The Battle Of The Bulge: Hitler's Ardennes Offensive, 1944-1945

Average customer rating:

Deserving of the title "Standard History"

DON'T BUY THIS BOOK

Solid, well-research, readable contribution to Bulge lit

An Outstanding Reference on the Ardennes Offensive 1944

Proof Positive that December '44 was not a Winter-Wonderland

The Battle Of The Bulge: Hitler's Ardennes Offensive, 1944-1945
Danny S. Parker
Manufacturer: Da Capo Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0306813912
Release Date: 2004-11-30

Book Description

First published in 1992 to rave reviews, Danny Parker's Battle of the Bulge has since become the "standard" history of the battle, praised by historians for its stirring narrative, meticulous research, and its wealth of new information and fresh interpretations. Published now in a new edition, including a photo section with fascinating then-and-now images of the Ardennes area battlefield, this "classic" history of the Battle of the Bulge will be released to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the battle.

Customer Reviews:

Deserving of the title "Standard History".......2005-11-27

It is difficult to write about a subject like the Battle of the Bulge - which is one of the most covered topics in the Second World War - without appearing either derivative or superficial. However, Danny S. Parker's volume on the 1944 German surprise attack in the Ardennes Forrest is not only well-organized and presented, but it actually manages to deliver a few fresh perspectives along the way. While there are a few rough edges in this volume - particularly the maps - Parker's effort is certainly deserving of the nod as "the standard history" of the campaign. Actually, other than a few issues such as the maps, it is hard to imagine anyone writing a superior narrative on this campaign. If you own only one volume on the Battle of the Bulge, this should be it.

Easily the most impressive feature of Parker's volume is the careful and interesting organization. Parker provides about 60 pages of introductory material that sets the stage, with descriptions of the German plan, Allied decision-making, intelligence issues, the terrain and the weapons. Thenceforth, Parker alternates between narrative chapters that describe the tactical events of the battle on a day-by-day basis and topical chapters that discuss a myriad of interesting subjects (German paratroopers, Tiger tanks, the Malmedy massacre, Skorzeny, the weather, the war correspondents, artillery, forgotten units, civilians and Hemmingway in the battle). The author also provides very detailed orders of battle for both sides, as well as comments on a variety of subjects, such as touring the modern Ardennes. The narrative is supplemented by numerous maps, which unfortunately are difficult to read without a magnifying glass; the German units are particularly difficult to see.

The level of research in this volume is impressive. Parker easily disposes of a number of the myths about the campaign and keeps a keen focus on the main causes and events that led to the German defeat. As Parker sees it - and he presents a very strong case - the initial German attacks in the Ardennes failed, despite surprise and numerical superiority at key points. Although much of the US 106th Infantry Division was lost in the Schnee Eiffel in the first few days, the 28th and 99th Divisions seriously upset the unforgiving German timetable and essentially doomed the offensive to failure within the first 48 hours. By the time that the Germans did punch through the US line in several places, US reinforcements were arriving to hold key positions like Bastogne and the Meuse Crossings. Thus, as Parker sees it, the offensive was a long-shot that quickly lost all hope for success. Although the Allies faced a month of tough fighting in the Ardennes to reverse the German gains, the issue was never really in doubt once the Allies starting piling on fresh divisions. Short of fuel and ammunition, the German forces were unable to compete in sustained combat against the vast stockpile of resources that the US Army applied against them. Parker is unusual in that he actually spends the time to discuss the German logistical weaknesses in some detail, unlike many accounts that gloss over this critical subject. Furthermore, despite the popular history obsession with comparing tanks of both sides, Parker shows that it was the infantry, engineers and artillery who really dominated the battle in the forests and small towns of the Ardennes.

This is a book that should satisfy a fairly diverse audience. Military historians will find it a useful reference with plenty of detail, while casual readers will not find the author's narrative too tedious (the topical chapters provide useful breaks from the dry event narrative chapters) or too bogged down in detail. Overall, this is a superb effort at military history.

DON'T BUY THIS BOOK.......2005-05-10

If you like to buy this book, please buy the OLD EDITION. Without mentioning this fact in the web site or intoduction to the book, this new edition surprisely DID NOT contained many of the photos contained in the old edition! I mistakenly buy this edition and fell into the trap! I have to retun it to Amazon. The old edition (soft over) is both cheaper and contained many interesting photos not reproduced in the new edition.

Solid, well-research, readable contribution to Bulge lit.......2005-04-18

Danny S. Parker's "Battle of the Bulge: Hitler's Ardennes Offensive, 1944-1945" is one of the best of the books out there on this, the last dying grasp of the German war machine at the heady days of 1940 in the West. Originally published in 1991, this 2004 edition includes several new additions (including new photos and reference materials) to bring this classic historiography into the present for the reader. Certainly "Battle of the Bulge" is deserving of the praise it has received, but why? Three reasons: outstanding research, expert organization, and stylish writing.

Outstanding Research: Parker did his homework for this one! Unlike so many who write military history, especially WWII history, with a provincial or nationalistic perspective, Parker tells the story from both sides of the "fence". Certainly the U.S. Army is front and center but given the make up of the victorious Allied forces this is not altogether unfair. Readers are treated to various aspects of Bulge history (see next section), not just prose dedicated to combat, but order of battle information for both Allied and German forces, summaries of weapons utilized, views from the top during planning phases, execution and response, and erasure of the Bulge (again from both sides). Moreover, Parker has provided a number of fabulous photographs, many in the "then-and-now" vein.

Expert Organization: Although Parker covers a lot of diverse material related to the Battle of the Bulge (from combat to logistics and post-war museums and battle games), he (and/or his editor) organizes his story in such a way that readers are unlikely to become bored even if not interested in all the individual components. Whether simply related to subject matter or Parker's style of writing, the battle passages, which are interspersed within other topics, are often dry and somewhat difficult to follow. Yet, not clumping them together makes the book flow more easily. Moreover, Parker balances the length of sections quite well such that there are numerous logical places to "rest". Although topics are mixed chapter to chapter, this is not to say that Parker lacks a larger organization or that the book is a random collection of facts. In fact Parker clumps chapters together into five larger "sections":

1) The Setting - this section contains seven distinct chapters, the last three each containing additional sub-chapters. In total The Setting describes the planning phase of Wacht am Rhein, the status of the "Ghost Front" in the weeks and days leading up to the jump-off, the mindset and leadership of the Allied camp before the German attack, and how the logistics of a battle in the Ardennes could be influenced by the Ardennes itself. Parker's prose provides ample information to educate even the most naïve of readers.
2) The First Days: We March - this section is separated into six distinct chapters, the fifth having a sub-chapter. The first five chapters deal with the attackers and their armies (Fifth Panzer Armee, Sixth Panzer Armee, and Seventh Armee), the leadership and it's methods, and lastly a description of the first day of battle (again generally from the perspective of the German side). The last chapter of this section describes the Allied reaction to the surprise attack, which can be fairly called chaotic in the first day.
3) Progress of the Battle - this section details the battle from 17 Dec to the end of Jan when the line resembled that of 15 Dec. This is by far the most battle detailed portion of the book with more than half of the 200-odd pages covering the action from both sides. Filling out the rest of this section are various pieces of non-combat storyline including views from the top (again from both Allied and German perspectives), affects on the civilian population, and views of the combat from embedded non-combatants of the press corps. In addition, "Progress of the Battle" includes a number of important sub-stories of the bigger Bulge story, like the SS atrocities at Malmedy where US PWs were executed in cold-blood. Parker's fair-handedness comes shinning through in this section as he covers the events without making excuses for the SS but while making sure that the reader knows that the Germans were not the only ones to have committed acts beyond those normally accepted in war.
4) Looking Back - this sections details the price paid by both combatants (personnel, armaments, time, psychological effects), how the Bulge fits into the larger picture of the War, and the why's the battles outcome - why did the Germans lose their great gamble? This section provides a nice wrap-up of the rest of the book in a bigger historical perspective. Fabulous!
5) Appendices - In addition to Order of Battle information oft present in Appendices of military history, Parker's contains a wonderful "recommended reading list" (with book descriptions), information on Bulge periodicals, films (both Hollywood-type and documentaries), and simulation games, and a discussion of Ardennes museums and tours. This section alone makes Parker's book a critical resource for the serious.

In the end, "Battle of Bulge" by Danny Parker is a "classic" piece of military history, told with style and full of expertly researched information. Parker's book is a cross between John Toland's "Battle" (engaging story written with flair) and Charles MacDonald's "A Time for Trumpets" (deep with facts and emotion). This is a MUST read for those interested in good history of one of the US Armies most important engagements - 5 stars!

An Outstanding Reference on the Ardennes Offensive 1944.......2005-01-19

Historian Danny Parker provides a highly readable and scholarly account of Hitler's last offensive in the west, December 1944. Using primary sources and personal interviews, Danny captures the battle like no other author. The book is packed with text, photos, and maps. There are pearls from the battle the reader will delightfully come across that are not found in other accounts. For example, the author address the "Myth and Mystery" surrounding the presence of the infamous German Tiger Tanks in previous historical literature - where they were and with whom they served. Individual chapters discuss the effects of weather, influence of terrain, and differences in weaponry. He appropriately pauses at critical points to analyze the progress of the battle from both the Allied and German perspectives. In addition to a complete order of battle, the book provides a chronological listing of reinforcements committed to the Ardennes. This is a book easily appreciated by both the casual reader and the serious historian. My personal copy is highlighted and annotated. This book belongs in every military history library. If you buy only one book on the Bulge, this is the one to own.

Proof Positive that December '44 was not a Winter-Wonderland.......2004-12-06

Finally available in soft cover. When it was first published in 1992, THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE: HITLER'S ARDENNES OFFENSIVE, 1944-1945, was truly the first new Battle of the Bulge book published since 1985 when Charles B. MacDonald released A TIME FOR TRUMPETS. The BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) is that this is a fantastic book on the Ardennes campaign. This volume is the perfect compliment to a Battle of the Bulge historical library.

Danny S. Parker took a different route in assembling this book. Battle of the Bulge books, including those that are rushed to publication in advance of battle anniversary dates, tend to be a rehash of the same old material. Not so with Parker's book. Taking it one step further, Parker avoids using the same tired photographs that appear in most other books on the subject. A majority of the photos originate from combat motion picture stills. The photo captions alone offer superb photo analysis.

If you want data, this book has it. Parker's BATTLE OF THE BULGE debunks many of the myths about the battle. For example, very few King Tiger tanks were available for the battle. Additionally, it did not start snowing until midway through the offensive. All of this is backed up by meticulous research.

If you are a Battle of the Bulge historian, you should treat yourself to this book.

Average customer rating:

An Historians View
Gold Stars for a Popular Account of the Battle of the Bulge

Battle of the Bulge: Hitler's Ardennes Offensive, 1944-1945
Danny S. Parker
Manufacturer: Combined Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Military Science | History | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0938289047

Customer Reviews:

An Historians View.......2004-05-24

This book is by military historian Danny S. Parker who has made a lifetime study of the Ardennes campaign. The book includes rare photos from American, British and German sources. As well as first hand commentary which covers the entire campaign. December 16th, 1944 Hitler launched his last desperate offensive. And the German leader formally acknowledged failure on December 28th. But the battle would continue until 28 January 1945, when American lines would be back to where they started.

You will find much information in this book that has not been used before in any publication. And that makes it a valuable resource and addition to any military library. He has gone to great lengths to show us both the allies and axis point of view on this battle. It is amazing how close the fuel deprived units of the Third Reich came to our large fuel depots. For all the information provided, this book is a very easy read.

Gold Stars for a Popular Account of the Battle of the Bulge.......2004-01-03

Historian and Game Designer Danny Parker provides a highly readable and scholarly account of Hitler's last offensive in the west, December 1944. Using primary sources and personal interviews, Danny captures the battle like no other author. The book is packed with text, photos, and maps. There are pearls from the battle the reader will delightfully come across that are not found in other accounts. For example, the author address the "Myth and Mystery" surrounding the presence of the infamous German Tiger Tanks in previous historical literature - where they were and with whom they served. Individual chapters discuss the effects of weather, influence of terrain, and differences in weaponry. He appropriately pauses at critical points to analyze the progress of the battle from both the Allied and German perspectives. In addition to a complete order of battle, the book provides a chronological listing of reinforcements committed to the Ardennes. This is a book easily appreciated by both the casual reader and the serious historian. My personal copy is highlighted and annotated. This book belongs in every military history library. If you buy only one book on the Bulge, this is the one to own.

Battle of the Bulge: Hitler's New Ardennes Offensive, 1944-1945

Average customer rating:

Battle of the Bulge: Hitler's New Ardennes Offensive, 1944-1945
Danny S. Parker
Manufacturer: DA CAPO PRESS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OLOLPU

Customer Reviews:

Questionable Research.......2007-07-11

On page 79 of this book, the author writes about one of the Omaha Agents. It states, "The politician appointed the agent, . . ." In this case the politician identified is the Nebraska Territorial Congressman.

One would assume; no, one would desperately hope that a supposed historian shedding light on this era of our history would know that Indian Agents were presidential appointees; and further that Congressmen did not appoint anyone to any position.

In this case, President Lincoln made the appointment. Given the patronage system of the day, there is a good chance that the President would have considered the recommendations of the local politicians of his party, of which Daily was one, but Lincoln made the appointment.

That leaves two alternatives. Either the author did not know that the Agents were presidential appointees, or worse, the author knew this and choose to report it otherwise to strengthen a point.

In either case, everything else the author writes must be subject to some doubt on the part of the reader.

Betraying the Omaha Nation: 1790-1916.......2005-12-04

Judith Boughter's book Betraying the Omaha Nation deals with the sufferings and hardships of the Omaha tribe at the hand of white settlement. The book follows the life of the Omaha Indians from the beginning of their interaction with French traders on the Missouri to their near destruction by 1916. Judith Boughter states in her book that although the Omaha Indians are not as well known as their neighbors the Sioux or the Poncas their story is an important reminder of the sins of our nation's past. Judith Boughter strives to give a voice to a people who have been ignored and ill-treated. Boughter's book is the comprehensive study of the once pride tribe of the Omaha. Betraying the Omaha Nation is not only a study of the Omaha tribe but it is an illustration of the detrimental abuses of the American policies of land expansion.
Judith Boughter wrote what became Betraying the Omaha Nation as her Master's Thesis while attending the University of Nebraska Omaha, it was awarded the prize was awarded the Outstanding Master's Thesis at the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools meeting in 1996. She is currently an Instructor in the History Department of the University of Nebraska Omaha.
The author's thesis states that the Omaha Indians were severely abused by the immoral and ill-advised actions of whites that contributed to the demise of the Omahas. Betraying the Omaha begins with the account of the origins of the tribe. Author, Judith Boughter describes the roots of the tribe in eastern woodlands and their emigration to the banks of the Missouri in what is today eastern Nebraska. Boughter then discusses the "glory days" of the Omaha tribe under their powerful leader Chief Black Bird and their dominance of the Missouri. Judith Boughter stresses that by the late 18th century the Omahas were an advanced and culturally rich people. It is during this time that the Omaha first encountered white traders. The Omaha were able to use their strategic position on the Missouri to become the major force of Indian-White trade. This trade relationship allows the Omaha to gain guns and ammunition and gives them an opportunity to discourage their traditional enemy, the Sioux, from further raids. With their thriving trade connection with the whites and the peaceful life enjoyed by the tribe the Omaha were able to establish a strong culture and tradition that would be almost destroyed through years of suffering under white mistreatment. The prosperity of the Omaha would not last long. By the end of the 18th century Omaha power was dwindling. An epidemic of small pox killed their powerful leader and hundreds more of the Omaha. With the tribe weakened and their chief gone the Omaha were now susceptible to the coming ravages. White trade now shifted to the Sioux it became impossible for the destabilized Omaha to defend themselves from their foes.
It is important to note that the author emphasizes the ability of white traders to control the affairs of various tribes. The traders were able to play the Sioux and Omaha off of each other to their own advantage. The tribes were unaware that their "lucrative" dealings with whites would one day be their destruction. The author continues to follow the trail of white abuses and tribal corruption. Boughter details the white practice of setting up "paper chiefs" in place of traditional chiefs. She also brings to light the debilitating fur trade that devastated the ecosystem, and cultural ties on which the Omahas had built their way of life. Another contribution to decay of the Omaha was the removal of their traditional lands by misleading one sided treaties. The author states that the land cessions began in 1820 with the giving a small parcel of land to US agents in exchange for much needed supplies. By 1830 the government had taken control of all Omaha lands east of the Missouri River. Meanwhile, the attacks from the Sioux and Sauk Indians continued and in 1845 the Omaha had to move further south near what is today Bellevue, Nebraska. Not long after the Omaha had relocated their lives were once again interrupted by white interference. Mormons fleeing religious oppression decided to spend the winter of 1846 on Omaha lands. The Omaha agreed in exchange for protection from their enemies the Sioux and sharing of the food supply. This tentative agreement soon fell apart when arguments flared up among the two groups. The author reminds that the Mormons were not the only agitators of the Omaha. They also had to deal with corrupt agents set up by traders, and the traders themselves who sought to corrupt the already crumbling order of the tribe by giving the tribe whiskey and attempting to set up their own chiefs. As the 1850s arrived the United States government decided that it was necessity of the railroad took precedence over the rights of the Indians of Nebraska. In 1854 the Omaha were finally forced to sign away all tribal land in exchange for a paltry sum of money and an empty promise of protection. Judith Boughter clearly shows through her examples the antagonism of white expansionists in their dissipation of Omaha land and culture.
Despite protests from white bureaucrats and settlers the Omahas were able to settle in the fertile Black Bird Hills, in an area that was part of their traditional tribal lands. The suffering of the Omaha, however, did not end when the tribe was relocated to the reservation. Boughter states that the persecution Omaha continued, and carefully depicts the struggle of the Omaha under white agents and feuding missionaries. The author shows that the Omaha continued to have difficulty surviving. Despite the willingness of the tribe to comply with the white man's ways they find themselves perpetually mistreated. Of particular note are her mentions of the embezzlement of Indian funds by government agent J.B. Robertson who misappropriated as much as $25,000. With Indian agents proving untrustworthy the Omaha turned to Presbyterian and Quaker missionaries. Nevertheless, these groups quarreled with each other and more concerned with baptizing the Omaha into Western culture than helping them. As a result of these injustices the Omaha lost almost half of their reservation and found themselves worst off than they ever been.
By the 1880s, the US government was looking for a new policy of dealing with Indian affairs. In 1881, Alice Fletcher, a Boston anthropologist who had spent some time with the Omaha, suggested several measures for the "advance" of the Indians, specifically the idea of land allotment. These "reforms" and progressive actions actually forced many of the Omahas to give up their traditional culture and contributed to the erosion of their Native heritage. The practice of land allotment did more than just cause tribal controversy. In fact, argues Boughter, it threatened to undermine existence of the tribe. In the 1890s, during a Bureau of Indian Affairs investigation, it was discovered that much of the Omaha land had been taken over by whites in a one sided lease agreement that left many of the Omahas without land.
By 1916 many of the Omahas were destitute, landless, and due to the lawless and immoral actions of store owners in nearby white towns, alcoholics. Judith Boughter states that these events are the full effect of decades of government abuse and ignorance. The use of the Omahas as testing groups for government program after government program had left the Omahas barely recognizable as the once proud tribe that had controlled the Missouri.
There have been many books and articles written discussing the injustices of white expansion and control on the lives of Native Americans. Boughter's book, however, is the first in-depth record of the harsh story of the Omahas. In addition to the books groundbreaking account of the Omahas it is also a well written book. In Betraying the Omaha Nation Judith Boughter chronicles the wrongs committed against the Omahas by various organizations and groups in whom the tribe's faith was vested. She tells a tale of a beleaguered people who found hardship and adversity everywhere they turned. It is clear that Judith Boughter has great compassion for the struggles of the Omaha Nation. Her argument is carefully researched, and she gives numerous examples of white atrocities towards trusting members of the Omaha tribe. In fact Boughter should be esteemed not only for her book which ties so much information about Omahas, but for her compilation of the information itself. With sources ranging from anthropologist Alice Fletcher to various court documents it is certainly an impressive collection of details. The book does not put on airs nor does it seek to contradict current theories of 19th century United States expansion. Indeed, the books greatest achievement is in the unprecedented record of the peaceful Omahas who were forced to take the brunt of Western thought and experimentation time and time again.
Judith Boughter states that the demise of Omahas stems from the corrupt workings of white bureaucrats and the greed of settlers, also contributing, she notes is the ignorance of white "reformers" such as Alice Fletcher. Boughter's argument is difficult to discredit her seemingly endless bibliography and carefully documented examples certainly reveal her knowledge on the subject.
There are, however, a few instances where the book falls short. For the common reader the book may stray into detail to the excess. Boughter's discussion of court cases and various legal exchanges do tend to seem tedious and unnecessary. In addition to these complaints some of the maps are not as helpful as they should be particularly maps one and two. Map one is an illustration of the settlements of the Omaha and other eastern Nebraska tribes. The map shows the location of the settlements but neglects to record the dates they were settled. Map two shows the location of the mid-western Indian tribes but the map is crowded and it is difficult to distinguish the borders of the tribes.
Despite these complaints the book as a whole is a very well put together work. Boughter does an excellent job of tying together the different accounts of the Omahas into a well thought out careful illustration of the oppressed lives of the Omaha Nation. Her book is not just a historical account but is a living reminder of the sins committed by our country; it is a warning against the arrogant policies of enculturation.

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Betraying the Omaha Nation, 1790-1916
Judith A. Boughter
Manufacturer: NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MUKEFY

Average customer rating:

Excellent Text for Learning, Review and Reference of Mathematics

One of the Best Books on Earth

Amazing book

Excellent basis for a comprehensive education in MATHEMATICS

VNR concise encyclopedia of mathematics

Van Nostrand Reinhold Concise Encyclopedia of Mathematics
S. Gottwald
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Mathematics | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books | Applied | Chaos & Systems | Geometry & Topology | Mathematical Analysis | Mathematical Physics | Number Systems | Pure Mathematics | Transformations | Trigonometry
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ASIN: 0442205902

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Text for Learning, Review and Reference of Mathematics.......2007-09-20

I purchased this book new in 1980. It is one of the best math reference books I have seen and that I own. It's coverage is quite broad and rigorous and it treats each subject with care and often works from first principles and introduces the applications and often the historical context. I used it extensively during college and keep it here at work for reference when I need to get up to speed in a certain area of mathematics.

I was a double major in physics and mathematics as an undergraduate and kept this nearby at all times. Of course some texts provide more detail in specific areas, but this is definitely one of the best, if not the best reference review mathematics book available. Very few books or sets of books have the breadth or scope of this book and the technical depth and rigorousness without becoming pedantic or obtuse.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in mathematics or would like a good mathematics reference book that covers most topics that might be of interest. The only issue is that the book was written in 1977 and so does not cover some topics that have been expanded on and become popular since that time. Fractals, computational proofs of theorems, etc.

This is the math book I wish I had in high school or middle school, but I didn't get it until college and it wasn't out in print until late in my high school years anyway.

One of the Best Books on Earth.......2006-07-26

If you can get your grubby hands on this book, DO IT.

This book is AMAZING. I really fell in love with it when I checked it out of my middle school library. It was dusty, and no one had checked it out for...TWENTY-FIVE YEARS. I checked it out...and ended up checking it out for the year. Sadly, they did not let me buy it from them. But, to my luck, I found one when I was on ... vacation! Though, it is in poor condition.

This book has so much information. It is very compact and dense. It uses about...hmm...three colors, and black. Each color means something different. For example, each thing in a blue background means it is a sample problem or example. The colors make it absolutely fantastic, and readable.

This has a pretty good overview of A LOT of mathematics up to about 1980. That is, there is no fractal geometry and stuff. And take the word 'overview' lightly...it can get pretty in-depth.

I wish they made these kind of books today, where content and quality is more important than eye-candy and superficial explanation.

Get this book if you can.

Amazing book.......2005-03-06

I have two editions of this text, both bought back in the 1980s, and it is one of the most amazing books I have ever owned. Over the years, time and again this book has delivered when I needed some quick facts and a refresher on material I may have learned elsewhere. The best part of it is that it is full of illustrations, important when one is trying to obtain intuition on a subject. Not much is missed here, at least as of the date of publishing. Facts that might require pages and pages to uncover in a more comprehensive title on a subject, e.g., differential calculus, are all packed within a few pages in this title, making it a good reference.

I was suprised to see this title is out of print. Hopefully it makes a comeback. So much information never took up so little shelf space as this book. For those who love mathematics, this is a must buy in my opinion.

Excellent basis for a comprehensive education in MATHEMATICS.......2002-07-25

This is THE book that I use with my home schooled children for MATHEMATICS. It is well written and has clear and comprehensive coverage. Start at page one and go through the text in order. Highly recommended, and I hope that we will see it back in print soon.

VNR concise encyclopedia of mathematics.......2002-05-21

This book was published in 1977 and that is the main shortcoming.
Nothing about fractals, for instance.

But for a broad and brief review of anything mathematical, complete with extensive graphs and diagrams, this is a great value in a used book.

Book Description

The most comprehensive one-volume scientific desk reference available
Based on the new 4,000-page, two-volume Van Nostrand's Science Encyclopedia, Ninth Edition, the best scientific encyclopedia available according to the Library Journal, this authoritative, concise encyclopedia of science features over 5,000 entries that completely cover vital science, technology, and math terms and concepts. Easy-to-use and fun to read, this indispensable reference covers the very latest scientific advances and developments in all areas of science. Plus, it offers basic definitions of scientific terms followed by concise explanations of the concepts. Packed with illustrations, charts, and graphs, this impressive book also features numerous line drawings, diagrams, and black-and-white photos.
Christopher G. DePree (Decatur, GA) is Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Agnes Scott College.
Alan Axelrod, PhD (Atlanta, GA) is the award-winning author of more than twenty books and is a well-regarded popular historian.

Customer Reviews:

Visually pleasing.......2004-06-02

If you are trying to write a science encyclopedia for under 700 pages, the biggest issue is probably what to leave out. In part, this is dictated by what type of audience you are targeting.

The editors seem to have pitched this offering towards a high school crowd, or perhaps also towards primary schools. A nice, colourful reference, with text that is carefully written to a general audience. Understandably, there is an emphasis on topics with visual appeal. Nothing wrong with this, if it gets readers into the book.

The book is also economically priced. Affordable to school libraries on tight budgets.

Book Description

This book covers the cross-disciplinary areas between management issues and engineering issues relevant to implementation of Environmental Management Systems (EMS) to the ISO 14000 series standards. It summarises the requirements set by ISO14001 and considers the management and engineering policies needed to satisfy these requirements and achieve ISO 14001 certification.

Unique approach by integrating environmental management and engineering considerations
Avoids overuse of complicated technical jargon
Detailed coverage of measurement and calibration standards to meet ISO14001
Provides example of EMS documentation and records manual
Detailed coverage and control of air, water, noise, vibration pollution and waste management

Download Description

Unique approach by integrating environmental management and engineering considerations
Avoids overuse of complicated technical jargon
Detailed coverage of measurement and calibration standards to meet ISO14001
Provides example of EMS documentation and records manual
Detailed coverage and control of air, water, noise, vibration pollution and waste management

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