Customer Reviews:
Black Belt Memory Yogger .......2007-03-09
The Black Belt Memory Yogger is a handy pocket guide for people involved with six sigma processes. I like the why use it and what does it do questions. Good quick review of basic statistics and tools.
Handy and Useful, but pricey.......2003-02-21
This book is a concise reference for use by practitioners and those on the shop floor. I use it daily in our one square mile manufacturing complex.
Our people understand the tools with help of the illustrations. The how to use the tools is clear. Sure some may be overwhelmed by the statistical detail; however, the graphs are useful in showing folks what we as a team are working towards.
At only 265 pages, this spiral book is pricey, but that's expected from the millionaires of the Six Sigma Academy. ASQ's entries into this segment pale in comparison. Overall, I use it in any public course offering I teach. Keep it simple!
Amazon.com
Six Sigma is a data-driven management system with near-perfect-performance objectives that has been employed to acclaim at leading corporations like General Electric. Its name is derived from the eye-catching statistical target of operating with no more than 3.4 defects per one million chances, but Peter Pande, Robert Neuman, and Roland Cavanagh--associates in a firm providing Six Sigma implementation, training, and management services--contend its principles can be applied in businesses of all types to routinely reduce costs, improve productivity, increase market share, and achieve other positive results. The Six Sigma Way is their comprehensive self-help guide to adapting and using the system under various conditions. Its first two parts cover fundamentals and provide specific suggestions for aligning the process with individual needs and goals. (These include sections on balancing potential costs and benefits, clarifying objectives, and defining time frames.) The final part, which accounts for more than half the book, focuses on implementation through a detailed yet flexible five-step "road map" tied to a company's core processes, key customers, current performance, "high-potential improvement opportunities," and future practices. While the procedure is quite complex, diligent managers should be able to bring at least basic components to their organization with the tools and techniques provided. --Howard Rothman
Book Description
Six Sigma is a system for improving the quality of organizational processes. It was originally developed at Motorola in the 1980's and has become one of the most widely discussed and reported trends in business over the past two years, thanks largely to the phenomenal successes of the Six Sigma program at one of the world's most successful companies, GE. GE CEO Jack Welch, has been preaching about and implementing the Six Sigma philosophy throughout GE, and credits the program with millions of dollars in annual cost savings and product quality improvements.
Download Description
Six Sigma -- the organizational quality system made famous by GE's legendary Jack Welch -- has set new standards for process improvement. The Six Sigma Way is the first book to provide basic, non-technical information on understanding and implementing Six Sigma. Eye-opening success stories show how companies including GE, Motorola, Allied Signal, and others have used Six Sigma to produce millions in cost-savings and quality improvements. Written to give managers a basic overview of what Six Sigma is and how to implement it, The Six Sigma Way covers the application of Six Sigma across all industries.
Customer Reviews:
Horridly boring........2007-09-13
More power to you if you can get something worthwile from this book. I bought the book on CD, and it was easily the most forgettable experience I've had in a while. The information is presented from a 30,000 mile view. So "big picture" oriented that it's useless to try and consider the action behind the concepts presented.
If you're looking for a way to appear to have read something complicated and high level about Six Sigma. you found your source. If you want real, usable information, look elsewhere.
Excellent Book.......2007-09-07
No Joke. A serious six-sigma book written in most elegant form. I like the part where the Authors provide insights into "Sir Pork" - a really good way to put serious stuffs into readable form. Ignore the stars. It could have been 6 :).
A Six Sigma Primer.......2007-02-25
If you're looking to learn about Six Sigma, this is the book to start with. It provides a good overview and quickly dispels the common myths (e.g. Six sigma is for manufacturing companies alone). It helps the reader to determine if Six Sigma is right for his/her organization, and provides clear steps demonstrating how to implement the six sigma roadmaps. It doesn't get too heavy into the advanced statistics, although there is a chapter that explains some of the tools and how they are used. Bottom line: While the reader may still need some assistance (from a trained Black Belt), this book provides the tools necessary to complete a six sigma project. I've read a few books on the topic and this was the most comprehensive - the best of the lot.
Six Sigma Overview - Full of Excellent Case Studies.......2006-11-22
While studying to become a Black Belt in Six Sigma, I found this book to be the most excellent overview of the history and benefits of Six Sigma. I did extensive research into useful books - and found this one to be the most effective.
Many other Six Sigma books try too hard to teach the material - and this book presents the basics, with strong business case studies of success.
If you are involved in the study or use of Six Sigma - I believe this is an essential book in your library.
Good overview but little substance.......2006-11-04
This audio book was more of a cheerleader for six sigma than a book to gain knowledge. It would be a good source of information if you have never heard of six sigma, but otherwise it is not very useful. The reader also has an annoying voice.
Book Description
User-friendly compendium of mechanical devices. A treasure chest of ideas and data, Robert O. Parmley's Illustrated Sourcebook of Mechanical Components is testimony to centuries of engineering genius that produced the components that make modern mechanical wonders possible. Designed to stimulate new ideas, this unique, lavishly illustrated and conveniently indexed reference shows you many designs and unique contributions hidden from technical literature for decades. This kaleidoscopic display of thousands of applications helps you find the perfect device quickly, including: *Power transmission ù gears and gearing...chains, sprockets and ratchets...belts and belting...shafts and couplings...clutches *Connections - seals and packings...tube and pipe connections...bushings and bearings...locking and clamping...wire and cable *Single components - washers...retaining rings... o-rings...grommets, spacers and inserts...balls..springs...pins...cams...threaded components *Assemblies: fastening and joining...design hints...mechansims...linkage...fabrication tips...innovative valving...pumps...creative assemblies You'll also find design formulas, structural data, nomograms, charts and unusual tables rarely found in conventional technical sources.
Customer Reviews:
Great for non-engineers too!.......2007-05-14
This book is so interesting to browse through. As a mechanical engineer I really appreciate it, and it comes in handy for getting ideas. Great illustrations and descriptions! I highly recommend it.
Inventor's Smorgasbord.......2007-02-21
I am a farmer who enjoys making machinery. I design my contraptions on paper, then using a CAD program to refine the designs. Having no training in engineering I am frequently using references such as "Machinery's Handbook" and "Moving The Earth" and "Mark's Standard handbook of Mechanical Engineering" and others.
I have to say, that Parmley's book is a treasure trove of information, with heaps of unusual ideas for common compnents such as O-rings, rubber balls, pipe connections, washers and many others, plus hard information about more complex components such as gearboxes, cams, governors etc etc.
This is a big book, with many pages (numbering within each section only), lovely clear diagrams, and enough but not too many tables, formulae and specifications. It can be browsed cover to cover, (as I am doing for the 2nd or 3rd time), open a page at random and be fascinated, or look up specific topics in the excellent index.
I have read the other reviews on this book, and clearly it is a valuable rescource to professionals. I can tell you that it is also a fantastic mine of information to the interested amateur.
Book content value.......2005-10-02
This volume contains the most comprehensive list of mechanical components and variations on any given theme that I've seen in one place. Additionally there are significant extensions to computation methods and overviews not found elsewhere. It is an extremely high value book.
Absolute Must.......2003-01-28
The last few favourable reviews cover my thoughts well, but I would like to add that this large volume far exceeded my expectations in terms of both depth of content and quality. This is an amazing value for anyone who works with mechanical components. While its focus is on illustrations of the components themselves, it also includes detailed explanations with graphs, formulae, etc. So it's also a how-to book of sorts. I also purchased a companion volume "Mechanisms and Mechanical Devices Sourcebook", which I also highly recommend.
A terrific book.......2002-02-15
Illustrated Sourcebook of Mechanical Components has lots and lots and lots of line drawings of machinery components. The drawings are clear and simple. Each is accompanied by a well written description, usually a few lines but longer if needed. An interesting book for anyone mechanically inclined. For engineers there are tables and formulas where needed. A great book.
Download Description
"The first complete Six Sigma implementation guide for Green Belts and Champions!
1. Understand the rationale for Six Sigma
2. Implement a proven executive framework for a successful quality initiative
3. Use the DMAIC method for improvement from start to finish: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control
4. Manage Six Sigma statistics¿without becoming a statistician
5. Learn through complete detailed manufacturing and service case studies
6. Learn how to understand and manage Six Sigma statistics, through practical, Minitab-based application examples. Includes instructions for using Minitab software
7. Learn how to pass Six Sigma certification examinations with sample questions and answers
If you're ""project managing"" Six Sigma (potential Green Belt)¿or promoting it at the executive level (potential Champion)¿this is your book. It's the first Six Sigma book written specifically for Green Belts, Champions...and anyone who plans to become one. Two experts help you master the entire DMAIC model: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control. You'll discover realistic solutions for Six Sigma's profound human and technical challenges. You can even prepare for one of the world's leading Six Sigma certification programs. Clear, detailed, and proven...this is the one indispensable book for anyone who must manage Six Sigma to success."
Customer Reviews:
Comprehensive Textbook at Black Belt Level.......2007-03-28
I was surprised by the well balanced and complete coverage of the Six Sigma methodology from DMAIC, including managerial steps, all the way to statistics up through Design of Experiments. The all inclusive topics seem to parallel full Black Belt training. I would expect green belts to be offered selections from the book in a standard course. I would say no other book has this "textbooky" look and feel (that is not meant as a criticism). At the end of chapters find Minitab instructions including screen shots. The material is well written, hence understandable, hence I think this is one of the best overall introductions to the subject without slamming the reader with high levels of mathematical theory.
Six Sigma GB .......2007-03-13
I think this book is an excellent resource for experienced Six Sima managers. However, if you want to buy this book as a study guide for the SSGB certification test, or as an introduction to Six Sigma, it isn't going to help you out much. I guess my lowered rating is due to the fact that the book didn't meet my expectations as it was described on the Amazon site.
An Excellent Introduction to Six Sigma.......2006-07-20
This book was well worth my time and money! Being a Six Sigma beginer, I found this book to be easy to follow and comprehend.
Explained is the DMAIC process model, Voice of Customer (VOC), Voice of Process (VOP)and Design of Experements (DOE) in clarifying detail. Best of all, it includes step-by-step explanations of project experiments and the statistical analyses from the expereiments using Minitab 14!
Whether you want to learn the basics of the Six Sigma process (Chapters 1-8) and / or basic Six Sigma statistical tools and methods (Chapters 9-15), I highly recommend this book!
Note: Minitab 14 (Statistical software)is free for 30 days and the associated minitab-formatted excercise worksheets are down-loadable from the publisher's website.
Practical Six Sigma Guide.......2006-05-22
Six Sigma for Green Belts and Champions is a completely accessible guide for actually doing Six Sigma. It is a must read for anyone interested in Six Sigma management.
Accomplished promised ETA.......2005-09-29
The book arrived exactly on the day they told me it was going to arrive. It was worthwhile to save money buying through here rather than paying more through a bookstore.
Average customer rating:
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Design for Six Sigma for Green Belts and Champions: Applications for Service Operations--Foundations, Tools, DMADV, Cases, and Certification (Six Sigma)
Howard S. Gitlow ,
David M. Levine , and
Edward A. Popovich
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
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Six Sigma for Green Belts and Champions: Foundations, DMAIC, Tools, Cases, and Certification
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Service Design for Six Sigma: A Roadmap for Excellence
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Statistics for Six Sigma Green Belts with Minitab and JMP (Six Sigma)
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Statistics for Six Sigma Made Easy
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The Six Sigma Handbook: The Complete Guide for Greenbelts, Blackbelts, and Managers at All Levels, Revised and Expanded Edition
ASIN: 0131855247 |
Book Description
EXTREME SIX SIGMA:
A new series that takes Six Sigma to the next level
The Six Sigma Operational Methods Series goes beyond simply explaining Six Sigma basics to interested managers--these are hard-core working tools of statistical methods, quantitative and intense, aimed at mathematically sophisticated Six Sigma practitioners unwilling to settle for anything less than peak performance in manufacturing and services.
Written by four instructors from the world-renowned Motorola University, this handbook provides the tools Six Sigma Black Belts and Master Black Belts need to deal with the most intractable business problems. The authors show how to integrate research and development, manufacturing, human resources, finance, marketing, quality, and customer service with corporate vision, mission, and key strategies.
* Tools for estimating quality project cost on a project by project basis
* A complete guide to understanding and writing financial reports
* Methodologies for leading multiple projects
* Problem-solving tools like Design for Six Sigma and TRIZ
Contents: Strategy: Planning for Six Sigma * Project Management * Performance Reporting * Leadership for Six Sigma: Organizing for Six Sigma * Team Leader’s Tools * Team Measurement Concepts * Corporate Initiatives: Six Sigma * Lean Thinking * Human Resources Management: Organizational Alignment * Compensation and Recognition * Methodology Tools: Define * Measure * Analyze * Improve * Triz * Control * Design for Six Sigma * Financial Measurements: Financial * Operational * Reporting * By Industry: Service * Transaction * Manufacturing * Healthcare * Human Resources Management
Customer Reviews:
Decent reference.......2007-05-07
Has anyone actually sent in the 2 dozen or so corrections to the publisher? The text is weak on analytics and not a 'stand alone' reference for the tougher certification exams (ASQ, Moresteam, etc).
Even so, it is one of the best commercial volumes out there - in terms of organization and potential benefit to the practitioner.
They should take a page off Juran's Quality Handbook, or other Engineering Handbooks (Perry's), on formatting and content development.
Book Description
Wangari Muta Maathai was born in Nyeri, Kenya in 1940. In 1960, she won a Kennedy scholarship to study in America and earned a master's degree in biology from the University of Pittsburgh and became the first woman in East Africa to earn a Ph.D.
Returning to Kenya in 1966, Wangari Maathai was shocked at the degradation of the forests and the farmland caused by deforestation. Heavy rains had washed away much of the topsoil, silt was clogging the rivers, and fertilizers were depriving the soil of nutrients. Wangari decided to solve the problem by planting trees.
Under the auspices of the National Council of Women of Kenya, of which she was chairwoman from 1981 to 1987, she introduced the idea of planting trees through citizen foresters in 1976, and called this new organization the Green Belt Movement (GBM). She continued to develop GBM into broad-based, grassroots organization whose focus was women's groups planting of trees in order to conserve the environment and improve their quality of life. Through the Green Belt Movement, Wangari Maathai has assisted women in planting more than 20 million trees on their farms and on schools and church compounds in Kenya and all over East Africa.
In Africa, as in many parts of the world, women are responsible for meals and collecting firewood. Increasing deforestation has not only meant increasing desertification, but it has also meant that women have had to travel further and further afield in order to collect the firewood. This in turn has led to women spending less time around the home, tending to crops, and looking after their children. By staying closer to home, earning income from sustainably harvesting the fruit and timber from trees, women not only can be more productive, they can provide stability in the home. They can also create time for education opportunities—whether for themselves or their children.
This virtuous circle of empowerment through conservation is serving as a model throughout the world, where women both individually and collectively are entrusted with money and material to invest it in ways that make a difference to their daily lives. Wangari Maathai's Green Belt Movement is a great example of how one person can turn around the lives of thousands, if not millions of others, by empowering others to change their situation.
Wangari's road to success was by no means easy. During the 1970s and 1980s, she came under increasing scrutiny from the government of Daniel arap Moi. She was frequently the target of vilification from the government, as well as subject to outright attacks and imprisonment. She refused to compromise her belief that the people were best trusted to look after their natural resources, as opposed to the corrupt cronies of the government, who were given whole swathes of public land, which they then despoiled.
In January 2003, Wangari Maathai was elected by an overwhelming margin to Parliament, where she is the Assistant Secretary for Environnment, Wildlife, and Natural Resources in the democratically elected Kibaki government. Even though she is now being protected by the very same soldiers who once arrested her, her voice on behalf of the environment is still strong and determined.
In The Green Belt Movement, founder Wangari Maathai tells its story: why it started, how it operates, and where it is going. She includes the philosophy behind it, its challenges and objectives, and the specific steps involved in starting a similar grassroots environmental and social justice organization. The Green Belt Movement is the inspiring story of people working at the grassroots level to improve their environment and their country. Their story offers ideas about a new and hopeful future for Africa and the rest of the world.
Customer Reviews:
Absolutely fascinating work.......2005-02-07
This book took me into the grassroots level work of the newest Nobel Peace Prize winner. I was glad to get a glimpse into what the world is just recognizing as the new frontier - the hope that comes from action at the local level which makes real course changes in our world as a whole. I enjoyed the very practical outline of this movement's accomplishments and connections to the growing consciousness for earth's slow, steady salvation.
GREEN BELT MOVEMENT.......2005-02-07
I found this book to be an enlightening and educating account of the background and work of the current Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Wangari Maathai. THE GREEN BELT MOVEMENT is currently the only volume that provides as much insight on this topic.
This book aptly illustrates the practical effect a visionary can have towards the cause of unifying and balancing the degraded social, cultural and biological environment that we inhabit, by it's ample portrayal of the life, philosophy and focus of Prof. Maathai.
I highly recommend this book.
Depressed about the environment? Read this book!!.......2005-02-05
The Green Belt Movement by Wangari Maathai is a wonderful, informative and user-friendly book that gives a good sense of the movement's history and the person behind it. Just as Maathai in her work likes to keep her hands in the dirt planting trees, in her book she cuts directly to the meat and bones of what the Green Belt Movement is about and how it functions practically on the ground.
The book illustrates both the work of the Green Belt Movement and the philosophical motivations behind it, making it a useful and applicable guide to any person or organization interested or involved in a grassroots, holistic, and sustainable approach to changing the environmental and social threads of our world.
Throughout the text Maathai's directness, integrity and humor shines through, revealing the dynamic and rich personality behind this inspirational movement.
"I assumed that all people working in public service loved the people they served, were accountable and transparent, and had integrity. That was part of the culture that had been inculcated in me by my parents and teachers. It was part of my personality, character and conscience. I have since learned that such assumptions are shared by few." This statement is vital to an understanding of who Wangari Maathai is and is one of the reasons she won the Nobel Peace Prize. She has always had great integrity and she has never been willing to compromise it.
Throughout the book there are passages that let the reader know that this person who is writing is brilliant, funny and also deeply modest. Wangari Maathai is an extraordinary person and this book provides a good sense of the hard work that went into creating the Green Belt Movement. I recommend it.
Green Belt Movement inspiring!.......2005-02-04
Wangari Maathai represents the possibility that all of us can make a difference, if we only make a commitment. THE GREEN BELT MOVEMENT is an important introduction to her work. She has inspired thousands and I am one who looks to her example - especially when we environmentalists feel despair in the current U.S. political climate.
Average customer rating:
- The BEST Needlepoint Belt EVER WRITTEN
|
The Needlepoint Belt Series
Ann Cady Scott
Manufacturer: The Needlepoint Belt Book Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Ring-bound
ASIN: 0976356600 |
Book Description
Over 900 charted designs for use on needlepoint, especially belts, in convenient three-ring binder with full color cover.
Signal flags, sports, alphabets, professions, leisure activities, flags of countries and much much more.
Customer Reviews:
The BEST Needlepoint Belt EVER WRITTEN.......2004-12-08
Ann Scott is a master craftswoman. Her knowledge and expertise in the arena of needlepoint belt-making is second to none. Buy this book and you will be creating your own masterpieces in no time!
Book Description
All students of jiu-jitsu benefit from this step-by-step textbook, which takes them from the white belt right up to the ultimate, coveted goal of black belt. The comprehensive method assembled here by the well-regarded Gracie family lets fighters know exactly what they need to learn, when and why they need to learn it, and what they can do to progress more quickly. How and how often to train, pacing, training objectives, and how to measure success are all addressed according to the different goals students might have, from the casual practitioner to the self-defense student to the competitor bent on going pro. The plan detailed in the text can be customized to fit the trainee's body type and strengths. Instructors of jiu-jitsu will also find the manual helpful to their teaching, as it provides advice on program management, student evaluation, the selection of techniques for lessons, and recognizing a prodigy.
Customer Reviews:
Nice addition.......2007-02-16
As an experienced black belt Judo, with a long competition history, I loved this book very much. I am always searching to expand my technical skills. And this BJJ handbook gives me more inspiration to drill my students and myself to new skills.
One of the best books........2007-01-11
One of the best books in BJJ.
I like the kind of way he presented,explained & teach about BJJ.
A Resource Not To Be Missed.......2006-07-04
After reading Rodrigo's The Path to the Blackbelt, I have adopted it as one of the primary curriculum resources for my school of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts.
Rodrigo Gracie is one of the toughest no holds barred competitors out there today, but what seperates this book from many others written by tough fighters is that Rodrigo is an equally great teacher; he has poured into this book a tremendous amount of experience, training wisdom and essential techniques.
The Path to the Black Belt is a best pick for anyone's training library.
Excellent Book.......2006-07-04
"The Path to Black Belt" is the best Jiu-Jitsu book on the market and is a must for anyone who wants to become a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu. The typical instructional book reads like an encyclopedia of technqiues, but this approach only gives the reader a cursory idea of how to master the art. In Jiu-Jitsu, knowing dozens of techniques is only the first step in becoming proficient. The coveted jiu-jitsu black belt only comes after years of smart training. Being consistent, avoiding injuries and understanding how to develop a complete game over several years are the factors that will separate a black belt from an aspiring black belt. Rodrigo's book covers all of these areas, articulating the fundamental concepts in Jiu-Jitsu in a way that only a life-long practiioner and ADCC champion can do.
"The Path to Black Belt" gives the student guidance on every aspect of learning Jiu-Jitsu, from choosing the right instructor to developing a personal style, from transitions to why so many students quit along the way. I have not seen another book that comes close to giving the complete approach to training that is outlined in this book. As an instructor myself, I believe that the mechanics of individual techniques are the easiest part of the art a student can learn, but smart training methods are very difficult for most students to grasp. However, Rodrigo manages to address this topic in a way that everyone will find accesssible.
This book is worth the money just for the section on training, but Rodrigo also includes a series of drills and techniques from every position. The drills break down some of the the fundamental concepts in Jiu-Jitsu, such as balance and leverage, in a way that will refine the understanding of both beginners and seasoned vets. The techniques shown are high-percentage moves that anyone can execute with the proper training. Rodrigo teaches basics while clearly and realistically demonstrating how they will play out in an actual match. He covers complementary techniques from every position, so the reader is not simply learning moves in isoloation, but is learning how to put together a complete game of moves that work in conjunction with one another.
I can't think of a better Jiu-Jitsu book to purchase, and this is THE boook for anyone wishing to reach the highest levels of Jiu-Jitsu.
I have seen them all, and this is the BEST of the BEST!!!.......2006-05-29
WOW, I am amazed by this books instruction level. VERY VERY detailed, and great detail is spent to give a view from the instructors viewpoint. Rodrigo has left me in shock with this one - absolutely essential, especially if you are an instructor looking for a GREAT reference book for your class.
Average customer rating:
- Great Stories of the discoveries of Kuiper Belt Objects
- This is what astronomers actually do
- This book should really be called "Beyond Neptune"
- Clear and concise
- Summary the Latest Findings of the Kuiper Belt Objects
|
Beyond Pluto
John Davies
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
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Pluto and Charon: Ice Worlds on the Ragged Edge of the Solar System
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Is Pluto a Planet?: A Historical Journey through the Solar System
ASIN: 0521800196 |
Book Description
Exactly what is beyond Pluto? Why, in the last ten years, has the Solar System more than doubled in size? For the first time, in almost two centuries, an entirely new population of planetary objects has been found that may well explain these two questions. This newly discovered realm of minor planets, now known as the "Kuiper Belt," has reconceptualized our understanding of how the Solar System was formed and has finally given ontological explanations for the enigmatic outer planet Pluto. Beyond Pluto is the fascinating story of how a group of theoretical physicists decided that there must be a population of unknown bodies beyond Pluto and how a small band of astronomers set out to find them. Acclaimed scientist John K. Davies recounts how they predicted the existence of these planetary bodies, how they were eventually discovered, and how Pluto was named. In addition, Davies provides biographies of the astronomers who discovered these new worlds and information on the telescopes they used. John K. Davies is a support scientist for the UK Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) atop the dormant volcano Mauna Kea in Hawaii. He holds PhDs in chemistry and astronomy, discovered six comets while teaching at Leicester University in the UK, and was a member of the ISO-CAM team at the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh, Scotland. He has contributed to magazines such as Astronomy, New Scientist, Sky & Telescope, and Space. In 2000, a small main asteroid belt was named Johndavies in recognition of his numerous contributions to astronomy.
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In the last ten years, the solar system has more than doubled in size. For the first time in almost two centuries an entirely new population of planetary objects has been found. This 'Kuiper Belt' of minor planets beyond Neptune has revolutionised our understanding of how the solar system was formed and has finally explained the origin of the enigmatic outer planet Pluto. This is the fascinating story of how theoretical physicists decided that there must be a population of unknown bodies beyond Neptune and how a small band of astronomers set out to find them. What they discovered was a family of ancient planetesimals whose orbits and physical properties were far more complicated than anyone expected. We follow the story of this discovery, and see how astronomers, theoretical physicists and one incredibly dedicated amateur observer have come together to explore the frozen boundary of the solar system.
Customer Reviews:
Great Stories of the discoveries of Kuiper Belt Objects.......2006-10-19
How is the edge of the solar system look like? Before 1992, most people are not quite sure even the theoretical Kuiper Belt have been proposed, but it's still lack of observational evidence. This book is believed to be the only popular science book that is dedicated on the subject of the edge of solar system. However, reading this book would be a bit difficult for the people without solid astronomical background.
This book address the story of the search of Kuiper Belt Objects(KBOs). Published in 2001, the content is not up to date, as the discovery is everchanging, including the finding of 2003UB313, Eris, that led to the great planetary debate. However, this book put detail discussion on the steps and searches of early attempts and discoveries. Since 1992, the first KBO is discovered, but the story of KBO is seldom appeared on books, thus this is a very important book on the subject.
From Centaurs, work of astronomers, how astronomers search, analysis and follow-up, all these are outlined in the book. The orbital resonance with Neptune, color distribution of KBOs etc. are also included.
This is a great valued book for those who want to know more about the life of a small group of astronomers.
This is what astronomers actually do.......2004-06-25
Television documentaries about astronomers tend to romanticize their work, making it look like a parade of exciting discoveries. This book, about the search for objects beyond the traditional nine planets, gives the reader a much more realistic picture. Davies describes how individual astronomers and small groups work through the laborious processes of searching, analyzing results, and testing theories. There are many obstacles, including scientific rivalries and limited access to observatories. Yet patient work has gradually revealed an enormous, previously undetected realm of icy planetoids, some of which are perturbed into the inner solar system to become comets.
Davies' writing is clear and straightforward, avoiding mathematics and explaining technical terms where necessary. Readers with a serious interest in astronomy will find this book fascinating. Readers whose interest is only marginal may find it too detailed and slow-moving. Though the black and white illustrations are useful, it would have helped to have diagrams showing the scale of this vast realm all the way out to the hypothetical Oort Cloud. Good examples can be found in the June 2004 issue of Sky and Telescope.
This book should really be called "Beyond Neptune".......2002-05-20
I bought this book to get information on the trans-Plutonian objects recently discovered. While there is some material on this (apparently little is actually known), most of the book is about the scientists who discovered these objects and how they did it. If you're looking for a book on how scientists work, this is quite good, but if like me you're looking for a book on the results of that work, you may be disappointed. I feel the title is a misnomer (though probably attention getting), because Pluto and its moon are among the objects discussed! Also, most of the objects orbit between Neptune and Pluto (at least when Pluto is at its average distance), so are really better described as trans-Neptunian than trans-Plutonian. I don't mean to be so negative about the book; it wasn't what I expected, based on the title, but it could be just what you're looking for.
Clear and concise.......2001-11-22
This book is a summary of the (few) things we (think we) know about the objects that orbit beyond Neptune. The author gradually guides the reader through the science of these small icy objects, which existence was suspected almost 50 years before their actual discovery.
Introductory historical and theoretical chapters, covering the period from the discovery of Pluto and the next decades, are followed by more and more discoveries and scientific results, most of them not older than 10 years. From the first Centaurs to the extrasolar dust disks observations, every aspect is clearly explained, and ultimately provides a complete picture of this region of the solar system.
Throughout this chronology, the author explains the science as well as the way this science is actually done, up in the observatories in Hawaii, or in an university office, in front of a computer screen. It is a very honest tribute to the people (the author being one of them) that spend most of their time trying to set-up complex experiments, understand the cryptic data sent back by their high-tech instruments, and then write articles about things they are usually the first to analyze.
This book is short because not much is known yet. But it is fascinating because almost everything we know has been discovered in the last 10 years, and you can expect more in the very near future. In order to get the most of what we be published, this book is the place to start.
And for those, like me, who are interested in the far regions of the solar system, I would recommend this other book about the "King of the Kuiper Belt", Pluto, written by another specialist (Alan Stern): "Pluto and Charon". It's a good complement to this one.
Summary the Latest Findings of the Kuiper Belt Objects.......2001-10-20
In school most of us were taught that the last planet in the solar system is Pluto and there is nothing beyond but the vast emptiness of space. That is, at least until we reach the next star system. However, as the author points out in his book, the latest astronomical findings of the past ten years clearly show that there are many small objects (minor planets) that orbit beyond Pluto, which are also part of our solar system.
The book opens with a chapter devoted to the initial theoretical studies, which attempted to prove the existence of these distant objects years before they could be observed. The next two chapters examine two edge-of-the-solar-system objects, the short-period comets and the Centaurs (small bodies which orbit near Uranus and Neptune). The book then moves on to the long years spend by many astronomers trying to observe one of these objects and then characterize its orbit. Of course, once one was found many others where then discovered. After these sections, the book covers the effort to characterize the physical parameters, such as diameter, albedo, chemical composition, etc., of these objects and how they are formed and reformed (due to collisions with neighboring bodies). The book concludes which a section on future exploration of these objects and a subtle plea from the author to rename the Kuiper Belt after the man who first postulated its existence.
In general, I found this book to be quite interesting, especially the sections on the astronomers who devoted years of their life trying to find these objects. I do feel that some non-technical people may find this book a little overwhelming due to several graphs and the use many technical terms.
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