How Electronic Things Work. . .And What to Do When They Don't

Book Description

Is your CD player skipping tracks? PC keyboard locking up? Cordless phone full of static? Get those electronic babies up and running perfectly with this handy do-it-yourself introduction to basic home-and-office electronics repair. From audio/video equipment to cameras, cordless and cellular phones, personal computers, and peripherals, it helps everyone Ieven those with no prior electronics experience) troubleshoot and find solutions. Includes safety tips, easy-to-read schematics, block diagrams, and time-saving information on the most common problems and fixes.

Customer Reviews:

Too high-level.......2003-07-01

I must admit I was a bit disappointed with this book. The first chapter is meant to be for complete beginners to electronics and it covers basic electronic components (resistors, capacitors, etc) but I don't think it was basic enough for a complete beginner. For example this capter mentions that you can use a multi-meter to test various components, but then it doesn't give you the step-by-step instructions on how to do it (i.e. what setting to put your multi-meter on and what values to look for).

The rest of the book continues in a similiar fashion; it's quite high-level and doesn't really delve into the nitty-gritty practical side of things that you need to know to make real repairs.

There is plenty of sound advice on how to trouble-shoot and what to look for to identify the problem, but then it falls down on the "how to fix it" side of things. This is probably because there's so many different electronic devices out there that the author can't possibly cover all of them in any real detail.

Too high-level.......2003-07-01

The rest of the book continues in a similiar fashion; it's quite high-level and doesn't really delve into the nitty-gritty practical side of things that you need to know to make real repairs.

Coupled with a manufacturer's service manual for the item you want to repair and a good guide to practical electronics, this book may be of use to people that want a pointer as to where to start looking for the problem.

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HOW ELECTRONIC THINGS WORK. AND WHAT TO DO WHEN THEY DON'T
ROBERT L. GOODMAN
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OFMJO6

Product Description

21st Century Revision of a classic! The basics of a volunteer recordkeeping system: the why and how of application forms, volunteer data files, assignment records, time and activity reports, proving impact.

Proof Positive: Developing Significant Volunteer Recordkeeping Systems

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Proof Positive: Developing Significant Volunteer Recordkeeping Systems
Susan Ellis , and K. Noyes
Manufacturer: Energize Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Volunteer Work | Job Hunting & Careers | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Book Description

Coordinate volunteers with all the facts about them at your fingertips and develop meaningful reports on volunteer accomplishments. This book is a step-by-step guide to the basic elements of a volunteer recordkeeping system. Includes application forms, volunteer fact files, assignment logs, time and activity reports. Lots of sample forms and ideas for documenting hard-to-track activities.

Book Description

In this groundbreaking study of the clothing industry in Canada, historian Mercedes Steedman examines how the intricate weaving together of the meaning of class, gender, ethnicity, family, and workplaced served, often unconsciously, to create a job ghetto for women. Although 'girls', as working women were labelled, comprised a significant majority of garment workers--80 per cent in 1881, at the very beginnings of industrialization; 68 per cent in 1941, when the percentage of women in all industrial sectors in Canada was only just over 15 per cent--their roles were circumscribed both in the workplace and in the trade union bureaucracy. When strikes occurred, women were at the front of picket lines, gaining sympathy and favourable media coverage for the workers' cause. But when negotiations among union leaders, management, and government officials took place, women were conspicuous by their absence, and the subsequent agreements and job classifications invariably left them with lower wages and marginal status--in an industry where they were numerically dominant and often valued as the better workers. In Angels of the Workplace, Professor Steedman presents a history of both the garment industry and the role of women in it. As she notes, 'The jobs they did became ascribed with lower status simply because women did them.' The same view was expressed by future prime minister W.L. Mackenzie King, who studied problems in the needle trades in the 1890s and proclaimed that 'Female labour has...never received anything like the compensation which has been given to male labour.' The rise of left-wing unionism held out some hope for a more equitable work environment, but by the 1930s a 'new unionism' that focused on labour-management co-operation--and on maintaining male hegemony on the shop floor and at the bargaining table--had formalized gender discrimination in the needle trades for the rest of the century.

Argentine Workers: Peronism and Contemporary Class Consciousness. (book reviews): An article from: Canadian Journal of History

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Argentine Workers: Peronism and Contemporary Class Consciousness. (book reviews): An article from: Canadian Journal of History
David Sheinin
Manufacturer: University of Saskatchewan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Canadian Journal of History, published by University of Saskatchewan on August 1, 1994. The length of the article is 980 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Argentine Workers: Peronism and Contemporary Class Consciousness. (book reviews)
Author: David Sheinin
Publication: Canadian Journal of History (Refereed)
Date: August 1, 1994
Publisher: University of Saskatchewan
Volume: v29 Issue: n2 Page: p433(3)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Authoritarianism and Democratization: Soldiers and Workers in Argentina, 1976-1983.(Review) (book review): An article from: Canadian Journal of History

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Authoritarianism and Democratization: Soldiers and Workers in Argentina, 1976-1983.(Review) (book review): An article from: Canadian Journal of History
Jeremy Adelman
Manufacturer: University of Saskatchewan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Canadian Journal of History, published by University of Saskatchewan on April 1, 2000. The length of the article is 696 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Authoritarianism and Democratization: Soldiers and Workers in Argentina, 1976-1983.(Review) (book review)
Author: Jeremy Adelman
Publication: Canadian Journal of History (Refereed)
Date: April 1, 2000
Publisher: University of Saskatchewan
Volume: 35 Issue: 1 Page: 195

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

The Canadian Auto Workers: The Birth and Transformation of a Union

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This book is useful for knowledge of all levels.

The Canadian Auto Workers: The Birth and Transformation of a Union
Sam Gindin
Manufacturer: Lorimer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Labor & Industrial Relations | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Labor & Employment | Business | Law | Subjects | Books

Labor & Industrial Relations | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Labor Unions | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Book Description

The Canadian Auto Workers union has a long and rich history: part of the U.S.-based United Auto Workers for almost fifty years, the CAW separated from its American parent in 1985. Today, it is one of the most powerful unions in the country, yet few people know the union's history or what accounts for the split with its American parent.

This illustrated history provides a fascinating look at the union from its origins to the present, describing the early years of the automobile industry and the emergence of GM, Ford, and Chrysler. It looks at the birth of the UAW in 1936, the conflicts that rocked the union in the fifties, the signing of theAutopact in the sixties, and the historic split of the Canadian section from the UAW two decades later. Finally, it considers the issues facing the union and the Canadian labour movement as the 20th century drew to a close.

Profiling the CAW as well as the labour and social movements that it helped shape, The Canadian Auto Workers offers something unusual--an engrossing glimpse of Canada's past, written from a union perspective.

Customer Reviews:

This book is useful for knowledge of all levels........2001-11-27

This text is a very in depth review of CAW. From it's roots of the UAW, the history of the UAW, various effects of political and economical conditions, etc. I found it highly informative but a bit of a bore to read. Easy to read terms but not for basic level learners who want to know about the CAW.

Contracting Masculinity: Gender, Class, and Race in a White-Collar Union, 1944-1994 (Canadian Social History Series)

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(gender, class, and race in) a Canadian union

Contracting Masculinity: Gender, Class, and Race in a White-Collar Union, 1944-1994 (Canadian Social History Series)
Gillian Creese
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Labor & Industrial Relations | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Labor Unions | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Book Description

The history of labour in Canada is most often understood to mean--and presented as-- the history of blue-collar workers, especially men. And it is the story of union solidarity to gain wages, rights, and the like from employers. In Contracting Masculinity, Gillian Creese examines in depth the white-collar office workers' union at BC Hydro, and shows how collective bargaining involves the negotiation of gender, class, and race. Over the first 50 years of the office union's existence, male and female members were approximately equal in number. Yet equality has ended there. Women are concentrated at the lower rungs of the job hierarchy, while men start higher up the ladder and enjoy more job mobility; men's office work has been redefined as a wide range of 'technical' jobs, while women's work has been concentrated in a narrow range of 'clerical' positions. As well, for decades Canadian Aboriginals and people of colour were not employed by BC Hydro, which has resulted in a racialized-gendered workplace. What is the role of workers and their trade unions in constructing male and female work, a process that is often seen as the outcome solely of management decisions? How is this process of gendering also racialized, so that women and men of different race and ethnicity are differentially privileged at work? How do males in a white-collar union create and maintain their own image of masculinity in the face of a feminized occupation and a more militant male blue-collar union housed within the same corporation? What impact does the gender composition of union leadership have on collective bargaining? And how do traditions of union solidarity affect attempts to bargain for greater equity in the office? These are the central questions that Contracting Masculinity seeks to answer in this in- depth look at a Canadian union.

Customer Reviews:

(gender, class, and race in) a Canadian union.......2005-07-07

Numerous academics have pointed out how jobs are gendered and so often the universal worker is really the male worker. Well, here, Professor Creese using history shows how unions are also gendered (as well as racialized and stratified by class). Though union leaders say they fight for all workers, they really put the interests of the white, male worker with a family at home first. False consciousness is again shown to be a Marxist delusion: unions are very much interested in separating and differentiating between "us" versus "them."

Like the grand majority of academic texts, the introduction here differs noticeably from the body chapters. Oftentimes, introductions are so complex and impenetrable that they are there merely to impressive tenure committees or dissertation panels, making lay readers afraid to continue reading the book. Other times, the introduction summarizes things so well that the body chapters are mere illustrations of a point that has already been well made. (Though highly praised, Eve Sedgwick's "The Epistemology of the Closet" is a classic example of this.) This book acts in the latter fashion. The introduction uses sociology and statistics to make a clear illustration about inequality in the workplace; the body chapters are merely a history of a Canadian utilities company proving that point. Thus, there is no need to read beyond the first fraction of the book, unless are you hardcore into Canadian union activism, or union busting, actually.

So much of what this book says is true, but it's still frustrating. Women are pushed into low wage, dead-end positions. People of color, on average, never earn as much as their white counterparts. White, older, men get opportunities through their seniority but other workers are told they must come through the door already (over?)qualified. Women, and assumably people of color, have to take cases to administrative courts just to get what is due to them. This book will definitely put you in a bad mood if you are not already in one when you first pick it up.

If this book had not mentioned race, I would have condemned it for its lack. However, the text is imbalanced, possibly even with the best of intentions. This book deals heavily with biological sex, race is merely an afterthought, or an additional comment. But Canada does not have as many people of color as the United States. It does not have the stark and tragic history of slavery, genocide, and immigration exclusion. Thus, people of color are not in the picture here as much just given the historical background of that country. The author spells out myriad ways in which male supremacy is drenched in the workplace, but one would almost think the superior positions of white men in this union were mere happenstance.

This book reveals something profound about the Canadian identity. When Professor Cleese cannot find Canadian studies to back her facts, she first uses numbers from the United States, and then from either the United Kingdom or Australia. This proves its strong attachment to (Anglo-) North America and the (predominantly white) English-speaking world.

This book is small in size. However, its print is equally small. This will not be a quick and easy read for most readers.

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Cracking Canadian Formula
Wayne Roberts
Manufacturer: Between the Lines Productions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Labor Unions | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Discounted Labour: Women Workers in Canada, 1870-1939 (Themes in Canadian History)

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Discounted Labour: Women Workers in Canada, 1870-1939 (Themes in Canadian History)
Ruth A. Frager , and Carmela K. Patrias
Manufacturer: University of Toronto Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Workplace | Organizational Behavior | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Economic History | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Labor & Industrial Relations | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Social History | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

Labor & Industrial Relations | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

History | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0802008283

Book Description

The years between 1870 and 1939 were a crucial period in the growth of industrial capitalism in Canada, as well as a time when many women joined the paid workforce. Yet despite the increase in employment, women faced a difficult struggle in gaining fair remuneration for their work and in gaining access to better jobs. Discounted Labour analyses the historical roots of women's persistent inequality in the paid labour force. Ruth A. Frager and Carmela K. Patrias analyse how and why women became confined to low-wage jobs, why their work was deemed less valuable than men's work, why many women lacked training, job experience, and union membership, and under what circumstances women resisted their subordination.

Distinctive earning discrepancies and employment patterns have always characterized women's place in the workforce whether they have been in low-status, unskilled jobs, or in higher positions. For this reason, Frager and Patrias focus not only on women wage-earners but on women as salaried workers as well. They also analyze the divisions among women, examining how class and ethnic or racial differences have intersected with those of gender. Discounted Labour is an essential new work for anyone interested in the historical struggle for gender equality in Canada.

Book Description

Go behind the scenes as Manley and Lee track down and investigate the myths, legends, and tall tales of cataloging. As a special bonus, the surprising results of Manley's American Libraries cataloger survey are revealed.

Customer Reviews:

Will Manley = Dave Barry of the Library World.......2001-07-15

This book is tounge-in-cheek funny. A must for all working in librarianship professionally or para-professionally.

I am an MLS student and have not yet made my mind up whether to work in reference or cataloging...my heart calls me to reference work, but part of me admires such cataloging luminaries as Sandy Berman, etc.

Moreover, catalogers of the new Era will have to be among the most computer-savvy, too. Like or no, that's the way it's gonna be.

Anyway, as with most of Will Manley's books, very funny treatment of his subject matter. He is truly the Dave Barry of the library world.

The Robert Fulghum of Librarians.......2000-10-31

Before reading The Truth About Catalogers, I had no interest in librarians, and I certainly didn't want to be one. After reading The Truth About Catalogers, I still don't want to be a librarian. But I did find the humor to be accesible, the writing to be direct and amusing, and the illustrations to be cute. Mostly, I felt that Will Manley had captured the whimsical tone made so popular by Robert Fulghum (of the All I Really Need to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten fame). I found the stories to be less about Card Catalogers, and more to be about people. I feel that was the greatest strength of the book - I've never understood the Dewey Decimal system, but I laughed out loud at the exploits of people who obsess about it!

Are you Librarian without reading this book?.......2000-04-02

I'm a graduate student in Library and Information science major. Actually, my professor recommanded this book to us. After reading this book, I feel great. It deals with real situation in library and gives us a lot of helpful illustrations for each situation which we can encounter when we catalog a lot of resources. Anyway, you should read this book, if you want to be real librarian.

Are you Librarian without reading this book?.......2000-04-02

Book Description

Hard-to-find book documents principles and techniques of legendary piano teacher, who taught Paderewski, Schnabel, many other greats. Clear, easy-to-follow text, profusely illustrated with music examples and photographs of hand positions. Includes finger exercises, scales, octaves, chords, arpeggios, dynamics, the pedal, many other topics.

Customer Reviews:

Old school but good.......2007-01-09

I'm always suspicious of any book about piano technique, because it isn't something that is easily learned without an experienced teacher at your side. That being said, this book was quite interesting: he starts with the basic mechanics of dropping into the keys and works forward from there. Some of the pictures (black and white) could have been more concise, but overall a great addition to any pianist's library.

Of Some Marginal Value to the Intermediates.......2005-10-12

The pedagogue himself said in this book "I have no method"...

Anyway, this book was NOT prepared by Leschetizky himself. To be exact, neither was it prepared for the pedagogue's students; rather, it was prepared for those students who were not yet ready for lessons by the pedagogue himself.

It is more a method as remembered by one of his particular pupils --the pedagogue taught according to the individual need of his pupil-- who later also became one of his mistresses and assistants, to be applied to those intermediates under her only.

Few of this padagogue's great pupils, in any, had gone through such "method" , for most of them were child prodigies themselves. The pedagogue's real method instead concentrated on phrasing, interpretation and musicality and his ability to explore and draw from the potentials of these already great pupils-- as explained by his pupils like Moiseiwitsch and Horszowski.

There are however some pictures of hand positions and some finger excercises that are of some value. There are dozens of them showing the "correct" hand positions for various chords etc (without much elaboration on what effects such hand positions could achieve), presumably they were Lechetizsky's hands. Note that, however, not even Moiseiwitsch played with such curved fingers and that even one of his most favoured pupils Horszowski -- whom he presented as the Mozart of the day, just like he hailed Schnabel as Schubert-- who followed him for 6 years, changed the weight of his arms and hand position in the middle of his career!

For an alternative, we can listen directly to his pupils, particularly Ignaz Friedman who later became his assistant, someone the pedagogue himself observed to be technically better than himself. Or even Moiseiwitsch and Horszowski, or perhaps Paderewski. For those who are really interesteed, we still have some fine historic recording of the padagogue on the piano avaiblable which could tell us more than any words by one of his many so-called assistants!

Solid .... but rather dull.......2002-06-11

This book was actually written not by the famous Leschetizky himself, but by his student Bree, and then later endorsed by the master. In any event, it is solid in the sense that it provides some basic finger exercises that are still useful and presents some basic good advice. The commentary is probably quite correct but generally does not really reveal anything new, neither in content nor in presentation. Perhaps the best part of the book are the illustrations of various hand positions. At the end there is also a perhaps historically interesting article by Paderewski. For finger exercises, I think Hanon is better and more complete, and for a method as such, have a look at Seymour Bernstein's '20 Lessons in Keyboard Choreography'.

Good for Intermediate Pianists.......2000-08-08

Reading this book was informative to some extent, but disappointing in gereral. The exercises are very boring, and are pretty useless for the beginner. Relatively advanced pianists (Grade 8 and above) will find little in the book. The pictures are of an excellent quality, and are a definite guide, especially the ones about passing the thumb.

A more well written book is "Basic Principles in Pianoforte Playing" by Josef Lhevinne (ISBN: 0486228207). This book offers superior advice on improving one's playing, and can be used by all but the most competent pianist.

Might not be for beginners!.......1999-12-13

This book is full of notations that I think are for advance students in music education or for piano players looking improve their skills. Enlarging the front cover shows the type of notation and fingering that will be found. It's not obvious from the title of this book that this book might not be for beginners who are trying learn on their own.

The Leschetizky Method: A Guide to Fine and Correct Piano Playing

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The Leschetizky Method: A Guide to Fine and Correct Piano Playing

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000M6WOKQ

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Cover To Cover Milton Caniff In His Own Words

Milton Caniff: Conversations (Conversations With Comic Artists Series)
Milton Arthur Caniff , and Robert C. Harvey
Manufacturer: University Press of Mississippi
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Cartooning | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1578064384

Customer Reviews:

Cover To Cover Milton Caniff In His Own Words.......2002-10-05

When I first set out to read this book, I was dubious. I barely remembered having heard of his most famous strips, Terry and the Pirates & Steve Canyon. However, once I picked up this book, I found it hard to put down! It kept me interested with highly informative interviews, select comic strip excerpts and more. I was intrigued by Milton Caniff's innovative style in cartooning, from his insistence on authenticity to his cinematic scene style. The man was an incredible cartoonist and a born patriot, incorporating both in his strips. Some interview compilations tend to be repetative, but the editor's choices of interviews are different in style and information, making the reader anxious to read the next one. If there are some points repeated, the reader hardly notices! Definitely a book to read whether you are an avid comic strip fan or an aspiring cartoonist! I find myself wanting to read reprints of his strips and feel like I missed out by being born in the wrong era and not witnessing them first hand.

Book Description

Follow the evidence...

The city of Las Vegas never sleeps and neither does its crime lab. The Crime Scene Investigators of the Las Vegas Police Department use the latest technology along with solid detective work to solve their cases. With their skilled lab technicians and unbiased medical examiner, they can answer the questions others never even thought to ask. They trust only the evidence to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves -- the victims.

The official CSI: Crime Scene Investigation ^™ Companion introduces readers to the hit series that not only changed the television landscape on Thursday nights, but also rewrote the book on the procedural drama. Containing dozens of full-color never-before-seen photographs, in-depth looks at every episode of CSI's first three seasons, plot summaries, and special interviews with cast, producers, and series creator Anthony E. Zuiker, the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation ^™ Companion promises to transport readers into the world of the groundbreaking show. In addition, the book features exclusive "case files" created from material used in the actual production of the show and includes personnel files for all of the lead characters: Gil Grissom, Catherine Willows, Warrick Brown, Nick Stokes, Sara Sidle, Jim Brass, Greg Sanders, and Doctor Al Robbins.

The CSI: Crime Scene Investigation ^™ Companion shines the spotlight on television's most popular and intriguing program and is the must-have guide for every fan of the show.

Customer Reviews:

A Must-Have For All CSI Fans.......2007-05-14

If you love C.S.I. Crime Scene Investigation - The Complete First Season (which I do) then you'll love reading through this companion book (which I did)! Covering every episode in the first three seasons of the hit show, this book takes you behind the scenes with details you might have missed while watching them on television.

Besides listing the writer of each episode, the director, and all of the guest stars and parts they played, you get an overview of the case, the evidence and facts, and the conclusion.

One of the most interesting aspects of this book are the pictures and illustrations. Taken from the actual "case file", you can see up close and personal the evidence that the CSI's collected from the crime scene and used to find the perpetrator. Many of these items were never shown on the actual show, or if they were, it was done so quickly I must have missed it!

I really hope that they come out with another companion for the succeeding seasons, as this is one show I can't get enough of. You'll definitely be happy you purchased this book, and the only thing I can think of that would make it better is to also put out a CSI: MIAMI companion!!

Excellent throughout!.......2006-12-16

Now that the CSI series is into its seventh season I keep hoping that a second volume of this fantastic book, covering each program of the first three seasons, will be followed by a second volume covering the 4th, 5th and 6th season's programs. I can only hope that the author, Mike Flaherty and the publisher, Simon & Schuster's Pocket Book Division, will not disappoint this volume's legion of fans!

The CSI Companion Guide is for all CSI Fans.......2004-09-13

This is a spectacular book for all CSI fans that covers Seasons 1 - 3. Each episode is summarized in order of airing for each season with highlights of the case, investigator(s) involved, evidence found and tests performed (DNA, autopsy, facial reconstruction, fingerprinting), suspect and victim information, and the status of the case, i.e. solved, unsolved. If more than one case is handled during the episode, each plot is summarized separately, going between the cases as they do on the show.

Some case summaries include a couple pages of graphical information relating to the case and provide more details, such as investigator reports, evidence and chain of custody tags, evidence and DNA test results, investigative reports, etc. Some of the contents of these pages are difficult to read but give you an overall picture of the actual "case file".

Then on blue tinted pages, the producers, directors, writers and actors make comments on the episode. There is some great information on how some scenes were filmed for maximum effect. Actors also provide insight to their characters as they relate to that particular case and in general. This is really nice since for the most part there is not much character history on the show. It's also in these pages that we learn that some of the cases are based on real life cases by one of the writers.

It is also mentioned by writers and actors (William Petersen and Jorja Fox) that the sexual tension between the characters of Gil Grissom and Sara Sidle has been part of the plans from the beginning of the show. Also, details are provided of how certain scenes and dialog are planned out for specific episodes to highlight that tension.

There is also a character profile provided for each of the main characters of the show. This profile gives background information of each of the characters, including family history, education, work history and other pertinent personal information.

I give this book "two thumbs up".

CSI Companion is a must read!!!.......2004-08-25

For anyone wanting to know in depth information on each episode, this is the book for you! Filled with wonderful insights from actors and producers. Actual quotes from actors on scenes and their characters.

5 stars easily!

Excellent overview; background on the stories, actors, etc........2004-08-24

I am trying this again, as my first review got lost, before I could save it. Sorry.
This companion to the popular CBS hit show, features an excellent overview of the actors, characters, stories, etc..
One complaint, the picture of Gary Dourdan, Warrick Brown on the show, was printed over the text of the "personnel file", which it wasn't on the others (maybe this can be corrected in a future printing). It's great for fans, like me, of the show, or anyone who is curious. I enjoyed the "glossary" at the back. Some of the photos are gruesome, but this is a gruesome business, crime scene investigation. It covers seasons 1-3. [This review isn't the one I tried to submit, but an error caused it not to be saved, sorry, hope it provides an incentive to buy this excellent book].

Book Description

Build games with techniques and insights from a pro. Author and game developer Tom Meigs shows you the finer points of world building and behavior scripting. Learn about level stubbing, lighting, prop and item placement, camera tricks, particle and effects systems, communication loops, Massively Multiplayer Online Games, and much more.

Customer Reviews:

This book was excellent..........2006-08-30

Tom Meigs does a great job with this text. It goes over all of the concepts that you need to think about when designing your own levels, characters or even complete games. He includes many interviews with industry pro's that really "tell it like it is." The best part, I think though, is the last chapter where he gives some examples of the different episodes that have happened at the companies he has worked for. Man, stress can drive some people crazy.

Decent introductory book........2005-07-26

Tom Meigs, Ultimate Game Design: Building Game Worlds (McGraw-Hill, 2003)

While there's a decent amount of useful information here, the reader of books on game design has seen a good deal of it before in other game design books. If it's your first game design book, it will likely be quite helpful to you; those who have read two or three other general books on game design are likely to only get anything out of the interviews.

Ultimate waste of time!.......2004-10-19

Ambiguous content with statements such as light can be very useful... AND! This book is of no value to any one who is remotely interested in greating/building actual game worlds. You would be better off giving the book a miss and check the forums out on the internet. I am gutted that I made the mistake of reading and believing the comments made on the books contents which now seems obvious these were placed by the authors friends and relatives. It's a pity Amazon do not accept returns! As such the book is destined for the bin.

Peak on the other side.......2004-08-13

If your not in the gaming industry, but want to be, then this book will be a very valuable resource to you. For me, it was a welcome break from reading all software books. Which you must also do to get into gaming, or at least the art or programming jobs. This book reveals little known facts such as getting a job in the QA dept of a game company is a great way to get in if your not an artist or programmer. It also paints a picture of an industry that has its problems like anything else. Great chapters are included that discuss level mapping concepts and design techniques that are sure to boost ones though process as well as good interviews with key gaming gods. It simply does a great job at covering the gamut that is games. The author also gives you some good tips on what game developers "who hire" think like, cause he probably has done it. Must read for any potential game industry people. Harsh reality in many ways.

Practical and solid book on building levels and games.......2004-05-19

"Ultimate Games Design" There seems to be no shortage of games design books, and they all claim to be the ultimate. All of them wants to deal primarily with the big fluffy ideas of the lead design - the overall idea of the game and so forth. Few of them has anything to say about the actual execution in terms of level design for example.

Untill now. Despite hating the title (and the colour scheme) of this book, I have to bow to the ultimate thing. This is as good a good as you will get right now about actually building game worlds - the level designs, the modelling, the texturing, the lighting and so forth. It also has one of the mandatory chapters on getting into the industry, where Tom Meigs goes beyond the usual war stories from the pros and repetitive listing of roles in the games industry, to actually offer the reader a good ammount of introspective questions to ponder and sage advice to gear up for the bumpy ride ahead.

So from hating it, this book has become one of my absolute favourites on games design. Well done Tom Meigs, whoever you are!

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Ultimate Game Design: Building Game Worlds
Tom Meigs
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OGIG60

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