This book presents a history of shock compression science, including development of experimental, material modeling, and hydrodynamics code technologies over the past six decades at Sandia National Laboratories. The book is organized into a discussion of major accomplishments by decade with over 900 references, followed by a unique collection of 45 personal recollections detailing the trials, tribulations, and successes of building a world-class organization in the field. It explains some of the challenges researchers faced and the gratification they experienced when a discovery was made. Several visionary researchers made pioneering advances that integrated these three technologies into a cohesive capability to solve complex scientific and engineering problems. What approaches worked, which ones did not, and the applications of the research are described. Notable applications include the turret explosion aboard the USS Iowa and the Shoemaker-Levy comet impact on Jupiter. The personal anecdotes and recollections make for a fascinating account of building a world-renowned capability from meager beginnings. This book will be inspiring to the expert, the non expert, and the early-career scientist. Undergraduate and graduate students in science and engineering who are contemplating different fields of study should find it especially compelling.

The important thing about The Important Book -- is that you let your child tell you what is important about the sun and the moon and the wind and the rain and a bug and a bee and a chair and a table and a pencil and a bear and a rainbow and a cat (if he wants to). For the important thing about The Important Book is that the book goes on long after it is closed.What is most important about many familiar things -- like rain and wind, apples and daisies -- is suggested in rhythmic words and vivid pictures. 'A perfect book . . . the text establishes a word game which tiny children will accept with glee.' -- K.

A fascinating look at the history of Time, the world's most influential newsweekly.

The hundred books discussed here have radically altered the course of civilisation , whether they have embodied religions practised by millions, achieved the pinnacle of artistic expression, pointed the way to scientific discovery of enormous consequence, redirected beliefs about the nature of man, or forever altered the global political landscape. For each there is a historical overview, an analysis of the work's effect on our lives today and a lively discussion of the reasons for inclusion.

Bob Buford's Halftime shows how men can make their middle years a time of transformation toward a more satisfying -- and significant -- life.

Discover the essential thinking tools you’ve been missing with The Great Mental Models series by Shane Parrish, New York Times bestselling author and the mind behind the acclaimed Farnam Street blog and “The Knowledge Project” podcast. This first book in the series is your guide to learning the crucial thinking tools nobody ever taught you. Time and time again, great thinkers such as Charlie Munger and Warren Buffett have credited their success to mental models–representations of how something works that can scale onto other fields. Mastering a small number of mental models enables you to rapidly grasp new information, identify patterns others miss, and avoid the common mistakes that hold people back. The Great Mental Models: Volume 1, General Thinking Concepts shows you how making a few tiny changes in the way you think can deliver big results. Drawing on examples from history, business, art, and science, this book details nine of the most versatile, all-purpose mental models you can use right away to improve your decision making and productivity. This book will teach you how to: Avoid blind spots when looking at problems. Find non-obvious solutions. Anticipate and achieve desired outcomes. Play to your strengths, avoid your weaknesses, … and more. The Great Mental Models series demystifies once elusive concepts and illuminates rich knowledge that traditional education overlooks. This series is the most comprehensive and accessible guide on using mental models to better understand our world, solve problems, and gain an advantage.

Life-changing wisdom from 130 of the world's highest achievers in short, action-packed pieces, featuring inspiring quotes, life lessons, career guidance, personal anecdotes, and other advice

Listing of 100 people from around the world and from many different fields of endeavor, whose actions--the author has determined--have had, or will have, the greatest influence on the course of history.

TQM, Reengineering,Theory of Constraints, JIT,Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing . . . These are just some of the methods that, overthe past five decades, have promised to transformany manufacturing firm into a lean, mean, moneymakingmachine. While each incorporates certainfundamental truths, strengths, and benefits, theyare not panaceas. Nor do they necessarily providemuch-needed insight into the science that underliesfactory performance. James Ignizio, Ph.D., an internationally recognizedperformance optimization expert, believesthat only a balanced approach will provide thesignificant and sustainable improvement requiredof firms who will survive and prosper in thetwenty-first century. In this breakthrough guide, Dr. Ignizio picks upwhere such concepts as Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturingleave off to provide you with a holistic,three-dimensional approach to mastering the artand science of manufacturing. Focusing on the three primary enemiesof factory performance—complexity, variability,and lackluster leadership—Optimizing FactoryPerformance cuts to the heart of the problem ofless-than-world-class performance and demonstrateshow those enemies manifest themselves incompanies across manufacturing sectors. Ignizioalso explores the insidious effect company politicsand flagging commitment to manufacturing performancehave on competitiveness. Emphasizing the all-important, often overlookedthird dimension of manufacturing—factoryprotocols—Ignizio describes the types of strategicand tactical changes to physical plant and operatingprocedures any company can make to achieveperformance improvements. In addition, he arms youwith powerful, original metrics for measuring andcomparing factory performance, as well as a set ofinteractive simulation models, available online atwww.mhprofessional.com/ignizio. Running throughout the book is an oftenamusing, always instructive account of the fictionalhigh-tech firm, Muddle, Inc., which helps supportthe concepts discussed in the real world of manufacturing,while reinforcing key lessons learned. Read Optimizing Factory Performance and findout how to transform your organization into the kindof fast, agile manufacturer that delivers the rightproducts to the right customers at the right time—every time.