Editorial Review

• This is the 100% complete guide to Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood

• A colossal 40+page Extras chapter features every Secret along with a Behind-the-Scenes section, an Artwork Gallery and an in-depth examination of key events and protagonists in the Assassin’s Creed series

• The user-friendly Walkthrough chapter charts a successful and rewarding path through the main story with step-by-step action on the left-hand page and advanced data and new features on the right

• A 40+page Side Quests chapter presents a game roadmap, all optional activities and Metagames and every secret collectible on highly detailed area maps

• The Reference & Analysis chapter offers lists and analysis of all Enemies, Weapons, Equipment, Moves, Shop Items and Achievements & Trophies

• The dedicated Multiplayer chapter details all Multiplayer features and maps and includes expert advice on the scoring system & bonuses, abilities, streaks, perks, challenges and level progression

• Carefully designed to avoid unnecessary story spoilers

• Quick search index for ease-of-use

• Includes a large map poster with the collectibles marked ... Read more

Reviews

Another Excellent AC Guide, November 18, 2010
If you played AC2, then you know how many extra missions and metagames were available. If you bought the Piggyback guide, you knew how well arranged and informative it was. Same thing here for AC: Brotherhood and in some ways the game is even bigger, and this guide all the more helpful.

First off the walkthrough is spoiler free and covers everything you need to complete the game story-wise. Then there are several sections devoted to the side-quests, guild missions, Rome reconstruction, Romulus Lairs, CE content, shop quests, Assassin's Guild (your Brotherhood)quests, War Machines, Borgia Towers, etc.

Everything is covered in great detail and the "Completion Roadmap" two-page spread lists in "DNA Sequence" order when you will first open a mission or any of the side missions and when the optimal time is to complete these objectives to achieve 100%. Basically this tells you when you can first attempt a mission or metagame in game and when it's both gameplay and financially best to do it. For example, in Sequence 6 you get a 25% discount on all Rome renovations. So wait until then to upgrade the really expensive landmarks like the Coliseum. This is all spoiler free and does a great job of letting you know at what sequence you can no longer exit the Animus as well.

Each Borgia Tower, War Machine, and Romulus Lair gets its own walkthrough page in the guide and shows you with arrows the best path to take to achieve the under 8 minute bonus times for the Lairs.

Finally, each district gets two pages that show you explicitly with icons as well as screenshots where each Borgia Flag, Rift, Feather, and Treasure is as well as what's in the treasure. So instead of looking around and on top of a building using an online guide, it shows you EXACTLY where on the building the collectible is. In addition, the game has a giant fold-out map with all collectible icons on it.

I probably sound like I'm rambling here, but the bottom line is the guide does such a comprehensive job of presenting EVERYTHING that's in the game so well, it's almost overwhelming. Everything is well organized and easy to find, and will make your journey towards 100% completion (and getting all the achievements/trophies--complete with descriptions on how to attain) a lot easier.

Piggyback Guides have no equal.

Good guide, but needs a few more screenshots, December 7, 2010
I like this guide overall and it definitely helps if you get stuck or miss something. However, in the walk-through, there are many mission explanations without screen-shots at all. They give directional indicators, but it would be much more helpful with screen-shots, showing you exactly what they are describing. All in all a great guide.

Tedious at times but the story is excellent, December 10, 2010
Assassin's creed is a good game. Not great, but good. The reason this gets 5 stars though is because you simply have to play this game to understand Assassin's Creed 2 and Brotherhood both Excellent games. It is worth it to play this game to get the full Assassin's creed experience. ... Read more

Editorial Review

High-quality Japanese origami paper specially manufactured to resist tears and produce clean lines and crisp folds. Each sheet is colored one side only to make it easier to understand the various folds and a sturdy shrink-wrapped folder keeps papers neat and clean until ready for use.
... Read more

Reviews

Good set of paper, September 24, 2000
As a beginner, this was a nice set of paper to work with. Lot's of colors to start and easy to fold..

Fun & Convenient, September 2, 2005
This set of origami paper was very convenient and my 8 year old daughter had a lot of fun using it. Not to mention the convenience of having it shipped right to our mailbox. She loves to get mail and packages. The price was very reasonable too.

Convenient, January 8, 2009
I bought this paper pack a couple of weeks ago and found out that it contains only 2 papers each of the various colors. Maybe I overlooked it while buying. But this made it impossible for me to fold Modular origami models or Kusudamas. This paper pack will be ideal in case you are more in the habit of folding models of animals, butterflies and such. Good quality and folds easily, otherwise. The colors are bright too.

alright, December 16, 2007
I thought the paper would be thiner, but it has a substantial feel to it.

Origami paper, November 19, 2008
Product is as advertised and will be enjoyed by gift recipient. Merchandise was promptly shipped.

Origami paper, July 5, 2010
I purchased this item for my grandson and he has been delighted to have the paper he needs at his finger tips and is also able to share with his brothers who now also feel the need to get with the program. They have loved it.......

Nice product, not a great value, January 15, 2007
The paper was fine. I used it with a basic origami book. My group of 7 kids went through it all in about an hour. It probably would have been a better value if I bought it at the local craft store. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Play Tic Tac Toe (Naughts and Crosses) against your Kindle! This edition has 16 different games - the Kindle plays differently in each one. Some games are easy to beat, some hard, and some are impossible. On some games the Kindle makes the first move, the other games you get to move first.

To play, you use the Kindle's controller to pick an empty square on the board to make your mark. The Kindle then takes its turn. All of the Kindle moves are pre-computed, but each of the 16 games are different. ... Read more

Reviews

A Classic - Tic Tac Toe, January 27, 2010
What is there to say but it's Tic Tac Toe, and its for your Kindle. Great for children and adults alike. Great for those long road trips when you're tired of reading "Game Change" on your Kindle and need something more stimulating.

Much too easy, November 11, 2010
If you want to win at tic tac toe about 95% of the time then this is the game for you. I have never lost which after awhile gets pretty boring! Even my granddaughter is bored with this one!

Good Book!, June 30, 2010
I like your book!
I also like it's price.
How did you do that? ... Read more

Editorial Review

A delight for serious puzzle aficionados, this calendar s every page offers a new crossword from The New York Times. As the week progresses, so does the challenge: Monday's puzzle is relatively undemanding; Tuesday's is a bit more difficult; on the weekend (Saturday and Sunday share a page and a puzzle) you'll encounter a crossword that may take both days to solve. In all, you get 313 stimulating crosswords selected by Will Shortz, crossword editor of The New York Times and puzzle master for National Public Radio's Weekend Edition Sunday. Also included are the puzzle answers, yearly grids for 2011 and 2012, and pages for notes. Size: 6.25 x 5.25 in. (box 7 x 6 in.). 365-day padded tear-off calendar with plastic base. Printed with soy-based inks. ... Read more

Reviews

Compilation of 2007-2008 NYT crossword reprints into a page-a-day calendar, August 17, 2010
This page-a-day desk calendar features over 300 consecutive New York Times daily crossword puzzles originally printed between July 7, 2007 and July 19, 2008. This chronology picks up where the 2010 page-a-day calendar ended. This series aligns with the normal Monday to Saturday progression of difficulty. Saturdays and Sundays share a calendar page and feature a Saturday puzzle. This year's box is orange; otherwise, the 2011 calendar's format is the same as that of previous years. The puzzle grids measure about 3" x 3" on the page, while each full page measures about 6" x 5". The lower right corner even features a few square inches of blank space for use as an actual desk calendar. The tear-off pages offer portability - I often keep a few pages in my planner for use in waiting rooms, train rides, etc. The front two pages are small 2011 and 2012 calendars that can be removed and conveniently posted elsewhere. I have been consistently pleased with this product and get it every year.

Great for those who need to pass time, December 25, 2010
I bought this for my husband to use during a deployment. He usually does crosswords on his iPhone but I knew he wouldn't be able to do that while downrange so this was a perfect gift. A new puzzle daily will be wonderful to pass the time. (A great hint for any others whose loved ones will be deploying with this-I opened it before Igave it to him and wrote notes throughout the year for him to find!)

Not a hard cover., September 26, 2010
We've purchased this for several years and have enjoyed it very much. We were somewhat disappointed, however, that the cover material has been downgraded this year. Maybe it is more "recycled" now, but it won't be as sturdy and handy to hold on one's lap. ... Read more

Editorial Review

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) On May 20, 2010, Laura Ingraham received a package from an anonymous source that will change the history of the United States and the legacy of President Barack Obama. While retrieving her automobile from the underground garage at the Watergate complex (where she had just enjoyed her weekly pedicure), Ingraham discovered a manila envelope on the hood of her car. When she picked it up, a deep baritone voice called out from a nearby stairwell: "Just read it. You’ll know what to do." The shadowy figure then disappeared into the darkness without another word.

The envelope contained copies of what appeared to be diary entries written by President Barack Obama, his family, and high-ranking administration officials. Because the "diaries" are so revealing, Ingraham felt compelled to release them to the American public and the citizens of the world.

Major media outlets love to describe the president as "no drama Obama," but The Obama Diaries tells a different tale. Through these "diary entries," readers will see past the carefully constructed Obama faÇade to the administration’s true plans to "remake America."

In The Obama Diaries, Ingraham hilariously skewers the president and his minions. She takes aim at:

•the cynical "razzle-dazzle" marketing of Obama’s radical agenda

•the use of the Obama "brand" and family to obscure Obama’s true aims

•Michelle Obama’s gardening and anti-obesity initiative; and much more.

Informative and hugely entertaining, The Obama Diaries will inspire both laughter and critical thinking about the future of the nation and the man currently at the helm.

Excerpts from Laura Ingraham’s The Obama Diaries

Obama on Sarah Palin:

"Hell, doesn’t Palin have anything better to do than criticize me? Shouldn’t she be back home shooting some endangered wolf species from a helicopter?" (April 9, 2010)

Michelle on being First Lady:

"I’ll be damned if all this fabulosity is going to go to waste reading Dr. Seuss to snot-nosed kids all day." (January 23, 2009)

Vice President Joe Biden on Michelle Obama:

"She’s kind of like a black Hillary Clinton. I mean that in a good way."  (May 5, 2009)

Obama on his visit to the Vatican:

"If I can ingratiate myself with a few more of these red-hats, the pope thing might not be a bad follow-up to the presidency."  (July 10, 2009)

  ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Super Strength required to hold this Masterpiece!, November 16, 2010
Over the past several decades, my bookshelf has filled up with publications that cover the long history of the Comic Book and the big two publishers. This newest tribute to the history of DC Comics, '75 Years of DC Comics: The Art of Modern Mythmaking', quite literally, crushes them all. It will also crush your lap and test your strength if you try to hold it up to read it! This tomb is MASSIVE! Nearly sixteen inches tall, 12 inches wide, 3 inches thick and weighs a metric ton! Well, perhaps not quite that much but it will feel like it after holding it for a short period of time!

The hardcover comes shrink-wrapped in a sturdy cardboard slipcase, matching the artwork on the wraparound cover. The box even conveniently comes with a side handle. Although you will need both hands to carry this monster around.

Yes, this is a very pricey book. As one who has a collection of like publications, I can assure you this book is worth every penny. Inside, the rarity of images and artwork along with the high production values, the quality of the print and page stock is well above the norm. For example, for each era of comic history (The Golden Age, Silver Age, Bronze Age, etc), that chapter begins with a two page spread highlighting the name of the era with thick, high gloss, corresponding color foil pages. Each era also includes a four page, pull-open timeline highlighting key events in both the fictional DC Comic universe and the real world of the comic book industry.

The author, Paul Levitz, a man who has spent his entire adult life working for the company, first as a young freelance writer in the 1970s, then later as publisher until 2010, was the right choice to chronicle this retrospective. If he had not seen it all, he certainly heard it all. I really enjoy how the text, the ongoing historical telling throughout the book is laid out for the reader...a grand intro for each era then as one or two paragraph antidotes accompanying the images or photos. For example, here's a cover of a very significant Green Lantern issue in the 1970s and why it is so considered, while next to it will be a short bio and tribute to a particular creator who worked on said issue. In fact, the creator tributes in this book are part of the true joys of reading through DC's history. That list is long and deep and for once a book of this kind goes to great lengths to credit more than just the typical top 20 or so names from the company's storied past. Beyond the names most adult fans of the genre already know about (The Bob Kanes, Jack Kirbys and Carmine Infantinoes) we find tributes to writers and artists less well known but just as important to the success of DC Comics and the Comic Book industry in general over the decades (Will Eisner, Sheldon Mayer, Jack Cole, Mort Weisinger, Curt Swan, Wally Wood, Gil Kane, Bernie Wrightson, Alex Toth), including many of the modern era's top talent (Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Marv Wolfman, George Perez, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, Mike Grell, Frank Miller, Bruce Timm, Alex Ross, Darwyn Cooke, Jim Lee, Geoff Johns) . The list of reference is long!

Running the business of DC Comics over the decades covers territory far beyond the comic book itself. Inside you will also find just as many rare images and stories about DC characters in TV, film, animation, toys and games, parades, commercials, stage productions and many other forms of marketing in the past 75 years.

This hardcover clearly cost a pretty penny to produce and import. As a tip for any fan on the fence about pulling the trigger on this big purchase...I would not bet this edition will be available for a any significant amount of time. Once it is sold out, it is very likely to become a collectible prize and rise in value. Amazon's introductory price is a bargain. In fact I would say Amazon is losing money on the shipping cost of this book alone.

Yep, highly recommended, but you will need to get creative on finding shelf space for this thing! I will add personal photos of the book to help give a better look at its inner awesomeness.

Buy It Now or Forever Regret Your Delay, November 20, 2010
Let me start off by disclosing that I'm really more of a book collector than a comics guy. Exploring the world of comics is something I look forward to doing in the future, but right now I really don't know much. I do know spectacular books, however, and this book is clearly that. This is not just huge, it is sophisticated in a dozen other ways. Let me just run through a quick list of superlatives here:

1) This is a cloth-covered hardback. Cloth is harder and harder to get nowadays, and it really harkens back to the days of better book binding. This book is so massive you will need to assure that it is properly supported while you are perusing it, but the book meets you half-way by giving you a bona fide binding.

2) Paper quality is first-rate. Each section (Black Age, Silver Age, Bronze Age, etc.) is divided by ultra-thick metallic paper of corresponding color. This is a totally innovative flourish, it really upgrades the book's sophistication. The colors used in reproduction of graphics and covers are almost certainly perfect and true; this is something for which Taschen is known. There are also numerous fold-out pages with chronologies of the characters and the innovators of these comics.

3)The book has a thick paper dust jacket. Since we are talking about an almost-certain valuable collectable here, I suggest getting the dust jacket into a Brodart mylar cover protector. You can buy it by the roll, or perhaps your local librarian will help you out. You'll be glad you made the effort to protect your investment. The book has a gorgeous ribbon book mark built in. There are indexes galore for you comics scholars and geeks.

4)Even for a comics novice like myself, the orgy of spectacular comics images is truly amazing. Wonder Woman, Batman, Superman...dozens more. I spent half a day just flipping through the pages. Your kids will certainly fighting over this massive tome some day unless you specify who gets it in your will!

I have several of the Taschen "XL" titles, and I never cease to be amazed. They are all great. Taschen has blown the doors off the publishing industry in recent years with these "XL" titles and many other creative publication efforts. They generate one fabulous book after another, and the price points make almost all of them inevitable purchases for me. I just wish Taschen was an American company. (They have US facilities, but they are German.) It begs the question, however: Why can't American manufacturers of products progress so innovatively ?

Taschen is iconic in my mind because they have entered their market with the idea of blowing off all constraints and preconceptions. Their only habit is experimentation, trying new things. They are revolutionary publishers in an era where many people are predicting the imminent demise of the book. Taschen should be a role model for all industries and manufacturers because of their emphasis on audacity and innovation, with a loyalty to traditional aspects of quality and value. The Taschens (a husband and wife who own and run the company) are the first people I would chose to take with me to a foreign galaxy for purposes of establishing an economic infrastructure on some remote planet. They look to precedent only for purposes of bettering it.

The Pi�ce de r�sistance of DC Comic History, November 23, 2010
There were two things that held me back from preordering this book. First was the price and the second larger reason was the unbelievable size. Perhaps the most stunning statistic is the colossal weight that checks in at an astounding SIXTEEN pounds. I read somewhere that the average weight of a comic book is 2 ounces which would mean this book is the weight of 128 comics (well over a decade of Action Comics) and trust me I don't doubt it. The storage for this monstrosity is not inconsequential and definitely factored into my thinking. Someone once said this isn't a coffee table book it's a coffee table. The largest comic related material I ever bought was the recent Wednesday Comics but that one pales in comparison to this leviathan. I suppose you could just lay it on the floor and read it on your stomach or seated Indian style but I fear for the spine of this very expensive book (although I suspect the book would handle it fine). I ended up sitting it next to me on the couch with the front cover resting on my right leg and the back cover propped up with pillows. With no intent towards exaggeration you will serious need a certain level of strength to read this book and I wouldn't recommend giving this as a gift to a small child.

What changed my mind about getting this book was this thought. How often can you own the best of anything? I can't afford the best watch ever made or the best car or the best pair of shoes but I can afford arguably the best book ever devoted to the history of DC Comics. The Art of Modern Mythmaking is 720 pages of glossy, heavy stock paper (hence the unbelievable weight) featuring thousands of images of comics from slightly prior to the existence of National Publications (DC Comics) up until today. The book generally features one full page spread of a comic cover or inside page and then a series of three or four smaller images on the opposite page. Each image will have a small paragraph of associated text listing the artist and some tidbits of related comic information. Interspersed throughout the book is the history of comics (with focus on DC) written by Paul Levitz. The book includes all DC history not just superheroes and even includes any publishers bought up by DC including Charlton, Fawcett and EC. Don't expect to see much at all on Marvel Comics.

So let me talk about the elephant in the room, the final worry I had about this book. Comic books are, by there very nature, printed to be disposable. The philosophy has generally been quantity over quality. Through much of its history comic books were printed on cheap quality paper with all sorts of errors in color separation with a paper stock so thin you could often see the image on the opposite side of the page bleed through. The goal was to keep the cost low so children could afford it and they could sell hundreds of thousands. Reproducing these images on high quality paper with the latest printing and photo technology is not going to magically turn them into high quality images. That's just a fact. The images from the 1940's with Action Comic covers from legends like Wayne Boring are awesome. The artists used a very clean bold style that holds up well but a lot of the art from the late 60's, 70's and 80's are pretty messy and lacking in charm. The 70's and 80's were when I was collecting but I actually don't hold much nostalgia for that era (up until the mid 80's when DC produced some of the best comics of all time) leading into the disastrous 90's. The clean, simplistic art of Curt Swan and CC. Beck lent themselves well to the printing limitations of their era and current artists like J.H. Williams III or Frank Quitely benefit from modern technology and higher grade paper but when I look at art from say Neil Adams on Green Lantern or George Perez when he worked on the Teen Titans it looks very messy and it all comes down to the printing not being up to the task of presenting the more complex art. There is nothing Taschen can do but reproduce the art as is and often times blowing it up only magnifies the printing limitations. That is not to diminish what Taschen has done which is produce the most accurate, most stunning book of comic book images ever. You really do feel like you are holding the physical embodiment of DC Comics and I loved some of the black and white images from newsstands in the 40's stocked with More Fun Comics and All-Star Comics and Action Comics. For me the earlier images in the book really sold it for me.

The book comes in a protective cardboard case from Taschen which unfortunately came with more than a few dents (thanks Amazon) and it even appears someone used it to write something on. I was disappointed because I consider this an awesome collectable but at least the book itself was protected. I wouldn't be surprised if years from now this book is looked back on as the de facto book on DC Comics history and perhaps THE premium comic history book (I'm also sure that a book with a mint condition cardboard case will be worth considerably more). Despite the massive weight and sometimes less than gorgeous source material I would consider this a must have for comic book fans if you have the cash to spend. This is one I will probably treasure for years to come although pulling this behemoth off a bookshelf for some casual reading might take a few minutes of limbering up lest I throw my back out. More often than not when I buy a high ticket item I tend to have at least a twinge of buyers remorse but in this case after more than a week I haven't for even a second regretted my purchase.

Taschen is amazing, November 25, 2010
I now have 9 of Taschen's 15 to 20 pound books plus the $200 book on Matisse. Collecting them is one of my many hobbies. They are all spectacular and incredible. DC Comics- 75 Years of Mythmaking is no exception. I still remember reading the first issue of Superman when I was a kid. This massive book will take me ages to read. The images are wonderful, the quality of the paper is wonderful. I feel the same about the others including my two latest, Circus and Magic. This company is very creative and will not settle for anything less than the top quality. I do wonder where the books were printed. This book and the other XL series are masterpieces of the printing art.

Unbelievable collection, November 22, 2010
Most people probably wouldn't pay $125 for a historical tome on comic books, let alone the $200 list price. But honestly, this was worth every penny.

Levitz does an amazing job of providing rich, deep context, going beyond the typical "comic-book books" by looking thoroughly into the roots of the industry before DC, the power players behind the scenes over 75 years, and enough of the corporate shifts that had significant impact on what fans read every week, month or two months. It's exhaustive, but not exhausting. (Well ... except for trying to lift the 16-pound thing! *That's* exhausting!)

Other reviews are right on about the gorgeousness of the book, so I won't repeat. I will say the carrying case is as beautiful as it is necessary and functional. (No small benefit for a book this massive.)

DC fans, and even casual comic fans who are pop-culture lovers, will be thoroughly impressed.

Pow! Crunch! Smash! and more, November 19, 2010
What better way to celebrate seventy-five years of DC Comics than this massive, stunning Taschen book. With 720 pages, two thousand plus images and probably over a hundred thousand words. It all adds up to treat for comic fans that will last and last.

Where to start? I preferred to dip into the five fold-out timelines (each forty-four inches wide) with about a thousand dated items spelling out the activities of DC, the comic industry in the context of the times and the seven pages at the back of the book with comprehensive biographies of all the creative folk was useful with the timelines.

The seven chapters are divided into Ages, starting with the Stone Age (nicely called Prehistory - 1938) and ending with the Modern Age: 1998 - 2010. An Afterword brings everything up-to-date with a section on the Digital Age. A feature that I particularly liked and it runs throughout the pages, are the artist portfolios, for example, Bernie Wrightson gets eight illustrations, Curt Swan seventeen, including a lovely whole page of Superman heads with various expressions. Another interesting feature is the inclusion of titles other than DC because they in some way influenced comic art or writing, a quick scan of the index (it's huge) reveals: Fawcett Publications; Jack Kirby; Mad; Marvel comics; Spider-man and Zap comix.

As usual Taschen spoil their readers by turning out an impressive looking book. Hundreds and hundreds of covers (many page size) original artwork, movie stills, ads and other graphics are all in color and each with comprehensive captions. Oh yes and a gold colored bookmark completes the package.

Expensive? Yes but you won't see something like this again for a long time (unless Taschen are planning a Marvel special!)

***LOOK INSIDE THE BOOK by clicking 'customer images' under the cover.

SupeR-lative!, November 16, 2010
This book is superlative! The reproduction illustrations overall are the best I have seen. Many of the pages have double sized comic cover illustations in full colour. The contents are a true feast for the eyes of any beholder. Anyone who loves DC comics or comics in general will be most delighted. Media historians and researchers or all related subject matter will find this to be a rare priceless resource for years to come. Perhaps such resource books for each of the most significant individual DC comic series will follow in the near future. The only complaint I have relates to the shipsping packaging by Amazon. The shipping box used for my shipment was too small and very little protective packing was used which resulted in the book's outer illustrated box being slighlty crushed. This might only be an issue for future value.

Amazing book! A shame it arrived damaged due to inferior packing., November 30, 2010
This book is gob-smackingly wonderful. I'll leave it to the more erudite reviewers to go into the details of just how amazing it is. It's huge, heavy and deserving of sturdy packaging to ship it safely from Amazon to Australia. Sadly, this book arrived badly damaged with a massive dent in the cover due to being sent in a flimsy box with insufficient protection around it - not even Superman's steely chest was able to bear the brunt of transit in such a rubbish box. My last order arrived in the same disappointing shape, again due to cheap, ineffective packing. Lesson learned. I'll be making all my future purchases from independent retailers, and booksellers who care enough to see that their product arrives in good condition.

A Beautiful Book, December 14, 2010
The book is beautiful, huge and covers so much of DC's History. With the details, size and price tag this book should probably be purchased by die hard fans and not the casual one (but can still be enjoyed by casual). One of my favorite parts of this books is just opening to random page and getting an interesting piece of information, there is no need to read in order. It goes with out saying this will make a beautiful coffee table book ( as long as it is reinforced with steel). Even better then hearing about the creations is hearing about the creators who worked on these characters. Mr Levitz did a bang up job on this book and i believe it can keep any comic fan entertained for years to come. Final comment I believe this book would be a dream present for any one has a combined interest in history and comics since it covers DC so deeply.

As good as everyone says, but....., December 3, 2010
....I wish that the balance had been tilted in favour of reproducing more original art and fewer reproductions of common published comic books. This represents something of a missed opportunity, particularly given the large page format which is actually bigger than necessary for reproducing published comics but just right for original art. For example, why reproduce a published page from Bat Lash when there is original art readily available from the same book? Cardy's art did not benefit from cheap process color printing on newsprint, and anyone who has seen the original art will acknowledge how much better Cardy's delicate penwork looks in the original. Taschen (and Levitz?) presumably concluded that what people want is color, any color. They're probably right, too -- I know kids, in particular, who will always prefer a bad color movie over a good black-and-white one. And that's kind of sad. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Are you hankering to play the harmonica? Harmonica For Dummies is an easy-to-read practice guide that gives you step-by-step instructions and gets you making music in no time! Even if you’re an experienced harmonica player, this jump-in-anywhere reference is packed with tips and playing techniques that will take your skills to the next level.

This fast, fun, hands-on guide helps you choose your first harmonica and shows you how to hold it, make your first sounds, and keep it clean and working well. Helpful diagrams show you how to shape sounds using your tongue, throat, and hands. Before you know it you’ll be playing melodies, chugging out rhythms, and bending notes with ease. You’ll also pick up some basics of music theory and learn how to read the notation and tablature for all the music in the book. Discover how to:

• Play right out of the box with little or no experience
• Make that wonderful wailing sound
• Create exciting rhythms and play solo
• Understand how the harmonica works
• Play all of the music on the Bonus CD
• Read tablature, educate your eye, and develop your ear
• Breath correctly while playing
• Bend notes up and down
• Play one harp in many keys
• Develop your style in blues rock, country, folk, and more
• Play with other musicians
• Work with a microphone to create great sounds

So stop dreaming and start playing! Harmonica For Dummies will get you wailing in no time!

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file. ... Read more

Reviews

Highly recommended, October 10, 2008
Winslow Yerxa's book "Harmonica for Dummies" should be titled "Everything You Need to Know About Harmonica"
Winslow is one of the most highly respected members of the nation's harmonica community. He has forgotten more about harmonica than most of us will ever learn. As I told him, if this book had been available 30 years ago when I started playing harmonica, I would be a real player now. Anyone interested in harmonica will not find a book with more information, and concise, easy to understand instruction, than this gem.
If you have any urge at all to learn how to play this fascinating little instrument, this will be the best money you have ever spent.
I play harmonica in a band and I can find all kinds of things in this book that will keep me learning.

Basics to Fairly Advanced, Superbly Written, January 22, 2009
This book is truly well-written. It is crystal clear, follows a progressive course of instruction from end-to-end without any out-of-place interruptions, has no errors that I've been able to find, and actually covers more than most beginning players really want or need to know initially (e.g., playing in other than the first and second positions).

The accompanying CD is also excellent. While the tunes, in typical instruction book fashion, aren't anything you'd want to listen to for entertainment, as they are the usual folk tunes long out of copyright, they are well-recorded and each track is played in exactly the manner needed to illustrate whatever playing principle is being demonstrated. The backing instrumentation never overwhelms the harp, and the harp is played with only the techniques and ornamentation (bends, articulation, wah, etc.) appropriate to the topic. The tracks are already in MP3 format, so there's no need to rip them down to your PC for your iPod.

If you already play an instrument, there is material in this book that you can bypass, including notation, basic (very) music theory, and the like. It doesn't dominate the book and for the most part is contained in the first few chapters. Speedread through this material for the few harmonica-specific comments.

The book has few pictures or illustrations - but those it has are spot-on. Hand positions are illustrated. Tongue and mouth positions are illustrated. There are pictures in the repair and maintenance chapters. That's about it, but that's all that's needed, and I never felt the need for more. In fact, I particularly appreciated the embouchure (mouth and tongue) illustrations, which were better than I'd seen elsewhere to-date.

Harmonica for Dummies will occupy a beginner for a long time. This isn't a book you will buy, zip through in a week or two, then toss aside wanting more. Plan on spending many weeks - or months. If you come out at the other end having mastered all the material in this book, you'll probably be a better player than most non-pros you will meet.

Were I to wish for anything different in this book, it would be more of a blues and rock emphasis. The book is positioned as a generalized harmonica instruction book, however, so a variety of types of music and playing styles are presented.

For Dummies and Smarty-Pants too!, October 15, 2008
Winslow Yerxa and team produced what may be the best book about harmonica yet. He really covers the whole range of issues with harp which I've encountered in my almost 40 years of playing blues harp purely from feel, and he demonstrates with words that which normally defies explanation.

Yerxa's intellect and humor animate the organization, writing, and tone of the tome, making it both entertaining, and eminently readable, even for a poor book-learner such as myself!

Congratulations on creating a super-resource for our fine and enigmatic instrument!

Comprehensive, November 17, 2008
"Wow! This book is very comprehensive." That is the comment I hear most often after someone takes a look at this book.

The book is, indeed, very comprehensive and well written. All topics are taught in a manner respecting the intelligence of the reader.

The harmonica can be one of the most expressive instruments. There is much to learn from taking care of it, tuning it, playing it, to some music theory to understand why things work. This book covers that and much, much more.

The Flop Eared Mule's Revenge..., September 14, 2010
Many years ago, I had a roommate who loved bluegrass music and played her favorite ditty,"Flop Ear Mule" by the Nasal Underachievers, far,far too often and wasn't snatched to perdition by Satan for her sin. Anyway, she got married, had kids and grandkids, and seemingly escaped retribution. But I was biding my time. In June she came to visit, bringing a 9 year old grandson who was visiting for the summer. I liked the boy and as soon as they left, I sent him a gift: "Harmonica for Dummies" and his own harmonica. Well, I must say, the book has to be a very effective and enjoyable way to learn the instrument. My friend called to say her grandson practiced on his harmonica from morning until night. Hour after hour. Day after day. "Hot Cross Bun," "Taps," and "Silent Night." He never tired of playing them for her. Never. Wherever they went, near or far. We would have talked more, but she said her head hurt and she was going out to the car to see if she could get some sleep and hung up.

EX-cellent.

So, you cn buy this book for yourself, to learn some basic harmonica pieces quickly and effortlessly. Or you can use it as an instrument of revenge. Your choice and it's a five star winner either way. Me? I'm looking up an old boyfriend who dumped me for a girl named (she said) Rainbow Skye. I understand he has twin boys now, both 11 -- and that means two harmonicas...

Truly one of the best!, April 30, 2009
I won Winslow's book at the SPAH convention and was truly thrilled to get it! (For those interested in harmonica, be sure to check out www.spah.org for much useful info). I have probably every book written about how to play harmonica, and this really is one of the best. I wish I'd had it when I was first learning to play. It covers everything from rank beginner to advanced techniques. I would consider it a "must have" by anyone interested in learning this incredible instrument.

Just what the doctor ordered!, September 16, 2010
I love music but as far as singing, playing or reading music I'm musically challenged..,but determined to try and learn.

Winslow Yerxa has written a brilliant how-to book for those looking to "make music" on the harmonica, or harp.

I purchased a Hohner "Big River Harp" in the key of C and then proceeded to search out the "easiest" to comprehend book that others have recommended. So many other books are really too basic and don't answer all of the questions us begineers struggle with, there's generally a lot of sheet music in them without really telling you how to get there.

This book is very clearly written, concise, has humor and it is just plain fun to sit down with. The CD with it sweetens the package. I put the CD on my IPod for the pure convenience of it.

The book isn't overly heavy on music theory or harmonica history but has just the right amount for me to grasp the essentials.

Before the book I had tons of questions such as 1.)controling notes, 2.)isolating single notes, 3.)how to blow (it's really breathing...,inhale (draw) and exhale (blow), 4.)what you do with your mouth or embouchure (awm-boo-shure),5.) when to start and stop notes, and on and on. Now I'm very well versed in all of these areas...and surprised I could be this quickly.

This book is both for a begineer and I believe even current harmonica players will appreciate the tips and tricks also.

You really can't go wrong and thanks to all the previous reviewers who made my decision easier.

Very worthwhile purchase...,well done Winslow...,thank you.

Excellent Book, December 22, 2009
This is an excellent book at teaching you what the title says.... HARMONICA. I had 0 experience with music prior to picking up this book from Amazon. The first chapter starts you out with some basic music theory (something that I really needed)and then slowly takes you into playing. The pace of the book is excellent, you should be playing simple tunes in your first couple days and you have a cd that comes with it so you can make sure your playing the songs correctly. I would recommend this book to anyone starting out with harmonica.

Pros
- EASY READING - The author Wilson Yerxa does a great job simplifying things for beginners. It is easy to understand what he is telling you to do and how to do it. (though some things take practice)
- INCLUDED CD - As I mentioned above... You get to hear the songs before you play them.
- MARKERS - I don't know if this is true for all "Dummies" books, but this one has markers on each page that let you know if you need to remember this section or if doing this could damage your harp or to refer to the CD. I really like this method for teaching as you can skim through the book and find what your looking for quite easily.
- LOTS OF SONGS - And they get progressively harder to challenge the reader.
- PICS - If text and a CD are not enough for you, you get graphic pictures to help you out even further.

Cons
- You must have a Harmonica in the Key of C to follow the book.

In conclusion: Buy this book if you have any interest in learning to play the harmonica, it is easily worth the $14. You really can't go wrong.

Taking the mystery out of diatonic harmonica playing, September 7, 2009
Harmonica For Dummies is as complete a treatise on diatonic playing as can be found. Winslow takes the mystery out of the intricasies of this versatile instrument. As a chromatic harmonica player, I have pecked at the edges of diatonic styles, stying to figure them out with little success. This book lays it all out in depth. While treating all the technical aspects with precision and clarity, the author makes the desired end result accessable. The accompanying c.d. takes the explanation one step farther. I should no longer have excuses for not being able to play a tune in third position, other than I didn't practice. I would not call this book an entry level primer. I would describe it as a continuation for the more serious player, to take him or her beyond the easy stuff many master. It is extremely well done, rather easy to follow, and a necessary addition to the music library of anyone who intends to more fully master this wonderful instrument. We all need to thank Winslow for sharing his knowledge and expending the energy necessary to produce this book.

Wrong Title, November 18, 2009
What a misnomer for this book. It is so filled with information and so well written that it should be compulsory reading for anyone playing the harp. I was blown away by the extent of the information which was both new to me and reinforcing of my learning to date. Clear, to the point and interesting with full back up on the CD. ... Read more

Editorial Review

One of Vonnegut's major works, this is an apocalyptic tale of the planet's ultimate fate, featuring a cast of unlikely heroes. ... Read more

Reviews

Cat's Cradle is terrific. (As it was meant to be), May 17, 1998
Cat's Cradle is by far the best Vonnegut novel that I have yet read. Blending his patented wry humor with acute social insight presented in an absurd fantasy world, Vonnegut has written an exceptional novel of love, lies, and the self destruction of mankind. The story centers around the narrator, Jonah, who is called by name once in the entire book. We are told in the beginning that he is writing a book on the events of the day the first atomic bomb was dropped on Japan. His research leads him to a correspondence with Newt Hoenikker, the midget son of Doctor Felix Hoenikker, father of the atomic bomb. After meeting with Newt, destiny leads our protagonist to the impoverished island republic of San Lorenzo, where among other adventures, he finds religion, falls in love, and becomes president. All of this by itself would make for a very entertaining book, but it is not in the story line that Vonnegut's genius lies. Cat's Cradle is rife with painfully accurate insights into the institutions that our society holds so dear, such as, religion, politics, and science. Vonnegut invents for the inhabitants of San Lorenzo a brand new religion based completely and admittedly on "foma", or lies. This wouldn't be so shocking, except for the fact that this "bokonism" seems to make perfect sense. Other Vonnegut ironies pervade the book and are too elaborate to go into. Kurt Vonnegut is my favorite author of all time. Cat's Cradle is one of his funniest, most absurd, and frightening novels. This book truly causes one to stop and think about the things that one holds as unquestionably true. All of the incredible people, places, things, and ideas in Cat's Cradle are intricately woven into a perfect tapestry that sums up and spells out many of mankind's self-created problems in 191 pages.

Amazing, July 21, 2002
I don't like sci-fi, but I loved this. This is the first Vonnegut I've read (I took a chance after reading so much praise for it) and it definitely won't be the last. It's one of those rare and wonderful books in the same vein as Animal Farm: simple prose, easy to read, yet with ironic tinges and thought-provoking depths; a novel that can be read and enjoyed at many different levels.

Cat's Cradle is narrated through Jonah, an author who aims to write a book on the single day the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. On investigating the atomic bomb's main founding father (and his three children) he is told about a *non-existant* substance with the capacity to provide all water on earth with a different molecular structure, turning it into Ice 9 (ie, a substance that could bring about the end of the world) A different assignment takes Jonah to the small island of San Lorenzo where he encounters Felix Hoenikker's three children and a society where the religion of choice (a religion that everyone knows is based on lies, yet still has utter faith in) is punishable by death, for the simple fact that it adds excitement to the dull lives of the inhabitants. I won't go any further...

The thing that delighted me most about this book was the way in which it was written. A lot of great and influential books are ones that (on the whole) you enjoy, but take a while to get into, and at times you feel like giving up on: you know the book in question is good literature, but the style and plot make finishing it seem a chore.
Similarly, a lot of fast-paced books hold little impact, don't challenge the mind and are forgotten the instant you read them.
Kurt Vonnegut has managed to write a powerful and memorable novel in a short, snappy style: this book has everything that makes a compelling, challenging read. Vonnegut lets you get a feel for the characters without going into lengthy descriptions, he manages to make sharp, subtle criticisms of religion, human nature and society without rambling or whining, his plot is exciting yet not unrealistic, he creates a hellish world that plays on everyone's fear of obliteration in precious few words. I thought the ending was too abrupt, but it fitted well with the rest of the story (and it would have been even more disappointing if he'd created a satisfying, everything-tied-up-nicely ending)

I found this impossible to put down, and highly recommend it to any fan of literature.

A Funny, Philosophical, Superb Romp-to-the-end., November 21, 2000
Vonnegut writes the book with the question that "God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater" plays with on a different level, all the while throwing in philosophies, wit, and things to ponder on and about during the COLD WAR.

The narrator (first-person incompetent) is somewhat vacant, and being so, maneuvers the story the best way possible.

The narrator is writing a book on the atomic bomb and he travels about meeting strange people who know the creators of the bomb. The characters he meets are funny and strange (You would have to be an oddball to be toying with doomsday.). In his journey he finds the sons and daughter of the inventor of the A-bomb. He finds that these three are an eccentric and foolish trio. The daughter and sons hold with them ice-nine, a weapon that makes the a-bomb seem infantile. Ice-nine was an attempt by their father to make battlefields (mud) solidify, making battle easier on soldiers. It winds up making any moisture it touches solid and blue, but its one flaw is, once put into the atmosphere it regenerates without stopping, freezing everything in its path(including human beings).

Vonnegut throws in the element of Bokononism, a quirky, weird religion spawned by an eccentric, self-made prophet named Bokonon. This angle plays in the mind of the reader as it debases the relevancy of all religions, thus, for example, making Catholicism or Islam just as strange as Bokononism. Bokononists chant about man being born of the "mud."

Symbolically the three children holding ice-nine, a single flake of which will end mankind as we know it, stand for three world superpowers. It shows that anyone, no matter how high in power, can be foolish, and should have no access to such an element of destruction. The ice-nine is just a symbol of the end of mankind through the folly of science, for the ice-nine turns things bluish white, like ice--putting man in another ice-age, destroying all "mud". The island of San Lorenzo is like Cuba--through its history no one really cared about anyone else ceasing it, but since there is an odd belief there(Bokononism/Communism),people poke around there now. It shows how such a small place, like Cuba, in the Cold War, could be ground-zero for the end of humanity, and warns against intervention there.

Being that the Cold War is over, this is an era piece that some may think is stagnate. Yet the tools to end civilization are still out there, so this book is relevant as long as science and government have and look for a greater means of destruction.

Though this book is funny and eccentric on surface, it is ultimately found to be a political warning. This humorous look at what could be the end, parallels Orwell's "Nineteen-Eighty-Four" in the field of political writing for the sake of warning (Orwell warns about the threat of Totalitarianism, Vonnegut warns about man's acute closeness to his own demise). This book is not as hard-nosed as "Nineteen-Eighty-Four." It is funny, but this is done to show the folly and incompetence that mankind's demise is handled with: Vonnegut's use of juxtaposition is without flaw.

Bokonon adds a religious facet to this novel. He ultimately shows folly and incompetence in the creation of something other than doomsday devices--religion. After the reader drops the hypocrisy of thinking their religion is "the one," Vonnegut brings up the question: Were people like Jesus or Mohammed just fools out spreading nonsense for the sake of an ego-trip?

This book touches on so many intense questions. It puts forth a vehicle for such deep introspection, yet it is hilarious. I only wish I were to have read this in the mind set of the world in the early sixties, when this book was first published. Vonnegut was way ahead of his time with this one. His writing, when dissected, makes me think he is one of the great thinkers of the twentieth-century into the twenty-first...

"No Cat, No Cradle!", January 13, 2001
If you've never read Kurt Vonnegut before, then you face a slight dilemma. You have two options available to you (well, really you've got more than two, but as long as you're reading this, I'm running the show and I say you've only got two):

1) You can read a slew of other Vonnegut books and build up to reading "Cat's Cradle," or

2) You can read "Cat's Cradle" and be so entirely blown away that no Vonnegut book will ever again live up to your newly inflated expectations.

That said, "Cat's Cradle" is an absolute must read for anyone and everyone over the age of birth. To summarize Vonnegut's crazy, whacked out plot would be an exercise in futility: it's got something to do with the father of the atomic bomb and his three bizarre children and the narrator who will chronicle their story as they get mixed up with the inhabitants of the island of San Lorenzo, all of whom are Bokononists. Confused yet? You should be. Throw in a little bit of ice-nine, a chemical that can feasibly bring about the end of the world, and you might have a slight inkling of the pieces of Vonnegut's puzzle.

Still, for all of the crazy characters and situations in "Cat's Cradle," it's ultimately a brilliant satire of the Cold War; at one particular moment a character realizes the importance of dichotomies, why we must believe the other is "evil" for us to be able to see ourselves as "good" and how absurd such things are, how phony and constructed they are. At the heart of all this is Vonnegut's brilliant metaphor for the cat's cradle, and it's a beauty.

Even if all this political satire doesn't grab you, just the way in which Vonnegut manages to throw a dozen ridiculous balls in the air and keep them well juggled and catch them all with grace by the final page is testament to his skill. "Cat's Cradle" is a book that'll make you sit up and think, but will also make you laugh out loud and maybe even touch you emotionally, particularly during the American ambassador to San Lorenzo's speech. It's so gut wrenching and absurd and oh so wonderfully written that you'll be hooked before you even realize it. Read it; this is as good as it gets.

Vonnegut, February 22, 2001
Cat's Cradle is by far the best Vonnegut novel that I have yet read. Blending his patented wry humor with acute social insight presented in an absurd fantasy world, Vonnegut has written an exceptional novel of love, lies, and the self destruction of mankind. The story centers around the narrator, Jonah, who is called by name once in the entire book. We are told in the beginning that he is writing a book on the events of the day the first atomic bomb was dropped on Japan. His research leads him to a correspondence with Newt Hoenikker, the midget son of Doctor Felix Hoenikker, father of the atomic bomb. After meeting with Newt, destiny leads our protagonist to the impoverished island republic of San Lorenzo, where among other adventures, he finds religion, falls in love, and becomes president. All of this by itself would make for a very entertaining book, but it is not in the story line that Vonnegut's genius lies. Cat's Cradle is rife with painfully accurate insights into the institutions that our society holds so dear, such as, religion, politics, and science. Vonnegut invents for the inhabitants of San Lorenzo a brand new religion based completely and admittedly on "foma", or lies. This wouldn't be so shocking, except for the fact that this "bokonism" seems to make perfect sense. Other Vonnegut ironies pervade the book and are too elaborate to go into. Kurt Vonnegut is my favorite author of all time. Cat's Cradle is one of his funniest, most absurd, and frightening novels. This book truly causes one to stop and think about the things that one holds as unquestionably true. All of the incredible people, places, things, and ideas in Cat's Cradle are intricately woven into a perfect tapestry that sums up and spells out many of mankind's self-created problems in 191 pages. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

A Magical Mystery Tour!, July 22, 2003
I once heard Kurt Vonnegut speak at a commencement ceremony at a Bennington College in Vermont in 1970, when his daughter was graduating with a bachelor's degree. He spoke quite eloquently about what graduates should do with their lives, and I remember parts of that wonderful speech as if it were yesterday. Indeed, Kurt Vonnegut is a writer of prodigious talents, a visionary seer disguised as an ordinary man, a contemporary wise man who speaks to us in amusing yet frightening allegories about the nature of contemporary man and the absurd technological culture he lives in today. This book, "Cat's Cradle", is among his finest novels, like most of his others, a work combining a wry sensibility with an amusing ability to confect sweet sounding yet bitter-tasting tales of mayhem and woe.

The plot of Cats Cradle is pure science fiction, and revolves around work to create a way to help American tanks more mobile in rain soaked and muddy circumstances, when such an ability to transverse the impossible terrain would give our guys in their tanks an overwhelming advantage over their evil foes. Our protagonist is a scientist working on isotope of water (called Ice -9) that has the ability to crystallize water into a unique form of ice that does not need freezing temperatures to crystallize. With such a capability, the Army could solidify the water in the mud, making it firm and allowing our tanks to roll over it with impunity. The problem is that once introduced into the ground, the compound has untoward effects no one had considered. And the basis for the cautionary tale is spun.

All of this is just the premise that allows Vonnegut to explore the far reaches of human behavior and the insane ways in which our culture is operating. It is a brilliant work, one that delves into the deep recesses of what we are, why we are that way, and where we seem to be going. It is at once a satire, a running commentary on the nature of our institutions, and the way in which we lie, cheat, and pretend to be people we are not, and as in his wild and wacky novel "Mother Night", shows why you should be afraid of who it is you are pretending to be, for it may come back to haunt you. This book literally explodes with a plethora of stinging insights into contemporary society, and constitutes a brilliant, albeit ironic, diagnosis of what a contradiction it is to be a human being trying to live a sane life in an insane world. This really is magical mystery tour, and one that will take your breath away. Enjoy!

Magic Act, March 28, 2002
Kurt Vonnegut is nothing short of a magician. Call him a writer if you must, but it seems unfitting for a man who weaves yarns about new religions, Ukranian midget dancers, apocalyptic chemical inventions, and feet-rubbing fornication. Writer just doesn't do justice.

Regardless, Cat's Cradle is a wonderful read and a heck of a time. Plot, character, and setting, as always in Vonnegut's work, take a back seat to the infectuos humor and unconventional writing style of its author.

The narrator is named Jonah, a writer who wishes to conduct a non-fiction story revolving the lives of people surrounding the Atom Bomb titled "The Day The World Ended". From this moment, our wild ride begins as we are introduced to the great cast of characters, including Dr. Felix Hoenikker, one of the so-called "Fathers" of the Atom Bomb, who may or may not have created a chemical capable of turning all the worlds water supply into ice, his family, the president(dictator)of a small Pacific Island San Marcos, Papa Manzano, and his lovely daughter, all the way down to Bokonon himself, founder of the Bokonon faith which is based in foma (lies). The journey through Vonnegut's mind is a worthwile one, if nothing else for his startling creativity, and hilariously bleak view at humanity. I will leave you with this quote from the great books of Bokonon:

"Beware of the man who works hard to learn something, learns it, and finds himself no wiser than before. He is full of murderous resentment of people who are ignorant without having come by their ignorance the hard way."

Well said.

Busy, Busy, Busy, April 20, 2007
"Don't be a fool! Close this book at once! It is nothing but foma! [lies]"

In "The Cat's Cradle," Vonnegut provides an ironic and satiric look at religion, science, and ethics. The storyline consists of John and his attempts at researching Felix Hoenikker, one of the fathers of the atomic bomb, as he attempts to write a book about Hiroshima. Although Vonnegut's novel is intended as humorous, a powerful message lies beneath the surface. Vonnegut explores the purpose and role of religion, and delves into the philosophical debate on science and ethics.

Bokononism, the religion of a tiny banana republic, San Lorenzo, is the central focus in Vonnegut's expose on religion. Bokonon, its founder, was shipwrecked onto this tiny island and, with the help of McCabe, attempts to transform the backward and exploited island into a utopia. When this proves impossible, Bokonon invents his religion. Although admitting that Bokononism is "nothing but lies," it provides a distraction to the San Lorenzoans and inspires meaning and fulfillment in their lives of misery. Although the Books of Bokonon are predicated on blatant falsehoods, its devotion and practice provide the reason for existence for the impoverished San Lorenzoans, even with the specter of capital punishment to those who practice it. Even their dictator is an adamant follower. The essence of Vonnegut's philosophy is best illustrated in the Bokononist tale of creation, in which a playful God tells man that his purpose in life is to figure out what that purpose is, for the implicit message is that there is no grand purpose or plan for life.

The symbolism of the "Cat's Cradle" further illustrates this point. A game played with string by children, this was the game played by Felix Hoenikker on the day the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. This had such an impact on Newt, his youngest son, that he later creates an abstract painting of the cat's cradle, then laments how maddening this game is, for it nothing but a "bunch of X's": "No d--n cat, no d--n cradle." This illusory game symbolizes that life has no true purpose, much like the X-shaped strings that form nothing tangible.

In John's pursuit of Felix, he discovers that, although he may have had a brilliant scientific mind, he failed to take responsibility or to see any danger in his work. Although Felix had no malicious or odious intents when he worked on the bomb, he also exhibited no remorse at its implications. He was far from innocent. His lack of ill intent was not enough, as it was his responsibility to restrain what he unleashed on the world. He viewed his work as pure research and nothing more. Indeed, his very last invention, Ice-9, which has the frightening implications of destroying all earthly life, was worked on as a hobby. He took no moral view of the implications of his work and selfishly failed to see beyond his own self-fulfillment. Through Felix, Vonnegut sends a powerful message that it is the moral obligations of scientists and engineers to be accountable for the potentially destructive nature of their work.

Penned in the early 1960s, "The Cat's Cradle" does contain some campy sci-fi elements. The scientific explanation of Ice-9 seems quite a stretch, even for a 1960s sci-fi novel parody. Furthermore, most of the characters are one-dimensional caricatures of an abstract group. There is no real character development. However, this was not Vonnegut's main purpose, which was to illustrate the inherent evil of irresponsible scientists and the fallacy of religion. In these respects, Vonnegut delivers.

Overall, this is an easy read, but is entertaining and thought-provoking.

Amazing book- just watch which edition you buy, May 2, 2010
Cat's Cradle is completely amazing. One of Vonnegut's best. Plenty of other reviews will tell you that, though. Just make sure you buy the right edition. As you may have noticed, there are two editions available in the Kindle store- one published by "Rosetta Books" for $7.19 (the first search result for "Cat's Cradle" in the store with an orange and white cover) and one for $5.59 (the third result with a blue cover and a picture of a bird cage). While I'm sure any sane person would buy the cheaper edition anyway, if you accidentally buy the more expensive edition like I did you will be thoroughly annoyed. For some reason, when a quotation mark appears mid-line the space before it is deleted and a space after it is added. For example:

We had locked "Papa's" door
appears as
We had locked" Papa's" door

While it's easy to figure out most of the time, if you're not paying terribly close attention or if a line is continued from a previous page, it can be hard to tell whether a quote is beginning or ending.

I called customer service and they sorted it out immediately, refunding my money and allowing me to purchase the cheaper, less flawed edition. Service was great, but I didn't realize there was another edition until I was 87% through the book. It wasn't the end of the world, but watch out. I wouldn't download anything else from Rosetta Books either.

In conclusion, buy the cheaper version. You won't be disappointed. Cat's Cradle is great, especially if you're a Vonnegut enthusiast already.

This is one deep book..., April 16, 2007
I expected Cat's Cradle to be a hilarious satire, but what I got was a book that is mildly funny, but extremely deep with a true message about technology and science and what could become of it. One could call Cat's Cradle a number of things. Satire, philosophical literature, science fiction, even subtle horror. I call it a masterpiece. I finished it in a short period of time, but I still think about it, and what might happen in the future.

Slaughterhouse-Five, while great, is nothing compared to Cat's Cradle. Kurt Vonnegut was and is a brilliant man, and he will be missed, never to produce another masterpiece again.

If you have not read anything by this amazing author, Cat's Cradle is the perfect place to start. DO NOT READ THIS BOOK IF YOU ARE TERRIBLY DEPRESSED, as it will make you more depressed. This is one of the most depressing books that I have ever read. Nonetheless, it deserves five stars. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Have your cake and laugh at it, too, with the sweet treat known as Cake Wrecks: When Professional Cakes Go Hilariously Wrong. From the creator of the ultrapopular blog CakeWrecks.com, here are the worst cakes ever, including the ugly, the silly, the downright creepy, the unintentionally sad or suggestive, and the just plain funny. With witty commentary and behind-the-scenes tidbits, Cake Wrecks will ensure that you never look at a cake the same way again.

Since May 2008, Jen Yates has been blogging about such confectionery calamities at her popular Web site CakeWrecks.com, winner of the 2008 Blogger's Choice Award for Best Humor Blog, and three 2009 Weblog awards (Bloggies) for Best Writing on a Blog, Best New Blog, and Best Food Blog. Yates now offers up this inspired photo collection with over 150 Cake Wrecks, including 75 percent never-before-seen content.

"I haven't laughed so hard in ages." --Mary Alice, from the Food Network's Ace of Cakes ... Read more

Editorial Review

Charming, engaging, and surprisingly forthright, Michael Caine gives us his insider's view of Hollywood and the story of his brilliant second act

When he was in his late fifties, Michael Caine believed his glamorous, rags-to-riches Hollywood career had come to an end. The scripts being sent his way were worse and worse. When one script really disappointed, he called the producer to complain about the part. The producer said, "No, no, we don't want you for the lover, we want you for the father." Salvation came in the unlikely form of his old friend Jack Nicholson, who convinced him to give acting one more shot. What followed was not only an incredible personal transformation but also one of the most radical comebacks in film history. Learning to accept his new role both on camera and in his own life, Caine went on to win his second Oscar, be knighted by the queen, and deliver some of his best performances to date. Now he shares the spectacular story of his life, from his humble upbringing in London's poverty-stricken Elephant and Castle, his military service, touching marriage and family life, and lively adventures with friends, to legendary meetings with fellow stars, forays as a restaurateur, and hilarious off-screen encounters from his glittering five-decade career. Caine brings his gift for storytelling and his insider's view to a tale that is funny, warm, and deeply honest.

Reviews

I also would like to thank Mr. Nicholson !
I ordered this book on CD after I saw Michael Caine interviewed on TV. I was so riveted by the story as I drove to San Diego and back , I actually sat and listened to the last two CD's at home!! I am going to buy it for other family members as a gift. What an interesting life he has led!! I have never read a book by a celebrity before but this man tells the most interesting story of hi srise from poverty to stardom and has neverlet success spoil him. ... Read more

Editorial Review

David Sedaris's beloved holiday collection is new again with six more pieces, including a never before published story. Along with such favorites as the diaries of a Macy's elf and the annals of two very competitive families, are Sedaris's tales of tardy trick-or-treaters ("Us and Them"); the difficulties of explaining the Easter Bunny to the French ("Jesus Shaves"); what to do when you've been locked out in a snowstorm ("Let It Snow"); the puzzling Christmas traditions of other nations ("Six to Eight Black Men"); what Halloween at the medical examiner's looks like ("The Monster Mash"); and a barnyard secret Santa scheme gone awry ("Cow and Turkey").

No matter what your favorite holiday, you won't want to miss celebrating it with the author who has been called "one of the funniest writers alive" (Economist). ... Read more

Reviews

The perfect introduction to a spectacular writer, August 9, 2000
The holidays bring out something truly special in David Sedaris, making this more a "best of" than a mere holiday book. It's simply brilliant and, as many reviewers have experienced, one of those rare books that may cause you to laugh out loud in spite of yourself. Its only flaw is that it's a short book, but in content it's a giant.

Avid NPR listeners will instantly recognize the first essay in this book, "Santaland Diaries"; the author's reading of that story is their single most requested encore. His description of becoming a Christmas Elf at Macy's is a true guilty pleasure; scathingly unkind and screamingly funny. If you ever held an undignified job, this is somehow your story - even if you never (pardon the pun) stooped so low as to play an elf.

Sedaris writes like a post-modern Mark Twain, with a dry and piercing wit that drips with charm and cynicism in equal measure. His is the kind of writing that makes me go back to re-read a sentence, a paragraph, even a whole story hoping to savor some particular gem I only wish I'd written. His tone is often dark, even bleak, but there's a wry quality in his stories that lets you know he's really doing it all for effect - setting you up for an even bigger laugh because you know he's enjoying every minute of telling his sad, hilarious stories.

Get in on his story now so you can savor the feeling of waiting impatiently for his next book - and there's no better way to start than to read Holidays on Ice.

Read right before Christmas for great laugh!, August 11, 2001
This book was a really fantastic collection of 6 short stories regarding the holiday season. I had heard so much about David Sedaris and what a talented satirical writer he was, and I was much impressed by his ability to parody the American publics love/hate relationship during the holiday season. His life as an elf in the Macys's shopping store in New York had me laughing out loud. And the upbeat Christmas letter that includes the introduction of a Vietamese stepchild was hilarious.

I finished the book in two days of light reading and realized the author is truly dark and twisted but extremely talented. "Me Talk Pretty One Day" is next on my list. I guarantee you'll like this book, but just to add to the fervor of the writing, I suggest you read it a week before Christmas during your most hellish and frantic points of your life; it'll add to the hilarity of your situation.

the best way to experience David Sedaris, April 5, 2000
To say that David Sedaris doesn't see the world the way that others do is a grievous understatement. He finds equal humor in the bizarre and the mundane. His wit can be both razor sharp and gentle as feather. He writes and says things that maybe you've thought about before and if you haven't thought about them before you'll certainly give them plenty of thought afterwords.

Sedaris gift for storytelling is on display at its finest in this audio collection of holiday-themed stories. The most famous is, of course, "The Santaland Diaries", in which Sedaris relates in hillarious detail his experiences working as an elf at Macy's Santaland in New York. This piece is an American classic which should be compulsory reading for anyone who has worked a retail job during the holidays, not to mention anyone who has ever shopped a store during the holidays. Almost as good is "Front Row Center WIth Thaddeus Bristol" which skewers both a pompous theater critic and the sometimes attrocious children's holiday plays he's reviewing.

In all, this collection contains six stories read by Sedaris himself, his sister Amy and actress Ann Magnuson. The different voices work well to set the tone for each story over the course of the tape, and the variety helps sustain interest which can be an issue with single reader audio programs.

For many of us, the holidays mean laughter and tears. David Dedaris understands this and has given the world six of the finest tools with which to cope.

Be wary, just a collection, July 24, 2003
This book is an excellent collection of some of Sedaris' earlier works, and the story for which the book is named is one of his best. But beware, if you are already familiar with Sedaris you may have already read this one without knowing it; all of the stories contained within appear either in Naked or Barrel Fever.

Excellent twist to the usual holiday fare., July 15, 2000
David Sedaris has a sick sense of humor, and he conveys it well in this book of Christmas shorts. It opens with the extremely funny "Santaland Diaries", giving an insider's view of elves at Macy's. Next comes "Season's Greetings", an overenthusiastic 'family newsletter' that spins off into satirical tangents with the unexpected addition of a Vietnamese daughter. "Dinah, the Christmas Whore" tells of young David's encounter with his father's "Christmas present" ::wink:: "Front Row with Thaddeus Bristol" is a theatrical review of the Christmas pageants in the elementary schools (we've all had to suffer). "Based on a True Story" is a somewhat sickeningly funny look at a hustler trying to gather holiday special ideas. Finally, "Christmas Means Giving" rounds out the collection, telling of two families who can't stop competing with each other. I'm a newcomer to Sedaris's wit, and the next book on my list is 'Naked'. This was a great way to be introduced without being overwhelmed--even if they are Christmas stories being read in July.

embarrassed with laughter, February 14, 2006
I was sitting on an airlpane reading this book and the gentleman next to me asked me if I was "OK". I was uncontrollably laughing. Even after trying to put it down for a few minutes and gaining my composure, it was a fruitless attempt because within seconds I was embarrassing myself again.

Sedaris...Funny, Intelligent, High CQ, November 7, 1999
Actually, I toyed with giving this five-stars. However, I figure I should employ five-stars for IMPORTANT literary treasures, such as the collected works of Shakespeare, "War and Peace," and "Valley of the Dolls." So, need a laugh? Well, any of Sedaris' books will do. They..."Barrel Fever" and the even better "Naked"...are funny, provocative, and full of weird and colorful people. While "Holidays on Ice" takes from his other books, it is a veritable laugh-o-rama. And "SantaLand Diaries"? I have read it a half-dozen times, and I STILL chortle merrily. David, what are you writing? This Midtowner wants more. And, folks, not only is Sedaris an intelligent, witty writer and essayist, he is just as cute as a button. I enjoy getting his books so I can see his little impish face peering out from the end page. And, really, when it comes right down to it, isn't that what it's all about: the author's CQ (Cute Quotient)?

SantaLand Diaries, August 22, 2001
Sedaris shines when his essays focus on real characters and events. His pieces on family life and French expatriate living in Me Talk Pretty One Day stand out as examples.

Holidays on Ice features fewer such gems. Most of the stories here are fictional, and in my opinion do not work nearly as well. The standout exception, however, is the hilarious SantaLand Diaries, one of the funniest things I've ever read and which in itself is well worth the price of the book. This is the real-life story of Sedaris' stint as a Macy's SantaLand elf. Sedaris focuses on our collective stupidity, but as always he mixes in just the right amount of self-depreciation to make the piece come off perfectly.

I believe that it was Tom Clancey that said that the difference between fiction and reality is that fiction has to make sense. The figures in SantaLand Diaries (elves, Santas, and the Great American Public) behave just irrationally enough that the story has to be true. Ironically, aside from being hilariously funny Sedaris uses all of this illogical behavior to give us an interesting look at human nature.

This is a two star book that is saved by a five star story. Buy it and read the last thirty pages.

If you only read one Sedaris essay..., July 8, 2003
While all of the stories and essays in Holidays on Ice are good, the standout is clearly "The Santaland Diaries". I always think that if I laugh out loud while I'm reading something, then that by itself makes the book worth the price of purchase. I actually had to put the story down till I pulled myself together enough to resume reading it. "The Santaland Diaries" is a glimpse at our own attitudes and behavior during "the festive holiday season". Perhaps it is a clicheed sentiment (if a cynical opinion can be sentimental), but it is true that during the one time of the year when we should be celebrating peace and love for our fellow man, we behave like looters and scavengers in an orgy of mass consumption, ready to slit the throat of anyone who we percieve is trying to interfere with our quest to have a picture taken with a guy in a Santa suit. Sedaris illustrates this with biting humor and, of course, fiction is never as funny as what happens in real life. By the way, I'm pretty sure the story in "Dinah, the Christmas Whore" actually happened too. Besides, I just love a story with a good whore in it.

Give until it Bleeds!, May 2, 2003
To call David of Sedaris's sense of humor unique, might be an understatement. In "Holiday's on Ice." David delivers his wicked black humor with a Christmas theme that will doubtfully ever translate into a classic made for TV movie. These are certainly not heart warming, life affirming tales to read in front of the fire place with a nice glass of eggnog. To Sedaris, Christmas is an odd assortment of disgruntled department store elves, ..., tv executives, and suburbanites struggling with the "true" meaning of Christmas. "Give until it bleeds."
As always Sedaris uses his unique viewpoints, and sometimes personal experiences to create rich and creative stories. "Holidays on Ice" is a collection of his finest holiday based stories. While not as involving and complete as "Naked," or "Me Talk Pretty One Day." "Holidays On Ice" is a nice Sedaris for beginners book. Stories like "Santa Land Diaries,"
and "Dinah, The Christmas Whore" are as involved, and as well told as any other story in his longer works. "Holidays on Ice" proves once again that David Sedaris is one of the finest Humorists, and all around story tellers in America today. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Sometime about 30,000 years ago, somebody stuck a sharp rock into a split stick—and presto! The axe was born. Our inquisitive species just loves tinkering, testing, and pushing the limits, and this delightfully different book is a freewheeling reference to hundreds of customs, notions, and inventions that reflect human ingenuity throughout history.

From hand tools to holidays to weapons to washing machines, An Uncommon History of Common Things features hundreds of colorful illustrations, timelines, sidebars, and more as it explores just about every subject under the sun. Who knew that indoor plumbing has been around for 4,600 years, but punctuation, capital letters, and the handy spaces between written words only date back to the Dark Ages? Or that ancient soldiers baked a kind of pizza on their shields—when they weren’t busy flying kites to frighten their foes?

Every page of this quirky compendium catalogs something fascinating, surprising, or serendipitous. A lively, incomparably browsable read for history buffs, pop culture lovers, and anyone who relishes the odd and extraordinary details hidden in the everyday, it will inform, amuse, astonish—and alter the way you think about the clever creatures we call humans. ... Read more

Reviews

Uncommon History of Common Things, February 1, 2010
Great book! Alot of fun to read! Bought for husband as Christmas present. Lots of interesting and facts and antedotes in this book, worth the money. Will read myself when he gets done!

good for both 11 year olds and 63 year olds, February 10, 2010
I gave this as a gift to my goddaughter and my husband. Both are thoroughly enjoying the trivia and tales. It makes for a lot of "Did you know?" conversations that are both fun and engaging.

Interesting!, February 11, 2010
If you are a fan of trivia, you'll enjoy knowing the background behind these everyday things. Makes great dinner party conversation!

Great review of unusual things, January 24, 2010
Full of fun facts about common things you never knew and can use to impress your friends! Easy reading in sections that make reading in short periods very easy. Quality product, prompt shippiing.

History Lover, January 7, 2010
This is one of the most interesting books I have ever read. One would never expect the origins of some of the things we use every day.

how things work, February 3, 2010
this book has a lot of information, easy to understand on common things of daily living, when they were invented, by whom, etc.

book, June 4, 2010
This book is a gift for my dad--it sounds interesting, I hope he likes it!

Uncommom History book, November 24, 2009
This is for a gift and I think it will be enjoyed very much. Thank you. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Here's the biggest and most exciting book of sudoku puzzles ever compiled. Over 400 new puzzles designed to satisfy all levels from beginner to expert are featured, with all kinds of challenges, all levels of difficulty, and more varieties of number-placement (and letter-placement) puzzles than any other collection available. ... Read more

Reviews

one of the best sudoku books i've found so far, November 7, 2005
I love Sudoku. I went to Barns and Nobles and found about 25 different books and I went through them all, and picked this one because you get 400 puzzles that range from super easy to extremely hard. Also, there are different types of Sudoku puzzles that I didn't see in the other books that are really challenging. some puzzles use 9 letter words instead of numbers; some use shapes; one uses a fragmented LCD font and not only do u have to solve the Sudoku, but the extra challenge is thinking the number is something it isn't. There are also logi-place puzzles where instead of a cube it uses different shapes...much more challenging. There are also monster sudokus with 16 columns instead of the regular 9. There are also other types of Sudoku puzzles. So if you're getting tired of the regular 9 column ones or if you're up for a real challenge then you NEED to get this Sudoku book.

Sometimes I like a challenge and sometimes I want something simple. This book has it all. It's the best i have found so far. 11-7-05

Not Just Simple Su Doku, November 28, 2005
Su Doku is a Japanese logic puzzle where rows, columns and regions must contain a certain number of digits only once. Su Doku has risen in popularity and an almost alarming rate and as such has been targeted by many variations. In a typical Su Doku puzzle, number digits appear only once in each row, column and region. These vary from the simple 4X4 grid to mammoth 16X16 monsters. But there are more variations awaiting the dedicated puzzler.

Although this book does not contain the variation dubbed Killer Su Doku, it contains many others as well as related puzzles.

The book begins with simple 4X4 puzzle grids and moves up through 6X6 and 9X9 to 16X16. Many of these puzzles will use letters from a word or symbols instead of the tradition numerals. Some even change the shape of the regions adding a new twist. We also have Samurai grids with five overlapping 6X6 grids. After that there are Slitherlink puzzles where you box in numbers following clues to how may sides are fenced in. Next there is Patchwork which works like Su Doku but has no region and uses a handful of clues relating specific boxes to one another like in a classic logic puzzle. As if that wasn't enough, there is also kakro which looks like a crossword puzzle but with clue showing what the rows and columns add up to. Finally there are the Super Su Doku that follow the standard 9X9 grid and are supposed to be tough.

All in all this is a fascinating book with good examples of standard Su Doku puzzles with some nice variations thrown in to keep things fresh and fun. An excellent all-around Su Doku puzzle book.

Not overly pleased, May 1, 2006
I gave this a 3 simply because you get a lot of puzzles for your money however, there are far too many puzzles that are way too easy. And I'm no expert - I can't even do the really hard ones yet and I thought there were too many super easy ones. I would have liked to see a few more of the 400 devoted to puzzles that your average solver might find fun to solve. Fun to challenging.

The Mammoth Book of Sudoku, March 9, 2006
The puzzles are good but the book itself is extremely difficult to work with. The puzzles are small and the book is so thick that it is uncomfortable to work with. Far from my favorite Sudoku book.

Fun For The Whole Family, July 11, 2006
This is a very fun book. It starts off way too easy, but I guess that is good for beginers. The puzzles get harder as you go along. A must have for any Sudoku lover!

Not for the traditional sudoku lover, February 10, 2006
I recently ordered this book as the 3rd I have owned. I love sudoku and finish them quickly, usually several each night while I watch TV for relaxation. I was disappointed in this book because I really wanted a book of 400 Sudoku puzzles and I got 400 sudoku variants of which only a small part are the traditional sudoku puzzles I love. I do not enjoy the letter puzzle or the symbol puzzles and already have another book devoted to kakuru so I really feel like this did not give me what I wanted.

Good way to pass time, February 25, 2006
This is a good sudoku book. It has the usual 9 x 9 sudoku grids, in levels of difficulty ranging from easy to hard. It has cool 12 x 12 grids that are very fun to do, as well as 16 x 16 grids which are a bit difficult. I really enjoyed the interlinking sudoku puzzles, the up and down section, the spiral puzzle section, and the math sudoku section that requires adding skills. The grid size is nice, but a touch smaller than you would see in your local newspaper. The paper quality could be better to make erasing wrong answers less of a pain. I would recommend this book over all of the other sudoku books on the market right now. I have a number of books, and this one is the best and most fun to do. However, if you would like to tote the book on the plane or train, this is not the one for you. It is the size of a guiness book of world records, and inconvenient to do anywhere but at home. But the puzzles are better. So it's a trade off. If you buy only one sudoku book, buy this one.

Big book, not big puzzles, February 23, 2006
Firstly, be aware that there are a variety of sukoku puzzles in this book, not just the numeric puzzles most of us are used to. My complaint is that the puzzle grids are too small. As you get to challenging puzzles and want to scribble notes within the grid, there's no room.

Incredibly Addictive, November 28, 2005
I stubmled across SuDoku about 3 months ago in a local news paper and was boggled by it. I threw it to the wayside. Shortly before the thanksgiving holiday, I realized I'd have only one game on my PDA for a long road trip. I downloaded a PDA version of the game and was hooked on it once I figured out how to play it. Subsequently, I got my wife (who is a math teacher) hooked on it. While at our holiday destination, I dipped into a local borders and found this book. It has LOADS of puzzles going from simple to just down right evil. Very enjoyable. I'm not sure I can handle the 16x16 puzzles.

Lots of Puzzles!, March 15, 2007
This will keep you busy for weeks if not months. Nice Collection of Sudoku puzzles. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Revised and Expanded

With the same trademark compassion and erudition he brought to The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, Oliver Sacks explores the place music occupies in the brain and how it affects the human condition. In Musicophilia, he shows us a variety of what he calls “musical misalignments.” Among them: a man struck by lightning who suddenly desires to become a pianist at the age of forty-two; an entire group of children with Williams syndrome, who are hypermusical from birth; people with “amusia,” to whom a symphony sounds like the clattering of pots and pans; and a man whose memory spans only seven seconds-for everything but music.

Illuminating, inspiring, and utterly unforgettable, Musicophilia is Oliver Sacks' latest masterpiece. ... Read more

Reviews

Extraordinary!, October 26, 2007
Musicophilia is an absolutely phenomenal book, and will be of interest to anyone fascinated by music, mysteries of the mind, and the human condition. Sacks covers 29 different topics, ranging from synesthesia, to musical hallucinations, to savants, and beyond. In each chapter, he introduces the topic through cases (his own and famous ones in the literature--neurological and classic fictional literature, that is!), always maintaining a deep engagement with the humanity of the subjects: what is it like for these individuals? how do they describe their talent or illness or condition? Sacks also speculates on the possible neurological bases for these fascinating scenarios. This is a real page-turner, beautifully and clearly written, and it will give readers a new respect for the special place of music in our psychology, as well as a deeper understanding of the range of what it is to be human. 20 stars!

Music and Science were never so interesting, November 5, 2007
Dr. Oliver Sacks is a British neurologist with a love of music and science. This book blends music and science together like no book I've ever read. There are some amazing stories here. I love the story of surgeon Tony Cicoria who developed a passion for listening and playing music after he was struck by lightning. The story of British conductor Clive Wearing is amazing too. He developed amnesia after his brain became inflammed. He has the the memory and ability to conduct and sing music, but he can't remember anything else. I also loved the story the research chemist named Salimah. Her shy personality was changed after she suffered a seizure. She suddenly had the desire to listen to music all the time. I also touched by the story of Woody Geist. He suffers from Alzheimers disease, but he still performs in an a cappella singing group. Leon Fleisher is a classical piano player who performed with one hand for many years because of a condition called dystonia which affected his right hand. I learned about a genetic disorder called Williams Syndrome in this book. Kids with Williams Syndrome have difficulty paying attention, but they often possess a love for music. I was entertained and informed by this book so much.

Music and its role in our lives, October 24, 2007
It is refreshing to see how a specialist still retains the ability to be marveled by the cases he sees in his office. Too often scientists get so blas� over their practice that they miss the finer human aspects of every case. Sacks leads the reader gently by hand, even while using neurological jargon, into amazing stories of patients who live through situation we would not have imagined. And they all involve music and how humans experience it.

I believe this book is a must for musicians, who will probably acquire new understandings regarding the dimensions of their music in relation to their own brains.

Needs editing, November 25, 2008
My wife thoughtfully purchased this book for me. I had read about it and was very excited to dive right in. Unfortunately I ended up really having to convince myself to finish it, as it became redundant fairly quickly. Sacks presents (too) many case studies regarding music and the brain, but the presentation feels random and somewhat unfocused. Had his editor suggested grouping the studies by themes or urged Sacks to provide more neurological background information it perhaps would have better kept my attention. It felt as if the reader had to do a lot of work to pull together some of the concepts.

As for the perceived redundancy, I kept waiting for the conclusion or wrap-up that would provide the overarching theme to all the seemingly disconnected patient stories, but to no avail. It almost felt as if the stories were starting to repeat themselves but with different patient names. The length too felt far too long, almost as if everything presented in the first half were just recycled for the second. Additionally, the writing style is very informal and easy to digest, which is not necessarily a positive. The book begins to feel as if the author were afraid to intelligently, academically, and thoroughly dissect the subject matter for fear of alienating too many readers. The result is a glossy feeling, like you're reading the U.S.A. Today version of something that could have really offered some insightful perspectives.

Promising topic, but presented without much organization, background information, or conclusion. I'm surprised that an editor would allow such breadth to be published without any true depth.

Outstanding!, November 15, 2007
In his latest book, Oliver Sacks continues to tell us stories that draw us in, engaging our minds and emotions. In each chapter he introduces different people, some sorely affected by neurological disease, who have strange and profound relationships with music. This is not a dry scientific treatise. Sacks describes these people in a highly personal way, so that we see and feel the human aspect of science. At the same time he teaches us about the science of the brain, and the wonderful ways that music and the mind are intertwined. The subject is inherently fascinating, and the author does not disappoint. Drawing upon case histories from his own practice, and some from literature, he delves into the mysteries of the human brain, how it produces music, and how it is profoundly affected by it.

Sacks writes in a clear and straightforward manner. It is wonderful to find medical writing that is so accessible. There is some material here from his prior books, but it does not detract from this work. This is a highly engaging and informative book. I took great pleasure in reading it. If you are interested in music or science, you will enjoy this new offering from Oliver Sacks.

Wired for Music, Humanness and the Musical Language, December 15, 2007
Dr. Sacks has written about brains for decades now. He's also a decent, enthusiastic amateur musician. In Musicophilia, the good Dr. brings the brain and music together to cover what can go wrong and also oh so right when music and the brain get together.

Dr. Sacks first covers the various problems when the mind either fails to process music "normally" or attaches a variety of extra sensory reactions to music. His experience is both anecdotal and academic as he relies both on his own experiences as a neurophysiologist who has known and treated musical illnesses, and also his training as a networked professional involved in the studies of varous types of amusia and hypermusicality. I was also very interested in the positive corrolation between the higher occurrences of absolute pitch in those populations which speak tonal languages (like Mandarin).

Of special interest to me were the closing chapters on various aspects of music therapy in geriatric patients, autistics, those who suffer various types of dementia, and the very interesting introduction (for me) to those people at the opposite end from the autistics, those who have Williams' syndrome.

Some criticize the book for offering more questions than answers, but even the questions offer patterns from which the thoughtful reader can see a certain wondrous calculus emerge, a uniquely human and late-appearing link between what it means to think and how music is inextricably linked to our humanness.

Musical Intuitions Grounded in Scientific Reasoning, November 26, 2007
As a person with a neurological disability who has been helped by music, I can relate to this book personally and thouogh yes, I found it entertaining (and incredibly informative), I find it a shame when people
think of Oliver Sack's books as amusing case studies as that is not his intent and his books, "Musicophillia" included are much richer than that in thought and retrospect. Understanding the intricate working of the brain is essential for all people and as well, many of the conditions detailed in this book such as Parkinson's, stroke, Alzheimer's can often be acquired in later life so these are experiences that may and often do happen to people later on in life to people they know or who are caregivers to (as is detailed). Most importantly, though music is an essential part of human life (would this site exist without it?) and of the social experience and the perception of sound and the world outside can be more easily interpreted through a fully understanding of people's interpretation of music. These are more than interesting stories about odd people whose brain functions differently. They are (in a figurative sense)portals into the thinking of everyone with or without neurological impairments. When you hear a song and say "that brings back memories" or find a song sticking in your head or don't know why or experience a feeling of sadness without knowing why when hearing music or turn on music(or more particulary a certain song) to relax, you may be experiencing in a more real world sense what the people described in this book are experiencing and it may bring a fully understanding of the phenomenon. And most importantly, its solid, intelligent, scientifically accurate but accessible writing by a top professional and expert in the field in a way that an average reader can comprehend.

Discovering the powers of the brain, November 6, 2007
This is a wonderful book on many levels. It is extremely well written. It is fully of compelling stories. And it helps us to look inside our remarkable instrument, the brain. If you have ever whistled a tune you might have wondered what others hear when they listen to music. Some hear nothing but noise. Some hear entire symphonies. Some hear music that won't stop. And others hear a stream of original music. Some can hear melodies but not rhythm. And some can hear rhythm but not melodies. I always thought it was remarkable that I could compose and hear complete symphonies in my dreams but not when I was awake. Well, I am not alone. You too have likely experienced some intriguing musical experience. You might find some insight into that experience in this remarkable book.

Sacks Writes Another Great Book -- But ..., January 25, 2008
... I was a little disappointed. 4.5 stars

I enjoy every book by Dr. Sacks. He's always insightful, empathetic, and a brilliant storyteller. All the things you like about Dr. Sacks' writing you will find in full in this book. I really like this book. Once again, Dr. Sacks makes the stories of his patients come alive and demonstrate brilliantly the relationship between our mental states and abilities and the physiological functioning of the brain. Bravo. If you like Sacks, you will like this book (very much I would say.)

But ... my but: With a title like Musicophilia ("the love of music") I was expecting much more about WHY we humans ENJOY music so much. Why are we the musical ape? This is only touched on tangentially in this book. I felt a bit of false advertising in the title. I've read Anthony Storr's book "Music and the Mind" and "Music, The Brain, And Ecstasy: How Music Captures Our Imagination" by Robert Jourdain (both are good.) With Dr. Sacks' title (and maybe it was chosen by his publisher, this often happens) I expected something more in that vein: the enjoyment of music. (And so, I still await further explorations ...)

All in all a great book. Enjoy.

Very interesting, November 21, 2007
This book is very interesting to me, as a music teacher. I teach over 500 students twice a week and sometimes their abilities and inabilities amaze me. I do ear training for 10 and 11 year-olds and the range of ability to hear and order pitches is all over the map. Sometimes it can be improved upon (usually) and occasionally I can't get them to ever actually hear and identify pitch. While this book does not suggest fixes, I am better able to understand and sympathize with my students. I have a few exceptionally gifted students also. As I am NOT one of them, it is fun to imagine how they conceive music. Great book - thanks. ... Read more

Editorial Review

With a surprising and fascinating new factoid on every page, this perennially bestselling calendar keeps trivia buffs entertained all year long. Sports stuff: Who are the only two baseball players to hit major league home runs both as teenagers and after they turned 40? Food stuff: The ingredients of what food product were the subject of the world's first consumer protection law?� History stuff: In what city will you find the only surviving home of founding father Benjamin Franklin? And politics-meets-entertainment stuff: Which sci-fi action movie includes a reference to an Arnold Schwarzenegger Presidential Library? Got the answers?
... Read more

Reviews

The best calendar ever!, November 28, 2010
Do not think twice if you want to purchase this item here! This is a really fascinating calendar I have ever had. Packed with extremely interesting facts and you can learn many things! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Children Come First, September 24, 2010
Let me start by stating what this book is not, and then devote the rest of my review to what this companion book (to the recently released documentary film of the same title) is. Although the book contains some criticism of teacher unions, it is not a biased bashing of teachers. One of the book's chapters is written by Randi Weingarten, the head of the American Federation of Teachers. Two other chapters were written by Davis Guggenheim and Lesley Chilcott, the director and producer, respectively, of the film documentary. (Guggenheim previously directed Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth," so I wouldn't call him an anti-union fanatic.) Additionally, a chapter is written by Bill and Melinda Gates, and others are written by a Stanford professor (who tried to teach me economics some 40 years ago), a leading education reporter, and Michelle Rhee, the reformer chancellor (at the time of this writing) of Washington D.C. public schools. There is a balance of viewpoints, as you might imagine. The book's editor, Karl Weber, and the various chapter authors make the point that there is much work to be done to improve our education system. Basically, they report and you get to decide.

This companion book begins by stating the case that we're all too familiar with--U.S. public education performance isn't what we'd like it to be. For example, among 30 developed countries, U.S. students rank 25th in math and 21st in science. High school graduation rates for minorities are barely 60%. (Some argue that access to a quality education may be the biggest civil rights issue of our time.) The majority of prison inmates are high school dropouts. (It costs a lot more to imprison someone for a year than to educate a student for the same time.) The average high school graduate will earn very significantly less than the average college graduate over a lifetime. You likely know all these rather depressing facts, so I'll move on.

"Waiting for `Superman'" describes (separately) the situations of five students striving (and waiting) to get a quality education, and each of their stories is followed by contributing chapters by the individuals I mentioned earlier. From different perspectives, the children's stories are fascinating, hopeful and heartbreaking.

So what can interested citizens do? Near the end of this fast-reading book there are a dozen or so pages devoted to how parents, students, educators and businesspeople can all help advance the cause of quality education. Further, for those who want to involve themselves further, there are over 30 pages of listings of web sites and organizations devoted to children, schools and progress in education.

In short, the issue at the heart of this book (and the movie) is vital to the success of our children and our country. (By the way, the movie premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and took home the Best U.S. Documentary Audience Award.) For those who want to understand the education situation better and perhaps make some contribution to improving education for all children, this book is a good first step.

A Compelling Call to Action, September 21, 2010
I gave this guidebook 4-Stars. The guidebook (companion to the documentary film) is clearly written and uses stories that illustrate the need for improving learning and teaching in schools and communities today. Additionally, a variety of stakeholders are interviewed such as students and parents, selected researchers/practitioners and leaders from the field of education, and executives from private foundations. In terms of the book's usefulness and ideas for practical application, it offers a number of ways that citizens might choose to support education within their local communities.

Education is a vast and complex field. Therefore, obviously this book does not include some of the key areas of research that hold promise for improving student learning, nor is it a simple one solution step-by-step guide for what to do to improve teaching and learning in America's schools. However, the text achieves its goal as 'an inspiring call for reform' as stated in the product description.

Hopefully this book will serve as an urgent call for all Americans to focus on creating school systems where all students can reach their true potential. Students arrive at school full of potential, but with a broad range of readiness for learning at school. For example, some arrive one to two years ahead of grade level in reading and some arrive one or two years behind. Therefore, the school system needs to accurately assess where students are academically as they enter the system. Then the system must ensure that students receive the intensity of high quality instruction needed to get to grade level with their peers. The system also needs to ensure that teachers get the high quality education, training, mentoring, and support they need to develop the knowledge and skills to teach students today. A key to teacher success is to be able to align instruction with the growing research base on how students learn.

There are many passionate teachers in classrooms across America in all types of schools. However, few get the support they need. For example, often, new teachers who enter the profession leave teaching due to lack of such support. In fact, some studies indicate 30 -50% leave in the first few years. Often these teachers would stay if they had the support to create learning opportunities for students, because seeing their students learn is what keeps good teachers motivated to stay in the field.

We hope this book is a catalyst for more Americans to explore ways in which they can help school systems transform into places where every student has the opportunity to reach their true potential. Parent and community involvement is critically important as students spend 80-90% of time in the home and community (outside of school) prior to the end of their high school years. It is a time for communities and schools to create a system of education that works for all students. Schools cannot do it by themselves.

Donna Wilson, Ph.D.

Interesting Opinion Piece, December 5, 2010
Waiting for "Superman" / 978-1-586-48928-1

I haven't yet seen the documentary that this book is a companion text to; although it was recommended highly to me, I missed it in theaters and it hasn't come available to rent yet. Still, I was curious enough about the documentary and knew just enough to be dangerous about the subject material, so I bought this companion text and plowed right in.

Results are...mixed. This book is basically a compilation of essays from different people on the subject of American public school reform. Some of the authors have more expertise than others; wishing no disrespect, some of the essay authors seem to have experience limited only to specific charities or boutique schools, with very little scientific data to back up some of their opinions. In between the essays, each section contains a little "introduction" page for each of the children that were featured in the documentary, but these 2-page sections are largely unfulfilling since they just outline the bare bones of the child's tale and don't tell whether they got into their desired school or not (you have to rent the movie for that, apparently).

So we're left with the essays themselves, which are a mixed bag. In terms of factoids about the failing school system (particularly in comparison to other countries), this book is a rich resource - there's a lot of numbers on these pages that will shock you. However, when it comes to actually analyzing the source of these numbers, and how to fix them, the book falls a little flat. It's probably telling that the essay included here that I thought was the most powerful and best researched was the one that criticizes the documentary (and by extension the book) for (a) relying too much on largely out-of-date anecdotes about "bad" teachers and union problems and (b) (possibly inadvertently) pushing the notion that a few boutique schools will solve the problem.

It's this essay that points out for all the many pages spent here criticizing unions, there's not any actual strong data presented against unions - a pretty frustrating omission in a documentary! And focusing on the "bad" teachers ignores the more important (and less "sexy") issue that "bad" teachers often can become "good" teachers with the appropriate training and feedback; when the *only* feedback teachers get every year is whether or not they dress professionally and arrive on-time, they're not likely to self-identify their needed areas for improvement. Focusing on a cooperative method of evaluation and training seems, to me, to be more important than "fire all bad teachers!" which seems to ignore the problem of where their replacements are going to come from.

Moving on, other oddities in the various essays on display here include... An author who thinks it's admirable for a charter school principle to randomly threaten parents with "immigration authorities" if their kids miss a day of class. An author who argues against smaller classroom sizes because ze really doesn't seem to understand how scientific data is collected (to wit, halving a class size and handing off half to a new teacher, and then measuring the combined literary/math scores of both classes at the end of the year doesn't control for the quality of the new teacher; a meaningfully controlled study would measure 1 teacher with X students and compare that against the SAME teacher with X/2 students). An author who argues that principals need to be replaced with "CEO" figures because in a corporation, when something goes wrong, everyone knows the CEO is responsible - an assertion that makes me doubt the author has ever WORKED at a large corporation. An author who wants to reform the school system to resemble the American HEALTH CARE system because - and I swear this is true - it's just so gosh-darn *efficient*. I don't really know what to say to that.

Moving on, there's also a very nice article that says, basically, that it doesn't *matter* if most charter schools do worse than the public schools they are meant to replace because that's the POINT of charter schools - to experiment with new things, keep what works, and close down the charter schools that don't. From a scientific standpoint, this isn't a terribly bad plan, but I can't help but feel sorry for the children that got lost in the system as part of the scientific experiment - at the very least, surely these numbers (and the implied risk!) should be made transparently clear to the parents as part of the enrollment process for new charter schools?

I feel like I've been very harsh in my review thus far, and I want to stress that this is a VERY interesting book, with lots of fascinating viewpoints. I started the book with a healthy understanding of the school system problem, and I feel like I came away with broadened horizons as the various authors here discussed different possibilities and solutions for a hugely difficult problem. And, as I say, there were a couple of articles that I thought were incredibly spot-on, and I respect that these articles were included even as they made solid criticisms of the documentary. I do recommend this book if you're a fan of the documentary or if you're interested in the subject matter, but I *do* think that people should read these opinion essays for what they predominantly are: opinions.

~ Ana Mardoll

Waiting for Superman, December 8, 2010
I'm a School Social Worker who just bring all my Middle School students to watch the movie and have to prepared lessons in base of the book, the book came on time and in perfect conditions, THANKS!!!!

EDUCATION IN CRISES, October 13, 2010
I am educator; need I say more. Our children are suffering at the hands of SOME not all educators. Our children are suffering at the hands of SOME not all school Districts. Our children are suffering at the hands of SOME not all parents who choose not to get involveds.

There are zillions of educators that are fighting and trying to champion children's educational rights -- AS THE EDUCATIONAL ACT STATES IT MUST BE CHAMPIONED --all over this beautiful Nation; and then there are the "few" teachers -- I do not refer to them as educators -- that are there (in the classroom), teaching your child for the paycheck.

This book will help weed these teachers out; this book will make zillions more sit up and take notice - mark my words.

This book is a must read - for educators sand also non educators - even children.

Great companion book to the documentary, October 25, 2010
Very informative book on the state of education and amazing groups who are making a difference. Lots of good fact based data. Very motivating to join in making a difference

Need a new book, December 7, 2010
I am reminded once again that what we really need is a new book that details the many successful teachers, students and public schools we have in this country. Using data that compares the very top students in other countries with our schools that use data that includes every student without regard to disability, etc. is so dishonest. For once compare our best students with their best students and you will see the real story - that our best students are at the very top in educational achievement. Compare ALL of their students with ALL of our students and what you will find is what an excellent job we do here in the U.S. with helping EVERY child. Our special ed programs are light-years ahead of foreign countries that track disabled students out of any hope of a college education and into low paying, menial jobs.

We need a documentary that shows what a great job teachers' unions have done promoting educational excellence and helping teachers get some semblance of fair compensation. Without teacher unions our educators would be making minimum wage with no benefits. See what the education system looks like and what quality of educators you have if unions crumble under the barrage of corporate media attacks on them.

Basically the large corporations, and the media spin they promote, is that public education is "failing". They do this because they are hungry to take over the system and drain education funding into their own profit. Almost every problem that I have seen in my 22 years in public education can be directly related to the rightward march of our government and the disenfranchising of the middle class and poor. You want to know the number one factor in educational achievement as proven by study after study - "at risk factors"!!!

So when mom and dad have no job, when they loose their home, when kids are hungry, when there is no proper medical care, when the home is in disheaval - children do not do well in school. Dah!!!

You want to improve education - then work for social justice. When the super rich elite few like Bill Gates - who has absolutely no experience in education but a huge chunk of the world's pie - is a prime contributor to a book on education - you know where they are coming from. Yes, the large corporations want to create the image that public schools are failing badly - and the answer is not building the middle class or helping people in poverty. The answer will be dismantling public schools and creating a corporate public education system for the rich where the elite have elite schools for their kids - and where the vast majority of human beings live in poverty with no hope of advancing their education.

Just complaining!, October 23, 2010
As a teacher, I agree with much of what this book states. However I was disappointed that they didn't make any suggestions for fixing the problems. Really, did we need yet another finger pointed at the system saying it is bad? We really need solutions. I walked away more depressed about my job.

Great, November 4, 2010
IT was great and come on time. I will buy every time from this person ... Read more

Editorial Review

They're back: Calvin, the six-year-old dirty tricksmeister and master of indignation and his warm, cuddly philosopher sidekick, Hobbes, a tiger whose idea of adventure is to lie on his back by the fire and have his stomach rubbed.In six short years this unlikely due has captured the hearts, the minds, and, most of all, the funny bones of America.They are the msot phenomenal success story in syndication - and publishing - history.In only six years, they appear in more than 2,100 newspapers worldwide, and Calvin and Hobbes wins as many readership polls as Calvin has excesses.All seven of Bill Watterson's collections have sold a million copies within a year of publication.This treasury collection contains a never-before-published full-color section, as well as the cartoons appearing in The Revenge of the Baby-Sat and Scientific Progress Goes "Boink." All Sunday cartoons are presented full-page and full-color. ... Read more

Reviews

Calvin and Hobbes Ranking System---#1, May 26, 2004
This treasury is far and away the best of the entire Calvin and Hobbes Collection. I own every book, and have recently reread them all, and without a doubt this is the very best. For one thing, it was written right in the middle of Watterson's C&H career, which means that the writing and ideas are still fresh, while super-improved drawings and Sunday strips have just begun. Second of all, Watterson must have been on a powerful creative streak, because there is an amazing number of stories within the "Indispensible" collection. There are three Rosalyn babysitter tales, the bug collection story, the bat project, two camping trips, G.R.O.S.S. adventures, the burglar break in, the car down the hill, multiple Stupendous Mans, multiple Spaceman Spiff getaways, the duplicator going "boink" and creating more Calvin's, a rare, great Tracer Bullet story, Calvin defying gravity and size, Calvin on the baseball team, and a time machine adventure to the dinosaur age. The sheer amount of stories here is unheard of for a C&H collection, and the best part is that almost every one is fantastic. Thirdly, the Sunday strips are in color, which is a huge plus. Fourthly, Calvin's parents have finally been rendered as three dimensional and sympathetic individuals, a characteristic that had been lacking in the earlier books. Last of all, as always, these comics are frequently hilarious, sometimes touching, and always entertaining. This collection personifies those characteristics to the nth degree, and is without a doubt the best Calvin and Hobbes for anyone to buy. If you're looking for other good C&H books, I would also recommend the Essential Collection (first two books, funny yet lacking in drawing), Snow Goons, Psycho Jungle Cat, Treasure Everwhere, and the 10th Anniversary. I hope this was helpful both for prospective buyers, and old fans looking back.

Indispensable! What else can I say?, October 30, 2003
Fans of Calvin & Hobbes who used to read the newspaper strip in the 80s and 90s will find great pleasure in reading this treasury of C&H comics. These witty comics about the 6-year old Calvin and his stuffed tiger Hobbes, named after the famous philosophers, will amuse people of all ages. The perceptiveness and humor of Watterson deserve the highest of cartoon awards, while his artistic creations exude hilarity. This cartoon is perhaps one of the most piercing yet funny critiques of modern society.

This book starts out with Calvin praying for snow so he can engage in one of his favorite hobbies: sledding, and then his other favorite hobby, throwing snowballs at Susie. Aside from the snowman exhibition, this book is a must-have since it covers the founding of C&H's GROSS (the Get Rid of Slimy girlS club). This also has the hilarious series about the time Calvin's personal gravity polarity reversed, and the episode when the Transmogrifier becomes the Duplicator.

Note that there are two series of C&H collections: individual wide-format albums, each covering an entire year of strips (will call it "regular"), and the vertical aspect ratio "treasury series" which covers selected comics from two regular C&H books. Note that C&H ran for a year in newspapers, so there's 10 regular books and 5 treasury books. Though the cartoons are slightly smaller in the treasury collection, each treasury book is far thicker and contains more strips than a regular book, and is furthermore less expensive, so treasury books are a real bargain. "The Indispensable Calvin & Hobbes" belongs to the Treasury collection, and was first released in 1992.

Watterson at his best!, December 30, 1998
Once again the hero of Sunday comics makes yet another book filled with laughter in every page. I've read every ''Calvin and Hobbes" except for "Yukon Ho!" and "Attack of the Snow Goons" and I think this is the funniest one. The laughter will not stop. And in the begining of the book, Watterson puts together Calvin and Hobbes Poetry with subjects that appear in Calvin's comic strip life. It has strips with all of everyone's favorite characters such Susie Derkins, Moe, and Rosalyn. If you want a book with non-stop laughter and one that you can read over and over, this is truly the one.

Will the most precocious child please step foward?, April 2, 1998
"Indespensable" is rendered rhetorical when it comes to Calvin and Hobbes, but a collection such as this should be required reading for, well, everyone. Calvin is the child we all were and continues to be the child we wish could still be. Of course any child who regularly uses words like "malpractice insurance" and "besmirching" asks you to suspend disbelief, but these phrases come from the same young boy possessing an unbelievably hyperactive imagination and a penchant for walking around the house in his birthday suit. And Hobbes, Calvin's best friend (who just happens to be a stuffed tiger - or is he alive?) represents everything we so crave and desire. Someone who will listen to you and give you unconditional love (not to mention a furry belly to lie on). Calvin's musings on life, school, and parents are nothing short of sophisticated philosophy. Take this book with your family and read it aloud for all to hear. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll imagine you're a tyrannosaurus rex. Indispensable.

An anthology of laughter, May 29, 2004
Whether the collection is the "Indispensible" or "Essential" or "Quintessential" Calvin and Hobbes, it doesn't really matter. Watching this hyperactive, hyperimaginative child and his willing though wise accomplice, Hobbes, take on evil babysitters, Susie Derkins, the class bully and all creatures (real or imaginary), is a pleasure and laughter without stop. "The Indispensible Calvin and Hobbes" is another in a long list of the great comic work of Bill Watterson. This is an indispensible/essential/quintessential collection for all Calvin and Hobbes and humor fans!

they never seem to get this right, July 22, 2006
I love Calvin and Hobbes, but I've noticed that frequently the online reviews of the 'essential' Calvin and Hobbes volumes in particular are misleading. Each of these volumes are essentially a 'best of' and NOT a compendium, of three other Calvin and Hobbes books. While they do have lots of great strips, they skip over others. (In particular singular strips are usually left out in favor of ones telling a broader story over several days, if not weeks.) What these compilations DO have which the others don't is a cool watercolor introduction with full page illustrations.

Indispensable indeed!, September 15, 2004
But how can you single this one out to be indispensable when ALL Calvin and Hobbes books are must haves/keeps forever? In this book you'll find all the usual Spaceman Spiff adventures as he flys through desert canyons on remote menacing planets, loads of Stupendous Man hijinks and endless laughs as Calvin never ceases to terrorize and menace everyone around him. But there is not enough of Hobbes. Even if Hobbes was in every panel on every page there still wouldn't be enough of him. I absolutely LOVE Hobbes. I want him. He IS the greatest.

The American Boyhood, July 21, 2008
Calvin in Hobbes in some ways reminds me of Mark Twain's writing in comic form. Calvin is a rebellious rapscallion of a little boy who lives a life filled with picaresque adventures and imaginary exploits. His imagination and personality are boundless, yet he is a total failure in school, he has no human friends, and he is bullied. Despite his poor grades, he exhibits an astounding vocabulary and often muses on the deeper aspects of life. Calvin struggles in the real world but that doesn't bother him because he knows what truly matters in life: friendship (he has a very close one with Hobbes), adventure, and imagination. And he's irresistibly charismatic despite his flaws.

The other main characters are strong supporters. Hobbes is essential to Calvin's well-being, and most of Calvin's exploits take place with Hobbes at his side. They scuffle, but they love each other. Every day when Calvin comes home from school, Hobbes is waiting to pounce on him in joyous greeting. Calvin is annoyed to be tackled every day, but deep down he cherishes it; without that daily pounce, what would Calvin's life be? Calvin's parents take background roles in the strip, since the protagonists are the boy, his stuffed tiger, and the world he lives in, but they are calming presences, always stepping in when Calvin gets in too much trouble. Sometimes they're a little strict, but they're good role models. Susie, the neighborhood girl, always tries to be friendly with him but Calvin, in an age-old young boy's strive to assert his masculinity, insists that she is gross and constantly picks on her in a light-hearted manner. Many strips, however, just involve Calvin and Hobbes, getting into trouble, discussing ideas, exploring, relaxing...

One would be a complete curmudgeon whose heart is not warmed by this touching, happy, and filled-with-life exploration of the mind and adventures of a young boy. As long as Calvin is dreaming up Spaceman Spiff adventures while stuck in a desk at school, as long as he and his tiger are taking walks in the forest or wild wagon rides down and off of cliffs while philosophizing about life, as long as Calvin is pelting Susie with snowballs on a cozy winter day, and as long as Calvin and Hobbes are running and jumping in the backyard in a rollicking game of Calvinball, there is peace in this world.

an epic, great modern day comic strip parable ........., May 3, 2007
I could relate to Calvin and Hobbes, from the moment I first started following the adventures of the devilish, eternal six year old (Calvin) and his scruffy, stuffed pal tiger (Hobbes). Though, many of the plots appear simplistic (example: Calvin makes a mess and his mother yells at him!), there is so much more to the little strips than meets the eye. For starters, Calvin and Hobbes ponders the meaning of life, the voicelessness of children in society, and self image (among other themes).

Though, this comic strip is something that definitely appeals to little children, because it presents a little boy that we all can relate to (or maybe spent time avoiding on the playground if he teased us), and his stuffed animal. Anyone who owned a stuffed animal and knows what an important bond that is for a child, knows the feeling when that toy crosses over from the identity of "inanimate object" to "lifelike being." The creature that we relate to truly embodies the qualities who want in a best friend and companion, and we aren't doing the talking for that creature, because it truly does have a mind of its own! (in the eyes of a child) Wonderful, very funny and beautifully drawn. I've had mine for almost fifteen years and I just went back to look at it today. It feels like no time has passed between now, and the time I first looked at it. Buy this today and make it a part of your collection.

Long, March 8, 2007
This Calvin and Hobbes book is the best i've read by far. Its 250 pages long and each page contains 3 strips.
The strips in this book are especially funny and i am sure you'll enjoy them.
I highly reccomend this book. ... Read more

Editorial Review

About the original 1000 PlayThinks,Will Shortz of The New York Times said it best: “The most wide-ranging, visually appealing, entertaining, gigantic collection of brainteasers since Sam Loyd’s Cyclopedia of Puzzles almost a century ago.”Inside The Big Book of Brain Games, you will find an obsessive collection of 1,000 challenges, puzzles, riddles, illusions—originals as well as must-do classics—it’s like salted peanuts for the brain. With jampacked pages and a full-color illustration for each entry, the book, opened anywhere, is a call to action. (And it’s guaranteed to make you smarter.) Twelve basic categories include Geometry, Patterns, Numbers, Logic and Probability, and Perception. An easy-to-read key at the top of each game ranks its difficulty on a scale of 1 to 10, while indices in the back cross-reference the puzzles. (You’ll find the answers back there, too.) ... Read more

Reviews

Highly recommended book of puzzles, August 10, 2007
A superbly designed book of puzzles. You will find all types of "brain games" with different degrees of difficulty clearly marked. An index at the end of the book allows you to choose a "brain game" according to its type and degree of difficulty. Solutions to all brain games are at the end of the book.
Very colourful and inviting for all ages. Just leave it on your coffee table and all the family will stop to browse it and try their hands (or brains rather) at any of these attractively presented puzzles.

Keep 'em busy....., June 7, 2007
This was purchased for two kids, 9 and 13, to take on a trip for use in the car or the expected rainy afternoons. Fun to do and a challenge for their grandparents, too.

Lots of family fun, March 21, 2007
I have two curious boys and they have lots of energy everyday. It is really hard to get them both sit down together for a period of time. But this book did it. Lots of interesting puzzles and it fits everyone's specialty. We had and still having lots of fun to work on the book together.

Love it!, September 6, 2007
This book is great! Very fun...the only parts we don't enjoy are the parts you are supposed to cut. We don't want to cut up our book so we most likely won't do those activities. Our favorites are the activities that don't require anything but our mind or that we can read to each other. Very fun to do with another person to pass the time.

GREAT BOOK!, January 24, 2008
I bought this as a Christmas present for my 3 kids, who I homeschool. They have all been enjoying the puzzles, which are very challenging for both kids and adults! The graphics are very colorful and appealing to kids. This is a great book to leave out on the coffee table - I highly recommend it!

Exellent graphics, large fun assortment, some mistakes, June 4, 2009
co 2006, First Printing
Saw the graphics and layout of this book and had to get it. I use it for idle moments as a healthy way to exercise my mind. I don't regret buying the book, but have done about 40 or so puzzles and have found what I believe to be a few errors. Even with the errors it is still a good source for amusement.

I will list the errors I found and update if I find more (maybe). You can double check me (I would - if I wasn't already me):

Playthink 648: The key for the cipher is incomplete. At least in my edition, you cannot solve the simple substitution.

Playthink 649: Solution states probability of at least one man getting hat back is .632. I calculated 1-(#ways none take right hat/#ways hats can be taken) = 1-(5!/6!) = 1-(120/720) = 1-.1667 = .8333
UPDATE: The Hatcheck Problem is a classic combinatorial question dealing with 'derangement'. I now know my answer using factorials is wrong, and the book does not show how it derived it's answer. This has definitely stirred my interest in learning about this problem. I believe it involves a limit, and maybe the number 'e'? When I get a grasp on it I will post it here.

Playthink 656: No mention is made of Ivan until solution

Once again I still think it is a great book to keep lying on the coffee table. Mistakes just show you shouldn't blindly believe any book (unless you know the writer, editor, and printer to be perfect beings).

Fun games for chill-time, March 12, 2009
This book is fun and colorful, full of brain-boggling games that are fit for all ages (there are games with difference levels of difficulty). These games deal with math, science, physics, and other random games that are just recreational and thought provoking.

Fun...Challenging!, March 25, 2009
We bought this book for my father-in-law who loves puzzles and brain teasers. He has found this book to be challenging and fun.

Excellente resource to my students, November 1, 2009
Is an excellent resourse to challenge our students to think more analytical but without the pressure of the math test.

Didn't like the illustrations or the quantity over quality format, June 9, 2009
Yes, it's illustrated, colorful and printed on large glossy sheets of paper, but the illustrations are just awful. Anyone would feel out of place among its assortment of toys, clowns and cowboys. (just look at the cover.)

This book seems to be targeted to families, also judging from the reviews here. It opens flat and the problems come with large images and print, so that it can be read together with other people. The puzzles are rated from 1 to 10 in difficulty, so there's something for every skill level.

I would've probably found this optimally challenging when I was about 10-15 or so.

One of my major complaints is that puzzles aren't sorted by difficulty: there should be separate sections for easy, medium and hard puzzles for example.

1000 puzzles is probably also too much. If the problems would take 3 minutes on average, that's 3000 minutes, which is 50 hours. While it's not much more than an average console or PC RPG, I doubt most have even gotten close to finishing the book. ... Read more

Editorial Review

With the help of his faithful stuffed tiger companion and his alter-egos--Spaceman Spiff, Stupendous Man, and Tracer Bullet-- Calvin continues to navigate the tricky waters of youth in the latest collection by comic strip genius Bill Watterson. Original. ... Read more

Reviews

Adventures with "the incurable weirdness poster child", December 22, 2001
"Attack of the Deranged Mutant Killer Monster Snow Goons," by Bill Watterson, is a collection of comic strip adventures of Calvin, the feisty schoolboy, and his companion Hobbes, a stuffed tiger. The strips generally form short stories within the book. The book's title refers to one of these storylines, in which Calvin creates a mutant snow man which in turn creates an army of similar creatures. Other storylines involve Calvin getting chicken pox; his creation of his own TV show; and his club known as GROSS (a warped acronym for "Get Rid Of Slimy girlS").

The C&H stories are great because they are funny celebrations of the power of a child's imagination. Calvin assumes such alternate identities as sci-fi hero Spaceman Spiff, caped superhero Stupendous Man, and private eye Tracer Bullet. Often the humor comes from the clash of Calvin's fantasies with the reality around him. The stuffed Hobbes, through the power of Calvin's imagination, becomes both a comrade and a great foil for the boy; their wacky relationship is one of the most memorable in the comic strip genre.

Calvin is an academic underachiever, rebel, performance artist, disgruntled philosopher, and all-around bringer of chaos -- although his playmate/rival Susie refers to him as "the incurable weirdness poster child." Whether discovering a new dinosaur species (the "Calvinosaurus") or evading the dreaded monster under the bed, Calvin is hilarious. And you've got to love a comic that cites the U.S. Bill of Rights. "Attack" is a great book both for C&H fans and for newcomers to this excellent comic strip.

A great read!, November 13, 2000
Bill Waterson is argudably one of the best comic writers out there. Even through his retirement, he has made great books of past comics featuring his Calvin and Hobbes characters. I laugh and laugh at these comics he creates and I sometimes wonder how he comes up with such brilliant ideas sometimes with the storylines of some of the strips.

Calvin, one of his best known characters, is the trouble-making kid in the school. He is funny and imaginative and likes to make funa and games with his "real" pet friend Hobbes. Through the comics, you can see the relationship between a stuffed animal and a human.

In this comic though, Hobbes "comes to life" in Calvins eyes. The things that Calvin can sometimes get involved in is so hilarious and sometimes out of this world.

I guarantee that anyone that loves comics will fall in love with this one and should definitely buy this book to start their collection of classic comics.

All of Bill Waterson's comic books are very well done and very professional. His work is his life and it shows the time and consideration it took to make these characters come to life. Thank you Mr. Waterson for creating such a great comic and thatnk you people for reading my review!

Wow!, March 27, 1999
I have read almost all of the books in Calvin & Hobbes collection. By far, this one is BETTER THAN THE BEST! I have always been a great Calvin & Hobbes fan, but this has crazy plots and more...like in the Attack of the Deranged Mutant Killer Monster Snow Goons (the comis strip not the book) Calvin makes a snowman come to life and it makes more weird snowmen. They attack Calvin & Hobbes. Then Calvin's parents come outside and say it's time to go to bed. Will Calvin & Hobbes be able to save the world from the Deranged Mutant Killer Monster Snow Goons?

"I'd like to shake the hand of the genius who invented these.", June 9, 2006
Calvin and Hobbes... you gotta love them!

"I'd like to shake the hand of the genius who invented these." - Calvin as he lovingly displays a perfect water balloon.

"Our class voted Calvin the 'Most likely to be seen on the news some day'." - Susie Derkins, the real expert on Calvin, after Calvin confesses to her that he is hiding from his homicidal bicycle.

"I dunno, it seems like once people grow up, they have no idea what's cool." - Calvin after his mom refused his request to get contact lenses... one blood red, and the other "Yellow striped, like a bug."

Oh... and why DO adults forget what is cool?

This may be the best "Calvin", July 26, 2000
All Calvin and Hobbes books are great. But this one, in which Calvin imagines that he has brought a demonic snowman to life, may be the best of the bunch. The sequence of strips in which Calvin is sure that the snowman and his friends are out to kill him may be the most brilliant of Bill Watterson's career. He is an absolute comic genius whose presence in the funny pages has been sorely missed since his retirement. "Snow Goons" is Watterson at his finest.

Calvin and Hobbes is Entertainment at its Best, September 17, 2006
Calvin and his stuffed tiger Hobbes wreck havoc as usual in this awesome collection of Watterson's timeless comic. Whether Calvin's wild imagination is dreaming of prehistoric dinosaurs or planning a mischevious attack on his arch-rival (fellow classmate Suzie Derkins), you're sure to enjoy the unexplainable antics of this troublesome six year old boy.

This particular collection starts with a series of cartoons depicting Calvin with chicken pox. Wouldn't you know it, as soon as he finds out he's contagious, he invites Suzie over to play. That crazy kid.

Individual comics follow, but then another series emerges - one where Calvin's bike attacks him upon every attempt at riding it, and his parents remain clueless about how his face could EVER get caught in the bike's chain.

In another series, we see Calvin's "Get Rid Of Slimy girlS" club planning a failed water balloon assault on Suzie, resulting in the disappearance of Hobbes. Hobbes does some smooching with the enemy and is labeled as a traitor.

We also see Calvin struggling in math, losing a 25 cent bet to Suzie after failing a quiz. He spends all his test time daydreaming he's interplanetary hero Spaceman Spiff, and is only able to do one lousy problem.

When the Christmas season approaches, poor Calvin has to avoid throwing snowballs at Suzie so he won't lose any of his Christmas loot.

The amusing title series of this collection is definitely one of my favorites. Calvin builds monster snowmen that (in his mind anyway) come to life and threaten his existence, so he freezes the whole front yard with the garden hose to protect himself, much to the dismay of his father.

Last but not least, Calvin builds a human duplicating machine out of a cardboard box, and he makes a special copy of himself that represents everything good in him. His plan is to make his flawless duplicate do all of his homework and chores, while he himself gets all the credit. Everything goes fine for a while, until his duplicate develops a crush on Suzie, making him look bad. Hilarity ensues.

Inbetween each of the series are individual comic strips with recurring themes. Open-minded Calvin bugs his parents with questions like, "Why do I have to play outside?" "Why can't we watch TV during dinner?" "If we were cannibals, what parts of people would we eat?" Calvin also grosses out Suzie at every opportunity whenever it's time for lunch at school.

We see Calvin engaging in some of his less frequent behaviors as well, such as digging for dinosaur bones in the front yard and demanding his parents and teachers address him as "Calvin the Bold."

Great, great collection. I loved it years ago and still love it today. Best comic ever in my opinion.

They're ALL brilliant!, January 1, 2000
I've got almost every Calvin and Hobbes collection, but as this was the first one I ever bought I'm going to review it. What can I say? What can anyone say? Bill Watterson has broken the mould of comic strips--this is the wittiest, silliest, sickest, and most heart-warming fiction I've ever come across, in ANY medium. I love his characters, and I love his insane plotlines--yet there's always a golden nugget of truth at the heart of each. Along with Gary Larson, Bill Watterson has breathed new life into the comic strip genre (and I'm no big fan of comics). Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant stuff.

Great bedtime stories, March 11, 2003
I've been teaching my son to read English through Calvin and Hobbes books. I've been surprised how much of it is written with an adult in mind. We have drawn much amusement from these books. The Snow Goons isn't quite as rewarding as other C&H collections, but is enjoyable nonetheless. This is more a weekly format with black and white strip cartoons. None of the Sunday spreads are contained within this collection, where one really saw Watterson show off his stunning imagination. However, it is very much worth adding to the archives, especially for bedtime stories.

Some of Watterson's Funniest Calvin & Hobbes, July 3, 2003
I first began reading Calvin and Hobbes in the newspaper around the time he introduced the Killer Snow Goons story, where Calvin builds yet another mutant, deranged snowman--but unlike previous strips, Calvin attempts to bring the snow goon to life a la Frankenstein, leading to the monster creating an army of similarly deranged snow goons.

Watterson's artwork as usual is imaginative and humorous, and Calvin and Hobbes' interaction in this book are particularly hilarious. If you've never read C&H before, consider this book a great place to start; long-read fans will also enjoy it as one of the best selections in the Calvin & Hobbes library.

Deserves more than a 5!, June 26, 2002
I loved Calvin and Hobbes when i was a little kid and I still do now! They're hillarious and Calvin reminds me so much of myself at
his age (not in every aspect). Especially our family camp trips. calvin and his mom remind me so much of myself and my mom when
our dad took us camping and it turned out to be a disaster, lol. These cartoons make me want to be a kid again. Almost everyone has
said this but I'll say it again. You'll start out planning to read a few pages but you won't stop there. you can't. it's so additive. some of
the younger kids might not understand some of the big words but older kids will. But I think that grownups will enjoy them the most.
Get them
all! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Invaluable ready reference, brimming with amusing and insightful quotes, includes hundreds of Twain’s most memorable quips and comments on life, love, history, culture, travel and diverse other topics, among them"He is now fast rising from affluence to poverty"; "Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please"; and "More than one cigar at a time is excessive smoking."
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Reviews

Great collection of clever quotes about all aspects of life., January 22, 2005
Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, the author of such books as "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" among others, was a highly intelligent and incredibly witty man. His keen observations of the world, and the often satirical commentary he made on it, are a delight to read, and this book pulls together some real gems from many of his books, speeches, and personal notebooks. There are some 358 quotations included, divided into categories as follows: (1) on men, women, children, and human nature, (2) on love, marriage, and romance, (3) on virtue, vice, and conduct, (4) on politics and history, (5) on religion, (6) on youth and aging, (7) on truth, honesty, lies, and illusion, (8) on reading, writing, and education, (9) on health and exercise, (10) on money and business, (11) on travel, and (12) on various other subjects. Each quote is attributed to its source for easy reference. This is a very slim and very affordable little volume, only fifty-five pages in length, and in fact my only criticism is that it doesn't include more material. But it is still well worth getting, and at this price it won't break any pocketbooks.

Here is a small selection of what you can expect:

"Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence in society" (pg. 3).

"Familiarity breeds contempt -- and children" (pg. 7).

"It is better to deserve honors and not have them than to have them and not deserve them" (pg. 15).

"Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself" (pg. 23).

"Heaven for climate, Hell for company" (pg. 28).

"When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years" (pg. 28).

A good little quote book, December 28, 2005
I have always been a fan of Mark Twain since I first read Huck Finn.

This is a great little book his quotations from his writings and speeches.

It's a nice little stocking stuffer as the book is small.

Some of my favorites:

"Classic." A book which people praise and don't read.

Honesty is the best policy--when there is money in it.

Some people like when they tell the truth. I tell the truth lying.

In God We Trust. I don't belive it would sound any better if it were true.

Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.

Martyrdom covers a multitude of sins.

When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries of life disappear and life stands explained.

Cheer Up with Biting Humor of Mark Twain, November 5, 2004
Enjoy few quotes from this humorous book, then go and buy a copy:

ADVERTISING

During his days as a journalist, the young Mark Twain once edited a small newspaper in Missouri. A subscriber wrote in, saying that he had found a spider in his paper and asked whether this was a sign of good or bad uck. Twain answered:

"Dear Subscriber: Finding a spider in your paper was neither good luck nor bad luck for you. The spider was merely looking over our paper to see which merchant is not advertising so that he can go to that store, spin his web across the door and lead a life of undisturbed peace ever afterward."

ADVICE

It is beter to give than receive - especially advice. Mark Twain was always willing to donate free advice to the needy and the unsuspecting. "It's notble to be good", he said, "and it's nobler to teach others to be good, and less trouble."

Whenever you find that you are on the side of majority, it is time to reform (- or pause and reflect).

BELIEFS

If the man doesn't believe as we do, we say he is a crank, and that settles it. I mean, it does nowadays, because now we can't burn him.

SURGERY

Mark Twain offered this advice on the proper state of mind for undergoing surgery: "Console yourself with the reflection that you are giving the doctor pleasure, and that he is getting paid for it."

INSULTS

When Mark Twain disapproved of someone, he was not likely o keep it a secret. A remark he made on hearing of the death of an annoying person is typical:

"He has done a thing for me which I wouldn't even have done for myself. If he will only stay dead now I will call the account square and drop the grudge I bear him."

The Wit and Wisom of Mark Twain, September 8, 2001
A hilarious book of qoutes, sayings, and one-liners only Mark Twain could have the genious to create.

A qoute from Adam, the first of many: Adam was but human - this explains it all. He did not want the apple for the apple's sake, he wanted it only because it was forbidden. The mistake was in not forbidding the serpent; then he would have eaten the serpent.

From Adam, the wit and humor only becomes more hysterical, more riveting, more evident; and we soon discover the true intelligence of Mark Twain. He was not an ordinary man; for no mere ordinary man could have thought, and often dared, to utter such words as Mark Twain, in the era in which he lived.

The Wit and Wisdom of Mark Twain contains some of his most outrageous qoutes, either written within his books, or his journals, and spanning more than four decades. A great read, which you don't have to start at the beginning, and work your way to the end. And a perfect way to escape the drollery of prime time television.

Amusing and Timeless Reading, May 21, 2000
Mark Twain captures human nature at it's best and worst in this book. The collection of quotes by Twain "alphabetically" comment honestly on topics ranging from adultery to government to money to youth. Such insight into humanity rarely comes along in a lifetime (or several lifetimes!) His words in truly reflect society during his lifespan and, as I have reread this book several times, the passages reflect society today. This book is an "easy read" as it contains memorable quotes as well as portions of a variety of speeches, papers and books/stories Mr. Twian wrote. You can read the entire book at one sitting or glance through it if you have a few minutes to spare and still feel the impact of his writings , thus finding yourself highly amused by his insight. You can pick up the book again at a later time and enjoy it as much as before. The "authors"/collectors/writers of this book are to be applauded.

Funny and wise, July 5, 2005
Mark Twain was one of the funniest human beings that ever visited this planet. He was also a very decent one . He was skeptically wise and had the ability to a sentence or two put the most pretentious of all creatures , the human one, in its place.
This is the man who upon the premature publication of an obituary about him, replied " The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated".
One special reason I have a particular love for his work, is the fact that he of all the great writers, showed the most sympathy and insight into the life and situation of the Jews.
He is one of the few writers who it seems to me never has to try to be funny, because he simply is.
This collection of some of his most famous quips and remarks is a real treat.

a recommended collection...., May 27, 2000
...of spicy quotations by the master of words and wit. Gives sources too. Very enjoyable reading.

Honesty: the best of all the lost arts, March 24, 2007
And so it goes, page after page. You'll find your favorites.

"Habit is habit, and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed downstairs a step at a time." Pudd'nhead Wilson 1894, ch 6.

There's how Mr. Ayres presents them from a variety of sources, Twain's books as well as speeches, his notebook and essays and a few from letters and some listed as attributed to him. I have a nice collection of books on my favorite subjects but this simple one, nothing fancy, is one I go back to time and again. I find myself quoting him in various contexts and glad that I know the quotes. the art of Mr. Ayres is to cull out the various quotes from so many sources. Twain said them, Ayres found them and put them together very sensibly by catagories such as Heroism, Music andd Right and Wrong. It's an A to Z compendium. You'll find plenty of lively, homespun quotes that often feel like the very heart of the American character. Can't go wrong with this book.

Always funny, May 17, 2009
This is a great little pick me up kind of gift to give someone who might need a smile. He was definitely witty and blunt!

GOOD book!, April 14, 2009
Mark Twain has a lot off beautiful and uplifting words of wisdom.
I recommend it to all.


Author: Bogdan Alexandru
Thoughts across Time
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