No comments about Fermentation Microbiology and Biotechnology, Second Edition (No Series).

3 comments about The Natural Perfume Book: Simple, Sensual, Personal Aromatherapy Recipes.

1. I decided to purchase this one after reviewing a copy from the library. It is not a complete reference by any means, but if you're interested in blending your own fragrances and want to stick to exclusively non-synthetic ingredients, it is an excellent reference.
   
   I would not recommend it if you're interested in exploring the "medicinal" aspects of aromatherapy (which are dubious, in my opinion, but I am certainly no expert). It focuses on 40 specific essential oils and does not give enough information on the aromatherapeutic qualities of each.
   
   But if you're strictly interested in creating custom fragrances for yourself, this is a good starter. Perhaps not as "pretty" as Mandy Aftel's "Essence and Alchemy," but far more informative.



2. As an aromatherapy educator and soapmaker, I love natural health and beauty products. Since I began using essential oils to create my own scent blends several years ago, I've never looked back, and I've never missed those overpriced, synthetic, store-bought perfumes that always ended up giving me a headache.
   
   This enjoyable little book is a great place to begin to learn how to blend your own original perfume. In less than 100 pages, the author introduces 40 essential oils, 30 natural fragrance recipes, and two easy and instructive blending lessons. The book also features several handy charts; I find myself referring to the table on note type and odor intensity very often when choosing which oils will combine nicely together.
   
   The book is put together in a very straightforward, user-friendly way. Rather than delving deeply into the science of aromatherapy (for that information, I highly recommend The Aromatherapy Companion, by Victoria Edwards, or any book by Valerie Ann Worwood), the author simply focuses on using all-natural, plant-derived essential oils to create scent blends. You can use these blends to make fragrant bath oils, body splashes, room freshening spritzes, linen and lingerie sprays, or, best of all, your own signature perfume.
   
   Her recipes are great places to start - my favorites are Angel's Whisper and Chocolate Eclipse - but soon you'll become addicted to developing your own original blends.
   
   P.S. The poetic quotations on perfume and scent that are scattered throughout the text are almost worth the price of the book itself!



3. I enjoy this book and think it is worth having in your library if you are interested in truly natural perfumery.
   
   My one critcism is that many of the recipes include sandalwood (Santalum album), an oil that I have moral issues with using. It is a threatened species and I don't necessarily think it is responsible to encourage those beginning in their exploration to purchase and use it heavily. It's incredibly unfortunate because sandalwood is one of my favorite scents in the whole world, but I can't justify destroying a species to make perfume. Apparently the cultivated Austalian species, Santalum spicatum, is considered a good alternative. I wish she had at least mentioned the controversy in her book.
   
   I suggest anyone interested in this book research the status of Santalum album, as well as alternatives for its use in perfumery prior to purchasing oils for the recipes. Hopefully the aromatherapy and natural perfumery community will begin to raise its consciousness regarding the overharvesting of plants for aesthetic and medicinal uses.
   
   All in all, I recommend this book with the exception explained above. I took a half day class with Mindy Green last year and thought she was a wonderful teacher. She has a lot to offer.

No comments about Practical Skills in Biomolecular Sciences (2nd Edition) (Practical Skills).

5 comments about Building Global Biobrands : Taking Biotechnology to Market.

1. Professors Simon and Kotler have done a great job in capturing many of the latest trends in the biotech world, and its continued fusion with the pharmaceuticals business. The thesis of the book is well laid out, and especially useful are the hundreds of company examples and detailed case studies that are used to prove the points.

   The book spans the value chain, and offers insights at several levels. I suggest anyone with an interest in the biotech world -- venture capitalists, regulators, entrepreneurs, pharmaceutical company executives, individual investors -- have a reference copy. You will find it to be invaluable!




2. This is a very smart book: it is valuable for professionals in all aspects of health care who seek an insight into the global pricing and marketing of medical therapies.

   Though not biological scientists, Simon and Kotler impart their treatise with a savvy academic outlook blended with lessons learned in the consulting arena. The authors show an amazing scholarship. They combine knowledge derived from personal acquaintance with key players in the biotechnology and classical pharmaceutical industry with an understanding of the medical applications and implications of drug therapies to weave a rich tapestry of a very complex topic.

   Their view ranges from:
   · a discussion of the history, politics and costs of biotechnologic research;
   · the pricing of new drugs to allow both access and cost recovery (Novartis' introduction of GleevecR);
   · the evolution of Big Pharmas' ( e.g. Pfizer, Merck) alliances with smaller bio-tech firms to find innovative therapies,

   to the techniques used to maintain brand franchises as patent protection is lost. (Over-the-counter Advil remains a viable brand.)

   They are able to keep readers' interest high by providing concise and lively vignettes of many developments in the history of drug introduction and marketing. Among these, they cite:
   · Pfizer's promotion of late-entrant LipitorR to become the victor in the statin "races";
   · Johnson & Johnson's brilliant recall of TylenolR following deaths due to product tampering and its ability to maintain the brand's prominence for over 30 years; and
   · Pfizer's consumer-driven shaping of the market for ViagraR by creating erectile dysfunction as a new clinical entity.

   The future appears to be in the realm of biotechnology with strong BigPharma participation. Whatever the new environment, the basic principles of marketing described in this volume will hold true.




3. This book is an outstanding resource for anyone in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries - or anyone interested in investing in those industries. It provides a wealth of information that cannot be found elsewhere. The analysis of alternative strategies for building stronger product markets is very thorough.



4. Françoise Simon and Philip Kotler provide us a concentrate analyse stressed on key-moving-drivers on the Bio-sector. They gave us a wide overview, from R&D leading trend to Marketing implementation and License & Acquisition Business. The two main strengths of this book are the numerous real case studies exposed and the international insight of the whole study(including Europe and Japan).
   This book will interest Executives involved in Business Development, Bio-strategy or smart fox wondering what the Bio-sector will look in the fast coming years. This book is different because exhaustive and balanced between Biotech and Big-Pharmas Business model. A unique tool to keep and read again!



5. This book, exhaustively researched and daunting to read, sums up all of the most important forces likely to concern a biotech marketer. The authors take a dispassionate, methodical approach, buttress their points with plenty of case evidence and examples, clearly have a grasp of the subject and communicate detailed knowledge of great value to those in the field. Unfortunately, their style is plodding and clinical, replete with passive constructions and impersonal, generally soporific sentences. We believe that those with a real need to know will be glad to brew some strong coffee and grateful to stay the course and become so thoroughly updated. Readers who are intrigued by the field - but not immersed in it - will benefit most from reading the introduction, the first three chapters and the conclusion.

No comments about Problem Solving in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering with POLYMATH, Excel, and MATLAB (2nd Edition) (Prentice Hall International Series in the Physical and Chemical Engineering Sciences).

1 comments about Applied Numerical Methods with MATLAB for Engineers and Scientists.

1. I have to learn MATLAB for a current course. Good book with example problems. The assignment problems at the end of the chapters can be pretty difficult though. I would have liked to see the book come with a student version of MatLab. Nobody I know has MatLab for their personal use, and I have to go to the university every time to use it....

5 comments about Separation Process Principles.

1. My professor for separations was really smart, but like most chemical engineering professors that I have met, they are too smart for their own good. He chosed this book because it was "easy to understand".
   Chemical engineering is hard enough, and the fact that this book is used in most separations classes does not help. Each chapter starts off with an industrial example, which is confusing if you're not familar with it already. The authors just throw out concepts that you've never heard before and assume you're an industry expert. As thorough as the book is, you won't feel like a better person after having read it. The authors don't seem to want to teach the subject but rather flaunt their knowledge. The most annoying thing is when the authors get to solving problems. They just start applying equation after equation and don't tell the readers where they get it from. Sometimes, it's not even an equation from that chapter or from the book!
   I don't consider myself a bad student, but I seriously could not do most of the assigned problems at the end of the book. How do I become a chemical engineer then? I prefer McCabe's Unit Operations in Chemical Engineering. Although it is not as thorough, and the equations are presented differently, I actually learned something and was interested in the subject matter. The authors relate the theory to real life, and it actually makes sense. In fact, I had to use the McCabe to solve some of the problems from this hellish book.



2. During my final year of undergrad coursework I used this textbook for my design courses. The good thing is Dr. Seader was the professor for my second design course. As a teacher I think he is great with an ability to effectively communicate theory and its practical application without getting caught up in the details. Unfortunately I felt this textbook tries to consolidate the knowledge he has gained in his career resulting in a very dense book. Some problems are solved using direct calculations but a large amount are done using Aspen (a program no one in my class had used) which I felt didn't adequately help develop sequential problem solving skills. The costing analysis theory is good but most of us used Peters & Timerhaus for homework. If you work with Aspen or want a detailed book this will satisfy your desires.



3. Exactly as the vendor described on Amazon



4. THIS BOOK I WAS CONSULTING AT MY UNIVERSITY, BUT ALL THE TIME THERE WERE A FEW BOOKS.
   
   NOW THAT I HAVE IT, I AM SURPRISED OF ALL THE NEW INFORMATION THAT I CAN SEE IN IT.
   
   THANKS FOR YOU HELP FOR SELLING ME THE BOOK.



5. shipped quickly and in good condition. book is of a good level for a 3rd year undergraduate

No comments about Tactical Biopolitics: Art, Activism, and Technoscience (Leonardo Books).

3 comments about Chemical Process Control: An Introduction to Theory and Practice (Prentice Hall International Series in the Physical and Chemical Engineering Sciences).

1. Certainement le meilleur ouvrage dans le domaine de la régulation industrielle appliquée à l'industrie chimique.



2. This is a no-nonsense, straight-to-the-point book, which effectively covers the topic of chemical process control. Though it is quite old now, much of the information is still very relevant and useful.
   
   The way of simplifying explanations and writing from an understanding point of view (rather than merely presenting facts) is great and I wish all books were written in such a way!



3. If you are a student of chemical engineering and you need to study process control, this is the best book to initiate. After you can look for more specialazed books. It's excellent for general view.

No comments about Design of Biomedical Devices and Systems.