5 comments about Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer.

1. Book came quickly, exactly as described, better than expected. Look forward to the next purchases.



2. A good overall review of heat transfer. Helpfull in dusting off the cobwebs when looking at heat transfer after many years.



3. This textbook is one of the best I've ever used. Incropera and DeWitt do a great job of explaining convection, conduction, and radiation. I have heard that the mass transfer portion of the book is lacking however, I am an ME major so its not an issue. The covering of conduction is especially good, it goes into great detail math wise although its well presented so you don't have to be a mathematical wizard to follow along. The book goes into a little bit of heat exchanger design, not very much but its a good introduction. If your instructor requires this book for your heat transfer class consider yourself very fortunate.



4. Este libro lo conocí al cursar la licenciatura en FIMEE, ahora que lo compré opté por la 5a Ed que esta mejorado. Es muy util para asimilar los conceptos y entender los fenómenos. Me gusta mucho por que creo que está muy completo y se explica muy bien. Es un libro que todos los Ing. Mecánicos deben tener. Los ejercicios son muy variados y de amplias aplicaciones, ello permite ver la amplitud de estudio de esta área de la ing. Vale la pena comprarlo (les sugiero la versión en ingles).
   GUZZZ



5. This book is very easy to use. all the chapters are well written and very easy to follow. If you want a book that covers heat transfer that is great for a class or great for reference then this is it.

5 comments about Atomic Zombie's Bicycle Builder's Bonanza.

1. Just finished reading Atomic Zombie's Bicycle Builder's Bonanza, and loved it. I can't wait for warmer weather to start skoping out bikes to start working on. My boys are reading it and already have their "wish list" of favorites that they want to build.
   
   Brad did a good job of including all info needed to build the bikes shown. Learning from his experience and mistakes is going to make all it the more enjoyable putting together that first custom bike.
   
   Now I want to see a followup book that gives even more plans.



2. This has a lot of cool ideas but isn't as cool as it looks.



3. Fantastic book!! It has a permenent home on the coffie table. I'm already collecting enough old bikes to urk the misses! The book is realy worth the money and you'll read it all the way through in the first sitting, I did!I hope there's a second edition in the works too!!!



4. It's a fun book but I had higher expectations hoping it would bring bicycling to the level of Jesse James and choppers. But it's nothing more than welding scrap (crap) together.



5. Really fun book. Full of projects and enough information to get you started on them. My only warning: The book won't really teach you to weld, and you won't be able to do any of the projects if you can't weld.

5 comments about Roark's Formulas for Stress and Strain.

1. Very helpful book in engineering job, but unfortunately I've found some mistake (the reason for 4 stars).
   
   In general you can find lot of formulas in this book. This book is also very well known and that's the reason for recommending it. You can just refer to Roark's formulas and everybody knows what's that.



2. During my years as Structural Calculyst this book was always on my right side on my desk, and when I needed it, it was ready to help me find my way. One really very good Engineer has never found all formulas in his head, instead he should be able of finding them out on good references and really know how to use
   them all. This is the best reference book you are going to find when formulas is your subject, just buy it!
   The only book I know better than this one is written in German and few people are able to read in German, so!



3. While this volume is about 30% larger than my 5th edition, it has some glaring errors. When you get pointed to a table, you will not find tables with that number. The tables are titled but not numbered according to the referring item. Major PITB trying to figure out if the table that I found was the correct one.



4. I like having a Roark's around. It is handy for stress and strain problems.



5. This is one of the best book "sui generis": it's only (but not only...) a complete review of formulas for stress and strain. You don't need this book if you are looking for a book about stress and strain... you will find here only formulas with some brief explanation but anything more... Someone then may ask: why I should buy this book? It's useful to get an idea of what you are doing when you are using more sophisticate tools. I use this book for the following purposes: (1) to model component behaving in computer aided simulations and (2) to check and review FEM analysis results.
   Very good book, but maybe you don't need it on you desk.

3 comments about Experimental & Prototype U.S. Air Force Jet Fighters (Specialty Press) (Specialty Press).

1. During the cold war, hobby stores were filled with plastic model kits of these jet fighters. As boys, we assembled and admired them, not knowing much about the real thing.
   
   Bookstore bargain counters were flooded with jet fighter books with big pictures and little captions. Yet, we wanted to find out more.
   
   Dennis R. Jenkins and Tony R. Landis have done a superior job of presenting the ancestry of successful and failed jet fighters to great detail with a clear, concise, readable style.
   
   They have meticulously researched and presented the development of dozens of Air Force jet fighters from conception through cancellation -- beginning with the Bell XP-59A Airacomet and ending with the Joint Strike Fighter.
   
   "Experimental & Prototype U.S. Air Force Jet Fighters" is a high quality, glossy, format book with a "jackpot" of intriguing photographs (many in color), instructive drawings and illustrations in 12 chapters.
   
   Many of the wonderful interior photographs, diagrams and engineering drawing were taken from U.S. Air Force documents. The graphics alone make this one of the finest aircraft books, I have ever seen.
   
   During the cold war, fighter technology had not progressed enough to deliver a good all-purpose fighter. Using the 'shotgun' approach, manufacturers were simultaneously tasked with developing specific jets to fill the all-weather, point-defense, penetration fighter, and long-range interceptor missions.
   
   Readers will enjoy the extensive coverage of the famous Century Series from the cold war days, as well as jet fighters participating in the Gulf Wars.
   
   Of great interest, the authors have featured the development of the hot new stealth fighters such as the Lockheed Martin YF-22, and Lockheed X-35 as well as their rivals: Northrop YF-23 and Boeing X-32.
   
   Long forgotten, Mr. Jenkins and Mr. Landis present a rare failure from Kelly Johnson's famed Skunk works -- the Lockheed XF-90 penetration fighter. The authors explain, "the airplane looked every inch the modern, high-performance fighter, but produced disappointing results."
   
   The authors learned, "The XF-90 was overbuilt, using thick skin and a robust structure, that unfortunately also added considerable weight." This penetration fighter design was doomed by the slow development of more powerful engines with afterburners -- the heavy XF-90 required rocket assist on every takeoff.
   
   Modestly describing their book, the authors state, "This is not intended to be the ultimate or final history of experimental and prototype Air Force jet fighters. The project actually began as a photo scrapbook, intended to show seldom-seen photographs of these aircraft."
   
   But, as their research continued they were able to uncover much new data, which is included, giving the reader the progress and outcome of each program including crucial Air Force decisions made along the way.
   
   Where much new information was uncovered, the authors chose to include it instead of presenting redundant data that has been already published in other works.
   
   "Experimental & Prototype U.S. Air Force Jet Fighters" continues the publishing excellence of previous works from Specialty Press.



2. No one presents aviation history better than the team of Dennis R. Jenkins and Tony R. Landis. Few authors match the scope and breadth of their research, their painstaking accuracy and their meticulous attention to detail. Virtually none match their ability to unearth previously unpublished information on interesting aircraft. "Experimental & Prototype U.S. Air Force Jet Fighters" is an outstanding example of Jenkins and Landis at their best. Very much in the tradition of their earlier works "Valkyrie" and "Hypersonic," this latest book covers some of the most fascinating aircraft ever built. There are no "paper airplanes" here. All of them reached the hardware stage.
   
   The decade just after the end of World War II saw a bumper crop of experimental and prototype aircraft, as the U.S. Air Force, faced with the nuclear challenge of the Soviet Union in the Cold War, tried to tame the relatively new jet engine technology for its fighters and bombers. This was the time when the famous "Century Series" fighters--the North American F-100, McDonnell F-101, Convair F-102, Lockheed F-104, Republic F-105 and Convair F-106--first flew, and when other even-more-advanced concepts, such as the Republic XF-103 and North American XF-108, were on the drawing boards.
   
   The first eight chapters of "Experimental & Prototype U.S. Air Force Jet Fighters" (about 75 per cent of the book) cover this period, separated into logical, bite-sized chunks such as "The First Jets," "All-Weather Fighters," "Point-Defense Interceptors" and "Penetration Fighters." Chapters 9 through 12 look at later aircraft, such as the Lockheed YF-12, General Dynamics F-111 and F-16, Lockheed F-117 and the Boeing and Lockheed Martin prototypes that led to today's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).
   
   Exquisitely printed on thick, glossy paper, "Experimental & Prototype U.S. Air Force Jet Fighters" is filled with crisp, sharp, well-captioned photographs and drawings (some of them in stunning full-color) that perfectly complement the authoritative, comprehensive, informative text. The balance of illustrations and text is perfect. Jenkins and Landis did a superb job of digging up rare photographs from government and private archives, and of unearthing hidden details about the aircraft of this period. Their efforts make this volume an exceptional addition to any aviation enthusiast's bookshelf. As an added bonus, you'll find an appendix with historical summaries of the companies that built these aircraft. Most of them eventually succumbed to the frenzy of takeovers and mergers that created the three mega-firms that today dominate America's aerospace industry (Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman). But true aviation "buffs" will never forget storied names, now vanished, such as Bell, Chance Vought, Seversky and Vultee. Here you'll find out what happened to them. Most highly recommended.



3. This is another outstanding aviation book from Specialty Press and is a fitting companion to their U.S. NAVAL SUPERIORITY: DEVELOPMENT OF SHIPBORNE JET FIGHTERS - 1943-1962. The quality of the writing is excellent and authoritative, and the protographs are of high quality and illustrate the subject matter very well. More color would have been welcomed; however, the quality of the black and white photos in the book is probably far superior to most surviving color photos from the 1940s and early 1950s.
   
   Coverage of the topic is comprehensive and begins with some of the last propeller-driven designs that were developed in an attempt to squeeze out the last bit of performance prior to the transition to jets. It finishes with the JSF prototypes, which brings the book right up to the present.
   
   I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in military aircraft development.

5 comments about Small Engine Care & Repair: A step-by-step guide to maintaining your small engine (Briggs & Stratton).

1. I have two lawn mowers with Briggs and Stratton engines. One purchased in 2000 and the second in Oct 2006. Both have roughly the same 4 HP engine. (This has to be one of B&S more popular B&S lawn mower engines.) This book does not offer any guidance on repair or maintenance instructions for the carburetor that is on my 2 engines. Very generic. I thought it would cover all models



2. OK, here's the deal on this book: if you either need to do some repair and heavy maintenance on your B&S (or, as I like to call, BS) engine, or you already have part of it apart and don't know how to get it back together, then this book will be helpful. However, if you have already torn your mower apart, put it back together, but are still having trouble honing in on the problem, I don't think you'll get much out of this book.
   
   I was in the latter position up until, well, today. I had taken the carb off, "rebuilt" it, and readjusted it several times. But I couldn't get my mower running. Turns out the smallest internal part of the carb -- the needle seat -- has to be put in a certain way. This book doesn't go into anywhere near that much detail. This is only one example of which I'm sure there are others, particularly when you start messing around with the head and piston.
   
   You can only learn engine repair and diagnosis through experience with (hopefully) a mentor. Online forums can help be that mentor in many cases. If you have no idea how to get started, then yes, I recommend this book. But if diagnosis and other small issues are your problem, I don't think this book will help.



3. I love this book. I found the information to be very helpfull, I was able to replace the gas tank on my lawnmower and clean out the engine. This is the first time I have done anything like this, but because of this book I think I can even work on my other small engine equipment. This was a great buy for me.



4. OK maybe that's harsh. If you've never touched an engine before, and yours is still running, this is a friendly introduction. Or if you lost the operating manual.
   
   What I was hoping for was an updated version of the old B&S manuals you could buy at the auto-parts and hardware stores (See Briggs & Stratton Repair Manual (For Single Cylinder 4-Cycle Engines)), but this is not it. It seems dumbed-down a lot. The "Care" and "Troubleshooting" bits are mostly in the manual when you buy something with an engine, and the "Repair" stuff is mostly obvious if you've got any mechanical sense.
   
   Unfortunately, Neither Haynes nor Chilton seem to have updated their manuals since the late 90's, and the newer pubs by other folks seem to be dumbed-down as well according to the reviews. I'm at a loss to recommend an alternative. Personally, I'm going to dig up my old B&S manual and see how much of it still applies. In the end it'll be the carburetor, it always is, and the old book won't help because that's the part that changes continuously from year to year. Oh well.



5. FAST SHIPPING. BOUGHT IT FOR MY HUSBAND AND HE IS PLEASED WITH THE INFORMATION. IT IS A BASIC GUIDE ON MAINTAINING YOUR OWN SMALL ENGINES.

2 comments about Becoming an Emotionally Focused Couple Therapist: The Workbook.

1. For me, this book supplied the logical missing piece after finishing the EFT Externship and beginning the supervision process. The book enabled me to reinforce on my own and at my own pace the steps, stages and interventions that I learned in the group context. Using this valuable tool, I was able to slow down and clarify the parts of the model which had been unclesr to me previously. The chapter on Impasses in EFT was an especially nice bonus. This book was the most valuable EFT book I have used thus far. Well worth the price. Paula Zerfoss, LCSW



2. Be prepared to spend tons of time reading, answering multiple choice questions, hunting down answers in the back of this clumsy oversized book. It is too much of a pretty good thing. Needs reworking and a good editor to trim it down and make it more user friendly. It has more words in it than the book Becoming an Emotionally Focued Couple Therapist and duplicates lots that is in that book. They need to redo this and its companion as a set. Right now it is only the covers that go together.

5 comments about Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning.

1. This book is really a disaster for whom who want to learn somthing from HVAC/R.It's full of controversies(not their typo),full of headlines not much of a detail.I do not understand how come a book with 18th edition still making basic mistakes like saying thing cotroversial to each other.I had to buy another book from Whitman Johnson and Tomczyk.



2. Thanks to the length of time this book has been available and the frequent revisions to the copyright, it continues to get bigger and better as time goes on.
   
   My bookshelf has at least 5 of those revisions that frequently get utilized . Each revision builds upon the prior publication and expands on the detail they provide.
   
   This publication represents an established reference standard for the HVAC/R Industry. It is especially valuable because of the extent of the different technical topics presented within its covers.
   
   Some have tried to copy the format and the content but still fail to match its quality and level of professionalism.



3. ...I never recieved this item due to the FLOODS in New Orleans...I am sure I'll get it some time, LOL.



4. This book was in great shape and received it good time. I was real happy with the book and service. Thank you



5. A totally comprehensive tool to learn and understand all facets of Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, Heat Systems, and Icemakers. This is the best book I have seen on the subject.

5 comments about Electric Motors & Drives.

1. This is a great book, but it is not for entry level people. I have already read books on basic electicity and motor design and want to take the next step into Motor Control and Motor Circuits.
   If someone wants an entry level book to start from basic electricity, Motors, Batteries and generation. I would recommend a reprint a Naval Electricians text book. ISBN: 0760752389. I found it at Barne's and Noble, but Amazon sells it. That books accelerates very quickly from basic electron flow to Advanced Motor design.



2. The best book I have read on motors and drives. The narrative explains the concepts clearly, and the mathematics is basic and focused on the important points.
   
   I have been interested in electric automobiles and this book provides an excellent foundation on basic motors and the power drive systems.
   
   I highly recommend this book. Well worth the investment. Top notch for anyone's library.



3. I own several books on motors and drives, and have worked with industrial robots and their motor controls/feedback for several years. This book is the best resource I have found to clearly explain motor concepts, including the operation of the different types of motors, and the considerations surrounding the design of the drive electronics. Highly recommended.



4. It would be difficult to overstate how really good this book is. If you work with motors or want to know more about how electric motors work, BUY THIS BOOK. There is just enough math to make the explanations understandable without getting swamped (for an in-depth mathematical treatment, see Electric Machinery and Transformers (The Oxford Series in Electrical and Computer Engineering)).
   
   I especially found the chapters on the fundamentals of motor magnetics (Chapter 1), DC motors (Chapter 3), and induction motors (Chapter 5) the most enlightening because they clearly explain why/how motors work. These chapters only make the book well worth it's price.
   
   I would like to have seen a few example circuit schematics for a dc and/or an ac drive but these are probably topics better left for another book.



5. By far the best drive book I bought. I recommend this book to everyone. From beginner to expert. It is well explained.

5 comments about Mechanical Engineering Reference Manual for the PE Exam, 12th Edition.

1. The book is excellent, but the physical quality of the bound text is not good. I bought the 11th edition. Admittedly, it was used; but it was in excellent shape. Almost immediately the pages began falling out. Eventually they fell out in clumps.
   
   I think that PPI should publish the book in sections rather than as one giant text. I'm sure that a large book places greater stress on its pages than does a smaller one.
   
   This book is relatively expensive. It is a fact that many of my engineering books have fallen apart and others, used an equal amount, did not. It must have to do with the quality of the binding.
   
   I'd rather pay another $25.00 for the book and not have it disintegrate.



2. This book is a must have for the PE Mechanical Exam, however like anything if you do not put any time into learning the material and knowing where to find the equations you will have trouble during the exam...you must do your homework. If you want to pass the exam the first time follow the author's suggestion on how many hours need to be devoted to study. The only criticism I have for the book is the order in which some of the material is presented. Along with this book you need to purchase the practice problems by Lindeburg. During the exam you may want to bring in a few of your undergrad text books depending on the specific test you will be taking. Overall the author has done an excellent job taking a very broad subject and compressing it down into an easy to use book.



3. This was my major "P.E. Exam" reference for both the prep & the actual exam (11th edition). I've also found it a great addition to my collection of desk references.
   
   Buy it, study it, use it, and good luck!



4. I have 11th edition, how is it compared with 12th? Do I have to order the 12th to keep updated for the exam? Thanks for your comments.



5. At first I was going to borrow a co-workers copy of this book to save myself the money. After using it for a few weeks I went ahead and bought my own copy. This is an excellent reference manual, not just for taking the PE, but also for work. The book contains just enough information to get you started on a topic and perform most calculations/analysis. I was amazed that it even contained topics on management that I have been covering in my MBA classes.
   
   This was all I needed for taking the PE. Don't bother bringing suitcases of books. This alone was enough to answer all but one of the 80 questions.

5 comments about Electric Motors and Control Techniques.

1. The information in this book is best suited to a physicist with a background in motors. If you don't already have a solid understanding about motors, servos and motor control already, then don't buy this book! The author covers far too much information at a very high level, makes too many assumptions about the reader's knowledge, and does not explain anything in easy-to-understand terms.



2. Overall I found this to be an excellent book. I enjoyed every page, and in particular tracing out circuit operations of the various schematics. I thought the diversity of circuits was great.

   Nowhere in the title did I see "Basics of" or Fundementals of". This is not a book for the novice. The reader must have a good understanding of AC and DC motors, and solid state theory, circiuts, and devices.

   I found the concatenation of induction motors, and the Kramer speed control system very interesting. I have many old industrial control books, but none shows these systems.

   There are several errors, and examples of such are: Page 44, Para 3 is completely wrong. The proper way to reverse direction of compound motors is to reverse A1 and A2. Page 57, para 2 relates to this proper method. Fig. 5-9 Q102 shows a JFET- should be a UJT. Fig. 5-13 Q1 same thing. Fig. 5-10 has negative 250 VDC lines to emitters of Q532-Q536 and Q552-Q556 missing. Eliminate lead from motor to bottom of C541. Fig. 6-11 motor will never reverse with this scheme. Turning dial in opposite direction FWD biasis Q2 turning on Q1 which energizes RY2. RY1 drops out turning system off. Motor never runs CCW.

   I have a comprehensive technical library, and one of my books is by this author entitled "Design and Operation of Regulated Power Supplies". It's an old book, and it's full of solid state circuits. I am indebted to authors like Mr Gottlieb, for it's their writings that enabled me to learn solid state electronics.




3. I was disappointed with this book. While full of detailed figures and schematics, the book is hodge-podge of information with very little logical flow. It jumps from 100,000 feet into the treetops with no explanation. The author peppers the book with his insights but without any context and background leaving the reader confused. As well, the book is dated given recent advancements in motor control technology.



4. I haven't completed the book as yet but to the point I am at it is very informative and easy to read. I do recommend this book...



5. The author begins with plausible thought experiments that build to explain how common motors work. The remainder of the book is a large compendium of common circuits (both old and modern) used to control various motor types. His analysis of some designs were a bit oddly explained (but my background is RF and microwave design, not power electronics). I get something new and revealing every time I open the pages.