Book Description
Gardeners throughout the region will be welcoming a thoroughly updated and fresh-looking 8th edition of the "bible of Western gardening." With a new, easy-to-read design, more plant photography, larger illustrations, and more than 8,000 plant listings--500 of them new--it's THE essential book for gardeners in the Western states. What plants to grow, how to nurture them, and where they do the very best--it's all here. You'll also find updated information on the Western climate zones, 30 Plant Selection Guides, plus a Practical Guide to Gardening with basic advice on plant care and essential gardening techniques. New plant lists reflect current trends, such as Mediterranean gardening and easy-care plants for beginners. For more than 70 years, Sunset has been the source for no-nonsense gardening advice, easy-to-follow diagrams, and encyclopedic knowledge of plant varieties. In this edition, we introduce an exciting new feature: gardening tips from well-known plant experts throughout the West. The Western Garden Book has never been better! Features:
8th Edition of this perennial bestseller
More than 8,000 plant listings, 500 new, keyed to climate zones
30 Plant Selection Guides to find the perfect plant for every situation
Special contributions from 40 eminent Western garden experts
Introduction by Sunset garden editor Kathleen N. Brenzel, with a photographic tour of gardens that are truly the `Best of the West' gardens
Customer Reviews:
In great condition!!.......2007-09-21
The book is in great condition and I received it very quickly. Thank you so much!
a must have!.......2007-09-20
Anyone, from the curious to the beginning gardener to the expert must have this volume on their shelf. It is full of well organized information.
Best garden book there is.......2007-09-16
Got a garden???? You NEED this book NOW! I'm a native Californian, and this is our garden Bible. I don't think anyone gardens without it. I'm in Massachusetts now, and I wanted this book to create my new garden. This book is well worth the investment.
It's easy to see why SUNSET WESTERN GARDEN BOOK has become the reference 'bible'.......2007-09-08
Over 8,000 plants are accompanied by tips from Western gardening pros in SUNSET WESTERN GARDEN BOOK, a classic completely updated and revised, and now in its 8th edition. From small color drawings of plants and seeds to descriptions which include hardiness zones, use, varieties and more, it's easy to see why SUNSET WESTERN GARDEN BOOK has become the reference 'bible' for any Western gardener and for any library catering to them.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
Best for the West.......2007-09-07
The Sunset Western Garden Book is the gardener's bible. For beginners to experts, it's the definitive guide to everything related to gardening. It is to gardeners what the Joy of Cooking is to cooks.
Book Description
Do you know what the best feature is in All New Square Foot Gardening?
Sure, there are ten new features in this all-new, updated book. Sure, it's even simpler than it was before. Of course, you don't have to worry about fertilizer or poor soil ever again because you'll be growing above the ground.
But, the best feature is that anyone, anywhere can enjoy a Square Foot garden. Children, adults with limited mobility, even complete novices can achieve spectacular results.
But, let's get back to the ten improvements. You're going to love them.
1)
New
Location - Move your garden closer to your house by eliminating single-row gardening. Square Foot Garden needs just twenty percent of the space of a traditional garden.
2)
New
Direction - Locate your garden on top of existing soil. Forget about pH soil tests, double-digging (who enjoys that?), or the never-ending soil improvements.
3)
New
Soil - The new "Mel's Mix" is the perfect growing mix. Why, we even give you the recipe. Best of all, you can even buy the different types of compost needed.
4)
New
Depth - You only need to prepare a SFG box to a depth of 6 inches! It's true--the majority of plants develop just fine when grown at this depth.
5)
No Fertilizer - The all new SFG does not need any fertilizer-ever! If you start with the perfect soil mix, then you don't need to add fertilizer.
6)
New Boxes - The new method uses bottomless boxes placed aboveground. We show you how to build your own (with step-by-step photos).
7)
New Aisles - The ideal gardening aisle width is about three to four feet. That makes it even easier to kneel, work, and harvest.
8)
New Grids - Prominent and permanent grids added to your SFG box help you visualize the planting squares and know how to space for maximum harvest.
9)
New Seed Saving Idea - The old-fashioned way advocates planting many seeds and then thinning the extras (that means pulling them up). The new method means planting a pinch- literally two or three seeds--per planting hole.
10)
Tabletop Gardens - The new boxes are so much smaller and lighter (only 6 inches of soil, remember?), you can add a plywood bottom to make them portable.
Of course, that's not all. We've also included simple, easy-to-follow instructions using lots of photos and illustrations. You're going to love it!
Customer Reviews:
Practical and Easy Gardening.......2007-10-10
I have been interested in gardening for years and have even attempted it a time or two. The results were never pretty. This book has helped me turn over a new leaf! I feel like I can garden without having to constantly experiment with the details - what soil mixture should I use, where can I find room, how much should I plant, etc. I followed his directions in making and gridding my box, the soil mixture, planting ,etc. I love the easiness of it all and how crisp and clean it looks! I am excited about my garden and have even intrigued my dad( who is an avid gardener) with this method! We are both experimenting together!
Helpful book.......2007-09-14
This a good book, but the author's ego is the size of the Atlantic Ocean. If you can get past his bragging and self-promotion, the book has some good ideas and helpful information. I like this book (the author can be inspiring and has obviously given a lot of thought to his ideas), but I like Gaia's Garden and Food Not Lawns better.
One idea the author doesn't mention is the use of free wood chips as a ground cover. Here in Portland, you can call most arborists and they will deliver free ground trees. It's better for the arborists than paying to dispose of the ground trees at a recycling center and they will schedule the delivery when they're in your area to minimize their delivery distance. You can minimize weeds by laying down a thick layer of newspapers or cardboard, and then covering them with wood chips.
Gardening with a bad back.......2007-09-09
I had back surgery 5 years ago and had to give up gardening. Last Spring a friend gave me a copy of Square Foot Gardening. I had someone build me a 4x8 foot garden on legs 4 feet tall and planted a vegetable garden that was so successful that we joked that it was going to take over the world! I have since had another built. It is so exciting to me to be able to grow things again! I would recommend that you have one built for a friend or parent who is unable to keep up with a regular garden. It is a wonderful feeling to eat what you have grown.
Diane Woodward
North Carolina
Great Book!.......2007-09-07
I love this book and can't wait to try out his methods of gardening. Pictures are very pretty. Instructions easy to understand.
Never too late (for SFG).......2007-09-05
This is a innovative, creative, common sense approach to engaging in the wonderwful world of gardening in a straightforward and easily managed way. Thanks Mel. (p.s. these words are from the person to whom I gifted this book)
Book Description
No longer a technique just for apartment dwellers or novice gardeners, the use of ornamental containers on decks, patios, terraces, and in the garden itself can save time, space, and money, while offering experienced home gardeners unique creative challenges, site flexibility, and experimental fun. Author and award-winning horticulturist Ray Rogers takes you on an engaging exploration into basic design principles as well as how to create focal points, use water, exploit the potential of empty containers, and more. Stunning photographs by Richard Hartlage provide guidance and inspiration, as well as visually explaining each principle. Gardeners at every level of experience will find inspiration and instruction in this comprehensive book.
Customer Reviews:
Pure inspiration.......2007-08-21
Yet another really fine book from Timber Press. I'll spend long, dark winter evenings wandering through these pages, absorbing the wisdom of the writers and generating ideas for next spring. Gorgeous photographs, too.
Gorgeous book and inspired arrangements.......2007-07-30
I purchased several gardening books together and this one was the highlight. Not only beautifully photographed but full of interesting suggestions and writing. My husband and I were able to immediately use some of the arrangements as inspiration for a new bed in our garden. Turned out beautifully!
Enjoyed it all.......2007-05-14
The book is an excellent reference source. Photos are beautiful. Numbering the pictures with the description very helpful. Lovely coffee table book. I have told other gardeners to seek the book out.
container gardening.......2007-03-14
(This review focuses on the photographs in "Pots in the Garden.")
Picture quality is very good throughout the book, and in parts I and II ("the elements of design" and "bringing it all together") the picture content is excellent as well.
Unlike most container gardening books this one neither details container plantings nor uses captions, instead it inconspicuosly numbers each picture and then conspicuosly puts the number in the text with its corresponding description. Garden styles represented vary but the bold, Little-and-Lewis-type modernists lead the way, and even if this isn't your favorite style of garden you will probably love the containers featured in them!
What really sets this book apart is the variety of pots featured. Terra cotta and stone/concrete are great, and the English gardening books display some wonderful copper and lead, but those of you who especially love high quality glazed/rustic containers and know that it is not all that easy to find good examples of them will be happy to add this book to your collection.
The reasons I didn't give 5 stars are the book's slightly smallish size (9 1/4 x 8 1/2) and its 3rd part ("plant groups for containers") which, though it has some very interesting and unique plant picks (dark purple/black perennial clematis?), does not show most of them in containers; admittedly difficult to do, but David Joyce's "The Complete Container Garden" sure did it well. That's about eighty pages where pots are rarely pictured.
Overall a beautiful and inspiring book at a very good price.
Average customer rating:
- Chinese Herbal Medicine
- Daunting at first, but then easier to come to terms with later
- The Internet is a nice source of Information, too
- Exactly what I wanted
- Essential Reference Material
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Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, Third Edition
Dan Bensky ,
Steven Clavey , and
Erich Stoger
Manufacturer: Eastland Press
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RESPeRATE Blood Pressure Lowering Device
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Airborne Effervescent Health Formula, Original Orange, 10 Tablets (Pack of 3)
ASIN: 0939616424 |
Book Description
The new 3rd edition of Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica is designed to give practitioners the information they need to practice Chinese herbal medicine with greater understanding and confidence. It provides a wealth of new information -- more than twice the content of the previous edition -- and practical insight into more than 530 of the most commonly used herbs in the Chinese pharmacopoeia.
Drawing from a wide range of sources, both classical and modern, this edition provides unparalleled perspective and detail that goes far beyond what is available elsewhere to the Western practitioner.
Herbs are grouped in chapters by function, with expanded summaries and tables for contrast and comparison. Each herb is identified by its pharmaceutical, pinyin, botanical, and family names, as well as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and English common names.
Key characteristics are provided at the beginning of each entry, along with dosage, properties, channels entered, and relevant cautions and contraindications. This provides a quick overview of essential information.
Actions and indications are integrated with important combinations that illustrate the range of an herb's functions, with references to appropriate formulas. This presents a more three-dimensional picture of how each herb is actually used.
Expanded commentary offers in-depth analysis and places each herb in its clinical context through rich historical references. The mechanisms of action underlying important combinations, and comparisons with similar herbs, provide a broader context for understanding how the herb can be used with optimal effect.
A section devoted to nomenclature and preparation describes the most important methods of processing and preparing each herb, and the advantages of each method. It also provides information about other commonly-used names and historical background.
Safety is an important focus of this edition, with an emphasis on proper herb identification. Issues concerning standardized products, desirable qualities, variants, and adulterants are explained for each herb. There is also extensive information on toxicity, as well as chemical constituents.
The utility of this book is enhanced by its wide range of appendices, among which are color photographs comparing the standard and adulterant forms of over 20 common herbs; tables of herbs that are indicated for specific pathologies of the five yin organs; and extensive cross references of the herbs by taxonomy, pinyin, pharmaceutical name, and other East Asian languages. There are also comprehensive indices of both herbs and formulas, as well as a general index.
Customer Reviews:
Chinese Herbal Medicine.......2007-09-12
This is by far the best Chinese Herbal Medicine referral book I have come across in my studies.
Daunting at first, but then easier to come to terms with later.......2007-05-29
Well, what can you say about this book? This is a hefty, giant book, and could certainly induce some kind of cerbral damage if dropped out of a third story window. :) No, in all seriousness, this is a great, concise book, and as the title of this review implies, it becomes more manageable after you get used to it. Used solely by itself, it will probably not help the student of Chinese herbology to ace any exams, but used in accordance with other study techniques, it will furter deepen and reinforce the studying of the herbs.
The Internet is a nice source of Information, too.......2007-04-23
Well,
Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences (ICMS), with the generous support from the Macao SAR Government and University of Macau, was founded in 2002.
Dan Bensky is a graduate of the Macau Institute of Chinese Medicine (Oriental Medicine Diploma, 1975)
Exactly what I wanted.......2007-03-09
My book arrived sooner than expected and in perfect shape. Thank you!
Essential Reference Material.......2007-03-08
Bensky's herbal reference texts are industry standards. Buy this book or risk ridicule.
Book Description
One of the bestselling garden books ever is fresher than ever! Ready to inspire a whole new generation of gardeners.When he created the "square foot gardening" method, Mel Bartholomew, a retired engineer and efficiency expert, found the solution to the frustrations of most gardeners. His revolutionary system is simple: it's an ingenious planting method based on using square foot blocks of garden space instead of rows. Gardeners build up, not down, so there's no digging and no tilling after the first year. And the method requires less thinning, less weeding, and less watering."I found a better way to garden, one that's more efficient, more manageable, and requires less work," Bartholomew explains. Not surprisingly, his method quickly received worldwide recognition and has been written up in every major newspaper and gardening magazine. His book, which served as the companion to the nationally acclaimed television series, has sold over 800,000 copies. Now freshened with new illustrations, the book Ingram calls "the largest selling garden book in America" is reissued for the delight of a whole new generation of gardeners.
Customer Reviews:
Best Garden Book for Beginers .......2007-09-05
I have owned this book for years. Worn out more that one copy. This copy was purchased to give to a new urbanm garden project in a develpomently challanged area of my city. We will be teaching at rick young people how to garden and landscape. This is one of many tools we will use and is as far as I am concerned the best how to do it garden book for people who have little or no knowledge about gardening.
Not "Just" for Small Spaces.......2007-05-12
Wonderful information is contained throughout this book for gardeners planting in small 4'X4' spaces to huge gardens. In fact, "Square Foot Gardening" is chocked full of useful information which can and should be used in any size gearden from a small container on the patio to very large gardens. The info saves a gardener many back-breaking laborous hours.
Before I read this book, I did not know that cantalopes can be trellised, which saves "those" vines from rambling all over the garden. There is too much info to be missed without this great book.
Square Foot Gardening: A New Way to Garden in Less Space with Less Work.......2007-03-11
All the information a gardener needs to begin this method of raising flowers and vegetables is found in this book, which pleases me greatly.
Love it -- it's so easy!.......2007-03-02
The techniques in this book ABSOLUTELY work! I have 3 4'x4' raised garden beds, and all seeds I planted are sprouting (and I have seeds left over for planting later in the season, too--no more wasted seeds).
Mr. Bartholomew explains all of his techniques very well and the book is very easy to read. I'm especially fond of his formula for good garden soil and planting with coarse vermiculite. I think this an extremely important step in preparing the garden, and I attribute my success, so far, to his detailed instructions regarding soil prep.
I'm not a great gardener by any stretch of the imagination, so I love the idea that I am growing more in a smaller space, plus my weeding HAS been very minimal. His technique of growing in "grids" is also very visually appealing and my children (ages 18 mos to 11 years) can very easily see what's happening and identify the vegetables that are growing.
Kudos to Mr. Bartholomew for writing such a helpful book for those not-so-green-thumb gardeners!
I just can't be this meticulous.......2007-02-02
Is anyone really this uptight about measuring everything and not overproducing vegetables? The methods are organic and the garden looks lovely, but can you truly guarantee that no matter how well you take care of your garden you will have no losses to critters or pests? Last year, I had a family of raccoons move in and eat half of my sweet corn. The only reason my family got any was because I planted more than what we needed. The coons also got the raspberries and grapes. I've also lost beans and peas to rabbits, and been invaded from time to time by various creepy-crawlies. A garden is not grown in isolation, at least, not mine. I preserve what we can't use in season or store it in the root cellar, and when I get extra veggies I share them with friends and family. They are always welcome.
The techniques are good and I agree that it is better to take care of a small patch of garden well than to care for a large patch poorly. I am just more of a "cottage garden" style gardener, so this was not the book for me. If you like this book you should read some books by Eliot Coleman. He's a very precise gardener, too.
Amazon.com's Best of 2001
Working in his garden one day, Michael Pollan hit pay dirt in the form of an idea: do plants, he wondered, use humans as much as we use them? While the question is not entirely original, the way Pollan examines this complex coevolution by looking at the natural world from the perspective of plants is unique. The result is a fascinating and engaging look at the true nature of domestication.
In making his point, Pollan focuses on the relationship between humans and four specific plants: apples, tulips, marijuana, and potatoes. He uses the history of John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed) to illustrate how both the apple's sweetness and its role in the production of alcoholic cider made it appealing to settlers moving west, thus greatly expanding the plant's range. He also explains how human manipulation of the plant has weakened it, so that "modern apples require more pesticide than any other food crop." The tulipomania of 17th-century Holland is a backdrop for his examination of the role the tulip's beauty played in wildly influencing human behavior to both the benefit and detriment of the plant (the markings that made the tulip so attractive to the Dutch were actually caused by a virus). His excellent discussion of the potato combines a history of the plant with a prime example of how biotechnology is changing our relationship to nature. As part of his research, Pollan visited the Monsanto company headquarters and planted some of their NewLeaf brand potatoes in his garden--seeds that had been genetically engineered to produce their own insecticide. Though they worked as advertised, he made some startling discoveries, primarily that the NewLeaf plants themselves are registered as a pesticide by the EPA and that federal law prohibits anyone from reaping more than one crop per seed packet. And in a interesting aside, he explains how a global desire for consistently perfect French fries contributes to both damaging monoculture and the genetic engineering necessary to support it.
Pollan has read widely on the subject and elegantly combines literary, historical, philosophical, and scientific references with engaging anecdotes, giving readers much to ponder while weeding their gardens. --Shawn Carkonen
Book Description
Every schoolchild learns about the mutually beneficial dance of honeybees and flowers: The bee collects nectar and pollen to make honey and, in the process, spreads the flowers’ genes far and wide. In
The Botany of Desire, Michael Pollan ingeniously demonstrates how people and domesticated plants have formed a similarly reciprocal relationship. He masterfully links four fundamental human desires—sweetness, beauty, intoxication, and control—with the plants that satisfy them: the apple, the tulip, marijuana, and the potato. In telling the stories of four familiar species, Pollan illustrates how the plants have evolved to satisfy humankind’s most basic yearnings. And just as we’ve benefited from these plants, we have also done well by them. So who is really domesticating whom?
Customer Reviews:
A Fascinating Read.......2007-10-07
The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan challenges the notion that mankind can control the natural world, subjugating plants to the will of the gardener. Through a discussion of four plants closely associated with human cultivation: apple, tulip, marijuana, and potato, Pollan demonstrates that organisms which possess traits desirable to the gardener have been able manipulate humans to cultivate them. Each plant has a different strategy for assuring that humans will continue to include it in their gardens. The apple, for example, is an extremely diverse species whose seeds contain millions of possible variations of both the fruit produced and the tree itself. Whether one is looking to make hard cider or munch on a crisp green fruit, the apple tree has the genetic code to produce the fruit humans look for.
In The Botany of Desire, Pollan focuses on the four plants mentioned above, placing each plant in a category, and explains how plants within that category possess characteristics which make them desirable to humans. The apple and other fruits appeal to our sense of taste, and, if fermented, our desire for inebriation. The tulip appeals to mankind's sense of beauty; marijuana, our desire to achieve an altered state of mind; the potato our need for nourishment and desire to genetically engineer crops. In short, each of these plants is successful in an evolutionary sense because it causes us to cultivate it.
Although Pollan's book is an intriguing read, I found it unsettling that he often rattles off facts and figures without citing a direct source, such as the assertion on page 219: "a potato farmer in Idaho spends roughly $1,950 an acre (mainly on chemicals, electricity and water)." Pollan does include a few pages of sources in the back of his book, but he could make a stronger argument that would stand up to academic scrutiny with the addition of endnotes.
In addition to a vast amount of research and traveling prior to writing this book, Pollan makes The Botany of Desire a quality literary work by using recurring themes to tie the four parts of the book together. Through returning to his garden at many points over the course of the book, Pollan is able to tie all four of his subjects into a common space. Approaching the reader as a fellow gardener gives him or her a sense of connection to Pollan and his garden. By the end of the book, I felt as though I knew Michael Pollan and his garden intimately. Another example of this continuity is Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and revelry. Dionysus appears in both chapters one and three, were Pollan relates him to cider, Johnny Appleseed, and mind-altering substances.
Overall, Pollan's clear style and journalistic narrative flows easily and keeps the reader entertained throughout the book. He makes effective use of descriptive details and personal experiences to relate to the reader as he argues his theme of plants manipulating humans to include them in their gardens. The Botany of Desire is a must read for anyone interested in how plants we encounter on a daily basis cause us to cultivate them around the globe.
Too much information.......2007-09-16
Started out liking the chapter on Apples, less the next and so on. It seemed like I was getting the same story in each chapter only more elaborate and wordy.
Just buy this book........................2007-09-05
I am not a botanist.Yet. But the study of evolution is quite an exciting journey, made more exciting by the mind melting,eloquent ideas posed by Mr. Pollan. Bought the audio book version, and I can't stop listining to it. From the story of Johnyy Appleseed, to Holland in search of the history of Tulips, the Amazing Marijuana Plant, and the control of the Potato. Seemed random to me. Not any more. Incredible book.
We are the world.......2007-08-31
Pollan's book is a vivid reminder of how intricately human society is woven into the ecological framework of the planet and in particular that of plants. His descriptions of how our societies have affected and been affected by just four plants opens up a series of thought-provoking questions to mull over the next time you find yourself in a garden, at the dinner table, or taking a walk outdoors. It's written with sensitivity towards those he disagrees with, and this gentle touch makes the story he's relating much more effective at prompting you as reader to engage. The weakest part of the book is the chapter on Tulips, but that is hard to criticize since the chapters on apples, marijuana and potatoes are so good.
Read this Book!
human psychology in the garden.......2007-08-02
Human psychology from the plant's perspective? Yep. That's precisely the topic of this book. When our ancestors began breeding plants to serve our desires they inevitably laid those desires bare in the phenotypes in their gardens. Pollan is impressively aware of many current themes in evolutionary biology (e.g., the function of sexual reproduction), and admirably willing to tell a story with the patience and breadth it deserves (hence four 100-page chapters instead of the usual one hundred, A.D.D. 4-page chapters). This book is not for everyone, but if you have intellectual curiosity about why some plants have come to dominate our world, this book will give you many answers and even more tools. There's nothing better I can say about a book.
Book Description
According to author Mike Schmoker, there is a yawning gap between the most well-known essential practices and the reality of most classrooms. This gap persists despite the hard, often heroic work done by many teachers and administrators. Schmoker believes that teachers and administrators may know what the best practices are, but they aren't using them or reinforcing them consistently. He asserts that our schools are protected by a buffer—a protective barrier that prevents scrutiny of instruction by outsiders. The buffer exists within the school as well. Teachers often know only what is going on in their classrooms—and they may be completely in the dark about what other teachers in the school are doing. Even principals, says Schmoker, don't have a clear view of the daily practices of teaching and learning in their schools.
Schmoker suggests that we need to get beyond this buffer to confront the truth about what is happening in classrooms, and to allow teachers to learn from each other and to be supervised properly. He outlines a plan that focuses on the importance of consistent curriculum, authentic literacy education, and professional learning communities for teachers.
What will students get out of this new approach? Learning for life. Schmoker argues passionately that students become learners for life when they have more opportunities to engage in strategic reading, writing with explicit guidance, and argument and discussion.
Through strong teamwork, true leadership, and authentic learning, schools and their students can reach new heights. Results Now is a rally cry for educators to focus on what counts. If they do, Schmoker promises, the entire school community can count on unprecedented achievements.
Customer Reviews:
Educators Need This Book Now.......2007-08-31
This is an excellent book that supports teaching and learning, professional learning communities, power standards and data-driven decision making. If Reeves' and Marzano's work is intriguing, then Schmoker extends it. Every one of the staff in our district is reading this book as we implement our essential standards and assessments as part of our school improvement and student learning goals.
Schmoker Review.......2007-05-29
Mr. Schmoker's ideas and concerns within "Results Now" are thought provoking and interesting. I found that this book revolves around two grand ideas: literacy instruction and Prfessional Learning Communities. Within those two themes are many practical suggestions for school leaders to use.
As far as literacy instruction, Schmoker is very blunt and forward about what works and what doesn't. I thought it was particularly interesting to read about how so many leaders live in the now and place programs in schools that have no research behind them. I have to agree that this only creates roadblocks to best practices and improving instruction.
I have also been doing research on Dufour's idea of Professional Learning Communities (PLC's). Results Now is a user-friendly handbook that contains an effective overview of PLC's. I am now trying to implement this into my own building and have used this book as a suggested reading for all stake holders.
I found the information on isolation particularly useful. I think Schmoker makes a good point when he points out that that teaching is one of the most isolated and, therefore, safest jobs in the world. Furthermore, he goes on to say that, as leaders, we settle for mediocrity and excellent teachers are no longer a requirement in schools.
Overall, I found this book to be very helpful. It is a no-nonsense approach to significant changes in education. I would recommend it to anyone involved in education.
Great for Teacher Professional Library.......2007-02-23
This book would be a great addition to a teacher's professional library. Offers some great ideas for dealing with NCLB
Some Good Points.......2007-01-27
I think that Michael Schmoker has some very good observations about how schools work. I just don't believe that he has the accurate reasons for why the schools work the ways they do. What is missing from his theories are people at the bottom - the students and the teachers. This book essentially advocates the top - down method of running schools and is meant to psyche administrators into "taking control" of the classrooms and buildings they work in. A balance has to be struck with top - down and from the bottom up methods. Schools need all people to help run them and if their is too much control at the top, students especially will react with passive resistance. In fact, it is already happening. Take a good look at how many students are "tuned out of school" and are not graduating. Lynn
Literacy & PLCs.......2006-11-23
In Results Now, Michael Schmoker explains what he believes to be the route to achieving unprecedented gains in student achievement. His conclusions center around two main points: literacy and professional learning communities (PLCs). He believes that the key to success in all areas is the ability to read. In addition, he believes that teachers already have the knowledge they need to make great strides in aiding student achievement if they would only create the structures that would allow them to share their knowledge effectively.
Like many educational pundits, Schmoker has some great ideas. Certainly, there is much to be said for the importance of literacy across the curriculum. There is also a lot of truth to his assertions that many language arts classes, particularly at the younger ages when literacy is beginning to form, have become only incidentally about reading and writing. The overabundance of "artistic expression" (i.e. drawing pictures) in the place of actively engaging in literary activities is a problem, as is the reliance on skill/drill activities (read "worksheets"). Instead, Schmoker pushes for dominance of activities that have the students actively reading and writing.
Some of his commentary on professional development was interesting as well. As an educational consultant, I too have seen first hand how the "educational initiative of the moment" has had nothing but negative impact on school districts. There is something to be said for Schmoker's belief that, if teachers could just be pulled together in an effective way to share their expertise and best lessons, they could have a huge impact on student achievement. I must also note that his focus less on the evil of standardized tests as opposed to our ability to help students succeed on these tests was, admittedly, refreshing.
Unfortunately, like many educational pundits, his tone in prose can make his suggestions bitter pills to swallow and his idealism is a little far-fetched. He has an occasional tendency to slide into a rather condescending tone which is rather off-putting. And, though following his suggestions would likely have a great impact on education, I don't think all problems will be solved by his ideas. Literacy is a key but it will not open all doors across the curriculum and, having worked with teachers trying to form professional learning communities, it's easier said than done. I don't believe even a great PLC will eliminate the need for professional development. Master teachers are always looking to improve. Still, it is fair to say that Schmoker has ideas that are worth considering.
Amazon.com
Collecting contributions from 100 distinguished horticulturists, the handsome and lavishly illustrated American Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants is a truly definitive gardening reference. With its 1,092 tiny-print pages, this may not be the book to tuck into your pocket as you weed and mulch, but what this encyclopedia lacks in portability, it certainly makes up for in scope. Hardy and tender plants, heirloom varieties and the latest hybrids--they're all accounted for here, with growing tips and background information about native habitats and ornamental features. You'll also find a fascinating section about botany, as well as information about basic gardening techniques such as mulching, staking, pruning, propagating, and protecting plants for winter. But the encyclopedia's main attraction is the individual plant entries--more than 15,000 of them, embellished with 6,000 full-color photographs and illustrations. From the visual glossary of leaves to the map of growing regions, The American Horticultural Society A-Z of Garden Plants provides an unsurpassed wealth of botanical information, making it the yardstick by which all other gardening references must be measured.
Book Description
The most comprehensive, detailed, and lavishly illustrated guide to garden plants ever published, first published in 1997, has now been completely revised to include nearly 250 new plants and photos. The AHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants is an essential reference for all gardeners, from novices to experts.
Customer Reviews:
Just what I was looking for.......2007-08-23
I am very pleased with my choice of many horticultural books that are on the market. It has all of the information that I was looking for and more. Yes, it is pretty hard to haul around the garden, but worth it!
American Horticultural Society A to Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants.......2007-08-10
I just purchased 3 more of this book because it is so complete and great that my 3 children keep borrowing mine.
A must for any gardener.......2007-07-15
I had been admiring this book at my local library for quite a while and was surprised to see it offered through Amazon at a great price. This book has wonderful photos of each plant (and species) as well as detailed information, which makes identifying plants so much easier than with any other gardening book out there. If there is one draw back, it would have to be the weight. With over 1100 pages, it is not a book to carry around the garden.
Great housewarming gift!.......2007-03-24
This book works best if paired with The American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Each book stands on it's own but the two together give total information and abundant photos. I bought one set for new homeowners about to plan their first yard and bought another set for myself. Even after gardening for many years, these books provide answers to questions that come up every gardening season.
The books are substantial in weight as well as information.
American Horticultural Society A to Z Encyclopedia.......2007-01-12
This is an excellent source of information about plants and the photographs are wonderful.
Average customer rating:
- It's exactly what the title states, "Adaptive Filter THEORY"
- Not a bad reference book.
- A very good book for Adaptive DSP...
- Adventures in the development of stochastic DSP
- Adventures in the development of stochastic DSP
|
Adaptive Filter Theory (4th Edition)
Simon Haykin
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0130901261 |
Customer Reviews:
It's exactly what the title states, "Adaptive Filter THEORY".......2005-03-17
I was introduced to this text in a graduate course. I was not too thrilled about learning from another Haykin book due to a previous experience with his Communication Systems text in an undergraduate course (Horribly confusing... Proakis's text is infinitely better). To my surprise, the book was very detailed and easy to read. The math is very clear and detailed (great for the self learner). Also, the second chapter, which serves as a review of stationary processes and properties, was written much better than most random process textbooks (I applaud Haykin for this given the section was only a review). In chapter 3 or 4, he shows the derivation of the Levison-Durbin Algorithm step-by-step. I strongly disagree with some of the other reviews stating this text is just the typical engineering manual or cookbook with no explainations.
However, this is either a love or hate text. If you are looking for a text about practical linear predictive filter design, this is NOT the book for you. This text is heavily geared towards understanding the theory behind the design... hence the title Adaptive Filter THEORY. However, it can make a great reference to engineers in the field of DSP.
Not a bad reference book........2004-06-17
This book looks very impressive, but if you try to understand it you'll find it very mechanical. There is not much motivation behind the many pages of formulas and derivations. I'm not even sure how many people actually read those derivations becuase even in its 4th edition the book and its solution manual both have many typos (see, for example, equations 8.11 and 12.5). Even the problems are more focused on derivations than on numerical examples. This is a good cookbook if you just want to implement an algorithm or find some pointers to the original research papers. Like many other reviewers, I beleive that engineering textbooks are losing their depth and becoming more and more like instruction manuals.
A very good book for Adaptive DSP..........2001-05-09
I have always wondered why many people have negative opinions about books by Simon Haykin, whether it is 'Communication Systems' or 'Adaptive Filter Theory'. Particularly, this book 'Adaptive Filter Theory', in my opinion, is one of the bestbooks on this subject. As Julius Kusuma correctly mentioned, this book is indeed an "adventure ride" into the field of Adaptive Filter Theory.
I discovered this book when I was doing a class project on Self-Orthogonalizing algorithms for Adaptive Beamforming and I felt that all the relevant information that I needed was present in this book. I did'nt really feel the neccesity to refer anything outside this book.
Apart from that, this book contains everything that a graduate student needs to know about this exciting field of adaptive filters. The author assumes some background on Random Signal Theory... I'd suggest to look up Sam Shanmugan et al's, "Random Signals: Detection, Estimation and Data Analysis" before beginning to read (enjoy) this "adventure ride" on Adaptive Filters.
Adventures in the development of stochastic DSP.......2000-07-24
Despite the commonly negative opinion against Simon Haykin's book, I find this book to be a very fun reading. It starts off with a very brief review of DSP (more useful just for getting familiar with the notation, really), properties of random processes, and a small section on linear algebra in the middle of the book.
The rest of the book can be viewed as a story of how different approaches and algorithms were developed, and is a little difficult to use as reference due to its lack of structure and over-dependency on the previous chapters, both for technical content and notation. I have to admit that the notation used in this book is very, very poor and can be a source of frustration. The dependency is also a pain because you always have to keep flipping 100 pages back because Mr. Haykin prefers to say "Eqn. (4.24)" instead of "an AR model".
But there's a lot of hidden treasures within this book that should have been more emphasized. For example, Mold's theorem that states that any discrete stationary process can be decomposed into a deterministic component and a random component, which are uncorrelated to each other. I'm sorry, but a reference to a proof in another book is not enough to really motivate me. This is a very fundamental theorem if you're interested in stochastic signal processing. Sure, you don't cover the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus in your very first calculus class, but then again this is supposed to be a fairly advanced book.
So if you're interested in learning certain things quickly, this is NOT the book to get. Consider Munson Hayes' book instead. Save this one when you feel like investing a little time to hear Haykin's story on stochastic signal processing.
Adventures in the development of stochastic DSP.......2000-07-24
Despite the commonly negative opinion against Simon Haykin's book, I find this book to be a very fun reading. It starts off with a very brief review of DSP (more useful just for getting familiar with the notation, really), properties of random processes, and a small section on linear algebra in the middle of the book.
The rest of the book can be viewed as a story of how different approaches and algorithms were developed, and is a little difficult to use as reference due to its lack of structure and over-dependency on the previous chapters, both for technical content and notation.
But there's a lot of hidden treasures within this book that should have been more emphasized. For example, Mold's theorem that states that any discrete stationary process can be decomposed into a deterministic component and a random component, which are uncorrelated to each other. I'm sorry, but a reference to a proof in another book is not enough to really motivate me. This is a very fundamental theorem if you're interested in stochastic signal processing. Sure, you don't cover the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus in your very first calculus class, but then again this is supposed to be a fairly advanced book.
So if you're interested in learning certain things quickly, this is NOT the book to get. Consider Munson Hayes' book instead. Save this one when you feel like investing a little time to hear Haykin's story on stochastic signal processing.
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