5 comments about Reinforced Concrete: A Fundamental Approach (5th Edition).

1. It shows me a "easy-understanding and practical" way on how to design reinforced concrete structures, especially useful when your discipline leader is absent.



2. The new 5th edition of the Reinforced Concrete textbook is one of the best out there. It is a great resource for both learning the subject matter for undergraduate and graduate students and for referencing as a practicing engineer. The topics are organized in a logical manner that builds the reader up into really understanding the material, both design and theory. There are many useful examples provided throughout the textbook with detailed computations and explanations of the steps taken. Flowcharts are also presented for every design aspect to supplement, not replace, the reading and provide a concise summary of the design procedure.

   I have used this textbook (and previous editions) to learn the subject of reinforced concrete both for my undergraduate and graduate studies and I still use it as reference for my research work. I also used Nawy's Prestressed Concrete 4th edition textbook for my studies. The way I see it is that if you want to be the best, you learn from the best. Just check out Nawy's accomplishments for yourself!!




3. Books like this are the reason that engineers are considered illiterate. Almost every page has a grammatical mistake. Most of the examples have technical mistakes.

   It is a poor reflection on the American University system that someone who cannot even communicate at an eighth grade level is a PROFESSOR ! Similarly, it is a poor reflection on the publishing industry that books like this actually get PUBLISHED!

   From the reviewer comments there seems to be a strong fan club in Israel. Perhaps that is where Professor Nawy should be teaching.




4. Books like this are the reason that engineers are considered illiterate. Almost every page has a grammatical mistake. Most of the examples have technical mistakes.

   It is a poor reflection on the American University system that someone who cannot even communicate at an eighth grade level is a PROFESSOR ! Similarly, it is a poor reflection on the publishing industry that books like this actually get PUBLISHED!

   From the reviewer comments there seems to be a strong fan club in Israel. Perhaps that is where Professor Nawy should be teaching.




5. Reinforced concrete is the corner stone of our civil engineering profession, making it interesting is where the hardship lies. Dr. Nawy, along with his book made it seem like a breeze. He made the course both enjoyable and interesting and enhanced my confidence in going out to the real world to face my job. I learnt alot about my profession from him and even mentioning his name as one of my professors has given me a whole lot! I am grateful i was one of his students. Thank you Dr. Nawy and Good Luck to you! P.S. The quality of a book should not be rated according to typing errors, it is a weak and cheap attempt of bad publicity. I am sure Dr. Nawy does not have control over what the editor decides should be printed or not. But its natural, if they aren't up there, then they try to bring down everyone else who is, grudges and jealousy make people go a long terrible way.

No comments about Made in Tokyo: Guide Book.

No comments about Architects Today.

1 comments about Rural Development: Putting the last first (World Development).

1. Chambers is a giant in his field to be sure, but his book boasts extensive insight into the arena of development. His observations and suggestions are applicable on a grand scale as effective strategies for beginning successful development across the developing world.
   By pointing out the 5 key aspects of poverty, the poverty itself, physical weakness, isolation, vulnerability, and powerlessness; Chambers offers a means in which effective development strategies can be applied to combat such factors.
   Chambers is also keen on pointing out how the development community have made mistakes, and does not mince words. He is quick to point out the evils and ineffectiveness of the academic world and how they have worked against development in the past, even though the man was an academic. That criticism aside however, his points about the traps of academia, the biases transferred to the third world by outsiders with varying attitudes, and his suggestions for combating poverty across the globe make for a seminal work in the field of development policy, and is a must read for anyone who is interested in studying the development field.

5 comments about Energy Efficiency Manual: for everyone who uses energy, pays for utilities, designs and builds, is interested in energy conservation and the environment (Energy Efficiency Manual).

1. A more than 8 pounds book will not make you an expert in energy efficiency.It is especially true from an Chinese perspective.It is more or less for facility operators,and everyone knows without top management commitment,nothing will happen,regardless of how many measures you know and are applicable for your facility.
   
   You can find all of them in DOE BestPractices,and you won't have to carry this huge manual.
   
   Buy Handbook of Energy Engineering,or Plant Engineer's and Manager's Guide to Energy Conservation,they are better.



2. Despite the intimidating name and size of this tome, I found it fascinating to read. It covers everything from light bulb selection to rooftop chiller maintenance. The depth and breath of coverage is amazing.
   
   This is not a hippie guide to backwoods eco-conservation. It is a practical manual, firmly grounded in science and economics that explains different strategies for maximizing comfort while minimizing energy use. In every case, the author examines both the pros and cons of the measure, and calculates the expected payback term. It is so helpful to have a book that is realistic in its treatment of energy conservation. Lots of books outline promising energy saving techniques, none I've read before talk so frankly about the problems you will encounter when you implement them.
   
   Quite technical in many places, the text excels at explaining important concepts that are often ignored in other texts. I have a background in physics, but not until reading this book did I have a good grasp of the operation of absorption coolers or how the spectrum of a light bulb affects the visual comfort of the scene it illuminates. The concise overview of heat transfer mechanisms is more thorough than any thermodynamics textbook I've ever read.
   
   Most important of all is the practical advice that is clearly based on a huge body of real experience. As the book so frequently points out, energy saving measures are useless if they break or are defeated by building occupants. Hundreds of (non-obvious) examples of these failures are given, with pictures.
   
   This book would be great for anyone with responsibility for designing or maintaining buildings of any size. If you are hesitant to pay the high price, find it at a local library. I don't write many Amazon reviews, but after reading this book I felt compelled to strongly recommend it.



3. Superlative!  The ENERGY EFFICIENCY MANUAL by Donald Wulfinghoff is a "must have" for professionals, libraries, facility managers, policy makers, homeowners, and anyone else who is serious about saving energy and cashing in on lower energy bills. It is the ultimate energy saving resource for businesses, industry, and government. PLUS, it will save money and reduce pollution, satisfying corporate bottom lines, policy makers, and environmentalists all at the same time. This book is unique. Highly informative, illustration-rich, and user-friendly, it is treasure trove of everything you need to know about energy efficiency from A to Z. Don't bother looking elsewhere -- the ENERGY EFFICIENCY MANUAL simply has it all. This book will pay for itself almost as fast as you can spot a hot air leak or install an energy-efficient light bulb!

   -- Amy Vickers




4. As an energy auditor I'd almost call the Energy Efficiency Manual a secret weapon, except it has so many good ideas that I can't help but show it to many of the customers and prospective customers I meet. The diagrams are very useful, as is the self contained but well cross-referenced way in which each improvement measure has been written. For example, talking to the maintenance manager of a hospital, we looked at the diagrams of hot/cold deck multi-zone systems while discussing the pros and cons of upgrading a constant volume air conditioning system to a variable volume system. It is by far the most useful book on energy management that I have ever read (well, in the case of the Energy Efficiency Manual, that I have partially read - its an enormously large book!), and the ratings of each of the measures are particularly useful, along with the practical, no-nonsense approach. The book is extremely well cross referenced and Wulfinghoff has covered an enormous body of knowledge in writing the book. As someone fairly new to the field I'm grateful that he went to the effort of documenting and making available his knowledge and 30 odd years experience in the Energy Efficiency Manual.



5. I nodded my head in agreement while reading Wulfinghoff's philosophy about energy savings in commercial and light industrial facilities. He distills 20+ years of experience in this field with practical, no-nonsense how-tos to gain energy and dollar savings in a wide variety of facilities and end-uses: lighting, water use, steam systems, space heating, water heating, air conditioning, scheduling, pumps, energy management controls: its all here in a well-written, well-illustrated book.

   Perhaps best of all, the author goes beyond theoretical considerations of high-tech efficiency products, with precautions of what works and what might fall short. He also reminds facility managers to be mindful of the human factors that can foil our best efforts. He offers suggestions on how to plan and manage efficiency upgrades complete with information for building operators and occupants, so that the savings persist.

   Highly recommended for anyone managing energy use in facilities, ranging from individual buildings to college campuses to government facilities. [I am a local government energy manager myself.]

1 comments about Designing the World's Best Bars.

1. This is a nice book for viewing bars that have already been designed. However, I wanted to actually design a bar and this book didn't help me with that at all. Good book. Nice pictures. But if you are looking to actually design a bar, then this book will not help. This book would have been more accurate if it were titled "the world's best designed bars."

No comments about Essay on Architecture.

5 comments about Inside Havana.

1. I was born and raised in Havana. After 13 years of living in the States, I recently purchased this book. The handling of lighting in the pictures is just masterful. Because of my familiarity with some of the places pictured and with the architectural styles depicted, I could almost feel as if I was part of the scene; I could smell the air and hear the voice-filled environment of some of the street scenes captured. This is the best photography book in my collection, despite a handful of pictures being on the weak side as far as the theme is concerned. The rest more than makes up for it. Highly recommended!!



2. All the pictures are beautiful, the photography is excellent, but some of the images are a little weak and uninteresting. With a little more self-criticism and a little more work the book could have been really good.



3. I was so surprised that I actually found 2 pages of pictures from my Aunt Amelia Pelaez'house in this book!!! And what pictures!! Shows her bedroom perfectly. Other pictures are of a real and depressing Cuba. Some people think Cuba is a Tourist paradise and they forget the citizens of that same heavenly paradise! Cuban people are dying of hunger and many parts of the city are hidden from tourists, they're not allowed to see the real Cuba, which yu can see in this book. Wonderful pictures of Cuba! Bought 4 kept one gave others as Christmas presents!



4. I thought it would have more of a written description, not just pictures



5. This book is such a great buy. The photographs are amazing; filled with rich textures and colors. If you are looking to expand your art library, I would definitely recommend this book.

4 comments about Dream Homes: 100 Inspirational Interiors.

1. Great book with beautiful pictures. I found it very useful for my work. Some of them are a little over the top but an inspiration nonetheless.



2. My wife and I are getting started on designing the interior of our new home. To this end, I visited three bookstores browsing through about 40 books for ideas on interior decoration. This book stood out as having the most inspiring and tasteful designs, as well as providing a large number and variety of photos, all at a very good price. Highly recommended. As one other reviewer pointed out, written text is limited, but this is made up for by the superior quantity and quality of photos. The book more than serves its purpose. For written guides on interior design, I plan to purchase: "The Home Design Planner" by Katherine Sorrell.



3. For an outstanding sourcebook of interiors which stand out from the many, DREAM HOMES: 100 INSPIRATIONAL INTERIORS is an exceptional purchase recommended for any discriminating art library strong in interior design titles. No single style represents a 'dream home': it can be Mediterranean, Californian, Asian or a blend. A hundred examples of perfection in all areas are culled from homes of all styles from around the world, presenting the work of the planet's most talented interior designers. There are over 800 lovely color photos of these spaces, plus in-depth explanations by design expert Johanna Thornycroft, which explains how each home was created or transformed. A rich, gorgeous presentation of many examples.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



4. This book is full of pictures but very little information. The pictures are beautiful but I was expecting more written ideas and advice.

1 comments about Understanding Frank Lloyd Wright's Architecture.

1. Not a bad book but the author could have provided more detail and photos to back up his claimed "understanding" of Wright's work. Some nice photos.