Earth Day Books

What divergent opinions !! Naturally I think the book is loaded with practical geotechnical information, including tons of solved problems. Give the book a chance and decide for yourself. Many thanks to my supporters....

The book is too oriented to domestic US soils, and the aproach is superficial and over-simplified. The amount of useful information is less than 5% of the huge size of the volume. Really a waste of money.

I have examined the book and find it to be an excellent book for learning the practical aspects of geotechnical engineering. The author is uptodate and thorough, yet he explains in a very down-to-earth style, by photographs and numerical examples, some very real engineering problems a geotechnical engineer is likely to face in practice.

I took this book in with me for the PE exam and it helped me get about 10 problems right. There are tons of examples and problems with solutions in this book. I regret not taking the geotechnical section of the PE exam.

Reasonably well rounded book (at a reasonably good price!) illustrating the practical aspects of geotechnical engineering. Concepts are explained in good detail and solved problems are helpful in promoting understanding. Essentially, a good book to start out your tech library, but too general in nature to be considered for a "reference text". For that, you might rely on books by Terzaghi, Peck, Thornburn, Bowles, Fang, etc.

I will agree with several of the other reviews - this book is not what you 'expect' it to be - but a very good book nonetheless. When I saw the word "companion", I assumed the book would read more as a study guide. I assumed it would read more like a dictionary of people, places, and things, etc.

This book is more like a walk through Tolkein's head. Have you ever wondered "Where did the word 'Hobbit' come from?" "How did Tolkein come up with the names of his characters?" "How did he build their personalities?"

I found it interesting that Tolkein felt his characters more or less "already existed in another realm and he needed to learn more about them as oppposed to him actually developing them."

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I found it very interesting to learn how such a wonderful story actually came to be... and I thoroughly enjoyed the illustrations.

From its title, I assumed that The Hobbit Companion was similar to other `companion' books I have seen before. I expected to find a kind of encyclopedic volume full of descriptions of hobbitish people, places, and things, and all accompanied by colorful illustrations (judging by its cover, the illustrations would be quite nice). It would no doubt include the backgrounds of the members of Thorin and Company and, of course, a complete history of Gandalf and Smaug.

Well, I was right about the illustrations (they are wonderful), but I was way off on the content, for "The Hobbit Companion" is no ordinary read-along helper designed to explain hobbits and their funny ways. It is not even a look at the story of "The Hobbit". Instead, it is an in-depth look at the particular names used by J.R.R. Tolkien to describe the tale of Bilbo Baggins. The author, David Day takes an etymological scalpel to Bilbo's adventure and lays each invented (and sometimes reinvented) word on the table.

The whole idea of the book is that Tolkien was not just a wordsmith, but also a word trickster. Day shows how names and words such as `hobbits', `Baggins', and `Gollum' (and many, many others) were not picked randomly out of the air, but rather were intentionally molded to convey a multitude of hidden meanings. An example of such cleverness is given in `Baggins' in which `bag' shows what a `money-bags' Mr. Bilbo and his wealthy family were and `bag man' describe the burglar that he became.

The book is full of many interesting and often funny uses of such word-roots, but it is sometimes difficult to tell where the author is citing Tolkien's admitted reasoning for his word choices or if Day is just making them up from his own deductions. And with the occasional major blunder by the author (Sauron did not live in Isengard, nor did Bilbo's parents drown in an accident) I began to becoming skeptical and to wonder where Day was getting all this stuff from (the book could use a good prologue by the author).

But I kept reading, and regardless of if JR.R. Tolkien's `jests' were all intentional or if they were cleverly discovered later by David Day, they still make for very interesting reading. I particularly found the examiniation of the naming of Smaug to be facinating, especially the reminders that `smeagol' is Old English for burrowing and `smugan' is Prehistoric for to squeeze through a hole. Put them together and you get Smaug, one nasty hole-squeezing dragon!

Overall, this book is a good read, but what makes it one that I highly recommend is its beautiful `pillowed' cover featuring a scene of "The Party" and the gorgeous illustrations on nearly every of its 91 pages (including a central foldout showing Bilbo, Gandalf, and the 13 Dwarves). Lidia Postma did a great job!

Fans of Tolkien's Hobbit and the new movie will relish this companion volume by David Day. The Hobbit Companion features gorgeous illustrations by Lidia Postma as it presents a history of hobbits, places, and links between Hobbit settings and mythology.

...just sort of mediocre. Primarily I was greatly disappointed with the horrible illustrations which depict the Hobbits as dirty, ugly Troll-like creatures who don't bathe or comb their hair and have spent to much time in Hawaii or someplace tropical since they all seem to have a rich "Coppertone" tan. That said, some might find this merely an "illustrated version" of the prologue to "Fellowship Of The Rings", giving a back history of the Hobbits as a race of creatures, where they came from and what the meanings of their names might be. On this level, the book works and at times can be quite interesting and useful, especially to someone who is reading Tolkien's "Lord Of The Rings" for the first time. It could also be a spoiler to the very same reader so be prepared to be let in on future accounts as told in the Ring trilogy. I think I might have really enjoyed this book much better had they used another illustrator and not the one that did the work for this book, for that is really my only problem with "The Hobbit Companion" and certainly not with the caring thought and detail that the author put into depicting Hobbit lore as a genuine society and race. So to sum it up, for true Tolkien fans this book is probably a must but may disappoint on the level of illustrations. One can only hope that if it is ever reprinted they do so with another artist.

For those of you who expect The Hobbit Companion to give you step-by-step insight into Tolkien's prequel of the Lord of the Rings, this might not be the book for you.
The book actually details hobbits as a race; not the book of the same name. But it does so in a very surprising manner.
The study of hobbits (which includes Frodo--this volume does not refer just to one book) delves into the meanings of the words that Tolkien carefully selected and crafted.
Tolkien's mastery of vocabulary and language is made evident as it is broken down and explored, so you can see how the words shaped the story, rather than the other way around. Learn the meanings behind words such as Hobbit, Bilbo, Baggins, Smaug, Frodo, and more. And see how 13 consecutive words in the dictionary from hob to hobo created how we think of hobbits.
If you're an author or wish to become one, you may find this book very enlightening, as it explores Tolkien's thought processes. You'll look at and think of words in a way you never have before.
If you're not, you may find the masterfully done illustrations of hobbit life, which evoke a classic style of art, fascinating in themselves including large illustrations of Gollum, floorplans of Bilbo's home, and a 4-page foldout of Gandalf, Bilbo, and the dwarves.
Finally, the book is exquisitely crafted, which you can tell as soon as you feel the cover. It's meant as a keepsake, and if carefully preserved, it can be a treasured part of your library for generations to come.

Perry has done a wonderful job in untangling the very intricate tale woven by J.R.R. Tolkien. Of particular help are the copious margin notes which reference exactly where Perry is drawing the information contained within that section of his book. The commentary made by the author is a welcomed pause for reflection on the events that are taking place and keep the book from being a mere listing of dates and events. I teach a course on J.R.R. Tolkien and have found Untangling Tolkien a valuable resource, since it covers the entire history of Middle-earth: what comes before The Hobbit and what takes place after The Lord of The Rings. Bravo Mr. Perry, I look forward to reading your other books.

Superb, exhaustive chronology of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings saga. Perry does a superior job in untangling a number of thorny chronological issues in Tolkien's narrative, and he employs some fine literary detective work in reconstructing what events are happening across Middle Earth on any given date. Especially admirable is his reconstruction of how much moonlight there was during each day of Frodo and Sam's journey into Mordor.

In addition to chronology, Perry supplies a lot of background information about Tolkien's themes and sources, as well as biographical tidbits about Tolkien. For example, there are fascinating discussions of Tolkien's views of technology, freedom, and totalitarianism. Perry also discusses Tolkien's stance toward the misuse of Germanic myths by the Nazis.

This is a great resource for Tolkien-lovers everywhere.

An amazing accomplishment by a dedicated Tolkien fan.

That is how I'd sum up the book Untanging Tolkien. Michael Perry has first unraveled all Tolkien's "dates" -- which can be extrapolated from phases of the moon -- and then knit them together again in a cohesive outline, presented in much greater detail than Tolkien's own timeline (found buried in Appendix A of LOTR). By incorporating information from other Tolkien writings, the author of Untangling Tolkien collates additional facts about all the characters and the circumstances surrounding the War of the Ring, folding them all into this detailed chronology. He includes material that sheds light on possible parallels between Tolkien's work and events that were contemporary, and he provides original commentary that suggests some additional motivations for Tolkien's characters. Sidebars offer references to every source for the information presented and for each conclusion the author has drawn.

I found the format, with quick-reference bulleted lists and clearly delineated sections and subheadings, well-organized and easy to use.

NOTE: I read the third printing that was published in May 2004. Apparently the author has corrected many of the errors that David Bratman objected to (below). You won't find a better overview or a more throrough treatment of time and dates in LOTR than Perry provides in this book.

This book is layed out as a chronological record of the events covered by Tolkein's masterpiece with prefaces that explain the calender system created by Tolkein and its conversion to our more mundane (and possibly inferior) system. The type is clear, and margin citations clear and present for every entry. It's primary utility, at which it succeeds admirably, is as a kind of radiograph of Tolkein's work that reveals its astonishing complexity more clearly and allows one to admire, and more importantly, explore the book itself more quickly, easily, and deeply.

The book also contains copious notes inline with the chronology. These vary from informative to tangential, but at worst do not detract from the book's primary function. Mr. Perry is perhaps foremost as Lewis scholar, and so C.S. Lewis, a close acquaintance and friend of Tolkein, makes a number of appearances. Also making appearances in the notes are William Shakespeare and Winston Churchill.

All in all, a unique book which will save anyone who wants to do an in depth study of LotR a lot of time.

A year-by-year, later day-by-day, chronicle of the war against Sauron from the founding of the Shire to the glorious conclusion seems at the outset like a good idea. Perry calls LOTR's Appendix B, the Tale of Years, "far from complete" but it covers the whole period: what he means is that it's not detailed enough for him. Appendix B won't tell you which day Sam cooked coney for Frodo; Perry will.

But alas, the book does not stop there. The entries are written as bullet lists like a PowerPoint presentation, and many add pointless little flowcharts such as two-generation family trees. They reduce Tolkien's magnificently complex subcreation into a giant mass of undifferentiated trivia. And each yearly or daily entry comes with its commentary, whether directly relevant, side points, broader considerations, or dogmatic essays in applicability. The unrelieved banality and inappropriateness of these must be read to be believed; as also the author's clumsy, grammatically inept style, and his smug superiority to the characters. (He frequently criticizes the good guys' "blunders," all of them more complex than he implies.)

There's actually some good chronological analysis and speculation hiding in here. But how can someone who knows his Tolkien that well say that the wizards were Valar, or that Rohan gave Isengard to Saruman (it wasn't theirs to give, and Saruman was made its warden, not a freeholder), that Boromir and Faramir had a sibling rivalry (Tolkien specifically says not), or suggest that Galadriel should have sent daily eagles to check up on the Fellowship?

These are not isolated examples: the bloopers and misconceived ideas go on and on. The whole book is like that: it has the soul of a PowerPoint presentation. I can't recommend it on any terms.

I found this book very informative of Tolkien's world, from first to last, The First Age forward, I got this paperback and it is well made and the black and white drawings are descriptive. Like I said a plus for your Tolkien library.

This book is a must for Tolkien fans because of its utter comprehensiveness! Anything you need to know is in here and it is very user friendly.

Many people care for the art in Day's books. I don't. But still, the real problems are in the text. Day constantly goes above and beyond what Tolkien writes (when he doesn't simply get it wrong) ceating a world that is as much or more his than Tolkien's. This book is interesting as a faux medeival bestiary but as a guide or analysis of Tolkien's world it is very poor indeed. Robert Foster, J.E. Tyler, Micheal Martinez, Tom Shippey, and the like are simply much more careful scholars. Read their books instead.

In the Dark Ages, bestiaries were volumes (often illustrated) were written as allegorical or moralizing works on the appearance and traits of real or imaginary animals. They were often thick and lavishly illustrated, and their text described in detail such mythical creatures as griffins, gargoyles, giants, and dog-headed men.

David Day's Guide to Tolkien's World: A Bestiary (also published as A Tolkien Bestiary) is a beautifully written and illustrated bestiary, containing entries on the 129 different races that inhabited Middle-Earth. Fauna and flora, ranging from the Athelas (kingsfoil) plant to the awesome Warg are vividly described, and all of Tolkien's major works (The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion) are covered. The black and white drawings depict the various races (Elves, Men, Orcs, Istari, Vala, Maia...) and the color plates depict major events from the Creation of the World to the Ringbearers' departure to the West.

A must have for Tolkien fans.

Alex Diaz-Granados

This is a great books to teach kids and adults alike how easy it is to recycle without requiring a major overhaul to one's life. There are tips about conserving water, using your community's curb side recycling service, planting trees and more.

This book is nicely illustrated and I like the concept but the author misses some wonderful opportunities to teach more about what we can do to take care of the earth. One of the illustrations shows the main character standing in front of the refrigerator with the door wide open for what appears to be an extended period of time as he contemplates climate control. (seems counter intuitive} Then the main character makes a bunch of ice and uses an electric fan all day and into the night to blow air over the ice to cool the planet. Hmmmm... more waste of electricity. Would have been nice to include things we can do in our every day lives in our homes to reduce our carbon footprint like turning off lights, driving less, carpooling, changing light bulbs, solar power, etc etc I should note that the author does do a nice job of going over reduce, reuse, recylce, so it's not entirely bad, just misses the mark.

It's Earth Day! (Little Critter)I am using this book with young children to increase awareness of ways they can help take care of the earth. It is both entertaining and informative. I recommend it for the classroom or for reading and discussing at home.

Here's a geography book in coffee-table guise that has a lot going for it: expert research, generous format and a sympathetic publisher. It's a valuable addition to standard academic textbooks about the Crescent City. The author deftly peels back the strata that define New Orleans and make it all the more evanescent. I learned a great deal about the hidden realm squirming under our feet here in N'awlins. However: The book is, to put it simply, 10 pounds of good intention in a 5 pound bag. The author has analyzed the geography and its effect on the city from so many angles, with so much data, that the effect is overwhelming, even to a professional technical writer such as myself. As much as possible was shoe-horned into this book, without considering readability. A magnifying glass is a must for the small text and even smaller captions on the amazing number of graphs and charts. Geography is Campanella's forte, but social history is not: he is out of his depth trying to revisit the Creole/American boundary question. The designer and publisher should have tactfully reined in the author's manic approach, and the result would have been a much better, more taut tome.

Time And Place In New Orleans: Past Geographies In The Present Day by Richard Campanella (Assistant Director of Environmental Analysis at the Center for Bioenvironmental Research at Tulane and Xavier Universities) is a trip through time, showcasing the history of New Orleans in words and color photography, and illustrating its most notable geographical and architectural landmarks. From the problematic founding of New Orleans to the mixture of cultural elements that make it so distinctive today, Time And Place In New Orleans is a truly informative and highly recommended topographical and geographical portrayal of the growth and development of an American city lying along the curved banks of the Mississippi River.

I admit to being fascinated by pictorial histories of cities. I enjoy being able to stand on a street corner, or on the observation deck of a tall building, with such a book in hand and "see" into the past. All cities are formed by their geography and this is perhaps truer for New Orleans than most. Campanella, an environmental analyst and historical geographer, and the author of _New Orleans Then and Now,_ begins with the problematic founding of the city (the malarial swampland between the river and the lake wasn't anyone's first choice). As the city expanded, land reclamation became necessary, but this was complicated by the high water table and the need for a complex drainage system. Its geography also formed the city's culture, its districts, neighborhoods, nodes, street patterns, and shifting industrial center. But many readers may be less interested in the civil engineering case studies and more attentive to this coffee-table volume's glossy photographs, many of them aerial. And most residents of the Crescent City will agree with his description of St. Charles Avenue as the city's "spinal cord" and perhaps be surprised to learn that many of the radiating streets of their city are the exact descendants of footpaths traced on early maps.

This is a good book to cover geographical effects of seasons with young children but could have been much better had the author chosen a day in winter/summer rather than spring/fall. Also, some of the slang to specific regions (eg. willy-willies in Australian section) should have been defined. Overall though, it was a useful education book and the kids enjoyed the perky text and lively illustrations.

As teacher education student, I have been on the lookout for quality children's literature. On the Same Day in March is one of the best books I have found for integrating different subjects. Lessons in Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies nearly write themselves as Singer uses a rich vocabulary to describe different types of weather, agriculture, geography and cultures all over the world! Although the book by itself lacks some of the "entertainment value" very young children demand, it is excellent for 2nd and 3rd graders.

It was the first Earth Day, 1970, on the playground at a small school in a small town in the Midwest. My 3rd grade classmates and I spent our recess picking up trash to celebrate that day. I have been a teacher for 20 years and each and every day I have my students celebrate Earth Day by following the adage, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. This book helped give the students a perspective of how far we have come with the environment and how we think of it, and how far we have yet to go to protect our precious resources.

EARTH DAY (Rookie Read-About Holidays)is a book ideal for children up to age 3. It's describes perfectly the importance of caring for the Earth. The charming photos clearly tell the story or message. And the book is inexpensive enough to use as a distribution in a classroom or youth group.

Although this book was written in 1974, when Asimov was unaware of the technological advancements that have dramatically improved the efficiency of resource use, the basic premises he works from remain. Humanity is still using non-renewable resources at a growing rate and at some point they will run out. The threat of global warming is a serious one and no one really knows what the consequences will be.
Asimov targeted the material at the level of the late middle and high school student. It is a description of the main technical advancements such as agriculture, medical advancements, and improvements in hygiene that have dramatically increased the average life span of humans. He then performs some simple calculations that demonstrate that the time will soon be reached when the human population will reach the capacity of the Earth to sustain it. When this happens, the human population will almost certainly drop at a dramatic rate.
His solution is to be proactive and take actions now to reduce the growth in the number of humans. The proposals are mild, yet controversial to some people. They are the expanded use of family planning around the world and the continued development of new technology to improve housing, health and quality of life.
As always, Asimov argues with a thoroughness that leaves little room for doubt or argument. Until humanity finally learns how to control the growth of the population, this will remain one of the best explanations of the reasons why it needs to be done.