Great Books

This concise, practical book is written for you if your professional success is linked to the quality of the reports you produce. You will learn how to...*Manage data, minimize discomfort, and master the report-writing process *Assure that your reports get read, understood, and acted on--rather than contributing to information overload *Develop a communication strategy that enables you to design reports to meet the needs of diverse readers and decision-makers *Write reports that are clear, high in skim-value, and rich in content-value *Follow a sound approach to report-writing so you will avoid procrastination and use your time productively *Allow your readers to find it a pleasure--rather than a struggle--to read your reports *Convey your ideas so clearly and persuasively that you gain recognition and influence within your organization Like all the books in the Prentice Hall Guides to Advanced Business Communications series, this book is ...*Brief: summarizes key ideas only *Practical: offers clear, straightforward tools you can use *Reader-friendly: provides easy-to-skim format

Michael Jackson's Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch, the landmark best-selling malt whiskey companion by the late Michael Jackson, doyen of whiskey writers, has been comprehensively updated by a team of experts. Featuring over 500 new bottlings, reviewed and scored, plus hundreds of revised entries, Michael Jackson's Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch includes background information on the distilleries, tasting notes on over 1,000 bottlings, and practical advice on buying malts and interpreting whiskey labels.

He's written shamelessly for more than a decade and a half about his passion for 12- and 15-year-olds. He's described his dalliances with loves named Heather and Peat and some three dozen named Glen. His name is Michael Jackson. Relax. We're talking here about the Britain-based, award-winning drinks and spirits writer and author of, among other classic reference works, Michael Jackson's Beer Companion. In Michael Jackson's Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch, devotees of the dram can peruse the latest revised edition of the 1989 work. In 336 pages brimming with maps, photos, and informed overview of factors such as geography and flavor components--even proximity to the sea--Jackson sketches the evolution of Scotch whisky, from the prebottling days, when shopkeepers like Johnnie Walker and the Chivas Brothers would create their own blends for sale, to the late-1960s and 1970s' surge of individual distilleries marketing their own bottlings. Lamentably labeling the former as a time when "orchestrations drowned out the soloists," Jackson provides some sweet sheet music of his own: 294 pages are devoted to an A-to-Z review (including full-color labels and tasting notes) of more than 800 singles from "every Scottish malt distillery that has ever witnessed its product in a bottle." It's the perfect book to take to your local liquor store next time you're trying to navigate the high shelf of Scotland's highlands, lowlands, and islands. You may laugh at Jackson's description of Auchentoshan Select's "oily" nose with "hints of citrus zest" or Aberlour 10-year-old's "mint-toffee" bouquet. But you'll be laughing out of the other side of your haggis when you actually smell them. All the notes are well researched and designed to appeal to Cardhu-carrying connoisseurs, as well as those who'd just like to know more about Bowmore. In his introduction, the author describes a whisky's finish as "a crescendo, followed by a series of echoes. When I leave the bottle, I like to be whistling the tune." Scotch drinkers will find plenty to wet that whistle in Michael Jackson's Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch. --Tony Mason

Exploring ethnic Tibet independently is a challenge. The proverbial "land of snows," it possesses some of the wildest and roughest road routes in high Asia, and so trekking, motoring, and mountain biking are all covered in this new edition. Political and cultural issues make Tibet a sensitive destination for Westerners to visit; Michael Buckley's advice includes guidelines on cultural etiquette, local customs, and traveling with minimum impact on Tibet's environment. Michael Palin, the renowned television personality (Himalaya), described the first edition as: "The most thumbed of all my books on Tibet. I might have had some trouble with the yak butter, but Buckley made everything else about Tibet wonderfully palatable. A must-read." Features include:  *Knowledgeable insight into Tibetan culture and history*The holy city of Lhasa in depth, Buddhist monasteries, and pilgrimage sites*Routes through the northern and eastern areas of Kham and Amdo*"Star treks"--high altitude trekking, including the Everest region 

The EOS Rebel T2i and EOS 550D are Canon's newest, most advanced entry-level DSLR-and beginning photographers will enjoy discovering all its ins-and-outs with this comprehensive guide. Complete with easy-to-read callout diagrams on the front and rear interior flaps of the book and a wallet card, this is a must-have for all owners of this model.

As an international speaker and consultant to virtually every business sector over his more than thirty-five years of research and development in technology-based instruction, Michael Allen now speaks out about his frustrations with e-learning and brings fundamental issues to light. He shares specific, commonsense guidelines that reliably produce effective and practical learning solutions. From his pioneering work on learning management systems, to authoring systems, and now on instructional design, experts and buyers alike follow his leadership and respect his opinion: "Every subject area has its bible. This is it for e-learning. This is the how-to book for both instructional designers and executives responsible for corporate e-learning programs. Especially well done and unique to this book are the chapters on learner motivation and how effective instructional interactivities are created. The bottom line, from our experience working with Michael Allen and his team, is the methods and principles defined in this book work–and work well." –Mike Groszko, Manager, DaimlerChrysler Quality Institute "Michael Allen has done it all. He has designed and developed huge amounts of effective e-learning. He has built several very successful businesses providing programs to sophisticated clients. He has managed development. He personally led the creation of Authorware, the benchmark authoring system used throughout the world. He has lectured. He has written. He has taught. His opinions and perspective are sought by many. But mostly, he thinks. And the results of that thinking are to the benefit of us all. I am glad he wrote down what he thinks." – Gloria Gery, Gery Associates

Michael Brein's Guide to Paris by the Metro shows travelers how to go to Paris's top 50 visitor attractions by the Metro, RER (suburban rail), and tram. The guide shows which transit to use, which lines to take, which stops to board and exit at, and, using about 30 detailed mini-area-walking maps, shows exactly how to walk from these stops right to the visitor attractions. Additional nearby points of interest are also indicated on these mini-maps. An ultra-large (very easy to read) official map of Paris's transit system is also provided. The Paris guide is concise, compact, and comprehensive and fits in your pocket (leave the bulky books back in the hotel room!). Michael Brein's Paris guide is part of the world's first and only travel guide series specifically designed to show travelers how to sightsee the top 50 visitor attractions by public transportation in a variety of the world's most visited cities.

For both the new parent coping with a child's recent diagnosis and one who's an experienced advocate, Children with Autism is a must-have reference. It is the trusted, respected source of information on autism and the other conditions within the spectrum of pervasive developmental disorder (PDD). Now completely revised and updated, Children with Autism covers a multitude of special concerns, including daily and family life, early intervention, educational programs, legal rights, advocacy, and a look at the years ahead with a chapter on adults with autism. Parents can turn to this new edition for the latest information on current diagnostic criteria, Applied Behavior Analysis, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), autism advocacy via the Internet, and much more. Another important feature of the book is the group of parent statements found at the end of each chapter. Here the reader gains the perspective and support from many other parents who share their own family's experiences. Other helpful features include a glossary, reading and resource lists, and a delightful collection of photographs of children with autism scattered throughout the book.

Artificial Intelligence is one of the most rapidly evolving subjects within the computing/engineering curriculum, with an emphasis on creating practical applications from hybrid techniques. Despite this, the traditional textbooks continue to expect mathematical and programming expertise beyond the scope of current undergraduates and focus on areas not relevant to many of today's courses. Negnevitsky shows students how to build intelligent systems drawing on techniques from knowledge-based systems, neural networks, fuzzy systems, evolutionary computation and now also intelligent agents. The principles behind these techniques are explained without resorting to complex mathematics, showing how the various techniques are implemented, when they are useful and when they are not. No particular programming language is assumed and the book does not tie itself to any of the software tools available. However, available tools and their uses will be described and program examples will be given in Java. The lack of assumed prior knowledge makes this book ideal for any introductory courses in artificial intelligence or intelligent systems design, while the contempory coverage means more advanced students will benefit by discovering the latest state-of-the-art techniques.

SeattleOil.com  The Internet writings of John Michael Greer - beyond any doubt the greatest peak oil historian in the English language - have finally made their way into print. Greer fans will recognize many of the book's passages from previous essays, but will be delighted to see them fleshed out here with additional examples and analysis.The Long Descent is one of the most highly anticipated peak oil books of the year, and it lives up to every ounce of hype. Greer is a captivating, brilliantly inventive writer with a deep knowledge of history, an impressive amount of mechanical savvy, a flair for storytelling and a gift for drawing art analogies. His new book presents an astonishing view of our society's past, present and future trajectory--one that is unmatched in its breadth and depth. Reviewed by Frank Kaminski Wired.com  The Long Descent is a welcome antidote to the armageddonism that often accompanies peak oil discussions. "The decline of a civilization is rarely anything like so sudden for those who live through it" writes Greer, encouragingly; it's "a much slower and more complex transformation than the sudden catastrophes imagined by many soical critics today." The changes that will follow the decline of world petroleum production are likely to be sweeping and global, Greer concludes, but from the perspective of those who live through them these changes are much more likely to take gradual and local forms. Reviewed by Bruce Sterling   Americans are expressing deep concern about US dependence on petroleum, rising energy prices, and the threat of climate change. Unlike the energy crisis of the 1970s, however, there is a lurking fear that now the times are different and the crisis may not easily be resolved. The Long Descent examines the basis of such fear through three core themes: Industrial society is following the same well-worn path that has led other civilizations into decline, a path involving a much slower and more complex transformation than the sudden catastrophes imagined by so many social critics today. The roots of the crisis lie in the cultural stories that shape the way we understand the world. Since problems cannot be solved with the same thinking that created them, these ways of thinking need to be replaced with others better suited to the needs of our time. It is too late for massive programs for top-down change; the change must come from individuals. Hope exists in actions that range from taking up a handicraft or adopting an “obsolete” technology, through planting an organic vegetable garden, taking charge of your own health care or spirituality, and building community. Focusing eloquently on constructive adaptation to massive change, this book will have wide appeal. John Michael Greer is a certified Master Conserver, organic gardener, and scholar of ecological history. The current Grand Archdruid of the Ancient Order of Druids in America (AODA), his widely-cited blog, The Archdruid Report (thearchdruidreport.blogspot.com) deals with peak oil, among other issues. He lives in Ashland, Oregon.

Get complete coverage of the latest release of the CompTIA A+ exams inside this fully revised and updated resource. Written by the leading authority on CompTIA A+ certification and training, this expert guide covers CompTIA A+ exams 220-701 and 220-702. You'll find learning objectives at the beginning of each chapter, exam tips, practice exam questions, in-depth explanations, and more than 1,000 photographs and illustrations. Designed to help you pass the CompTIA A+ exams with ease, this definitive volume also serves as an essential on-the-job IT reference. Covers all exam objectives, including how to: Work with CPUs, RAM, motherboards, power supplies, and other PC components Install, partition, and format hard drives Install, upgrade, and troubleshoot WIndows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Vista Troubleshoot PCs and implement security measures Install video and multimedia cards Work with portable PCs, PDAs, smartphones, and wireless technologies Manage printers and connect to networks and the Internet Understand safety and environmental issues Establish good communication skills and adhere to privacy policies The CD-ROM features: Practice exams for 701 & 702 600+ chapter review questions New video introduction to CompTIA A+ One-hour video training segment Mike's favorite PC tools and utilities Searchable e-book Mike Meyers, CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, MCP, is the industry's leading authority on CompTIA A+ certification and training. He is the president and founder of Total Seminars, LLC, a major provider of PC and network repair seminars for thousands of organizations throughout the world, and a member of CompTIA.