Lonely Planet Nicaragua & El Salvador Review

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(More customer reviews)This guide to Nicaragua and El Salvador isn't great, but if you're traveling to El Salvador, this is all there is.
The book would benefit from better organization, better maps, and less snarkiness. (and why did they put Nicaragua and El Salvador in the same book -- the two countries don't even share a border!) Alas, no other publishers offer a current El Salvador guidebook, so you have no other choices.
When Moon publishes an El Salvador guidebook, I'll be the first in line to buy it...

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Forged by the spirit of poetry and revolution, Nicaragua and El Salvador are Central America's hot up-and-comers, offering volcano treks, rip-roaring surf spots and tons of seldom-visited cultural and ecological treasures. Now, years after the guns were silenced, both countries are opening their doors to the world. And packed with expert advice, this comprehensive guide is your key to discovery.Get Out- Special outdoor adventures section brings the waves, dizzying treks and wildlife hot spots to lifeThe Road Less Traveled - Get off the Gringo Trail with informed do-it-yourself content to some of Central America's best-kept secretsFind Your Way - Custom-tailored itineraries make planning a breeze. More than 80 maps mean you won't get lost along the way.Safe & Sound - Thorough safety and health sections provide top tips to ensure many safe returns

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How to Climb Series: Climbing Anchors Review

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(More customer reviews)The big problem with Chockstone/Falcon's "How to rock climb" series is that too many of their books, particularly those written by John Long, seem to contain huge sections cut-and-pasted from other titles in this series.
Alas, "Climbing Anchors" is no exception. If you have a copy of the book "How To Rock Climb", you already have about 50% of the matter covered in this book. What remains is useful, but hardly justifies the cost of a full book.
If this book contained a section on setting up pulley systems, it might be more worthwhile.

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Includes complete instructions on placing and configuring solid secure anchors in a variety of situations.

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Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships Review

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(More customer reviews)Lending libraries catering to travelers in general and the elderly who appreciate cruises in particular won't want to miss Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships 2008, a survey packed with independent reviews of cruise companies based on personal experience, not advertising or hearsay. Chapters do more than offer reviews of nearly three hundred cruise ships: they discuss what to look for in a ship and crew, how to compare the major lines for pros and cons, and where to find the best among different types of cruises. Simply packed with essential 'know before you go' detail.


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As new ships are launched and cruise lines compete even more fiercely, passengers can find the choice bewildering. This authoritative and impartial book answers all your questions in detail, whether this is your first cruise or fiftieth. Written by the world's foremost cruise expert, Douglas Ward, this is the bestselling guide to cruising in the UK. The key features include: independent assessments of 280 cruise ships; new ships set to debut in 2008; details of refurbished ships that have launched in the last 12 months; brand new feature on spas; top tips on how to get the best value for money; what to look for in a ship and crew; at-a-glance charts which compare the major cruise lines for cabin facilities, food and service; expert advice for singles, honeymooners, families and the physically challenged; expedition cruises, tall ships, and freighter travel; great pictures to bring the cruise experience to life; and, full-colour maps of principal cruise destinations.

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My Secret Fishing Life Review

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(More customer reviews)Mr. Lyons, whose books (both edited and written) fill a significant portion of my fly fishing library, has written a very personal book.
The title is accurate at many levels. I doubt that many of us
would share so much about our personal lives - or that we would be able to do so with such candor and joy.
Mr. Lyons description of the travels (and travails) of a special copy of Sparse Grey Hackle's Fishless Days, Angling Nights is worth the price of the book.
Fishing in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty between morning appointments is an incredible story (especially to this former New Yorker ... the Hudson off of NYC was dead in the 60's & 70's).
I never seem to find any time to fish. With this little book, I have a guide of how to find (or take) a little time here and there for fly fishing. Thank you, Mr. Lyons, for your guide to blending avocations with vocations.
Mr. Lyons sold his publishing company recently. May he and his family enjoy many years of post-publishing / editing repose and adventure. We may be lucky enough to have a second volume: perhaps a guide for the next twenty years?

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The Xbox 360 Uncloaked:: The Real Story Behind Microsoft's Next-Generation Video Game Console Review

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(More customer reviews)Dean Takahashi is a reporter for the San Jose Mercury News. While I applaud his efforts to do the research and leg work to uncover the history, back story and technical details of the Xbox 360, this book just simply is not well written. Dean does a nice job in news reporting related to the tech industry and gaming in general but he is no novelist. This book is obviously not a novel either but you might expect it to be at least a story...In my opinion, it is not- it is a collection of observations loosely tied together, and even then, it is flawed.
As other reviewers have noted, you will find yourself reading the same information, names, and sometimes even quotes in multiple places throughout the book, making it harder to follow his line of thinking clearly. Oftentimes, there is also a bit much of the delineation of who worked for who and who quit the Xbox team when, etc. that does not really lead the reader anywhere or add much to the story. To me, this book feels similar to the previous Xbox book written by Dean in that way- some great tidbits but overall, barely worth reading because of how painful it is to get through it. I've never had this situation happen to me before where I seriously wanted to learn the history and background of building this console, the process that was followed, etc. but was simply not motivated to continue reading the book because of its flaws.
If you are used to reading more professional novels or magazine writing by mainstream writers, you may be frustrated by the common grammatical errors, editorial errors, proofreading mistakes, etc. that pop up in every chapter. They aren't a big deal and you know what he is trying to say but when you pay for a book (that isn't all that cheap, by the way) you expect more. At least I do.
In summary, since I am an IT professional and an avid Xbox and Xbox 360 gamer, I kind of forced my way through the book to learn. You have to take a different approach to reading it, kind of ignoring errors, focusing on the highlights and not trying to tie everything together seamlessly, very differently than you would likely read any other book. If you feel this story is worthwhile enough to put up with these flaws, go for it. Otherwise, you may be disappointed.

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A fascinating insider's look at the evolution of the Xbox 360 and Microsoft's ambitious gamble to become a leading force in the multi-billion dollar video gaming industry. Through extensive interviews and unprecedented access, San Jose Mercury News Technology and Gaming Writer Dean Takahashi takes you behind the scenes as he reveals... The birth of the machine as seen through the eyes of the Xbox 360 engineers who designed it... Blow-by-blow coverage of the heated internal debates as senior Microsoft executives battle to define the future of the Xbox brand... The strategic chess moves as Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer, and company take risk after risk, trying to outmaneuver their archrivals for the brass ring: dominance of the incredibly lucrative video game market... Sony, Nintendo, Electronic Arts, the entire Microsoft Xbox 360 team, and the industry's most celebrated video game developers -- all of the major players are included in this captivating story.

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Body for Life: 12 Weeks to Mental and Physical Strength Review

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(More customer reviews)"Body for Life" is an excellent book if you're a fitness beginner who's trying to figure out how to get in shape and stay in shape or, perhaps, someone who's been working out and/or dieting for a while and doesn't seem to be making much headway towards losing weight and getting in shape. Phillips does a good job of explaining the basic building blocks of fitness and of debunking a lot of the more prevalent fitness myths. He covers the proper way to exercise, both aerobics and weight training, proper diet, not some fad diet but rather how to eat real food in a healthy way, and how to motivate yourself and keep yourself motivated to stick to your goals.
There are a few caveats, however.
This is a very basic book. Don't think you're going to read this book and then know everything you need to know about fitness. It gives you a good foundation to build on but it doesn't go much beyond that. In my opinion that's a good thing given the book's target audience of fitness beginners. It gives you enough information to get started but it doesn't overwhelm you with data. Be aware that once you get into the program and have a better feel for your specific needs, you may find yourself seeking other books for more information but with the information you get from "Body for Life", you'll be able to make better selections of what type of books to look for. If you're already in good shape, chances are you already know everything that's in this book and if there is something you don't know, it won't be worth the price to find out.
Phillips owns a company which manufactures nutritional supplements. Not surprisingly he pushes the use of supplements in this book. There's nothing wrong with using supplements but they're expensive and not really necessary. They may accelerate the process but you'll still get into shape following the program without them.
Fitness is a lifelong commitment. Don't look at the title of the book and think you're going to get into perfect shape in only 12 weeks. Phillips' program is about using those 12 weeks to develop a fitness program you can stick to for the rest of your life. Ideally, when you finish one 12 week program you'll immediately begin another 12 week program and so on until it's not a 12 week program but a way of life.
If you're a fitness beginner and not certain where to begin or someone who's been working out for a little while but doesn't seem to be making any headway towards your fitness goals, this is the book for you. It offers good solid information on the basics of fitness and how to set and achieve your goals. I highly recommend this book.

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Video Systems in an IT Environment, Second Edition: The Basics of Professional Networked Media and File-based Workflows Review

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(More customer reviews)As a professional who serves the broadcast, IT, and mobile content distribution business, I was already a fan of the first edition of this book, and purchased several copies for my staff and colleagues since its first printing. With the rapid changes in the IT business including storage and networking, this updated (2nd) edition has fresh content that's current with the state of the art in digital media networks.

This second edition is typeset a little tighter than the first edition, which cuts out some pages and weight without sacrificing content. In fact, there's even more content in this new edition -- just more efficiently placed for easier reading. Either way, this is a hefty volume packed with hundreds of detailed illustrations and lots of examples. When it comes to understanding principles of modern networked media for video and audio, this Focal Press work deserves a prominent place in any serious video or IT engineer's reference library.
Although this book is oriented towards the professional media or broadcast systems engineer (as opposed to a video consumer building a home media network), the author does a nice job of weaving together the essentials of networked media from "A to Z" including a handy glossary of terms for those of us who can't keep our acronyms straight. I've known the author, Al Kovalick, who's a well regarded figure in the broadcast community. His breadth of knowledge is evident throughout each chapter, yet he writes in a witty, practical style that's both educational and fun to read (including some pretty subtle humor that will make an engineer chuckle). Without sacrificing depth, this book takes a complex technical subject and brings it down to earth, making it suitable even for less technical (but motivated) readers.

Bottom line, this book is for you if you're seeking a solid overview of key engineering considerations when designing or recommending networked video architectures, including networking fundamentals, virus and firewall protection, video servers, NSPOF (no single point of failure) storage design including RAID and RAIN methods, as well as other innovative architectures. Several real-world case studies complement the teaching benefits including specific examples by leading-edge media companies and broadcasters.
Chapter Highlights:
Networked Media in an IT Environment
The Fundamentals of Professional Networked Media
Storage System Basics
Storage Access Methods
Software Technology for AV Systems
Reliability and Scalability Methods
Networking Basics for AV
Media Systems Integration
Security for Networked AV Systems
Systems Management and Monitoring
The Transition to IT: Issues and Case Studies
A Review of AV Basics


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Audio/Video (AV) systems and Information Technology (IT) have collided. IT is being leveraged to create compelling networked media and file-based workflows. Video Systems in an IT Environment has helped thousands of professionals in broadcast, post and other media disciplines to understand the key aspects the AV/IT "tapeless" convergence.World-renowned educator and speaker Al Kovalick adds his conversational and witty style to this text making the book an enjoyable learning experience. Now in its second edition, this book includes: basics of networked media, storage systems for AV, MXF and other file formats, Web services and SOA, software platforms, 14 methods for high availability design, element management, security, AV technology, transition issues, real-world case studies and much more. Each chapter weaves together IT and AV techniques providing the reader with actionable information on the issues, best practices, processes and principles of seamless AV/IT systems integration..This updated edition contains: 40 new and updated figures, expanded sectionson SOA and Web services, storage systems updates, workflow essentials, data center virtualization, protocol and standards updates, an expanded three plane integration model and much more. .Packed with over 235 illustrations .Supported with 13 Appendixes covering interesting and diverse topics and an updated glossary of AV/IT terms

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