5 comments about Making It: Manufacturing Techniques for Product Design.

1. I am a 1st year student in an industrial design dept. the book really gives a wide review over production methods and in a very elegant non-exhaustive way. It maps the methods of production and gives cross-refrences that describes a reliable picture of the industrial processes and their characteristics. In conclusion - analitic and kind. highly recomended.



2. A catalog of processes is essentially what this book is. It's broken into 7 process sections: Cut from Solid, Sheet, Continuous, Thin & Hollow, Into Solid, Complex and Advanced. Each section has from 6-20 subset processes, eg, 'Cut From Solid' includes CNC machining, Turning, etc., 'Into Solid' has Forging, Sintering, 'Thin and Hollow' processes such as Blow Molding, Filament Winding, etc. The range of processes seems quite comprehensive and includes some I'd never heard of before such as Inflating Metal under the Sheet section, which is basically using air to inflate sheets of metal in a mold.
   
   Each process is typically described in 2-3 pages and follows a common layout. There's a picture of a typical item produced, some text describing the process, and an information section which includes economic production volume, type of surface and finish, and the typical sizes and tolerances of parts produced. This is followed by a '+' and '-' list of advantages and disadvantages of the particular process.
   
   A Further Information section on each process lists web addresses of manufacturers who supply the process and/or provide more information on it. This is a great resource, but you do wonder--given the fluidity of the web--how long some of these addresses will be viable.
   
   For the price this book is a great catalog of many of the manufacturing processes available. It doesn't go into any detail on how to design for the process (as a designer) or make it function (as a machinist/manufacturer), but it's a great reference as an overview of available processes, their benefits and limitations, and where to go to get more information.



3. this is an excellent book, it has good pictures and images that describe step by step all the processes.



4. I bought this book from Swipe Books in Toronto because I actually got the chance to read through it and I saw how awesome it was. When I got back to Australia it got to the stage where so many people were borrowing "Making It" from me that I've bought them all their own copies. It's an awesome book, an unbelievable snap shot on every type of manufacturing process out there and why you would use one instead of another. For anyone studying or in ID, just buy it, you won't regret it and will no doubt have to buy your mates a copy because you get sick of them borrowing it too.



5. The book is great for people who are interested (or involved) in the manufacturing or production of goods. As an Industrial Designer, I'm taught a lot of the processes, but it's still great to have a book like this one handy for any project.
   
   However, it does not delve very deep into each process, instead it gives a brief 1-2 page summary of each method. The part that I like, however, is that it includes things like the suggested appropriate quantity of production for each process, as well as the pros and cons of each.

5 comments about Understanding Wood: A Craftsman's Guide to Wood Technology.

1. good service, could have been a bit faster and there was a small tear in the dust cover. otherwise nothing to complain, can and will recommend this!



2. This book had a lot of information that I personally didn't need, but lacked some that I wanted. Most noteably wood identification. It presents an entire section on this topic, but only shows microscopic views of different species, which is pretty useless to me. The author assumes that if you're reading this book, you can look at almost any piece of wood an identify it, thus making a pictorial directory of wood almost beneath the sofistication of this text.
   
   It is a well written book if you want to understand the science of wood. Think of it as an anatomy & physiology for wood. I would have given it a 5, but ommitting normal pictures of wood types seems to easy to have been left out.



3. If you want to get to the "next level" in woodworking, this book will help you get there. Good all around read on the properties of the various species , but written from a woodworkers perspective. Covers species identification, kiln drying, steam bending as well as adhesives and finishing. Practical knowlege and a very good resource. If you want to move from building birdhouses to fine furniture, you'll want to buy a copy of this book.



4. I would consider myself new to woodworking, but not a complete novice. I have read a few books about the principles of woodworking, and all of them contained very little information about the nature of wood. These books left me with many questions about why certain methods are used or when to use one method over another. Understanding Wood answered a lot of my questions. Most importantly I now understand how to take into consideration the nature of wood when I am planning a project. The most important thing that I learned in this book was about the importance of moisture content. Sure I knew that wood expands or contracts with humidity levels, but now I know how to plan for it and work with it and I also know how detrimental it can be if you don't consider the relationship between water and wood.
   
   What I really liked about the book is that the author did not pull any punches in his exposition meaning that this is not written for someone who prefers a "for dummies" book. This is the real deal, it contains some equations, it has many tables and graphs. Don't be too intimidated though, because it is not as dense or dry as a standard textbook. I think for anyone who enjoys woodworking this would be a great read.
   
   My only complaint is that I wish the author could've gone into more detail on a lot of the subjects. He often wrote that a detailed discussion would fill a whole other book or even volumes. The problem is he's right, so the trade off is that some information is left out since the book can't be thousands of pages long.



5. I'm 66 years old and have been a carpenter (structural and finish) all my life. Being semi retired I'm now doing a lot of rustic furniture and antique reproductions. I wish I had this book about 40 years ago. I could have eliminated "OOP's" from my vocabulary. The book is explicit in explaining how to read wood so that you choose the proper pieces for your project. It's required reading if you don't want your finshed piece to warp, crack, shrink or generally go south.

5 comments about The Big Bento Box of Unuseless Japanese Inventions (101 Unuseless Japanese Inventions and 99 More Unuseless Japanese Inventions).

1. Very interesting and amusing, this book is a plethora of innovative, bold and yes, silly, ideas. Fun stuff.



2. This book is hysterically funny and so creative. A great gift.



3. I am glad I heard about this book. It makes a terrific gift also.



4. Not only are the photographs of the strange inventions hilarious to look at, but the author's descriptions are cleverly written. I recently read this while on an airplane flight. It was hard to keep my giggling down to a low roar. One of the funniest books I have read.



5. This book is a riot! I have brought it to many parties and people LOVE IT. It is a one page riot. Each page makes people laugh. Perfect for the office on dull days, the bathroom, a party or anywhere you need a good gag gift.

5 comments about The SS Brotherhood of the Bell: Nasa's Nazis, JFK, And Majic-12.

1. 
   Farrell continues investigating the "missing" history surrounding the Nazis and World War II started in "Reich of the Black Sun." With his usual precise methods and meticulous balance, he continues to astound with further depth and revelations about this subject.
   
   What do the deaths of General Patton and JFK have to do with Nazis and UFOs? How are UFOs related to secret Nazi war research and current "black projects?" Were NASA and the CIA filled with Nazis? How are ancient history, the SS, fringe physics, South America, UFOs, Guy Bannister, Antarctica, global corporations, the Thule Society, Oswald, NASA, the Bunge corporation, and Danny Casolaro's infamous "Octopus" all connected?
   
   Curious?
   
   This book takes up the thread of these and related questions he began exploring in "Reich of the Black Sun," taking the reader through more of the same unpleasant terrain to some equally unpleasant conclusions. Farrell includes his usual heavy doses of science along the way.
   
   Farrell unearths fascinating ideas and information, linking them to threads of science and history. One must read in depth to appreciate the amount of detail and knowledge presented in his books, as well as the depth of insight and perception of the author. I recommend all of Farrell's books, and this is no exception.



2. The common problem I see with the UFO community - and the public in general - is that a distinction must be made between UFO's and ET's (Extra Terrestrials), as I'm sure we are all aware, the definition of `UFO' has nothing to do with ET's. I myself have always thought that the majority of sited UFO's are merely tricks of light or meteors and so forth, but one can not legitimately dismiss the few genuine sightings of `Unidentified Flying Objects'. I have always thought that these genuine sightings are of UFO's are secret military aircraft.
   This assumption was validated after I recently finished reading "The SS Brotherhood of the Bell" by Joseph Farrell. This work by Farrell really shocked me with the extremely factual and empirical structure of his book, and together with his authoritative style and aura one is left with little choice but to believe that UFO's do exist and were developed by humans over 50 years ago! As amazing (and at first hand, absurd) as this sounds, once you see the documented evidence you are left with no other conclusion!
   
   Farrell basically makes the case that Hitler's Nazis developed, amongst other technologies, various craft that were indentified by the public as UFO's, flying saucers ect.... The Nazi's used various propulsion systems which evolved from the mundane to the extremely exotic. This technology was subsequently picked up by both the Soviets and the US following the fall of Hitler's war machine. And all the evidence presented by Farrell indicates that the exotic technology was further developed by these two nations.
   
   When one first hears of the Nazi connection to UFO's one is quite sceptical, but as one realizes the undisputed - and largely unknown - advanced technology that Nazi Germany undeniably had, suddenly the idea of supersonic exotic flying discs seem a lot more plausible. And Farrell goes to a large amount of trouble to educate the reader from the start about the advanced technology that the German scientists had actually achieved. And as Farrell makes clear from various military documents, had the allies not defeated Hitler's army when they did, the tide of the war would have irreversibly turned due to the advanced war craft that was starting to be rolled out ready for combat by Nazi Germany, for land, air and sea.
   
   Farrell goes to an enormous amount of trouble to give the reader a background understanding of the physics that is the thesis of Farrell's book; that is the "Bell". Farrell discusses everything from suppressed "Scalar" physics, to the workings and classification of every type of nuclear weapon, to the Soviet vs US space race and the technology behind it, to the possible connection with JFK and his assassination, and the shady dealings of NASA under the control of a former Nazi scientific heavy weight (and yes, a former high ranking Nazi scientist was head of NASA!) and all sorts of topics which on the surface seem totally unrelated and absurd. But all this information is required to fully appreciate and comprehend the thesis of Farrell's work. Even if one is to disregard Farrell's main thesis, one will still gain an extraordinary amount of general knowledge from this work.
   
   Farrell doesn't believe that UFO's have anything to do with ET's. Though Farrell is fully open to the existence of ET's, he see's no reason what-so-ever to suggest that any UFO's are of ET origin. All of the evidence and data regarding UFO's suggest that it's required technology is not exotic enough to demand the inclusion of ET's in the picture. Farrell believes that the required technology is fully within our grasp, and he makes an extremely convincing case.
   
   Beware, this book opens a can or worms like I have never witnessed before. Every chapter leaves you wanting to know more, but considering the already large size of the book, only brief glances over many subjects were possible. Thankfully at the end of the book (well the edition that I have anyway) is a list of a couple dozen books that will quench your thirst for more. I found this book so enthralling and informative that I will probably read most of the further reading that is supplied at the end of the book.
   
   Highly recommended!



3. The Truth is Out There, just not specifically here
   Nazis, secret weapons, aliens, assassinations, strange science, Tesla, mysterious UFOs, dark conspiracies and the always popular secret societies, are just a few of the many esoteric subjects covered in Joseph Farrell's entertaining The SS Brotherhood of the Bell. If you like page after page of the strange, weird, and sometime outlandish then this is the book for you. Mr. Farrell roams the esoteric conspiratorial landscape at will connecting dots and making amazing suppositions. He backups much of his ideas with "interesting" facts that border on the questionable and stretches the credulity of a rational man. Some of his suppositions are doubtful but thought provoking. He ranges far afield from the always contentious and enigmatic JFK assassination, to Nazi UFOs, to Martin Bormann being Adolf Hitler's puppet-master. Wow, each page brought another conspiracy, weird science and history mystery. By the book's conclusion only Big Foot and the mysterious face on Mars were sadly left out.
   But the biggest mystery of all was not covered: Just what the heck was the mysterious Nazi "Bell" and what did it do? I guess that enigma will be cleared up in Mr. Farrell's next book?? Like a Flash Gordon Saturday serial standby for another installment: "The Bell tolls for thee".
   Note: Nick Cook's The Hunt for Zero Point is a more informative read on this subject in my opinion.



4. In one respect, it's hard to figure out what to make of Joseph P Farrell's THE SS BROTHERHOOD OF THE BELL: NASA'S NAZIS, JFK, AND MAJIC-12: the author spends a wealth of time exploring the planet's "secret history" where Nazi scientists -- realizing their own impending demise near the end of WWII -- embarked on a clandestine mission to guarantee survival of not only themselves but also their research into areas of unconventional aircraft designed using a kind of secret physics essentially unknown to most of the planet ... but, by the book's end, Farrell has provided plenty of fuel to, in the very least, provoke the reader to challenge the view of history put forth by mainstream academics, grade school textbooks, and a complicit media. His premise floats easily off the page like the anti-gravitic science he believes (and argues convincingly) Nazi scientists holed away deep within the bureaucracies that make up national governments and their assorted agencies. He capably demonstrates how an elite group of intelligent survivors may have masterfully set into motion the greatest ruse -- hiding in plain sight -- of all time.
   
   (Note: I purchased Mr. Farrell's book after hearing him via podcast from his presentation earlier this year on COAST-TO-COAST AM, but, in an odd but fitting twist of fate, I had this book in my stack of stuff to read directly after completing Richard C Hoagland's DARK MISSION ... whoa! Talk about the stars aligning!)
   
   Of course, with a selection of subjects so involving and requiring not only a willing suspension of disbelief regarding history but also a tremendous sense of brain power to grasp these meaty concepts, BROTHERHOOD OF THE BELL is not without a few criticisms, and I'll get them out of the way up front. Yes, typos, typos, typos. There're here. Others have cited. (I find them forgivable given the strength of the research and my interest in the topic.) Also, much of the science presented in the center third of the book is, frankly, out of my reach; as a layman, I could've used some examples presented to underscore how some of these concepts worked largely because, by the author's own admission, Farrell explores a kind of science "untaught" to man (hidden aether physics, versus conventionally taught physics) ... that's not necessarily a failure on the part of the author so much as it is a failure to connect with the reader. There were a few passages I had to reread to better comprehend, and, as a reader, I hate having to do that, but Farrell presents ideas I want to understand. I mention this because I know he's working on at least one additional book (NAZI INTERNATIONAL) that I'm looking forward to, and I hope that there's still time for addressing a "dumbing down for the common man" in that book.
   
   But enough on the downside ...
   
   BROTHERHOOD OF THE BELL presents an utterly frightening scenario that begins before WWII (pre-war Germany is still Germany as Farrell explains in examing the possible psychology of a people stemming from the Teutonic Knights) and evolves until present day: suppose mankind's greatest enemy somehow found a way to exist not so much peacefully but hidden within? Financed by the world's greatest superpowers? Secretly manipulating history to continue their various campaigns? It appears entirely plausible that what he postulates has happened while the world looked the other way. Events are presented (World War II, The Roswell Incident, the Cold War, the Kennedy Assassination) that, seemingly would have little or no relation to one another, but -- under Farrell's eye and corroborated with evidence from history -- the reader faces the harsh reality that members of a defunct Nazi party are far from individually 'defunct.' Did Nazi scientists negotiate with America, with Britain, with the Soviet Union to survive the end of the war on agreement to continue their work in respective governments? Has mankind been duped to believe a form of unprovable but popular physics? Did German scientists confirm that the UFO crashed in Roswell was, in fact, a downed craft of Nazi design? What did President Eisenhower truly known about a secret military industrial complex? Could a small investment firm have profited billions of dollar through its secret knowledge of Kennedy's assassination? The questions come easily one after the other, and Farrell presesnt arguments to support that not only are there two verions of physics but also there's two versions of accepted history.
   
   Again, BROTHERHOOD OF THE BELL is quite possibly not written for skeptics. There's much here to refute (the veracity of the MJ-12 documents, the lack of single 'gotcha' memo to substantiate any single Presidency's involvement, etc.) or at least argue about. For my tastes, the book works best in its final third when the Cold War has geared up, and Farrell dips into what may have been the Nazi's real post-war efforts; and this could be because, accepting the author's premise, there is a whole string of events which appear to have underscored the reality of a conspiracy despite what the Warren Commission found. BROTHERHOOD OF THE BELL is best read by the scores and scores of folks who believe that solving puzzles are central to the human experience. There are plenty of pieces here, and Farrell does a tremendous job of putting them together in a such a way as to forever cause the reader to challenge what he's been asked to accept by either a duped or complicit society.



5. A good book with a great deal of information on the German secret programs at the end of WWII. Some of the info is very technical and beyond the understanding of a layman. However, overall it explains much of Operation Paperclip and the inner workings of both the US and German Intelligence posturing at wars end.

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.

No comments about The Design Entrepreneur: Turning Graphic Design Into Goods That Sell (Design Field Guide).

5 comments about 2008 Official Gun Digest Book of Guns & Prices (Official Gun Digest Book of Guns and Prices).

1. Comapred to what is avaialble, save your $$$$ on this one.....too limited and not informative al all.....get more info on, off the Web and best to wait until Midway Arms has the Blue Book on sale around April....



2. Excellent resource for the price. No pictures and limited descriptions, but the purpose of this book is only to provide prices of firearms and it accomplishes that very well.



3. The information in this book helps us collectors, traders, and shooters compare relative values and learn some of the history of what we own and are considering owning.



4. This product was for my husband. He found most of his guns listed in the book. It was harder to find the older guns, though. All in all, we are pleased with the book.



5. Received the book in a timely manner and contents were all I could hope for. Every firearm I own was listed (all 15 of them) along with their values in various conditions. Great value

5 comments about The Lean Manufacturing Pocket Handbook.

1. I purchased this handbook to be used as a quick reference guide and as part training aid when I talk to my Clients in the manufacturing sector. It has completely satisfied these requirements and the other factor that appealed was its true "pocket" size.



2. If I had to give a 1-2 day seminar on the subject, this would be a handy handbook. For that purpose, it should be used, not as a general reference on lean manufacturing.
   
   If this review was helpful, please add your vote. Thanks.



3. Very tiny book. I was not expecting such a small book. Very expensive item for its size.
   Book arrived with a grease stain on the cover!



4. This book will help reduce and even eliminate waste in your organization. It's worth trying. It makes manufacturing processes to flow better and brings quality improvement to the work place. I recommend it. All our employees should read it (Spanish Version) / Este libro ayuda a reducir e incluso a eliminar desperdicio en su organización. Vale la pena intentarlo. Hace que los processos de manufactura fluyan mejor y trae mejoría a la calidad en el lugar de trabajo. Lo recomiendo (Version en Español)



5. I am preparing for LEAN certification by SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineering). I have built a library of LEAN and Six Sigma reference and training books. This book is useless.
   If you need a pocket guide for mobility go with the The Lean Pocket Guide@ $7.95.

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

1. Before I read Jeff Jewitt's book on finishing I knew almost nothing about the finishing process. After reading this book cover to cover almost five times now, I feel confident about applying a finish to my first project. Jeff's writing style and knack for explaining make learning the often misunderstood art of finishing a pure pleasure. You will learn all types of finishing and application styles from padding, wiping, brushing and spraying. Jeff covers preparation of the wood surface all the way through staining, filling, sealing, top coats, and finally buffing. The plethora of color photos really gives you a good idea of what he is describing and enhance the text tremendously. You will not be disappointed with this encyclopedic description of wood finishing.



2. A must have reference work on wood finishing. High quality photos. Covers everything I can think of, and then some.



3. The Taunton's Guides are well written and illustrated with many color images. This one has a tremendous amount of information, but beginners may be put off by the large number of finishing materials and heavy machinery that are discussed; if you've just built a table and want to know a couple of ways to finish it, this book may be excessive. But if you want a full discussion of finishing techniques and you can sort out which ones are for you, this book is fine.



4. Tiene una explicación sencilla y muy gráfica, los libros de Taunton tienen un gran nivel, sólo echo de menos una versión en español para asimilar más rápidaente los conceptos.
   está muy bien explicado para la parte más complicada del woodworking puesto que un buen acabado marca la diferencia de un trabajo.
   lo recomiendo como casi todo lo de Taunton.



5. One of the better Taunton books. Buy equipment and other finishing products from Jeff Jewitt at homesteadfinishing.com--first rate.

5 comments about Microsoft® Office Project 2007 Inside Out.

1. This book has easy step by step approach with all the quirks and strategies to work with MS project.
   I would recommend it for any PM or project user who wants to learn Microsoft project quickly. I also believe that it good a reference. Good luck with Project 2007.



2. I got the book on time and in good condition. but the CD included doesn't have all the files that should have in the list. At least the e-book is missing. I appreciate if you can email me the ebook.
   
   I will buy more stuff from Amazon.
   
   DJ



3. I love Microsoft Project 2007.
   
   I know there are other tools that can do better job in some PM areas, but I love MS Project for its simplicity, ease of use, and its ubiquitousness.
   
   The 2007 version, in my opinion, does not break any miraculous new ground, but it does have cool new features such as multiple undos, better tracking with change highlights, better calendar, task drivers etc. - little stuffs that make PMs happy.
   
   I extensively use CA's Clarity (previously called Niku) as well. It is a powerful tool and quite a good one, but not as agile as I would like by itself. Fortunately, my PMO has integrated Project with Clarity, which has consequently made my life much easier. Of course, had they integrated Open Workbench, that would've been a viable alternative as well - plus significantly cheaper - but not as powerful. OR you could just go for the whole shebang and invest on Microsoft's EPM solution.
   
   Anyway, whether you are just a curious person who likes to know what the Project Managers are talking about around the watercooler or a Project Manager who wants to do things faster/quicker/better or a PMO Director who wants to be at the forefront of our trade, Microsoft Project 2007 is worth exploring. This book can be the worthy first step in that fascinating adventure.
   
   - a PMP's 2 Yen.



4. eBook is missing in the CD. How do I receive/download the copy of the eBook? Please advise.



5. The CD with the book was defective, it did not contain all the files that the book stated it did, I contacted Microsoft and they made good on the CD and sent me a new one that contained all the files.
   
   The book is great and should be used by anybody wanting to learn the program.