5 comments about An Introduction to Fluid Dynamics.

1. I used Batchelor several years ago for an introductory course in fluid dynamics for physic students, and found it generally satisfactory. It is probably the best available overall introduction. The negative review from the Berkeley student reflects more upon the student than upon the book, in my opinion.



2. If you get through this text, you are on your way to fluid dynamics mastery. It covers much more than most engineering students will need (or care to) know. It is an important text, but should be a complementary study aid.



3. This book introduces lots of stuffs. I will consider it
   as reference purpose. Not that good for learning, especially
   for beginners. If one has another book as textbook already,
   with this book, he can have more comprehensive thinkings
   about fluid dynamics. It's a good book right on from
   textbooks to special-purposed books.



4. Good introduction of many ideas in fluid mechanics. Good for reference, but it is not a good book for learning the subject. If in fact you happen to have a solid math background you may find it very boring but still has many references to more useful sources.



5. This is the best book on fluid dynamics. But it is actually not an "introductory" level book, so the beginners are not advised to start from this book. Moreover, it may not even be an appropriate TEXTBOOK for some intermediate-level (graduate) fluid dynamics courses (but indeed an excellent book for interested readers).
   
   This book is for those who determine to work on fluid dynamics and those who require a relatively high level in theory.

5 comments about Creating an Herbal Bodycare Business (Making a Living Naturally Series).

1. I found this book to contain general information on starting any type of business, such as licensing information and advice on running a business. If you're looking for information and help specifically for starting an herbal bodycare business, you won't find it in this book.



2. This book didn't stay in my library for long. I'm glad that I read it and I did glean some good ideas but it wasn't at all what I expected based on the title. I appreciate many of Ms. Maine's points but the book is not really about the Herbal Body Care Business. It's about creating a philosophy of business, really your Mission Statement, and the goals that produces. The philosophy is blatantly New Age and so, not for everyone. The best part is the many stories of other soap makers.

   Ms. Maine is one of my favorite soapmaking book authors. She is the owner of one of the largest businesses of it's kind. She has shared her knowledge over the years with others who would like to make soap via her many books on the market. Those books are the how-to's. This one, by the author's own admission is a "how-can".

   It was interesting but not an essential book for either the hobby or professional soap maker's library.




3. This book begins, and ends, on a hopeful note. Its message is a positive one. There is considerable truth in what Ms. Maine says. Many people believe that big is good, but big is often bloated, and not long after, bankrupt. For some people, small can be both beautiful and happy.

   From the start, I do not believe Ms. Maine intended to write a business book based on the standard boiler plate model for such books. She has endeavored to put something of herself, and her outlook on life into the text, and it shows. Granted, on first pass, the New Age references and more than a few statements are a bit off-putting, especially if you, like me, are skeptical by nature, but if the book is read very closely, you will find that all the basic ingredients of a Start Your Own Business Book are there.

   For example, she makes these and other questionable claims throughout the book such as: society and the planet are going to hell in a hand-basket. What is the solution, you ask? Start an herbal bodycare business! Or, my personal favorite: the natural food and bodycare market is experiencing an annual growth rate of 15 percent. With that kind of growth rate, given the anemic 1 to 3 percent growth rates in mature general retail categories like food and cosmetics, it will not be long before those godless multinationals pick up the scent. In fact, it turns out they have picked up the scent, and are closing in these 'alternative' categories.

   However, this is not to say that there is no value or credibility in the text- far from it. The real value of this text resides in the stories of those folks, like Ms. Maine, who set up their own successful herbal bodycare business, and Ms. Maine's insistence that you think and plan about your herbal bodycare business. This last bit is most important, as it seems everyone and her mother is involved in this area nowadays (in fact, that is LITERALLY the case) so it pays to think of how you can be different and unique, yet still offer value.

   Moreover, Ms. Maine did it the right way, that is, the smart way: she got the business right BEFORE she went into business. That means getting a clear idea of the business (what you offer versus what customers really want and will pay for), putting some flesh to the concept, and laying down a well-reasoned plan. It also means examining various scenarios WITHOUT numbers and prepping yourself for mis-haps, as nothing will EVER go exactly as planned. Ms. Maine, as well as the people she profiles, all started small, worked in and around the herbal bodycare business for a few years before going out on their own, and all of them got their businesses off the ground with five thousand dollars or less, thus demonstrating that it can be done on the literal 'shoestring budget'. As Liz Claiborne once said, 'Start with a low overhead and be willing to everything yourself.'

   My somewhat jaded advice to anyone thinking about going into this or any other business is this: Before you go into business, it is all about thinking, reasoning and planning. Once you go into business, it is all about execution. When you go into business with a flawed concept, even the most mundane annoyances can morph into major and insurmountable problems, and will ultimately kill your business. Get the concept right, and execute flawlessly. That ways lies blockbuster success. Money may be an initial barrier, but you creative types should be able to cobble together what you need from the odd bits and pieces here and there and wow the customer with your presentation and artistic flair. Remember this one lesson from the internet company boom: a lot of money behind a flawed concept equals a fantastic and bankrupt failure. Start simple, start small, and work within a limited budget. That will force you to unleash your creativity. More often than not, the more money we have, the less carefully we think, and the dumber the ideas that come to the fore.
   

   The target audience for this book is not highly accomplished over-achievers with a bent for numbers and order. Rather, this is a book for those free-spirited, creative, chaotic, artsy types who often go by the moniker of 'Right-Brain Person'. There is a definite bias in the text towards the burned-out female company employee working for a god-less, soul-less corporation, and as such, the book is open to the charge of pandering to an escapist fantasy- one that more than a few of us, male or female, in the same bind share.

   I can also say with certainty that the book is more of an exercise in building the reader's self-confidence about starting such a business, and less of a guide to the inner workings of an herbal bodycare business. That, however, is most likely the intended objective- giving those who may not have the confidence to start such a venture a few ideas and a little prodding. Ms. Maine is planting a seed, I think, in a certain type of person, preferably young, single and female but a little unsure of herself. Although I did not get much out of the book (thus three stars), this person I believe will derive the most out of the book.




4. I was a bit disappointed at first, as I was looking for more of a 1-2-3 approach. But I picked the book up again a couple of days later, and found lots of useful information in it. It still wasn't exactly what I was looking for, but well written and informative nonetheless.



5. Very informative and very well written. I learned a lot from this book. Great tips and a lot of things that I never thought about that could make or break my company!
   I would highly recommend this book for small business people who want to make money selling personal care products.

5 comments about From the Fryer to the Fuel Tank: The Complete Guide to Using Vegetable Oil as an Alternative Fuel.

1. This book is an excellent starting point for anyone interested in learning the basics of the renewable fuel bio-diesel.
   
   Mr. Tickell does an excellent job in presenting the argument as to why, from an economic and envrionmental standpoint, our government should invest in renewable fuels. Job creation, reduced trade deficit, and the environment to name a few.
   
   The most astounding bit of information I gleaned from this book is that the most promising future of bio-diesel lies in algea.
   
   This book is worth the investment.



2. Very helpful but quite thechnical...



3. The book is a good introduction to alternative fuels but for the svo conversion I found was not complete enough and doesn't have enough pictures and the diagrams are badly made. For the rest: recipes for biodiesel, and other it's good but still not much details. But anyway it's a must for anyone interested in the subject, being the only book available, but before doing anything ask around for more precise and recent advance in this technology.



4. I purchased this book before starting a biodiesel project with a local community development group. After researching, designing, building, and operating a biodiesel processor for myself, I would not recommend this book. It promotes open reaction tanks, which would expose the user to toxic methanol fumes, and possibly splashing methodixe- a corrosive, flammable chemical used in making biodiesel. It also says that washing biodiesel is unnecessary, which could cause engine damage. When researching biodiesel, please be careful- use only closed methanol and mixing tanks (wash tanks aren't as big of a concern), and make sure to learn all about the safety aspects of the titration chemicals and the storage of methanol. Here's to happy, safe, "brewing"!



5. This book is excellent in some ways. The most useful section details the basics of biodiesel home brewing, transesterification, titration, testing, building the processor (pp. 59-98). The bulk of the book (pp. 5-58) concerns preliminaries - a history and (useful) description of the functioning of diesel engines, a section on growing one's own fuel, renewable energy. Then, the author shifts gears and discusses the SVO (greasecar or 'straight vegetable oil' approach) (pp. 99 -116). There are numerous disadvantages to SVO which are not discussed. The book closes out with a generalized section on troubleshooting (pp. 117-132). Then, a series of more or less useful appendices (pp. 139-62). All in all, the book is worth buying with lots of useful info.
   Now - the caveat. Unless you have advanced pipefitting, plumbing, mechanical, and chemist skills - by all means - get 'hands on' instruction. Building and operating a biodiesel processor is not a book-learned skill - it requires the combination of trade-skills as listed. Methanol - one of the key components in the mixture is a highly flammable and dangerous fluid. Lye (POH) - another component can seriously burn, blind, or even kill you and must be handled with the utmost care. You must be trained in this. Glyceron, the by-product, is the glyceron which is found in 'nitro-glyceron' - go figure. Plus, even if you don't care much about yourself, there's a lot that can mess up your vehicle if you don't get it right. And I know you care about your vehicle, otherwise you wouldn't be reading this far.
   There are a number of key issues not discussed in the book. The biodiesel community breaks down into two basic camps: 1) SOV (straight veg oil users - where the transesterfication process takes place within the vehicle) - a subspecies is the group that uses a 'solvent thinner' to achieve this process (mainly of historical interest) and 2) the home-brewers (those who build and operate biodiesel processors). My advice is to save the money you would spend on this book and access a class taught by a member of this community - namely, 'girl Mark', Maria Alovert. She is not only expert at making biodiesel (including disposal or reapplication of by-product) but she teaches workshops throughout the U.S. on a continuous basis. She may be accessed by searching on the machine you are operating now. 'Girl Mark' also produces excellent, precise written materials which deal with crucial subjects like the advantages of Potasium Hydroxide (KOH) over Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) for the entire process which Tickell's book does not. Brewing Bio is a complex - yet not undoable process. You want the best - for you and your vehicle.

5 comments about Pipeline Rules of Thumb Handbook, Sixth Edition: A Manual of Quick, Accurate Solutions to Everyday Pipeline Engineering Problems.

1. I have purchased many copies of this book over a period of nearly thirty years - if you design, build or operate pipelines this book is a must have. It is also very usefull in other engineering areas and would be valuable in any engineers bookcase.



2. Dear sir: after 5 days (more than the date that was expected) I didn't receive my book. It would be have been arrived on Febr 17.
   I ask you an explanation about my problem. Meanwhile, I'm very disappointment.
   Thanks.



3. For someone who wants to know everything about putting in a land pipeline.....This book has it all.....I was recommended this book from a coworker and have been very pleased with the information that this book contained......



4. I have reviewed this book, which I should have bought years earlier.
   All subjects are easy to find and very clearly explained.
   One needs just basic technical education to work with this book and do not have to be a pipeline construction engineer.
   Also your prices are very competative for us in Europe.
   I will certainly come back to you.



5. This is a great reference and will be a great help in my new job as a pipeline designer/engineer. It was in great condition when it arrived.

5 comments about The Homebrewers' Recipe Guide: More than 175 original beer recipes including magnificent pale ales, ambers, stouts, lagers, and seasonal brews, plus tips from the master brewers.

1. As a beginning homebrewer looking to extend beyond pre-hopped extracts and pre-packaged kits, this book was exactly what I was looking for. I found the asides and exerts amusing. I would higly recommend this book for anyone who's already brewed a few batches and is looking for more recipes.



2. If you are looking to start brewing with extract then this might work for you but don't count on the recipes making anything that is close to professional quality beers.
   
   The recipes are at some points, proposterously bad and some of the clones are just innacurate.
   
   In all I own 48 books on brewing. Many are great, some are just OK and then a few are downright bad. This is by far the worst one that I own. Common, not even giving the brewer yeast suggestions???



3. Ok, so some recipes are in need of adjustment, but the book is loaded with recipes and interesting brewer tips. It is simple, but it is not a step-by-step how-to. I suggest that this is good for the homebrewer that is ready to experiment and try new things and of course, the more experienced can tweak the recipe when and if needed. The beginning section touches on the framework for all the recipes provided, explaining the amount of water used, yeast type, batch quantity and more. Other than that, it's recipe after recipe and the occasional brewer's tip and back story on beer styles.
   
   This is a fun book with a variety of recipes that will be enjoyed by any homebrewer. Those new to homebrewing will enjoy reading and making, but will be ready after some experience or the help of their local brew supply shop. I made a few and they came out quite well.
   
   This is a good book to give as a gift or add to your library.



4. This is the 3rd reference by Charles Papazian that you should purchase. It is chock full of tips from experienced brewers along with the recipies. Being a new brewer, I only wish there were more pictures of some of the equipment. There are websites listed informing one of where to find ingredients and equipment.



5. Sould you have acquired a basic knowledge of home brewing techniques, this book provides a variety of recipies that should tickle your lager loving pallette.

5 comments about Process Dynamics and Control.

1. Process dynamics and control is a vast subject, profoundly important for maximizing value in plant operations, but unfortunately often neglected by undergraduate students. This book by three of the most illustrious professors of chemical engineering distills their expertise and wisdom, as teachers with about 100 years combined teaching experience, into a highly accessible and cogent textbook. The book contains excellent discussions and expositions of just about all the technical concepts one would ever need in industrial practice. The example problems are juicy, to say the least, and complement the text very nicely. Those who know how to use Matlab or Mathematica will benefit hugely from solving the computer problems. In my opinion, this book should be a required text for all undergraduate chemical engineering programs, along with the book by Prof. Harmon Ray and B. Ogunnaike (Oxford).



2. I have just finished a postgraduate course in process dynamics based on this book. I have a maths background so I found some of the concepts hard going at the start of the course. I have used this book costantly throughout the course and I have found it to be excellent. It has really helped my understanding of the subject, so much so that I want to write my Master`s thesis in process engineering and process dynamics. I have enjoyed everything about the course and it is all because of this book.



3. 
   This book is an introductory course that provides an appropriate balance between process control theory and practice. In particular it emphasizes on dynamic behavior, physical and empirical modeling, computer simulation, measurement and control technology, basic control concepts, and advanced control strategies.
   
   The mathematical level of the book is oriented toward a junior or senior student who has taken at least one course in differential equations. Additional mathematical tools required for the analysis of control systems are introduced along the book as needed. The book emphasizes process control techniques that are used in practice and provides detailed mathematical analysis only when it is essential for understanding the material. Key theoretical concepts are illustrated with examples.
   
   The book is divided in four parts. Part I (chapters 1 to 2) provides an introduction to process control and an in-depth discussion on process modeling. The development of dynamic models for representative processes, like a stirred-tank blending system are used as illustrative examples throughout the book.
   
   Part II (chapters 3 to 7) is concerned with the analysis of the dynamic behavior of processes. A key issue is the determination of the transient response that occurs after a process disturbance occur, a grade change is initiated, or a process is started up or shut-down. Important analysis toll are introduced, the Laplace transform and the transfer function. For many practical control applications, it is not feasible to develop a physically based, dynamic model. For this the important topic of empirical models and their development from plant and process data are presented. Both continuous-time and discrete-time models are considered here.
   
   Part III (chapters 8 to 15) addresses the fundamental concepts of feedback and feedforward control. The topics included the PID controller and an overview of the process instrumentation and control hardware and software that are necessary to implement process control, The important relationship between process design and process control is emphasized, and a whole section is dedicated to process safety. The design and analysis of feedback control systems, as well as new methods for controller design, tuning, and troubleshooting receive considerable attention. This part concludes with a chapter on feedforward and ratio control.
   
   Part IV (chapters 16 to 24) is concerned with advanced process control techniques. The topics include digital control, multivariable control and enhancements of PID control, such as cascade control, selective control, and gain scheduling. Powerful techniques like real time optimization and model predictive control (MPC) that have had significant impact on industrial practice are covered on dedicated and separated chapters. Also process monitoring, batch processes control, and plant-wide control are also developed on individual chapters. Illustrative case studies are included in this part of the book.
   
   Even though the book is designed for Chemical Engineering students, I truly believe that this text would also be suitable for industrial practitioners and students in mechanical, industrial, and electrical engineering. I am an Industrial Practitioner of Process Measurement & Control who has been working in the Process Industries for more than 16 years as an Automation, Instrumentation, Process Safety and Process Control Engineer. My academic background is in electrical and electronics engineering (I am an Electronic Engineer), not in chemical engineering as might be the case of the usual reader of this book, but working in the Oil & Gas Industry all this time, I have been dealing with Chemical-Process Control issues in a day-to-day basics. I found this book to be a very useful reference and refresher to gain a better understanding of Modern Process Control Applications.
   
   The book is organized in reasonable short chapters what makes it more readable and modular, which makes it also suitable for self-study by engineers in industry.



4. Overall, this book helped me make sense of a fairly difficult course. Unfortunately, I would often find myself spinning my wheels trying to solve example problems and derive equations that were full of typos. I know all textbooks have errors, but this one seemed worse than most. I would highly recommend downloading the errata list before reading anything. The book provided pretty clear explanations of most topics, but some things were out of order and seemed a little confusing. Rudimentary topics that had been used throughout the entire text and were necessary to understand parts of many chapters were explained late in the book and were often difficult to find. Many of the example problems also did not show solutions in enough depth.



5. So to begin, This book was absolute hell. It gave a pretty good overview of what the class was about. But it contains over 200 errors (don't believe me?? go to the wiley site) this made the class incredibly hard to do because when I had assignments I would end up proceeding and come to a hault and realize my answer wasn't correct. I would come to find out that that problem contained an error in it. If you are really into this type of major then I would say to choose a different book

5 comments about Atmospheric Science, Volume 92, Second Edition: An Introductory Survey (International Geophysics).

1. (Update--there is a new edition of this textbook, out in spring 2006)
   
   It's too bad Wallace and Hobbs never got around to revising this edition of the text, written in 1977. Of all the undergraduate textbooks I had, this was by far the best.
   
   W&H cover all the important topics in meteorology and atmospheric science. Each chapter is very well written, easy to understand, and has good graphics and thought-provoking (often difficult!) questions at the end of each chapter. Each chapter ends with a series of mathematical questions--some of which require a good bit of thinking to arrive at the right equation to use; and also a series of "explain or interpret these statements." This is where you find out how much you really know!
   
   Why do I like this book? Each chapter can, to some extent, stand on its own. Even though the material is dated (Chapter 5, on clouds and storms, would need significant additions in a course taught today), fundamental principles were the same then and are explained well. The historical notes about famous scientists also add character to the text.
   
   My suggestion for a new reader: Chapters 1, 2, 8, 3, and 5 in that order. Then add Chapters 9, 4, 6, and 7. This way, you get the fundamental theory and then get to apply all you know to actual weather systems (in 3 and 5). The remaining four are almost like special topics and can be read at any time. If anyone has better suggestions, let me know!



2. Hands down this text is the best for anyone looking for an introduction to the atmospheric sciences. There is almost no topic this book doesn't provide an overview of. Personally my favorite section is Thermodynamics. In my opinion the authors give a very clear and thorough introduction to the subject. Other topics in the book are also equally as good. As an introductory text (2nd year) this book provides a very good base for students in the atmospheric sciences to build upon. I find that even in 4th year I still referred back to the text to recall some of the basics that tend to get lost when you become so fixed on the math.

   Excellent text, well worth the money (like almost any book in the field, it is expensive!). The fact that the book hasn't changed in 25yrs (even the cover is the same!) says something about it's quality.




3. A good book for very brief introduction. Some sections are treated much better than others, where it may have been better to leave out the lesser covered topics rather than include them. This book seems to be a good book for an undergraduate level introduction to atmosphere similar to an intoduction to astronomy course.



4. This is a truly well-written book; introducing the major concepts of atmospheric science in a clear and logical manner. After having the opportunity to study with the author, I am thoroughly impressed with his depth of knowledge in the field. A must-own for any aspiring atmospheric scientist.



5. Very Comprehensive Simple explanations. cover all the important topics in meteorology and atmospheric science. Very helpful in my first course of atmospheric science

5 comments about Principles of Brewing Science, Second Edition: A Study of Serious Brewing Issues.

1. George has cleaned up this edition and offers many more citations and support than in the first edition. The style is scientific, clear and concise. George is not afraid to get into the hard topics. This is an excellent introduction to brewing chemistry throughout the cycle.



2. Principles of Brewing Science deals with the biology and chemistry of beer. With my background in biochemistry, I was able to enjoy a detailed analysis on the subject. My only negative criticism is George Fix's excessive and sometimes exhaustive references to his own literature. Fix referred to himself about 40 times in this 173 page book. That is almost 1 reference per 4 pages, not to mention the fact that roughly one third of the book is charts and diagrams. What is most disturbing is that his other book, An Analysis of Brewing Techniques, makes numerous references to this book. The reader ends up getting caught in a futile cycle of references between these two books where some of the referred items are redundant. This round-about circle of references boarders on academic dishonesty. Another eyebrow raising issue is a reference Fix attributes to Rabin and Forget, 1998 on page 152. The reference section, however, has no list of Rabin or Forget. In all fairness, this book is the best compilation of the science behind the beer process and is quite informative. But I think it would be better suited as an appendix for his other book.



3. I do not know who this book was written for but it was not the homebrewer. It reads like it was written for the head chemist at Budweiser or a graduate school chemistry course. If you didn't major in chemistry or have been out of school a few years, it reads like a textbook. There is some interesting information in the book but you have to dig it out. Unless you really want to get very technical about the chemical changes during the brewing process, this book has little use for the average brewer.



4. This is a fairly technical discussion of the subject of brewing chemistry. It's probably more than your typical home-brewer will want to get into, but if you've got some biochem background, or have read Dr. Lee Janson's Brew Chem 101 book and are looking to read on from there, (or you're a very masochistic home-brewer :-)) this would be the next step to take. It does require a greater knowledge of biochemistry and some math (not too surprising, since Dr. Fix had a Ph.D. in math from Harvard). I note the problems with the citations another reviewer here mentioned, who said Dr. Fix refers to his own work and his other book too often, but I didn't mind that too much. Dr. Fix was certainly a competent professional in both math and brewing chemistry, and he did much important work on his own. The important thing is that this book helps to bridge the gap between the professional manuals of industrial microbiology and brewing chemistry and the professional literature. After completing this book, if you want more information, you'll have to go there, such as:

   1. Beer and Wine Production: Analysis, Characterization, and Technological Advances (ACS Symposium, No. 536)

   2. Biotechnology of Malting and Brewing by James S. Hough

   3. Malting and Brewing Science: Hopped Wort and Beer (Volume 2) by D. E. Briggs, et al

   4. Brewing Microbiology by Iain Campbell

   5. Methods of Analysis of the American Society of Brewing Chemists, by the American Society Of Brewing Chemists

   6. Malting and Brewing Science : Volume 1 (#Y0343)
   by Dennis Edward Briggs, James S. Hough

   7. Brewing Yeast and Fermentation by Chris Boulton, David Quain

   Except for the Brewing Microbiology book by Campbell, all of the above are big, expensive professional volumes, but they represent some of the best technical titles out there.

   The book also has a nice introduction summarizing some of the important developments of the last 20 years that have made great improvements in beer, such as the use of modern double pre-evacuation bottle filters to cut down on cold-side oxygenation, the awareness of the staling effects of unsaturated long-chain aldehydes, the realization that hot-side aeration could contribute to this, and the importance of malting and non-enzymatic browning also in this process. These were all important developments that led to the modern low-oxygen brewhouse.

   So overall, a very fine discussion of all these issues, and I'd actually give the book 4.5 stars if I could.




5. While jam-packed with technical brewing-related information on the molecular level, the book is virtually useless to the amateur brewer seeking to improve his or her beer. I did not expect instant enlightenment, but I did hope to glean some knowledge of water chemistry, hop utilization, etc. Unfortunately, I am brewing beer, not conducting experiments in a well-equipped laboratory. The prose is somewhat dry and reads like a post-graduate-level lecture. Definitely a chemistry text, and not a brewing text.

4 comments about Fairchild's Dictionary of Textiles.

1. This is a great unique book for all textile related persons, it gives in details the perfect meaning of all the words used in todays textile field. I think this book is must for all textile related persons.



2. This book is great. I don't think I've ever gone to it and not found the word I was looking for. I wish it had a bit more pictures of some of the fabrics and such. But still, it is very good and there isn't one week that goes by that I don't reference it for one reason or another. I especially like that it offers origins of some textile words which is always interesting and helpful to know.



3. We work in the fashion industry, and this dictionary is very useful w/ lots of words. A great help anytime! Great price, too, @ Amazon!



4. I highly recommend this dictionary if you work in the fashion or textile industry. I refer to it very regularly and often use it as back-up when writing fabric descriptions in marketing material. The references are up to date and include many branded yarns, manufacturing techniques and fabric finishing terms.
   
   5 ***** Worth buying

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