Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a perennial favourite with children and adults alike. Its imaginative illustration and clever cut-out detail charts the progress of a very hungry caterpillar as he eats his way through the week.

This board book edition of what is surely a classic picture book is glossy, sturdy and ideal for curious little hands to get to grips with. (Ages 9 months to 2 years)--Susan Harrison

A Classic, 12 Oct 2008
Not only is this book fun for young hands, as it's perfectly sized and sturdy, it is also educational. Neither the young boy I got this for or his older brother would put this down for days. It went in the car, to nursery and even to bed

Yum!, 16 Sep 2008
An infamous short tale of the caterpillar that munches its way through the edible obstacles on each page, until it becomes a butterfly. Arguably the most famous of the Eric Carle short stories, The Hungry Caterpillar symbolises the journeys things take in the world in order to accomplish something great. Themes in this book include the virtue of patience and the fact that things can sometimes take a surprising turn.

`The Hungry Caterpillar' shows all the great hallmarks of a young children's book, in that it easily lends itself to the curriculum and is as simple as it is equally open to in-depth interpretation. Possibilities of further learning include additional studies of phonics, links with food technology (fruits and their properties) and Art lessons, which could include the replication of the story by building giant cardboard fruits and a willing pupil dressing up as the wriggly main character!

Thanks to its content, messages and style, this book is useful for readers from Reception to low attainment Year 2.

A true classic!, 14 Sep 2008
I was so happy when a friend gave me this when my now 13 month old was born, it reminded me so much of my childhood. I was even happier once he was big enough to start turning it's pages and poking his fingers in the holes and listening intently (well, not always!!) as I counted each different bit of food. He plays with it all the time and it is so hardwearing and virtually indestructible (unlike some other books I have purchsed!).

It's so amazing that a book I adored as a child, which I then read to my younger sister (well, more knowing it off by heart as I couldn't even read then!!) is now being adored by my son.

It's wonderful to know that there are still some sacred things left that haven't been replaced by a flashier, more plasticky version.

This is a definite must-buy for all little kids (and big kids too!).

Keeps them occupied, 15 Aug 2008
The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a great little book. It keeps my daughter occupied for hours on end. Just a quick flick through it is enough to convince any adult that a small child will like it. Simplistic, enjoyable and charming. And actually quite funny.
Well recommended for very small kids.

Little ones just love it!, 07 Jul 2008
I remembered this book from when I was young so I decided to buy the board book version for my toddler daughter.
The smaller board book fits comfortably in her little hands and she adores paging through it, watching all that the little caterpillar eats (even the sad caterpillar face with a stomachache makes me smile)
My daughter reads it over and over again. It's a classic and a firm favorite in our home.

A Classic, 12 Oct 2008
Not only is this book fun for young hands, as it's perfectly sized and sturdy, it is also educational. Neither the young boy I got this for or his older brother would put this down for days. It went in the car, to nursery and even to bed

Yum!, 16 Sep 2008
An infamous short tale of the caterpillar that munches its way through the edible obstacles on each page, until it becomes a butterfly. Arguably the most famous of the Eric Carle short stories, The Hungry Caterpillar symbolises the journeys things take in the world in order to accomplish something great. Themes in this book include the virtue of patience and the fact that things can sometimes take a surprising turn.

`The Hungry Caterpillar' shows all the great hallmarks of a young children's book, in that it easily lends itself to the curriculum and is as simple as it is equally open to in-depth interpretation. Possibilities of further learning include additional studies of phonics, links with food technology (fruits and their properties) and Art lessons, which could include the replication of the story by building giant cardboard fruits and a willing pupil dressing up as the wriggly main character!

Thanks to its content, messages and style, this book is useful for readers from Reception to low attainment Year 2.

A true classic!, 14 Sep 2008
I was so happy when a friend gave me this when my now 13 month old was born, it reminded me so much of my childhood. I was even happier once he was big enough to start turning it's pages and poking his fingers in the holes and listening intently (well, not always!!) as I counted each different bit of food. He plays with it all the time and it is so hardwearing and virtually indestructible (unlike some other books I have purchsed!).

It's so amazing that a book I adored as a child, which I then read to my younger sister (well, more knowing it off by heart as I couldn't even read then!!) is now being adored by my son.

It's wonderful to know that there are still some sacred things left that haven't been replaced by a flashier, more plasticky version.

This is a definite must-buy for all little kids (and big kids too!).

Keeps them occupied, 15 Aug 2008
The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a great little book. It keeps my daughter occupied for hours on end. Just a quick flick through it is enough to convince any adult that a small child will like it. Simplistic, enjoyable and charming. And actually quite funny.
Well recommended for very small kids.

Little ones just love it!, 07 Jul 2008
I remembered this book from when I was young so I decided to buy the board book version for my toddler daughter.
The smaller board book fits comfortably in her little hands and she adores paging through it, watching all that the little caterpillar eats (even the sad caterpillar face with a stomachache makes me smile)
My daughter reads it over and over again. It's a classic and a firm favorite in our home.

alphabet, 18 May 2008
This is the book to buy on teaching this subject. It is clearly written, beautifully laid out and provides self assessment exercises to work through in order to clarify what has just been read. There are more provided on the cd rom at the back of the book too. If you are teaching this subject for the first time, moving up or down years or simply want to refresh your knowledge and rekindle your enthusiasm then this is the book for you.

A lifesaver, 13 Apr 2008
This book is a must for trainee teachers lacking confidence with their maths knowledge and teaching. The author empathises with the trepidation of maths, and offers clear and simple explanations. The chapters are clearly divided for when you need that quick knowledge top-up when lesson planning, and the self-test questions are a great confidence boost! The book also offers techniques that complement the new NNS teaching strategies (e.g. partitioning, multiplication grids etc).

compulsoray buy, 19 Aug 2007
A book from the reading list for Uni of Glosc. I great book! It has opened up my mind to the thinking of first time learners. It's simple and easy to understand with quick references and no jargon. Credit to Derek Haylock. I wish all other QTS books were like this one!

Superb!, 24 Nov 2006
After teaching primary maths for 14 years, and being the KS2 maths subject leader for 13 of those, I have no hesitation in rating this easily the best book I have ever read on the subject. Forget all those expensive courses, and trying to negotiate the endless tweaking of the NNS, save money by using this book to deliver a series of INSETs. Unbeatable value!

Simply Fabulous!!, 04 Oct 2006
When I was told at the start of my teacher training course that I would need to buy this maths text book, I let out a big groan. I remembered all of those maths textbooks from when I was actually AT school and remembered how utterly boring they were. But since working through this book and completeing the end of chapter self-assessment questions, my confidence in maths has soared! A must have for teachers-to-be, especially those who are a bit shakey on their maths knowledge!

A Classic, 12 Oct 2008
Not only is this book fun for young hands, as it's perfectly sized and sturdy, it is also educational. Neither the young boy I got this for or his older brother would put this down for days. It went in the car, to nursery and even to bed

Yum!, 16 Sep 2008
An infamous short tale of the caterpillar that munches its way through the edible obstacles on each page, until it becomes a butterfly. Arguably the most famous of the Eric Carle short stories, The Hungry Caterpillar symbolises the journeys things take in the world in order to accomplish something great. Themes in this book include the virtue of patience and the fact that things can sometimes take a surprising turn.

`The Hungry Caterpillar' shows all the great hallmarks of a young children's book, in that it easily lends itself to the curriculum and is as simple as it is equally open to in-depth interpretation. Possibilities of further learning include additional studies of phonics, links with food technology (fruits and their properties) and Art lessons, which could include the replication of the story by building giant cardboard fruits and a willing pupil dressing up as the wriggly main character!

Thanks to its content, messages and style, this book is useful for readers from Reception to low attainment Year 2.

A true classic!, 14 Sep 2008
I was so happy when a friend gave me this when my now 13 month old was born, it reminded me so much of my childhood. I was even happier once he was big enough to start turning it's pages and poking his fingers in the holes and listening intently (well, not always!!) as I counted each different bit of food. He plays with it all the time and it is so hardwearing and virtually indestructible (unlike some other books I have purchsed!).

It's so amazing that a book I adored as a child, which I then read to my younger sister (well, more knowing it off by heart as I couldn't even read then!!) is now being adored by my son.

It's wonderful to know that there are still some sacred things left that haven't been replaced by a flashier, more plasticky version.

This is a definite must-buy for all little kids (and big kids too!).

Keeps them occupied, 15 Aug 2008
The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a great little book. It keeps my daughter occupied for hours on end. Just a quick flick through it is enough to convince any adult that a small child will like it. Simplistic, enjoyable and charming. And actually quite funny.
Well recommended for very small kids.

Little ones just love it!, 07 Jul 2008
I remembered this book from when I was young so I decided to buy the board book version for my toddler daughter.
The smaller board book fits comfortably in her little hands and she adores paging through it, watching all that the little caterpillar eats (even the sad caterpillar face with a stomachache makes me smile)
My daughter reads it over and over again. It's a classic and a firm favorite in our home.

alphabet, 18 May 2008
This is the book to buy on teaching this subject. It is clearly written, beautifully laid out and provides self assessment exercises to work through in order to clarify what has just been read. There are more provided on the cd rom at the back of the book too. If you are teaching this subject for the first time, moving up or down years or simply want to refresh your knowledge and rekindle your enthusiasm then this is the book for you.

A lifesaver, 13 Apr 2008
This book is a must for trainee teachers lacking confidence with their maths knowledge and teaching. The author empathises with the trepidation of maths, and offers clear and simple explanations. The chapters are clearly divided for when you need that quick knowledge top-up when lesson planning, and the self-test questions are a great confidence boost! The book also offers techniques that complement the new NNS teaching strategies (e.g. partitioning, multiplication grids etc).

compulsoray buy, 19 Aug 2007
A book from the reading list for Uni of Glosc. I great book! It has opened up my mind to the thinking of first time learners. It's simple and easy to understand with quick references and no jargon. Credit to Derek Haylock. I wish all other QTS books were like this one!

Superb!, 24 Nov 2006
After teaching primary maths for 14 years, and being the KS2 maths subject leader for 13 of those, I have no hesitation in rating this easily the best book I have ever read on the subject. Forget all those expensive courses, and trying to negotiate the endless tweaking of the NNS, save money by using this book to deliver a series of INSETs. Unbeatable value!

Simply Fabulous!!, 04 Oct 2006
When I was told at the start of my teacher training course that I would need to buy this maths text book, I let out a big groan. I remembered all of those maths textbooks from when I was actually AT school and remembered how utterly boring they were. But since working through this book and completeing the end of chapter self-assessment questions, my confidence in maths has soared! A must have for teachers-to-be, especially those who are a bit shakey on their maths knowledge!

If you are a statistics-phobe...this is the book for you!, 26 Aug 2008
If you are needing to learn both SPSS and statistics at the same time and intimidated at all by the math, this is a great book to help take you through the quagmire of both the SPSS software, the principles of statistics and make sense of it all too! Andy Field has done an excellent job at taking much of the mystery out of how and why to use the various tests. The book is comprehensive but the analysis of my research and study is focussed primarily on correlation, t-tests and regression. There are chapters in the book I will probably never read as I cannot foresee ever needing to read them. But, the book is very useful for referencing particular areas and providing a tutorial as you are working.

I love the way Andy has created and inserted his characters throughout the book - as I can identify myself as a cross between Cramming Samantha and Brian Haemorrhage.

Because I found Andy's book and CD so useful, I have not done any comparisons with other books. So, far, it has provided everything I have needed.

If you thought statatistics is complicated, this is the book for you, 21 Jul 2008
I am a post doctoral civil engineering student. I have been struggling with advanced statistics for months...when the problem was I did not have a good grasp of basic concepts. This book solved it all in a matter of days.
After reading this book.. you will be able to understand all the other more "complicated book" that you need to use.
If what you are paying for is for someone to expain stat and SPSS to you, this is your book.
Galit

Excellent, 23 Jun 2008
This book was my saviour during my dissertation. A must for any psychology student about to tackle SPSS!

Makes statistics a bit more manageable, 21 Apr 2008
I did a research project in Psychology with only very basic knowledge of statistics. I always hated statistics and tried to avoid them as much as possible. I was recommended this book, and was so glad I bought it. The style is quite refreshing and engaging, filling you with confidence as you learn.

At times it is a bit over-detailed, and you have to sift through to get to what to what you need, however, this is a strength of the book. I've seen some other books which explain what you do, but not why. Leaarning how principles can be applied to various situations is far more beneficial, as it's rare that your data will be similar to the examples in a book. If you're willing to spend just a little bit of time with it, you will find that you have a good basic knowledge of statistics, able to tackle increasingly complex problems

A lifesaver, 11 Mar 2008
To my undying shame, despite more than a decade in market research and now holding the exalted title of Research Director, I'm still a bit hazy about statistics. This excellent book, of which I've bought two copies and recommended to many others, provides a clear and engaging description of both simple and complex statistical concepts. And it comes with a free CD! Unfortunately, it's of SPSS files rather than Andy Field's favourite music. This book has stopped me getting found out, and it might do the same for you.

A Classic, 12 Oct 2008
Not only is this book fun for young hands, as it's perfectly sized and sturdy, it is also educational. Neither the young boy I got this for or his older brother would put this down for days. It went in the car, to nursery and even to bed

Yum!, 16 Sep 2008
An infamous short tale of the caterpillar that munches its way through the edible obstacles on each page, until it becomes a butterfly. Arguably the most famous of the Eric Carle short stories, The Hungry Caterpillar symbolises the journeys things take in the world in order to accomplish something great. Themes in this book include the virtue of patience and the fact that things can sometimes take a surprising turn.

`The Hungry Caterpillar' shows all the great hallmarks of a young children's book, in that it easily lends itself to the curriculum and is as simple as it is equally open to in-depth interpretation. Possibilities of further learning include additional studies of phonics, links with food technology (fruits and their properties) and Art lessons, which could include the replication of the story by building giant cardboard fruits and a willing pupil dressing up as the wriggly main character!

Thanks to its content, messages and style, this book is useful for readers from Reception to low attainment Year 2.

A true classic!, 14 Sep 2008
I was so happy when a friend gave me this when my now 13 month old was born, it reminded me so much of my childhood. I was even happier once he was big enough to start turning it's pages and poking his fingers in the holes and listening intently (well, not always!!) as I counted each different bit of food. He plays with it all the time and it is so hardwearing and virtually indestructible (unlike some other books I have purchsed!).

It's so amazing that a book I adored as a child, which I then read to my younger sister (well, more knowing it off by heart as I couldn't even read then!!) is now being adored by my son.

It's wonderful to know that there are still some sacred things left that haven't been replaced by a flashier, more plasticky version.

This is a definite must-buy for all little kids (and big kids too!).

Keeps them occupied, 15 Aug 2008
The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a great little book. It keeps my daughter occupied for hours on end. Just a quick flick through it is enough to convince any adult that a small child will like it. Simplistic, enjoyable and charming. And actually quite funny.
Well recommended for very small kids.

Little ones just love it!, 07 Jul 2008
I remembered this book from when I was young so I decided to buy the board book version for my toddler daughter.
The smaller board book fits comfortably in her little hands and she adores paging through it, watching all that the little caterpillar eats (even the sad caterpillar face with a stomachache makes me smile)
My daughter reads it over and over again. It's a classic and a firm favorite in our home.

alphabet, 18 May 2008
This is the book to buy on teaching this subject. It is clearly written, beautifully laid out and provides self assessment exercises to work through in order to clarify what has just been read. There are more provided on the cd rom at the back of the book too. If you are teaching this subject for the first time, moving up or down years or simply want to refresh your knowledge and rekindle your enthusiasm then this is the book for you.

A lifesaver, 13 Apr 2008
This book is a must for trainee teachers lacking confidence with their maths knowledge and teaching. The author empathises with the trepidation of maths, and offers clear and simple explanations. The chapters are clearly divided for when you need that quick knowledge top-up when lesson planning, and the self-test questions are a great confidence boost! The book also offers techniques that complement the new NNS teaching strategies (e.g. partitioning, multiplication grids etc).

compulsoray buy, 19 Aug 2007
A book from the reading list for Uni of Glosc. I great book! It has opened up my mind to the thinking of first time learners. It's simple and easy to understand with quick references and no jargon. Credit to Derek Haylock. I wish all other QTS books were like this one!

Superb!, 24 Nov 2006
After teaching primary maths for 14 years, and being the KS2 maths subject leader for 13 of those, I have no hesitation in rating this easily the best book I have ever read on the subject. Forget all those expensive courses, and trying to negotiate the endless tweaking of the NNS, save money by using this book to deliver a series of INSETs. Unbeatable value!

Simply Fabulous!!, 04 Oct 2006
When I was told at the start of my teacher training course that I would need to buy this maths text book, I let out a big groan. I remembered all of those maths textbooks from when I was actually AT school and remembered how utterly boring they were. But since working through this book and completeing the end of chapter self-assessment questions, my confidence in maths has soared! A must have for teachers-to-be, especially those who are a bit shakey on their maths knowledge!

If you are a statistics-phobe...this is the book for you!, 26 Aug 2008
If you are needing to learn both SPSS and statistics at the same time and intimidated at all by the math, this is a great book to help take you through the quagmire of both the SPSS software, the principles of statistics and make sense of it all too! Andy Field has done an excellent job at taking much of the mystery out of how and why to use the various tests. The book is comprehensive but the analysis of my research and study is focussed primarily on correlation, t-tests and regression. There are chapters in the book I will probably never read as I cannot foresee ever needing to read them. But, the book is very useful for referencing particular areas and providing a tutorial as you are working.

I love the way Andy has created and inserted his characters throughout the book - as I can identify myself as a cross between Cramming Samantha and Brian Haemorrhage.

Because I found Andy's book and CD so useful, I have not done any comparisons with other books. So, far, it has provided everything I have needed.

If you thought statatistics is complicated, this is the book for you, 21 Jul 2008
I am a post doctoral civil engineering student. I have been struggling with advanced statistics for months...when the problem was I did not have a good grasp of basic concepts. This book solved it all in a matter of days.
After reading this book.. you will be able to understand all the other more "complicated book" that you need to use.
If what you are paying for is for someone to expain stat and SPSS to you, this is your book.
Galit

Excellent, 23 Jun 2008
This book was my saviour during my dissertation. A must for any psychology student about to tackle SPSS!

Makes statistics a bit more manageable, 21 Apr 2008
I did a research project in Psychology with only very basic knowledge of statistics. I always hated statistics and tried to avoid them as much as possible. I was recommended this book, and was so glad I bought it. The style is quite refreshing and engaging, filling you with confidence as you learn.

At times it is a bit over-detailed, and you have to sift through to get to what to what you need, however, this is a strength of the book. I've seen some other books which explain what you do, but not why. Leaarning how principles can be applied to various situations is far more beneficial, as it's rare that your data will be similar to the examples in a book. If you're willing to spend just a little bit of time with it, you will find that you have a good basic knowledge of statistics, able to tackle increasingly complex problems

A lifesaver, 11 Mar 2008
To my undying shame, despite more than a decade in market research and now holding the exalted title of Research Director, I'm still a bit hazy about statistics. This excellent book, of which I've bought two copies and recommended to many others, provides a clear and engaging description of both simple and complex statistical concepts. And it comes with a free CD! Unfortunately, it's of SPSS files rather than Andy Field's favourite music. This book has stopped me getting found out, and it might do the same for you.

The only maths book you will ever need, 21 Feb 2008
I have been out of education for 10 years before I started my degree so I was very apprehensive about the maths. This book works wonders especially the DVD you get with it to help problem solve. This is such a well structured book with lots of worked examples.

A must have for Engineering students

Simply outstanding..., 30 Sep 2007
This book is superb. It's the best book on mathematics I own and I have quite a few. It's exceptional because it graduates gently from one topic to another and each topic is explained clearly from start to finish through easy to follow steps. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Unrivalled; clear, concise and well written., 10 Aug 2007
This book is superb, I can only fault its size but the depth of coverage warrants such mammoth dimensions. The material covered within is done so in a structured fashion, ensuring the reader can actually grasp the material as appose to just learning the methodology. I have not had to use this book as a standalone revision tool but in conjunction with my maths notes, it is unbeatable. The exercise problems can get a bit tedious and some of the leaps in difficulty are inexplicable but a little extra searching and practice will iron out any reservations. If you are studying any engineering degree I would seriously recommend splashing the cash, you may not use it extensively at first but having it as a resource has been invaluable for me.

Got lost!, 16 Jul 2007
This is undoubtedly a good book but it put me to sleep at times as I could not see how all these calculations would be useful to me when I graduated. I assumed an Engineering Math book would have examples from Engineering cases but they were few and far between. I did find some other books that did this in the library.

This is a good book for learning by heart how to do these things but I think I remember about 20% of it now that the exam is over! I wanted to understand it not learn it by heart. :(

Stroud is massive! It has practically an entire intro to math book at the start which at best is good for a glance because, as an Engineer, my Math is OK. It is a huge big clunking book which broke my back carrying it but was useful none the less.



Brilliant! It got me through BSc and is helping me remember it as well!, 14 May 2007
I first bought Ken Stroud's book back in 1987, and found it extremely useful to help me get through my BSc (Hons) degree in microelectronics and computing.

Now I have bought the 6th edition to help me revise my maths knowledge, and it is helping me already with some post-graduate study.

The programme method really helps in self-study.

The updating has helped keep it current, and it is very readable!!

For undergraduate engineering maths study, this is the book that is a must have!

A Classic, 12 Oct 2008
Not only is this book fun for young hands, as it's perfectly sized and sturdy, it is also educational. Neither the young boy I got this for or his older brother would put this down for days. It went in the car, to nursery and even to bed

Yum!, 16 Sep 2008
An infamous short tale of the caterpillar that munches its way through the edible obstacles on each page, until it becomes a butterfly. Arguably the most famous of the Eric Carle short stories, The Hungry Caterpillar symbolises the journeys things take in the world in order to accomplish something great. Themes in this book include the virtue of patience and the fact that things can sometimes take a surprising turn.

`The Hungry Caterpillar' shows all the great hallmarks of a young children's book, in that it easily lends itself to the curriculum and is as simple as it is equally open to in-depth interpretation. Possibilities of further learning include additional studies of phonics, links with food technology (fruits and their properties) and Art lessons, which could include the replication of the story by building giant cardboard fruits and a willing pupil dressing up as the wriggly main character!

Thanks to its content, messages and style, this book is useful for readers from Reception to low attainment Year 2.

A true classic!, 14 Sep 2008
I was so happy when a friend gave me this when my now 13 month old was born, it reminded me so much of my childhood. I was even happier once he was big enough to start turning it's pages and poking his fingers in the holes and listening intently (well, not always!!) as I counted each different bit of food. He plays with it all the time and it is so hardwearing and virtually indestructible (unlike some other books I have purchsed!).

It's so amazing that a book I adored as a child, which I then read to my younger sister (well, more knowing it off by heart as I couldn't even read then!!) is now being adored by my son.

It's wonderful to know that there are still some sacred things left that haven't been replaced by a flashier, more plasticky version.

This is a definite must-buy for all little kids (and big kids too!).

Keeps them occupied, 15 Aug 2008
The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a great little book. It keeps my daughter occupied for hours on end. Just a quick flick through it is enough to convince any adult that a small child will like it. Simplistic, enjoyable and charming. And actually quite funny.
Well recommended for very small kids.

Little ones just love it!, 07 Jul 2008
I remembered this book from when I was young so I decided to buy the board book version for my toddler daughter.
The smaller board book fits comfortably in her little hands and she adores paging through it, watching all that the little caterpillar eats (even the sad caterpillar face with a stomachache makes me smile)
My daughter reads it over and over again. It's a classic and a firm favorite in our home.

alphabet, 18 May 2008
This is the book to buy on teaching this subject. It is clearly written, beautifully laid out and provides self assessment exercises to work through in order to clarify what has just been read. There are more provided on the cd rom at the back of the book too. If you are teaching this subject for the first time, moving up or down years or simply want to refresh your knowledge and rekindle your enthusiasm then this is the book for you.

A lifesaver, 13 Apr 2008
This book is a must for trainee teachers lacking confidence with their maths knowledge and teaching. The author empathises with the trepidation of maths, and offers clear and simple explanations. The chapters are clearly divided for when you need that quick knowledge top-up when lesson planning, and the self-test questions are a great confidence boost! The book also offers techniques that complement the new NNS teaching strategies (e.g. partitioning, multiplication grids etc).

compulsoray buy, 19 Aug 2007
A book from the reading list for Uni of Glosc. I great book! It has opened up my mind to the thinking of first time learners. It's simple and easy to understand with quick references and no jargon. Credit to Derek Haylock. I wish all other QTS books were like this one!

Superb!, 24 Nov 2006
After teaching primary maths for 14 years, and being the KS2 maths subject leader for 13 of those, I have no hesitation in rating this easily the best book I have ever read on the subject. Forget all those expensive courses, and trying to negotiate the endless tweaking of the NNS, save money by using this book to deliver a series of INSETs. Unbeatable value!

Simply Fabulous!!, 04 Oct 2006
When I was told at the start of my teacher training course that I would need to buy this maths text book, I let out a big groan. I remembered all of those maths textbooks from when I was actually AT school and remembered how utterly boring they were. But since working through this book and completeing the end of chapter self-assessment questions, my confidence in maths has soared! A must have for teachers-to-be, especially those who are a bit shakey on their maths knowledge!

If you are a statistics-phobe...this is the book for you!, 26 Aug 2008
If you are needing to learn both SPSS and statistics at the same time and intimidated at all by the math, this is a great book to help take you through the quagmire of both the SPSS software, the principles of statistics and make sense of it all too! Andy Field has done an excellent job at taking much of the mystery out of how and why to use the various tests. The book is comprehensive but the analysis of my research and study is focussed primarily on correlation, t-tests and regression. There are chapters in the book I will probably never read as I cannot foresee ever needing to read them. But, the book is very useful for referencing particular areas and providing a tutorial as you are working.

I love the way Andy has created and inserted his characters throughout the book - as I can identify myself as a cross between Cramming Samantha and Brian Haemorrhage.

Because I found Andy's book and CD so useful, I have not done any comparisons with other books. So, far, it has provided everything I have needed.

If you thought statatistics is complicated, this is the book for you, 21 Jul 2008
I am a post doctoral civil engineering student. I have been struggling with advanced statistics for months...when the problem was I did not have a good grasp of basic concepts. This book solved it all in a matter of days.
After reading this book.. you will be able to understand all the other more "complicated book" that you need to use.
If what you are paying for is for someone to expain stat and SPSS to you, this is your book.
Galit

Excellent, 23 Jun 2008
This book was my saviour during my dissertation. A must for any psychology student about to tackle SPSS!

Makes statistics a bit more manageable, 21 Apr 2008
I did a research project in Psychology with only very basic knowledge of statistics. I always hated statistics and tried to avoid them as much as possible. I was recommended this book, and was so glad I bought it. The style is quite refreshing and engaging, filling you with confidence as you learn.

At times it is a bit over-detailed, and you have to sift through to get to what to what you need, however, this is a strength of the book. I've seen some other books which explain what you do, but not why. Leaarning how principles can be applied to various situations is far more beneficial, as it's rare that your data will be similar to the examples in a book. If you're willing to spend just a little bit of time with it, you will find that you have a good basic knowledge of statistics, able to tackle increasingly complex problems

A lifesaver, 11 Mar 2008
To my undying shame, despite more than a decade in market research and now holding the exalted title of Research Director, I'm still a bit hazy about statistics. This excellent book, of which I've bought two copies and recommended to many others, provides a clear and engaging description of both simple and complex statistical concepts. And it comes with a free CD! Unfortunately, it's of SPSS files rather than Andy Field's favourite music. This book has stopped me getting found out, and it might do the same for you.

The only maths book you will ever need, 21 Feb 2008
I have been out of education for 10 years before I started my degree so I was very apprehensive about the maths. This book works wonders especially the DVD you get with it to help problem solve. This is such a well structured book with lots of worked examples.

A must have for Engineering students

Simply outstanding..., 30 Sep 2007
This book is superb. It's the best book on mathematics I own and I have quite a few. It's exceptional because it graduates gently from one topic to another and each topic is explained clearly from start to finish through easy to follow steps. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Unrivalled; clear, concise and well written., 10 Aug 2007
This book is superb, I can only fault its size but the depth of coverage warrants such mammoth dimensions. The material covered within is done so in a structured fashion, ensuring the reader can actually grasp the material as appose to just learning the methodology. I have not had to use this book as a standalone revision tool but in conjunction with my maths notes, it is unbeatable. The exercise problems can get a bit tedious and some of the leaps in difficulty are inexplicable but a little extra searching and practice will iron out any reservations. If you are studying any engineering degree I would seriously recommend splashing the cash, you may not use it extensively at first but having it as a resource has been invaluable for me.

Got lost!, 16 Jul 2007
This is undoubtedly a good book but it put me to sleep at times as I could not see how all these calculations would be useful to me when I graduated. I assumed an Engineering Math book would have examples from Engineering cases but they were few and far between. I did find some other books that did this in the library.

This is a good book for learning by heart how to do these things but I think I remember about 20% of it now that the exam is over! I wanted to understand it not learn it by heart. :(

Stroud is massive! It has practically an entire intro to math book at the start which at best is good for a glance because, as an Engineer, my Math is OK. It is a huge big clunking book which broke my back carrying it but was useful none the less.



Brilliant! It got me through BSc and is helping me remember it as well!, 14 May 2007
I first bought Ken Stroud's book back in 1987, and found it extremely useful to help me get through my BSc (Hons) degree in microelectronics and computing.

Now I have bought the 6th edition to help me revise my maths knowledge, and it is helping me already with some post-graduate study.

The programme method really helps in self-study.

The updating has helped keep it current, and it is very readable!!

For undergraduate engineering maths study, this is the book that is a must have!

jean genie, 05 Oct 2008
Dawkins is excellent while he sticks to biology
however he may have lost the plot in the last chapter
as he has in thinking promoting science involves attacking
religion
If an evangalist is someone who does not leave people to work
it out for themselves but pushes his point of view Dawkins is one
Nutty Baptists and Dawkins looked similar on channel 4 for example
ie they both spin world events too far to promote a point of view

Imaginative guessing, 13 Sep 2008
I have attempted to read Dawkins's books on a few occasions but seldom get beyond the first 100 pages. I simply find his style of writing boring and his theories pure imaginative guesswork; I cannot take this author's ideas onboard yet biology fascinates me and especially that of epigenetics which seems to disprove all that this author advocates. I suspect that there is a snobbery value to those who support him. Irrespective of his academic standing I cannot avoid regarding the author as an imposter as I constantly want to wage war with his views. Admittedly, he comes across publicly as a very plausible academic but, that does not sway me.

Blind theorizing, 27 Jun 2008
Dawkins writes that "the argument of this book is that we, and all other animals, are machines created by our genes" (p.xxi) and that "We are survival machines - robot vehicles blindly programmed to preserve the selfish molecules known as genes" (p.xxi). Yet, according to him, this book "is not science fiction; it is science" (p.xxi)!

Dawkins contrives to overlook the twin discoveries that:
1. the observable traits of organisms are mostly conditioned by the interactions of many genes;
2. most genes have multiple effects on many of these traits.

Dawkins transfers characteristics with which he is familiar from human behaviour on the macro-level to the inanimate components, "genes", of which we are physically constructed. He then proceeds to argue that these impersonal entities, which he imagines to possess characteristically human traits, infallibly generate the same unpleasant traits in human behaviour on the macro-level. So he writes: "The gene is the basic unit of selfishness" (p.36).

The absurdity is evident in that genes or other nonconscious entities cannot be either selfish or unselfish. They cannot "compete" against anything or "choose" anything.

If Dawkins were right, what would be the point of declaring, as he does: "Let us try to *teach* generosity and altruism, because we are born selfish" (p.3)? For if we really were machines, as he believes, even these very concepts would be meaningless to us. And certainly his oratory could have no effect whatever on our actual behaviour.

In fact genes do not force us to behave in any particular way. Neither can they possess the ability to direct or to comprehend all that is required to adopt a course of either heartless selfishness or heartfelt, sacrificial compassion.

The arguments in this review have been challenged by the claim that Dawkins himself answers these charges. His claim is, in effect, that that "the evolution of behavioural reactions or patterns via natural selection" and "control by nonconscious mechanisms" are two vastly different ideas. Also it is said that Dawkins does not deny a freedom of choice as the very last lines in this book itself "celebrate the human ability to make choices that transcend genetic control and instinctive reactions." So it is said that Dawkins "repeatedly draws clear distinctions" to prevent his readers from jumping to the conclusions expressed above.

However, there is a vast difference between asserting that such distinctions exist and actually laying a solid theoretical foundation for such distinctions. To lay the kinds of foundations which Dawkins does and then to go on to insist that these foundations do not lead to their logical conclusion is nothing less than an act of faith on Dawkins' part. It certainly does not bestow any validity upon Dawkins alleged distinctions. The bottom line is that Dawkins' presuppositions simply do not lead logically to the sort of distinction which he asserts.

Essentially this debate is an argument not about data, but about underlying assumptions. Here is a example of what I mean:

ASSUMPTION: 1. "evolution is true";
DATUM: 2. "human beings have consciousness";
ASSUMPTION: 3. "therefore evolution is capable of generating consciousness".

Once again, it is a case of "garbage in, garbage out" (as Dawkins himself would say).



Scientifically sound but philosophically flawed, 29 May 2008
Darwin's theory of evolution is no doubt a successful scientific hypothesis, and Prof. Dawkins brings across this very clearly. However, I do have some doubts regarding his philosophical assertions.

Essentially Prof. Dawkins believes that:

1) Selfishness and competition is at the root of all biological phenomena - nature as "red in tooth and claw"
2) There is no basic "dis-continuity" between humanity and other animals - humans are not qualitatively different from other animals
3) There is however no ethical dilemma between this basic fact and the human desire for goodness - since descriptive and normative realities are intrinsically separate (what is and what should be are independent of each other)

Yet the basis for point 3) - the inherent seperation of "what is" and "what ought to be" is just a philosophical assertion. Prof. Dawkins is very correct in stating that the belief in God and all other religious assertions should be treated and critically analysed as scientific hypotheses. However, strictly speaking this should go beyond the subject of religion to include every other field of human intellectual activity, including of course philosophy itself. If we treat the assertion "'what is' is fundamentally separate from 'what ought to be'" as a strict scientific hypothesis in the same sense that "God exists" is treated as such a hypothesis, then it has to be said that it is no more than just a blank assertion without any kind of empirical justification.

In other words, Prof. Dawkins is mistaken in assuming that his particular view of evolution and Darwinism does not leave us with an ethical dilemma, because it evidently does. The only argument Prof. Dawkins has offered against this is the mere assertion that "what ought to be" must be seperate from "what is", yet this assertion, just like religious assertions regarding God, cannot be scientifically or empirically proven.

Still great after all these years, 24 Apr 2008
Despite being over 30 years old, this book is still a powerful and exciting account of how life, including humans, came to be. The examples and explanations (aphid & ant coexistence, fluke worms in snails) are breathtaking in their descriptions of the natural world, and could easily awaken an interest in zoology in the casual reader.

A Classic, 12 Oct 2008
Not only is this book fun for young hands, as it's perfectly sized and sturdy, it is also educational. Neither the young boy I got this for or his older brother would put this down for days. It went in the car, to nursery and even to bed

Yum!, 16 Sep 2008
An infamous short tale of the caterpillar that munches its way through the edible obstacles on each page, until it becomes a butterfly. Arguably the most famous of the Eric Carle short stories, The Hungry Caterpillar symbolises the journeys things take in the world in order to accomplish something great. Themes in this book include the virtue of patience and the fact that things can sometimes take a surprising turn.

`The Hungry Caterpillar' shows all the great hallmarks of a young children's book, in that it easily lends itself to the curriculum and is as simple as it is equally open to in-depth interpretation. Possibilities of further learning include additional studies of phonics, links with food technology (fruits and their properties) and Art lessons, which could include the replication of the story by building giant cardboard fruits and a willing pupil dressing up as the wriggly main character!

Thanks to its content, messages and style, this book is useful for readers from Reception to low attainment Year 2.

A true classic!, 14 Sep 2008
I was so happy when a friend gave me this when my now 13 month old was born, it reminded me so much of my childhood. I was even happier once he was big enough to start turning it's pages and poking his fingers in the holes and listening intently (well, not always!!) as I counted each different bit of food. He plays with it all the time and it is so hardwearing and virtually indestructible (unlike some other books I have purchsed!).

It's so amazing that a book I adored as a child, which I then read to my younger sister (well, more knowing it off by heart as I couldn't even read then!!) is now being adored by my son.

It's wonderful to know that there are still some sacred things left that haven't been replaced by a flashier, more plasticky version.

This is a definite must-buy for all little kids (and big kids too!).

Keeps them occupied, 15 Aug 2008
The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a great little book. It keeps my daughter occupied for hours on end. Just a quick flick through it is enough to convince any adult that a small child will like it. Simplistic, enjoyable and charming. And actually quite funny.
Well recommended for very small kids.

Little ones just love it!, 07 Jul 2008
I remembered this book from when I was young so I decided to buy the board book version for my toddler daughter.
The smaller board book fits comfortably in her little hands and she adores paging through it, watching all that the little caterpillar eats (even the sad caterpillar face with a stomachache makes me smile)
My daughter reads it over and over again. It's a classic and a firm favorite in our home.

alphabet, 18 May 2008
This is the book to buy on teaching this subject. It is clearly written, beautifully laid out and provides self assessment exercises to work through in order to clarify what has just been read. There are more provided on the cd rom at the back of the book too. If you are teaching this subject for the first time, moving up or down years or simply want to refresh your knowledge and rekindle your enthusiasm then this is the book for you.

A lifesaver, 13 Apr 2008
This book is a must for trainee teachers lacking confidence with their maths knowledge and teaching. The author empathises with the trepidation of maths, and offers clear and simple explanations. The chapters are clearly divided for when you need that quick knowledge top-up when lesson planning, and the self-test questions are a great confidence boost! The book also offers techniques that complement the new NNS teaching strategies (e.g. partitioning, multiplication grids etc).

compulsoray buy, 19 Aug 2007
A book from the reading list for Uni of Glosc. I great book! It has opened up my mind to the thinking of first time learners. It's simple and easy to understand with quick references and no jargon. Credit to Derek Haylock. I wish all other QTS books were like this one!

Superb!, 24 Nov 2006
After teaching primary maths for 14 years, and being the KS2 maths subject leader for 13 of those, I have no hesitation in rating this easily the best book I have ever read on the subject. Forget all those expensive courses, and trying to negotiate the endless tweaking of the NNS, save money by using this book to deliver a series of INSETs. Unbeatable value!

Simply Fabulous!!, 04 Oct 2006
When I was told at the start of my teacher training course that I would need to buy this maths text book, I let out a big groan. I remembered all of those maths textbooks from when I was actually AT school and remembered how utterly boring they were. But since working through this book and completeing the end of chapter self-assessment questions, my confidence in maths has soared! A must have for teachers-to-be, especially those who are a bit shakey on their maths knowledge!

If you are a statistics-phobe...this is the book for you!, 26 Aug 2008
If you are needing to learn both SPSS and statistics at the same time and intimidated at all by the math, this is a great book to help take you through the quagmire of both the SPSS software, the principles of statistics and make sense of it all too! Andy Field has done an excellent job at taking much of the mystery out of how and why to use the various tests. The book is comprehensive but the analysis of my research and study is focussed primarily on correlation, t-tests and regression. There are chapters in the book I will probably never read as I cannot foresee ever needing to read them. But, the book is very useful for referencing particular areas and providing a tutorial as you are working.

I love the way Andy has created and inserted his characters throughout the book - as I can identify myself as a cross between Cramming Samantha and Brian Haemorrhage.

Because I found Andy's book and CD so useful, I have not done any comparisons with other books. So, far, it has provided everything I have needed.

If you thought statatistics is complicated, this is the book for you, 21 Jul 2008
I am a post doctoral civil engineering student. I have been struggling with advanced statistics for months...when the problem was I did not have a good grasp of basic concepts. This book solved it all in a matter of days.
After reading this book.. you will be able to understand all the other more "complicated book" that you need to use.
If what you are paying for is for someone to expain stat and SPSS to you, this is your book.
Galit

Excellent, 23 Jun 2008
This book was my saviour during my dissertation. A must for any psychology student about to tackle SPSS!

Makes statistics a bit more manageable, 21 Apr 2008
I did a research project in Psychology with only very basic knowledge of statistics. I always hated statistics and tried to avoid them as much as possible. I was recommended this book, and was so glad I bought it. The style is quite refreshing and engaging, filling you with confidence as you learn.

At times it is a bit over-detailed, and you have to sift through to get to what to what you need, however, this is a strength of the book. I've seen some other books which explain what you do, but not why. Leaarning how principles can be applied to various situations is far more beneficial, as it's rare that your data will be similar to the examples in a book. If you're willing to spend just a little bit of time with it, you will find that you have a good basic knowledge of statistics, able to tackle increasingly complex problems

A lifesaver, 11 Mar 2008
To my undying shame, despite more than a decade in market research and now holding the exalted title of Research Director, I'm still a bit hazy about statistics. This excellent book, of which I've bought two copies and recommended to many others, provides a clear and engaging description of both simple and complex statistical concepts. And it comes with a free CD! Unfortunately, it's of SPSS files rather than Andy Field's favourite music. This book has stopped me getting found out, and it might do the same for you.

The only maths book you will ever need, 21 Feb 2008
I have been out of education for 10 years before I started my degree so I was very apprehensive about the maths. This book works wonders especially the DVD you get with it to help problem solve. This is such a well structured book with lots of worked examples.

A must have for Engineering students

Simply outstanding..., 30 Sep 2007
This book is superb. It's the best book on mathematics I own and I have quite a few. It's exceptional because it graduates gently from one topic to another and each topic is explained clearly from start to finish through easy to follow steps. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Unrivalled; clear, concise and well written., 10 Aug 2007
This book is superb, I can only fault its size but the depth of coverage warrants such mammoth dimensions. The material covered within is done so in a structured fashion, ensuring the reader can actually grasp the material as appose to just learning the methodology. I have not had to use this book as a standalone revision tool but in conjunction with my maths notes, it is unbeatable. The exercise problems can get a bit tedious and some of the leaps in difficulty are inexplicable but a little extra searching and practice will iron out any reservations. If you are studying any engineering degree I would seriously recommend splashing the cash, you may not use it extensively at first but having it as a resource has been invaluable for me.

Got lost!, 16 Jul 2007
This is undoubtedly a good book but it put me to sleep at times as I could not see how all these calculations would be useful to me when I graduated. I assumed an Engineering Math book would have examples from Engineering cases but they were few and far between. I did find some other books that did this in the library.

This is a good book for learning by heart how to do these things but I think I remember about 20% of it now that the exam is over! I wanted to understand it not learn it by heart. :(

Stroud is massive! It has practically an entire intro to math book at the start which at best is good for a glance because, as an Engineer, my Math is OK. It is a huge big clunking book which broke my back carrying it but was useful none the less.



Brilliant! It got me through BSc and is helping me remember it as well!, 14 May 2007
I first bought Ken Stroud's book back in 1987, and found it extremely useful to help me get through my BSc (Hons) degree in microelectronics and computing.

Now I have bought the 6th edition to help me revise my maths knowledge, and it is helping me already with some post-graduate study.

The programme method really helps in self-study.

The updating has helped keep it current, and it is very readable!!

For undergraduate engineering maths study, this is the book that is a must have!

jean genie, 05 Oct 2008
Dawkins is excellent while he sticks to biology
however he may have lost the plot in the last chapter
as he has in thinking promoting science involves attacking
religion
If an evangalist is someone who does not leave people to work
it out for themselves but pushes his point of view Dawkins is one
Nutty Baptists and Dawkins looked similar on channel 4 for example
ie they both spin world events too far to promote a point of view

Imaginative guessing, 13 Sep 2008
I have attempted to read Dawkins's books on a few occasions but seldom get beyond the first 100 pages. I simply find his style of writing boring and his theories pure imaginative guesswork; I cannot take this author's ideas onboard yet biology fascinates me and especially that of epigenetics which seems to disprove all that this author advocates. I suspect that there is a snobbery value to those who support him. Irrespective of his academic standing I cannot avoid regarding the author as an imposter as I constantly want to wage war with his views. Admittedly, he comes across publicly as a very plausible academic but, that does not sway me.

Blind theorizing, 27 Jun 2008
Dawkins writes that "the argument of this book is that we, and all other animals, are machines created by our genes" (p.xxi) and that "We are survival machines - robot vehicles blindly programmed to preserve the selfish molecules known as genes" (p.xxi). Yet, according to him, this book "is not science fiction; it is science" (p.xxi)!

Dawkins contrives to overlook the twin discoveries that:
1. the observable traits of organisms are mostly conditioned by the interactions of many genes;
2. most genes have multiple effects on many of these traits.

Dawkins transfers characteristics with which he is familiar from human behaviour on the macro-level to the inanimate components, "genes", of which we are physically constructed. He then proceeds to argue that these impersonal entities, which he imagines to possess characteristically human traits, infallibly generate the same unpleasant traits in human behaviour on the macro-level. So he writes: "The gene is the basic unit of selfishness" (p.36).

The absurdity is evident in that genes or other nonconscious entities cannot be either selfish or unselfish. They cannot "compete" against anything or "choose" anything.

If Dawkins were right, what would be the point of declaring, as he does: "Let us try to *teach* generosity and altruism, because we are born selfish" (p.3)? For if we really were machines, as he believes, even these very concepts would be meaningless to us. And certainly his oratory could have no effect whatever on our actual behaviour.

In fact genes do not force us to behave in any particular way. Neither can they possess the ability to direct or to comprehend all that is required to adopt a course of either heartless selfishness or heartfelt, sacrificial compassion.

The arguments in this review have been challenged by the claim that Dawkins himself answers these charges. His claim is, in effect, that that "the evolution of behavioural reactions or patterns via natural selection" and "control by nonconscious mechanisms" are two vastly different ideas. Also it is said that Dawkins does not deny a freedom of choice as the very last lines in this book itself "celebrate the human ability to make choices that transcend genetic control and instinctive reactions." So it is said that Dawkins "repeatedly draws clear distinctions" to prevent his readers from jumping to the conclusions expressed above.

However, there is a vast difference between asserting that such distinctions exist and actually laying a solid theoretical foundation for such distinctions. To lay the kinds of foundations which Dawkins does and then to go on to insist that these foundations do not lead to their logical conclusion is nothing less than an act of faith on Dawkins' part. It certainly does not bestow any validity upon Dawkins alleged distinctions. The bottom line is that Dawkins' presuppositions simply do not lead logically to the sort of distinction which he asserts.

Essentially this debate is an argument not about data, but about underlying assumptions. Here is a example of what I mean:

ASSUMPTION: 1. "evolution is true";
DATUM: 2. "human beings have consciousness";
ASSUMPTION: 3. "therefore evolution is capable of generating consciousness".

Once again, it is a case of "garbage in, garbage out" (as Dawkins himself would say).



Scientifically sound but philosophically flawed, 29 May 2008
Darwin's theory of evolution is no doubt a successful scientific hypothesis, and Prof. Dawkins brings across this very clearly. However, I do have some doubts regarding his philosophical assertions.

Essentially Prof. Dawkins believes that:

1) Selfishness and competition is at the root of all biological phenomena - nature as "red in tooth and claw"
2) There is no basic "dis-continuity" between humanity and other animals - humans are not qualitatively different from other animals
3) There is however no ethical dilemma between this basic fact and the human desire for goodness - since descriptive and normative realities are intrinsically separate (what is and what should be are independent of each other)

Yet the basis for point 3) - the inherent seperation of "what is" and "what ought to be" is just a philosophical assertion. Prof. Dawkins is very correct in stating that the belief in God and all other religious assertions should be treated and critically analysed as scientific hypotheses. However, strictly speaking this should go beyond the subject of religion to include every other field of human intellectual activity, including of course philosophy itself. If we treat the assertion "'what is' is fundamentally separate from 'what ought to be'" as a strict scientific hypothesis in the same sense that "God exists" is treated as such a hypothesis, then it has to be said that it is no more than just a blank assertion without any kind of empirical justification.

In other words, Prof. Dawkins is mistaken in assuming that his particular view of evolution and Darwinism does not leave us with an ethical dilemma, because it evidently does. The only argument Prof. Dawkins has offered against this is the mere assertion that "what ought to be" must be seperate from "what is", yet this assertion, just like religious assertions regarding God, cannot be scientifically or empirically proven.

Still great after all these years, 24 Apr 2008
Despite being over 30 years old, this book is still a powerful and exciting account of how life, including humans, came to be. The examples and explanations (aphid & ant coexistence, fluke worms in snails) are breathtaking in their descriptions of the natural world, and could easily awaken an interest in zoology in the casual reader.

A rather complete book, 24 Sep 2001
For a student it is worth it buying as it starts with some basic stuff that can refresh the Maths knowledge needed to understand what will come afterwards. It covers all the Maths topics that they will have during their degree, except for Statistics. It can always be a reference to have in a bookshelf in case something comes up in the near future. For a Maths teatcher it is usefull as it has examples to apply the theory we want them to learn.

Good intoduction if your maths is a bit rusty, 07 Mar 2001
I found this book pretty helpful as it explains basic concepts from scratch, gradually building them up. It's easy to follow and a good foundation for businessy maths. it doesn't go into things like limitations of the modelling techniques though, but it helps you get to the level of maths needed for economics and business. It's not patronising, which is a problem I've encountered with other similar level texts. I'm pretty good at maths, but had forgotten some techniques and this provided a good reminder relevant to my degree, although it seems to be more like A level standard.

applying the maths to real world business scenarios is great, 17 Dec 2000
having just finished the first 3 chapters (linear equations) I can recommend this book to any person who seeks to improve their mathematics, regardless of prior knowledge. Having finished school nine years ago and never having been interested in maths until now, Ian Jacques offers an engaging 'business scenario' in introducing the subjects and step by step unfolding of the formula's make self study much easier and very rewarding

It's hard to talk about The Origin of Species without making statements that seem overwrought and fulsome. But it's true: this is indeed one of the most important and influential books ever written, and it is one of the very few groundbreaking works of science that is truly readable.

To a certain extent it suffers from the Hamlet problem--it's full of clichés! Or what are now clichés, but which Darwin was the first to pen. Natural selection, variation, the struggle for existence, survival of the fittest: it's all in here.

Darwin's friend and "bulldog" T. H. Huxley said upon reading the Origin, "How extremely stupid of me not to have thought of that." Alfred Russel Wallace had thought of the same theory of evolution Darwin did, but it was Darwin who gathered the mass of supporting evidence--on domestic animals and plants, on variability, on sexual selection, on dispersal--that swept most scientists before it. It's hardly necessary to mention that the book is still controversial: Darwin's remark in his conclusion that "Light will be thrown on the origin of man and his history" is surely the pinnacle of British understatement. --Mary Ellen Curtin, Amazon.com

A Classic, 12 Oct 2008
Not only is this book fun for young hands, as it's perfectly sized and sturdy, it is also educational. Neither the young boy I got this for or his older brother would put this down for days. It went in the car, to nursery and even to bed

Yum!, 16 Sep 2008
An infamous short tale of the caterpillar that munches its way through the edible obstacles on each page, until it becomes a butterfly. Arguably the most famous of the Eric Carle short stories, The Hungry Caterpillar symbolises the journeys things take in the world in order to accomplish something great. Themes in this book include the virtue of patience and the fact that things can sometimes take a surprising turn.

`The Hungry Caterpillar' shows all the great hallmarks of a young children's book, in that it easily lends itself to the curriculum and is as simple as it is equally open to in-depth interpretation. Possibilities of further learning include additional studies of phonics, links with food technology (fruits and their properties) and Art lessons, which could include the replication of the story by building giant cardboard fruits and a willing pupil dressing up as the wriggly main character!

Thanks to its content, messages and style, this book is useful for readers from Reception to low attainment Year 2.

A true classic!, 14 Sep 2008
I was so happy when a friend gave me this when my now 13 month old was born, it reminded me so much of my childhood. I was even happier once he was big enough to start turning it's pages and poking his fingers in the holes and listening intently (well, not always!!) as I counted each different bit of food. He plays with it all the time and it is so hardwearing and virtually indestructible (unlike some other books I have purchsed!).

It's so amazing that a book I adored as a child, which I then read to my younger sister (well, more knowing it off by heart as I couldn't even read then!!) is now being adored by my son.

It's wonderful to know that there are still some sacred things left that haven't been replaced by a flashier, more plasticky version.

This is a definite must-buy for all little kids (and big kids too!).

Keeps them occupied, 15 Aug 2008
The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a great little book. It keeps my daughter occupied for hours on end. Just a quick flick through it is enough to convince any adult that a small child will like it. Simplistic, enjoyable and charming. And actually quite funny.
Well recommended for very small kids.

Little ones just love it!, 07 Jul 2008
I remembered this book from when I was young so I decided to buy the board book version for my toddler daughter.
The smaller board book fits comfortably in her little hands and she adores paging through it, watching all that the little caterpillar eats (even the sad caterpillar face with a stomachache makes me smile)
My daughter reads it over and over again. It's a classic and a firm favorite in our home.

alphabet, 18 May 2008
This is the book to buy on teaching this subject. It is clearly written, beautifully laid out and provides self assessment exercises to work through in order to clarify what has just been read. There are more provided on the cd rom at the back of the book too. If you are teaching this subject for the first time, moving up or down years or simply want to refresh your knowledge and rekindle your enthusiasm then this is the book for you.

A lifesaver, 13 Apr 2008
This book is a must for trainee teachers lacking confidence with their maths knowledge and teaching. The author empathises with the trepidation of maths, and offers clear and simple explanations. The chapters are clearly divided for when you need that quick knowledge top-up when lesson planning, and the self-test questions are a great confidence boost! The book also offers techniques that complement the new NNS teaching strategies (e.g. partitioning, multiplication grids etc).

compulsoray buy, 19 Aug 2007
A book from the reading list for Uni of Glosc. I great book! It has opened up my mind to the thinking of first time learners. It's simple and easy to understand with quick references and no jargon. Credit to Derek Haylock. I wish all other QTS books were like this one!

Superb!, 24 Nov 2006
After teaching primary maths for 14 years, and being the KS2 maths subject leader for 13 of those, I have no hesitation in rating this easily the best book I have ever read on the subject. Forget all those expensive courses, and trying to negotiate the endless tweaking of the NNS, save money by using this book to deliver a series of INSETs. Unbeatable value!

Simply Fabulous!!, 04 Oct 2006
When I was told at the start of my teacher training course that I would need to buy this maths text book, I let out a big groan. I remembered all of those maths textbooks from when I was actually AT school and remembered how utterly boring they were. But since working through this book and completeing the end of chapter self-assessment questions, my confidence in maths has soared! A must have for teachers-to-be, especially those who are a bit shakey on their maths knowledge!

If you are a statistics-phobe...this is the book for you!, 26 Aug 2008
If you are needing to learn both SPSS and statistics at the same time and intimidated at all by the math, this is a great book to help take you through the quagmire of both the SPSS software, the principles of statistics and make sense of it all too! Andy Field has done an excellent job at taking much of the mystery out of how and why to use the various tests. The book is comprehensive but the analysis of my research and study is focussed primarily on correlation, t-tests and regression. There are chapters in the book I will probably never read as I cannot foresee ever needing to read them. But, the book is very useful for referencing particular areas and providing a tutorial as you are working.

I love the way Andy has created and inserted his characters throughout the book - as I can identify myself as a cross between Cramming Samantha and Brian Haemorrhage.

Because I found Andy's book and CD so useful, I have not done any comparisons with other books. So, far, it has provided everything I have needed.

If you thought statatistics is complicated, this is the book for you, 21 Jul 2008
I am a post doctoral civil engineering student. I have been struggling with advanced statistics for months...when the problem was I did not have a good grasp of basic concepts. This book solved it all in a matter of days.
After reading this book.. you will be able to understand all the other more "complicated book" that you need to use.
If what you are paying for is for someone to expain stat and SPSS to you, this is your book.
Galit

Excellent, 23 Jun 2008
This book was my saviour during my dissertation. A must for any psychology student about to tackle SPSS!

Makes statistics a bit more manageable, 21 Apr 2008
I did a research project in Psychology with only very basic knowledge of statistics. I always hated statistics and tried to avoid them as much as possible. I was recommended this book, and was so glad I bought it. The style is quite refreshing and engaging, filling you with confidence as you learn.

At times it is a bit over-detailed, and you have to sift through to get to what to what you need, however, this is a strength of the book. I've seen some other books which explain what you do, but not why. Leaarning how principles can be applied to various situations is far more beneficial, as it's rare that your data will be similar to the examples in a book. If you're willing to spend just a little bit of time with it, you will find that you have a good basic knowledge of statistics, able to tackle increasingly complex problems

A lifesaver, 11 Mar 2008
To my undying shame, despite more than a decade in market research and now holding the exalted title of Research Director, I'm still a bit hazy about statistics. This excellent book, of which I've bought two copies and recommended to many others, provides a clear and engaging description of both simple and complex statistical concepts. And it comes with a free CD! Unfortunately, it's of SPSS files rather than Andy Field's favourite music. This book has stopped me getting found out, and it might do the same for you.

The only maths book you will ever need, 21 Feb 2008
I have been out of education for 10 years before I started my degree so I was very apprehensive about the maths. This book works wonders especially the DVD you get with it to help problem solve. This is such a well structured book with lots of worked examples.

A must have for Engineering students

Simply outstanding..., 30 Sep 2007
This book is superb. It's the best book on mathematics I own and I have quite a few. It's exceptional because it graduates gently from one topic to another and each topic is explained clearly from start to finish through easy to follow steps. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Unrivalled; clear, concise and well written., 10 Aug 2007
This book is superb, I can only fault its size but the depth of coverage warrants such mammoth dimensions. The material covered within is done so in a structured fashion, ensuring the reader can actually grasp the material as appose to just learning the methodology. I have not had to use this book as a standalone revision tool but in conjunction with my maths notes, it is unbeatable. The exercise problems can get a bit tedious and some of the leaps in difficulty are inexplicable but a little extra searching and practice will iron out any reservations. If you are studying any engineering degree I would seriously recommend splashing the cash, you may not use it extensively at first but having it as a resource has been invaluable for me.

Got lost!, 16 Jul 2007
This is undoubtedly a good book but it put me to sleep at times as I could not see how all these calculations would be useful to me when I graduated. I assumed an Engineering Math book would have examples from Engineering cases but they were few and far between. I did find some other books that did this in the library.

This is a good book for learning by heart how to do these things but I think I remember about 20% of it now that the exam is over! I wanted to understand it not learn it by heart. :(

Stroud is massive! It has practically an entire intro to math book at the start which at best is good for a glance because, as an Engineer, my Math is OK. It is a huge big clunking book which broke my back carrying it but was useful none the less.



Brilliant! It got me through BSc and is helping me remember it as well!, 14 May 2007
I first bought Ken Stroud's book back in 1987, and found it extremely useful to help me get through my BSc (Hons) degree in microelectronics and computing.

Now I have bought the 6th edition to help me revise my maths knowledge, and it is helping me already with some post-graduate study.

The programme method really helps in self-study.

The updating has helped keep it current, and it is very readable!!

For undergraduate engineering maths study, this is the book that is a must have!

jean genie, 05 Oct 2008
Dawkins is excellent while he sticks to biology
however he may have lost the plot in the last chapter
as he has in thinking promoting science involves attacking
religion
If an evangalist is someone who does not leave people to work
it out for themselves but pushes his point of view Dawkins is one
Nutty Baptists and Dawkins looked similar on channel 4 for example
ie they both spin world events too far to promote a point of view

Imaginative guessing, 13 Sep 2008
I have attempted to read Dawkins's books on a few occasions but seldom get beyond the first 100 pages. I simply find his style of writing boring and his theories pure imaginative guesswork; I cannot take this author's ideas onboard yet biology fascinates me and especially that of epigenetics which seems to disprove all that this author advocates. I suspect that there is a snobbery value to those who support him. Irrespective of his academic standing I cannot avoid regarding the author as an imposter as I constantly want to wage war with his views. Admittedly, he comes across publicly as a very plausible academic but, that does not sway me.

Blind theorizing, 27 Jun 2008
Dawkins writes that "the argument of this book is that we, and all other animals, are machines created by our genes" (p.xxi) and that "We are survival machines - robot vehicles blindly programmed to preserve the selfish molecules known as genes" (p.xxi). Yet, according to him, this book "is not science fiction; it is science" (p.xxi)!

Dawkins contrives to overlook the twin discoveries that:
1. the observable traits of organisms are mostly conditioned by the interactions of many genes;
2. most genes have multiple effects on many of these traits.

Dawkins transfers characteristics with which he is familiar from human behaviour on the macro-level to the inanimate components, "genes", of which we are physically constructed. He then proceeds to argue that these impersonal entities, which he imagines to possess characteristically human traits, infallibly generate the same unpleasant traits in human behaviour on the macro-level. So he writes: "The gene is the basic unit of selfishness" (p.36).

The absurdity is evident in that genes or other nonconscious entities cannot be either selfish or unselfish. They cannot "compete" against anything or "choose" anything.

If Dawkins were right, what would be the point of declaring, as he does: "Let us try to *teach* generosity and altruism, because we are born selfish" (p.3)? For if we really were machines, as he believes, even these very concepts would be meaningless to us. And certainly his oratory could have no effect whatever on our actual behaviour.

In fact genes do not force us to behave in any particular way. Neither can they possess the ability to direct or to comprehend all that is required to adopt a course of either heartless selfishness or heartfelt, sacrificial compassion.

The arguments in this review have been challenged by the claim that Dawkins himself answers these charges. His claim is, in effect, that that "the evolution of behavioural reactions or patterns via natural selection" and "control by nonconscious mechanisms" are two vastly different ideas. Also it is said that Dawkins does not deny a freedom of choice as the very last lines in this book itself "celebrate the human ability to make choices that transcend genetic control and instinctive reactions." So it is said that Dawkins "repeatedly draws clear distinctions" to prevent his readers from jumping to the conclusions expressed above.

However, there is a vast difference between asserting that such distinctions exist and actually laying a solid theoretical foundation for such distinctions. To lay the kinds of foundations which Dawkins does and then to go on to insist that these foundations do not lead to their logical conclusion is nothing less than an act of faith on Dawkins' part. It certainly does not bestow any validity upon Dawkins alleged distinctions. The bottom line is that Dawkins' presuppositions simply do not lead logically to the sort of distinction which he asserts.

Essentially this debate is an argument not about data, but about underlying assumptions. Here is a example of what I mean:

ASSUMPTION: 1. "evolution is true";
DATUM: 2. "human beings have consciousness";
ASSUMPTION: 3. "therefore evolution is capable of generating consciousness".

Once again, it is a case of "garbage in, garbage out" (as Dawkins himself would say).



Scientifically sound but philosophically flawed, 29 May 2008
Darwin's theory of evolution is no doubt a successful scientific hypothesis, and Prof. Dawkins brings across this very clearly. However, I do have some doubts regarding his philosophical assertions.

Essentially Prof. Dawkins believes that:

1) Selfishness and competition is at the root of all biological phenomena - nature as "red in tooth and claw"
2) There is no basic "dis-continuity" between humanity and other animals - humans are not qualitatively different from other animals
3) There is however no ethical dilemma between this basic fact and the human desire for goodness - since descriptive and normative realities are intrinsically separate (what is and what should be are independent of each other)

Yet the basis for point 3) - the inherent seperation of "what is" and "what ought to be" is just a philosophical assertion. Prof. Dawkins is very correct in stating that the belief in God and all other religious assertions should be treated and critically analysed as scientific hypotheses. However, strictly speaking this should go beyond the subject of religion to include every other field of human intellectual activity, including of course philosophy itself. If we treat the assertion "'what is' is fundamentally separate from 'what ought to be'" as a strict scientific hypothesis in the same sense that "God exists" is treated as such a hypothesis, then it has to be said that it is no more than just a blank assertion without any kind of empirical justification.

In other words, Prof. Dawkins is mistaken in assuming that his particular view of evolution and Darwinism does not leave us with an ethical dilemma, because it evidently does. The only argument Prof. Dawkins has offered against this is the mere assertion that "what ought to be" must be seperate from "what is", yet this assertion, just like religious assertions regarding God, cannot be scientifically or empirically proven.

Still great after all these years, 24 Apr 2008
Despite being over 30 years old, this book is still a powerful and exciting account of how life, including humans, came to be. The examples and explanations (aphid & ant coexistence, fluke worms in snails) are breathtaking in their descriptions of the natural world, and could easily awaken an interest in zoology in the casual reader.

A rather complete book, 24 Sep 2001
For a student it is worth it buying as it starts with some basic stuff that can refresh the Maths knowledge needed to understand what will come afterwards. It covers all the Maths topics that they will have during their degree, except for Statistics. It can always be a reference to have in a bookshelf in case something comes up in the near future. For a Maths teatcher it is usefull as it has examples to apply the theory we want them to learn.

Good intoduction if your maths is a bit rusty, 07 Mar 2001
I found this book pretty helpful as it explains basic concepts from scratch, gradually building them up. It's easy to follow and a good foundation for businessy maths. it doesn't go into things like limitations of the modelling techniques though, but it helps you get to the level of maths needed for economics and business. It's not patronising, which is a problem I've encountered with other similar level texts. I'm pretty good at maths, but had forgotten some techniques and this provided a good reminder relevant to my degree, although it seems to be more like A level standard.

applying the maths to real world business scenarios is great, 17 Dec 2000
having just finished the first 3 chapters (linear equations) I can recommend this book to any person who seeks to improve their mathematics, regardless of prior knowledge. Having finished school nine years ago and never having been interested in maths until now, Ian Jacques offers an engaging 'business scenario' in introducing the subjects and step by step unfolding of the formula's make self study much easier and very rewarding

something every bookshelf should have, 02 Apr 2008
This is of corse the basis for modern evolutionary works ,that being so it's not quite acurate to todays knowlege so this book is more of a historical book.This particular book is of good quality and structure with detailed image of the different species used as examples.

A FANTASTIC CLASSIC, 05 Jan 2008
Yes, it's dense but a must for evolution buffs. A vastly more entertaining read: NATURAL SELECTION by Dave Freedman, all about the evolution of a new species of flying predator! What makes it fantastic is that while a work of fiction it's brilliantly researched, actually teaches you what evolution really is. It gets into the evolution of the brain, the lung, flight - really cool stuff - but unlike dry textbooks, does it at warp speed. I literally could not put this book down, read it cover to cover in 2 days. A tremendous "fictional complement" to Darwin's master work.

Great Scientist, 29 Dec 2005
Many people assume that Darwin's initial account of natural selection is so out of date that it is to be avoided in favour of more recent text books of evolutionary theory. While it is true that huge gains have been made in the one and a half centuries since the first publication of "The Origin", there is nothing in this work which is wrong. Darwin was too good a scientist and too cautious.

Some claim that Darwin admitted of the possibility of Lamarkian mechanisms. They have not read the original. Darwin knew nothing of the molecular basis of genetics, but knew that natural selection did not need a Lamarkian mechanism. He simply did not rule it out, although he found it improbable. Everything that is stated in this great classic is as true today as it was at the time of first publication.

It is also said that Charles Darwin wa