By Penguin Books Ltd

Essential, 2008-03-11
This, in my opinion, is essential for any student of architecture or related disciplines. The list of terms (and accompanying explanations) is almost endless. I'd say this book is a bout as good as Google, better in many ways, all information you can trust. Never again will you be baffled when a client orders somethign you've never heard of or your boss asks for a drawing of something you don't know. Keep this on you at all times. Very good book indeed.

Author: Duncan Marshall, Derek Worthing
By Estates Gazette

If you're buying a house, buy this first, 2006-04-07
If you're buying a house, building one, or simply don't know your pargetting from your parapets, then this book is for you. It's thin enough that you can read it, yet the large format allows for several line drawings on every page. Reading this book taught me more than any other pile of textbooks about how houses were put together, how they fall apart and how to put them back again. It's a paragon of clear and legible writing and the scope covers all those types of building work that you're likely to encounter in UK domestic housing; from early-Victoriana to modern insulation systems. No longer need you be baffled by batts or fail to understand a U value. Highly recommended, and the best bargain anyone buying a house more than 10 years old could find.

By OUP Oxford

Very informative book, 2007-08-08
This book is used as a study material at the Open University in Energy for a sustainable future course (T206).

The boook won't tell you how to fit a solar panel or a wind turbine on your roof nor how to connect your panels to the battery but it will tell you about various renewable energy sources and its pros and cons. The book looks at the energy needs on local, national and international scale, not on individuals scale. Each chapter also has a large list of references for further information.

There is a lot of calculations present so, you'll be able for example to calculate the area of solar panels required for your needs or prove that off shore wind turbines generate more electricity than on shore ones.

I really enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in renewable energy.

Author: Ray Tricker
By Butterworth Heinemann

WORTHWHILE, 2007-09-18
Even though an 825 page book could hardly be called "In Brief" it is a pleasant change to find an author who is able to write something about a very regulatory subject in such a readable manner. There have been many books written in the past about the English and Welsh Building Act and its associated Building Regulations, but many authors seem to completely miss the point and try to turn their books into their life's literary work and soapbox.

This fifth edition is a really worthwhile book and I have no hesitation in giving it a five star recommendation.

Author: John Reginald
By Copperjob Publishing

Great Reference, 2008-08-21
This is a great reference manual for both amateur or professional.

The book is easy to read and laid out nicely. The illustrations are graphically excellent and useful.

Central Heating Fault finding and repair, as the title suggests covers these key areas but also gives a great grounding on both central heating and plumbing systems in general.

Author: C.K. Prahalad, M.S. Krishnan
By McGraw-Hill Professional

How to prosper in the "N = 1 and R = G" world, 2008-05-02

I have read and then reviewed all of C.K. Prahalad's previous books and thus was especially interested in reading this book, co-authored with M.S. Krishnan. As they explain in the Introduction, "We view innovation as shaping consumer expectations as well as responding continually to the changing demands, behaviors, and experiences pf consumers. We must do this by accessing the best talent and resources available anywhere in the world. These two ideas must be connected - the resources of many to satisfy the needs of one.. We suggest that this is possible only if we pay attention to the glue that enables ideas to be transformed into operations. We will focus on the business processes and analytics as the glue."

Prahalad and Krishnan acknowledge that there is a fundamental transformation now underway, worldwide, that will radically alter the very nature of an enterprise and how it creates value. This foundation of this transformation has two basic pillars:

1. "Value is based on unique, personalized experiences of consumers. [begin italics] The focus is on the centrality of the individual. [end italics] We will designate this pillar as N = 1 (one consumer at a time.)"

"2. No firm is big enough in scope and size to satisfy the experiences of one consumer at a time. [begin italics] The focus is on access to resources, not ownership of resources. [end italics] We will designate this [pillar as R = G (resources from multiple vendors and often from around the globe)."

There are several key elements of this transformation. Prahalad and Krishnan focus on five: Value is shifting from products to solutions to experience; all companies seek access to the talent, components, products, and services they need from the best sources; flexible systems are a prerequisite and must be developed; resources in a company's ecosystem must be continually configured; and finally, specific models must be developed that enable a company to focus on one consumer from among the millions. These are indeed formidable challenges. Prahalad and Krishnan suggest a number of strategies and tactics to consider when responding to them. When proceeding through the rigorously and eloquent narrative of this book, it is imperative to keep in mind that their ultimate objective is to help companies to prosper in this "N = 1 and R = G" world. To that end, they share the most important business lessons learned from a number of exemplary companies that include Amazon.com, Apple Computer, eBay, Google, ICIC Bank, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Unilever, and United Parcel Service (UPS).

To me, some of the most valuable material is provided in Chapter 5 (Pages 109-145) as Prahalad and Krishnan discuss the requirements of an information and communication technology (ICT) architecture and the governance mechanisms that can connect business processes and analytics to data and applications. In one of several graphics, Table 4.1 (Pages 124-126), they summarize the specificati9ons of the new ICT architecture in terms of four categories (i.e. "buckets"): Confronting Reality (e.g. capacity to link large systems and multiple databases), Compliance and Change (e.g. regulatory compliance and change), Evolving Capabilities (e.g. Security and privacy of data), and Enabling Foundations (e.g. from transaction-driven to event-driven systems).

Given the fundamental shift in the focus, the sources, and the processes of innovation and value creation, what do suggest for an agenda for managers to consider? They respond to that question in the final chapter. Specifically, they invoke a metaphor --- The New House of innovation - whose design and construction must be viewed as an "integrated package" in terms of its architecture, construction materials, and subsequent maintenance. The organizational transformation process must also be comprehensive and cohesive during a transition period (i.e. a "migration") of management practices to develop new skills, attitudes, and behaviors. It remains for decision-makers in each organization to design and then build its own new house pf innovation. Fortunately, they can use the information and counsel that C.K. Prahalad and M.S. Krishnan provide to guide and inform those initiatives.

Those who share my high regard for this brilliant volume are urged to check out Competing in a Flat World: Building Enterprises for a Borderless World co-authored by Victor Fung, William Fung, and Yoram (Jerry) Wind as well as Competing on Analytics: The New Science of Winning co-authored by Thomas Davenport and Jeanne Harris. Also Enterprise Architecture as Strategy: Creating a Foundation for Business Execution co-authored by Jeanne Ross, Peter Weill and David Robertson and Dean Spitzer's Transforming Performance Measurement: Rethinking the Way We Measure and Drive Organizational Success.

Author: Paul Cook
By Institution of Engineering and Technology

Book Readership Written by experts who are closely involved in preparing the IEE Wiring Regulations (BS 7671) Seventeenth Edition, this book is designed for candidates of the City & Guilds Level 3 Certificate in the Requirements for Electrical Installations 16th to 17th Edition Update BS 7671: 2008 (2382-20). Book Contents The 2382-20 exam is for those candidates who already hold their 2381 Certificate and who need to become conversant with the changes and new material in the seventeenth edition of the Wiring Regulations. This highly accessible book includes two practice exam papers that mirror the online exam in style and content. These are followed by answers and references to the relevant sections of the Wiring Regulations. Screen shots, clear explanations of online features, exam advice, tips and FAQs make this an invaluable resource for all candidates. Exam Success IEE Wiring Regulations 2382-20: * Reinforces learning and understanding of course content. * Gives learners focused exam practice. * Answers candidates most frequently asked questions. * Offers practical advice and expert tips on sitting the exam. * Follows the exam structure. * Covers ...
Excellent preparation, 2008-08-10
This book proved to be an excellent pre-curser to taking the exam.
The questions/exams in the book help you find your way around BS7671, and are more challenging than the actual 2382-20 exam. If you don't use BS7671 regularly then this will help.

Author: John Coutts
By WileyBlackwell

Finally a 'proper' loft conversion book!, 2006-10-05
If you want to employ an architect and a builder to convert your loft, this book is overkill. However, if you want detailed construction information, planning details and building regs information then this is the book for you.
Everything is laid out brilliantly with chapters on planning, building regs, floors, walls and roof.
If you want to do your own loft conversion - BUY THIS BOOK!

Author: Barbara Jones
By Green Books

Can't do without, 2006-03-25
This book is concise, spot on and a must for every straw house builder. All the fundamentals are covered and while other books may be ten times the size they rarely will give you really more information. What I would like to see is a bit more about statics e.g. how much can a wall, a frame, a truss or a piece of timber hold.

Author: Dan Brown
By New Riders

This book is a treasure map to the promised land of articulating design, 2007-11-13
This book was recommended by a collegue who performs most of our site IA. The book made working together in the short term so much easier! Specifically it gave me some confidence with Site Maps and Content Inventory which helped me communicate much more effectively as a project manager!

In the long term the book has helped me create effective and durable Personas, which also are helping us design much ore quickly and target and prioritise our site changes.