[BookReview] How to Solve IT by Computer - Dromey

An excellent introduction to the Whys of algorithms and data-structures.

Features of the Book :

• The Design Factors associated with problems
• The Creative Process behind coming up with innovative solutions for Algorithms and Data structures
• The Line of Reasoning behind the constraints, factors and the design choices made.

[BookReview] How to Solve IT!! by Gregory Polya

George Polya's '''How to Solve It''' suggests the following steps when solving a mathematical problem.

• First, you have to ''understand the problem''.
• After understanding, then ''make a plan''.
• ''Carry out the plan''.
• ''Look back'' on your work. How could it be done better?

His book contains a dictionary-style set of strategies, but is not a cook-book.

Lateral Thinking (Edward De Bono)

[BookReview] How To Build A Better Vocabulary

Words at Play!!

'How to build a better vocabulary' by Morris Rosenblum, Maxwell Nurnberg is a funny, interesting and engrossing book which

1. Tells the tale of Origin of Words (Etymology) among other things. Words belong to word-families and it's possible to dissect complex and new words into root words.
2. Guess meaning of new/complex words from words you already know and given the surrounding context without the need for a dictionary.
3. A paperback edition, it is available quite cheaply. Though mostly used by TOEFL students it is very interesting :-) 
4. Many words have interesting stories behind them. Like the phrase 'Cutting the Gordian Knot' which is explained in the book. This phrase is attributed to Alexander the Great.
5. The book starts every chapter with a funny and apt Cartoon. I especially liked the one which goes - "No, No. This is a stalactite and That is a stalagmite'

Happy Reading.

[BookReview] Jonathan Livingston Seagull

An amazing book by Richard Bach that talks about potential and the journey of fulfilling it.

A surprisingly thin booklet, it is hardly 30 pages filled with great thoughts on motivation, potential, hunger for going beyond whatever stage you are at and finally sharing.

It talks about a "Perverted" Seagull ie who believes that there's more to life than eating , sleeping and squabbling over scraps. A seagull was given wings not just to fly from point A to B and back but something more. It talks about finding and fighting for purpose in life and integrating the seeking for something more into the way you live and share with people.

See Also:
Jonathan Livingston Seagull on Amazon

How to choose books!!

I regularly buy books of all types - Technical (computers), Autobiographies, Fiction, Fantasy, Science. I spend something like up-to 3 hours browsing the book-racks in Shops, Libraries, Peoples collections, Amazon (esp. the book reviews) in order to find refreshing and enlightening books.

Take a chance once in a while.
Make use of amazon.com reading lists by the users.
References to other books from a good book.

General:
---------
Foreword - Intention of the author ie what particular axe he wants to grind.
Author tries to keep the audience with him by summarizing what he just said.
Giving same info in more than one way with examples for different types of people.
Blurb at the back of the book.
Whether the author shows Awareness of opinions/theories not agreeing with what he's saying. Does he attempt to reconcile differences or explain them. At least a footnote.

Technical:
----------
Intended audience.
Giving simple definitions of terminology in every day terms.
Not presumptuously assuming that the reader is following at all times.
Analogies and Graphics are really welcome esp. if it is explaining something.
Defines What the book is about and more important what the book is NOT about.
Tone of the author - friendly, condescending, academic, repetitive.
Sentence construction - compound sentences a para long.
Good Index is essential in Most good books.
Quality of printing ie. cheap paper, binding, readability all have an impact.
I've found reading from some better made books more interesting than the cheaper versions.


Fiction:
---------
Thoughts which expose you to off-the-beaten-track stuff.
Thoughts which give a different angle on everyday things.
Thoughts which don't relate to your hum-drum life (Alice-in-wonderland)

What books can do for you!!

I've been reading books since a very young age. I always looked at books as a form of entertainment, fantasy and imagination. But one day I read a book called "The Tao of Physics", it changed the way I looked at books. The only thing close to this was going through the National Geographic magazine and (later) the TV channel.

I found out that books connect you to almost any kind of person. Scientist, Writers, Musicians, Doctors all can connect to the reader with their books. This book started the journey of non-fiction for me. I could enjoy the company of people who are at the forefront of any stream of action/thought.

I've read and picked up some valuable thoughts from :
Yoga (Iyengar),
Alternative Medicine (Dr. Dhiren Gala),
Cricket(Dennis Lillee,Frank Tyson),
Guitar(Ralph Denyer),
Acupressure(Park Jae Woo),
Body-Building (Arnold Schwarzenegger)
InterPersonal skills (Dale Carnegie)
Philosophy (Swami Vivekanada)
Psychology (Carl Gustav Jung, Maria Montessori)
Problem Solving (George Polya)