Take some heat off the complexity of thermodynamics Does the mere thought of thermodynamics make you sweat? It doesn't have to! This hands-on guide helps you score your highest in a thermodynamics course by offering easily understood, plain-English explanations of how energy is used in things like automobiles, airplanes, air conditioners, and electric power plants. * Thermodynamics 101—take a look at some examples of both natural and man-made thermodynamic systems and get a handle on how energy can be used to perform work * Turn up the heat—discover how to use the first and second laws of thermodynamics to determine (and improve upon) the efficiency of machines * Oh, behave—get the 411 on how gases behave and relate to one another in different situations, from ideal-gas laws to real gases * Burn with desire—find out everything you need to know about conserving mass and energy in combustion processes Open the book and find: * The laws of thermodynamics * Important properties and their relationships * The lowdown on solids, liquids, and gases * How work and heat go hand in hand * The cycles that power thermodynamic processes * Chemical mixtures and reactions * Ten pioneers in thermodynamics * Real-world applications of thermodynamic laws and concepts Learn to: * Master the concepts and principles of thermodynamics * Develop the problem-solving skills used by professional engineers * Ace your thermodynamics course

"Written by five college reading and writing instructors, this interactive, multimedia text draws from decades of experience teaching students who are entering the college reading and writing environment for the very first time. It includes examples, exercises, and definitions for just about every reading- and writing-related topic students will encounter in their college courses"--BC Campus website.

Dogs can bring companionship, fun, and unconditional love to their owners. To reciprocate for all of the joy that a dog adds to life, dog owners need to be educated about and fully prepared for responsible ownership and care. There's a lot to know when you're a dog owner, and this comprehensive guide serves as the ultimate reference for owners at all stages of their dogs' lives. Inside The Ultimate Guide to Dog Care: -A thorough discussion on what you need to consider before you decide to add a dog to your family -Sources from where you can obtain a healthy, sound puppy or adult dog -Checklists and charts to help you buy all of the equipment and supplies you will need before your dog comes home -How to introduce your new dog to your home, other family members, other dogs, and strangers -The importance of socialization to a dog's overall personality and confidence -Complete nutrition for puppies, adults, and senior dogs -How to groom different coat types and the tools you will need -Making sure that your dog gets enough exercise for his body and mind, with special sections on organized dog sports and pet-assisted therapy work -Keeping your dog safe at home and everywhere you go -Raising a polite canine member of society through reward-based training, communication, and solutions to common problems -Routine health checks, dealing with parasites, and recognizing and treating illness and injury, with a chapter on care of the older dog

An easy-to-understand introduction to Judaism's most sacred text   The foundation of Hebrew and Jewish religion, thought, law, and society is the Torah, the parchment scroll containing the text of the Five Books of Moses that is located in every synagogue. This accessible guide explains the Torah in clear language, even to those who were not raised in the Jewish religious tradition. Christians who want to know more about the Jewish roots of Christianity need to understand the Torah, as do followers of Islamic tradition and those interested in the roots of Abrahamic faiths. The Torah for Dummies explains the history of the Torah, its structure and major principles, and how the Torah affects the daily lives of people who follow the Jewish way of life.

This bestselling reference guide includes 76 entries on traditional and modern poetic forms. Defined in alphabetical order, each entry is allotted 1-7 pages with examples and histories of-and ideas for using-each form.

Brandon McMillan gives pet parents tools to bond with their dog in remarkable ways. The key is figuring out what your dog wants by recognizing biological instincts, and then finding a healthy outlet for them.

"Architect and author Chuck Durrett's recently released book Senior Cohousing Handbook comes at a time of high interest in greening, sustainable housing and affordable living concerns. Durrett's new book is a comprehensive guide for baby boomers wishing to continue vibrant, active lifestyles." - EPR Real Estate News "Make your senior years safe and socially fun with the idea of senior cohousing and a book on the topic that shows how seniors can custom-build their neighborhood to fit their needs. This is housing built by seniors, not for them, and emphasizes independence and social networking. Any library strong in gerontology or social science and many a general lending library needs this. - James A. Cox, The Midwest Book Review "As a Baby Boomer, I've joked for a few years that we'll all end up living communally again because Social Security will be broke...This is one of the better ways to envision it."-Sacramento Bee No matter how rich life is in youth and middle age, the elder years can bring on increasing isolation and loneliness as social connections lessen, especially if friends and family members move away. Senior cohousing fills a niche for this demographic-the healthy, educated, and proactive adults who want to live in a social and environmentally vibrant community. These seniors are already wanting to ward off the aging process, so they are unlikely to want to live in assisted housing. Senior cohousing revolves around custom-built neighborhoods organized by the seniors themselves in order to fit in with their real needs, wants, and aspirations for health, longevity, and quality of life. Senior Cohousing is a comprehensive guide to joining or creating a cohousing project, written by the US leader in the field. The author deals with all the psychological and logistical aspects of senior cohousing and addresses common concerns, fears, and misunderstandings. He emphasizes the many positive benefits of cohousing, including: -Better physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health -Friendships and accessible social contact -Safety and security -Affordability -Shared resources Successful aging requires control of one's life, and today's generation of seniors-the baby boomers-will find that this book holds a compelling vision for their future. Charles Durrett is a principal at McCamant & Durrett in Nevada City, California, a firm that specializes in affordable cohousing. He co-authored the groundbreaking Cohousing with his wife and business partner, Kathryn McCamant.

Moth noun: The devil incarnate, eater of both stash and finished objects. Should be treated with a zero-tolerance attitude." — The Secret Language of Knitters

More than 140 terms, from acrylic to yarn porn, are collected and defined for America"s 60 million knitting-obsessed. From the 25-year-old hipster to her 85-year-old grandmother, more than a third of the women in the United States knit. For the yarn-obsessed, Mary Beth Temple offers a glossary of knitting jargon and terminology in The Secret Language of Knitters with entries like:

• Design Elements noun: Mistakes. As in "The fact that one sleeve is five inches longer than the other is not a mistake, it is a design element."
• Stress Knitting noun: When the going gets tough, the tough get knitting.

With a universal affinity for cashmere and an absolute abhorrence of moths, veteran and beginning knitters alike will be certain not to cast off this humorous lexicon compendium.

Heating with wood is often considered a natural and economical alternative to electricity or fossil fuels. However, even with a fairly new and efficient woodstove, many cords of wood are required for burning over the course of a single winter, and incomplete combustion can contribute to poor air quality. A rocket mass heater is an earthen masonry heating system which provides clean, safe, and efficient warmth for your home, all while using 70 to 90 percent less fuel than a traditional woodstove. These unique and beautiful installations provide luxurious comfort year round. In cold weather a few hours of clean, hot burning can provide twenty or more hours of steady warmth, while the unit's large thermal mass acts as a heat sink, cooling your home on sizzling summer days. Packed with hard-to-find information, The Rocket Mass Heater Builder's Guide includes: Comprehensive design, construction, and installation instructions combined with detailed maintenance and troubleshooting advice Brick-by-brick layouts, diagrams, and architectural plans augmented with detailed parts drawings and photographs for clarity Relevant and up-to-date code information and standards to help you navigate the approval process with local building departments Earthen masonry heating systems are well-suited for natural and conventional builders alike. A super-efficient, wood-burning, rocket mass heater can help you dramatically reduce your energy costs while enhancing the beauty, value, and comfort of your home. Erica Wisner and Ernie Wisner have built over seven hundred super-efficient, clean-burning masonry stoves. They are dedicated to the search for sustainable solutions and the hands-on teaching of creative, ecological, and practical skills.