Design Patterns is a modern classic in the literature of object-oriented development, offering timeless and elegant solutions to common problems in software design. It describes patterns for managing object creation, composing objects into larger structures, and coordinating control flow between objects. The book provides numerous examples where using composition rather than inheritance can improve the reusability and flexibility of code.

Note, though, that it’s not a tutorial but a catalog that you can use to find an object-oriented design pattern that’s appropriate for the needs of your particular application–a selection for virtuoso programmers who appreciate (or require) consistent, well-engineered object-oriented designs.
There are other advantages to this book is that it isolates 23 of the most common patterns and presents them in detail. You wouldn’t think that 23 patterns would be enough, but once you become adept at recognizing patterns, you’ll find that a large fraction of the patterns you use in practice are among these 23. Read the rest of this entry »

No One Would Listen is the exclusive story of the Harry Markopolos-lead investigation into Bernie Madoff and his $65 billion Ponzi scheme. While a lot has been written about Madoff’s scam, few actually know how Markopolos and his team-affectionately called “The Fox Hounds” by Markopolos himself, uncovered what Madoff was doing years before this financial disaster reached its pinnacle. Unfortunately, no one listened, until the damage of the world’s largest financial fraud ever was irreversible.

Since that time, Markopolos openly has testified and questioned the enforcement and fraud investigation capabilities of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), shared a sliver of this page-turning story with 60 Minutes, and become perhaps the world’s most visible and insightful whistleblower on fraud and conflicts of interest in financial markets. Read the rest of this entry »

Kaplan GMAT 2011 Premier with CD-ROM is a ground-breaking prep program that uses the latest technology and advanced Internet tools to maximize a student’s score.
Along with the proven score-raising strategies and essential practice needed to achieve a top score, this invaluable guide offers exclusive free access to an interactive Online Companion with exceptional assets including: Video Mini-Lessons, in which Kaplan’s top tutors review the most important concept from each chapter in 3-4-minute video sessions;

LiveOnline, a state-of-the-art online seminar, complete with audio, video, instant chat, whiteboards, and screen-sharing; bonus CD-ROM with additional offline practice; diagnostic quiz to target areas for score improvement; new practice quizzes every month; a customizable study plan and progress report. Read the rest of this entry »

Andre Agassi has written a ‘tell-all’ book about his life in tennis. And, it turns out, he hated tennis. That was a bigger shocker than the salacious fact that he was on ‘crystal meth’for a period of time.
Andre tells that he started playing tennis at the age of 3 and by the age of 5 he was showing an aptitude for the game. He was pushed by his father-an obsessive man who pushed his son too far and too much. In fact his father felt that education was not necessary and a hindrance to his tennis practice.

Andre could never tell his father how much he hated the game because it was Andre’s responsibility to help his family, and that is what he did. He left school in the ninth grade, something that has bothered him his entire career. His goal was to achieve in tennis. He was enrolled in the Bollettien tennis camp, but it felt more like a prison than a camp. The academy, in Agassi’s words, was “Lord of the Flies with forehands.” In retaliation Andre started wearing earrings, grew his hair long and wore loud clothes. Read the rest of this entry »

The essential guide to the 2010 baseball season is on deck now, and whether you’re a fan or fantasy player-or both-you won’t be properly informed without it. Baseball Prospectus 2010 brings together an elite group of analysts to provide the definitive look at the upcoming season in critical essays and commentary on the thirty teams, their managers, and more than sixty players and prospects from each team.

Now in its fifteenth edition, the Baseball Prospectus annual shows once again how it became the industry leader: the 2010 Edition includes brand-new stat categories, more controversial player predictions, and the kind of wise, witty baseball commentary that makes this phone-book-thick tome worth reading cover to cover. Read the rest of this entry »