This is a revision of the famed pocket guide giving engineers, scientists, technicians, and students thousands of essential technical and mathematical formulas and hundreds of diagrams to simplify and speed their calculations.

This is a wonderful and unique little book that packs a lot of information into a pocket-sized hardbound volume. The construction of the book is of the highest quality, something that’s rare in this age of disposable, fluff-filled, high-ego publishing. It feels good and it’s very satisfying as a physical object. Definitely something you’ll keep forever or pass down to someone else. Read the rest of this entry »

Moaveni addresses all aspects of engineering applications with clarity while maintaining a good balance of textual and numerical explanations and examples at the right level of difficulty. It’s this kind of book that one can easily suggest students keep as a reference book throughout their engineering education and beyond as it provides examples of some of the most commonly used engineering figures.

A major strength of this text is that it provides an excellent introduction to key topics that are fundamental to the engineering student.

This text cuts across lines within the discipline of engineering. It cover civil topics then mechanical topics in a linear fashion. It presents a way to think about engineering as a whole and it covers a lot of important topics. Read the rest of this entry »

The story concerns a group called the Crimebusters and a plot to kill and discredit them. Moore’s characterization is as sophisticated as any novel’s. Importantly the costumes do not get in the way of the storytelling; rather they allow Moore to investigate issues of power and control–indeed it was Watchmen, and to a lesser extent Dark Knight, that propelled the comic genre forward, making “adult” comics a reality.

The artwork of Gibbons (best known for 2000AD’s Rogue Trooper and DC’s Green Lantern) is very fine too, echoing Moore’s paranoid mood perfectly throughout. Packed with symbolism, some of the overlying themes (arms control, nuclear threat, vigilantes) have dated but the intelligent social and political commentary, the structure of the story itself, its intertextuality (chapters appended with excerpts from other “works” and “studies” on Moore’s characters, or with excerpts from another comic book being read by a child within the story), the finepace of the writing and its humanity mean that Watchmen more than stands up–it keeps its crown as the best the genre has yet produced. Read the rest of this entry »

The most powerful characters in two universes collide as DC’s premier super-heroes meet Marvel’s. Collected in a gorgeous two-volume oversized slipcased hardcover is perhaps the most eagerly anticipated and memorable crossover of all time, as the Justice League of America unites with The Avengers.

Superman, Batman, and the other members of the JLA join forces with Captain America, Iron Man, and the many other Avengers to fight a threat so immense it threatens two entire dimensions. The second hardcover in this deluxe set features art and articles chronicling this historic crossover–which has been over twenty years in the making. Read the rest of this entry »

There will be standing room only for Matt Groening’s newest Simpsons Comics collection of comedy classics. This big, bulky, boffo book will have you bemused, boggled, and beside yourself with belly laughs.

Join “Our Favorite Family” as: Lisa joins a babysitter’s union only to uncover an insidious plot against the youth of Springfield; Homer “steals” Ned Flanders’s swimming pool, leading to a full-scale siege on Evergreen Terrace; the whole family’s Thanksgiving is threatened by Bart’s greed, Lisa’s protests, and Homer’s run-in with crazed, butter-fed turkeys; Lisa explores the subterranean catacombs under Springfield Elementary School; Grampa’s ownership of a WWII tank hurtles Springfield towards the brink of destruction; Homer and Moe’s other regular customers open a rival bar; Read the rest of this entry »

Standage starts with a bold hypothesis—that each epoch, from the Stone Age to the present, has had its signature beverage—and takes readers on an extraordinary trip through world history. The Economist’s technology editor has the ability to connect the smallest detail to the big picture and a knack for summarizing vast concepts in a few sentences.

He explains how, when humans shifted from hunting and gathering to farming, they saved surplus grain, which sometimes fermented into beer. The Greeks took grapes and made wine, later borrowed by the Romans and the Christians. Arabic scientists experimented with distillation and produced spirits, the ideal drink for long voyages of exploration. Read the rest of this entry »

From the dawn of humankind to today’s global complexities, this monumental volume presents world history from an original perspective that provides fresh insights with every colorful spread. Few references are as invaluable, all-inclusive, and satisfying to browse.

For readers of all ages, world history is easily accessible, depicted as never before—so that events occurring simultaneously around the world can be viewed at-a-glance together. For example, Texas Instruments launched the pocket calculator the same year the Soviet Union launched the first manned space station, in 1971. Read the rest of this entry »

Bauer (author of the four-volume The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child) guides readers on a fast-paced yet thorough tour of the ancient worlds of Sumer, Egypt, India, China, Greece, Mesopotamia and Rome.

Drawing on epics, legal texts, private letters and court histories, she introduces individuals who lived through the famines, plagues, floods, wars and empire building of the ancient world: the marvelous array of characters includes Gilgamesh, Sumer’s first epic hero; Yü, the founder of the Xia dynasty in China; and Tiglath-Pileser III, who restored the Assyrian empire’s fortunes.

Because Bauer covers so much time and territory, she focuses on the Western cultures with which she seems most comfortable; the chapters on Asia and India are the least developed. In addition, some of her assertions—for instance, that the biblical book of Joshua is the clearest guide possess to the establishment of an Israelite kingdom in Canaan—contradict general scholarly opinion or are simply wrong. However, Bauer’s elegant prose and her command of much of the material makes this a wonderful starting point for the study of the ancient world. 80 maps. Read the rest of this entry »

There are ten new features in this all-new, updated book. Sure, it’s even simpler than it was before. Of course, you don’t have to worry about fertilizer or poor soil ever again because you’ll be growing above the ground.

But, the best feature is that “anyone”, “anywhere” can enjoy a Square Foot garden. Children, adults with limited mobility, even complete novices can achieve spectacular results.

But, let’s get back to the ten improvements:

New Location: Move your garden closer to your house by eliminating single-row gardening. Square Foot Garden needs just “twenty percent” of the space of a traditional garden.

New Direction: Locate your garden “on top” of existing soil. Forget about pH soil tests, double-digging (who enjoys that?), or the never-ending soil improvements. Read the rest of this entry »

The Smart Approach to Home Decorating, 3rd Edition is a complete introduction into the subject of interior design. In words and pictures, it explains everything a homeowner needs to know to design and decorate a house with professional results.

Topics covered in the book include explanations and examples of the basic principles of design, space planning, layout, and arrangement; furniture; color, pattern, and fabric; window treatments; accessories; and decorating room by room. Read the rest of this entry »