Book Description
Proving once and for all that standards-compliant design does not equal dull design, this inspiring tome uses examples from the landmark CSS Zen Garden site as the foundation for discussions on how to create beautiful, progressive CSS-based Web sites. By using the Zen Garden sites as examples of how CSS design techniques and approaches can be applied to specific Web challenges, authors Dave Shea and Molly Holzschlag provide an eye-opening look at the range of design methods made possible by CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). By the time you've finished perusing the volume, you'll have a new understanding of the graphically rich, fully accessible sites that CSS design facilitates. In sections on design, layout, imagery, typography, effects, and themes, Dave and Molly take you through every phase of the design process--from striking a sensible balance between text and graphics to creating eye-popping special effects (no scripting required).
Customer Reviews:
I haven't read the book yet.......2007-09-15
.. but I fully expect to. Having followed the csszengarden site from nearly the beginning, I wouldn't miss it. I was learning css on my own when I came across the site.. being a visual artist, and unabashedly a "web DESIGNER" - I finally FINALLY felt that I had found my calling, my mecca on the pages of the site with all of the talented designers.
I learned SO MUCH downloading the css and trying my own stuff -- I actually credit the site for helping me to finally understand css and how it could be stretched - how it could be made to do the things I had always wanted to do. My kudos to everyone involved!
Perfect!!!.......2007-09-13
I recieved my order fast, the book was in great shape, and wouldn't hesitate to order from amazon! Great service!
The Zen of CSS Design.......2007-07-15
I'm not a "graphics" person. I struggle to understand creative design and how to build it in code. This book brought these elements together and really explained the process.
This is not a beginner's book on coding and design. It is more of an applications manual for someone who has worked with CSS. I was frequently looking at some area of a design and asking myself how, or why, did he do that? I don't think there was ever an example that left that question unanswered. If it wasn't explicit, there was always enough information and discussion to be able to figure it out. Including the code with the illustrations and explanations really tied the processes together.
This book will be kept on my 'A' references shelf. There is a detailed index and the example home pages were grouped in sections: Design, Layout, Imagery, Typography, Special Effects, and Reconstruction. Therefore, it will be easy to come back and locate relevant information.
Zen of CSS Design.......2007-05-14
A great book with excellent examples and descriptions on how to implement a CSS web solution.
Wonderful Layouts.......2007-05-09
This book is fantastic for layouts and suggestions. While it is not the simplist thing for the beginner it is very good for layouts and suggestions on ways to make your own CSS better and HTML lighter.
Average customer rating:
- Great for philosophy enthusiasts of any age (and anyone who likes big pandas)
- I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!
- Gentle way to raise issues w/ kids
- A review by a five year old
- Beutiful Zen Moments
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Zen Shorts (Caldecott Honor Book)
Manufacturer: Scholastic Press
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ASIN: 0439339111 |
Book Description
"Michael," said Karl. "There's a really big bear in the backyard." This is how three children meet Stillwater, a giant panda who moves into the neighborhood and tells amazing tales. To Addie he tells a story about the value of material goods. To Michael he pushes the boundaries of good and bad. And to Karl he demonstrates what it means to hold on to frustration. With graceful art and simple stories that are filled with love and enlightenment, Jon Muth -- and Stillwater the bear -- present three ancient Zen tales that are sure to strike a chord in everyone they touch.
Customer Reviews:
Great for philosophy enthusiasts of any age (and anyone who likes big pandas).......2007-09-22
Zen Shorts is a picture book written and illustrated by Jon J. Muth. But it's also a short story collection. And it's also a philosophy book. And it has a giant panda. Oh, and it is a Caldecott Honor book too.
The story starts when siblings Addy, Michael, and Karl meet Stillwater, a large Panda who wanders into their backyard to retrieve his umbrella. I love the opening scenes of the story. Karl, the youngest sibling, is looking out a window and telling Michael he sees a huge bear. Eventually all of the kids go out and say hello to Stillwater. Addy introduces Karl, who is "shy around bears he doesn't know." I find that phrase so enchanting. This kind of charm continues throughout the book.
The next day Addy meets Stillwater for tea. Then Michael and Stillwater hang out. Then Karl goes swimming with Stillwater.
Each outing is accompanied by an appropriate short story. The first is about a man (panda) who gives a gift to a robber. Another is about a man who knows that luck is a many-faceted thing. The final story is about a monk carrying an unnecessary burden. I'll never explain the stories as well as Muth tells them, so you should just read the book.
The illustrations of Stillwater and the children are beautifully rendered watercolors. The coloring is subtle with quite intricate line work for the drawings. The stories between the "real" story are printed on pastel backgrounds and illustrated with silhouettes so that they have a clearly different look from the rest of the book.
When you're finished you should also check out the afterward which explains the underlying philosophy for each story. (Muth has a lot of Buddhist/Taoist influences.)
This is a great book to read with older children because even if they don't get the philosophy, the stories are approachable and they'll get something from it. (Even youngsters will enjoy the pictures.) It's a great introduction to philosophy, a fact that becomes clear after reading the afterward, for "students" of any age. Muth does an admirable job creating a picture book that children and grownups can enjoy together.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!.......2007-09-19
this book has it all, great watercolor paintings (i am a classically trained artist so this is important to me), great story, and meaningfull messages. i read this to my two year old daughter who is a book fanatic and can sit quietly for more than an hour and listen to long stories. for those of you with very small kids who may just be begging to read longer stories hear is some advice 1.don't give up if your child does not sit through the whole book the first time you read it small children, like my daughter, like farmiliar things and sometimes it just takes a few passes for them to reconize and chose a certain story, 2.don't chose to read a book when your child is bubbling over with energy, and 3.with longer stories it can also help to use a lot of inflection and tone to create intrest before your little one starts turning the page. this book is moderate in wording, not super long but not as simple as short verses or ryming stories. this book has a certain eligance to it that reflectes its message. it is just beautiful.
Gentle way to raise issues w/ kids.......2007-09-18
I like to treat my kids with respect and gentleness. Books that help me are a treasure. Jon Muth is a regular source of those kinds of books. Zen Shorts is not overdone or watered down. It is simple and beautiful and useful. It makes great literature more accessible to young folks. It helps parents and kids trying to live a more mindful or aware life.
A review by a five year old.......2007-09-15
My son Tyler says:
"This book is really great. From this book I learned about friendship and kindness, even though I'm already a kind boy. And I learned that good luck and bad luck are all mixed up. Please buy this book for your child. Bye."
Beutiful Zen Moments.......2007-09-13
Finally a children's book that not only entertains but also make the child (at least my son) raise questions and discuss. I picked up the book on a wimp from the return cart in the bookstore and I have enjoyed reading it with my son ever since. We are waiting anxiously for the next Zen book from Jon Muth.
Book Description
Web 2.0 architecture opens up an incredible number of options for flexible web design, creative reuse, and easier updates. Along with covering the key languages and techniques of Web 2.0, this unique book introduces you to all of the technologies that make up Web 2.0 at a professional level. Throughout the chapters, you'll find code for several example applications built with popular frameworks that you'll be able to utilize.
You'll first explore the technologies that are used to create Web 2.0 applications. This includes an in-depth look at XHTML, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), JavaScript, and Ajax. Next, you'll gain a better understanding of the protocols and formats that enable the exchange of information between web clients and servers. Ultimately, you'll discover exactly what you need to know about server-side programming in order to implement new ideas and develop your own robust applications.
What you will learn from this book
- How Web 2.0 applications are developed
- New ways to get the major client-side technologies to work together
- The new class of emerging tools
- All about HTTP and URIs, XML, syndication, microformats, and Web Services
- Techniques for implementing and maintaining your URI space
- How to serve XML over HTTP
- Steps for building mashups to aggregate information from multiple sources
- Methods for enhancing security in your applications
Who this book is for
This book is for professional developers who have a basic understanding of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and XML.
Wrox Professional guides are planned and written by working programmers to meet the real-world needs of programmers, developers, and IT professionals. Focused and relevant, they address the issues technology professionals face every day. They provide examples, practical solutions, and expert education in new technologies, all designed to help programmers do a better job.
This book is also available as part of the 4-book JavaScript and Ajax Wrox Box (ISBN: 0470227818). This 4-book set includes:
- Professional JavaScript for Web Developers (ISBN: 0764579088)
- Professional Ajax 2nd edition (ISBN: 0470109491)
- Professional Web 2.0 Programming (ISBN: 0470087889)
- Professional Rich Internet Applications: Ajax and Beyond (ISBN: 0470082801)
Customer Reviews:
Combining Multiple Technologies Under a New Name.......2007-01-15
If you really want to get a good discussion going among web types just ask the question, 'What's Web 2.0.?'
The authors of this book have decided that Web 2.0 is a series of loosely integrated technologies that when used together are able to create a greatly enhanced web experience. These include:
HTML moving to XHTML
Cascading Style Sheets
JavaScript moving to Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX)
Syndication and RSS Feeds
Web Services (REST and SOAP)
Uniform Record Identifiers (URI)
Serving Multimedia
and of course Security.
This book identifies, describes, and ties all these technologies together. It presume that the reader is a professional developer who have at least a basic understanding of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and XML. It is written by professional programmers with an intended audience of professionals. The one complaint that I would mention is that the coverage of Ruby on Rails is so minimal. This seems to be a growing technology, and at least come comments pro or con would have been appreciated.
Book Description
Join performer and teacher Jeff Peretz on a musical journey that will open your mind and improve your guitar playing in ways you've never dreamed of. Using the practice of skill cultivation, one of the principles at the heart of Zen philosophy, you'll discover ways to develop your powers of concentration, "let go" as a player, and become a complete guitarist. Along the way, you'll learn about the history of Zen; the application of Zen to rhythm, melody, and harmony; and new ways of thinking about familiar musical elements. You'll find Zen and the Art of Guitar a musical learning experience unlike any you've ever encountered.
Customer Reviews:
The Unexplainable Explained.......2007-02-01
This is a very good book to read if you are stuck in your guitar playing. I originally started playing the guitar to be like my idols on TV when I was [..]. That lasted until I was 13. Now in my 40's I want to play for myself and for personal growth. I just couldn't seem to get back what I had learned as a child so I started reading music theory books(The Complete Idiots Guide), and other self-improvement books. Jeff Peretz's book teaches from a unique perspective which gets me really excited and motivated to play again with commitment and a plan. Trying to play like your idol is ego based and doomed to fail. Learning to play from your heart (utilizing Zen) is better. Words cannot capture zen, but this book goes an extra mile trying to explain it for those of us who are alien to it. Good job Jeff Peretz! My future mastery over my guitar is now far more likely thanks to your book. Wish me luck, I still have a long journey ahead of me.
The real book of Zen and Guitar.......2003-09-24
Not only is this book a great read but it also has some of the most inventive musical exercises I have come across. Unlike the book Zen Guitar (which I also recommend) this book is a real "how to" study in letting go and letting it all hang out. Non guitar players will love the way the Zen process is presented. Guitar players will find the exercises challenging yet accesible. It's about time that someone wrote a book about Zen and guitar playing for the musicstand and not just the coffee table. The breathing exercises and meditations are clearly explained, the history of Zen is brief but informative but the musical ideas are what makes this a must own guitar players and a cool book for anyone who interested in getting more out of whatever they do.
Book Description
From one of the most influential books ever written on Zen's influence on JapanOne of the leading twentieth-century works on Zen by D.T. Suzuki, Zen and the Art of Japanese Culture was originally released on audio as four separate programs-What Is Zen, Zen and the Love of Nature, Zen and the Art of Tea, and Zen and the Samurai. Now, for the first time, they are available in one edition.After briefly explaining what Zen is, Dr. Suzuki considers in detail various aspects of Japanese art and life that this Buddhist discipline has influenced: the cult of swordsmanship, the tea ceremony, the haiku form of poetry, and the Japanese love of nature. Other essays are devoted to the relationship of Zen and Confucianism, to the role of Zen in the tradition of the Samurai, and to Japanese art.In simple, often poetic, language enhanced by anecdotes and poetry, D. T. Suzuki describes how Zen evolved, and how its emphasis on primitive simplicity and self-effacement have helped to shape an aesthetic found throughout Japanese culture.
Customer Reviews:
Zen can not be learned only experienced........2006-08-29
Through this delightful and profound text the concept of Zen is presented as the facets in a diamond. Suzuki does so by presenting Zen in a variety of ways: from a swordsman's perspective, painting and other art forms.
The simplicity of Suzuki's style never cheapens nor detracts from the teachings; on the contrary, it seamlessly guides us through all the nuances and difficult to explain concepts. His writing style contributes to the "feeling",if I may say so, of the flow of Zen.
It is not dogma. It does not pretend to give answers. It is
a guide or portal to the way of Zen and gives us an awareness that may help us find our own way to it.
If organized religion does not do it for you this may be the path you are looking for.
Zen in a broader context.......2006-06-29
DT Suzuki sometimes is dismissed for having a somewhat abstract approach to Zen rather than a zazen-centered approach. I love his books because they celebrate the ancient Chinese masters for whom every act and perception was nothing less than the totality of the universe.
Look smart feel great.......2005-12-08
If you'd like to look like you are all fancy and smart then I suggest buying this book. It will give you an air of authority when the conversation inevitably turns to zen things. The chapter on swordsmanship is (as the British might say) spot on. Oh, and get you some of that sweet, sweet haiku analysis from a zenorific perspective. After you read this book you will be prepared to quickly forget all of the knowledge that the tome contained and empty your mind in the style of the zen masters. Really, you must read about the tea ceremony and consider for yourself the zenishness of setting some tea leaves in some hot water. In short, I applaud this book loudly with one hand.
Clear, Poetic, and all Quality........2005-05-27
This is the best book I have ever read on any subject. This is a beautiful book, Suzuki's clear explanation is unique and fluid. Every facet of this book is intriguing. I especiialy appreciate Suzuki's chapters on The Art of Tea. A book everyone should study!.
Good - if you read the later, revised editions........2005-04-28
I respect D.T. Suzuki enough, to have visited the Suzuki family graveyard in Kita Kamakura, upon my first arrival in Japan. I say this as a prelude, because I am going to say some critical things about the Ist edition of this book - which contained - in places, unspeakable nonsense for a man who would otherwise have to be regarded as one of the best inter-cultural bridge builders of the 20th c.
To get to the point, the first edition of this book was an exercise in Nihon-shugi or 'Japanism' - tinged with blatantly
nationalistic feelings, as against the spiritual riches of a study like Suzuki's 'Nihon Teki Rei-sei.' I love the best of Japanese culture, have a Japanese wife - and am blessed with Japanese friends, dear to my heart. The sort of thing found in the Ist edition of this book, would make most of them choke on their rice, because it is dreadful caricature.
Like many other people, I owe Suzuki a lot. His other writings are far more meaningful and I regret that he wrote this book at all - if adjudged by the Ist ed. For a while, he was caught up in the Japanese megalomania of the 30's. The glorification of massed Bushido in this book was stupid (nothing to do with the Samurai, anyway). This stuff doesn't scream at you from every page - that's the rub of it. It lurks here and there, among otherwise delightful observations and anecdotes. But you can't help objecting to observations about how the Chinese 'lost' the beautiful culture they had once inspired in Japan, by dint of contact with Zen. In the Ist ed of this book, the mere fact of being 'Japanese' is enough to make culture and enlightenment ooze out of every crack and pore of life. Its a little more sophisticated than that - and, like some Italians, say, who live amid artistic splendours without the least feeling for it, not all Japanese value what is beautiful and good about their country and culture.
I regret having to say unkind things about dear old Daisetzu, who has otherwise brought me much inspiration.
Book Description
Shaolin Kungfu has been considered by many as the best martial art in the world. But Kungfu is just one of the three treasures of Shaolin, the other two being Qigong and Zen. For the first time ever, this inspiring book, written by an internationally acclaimed Shaolin Grandmaster, brings to you the crystallization of Shaolin wisdom and practice spanning many centuries. Its scope and depth is amazing, touching on, among many other things, poetry and enlightenment.
Customer Reviews:
Go to CMAOD dot com to learn real Shaolin and other martial arts styles for cheap -- avoid imposter teachers!.......2007-08-26
Shaolin kung fu is without question beautiful and if you wish to learn complete kung fu forms for only seven ninety nine per video disc, or slightly more for English-Chinese DVDs, visit the website that begins with the first letters of "Chinese Martial Arts On Disc": CMAOD dot com. "CMAOD dot com" offers every kind of kung fu form and style you would ever wish to learn from beginning to end: traditional hong gar, almost all styles of Shaolin, Dim Mak, traditional hong fist, animal styles, many fighting self-defense videos, wudang, er mei, and dozens of other complete systems of kung fu, including weapons, forms, and self-defense. You name it, you can learn it, without having to spend thousands of dollars to learn from phony kung fu teachers. Many Americans don't know that this website allows you to buy the best instructional VCDs and DVDs available. Visit the "wushu for youth" section of CMAOD dot com and you can buy the wushu fundamentals VCDs or DVDs that will teach you from the beginning stages. Visit the Shaolin section and you will find more fundamental Shaolin VCds or DVDs taught by two allegedly real Shaolin monks called Shi De Juan and Shi De Jian. I don't know how real their monkhood is, but they are gifted martial artists, and you can learn complete forms in many styles of martial arts. You've got to see this website to believe it. The owner Bill is a great guy, and offers great discounts on his website. You've got to visit CMAOD dot com to believe it. There are literally thousands of kung fu artists here that are "at least" as good as the so-called real Shaolin monks in China and America, and many are far far better. With a few bucks, they can be your teacher. If you can't find a good teacher in person, here's your only chance to learn real Shaolin or other styles for almost nothing. Ever wish you could find "the secret kung fu manual" to teach you various styles? Well, here it is in video disc or DVD form. Buy these VCDs or DVDs and enjoy learning great martial arts from top Chinese masters without worrying about being fooled by phony kung fu masters. Finally, every American has access to real kung fu learning at his or her own pace! I have written three international cover stories for Inside Kung Fu and Wushu Kung Fu magazines (now Kung Fu magazine) and can vouch that CMAOD dot com is the best source for learning authentic Shaolin and other kung fu step-by-step without being bamboozled by and kowtowing to phony practitioners of fake kung fu styles or schools. Learn at your own pace, according to your own interests from the best Chinese masters and grandmasters for less than eight dollars for VCDs.
So good I bought a copy for my SiFu.......2006-08-13
As a student of Shaolin, I believe this book to be an excellant study guide.I told my SiFu about and even bought him a copy.
Great book!.......2006-07-14
This is an excellent book, not only for the beginer, but also for those who have been studying Shaolin for many years! It is very informative about the history, phylosophy, and tecnique of Shaolin kung fu. It's a great book for doing cross-refrence on different training and also has many inspiring stories in it. I'd recomend this book to ANYONE interested in Shaolin!
Comprehensive.......2005-08-04
The book was indeed true to its title. The program it lays out covers everything!
BEST BOOK EVER.......2005-08-04
I love Matial Art So I love the best book ever that explain the best Martial Art of the World SHAOLIN because it gives you enlightenment the higher thing one can get (if you get enlightenet)Well I just must said that these is the only book I read about Martial art right now and I hope some day in the future some one or ones whrite some book about the history and phylosofi of all the martial arts of the World! Right now I have found only one book in English> (...)
namned> The SPRING and AUTUMN
of Chinese Martial Arts: 5000 Years
by Kang Gewu, Professor, Chinese Wushu Research Institute
That I maybe buy in the future! Have a good Day too all peoples !
Book Description
This carry-along version of our enormously popular Zen Gardening Kit provides a touch of tranquility on the go. Packaged with a 32-page introduction to the aesthetic enlightenment of Zen gardening, it includes a tray, fine sand, decorative rocks, and a miniature wooden rake.
Customer Reviews:
A little bit of zen in a little box.......2004-04-01
If you are a zen master, or just a stessed out person, Get the zen garden. It features a base, sand, a rake, book and rocks to calm down all of your nerves, Chinese style.
The authentic feel of this zen garden is great. It feels very authentic, with all real parts that will make you feel like a real gardener. A good travel product, although not for bumpy and jerk trips, because the sand would come out.(sand out= big mess.)
Other zen gardens are to big to take along. That's why this is a great product. Get it so you will be relaxed, home or away.
Overall a great product. Makes a great gift for a zen master who travels alot.
Compact and Cool.......2003-01-01
This mini Zen Garden is definitely something for people interested in the gardens. It is a great way to have the beautiful garden on your desk or bedside or anything! Although the box is cardboard and they really aren't rocks, the Mini Zen Garden kit is something lovers of Zen and Gardens will enjoy!
an itty bitty bit of zen.......2001-06-19
when they say "mini," they're not kidding. the zen box that comes with this little book is pretty tiny - this, in turn, makes it hard to make truly zen-like patterns in the sand.
also, a word to the wise... don't leave the box too close to the edge of your desk, least some malicious co-worker knock it on the ground... this happened to me, and i was only able to recover about 50% of my sand...
but in the end, it is a good "conversation piece"
You've got to be kidding!!!.......2001-05-17
I know the saying you get what you pay for but this is ridiculous. The "kit" comes w/ a small bag of sand and 3 miniature rock chips, they can't be considered rocks in my opinion. They're just too small, they get lost in the sand. The "tray" is nothing more than a cardboard box top! And the miniature rake is so small and delicate that it fell apart the first time I used it. The kit is reasonably priced I guess for what you get, but w/ ... s&h it is not even close to being worth [the price]. If I wouldn't lose money by sending it back I would. Don't waste your time and money w/ this one, you can make your own for about the same price by going to a garden shop and buying a bag of sand and gathering your own choice of rocks. The rakes are harder to come by so I made my own out of old wooden chopsticks and my homemade garden is much nicer than this ...
A little bit of Zen.......2001-03-25
The mini Zen gardening kit it really a cute little kit. I've always wanted a Zen garden, but I'd never seriously considered getting one until I saw this one. The kit, with it's little box, a wooden rake, rocks, sand, and a small book is a lot more than I was expecting.
The Zen Garden included with the book is cute, and more functional that I thought it would be. While the garden is 2.5 inches by 3 inches, there's a surprising amount of sand included, which gives you a pretty full garden, and if you have cats like I do, you have enough sand to still be able to rake around the rocks after they've knocked a lot of it out. The rocks are dark and shiny, and actual rocks, not some kind of plastic blob molded to look like a rock, and the little rake is a miniature of the wooden rakes I've seen in larger Zen gardens.
The little book included in the kit is cute, and contains quite a bit of information on Zen gardens. There are a few pages of Chinese lettering included as separators between the chapters, and the lettering is a nice change from the pages of black text on white paper. I am a bit disappointed in the book though, when I finally opened it wide enough to comfortable, I could see the thread they used to bind the book. This concerns me a bit, I don't want to wreck the book by simply reading it.
Amazon.com
Creativity is one of the great mysteries of life. Everyone may possess it to some degree, but why do some people seem completely in touch with their creative powers while others struggle to connect with it at all? How do you unlock your creative potential--or maximize it, if you're already utilizing some level of it? This inspirational book--meant primarily for painters but full of sage advice for other types of artists and crafters, too--teaches how to release your muse by exploring the basics of the language of art and by applying the Zen principles of blending body, mind, and spirit and of following an intuitive rather than purely logical approach. The author's own lyrical, vividly colored paintings (as well as works by other artists) complement her highly readable discussions of self-awareness, instinct, mandalas, harmony, and mindfulness, as both important general concepts and as they pertain to landscape, still life, and figural art. In short, she teaches you how to know yourself as a creator, and to recognize that "creative vision really is your natural birthright" and that "art has something to offer everyone ... as a means of self-knowledge." --Amy Handy
Customer Reviews:
Blow Away!!!!.......2007-05-22
I have recently started doing watercolor paintings since I retired and was lent this book by my teacher. I had to buy it as soon as I opened it. The paintings are absolutely splendid. I think that they are what watercolors should be. And the text sets a mind frame that will enhance any budding artist down the path to great work.
A great way to Watercolor painting Ideas.......2006-08-21
A must to read to start your own ideas on Watercolor painting, using the Zen method.
Strong art - weaker philosophy.......2004-09-17
I like Carbonetti's art and this book is full of it. For that reason it is worth buying. She also succeeds in showing the mental aspects of creative art. However, her seeing of Zen is not so successful. She also wrote books like "The Tao of Watercolor" and "The Yoga of Drawing". I would prefer if she simply explained her own position without packaging it into so many commercialy attractive titles.
elegantdesign.co.nz Book Review.......2004-02-29
The book was very logical yet had many creative aspects. I would recommend it for a mid-range painter.
this book is wonderful.......1999-02-17
for so long art has been has jeanne put it, "left Brained" very logical, in an attempt to teach art so everyone can understand it. but what these artists, teachers, are forgetting is that creativty is a mystery. art is about feelings. even if the piece is very abstract, its still trying to in a sense "say" something. this book gave me a voice on how to explain myself as an artist to teachers who i have had who lean toward a logical kind of art that has shape but no feeling, and does not allow for differeces in style. i love this book, i plan to go into art education and this well definitely be a reference
Book Description
Whether you're a professional programmer looking to get up to speed on DirectX® 8.0 or a hobbyist new to game programming, this book will be your ultimate guide to programming amazing 3D computer graphics with Microsoft® Direct3D® 8.0! It provides a solid introduction to interactive entertainment engineering, Windows® programming, and advanced graphical techniques. Inside you'll find deep coverage of 2D graphics, including using double buffering, page flipping, programming a bitmap font engine, and creating a Quake-style programmable console. Read on to learn sophisticated 3D graphics programming techniques such as bilinear filtering, texturing, materials, lights, and how to develop an object-orientated frame based object hierarchy in order to simulate amazingly realistic animation effects. Begin your journey into the world of Direct3D - and great games - here, now!
Customer Reviews:
Not Useless Not Great.......2006-08-08
I got this book dirt cheap at HalfPricedBooks so I can't complain too much, if you can get it cheap why not!
I think it will be a good reference book for beginning directX programmers. What you end up with is a simple working 3d game engine. Most of what you get is functions to simplify the iterface with dx8.
However I found the writing style highly annoying. My english teachers repeated over and over "take out the fluff". And when all you are looking for is information (its a programming book not a novel) this book has way to much fluff. The author actually says his English teachers would never have guessed he would write a book (or if he did it would look like this book).
The examples he shows in the book are not all on the CD and he doesnt always give explicit enough instructions to setup the examples yourself (for me). Which code base am I suppose to use for this example, the final code base? chapter 5 code base?
But hopefully this will serve as a basic (and cheap) introduction which I will supplement with some internet research. My next step will be to code a simple game using the engine from this book, but that will definitely require some additional resources
What's with all the crying?.......2005-11-02
I see that many readers seem to have had problems getting the samples to compile. Having trouble using your compiler and debugging tools? I ran into compile errors, fixed them. Had a few runtime errors, fixed them too. Got every sample up and running with no tears.
Many of the readers who expressed dismay at simple compile errors go on to state that the have "solid" or "sound" or "extensive" C++ experience....
My only real complaint is that EVERY SINGLE VOLUME in the original Premier Press series had that danged C++ primer section that takes up almost a third of the book, rewritten over and over by each successive author. Thankfully, the newer books in the series seem to have dropped this bad habit. The end samples had that "cool" console and background that resized the background image for every frame - thus bad framerates. If you resize the image on load and then render the new image to the buffer instead it eliminates tons of overhead - bringing framerates up to the cap of 60fps on most systems (I have a computer graveyard here and some of them were only able to reach 28fps - p2/400 w/256MB RAM and an old Voodoo 2). Eliminating the background starfield brought the framerate up to 60fps on all of my systems.
Zen Lesson 1: Optimization is all in YOUR head.
And as far as "figuring out what order to call" various functions - a little time with a piece of paper and a little know-how with flowcharts might help you out there.
Some day you should try sitting down with a technical whitepaper on a system and try sorting things out from that. Too many people are apron-string programmers who can't figure out anything for themselves - hand-holding babies without a clue. Stop whining, learn something about the trade you're trying to embrace, and realize that mommy isn't going to code your game for you.
Have a nice day and happy coding.
Richard
Absolutely Atrocious and Useless.......2004-05-08
This book hardly qualifies to use the word Zen in its title if refering to Direct3D. Of the 16 chapters in the book, a mere 5 of them actually deal with things related to Direct3D. The first seven chapters deal only with Windows programming, which anyone who is reading a "Zen" book should already know. There is a lot of time spent talking about using the GDI with DirectGraphics surfaces which, by the author's own admission, is not adequately fast enough to write a game.
The final project of the book is to simulate a solar system with planets and moons revolving around the sun. There is no discussion whatsoever about keyframe or skeletal animation techniques.
Mr. Walsh may be living in a world where all 3D games are space shooters where we only have to be able to rotate planets and spaceships, but maybe he should realize that the rest of us are not. Anyone interested in really programming in 3D needs real animation techniques which do not just include rotation and translation.
This is all beside the fact that you have to recompile all of the code on the CD because the compiled version is the same program copied over and over and over...
Your money is much better spent on a better book. Even Advanced 3-D Game Programming using DirectX 7.0 by Andre Perez is a better but out-of-date choice.
How to run the code examples........2003-11-30
I am not sure how to get the 3d examples to run in full screen, but if you make a few changes, they will run windowed pretty well.
First off you need to change the function InitDirect3DDevice that initializes direct x.
change to: d3dpp.BackBufferFormat = d3ddm.Format;
change to: d3dpp.Windowed = TRUE;
and comment out anything that starts out with d3dpp.FullScreen
then there is something wrong with the printing of the frame rate
comment out FrameCount(); from GameLoop()
comment out PrintFrameRate(); from Render()
it also makes it nice to change the window style to an overlapped window, hope that helped.
Adequate but Careless.......2003-09-13
I am now half way through this book and find it ok in some ways and not ok in other ways.
The CD does not correlate at all well with the examples in the book. This is a serious flaw, imho.
I judge most of the text in the book itself to be adequately written. It could have been better.
The book does seem to cover the important issues, however, so it does have value.
One can learn from this book.
Average customer rating:
- Classic.
- Worthwhile Strategy
- Good advice
- A study of conflict
- GREAT 17th CENTURAY SAMURAI SWORDSMAN'S ADVICE ON STRATEGY
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The Book of Five Rings (Shambhala Classics)
Miyamoto Musashi
Manufacturer: Shambhala
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The Unfettered Mind: Writings of the Zen Master to the Sword Master
ASIN: 1570627487
Release Date: 2000-12-12 |
Amazon.com
To learn a Japanese martial art is to learn Zen, and although you can't do so simply by reading a book, it sure does help--especially if that book is The Book of Five Rings. One of Japan's great samurai sword masters penned in decisive, unfaltering terms this certain path to victory, and like Sun Tzu's The Art of War it is applicable not only on the battlefield but also in all forms of competition. Always observant, creating confusion, striking at vulnerabilities--these are some of the basic principles. Going deeper, we find suki, the interval of vulnerability, of indecisiveness, of rest, the briefest but most vital moment to strike. In succinct detail, Miyamoto records ideal postures, blows, and psychological tactics to put the enemy off guard and open the way for attack. Most important of all is Miyamoto's concept of rhythm, how all things are in harmony, and that by working with the rhythm of a situation we can turn it to our advantage with little effort. But like Zen, this requires one task above all else, putting the book down and going out to practice. --Brian Bruya
Book Description
Here is one of the most insightful texts on the subtle arts of confrontation and victory to emerge from Asian culture. Written not only for martial artists but for leaders in all professions, the book analyzes the process of struggle and mastery over conflict that underlies every level of human interaction. The Book of Five Rings âwhich has become a well-known classic among American business people, studied for its insights into the Japanese approach to business strategyâwas composed in 1643 by the famed duelist and undefeated samurai Miyamoto Musashi. Unlike previous editions of The Book of Five Rings, Thomas Cleary's is an accessible translation, free of jargon, with an introduction that presents the spiritual background of the warrior tradition. Along with Musashi's text, Cleary translates another important Japanese classic on leadership and strategy: The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War by Yagyu Munenori, which highlights the ethical and spiritual insights of Taoism and Zen as they apply to the way of the warrior.
Customer Reviews:
Classic........2007-06-18
This book is only a translation of the original. You may not find the extensive commentary you seek. While written centuries ago, Miyamoto Musashi, in my judgment, didn't write a book just about how to fight.
Reading this book with an open mind will surprise the reader. Deep thought and reflection will be needed. The areas to which the principles in this book may be applied (such as lessons in leadership and politics) and the success in said application are only limited to the amount of imagination and study put forth by the reader.
It offers a great deal of knowledge for every day life, and even if you never pick up a sword, or raise your fists, you will find his philosophy extends well beyond the realm of martial arts and battle strategy.
To some readers you will not be able to fully grasp all of the concepts and ideas presented after one reading. This book is invaluable and definitely invites repeated readings as new insight is to be found as your understanding deepens. I'm not sure if a single review could do this book justice because each time you re-read this book your thoughts are guaranteed to be provoked and you will definitely walk away each time with a new form of enlightenment and that is my reason for giving it Five stars *****.
Worthwhile Strategy.......2007-06-10
This is powerful book to read and UTILIZE in your life. While it can easily be taken for face value as a book on physical fighting strategy, it is more than that. One can take many of the thoughts and translate them to a more theoretical use on strategy. For example, a quote speaking of "the gaze" relating to seeing an enemy and their movements: "It is important in strategy to know the enemy's sword and not to be distracted by insignificant movements of his sword". This could easily be translated to business, sports, etc. Just substitute "sword" for the essence of the thought to apply to "business", "army", "team", etc.
The first 3rd of the book is a historical account of events of Musashi's life, and also includes many images of artwork created by Musashi. They are black and white however. The rest of the book is the actual "Book of Five Rings". It consists of 5 "books": ground, water, fire, wind and the void. It is to be noted Musashi after a time found he did not need to follow any particular "Way" and practiced many.
Regarding the layout of the book, I like the footnotes at the bottom of many of the pages which help describe words or thoughts you may not have easily or readily known otherwise.
---*** THE BOTTOM LINE ***---
A good book to have, with worthwhile strategy, although, regarding strategy I prefer Sun Tzu's "Art of War".
Good advice.......2007-01-09
The only good advice I ever got from a book came from this one: "Do nothing which is of no use" (p. 49). The Book of Five Rings has a lot of good advice, but that's the one that speaks most clearly to my condition. The Book of Five Rings must be read as metaphor, because life conditions today are so different from those of medieval Japan. But Mushashi was a wise and powerful thinker, and his ideas apply well beyond battle strategy. He lived integrity: unity and purity of thought, word, and deed, and his rare qualities are always worth studying and emulating.
A study of conflict.......2006-08-14
This book is great for anyone interested in personal development. It is a guide in focused self-discipline. It is also a guide to successful navigation of conflict.
This translation is the best I've read. It is free of superfluous footnotes and pedantic commentary. The commentary that is included before each chapter is brief and helpful.
GREAT 17th CENTURAY SAMURAI SWORDSMAN'S ADVICE ON STRATEGY.......2006-07-22
Based on my readings, Musashi's motive in writing his Book of Five Rings had been to correct misrepresentations of his views on swordsmanship by his contemporaries. Having become a legend in his own time, Musashi's reputation was being exploited by ambitious rivals claiming to have adopted the master's martial techniques and philosophies. Thus Book of Five Rings was intended by its author to establish his point of view for correcting misconceptions.
Those in America who've been advocating since 1974 to study Book of Five Rings to gain some business advantage over Japanese businessmen are barking up the wrong tree. Musashi's writings are poetic and thought provoking. Indeed, one can even learn something new and ancient about strategy from the master. It is, however, doubtful that Musashi's words can make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. So then those in the 1970s who had originally marketed the book as "the alternative to the Harvard MBA" were barking up the wrong tree.
In addition to the charming and useful writings, the original (1974 English translation) Book of Five Rings includes photos of the master swordsman's quite beautiful art work, now residing in Japan in a museum dedicated to Musashi works.
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