5 comments about Shirtmaking: Developing Skills for Fine Sewing.

1. If I had viewed this book prior to purchase I would not have bought it. Its got some strange designs and all I really wanted was some clear patterns etc for quality shirts.



2. This book provided detailed professional information on sewing techniques for creating tailored men's shirts. This book showed you how to alter patterns, create your own pattern OR copy one of your own shirts.
   Very infomative. Be prepared to elevate your sewing knowlegde. This book uses "plain talk". It can be read by beginning sewers and advanced sewers.
   I recommend purchasing the accomanying video for visual education.



3. I've been sewing for over 50 years, and I learned so much from this book !! Wow! Fabrication, technique, results ... worth every penny!!!



4. professional shirtmaking tips for everyone interested in making one that really fits. Good tips for those afraid of all those details. very comprehensive.



5. I think this book is the only one in the market that attempts to show how to construct a shirt. It is too bad. I wasted my money in this item. I am wondering if the people that reviewed it as a great book are actually postings made by the publisher himself.
   
   The book is useless. The drawings that are supposed to explain are very confusing. Through the whole book, I couldnt find a logic way of putting a shirt pattern together.
   
   Also, the author make irrelevant comments about his thoughts and opinions leaving little space for important descriptions.
   
   Useless book.
   
   If you would like to buy it, check it before in a library and take a good look at it. With this book in your hands you would see what I mean.
   
   WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY

5 comments about The Bandsaw Book.

1. Every chapter is filled with knowledgeable experience gained from using many different types of bandsaws. Lonnie Bird has taught woodworking and the use of power tools such as the band saw for many years. Having used a bandsaw in the past and getting ready to do so again after a 15 year hiatus, I thought I should bone up on the facts. Lonnie had information I never even considered before. His treatment of bandsaw blades and their use is invaluable and complete. This book will be readily available in my shop for quick reference whenever I need it on bandsaw tuning or blade selection.



2. I bought the bandsaw and figured I better have a book to help me along. I bought this book with the hopes it would help. It has and will some more in the future.
   
   I did find some of the information redundant as to what was written in the owners manual. But, there are great sections on how to tune up your saw, jigs, projects and a whole lot more. This book is in my shop with me and I find myself referring to it.
   
   I would recommend for both novice and seasoned woodworkers. There is just a lot of good useful information.



3. I bought this book because I've been in the market for my first bandsaw for a few months. I've been researching the topic a lot and came across a recommendation for this book in a forum somewhere. Given Amazon's great price I thought what they heck. I found this book to be very informative and pointed out a lot of things I should be looking at when determining which saw to buy that I had not though of. It did this without knocking any brands or given slanted praise to any brand either which I really liked. I don't really like taking a recommendation from an author who recommends a brands that sponsors him. Definitely worth the money and the time.



4. If you are thinking about buying a bandsaw or are new to them, get this book! This book is packed with information that is helpful for buying new or used saws. It explains the differences in blades and what you need for different uses.
   
   This book will save you money and guide you to the right saw for your needs. Well worth the price!



5. I knew I wanted to buy a 14" bandsaw, but knew nothing about bandsaws and wanted a good overview. It accomplished that.
   
   I get the impression that the author expected the reader to select the topics of interest and just read those. As a novice, I read the entire book straight through and as a result, got a bit tired of the repetition I went through.
   
   It is an easy read and I learned effectively. I still have a couple questions, but was able to narrow my saw selection to two.

5 comments about Life: Picture Puzzle (Picture Puzzles).

1. Based on a popular feature in the now defunct Life Magazine "Life: Picture Puzzle" has 90 puzzles in which readers look at two pictures of the same thing and try to find the differences between each puzzle. In a few instances, six pictures of the same thing are shown and readers have to find the one puzzle out of the six that has been changed. There are four levels of difficulty: Novice, Master, Expert and genius. For those who like a bit of an extra challenge, the editors suggest a completion time for each puzzle. While long-time readers of Life Magazine may recognize some of the puzzles, the editors reworked them with new changes. In fact, they use some of the same pictures in the book at different levels and with completely different changes.
   
   "Life: Picture Puzzle" is a fun challenging puzzle book. I thought that with 90 puzzles in the book, the more puzzles I solved there would be repetition of the differences and it would be easier to solve the puzzles but that wasn't true. Some of the puzzles did have obvious changes including obvious color changes, but there were many puzzles in which I couldn't find all the changes. Several of the puzzles offer hints to some of the changes in either the title or description of the puzzle. The number of changes in the puzzles range from as little as six changes to as many as 20; the more changes, the harder the puzzle. The editors do a good job of sorting each puzzle into the appropriate level of difficulty. The Novice Section is easy enough and solvers should easily find the first five or six changes in each puzzle while having to search a bit for the last few. The more details in the picture in the puzzle, the harder it is to solve. "Easter Surprise" with six pictures where solvers have to find the different one was a nice change. The Master Puzzles give you more time to solve the puzzle and range from pretty easy to tricky and hard to solve. The easiest ones to solve are the ones where you have to pick the different picture out of six choices. The Expert Puzzles are tricky and tough with lots of subtle changes, some involving color changes. There aren't very many Genius Puzzles but they are indeed very hard, even the two where you have of find the different puzzle out of six. Fittingly, the last puzzle, "Final Exam" is extremely hard, with 20 changes to find. As an added bonus, several of the puzzles have an added change that is not found in the answer section. The book says to go to the Picture Puzzle Section on Life's website, but even though I followed the instructions in the book, I couldn't find the answer section on-line.
   
   "Life: Picture Puzzle" is hours of challenging fun.



2. I am totally satisfied with this book, It did not take long to get and I have enjoyed and spent a lot of hours with it....I look forward to ordering more of these books in the future.



3. These puzzle books have been such fun for our whole family. Both our son(9) and our daughter(10) have thoroughly enjoyed their puzzle book from cover to cover. We have had contests to challenge each other as well as worked together to conquer each and every one...can't wait to start a new book!



4. Great delivery time,also the book is in fine form.I really am enjoying it alot.It was a good book to take on vacation for something to do on the plane.The is in first rate condition.



5. I have bought all the puzzle books Life has done so far. Will continue. Super book to have for anyone who travels or likes to keep their mind sharp. Received quickly and in excellent condition.

5 comments about Guinness World Records 2008 (Guinness World Records).

1. Best value and great delivery. Delivered promptly as always and as I've learned to expect from Amazon.



2. Great book - excellent for a gift. Great reading to see just how far some people will go to get their name in print.



3. I got this from my library,and was so dissapointed! The book is so big and awkward to hold,and the info is no where near as detailed as I remember the paperback editions being. They can keep their 'Glow In The Dark' issue,I'm not the least bit interested in this direction,these formerly great books are now headed.
   
   I wouldn't want this book if it was given to me free,let alone consider buying it!



4. This book did not have alot of records its more for kids a lot of 1st things done are records, glow in the dark pictures, and fold out pictures. to many pix not enough info.WWE wrestling which is fake is in there. I did not like it the old books are way better.



5. This record book is the best that Guiness has put out. Full of large pictures, some that fold out, and more detailed explanations of the feats that are considered world records. Granted, some records are serious and important. Some, however are just silly and intertaining. This is definitely the book for the person who loves to know all the arcane things.

5 comments about Complete Mage: A Player's Guide to All Things Arcane (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying).

1. Reading the first chapter, I was pleasantly surprised to see how the fundamentals are laid down; a quick overview of the differences between arcane magic, divine and innate magic. Then some slightly more in depth than Player's Guide articles on the various spellschools and finally very nice to read the various archetypes. I especially liked the miniguides that accompanied the archetypes, which explain why you should or shouldn't select certain spells or feats. Very nice for me anyway, because I'm not too experienced and the thought processes described really helped me think for myself.
   
   An intriguing chapter 2 'Character Options' has a section 'Alternative Class Features' which describes how you can modify and augment some specific class. For example there's an alternative class feature called 'Spell Sense' for barbarians or rogues that allows you to swap the trap sense class features for an extra dodge bonus to your AC against spells. It adds some more options for you as player.
   
   Then there's a section about a new type of feat: the Reserve Feat. Ofcourse the other types are still described - like heritage and tactical feats - and added feats for, but reserve feats are feats that provide secondary effects for spells you carry. For example "Acidic Splatter" allows you to cast a lower level orb of acid as long as you have an 2nd+ level acidic spell available to cast. There are various kinds of secondary effects for different feats way (including traveling plains at will). In addition to this secondary effect, most reserve feats add an extra competence bonus for castingtype-related spells. The general idea behind reserve feats is to be able to use your innate magical potential in more encounters without using your spell slots with every cast. It's like there suddenly many shades of gray between the extremes 'cast a spell' and 'don't cast a spell'. Also, they can't be countered, fail, ignore spell resistance and don't need any components.
   
   Then there are ofcourse a handful of prestiege classes and a basket full of new spells as well as some items. I won't go into those; you can probably find those reviews anywhere on the Internet already. Plus, I'm not the guy for that anyway.
   
   Finally there's the chapter for DM's that contains a list of hundred arcane based adventure ideas, and describes various arcane related game facets such as magic item shops, mercenary spellcasters, crafting, creature born of magic experiments and whatnot. In addition, there are the 'magical locations' as treasure, which basically states a magical location somehow made available to the player characters that in itself is the treasure because of the specialness and rewards that come from it. There are a number of predescribed magical locations ready for you to use accompanied by some maps.
   
   Conclusion:
   All in all, not everything is new and half of the book is the usual fluff. But combined with the various new features and options it makes for a nice book to join your collection. No unusual well writing or rich background history and characterization (though the archetype section does provide some), just straight up information... mostly.



2. This book really enhances the D & D system. It gives the various arcane classes alternatives on how they came into their abilities



3. Is really fresh and intresting and the 3 new types of magic are really fun. Indeed a great book, though I still think they should have added rune magic.



4. I use alot of arce casters as villians and also player charcters. I love some of the prestige classes but the spells are a little weak and the feats are very narroly designed. A good book but it isant at all requried or a must have.



5. $e is coming, so buying this and thinking you are staying current is a lie. Just buy it if you are sticking with 3.5 till the end and better yet get it used. A lot of people are shedding their 3.5 books because 4e is coming.

3 comments about SCRABBLE Wordbook.

1. Word lists based on 4th ed OSPD; good price, comprehensive, indexed nicely, easy to follow and some really interesting lists (ie mnemonics for the top 100 7-letter bingo stems, words with 70% vowels, short words that take suprise "s" endings, etc). Baron has gone beyond just listing "the two's", "q without u's", "jqxz's" and "word-hooks", lists (although, these lists are included); and created a really great resource for Scrabble enthusiasts. Only complaint is that word lists are printed in VERY small font, so those of us with small print issues should invest in a magnifying glass.



2. The original holy grail for hardcore Scrabble players has been updated to match the latest North American Scrabble dictionary. Whether you're a solid living-room player looking to enter the world of Scrabble clubs, or already a hardcore Scrabble junkie looking for the ultimate edge, this book has what you need to succeed.
   
   This not only contains every acceptable word of eight and fewer letters, in two lists (one alphabetical, the other in "alphagram", e.g. aaaghlmpr, order), but also key starter lists and tools to help you learn the most important words as efficiently as possible. Highly recommended!



3. This book is very well organized and easy to follow. The lists are in order of importance/usefulness and the introductions to each section are informative and entertaining. The only thing it's missing is a list of front and back hooks for the three letter words.
   
   I've been studying it vigorously for a month or so and have seen a great improvement in my game.
   
   A must for all Scrabble lovers, especially those aspiring to tournament play!

5 comments about Masters of Deception: Escher, Dali & the Artists of Optical Illusion.

1. I was more than pleased when I opened this book. The examples and discussion are extensive and some of the work awe-inspiring. Masters of Deception is literally an eye-opener and highly entertaining.



2. This is a very good book, specially in my case because i'm not an expert in arts or design and i could know the most important authors in optical illusions. Beautiful.



3. Masters of Deception: Escher, Dali & the Artists of Optical Illusion This book was way more than I expected. I purchased it for casual enjoyment but ended up entralled with not only the artwork, but the very nice biographies of the artists and the lay out of the book. I feature it in my living room for company. It's absolutely one of the best books I've ventured to buy.



4. I saw this book for sale in a catalog for several years and had wanted it but didn't want to pay the full price, thanks Amazon for offering it at a discount. I've always been intrigued by illusions and pictures with perception differences.
   This book does not disappoint. For anyone who wants to know more about the different kinds of picture Illusions and the backgrounds of the artists, this book is for you. Of course it has the standards, but it also has more obscure artists which are just as talented but haven't received the international acclaim of an Escher which of course is also in this book. Even though there isn't room in this book for all the work of every artist, it gives the reader many good examples of each artists work, which will no doubt compel one to find more pieces by those artists. Highly recomended.



5. This is a fascinating book to dip and absorb and marvel at how the artists use various techniques to show what we look at we dont see, and we see what we are "programmed" to see. Good fun.

5 comments about Poker for Dummies.

1. Its good for beginners but its too broad.....it covers a little bit on every poker game and teaches you about bluffing, helped me win Id reccomend it!



2. it's great that this book assumes that you know nothing about poker, because i knew nothing.
   
   this book is great in helping you think of all the considerations in poker, what the odds are, the groupings of hands, what other players are playing etc, but with a bit of practise, you can make these decisions in a matter of seconds. and practise i did. when i found that lou krieger was host of royal vegas poker, i practised there.
   
   the only aspect that put me off a bit, but was my own shortcoming, not the book's, was the issue of calculating the standard deviations, outs etc. being mathematically challenged, puts me at a disadvantage.
   
   but this is a great book, which is comprehensively basic - as it should be. i'd recommend it to anyone.



3. I love "Dummies" books and usually start with one when I want to learn something completely new. I have played poker recreationally most of my life, and been a consistent winner--because my competition was even worse than I was. I even won in my sole foray into a card club--because I was lucky. I had never played Hold'em, however. I wanted to learn more than just the rules of the game and get an introduction to some of the theoretical poker concepts that I knew were out there. This is the wrong book for that.
   
   This book is just too elementary for anyone but a total and complete novice. The only "take away" for me was an understanding of what playing tight pre-flop means for Hold'em. The commentary on post-flop play was way too simple-minded.
   
   This book spends too much time explaining things like tournaments, the World Series of Poker, and the Internet. I am still looking for the book I want.



4. This book is great for everyone who's new to poker, especially casino poker. It explains all kinds of poker in detal and gives general rules on how to win in poker. You certainly can learn all your basics from this book, but I don't think it's good for people who want to learn Hold'em in particular - for that I'd recommend "Hold'em Excellence: From Beginner to Winner" by Lou Krieger. It explains everything in detail. Krieger certainly knows what he's talking about and explains it in a simple, easy to read form.
   Poker for Dummies doesn't deal very well with internet poker; it only gives some general advice and the info is somewhat outdated. If you're interested in online poker, it's definitely not for you.



5. Honestly, this book didn't do much for me. I never got interested in reading it, and just learned by playing and watching poker tournaments on TV.

5 comments about Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture.

1. I got this book from my local library because it looked like an interesting perspective of the early days of FPSs. What I got was a very interesting view of two kids' escape from reality and ultimately their passion.
   
   This book is as much about business, persistence, focus, and fun as you will find anywhere. It also deals with the consequences of a fragmented childhood and perpetual need to show your parents that you can accomplish something, that you are important, that you are deserving of your parents respect, admiration, and...love.
   
   I found it disturbing that John Romero, though he made a promise to himself not to do to his kids what had been done to him, went back on that promise and unfortunately alienated his kids...who WILL grow up remembering that he was never there. This may not seem like much of a problem now, but as his kids grow older they will realize that their father cared for his gaming more than his own flesh and blood...how sad!
   
   The book does a superb job of conveying the realities of running a game development studio as well as the business side of publishing, distributing, marketing, and overall selling of the product. If you want a very good look at the VERY HOT video game industry then this is it. Though there is really no mention of console games, just PC/Mac games, it still applies to console games from a general perspective. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to get a quick history of 3-D FPS shooter games and the technology that drives many of them. Most importantly though is the conviction that drove the "two Johns" to create one of the most incredible and objectionable games of all time.



2. This will be a short review and I must start off by saying that I DONT READ BOOKS.
   
   But... I got this book because of a class and when I started this book, I couldnt put it down. Its very informative and it actually inspired me quit a bit to be a game developer.



3. As an amateur game developer I found the story very compelling, and the way it's told (with the hilarious anecdotes packed in) helps to digest a lot of information. This is a must-read for anyone who has ever wanted to make a game and thought that one or two people wasn't enough.



4. Is it worth reading? Yes. Could it have been a lot better? Certainly.
   
   Masters of Doom tells the tale of John Romero and John Carmack, the primary forces behind the creation of id Software, the primary force behind the creation of the First-Person-Shooter (FPS) gaming phenomenon. With some biography and a lot of first-person accounts (pun intended) you'll follow these guys from their earliest jobs to their ultimately diverging paths.
   
   The first half of the book is far more entertaining than the second, which while appropriate does gloss over some of the more telling aspects of their personalities in light of a very different atmosphere. The side characters get short bios but are referenced far too often without telling us more about them through the changes or some of the deeper information that was surely behind their constant inclusion in the first place.
   
   If you come into the book with some knowledge of the characters and situations as I did some of the tale will seem lacking in the detail you were hoping for. Without spoiling it for those less familiar the denouement of one of the pair could have been more detailed while remaining dispassionate.
   
   *** SPOILER SUMMARY ***
   
   Romero was (is) a joke yet the author doesn't brutalize him as much as he should have through the collapse of ION Storm. This is fine as a journalistic approach, but telling this as a chronokogy for the most part is boring. Carmack's descent and idiocy is revealed but without a more biographical approach you don't get the flavor of the ripples he splashed into waves. The related tales of the rise of 3D Realms and Epic are equally missing despite their relevance to the world of Quake and Carmack's refusal to humanize his games.
   
   *** END SPOILER ***
   
   As a droning historical account the book works, but as an exciting tales of the heady days of id and the acts of its primary creators it was quite boring and lacking in the area of commentary by the side characters the author obviously had access to.



5. If you ever played DOOM in its heyday, you need to pick up this book. This is a captivating account of the story of ID Software from John Romero and John Carmack's childhood, through their programming for another company, and the story behind each game that they made up to Doom 3. Honestly, of all the hundreds of books that I've read in my time, this has to be the best one -- I simply could not put it down until I had finished it, and when I did, I wanted to start it all over again. This is how histories should be told, and if I ever write a book, I want it to be like this one.

No comments about Draconomicon I: Chromatic Dragons (D&D Rules Expansion).