4 comments about Megawatts and Megatons: The Future of Nuclear Power and.

1. This is a strange book. Actually, it's two books in one, with a dopey chapter for children thrown in for good measure. The first half is about nuclear power, both in energy production and weapons. The second half is an editorial for nuclear disarmament. The authors make no attempt to divorce their politics from the discussion. Even the first, more substantive half of the book is liberally laced with disarmament talking points.

   Notwithstanding their views on disarmament, the authors support nuclear power and do a pretty good job explaining the scientific, financial and engineering aspects of the Peaceful Atom. If the portions on nuclear power were available separately as a pamphlet I would strongly recommend it to anyone interested in the subject. On balance, however, those few chapters don't justify wading through the entire book.




2. You might think Megawatts and Megatons subtitled "The Future of Nuclear Power and Nuclear Weapons" (paperback) would have different contents than the one subtitled "A Turning Point in the Nuclear Age" (hardback), like I did; however, with the exception of a new couple-page "Note to the Paperback Edition," I saw no differences. I'd suggest not falling for Amazon's Buy Both on these two, because you'll probably be disappointed to find out you got two editions of the same book.



3. While I appreciate the discussion on nuclear arms I don't think it needed to be at the length the authors took it.
   
   And while I really enjoyed the discussion on nuclear power I was disspointed that the authors took great care to detail and expound ideas (Rubia's for example) at the expense of other economical and safe technologies (Gen III+ and IV LWR for example).
   
   There was no reason not to expand on the the available, decades-proven, and economical designs of today. Basically what I'm thinking is they could've done better to discuss evolutionary designs as opposed to completely new (relatively speaking) concepts. Either way it's a great book, -Ali



4. In Megawatts and Megatons, Garwin and Charpak collaborated on an excellent description of nuclear power and weapons, starting with discussions of nuclear physics and energy, and ending with a narrative of post WWII international relations, centered upon arms control and prevention of use of nuclear weapons.
   
   The authors have strong opinions on the proper use of nuclear energy and the means to reduce dependence on nuclear weapons, as one would imagine from two scientific practitioners. As such, they have presented a well-developed argument that aims to convince the reader that the U.S. should modify its energy and nuclear weapons policies to reduce the threats of global warming and nuclear contamination as well as nuclear conflict and terrorism.
   
   Unfortunately for the layman, the technical nature of the first portion of the book may make difficult reading for the reader without a background in science or engineering, although the authors do make an effort to describe the concepts so that the non-expert may understand.
   
   I recommend this book for anyone with an interest in the technical description of nuclear power and weapons, nuclear policy, and recommendations new policy directions.

4 comments about Ew 101: A First Course in Electronic Warfare (Artech House Radar Library).

1. This book is an excellent reference for those profesionals or specialists who are involved in the Electronic Warfare (EW) world. It's also useful for those who want to learn more about this interesting, complex and important subject. As it can be demonstrated thru the history of the EW, it has played an important role in the military actions related with the use of the electromagnetic spectrum (communications, radar, Infrared, laser and more). I strongly recommend it.



2. EW101 is a compilation of articles published in the Journal of Electronic Defence, over several years. The level of treatment is semiquantitative. The basic methods in areas like jamming, decoys and simulations are expounded. Readers with an undergraduate background in engineering or science should be able to follow the text. People already in the Electronic Warfare field will find the discussion pretty elementary. But Adamy is writing for those outside the field.
   
   The merit of this book is that it gives you familiarity with the key topics and ideas in EW. Enough to qualitatively follow a technical discussion. Or even perhaps, as the author suggests, for managers of EW engineers, who need to brush up on what their chaps are doing.
   
   Adamy also usefully supplies references to more detailed texts and journals. There is a surprising amount of material out there that is declassified.



3. The author has the ability to turn complex issues into simple concepts. It's very useful for those giving first steps in this subject and those who need refreshing their knowledge. I strongly recommend it.



4. I bought these book for a very cheap price which was even below the price of second hand book price at some sites and also at my college. So I say that I had a gr8 deal
   Thank you amazon.

5 comments about British Enfield Rifles, Vol. 1, SMLE (No.1) Mk I and Mk III (Internet Workshop Series) (Internet Workshop Series).

1. Very comprehesive work.



2. For anyone who owns a No.4 or No.5 Enfield this book is invaluable. Very well written with lots of easy to understand drawings and detail. This is the place to start if you are interested in the history or in working on one of these great rifles. I found more information in this one book then I did in a couple of months of online research.



3. Having used this rifle as a cadet back in the mid-seventies, and also as a member of the shooting team at school, the book held strong memories for me. But more importantly, it helped me to identify the recent purchase of a No.4 Mark I/2. The book is easy to read, I would have preferred more photos and diagrams because those unfamiliar with the rifle, may find discriptions difficult to follow. For the collector, this book is a must, to add to the others in the series.



4. Excellent. This is the definitive coverage for both of these rifles. Has been a tremedous asset in evaluation of rifles on sale.



5. As always in this series a small but useful and rather complete volume about SMLE rifles.
   They are worth every penny (or cent), fair price for lots of information.

3 comments about War Baby! The U.S. Caliber .30 Carbine, Vol. 1.

1. Destined for cult status among firearms collectors War Baby is an incredibly in-depth look at the development and production of the m1 carbine. I have read several m1 carbine books and this one is by far the most rich with facts and photos. Simply a must have for the carbine collector!



2. I just finished re-reading War Baby and I can attest that Larry Ruth did a bang up job on presenting a great amount of data. While the specifics on parts identification is there for collectors, and many diagrams of differences between manufacturers is helpful to the committed carbine nut, the greatest strength of this work is the painstaking research done to give a solid appreciation of what our country was like during WWII and to identify and honor the industrialists who overcame almost unbelieveable odds to get this rifle into the hands of troops. Each manufacturer has a section with tidbits and trivia about their successes and failures. The heroics of the employees of these various companies is highlighted and credit is given to shop foremen, designers, ordnance officials, and the average worker who made the whole system work. This is a fascinating historical work even if you're not interested in the carbine. It's expensive but you'll not be sorry.



3. As I have come to expect from Collector Series publications, this one is amazing in it's detail and thoroughness. There is virtually no area of the development of the M1 Carbine that is not covered, from the engineering to the manufacture to the actual use of the weapon. The book is full of rarely seen photos, letters, and drawings, and each manufacturer is FULLY covered along with all known vendors of parts. If you collect or just enjoy these weapons, this book is a Must-Have!!

5 comments about Evinrude Johnson Outboard Shop Manual: 2-40 Hp 1973-1990 (Includes Electric Motors) (Clymer Marine Repair Series) (Clymer Marine Repair Series).

1. This book has a pretty good trouble shooting section and wiring diagrams. BUT It has no index which makes it really hard to cut to the parts you need w/out having to wade through a bunch of stuff you don't need. The pictures are OK as far as they go but it'd be better with more short of what the engined look like on the boat (where most are serviced). There isn't much description of how a system ought to work other than the general one describing what a system should do, nothing about, say, how to get inside the power tilt to service it on the boat...rather its there but you have to read between the lines. Some Owners Maual type descriptiones would be more helpful.



2. I have owned and read countless technical/shop manuals over the years and this is hands-down the WORST of them all. The organization of subject matter is terrible. You don't know which chapter to look for what. The table of contents and index are of no use. The manual reads like a novel- in paragraph form. You'll find yourself reading through paragraphs of non-pertinent information to find a number your are looking for such as the specified ignition timing. The information in this book is also very incomplete at best. In fact, this book does not even list the maximum RPM range for the motors. One chapter refers the reader to Chapter 5 for maximum operating RPM range, but this information is nowhere to be found in Chapter 5, or anywhere else for that matter! There are plenty of other dissappointments such as reference to lousy black-and-white pictures to identify a single screw that's not even labeled. If you're looking for a book that reads like a supermarket pulp fiction novel that will give you very basic small engine 101 knowledge, this book might be for you. If you are looking for a manual you can actually use for technical reference, do not buy this book! You will be sorely dissappointed. Instead, try the book by Seloc.



3. Usually Clymer falls short on the repair books. This is not the case here. I found the material easy to locate, written in a clear manner with good diagrams, photos and sidebar information.



4. I needed information about the fuel system on 40 hp Johnson. This manual failed to cover this fuel system. Very basic information. Sad comment of being a factory manual.



5. I have a Johnson 1986 15hp motor. Purchased this book to give me an idea how to undergo normal service and impeller replacement etc. For this the information is basic, but I got there. It does contain some good information with regards to outboard motor service and use, but there are important parts missing here and there. The book isnt terribly well organized but does have exploded parts diamgrams for most engines and sections. There is also some outdated information, particularly in relation to spark plug gaps. It lists 0.040" for most plugs, but since the late 80's OMC has recommended 0.030" spark plug gaps for most of their engines. Use the book only as a guide. It is not a step-by-step, detailed guide to fixing everything on an outboard, but useful as a starter nonetheless for those not familiar with older Johnson/Evinrude outboards.

No comments about Fundamentals of Tool Design, Fifth Edition.

5 comments about Yacht Design Explained: A Sailor's Guide to the Principles and Practice of Design.

1. Clear and thorough explanations, lavishly illustrated and wide ranging in scope, put Killing and Hunter's book at the top of its field. "Yacht Design Explained" delivers an excellent mix of the technical with the practical. Killing's extremely readable, clearly understandable text "fairs" seamlessly with Douglas Hunter's outstanding two color drawings. This book covers a wide range of subjects from physics of design to the reasons that various designs work or fail. Attention is given to the history of competetive yachting. Competetive racer, day sailor, dabbler in yacht design, and curious reader alike will find this book a delight. "Yacht Design Explained" delivers and deserves to be a classic.



2. I'm an automotive designer who enjoys technical reading. Over the years I've subscribed to numerous boating publications and have purchased a handfull of books on sail power yacht design. This book is by far the best. It will answer many of your questions such as "why is a longer hull faster?", "why does 1.34 x the square root of the waterline length approximate max hull speed?". The book is well written and presents a short history of each design element i.e, sail configurations. The technical formulas are seperated in sidebar configuration for those who avoid math at all costs. If you are only going to buy one book on sail powered yacht design-this is the one.



3. May not be for professionals, however is a good help for the rest of us.



4. This book is clearly structured and explains yacht design clearly and to the point. Many illustrations and diagrams that explain yacht design for the rest of us. I know some professionals that work in yacht design and they were impressed too. Impressive amount of information covered in about 250 pages covering hull design, rudder, keel, rig, ballast, sails, performance predictions, tank testing and Americas Cup. I learned a lot and it is required reading for the ASA 108 certification (Offshore Passage making). Very impressive and worth every penny. Sail fast and understand why!



5. This may be the finest book on the general elements of yacht design that I have ever read. It is extremely readable and entertaining. It contains explanations of matters I have never seen in print before, such as NACA section for rudder and keel. Steve Killing uses real life examples such as the Albacore class dinghy and the C&C 35. It is not for the professional as several other books available here are...but it is very nearly as useful. Matters such as scantlings and constrution methods are better discussed in other books. However, the clarity of writing and an immensely enjoyable style make this book one that anyone interested in yacht design should not miss.

5 comments about Boats with an Open Mind: Seventy-Five Unconventional Designs and Concepts.

1. OK, I admit it, I am enthralled with the genius of this boat designer, Phil Bolger. He has designed more boats than any person alive, 750+. This book reveals his thought process giving a window into his remarkably creative mind.

   I especially enjoy how he chooses to draw upon the vast tradition and the history of boats designed throughout history, and then updates and synthesizes these boat designs to reflect modern materials and his new ideas. Bolger reveals that in many cases; the modern school of boat design is a 'The King has No Clothes' proposition. Bolger repeatedly questions the conventional wisdom, much in a similar way to how Buckminster Fuller questioned 20th Century architectural and industrial design ideas.

   I simply can't wait for the next book by Phil Bolger! In the mean time I will re-read this one, and read his frequent articles in the magazine _Messing About In Boats_.




2. I have to agree with the reviewers that find Bolger refreshing and candid as well as knowledgeable to a fault. This book is eminently readable and rereadable. There is no doubt that there are many thought provoking ideas here. There are some handsome boats here as well but frankly many are aesthetic eyesores. I have an interest in a build-it-yourself cruising sailboat in the 25-35' range and the most attractive boats here from a practical usable/buildable sense are really pretty hard to look at. On one hand Bolger complains about concessions to style suggesting that to make them you admit that you are ashamed of the boat - on another page he suggests painting a mural on the slab side of one of the larger sharpies - a concession to their huge billboard bland shape. This book is practically an icon of good sense/ideas but as a guide to a boat building/aquisition it leaves one a bit frustrated. As for the plans they are of course hard to read - like every designer the author is entitled to sell his designs (not that that is the point of the book). A failing is that the book does not give any guidance to where plans could be purchased. Even it they don't please this readers eye the bigger sharpies have to be considered!



3. This guy's boats go from traditional to... wacky, I guess you'd say. This might be his only book still in print. Too bad. I think he's got more that 600 designs and I want to see more.



4. The book is a good primer on different boat designs. Don't buy it expecting to build any of the boats enclosed straight from the book as it's not a "how to" book. There is a resource section in the back of the book that gives information on how to get building plans. It will shed light on the thinking that went into the designs, and from that standpoint, it will get your "creative juices flowing". Overall a good read that will open your mind to many design possibilties.



5. When I first showed my copy of Boats with an
   Open Mind to a friend with a custom-built, gold
   plater 28' ketch, he said 'you paid money to
   look at somebody's catalog....they're not even boats
   you could get excited about'
   
   In a sense, he's right. This really is a catalog
   of boat plans by Phil Bolger and yes, I just bought
   a big advertising brochure. His second comment is
   more devastating. There are those of us who buy boat
   books to drool over the pictures (I have a file
   on my computer called 'boat porn') and these boats
   are more often homely than pretty. Some few are so
   ugly that you need not only an open mind but a great
   sense of humor.
   
   So why am I giving this book four stars? Because it's
   written in a friendly, down-to-earth style that explains
   the reasoning behind each boat. In the course of the
   explanation, a reader develops a useful understanding of
   the compromises that are involved in boat design. Bolger
   is very frank about the trade-offs involved and very
   clear in his explanations of them.
   
   Finally, there are a few designs-the munroe-inspired
   sharpies, the rowing boats sweet pea and spur and the schooners that have
   an eccentric eye-appeal. Of course to learn the most and
   enjoy the most of this book, it helps to have an open
   mind.
   
   
   --Lynn Hoffman, author of THE NEW SHORT COURSE IN WINE and
   the novel bang BANG. ISBN 9781601640005

4 comments about Simplified Irrigation Design, 2nd Edition (Landscape Architecture).

1. I was very disappointed with this book. The author places emphasis on the use of one brand of irrigation equipment, seldom mentioning other options that may better fit the application. I also found several errors in the enclosed calculations... not simply a typo, but in the methodology of the formulas. I would not recommend this book...



2. I read this book to get ready to take my Texas Irrigation License exam. It explained how to properly install a professional quality sprinkler system in an easy to read and understand format. This book goes into detail about how to layout the sprinkler heads, how to pipe it all together, and how all the parts work together. I have read many irrigation books...This was the best book to get a good understanding of sprinkler systems without becoming an expert in the field of irrigation. Perfect for the do it yourself homeowner or individual wanting to get into the irrigation industry. I now have my license and highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn to install a good sprinkler system without having to read an irrigation reference manual.



3. This resource is excellent. Extreme detail, great illustrations, and information that is not provided by other typical irrigation books you'll find at Home Depot. I'm a landscape designer and highly recommend this resource.



4. I have some basic knowledge of irrigation and right off the bat I was irritated with the way the chapters where laid out. He starts right in with sprinkler head performance and layout before going into the explanation of irrigation, and the basic principles of hydraulics that I believe should be the foundation what you learn first before anything else. The other thing that was that for the money I don't believe it was worth it maybe more like $20-25. Most of the information you can find on the internet searches. But, all in all it was a very easy reading book that did help me fill some holes in my irrigation knowledge.

1 comments about Home Workshop Silencers.

1. This book has only one piece of new information than his prior book
   the book states the safety in construction and tollerences important dims are given also but no new info. could have put this in prior book with less than 10 pages