Books for/about - college

Publisher: Brooks Cole
Authors: Raymond A. Serway Jerry S. Faughn Chris Vuille Charles A. Bennett

ISBN: 0534997236
List Price: $151.95
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Avg Cusomer Rating: 4
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Summary: A good, sound text for a college physcis course
I've been teaching from this text (ed 7) for a year now. (We changed from the Cutnell text.) We use it in a two (2) semester (15 weeks each) course in "general physics." The text is much better than many of the reviewers suggest. It is a college level text - which means you should have some previous experience with physics (high school or fundamental ?) and you must have the math background - trigonometry and college algebra (through exponentials, logarithms and analytic geometry). The topics are presented and organized well, and the examples and problems complement the content. The conceptual questions are, for the most part, easy and very direct. While some problems are difficult, (most color coded blue and red), others play from the numerous, contemporary and historical examples. Photos and diagrams are well done with portraits of historical figures included. There are many biological applications and each chapter ends with a summary of equations, units and important concepts. The modern physics chapters are particularly interesting - relativity, atomic and nuclear physics. (If too much time is spent in the early chapters, you'll miss this in the last five.) No complaints about the text, like some mentioned here, were received from students on my reviews. (About half my students did ask frequent questions about solving problems in my discussion sessions, as expected, but about half required little or no help at all.)

Summary: Just because the material is hard doesn't mean the book deserves 1 star!
I am a student who has now been using this book for a semester. The book covers a wide range of topics, moves very quickly, and is by no means simple! Most of the bad reviews are by people who are not able to understand the book because i) the concepts are really complex or ii) they are not supplemented by classroom help. By no means is this book great, but considering how terrible some other physics books are, the new edition of this book tackles complexities in a fairly readable manner.

Summary: Horrible!!
This is honestly one of the most poorly written texts I have ever come across. I normally don't criticize textbooks because I'm quite a good learner, however this book really is just absolutely awful and completely useless. In fact, I've had to get 2 extra books to supplement this garbage just to clarify what the book says. It's really quite confusing, the explanations are far too short(or non-existant!) and the chapters just confuse you more than you already were. It provides about 2 small paragraphs of explanations, with one solved easy problem, then bombards you with 50 hard problems to do. I guess you're supposed to have spontaneously learned to solve them from somewhere else!

If I could give this book a zero or negative rating, I would.

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Why Didn't I Learn This in College?

Publisher: Just Ask Publications
Authors: Paula Rutherford

ISBN: 0966333616
List Price: $29.95
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Avg Cusomer Rating: 5
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Summary: Hidden Gem!
I happened to find this book while browsing the teaching section. It has truly been a great resource that every (new) teacher should have. Unlike most of our teacher ed. programs, this book gives practical information about how to run a classroom. You won't regret buying this book, it is a wonderful resource!

Summary: A great resource for any teacher!
My school district gave every new teacher a copy of this book. The new teacher that I am mentoring shared it with me. After reading through it I was excited to find a book that focuses on instruction instead of some silver-bullet discipline plan. The instructional strategies are written clearly and consisely. Both of us bring our copies of Why Didn't I Learn This in College? and use them as we plan our units and lessons every Monday for the following week. I highly recommend this book to any teacher.

Summary: An ESSENTIAL for All Educators!
Practical, positive, and pure Paula! WHY DIDN'T I LEARN THIS IS COLLEGE? is an ESSENTIAL professional resource for educators at all levels of experience! Paula Rutherford applies her 30 years of teaching and educational leadership to create this book of research-based teaching tips and user-friendly tools that will help increase student achievement in our classrooms. She offers a logical framework for creating learning-centered environments, planning "with the 'end' in mind", and organizing learners and professional tasks for positive results for students, parents, and teachers.

As a veteran teacher and coach for novice teachers, I use this resource as my NUMBER ONE traveling companion and "virtual" collaborator. Paula's pro-active and positive voice resonates through its pages as my teachers and I use this information to bring all students quality instructional programs and opportunities for maximum learning. Thank you, Paula, for being my constant "ride-along" learning buddy!

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	Examkrackers 101 Passages in MCAT Verbal Reasoning (Examkrackers) Publisher: Osote Publishing Authors: David Orsay
ISBN: 1893858243 List Price: $39.95 Amazon Price: $25.17 Usually ships in 24 hours Buy this book from amazon.com or from amazon.co.uk	Avg Cusomer Rating: 5 Reviews: Summary: Verbal Reasoning is not easy, GET THIS!! As hard as you'll work on preparation for this exam- your preparation for the Verbal Reasoning section will be the most important. Most people complain about this section. I was included, until I took studying for it head on. I needed all the practice I could get and this book gave me 2 passages a day for 50 days. I timed myself (18 min total, 9 minutes a passage for the two) and corrected it that day. It increased my speed and ability. The guys that write these Exam Krackers books only want you to do well. I can tell after working on this stuff for five months straight that is the case. -Matthew Wolak Summary: Not the real thing, but about as best as anyone could make it Having taken the real MCAT in 2003, and also AAMC practice tests 3-6, I would say that Examkrackers 101 passages doesn't quite hit the center of the target in terms of actual emulation of the real MCAT. However, it may just be a psychological bias of mine, knowing that it isn't written by AAMC. The passages seem to be just about as difficult, and the questions are written well. The aspect that seems to be just a tad off is the passage topics (I felt the AAMC passages were of a higher quality writing). I give it 4 stars because it is in my opinion 100% beneficial to use this book if you want to practice verbal. I'm definitely able to approach the real MCAT more confidently knowing that I've practiced Examkrackers passages. Summary: Do not agree with the answers There are answers in the book that does not make any sense at all, especially towards the end of the book. Some of the wrong answers are obviously right, and I asked two of my friends who are also studying for the tests, and they both agree with me that the answers are a little "fishy". Furthermore, the author does not explain why the answer is the way it is. It just says "WRONG, this is clearly not implied in the passage" without any further explanation. Instead, it should tells us how to answer the question, strategies, what to look for, if we get it wrong / right, rather than merely explain with "CORRECT, this is implied in the passage." But then this is the only book that has enough practice tests, and I have seen even worse verbal practice exam book out there. I however like the examcraker books for the science section. Summary:

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Financial Management: Theory and Practice with Thomson ONE (Harcourt College Publishers Series in Finance)

Publisher: South-Western College Pub
Authors: Eugene F. Brigham Michael C. Ehrhardt

ISBN: 0324259689
List Price: $152.95
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Avg Cusomer Rating: 5
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Summary: good enough for undergrads + serious MBAs
Terrific intro-level book to corporate finance -- those thinking the book is too basic could not be more wrong: top MBA programs around the country are adopting this book back into their cirricula.

Summary: Great Finance Book
Very well written and organized book on Basic and Advanced Finance Topics. Lots of Problems, cases, Web Material on each chapter. Each chapter starts with basics of the concept and each section has Self Test questions to see how much has been grasped so far. This feature enables reader to make sure whether the topic is comprehended or not.

Summary: A good book for Finance class
This was the text book for my Finance class in MBA program. Even though Finance is not my favorite subject, I actually enjoyed reading this book. Financial concepts are explained clearly, and the attched Excel spreadsheets help a lot in understanding calculation of finncial numbers.

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MCAT Complete Study Package, Sixth Edition (Exam Krackers) (Exam Krackers)

Publisher: Osote Publishing
Authors: Jonathan Orsay

ISBN: 1893858421
List Price: $174.95
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Avg Cusomer Rating: 5
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Summary: Solid foundation for the MCAT
Ek bio - this is the STUFF!! I pwned the BS MCAT by reading this book 3 times and difficult topics 2-3 more times. Was able to teach myself microbiology and human physiology with this book. you don't need advance classes like genetics, cell bio, physiology, microbiology, biochemistry etc.

EK Orgo- Very condensed. Excellent chapter on experiments. Very solid review book but Bio book is still tops. note cards tear out of book that's on heavy stock of paper. memorize those. I needed to use a chart from my Pavia Ochem lab manual to figure out solubilities. Solubility Test is CRUCIAL for MCAT passages.

EK Chemistry - Good book. Wish it had more examples in the Acid/base chemistry. Electrochem chapter probably needs a small amount of further explanation. Everything else is solid. Supplemented with textbook and kaplan comprehensive review(for more examples of problems). One caveat: I took general chem well over 10+ years ago.

EK Physics - Good book. E&M chapters needs more work. The Thermo chapter is actually very good. Thermo is just a tough topic. Should have an example on incline planes explained in the readings before heading into problems. The Optics chapter is actually very good if you spend some time on it. This is a solid book but I had to supplement 2 chapters with a physics text book and kaplan comprehensive review(for more examples of problems). One caveat: I took physics well over 10+ years ago.

The end of chapter topic questions in EK PS/BS are right on par with the MCAT. I redid these with each reading and can say they are challenging so that you are not going to simply memorize the answers. You really need to activate the thought process. the 30 minute exams are great as well. Don't do the 30 minute exams until you feel comfortable with the material.

If I took Chemistry and Physics within the last 2 years like I did with orgo and bio I'm sure I would not need to supplement with textbooks. When I took the exam I only completed basic sciences so need for upper division science classes. Get the AAMC MCAT Topic list then be sure to buy AAMC exams and EK Verbal 101. With each passing week concentrate on your weaknesses and cut back on topics you have mastered. August 2005 MCAT score: 10P 10V 12B

Summary: Manageable study program
After being away from college for 10 years, I have found the MCAT review very comprehensive and manageable. The subjects are divided into separate books, which makes them very portable. The diagrams are fantastic, and the authors' sidenotes clarify what you need to know outright versus what's background info. If you need further help, there are Examcrackers resources for that too, such as flashcards and extra questions for each subject, so you don't have to pay for what you don't need. It is somewhat tailored for those with strong science skills, and weak verbal--the Verbal Reasoning book really walks you through the basics. Since that is my strong suit, I don't need my hand held for that, while I do for Physics, so I guess my only complaint would be that they assume you're a science wizard and verbal dummy, so those of us with the opposite skills don't get the same benefit of that stereotype. I know, probably most medical students fit that mold, but that doesn't mean those of us who have to work a tad harder don't belong in the profession--once you know it, you know it. There's room for all types, as well as a need! Good program overall, I'm very pleased, and would recommend to anyone.

Summary: Exceptional Book and a lot of material
This book is worth the price! It gives you a lot of material to work with. I studied these the second time I took the MCAT for a period of 4-5 weeks. After which I took my old Princeton exams, I aced them without even touching my old Princeton notes. While admissionsmystery .com book is great/insightful for AMCAS application strategy, I think these set of books are great for the MCAT.

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	LSAT Logical Reasoning Bible: Powerscore Test Preparation--A Comprehensive System for Attacking the Logical Reasoning Section of the LSAT Publisher: PowerScore Authors: David M. Killoran
ISBN: 0972129618 List Price: $64.99 Amazon Price: $64.99 Usually ships in 24 hours Buy this book from amazon.com or from amazon.co.uk	Avg Cusomer Rating: 5 Reviews: Summary: Great LSAT Prep This book seperates all LSAT Logical Reasoning Questions into 18 different types. They tell you what the question stem for each type looks like so you can identify it quickly and effectively use their Powerscore strategy. The book also uses REAL LSAT questions, which most other test-prep books does (which accounts for the high price - just a tidbit of advice, buy it well in advance of the October LSAT, the prices increases about 15 dollars in July). I'm a pretty organized person, so the divide-and-conquer method worked for me beautifully. It also helped me grasp some formal logic strategies for the LSAT, especially helpful since i never took formal logic before. This is the most comphrensive and helpful book out there about Logical Reasoning which is 50% your score on the LSAT, so there's no foolin' around here. Summary: Buy it Now There is nothing better on the market in terms of breaking down each question type in the logical reasoning sections. Not only does the author identify typical correct anwers types but also walks you through incorrect answer types. The author arms you with question specific strategies that both enhance your speed and accuracy. (My score jumped from the high 150's to consistently scoring in the high 160's.) Give yourself plenty of time to carefully go through this book and you won't regret it. Summary: LOOKING FOR SOMEWHERE TO START! I BEGAN STUDYING FOR THE LSAT AND WAS REALLY CONFUSED BY THE LOGICAL REASONING SECTION. I WAS THINKING I AM A VERY BRIGHT PERSON AND I DO PRETTY WELL ON MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST, BUT THE LSAT WAS ANOTHER THING. I WAS CONFUSED. I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE QUESTIONS AND I JUST WANTED TO GIVE UP. I READ SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE POWERSCORE BOOKS AND I DECIDED TO PURCHASE. I AM GLAD I DID. THIS BOOK HAS HELPED ME TO UNDERSTAND AND SEE THE COMMON MISTAKES I WAS MAKING AND LEARNED FROM THEM. I HIGHLY SUGGEST YOU PURCHASE THIS BOOK. Summary:

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The Official SAT Study Guide

Publisher: College Board
Authors: The College Board

ISBN: 0874477182
List Price: $19.95
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Avg Cusomer Rating: 4
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Summary: The standard for SAT prep, but not without its flaws
The following is an abridged version of a review found on CEEAE dot org:

The Official SAT Study Guide is the standard for SAT preparation. This book is written by the College Board and ETS, the companies that administer and author the SAT. So the problems found in this book are as close to real questions as we have right now. The Official SAT Study Guide is the follow-up to "10 Real SATs". "10 Real SATs" was the standard for preparation for the old SAT. Now with the New SAT, College Board released a new book, The Official SAT Study Guide.

The Official SAT Study Guide consists of two main parts. The first 300 pages consist of introductions to the test, sections and question types as well as some test-taking hints (the hints should not be confused with strategies, since they are so basic in nature). This part of The Official SAT Study Guide is largely useless. It may serve as a good introduction to the SAT, but it falls far short of providing any real strategies.

The second half of the book is where the Gold lies: 8 full-length exams. Each exam closely mirrors real SAT exams and even has an accurate answer sheet to bubble in the answers. Students have almost universally praised these exams as the most accurate to the real SAT. Also, all 8 of the full exams are in the book, not on some superfluous CD as in many other books.

This book, however, is not without its flaws. We will only list one of the major flaws here, but if you would like to see the full list please venture over to CEEAE dot org. The most significant flaw in The Official SAT Study Guide is that there are no explanations provided to any of the exams. We were surprised by this since so many students, tutors and counselors complained about the lack of explanations in "10 Real SATs". We just figured that the College Board would have included explanations in their most recent release, but unfortunately they have yet to do so. Perhaps the next edition will be accompanied by explanations.

Note: This book as well as more than 20 other SAT prep books are reviewed and ranked on CEEAE dot org. Every book review has a direct link to its amazon page, so you can read the reviews, view the rankings and then return to amazon to purchase your selections.

Summary: Preparing Students for the SAT
The real deal! One can't do better than have actual tests from the test-makers! This text includes ample preliminarly explanation of test questions and reference material (first half of book) before launching into a substantial series of practice tests. I find it ideal for classroom use.

Summary: The Only Useful Things In This Book Are The Practice Questions
I bought this book and was greatly disappointed. The test-taking strategies in this book are only good enough to score an average score (1500-1600 out of 2400). Some of the tips are things that you've heard a thousand times before for not only the SAT but other standardized tests: "Eat a good breakfast the day of the test," "Get a good night's sleep," "Use process of elimination if you don't know the answer," "Answer the easiest questions first." If you're looking to score above a 2000 I would highly recommend only using the practice tests in this book and using another better book like the Princeton one to actually learn how to significantly improve your score.

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College Algebra, Third Edition

Publisher: Prentice Hall
Authors: Robert F. Blitzer

ISBN: 0131013653
List Price: $116.00
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Avg Cusomer Rating: 2
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Summary: Examples and problems constructed by inexperienced students
I have a master's degree in Electrical Engineering. I tutor students who are using this book in a community college course. In layout and in format, the book is very good. The concepts are presented in logical order, and the principles are usually explained well.
My problem is that the examples and the end-of-chapter problems are full of errors. Example: Section P.6, "Rational Expressions" presents several examples to define the domain of an expression. Most of these conclude with the incorrect domain. This kind of sloppy editing can leave the student totally confused about a concept that is all-important to understand later concepts, such as systems of equations and series summations.
I fully believe that the author left the basic book construction in the hands of inexperienced students. Its too bad that he did not bother with some double-checking of the work.

Summary: Precalculus Only
You are looking for a college algebra book for self-study, review or as a supplement to an assigned book, I presume, and not to buy 50 for a college classroom.

So, some math teachers say that algebra is in fact boring, and has almost no use except as preparation for higher levels of math beginning with calculus. With that in mind, it would seem this book is entirely too long. A good precalculus text of less than 250 pages ought to be sufficient.

For example, "Precalculus in a Nutshell," with a 128 pages, may be a bit short for a college class, but the author Simmons opines it has all one needs to know of alegebra, geometry, and trigonometry to proceed to calculus.

From my review of math books, a book from the 1980's or early 1990's would provide more direct, harder-hitting, more meat and less mamby pamby, hand-holding, baby-rattler attention-getting that seems to be the style for modern textbooks addressing the need of those addicted to the phantasmorgia of MTV.

It is almost dizzying to look at new textbooks with the multiple fonts and colors and pictures and thought-interrupting lead-ins, lesson objectives, short paragraphs, one concept every ten pages, etc. Whew! Turn off the music, already! Just give me the facts, please. I can handle it.

Nothing makes an esoteric, rigorous subject exciting. You've got to roll up the sleeves of your brain, and start sweating away darkness. As the Marines might say, "tedium is ignorance leaving the body."

Reviewing textbooks from the 1940's will give you example of how austere textbooks used to be, but that is the other extreme for young students who were then not so preoccupied.

Buy an older, cheaper used book, and save your money for a graphing calculator.

Finally, one can determine exactly what is needed in college algebra by looking at the early sections of review in the latest calculus textbook.

Summary: Great, but Packaging needs improvement!
I am very pleased with the process. The book that I ordered was correct and sent promptly. The only problem I had was with the packaging. It came wrapped in plastic ONLY! That caused the book to get damaged corners and dents.

Summary:

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