1 comments about Understanding Food Science and Technology (with InfoTrac ).

1. Purchased book for a high school student. I read it first and it claims to be suitable for the first two years of college. Either I got smarter or kids got dumber. This is an easy read for anybody with an 8th grade education. The book is very informative but not a hard read. I liked it a lot as it was well organized and covered a multitude of subjects relating to food science. This is even more meaingful because the book also provides a historical perspective.

5 comments about Occupational Safety and Health for Technologists, Engineers, and Managers.

1. This is one of the most poorly written textbooks I've read. The author, who is apparently a Phd, writes with the style of a 7th or 8th grader; he uses poor grammar, is painfully repetitive, uses jargon from differing areas of specialty (such as medical terms that require a medical dictionary to understand), leaves out information that should be there (based on the topics covered in my construction safety class), includes irrelevant information, and is flat out wrong about some topics (UL and ASTM would be interested to know "any relationship between a fire rating and the reality of fire resistance may be little more than coincidental".) This is especially frustrating considering this is the fourth edition. There is some evidence that the author has substantial knowledge about the topic. However, he is out of date in some areas and, in general, he presents that knowledge poorly. Also, judging from the breadth of topics this author had written about it appears the old cliche is true: "Jack of all trades. Master of none." While there is some decent information in this book, it is a chore to read. This was a required text for my class. If you have a choice in the matter choose something (anything) else.



2. The above reviewer will obviously have occupational health issues, because smoking weed while writing reviews will cause one to be disoriented, lose their balance, and possibly fall off a 100 story construction site beam.

   This is an amazing book. While covering all of the topics in depth, this book is also easy to read, presenting the material in a fashion that allows the reader to recieve a complete understanding of the topic. This too was an assigned book for my class, and I'll be lucky if I get to take a Goetsch class again.




3. I was provided quick an excellent service. Keep up the good work!



4. This book is a good introduction into occupational safety. Some of the information, especially in the area of robotics safety and automation, is quite dated. While this book is used in some graduate programs, it is more suited for the undergraduate. Important historical items such as Chernobyl were left out while other less fatal disasters were left in, but we can forgive the author if he includes it in his next version.
   
   I would encourage the author to include references to other safety standards and more details into cumulative trauma disorders in the next volume.



5. I used this book in a graduate Industrial Safety Management class, and agree with reviewer David Sullivan's assessment that this book is a good general overview of occupational safety and health issues, but that it is definitely more useful at the undergraduate level. I have a decent background in this area, and found no groundbreaking insights in this text, though I do believe that people (and especially students) new to the field would find it quite useful.
   
   The book is a fairly general survey of the issues inherent to contemporary occupational safety and health, and has good general overviews of all important large-scale issues. There are errors in this book, some are small, and most are fairly excusable, though there are generalizations and errors in the Electrical Hazards chapter (Chapter 12) that are fairly egregious. I thought that Chapter 21 ("Safety Analysis, Prevention, and Management") was one of the best chapters in the book: the introduction to techniques like FMEA and FTA was good, though I would have put this chapter considerably earlier in the text. The chapter on Worker's Compensation (Chapter 5) was positively painful to read, though I doubt that there is much that can be done to make the material especially captivating.
   
   Some of the material in this book is dated, but in general I think this is a satisfactory book to be used as an introduction to occupational safety students.

4 comments about Blown to Bits: Your Life, Liberty, and Happiness After the Digital Explosion.

1. One does not often stop to think of how the rush to technology has dug itself into our lives. Blown to Bits gives you an engaging perspective and makes you think every time you do something "on-line" like this simple review, right here, right now!



2. I could not put this book down. It presents in approachable and lucid terms the complexities and subtleties of the information age. It goes beyond the mere didactic, using well thought out and entertaining vignettes to make it a joy to read. Read this book.



3. This is one of those books that will change the way you look at the world, or at least, your computer (which, as you'll learn, might be a lot more of the world than you think!) In a very readable prose, the authors explain how the world is fundamentally different now that so much information -- so many bits -- is being generated, monitored, and stored about nearly everything we do. The book covers not just how the internet actually works but also weaves together many applicable examples from the worlds of commerce, entertainment, government, and law.
   
   It is one of those books that will cause you to share what you just read with whomever happens to be in the room, as it is filled with many gee-whiz moments. A great read.



4. This book is perfect for people who want to understand more about information technology and don't want to read something long or technical to learn it. The authors do a superb job taking the reader through how major technologies function (computers, the internet, cell phones, etc.), how they are shaping our lives, and what impacts they have on our laws and society. Amazing stories are woven throughout it, making it readable and fun for techies and non-techies alike. At the end of the book, you'll have a new understanding of the things we take for granted - and what possibilities and threats they pose. You'll also be light years ahead of most other people - who themselves will need to come up to speed in the coming years. A great read!

5 comments about Engineering Economy (McGraw-Hill Series in Industrial Engineering and Management).

1. This book doesn't explain anything. It just shows a bunch of formulas and doesn't give any hint about when and how to use them one. One of the worst textbooks I've encountered in college (and I'm in my last semester). I wholeheartedly agree with all the negative feedback.



2. As someone who loves to learn, this is the most incomplete, illogically written textbook I've ever encountered. As a disclaimer, usually I have better things to do than review books online for complete strangers, but thankfully I can vent here, or I may have been compelled to use it to shatter my living room window, which wouldn't be good.
   
   At best, it meanders back and forth between actual formulas and their complementary Excel formulas, which leaves the reader wondering why they should learn the real thing when Excel can do it for them anyway; but its Excel teachings follow the incomplete style of the book, so there's little chance of improving your Excel skills either. To be fair, on page 671 it lets you in on a brilliant secret: that you can obtain help from Excel by "left-clicking" on the help bar...but even fails to mention the F1 key...par for the course!
   
   At worst, the questions at the end of each chapter (which affect ones GPA and entire future) vary just enough with the examples in the chapter, that it is impossible for the student to solve them without using outside means, like contacting the professor 24/7 which I may have to.
   
   If you think I'm being unfair or have any bias, I'll put it to you this way: Suppose you had never driven a car before, and I wrote a book on how to open the door, turn the key, put it in drive, etc. and then gave you an exam on how to rebuild the engine.
   
   I'm so disgusted with this book, I'd rather be spending this semester in North Korea, where I'd definitely learn more.



3. I don't understand where all of the negative reviews are coming from. The 6th edition of this textbook was used in my Financial Aspects of Engineering class my final semester. Officially it is a 400 level course, but in reality it is more like a 200 level course. I literally skipped half of the lectures (remember, it was my final semester) and still earned an A in the class. I think grades were based on a bell curve like most engineering courses, so it's not like everyone received an A. Since I missed so many lectures, I had to rely very heavily on the textbook to learn the material.
   
   I sold the book after the course was over to get some quick cash, but I'm regretting it. I can't remember anything now, and the subject matter of this textbook is starting to be more relevant in my personal and professional lives, so I'm going to buy it again. I highly recommend it as a reference and introduction to real world economic and financial problems.



4. I think there is probably a chance that this is the most poorly written textbook I've ever encountered.
   
   I was going to hold off giving it a bad review until I got through the class, but at this rate I'm not even totally sure I will. I've just re-read the difference between nominal and effective interest for (no hyperbole) the 10th time, and I'm no closer to understanding it. Bad examples, useless derivations, poor explaining. I only wish I could give it a zero.



5. The Blank-Tarquin Engineering Economy Text is the worst I've encountered in my undergrad studies. Instead of clarifying, illustrating, and simplying - it befuddles, complicates, and obfuscates the subject. An additional frustration is for example, is in the 6th edition, which I had the misfortune to have to buy, doesn't have a single answer in the back to aid a student in learning. In short, if your course uses this awful text, drop it immediately, or you'll be in for one miserable semester.

5 comments about The Unofficial LEGO Builder's Guide.

1. My kids are young enough that the basic building schemes illustrated here are interesting to them. Some are beyond them (ages 5,6,11). They were somewhat disappointed there weren't more "models" or building plans to follow. I like it, though, because it just shows the basics then makes them use their imaginations where anything is possible. So, it's useful, but not an item I'd rave about.



2. An Ok book, but I was hoping that the author would go into greater details.



3. Bedford's book offers everything and anything that one could consider useful to know about building with LEGO. I love the way he describes how to design things using grids and how to organize large collections of LEGO bricks. He's even designed a game in LEGO that others can play! I highly recommend this book to all ages of LEGO builders.



4. THE UNOFFICIAL LEGO BUILDER'S GUIDE is the best "Overview" of the LEGO building system available hands down. The book has been written for beginners as well as more advanced builders. It's a great reference guide with tips, techniques and definitions for users of all ages. Anyone can buy and build a LEGO "set", but this book will give you the tools needed to build your own creations. Once those "sets" are in a hundred pieces and you want to try your hand at your own creation, this is the guide you will reach for to help you do it right.
   
   The chapters are written is a simple easy to understand way and the flow of the material is easy to follow. There seems to be just enough information on each page that the reader does not feel like he/she is always getting lost when following the examples or descriptions. The illustrations are in black and white and are very clear and easy to see. Some might complain that the illustrations are not in color but I personally prefer the black and white. When building your own creation the lack of color is actually less of a distraction than it would be if you were building something blue and white and the illustration was red and yellow.
   
   One of the best features of the book is the Bricktopia, a categorized list of the most commonly used LEGO pieces. It includes an illustration of the piece, a description, size and part number. I personally find it helpful to browse thru this area to get "ideas" for building projects. I have noticed pieces I forgot about that has triggered a "thats the one I could use" thought to help with a project I am working on or have been thinking of building.
   
   I recommend this book to anyone interested in learning the foundations needed to build projects from simple to the more elaborate. LEGO builders of all ages will benefit from buying this book. Buy this book and leave it out on a coffee table and see how long it takes someone to pick it it up!



5. A true labor of love, this is the most comprehensive guide around! A must-have for LEGO devotees.

5 comments about The Complete Illustrated Guide to Furniture and Cabinet Construction.

1. I found this book very disappointing. The pictures were very pretty but that is pretty much it. The illustrations were confusing and of little use. It gives too much of an overview and no real specifics. I found woodworking for dummies to be a much better book for the beginning woodworker.



2. I don't buy many woodworking books because most, especially the ones sold by home centers, aren't very good. They lack detail, they're incomplete, and I often get the feeling that they're just cranked out without much thought. But this one caught my eye in a local bookstore and I'm glad I bought it.
   
   First of all, the book can be used either as a reference or as a complete primer on woodworking. There's lots of information there, but not so much that you get bogged down. At first I just used it to brush up on specific topics, and then I went back to the first page and started reading it straight through. It's well-written; words are used well and not wasted. Photography is superb. Despite the reference to generic "Furniture" in the title, the book is heavily oriented toward cabinets, which it covers in great detail, even to the point of describing how to construct multi-light glass doors.
   
   The first few pages are a little off-putting as the author describes what he considers an appropriate collection of tools and a space to put them in; unfortunately, many woodworking books assume that the reader has acres of space in which to set up a shop. As you read on, though, the text is more friendly toward the hobbyist.
   
   In short, this is a great woodworking reference or tutorial. Don't be put off by the beginning of the book; it gets better. And the Amazon price for this book is much lower than the $40 I paid in the bookstore.



3. Got this for my husband for his birthday and he loves it. Hasn't had a chance to build anything since, but it will definately come in handy. The quality of the book itself is very good especially for how low the price was. There are good pictures to follow and very thorough information and directions.



4. Given the scope of this work, I'm not sure what I expected, but I feel like, after reading a book on furniture and cabinet making, I ought to have some idea of how to construct a basic cabinet. While this book covers a wide variety of general techniques and types of joints commonly used, at no point does it tie them together; it discusses possibilities, but never synthesizes them into anything tangible, leaving me, at least, wondering which of the book's assorted grab bag of clever tricks might be combined to actually produce a cabinet. I already knew what a sliding dovetail was before I bought this book; what I sought to learn was the architecture and structural elements needed to design a cabinet. Strangely, I feel like I'm no closer to that knowledge than I was before I read the book.



5. Had some ok spatterings of information , but overall I found it a bit dissapointing. Its a fairly big book but doesnt seem to really show anthing ground breaking. If I had seen it before hand I wouldn't buy it again. Thats not to say in the right hands this book wouldn't be handy .Has some interesting info on how to make your own hinges, apart from that the rest is pretty standard stuff.

5 comments about Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology, 5E.

1. nice book the price is high but you'll be happy that you have it!



2. as a homeowner considering central air and seeing how idiot contractors screw people firsthand, I wanted to learn as much as I could about refrigeration and HVAC before hiring anybody. This book is great, from a design and selection standpoint on refrigeration all the way to installation and maintenance practices. I can easily see why it's a college textbook, too bad my college texts back in the day didn't explain the subject as well. You can basically read this book and understand refrigeration without taking a class.



3. Many pictures, good text, complete, I recommend it. For all those that begin and they are already work in HVACR. The only problem is that it doesn't work with units international system (metric). It could be an international book. Greetings from spain.



4. After "retiring" for the second time in my life, I found myself in a position to attend "re-training" due to the fact that I had closed my corporation after selling my business. In other words, the state considered me "unemployed". One of my options was a trade school and their programs. HVAC\R seemed interesting so I went with it. The above mentioned book was the standard issue. At first I was very pleased with it, although I did struggle to get through the chapters. I thought it was me, although in my first four "courses" I was carrying a 99% average, and tutoring younger students in Manual J, Manual D, and Heating Controls. It wasn't me. As I have had time to study this industry at my own pace, taking courses when I want, and taking time off to hone my skills with those in the business, I find that there are many books available that are much easier to understand, read,and follow. These "other" books contain as much, if not more practical information, and relate to real world requirements much easier, without having to decipher what the edited author intended. Had I not been "given" this book as a part of my "tuition", I would now be screaming for my money back. For what ever it is worth, one of the authors has written books on his own and they are excellent. I actually purchased several for "fellow students" that were struggling and these students were helped immensely. Perhaps it is the company that published the book. I am not sure. But I do know that I have looked at other books published by the the same company and have either returned them or not purchased them in the first place. Just my opinion. I may be correct, I may not.



5. Unlike some textbooks which no one would buy unless they have to...this one is great if you're a technically-minded homeowner who wants to learn about your house's HVAC systems. It gives a lot of useful and well-presented information for the price. Also covers commercial systems.

5 comments about Technology in Action, Introductory (4th Edition) (Go (Prentice Hall)).

1. Be careful - there is an introductory (only goes to ch. 9) and a complete edition. I'm writing this because I did not pay attn and just realized (half way through my course) that I have the wrong one. Didn't want anyone else to make the same mistake...



2. Technology in Action is a great book for college-level computer concepts classes. I have taught with Technology in Action at a community college for 4 years now. The book is written to engage today's students with a very useful question and answer format. I find my students are reading again since using Technology in Action!
   
   My students also love the multimedia that comes on the CD (packaged with the text) which they describe as entertaining, informative and fun! Wow, students who think learning is fun...what a concept!
   
   I highly recommend this text for freshman and sophomore computer concepts classes. This is a book your students will read and enjoy!



3. There are many books that could be used in the introduction to computers level of classes. They tend to be very similar, in topics, order and structure. While this book is more of the same, there is one feature that stands out, the coverage of ethics in the context of computing. Ethics and the proper usage of computers is a significant aspect of the computing culture for all of us, but it is more significant for the college student. The advent of the Internet has made it much easier to obtain information and harder to filter it for accuracy. It is now much easier to plagiarize; all you have to do is copy and paste. Fortunately, it is also easier for instructors to identify an act of plagiarism; there are websites that will do it for you. The digitization of music makes it easy to download and play music on MP3 players. This list could continue for some time.
   There are several places in the book where ethical principles are related to the topic. It is to the credit of the authors that this coverage is not just a spouting of facts; the questions are designed to have the students think about the situation and reach their own ethical conclusions.
   It is most unlikely that I will ever teach an introductory course in computing again. However, if I was to do so, I would take a hard look at this book, it is suitable for the course.



4. Needed it for class and it suited my needs. Only complaint is I couldn't sell it back to my college's bookstore because it was the complete version versus the standard student copy. The only difference is it has extra information/chapters in the back. The entire beginning is the student copy, it just has extra chapters. I was shocked they wouldn't take it back. If you need this book for a class get it here. Good price.



5. I got a great price on the book but, I didn't receive the book as I should.

5 comments about It's Not Luck.

1. Great book! My first intention was not to buy this book. It was suggested to me. It ended up being very good. I'm glad that Amazon suggested it to me.
   Thank you



2. Another Goldratt teaching novel that teaches his thinking processes in story format. Fun reading. Inspires trying to solve work process problems that are hard because the current reality has contradictions in it. Setting is far from most workplaces, but then so are spy novels. Read the story for fun, and then read Scheinkopf's Thinking for a Change: Putting the TOC Thinking Processes to Use to learn the methods.



3. Goldratt takes us through he paces again, but this time not quite as ground breaking and informative as the Goal. Of course the Goal remains standard reading for all young managers in any sort of manufacturing environment, and the TOC is a baseline concept that they should wrap their mind around. This book is good and adds a little refinement on top of the previous books, but should definitely be down in the pile. Start with the Goal, and keep this book on the low priority / rainy day list.



4. This book truly is a sequal to the goal. In the goal we were introduced the important topic of throughput, inventory and operational expenses. On throuput we learnt how "work" flows through a process, how to manage buffers and when to introduce work into the system. We see how inventory is just held-up cash and why we should try to minimize it within the limits of our constraints. Finally, on operational expenses, we see how cost accounting can really distort the reality and that having excess capacity can actually be a good thing.
   
   In this book the author doesn't just repeat the process at a higher level. Instead we are introduced to new material: the Thinking Process. This is a toolkit for problem solving tools, which make us question our assumptions. These tools are named "Current & Future Reality Trees", "Pre-requisite Tree", "Transition-Tree" and "Negative Branch Reservations". As the story unfolds, our hero is busy applying the Thinking Process in sales in order to generate a leap in profits.
   
   At times, I found the book to be a bit "verbose" in the sense that reading a series of almost repeating if-then statements can be somewhat tedious. But there are some small diagrams that help you follow. All in all, I liked the book but it's an introduction not a manual. Neither this book nor the previous is much more than an introduction to the topic.
   
   For a more in-depth look at the Theory of Constraints and to gain sufficient knowledge to apply it to a business, you would definitely need another book.



5. This book is nowhere near it's predecessor 'The Goal', but it's still a very good book. If you've read the previous book this will add to the experience and will give you insight in some new sectors the theory of constraints can be applied to.
   
   It is not hard to read any of the books by Goldratt, as they read like a business novel. However, it will make you think about certain processes like it's the one million dollar one. That's what makes this series good; motivational writing and plain problem solving. Hey, who didn't like puzzles when they were kids?
   
   Liked the first one? Then get this one, as it is the second best of the series.

5 comments about Lean Production Simplified.

1. "Lean Production Simplified" is essential reading for anyone new to lean. With a wonderfully clear writing style Pascal Dennis gives an overview of the structure and tools of lean including an excellent short history. Dennis clearly explains the concepts and philosophy of lean - though this is not a "how-to" book and does not give detailed methods for the tools. The book is an excellent introduction to lean. For example, I found its 20 pages on Hoshin planning explained the process better than any other work I've read.
   
   You can tell when an author really understands the lean process - they emphasise the importance of behavioural and cultural aspects of lean and recognise that these are at least as important as the tools. Dennis's chapters on involvement and lean culture are excellent. He clearly lives the lean philosophy. "Lean Production Simplified" is essential reading for anyone wishing to understand lean.



2. This book explains lean manufacturing in the TPS (Toyota Production System) method. The sentences tend to be short and choppy, but if you have a basic understanding of lean this book can enrich knowledge and provide specific examples.



3. Lean Production Simplified provides a great practical guide to the implementation of lean principles. The author gives enough history and background of lean production to put the concepts into context. He then covers all the basic concepts with a unified approach. We are using this book to orient several new team members to the concepts as we implement important lean projects.



4. I thought this book did a good job in giving you an overview of the lean tools. It is a good reference point if you would like to further study lean activities.



5. I've read many of the more popular lean books (see our other reviews), and have been doing lean full-time since 2000. In my view this book has the best, most complete field of view of them all, touching on several concepts that get no attention in any other lean overview text. It should be noted that as far a depth goes however, the name says it all... Lean Production Simplified.
   
   Pro:
   -Shingo prize winner
   -Brief yet complete coverage of lean topics
   -Coverage of several topics not found elsewhere, including the much ignored hoshin kanri
   -Decent chapter summaries, ample examples and figures
   
   Con:
   -I guess about the worst you can say is there's too many misspellings for a 2nd edition.
   -Perhaps too many sentences that start with, "At Toyota" which create some repetitive reading.
   
   Bottom line: Highly recommended for exposure to the basics.