Beginner's best friend - clear comprehensive overview and easy to folllow with great results
596438
Beginner's best friend - clear comprehensive overview and easy to folllow with great results.

Have just attended my first chinese painting class conducted in chinese.
Understanding 50% of what is said - probably missing out the most important half, this book fills in the gaps admirably.
Came home and rummaged through the library and found this volume which I had bought last year and shelved.
Concepts covered today are clearly set out.

There are many books out there - but this one is worth a look. I'm glad I did.
1698209
I've been gone for a few months from working in C4D and this book has really helped me to jump back into modeling and animation.  This book has coverage on new additions and changes from C4D R9 that I've found extremely helpful.  The layout makes it easy to sift through the book and discover these new updates according to what you're working with currently.  The tutorials are easy to follow and some graphics have additional bold text and arrows to help clarify what is being attempted in the tutorials, a really great idea for beginners who may not know all the terminology and layouts!  I highly recommend the book to beginners and experts, especially, if you're attempting to learn on your own, rediscover old skills, or update your knowledge of C4D.
323711
This ebook has been amazing so far. The depth of Tom's knowledge, and his well written guide makes it very easy for a beginner. I've tried a few of these books in the past and they haven't been nearly as detailed and interesting as this one. I've been working out seriously and following these WOD's and i have noticed very astounding results. The read is an all together simple read, but packed with crucial information about his WOD's. Again, Tom knows his stuff and will have any beginner, into an expert, in no time at all. I am really happy with this purchase.
3196720
As a first time homeowner last year I didn't have a good sense of maintanence items and remodeling options. I picked this book up after looking at several competing home repair manuals at Home Depot.

The book is very "user friendly" for the new home owner. The book is well organization, offers wide coverage, and is based around photos. The sections are color coded by topic like plumbing, painting, electrical so that you can find your project quickly. Once in the general category the book covers numerous related projects, which allows you to consider whether related projects are also important. Both finding your project and considering related projects are vastly helped by all the pictures. The writers/editors have tried to have pictures (that are all in color) for every major stage of a project, which makes evaluating each project much easier (competing home repair manuals are more texted base with fewer color photos).

These three attributes can lead to "project spillovers" - you find related topics quickly. For example, I was interested in what was required to replace/repair roofing shingles and found on nearby pages how to install vent collars on the roof, which made me realize that I was missing collars on my house. Installing a collar turned out to stop the source of a small leak. I may have never noticed this (or taken longer to notice this) without the user friendliness of the Home Depot guide.

The user friendliness is also the source of its weaknesses. They try to squeeze each project onto one or two pages, which does not allow much detail. Also, the starting point for each project is the interior of new construction - open walls, easy access to services - so no guidance on getting your project to such an open setting if you are not dealing with new construction.

Overall, this book is not meant as the only book you'll ever need on home repair. Rather Home Depot has taken a "modular" approach: it is a great intro reference that leads into Home Depot's other related more detailed books on specific topics like "Kitchens and Bathrooms 1-2-3", "Flooring 1-2-3", "Wiring 1-2-3", etc. that are also similarly user friendly. After using this book for general issues, you can buy the more detailed books for topics that you need more depth.
2741757
This book, as well as the software it describes, is squarely targeted at the beginning amateur photographer. Aperture, like many Apple products of this type, has more power under the hood than is immediately obvious.  As with its Apple siblings, the user is largely left totally at sea about how it works.  This little volume is the remedy for that.

I was impressed with both the clarity, simplicity, and completeness of Hilz's book.  Text is brief and concise, organized into colorful panels.  The text is presented in several formats--script, stickies and so on--that give nice clues about the type of content.  This layout has a lot of thought behind it.  It's approachable and not in the least forbidding.

There are many terms in digital photographic processes.  Hilz gives a beautifully clear description of every one--what it does and why you might want to use it.  He explains the concept of workflow and how the user can do quality work in less time.  There's a very nice description of metadata and an equally nice section on exporting photos in numbers of ways.  This is a great place to start for anyone who's been scared away by the dark tower of Photoshop.  The only area where I'd fault it is that zero time is spent on color calibration.  There are many inexpensive ways to improve color fidelity onscreen and on print.  Without calibration, much editing time is wasted time.

I had my own reasons for reading this book.  Those will not be of interest to most readers of this review, but a few will be in the same situation I am.  I'm a serious amateur and have been using Photoshop for years.  I use a combination of Photoshop, Bridge and iPhoto to organize my shots.  My workflow could be better.  I wanted to learn about Aperture to see if it could combine the functionality of Bridge and iPhoto.  Not really.  If I had to describe Aperture briefly, it appears to be Bridge with an iPhoto front end.  Editing, while a nice step forward for the beginner, is still far too limited for a more serious user.  So it won't be going into my kit.  But I offer thanks to the author for such a clear description of the product.

In summary, I'd suggest the reader evaluate where he/she might lie in the photographic spectrum.  If you know your photos could look better, but you know you'll never spend much time at it, then Aperture is the product for you.  And this book is the way to learn about it.
4373624
I continue to strongly recommend the "Teach Yourself Visually" self-help series to beginning and intermediate users of new technology and software.  The entire book is easy to navigate and contains easy to understand information presented in straight forward layman's language.  The authors utilize hundreds of photos and screen shots to explain and focus the user's attention on translating the discussed concept to what he/she sees on the screen.  Indeed, the basic presumption is that most of us learn more easily by "seeing" the topic being discussed resulting in a non-technical self-help book that is largely jargon free and totally visually supportive.  I especially appreciate the "tips" included in each "lesson" which serve to amplify and clarify discussions and, at times, warn the reader of potential dangers.

The "Windows 8" addition to this series should appeal most to beginners of the windows operating system and to intermediate users who seek more information on the differences from Win7 to Win8 along with ideas and tips on maximizing utilization. Advanced Windows users will find little to enjoy beyond possibly some tips in the security and maintenance sections.  Certainly beyond discussions of the new tile-themed interface, changes with the Start Screen mode and Desktop Mode, and differences between touch screen and non touch screen modes, there is relatively little new material for the more experienced users.

I was impressed by the incremental (two page) step by step approach to utilizing Windows 8 from basic (Start Screen and Desktop, launching /using apps, getting connected to the internet) to more useful tasks (surfing the web, working with email, working with music, photos, and documents) to more advanced topics (sharing, security features, customizing, and maintenance) which are all completely supported by rich color screen shots labeled to coordinate with the text--truly a visually learner's tool. Each chapter is color coded and built around a major concept, for example, "Working With Images", and the chapter is then subdivided into brief step by step "lessons" or instructions to guide the user through each new task completely supported by screen photos of what is being taught.

I recommend the "Teach Yourself Visually" series to beginners and casual users who need more than a basic manual and I specifically recommend the "Windows 8" edition to new and upgrading PC users. Reading an entire 340 page book on an OS can be daunting for anyone's memory, but for the beginner and for the casual user, "Windows 8" can be effectively utilized as a desktop resource guide for quick "how to" answers to specific questions and operating problems--that is how I utilize this entire series.
2088481
Reason is an intuitive program whose interface mirrors much of the hardware that you'll find in a studio.  Whether you have hands-on studio experience or have never loaded a music software program before, this book is the definitive guide to Reason.
The book starts out with a clear introduction in the basics of sound synthesis, MIDI, latency, and other issues surrounding compuer-based music.  By the end of the first hands-on chapter, you'll have confidently created your first sounds with Reason.
Each chapter thoroughly goes through each device in Reason 2.0, describing the philosophy, abilities, and limits of each.  Even Reason pros will likely find revelations, as the authors constantly find creative uses of Reason's control voltage (CV) modeling, as well as great ideas on how to create an arpeggiator, layer synth sounds in Subtractor, or work around Reason's lack of a feature for tempo changes.
This book is suitable for Reason 1.0 and 2.5 as well.  The authors point out the differences with 1.0 (and even point out how to get around them, like how to manually create a synched LFO in 1.0, a feature that was introduced in 2.0.)  Even with the recent 2.5 update this book is still essential.  The 2.5 update adds four new effects and an audio and CV linking/splitting component but does not replace or update any of the core devices in 2.0 that are thoroughly covered here.
This is a clear and well-written guide that in a perfect world would come enclosed with every copy of Reason.  If you're a Reason user, don't bother reading any more reviews.  Just read this book.
2724108
Very useful and easy to understand. Went over all aspects properly and thoroughly. Would highly recommend as a must read to beginners
2863895
Such a great book.

From cover to cover this book is wonderful. The images are clear and very helpful. The projects in the book are items that everyone can use, and the directions are straight-forward and easy to understand.

This book is definitely good for beginners, but even the well-versed will find this an interesting read and addition to their collection.
2710804
John Shaw is a master photographer who excels at communicating his knowledge in very clear and concise language.  This book is a marvel of efficiency as he covers topic after topic in highly succinct fashion.  While keeping each section brief, he manages to teach a lot in the clearest way possible.
Many tips on how to get correct exposure and strong composition are in here as well as techniques for macro photography.  Also, a significant portion of the book is devoted to considerations when purchasing equipment and the information is invaluable.
As others have pointed out, the equipment he favors is not cheap but some seem to miss the entire point of those chapters.  Shaw does not give the reader a shopping list.  He discusses the pros and cons of various equipment and encourages you to weigh the trade-offs to develop your own equipment list.  Since much of the better equipment is expensive, this may mean rationing your money to get the best bang for the buck.
This is an excellent book.  It covers a variety of topics with a rare clarity that makes it a must have for any serious photographer.
1887807
The positive reviews were right on the money, this book is the best!  It allowed me to start using Mathematica with ease, compared to the many hours of past frustration while working on optimizations.  I fought endlessly, struggling to decipher the software's baroque navigation, cryptic errors, hostility to the user which borders on abuse - but now Mathematica and I are becoming great friends thanks to Heikki Ruskeepaa's wonderful tome.  THANK YOU FOR WRITING THIS BOOK!!!
Of particular benefit is the guidance s/he provides for best practices in formatting cells to avoid common, productivity-killing pitfalls.
4653944
This is a very helpful book, and one that Ive already recommended to a friend. Julia Blacks writing style is engaging and friendly, which makes it so easy to read through 80-odd pages of information on tackling thinning hair. The 10 chapters break down the material in a comprehensive way, from lessons on curbing your everyday bad habits to the more advanced medical treatments. Though Ive read my fair share of hair tips, many of the facts were completely new to me, and a few technical and medical terms - explained simply - helped give some of our hair conditions a name. And at the end of each chapter, a To Do List puts the information youve just learned into an action plan.

One of the things I appreciated most about the book was Blacks personal experiences in almost every aspect of the process. In many ways, Id take her word over that of a medical practitioner with a full head of luscious hair. Black goes to the extent of listing the products that she found most effective, always mindful to offer suggestions on the more reasonably priced of the range.

My only complaint is the layout, which is crying out to be professionally done to give all this research the look it deserves. Also, there are photos of women with different hairstyles spread throughout the book, and you're often asked to flip back several chapters to see the photo that Black is referencing in the text. I think this could have been avoided by repeating a smaller shot of the image on the current page.

But the layout is definitely no reason to avoid the book - theres just too much useful information here. Im convinced this book will be helpful to women who have tried a few tricks here and there to live with their thinning hair, but need a comprehensive guide that brings it all together and gives them hope. Black does just that.
3912130
I am a rank newbie to gourd crafting and have 3 or 4 other books on the subject. Bonnie's book surpasses the others in her clarity of explantion, step by step instruction (no confusion as to what to do), beautifully and clearly photographed, plus telling you that there are other paints, tools, etc. that can be used. But while this book is written so even the rankest beginner to gourd crafting can use and follow the directions, it is equally useful to the more experienced.
3064734
As someone who knows very little about neural networks, I found this book to be an incredibly helpful resource. From the very beginning, it set up a clear understanding that the book was for beginners and broke down the information in a way that made sense. The first chapter gives a brief overview of the topic which is a great way to get started and proceeded to give a detailed and comprehensive explanation of everything you need to know as a beginner. What set this book apart for me as a guide to the subject was the way in which the book implemented images and graphs to make the concepts come to life. This really helped me solidify what the text was telling me. I also found that the definitions, clear explanations, examples, and tone of the book as it felt like it was really speaking to me and taking me through the book and the process, were all key factors into making this a helpful guidebook that I would definitely recommend.
2820227
This book is the best. I wish I had this when I was just starting out. Very thorough, clear, easy to understand and practical.
3367845
I'm so glad I've found this "Crochet for Beginners" guide. Granted, I learned the very basics of how to crochet in Grade 3, but never really used those skills for almost twenty years. Picture me frustrated when my mom and one of my best friends tried to explain some crochet pattern to me that looked extremely complicated and confusing. In the end, I stopped asking them to teach me, and searched online for a Crochet 101-type of book instead, which would teach me everything I need to know without making me feel like a fool (like some other beginners guides tend to do).

Ive only been practicing crochet stitches for a day, but already know that Emma Browns guide will help me master my technique and start tackling my own projects in no time. This guide doesnt overwhelm you with complex patterns, instructions and abbreviations you won't understand at all. Quite the opposite.

It builds up from the absolute basics of crochet, starting with basic knowledge regarding your tools, materials and terminology, before starting to teach you the different crochet stitches. I love how the author walks you through every step in a very detailed and easy to understand way. She also adds many illustrations that beginners like me will love. They simply make it impossible to do anything wrong, trust me on that. You might have to go back and forth for a while to practice those stitches, but thats quite easy on your kindle and I didn't even have to put down my hook and yarn to do it. If you're a visual learner, you will also appreciate the links to videos that are placed throughout the e-book. When looking at other video tutorials, I often find that teachers rush through an explanation, which always makes it frustrating for me as a learner. That's one thing I noticed right away - each video has an appropriate length, and the camera is placed as if you were looking at your own work, which makes it super easy to follow along or trouble-shot what your mistakes might be.

My favorite part of the book has got to be the part where the author gives us different patterns to try, ranging from really easy crochet patterns for beginners to intermediate ones and even an advanced pattern (that bolero looks gorgeous, btw). I have lots of cat-loving friends, so seeing the Fishy Cat Toy made me order orange yarn right away. Lets just say some of my friends will get a little something special for their birthdays this year!

I cant believe how easy it is to read these crochet patterns. I guess all it takes is an author who makes the effort to really walk you through them step by step. The best teachers are the ones with not only a lot of knowledge, but also a passion for what they are doing. Emma Brown clearly has both and it shows. If you think of starting a relaxing hobby that will get you major kudos from friends (just imagine giving an adorable baby hat to a friend with a newborn), or you just want to brush up your skills, this is the book for you!
3943339
I am so happy that my friend recommended this book to me. I love to cook. Much of the technical information was new to me and was succinctly explained in a truly user-friendly manner. The illustrations were really helpful, as was the honing video. (I never knew what that thing in my drawer was for!) I love the recaps and reminders throughout. I used to do my own "sharpening" and the information in this book made me realize that I might be ruining my most important cooking tools. Happy to say I am becoming a knowledgeable buyer who knows what to look for, and can actually speak the language. I now even know the meaning of "full tang" and "partial bolster"! After reading this book, I'm off to get myself a really nice gift---I'm craving that oh-so-beautiful Shun : )
Thanks, Nate!