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Geotechnical Engineering of Dams
$269.95
Let me get one thing straight, were this book around the $130 range rather than the $220 range, this is a 5-star book. However, at the current price, it's somewhat difficult to say if the reader is getting their money's worth, even if the book is useful.

Putting the price-tag aside, however, this text is absolutely the best recent addition to the field that exists on the market right now. In my mind, there's no comparison. First off, the most prominent feature exhibited is the sheer knowledge of dam building/engineering by multiple authors. The writing is top-notch, and all the basics are covered, from subsurface materials, structural foundations, earthworks, construction, etc. In addition, the cases are well-documented and impressively, and practically, laid-out for the reader. All recent investigations and breakthroughs are mentioned, with an emphasis on embankment dams. This volume brings the info of Dam Engineering field up to speed . . . something the older texts haven't done.

If price is no object, then you shouldn't hesitate to pick this volume up. It's well worth it. However, if $200+ just isn't feasible, then you might need to wait until either the cost drops, or another equally well-written book on Geotechnical Engineering of Dams comes to press that compares. At the present moment, this one is the best.

Difference Engine the
$20.99

Dam!: Water, Power, Politics, and Preservation in Hetch Hetchy and Yosemite National Park
$28.50
In a short book (356 pages) the author covers a lot of territory all centered around the daming of Hetch Hetchy valley in Yosemite National Park. There is a brief but interesting account of the history of the National Park Service and Yosemite; a quick sketch of John Muir; and then a history of the politics of San Francisco as it relates to Hetch Hetchy and the city's water supply. And then to make it even more interesting the latter part of the book discusses the concept of wilderness. All in all it was a much better book than I thought it would be.

The DAM Book: Digital Asset Management for Photographers
$49.99
This terrific book explains the present state of evolution of Peter Krough's seminal work in digital asset management. If you own and use the first edition, you will want this one for the many changes and refinements he has implemented. If you are new to the topic, you can start here. Combine reading this book with visiting his terrific website, and you should have all the knowledge you need to implement and maintain a long-term DAM strategy to suit your particular needs. If you don't see your questions already answered on his excellent online forum, you can post them yourself. They are often addressed by the author himself. Since this is essentially the only game in town, we are fortunate that it is well written, well organized, and most of all and on a continuing basis, well thought out. As far as DAM goes, Krough play the long game, and we all benefit.