Editorial Review

Whether you write an occasional professional letter or a daily newspaper column, William Zinsser's Read more

Reviews (107)

Excellent for teachers of writing and writers...
This is a keeper.Although I purchased it for a grad class I am taking, I will use it for my teaching and my own writing.
Written very well
Zinsser has certainly mastered the art of writing well, and therefore can speak on the topic authoritatively.This book is not only written with humor, but with empathy for people who are struggling with the ability to write well.The book certainly demonstrates that this ability is not inherent, but rather it is moreso the ability to work hard, understanding that writing is a process and a very messy one at that.This work can inspire the worst among us to really try at being the very best writer that we potentially can be.

Talk about verbose
I am not a fan of this book. He begins by saying Do not use complicated words when a simple one will do. Then he continues by using complicated words throughout the entire book. He proceeds by telling the reader to do everything they were told not to do: use "I" and start sentences with "but." He is the only person I have heard of that is pro "I" and I refuse to do poorly on future essays because he likes it whereas no one else does. Much of his style is completely subjective--he doesn't explain well why he likes some phrases and dislikes others. One thing I'm sure of, no matter what I'd write, he'd hate it, including this review. In my opinion, the author can be described by words he uses frequently in the book: pompous and utterly (he'd say that word is unecessary but oh, I think it is) pretentious. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Authorship    2. Composition & Creative Writing - General    3. Creative Writing    4. English language    5. Exposition (Rhetoric)    6. Language    7. Language Arts & Disciplines    8. Reference    9. Report writing    10. Rhetoric    11. Writing Skills    12. Reference / Writing Skills   

Reviews (19)

I loved this book
I think its very useful handbook. A must have for all fresh graduates.

Hardcover-CD?
IT seems this book is a CD for use of a Wireless Area Network (WAN), so how can it possibly be hardcover?And why is is three times more expensive than the normal edition, but still looks like it is the same 10th edition material on CD ONLY?
Overrated
"Mark's Handbook" is one of those books you hear other students in college talk about like it's a must have that you'll use for the rest of your life. But it's not. I bought this book, and six years out of college I barely ever crack it open. It's packed with information, but it's so general that you can't get any real-world specific information out of it. It's like a restaurant reviewer who can tell you that "New York has some great Italian restaurants" but doesn't give you the name of any of them. You're much better off skipping this book and buying one that's more specific to your particular field. As an example, the mechanical engineer is much better off with Shigley's "Mechanical Engineering Design". ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Engineering - Mechanical    2. General    3. Handbooks & Manuals    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Mechanical Engineering (General)    6. Mechanical engineering    7. Reference    8. Technology & Industrial Arts    9. Reference works    10. Technology / Engineering / Mechanical   

Reviews (2)

Shirley Brice Heath Has a "Way With Words"
Language is power. Heath, a reflective practitioner of both human nature and schooling, provides an in-depth view of communities which epitomize thestruggle for such power.In her ethnographic study of Trackton andRoadville, Heath lays bare the socializing process of children throughwords.The discontinuity between home and school is disturbing; arealization that students who do not fit the traditional way of schoolingare left behind.Clearly illustrated is the need for teachers and studentsto bridge the gap which exists in relation to both language and culture,for without this effort some students will never acquire the power neededto take control of their education or pursue opportunities from which theyhave previously been excluded. This is must reading for studentethnographers, doctoral students, and those dedicated to school reform,particularly those in the areas of diversity in public schools, andlanguage. This extraordinary book compares favorably to "Growing UpLiterate: Learning From Inner-City Families" by Denny Taylor &Catherine Dorsey-Gaines.

A Teacher's View
Teaching in a high school with a large number of minority children can be challenging.After reading this book, recommended by the debate teacher, I feel that I am better prepared.This book is an excellent resource forthose wanting to understand the student from a background different formtheir own.If you plan to work in public school, this book is a must-read.I borrowed a friend's book, and then decided I had to have a copy of myown. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children    2. Community and school    3. Elementary    4. General    5. Interaction analysis in educat    6. Interaction analysis in education    7. Language    8. Language Arts & Disciplines    9. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    10. Language arts    11. Linguistics    12. Children--Language    13. English    14. Language Arts & Disciplines / General    15. Sociolinguistics   

Reviews (10)

Well worth buying and reading
This book is aimed at explaining proficiency oriented language teaching, and has very valuable material on proficiency and its importance. This is something many teachers seem to overlook as too obvious to be of concern, but Hadley shows it to be a central issue in teaching. The criticism made by one reviewer that it's tilted too much toward communicative teaching is mistaken. There's a difference between communicative teaching and proficiency oriented teaching, although they are obviously related. This book, like any other, is not sufficient by itself, but needs to be read an compared to others in order to get a range of viewpoints. It is not of instantaneous practical use to classroom teachers, but rather deals with the ideas behind teaching methods. It is a very valuable addition to a teacher's bookshelf and I have no regrets about buying it.

Why did I buy this book?
I remember using it in a course I took a few years ago, and I was thrilled to find so many different aspects of language teaching covered in one volume.When I was thinking of buying the present edition, I asked a friend, someone with a Master's degree in TESL/TEFL, her recommendation, and she said: "Well, Doug Brown recommended it to me."So I bought Teaching Language in Context, and am very glad I did.

If I were to choose one book
No book can cover every aspect of language instruction, but by all means Hadley's work would be right up there with Ellis, Richards and Rodgers among others.This is a solid book, jam packed with historical facts and insights, and I feel has caught the full heart of the profession representing the current state of the profession.I could not disagree with the first reviewer more.I am reading this book through and I love this book. This is not a technique-y book at all but a serious treatise and contribution to educators who want to have a broader scope on theory and instruction. In my mind, the author answers the who, what, where, when, how, and why not just of one method but does it with several of the major methods. And this she does in Chapter three!This is a 512 page text and to my mind, the reading is coherent, smart, and digestable. This text is certainly one of the better foundational texts for comprehensive grasp of the field.This book is be a springboard to assist the reader to think through the past and present assumptionan about teaching language; it is an excellent choice! If I were to only have one text to me to read in this area, this would be a top contender. Thank you Alice Omaggio Haddley for the hard work and care you put into this wonderful book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Foreign Language Study    2. General    3. Language    4. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    5. Languages, Modern    6. Linguistics    7. Professional Development    8. Study & Teaching    9. Study and teaching    10. Education / Professional Development    11. Language teaching theory & methods    12. Teaching of a specific subject   

Reviews (5)

Must read, for Nurse Practitioners & students
Great book which provides definitions and state-by-state breakdowns of important concepts, such as collaboration, prescriptive authority and SCAs.

2nd edition
I found Carolyn Buppert's second edition of Business Practice and Legal Guide to be very helpful. The additional chapters are useful for my practice and for research on a state wide level. I would recommend this book to nurse practitioners and students of the profession. It is proving to be a valuable resource for improving NP practice in Alabama. Be sure to get the second edition (2003/2004)as the first was published in 1995.

Information is outdated
As a grad student interested in starting my own practice upon graduation, I found this book to be useless. It has been reprinted by another publishing company and its original copyright date is 1999. Between then and now - 2004 - a lot of things have changed.Therefore, I would recommend that anyone who requires current information should look elsewhere.This is a very expensive book as is not helpful at all!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Legal status, laws, etc    2. Legal status, laws, etc.    3. Medical    4. Medical / Nursing    5. Medical Law & Legislation    6. Nurse practitioners    7. Nursing    8. Nursing - General    9. Practice    10. United States    11. Medical / General    12. Reference, Information and Interdisciplinary Subjects   

Reviews (8)

A WINNER
I bought three books on Polymer Clay, and this is the only one with all the techniques there that I want to learn.
Polymer Clay Bible
Everyone starting out in polymer clay should have this book in their library. Many newer techniques have been developed since this book came out but this book contains everything you need in order to develop your own original work. If you're looking for a "projects" book skip this, but if you want the basicsthis is the book for you. I only wish Nan Roche would write another! I still find myself refering to it and I've been working in polymer clay for over 15 years.

The Book that started it all for Polymer Clay
It was the first book about PC. It was the only book available for quite some time. Many of the most renowned PC artists started with this book and you can see the influence in their work.
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Subjects:  1. Antiques / Collectibles    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. General    4. Hobbies/Crafts    5. Jewelry    6. Jewelry making    7. Polymer clay craft    8. Art techniques & materials    9. Ceramic arts, pottery, glass   

Editorial Review

A remarkable range of examples for the idea of visual thinking, with beautifully printed pages. A real treat for all who reason andlearn by means of images. -- Rudolf Arnheim ... Read more

Reviews (38)

An outstanding addition to my library
An outstanding addition to my library, Edward systematically explores the presentation of data showing the value of data rich content when it is properly displayed.After reading half the book, I couldn't sit through a presentation without coming up with at least 3 ways to improve it.The illustrations in the book are beautifully rendered and cover a diverse set of subject matter each as interesting as the next.The only topic concerning this book that I struggled with is whether or not to mark it up.In the end, as I do with all of my books I intend to refer back to, I did.

So you thought you knew how to envision information...
I recieved this book along with the most excellent (almost a companion book) Visual Display of Quantitative Information, from my CEO. Since I work a lot with numbers and he had been stressing the importance of presenting data clearly and concisely.
Fleshes out and expands the work Tufte has done on presenting information
"Envisioning Information" by Edward Tufte further fleshes out and expands the work he has done on presenting information.This volume is best suited for designers of complex information such as maps or schedules. As with his other books, it is richly illustrated with many colorful examples of well and poorly designed information displays.
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Subjects:  1. Art & Art Instruction    2. Business Communication - General    3. Communication    4. Communication In Groups    5. Computer Graphics - General    6. Design - General    7. Graphic Arts - General    8. Graphic Design    9. Language    10. Language Arts & Disciplines    11. Statistics    12. Visual communication    13. Computer graphics software    14. Industrial / Commercial Art & Design    15. Mathematics   

Reviews (66)

Great starting point
If your really interested in learning the language, not just say a couple key phrases, then you should start at the root - the alphabet.Many other "Teach Yourself..." series either neglect or downplay the importance of learning this basic foundational information.I think this book does well introducing and explaining how written Arabic is put together.By the time I completed this book, I was confidently writing and reading arabic words (transliterating), even though I really couldn't do much else...like understanding.Like I said, a great starting place, worth the time to be confident in this area.

The Arabic Alphabet: How to Read & Write It
This book pretty good. It teaches you how to read and write the alphabets. This includes how to link the letters together to form a word (since there is no printing or upper case letters as in English or most languages).It also teaches numbers and punctuation.I recommend it for someone who wants to take his/her learning to the next level of also writing Arabic.

Must have for the serious student of Arabic
Fantastic introduction to the Arabic alphabet.If you're serious about learning Arabic, you really should get this book.Use nightly for a fortnight and you'll have the bulk of the writing system mastered.Very, very well done! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alphabet    2. Arabic    3. Arabic Language    4. Arabic alphabet    5. Foreign Language - Dictionaries / Phrase Books    6. Language    7. Language self-study & phrasebooks   

Reviews (1)

Modern Plastics Handbook
It is another useful for anyone who is dealing with plastics. Clear explanation and information. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Engineering - Chemical & Biochemical    2. Material Science    3. Plastics    4. Plastics Engineering    5. Polymeric Materials    6. Reference    7. Technology    8. Technology & Industrial Arts    9. Plastics & polymers technology    10. Reference works    11. Technology / Engineering / Chemical & Biochemical   

Reviews (52)

A little book with BIG information
I got this book after seeing it on Mythbusters.Now I understand why they have it.This is an incredible little book.It is clear, understandable, and well put together.
indispensible reference book
Great book for anyone involved in the trades or even a handyman.

Amazing Book!!!
If you can't carry around a lap-top with internet service, then this little book is for you.It has everything that you have ever forgotten and more. From math formulas, to a chili hotness
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Subjects:  1. General    2. Reference    3. Science    4. Tables    5. Technology    6. Electronics & Communications Engineering   

Reviews (19)

Best choice for advanced data modeling.
If you will got this book, you will got perfect template model.

Is it worth buying a book for only one chapter?
Yes, it is. Because the other chapters have all sorts of useful content as well. This book covers Manufacturing, Telecommunications, Health Care, Insurance, Financial Services, Professional Services, Travel, and e-Commerce. Most companies, even if they aren't in those sectors, use the services of companies that are (or may do a little bit of them - offer insurance on their products, for example), and if you need to include these areas in your model, in more detail than was covered in volume 1 (the core Universal Data Model book), then this is the place to start. If you are in one of these areas, then the specific chapter has a lot of useful stuff (I have worked in Travel, Telecommunications and Professional Services), but it is well worth checking out the other models for ideas that can be re-used in your area.

A Great Time Saver!
The industry models defined in volume 2 have greatly accelerated our data warehouse/mart projects. We have used many of the pre-defined industry models for both internal and external projects. Again, a great time saver allowing us to "jump-start" our data projects. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Computer Books: Database    3. Computers    4. Database Management - General    5. General    6. Information Management    7. Management Information Systems    8. Computers / Data Modeling & Design    9. Databases & data structures    10. Systems management   

Reviews (30)

It doesn't get better than this book.
In this excellent workbook, Laura Davis shows each survivor of child abuse {of all kinds}how to turn the traumatic and the shocking into the simple and the ordinary. A thorough and very important book championing the quiet and personal recovery of the child and the adult while advocating for the social recovery of a society stuck in its own ignorance and injury. Very simply, every man and women needs to own this book.
Workbook is my Guide to Healing
Just as The Courage to Heal was my Bible in helping me get through the crisis stage of sexual abuse revisited, helping me to decipher what it was I was feeling, and that it was perfectly normal, probably more normal than anything in my life ever had been, and letting me know what I may be going through next, and how people might react to me, ect.....This Courage to Heal Workbook is my homework in learning to become the person I should have started out as. I do a chapter a day, but you can do it a chapter a week, or at your own pace. Pre-reading The Courage to Heal is not necessary, either. It's all self-explanatory. Encourages one to give lots of deep thought to differing topics and to answer honestly and in depth. I strongly recommend this workbook to anyone struggling to heal the wounds of childhood sexual abuse. It allows you to get to know the real you inside all of the protective layers that have been unconsciencously piled on over the years....not who you want people to know, but who you really are, and who you were really meant to be.A bright shining star!

This book is hard work but good
I am not sure why people whose lives are being "ruined" or hurt by "unfounded" repressed memories are being so hard on the authors of this book.Sounds like the psychiatric professionals that their loved one or they themselves are seeing need to be held to task for the "bringing forth the memories" problem - not the authors of this book.
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Subjects:  1. Abuse - Sexual    2. Adult child sexual abuse victi    3. Adult child sexual abuse victims    4. General    5. Psychology    6. Reference    7. Rehabilitation    8. Self-Help    9. Self-help techniques    10. United States    11. Women's Studies - General    12. Child abuse    13. Coping with personal problems    14. Health & Fitness / General    15. Sexual abuse   

Reviews (4)

The best book I've read on creating readers....
One and a half years ago, my kindergartener was reading at a 3rd grade level but lacked "comprehension". While he could retell basic plot elements, he appeared to lack any ability to synthesize or think about what he had read.
Good read!
This book is easy to read and follow.I am studying to teach and this is one of the few books not written by a Dr. so it offers a fresh perspective!

Important Home and Classroom Education
Who doesn't like to be read to?This book solidifies the feeling that reading to children builds their vocabulary, their desire to read and more over their ability to read fluently.It's all about modeling.
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Subjects:  1. Children's Literature - General    2. Education / Teaching    3. Elementary    4. Juvenile Literature    5. Language    6. Language Arts & Disciplines    7. Language Experience Approach    8. Oral reading    9. Reading Education (General)    10. Reading Skills    11. Reference    12. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    13. Education / Teaching Methods & Materials / Reading   

Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. General    3. Leadership    4. Management    5. Organization    6. Organizational Behavior    7. Reference    8. Business & Economics / Organizational Behavior    9. Organizational theory & behaviour   

Subjects:  1. Administration    2. General    3. Health & Fitness    4. Health Care Delivery    5. Health services administration    6. Health/Fitness    7. Hospitals    8. Medical / Nursing    9. Family & Health    10. Health & Fitness / General    11. Popular medicine    12. Reference, Information and Interdisciplinary Subjects   

Reviews (19)

The Best Korean Textbook Series in English
I won't be the first or last to say this, but the Integrated Korean series is hands-down the best Korean language learning series available in English.
Best Korean Textbook
I've been trying to learn Korean for the past year, and have used, without much success, a number of different text books, including "College Korean" and "Teach Yourself Korean," until a tutor recommended the Klear series.The Klear series, which is presently used at a number of colleges in the United States, is by far the best Korean instructional material that I have seen.The grammar is explained clearly, there is a sufficient quantity of sample sentences and practice exercizes, and the texbooks extend all the way up to the "Advanced Level."While it lacks the glossy pictures and snappy look of French, Spanish, and German textbooks, the Klear series represents an impressive achievement. Indeed, I wish the textbooks available for modern European langauges were this good!
best korean learning book ever
This is an amazing set of korean textbooks. If you don't know about the complimentary listening tools online, you should be aware that this website exists:
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Subjects:  1. English    2. Foreign Language - Dictionaries / Phrase Books    3. Korean    4. Korean language    5. Language    6. Language Arts & Disciplines    7. Reference    8. Textbooks for foreign speakers    9. Language teaching & learning material & coursework   

Reviews (8)

Friendship clearly plays a vital role in a child's emotional health and well-being
The most telling and obvious challenge to children, are their inability to make and maintain appropriate friendships. Children want and need to have friends. Some just don't seem to have the broad social skills necessary to successfully negotiate and maintain mutually satisfying and lasting peer relationships. Cathi Cohen, in her book: Raise Your Child's Social IQ, refers to a low 'Social IQ'.Children with a low Social IQ have difficulty listening and maintaining eye-contact with others, using appropriate conversational pleasantries, talking to people -- not at people, taking another person's perspective, demonstrating empathy, and resolving conflicts with others. In school, these children have difficulty relating to others in the classroom, at lunch and recess, and on the school bus.For a child with a low Social IQ, going to school can cause fear, anxiety and panic. Social interaction with peers is often something that is to be avoided.
mother of two children
Of all the books written to guide parents in navigating the social world of their children, this one is the best. The author has many, many examples of how parents/families can talk to children to coach them - from how to praise your child to raise self esteem, to how to talk to your child about teasing, to how to coach your child to be a more desirable playmate, this book is full of examples and practical advice. Also, unlike other books, this one does not catagorize childen with social issues into "shy" children, or "pessimistic children" and therefore, doesn't look to label children negatively, or artificially catagorize multidimentional individuals.
Not that helpful
It just didn't click with the challanges that we are trying to address. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Child Care/Parenting    2. Child Development    3. Child Development And Rearing    4. Child rearing    5. Children's Studies    6. Family & Relationships    7. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    8. Family/Marriage    9. Handbooks, manuals, etc    10. Parenting    11. Parenting - Child Rearing    12. Parenting - General    13. Social Interaction    14. Social skills in children    15. Reference / General   

Subjects:  1. Computer Logic    2. Digital Electronics    3. Electronics - Circuits - Logic    4. Electronics - Digital    5. Engineering - Electrical & Electronic    6. Fuzzy logic    7. Logic Design    8. Neural networks (Computer scie    9. Neural networks (Computer science)    10. Reference    11. Technology    12. Technology & Industrial Arts    13. Circuits & components    14. Fuzzy set theory    15. Technology / Electronics / General   

Reviews (7)

Good for 1st year english...
This book is laid out and designed to be used for quick reference regarding grammar, citations, etc. with information in well organized sections. This book is similar to many other writing `handbooks', it is important to know which one your professor would like you to use. It had plenty of information for MLA, but it glosses over other styles rather quickly.
Awesome!
Great delivery time!Very good book to help with all of those term papers whether you need APA or MLA writing styles.Up to date information on online resources, ect.

Key for Writers, Fourth edition, 1994
It is a great book for assisting in one's writing. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Composition & Creative Writing - General    2. English language    3. Grammar    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Language    6. Language Arts & Disciplines    7. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    8. Report writing    9. Rhetoric    10. ELT: writing skills    11. English    12. Writing skills   

Reviews (8)

Thorough and practical
I use this as the text for a university level ESL Methods course.I've especially liked the authors use of specific classroom examples, as well as suggestions for learning activities that students can utilize.It is also full of suggestions for effective teaching strategies to use with ELLs.

Helpful with strategies for teaching ELLs.
This book is a great source for both mainstream teachers and TESOL teachers.It helps in teaching all kinds of students.Very helpful!

Great Textbook
This book is an excellent resource for all teachers of ELLs.They give so many examples and ways to implement the ideas introduced.The additional reading is an expansive list of websites and reading for further research.Well written and easy to follow publisher website also accompany this text. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. English as a Second Language    2. English language    3. Foreign Language - Dictionaries / Phrase Books    4. Foreign Language Study    5. Foreign speakers    6. General    7. Language    8. Study and teaching    9. ELT: teaching theory & methods    10. Education / Bilingual Education    11. English    12. Teaching of a specific subject