No comments about Biology: Concepts & Investigations.

2 comments about Civil Engineering Materials (2nd Edition).

1. Civil Engineering Materials,by Shan Somayaji, is an excellent tool for learning the fundamentals of materials used for civil engineering. The book consists of Theoretical material with examples and graphs that reinforce the concepts covered. The key equations are set in bold, similar to other engineering text books. Unlike other engineering texts, this book does not confuse the reader. This is acomplished by providing only the material relevent to the current section. The material included consists of materials from aggregates to concrete to lumber and its grading. I used this book to help me complete a intoductory to engineering materials course. I would reccomend this book to people who have completed a strength of materials course and are interested in gaining knowledge of the most common materials used in the civil engineering profession.



2. This is a good book that provides a simple reference for civil engineering students. You probably need to have some previous knowledge in deformable mechanics to have a comprehensive understanding of the material. This would not be a problem except that many schools (mine in particular) require a CE materials course before taking junior level deformable bodies. Students should not be deterred by this and will have no problem understanding the bulk of the material, as long as the professors using this text are aware of this.

4 comments about Textiles: A Handbook for Designers.

1. This is an excellent resource for anyone interested in textiles or design. After reading several books on the subject this one still offered fresh information, and in a style easier to understand, especially when describing techniques. One other thing that endeared it to me was that it is truly a handbook, by which I mean you can carry it around. All the other books on this subject were really coffee table size.



2. You learn so much dense information in textile design school, that you can never retain in your head. Finding this book has brought back all of the rules, repeat sizes, guidance and practical/specific information that is so usefull and needed in the professional environment - especially as a freelance designer when your fending for yourself. Great book - highly reccommended!



3. If any of you happen to be (or are planning on being) a Textile/Surface Design student at F.I.T., you NEED to own this book. It gives nearly an exact rundown of the curriculum taught at the school...
   The best thing about it for me, though, is that I have the book to fall back on when I don't understand an assignment. Priceless! I do wish she'd revise the book again to include more about Computer Aided Design, however!



4. I am a College instructor of Interior Design. I have used this text for years in my Textiles course. It is beautifully illustrated (a plus for visually-orientated Design students!). It also deals with the tactile, practical and asthetic applications of textiles. Other texts emphasize the carbon content and chemical composition of textiles and are dry both verbally and visually. This text is not; yet it clearly defines natural vs. man-made fibers and their individual and compound functions. Textiles by Marypaul Yastes is the best!

5 comments about Engineering Mechanics: Statics (5th Edition).

1. Although the basics of statics is explained in each chapter, this doesn't help answer the more complicated section and review questions in each chapter. The examples were too simple and very few were given. I found myself refering back to my calculus textbook to get a more in depth explaination of the topics. And even though every other question had an answer in the back of the book (which is typical of most textbooks), that didn't help with the actual step by step solution of the question. You're left on your own to dig through the book to piece together a solution for each problem. A student solutions manual would be helpful. I would not recommend this book if you plan on using it in a self taught enviroment.



2. I agree with the earlier comments regarding the necessity to have to dig through the book to find the answers and rarely coming up with them. The examples are way too simplified to help with the homework unless you have a friend or relative or teacher who can explain the steps (I was not so lucky). This book is more frustrating than challenging and its only saving grace would be a student solutions manual. If forced to use this book, I would take a vector algebra course and make sure you got an A in physics first.



3. either this class or this book completely changed my mind about statics. The concepts are fairly easy to follow, that is until you get to the problems which are too difficult. I had a tutor for 4 hrs a week, just to get through the impossible problems and try to make sense of the actual problems i would face in exams. get another book to help you out... or brave the impossible



4. I notice many reviews complaining that this text doesn't have enough information to help you through the many many problems that it contains. While I agree with this statement, this book works on a completely new level, perhaps to the authors intention. First off, it's Statics, so the entire course will be about solving problems engineers often find themselves. This isn't so much a book cluttered with a thousand pages of mostly useless information, it tells you what you need to get started and then expects you to solve the problems logically.
   
   My advise to anyone purchasing this book, read the chapters before the classes, they are short and won't take much time. The instructor I had using this book used the lecture time to work out in class assignments via the problems after each section, and then assigned homework to reaffirm what we have learned. The book works better as a workbook than a textbook, it expects that by this point you have taken enough Calculus, Physics, and Chemistry to understand what they're talking about.



5. If you're a college student or anyone for that fact, don't bother buying this book. All that you will get is just a long list of problems. Do yourself a favor save yourself $60 or whatever amount of money and xerox the problems that you will need for your classes. There's nothing in this text that you can't find in a good physics book.

5 comments about The New Science of Strong Materials or Why You Don't Fall through the Floor (Princeton Science Library).

1. This book is part of the Princeton Science Library, the best collection of books on mathematics and science for the intelligent layman. Like other books in that series, it is succinct and clearly written. I read it and thoroughly enjoyed it. All of the positive reader reviews are right on.
   
   Because I liked it so much, I purchased "Structures," also by Professor Gordon. As it turned out, that book covers the same material, but in greater breadth and depth, and with more illustrations. There's much to be said for reading both books, but if you're only going to read one, "Structures" is the one.



2. Reading this before embarking on university studies was an inspiration and I still come back to it now, it has a lot to offer all ages and disciplines.



3. Good text for fracture mechanics enthusiasts- material failure, strength of materials.
   Good reading, if you are an engineer, scientist, or not. Great examples. Dry british writing, but if you can get through it and the silly jokes, you can learn a lot.



4. I am a scientist, but not an engineer. Equations are not my forté. This book gives a great intuitive understanding of materials science, but goes beyond that to tell us how simple structures work. It's filled with great anecdotes and carries it all off with a sense of humor. I discovered it many years ago, and I'm reading it for the 3rd time just for the pleasure.



5. J.E. Gordon's book should be required reading for all engineering students as well as working engineers. It' s surprising how many have either not learned nor not appreciated the wisdom in this little book. This work has led to the development of composite materials and provided many insights that I rediscover each time that I read it. Philip Ball's new introduction is also very welcome.

5 comments about In Sheep's Clothing: A Handspinner's Guide to Wool.

1. I've had this book for a number of years and I've returned to it for information concerning different types of wool. I believe that this book is supposed to help a spinner choose a fleece when purchasing either whole or partial fleeces for spinning. However, I've been disappointed that the information is too incomplete to be really helpful in that respect and the format isn't conducive to quick cross referencing or making comparisons.
   
   At the beginning of the book there is a short primer on wools, in general. There is also a short explanation of woolen vs. worsted yarn and the different types of fleece, whether fine wools, long wools, or down wools. I'm not sure why this information is being given in a book that appears to be directed at a spinner who has sufficient experience to consider purchasing an entire fleece.
   
   The authors give a very nice summary, or reference guide at the beginning of each chapter that rates the softness, elasticity, staple length luster and felting properties. I liked the chart format here. If the information for each fiber type had been summarized in this format throughout the book, it would have made it more of an "at-a-glance" type of reference and the spinner could have made comparisons between fibers.
   
   The photos show a lock of each type of fleece against a contrasting background, several sample projects from each division of fiber and now and then, a photo of an animal. The information is short and covers only the basics. There are suggestions for possible uses for each type of fiber. I appreciate that, especially considering that the authors are attempting to describe something that only a hands-on experience can confirm. To only see pictures of single locks isn't nearly enough to get a good idea of what a type of fiber is like. It's kind of like trying to describe what an orange tastes like without actually getting to taste one. To actually make this book more user friendly, I've put all of the Louet wool sample cards that I could get my hands on in with the appropriate pages. It makes the book easier to use if I can actually touch a sample of what is being described.
   
   If this book had a photo of each type of animal, both before shearing and in full fleece, along with the fiber photos, I would place a higher value on it. As it is, I use this book as a starting point and go to the internet or library to find out more information on a breed type or a fleece type. To be honest, finding detailed information about all breeds of fiber producing sheep in one single volume is impossible, so I know I'm asking a lot. To find samples of each type of fiber is an heroic task as well, so I understand how difficult it is to produce what I'm asking. However, it seems that the authors went to a lot of work to research and photograph all of these types of fiber, only to leave out about half of what they had to have learned during their research.
   
   Throughout the book, there are suggestions for specialized spinning techniques and possible uses for each type of fiber. The book ends with a short primer on hand carding, hand combing and spinning. Again, I'm confused as to why beginner information is being included in a volume that appears to target the more experienced spinner.
   
   Overall, I think this is a noble effort, but it falls short of being the spectacular volume it could have been. Including animal photos and extending the information to cover more than the bare bones would have been a wonderful addition. It would have also raised the price astronomically. Condensing the information into chart form for a spinner to use for the purposes of comparison and contrast would have been a practical addition. I use this book and I will always have it as part of my library, but it's just not the reference I was hoping for.



2. Amazing book that details the different types of sheep and the types and quality of wool that they produce. Now when I go to Maryland Sheep and Wool festival, I'll better understand what I'm looking at, and understand better what wools will satisfy my requirements.



3. In Sheep's Clothing: A Handspinner's Guide to Wool
   Absolutely essential for handspinners that are deciding on which sheep breed to buy.



4. This book is a must for the spinner who wants to spin natural wool straight from the sheep. It not only describes each variety of sheep, but has tables that make it very easy to compare the various breeds for their different characteristics. It is an invaluable reference.



5. Great book for old and new spinners. A lot great information about different breeds of sheep and the wool they produce.

5 comments about Problems and Solutions on Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics (Major American Universities Ph.D. Qualifying Questions and Solutions).

1. The entire series is my savior. Each volume covers the material needed in the junior/senior level of physics. It truly has an emense selection of problems. I found that nearly all of my homework/exams were either exactly the same or merely a slight variation from one contained. I also have yet to find a single error, not even a sign error. One important thing is that it does need to be a supplement, as formulas are sometimes used without explicit reference to why. In general the reasons need to be found in an assigned text. My only gripe (and it is minor) is with the index...the index does not, in general, lead one to a relevent problem. For example, uses of Biot/Savart to solve this problem or that... The reason this is not a serious problem is that each topic has so many variations on the method/technique that it is simple enough to find at least a couple that are completely relevent. (given you know which section to look in)



2. All of these books titled "Problems and Solutions on (subject): Major American Universities Ph.D. Qualifying Questions and Solutions" are invaluable tools for a physics graduate student, in my experience.

   One criticism: The index for this particular book is nonexistent. I am writing my own in my copy of the book.

   If you are a student in physics, I suggest that you get your hands on these books.




3. it is a good book..
   though most of the problems solved are on the same pattern...



4. The books in this series are a valuable resource for studying for PhD screening/comprehensive exams. Working through practice problems is, in my opinion, the best way to prepare for these tests. This book covers a wide range of topics, so you can find the section on whatever your thermodynamic weakness is and really work it out. Not every equation in the solutions is motivated, but working through and puzzling over the derivations is in itself extremely helpful.



5. I liked the book. I think that it helps to review
   the subject and test how much you studied. You also
   can learn some tricks. I recomend.

5 comments about Machine shop Practice Vol. 1 (Machine Shop Practice).

1. This book is terrific if you just want good information without all of the shiny pictures. Fantastic reference!



2. 
   Up to now I did not received my order of 12/ 09/ 07 !!!!!



3. Hum... Good book for beginner, but too old contents, and too many unnecessary items such as shaper and planer work, for recently technology development. Especially, it doesn't contain detail descriptions of each machining methods for practical works because of too many techniques in limited space.



4. My daddy always said 'if you're going to study a subject, make sure you understand it thoroughly before you begin.'. These books (vol. 1 & 2) are great - but, not for beginners. Get something simpler first.



5. Overall this is a very good book. This moderately experienced home shop machinist definitely learned from it. I have only read volume 1. The only gripe I have is that despite the copyright date the text and especially the photos are very dated. More 50's and 60's than the 1981 copyright date. That's OK for the most part, but there is no discussion any modern machinery, I think DROs got about two paragraphs. This book is definitely more detailed than Machine Shop Trade Secrets or Machine Shop Essentials and a good addition if you already have these. If you're OK with not having a book on the latest machinery and technology this is a good reference.

No comments about Mineral Processing Plant Design, Practice, and Control (2 Volume Set).

4 comments about Composite Airframe Structures.

1. This book covers the essentials when working with composite structures. Its easy to read and understand...it is a must for your Composite Career



2. This is an excellent book for layman and expert alike. Lots of manufacturing and tooling information as well as structural analysis data. I used this as the text book for an "Introduction to Composite Tooling" class that I teach. The book was published in China and does have some typos, but other than that, an excellent book!



3. This work of engineering literature from M.C-Yu Niu is one of the few books engineers or engineers wanabe need to possess in order to learn basics of composite airframe design of modern aircrafts. Of course, like other books from the same author, it is mainly composed of introductory material but it as proven so far to be useful. As a practicing aerospace airframe engineering specialist for a major aeronautic company, I still refer to the data contained in this book once in a while. For many reasons I give it a 4.



4. My husband requested this book to have for a reference book at work. The first book came in a box that had something terribly heavy dropped on the end, as it totally distroyed the box, & book inside. With one phone call the book was replaced, and the new one was shipped next day delivery at no additional cost to me. As for the book, he is very pleased with this book.