A lengthy, comprehensive, and interestingly detailed look at the evolution and current state of the English language. Such terms and concepts such as Hyponymic Hierarchies, Hypernyms, and semantic changes are given in laymen terms and explained with real-life examples. There is tons and tons of factual information presented, based upon applied linguistic research and the historical growth and transformations of the English language, from its' origins to Old, Middle, and New. There are many charts, colorful pictures, and graphs to present this information. Crystal provides one of the rare mixes of erudition and hipness that is appreciated.

One of the hundreds of interesting tid-bits here are, for example, Top Ten First Names dating from the year 1700.

This book doesn't have to be read front to back, and one can dart to and from different areas that one wants to ingest. Helpful for folks into history, applied linguistics, the English language, TEFL, and those who want to know why we speak the way we do today.

David Crystal impresses me with his combination of elegant erudition, intellectual open-mindedness, and conciseness. In writing this book, he imposed a harsh constraint upon his writing: every topic had to fit into a two-page spread. The result is insidiously like potato chips: it's such an easy read, you can't help but reading "just one more spread".
The breadth of knowledge that he brings to bear on the subject is astounding; his bibiography reads like a catalog of Western intellectual history. Time and again, I found myself marking a point with a note to delve into the matter more deeply.
Intellectual integrity is another impressive component of his writing. He cheerfully acknowledges difficult issues and treats linguistic variation with respect, yet never descends into cover-your-ass academic frippery. The effect is to provoke deeper contemplation in the mind of the reader; language truly is endlessly complex!
A confession is in order here: I did find the last few score pages rather tedious. Perhaps it was merely the fatigue arising from my breathless rush through the first 400 pages; more likely the subject matter does not suit my tastes. But in a grand parade of ideas of this size, I cannot complain if a few floats or marching bands fail to excite me; there's more than enough here to keep anybody dazzled.
The greatest tribute to this book that I can offer is the revelation that I have been too reluctant to shelve this book in my library; it remains on my desk, bedstand, or next to the computer, ready for a quick re-read of some random topic.

Betcha can't read just one spread!

Crystal's _The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language_ is not really the type of book I would use for reference. There are much more appropriate books when I want to learn about the proper use of a gerund. This is, however, an absolutely fascinating and addictive book! It is the type of book I pick up to read and get so involved I lose track of time. It is also a beautiful book. The color, illustrations, and publishing quality are magnificent!

The focus of this book is not American English. The flavor is cosmopolitan. Questions are answered like how the variations of English in New Zealand and the Caribbean affect road signs. If you ever wanted to know how morphological, lexical, syntactic, and discourse humor compare and contrast, this book is for you. This encyclopedia also features a brilliantly edited collection of poems interspersed in the pages. _The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language_ will remain one of my favorite books.

This book is loaded with good text book examples and covers a wide variety of bootstrap applications. It is great as a reference book on the bootstrap or as a course text at a graduate level. Chernick (1999) is a little more up-to-date and covers the classifcation error rate estimation problem that is not addressed in this text. Chernick (1999) also has many more references. Efron and Tibshirani (1993) is another fine text that is a little more intuition based with less mathematics. Fieller's problem with ratio estimation and some other gems are well covered in Efron and Tibshirani but not here. Davison and Hinkley do the best job on time series of any of the bootstrap books with details about moving block bootstrap and some interesting applications.

This book has an excellent ballance between practice and theory. It presents the bootstrap as the powerful tool it is through the ellucidation of practical issues. I strongly recommend this book for everyone interested in improving statistical practice.

Relevant and clear in explanations throughout.

Darwin fanatics and Jane Austen fans will gobble up this delicious dessert. Written by Darwin's grandaughter (Raverat was George's daughter born too late to know her illustrious grandfather personally)PERIOD PIECE contains both a wealth of Family Stories that helps humanize the usual image of the Great Victorian Sage and some real (although often tongue-in-cheek) insights into Late-Victorian/Edwardian Society. As Raverat says in the Preface, the book doesn't really have a beginning or an end, it is easily dipped-in-to at any point & you will have to be totally lacking in a sense of humor not to come away both charmed & informed.

An absolute masterpiece of comic writing. Ms. Raverat drawings mesh perfectly with her loving, but not pious, treatment of her eccentric aunts and uncles. A deft ironist, a great memoir of late 19th century Cambridge. I promise you will force this book on everyone you love and they will thank you for it.

This is a really lovely book, perfect for reading at bedtime or in the garden under the apple tree on a summer's afternoon. Gwen Raverat writes vividly with chapters by theme rather than chronologically and and gives a rounded view of her childhood experiences and the Darwin family of uncles and aunts.

The 'Cambridge Companion' to philosophy series has put out some great products. In my opinion this may be the best. Absolutely splendid articles that help the reader understand Aristotle rather than some philosopher's interpretation of him. For such a polymath as Aristotle, the authors did a good job of focusing on key facets of his philosopy that adequately prepare and stimulate the reader to investigate other of Aristotle's writings, which the Companion could not cover for lack of space. The bibliography and subject guides to the secondary liturature are well done.

The Cambridge Companion to Aristotle edited by Jonathan Barnes is a is an excellent book. If you are studing Aristotle or just reading him, you've probably gritted your teeth and started to put the reading down for later. Being that most of us do NOT read Greek, we rely on someone who can and the translations do vary. We also need a way to study and a plan to organize our reading in a logical manner.

This book is an excellent choice for that purpose. This book helps to alleviate some of the fears one has in reading a great thinker who is not only difficult and challenging but also complex. The content of this book are as follows: Logic, Metaphysics, Philosophy of Science, Science, Psychology, Ethics, Politics, Rhetoric and poetics. There is an introduction and a suggestions for reading section which are invaluable and help the reader to understand and comprehend what is trying to be said.

If you need help with Aristotle... look no further than this book to help you get organized and to better understand Aristotle. Approach and methods vary from person to person, but if someone has proceeded you in understanding it is prudent to follow those footsteps... then make your interpretation.

The editor has written an excellent chapter on Metaphysics. Metaphysics is one of Aristotle's most difficult books to understand. Here the editor helps the reader to understand it and also how to read Aristotle with a logical approach.

Remember the best aid to reading Aristotle is Aristotle himself. Aristotle is difficult so read him slowly, very slowly, then he is inspiring and gripping. But, it helps to have someone to rely on and this book will help.

The work of Aristotle is difficult, wide-ranging and dry. As Joanathan Barnes explained in the introduction in this book, this is probably because Aristotle's work is an unauthorized collection of lecture notes. Therefore, an introduction to the main themes in his work is an invaluable help to approaching the master's work. The Cambridge guide has chapters on metaphysics, logic, ethics, philosophy of science, science, psychology, politics, rhetoric. It also contains a massive bibliography. The essays concentrates on explaining the content of Aristotle's work, but it also introduce readers to modern controveries in interpretating Aristotle. The essay of Barnes on the very confusing work Metaphysics is pure gold. Other essays are excellent too.

An excellent yet concise encyclopedy of surprisingly wide range of statistical topics, very dense and ballanced text. Exhaustive descriptions and definitions on few lines of text with good referrences. I can hardly think of basic or advanced statistical terms not included here. Thanks.

Brian Everitt is a well known statistician and author. This dictionary was prepared by a scholar and includes many famous statistician as well as statistical terms. It provides concise and accurate descriptions and in many cases also includes pictures and formulae. Literature references are often mentioned. Particularly useful to biostatisticians. It is an excellent reference document.

I bought this book to celebrate passing my Master's course. It's worth every penny. There is hardly a Statistical term that one might want to refer to that is not defined in it. Just occasionally there is a definition which could be a bit more precise, e.g. the definition of hazard as a probability rather than its differential coefficient. Nevertheless, an excellently comprehensive book and a very worthwhile addition to anyone's library.

It contains:
- units, All constants, conversion between units, dimensions
- Math: Differential Equations, Vector algebra, Integration tables, Series, Limits, Trig, Complex variables and analysis, polynomials (all kinds), some probability and statistics, basic geometry (perimeter, area and volume)
- Dynamics and mechanics (including fluids)
- Quantum physics
- Thermodynamics
- Solid state physics (With periodic table)
- Electromagnetism
- Optics
- Astrophysics
These are just formulas, there are no concepts descriptions or solved problems, yet is the most handy reference of college level math and physics for science, CS, math, phys majors

It might be an indication of superficiality to judge the book by its cover, but in this isolated case, the cover does truly indicate what lies ahead. In terms of aesthetic, it is really beautiful.

The book is true to its declared purpose in that it serves faithfully to provide esoteric formulas and equations of interest to physicists and applied mathematicians; that and that only. The intended audience is not the virgin tyros to whom the equations appear for the first time, but those seasoned virtuosos to whom the equations are as quotidian as a slice of bread in the morning but would rather commit the engravement to paper than to memory. In some cases knowledge of convention with regard to the uses of symbols is tacitly assumed, in most cases knowledge of proper contexts with regard to the applications of equations is likewise assumed.

I got the hardcover version of the book free upon joining a book club sometime three years ago, therefore I am not able to perform the cost-benefit analysis.

This book is worth it's weight in gold. It gives not only the formulas, but each symbol in the formula is explained as to what it represents. This book helped change a C in Physics I to a B in Physics II in college classes. Best money I have invested in years.

My wife and I both read this book. From the title I expected a "chick book", but as I listened to my wife's laughs and gasps, I decided to read a few pages, then a few more, then a few more. I read it cover-to-cover in one day. I really enjoyed this wholesome look at a time gone-by, a different era that most have never known and others have forgotten. We have it too good, and we have forgotten that the Irish and the soldiers and most in America didn't. Peg Maddocks brings this home through wit and wisdom in her description of life in the 30s and 40s through the adventures of "Meg". I look forward to her sequels - WELL DONE!!! - Major General, USAF (Ret.) Don Shepperd

Part romantic, part historical, Peg Maddocks' engaging account of life in the 20's, 30's and 40's is a winner! See yourself with young Meg and Jim as she spins the tale of their wartime victories and frustrations. Also, great for younger generations who wonder what it was like "back then." One problem: you'll want an immediate sequel!

This book is a snapshot of what my mom and dad went through during the early years of their marriage. It so clearly illustrates what life was like for young couples who were thrust into war time before they were really ready and how they managed to make the most of it. The historical information is priceless in terms of understanding the context of their struggles, challenges, and excitement. It's fascinating reading for us who have a pretty easy life in the 90's. If I had to go through this turmoil in my 20's and survive it, I probably would still be married to my first husband! What a great story!

Ebrey succeeds in condensing the history of China into a compact and very readable book. It was probably one of the most enjoyable reading I had for a history class. The photographs are gorgeous, and the author really tried to balance social and culture trends with the political events. However, the book fells short when it comes to content. The 600-year period between the fall of Han and the founding of Sui was described in about 3 pages. The enormously important Warring States Period had barely 5 pages of coverage. The depth of content - well, let's just say this is laughable by college standars. Of course, it is impossible to cover over 3000 years of history in this compact book. However, when some of the most influential periods in Chinese history are reduced to bare footnote, perhaps it indicates that the author has been over zealous in trimming her materials.

That being said, this is still a good introduction. If you are clueless about Chinese history, this book serve as a great start. If you know anything more than the fundamentals, however, look elsewhere for information.

Ebrey's "Cambridge Illustrated History of China" is a great textbook for the student or reader desiring only to get a basic overview of chinese history. The book is exceptionally smooth reading and enjoyable, yet it is not exactly suited for students with an existing knowledge of China. The book is greatly complimented by Roberts' "A Concise History of China" which discusses more material into greater fact-packed detail, but not as smooth or enjoyable to read alone.

This presents a very good overview of Chinese history that is both understandable and enjoyable. The pictures and photos add much depth to what can sometimes seem a linear reading of history. After you read this book, you will want to board a plane for Xian.

1) First, the dynasties in chronological order: Zhou, Qin, Han, Tang, Song, Lio, Jin, Yuan, Ming, Qing.

2) Zhou (770-240BC) is an era of constant warfare and power struggles. Confucius and Lao-tzu (creator of Daoism) are born during this period. Their writings have an enormous impact on Eastern thought and governance. The famous terracotta warrors also date back to Zhou.

3) Qin (221-206BC) and Han (202BC-220AD). This is the start of China as an empire. (pg 60) Trate routes reach all the way to Turkey, The population is 58M in 2AD (slightly larger than contemporary Rome). The great wall starts construction.

4) Tang (581-907) unifies what is now considered modern China.
They link Northern and Southern China by huge canals and inter-regional trade floursihed. Chang'an becomes the world's largest city. Culture and the arts start to thrive.

5) Song (907-1276) is not able to control East Asia like Tang or Han. They broker deals with neighboring states for a shaky peace. The status quo continues. By the 11th century, China is outpacing Europe in terms of "agricultural productivity, industrial technology, and sophistication of commercial organization." (161)

6) Ghengis Khan (1162-1227) creates huge lightning force of calvary that eventually covers 2/3 of Asian continent. Some of the cities under his (and grandson's) control: Beijing, Lhasa, Moscow, Kiev, Ormuz, and Baghdad. The divisions between Mongol ruling class and Chinese are kept clear by law, status, and language. The Chinese resent this alien rule.

7) Ming (1368-1644) is founded by Taizu, who is was the first commoner to become emperor in 1,500 years. (191) The population continues to grow, but the country is not entirely under control. Mongols attack from the North, while the Japanese attack from the east.

8) Manchus (1644-1900) from Manchuria (east of Mongolia, above Korea) create the Qing dynasty. They govern efficiently. They force their subjects to adopt the Manchu hairstyle (shaved heads with braided hair in the back) as a symbol of their loyalty. Trade with Europe increases exponentially. By 1800, Europe was buying 1/7 of all Chinese tea. This eventually leads to the Opium wars. Various colonial powers all vy for a piece of China.

9) Sun Yatsen, Chang Kaishek, Mao Zedong round out the rest of this beautifully illustrated book.

This my first book by Lawana Blackwell takes you to Victorian London 1880 where a very innocent and sheltered young 18-year-old, Catherine Rayborn, is setting off to college in Cambridge. Catherine is excited and a little intimidated to finally be off on her own as a 'fresher' in college. On that very eventful train ride she will meet up with a young lady Peggy who will become one of her dearest friends. Before long Catherine is soon caught up in studies and has engaged the admiration of a very nice young man, but rather than jeopardize her friendship with Peggy, she makes a choice that will have serious repercussions for that friendship.

Somewhat hurt by her first foray of losing her heart, the very naïve Catherine is introduced to a man with a less than illustrious past, although she is unaware of it at the time. He courts her, showing her a thoughtful and caring face, that she believes to be a true and honest character. Upon being found out, by her cousin that she has been seeing a notorious rake, she continues to see him thinking that her family doesn't realize that he was a changed man. She takes him at face value and convinces herself that his past doesn't matter. It will take a friends betrayal, before Catherine realizes the difference between infatuation and love that is based upon true friendship and genuine feelings.

This was a really nice story about looking for love when what she really needed was to find her own sense of self worth and finding that the most important acceptance was in God's grace. It also gives you a wonderful glimpse of a young girl in Victorian England attending college to obtain a certificate of merit rather than a diploma! Same four years of study but not yet up to par with the male counterpart!

This is a charming story I can recommend to anyone who loves romance in Victorian England along with lessons in good Christian behavior.

A coming of age story about a girl attending college in Victorian England. By learning the hard way, she finds out the difference between love and infatuation. What a great ride!! Ms. Blackwell outdid herself!

I admit it: I like to escape into the pages of an old-fashioned romance every so often but am frustrated with the R-rated bodice rippers that have no moral fiber to them. This is a book (actually all books by this author) is one you can read in public and not be ashamed or embarrassed. It is an old-fashioned romance with an element of suspense. The characters have their flaws but the theme underlying the entire book is one of morals and Christianity. This is a book you can enjoy and then pass on to your mother or sister (which is just what I did). Thanks goes to the author for a well-written, well-researched, interesting book. I look forward to many more!

Excellent book focused on the Longitude act's of the 1700's. The primary emphasis is on the two technologies Lunar-distance and chonometer for determining longitude with a precision under 1 degree. The relative percentages are: 50% chonometer, 30% lunar distance, 10% Jupiter's moons, 10% general history pre-1600's. I gave it four stars instead of 5 because I thought the book was going to be a balanced discussion ( i.e. equal time)encompassing all methods of determining longitude irrespective of a 1 degree precision. All that said, I would still recommend the book to anyone interested in the topic.

This beautifully presented large hardback is actually a series of essays covering the story of the search for Longitude from the 16th century to the 19th. The essays deal with a range of subjects from the mathematical to the absurd, from astronomy to cartography and has 4 excellent appendices. The book is well laid out with both black&white and color photography in a manner that means you don't need to be a student of the sea of chronology to understand it. A good book to have on the shelf.

This review is top notch and comprehensive. It's the book of choice to cover the background and the technology. I'm not a watch or clock fanatic, but I slam dunked this whole book in just a couple days; a 15 hour Qantas flight kept me captive. I wish there was more discussion on the nature of astronomy and how the clocks were calibrated. I want to read up on octants, sextants and basic navigation now. This book deserves five stars. The A&E four hour documentary, "Longitude", this month also deserves high marks. If someone knows of a good read on navigating with astronomy that's more layman oriented, please email me (thanks).