Comments for Effective Communications

Comment on Analog and Digital Communications (Schaum’s Outlines) Reviews by R. D. Starwalt

R. D. Starwalt — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:48:33 +0000

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

A good course supplement text., December 2, 2007

R. D. Starwalt (Anderson, SC USA) -

This review is from: Analog and Digital Communications (Schaum's Outlines) (Paperback)

A concise and useful analysis approach on the subject. It is intended for a junior or higher level college audience. I used this for more technical details while taking an engineering technology course on communications.

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Comment on Analog and Digital Communications (Schaum’s Outlines) Reviews by calvinnme

calvinnme — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:39:31 +0000

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

Broad overview of communications topics, May 23, 2006

calvinnme -

This review is from: Analog and Digital Communications (Schaum's Outlines) (Paperback)

This is an excellent supplement for upper level undergraduate electrical engineering students enrolled in a communications class, particularly if either "Modern Digital and Analog Communication Systems" by Lathi or "Communication Systems Engineering" by Proakis is being used as the main textbook. This outline follows along with the topics in those books particularly well. The first two chapters go into the basics of signals and systems and discuss linearity, time invariance, impulse response, and the Fourier and Hilbert transforms. The next two chapters discuss the principles of amplitude and frequency modulation. The next four chapters cover the idea of random processes from the standpoint of communication theory. First the concepts of probability and random variables are introduced. Then random processes themselves are outlined. Finally these concepts are applied in chapters on noise in communication and hypothesis testing. I think this section of the outline does a particularly good job of presenting material and worked problems on possibly one of the hardest topics to understand in electrical engineering undergraduate studies. The final two chapters of the outline cover the basics of information theory and error control coding.
The depth of material presented is not sufficient for self-study, but is very good supplemental material. The problems are excellent with many worked out examples, and there are more than enough illustrations and figures to help explain the subject. I highly recommend this outline.

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Comment on Analog and Digital Communications (Schaum’s Outlines) Reviews by W Boudville

W Boudville — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:26:52 +0000

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

many topics covered, February 28, 2005

W Boudville (Terra, Sol 3) -

This review is from: Analog and Digital Communications (Schaum's Outlines) (Paperback)

Hsu gives you a wide spread of topics. The book certainly has an impressive coverage. It talks about most types of digital modulation techniques, like Pulse Code Modulation. Plus, there is an explanation of random processes and simple probability. Necessary because of the inherent stochastic nature of much of communications. Which then leads directly into information theory, and the key Shannon concepts of how to find a quantitative measure of information in a channel with a given signal power and noise power.

Understand, though, that the very breadth of the discussion means that Hsu often only has time for a brief venture into each topic. But, then again, the book's title does say "Outline". This is really a review book, rather than a text from which to learn material for the first time.

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Comment on Laser Electronics (3rd Edition) Reviews by Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:05:42 +0000

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

Too complicated for entry level student, November 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Laser Electronics (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

This book is too hard for senior undergrad. student. It is better for advanced grad. student and sr. engineers.

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Comment on Laser Electronics (3rd Edition) Reviews by Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:05:33 +0000

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

laser electronics, February 6, 2009

nishant patel (Albuquerque, NM) -

This review is from: Laser Electronics (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

The book will work for the student who is sufficiently prepared in quantum mechanics and electromagnetism. If one were to learn laser physics without the background of these classes, then they would be doing themselves a great disservice.

The book covers lots of the "bare-bones" topics essential to understanding lasers. However, the book comes to a screeching halt when advanced derivations need to be completed, leaving it up to the reader to figure it out. The book does have extensive reference lists at the end of each chapter to supplement those deficiencies.

Unfortunately there will not be a future edition to this book. This book is probably the best fit for a senior undergraduate course and not a graduate course (Yariv is probably a better fit at this conjuncture). The senior undergraduate will have to work hard in order to get the most out of this book!

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Comment on Laser Electronics (3rd Edition) Reviews by nishant patel

nishant patel — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:48:56 +0000

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

Definately not an introductory laser book., October 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Laser Electronics (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

This book uses math extensively to describe lasers ( granted math IS necessary). The book assumes you have a very good background in the subject material already. Still, not a bad book to have on the shelf to look in if you have some need for a deeper look at lasers. This is a book for people already advanced in the their understanding of lasers who seek further advancement. This is not an introductory book.

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Comment on The Truth About the New Rules of Business Writing by L.C. Evans

L.C. Evans — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:43:50 +0000

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

Valuable Guide, February 4, 2010

L.C. Evans -

This review is from: The Truth About the New Rules of Business Writing (Paperback)

Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)

The authors practice what they preach in making every word count in this short guide. Chapters are brief and to the point with 52 truths or writing points laid out under 9 main parts. Bulleted items and headers in red or bold guide the eye to important elements in each chapter. I especially liked the before and after examples where the authors showed how to make writing that was okay or inappropriate into writing that was excellent. Everything in this valuable reference work is relevant in today's fast changing world of business and communication. Some of the topics covered are letters, emails, web content, grants, and reports and proposals. You can't get what you want if you can't communicate effectively and this book will go a long way toward showing you what you need to make your case.

Authors Natalie Canavor and Claire Meirowitz communicate their message in an easy to read style with the material so well organized that readers will easily find what they need, whether it's the right approach for a request to a supervisor or the best way to interview someone.

This is a great reference guide for anyone who works in the business world.

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Comment on The Truth About the New Rules of Business Writing by 35-year Technology Consumer "8-tracks to 802.11"

35-year Technology Consumer "8-tracks to 802.11" — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:33:11 +0000

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

Lots of choices in this field of writing: choosing this one is flat out smart!, February 2, 2010

35-year Technology Consumer "8-tracks to 802.11" (Mid Atlantic, USA) -

This review is from: The Truth About the New Rules of Business Writing (Paperback)

Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)

This compact volume offers plenty to differentiate itself from the scores of other similar offerings promising an express ride to clear business writing. Natalie Canavor and Claire Meirowitz take on the complex world of Information Age business writing, and break it down into 52 manageable, readable chunks of theory and practice. They address both modern options (email, blogs and web writing and the ubiquitous challenges of PowerPoint) and "legacy" modes.

You've heard much of this before, and they don't break what I would consider any significant new ground. But their message bears listening to again:
Consider your audience. Re-write. Edit mercilessly. Be direct. Be concise. Have a plan. Their packaging is relatively painless for content that many people may want to run and hide from. While dividing the content into 52 sections may suggest chewing in weekly bites...don't wait. Their ideas are well organized, illustrated with realistic examples, and can help even the hopelessly verbose and disorganized get a handle on their most important professional communication tasks.

The book invites registration at a companion Financial Times press web site. In return for your personal information, you get access to three .pdf files (guides to style sheet creation, document design references and an online resource guide). Overall, I would have preferred that these simply be included in the book. You'll also be offered a 35% discount...on the book you already own.

Go to the business writing section of a large brick and mortar store, or browse amazon's offerings. The choices are dizzying. Choosing this one can help cut through some of that confusion. If you are competing with your peers for scarce fiscal or personnel resources in the workplace, remember this. Among equally qualified, reasonably competent professionals, the edge in the battle for resources often goes to the better communicator. This book can help you gain that edge.

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Comment on The Truth About the New Rules of Business Writing by Bryan Newman "alaskanoutfitting.com"

Bryan Newman "alaskanoutfitting.com" — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:30:16 +0000

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

This Book is Universally Useful Right from Chapter One, January 26, 2010

Bryan Newman "alaskanoutfitting.com" (St Paul, MN) -

This review is from: The Truth About the New Rules of Business Writing (Paperback)

Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)

I got this book hoping to get some tips on writing for the Web and self-marketing but I got far more than I was hoping for. When I got this book I found myself reading through the first 6 or 7 chapters (or writing "Truths" as the authors call chapters) without intending to.

It says something when you pick up a book to flip through, and find yourself drawn, page by page, through the first 6 chapters. But it says even more when find yourself using the suggestions literally an hour after reading them. After I was forced to put the book down and go to work, I found myself recalling two very specific rules when writing emails. The first was to "Cut to the chase" and put the bottom line at the top, which is brilliant since it put what people needed to know on line one. It was un-missable.

I was impressed how quickly these "Truths" came back to me. The authors laid out 52 "Truths" in a concise and digestible format. Many are themed on very basic ideas, which unfortunately are often forgotten. For an example in the first 6 chapters there is a focus on setting goals for your writing and keeping your audience in mind. These are pretty basic writing rules, but again, often forgotten. However, the authors go further and tailor "Truths" to day-to-day business writing. Again, I lifted a "Truth" right from the book by wording an email to my boss' viewpoint, showing how a change we wanted to make helps the whole department. It garnered a compliment and acceptance from our boss, just by keeping the focus on how he sees our workflow.

OK, so an hour of reading and same day application. Can't beat that. I'm now on to day two and I have started Cherry-picking chapters. I have read the chapters on Web content and I see that I really need to rework a lot of the content on my site. Usually I wait until I finish a book before writing a review for it, but the jury is in for this one. If you do any type of writing for work or pleasure you should get this book. You can read it like a daily devotional and revolutionize your writing just by getting basic guidelines in your head each day. I'm sure this will become a reference for me.

This book has actually gotten me excited about writing. Before starting this review, I read the "Truth" on Jargon and Passive, then rewrote the paragraphs on my home page, and it is night and day. Add to that the "Truth" of less is more and a half dozen other ideas the book gave me and my copy is 100 times better.

Alright, I'll stop gushing now. But seriously, if you haven't thought about your writing process in a long time, get this book. It is not a grammar primer, it's an effective guide to everyday writing.

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Comment on Media Economics: Theory and Practice (Routledge Communication Series) Reviews by JC

JC — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 03:54:21 +0000

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

Terrible, January 5, 2009

JC (San Francisco, CA) -

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This review is from: Media Economics: Theory and Practice (Routledge Communication Series) (Paperback)

Unbelievably dry and boring. Absolutely zero effort to make the experience even the least bit entertaining. The author goes to great lengths to make each sentence as wordy as possible (seemingly from an internal self-esteem issue that requires one to be as verbose as possible), as if vocabulary will cover up a lack of ability to convey a clear thought.

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