The Flat World Inhabitant's Manual
346970
At some point, I too came to realize that the world is flat. Now I know why. Thomas Friedman eliminates any doubts of such a phenomenon with an abundance of evidence and case studies. Even his own theories and ideas are not free from the scrutiny of the data gathered by his research.

What makes this book different from many other books that "report" the current state of affairs is that Friedman actually provides answers to problems that he identifies. He does a comprehensive job containing the idea of globalization in its current stage along with providing reasonable steps in dealing with and facilitating the inevitable flattening of the world.

"The World is Flat" offers a wealth of information that I think satisfies a much required calibration of many of our sights to improve the clarity and accuracy of the way we perceive the world. Hence, allowing us understanding and perhaps benefit from a flattening world.
1917523
This book was published in 1985, and is still in print at the time I am writing this. However, used copies are selling in the dollar range. If you just ignor the parts of the book that talk about robotic applications and industrial trends that have expired long ago and focus on the very useful portions that teach how to perform the calculations for robot motion, this is a very good book. It has many clear examples and explains all of the formulas in a detailed fashion that you don't commonly find in the more expensive modern texts that attempt to explain robot motion along with other related subjects such as computer vision. The prerequisites for understanding this book are the same as for taking an engineering level course in robotics - matrix algebra, elementary calculus, statics, ordinary linear differential equations, and Laplace transforms. Knowledge of dynamics, computer programming, and control theory, while useful, is not really necessary.

Several problems are presented at the conclusion of each chapter, many of which refer to statements made in the textbook. In this way, the reader is encouraged to actively participate in the development of a particular mathematical equation or a specific numerical result. Five appendices are provided to ensure a common level of understanding of a particular subject before it is introduced in the main text. The following is the detailed table of contents:

1. AN OVERVIEW
1.1 A Chronological Perspective
1.2 Statistics
1.3 Classifications
1.4 Technical Disciplines
1.5 Robot Programming Languages

2. FORWARD KINEMATICS
2.1 Orientation Coordinate Transformations
2.2 Configuration Coordinate Transformations
2.3 Denavit-Hartenberg Coordinate Transformations
2.4 D-H Matrix Composition

3. INVERSE KINEMATICS
3.1 Some General Methods
3.2 The Planar Robot
3.3 The Microbot Robot
3.4 The PUMA 560
3.5 The Stanford Manipulator

4. MOTION KINEMATICS
4.1 The Planar Case
4.2 The Three-Dimensional Case
4.3 Some Spherical Wrist Consequences
4.4 The Stanford Manipulator

5. FORCE/TORQUE RELATIONS
5.1 Force/Moment Translations
5.2 A General Force/Torque Relation
5.3 Some Spherical Wrist Consequences

6. TRAJECTORY PLANNING
6.1 Polynomial Paths and Cubic Segments
6.2 Linear Segments with Parabolic Blends
6.3 Coordinated Motion

7. DYNAMICS (KINETICS)
7.1 Lagrange's Equations
7.2 The Microbot Robot
7.3 Inverse Dynamics

8. POSITIONAL CONTROL
8.1 Unity Feedback Systems
8.2 General Performance Measures
8.3 PID Control
8.4 Inverse Dynamic Feedforward Control
8.5 Nonlinear and Two-Part Conrol

Appendix A - Robotic Terms and Definitions
Appendix B - Matrix/Vector Algebra
Appendix C - Trigonometric Abbreviations and Identities
Appendix D - The Laplace Transform
Appendix E - Moments of Inertia of Common Geometric Shapes
1732101
This book show us the roots of our modern world. This book is for those that, unsatisfied with the course os the modern world and it?s oppressive materialism, are looking for convincing explanations, out of the common political and economical vision. The author examines the deep factors that conducted our world to it?s present unbalance, demonstrating that, since the Middle Age, the Occident went further and further away, with increasing velocity, from the principles that ruled all the humanity until that momment. Principles that presume an hierarchy of values, from the highest (spiritual) ones to the basic (material) ones; principles that are within the essence of the traditional civilizations, that harmonize man and nature. We find examples of traditional civilizations with the north-american native tribes (as the Hopi and Sioux, among others); the Tibet, before the chinese invasion; the medieval Japan... Ren? Gu?non (1886-1951), with this book that is at once masterly and accessible, don?t give us illusions about the future of our civilization. Instead he provides us with new and wide horizons, with tools that enables us to evaluate and stand up to the great challenges of the modern world crisis. It's the best way to make a first contact with Ren? Gu?non and the traditional view.

Luiz Pontual (irget@reneguenon.net), director of Ren? Gu?non's Institute, April 9, 1999. See our site irget@reneguenon.net and buy our book at Amazon.com
1856721
Lee Strobel does a great job of bringing together a live bibliography of experts to show what should be obvious to any clear thinking person that if you have a design there is a designer. The precise factors that  had to be present to make life possible on this planet,in this galaxy, in this universe are beyond fanciful random happenstance. If you keep an open mind, there is only one logical conclusion, there is a designer of this design.
 My advice is sit down, partake, do your own research and let your reason guide you.
3386158
This book presents an inspirational synthesis from mathematics, computer science and systems theory addressing genetic algorithms and their role in intelligent engineering/business systems.
Topics include: background, a  formal framework, illustrations (genetics, economics, game playing,  searches, pattern recognition and statistical inference, control and  function optimization, and central-nervous system), schemata, the optimal  allocation of trials, reproductive plans and genetic operators, the  robustness of genetic plans, adaptation of coding and representations, and  overview, interim and prospectus.
Inclusion of a disk of  spreadsheet-based examples would have increased user-friendliness to the  sometimes moderately-complex mathematics. Otherwise, this book is a well  presented, and useful classic for researchers and software vendors seeking  to develop more innovative intelligent products.
4769924
This book is very explanatory at the basic level. All calculations are carried out manually and tables in the books' Appendix.

Still, with any statistics (or math) textbook, the content will need to read a few times and practiced.

The going price from Flat World Knowledge is under $50. However, this 2012 ebook is available for free under Creative Commons. Refer to 2012books by lardbucket. Andy Schmitz explains the reason why this has occurred.
2219522
This book is a guide to understanding our new dimensions on Earth and how to live in a world where Love is our prime concern.  It is not only about who you are and why you are here.  It is also about the Light beings who have helped to get us to our present times and how we can maintain new relations with our Earth and the people of the Earth.  The book is an easy to read gift to us.  Thanks Patricia Cota-Robles
2105313
the book, chapter after chapter introduces the reader to a magical world of relationships, where feedbacks, astronomical events, volcanism, plate tectonics are intermingled in the process of transforming Earth and the life it hosts. Life itself play an exclusive role until it becomes the major agent of transformation. Evolution, gravity, quantum processes, biota are shaping the Earth, bringing it to the edge of a new catastrophe, which can be avoided if we, humans, are able to understand our possible roles and choose the correct one.
4044097
Great book for those new to the flat earth theory... It provides simple, yet noteworthy scientific concepts concerning the Natural Laws (perspective, navigation, curvature, etc.).  What's also nice is that it was written before NASA and all the space agencies.  It shows that the theory held out much longer than popular mainstream outlets will have us believe.  It also shows that Scripturaly, this is a very valid possibility.
4305532
Dasgupta reviews and establishes the intellectual foundations for evaluating changes in the environment and the impact on human well-being.  He has written extensively on this topic and this book synthesizes that research.  He is particularly concerned with the natural resources available to a population.  His argument is that as natural resources are depleted human welfare declines even if the day-to-day living of people has not changed.  He provides the mathematical and philosophical basis of how to account for such changes.  (The math is at a basic level with a smattering of calculus.)

Economists, policy-makers, political theorists, and philosophers are the intended audience, though it is so well written that layman could profitably read the work skipping the math.
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Economics-A-Very-Short-Introduction-Very-Short-Introductions/dp/0192853457/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Economics: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)</a><a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/An-Inquiry-into-Well-Being-and-Destitution/dp/0198288352/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">An Inquiry into Well-Being and Destitution</a>
4891834
I think this is a pretty good book.  It is the only reference on this relatively new type of patch occupancy modeling.  It is mainly focused on the models of MacKenzie et al. and the Royle and Nichols model.  This is a great place to start if you know nothing about this method or a good reference for advanced users.

This book does not fill the need of an introductory "how-to" book.  If you want to know how to set up models and run them in program PRESENCE or MARK you will need to wait.  Such a book does not exist.  This is not a cookbook, but a compilation of the theory and an explanantion of the methodology behind occupancy estimation.
4319881
It appears to be a comprehensive method of assessing data overload we are facing in our current societies. Focus is to find indirect ways to quantify social aspect of human nature which is becoming more relevant and prevalent due to hyper-connectivity. However, social aspect is one dimension of human nature. Various models and theories have tried to capture but have been successful on one or two dimensions at a time, for e.g. Adam Smith on competition and so forth. We have yet to see a realistic theoretical model to understand this phenomenon on a world wide scale.

One particular idea that is highlighted towards the end of this book is noteworthy that we can not expect to explain and make plans based on a 18th century economic model and industrial era management practices.

This book has kept mathematical equations to a minimum in main text, which makes it easier to read, however, constant reference to authors' name and contributors mention can break the flow of reading. It is a semi-scientific writing which has its own goods and bads. References and appendices are well populated and can provide useful reference material.

Overall, a book worth reading with fresh insights and new perspectives on what could be done with massive amount of data generated every second.
3469149
This is a great book!  If you really wanted to build your own earth-sheltered home you could certainly do it using the information presented here (though a wiser course would be to pick up more sources).  Thanks to this book and "The New Ecological Home", building our own home with environmentally conscious materials and possibly earth bermed or sheltered is high on our list of priorities.  There is only one complaint I have about many books of this variety.  They tend to cover difficulties with things like building code and location very lightly.

Building code and location are going to be huge factors in building an earth sheltered structure, especially one made with fewer traditional modern building materials.  Difficulties with local regulations or inflexible inspectors/building comissions may prevent you from being able to build in the area you want.  This may drive an individual to build in locations further away from urban centers where they might work.  Commuting is no fun; and if you wanted to look at it from an environmental standpoint commuting a greater distance to work, grocery market or schools has just raised your carbon footprint and negated some of the savings your earth sheltered home has created.

I would highly recommend that individuals check local code thoroughly and choose a location suitable to their daily needs such as work or other social necessities before building.  One need not build out of logs and plaster to have an earth sheltered home, though I understand that the point of this book is to have an affordable home and avoiding expensive modern materials.  Take a bigger picture of what you are trying to accomplish; if you are purchasing this book it is somewhat safe to assume you are concerned about the environment.  Please also consider materials used.  Rob Roy's excellent use of modern materials such as rubber membranes and concrete block are high in initial cost to produce, environmentally speaking, but last longer and provide more benefit to long term savings such as insulative qualities and maintenance costs than lesser materials might.  A lot of other earth-sheltered builders advocate natural materials to a fault, they have people using composting toilets and straw-bale homes.  While effective in an environmental sense, they are not attractive to the average person.  Rob Roy's book moves in a positive direction by using modern materials with environmentally conscious construction to create a home that just about anybody would like to live in.
2054629
I enjoyed a lot reading this book. Is about the basics but that was exactly what I was looking for to begin in this fascinating world. After that I bought my Shapeoko 3 XXL. Thanks
3819906
The book arrived as described in good condition.  The delivery was very quick.  Highly recommended publications.  My wife and I have used the Lonely Planet books for France, Germany, Austria and Eastern Europe (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland.)
4642125
I just finished being underwhelmed by Thomas Friedman's best-seller The World is Flat, and I recall being so much more impressed by The Lexus and the Olive Tree when I read it a few years back. So I decided to go back for a look to determine whether this is as good as I remember it.

Yeah, it is.

Comparing the two books, it is obvious that The World is Flat is flashier, and on reading it it seems to have been prepared more to appeal to the market than to curious minds. There's no doubt that if you are looking for a critical, informative, and iconoclastic view of globalization, then The Lexus and the Olive Tree is a better bet, despite some flaws. And there's even less doubt that Mr. Friedman -- whose jet-black hair turned salt-and-pepper grey in the period between the two author's photos -- is moving further from the mark as time goes by -- much like the angry indie rock group that tempers its edge to ensure commercial success.

The name of the book is a good metaphor for globalization: it was borne in 1992, when Mr. Friedman finished a tour of a state-of-the art Lexus factory in Japan and after marveling at the efficient robots that assembled those beautiful cars, he enjoyed a meal of freshly-prepared sushi on a soundless bullet train. He leaned back in his chair and read a bit about the latest Middle East clashes, and it hit him: half the world was consumed by lust for things like those sublime Lexus autos, and the other half was consumed with fighting over who owned some olive tree.

Both of these books are at their heart about the importance of individuals in each respective process: say, Bill Gates and Osama bin Laden, respectively. But what The Lexus and the Olive Tree does so much better than its progeny (The World is Flat is considered a 2005 "update" to this superior effort) is make its points pretty clearly and effectively, without all the padding that seems to characterize the newer volume. Globalization is becoming an increasingly meaningless buzz word: to understand what it really means and what it implies, you could do much worse than reading The Lexus and the Olive Tree.

I didn't completely re-read The Lexus and the Olive Tree for this review, but I did spend an afternoon refreshing my memory by leafing through it.

I cannot say it is without flaw. Mr. Friedman's writing can often seem heavy-handed (this is a common weakness for writers who earn their paychecks crafting 800-word installments and who suddenly decide to write a 500-page argument on a single subject). And it's almost as if he became fatigued with the effort -- the end of the book seems weaker than the first two sections.

Additionally, even though I think this is the better of Mr. Friedman's two books on globalization, there are parts of The Lexus and the Olive Tree that are clearly dated (there's a chapter praising Enron, for example) -- not so much that it risks irrelevance, but enough that it can seem quaint rather than informative. That's not Mr. Friedman's fault, of course, but it makes me think that the book is in need of a good update -- too bad we got a so-so update instead.
1201596
My current favourite book is "'>The World is Flat", a brief history of the twenty-first century by Thomas Friedman. Awesome read. It talks about how almost any function can be done almost anywhere in the world and how we can still prosper in this time of outsourcing.

This flattening is cause by 10 factors:

1 - the fall of the Berlin wall and what it represents.

2 - the internet

3 - Work flow software

4 - open source

5 - outsourcing

6 - offshoring

7 - supply chaining (of course this is good news for SYNNEX since we are a supply chain company)

8 - insourcing

9 - in-forming

10 - and what he calls the steroids - Digital, Mobile, Personal and Virtual

And of course I don't do it justice - you need to read the book to get it.

It inspires me to make sure my people have the skills to interface with the customers and suppliers because much of the back room analysis can be moved offshore. In moving offshore we need to improve our communication skills (never a bad thing to polish anyways). We also need to polish our systems for interacting at a distance. Companies that do this are the ones to thrive.

It also gave me hope that the flattening of the world will actually mean more jobs in North America and more prosperity globally.

This is the review that I post on my blog at [...]