No comments about Errors in Practical Measurement in Surveying, Engineering and Technology.

No comments about Similarity and Dimensional Methods in Mechanics, Tenth Edition.

5 comments about Enumerative Combinatorics, Volume 2.

1. This book is a must for anyone who likes how to count. In addition to the superb exposition of deep and important mathematics, it contains so many intriguing problems, some of them even puzzle-like. Read this book cover-to-cover or open it at a random page. Either way you would love it!



2. There was an earier review that claimed this book is for "people who like to count." That's a little silly. This book is a rigorous math text. And it's glorious. It's probably my favorite text. But it's not light reading at all.

   I spent a semester actively reading and working on this book with my advisor. I read this book and worked on research, 50/50 split on my time. I got through 2.5 of the 4 chapters, and I'm damn proud of myself. It's a great book, but if you didn't know that 'enumerative' was for "people who like to count", you probably want a different text.




3. Gosh! This is for people who count, what else does a combinatorist do? Before people dismiss me as somebody who don't know hoot about math: I took a class with Prof. Stanley (the author) in college, and I had actually used vol 1 as a text. The material is highbrow (I agree on the 'hardcore' math observation) but the main theme of the book is how to 'count' -- needless to say not in the sense of everyday counting, but in the sense that 'topology' is 'coffee-to-donut transformation' and 'analysis' is 'honors calculus'. You have to know how to count, and comfortable with combinatorial proof to actually learn from this. I like the fact that Prof. Stanley asks for combinatorial proof to some known results, marking them as unsolved -- he really elevates the status of combinatorial proof, a method many dismiss as 'handwaving'. There is a number given to each exercise, according to the level of difficulty: [1] for trivial, [5] unsolved. I saw a professor who worked in differential topology for 40 years refer to this book -- and first year undergrads thumbing through the pages for exercises marked [1] and [2] to solve in spare time. This is a book for all levels of mathematicians: I am sure even the armchair amateur mathematicians can grasp some of the materials after a hard day's thought. I dont see this book as any less than a definitive text on enumerative combinatiorics.



4. I agree with the other reviewers. The book is a masterpiece on enumerative combinatorics. However, I am not so sure that it is a good book for a beginner. If you are a beginner, then you should read another book first, like John Riordan's book on "Combinatorial Analysis." Stanley's book is best suited for an advanced student who has a high level of mathematical mental maturity. The reason I say this is that in a few places Stanley's formalism, which is entirely appropriate for professional exposition, actually obscures the underlying simplicity of the mathematical ideas. We have all seen this in research papers, where a mathematician takes a trivial idea and "obsures" the underlying simplicity with too much formalism. However, for an advanced student, the book has a high density of important ideas and methods.



5. This is an excellent book on combinatorics, but it is quite difficult to understand--written for experts, not novices. The author often chooses a more general framework in which to present things, and this can make the material quite difficult to follow. But the rewards for the diligent reader are great. Occasionally I question how Stanley chooses to present a certain topic, but usually if I look closely enough, I see that there are deep reasons for his choice of notation or presentation.
   
   Some of the material in this book is easier than others; some of it depends on earlier chapters, but some stands on its own. People interested in partially ordered sets and lattices may want to jump ahead to that chapter--much of this chapter stands on its own, and it is an excellent exposition of that topic, and I think somewhat easier to understand than the rest of the book.
   
   The most precious thing about this book is that the author manages to provide several comprehensive frameworks for solving large classes of enumeration problems. Combinatorics seems a hodge-podge subject to many mathematicians, but Stanley manages to see it as a unified subject with a number of general theories and common techniques. This book is truly the only text I have ever read that has this perspective on the subject.
   
   I would recommend this book only to someone who has a strong background in mathematics and wants a challenging text that can take them to a deeper level of understanding. Students of combinatorics may want to take this book out of the library and read the introductory pages; there are some particularly useful comments right at the beginning. As a final note, the exercises in this book are also helpful and of diverse difficulty levels--and Stanley classifies the exercises by their difficulty level. People who find this book difficult to follow may want still benefit from some of the easier exercises. Students wanting an easier-to-follow text might want to check out Cameron's "Combinatorics", or Wilf's "Generatingfunctionology". As a final note I would like to remark that this book is very reasonably priced, especially when you consider the wealth of material it contains.

2 comments about Uncle John's Presents Necessary Numbers: An Everyday Guide to Sizes, Measures, and More (Uncle John Presents).

1. I bought this book on a whim because I absorb tons of useless information. However, this book is a guide to guide to explaining a lot of everyday things we encounter; what they mean, determined, or why. I learned how to actually decipher my electric bill, or that fish inspection is voluntary (unlike other meats) and is not regulated by the USDA. This book is extremely useful in explaining everyday numbers that we are so accustomed to seeing! Great read and definitely something to keep around as a reference tool!



2. One of the most basic ways to describe something in terms of quantity. In fact, it may be THE most basic way: before color, temperature or anything else. Mary Blocksma's Necessary Numbers provides brief introductions to the many ways numbers are in our lives.
   
   Even in my first paragraph, numbers - either describing something in terms of magnitude or order - are mentioned or implied: one, most, many. You can read pages of material without other types of adjectives, but numbers are always there lurking in the background (or sometimes, foreground). With Blocksma, the first item she describes is for age: in particular, how it is measured for older objects through radioactive dating.
   
   Other ways that numbers are in our lives include annual percentage rates, bar codes, clothing sizes, firewood and paper clips. Blocksma helps interpret these numbers: one example would be egg sizes. A dozen eggs are considered jumbo if their combined weight is over 30 ounces; extra large is 27 ounces, and so on down to peewee which have a minimum weight of 15 ounces. We are also introduced to some obsolete measures. Did you know that there are two jills to a cup, and two jacks to a jill (and a pail of water would be four gallons)?
   
   I don't know if I'd categorize this as one of those books you would read end-to-end in a couple sittings, but it is an entertaining - if rather erratic - reference guide to the ways we measure the world. Like everything described in this book, even its review must come down to a number, in this case, a solid four stars.

5 comments about Science from Fisher Information: A Unification.

1. "Physics from Fisher Information" is a unification, indeed. The author derives the physical laws for such different fields as quantum mechanics, classical electromechanics, general relativity and statistical mechanics from the single powerful principle of Extreme Physical Information (EPI). This principle probably goes deeper than merely a mathematical similarity between the laws, which as such already helps to grasp the full picture of physics. Personally, I think it's a pity this clarifying book was not written yet when I was a student of physics. To miss this book, is to miss something essential.



2. If, like me, you're fed up with popular science books which are too scared to include equations, I expect you'll find this as enormously challenging, stimulating and satisfying as I did.
   
   The author interprets all physical measurement as extraction of Fisher information from the object being measured. From this he derives, for example, the Heisenberg uncertainty principle as a special case of the Cramer-Rao lower bound. By assuming, in addition, conservation of charge he derives Maxwell's equations and, similarly, from conservation of momentum he derives general relativity. He also derives - - amongst others! - - classical thermodynamics, and the Klein-Gordon equation (relativistic generalization of Schrodinger equation).
   
   He also uses his theory to make predictions, such as that the neutrino has mass >0, and that the rate of change of entropy has a finite upper bound (as well as the lower bound of zero). Towards the end of the book are chapters on less physical topics including financial markets and cancer growth.
   
   It wasn't easy going, even with a degree in maths (more knowledge of tensors would've helped), but the way he derives such a frankly amazing amount from so few premises convinces me that he is on to something important.



3. 
   I was very excited at the first eyedrop in this book.
   
   But having read half of it, I asked myself: what did I learn and is it worth to continue the reading.
   What I learned is the definition of the Fisher information matrix and the eventuality that the laws of physics are woven with the thread of information. But I stopped reading further.
   
   I had the bad feeling that the author greatly overstates his case.
   It was nearly clear for me that all applications of the supposed theory where built on a simple canvas:
   
   - rename the two terms of the Lagrangian as 'Fisher information' and 'physical information'
   - and rename further the least-action-principle as 'EPI' (Extreme Physical Information)
   
   Still, I think the subject is interresting and I may myself give it a second chance.
   Therefore it is a good buy only if you can accept some disappointement and if you hope to go further by yourself.



4. The essence of really great theoretical physics is that it creates new insights and makes novel, experimentally verifiable predictions that take us in new directions, capabilities and understanding.
   
   And that is what is missing from Frieden's work, thoroughly reviewed here - it just re-derives well-established standard-physics results from a different angle, but doesn't lead into new pastures - or at least, not yet... So what?
   
   Must try harder; 'me too' is simply not good enough.



5. This review refers to the 1998 edition of the book, ISBN 0 521 63167 X hardback.
   
   I had originally gotten excited when I found this book. However:
   
   I think the author summed it up best with the final sentence of his book (P282). I quote him thanking "E.M.Wright, for bringing to my attention many aspects of modern quantum theory, especially its wonderful mysteries and paradoxes, bringing me up to date on the subject of measurement theory, and (hopefully) constraining my enthusiastic forays of theory to stay within physical bounds".
   
   In a book of equations and theory - I cant help wonder at the relevance of including sketches of photographs of "famous" people such as: J.A. Wheeler (P2), R.A. Fisher (P23), L. Brillouin (P66) and finally the author himself (P73). Are the photos a lead up to justify the inclusion of his own portrait for posterity?. The sketches may not have increased the dimensionality of the problems presented in the book but they may have added a new dimension to vanity publishing ?
   
   I started getting a bit concerned for the veracity of the author's "science" when he began to use an anthropic type of argument, (P218). For example, he states "Thus, the values of (universal) constants are somehow scaled to accommodate the presence of human beings. This is flattering if true: it means that our presence has a profound - if indirect - effect upon physical laws and, hence, the Universe!", (his exclamation mark, not mine).
   
   On a more mundane level, there was no nomenclature list for the variables used in the equations throughout the text. This made it difficult to identify some definitions and follow the meaning of some equations. On a positive note, and to the author's credit, the maths was presented at a good level.

No comments about Uncertainty of Measurements: Physical and Chemical Metrology: Impact & Analysis.

1 comments about The Science of Measurement: A Historical Survey.

1. NB this review refers to the 1988 reprint of the 1974 edition. So you thought Jack and Jill were just a couple of clumsy kids trying to get some water from the well? Think again - the familiar nursey rhyme is a piece of political satire from the time of Charles 1. Klein's book is full of similar snippets that will serve you in good stead at a dinner party! "Science of Measurement" is an excellent coverage of the SI units - although even this reprint is missing the major redefinition of the metre in 1983. Use this book as a history, and as a guide to the physics behind measurements, but for the most up-to-date definitions of the units you'll want to check a more recent publication.

No comments about Dimensional Analysis: Examples of the Use of Symmetry.

1 comments about Tables of Physical and Chemical Constants.

1. This work, which I have just discovered to be out of print,
   has been a reliable reference work for general physics data.
   Because this work avoids antiquated measurement units such
   as pounds, inches, gallons, and miles per hour, using it for
   experimentation has been easy, as translation from one
   realm of physics to another is coherent.
   This is sadly lacking in so many other reference works.
   It is a shame that this is no longer being printed,
   as it would be a real boon to private experimenters around
   the world if someone would carry on with this quality.
   of reference material.
   The scope of this book is what makes it so valuable.

2 comments about Measurement Uncertainty: Methods and Applications, Fourth Edition.

1. This book was written by an expert in the areaa of Measurement Uncertainty with over 30 years in the field. It is based on consensus work done with multiple international standards groups. An excellent introduction AND detailed text for all engineers and scientists interested in the subject.



2. MEASUREMENT UNCERTAINTY: METHODS AND APPLICATIONS appears in its fourth edition to provide an entire course to engineering students: a tutorial of measurement uncertainty methods categorized and ready to go. The new uncertainty technologies in US and international standards are included here, serving as both a desk reference to practicing engineers and as a basic text for college-level students in engineering and industry. An excellent survey recommended for specialty college-level Science & Technology collections, and for supplemental curriculum classroom text assignment.