No comments about Engineering Graphics w/AutoCAD 2008.

5 comments about Electrical Engineering Reference Manual, for the Electrical and Computer PE Exam, 7th ed..

1. I found that the reference manual was missing many important parts (that were on the test), and most of the materials that are on the Power section of the exam are missing, or lack the depth of information to be of any use for studying.



2. This is a great reference book, both for electrical engineering in general and the PE exam in particular. I used this book as my primary source while studying and working problems for the exam. It also had all the info I needed during the exam. As a fairly young engineer without loads of experience behind me, I leaned heavily on this book before and during the exam and was very satisfied with it. The sections are concise and to the point, and the formulas are easy to pick out quickly from the text. I've had it about 6 months now and have already used it a few times on the job as well.
   
   If there are any drawbacks, one might be that it has so many sections that it can take a little while to look things up sometimes. While this makes for a good comprehensive reference, one has to be well-versed in it to be able to dig for info quickly during the exam. Also, some of the sections don't go into as much detail as some exam questions. In my experience, these areas gave good overviews but didn't give the formulas, coefficient explanations, etc. necessary to attack some exam problems. These don't detract significantly from my overall opinion of the book though.
   
   During the exam, the only books I used were this one, my NEC Handbook, the practice problems manual that accompanies this book, and the NCEES practice exams manual. I had a few other textbooks and some study course manuals with me during the exam, but never reached for any of them. This and the Code were all the reference materials I used. And I passed! (The practice problems book and NCEES exam book are also highly recommended; some problems mirrored those on the exam and each enabled me to get a precious few more solutions that I wouldn't have gotten otherwise.)
   
   In conclusion, this is a great reference book for electrical engineering as a whole, and I wouldn't recommend stepping into the PE exam room without a copy on hand.



3. This book sits on my shelf next to the Physics Handbook and other reference titles. I don't use very often, but then I don't use the others very often either. That's why they are called reference books. This volume is excellent for its overt purpose, which is to help you pass the PE exam. It covers a huge swath of the wide field of electrical engineering, in sufficient detail to provide a working grasp of the terminology and principles, though not so much as to guide detailed design work; there are other books for that. Sections range from reviews of basic material to discussion of reasonably sophisticated topics such as information theory. It can be likened to an electronics oriented version of the World Book encyclopedia, written for the technically literate. As such, it is designed to be concise and accessible, easy to flip open and zero in on any topic. In other words, it is great for an open book exam, and it is handy anytime you might want a fast introduction to or refresher on any given topic. Beyond the comprehensive collection of theory, on a down to earth practical note there are wire tables and a chapter on the national electrical code. There is also a section on professional matters, such as economic analysis, law, and ethics, which might make it the only book on your shelf where you can find this. Because it is very good at what it does, this was one of just four books I took into the exam room, in contrast to one idiot who brought in four *crates* of stuff to waste time looking through. Because it is very good at what it does, it is a permanent addition to my electrical engineering reference library. Would I have purchased it even if I never needed it for exam study material? I think the answer is yes. It is that broad and useful.



4. I bought this book as it was referred by many others as a good reference for PE exam and as the others say, it's good for morning (bridth) section only.



5. Excellent technical content is significantly detracted by poor font selection and layout, which makes reading difficult. The typeface is extremely poor, printing is too light, and in general the content is overly hard to read.

No comments about Handbook of Adhesives and Sealants.

1 comments about DEWALT Spanish/English Construction Dictionary: Illustrated Edition (Dewalt Trade Reference Series).

1. I bought this for my last job Austin Habitat for Humanity(TX)because of bilingual issues when helping volunteers or translating text,and both families and co-workers said that it was great when communicating with non-english speakers in the construction industry,it made speaking spanish easier and more effective.

3 comments about Fundamentals of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing.

1. This book explains clearly the concept of Geometrical Dimensioning & Tolerances and the advantages of applied it to mechanical engineering drawings. It helps you to understand the difference between Geometrical Dimensioning vs Coordinate Dimensioning. A must for Engineering Drawing Standards.



2. This book is an excellent substitute or supplement to a course in geometric dimensioning & tolerancing. GD&T was not taught at the college I attended and this book helped me quickly get up to speed. Within days of using this I was creating proper drawings that accuratly communicated my company's requirements for cast parts. However, the book is probably better suited as a learning tool than it is a reference as it often took some time to look up and find the answer for specific questions.



3. Used this product in teaching a couple classes on GD & T and worked out great!

No comments about DEWALT Blueprint Reading Professional Reference (Dewalt Trade Reference Series).

1 comments about Builder's Essentials Estimating Building Costs: For The Residential & Light Commercial Contractor (Builder's Essentials).

1. I learned a lot from the book and have passed it on to my son to do the same. He says it's A-OK.

2 comments about Drilling Technology in Nontechnical Language.

1. The book explained the field well, but it referred, more than once, to a non-existant 'further reading' section. It also referred to a list of acronyms, supposedly containted within, which wasn't in the book either. It could really use an editor.

   Diagrams were great, so were the pictures. It certainly did its job...but maybe not worth $60 plus.




2. The book explained the field well, but it referred, more than once, to a non-existant 'further reading' section. It also referred to a list of acronyms, supposedly containted within, which wasn't in the book either. It could really use an editor.

   Diagrams were great, so were the pictures. It certainly did its job...but maybe not worth $60 plus.

2 comments about U.S. Army Counterinsurgency Handbook.

1. This book is from the Department of Defense, so you know it is the book to get on the subject. With the modern times calling for a need to use intelligence in wars, over brute force, this is a great guide to surveillance, ethics, interrogation, and loads of other situations.



2. The Counterinsurgency Field Manual is a surprisingly well considered text on the nature of insurgency and the points where the course of an insurgency can be influenced.
   
   Something is (or should be) rather confusing about the U.S. military. Since the inception of the Continental Army in the American Revolution, the U.S. military has been involved with counterinsurgency operations almost constantly, at home and abroad. (Put this way, Americans were waging counterinsurgency since before there was a United States; the French and Indian War...) What is confusing is 'why isn't the U.S. better at it?'
   
   Setting this underlying question to one side, this text sets forth a framework for understanding the causes of insurgencies, and for dealing with them. The full scope of cultural, economic, social, political, and other factors are addressed in considerable detail, along with approaches to influencing these factors to address the root causes of insurgency. It is a robust, comprehensive work that can provide an adaptable conceptual structure for anyone involved in counterinsurgency or issues relating to counterinsurgency.
   
   The big question in my mind; Why did the Army have to manage developing this process, when more than half the work required to respond to an insurgency should be done or overseen by the State Department? Why do soldiers have to arrange economic reconstruction and infrastructure development? Aren't those folks at the State Department competent to do all this stuff?
   
   E.M. Van Court

4 comments about Machinery's Handbook Pocket Companion (Machinerys Handbook).

1. Really a Master Piece
   Can take to the Moon and another planets also.
   Iqbal Lodhia



2. Very in depth. Too complex for a quick guide for the beginner machinist. Should have machining experience to take advantage of information from the book.



3. The book is very helpful, lots of information and compact... just what I was looking for!



4. Great little book. Contains many useful charts and info. Easier to look up things quickly because of it's size, but the machinery's handbook is still the the bible of machinery references. But this handy reference has the most common reference info. in a handy size.