Reviews for Strength of Materials

The average rating for Strength of Materials based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2014-09-30 00:00:00 Brian Hunt An odd collection of selected writing by Voltaire arranged in chronological order, the centrepiece is a chunk of his memoirs dealing with his relationship with Frederick II of Prussia, from whom he was pleased to accept an invitation and honours and even more pleased to escape, before this are some of Voltaire's English Letters. The collection is closed by some selections from the philosophical dictionary and the Encyclopaedia. There are also a few very short pieces. All of which are relentlessly witty and sharp, with the exception of what he has to say about old Fritz where he is also catty and bitchy. It's all a bit vapid, whipped cream with more than a hint of lemon sourness, but it is not a million miles away from Candide in thought or manner indeed there are echoes of its phrases here and there, just lacking a narrative structure, though you'll be pleased to learn that Voltaire does get to enjoy his garden, although by Geneva rather than Istanbul, in the end. The English Letters seemed to me to be a model of a certain kind of travel writing: these foreigners are funny, they have some genius but it could be improved upon, they are amusing but would be far better if they were more like us. The memoirs are the longest piece here. Frederick II gathered a collections of wits and philosophes about him who engaged in back biting, Voltaire having failed, surprisingly, to bite back with sufficient ardour fled and got his own back in these memoirs pointing out with some relish Frederick's homosexuality, lack of artistic talent, and perhaps more to the point that he was a gambler in war, whose bacon was repeatedly saved by his infantry. Here follows a fat extract: His Majesty arose at five in the summer and at six in the winter. The functions of high almoner, the great chamberlain, lords of the bed chamber, and gentlemen ushers, were all comprised in one lackey, who lighted his fire, shaved him, and finished his dressing, for he required very little assistance in that business. His chamber was in appearance very elegant; a rich balustrade of silver, ornamented with little cupids exceedingly well sculpted, seemed to form the alcove of the state bed, the curtains of which were seen, but behind those curtains, instead of a bed, there was a library, and the royal couch, a common camp bedstead, without sacking, only cross corded under a thin mattress, was concealed behind a screen. Marcus Aurelius and Julian, the two greatest men among the Romans, and the apostles of the Stoics, lay not on a harder couch. When His Majesty was dressed and booted, the stoic yielded for a few moments to the sect of Epicurus: he sent for two or three of his favourites - either lieutenants from the regiment, or pages, or foot-soldiers, or young cadets. Coffee was bought. The one who received the handkerchief would stay for ten or twelve minutes intimacy. None of this went to an extreme, since the prince (in his father's lifetime) had been so vilely treated in his passing fancies, and had only poorly recovered. He could not take the leading part; he could only be a subordinate (p.107) This is a very pointed contrast with the French court which was entirely opposite - a lavish ceremonial of the bedchamber and a quasi official role for the Royal mistress, with whom the King would be expected to play the active role. Frederick by contrast lives in some crazy mirror universe achieving some bizarre juxtaposition of stoic and epicurean elements. Ultimately the ministers of the French court are revealed to be gentlemen (and better poets): the Prussian king a weird and petty tyrant. It is all amusing and witty, but this was Voltaire's world, it took him a long time to achieve the wisdom to live outside the cat sanctuary even though he professes to see it for what it was.

Review # 2 was written on 2009-01-05 00:00:00 Anthony Aloi Another must have in the math center! Not only does it show a little mouse traveling through a house which is funny and interesting to kids, but the math behind it is an added treat.