Average customer rating:
- Excellent, but not an easy one!!
- Where was the editor?
- Maybe a real philosopher, but not a real dog lover
- You Decide
- For a dog? Why yes...
|
The Philosopher's Dog: Friendships with Animals
Raimond Gaita
Manufacturer: Random House Trade Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| Dogs
| Animal Care & Pets
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Animal Care & Pets
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Essays
| Animal Care & Pets
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Animals
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Animal Psychology
| Zoology
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Reference
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0812970241
Release Date: 2005-07-12 |
Book Description
The philosopher Raimond Gaita has always been fascinated by animals– their obvious intelligence and disturbing brutality, their uncanny responsiveness to our moods and needs, the deep feelings they elicit from us and seem to return. In this marvelous, luminous book, Gaita trains the lens of philosophy on the mystery and beauty of the animals he has known and loved best.
The Philosopher’s Dog is one of those rare works that engage the heart from the very first paragraph and haunt the mind long after one has finished reading.
What does Gaita’s dog, Gypsy, think about while she sits on her mat gazing out to sea for hours on end? Why did the irascible cockatoo Jack greet Gaita’s father with kisses each morning but bite everyone else? How can we acknowledge that animals are sentient and yet deny that they have consciousness? Is it possible to love animals and still eat meat? In contemplating questions like these, Gaita weaves together personal stories–inspiring, sometimes heartbreaking accounts about the animals he and his family members have sheltered–with the reflections and analysis of a professional philosopher.
A graceful, engaging stylist, Gaita is perfectly lucid as he grapples with great thinkers through the ages–from Socrates to Wittgenstein, Descartes to Hannah Arendt. And yet, as important as formal philosophy has been to him, Gaita frankly acknowledges that he has learned much about the nature of life from Gypsy and Jack and his courageously arrogant cat Tosca. In the end, he argues that love should be the essence of our bond with animals, the critical factor that guides how we treat them and think about their place in our world.
In pondering the meaning and morality of his relationships with animals, and with the natural world more generally, Raimond Gaita has created a surprising masterpiece, a book of startling insights, spellbinding stories, meticulous observations, and wise reflection. At once engrossing and thought-provoking,
The Philosopher’s Dog is a supremely enjoyable book.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent, but not an easy one!!.......2007-08-23
I found this book very moving and pleasant to read, but I am talking mostly of the first half. The second half gets really tough if you don't have a solid knowledge of philosophy...but it's certainly a very good and chalenging book. I recommend it!
Where was the editor?.......2007-07-19
Our book club picked The Philosopher's Dog as our first non-fiction selection. We are all animal lovers, and we had expectations of this book that it just didn't deliver. First, is that the way all philosophers write? No wonder there aren't too many of them around. Gaita did have some gems in the rough - and we did appreciate his insights - but his writing was so scattered that it was very difficult to sift through all the verbosity to get at the core of his thoughts. There is also no reason for a book to have single sentences of 50+, almost 60 words. That also detracted from the good points he was trying to make. Again I say, where was the editor? In addition, we had a problem with his arrogance in assuming that his dog Gypsy, as she's lying on her mat, staring out to sea, simply cannot have "reflective" thought. How does he know? The earth was still round when we poor humans thought it was flat, right? He has to look at his relationships with animals through a human perspective, the only one he has, but it doesn't mean that the jury is in on the limitations of animal thought and behavior. It doesn't mean, necessarily, that the human species is at the top of the intelligence ladder, either. Even though he eschews the use of anecdotes, we would have liked more of them, because his true bond with his animals came through best in the narratives. I think the book topic would have been better served as a tightly written essay. In the end, we did agree with Gaita that the essence of our relationships with animals is unconditional love and respect, feelings that we don't need a philosopher to explain to us. Unfortunately, the best parts of the book (the paperback version) were the cover photo and the back cover summary.
Maybe a real philosopher, but not a real dog lover .......2005-11-30
I don't have the qualifications Mr Gaita has in the field of philosophy, but if this is scientific philosophy I sincereley doubt its value. Some of the material is interesting, but quite often he puts his own very subjective ideas forward and magnifies them to universal laws of philosophy. He states for example that he knows nobody who would pay as much money in medical bills for a sick dog as he would for a sick child (this makes me wonder if he has ever even tried to communicate to real animal lovers before he wrote this book, or merely draws conclusions based upon his own feelings). Based upon this statement solely he "philosophises" that it is impossible to love an animal the same way as a human and even goes a bit further by stating that there is something wrong with you if you do. I think his feelings for animals are very limited compared to mine and a lot of other people who are in my view psychologically "healthy". I however as a psychologist and would by no means try to draw any universal conclusions based on this subjective finding of mine.
You Decide.......2005-07-25
I am one of those people who love animals, hate to see anything killed and have at times had closer friendships with my dogs than some humans I know. Some call this weird but for me it is a way of life.
When I first started this book I felt it would be a simple book with the concept of how 'human' animals could be; this was not so. Written by Raimond Gaita; a professor of moral philosophy in London, I found this was not a fluff work but one written with thought provoking material.
The author shares stories of some animals he has encountered in his life, such as his dog Gypsy, and Jack, a cockatoo. Often heartbreaking, sometimes light-hearted, these stories showed their behavior in this world we share with them. He gives us some conclusions from others who have studies animals and also his own thoughts on the subject matter.
Although I didn't agree with every conclusion in some mattes the author did; I felt the he was giving us an opportunity to come to mull them over and make our own decisions about animals and I liked that. A very interesting read that will definitely give opportunity for thought.
For a dog? Why yes..........2004-12-03
I enjoyed this book very much. It's written in the style of an introduction to moral philosophy with application to how we think of and relate to animals, especially pets. Though I haven't read any of the philosophers the author references and so may not be the best judge, I don't think the philosophical discussions are dumbed down at all. Many times over the course of reading this book I had to read a passage more than once, and slowly, to try to figure out exactly what he is saying, not because the writing is unclear but because the concepts are not simple. He does a great job of weaving abstract arguments with compelling and heartfelt experiences in the real world. It was a rewarding experience to read an author whose commitment both to his subject and his audience is so clear. I may not agree with every conclusion or conjecture he offers, but I absolutely appreciate his efforts to demonstrate the value of clear thinking to deepen appreciation of things we love. Definitely a thought provoking book in the best sense. If you enjoy quality writing, philosophical dilemmas and the company of animals, I highly recommend this book. Note on one of the editorial reviews: if he takes issue with the idea of a "doctrine of animal rights" he does not mean people should be free to do whatever they please to animals. Quite the contrary. His ideas are compassionate and carefully thought out, and well worth exploring. Thanks to this book, I've found myself accidentally thinking deep thoughts when I should be pondering the latest celebrity scandal or exciting product offering. Kudos to Mr. Gaita!
Customer Reviews:
Very nice.......2007-01-22
This is a very nice book with excellent photos of rare rugs found in the collection. The photography is done well, with many full page photos, and the rugs are quite lovely.
Customer Reviews:
Great Euphorb book!.......2000-08-16
This book gives an awesome representation of the plants of the Euphorbia genus. The pictures are stunning and the descriptions are very helpful. A must have for any serious Euphorb enthusiast!
Average customer rating:
|
Euphorbias
Timothy Walker
Manufacturer: Cassell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Annuals
| Flowers
| Gardening & Horticulture
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Gardening & Horticulture
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
By Plant
| Gardening & Horticulture
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
| Begonias
| Berries
| Bonsai
| Cacti
| Citrus Trees
| Clematis
| Dahlias
| Ferns
| Grapes
| Grasses
| Greens
| Hostas
| Hydrangeas
| Irises
| Lavender
| Lilacs
| Lilies
| Magnolias
| Orchids
| Palm Trees
| Peppers & Chiles
| Roses
| Tomatoes
| Tulips
General
| Techniques
| Gardening & Horticulture
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0304362891 |
Book Description
Any gardener can find imaginative solutions to many common problems by considering the possibilities of these versatile annuals. They range from creepers to large shrubs to tree-like succulents, and offer something to suit every soil and situation from dark, shady corners to hot, sunny slopes, and from soggy low spots to dry, well-drained spaces. The only book dedicated to this genus introduces its wide variety, and explains all aspects of care, cultivation, planting, and propagation.
Book Description
Poems
Product Description
Limited First Edition of 1,000 printed. Previously unpublished work by Gene Stratton-Porter. Includes an unpublished poem in back of book. "Euphorbia" is a story the author rewrote seven times "in an effort to plumb the depths of a woman's soul, to picture poignant pain, to paint the healing power of God through nature." It will hold you spelll-bound, even as the spell of loyalty bound the soul of the woman. Maroon cloth hardcover, 6x9 with gold title on cover.
Average customer rating:
|
Euphorbia Journal volume 6
Herman Schwartz , and
Ron LaFon
Manufacturer: Strawberry Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Gardening & Horticulture
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Flowers
| Plants
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 091264706X |
Average customer rating:
|
Euphorbia.
Manufacturer: Rufus Liechty
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GGY7OI |
Average customer rating:
- A great book !!
- for euphorbia specialist only!
|
Euphorbias: A Gardeners' Guide
Roger Turner
Manufacturer: Timber Press, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Gardening & Horticulture
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Ornamental Plants
| Gardening & Horticulture
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
By Plant
| Gardening & Horticulture
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
| Begonias
| Berries
| Bonsai
| Cacti
| Citrus Trees
| Clematis
| Dahlias
| Ferns
| Grapes
| Grasses
| Greens
| Hostas
| Hydrangeas
| Irises
| Lavender
| Lilacs
| Lilies
| Magnolias
| Orchids
| Palm Trees
| Peppers & Chiles
| Roses
| Tomatoes
| Tulips
Botany
| Biological Sciences
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Botany
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
The Cactus Family
ASIN: 0881923303 |
Book Description
This book presents the species, varieties, and cultivars most suitable for outdoor cultivation in Europe and North America. Turner offers detailed descriptions of more than 80 species, both shrubs and herbaceous perennials. Published at $29.95 Our last copies available at $14.98
Customer Reviews:
A great book !!.......2001-07-08
If your interested in the fine details of botanical taxonamy and identifying / cultivating Euphorbia then this is a must for your collection. Euphorbia is a difficult genus to work with and the information in this work makes life a lot easier when keying out plant materials. Contains detailed drawings of seeds and fruits and color photo's of various plants. This work is relatively small but authoratative , detailed and has a permanent spot in my botanical library. A great dollar value. Note : covers Euphorbia under cultivation so may not cover most natives in your area but will give a good intro of Euphorbia terminology that will help in identification of any member of Euphorbia. There are not that many good works on Euphorbia currently in print so when you see one , " BUY IT " , this is one of a few ! Pages 188 , 47 color photo's , bibliography , bw drawings, index.
for euphorbia specialist only!.......2000-04-18
this book is about HARDY euphorbias (E), those that can be grown in a temperate garden. (Succulent enthusiasts be warned- not for you!) the 1st 2 or 3 chapters are of interest to any gardener but then to get into the meat of the book one needs some familiarity with botany & botanical terminology; What should be the most interesting part of the book- the A-Z of hardy E.in cultivation- is far too full of irritating detail useful only to the E. specialist & would not be usable (except by such enthusiasts) for the identification of an unknown species. There are 16 pages of beautiful photos of some 40 different species but,surprisingly, there is no reference to the text and when one does look up a particular plant there is noreference in the text to the photo. there are also some 20 line drawings shown in the list of contents but there is no indication of which page carries which drawing! only to be recommended to E. enthusiasts
Average customer rating:
|
Princess Euphorbia (Supa Doopers)
Vashti Farrer
Manufacturer: Sundance Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
| Baby-3
| Ages 4-8
| Ages 9-12
| Animals
| Arts & Music
| Books on Cassette
| Books on CD
| Authors & Illustrators, A-Z
| Computers
| Educational
| History & Historical Fiction
| Issues
| Literature
| Obsessions
| People & Places
| Popular Characters
| Reference & Nonfiction
| Religions
| Science, Nature & How It Works
| Series
| Sports & Activities
ASIN: 0760819238 |
Average customer rating:
- A good start for beginners
|
Motion Motion Kinetic Art
Jim Jenkins , and
Dave Quick
Manufacturer: Gibbs Smith
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
History
| Subjects
| Books
| Africa
| Americas
| Ancient
| Arctic & Antarctica
| Asia
| Australia & Oceania
| Books on CD
| Books on Cassette
| Europe
| Gay & Lesbian
| Historical Study
| Large Print
| Middle East
| Military
| Military Science
| Russia
| United States
| World
General
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| History & Criticism
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Instructional & How-To
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Sculpture
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 087905185X |
Customer Reviews:
A good start for beginners.......1998-01-20
Primarily a picture book it does how ever introduce the discipline of k.s quite well. Often seen as mere entertainment by the general public this book with the inclusion of subversive works such as 'cow zen' does alert the novice reader to the power that k.s. can harness (no pun intended). My major gripe would be lack of coverage of artists from the southern hemisphere
Average customer rating:
- outstanding!
- outstanding!
|
Vasarely (Crown Art Library)
Gaston Diehl
Manufacturer: Crown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Vasarely, Victor
| ( V-Z )
| Artists, A-Z
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Artists, A-Z
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| France
| Europe
| History
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0517508001
Release Date: 1985-01-19 |
Customer Reviews:
outstanding!.......2003-04-12
This book examines Vasarely's masterful course of development through the years. It is complex, interesting, and enriched with 22 black & white and 52 color reproductions showing the quality of his work. A wonderful addition to any artist's book collection.
outstanding!.......2003-04-12
This book examines Vasarely's masterful course of development through the years; it is complex and interesting, and enriched with 22 black & white and 52 color reproductions showing the quality of his work. A wondeful addition to any artist's collection of books.
Product Description
This is a NAVAL SURFACE WARFARE CENTER DAHLGREN DIV VA report procured by the Pentagon and made available for public release. It has been reproduced in the best form available to the Pentagon. It is not spiral-bound, but rather assembled with Velobinding in a soft, white linen cover. The Storming Media report number is A544004. The abstract provided by the Pentagon follows: A new version of the aeroprediction code (APC), the AP02, has been developed to address the requirements arising from advanced weapon concepts. The AP02 was formed by adding significant new technology and several productivity improvements to the previous version of the APC, the AP98. New technology added included 6 and 8 fin aerodynamics, improved nonlinear aerodynamics, improved pitch damping predictions, improved power-on base drag estimates, base-bleed effect on base drag estimation, improved axial force of nonaxisymmetric bodies and trailing-edge flap capability. Other improvements and productivity enhancements include an aerodynamic smoother, ballistic and three degree-of- freedom simulation modules as well as refinements for the pre- and post- processor for inputs and outputs of the AP02. Comparison of the predicted aerodynamics of the AP02 to AP98 and experimental data showed the AP02 to be slightly better than the AP98 in most cases that both codes would handle. However, due to the additional new technology incorporated into the AP02, many new options are available in the AP02 that are not available in the AP98. Therefore, the AP02 is more robust and, on average, is slightly more accurate than the AP98 in predicting aerodynamics of weapons.
Average customer rating:
|
Fast Liquid-phase Processes In Turbulent Flows
Al. Al. Berlin ,
V. P. Zakharov , and
G. E. Zaikov
Manufacturer: Brill Academic Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Interior Design
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Chemical
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General & Reference
| Chemistry
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Interior Design
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General & Reference
| Chemistry
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 9067644099 |
Product Description
This is a NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA report procured by the Pentagon and made available for public release. It has been reproduced in the best form available to the Pentagon. It is not spiral-bound, but rather assembled with Velobinding in a soft, white linen cover. The Storming Media report number is A370704. The abstract provided by the Pentagon follows: This thesis presents a new approach to solving a class of problems arising in the design of satellite swarms. Using the fundamentals of optimal control theory, a framework is developed that captures the essence of "concurrent" design and control of spacecraft formations. This framework is used to articulate a variety of formations including the notion of an aperiodic formation. Additionally, formations that require active control are presented along with their corresponding thrust profile. Based on a deliberate problem formations, which includes mass as a state variable, it is shown that the numerical approach easily handles nonlinearities. Using the general-purpose dynamic optimization software, DIDO, this thesis demonstrates how a minimum- propellant formation configuration can be easily designed for satellite swarms without the use of any analytical results. If a zero-propellant configuration does not exist, then this method automatically determines the minimum fuel and the associated controls required to maintain the configuration. This thesis lends credence to the notion of numerically searching for minimum-fuel formation configurations for spacecraft swarms subject to arbitrary nonlinear dynamics. Thus, practical formations may be designed and controlled using this method.
Average customer rating:
|
Jean Tinguely: A Magic Stronger Than Death
Jean Tinguely
Manufacturer: Abbeville Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| History & Criticism
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Tinguely, Jean
| ( S-U )
| Artists, A-Z
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Artists, A-Z
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Sculpture
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Exhibition Catalogs
| Museums
| Museums & Collections
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0896598195 |
Product Description
This is a NAVAL SURFACE WARFARE CENTER DAHLGREN DIV VA report procured by the Pentagon and made available for public release. It has been reproduced in the best form available to the Pentagon. It is not spiral-bound, but rather assembled with Velobinding in a soft, white linen cover. The Storming Media report number is A520173. The abstract provided by the Pentagon follows: The 1998 (AP98) and prior versions of the aeroprediction code are based primarily on slender body and perturbation theories at low angle of attack and empirical constants that represent the nonlinear aerodynamics as a function of angle of attack, Mach number, aspect and taper ratio, and other missile geometric parameters. The primary data base upon which these empirical nonlinear constants were derived was based on the NASA/Tri-Service component data base taken in the 1970s. This data base was limited in body radius to wing semispan plus body radius ratios (r/s) of 0.5. A more recent data base taken by NASA and the former McDonnell Douglas Corporation, investigated other values of the parameter r/s of 0.25, 0.33 and 0.5. As a result of this new data base, the empirical constants in the AP98 were fine-tuned. This fine-tuning has shown the average normal force coefficient errors to be reduced by anywhere from 10 percent to over 40 percent on various missile configurations. The largest reductions in error were for configurations where the AP98 average accuracy was the worst. These new improved empirical constants will be a part of the next planned release of the aeroprediction code in 2002 (AP02). The AP98 average error on normal force coefficient of +/- 10 percent will therefore be somewhat better for the AP02.
Product Description
This is a AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH report procured by the Pentagon and made available for public release. It has been reproduced in the best form available to the Pentagon. It is not spiral-bound, but rather assembled with Velobinding in a soft, white linen cover. The Storming Media report number is A782423. The abstract provided by the Pentagon follows: LISOL is a computer program developed at the Air Force Institute of Technology to model the nonlinear behavior of metal matrix composite laminates. It uses a micromechanics approach to develop a set of constitutive relations which are automatically assembled for a specified layup. It uses the unified viscoplastic theory of Bodner and Partom to model the matrix material and assumes the fiber is thermoelastic. Temperature dependent material properties may be input for both the fiber and matrix. An interfacial failure scheme based on a statistical approach is employed to model the progressive failure of the fiber/matrix interface. Property files for the SCS6/Ti-15-3 and SCS6/Ti-beta21s (sometimes referred to as TIMETAL21s) systems are currently available. The program was designed with thermomechanical fatigue (TMF) cyclic loading in mind and to be run interactively. Therefore, it is menu driven so that the user can modify the load sequence and output from within the program. Also, symmetric layups are assumed which enhances the speed of the program, so only the ply angles required to characterize the composite need be entered and not the entire layup.
Books:
- The Proper Care of Cocker Spaniels (Proper Care of... Series)
- The Werewolf's Touch (The Voodoo Moon Trilogy, Book 2)
- Top Dogs : Making it to Westminster
- Training a Dog to Live in Your Home
- User's Guide to Propolis, Royal Jelly, Honey, & Bee Pollen (Basic Health Publications User's Guide to)
- Western Riding: Tips for Beginners (Cadmos Horse Guides)
- Whiskey on the Rocks: A Whiskey Mattimoe Mystery (Whiskey Mattimoe Mysteries)
- Wolves of the World: Perspectives of Behavior, Ecology and Conservation (Noyes Series in Animal Behavior, Ecology, Conservation, and Management)
- Working Dogs: Tales from Animal Planet's K-9 to 5 World
- A New Owner's Guide to Keeshonden (A New Owner's Guide To...series)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Promises Linger
- JBoss at Work: A Practical Guide
- Fishes: An Introduction to Ichthyology, Fifth Edition
- Epitaxy of Nanostructures
- How to Draw and Paint Fairies: From Finding Inspiration to Capturing Diaphanous Detail, a Step-by-St
- Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining: Cases, Practice, and Law
- Great Pal Kitten
- Y E S Yoko Ono
- Green Building Handbook: A Companion Guide to Building Products and Their Impact on the Environment
- The Orang Utan: Its Biology and Conservation
