Between the Covers

Peeling Design Patterns for Beginners and Interviews

Narasimha Karumanchi, Meda Sreenivasa Rao

(CareerMonk Publications, Rs. 550)

For those who are clueless about the nitty-gritty of software design, comes this guide from Narasimha Karumanchi and Prof. Sreenivasa Rao Meda that presents design patterns in a simple and straightforward style. The writers provide an introduction to the basics with clear-cut explanations. It will come in handy as an interview and exam guide for computer scientists.

Some of the special topics that have been dealt with in depth in each chapter include UML Basics, Design Patterns Introduction, Creational Patterns, Structural Patterns and Behavioral Patterns.

The book which has been written by professionals (Karumanchi works with Amazon Corp, while Rao is the current director, School of IT, and a professor of Computer Science), offers readers comprehensive data on design patterns with real-time examples. A glossary and sample interview questions are bonuses.

The Information: A History, A Theory, A Flood

James Gleick

(Harper Collins, Rs. 599)

Information…. It’s a word that with myriad connotations. It’s a word that has become the mantra in a wired world. It’s a word that dates back to the days of ‘talking drum’ (remember the Phantom comics?) and the beginnings of speech.

In this book, which works beautifully as reference material, James Gleick explores the history of information and its importance in the present world.

Initially, the concept of information did not exist, he says. Every thought and utterance used to vanish as soon as it was conceived. The author goes back in time to the invention of alphabet and scripts and talks about how information technology has changed the nature of human consciousness. Some of the most prominent names in the development of the concept of information are discussed at length here Charles Babbage, Ada Byron, Samuel Morse, Alan Turing, and Claude Shannon.

And then Gleick, often considered one of the best chroniclers of science and modern technology, delves into words such as signs, signals, news, images, blogs, and tweets, all elements that make up the information age.

Here’s a new look at what information meant centuries ago and what it has come to mean today.

Apple Eye Pad: Children’s Year Book 2012 (With Interactive DVD)

Apple Books

(Apple Publishing International (P) Ltd, Rs. 199)

This is a compilation of quirky facts to help children increase their general knowledge in a fun, interactive manner.

The topics are as varied as people and places, astronomy, the animal kingdom, the world of literature, geography, science and technology, cartography, inventions, milestones in history of various nations and the business of entertainment.

Simple language and easy style make reading interesting for children as young as nine or 10, and yes, capture their imagination.

And yes, the book answers many questions which might have aroused the curiosity of your tiny tot. An interactive DVD that accompanies the book will appeal to the tech-savvy children of this generation.