and contemporary applications, with few or no complaints from students. (Physics is a dry subject for many students - this text should help make it a little more palatable, if not interesting.)
The material covered will be challenging for those who do not have the prerequisite background in mathematics, since free and frequent use of derivatives and integrals is made throughout the text, and facility with trigonometry and algebra is assumed. There's a lot of material covered in 38 chapters, from measurements and mechanics through light and optics. (The 39th chapter introduces special relativity, but is frequently skipped by many instructors, though I always present this topic since many students are fascinated by it, as well as by Einstein - thanks to PBS and Discovery specials. However, relativity is usually the first topic covered in the follow-on modern physics course.)
There are many well done diagrams, graphs, drawings and photographs to help visualize the explanations and examples. Special "blue boxes" highlight historical notes and include pictures of historical figures. Qualitative (conceptual) 'Questions' follow each chapter as well as 'Problems' (color coded by degree of difficulty), some iconed for computer/calculator numerical solution or simulation or on-line "coaching" using the free PhysicsNow web-based learning system. The reading material in each section is also complemented with 'Quick Quizzes' with answers at the end of each chapter. Many complementary example problems are worked completely in the reading and appendices are included at the end of the text for all essential mathematical techniques, including derivatives, integrals and error propagation. The back and front covers (with adjacent heavy pages) provide essential and easily accessible information on units, conversions, physical or useful constants and symbology used in the text.
The text contains no chapters on atomic or nuclear physics (Bohr atomic theory, quantum mechanics, periodic table structure, etc.) because these are topics also usually covered in a separate follow-on modern physics course for "scientists and engineers."
I rated the text 4 stars because it is divided into 39 chapters, rather than ~30, which would be more helpful, I think, for a two 15-week semester or three 10-week quarter sequence of courses in "college physics" for scientists and engineers.
To learn the fundamentals of physics.......2006-05-01
I had used Serway's textbook before the second author joined. Different editions may exhibit slight differences, but this book is very suitable for those who want to gain a solid fundamental in physics. I believe this book is intended to address freshmen and sophomores, who major in math, sciences and engineering and it executes this task very successfully. It requires knowledge of calculus for better understanding.
The chapters do not contain excessively long, boring discussions; rather, they are presented with adequate discussions. Worked-out problems are especially beneficial to understand the concepts. If one solves and understands these examples, they can attack the end-of-chapter problems more easily. The end-of-chapter problems are classified into 3 categories; standard difficulty, medium difficulty and challenging problems. Therefore, a student can make use of his time according to the level of difficulty of his course, background etc. If you little time to practice and a fair knowledge of the subject matter, you could easily start with medium level problems and try the harder ones as well.
Some chapters contain some interesting articles about everyday physical phenomena which are related to the concepts presented. Hence, the student has a chance to relate theory and life and get a more profound comprehension of physics.
Answers to odd-numbered problems are given in the back of the book, so you can check your results. Many numbers used in these problems are not hard to tackle without a calculator. A smart student can solve many problems with a pencil and paper.
Book Description
Physics for Scientists and Engineers combines outstanding pedagogy with a clear and direct narrative and applications that draw the reader into the physics. The new edition features an unrivaled suite of media and on-line resources that enhance the understanding of physics.
Many new topics have been incorporated such as: the Otto cycle, lens combinations, three-phase alternating current, and many more. New developments and discoveries in physics have been added including the Hubble space telescope, age and inflation of the universe, and distant planets. Modern physics topics are often discussed within the framework of classical physics where appropriate.
For scientists and engineers who are interested in learning physics.
Customer Reviews:
+++++++++Good Calc Based Text -- Modern Phys Lacks a Bit+++++.......2007-02-06
I've been using this book for years. I really like it a lot. There are many god things about it. It shows how calculus is used to derive formulas (remember less formulas, really) and solve many problems... good examples that are worth noting (so important). The calculus is almost a lack of what you'll see in Calc classes because it's seeing what's going on in a problem and describe it with calculus... mainly using integrals (set up equations with infinitesimals and taking the integral to solve for what you need). It'd be nice to find a good book on this, but anyway, I took advantage of getting the information from instructors who could explain it more thoroughly. If you follow the calc stuff in the book carefully you should get it, but be aware that you can integrate with respect to one of the other variables (like limits of integration with arc length s vice angle theta). Overall, I feel it could explain the calculus even more... then it would be very complete!
I think this book is very well written, clearly presented, and has pretty much all the classic examples and problems. I think it needs to clear up some modern physics stuff, though. I felt a little lost and needed to search other books on that stuff. BTW, it appears there is a new 2007 edition coming out with "Modern Physics" in the title... so that might be the one to get.
Anyhow, I love how this one has been around a while and it's a great reference for Univ Phys material. There are answer key/solution documents going around everywhere, but it would have been nice to see one in pdf format (the word one substitutes fonts and isn't in "pretty print" math format... a good version should be somewhere on the web... else I'm going to make one). Overall, I give this book a 4.75. The student solutions manual might be worth checking out (I didn't go that way). Thanks and best of luck.
It is a pleasure to read and learn from-a good reference.......2006-11-12
I could write probably pages about this book but I want to keep it short. If you want to learn physics (at college and university level), then go no further. This is THE BOOK. I had used it in class before and I still keep it as a reference. It is easy to read and very well organized. I highly recommend this book.
got me through UC Berkeley physics.......2006-09-21
I used an earlier version of this book when at UC Berkeley a few years ago. It was required for two of my classes and for the third, another book was required, but I always referred back to this one. In fact, I continued to refer to this book after graduating and working as a geophysicist at the USGS. The older version was very easy to follow with a list of useful equations right in the beginning. It did require a fairly good understanding of very basic physics which should come from a high school course. Perhaps the exercises are difficult, but that is only relevant when considering whether your instructor or TA is good or not.
I am now in graduate school and wishing I had not decided to sell this book a couple of years ago and will certainly purchase it again.
Still a great reference.......2005-12-23
I used this book for my highschool AP Physics class in 2001-2002. I just finished the Fall 2005 school semester as a mechanical engineering major, and I have to say that this is by far the most worn-out book I own. I still occasionally pull it out. I own three other textbooks in physics at this level, and I've seen many others; I think this is the most well-written book I've seen for this material. If your instructor doesn't require this book, and if you can find a cheap used copy, I'd recommend getting this to supplement your studies. The pictures and diagrams are great. The text is clear. The formulas are easy to follow. Yes, the problems are rough, but they force you to have a good foundation in calculus, which is absolutely necessary in later courses. Most physics books have similar problems anyway. This isn't the book to get if you need help in math, which is the #1 reason for physics difficulties these days.
Physics Book.......2005-09-25
I was pleased with the condition of the book and the ease that was required to buy the book. However I was disappointed with the mailing it took longer than expected, I paid extra for the speedy shipping yet it still took over 5 days to get here to Minneapolis.
Book Description
Built from the ground up on our new understanding of how students learn physics, Randall Knight's introductory university physics textbook leads readers to a deeper understanding of the concepts and more proficient problem-solving skills. This authoritative text provides effective learning strategies and in-depth instruction to better guide readers around the misconceptions and preconceptions they often bring to the course. The superior problem-solving pedagogy of Physics for Scientists and Engineers uses a detailed, methodical approach that sequentially builds skills and confidence for tackling more complex problems. Knight combines rigorous quantitative coverage with a descriptive, inductive approach that leads to a deeper student understanding of the core concepts. Pictorial, graphical, algebraic, and descriptive representations for each concept are skillfully combined to provide a resource that students with different learning styles can readily grasp.
A comprehensive, integrated approach introducing key topics of physics, including Newton's Laws, Conservation Laws, Newtonian Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Wave and Optics, Electricity and Magnetism, and Modern Physics.
For college instructors, students, or anyone with an interest in physics.
Customer Reviews:
Not very useful at all..........2007-08-16
I only bought this book because I needed it for one of my college courses along with a key code for the online homework annoyance called Mastering Physics. I found the online site and this book to be completely worthless, having already studied Electricity and Magnetism with a different textbook and found this one to be much worse in comparison on many levels. The examples, the problems, the way they present concepts...all either generic or pointless or possible flawed in some way.
If you have a choice in the matter, get a different one. Possibly Feynman's Lectures on Physics.
For those who want to UNDERSTAND.......2007-03-27
I read about half of the E&M chapters (E&M tending to be more difficult conceptually than Mechanics) and Knight was incredibly lucid in its explanations. Where Halliday/Resnick left me completely confused and unsatisfied with their random assertions about Gauss' Law, Knight built it up step by step, carefully explaining each, leaving me with a very deep understanding of the concepts. I aced that test.
If you want a bunch of plug and chug formulas and nothing else, look elsewhere. But if you actually have the capacity and the desire to understand, this book will do you loads of good.
awesome.......2007-02-25
the book came in perfect condition and with everything it was described with. fast shipping
The book is easy to understand........2006-07-13
I am a computer science student (well, recent graduate), and am looking to sell similiar books. I used both this book and the Fundamentals of Physics by Halliday/Resnick/Walker. Frankly, I thought this book was very easy to understand (much more than Halliday/Resnick/Walker). I'm not sure how you could want to be a mechanical engineer but not do well with this book. I thought they made it very easy to understand and perhaps spent too much time re-explaining what was covered in a earlier chapters but you can easily skip those parts. A slightly more challenging book was the one by Halliday/Resnick/Walker because it relied more on calculus (at least my professor did) but it too was fairly obvious. I recommend either book.
Knight's Physics Volume 1-4.......2006-06-29
My first two semesters were devoted to going through Knight's Physis's program course. The course is an attempt to provide the answer to the question: "How do you provide a physics education to a class body of 240+ students." Comparatively the textbooks were considered to be average. I would agree with the other reviewers that they tended to be "wordy" and the conceptual explanations were lacking. Many authors stress that learning physics can only be accomplished by working problems. A lot of the example problems lacked a clear explanation. I had a routine habit of referring to Serway Physics (3rd. Edition) to get a better understanding of the problems. The twice a week "online" problem assignments were extremely tedious and much of the time was devoted to the frustrations of inputing answers on the website's graphical user interface. I provided responses to many problems and never received a word from Knight's online program representatives. I felt that a lot of valuable learning time was wasted with incorrect alphanumeric symbolic input. Students always had complaints about the connection between the online problems and tests.
Average customer rating:
- The Navigtor
- Thwarting the latest wealthy megalomaniac
- A nice escape into an action-adventure tale as only Cussler can tell it...
- A Good Book, But Not The Best
- Cussler Rows On
|
The Navigator (NUMA Files)
Clive Cussler , and
Paul Kemprecos
Manufacturer: Putnam Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Men's Adventure
| Genre Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Action & Adventure
| Genre Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Suspense
| Thrillers
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Fiction Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside Mystery & Thriller Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Treasure of Khan
-
The Chase
-
Skeleton Coast: A Novel of the Oregon Files
-
The Judas Strain: A Novel
-
Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Betrayal
ASIN: 0399154191
Release Date: 2007-06-05 |
Book Description
Years ago, an ancient Phoenician statue known as the Navigator was stolen from the Baghdad Museum, and there are men who would do anything to get their hands on it. Their first victim is a crooked antiquities dealer, murdered in cold blood. Their second very nearly is a UN investigator who, were it not for the timely assistance of Austin and Zavala, would now be at the bottom of a watery grave.
What's so special about this statue? Austin wonders. The search for answers will take the NUMA team on an astonishing odyssey through time and space, one that encompasses no less than the lost treasures of King Solomon, a mysterious packet of documents personally encoded by Thomas Jefferson, and a top secret scientific project that could change the world forever.
And that's before the surprises really begin . . .
Rich with all the hair-raising action and endless invention that have become Cussler's hallmarks, The Navigator is Clive's best yet.
Customer Reviews:
The Navigtor.......2007-10-08
Average Clive Cussler fare. Not the exciting twists that Sahara took(book only, please...the movie was awful). I beleive Mr. Cussler should have better writing to offer in the future.
DW)
Thwarting the latest wealthy megalomaniac.......2007-10-07
Clive Cussler and Paul Kemprecos follow a previously successful formula twisting around history to create a fast based action adventure tale surrounding the actions of members of the fictitious National Underwater and Maritme Agency(NUMA).
Special Projects director Kurt Austin and his sidekick Joe Zavala find themselves in the midst of a mid oceanic hijacking. The booty is a bronze Phoenician statue known as The Navigator being transported under the guardianship of the alluring Carina Mechadi working for UNESCO. The statue was looted along with other antiquities from the Iraqi National Museum in Baghdad during the U.S. invasion. Mechadi's mission was to recovered the purloined artifacts.
The Navigator happened to be the object of desire of industrialist Viktor Baltazar head of a large private mercenary cartel and mining empire. Baltazar who traced his roots back to the days of King Solomon believed that the statue gave clues to details of a pre-Columbian visit to the New World by the Phoenicians.
Tied in with these historical events were a recently and accidently discovered encrypted letter penned by Thomas Jefferson under the guise of the secretive Artichoke society. Analysis of the Jefferson papers detailed a letter from Meriweather Lewis of the famous Lewis & Clark expedition. The correspondence hinted at the existence of a Phoenician landing in the New World with a mission to hide a precious and sensitive item whose existence could change the fabric of society as postulated by King Solomon.
Baltazar desired the information that The Navigator contained to advance his own nefarious plans. Meanwhile Austin, Zavala and their minions along his Austin love interest Mechadi team up to deter Baltazar in a rollicking adventure that strains the boundaries of credulity. The plot was standard fare for Cussler and his ghost writers but the ending was a bit of a cop out. For stress free reading requiring very little mentation, "The Navigator" is right up your alley.
A nice escape into an action-adventure tale as only Cussler can tell it..........2007-09-02
Seems like a number of my library "recreational reads" came in at once, so I've had some down time from my normal fare of reading material. I finally made it to the top of the hold list for The Navigator by Clive Cussler with Paul Kemprecos. If you're in the mood for a fast-moving action adventure novel, it works pretty well...
The main story revolves around a statue called The Navigator. It was stolen from the Iraqi national museum but was recovered with the aid of a UN official named Carina Mechadi. While on a ship bound for the US with the other recovered items, the statue is once again the center of attention when an armed group invades the ship, attempts to transport the statue off by helicopter, and sets the ship to collide with an oil drilling platform to hide the evidence. But Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala of NUMA are able to pull off a dramatic rescue, saving the ship, the statue, *and* Ms. Mechadi. The mystery of why someone would want the statue deepens as a tie is discovered between the statue, Thomas Jefferson, and the ancient Phoenicians. When the statue is once again stolen and Carina once again kidnapped, Austin's full attention is focused on saving the damsel in distress one more time, as well as putting an end to the person behind it all.
Compared to Cussler's Dirk Pitt series, the Austin novel is much more sedate and comfortable. There's definitely enough action to keep you turning pages, but every chapter doesn't end with someone about to die and/or pull off a miraculous MacGyver-esque escape. The idea of Phoenicians being the first to visit North America isn't new in a Cussler novel (Serpent in 1999), but he does a nice job in putting together a Da Vinci-type mystery where people are willing to die to keep a secret.
If you're ready to kill off a few hours with a mental escape from reality, The Navigator should fit your needs well...
A Good Book, But Not The Best.......2007-08-23
As always Mr. Cussler weaves a varied thread of intrigue and history. As someones else mentioned, I missed his appearance in the plot however trivial. One has to wonder how much of these books he is really able to write these days and how much the co author does. In any event it was very enjoyable as always, although according to the Kirkus Reviews it the best ever. That I can't agree with.
Cussler Rows On.......2007-08-18
Typical NUMA Files fare, which means a GREAT read. Typical plot elements, such as rescuing a BEAUTIFUL Damsel in Distress from a possible Kidnapping. This is the ultimate Summer Read. Ending is quite preposterous, but Hey this is a NUMA Files book. Relax, Read and Enjoy.
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
|
Adaptive Filter Theory (4th Edition)
Simon Haykin
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Circuits
| Electrical & Electronics
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
| Design
| Digital Integrated Circuit Design
| General
| Integrated
| Microwave
General
| Electrical & Electronics
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Filters
| Electrical & Electronics
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Telecommunications
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Power Systems
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Applied
| Mathematics
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Applied
| Physics
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Circuit Components
| Circuitry
| Computer Science
| Computers & Internet
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Computers & Internet
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Computer Science & Information Systems
| New & Used Textbooks
| Stores
| Books
Electrical & Electronics
| Engineering
| New & Used Textbooks
| Stores
| Books
All Titles
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Arts & Photography
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Computers & Internet
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Professional
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Science
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Look Inside Computer Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside Science Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Adaptive Signal Processing
-
Fundamentals of Adaptive Filtering
-
Fundamentals of Statistical Signal Processing, Volume 2: Detection Theory
-
Fundamentals of Statistical Signal Processing, Volume I: Estimation Theory
-
Statistical Digital Signal Processing and Modeling
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.
Books:
- The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill, Visions of Glory
- The Last Man on the Moon: Astronaut Eugene Cernan and America's Race in Space
- The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography (Oprah's Book Club)
- The Oxford Companion to English Literature
- The Patient Who Cured His Therapist: And Other Stories of Unconventional Therapy
- The Pollaiuolo Brothers: The Arts of Florence and Rome
- The Sleepwalkers: A History of Man's Changing Vision of the Universe (Arkana)
- The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere, 2 Vol. Set (Comstock Books in Herpetology)
- The Wizard of Menlo Park: How Thomas Alva Edison Invented the Modern World
- The Wizard of Menlo Park: How Thomas Alva Edison Invented the Modern World
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- eBay Income: How Anyone of Any Age, Location, and/or Background Can Build a Highly Profitable Online
- The Border Trilogy: All the Pretty Horses, the Crossing, Cities of the Plain
- Hell Looks Different Now: One Corpsman's Journey Back to Vietnam
- History: Fiction or Science
- Mom's Best Meals: Over 250 Classic Home-Cooked Recipes--From Pot Roasts to Peach PieFamily-Favorite
- The Forsyte Saga
- Smoke, Dust, and Haze: Fundamentals of Aerosol Dynamics
- Cool Careers Without College for People Who Love Movement
- Loss Reserving - An Actuarial Perspective
- Seduction of Water
Coming to Peace With Science: Bridging the Worlds Between Faith and Biology
Mere Christianity
God's Universe
The God Delusion
Evolution and Christian Faith: Reflections of an Evolutionary Biologist
