The Elegant Solution by Paul Robertson
596250
Once I was able to really get into the book, I was captivated and wanted to finish it. However, it took me about six months exactly of trying to read the book (from about mid-December to a couple of weeks ago) to get to the point where I was sucked into the book to actually read it and finish it. (I let my mother-in-law borrow it and she put it down after several pages.) Early on in the text, the descriptions, or the time period and setting or all of these things really make it difficult to get into the book. Don't get me wrong, I love a good historical fiction book! This book just had some flaws for me as an avid reader that took me awhile to get over. I found the concept of reading about the Bernoulli family very interesting. I remember the Bernoulli's principle from school. (I'm not sure if this was from high school, undergrad or graduate school, but the gist of the principle stuck with me.)

The account depicted in the Robertson's book was very interesting! It is something to think about that mathematics could be such an important part of the politics and daily life of a small town, particularly in the time period of the story. This was something that I had never really thought about, but mathematician's like all academia are intelligent and influential people - why should their life be boring, rather they are the politicians that we see on TV - embroiled in scandals of our time period - to their own time period. They just lack the mainstream TV, radio, and other media outlets we are accustomed to today. In Johann, Jacob, Daniel and Nicholas's day the town gossip and other whisperings and esteem would be on the same scale as being a guest on a primetime news show. Leonhard is a hard character to love. You root for Daniel and Nicholas more than you seem to root for Leonhard, particularly toward's the end of the book.

The description of various activities in the book seem to be very lengthy and while they are extremely well written, seem to bog you down and slow your progress with the book. Also, the amount of detail in the book seems overwhelming. The chase scene for instance almost doesn't make sense. The including of angels and dreams in the book are very different than anything that I have ever read before. However, the idea that Leonhard does all that he does in the book for the outcome seems a little bit far fetched. Also, I'm not sure that "the end justify's the means" of Leonhard's approach. He seems a little bit to eager to do shady things for it to be his destiny or whatever is implied.

All in all, I liked the book. I would read more of Paul Robertson's work in the future. I liked the time period, the subject matter (mostly), and the insight into a true historical family (in the Bernoulli's). It may take time for me to get into the books, but I become enthralled once I reach a certain point in the text and want to see what happens!

disclaimer: I received this book free from the publisher through the Bethany House Bloggers Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255.
760919
Just as it was described and happy to have this enlightening book.  Big fan of Phil Robertson and glad that he stands up for his principles and says what he thinks without the fear of being chastised.  I admire him and his family.
2979678
I liked this book, and was pleased to get it. It is easy to read and makes sense. I like how the author makes recommendations such as practicing first without using real money, using his technique, and if it feels comfortable and works, then try it with real money afterwards. I found him to be honest, and although this was a short read, it was one i could not put down until I had finished it. I think the author does a good job of saying, there are no promises, just a technique that helps you mitigate risk and potentially handsome very profitably. I look forward to trying it out, as it made sense to me what he was sharing.
1427072
Mr. Grover has written a book that spells out some clear solutions to our current economic situation. He does this without standing on the platform of any one party, but instead uses common sense and economics. He also does this with some humor, using Greedy and Handy Smurf as an example of the division of labor and specialization. It is evident to me, after reading OSP, that more of our politicians should be economists instead of lawyers.
4321057
G. Epstein reveals a very interesting approach of alternative solutions for psychological or physical pains. The results for psychological pains are spectacular. I have never tried, yet, this method for physical pains. Great book.
1932398
Awesome intriguing book. A very well thought out book with clear concise explanation. This book merits this rating. This will revolutionized the mindset to whoever reads it. I'm glad I bought this book
104862
This book gives resourceful, stimulating, and yet practical and attainable possibities to an often problematic issue. The artful solutions proposed are set in a nice paradigm to illustrate the seven steps in a condensed version, the reader can see the quantum result prior to the detailed interpreation of the process. A delightful read for anyone looking to stretch their creative legs.
3538706
I like this book because it is well written and helpful. The author has put extra efforts in writing such a masterpiece. The quality of material of this book is worth more than its price. Easy to understand content for everyone. From me, I will definitely rate this book and the author's efforts a 5-STAR. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
29168
The book is so very easy to understand, due to the author's grasp of the great truth of grace and truth.  I would recommend it to any and all.  The book size is also a plus, being small and attractive.
498572
You will discover how one day dream can come true. From Pythagoras and Fermat and to Andrew Wiles - Simon Singh will help you to make more than 350 years way to solution of mystery in few hours (or in couple of days). This is really enjoyable historic reading - highly recommended.
432382
The Final Solution is Michael Chabons homage to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Its a delightful short novel with a once-famous but never-named sleuth, now an elderly bee-keeper, drawn into a mystery involving a mute Jewish boy and his African Gray Parrot. In Doyles Sherlock Holmes stories, almost the whole business is the powerful tidiness of rational deduction, as all the disparate pieces are put together with logic ribbon tied neatly in a bow. In Chabons take, the detective is old and diminished, and there is a touch of nostalgia to the story if not the person:

Oh, she thought, what a fine old man this is! Over his bearing, his speech, the tweed suit and tatterdemalion Inverness there hung, like the odor of Turkish shag, all the vanished vigor and rectitude of the empire.

Chabon has been criticized by reviewers for neglecting the tidy logical forms of the mystery, and he has been criticized for letting his prose run away with the story. It is clear, however, that this is a Chabon story and not a Doyle story. Chabons incredible talent is in his command of language, and the ineluctable rhythms of a long sentence. He gives us a Holmes finally aware of his limitations, and of the limitations of rationality and logic. He gives us a story with subtle allusions to heavier things yet unknown to England of the day. Only the boy and the bird knows, and it has turned the boy quiet. The bird sings of things it doesnt understand. And so do we.
3468062
Enjoyed reading this short gem of a book. Everyone in today's society is crunched for time, and the technique devised by Cirillo called Pomodoro is quite genius. Time management skills and effectiveness are at the top of most people's list of how can I improve, and now you have a tool to use very easily and effectively to solve the puzzle. From business professionals, writers, fitness fanatics to Soccer moms, Pomodoro is the answer. Well written and easy to understand, Highly recommend this book.
4178217
This is FANTASTIC! A clever, well-designed little book that introduces a foundational concept of creative problem solving and then gives the reader space to become a practitioner. It is a simple, elegant offering that makes a great gift my friends, family and clients- people who are constantly, deliberately sharpening their skills as creative thinkers. Well done! Thank you for the gift of the blank pages, and for the gift of letting my imagination fill them.
2286267
This was an easy book to read and filled with wonderful ideas designed to help one live a more fulfilled, elegant life.
2609761
In Providence and the Problem of Evil, Richard Swinburne, one of this century's best Christian apologists, finally gives us a full-length treatment of evil.  Swinburne presents us with an explanation of evil that focuses not just on our free will, but on the importance of  mutual responsibility as a prerequisite of free will.  One place where this stands as a stark improvement over previous accounts is that it does not simply take for granted the value of free will; rather, it places the value of free will within the context of moral responsibility.  Admirably, Swinburne attempts to integrate an account of natural evil into his account of moral evil.  Natural evil is ultimately the result of a law-governed world, a prerequisite for the operation of morally significant free will.  Despite the usual intellectual rigor and vivacity of his work, there are some significant problems which Swinburne has left unresolved.  (He had been making revised versions of his works recently; hopefully these will be addressed in a future edition.)  First, his account of evil often falls flat in the face of concrete evil, requiring that we see such things as childhood cancer as  ultimately a good thing because of the opportunities it affords us to be caring.  It rings especially hollow, if not sounding positively perverse, in the face of tremendous evils like the Holocaust.  Second, Swinburne does not fully treat a relevant problem raised by J.L. Mackie some 30 years ago--that every opportunity for higher-order good (such as caring, sympathy and the like) are also opportunities for higher-order evil.  If Swinburne follows his current strategy, we stand in risk of an infinite regress of higher-order goods.  Lastly, Swinburne never recognizes that his treatment of natural evil is really no more than the atheist has to say about the issue with the further complication of God and free will being added to the picture for no clear (or even possible) gain in our understanding.  As Swinburne himself in his other works focuses on simplicity as the be-all and end-all of explanation, this final lacuna is greatly regrettable.  However, despite its problems, Swinburne's book is an excellent attempt to grapple with a serious issue, and thus is time well spent.
3124840
'T.H.E A2Z Diet: Dieting made as SIMPLE as possible',
by Adrian Yeo

"Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated." (Confucius, 551-479 BC)

"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." (Albert Einstein, 1879-1955)

The foregoing fitting & memorable quotes have been deliberately selected by the publisher to preface the new book, 'T.H.E A2Z Diet', with the tag line, 'Dieting made as SIMPLE as possible', by our former Singapore cabinet minister Dr Yeo Ning Hong.

I must concur that the book certainly explains, in very simple language, why we overeat, why we find salty, fatty & sweet food so tempting & addictive. It then zooms into the simplest & most basic principles of effective dieting, which the author has used over the past quarter of a century with success.

The book therefore distills a very simple formula for successful dieting, which the author aptly calls the 'T.H.E A2z Diet', thus forming the focal point of the book, as follows:

T = Ten glass of water daily;

H = Halve your daily food intake;

E = Exercise, by walking at least 10,000 steps a day;

As I have already spoken to a number of people, including my gym buddy who has also bought the book to read, the author's formula makes pragmatic sense.

I feel the author has rightly asserted at the beginning of the book, "Dieting is a very individualistic activity. If T.H.E A2Z Diet works for you (as it does for me), fine - stay with it & make it part of your daily routine. If not, try another approach, bearing in mind that the fundamental principles of T, H & E, are absolutely essential . . ."

Personally, I find that the act of eating only half of what we normally eat is the greatest challenge, both physically & psychologically.

In contrast, I find MM Lee Kuan Yew's personal suggestion of eating up to 80% full more readily acceptable.

Nonetheless, the book starts off with a personal story from the author - about how his stressful job as a young cabinet minister while he was in his late 30's almost killed him.

The rest of the book contains his generous praise of & eloquent argument for water, exercise, fruits & vegetables, with some basic stuff on the science of nutrition.

There is also a FAQ that addresses the key questions that so often confuse dieters, plus a simple graphic record to help track your dieting progress. There is also a brief chapter on sustaining motivation.

Although there is no ground-breaking stuff, I find reading the book a light breeze, because the publisher has also deliberately interspersed many colourful photos, white spaces, & boxed selections, within the 120 odd pages in the entire book layout.

In the end analysis, it's a relatively simple guide on dieting, nutrition & healthy living.

[Reviewed by Lee Say Keng, Knowledge Adventurer & Technology Explorer, December 2008]
3678504
This is an excellent book and it helps you to understand the concept in a very simple terms. The author was very good in explaining the topic and it was dealt with accurately.