Programming Collective Intelligence by Toby Segaran; O'Reilly Media

First of all, I would say that at least a cursory knowledge of Python would help greatly in grasping and implementing the concepts in this book. The author is obviously quite fixated on Python; thus, code is written in Python, and sample data (as far as I can recall) all Python related.

The book is, however, a pretty good introduction to machine learning. Explanations are clearly laid out and concepts are well explained, making them easy to grasp. While it’s by no means a comprehensive study guide, it should whet your appetite for further study.

My suggestion: Seeing as this book can only cover so much, I feel a list of resources or a bibliography could be a nice addition to future versions. It would be really helpful to have suggestions of further material for a more in-depth study of the topic.

Godforsaken

I was really excited to read this book. I am fascinated by apologetic, and this book seemed right up my alley.

I was somewhat disappointed. It actually started off pretty well, but quickly got bogged down until I was slogging through page after page, trying to make it through. Honestly, I had a hard time finishing this book.

I'm not sure if it was the author's writing style, or what, but his way of tackling the problem of pain and suffering left an unpleasant taste in my mouth. The odd thing is, this book doesn't present anything particularly new or helpful to a Christian, yet it really isn't a book I'd offer to an unbeliever either. I wouldn't recommend this book.

I received a copy of this book free of charge from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to post a positive review; these opinions are my own.

Great Day Every Day

Despite all the talent, all the blessings, all the many things that we are given on a daily basis, so many of us are bogged down, focused on the stuff we don't like. Sometimes we're bogged down by something truly serious: a death, an illness, a bankruptcy. Most of the time though, it's the minutiae that gets us down. A traffic jam, a headache, an annoying co-worker, or a frustrating spouse.

Is is possible to have a "great day every day," in spite of our problems - large or small? That's the premise of this fantastic new book from Max Lucado.

Granted, I'm a huge fan of Lucado's work, but this one is truly excellent. It's a challenge to live a joyful, passion-filled life, no matter what you may be facing - and it gives the tools to accomplish that goal.

The writing is beautiful and the examples deep. I read the whole book aloud to my husband, and it provided loads of discussion and food for thought. I highly recommend this book for your 2012 reading list.

Disclaimer: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers through BookSneeze - their book review program. I wasn't required to post a positive review. These are my own opinions on this book.

Surprised by Laughter

I had just finished reading C.S. Lewis’s autobiographical “Surprised by Joy” when I came across this book. Something noticeable throughout Lewis’s work is his contagious sense of humor and his comedic outlook on life and humanity. The sheer brilliance of his work often overshadows the incredible wit that is infused throughout his writings. Terry Lindvall, PhD, offers quite a fascinating look at this side of Lewis that seems (to me) under appreciated.

Unfortunately, the first few chapters are dusty dry it’s almost ridiculous. It’s just strange that a book written about the humor of Lewis could be so lacking in mirth whatsoever.

It is, however, an interesting look at the life and work of C.S. Lewis – that is, once you get to the third or fourth chapter. Lindvall’s work is a good one. I did enjoy the book, though readers should be forewarned that it is not, overall, a funny book. If you want wit and humor, spend your time reading Lewis’s own work rather than this dissection of it.

Disclaimer: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers through BookSneeze - their book review program. I wasn't required to post a positive review. These are my own opinions on this book.

“Head First HTML5 Programming: Building Web Apps with JavaScript” by Eric Freeman and Elisabeth Robson

This isn’t a reference book. It’s a step-by-step guide - complete with exercises - that will set you well on your way to programming in JavaScript with the knowledge necessary to build outstanding websites. Eric Freeman and Elisabeth Robson, co-founders of Wickedly Smart, have put together quite a comprehensive introduction to working with HTML5.

If you’re new to JavaScript, this book is a great introduction. The book is aimed at beginners, and thus, it offers (I believe) a helpful focus on programming fundamentals while leaving the reader with a practical and workable understanding of the core material. The authors are clear from the start, however, that they do expect readers to have a decent grasp of HTML4 and CSS before launching into this book.

The Head First series takes an interesting approach to teaching, using lots of puzzles, pictures and gaming techniques to help readers grasp and master the various concepts. Perhaps not everyone will find this approach helpful or conducive to learning; however, I found it made the learning process enjoyable.

An aspect that I particularly appreciated was the very relevant, believable examples used throughout. By using interesting, yet realistic, examples, the writers have made it easy to translate concepts into every-day application.

http://shop.oreilly.com/home.do

Switched!

I've been looking for some good Christian/positive fiction for kids after a friend asked for a recommendation for her boys. Honestly, I nearly didn't bother with this book on seeing the cover... though, as they say, you can't judge a book by its cover, and this one definitely fits the bill.

Once I got past the cover art and typography, the story was surprisingly good. It's apparently the fifth book in Bill Meyers' "TJ and the Time Stumblers" series. The kids in the story stumble from one crazy situation to the next, making for some funny events and dialogue. Most importantly, however, the author manages to weave valuable lessons into the story without making it too obvious or overbearing (not an easy task).

I'd recommend this book for kids up to 8 or 9 years old.

I received a copy of this book free of charge from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to post a positive review; these opinions are my own.

This Thing of Ours

Cammy Franzese has an interesting - and potentially powerful - story to tell. The book is meant to be about how faith saved a marriage that was torn apart when Michael Franzese (Cammy's husband) was put in prison for mafia-related crimes.

The thing is, I found comparatively little about faith throughout the book. Yes, there are references to prayer, and passing mentions of faith, but not much attention is actually given to the process (or perhaps, transformation) of faith. The bulk of the book seems to dwell on the hardships of having a husband in prison and on what a trooper she was for sticking it out in the marriage. While I admire and respect her commitment to her marriage, that seems to really be the overshadowing point of the book.

The writing style also, was not easy to read. It seemed very impersonal and the story jumped from one point to the next, touching only briefly on the emotional aspect of the various situations. It almost seems like the story was written by a ghost writer who had little to no emotional connection to the story or its key characters.

I don't like to give low ratings, but this book left me unimpressed. I love a good biography or memoir, but I was disappointed by this one.

Disclaimer: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers through BookSneeze - their book review program. I wasn't required to post a positive review. These are my own opinions on this book.