Advantages: Pretty town with lots of pubs and cafes and stunning views
Disadvantages: Not many shops

...Having recently moved to stroud I felt compelled to write a review of it. For those of you who haven't heard of Stroud it is a small town in the Cotswolds based between Cheltenham and Gloucester. As a newby I don't really know much history of the town but I will attempt to tempt you to visit it. When I say Stroud is a small town, I mean small, and to prove it there are not really many shops. Do not let this put you off though as to make up for it, on every first and third Saturday in the month Stroud has a fantastic farmers market (voted the best in the country) selling the usual range of locally grown products. However, as stroud has a new agey feel the atmosphere is really good there is usually some sort of street music going on and there is a range of people attending from locals to visitors in all age ranges... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Comprehensive, cheap, easy to use, understandable
Disadvantages: little on Matrices or Matrix manipulation.

...In my experience there are two things one needs a maths book for in University. *Looking up little things, like Laplace transforms. *Revising for exams This book by Stroud is very good for you unless your a maths student. If your an Engineering student, Chemist, Physicist, Cybernetician etc etc this book is perfect for you. It contains vast amounts of useful and accessible knowledge. What I mean by accessible is that this book requires no prior research. It takes topics and breaks them down into constituent parts and takes you through very slowly. Asking you little questions throughout and giving you the answers. It then moves on to the more complex things. This is great if you revising for exams (lets face it you never bother to look at the stuff until a few days before anyway) as you can go through and understand the beginnings... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Quality hotel
Disadvantages: none

...It is a generally acknowledged fact that people very rarely appreciate what they have right on their doorstep, and I know that I am no exception. I have lived in Stroud, Gloucestershire all my life and when I saw a section on Ciao called 'Hotels in Stroud' my first thought was why would anyone want to visit? Stroud, genuinely, is best seen in the rear view mirror of your car. However, there are some lovely areas in the outlying villages, nestling on the edge of the Cotswolds, it even can be made to sound romantic. So as naturally it is impractical for me to open my house to all ciao readers although a couple of you would be more than welcome, I should therefore recommend a hotel, so after some consideration, I concluded the Bear of Rodborough would be a great place to stay. The hotel is one of those rare establishments... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Absolutely fantastic read. It's not so much a factor of couldn't put it down than wouldn't!
Disadvantages: Perhaps not for young readers.

...This is one of the greatest books I have ever read in my entire life. It\'s not fast-paced, but quite obviously, it is not meant to be. Stroud has combined humour, action, more humour, a great storyline and a heck-of-a-lot-of footnotes with pure genius, and the result is spectacular. People have described this book as boring. Now, I, quite obviously, disagree, but I don\'t speak for the world. Yet even I have found one of two faults in this book. Firstly, the concept of the whole thing. I don\'t want to give anything away to potential buyers, but in places, the story can be tricky to follow. There are technical bits, very technical bits and slightly more technical bits. But with patience, anyone can see the story within, and enjoy it more than they could imagine. Secondly, the plotline itself. What Stroud has excelled in doing... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Definative, Clear, Awesome
Disadvantages: If you're a Maths Legend you Might Turn your nose Up

...clearly and progressively. Many degree level math books just plunge you in the deep end and show you no mercy! ... Stroud's Clear sections allow you to find what your looking for quickly and efficiently. The book is filled with examples, and following examples is by far the best way to