September 2023 MBR The Computer Shelf

The Computer Shelf

Dive Into Data Science
Bradford Tuckfield
No Starch Press
www.nostarch.com
9781718502888, $39.99, PB, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Science-Business-People-Bradford-Tuckfield/dp/1718502885

Synopsis: Packed with essential skills and useful examples, "Dive Into Data Science: Use Python To Tackle Your Toughest Business Challenges" by Bradford Tuckfield offers a practical and comprehensive introduction to the world of data science and will show you how to obtain, analyze, and visualize data so you can leverage its power to solve common business challenges.

With only a basic understanding of Python and high school math, you will be able to effortlessly work through "Dive Into Data Science" and to start implementing data science in your day-to-day work. From improving a bike sharing company to extracting data from websites and creating recommendation systems, you will discover how to find and use data-driven solutions to make business decisions.

The topics covered include conducting exploratory data analysis, running A/B tests, performing binary classification using logistic regression models, and using machine learning algorithms.

You'll also learn how to: Forecast consumer demand; Optimize marketing campaigns; Reduce customer attrition; Predict website traffic; Build recommendation systems.

With this practical guide at your fingertips, you will be able to harness the power of programming, mathematical theory, and good old common sense to find data-driven solutions that make a difference.

Critique: Comprehensive and thoroughly 'user friendly' in in organization and presentation, "Dive Into Data Science: Use Python To Tackle Your Toughest Business Challenges" is the ideal instructional reference guide to utilizing Python as a basic and essential part of doing business in today's increasing complex, competitive, and digital world. Of particular and specific value to those with an interest in the subjects of Data Mining, Computer Hacking, and Python Programming, "Dive Into Data Science: Use Python To Tackle Your Toughest Business Challenges" is a highly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, corporate, college, and university library Computer Programming & Business Management collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that "Dive Into Data Science: Use Python To Tackle Your Toughest Business Challenges" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $23.99).

Editorial Note: Bradford Tuckfield (https://interpreterfoundation.org/author/bradfordt) is a data scientist, a consultant, and a writer. He received a PhD from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and a BS in Mathematics from Brigham Young University. He is the author of Dive Into Algorithms (No Starch Press) and Applied Unsupervised Learning with R (Packt). In addition to working as a data scientist and tech manager for top finance firms and startups, his research has appeared in academic journals spanning math, business management, and medicine.

Adobe After Effects
Ben Goldsmith
Rocky Nook
1010 B Street, Suite 350, San Rafael, CA 94901
https://rockynook.com
9781681988658, $54.95, PB, 488pp

https://www.amazon.com/Adobe-After-Effects-Complete-Compendium/dp/1681988658

Synopsis: "Adobe After Effects: A Complete Course and Compendium of Features" by Adobe Certified Instructor Ben Goldsmith is the ideal instructional guide to editing and enhancing videos in with Adobe After Effects. Whether you are animating text or objects, changing a scene's setting, or creating a 3D scene, After Effects is the tool for you -- and this comprehensive 'how-to' paperback textbook will teach you what you need to know.

First, with its complete Course that includes a set of projects and lessons derived from video editor and, you will learn the procedures needed to use After Effects effectively and professionally. Dozens of exercises are included that can be applied to any videos you have in mind. Through step-by-step lessons, you'll be exposed to all of After Effects' features in practical contexts and its best practices for optimal workflows. To complete the Course, supply lesson documents are available and their assets to downloaded, so that you can work alongside the text.

Then, for greater depth of knowledge and subsequent reference, you will use the Compendium to uncover more of the "how" and "why" of After Effects. With each topic easy to access, you can find and explore all of Premiere Pro's key features and concepts in depth.

With cross-references between the Course and Compendium, the two parts of "Adobe After Effects: A Complete Course and Compendium of Features" complement each other perfectly. Best of all, when the lessons in the Course are done, the Compendium will continue to serve you for months and years to come.

Critique: A complete and professional course of step-by-step instructions with respect to Adobe After Effects, this singular edition of Ben Goldsmith's new "Adobe After Effects: A Complete Course and Compendium of Features" textbook from Rocky Nook is an impressively comprehensive and thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation. While unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, college, and university library Web Design, Digital Video, and Editing collections and curriculum studies lists, it should be noted that "Adobe After Effects: A Complete Course and Compendium of Features" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $34.48).

Editorial Note: Ben Goldsmith (https://www.benjaminausmith.com) tells stories and shares ideas through editing videos and designing motion graphics. After receiving his BA at Hampshire College in digital media production, Ben developed and created immersive media experiences for historic and scientific museums nationwide, including the FDR Museum and the Boston Museum of Science. Ben now produces videos for Sparkworks Media (where he creates content for Amazon, Alaska Airlines, and other local businesses) and teaches video editing at Luminous Works and the School of Visual Concepts.

React Programming
Loren Klingman, author
Ashley Parker, author
Big Nerd Ranch
https://bignerdranch.com
9780137901760, $49.99, PB, 420pp

https://www.amazon.com/React-Programming-Ranch-Guide-Guides/dp/0137901763

Synopsis: React is currently the most popular open-source JavaScript library for front-end web application development. "React Programming: The Big Nerd Ranch Guide" by the team of co-authors Loren Klingman and Ashley Parker helps programmers with experience in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript master React through hands-on examples.

Based on Big Nerd Ranch's popular React Essentials bootcamp, this DIY guide illuminates key concepts with realistic code, guiding you step by step through building a starter app and a complete, production-ready app, both crafted to help you quickly leverage React's remarkable power.

Use React to write reliable, declarative code, create carts and other e-commerce features, optimize performance, and gain experience with component and end-to-end testing. Along the way, you will learn to use tools like Create React App, functional components, hooks, ESLint, React Router, websockets, the React Testing Library, and Cypress.

Critique: Of special and practical value to students and programers with in interest in JavaScript Programming and Computer Programming Languages, "React Programming: The Big Nerd Ranch Guide" is comprehensive and thoroughly 'user friendly' in both organization and presentation. While also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $28.99), "React Programming" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, college, and university library Computer Programming collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note #1: Loren Klingman (https://www.klingman.us) is a full-stack web developer and instructor at Big Nerd Ranch. He has over 15 years of experience across a variety of technologies. When he's not at work, he can be found playing tabletop games.

Editorial Note #2: Ashley Parker (https://bignerdranch.com/our_presenters) is an engineering team manager and instructor at Big Nerd Ranch, where she loves to learn new things. She specializes in front-end web development, with a focus on React and React Native. When she's not in front of a computer, you can find her reading, traveling, or doing mom things.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, internet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugalmuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publisher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review