Books

Programming Ruby: The Pragmatic Programmers' Guide, Second Edition

Average customer rating:

A classic, a must-have for anyone learning Ruby
You must have one
The weight is equal to the knowledge within
Has faults, but best I've seen so far
All the information you need

Programming Ruby: The Pragmatic Programmers' Guide, Second Edition
Dave Thomas , Chad Fowler , and Andy Hunt
Manufacturer: Pragmatic Bookshelf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Agile Web Development with Rails (Pragmatic Programmers)
Rails Recipes (Pragmatic Programmers)
Ruby Cookbook (Cookbooks (O'Reilly))
Ruby for Rails: Ruby Techniques for Rails Developers
Ajax in Action

Accessories:

Agile Web Development with Rails: A Pragmatic Guide (Pragmatic Programmers)
Ship it! A Practical Guide to Successful Software Projects

ASIN: 0974514055

Book Description

Ruby is an increasingly popular, fully object-oriented dynamic programming language, hailed by many practitioners as the finest and most useful language available today. When Ruby first burst onto the scene in the Western world, the Pragmatic Programmers were there with the definitive reference manual, Programming Ruby: The Pragmatic Programmer's Guide.

Now in its second edition, author Dave Thomas has expanded the famous Pickaxe book with over 200 pages of new content, covering all the improved language features of Ruby 1.8 and standard library modules. The Pickaxe contains four major sections:

An acclaimed tutorial on using Ruby.
The definitive reference to the language.
Complete documentation on all built-in classes, modules, and methods
Complete descriptions of all 98 standard libraries.

If you enjoyed the First Edition, you'll appreciate the expanded content, including enhanced coverage of installation, packaging, documenting Ruby source code, threading and synchronization, and enhancing Ruby's capabilities using C-language extensions. Programming for the World Wide Web is easy in Ruby, with new chapters on XML/RPC, SOAP, distributed Ruby, templating systems, and other web services. There's even a new chapter on unit testing.

This is the definitive reference manual for Ruby, including a description of all the standard library modules, a complete reference to all built-in classes and modules (including more than 250 significant changes since the First Edition). Coverage of other features has grown tremendously, including details on how to harness the sophisticated capabilities of irb, so you can dynamically examine and experiment with your running code. "Ruby is a wonderfully powerful and useful language, and whenever I'm working with it this book is at my side" --Martin Fowler, Chief Scientist, ThoughtWorks

Customer Reviews:

A classic, a must-have for anyone learning Ruby.......2007-06-27

This is the book which made Ruby popular in America. I like the way they start out talking about blocks and closures early in the book. As the book notes a reviewer said about blocks "This is important!"

You must have one.......2007-06-21

Dave Thomas is surely one of the best writers I've ever seen. He doesn't treat you like an idiot, so it's perfect for experienced programmers to learn very fast many aspects of the Ruby language.

The weight is equal to the knowledge within.......2007-05-22

Fantastic book. Very well laid out and informative. For a ruby/programming newbie, check out why the lucky stiff's "poignant guide to ruby" as well and you'll have all the tools you need.

Has faults, but best I've seen so far.......2007-05-21

I taught myself to program in Ruby using this book. I was already experienced in Fortran and IDL, but Ruby is my first object-oriented language. Although the book can be confusing, and is not written at a beginner level, I was able to get what I needed from it, and still enjoy cruising through the book to learn more about Ruby. I keep it on my nightstand, but hey...I'm a geek.

If you are new to object-oriented programming I would first recommend reading "The Object Oriented Thought Process" by Matt Weisfeld before actually learning Ruby.

All the information you need.......2007-04-11

A Great way to learn ruby and a great reference guide once you have - contains all the information I needed to learn ruby, clearly set out in a chapter progression that facilitates moe advanced learning as you go along.

Average customer rating:

It's a great book
Good textbook
a textbook worth buying
Very confused, unnecessarily complicated, and above all - dull.
horrible service

Organizational Behavior
John R., Jr. Schermerhorn , James G. Hunt , and Richard N. Osborn
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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

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Similar Items:

Business: Its Legal, Ethical, and Global Environment
Management Information Systems: Managing the Digital Firm (9th Edition)
Financial Accounting: Tools for Business Decision Making
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Cultural Dimension of International Business, The (5th Edition)

Accessories:

The Ropes to Skip and the Ropes to Know: Studies in Organizational Behavior
A Primer on Organizational Behavior (Wiley Series in Management)

ASIN: 0471681709

Book Description

Now revised to address the recent changes in the workplace, Schermerhorn, Hunt, and Osborn’s Organizational Behavior, Ninth Edition sets organizational behavior within a framework of personal and organizational transformation, while retaining its solid base of theory and application. Prepare yourself for the changing workplace. The Ninth Edition features the theme of organizational behavior in changing times, anchored by a new Chapter 2 that introduces you to current issues in organizational behavior. Edition after edition, this text has established a reputation for its effective presentation of current theory and research in a student-centered context. The Ninth Edition further strengthens that tradition with new Research Insight boxes in each chapter that summarize relevant cutting-edge research reports. Changing times offer new insights from real-life change agents. Leaders on Leadership features for every chapter in the Ninth Edition bring you face-to-face with the experiences and perspectives of today’s change leaders––Rudy Giuliani, Carly Fiorina, Earl Graves, and others.

Customer Reviews:

It's a great book.......2007-02-18

It's a helpful book to have a better understanding of organizational behavior.

Good textbook.......2007-01-24

I enjoyed this textbook in my Leadership and Organizational Behavior class. Explains concepts well. Definitely a text to keep in my library.

a textbook worth buying.......2006-11-07

I have seen other people's review, and I must say that because people have different needs and expectations, so our ratings and opinions about this book is different.

I used this book one year ago for my class, and after the final, I sold the book, and now I am taking OB again in grad school, and even though I don't have this book anymore, I took detailed notes while reading this book, and the theories and concepts I wrote in my notes enabled me to support my arguments in my analysis paper. When I was writing my paper, I was thinking that if I still had my textbook, it would be great. (I kind of regret now that I sold the book one year ago.) This book tells you all the fundamental things you need to know about OB, and it also has many self-assessment tests at the end of the textbook). The textbook I am using now for my current class is just a composition of a bunch of articles (kind of like a reader). I feel glad that I had read this textbook before and kept the detailed notes on each chapter, because it helps me understand the basics easier than my classmates who have only read the reader.

Very confused, unnecessarily complicated, and above all - dull........2006-09-18

If you're made to buy this book you have every right to hate the professor that makes you do so. This book is a punishment! Not only is it very expensive, but it also offers information that it is not relevant to the real world at all.

There are some positive sides in this book after all. There are quick references on almost every page to make it easier to follow the chapter; there are good graphs the explanations to the graphs as well as the general argument do fit (more or less). There are also case studies, a fairly solid web page, and self-assessment questions that are helpful to get through with this material.

However, the style is unnecessarily pompous, filled with theories that make no or only very little sense; the information presented is way to shallow to really understand what the authors are getting at, yet miraculously they manage to fill the book with more than 500 pages with endless waffle. In some places, the author's even contradict themselves, which is the most impressive thing about this book.

Generally only two stars are awarded for this book, as it really is a waste of money and time, however if you have to read this insult for any intellectual mind, you will find some help to make nonsense into a science. Good luck to you!

horrible service.......2006-02-25

i never even got this book because apparently its not a book yet amazons web site said it was. it took me 4 phone calls with 4 different customer service reps for some one to figure that out. all they gave me for the inconvenance was a 15 dollar amazon gift card which i tryed to use and doesn't work. i still don't have the book i needed and it is 4 weeks into the semester. i have baought other things from amazon and gotten them but this expeirance makes me never want to use amazon again. i would like to give you a review of the actual book but i never recieved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On the Hunt: How to Wake Up Washington and Win the War on Terror

Average customer rating:

Hunt for President!
A lesson in character this nation sorely needs
Much like I thought it would be.
On The Money
The way it should have been

On the Hunt: How to Wake Up Washington and Win the War on Terror
Colonel David Hunt
Manufacturer: Crown Forum
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

They Just Don't Get It: How Washington Is Still Compromising Your Safety--and What You Can Do About It
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Outrage: How Illegal Immigration, the United Nations, Congressional Ripoffs, Student Loan Overcharges, Tobacco Companies, Trade Protection, and Drug Companies Are Ripping Us Off . . . And
Pearl Harbor: A Novel of December 8th

ASIN: 0307347591
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Book Description

So says Fox News military analyst Colonel David Hunt in a book that cuts like a buzz saw through the half-measures and half-truths, the dangerous timidity, and the outright stupidity that—if left unchecked—will lead America to lose the War on Terror.

In the hard-hitting On the Hunt, Colonel Hunt draws on his twenty-nine years of active military service and his high-level military and intelligence contacts to give an inside perspective on this global struggle, setting him far apart from the usual pundits and talking heads. Here he presents fifty pages of previously unpublished documents that reveal the chillingly detailed plans of the terrorists and insurgents who target Americans, as well as U.S. tactics to stop our enemies.

From the Department of Homeland Security (“Get rid of it. Scrap it.”) to military leaders who have almost zero combat experience to risk-averse, politically correct strategic decision-making, Colonel Hunt pinpoints dire problems that need to be fixed before it’s too late (which it nearly is). Offering real solutions that most politicians and pundits are too timid to talk about, On the Hunt lays out specific steps to:

• Win the war in Iraq by changing the way we fight—by taking the gloves off and, in doing so, honoring the sacrifices our soldiers are making
• Deal with Iran, North Korea, and other dangerous threats
• Solve the illegal immigration crisis and keep America’s enemies from breaching our borders (both of them)
• Make our towns and cities more secure—not by looking to the federal bureaucracy but by taking responsibility ourselves
• Protect the liberties of American citizens at home
• Ensure that our soldiers are trained and equipped to fight today’s and tomorrow’s wars

As Colonel Hunt’s millions of viewers on Fox News and all the readers of his bestselling book They Just Don’t Get It will expect, he pulls no punches while incisively analyzing a war unlike any other. In On the Hunt, Colonel Hunt reveals exactly how high the stakes really are in the War on Terror. He condemns failed policies and the people who made them (and, yes, he names names). And most important, he clearly identifies the strategies, tactics, and qualities of leadership that we must bring to bear to ensure the survival of the proud and free nation we love.

Customer Reviews:

Hunt for President!.......2007-06-13

...or at least Secretary of Defense. Colonel Hunt doesn't hold back at all in this book, its not your typical academic style book.
I loved his style eg page 8 he says that all that matters is "killing the bad guys and bringing our boys home in 1 piece.F*** the rest" He's prepared to lay the smackdown on terrorists and the hopeless politicians in charge in D.C whom he calls "pantywaists" and says they need to 'grow a pair" ha ha love it! Finally a no BS look at the War and what needs to be done.

Essentially the Colonel says its quite simple:kill the bad guys, it doesn't matter what the politicians think, what the world thinks, how much it costs or who gets the credit. Any leader who can't handle this and is more concerned with their career is a girleyman who needs to be sacked. PC types won't like this book, heck they probably wouldn't be able to pick it up with their limp wrists, the stuff in this book is enough to make Ted Kennedy drive off a(nother) bridge.

The only criticism I would have is that the Colonel also advocates showering baddie countries like North Korea with aid and goodwill in return for them giving up their nukes and support for terrorists. The problem with this is that these baddie countries are unlikely to abide by the terms of such deals, eg North Korea got such a deal from America in 1994 only to reveal in 2002 that they had been cheating on it all along.

All in all a great book that pulls no punches and has the balls to say what needs to be said,its very easy to simply write off the Colonel as a trigger happy cowboy but that's overlooking the serious failings in this war on terrorism and the solutions to fix them, President Bush must read this book and so should you if you don't then you may as well as the Colonel says "bend over and starting praying towards Mecca"

A lesson in character this nation sorely needs.......2007-06-08

When one reads the news, and listens to the expert opinions of "talking heads" on TV, it's all too easy to believe that the free world is facing complex problems that allow for no reasonable or successful solutions. The messages we receive include the following: we face 1.3 billion Muslims who blame us for all the ills of the world, and we should understand that it's their world and not ours; nobody in Europe or Britain loves us any more, so we must be terribly wrong; every time we try and react, we only make things worse; we had our run, and now it's time for us to step aside; western civilization is obsolete and on the way out.

Reading Colonel David Hunt's "On the Hunt" tells us: No, we're still in the game; and now's the time for us to kick some butt, make no excuses, offer no explanations, come back home a victor, and marry the prom queen.

My experience, as just one reader, is that I sleep better when I read Hunt right at bedtime. It makes me feel safe knowing that somebody, somewhere, understands it the way he does. If I become discouraged by current events and find myself starting to whimp out and despair, a couple of pages of Hunt gets me back on track. You may have exactly the opposite reaction, and, if that's the case, I'd suggest you leave it alone because "On The Hunt" is pretty potent stuff, and not everyone can handle it.

Maybe the most reassuring part of "On The Hunt" is the author's attitude: David Hunt simply was not born to die as an enemy collaborator. His prose is personal, conversational, and expressive, and communicates his attitude and feelings as well as his ideas. When "his time comes" I suspect he'll go out a warrior, having never surrendered or submitted. That's a character lesson this country sorely needs.

If we heed Hunt's advice and follow his example, and he is wrong, at least we won't go down whimpering, soiling our drawers, and apologizing.

Much like I thought it would be........2007-06-01

No ground breaking here, just some enlightenment. The best part of the book deals with the kind of leadership we have and the leadership we are sorely missing.

On The Money.......2007-05-12

Col Hunt is right on the money. Until America puts the conduct of the war in the hands of field commanders with combat experience, we will not win. I do not believe in a cut and run philosophy, but politician must remove themselves from the tactical decision making. I recommend this book.

Jerry Berry
Salida, Colorado

The way it should have been.......2007-05-12

Just finished reading the book and it was a great read and told what should have been done during the Iraq War. It again proves to me that peacetime can be a badtime for the military in that many individuals rise up to leadership positions that are unqualified in the time of war.

Search Engine Marketing, Inc.: Driving Search Traffic to Your Company's Web Site (Ibm Press)

Average customer rating:

Professional, practical guidence on SEO and SEM
Essential reading for anybody in the web space
A very, very, very comprehensive resource
Dense, complete, recommended with a caution
Bible for Search Engine Marketing

Search Engine Marketing, Inc.: Driving Search Traffic to Your Company's Web Site (Ibm Press)
Mike Moran , and Bill Hunt
Manufacturer: IBM Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Web Marketing | Business & Culture | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Search Engine Optimization: An Hour a Day
Pay-Per-Click Search Engine Marketing Handbook: Low Cost Strategies for Attracting New Customers Using Google, MSN, Yahoo & Other Search Engines
Call to Action: Secret Formulas to Improve Online Results
Search Engine Optimization For Dummies, Second Edition (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))
Google Advertising Tools: Cashing in with AdSense, AdWords, and the Google APIs

ASIN: 0131852922

Customer Reviews:

Professional, practical guidence on SEO and SEM.......2007-05-30

While I think that search engine marketing is a moving target and it's best to read current articles and journals, this book provides a great foundation for people interested in pursuing or understanding internet marketing, search marketing, or search engine optimization. It provides practical guidance and advice on what to do now but also works as a higher level strategic plan as well. It's written by IBMers, so there is definitely a level of professionalism compared to hackers or other non-corporate authors. Good book to add to your library, as I reference it from time to time.

Essential reading for anybody in the web space.......2007-05-23

I would argue that this is perhaps the finest, most concise guide to Search Engine Marketing. Developers, Marketers, CopyWriters, Managers and just about anybody else with a stake in search traffic through a website should find this material valuable. Do not expect code, expect sound advice on how to tailor your code. Do not expect copy, expect sound advice on how to focus your copy. After putting into practice what I learned form this book, I saw immediate and impactful results.

The book is also very current and is very ethical. Do not hesitate in making a decision to purchase this book. The payoff will be swift.

A very, very, very comprehensive resource.......2007-05-16

I purchased this book hoping to learn something new. What I found was an ABUNDANCE of information.

This book literally takes you from "zero to hero"..... it begins with extremely basic information and moves on from there.

If you're well schooled in the basics of SEO (such as "search engines can't read text inside of an image file") then you may want to skip the first few chapters.

If, however, you're new to the whole web game and need a thorough and complete education on the subject, this book is for you.

Dense, complete, recommended with a caution.......2007-05-07

If anything, a bit too dense. A lot of it was aimed at medium to large size businesses with big retail sites to build/maintain. If you are like me, a small business guy, there must be something that covers what you need to know in 100 pages and skips the 350 you don't.

Bible for Search Engine Marketing.......2007-02-11

This book is the best investment I ever made in a book. It starts with telling you to keep `conversion' in mind to put you in the right path, then it explains how search engine spiders work and therefore why and what you should and should not do, then gives you the step-by-step how-to-do it guide. Namely, it gives you two things: a solid foundation and concept, and practical implementation tools to get you succeed.

I signed up Yahoo! Directories as the book suggested. At first I thought to myself, "what the book said seems to be right. It would be good to do it, but maybe it doesn't make too much difference. But since the book said it, maybe I just tried." However, I saw tremendous improvement on my site traffic within one month I signed up Yahoo! Directories.

I was so happy that I marked many sentences to make sure I do everything the book suggested. Every word in the book is a goldmine (and will transform to real gold after you implement it.) I like the way the author tells you why each time it tells you what to do. It gives you confidence that you are in the right track. I also appreciate the beauty of the flow and organization of the book. Every paragraph is impeccably linked and integrated and it all comes down to conversion, conversion, conversion. It is not a do this do that and get rank high quick book. It arms you with the knowledge that will go a long way - even the algorithm changes everyday. I believe this book will eventually be recognized as a timeless classic in search engine marketing.

Jennifer Lin
CEO, MyCapital.com

Junie B., First Grader: Dumb Bunny (A Stepping Stone Book(TM))

Average customer rating:

A very loquacious first grader with a vocabulary far beyond her age
Kids Love Junie B.
Hilarious tale
Fun to read out loud!
Another great story

Junie B., First Grader: Dumb Bunny (A Stepping Stone Book(TM))
Barbara Park
Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Similar Items:

Junie B. First Grader: Aloha-ha-ha (A Stepping Stone Book(TM))
Junie B. Jones: First Ever Junie B-Shirt (A Stepping Stone Book(TM))
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Junie B., First Grader: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! (p.s. so does May.) (A Stepping Stone Book(TM))
Top-Secret, Personal Beeswax: A Journal by Junie B. (and Me!)

ASIN: 0375838090
Release Date: 2007-02-13

Book Description

It's an Easter Egg-stravaganza!

Lucille is having an Easter Egg Hunt at her rich expensive mansion! And guess what? The winner gets a play date to swim in Lucille's heated indoor swimming pool! Only, here is the problem. How did Junie B. get stuck wearing a big dumb bunny suit? And how can she possibly find eggs when she keeps tripping over her huge big rabbit feet? Being a dumb bunny is definitely not as easy as it looks. Will Junie B. end up with egg on her face? Or will the day deliver some very uneggspected results?

Customer Reviews:

A very loquacious first grader with a vocabulary far beyond her age .......2007-06-05

After more than 25 books, Barbara Park's series about a very loquacious first grader with a vocabulary far beyond her age (and the writing ability to go with it) is still going strong. So I suspended my disbelief and read JUNIE B., FIRST GRADER: DUMB BUNNY to my six-year-old.

In this adventure, the rich girl in class, Lucille, invites everyone over to her mansion to participate in an over-the-top Easter Egg Hunt that will result in a play date in Lucille's heated indoor swimming pool. Lucille wants her boyfriend Sheldon to win, but Junie B. and her arch-nemesis May (the original "dumb bunny" in the title until Junie B. gets something of a comeuppance later on) are ready to pounce, pound and scrabble their opponents in order to get a dip in that grand pool.

There is a lot of falling down and Batman-type expletives (WHOOSH! SMASH!), and the kids are none too nice to each other until Junie B., in a sudden acknowledgment of good judgment, makes a quick and well-appreciated sacrifice to save the day. We laughed at some of the pratfalls, and Lucille's annoyed Nanna character was amusing as well. Junie B. shares the stage with a lot of different people, but she is clearly the star of the show, the story told from her point of view.

Whether humiliated in a pink bunny suit or gloating over her lack of selfishness, Junie B. thinks in capital letters with lots of exclamation points and writes in her journal about what she has learned. The journal entries are cute and engaging, and spell out the moral of the story without being too pointed, which we appreciated.

If this is your first Junie B. foray, it might be helpful to go back and read some of the earlier books first to relax into her strange environment. Otherwise, DUMB BUNNY certainly will offer fans of the series more of what they have come to expect from this little girl and her friends.

--- Reviewed by Jana Siciliano

Kids Love Junie B........2007-05-14

My daughter love this series. It's a little hard for me to read due to the poor grammar and name calling. Let's face it though most first graders have poor grammar. There are worse things that she could be reading. We have all of these books and they are well loved.

Hilarious tale.......2007-04-14

Barbara Park's JUNIE B. FIRST GRADER: DUMB BUNNY provides another excellent first grader tale: this taking place at Easter and telling of an Easter egg hunt with an unusual prize. But Junie B. gets stuck wearing an impossible costume and a series of mishaps might prevent her from her goals in this hilarious tale for grades 4-6.

Fun to read out loud!.......2007-04-12

My daughter and I loved reading this, along with all the other Junie B. books. The humor can appeal to all ages, and Junie and the other characters are realistic kids who any child can relate to and enjoy reading about.

Another great story.......2007-03-30

The entire Junie B. Jones collection is fantastic. We read them out loud to all five of our kids (ranging from 4-10). They all love them.

This latest story is no exception!

The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master

Average customer rating:

This book is a must for every serious programmer
Provides non-programmers with fascinating insights into professional tricks of the trade
A must for junior programmers, good reference for senior developers
This one is for non programmers
Great advice you can use immediately

The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master
Andrew Hunt , and David Thomas
Manufacturer: Addison-Wesley Professional
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Code Complete, Second Edition
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Head First Design Patterns (Head First)

ASIN: 020161622X

Amazon.com

Programmers are craftspeople trained to use a certain set of tools (editors, object managers, version trackers) to generate a certain kind of product (programs) that will operate in some environment (operating systems on hardware assemblies). Like any other craft, computer programming has spawned a body of wisdom, most of which isn't taught at universities or in certification classes. Most programmers arrive at the so-called tricks of the trade over time, through independent experimentation. In The Pragmatic Programmer, Andrew Hunt and David Thomas codify many of the truths they've discovered during their respective careers as designers of software and writers of code.

Some of the authors' nuggets of pragmatism are concrete, and the path to their implementation is clear. They advise readers to learn one text editor, for example, and use it for everything. They also recommend the use of version-tracking software for even the smallest projects, and promote the merits of learning regular expression syntax and a text-manipulation language. Other (perhaps more valuable) advice is more light-hearted. In the debugging section, it is noted that, "if you see hoof prints think horses, not zebras." That is, suspect everything, but start looking for problems in the most obvious places. There are recommendations for making estimates of time and expense, and for integrating testing into the development process. You'll want a copy of The Pragmatic Programmer for two reasons: it displays your own accumulated wisdom more cleanly than you ever bothered to state it, and it introduces you to methods of work that you may not yet have considered. Working programmers will enjoy this book. --David Wall

Topics covered: A useful approach to software design and construction that allows for efficient, profitable development of high-quality products. Elements of the approach include specification development, customer relations, team management, design practices, development tools, and testing procedures. This approach is presented with the help of anecdotes and technical problems.

Book Description

If I'm putting together a project, it's the authors of this book that I want. . . . And failing that I'd settle for people who've read their book." -- Ward Cunningham

Straight from the programming trenches, The Pragmatic Programmer cuts through the increasing specialization and technicalities of modern software development to examine the core process--taking a requirement and producing working, maintainable code that delights its users. It covers topics ranging from personal responsibility and career development to architectural techniques for keeping your code flexible and easy to adapt and reuse. Read this book, and you'll learn how to

Fight software rot;
Avoid the trap of duplicating knowledge;
Write flexible, dynamic, and adaptable code;
Avoid programming by coincidence;
Bullet-proof your code with contracts, assertions, and exceptions;
Capture real requirements;
Test ruthlessly and effectively;
Delight your users;
Build teams of pragmatic programmers; and
Make your developments more precise with automation.

Written as a series of self-contained sections and filled with entertaining anecdotes, thoughtful examples, and interesting analogies, The Pragmatic Programmer illustrates the best practices and major pitfalls of many different aspects of software development. Whether you're a new coder, an experienced programmer, or a manager responsible for software projects, use these lessons daily, and you'll quickly see improvements in personal productivity, accuracy, and job satisfaction. You'll learn skills and develop habits and attitudes that form the foundation for long-term success in your career. You'll become a Pragmatic Programmer.

Customer Reviews:

This book is a must for every serious programmer.......2007-04-04

This book is the best book that covers programming and how to work as a programmer that I have ever read. It is down-to-earth, funny and with lots of insights. The way it is structured, with very direct recommendations, make it an ideal book to use as a base for team consensus when it concerns the really important parts of software development. This book really shines.

Provides non-programmers with fascinating insights into professional tricks of the trade.......2007-04-01

I come to this book from a slightly odd perspective. Although I have some programming experience, it is very minor, and my current job is focused on strategy and project management rather than the nuts and bolts of coding. I bought the book hoping that it would give me a glimpse into the minds of the senior engineers I work with every day. This it did, quite successfully.

There are seventy numbered tips divided into rough categories. The challenge for me was to distinguish those that nearly all programmers would agree with ("always use source control") from those that may represent a preference of the author ("design with contracts"). An obvious way of doing this would be to review every tip with a programmer you respected. But if you plan to do this, try to buy the poor guy a beer afterwards. That's a lot of tips.

I also found very quickly that the subtitle of the book was no joke. These tips will help propel a programmer from "journeyman to master", but they are a stretch if, like me, you are a relative beginner. Nothing written here is conceptually outside the grasp of anyone who has done coding outside the classroom, but many of the implications and details escaped me until I talked them over with experienced professionals. It doesn't pretend to be a book for beginners, and by gum, it's not.

There is also a very heavy emphasis on testing and automation throughout the text. While much of the time this is obviously a good idea, it is focused on a certain type of programming whose core challenges are on the back end, and not user facing. Perhaps there is a method of testing that would catch the UI errors and usability problems that crop up so often when developing for the web, but if they were described I didn't catch them.

I would recommend this book to anyone working with programmers on a professional basis. It helps to understand some of their tools and processes, although not every engineer agrees with every tip presented. If you're learning how to program yourself though, I recommend you wait on this one till you're through a few more introductory texts.

A must for junior programmers, good reference for senior developers.......2007-03-21

This book is well written and contains valuable information about software development and practices.

It is highly recommended if you are starting in this field as this will set you up and get you going in the right direction.

If you are, however, an experienced software developer you can quickly skim through it. There was very little new for me. My colleagues and I already follow many of the practices mentioned in the book. It is good to have it on a bookshelf as a reference anyway.

This one is for non programmers.......2007-02-21

I was planning to buy this book. But before buying, I checked it out on Google Books. This one is certainly not for the programmers but for the people who claim to be programmer. If you are a programmer, you don't do finger pointing when you or someone else discovers a bug in your program. You just get down to work with debugger. And in fact you learn a lot while debugging. So if you are a serious programmer (not just by some designation at your work), you don't need it.

Great advice you can use immediately.......2007-02-16

If you are constantly looking for ways to improve your coding, this book is full of ideas that you can incorporate immediately and see results. It is also full of great analogies that you can use to explain why you do things a certain way.

The Tale of Three Trees: A Traditional Folktale

Average customer rating:

Charming
A classic tale for children and adults all year long
Beautifully Done!
Excellent book to share with children.
Precious story

The Tale of Three Trees: A Traditional Folktale
Angela Elwell Hunt , and Tim Jonke (Illustrator)
Manufacturer: Cook Communications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Crippled Lamb: Collector's Edition
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ASIN: 0745917437

Book Description

The Lion's best-selling picture storybook--with over one million copies in print--three little trees see their dreams for greatness come true in surprising ways. Ages 4 and up.

Customer Reviews:

Charming.......2007-06-22

Love it! I first heard this in a college lit class, and have since read it to a children's Sunday School class, an church Easter party, and an entire congregation of very traditional Baptists. The children always sit still to listen, and the grown ups always cry.
I love that it teaches without being technical or redundant, and I love the illustration of the three trees: the first time we see them, they're trees. The final time, each is bathed in light and in their new shapes. I get chills every time.

A classic tale for children and adults all year long.......2007-06-02

The Tale of Three Trees is a traditional folktale. This hardcover version is retold by Angela Elwell Hunt and illustrated by Tim Jonke. The text is clear, perfect for young readers. The illustrations are dark, but meaningful. They are full of detail often using silhouettes and great contrast.

The story begins with three little trees growing on a mountaintop. Each has a dream. The first wants to be beautiful and hold marvelous treasures. The second hopes to be the strongest ship carrying kings across the seas. The third never wants to be cut down. She dreams only to grow tall and point people to heaven.

The years pass and the three trees grow tall and strong. Three lumerjacks come and cut them down. The first two are initially excited, but then disappointed as they are turned into less than they had hoped. The first is built into a feedbox for animals. The second a small fishing boat. The third tree is simply cut into planks and left in a pile. They're dreams are all but forgotten until one night a young mother lays her newborn baby in the manger. That tree knows he hold the greatest treasure of all. Then the small fishing boat watches a weary traveller calm the stormy sea. He knows he holds the King of heaven and earth. Finally, the third tree is taken from the pile to form a cross. She feels ugly and ashamed when a man's hands and feet are nailed to her. But when the earth trembled on the third day, she knew "God's love had changed everything. It had made the first tree beautiful ... the second tree strong ... And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God."

What I Like: This tale is wonderful at Christmas, Easter and all year long! I love the simple story. It reminds us that God always gives us our desires, but sometimes they materialize in ways drastically different than we imagined.

What I Dislike: My kids are bored by the pictures. The illustrations are beautiful, but not for this age range. They're a little too dark and show very little action.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: Baby-Preschool (according to Amazon), but I would say 3 and above.

Tanya -- Christian Children's Book Review (CCBReview *dot* blogspot)

Beautifully Done!.......2007-05-21

This was very well done. Very subtle, yet...as a very Christian adult, it almost made me cry. The artwork really caught my 3yr old's attention and my 5 and 7 yr olds loved the story (and making the connection between the wish and the finished product). We are giving this as a gift to a non-practicing Christian. It is subtle enough not to offend, but strong enough that it may spark some interest in furthering their Christian Faith.

Excellent book to share with children........2007-05-15

This wonderful story will bring tears to your eyes and value to your soul. Great to read to little ones at bed time.

Precious story.......2007-01-20

I read this story to the children in the Montessorie school and after ward they all said thank you and got in line to hug me they enjoyed it so well. Hope fully it will all cause us to think.

No Rest for the Wicked (The Immortals After Dark Series, #2)

Average customer rating:

Great one!!!!!
Fantastic 2nd Book...
NO REST FOR THE WICKED
no rest for the wicked
Fabulous Read...couldn't put it down

No Rest for the Wicked (The Immortals After Dark Series, #2)
Kresley Cole
Manufacturer: Pocket Star
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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The Dream-Hunter (A Dream-Hunter Novel, Book 1)

ASIN: 1416509887

Product Description

here is the sequel to the hot bestselling a hunger like no other!in this scorching series there is passionate sex&fascinating characters!

Customer Reviews:

Great one!!!!!.......2007-06-06

I really liked this one!!!!!

Yummi vampire!!! ;)

This book is as great as the first one, A HUNGER LIKE NO OTHER, and you take no time at all getting used to the way in which things are being told and with how the story evolves.

The sex is still great, but i couldn't help but feel that it was in some way similar to that in A HUNGER LIKE FIRE, but maybe a little less animalistic... But both had common ground, like pinning her hands above her head and doing first oral sex and some pages ahead having it going.

But besides it -or maybe because of it XDDD - the book is GREAT!!!! ;)

Have the third one pre ordered!!! ;)

Fantastic 2nd Book..........2007-05-30

in this new series! Usually, I am not fond of series books unless they are by certain authors, but I was NOT disappointed or in anyway let down. I loved this book and I continue to be impressed by Ms. Cole. Keep them coming!

NO REST FOR THE WICKED.......2007-05-29

I USUALLY DO NOT LIKE SI-FI, AND WILL AVOID READIING EVEN MY FAVORATE AUTHORS. I STARTED READING THIS BOOK AND BECAME CAPTIVATED AND COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. SEB AND KADERIN HAD THE ROMANCE WITH JUST ENOUGH FICTION TO BE INTERESTING BUT NOT DISTRACTING OR OVERWHELMING. THOUGH I READ THE BOOKS OUT OF SEQUENCE, I WAS ENTHRALLED.

no rest for the wicked.......2007-05-25

great book, a real page turner couldnt get enough of it. kresley cole is my new favorite, mixing lore (all of them) with sex and a good story has me hooked.

Fabulous Read...couldn't put it down.......2007-05-13

This book was a breath of fresh air, definitely NOT a waste of money or time. I seriously could not put it down, the characters (and settings) were all well written, Sebastian and Kaderin were definitely made for each other you could feel it on the first page. Great opening scene totally H-O-T, you just knew that this book was going to deliver a great story, most certainly a book that you would pull an all nighter on. Ms. Cole definitely has talent and knows how to use it. If you want a good read this IS the book to get.

American Spy: My Secret History in the CIA, Watergate and Beyond

Average customer rating:

junk
a disappointing effort
Important And candid book.
Pre-Watergate is VERY interesting
American Spy: My Secret History in the CIA

American Spy: My Secret History in the CIA, Watergate and Beyond
E. Howard Hunt , and Greg Aunapu
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Similar Items:

Flawed Patriot: The Rise and Fall of CIA Legend Bill Harvey
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Spy Wars: Moles, Mysteries, and Deadly Games
Safe for Democracy: The Secret Wars of the CIA

ASIN: 0471789828

Book Description

Startling revelations from the OSS, the CIA, and the Nixon White house

Think you know everything there is to know about the OSS, the Cold War, the CIA, and Watergate? Think again. In American Spy, one of the key figures in postwar international and political espionage tells all. Former OSS and CIA operative and White House staffer E. Howard Hunt takes you into the covert designs of Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon:

His involvement in the CIA coup in Guatemala in 1954, the Bay of Pigs invasion, and more
His work with CIA officials such as Allen Dulles and Richard Helms
His friendship with William F. Buckley Jr., whom Hunt brought into the CIA
The amazing steps the CIA took to manipulate the media in America and abroad
The motives behind the break-in at Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist's office
Why the White House "plumbers" were formed and what they accomplished
The truth behind Operation Gemstone, a series of planned black ops activities against Nixon's political enemies
A minute-by-minute account of the Watergate break-in
Previously unreleased details of the post-Watergate cover-up

Complete with documentation from audiotape transcripts, handwritten notes, and official documents, American Spy is must reading for anyone who is fascinated by real-life spy tales, high-stakes politics, and, of course, Watergate.

Customer Reviews:

junk.......2007-06-14

This man, even as he looked at death, could not even come close to the truth. If you buy this book call me i got a bridge for you...

mmmm just to be straight i bought this book...so don't be a sucker like.....me

a disappointing effort.......2007-05-28

I really looked forward to reading this book having been in college when Watergate grasped the nation I wanted to see how well I remembered some events. But after reading half the book I knew that much of what I was absorbing was the result of a memory even more flawed than my own. The topper came when he has President Eisenhower in office in 1950 when even a junior high schooler could tell you Eisenhower was elected in 1952 - after the Korean War. After that how reliable could the rest of the book be. Was it just a case of poor editing, or did Hunt really believe what was written? It left me questioning how much of the book was meant as an attempt to absolve himself of his crimes or justify the mistakes he made of his own free will. Is he trying to rewrite history? I just don't know, and after finishing the entire book I still am not sure if this is non-fiction or fiction.

Important And candid book........2007-05-15

There was a real snotty review of this book by the NY Times( the bastion of limosine liberalism and Oswald did it alone BS) But, anyone interested in Watergate or the JFK Assassination should read it- the reviewer doesn't have a clue more than the man in the street what Howard hunt, knew and he had a long association with the Assassination losing a lawsuit where he was 11-22-63 as shown in Mark Lane's Plausible denial. I'm not saying Hunt didn't embellish, or possibly deflate his own role,maybe threw in a couple bogus names, but the names he picks-the key ones: William Harvey, David Morales, and David Phillps all have several suspicious things about them in this regard, were all heavy drinkers and hated The Kennedys with a purple passion. There is nothing far fetched about their alleged involvement.one of the big reasons the conspiracy worked is no one in the Wash press corps could fathom it...& whatever Hoover said, or spokesman for Govt. Agencies was accepted without question in that day, thus denying a mountain of germane contrary evidence. As far as watergate- very interesting and it was horrible his wife died in the plane crash, and Hunt got 35 years from Judge Sirica!What they did was illegal, but nothing compared to what the current Administration is doing and though Hunt is hardly a shining knight, you can really see things through his eyes and his observations on notable people are just priceless and often I believe highly accurate ..In a sea of evil pathological liars that were much higher up the food chain-Hoover,Nixon, Helms, Angeton,& LBJ Hunt wasn't the epitome of malevolance as he was portrayed in the Establishment..there were people far worse...

Pre-Watergate is VERY interesting.......2007-05-13

Not the best written book, but the first three quarters which describes the CIA's shenanigans down in Central and South America is VERY interesting.

Led me to purchase "Diary of an Economic Hitman".

American Spy: My Secret History in the CIA.......2007-05-07

It was a very well written book with a good point of view.

Average customer rating:

Good comprehensive read, easy to get to grips with
Good basic but needs an update urgently
The missing Link
second thoughts
YOUR SEARCH FOR THE BEST PIPING BOOK IS OVER !

Process Plant Layout and Piping Design
Ed Bausbacher , and Roger Hunt
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall PTR
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Industrial & Technical | Chemistry | Science | Subjects | Books

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Pipe Drafting and Design, Second Edition
Piping Calculations Manual (Mcgraw-Hill Calculations)
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ASIN: 0131386298

Book Description

Based on the authors' collective 65 years of experience in the engineering construction industry, this profusely illustrated, comprehensive guidebook presents tried-and-true workable methods and rules of thumb for plant layout and piping design for the process industries. Content is organized and presented for quick-reference on-the-job or for systematic study of specific topics. Presents general concepts and principles of plant layout -- from basic terminology and input requirements to deliverables; deals with specific pieces of equipment and their most efficient layout in the overall plant design configuration; addresses the plant layout requirements for the most common process unit equipment; covers piping requirements for the entire plant as well as all equipment types; and considers the computerized tools that are now available to help plant layout and piping designers. Features more than 640 illustrations of equipment, piping and other components of processing facility -- and their configurations. MARKETS: For mechanical and chemical engineers working for engineering construction as well as process manufacturing companies with responsibility for plant layout, piping, and construction; and for engineering students.

Customer Reviews:

Good comprehensive read, easy to get to grips with.......2006-12-01

At first glance this book seems impressive - good illustrations, easy to read and seemingly well organised. The book only gets better the more times you use it too. If you are going to try 3D Plant Design then you would be wise to use this book as well as a program such as the 3D Pipe Fittings one available from Hercule Design.

If you are going to use a pre-developed library of parts then it is worth buying but otherwise be warned that 3D drafting of pipe systems will be time consuming.

Good basic but needs an update urgently.......2006-08-31

First some positive news : this book certainly gives an overview of the problems a process plant engineer will have to face. Many practical examples are given, and after some general introduction there are separate chapters per typical equipment (e.g. pumps, heat exchangers, etc.). It is also positive the non-american majority of the world is not forgotten : there are metric dimensions on the figures.
However there are also some setbacks : the book can't hide it is OLD. All figures are hand-drawn, CAD was clearly still science fiction on the moment this book was published. This definitely gives it an outdated feeling - I guess though the content is still accurate.
Second settback : the size. It's far too big and clumsy, without good reason. Really not something you put in your drawer for a quick loop-up.
Finally : I find it a good general starting point but had hoped it would be somewhat less shalow. After a first reading I don't think I'll have to keep it on hand for looking up.

The missing Link.......2005-08-12

This book bridges the gap between College and the work environment. After reading the first two chapters I felt as if I am ready to go out and manage the construction of a Refinery. That is the kind of confidence this book instills in you. Can you imagine how I would feel upon completing this book? I can't wait.

second thoughts.......2000-03-23

a good basic introduction to piping design-gleaned mainly from industy standards kellogg, flour etc. a must for anyone new to the industry

YOUR SEARCH FOR THE BEST PIPING BOOK IS OVER !.......2000-03-06

After reading the first few pages, I knew that I've finally found the "one". I have collection of books about the subject from different authors and as a piping designer, this is the most useful reference book. Other books are just compilation of useless rubbish.I bought this a year ago, I think the author deserves the long overdue compliment.

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