5 comments about The Complete Book of Electronic Security.

1. I was looking for a book that would help me upgrade our home security system. This looked like the one. NOT!

   To say it was superficial would be to give it too much credit. The section on installation was 3 pages long. It's chock full of fluff, nothing is covered in enough depth to be of any use.

   I was hoping to find out how the pros pulled wires into walls -- what tools they used, what tricks they used, etc. NOT!

   I was looking for a book that would discuss the features available in various systems and which ones were useful. NOT!

   Save your money. I sent my book back, but I still had to pay the shipping both ways.

   I was so disappointed!




2. The author's similarly-titled book on locksmithing is of exceptional quality. That's what makes this book's average-ness seem so much less adequate. I didn't return the book, but could have found the same information with a few Internet searches.

   I doubt this book would be of much use to someone learning electronic security, although it would probably make a great resource for a high-school student writing a report for some class or other. Perhaps I'll donate my mostly-unread copy to a local library, where it can be put to good use.




3. I own Bill's other book, "The Complete Book of Locks and Locksmithing", which is the best I've seen about locksmithing. His Electronic Security book is an excellent companion book. It's easy to understand, and gives a lot of good information. The chapter on how electricity works made me understand that better than ever before. A lot of the information is basic, fundamental stuff. Over a dozen top experts contributed technical articles to the book. I highly recommend the Complete Book of Electronic Security.



4. I learned a lot from the Complete Book of Electronic Security. I highly recommend it to anybody. The book's explanation of how electricity works is easy to understand.



5. There is far more information (general anyway) about starting a business than about electronic security systems. Many chapters devoted to writing a resume and advertizing. Some generic info on devices and some references to ohms law. A lot of info on picking the right drill but little on picking the right volt meter. Troubleshooting, basically this was about interviewing the "client" to determine what the problem is?

2 comments about Computer Simulated Experiments for Electric Circuits Using Electronics Workbench Multisim(R) (3rd Edition).

1. This is a great book! The only "problem" that I found, is that it should cover a bit more such as transistors and some ICs. But, overall, this is a great book!



2. I received it in great condition, including the cd. This was a great purchase. I am definitely satisfied.

1 comments about Operational Amplifiers with Linear Integrated Circuits (4th Edition).

1. I'm a 3rd year electrical engineering student who thoroughly enjoyed this book. It covers all aspects of Op-amps as well as the support chips. I, as well as all of my class mates, found it easy to follow as well as extremely informative. I would highly recommend it to ANY E.E. student as well as instructors.

5 comments about Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Sharpening (Complete Illustrated Guide).

1. I have two books on sharpening. Which is a lot when you consider that sharpening is more of a chore than anything else. But it is a very important chore (second only to sweeping up), and one that can make woodworking a pleasure or a great pain. Until you develop good, disciplined sharpening techniques your work will be spotty at best. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a hand tool purist. But one of the reasons I have so many power planes, routers, and shapers is that, for a long time I was a very mediocre sharpener.
   
   Thomas Lie-Nielson makes some of the finest planes in the world. I have three, and each has proved out its value repeatedly. Much of the reason I bought this book was to see what he had to say, even though my copy of Leonard Lee's 'Complete Guide to Sharpening' has stood me in good stead. Unfortunately, Lie-Nielsen is a much better toolmaker than he is a writer. His presentation is quite dry, and not as detailed as I would have liked. And for some strange reason the photographer managed to 'miss' the action or make it difficult to puzzle out what was happening.
   
   In spite of this, Lie-Nielsen manages to explain somethings that Leonard Lee left out. He also offers more discussion on shaping the steel as well as sharpening it. His section on sharpening axes is a classic of straightforward clarity and brevity, for example. But While I am a fan of Taunton's 'Complete Illustrated' series, this time their offering falls short. Lee's book is half the price and every bit as useful



2. This is a very practical book on sharpening well illustrated which covers almost any sharp tool used in woodworking that has an iron cutting edge (not carbide). Unfortunately I got a defective copy (with some pages misplaced) which Amazon promptly replaced at no charge.



3. After an introduction to the basics of sharpening, the author take you step by step through the process of sharpening all the different kind of tools you can think of.
   
   The author start by exposing the different method of sharpening from using sand paper to using expensive ceramic stone. It is up to you to decide which one is for you based on your budget and taste.
   
   I would have given it a 5 stars if the picture don't always illustrate the point properly and because I would have liked more information on using a wet sharpener which as become quite popular nowaday.



4. An enjoyable read. great info on many topics, even some that you never though of but great background.



5. This book is for wood carvers and not for the neophyte wondering how to best sharpen a kitchen knife or a lawn mower blade. Lots of information and photographs, but it's hard to figure out what motion is going on from the still photography.
   In the first hour of looking through the content, I found several typo's and even more "wordo's". e.g. Page 70 - "Some Japanese stones have only one bevel." I don't think that "stones" have bevels - guess they meant "knives". Stilted language could be replaced by some simple advice. How about some straight-forward step-by-step instructions for sharpening a knife?

5 comments about Basic Wiring (Home Repair and Improvement (Updated Series)).

1. This book on basic wiring is outstanding. Unlike a lot of books with written explainations this book has accurate easy to understand and follow diagrams. If you hold an electrical outlet in you hand you can see exactly what it looks like in the diagram. This book takes away the fear of electricity.



2. I had done some wiring before I got this book, but I wanted a reference that I could use if there was something that I was at all unsure of. Once I got the book, I was very pleased with all the handy hints and illustrations. Definitely worth having it around if you're a novice electrician.



3. This is easily the best basic introduction I've seen. Clear, well-illustrated, neither assuming prior experience nor treating the reader as a dummy, it can take you from Zero to rewiring branch circuits with confidence and safety.

   I really can't recommend it highly enough! I already had experience, but picked up useful bits from it, and have loaned a copy to several friends.

   The T/L Home Repair and Improvement series is good in general (more than I can say for most series), but especially this volume.




4. Basic Wiring was and is a major disappointment.
   Much of the 128 pages are dedicated to pictorials of electrical components.
   The photographs are of high quality, but who wants to know what the"face plate of a manual timer switch" looks like?
   That took up half a page.
   Too basic to help any one but the totally uninformed.



5. Its just OK...you'll need another book to feel comfortable enoug to do actual electrical work

2 comments about Modern Commercial Wiring.

1. Modern Commercial Wiring is a winner. A clear and very thorough book on the subject , theory and practical application of installing electrical wiring in a commercial environment. Up-to-date with the 1999 National Electrical Code



2. This is not the textbook, this is only the workbook. I find this out after waiting 5 weeks for shipment. If you want the textbook 978-1-59070-438-7 is the ISBN.

No comments about NCCER Electrical Trainee Guide, Level 1.

5 comments about Green Building Products: The GreenSpec Guide to Residential Building Materials.

1. This Book is an excellent reference for any architectural and construction library. The Book contains product information in each of the CSI 16 Divisions. The information listed is "Certifiably Green", but limited in number of manufacturers. As you may know the Green Market is rapidly expanding where new products are develop and old products are receiving the LEED Certification. As an initial guide in the new green world of residential materials, it is a must have in your Library and undoubtedly, there will be new editions out.



2. Alex Wilson and Mark Piepkorn edit Green Building Products: The Greenspec Guide To Residential Building Materials whether you're a builder or a homeowner, learn the truth about what items are truly 'green' and which are false promises. And get the addresses, phones, and web sites to quickly locate products ranging from cork underlayment for floors to special green paints, finishes, and mechanical and lighting systems. An excellent catalog featuring the latest 'green' residential building material choices.



3. Housing is probably the second largest consumer of non-renewable resources after the automobile. This book is on building in a way that provides everything you need in a house, but doing so with a minimal impact on the earth.
   
   The first step is building a house that is satisfactory but not so big as has become normal in the US, and designing it for energy efficiency. Well insulated houses are easier to keep warm in the winter, cool in the summer.
   
   After the design is completed, then comes the selection of components and materials to be used in the construction of the house. That's where this book comes in. In going through the book you can find ideas that will help you in the design, but more importantly, you will find components that fall into the general rules of 'reuse/recycle.' Here is lumber recovered from older buildings, lumber made from plastic that from recycled packaging. Here are high performance appliances, insulation made from recycled components.
   
   This book takes the form of a listing of suppliers, broken down by category. I find that by looking at these procucts, many of which I didn't even know existed, the design of the house is changed to fit.
   
   These people have done an excellent job of research as to what's avaialble.



4. this is actually a list of places that sell "green" materials- like a specialized phone book. I think most of this information is on line, and that we will need to buy things within our local area- not from the other side of the county. we returned this book.



5. A must have for any green designer, builder or home owner who wants to do the right thing.

4 comments about Electricity One - Seven (3rd Edition).

1. Suited for study of basic electricity. The book provides excellent illustrations. Have written competency based individualized lessons for major portions of the book.



2. I'm a power plant operator. I've had to take basic electricity courses for job promotions, (after taking a written test). This is the only book written (that my co-workers and I have had to study) that you can learn from on your own. The other books seemed to be written for a classroom setting, with an instructor.



3. Clearly, logically organised with the best illustrations and supporting, explanatory text. Worth every cent. A masterpiece!



4. I first found this book in a dumpster behind a school. I was 6 years old and read this book. Many of the concepts were easy enough to understand as a youngster. I will never forget the concept of 3phase electricity that I grasped from that book. Thanks to this book I have put instrumentation on the International Space Station and work with Femtosecond laser systems.
   Thank you Harry Mileaf! Well done.

5 comments about Build Your Own Earth Oven: A Low-Cost, Wood-Fired Mud Oven; Simple Sourdough Bread; Perfect Loaves.

1. I went to a major bookstore looking for information on wood fired ovens and got nothing......the book I bought at Amazon was just what I needed. Maybe next year we will have a wood fired oven in our back yard. Service was good and promt.



2. This book is perfect for someone wanting to build an outdoor oven. It address every issue that you may encounter and provides many examples of the various styles and techniques. There are pages that tell you what kinds of materials are best for different applications, how to mix your mud, the various methods for insulating and how to use the completed oven.



3. This is a well written book, nicely illustrated and with a well thought out structure. It covers everything you should need to know on how to build an earth oven. The writing is clear and concise, while still conveying the obvious joy of someone who is genuinely inspired by their subject. I especially liked it because it contains a lot of technical detail illustrated with many examples and not much of the boring, preachy philosophical rambling that you find in so many books on hand building from natural materials. Not that there is anything wrong with philiosophising in its place, but I just wanted a book on how to build an earth oven and this is exactly what I got. I would also recommend, as a companion book, 'The Bread Builders: Hearth Loaves and Masonry Ovens' which is a more general and comprehensive book on masonry stoves and baking of bread.



4. Great book and easy to read and follow. I built my first 22" over a couple days after reading the book. I'll make my bread for Thanksgiving in the oven!



5. This was a great book with lots of information about building your own mud oven. It was easy to follow how to build the oven and there was a lot of explaining about how and why every little thing worked.