Books site review

How to Make Money in Stocks: A Winning System in Good Times and Bad, Fourth Edition

2009-07-20T08:27:00.005+07:00

How to Make Money in Stocks: A Winning System in Good Times and Bad, Fourth Edition

Product Description
Anyone can learn to invest wisely with this bestselling investment system!

Through every type of market, William J. O’Neil’s national bestseller, How to Make Money in Stocks, has shown over 2 million investors the secrets to building wealth. O’Neil’s powerful CAN SLIM® Investing System—a proven 7-step process for minimizing risk and maximizing gains—has influenced generations of investors.

Based on a major study of market winners from 1880 to 2009, this expanded edition gives you:

•Proven techniques for finding winning stocks before they make big price gains
•Tips on picking the best stocks, mutual funds, and ETFs to maximize your gains
•100 new charts to help you spot today’s most profitable trends
PLUS strategies to help you avoid the 21 most common investor mistakes!

“I dedicated the 2004 Stock Trader’s Almanac to Bill O’Neil: ‘His foresight, innovation, and disciplined approach to stock market investing will influence investors and traders for generations to come.’”
—Yale Hirsch, publisher and editor, Stock Trader’s Almanac and author of Let’s Change the World Inc.

“Investor’s Business Daily has provided a quarter-century of great financial journalism and investing strategies.”
—David Callaway, editor-in-chief, MarketWatch

“How to Make Money in Stocks is a classic. Any investor serious about making money in the market ought to read it.”
—Larry Kudlow, host, CNBC’s "The Kudlow Report"

Customer Reviews
How to Make Money in Stocks: A Winning System in Good Times and Bad, Fourth Edition

A comprehensive (and demonstraby successful) investment approach - beyond mere stock screening
A comprehensive (and demonstraby successful) investment approach - beyond mere stock screening, June 13, 2009
By William L. Lyman "FreeMarket" (ATLANTA, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
The CANSLIM stock investing methodology outlined in "How to Make Money in Stocks" is a time tested method that incorporates how the equity (stock) market(s) really work - for the passive, minority, outside investor. It is a 80/20 approach (with William O'Neil's approach, proprietary metrics and tools you can achieve 80% of the success with 20% of the effort) and explicitly rides the coattails of the market (read and react - don't fight/argue with the market). This system *IS* designed for the individual investor and small professional investor - I'm not sure it would scale for $250 million portfolios and above (but I'm not sure that it wouldn't either).

CANSLIM is part fundamental (here earnings growth is the primary focus), part structural, part timing/technical and part money/risk management (this part is **crucial** to investment success). The vast amount of other investing books will typically provide only a screening/selection approach, but "How to Make Money in Stocks" provides a comprehensive investment approach including stock selection, portfolio composition, selling criteria and money/risk management.

I wholeheartedly endorse this book and methodology - and recommend it to EVERYONE who is considering investing directly in common stocks. Even if they pursue another style of investing, there are many excellent lessons to embrace from "How to Make Money in Stocks".

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The Media Relations Department of Hizbollah Wishes You a Happy Birthday

2009-07-20T07:37:00.007+07:00

The Media Relations Department of Hizbollah Wishes You a Happy Birthday

Product Description
Since his boyhood in Qadhafi-s Libya, Neil MacFarquhar has developed a counterintuitive sense that the Middle East, despite all the bloodshed in its recent history, is a place of warmth, humanity, and generous eccentricity. In this book, he introduces a cross-section of unsung, dynamic men and women pioneering political and social change. There is the Kuwaiti sex therapist in a leather suit with matching red headscarf, and the Syrian engineer advocating a less political interpretation of the Koran. MacFarquhar interacts with Arabs and Iranians in their every day lives, removed from the violence we see constantly, yet wrestling with the region-s future. These are people who realize their region is out of step with the world and are determined to do something about it-on their own terms.

Customer reviews
The Media Relations Department of Hizbollah Wishes You a Happy Birthday

A 'must' for any collection strong in contemporary Middle East events
Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA)
"The Media Relations Department of Hizbollah Wishes You a Happy Birthday: Unexpected Encounters in the Changing Middle East" provides a New York Times journalist's experiences in the changing region. Neil MacFarquhar worked in the region since the 1970s and is the perfect choice to document its transitions based on personal experience. His focus is on lesser-known men and women pioneering political and social change, making this a vivid survey and a 'must' for any collection strong in contemporary Middle East events.

The Media Relations Department of Hizbollah Wishes You a Happy Birthday: Unexpected Encounters in the Changing Middle East
Elizabeth J. Davis
I picked up your book and laughed about the veggies
in clorox water, the stills....The last paragraph of chapter two says it
all. I guess most of us who grew up the way we did, live with that
undefinable feeling that nowhere is home - and everywhere is
home.

Both entertaining and educational!
D. Knight (Austin, TX)
The Media Relations Department of Hizbollah is a fantastic journey into the life of an American journalist in the Middle East. The author provides amusing anecdotes about his years in Arab countries ( from cooking one Thankgiving dinner in several ovens around town, to standing in the heat for hours waiting for Muammar Qadhafi). However, he still manages to educate his reader about the variety of Arabs he encountered. He isn't afraid to point out the problems with censorship, secret-police states, and ultra-religious Islamic governments. But, most promisingly, he found a considerable number of Middle-Easterners who really want change and modernization in their countries. The author manages to both entertain and educate his reader on topics which are in the forefront of the news each day. Definitely a great read!!

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Horse Soldiers

2009-07-20T00:23:00.007+07:00

Horse Soldiers: The Extraordinary Story of a Band of US Soldiers Who Rode to Victory in Afghanistan

Product Description
From the New York Times-bestselling author of In Harm's Way comes a true-life story of American soldiers overcoming great odds to achieve a stunning military victory.
Horse Soldiers is the dramatic account of a small band of Special Forces soldiers who secretly entered Afghanistan following 9/11 and rode to war on horses against the Taliban.
Outnumbered forty to one, they pursued the enemy across mountainous terrain and, after a series of intense battles, captured the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, which was strategically essential if they were to defeat the Taliban.

The bone-weary American soldiers were welcomed as liberators, and overjoyed Afghans thronged the streets. Then the action took a wholly unexpected turn. During a surrender of six hundred Taliban troops, the Horse Soldiers were ambushed. Dangerously outnumbered, they fought for their lives in the city's immense fortress, Qala-i-Janghi, or the House of War. At risk were the military gains of the entire campaign: if the soldiers perished or were captured, the effort to defeat the Taliban might be doomed.

As the Americans struggled to hold the fortress, they faced some of the most intense urban warfare of our time. But until now the full story of the Horse Soldiers has never been told. Doug Stanton received unprecedented cooperation from the U.S. Army's Special Forces soldiers and Special Operations helicopter pilots, as well as access to voluminous after-battle reports. In addition, he interviewed more than one hundred participants and walked every inch of the climactic battleground.

This exciting story is filled with unforgettable characters: brave Special Forces soldiers, tough CIA operatives, cunning Afghan warlords, anxious stateside soldiers' wives who do not know where their husbands have gone, and humble Afghan boys spying on the Taliban.

Deeply researched and beautifully written, Stanton's account of America's quest to liberate an oppressed people touches the mythic. The Horse Soldiers combined ancient strategies of cavalry warfare with twenty-first-century aerial bombardment technology to perform a seemingly impossible feat. Moreover, their careful effort to win the hearts of local townspeople and avoid civilian casualties proved a valuable lesson for America's ongoing efforts in Afghanistan.

Horse Soldiers is a big-hearted and thrilling read, with an epic story that reaches not just across the cold mountains of Afghanistan but into the homes of small-town America, and confirms Doug Stanton as one of our country's preeminent storytellers.

Editorial Review
"Doug Stanton's Horse Soldiers is as gripping as the most intricately plotted thriller. It is a masterwork of stunning military action, brilliant in-depth journalism, and powerful storytelling. Finally Americans can know how just a few dozen courageous U.S. soldiers beat the Taliban under the most extreme and dangerous conditions imaginable. I could not put this book down."-- Vince Flynn

"Horse Soldiers is a great read -- a riveting story of the brave and resourceful American warriors who rode into Afghanistan after 9/11 and waged war against Al Qaeda. We're hearing many of these stories for the first time -- and from those who waged a war worthy of Rudyard Kipling, James Bond, and Davy Crockett." -- Tom Brokaw

"Doug Stanton's Horse Soldiers is the story of the first large American unconventional warfare operation since World War II. My Green Berets were launched deep into enemy territory to befriend, recruit, equip, advise, and lead their Afghan counterparts to attack the Taliban. The Horse Soldiers succeeded brilliantly with a highly decentralized campaign, reinforced with modern airpower's precision weapons, forcing the Taliban government's collapse in a few months. Doug Stanton captures the gritty realities of the campaign as no other can."-- Geoffrey C. Lambert, major general (retired), U.S. Army, and commanding general of the U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne), 2001-2003

"Not just an epic war story, Horse Soldiers is a beautifully written, intimate portrait of the men and women who lived the battle on the fields of fire -- and at home, too. Their secret mission against the Taliban was intelligent, brave, and undertaken with great care for the good people of Afghanistan. Doug Stanton's superb account is an invaluable insight for policy makers and the public for years to come." -- Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea

"In the spirit of Black Hawk Down and Flags of Our Fathers, Doug Stanton plunges into the heart of a single mission and returns with a stark understanding not only of what happened but what was truly at stake. Through precise reportage and hauntingly rendered battle scenes, Stanton shows that we may ignore this 'forgotten' theater only at our own peril." -- Hampton Sides, author of Ghost Soldiers and Blood and Thunder

"Spellbinding...action packed prose. [Stanton's] gritty narrative is thoroughly researched and the details of military operations jarringly precise...The book reads more like a novel than a military history...the Horse Soldier's secret mission remains the U.S. military's finest moment in what has since arguably been a muddled war." -- USA Today

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Customer reviews
Horse Soldiers

Doug Stanton, Author
Horse Soldiers
Scribner, A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc., ISBN 13-978-1-4165-8051-5
Non-Fiction-Real Life Drama/Thriller/Military/War
360 pages
June 2009 Review for Bookpleasures
Reviewer-Michelle Kaye Malsbury, BSBM, MM
Review
Doug Stanton, author of Horse Soldiers, has written one other book In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis and penned numerous articles for Esquire, Sports Afield, Outside, and Men's Journal. He has been well received thus far and it is my feeling that this newest work will receive the same, or even better, accolades.

Horse Soldiers is a true story about our Special Forces, Green Beret, embedded CIA operatives, and other special military/paramilitary elite who were the first to descend upon Afghanistan after 9/11 in search of Osama Bin Laden and the Taliban. At this time, our forces were greeted by the local Afghani's as liberators and friends. The inhospitable terrain and unpredictable weather conditions these soldiers endured, the death and destruction they witnessed daily, and the generosity of the local people, was for many of these elite men a first on foreign soil. These impressions and memories form the basis for the investigative profiles depicted in Horse Soldiers.

Doug Stanton conducts personal interviews with some of the survivors, and their families back home, attached to this dubious and dangerous detail. The insight and detailed perspectives these men provided in country were astonishing. The unlikely friendships struck up between Afghani war lords, local peasants, and some of these elite men during their deployment in country are heartwarming. The trust and goodwill they built in the local communities during this assignment will serve as foundation for future diplomacy that will help eventually rebuild this war-torn country, as well as, provide a certain level of confidence for the people of Afghanistan to mount their own stand in fighting the wickedness and destructive nature of the Taliban and Al Qaeda.

I've never visited a war and only watched it from the comfort and safety of America. Therefore, I cannot imagine how difficult it must have been for these brave people to watch their friends and comrades sustain serious injuries or be killed, or to see the daily death toll of innocents and loyal supporters in the towns and villages rise, or to come face to face with thousands of people (jihadists) who only want to "kill the infidel". The fear they must have held inside while executing these incredibly brave and selfless maneuvers while hoping to come out alive, even against horrendous odds, can be like nothing we, here at home, can ever know. Horse Soldiers provides a poignant recount of what these men in service felt at regular intervals during this special and secretive assignment.

Predictably Irrational, Revised and Expanded Edition

2009-07-18T11:54:00.006+07:00

Predictably Irrational, Revised and Expanded Edition

Product Description

How do we think about money?
What caused bankers to lose sight of the economy?
What caused individuals to take on mortgages that were not within their means?
What irrational forces guided our decisions?
And how can we recover from an economic crisis?

In this revised and expanded edition of the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller Predictably Irrational, Duke University's behavioral economist Dan Ariely explores the hidden forces that shape our decisions, including some of the causes responsible for the current economic crisis. Bringing a much-needed dose of sophisticated psychological study to the realm of public policy, Ariely offers his own insights into the irrationalities of everyday life, the decisions that led us to the financial meltdown of 2008, and the general ways we get ourselves into trouble.

Blending common experiences and clever experiments with groundbreaking analysis, Ariely demonstrates how expectations, emotions, social norms, and other invisible, seemingly illogical forces skew our reasoning abilities. As he explains, our reliance on standard economic theory to design personal, national, and global policies may, in fact, be dangerous. The mistakes that we make as individuals and institutions are not random, and they can aggregate in the market—with devastating results. In light of our current economic crisis, the consequences of these systematic and predictable mistakes have never been clearer.

Packed with new studies and thought-provoking responses to readers' questions and comments, this revised and expanded edition of Predictably Irrational will change the way we interact with the world—from the small decisions we make in our own lives to the individual and collective choices that shape our economy.

Editorial Reviews
Predictably Irrational, Revised and Expanded Edition

"Predictably Irrational is a scientific but imminently readable and decidedly insightful look into why we do what we do every day...and why, even though we 'know better,' we may never change." (Wenda Harris Millard, President, Media, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia )

"In creative ways, author Dan Ariely puts rationality to the test. . . . New experiments and optimistic ideas tumble out of him, like water from a fountain." (Boston Globe )

"A fascinating romp through the science of decision-making that unmasks the ways that emotions, social norms, expectations, and context lead us astray." (Time magazine )

"Surprisingly entertaining. . . . Easy to read. . . . Ariely's book makes economics and the strange happenings of the human mind fun." (USA Today )

"Ariely's book addresses some weighty issues . . . with an unexpected dash of humor." (Entertainment Weekly )

"An entertaining tour of the many ways people act against their best interests, drawing on Ariely's own ingeniously designed experiments. . . . Personal and accessible." (BusinessWeek )

"Ariely's intelligent, exuberant style and thought-provoking arguments make for a fascinating, eye-opening read." (Publishers Weekly )

"A delightfully brilliant guide to our irrationality-and how to overcome it-in the marketplace and everyplace." (Geoffrey Moore, author of Crossing the Chasm and Dealing with Darwin )

"Predictably Irrational is clever, playful,humorous, hard hitting, insightful, and consistently fun and exciting to read." (Paul Slovic, Founder and President, Decision Research )

"Predictably Irrational is an important book. Full of valuable and entertaining insights that will make an impact on your business, professional, and personal life." (Jack M Greenberg, Chairman, Western Union Company, Retired Chairman and CEO, McDonald's Corporation )

"The most difficult part of investing is managing your emotions. Dan explains why that is so challenging for all of us, and how recognizing your built-in biases can help you avoid common mistakes." (Charles Schwab, Chairman and CEO, The Charles Schwab Corporation )

"Inventive. . . . An accessible account. . . . Ariely is a more than capable storyteller . . . If only more researchers could write like this, the world would be a better place." (Financial Times )

"Predictably Irrational is wildly original. It shows why-much more often than we usually care to admit-humans make foolish, and sometimes disastrous, mistakes. Ariely not only gives us a great read; he also makes us much wiser." (George Akerlof, Nobel Laureate in Economics, 2001 Koshland Professor of Economics, University of California at Berkeley )

"This is a wonderful, eye-opening book. Deep, readable, and providing refreshing evidence that there are domains and situations in which material incentives work in unexpected ways. We humans are humans, with qualities that can be destroyed by the introduction of economic gains. A must read!" (Nassim Nicholas Taleb, New York Times bestselling author of The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable )

"A marvelous book that is both thought provoking and highly entertaining, ranging from the power of placebos to the pleasures of Pepsi. Ariely unmasks the subtle but powerful tricks that our minds play on us, and shows us how we can prevent being fooled." (Jerome Groopman, New York Times bestselling author of How Doctors Think )

"After reading this book, you will understand the decisions you make in an entirely new way." (Nicholas Negroponte, founder of MIT's Media Lab and founder and chairman of the One Laptop per Child non-profit association )

"Dan Ariely's ingenious experiments explore deeply how our economic behavior is influenced by irrational forces and social norms. In a charmingly informal style that makes it accessible to a wide audience, Predictably Irrational provides a standing criticism to the explanatory power of rational egotistic choice." (Kenneth Arrow, Nobel Prize in Economics 1972, Professor of Economics Stanford University )

"Predictably Irrational is a charmer-filled with clever experiments, engaging ideas, and delightful anecdotes. Dan Ariely is a wise and amusing guide to the foibles, errors, and bloopers of everyday decision-making." (Daniel Gilbert, Professor of Psychology, Harvard University and author of Stumbling on Happiness )

"Dan Ariely is a genius at understanding human behavior: no economist does a better job of uncovering and explaining the hidden reasons for the weird ways we act, in the marketplace and out. Predictably Irrational will reshape the way you see the world, and yourself, for good." (James Surowiecki, author of The Wisdom of Crowds )

"Freakonomics held that people respond to incentives, perhaps in undesirable ways, but always rationally. Dan Ariely shows you how people are deeply irrational, and predictably so." (Chip Heath, Co-Author, Made to Stick, Professor, Stanford Graduate School of Business )

"A taxonomy of financial folly." (The New Yorker )

"Sly and lucid. . . . Predictably Irrational is a far more revolutionary book than its unthreatening manner lets on." (New York Times Book Review )

Customer Review
Predictably Irrational, Revised and Expanded Edition

It seems that no one is immune from making irrational choices
Did you ever stop to think why your behavior can be so doggone irrational at times? Perhaps you are someone who walks into a fast food joint and orders a bacon double-cheeseburger, large fries and a Diet Coke. Now does that make any sense at all? Do you regret that recent purchase when a salesperson managed to talk you into a product that was much bigger and had many more features than you wanted or needed? Do you have drawers full of so-called "free" stuff at home that you never even use? You are not alone! It would appear that it is really inconsequential whether you are young or old, rich or poor, a high school drop-out or an individual with an advanced degree. According to author Dan Ariely we are all highly susceptible to this kind of irrational behavior. Furthermore, manufacturers and retailers are well aware of these tendencies among their customers and have developed rather sophisticated techniques to take full advantage of them. In his new book "Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions" Ariely seeks to arm his readers with useful information and observations that will help us to understand the forces that are in play here and to ultimately make much better decisions. It is an intriguing subject.
Throughout the pages of "Predictably Irrational" Ariely, a behavioral economist at MIT, discusses a number of fascinating experiments that he and his colleagues conducted in preparation for this book. You will discover that the decisions we make can easily be manipulated by the choices we are presented with. And although it makes absolutely no sense at all you will see why the more expensive brand name drug will usually make us feel better faster than its generic equivalent. Ariely also presents some fascinating experiments on the subject of honesty. Discover why people tend to be appreciably more honest in transactions where cash is involved. Terrific stuff! Towards the end of the book Ariely spotlights an interesting experiment he conducted involving a group of people ordering food and beverages at a restaurant. It is stunning when you realize just how much the mere presence of other people can influence what you decide to order!
I found the newly revised and expanded "Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions" to be a particularly engaging and well-written book. I came away feeling that I had a much better understanding of human nature. Armed with the knowledge I gained here I am much less likely to be tripped up in future transactions. I wish I had read this book before my wife and I purchased a vehicle a few months ago! It might have saved us several thousand dollars! Highly recommended!

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The Unofficial Guide Walt Disney World 2009

2009-07-18T09:42:00.008+07:00

The Unofficial Guide Walt Disney World 2009 (Unofficial Guides)

Product Description

More than 4 million copies sold! This series is the only one that offers evaluations based on reader surveys and critiques, compiled by a team of unbiased inspectors.
• Hotels, attractions, and restaurants in all price categories
• Extensive information on shopping, nightlife, and sports
• Easy-to-use, two-color design
• Detailed, 2-color maps

From the publishers of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World

"A Tourist's Best Friend!"
—Chicago Sun-Times

"Indispensable"
—The New York Times

Five Great Features and Benefits offered ONLY by The Unofficial Guide:

1.Exclusively patented, field-tested touring plans that save as much as four hours of standing in line in a single day
2.Tips, advice, and opinions from hundreds of Walt Disney World guests in their own words
3.Almost 250 hotels rated and ranked for quality and value, including the top non-Disney hotels for families
4.A complete Dining Guide with ratings and reviews of all Walt Disney World restaurants, plus extensive alternatives for dining deals outside the World
5.Every attraction rated and ranked for each age group; extensive, objective, head-to-head comparisons of the Disney and Universal theme parks

Customer Reviews
The Unofficial Guide Walt Disney World 2009

Comparing the Disney World travel guides
Looking for a guide to Walt Disney World? I think I can help. My family, along with two other families, recently spent a week at Disney, and we took five different travel books with us. We thought it would be fun to compare how useful the books were as we planned our trip and as we spent our days at the parks.

This review is the result of our efforts, with book rated from 1 star (awful) to 5 stars (great).

Before I start, you should know that our little reviewing group consisted of three couples, all in their early thirties. Between us we have three little girls, one little boy, a teenage girl, and a pair of grandparents that went along too.

We rated the books based on six criteria:

1. Helpfulness as a Trip Planner
Does the book offer tips on saving money or time? Does it help you get through the Orlando airport? Does it recommend hotels and restaurants to reserve and back up its reasons well? Does it have good advice about the Disney dining plan and which restaurants to eat at?

2. Helpfulness While at Disney World.
Is it worthwhile to take the guide with you? Does it help with last minute decisions? Is it fun to read as you wait for a restaurant table, or in a line for a ride or show?

3. Organization.
No matter how good a particular piece information is, if you can't find it, it doesn't do you any good. This is especially true in travel guides, when you often need a particular piece of information RIGHT NOW!

4. Current information.
Though all of these guides have "2009" in their title, are they really up-to-date? To find out, we picked out three things we know are new at Disney World for this year: The American Idol Experience show, the new promotion where guests get in free on their birthday, and the new room decor at the BoardWalk resort, where we stayed, and checked to see which books knew about them.

5. Addresses family needs
Since so many Disney World visitors are families, how does each book reflect that? Are there specific planning tips for families? Is there advice about which rides are too scary for little ones?

So, on to the reviews!

Birnbaum's Walt Disney World 2009 2 stars
Once published by travel guru Steve Birnbaum, today Birnbaum's Walt Disney World is an objective travel guide in name only. Now written and published by the Disney company, it offers nothing but cheers for everything Walt Disney World has to offer. Worse, a lazy attitude permeates everything, as if this is something Disney is forced to do but would really just forget about. As you would expect, there's precious little about saving money (except for a recommendation to "save" by buying the extra-cost Disney Disney Plan) and no quality ratings for attractions, restaurants or resorts beyond an occasional "Birnbaum's Best" logo. Chapter titles are confusing: restaurants are under "Good Meals Great Times;" water parks within "Everything Else in the World." The book was 1-for-3 on our accuracy test. It knew the American Idol show existed but had no information about it. Its room description for the Boardwalk Resort was two years out of date. It did not mention the birthday promotion. On the plus side, the book's relative few pages makes it the easiest of the Disney guides to scan through, and there are many illustrations of Mickey Mouse and other cartoon characters.

The Complete Walt Disney World 2009 5 stars
Outstanding organization and a wealth of color photos makes it easy to find particular information in The Complete Walt Disney World. Chapters are color coded, and subjects are grouped together well. For example, a Planning Your Trip chapter has a subsection on the Disney Dining Plan that clearly spells out the pluses and minuses of that add-on, and individual articles titled Saving Money (with 30 numbered tips), another called Saving Time. Restaurant reviews include good insight on character meals. Resort descriptions have more details than the other guides, though the authors provide little opinion beyond a star rating. Theme park information is superb. Attraction reviews, which can go on for multiple pages for major headliners like The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, include "Fear Factors" as well as "Fun Finds," are practical for families and fun for Disney fans. There's a touring plan for each park that we found helpful. The Complete Guide was 3-for-3 in our accuracy test. The only downer: Except for hotel listings, the Complete Walt Disney World focuses exclusively on Walt Disney World. There's no mention of Universal Studios, Sea World, or even the Orlando airport.

Frommer's Walt Disney World and Orlando 2009 3 stars
Frommers is well written, well organized and in many ways thorough, but the author doesn't seem that familiar with Walt Disney World. The book has no tips on saving time or money, and its hotel and restaurant opinions aren't backed up with a lot of facts. Attraction descriptions are short paragraphs with no specifications and few tips. The book offers little take-along value, and hardly any specific information for families. Vague family information. There are no photos or illustrations. The book scored 0 for 3 on our accuracy test. It didn't know about the American Idol show, our new room decor, or Disney's birthday promotion.

Fodor's Walt Disney World 2009: plus Universal Orlando and SeaWorld 2 star
Like a weaker version of the Frommers guide, the Fodors one is less organized and offers even less planning advice. Its ride and show descriptions seem to be edited versions of those in the Unofficial Guide, which this company also publishes. Like Frommers, the book scored 0 for 3 on our accuracy test.

The Unofficial Guide Walt Disney World 2009 4 stars
Is there an editor in the house? Packed with advice and information, the 848-page Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World is like your grandmother's attic: there's a lot of good stuff in there but so much junk to shift through! Actually it depends on the subject. If you have hours to dig through it, this massive tome can be a great planning tool. Page after page is devoted to subjects such as saving time or saving money. Incredibly detailed resort information includes which rooms, by number, offer the best views. Attraction summaries have details such as ratings by age group, but the authors comments are often so cynical they have value only if you find them funny. The Unofficial Guide scored 2 out of 3 on our accuracy test. It didn't know about Disney's birthday promotion. The book includes various Touring Plans, which offer step-by-step guidance for a day, or two, at each of the theme parks. These looked useful, but our group had too many individual interests to follow them. In short, this is a good book for those who aren't really fans of the Disney company, but want to take months to plan out a visit to its mecca.

So that's it! We determined that the Unofficial Guide and the Complete Guide are the best two books out there. As for which is the best for you, I think if you like Disney (or want a book that includes photography) you will like the Complete Guide best, but if you are headed there reluctantly (like, say, only to keep your kids happy), or also want information about SeaWorld or Universal, you will find the Unofficial Guide more to your liking. But either is a good choice.

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Roadside Crosses:

2009-07-17T13:17:00.006+07:00

Roadside Crosses: A Kathryn Dance Novel

Product Description
The Monterey Peninsula is rocked when a killer begins to leave roadside crosses beside local highways not in memoriam, but as announcements of his intention to kill. And to kill in particularly horrific and efficient ways: using the personal details about the victims that they've carelessly posted in blogs and on social networking websites.

The case lands on the desk of Kathryn Dance, the California Bureau of Investigation's foremost kinesics -- body language-expert. She and Deputy Michael O'Neil follow the leads to Travis Brigham, a troubled teenager whose role in a fatal car accident has inspired vicious attacks against him on a popular blog, The Chilton Report.

As the investigation progresses, Travis vanishes. Using techniques he learned as a brilliant participant in MMORPGs, Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games, he easily eludes his pursuers and continues to track his victims, some of whom Kathryn is able to save, some not. Among the obstacles Kathryn must hurdle are politicians from Sacramento, paranoid parents and the blogger himself, James Chilton, whose belief in the importance of blogging and the new media threatens to derail the case and potentially Dance's career. It is this threat that causes Dance to take desperate and risky measures...

In signature Jeffery Deaver style, Roadside Crosses is filled with dozens of plot twists, cliff-hangers and heartrending personal subplots. It is also a searing look at the accountability of blogging and life in the online world. Roadside Crosses is the third in Deaver's bestselling High-Tech Thriller Trilogy, along with The Blue Nowhere and The Broken Window.

About the Author
Jeffery Deaver is the international number-one bestselling author of Roadside Crosses, The Bodies Left Behind, The Broken Window, The Sleeping Doll, The Bone Collector and twenty-one other suspense novels. His books have been translated into twenty-five languages. He has been nominated for six Edgar Awards from the Mystery Writers of America and is a three-time recipient of the Ellery Queen Reader's Award for Best Short Story of the Year. His novel The Bone Collector was made into a feature release from Universal Pictures, starring Denzel Washington. Deaver was born in Chicago, attended the University of Missouri and received his law degree from Fordham University in New York. In 1990, he quit practicing law to write full-time. Readers can visit his website at www.jefferydeaver.com.

See All Jeffery Deaver'works

Customer Reviews
"Roadside Crosses: A Kathryn Dance Novel"

It's another breathless, slam bang thriller from Deaver
Deaver specializes in thrillers, and in "Roadside Crosses" he manages enough twists and turns to keep you compulsively turning the pages. Here's the quick summation: go out an buy this book!

Kathryn Dance, whom Deaver introduced a few novels ago, is a specialist in reading people. The momentary smile or constant blinking of a suspect--something those without her training would never notice--gives her real insight into whether a suspect is lying or not.

This time, she is up against an internet genius.

Someone, it seems, is putting up roadside crosses, not, as is usual, as a memorial to someone who died in an auto crash. But as a way to announce a coming death. But why? And who?

The computer genius Dance is pitted against is as clever as it gets. Don't expect you can guess where Deaver is leading you; he's a terrific writer, and this is one of his best books yet.

intriguing high tech thriller
The Chilton Report blog, owned and operated by Jim Chilton, opens up a discussion thread dubbed Roadside Crosses, which questions why an accident occurred on the spot where two roadsides intersect. The teens were going home after a graduation party; but two died, one was hospitalized and driver Travis Brigham hardly had a scratch. On the blog, everyone attacks Travis holding him responsible for vehicular homicide.

He becomes the victim of a cyber war in which each part is uglier than the previously horrific segue as people accuse him of all sorts of crimes. Tammy Parker was kidnapped and thrown into the trunk if her car, which he drove into the ocean at high tide; she was fortunate to be rescued. She said Travis did it Another female almost died from poisonous fumes; she tells the cops Travis did it.

California Bureau of Investigation agent Kathryn Dance investigates Travis, but when she tries to see him a second time, he is gone. As more people on the blog claim Travis attacked them, Kathryn applies her kinetics expertise to separate the lies from the truth in hopes of catching Travis before he kills again; he knows if he is caught he has no prayer as the evidence is extraordinarily overwhelming.

Jeffrey Deaver, author of the great Lincoln Rhymes mysteries, has another hit series with the Kathryn Dance police procedurals (see THE SLEEPING DOLL). The protagonist seems genuine because she makes mistakes even with her being the department's expert on reading body language. As she follows clues that seem to inch her closer to the perpetrator, she must deal with her mom being arrested for a mercy killing while also coping with the Blog attacks coaxing politicians to pressure her and other cops to catch Travis. There are plenty of red herrings and misdirections as Mr. Deaver provides an intriguing high tech thriller; that besides an exhilarating cat and mouse murder investigation looks deep into the influence of blogs.

Harriet Klausner

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Go Like Hell

2009-07-17T08:33:00.008+07:00

Go Like Hell: Ford, Ferrari, and Their Battle for Speed and Glory at Le Mans

Product Description
By the early 1960s, the Ford Motor Company, built to bring automobile transportation to the masses, was falling behind. Young Henry Ford II, who had taken the reins of his grandfather’s company with little business experience to speak of, knew he had to do something to shake things up. Baby boomers were taking to the road in droves, looking for speed not safety, style not comfort. Meanwhile, Enzo Ferrari, whose cars epitomized style, lorded it over the European racing scene. He crafted beautiful sports cars, "science fiction on wheels," but was also called "the Assassin" because so many drivers perished while racing them.

Go Like Hell tells the remarkable story of how Henry Ford II, with the help of a young visionary named Lee Iacocca and a former racing champion turned engineer, Carroll Shelby, concocted a scheme to reinvent the Ford company. They would enter the high-stakes world of European car racing, where an adventurous few threw safety and sanity to the wind. They would design, build, and race a car that could beat Ferrari at his own game at the most prestigious and brutal race in the world, something no American car had ever done.

Go Like Hell transports readers to a risk-filled, glorious time in this brilliant portrait of a rivalry between two industrialists, the cars they built, and the "pilots" who would drive them to victory, or doom.

A Q&A with Go Like Hell author A.J. Baime

Review

"All I can say is: Wow! Go Like Hell drops you right smack in the middle an intense and ferocious battle between Ford and Ferrari in the 1960s. Baime's exceptional voice puts the reader into minds of the drivers, designers, and executives who formed the Golden Age of racing; his fantastic descriptions allow the reader to feel the pounding of the cylinders. If you like cars—nay, if you have ever seen a car—you must read this book!"
—Garth Stein, New York Times bestselling author of The Art of Racing in the Rain

"Light up a Lucky Strike. Pour yourself a good stiff drink. Go Like Hell is a wonder, chock-a-block with great heroes and villains, a pedal-to-the metal account of greed and gumption, a chronicle of obsession and vain glory. Don't worry about that seat belt. Just go for the ride."
—Leigh Montville, author of The Big Bam, Ted Williams and At the Altar of Speed

"Go Like Hell is an epic. Ambitions, lives, fortunes, friendships, and a place in history--all are on the line here. A.J. Baime marvelously reveals the people behind the machines."
—Neal Bascomb, author of The Perfect Mile and Hunting Eichmann

"Mix sport, death and big business, the biggest. Throw in vivid portraits of Enzo Ferrari and Henry Ford II, and the drivers, men obsessed with speed and fast cars while trying not to get killed. Go Like Hell is a very hard book to put down. Sharp and suspenseful from beginning to end."
—Robert Daley, author of The Cruel Sport and Year of the Dragon

"Baime’s skillful reporting and introspective writing style make for an insightful portrait of two automobile legends, as well as an exciting account of a bygone era in racing and in American culture."
—Publishers Weekly

"Turbo-charged look at the heated race-car rivalry between Ferrari and Ford... Baime’s rich descriptions of the card lift them to near-human proportions. The ultimate speed-read."
—Kirkus Reviews

"A remarkably intimate look into the famous 1960s Ford-versus-Ferrari battles at Le Mans."
—Automobile
"Like the cars it describes, Go Like Hell is a streamlined marvel built for speed, fueled by testosterone and likely to elicit happy grins from anyone who has ever heard music in the squeal of a tire or the roar of an engine . . . [Baime] hits the gas, pops the clutch and takes readers on a red-blooded ride to glory that will have them smiling all the way to the checkered flag." —Dallas Morning News

Customer Reviews
"Go Like Hell"

One Helluva Ride
Erik Arneson (North Carolina, USA)
Books on motor sport usually fall under two tired categories -- books that read like technical manuals or books that read like overwritten fairy tales. A.J. Baime creates a category all his own with "Go Like Hell" ... The book does more than bring its characters to life, it gives breath to an entire era. As if each page has its own pulse, "Go Like Hell" delivers on every level. The names Ford and Ferrari become much more than iconic brands, they emerge as men amongst boys -- history-changing forces overflowing with a unique and dangerous blend of ego, unchecked power and zero tolerance for failure. Throughout the read, names and events make appearances that keep you tied to a time never experienced or nearly forgotten ... all coming together in concert. Every human emotion comes into play when you are reading Baime's work and as you work your way through, you begin to play the parts of each of the characters in your head. You feel the pressure build ... the anticipation, the pain, the fear, the joy. You make decisions you think each player will make well before you turn the next page. You find yourself riding at speeds that make flying down the Mulsanne Straight seem like a Sunday drive. If you simply enjoy great writing, you will love this book. If you have any connection to motor sport at all, it would be criminal not to include it in your collection.

Go Like Hell to Read This!
Jamie Malanowski (NY NY)
A.J. Baime vividly captures the glamour and excitement of a special era in racing, but this is not just a book for car enthusiasts or racing fans. Like Laura Hillenbrand did with Seabiscuit, Baime does an excellent job of bringing to life for a general audience the personalities of the car designers and drivers who were giants of their sport, but who today are little known outside the automotive culture. They deserve the rediscovery they receive at Baime's hands. It's hard to think of a dad or grad who wouldn't enjoy this story.

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Soul Identity

2009-07-16T22:29:00.007+07:00

Soul Identity

Product Description
You can't take it with you... but what if you could? Most people believe their souls outlive their bodies. Most people would find an organization that tracks their souls into the future and passes on their banked money and memories compelling. Scott Waverly isn't like most people. He spends his days finding and fixing computer security holes. And Scott is skeptical of his new client's claim that they have been calculating and tracking soul identities for almost twenty-six hundred years.Are they running a freaky cult? Or a sophisticated con job? Scott needs to save Soul Identity from an insider attack. Along the way, he discovers the importance of the bridges connecting people's lives.

Customer Reviews

Soul searching good read!
ellen (Atlanta, Georgia USA)
Scott Waverly is a great hero - he is smart, wise-cracking (reminds me of John Corey), and a security analyst - He is contacted by Soul Identity to do some work for them, and is sent a device to take images of his eyes - instead of doing what they asked, he takes photos of a bluefish's eyes and sends it - His next door neighbor, who had applied for membership is bummed because SI wouldn't admit him because he only has 1 eye - (they think it takes 2 for the whole soul identity thing to work). To help his neighbor, Scott agrees to work for Soul Identity and see what problems need fixing...
Turns out that the eyes ARE the mirrors of the soul - and the eyes, like fingerprints, are unique - Soul Identity's members can register their Soul Identities and can bank their money/investments etc for themselves for the next go 'round - in other words - if you are a believer in reincarnation you can have your cake and eat it too!
Scott and the good guys at SI soon see the problem and also see that SI needs some tweeking too...Someone within the organization is stealing members away, saying SI doesn't represent the organization anymore - Scott and Soul Indentity members work to get Soul Identity back and stop the bad guys - They go literally all around the world to work out what is going on and take us on this wild ride too!
The premise is really interesting and Batchelder's style is so easy you get caught up in the chase - very entertaining book and I look forward to sequels with this great bunch!
Very unique premise and deep thoughts and nonstop action - good combination!

I found "Soul Identity" to be a compelling novel with an interesting mythology!
BookReview.com (Madison, WI United States)
Everyone is interested in the concept of immortality: the idea that our existence doesn't have to end with our death, and that something of us survives to another level or comes back in a new form. Most of these theories are tied to a spiritual idea but Dennis Batchelder's debut novel "Soul Identity" offers a new God-free idea of reincarnation and does so in a very entertaining read.

Scott Waverly, a wisecracking security expert well-known for poking holes in his client's systems, is contacted by an organization known as Soul Identity. The organization has a radical mindset: it claims to track the souls of its members through successive generations. Selected to help bring Soul Identity into the digital age, Scott must decide if he believes in their claims of soul connections while at the same time dealing with the machinations of ambitious members.

The idea of finding someone's soul through an ocular fingerprint may seem like science fiction, but "Soul Identity" reflects a lot of thought on the author's part to make it believable. Batchelder has written a compelling history for the group that spans ancient Egypt and Alexander the Great, and goes into considerable depth on the faith and interest that draws members into the organization.

This depth is backed up by an interesting group of characters and sites, such as a beautiful Russian computer expert, a group of Tibetan Buddhists and an elderly fortune teller with culinary-challenged nieces. Using extensive dialogue, the book creates distinct characters with such traits as Scott's clear familiarity with computer security and the villains penchant for using Latin phrases.

Unfortunately, the dialogue is also tied to the main problem I had with the novel: with most pages consisting of at least 50 percent conversation, there is a lack of details such as scenery and description. When the book is focused solely on what people say, it also means that the action of the book is slowed down and the tension tends to fall away. (One personal complaint of mine: it gets a little annoying when every time a character says something in another language they immediately provide a translation as if they were speaking to the reader directly.)

Despite this dependence on speech, I found "Soul Identity" to be a compelling novel with an interesting mythology and a sense of humor. Batchelder promises in the endnotes the series will continue, and if the same soul travels from book to book it should be equally engaging.

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The Doomsday Key: A Novel

2009-07-14T20:42:00.000+07:00

The Doomsday Key: A Novel

Product Description

James Rollins, the New York Times bestselling master of nail-biting suspense and historical mystery, combines cutting-edge biotechnology with a centuries-old secret in an apocalyptic story that reveals where humankind is truly headed

The Doomsday Key

At Princeton University, a famed geneticist dies inside a biohazard lab. In Rome, a Vatican archaeologist is found dead in St. Peter's Basilica. In Africa, a U.S. senator's son is slain outside a Red Cross camp. The three murders on three continents bear a horrifying connection: all the victims are marked by a Druidic pagan cross burned into their flesh.

The bizarre murders thrust Commander Gray Pierce and Sigma Force into a race against time to solve a riddle going back centuries, to a ghastly crime against humanity hidden within a cryptic medieval codex. The first clue is discovered inside a mummified corpse buried in an English peat bog--a gruesome secret that threatens America and the world.

Aided by two women from his past--one his exlover, the other his new partner--Gray must piece together the horrifying truth. But the revelations come at a high cost, and to save the future, Gray will have to sacrifice one of the women at his side. That alone might not be enough, as the true path to salvation is revealed in a dark prophecy of doom.

Sigma Force confronts humankind's greatest threat in an adventure that races from the Roman Coliseum to the icy peaks of Norway, from the ruins of medieval abbeys to the lost tombs of Celtic kings. The ultimate nightmare is locked within a talisman buried by a dead saint--an ancient artifact known as the Doomsday Key.

About the Author
New York Times bestselling author James Rollins holds a doctorate in veterinary medicine and resides in the Sierra Nevada mountains. An avid spelunker and certifi ed scuba enthusiast, he can often be found underground or underwater.

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Customer Review

Most fantastic James Rollins Sigma book yet! July 13, 2009
Shawna Coronado (Warrenville, IL)
With The Doomsday Key, James Rollins creates an intelligent and exciting adventure that unites the passion of an international thriller with a collection of fascinating mysteries culled from several thousand years of history.

This is a non-stop, high action, intellectual read which left me at the edge of my seat; addicted, hanging on for dear life, and riding 100 miles per hour. Without a doubt James Rollins' latest is an incredible read which will satisfy the cerebral craving for science and the heart-felt craving for excitement.

Once again Sigma, the uber-top-secret military force is back. This time Commander Grayson Pierce, Monk Kokkalis, Joe Kowalski and even Director Painter Crowe must get in on the action to save the world from the most deadly and globally devastating crisis yet.

Traveling around the globe - from Africa to Rome to Norway to Ireland to France - the Sigma team races to understand the connection of an ancient symbol seared into the foreheads of murder victims on two separate continents and a unique relic found near the Vatican.

Guild spy Seichan returns, more sexy, double-crossing, and villainous than ever. Her hidden secret entices the Sigma team into even more harrowing circumstances and may kill them all before they are able to find the doomsday key answer.

The Doomsday Key is an enthralling read that provides rich food for thought about Vatican mysteries, eco-science, and what some deem humankind's greatest threat.

Read this book - it is fun, fast, and not for the faint of heart! While the action is fantastic, the real staying-up-all-night addiction is in seeing how Rollins creatively weaves the emotional connections between team members with the tale to link crimes in separate continents. If you are addicted to fast-paced, emotional, wind-in-the-hair, racing against the clock action, you will love this book as much as I do. Read it!

The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite

2009-07-14T20:03:00.003+07:00

The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite

Product Description

Most of us know what it feels like to fall under the spell of food—when one slice of pizza turns into half a pie, or a handful of chips leads to an empty bag. But it’s harder to understand why we can't seem to stop eating—even when we know better. When we want so badly to say "no," why do we continue to reach for food?

Dr. David Kessler, the dynamic former FDA commissioner who reinvented the food label and tackled the tobacco industry, now reveals how the food industry has hijacked the brains of millions of Americans. The result? America’s number-one public health issue. Dr. Kessler cracks the code of overeating by explaining how our bodies and minds are changed when we consume foods that contain sugar, fat, and salt. Food manufacturers create products by manipulating these ingredients to stimulate our appetites, setting in motion a cycle of desire and consumption that ends with a nation of overeaters. The End of Overeating explains for the first time why it is exceptionally difficult to resist certain foods and why it’s so easy to overindulge.

Dr. Kessler met with top scientists, physicians, and food industry insiders. The End of Overeating uncovers the shocking facts about how we lost control over our eating habits—and how we can get it back. Dr. Kessler presents groundbreaking research, along with what is sure to be a controversial view inside the industry that continues to feed a nation of overeaters—from popular brand manufacturers to advertisers, chain restaurants, and fast food franchises.

For the millions of people struggling with weight as well as for those of us who simply don't understand why we can't seem to stop eating our favorite foods, Dr. Kessler’s cutting-edge investigation offers new insights and helpful tools to help us find a solution.

There has never been a more thorough, compelling, or in-depth analysis of why we eat the way we do.

Review

"Dr. David Kessler has written a fascinating account of the science of human appetite, as well as its exploitation by the food industry. The End of Overeating is an invaluable contribution to the national conversation about the catastrophe that is the modern American diet." --Michael Pollan, author of In Defense of Food

"David A. Kessler, who led the battle against the tobacco industry, now joins the fight against obesity. His message is important: The problem is not only the behavior of profit-driven food companies, but also the daily choices that each one of us makes." —Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation

"David Kessler’s fascinating book is essential for anyone interested in learning more about how corporate greed and human psychology have created a national health crisis." —Alice Waters, chef and owner of Chez Panisse

"Disturbing, thought-provoking, and important." —Anthony Bourdain, author of Kitchen Confidential

"A compelling book about overeating and the obesity pandemic. Dr. Kessler thoroughly examines the nature of our relationship with food and why it is critical to understand and modify our behavior to reverse this global threat to health and well-being." —David Satcher, former Surgeon General and director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

"A fascinating, unique book by a brilliant public health leader." —Donna Shalala, former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

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Customer Reviews
Superb Book On How and Why People Overeat As Well As How to Stop Overeating
This is a well-written, easily understandable, interesting book on the very serious subject of overeating. The book is broken into six parts with relatively small chapters ranging in size from approximately three pages to eleven pages in length with many in the four to seven page range. The first part, for example, has 13 chapters so there is much information but it is presented in a way which flows well together.

When I got this book I was interested in the subject matter but I was worried that the book would be boring or so technical that I would lose interest. I read this book in two days and it has changed my approach to eating.

Part One of the book, Sugar, Fat, Salt, talks about why people eat and overeat. It looks at the physical as well as psychological aspects of overeating.

Part Two of the book (my favorite), The Food Industry, gives specific examples of how restaurants and the food industry contribute to the problem by creating food that people want to eat but is not healthy. For instance I never new that bread had so much salt because it takes away the bitter taste of the flour and brings up the flavor. The author also addresses how nutrition information on packaging is manipulated by the food industry. For instance if a food contains more sugar than any other ingredient it must go first on the list but if you use a number of sources of sugar like brown sugar, corn syrup and fructose each is listed individually and goes lower on the list.

Part Three, Conditioned Hypereating Emerges, talks about how we get trapped into an overeating pattern. It references numerous studies and explores whether overeating is nature, nurture or both.

Part Four, The Theory of Treatment, talks about theoretical ways people can break the overeating habit.

Part Five, Food Rehab, offers practical ways individuals can stop overeating. The advice is great.

Part Six, The End Of Overeating, talks about the challenges ahead to end overeating. While it will not be easy, each individual has the power to end his or her overeating despite roadblocks created by the food industry or our own physical or mental makeup.

This is a great book that has started me thinking differently about food. It is well written and the best on the subject I have ever read.

Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen

2009-07-14T19:17:00.000+07:00

Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen

Book Description

Full of incredible characters, amazing athletic achievements, cutting-edge science, and, most of all, pure inspiration, Born to Run is an epic adventure that began with one simple question: Why does my foot hurt? In search of an answer, Christopher McDougall sets off to find a tribe of the world’s greatest distance runners and learn their secrets, and in the process shows us that everything we thought we knew about running is wrong.

Isolated by the most savage terrain in North America, the reclusive Tarahumara Indians of Mexico’s deadly Copper Canyons are custodians of a lost art. For centuries they have practiced techniques that allow them to run hundreds of miles without rest and chase down anything from a deer to an Olympic marathoner while enjoying every mile of it. Their superhuman talent is matched by uncanny health and serenity, leaving the Tarahumara immune to the diseases and strife that plague modern existence. With the help of Caballo Blanco, a mysterious loner who lives among the tribe, the author was able not only to uncover the secrets of the Tarahumara but also to find his own inner ultra-athlete, as he trained for the challenge of a lifetime: a fifty-mile race through the heart of Tarahumara country pitting the tribe against an odd band of Americans, including a star ultramarathoner, a beautiful young surfer, and a barefoot wonder.

With a sharp wit and wild exuberance, McDougall takes us from the high-tech science labs at Harvard to the sun-baked valleys and freezing peaks across North America, where ever-growing numbers of ultrarunners are pushing their bodies to the limit, and, finally, to the climactic race in the Copper Canyons. Born to Run is that rare book that will not only engage your mind but inspire your body when you realize that the secret to happiness is right at your feet, and that you, indeed all of us, were born to run.

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Customer Reviews
A great story and so much more
Born to Run succeeds at three levels. First, it is a page turner. The build up to a fifty-mile foot race over some of the world's least hospitable terrain drives the narrative forward. Along the way McDougall introduces a cast of characters worthy of Dickens, including an almost superhuman ultramarathoner, Jenn and the Bonehead--a couple who down bottles of booze to warm up for a race, Barefoot Ted, Mexican drug dealers, a ghostly ex-boxer, a heartbroken father, and of course the Tarahumara, arguably the greatest runners in the world.

Born to Run is such a rip-roaring yarn, that it is easy to miss the book's deeper achievements. At a second level, McDougall introduces and explores a powerful thesis--that human beings are literally born to run. Recreational running did not begin with the 1966 publication of "Jogging" by the co-founder of Nike. Instead, McDougall argues, running is at the heart of what it means to be human. In the course of elaborating his thesis, McDougall answers some big questions: Why did our ancestors outlive the stronger, smarter Neanderthals? Why do expensive running shoes increase the odds of injury? The author's modesty keeps him from trumpeting the novelty and importance of this thesis, but it merits attention.

Finally, Born to Run presents a philosophy of exercise. The ethos that pervades recreational and competitive running--"no pain, no gain," is fundamentally flawed, McDougall argues. The essence of running should not be grim determination, but sheer joy. Many of the conventions of modern running--the thick-soled shoes, mechanical treadmills, take no prisoners competition, and heads-down powering through pain dull our appreciation of what running can be--a sociable activity, more game than chore, that can lead to adventure. McDougall's narrative moves the book forward, his thesis provides a solid intellectual support, but this philosophy of joy animates Born to Run. I hope this book finds the wide audience it deserves.

A phenomenal book about running but more importantly a way of life
My wife handed me Born to Run about 24 hours ago and said "you might like this." Having run quite a bit but nursing an achilles tendon injury for about 3 years, I had almost given up on my dreams of getting back into marathon shape. 24 hours (and very little sleep) later, I feel inspired, awed, and enlightened, and I have Christopher's wonderful book to thank.

In a nutshell, I have not been this entralled by a story since Shadow Divers, Seabiscuit and/or Into Thin Air. Christopher's recounting of the forbidding Copper Canyons, the amazing Tarahumara, ultramarathoners young and old, and the greatest race you've never heard of is enough for me to give this a rave review. But like the aforementioned books, there is so much more to this story, not the least of which was Christopher's own quest (and amazing resiliency) to run without pain. Finally, he put to words many of the thoughts and feelings I've had about running but am unable to articulate. And Christopher is a great writer - I laughed out loud many times throughout. He has a style akin to a Timothy Cahill - a great wit that was obviously aided by a wonderfully intriguing cast of characters.

As the sun was coming up this morning I was a bit sad to see this book end, and am already contemplating picking it up again. But only after I strap on the old, beaten up sneaks and get in a quick jog. Thanks so much for writing this book - I hope it changes lives and perspectives in the process.

The Cure for Modernity
If, when you finish with this book, you don't immediately get yourself outside and run like hell, then there's probably not a drop of living blood in you. This book is the perfect antidote to everything that's wrong with modern running and the way to find everything that's still so right with it. Even if it were all a work of fiction McDougall's tale would still be worth the price of admission. Fabulous.

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Rick Steves' Paris 2009

2009-07-14T18:24:00.000+07:00

Rick Steves' Paris 2009

Product Description
The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and the cozy crêperies of Ile St. Louis—Rick Steves’ Paris 2009 allows any traveler to experience all that the City of Light has to offer, from the big-name attractions to the local favorites. Rick covers the best of Paris, providing full tours of the museums and historic sights, detailed walks through various neighborhoods, and complete coverage of Parisian cuisine. Pick from over 400 types of cheeses at the fromagerie on Rue Cler or take a day trip to Versailles—it’’s all possible with Rick Steves as your guide.

Customer Reviews
CURRENT AND INSIGHTFUL! Backdoor philosphy
I've traveled to Europe several times over the past 8 years and purchased various guide books for the planning of each trip and as a guide during the trip. By far the best and most reliable is the Rick Steves series. Factual information. I like it because he has a back door philosphy. I feel like I'm getting the background information from someone that has lived there for years. I also love how I'm able to use it as a guide once I'm there too. He has walking tours of museums - of course I typically purchase the musuem audio tours but in the random time that I don't pay for it, it's nice to have one in the guidebook. I like knowing the hours and cost of sites. Also the restaurants and hotels he has reccommeded have always been better than expected. I will always use Rick Steves whenever traveling to Europe. I know that he updates these yearly! I just wish he made these books for other parts of the world!
- Love how everything is described in detail. Ina country where I don't speak the language, I expect to be prepared when I walk out of my hotel room and I was.

Don't go to Paris without this book!!
A previous reviewer only gave this book 3 stars, stating there was little information on the Carnavelet Museum and the Pantheon. I feel compelled to set the record straight. When we were in Paris in '07 we went to the Carnavelet and had the '07 edition. The detailed and informative descriptions of the various rooms in the Rick Steves book helped make our visit thoroughly enjoyable. Again, to set the record straight: I just recieved the '09 edition as we are hopefully going back in the fall--starting on page 286-300 is again his detailed section on this museum. If you are interested in history, I highly recommend visiting this free museum, and be sure and take the Steves guide with you. On pages 57-59 Steves writes of the Pantheon and certainly discusses who is buried there.

Steves is at his best in his detailed, informative, helpful, and interesting museum tours. In this book that includes the Louvre, Orsay, Orangerie, Carnavlet, Marmottan, Picasso, Pompidou, and others. Trust me, don't go to any of these museum without this book! He is also the best for all the practical information you need to know, as well as discussing interesting walks and neighborhoods. While I recommend a second guide book as well (Frommer or Fodor's), I would not even consider going to Paris without the Steves book. Apparently now you can go to ITunes and download Steves museum tours onto your Ipod!!!!!
Tip: If you visit the Carnavlet, go in the morning, and then walk to the nearby Place des Voges for lunch, and then visit the Victor Hugo museum which is right there in the square.

If you can only take one guidebook...
Rick Steves is a real-live "regular" traveler, who understands that most of us don't stay at the Ritz Carlton, don't eat at 3-star Michelin restaurants, and that we crave authentic travel experiences. His guidebooks are updated every year, and they are meant to be used and tossed. Try tearing out the pages you need for a museum or site, instead of taking the entire book--it's liberating. You can also download free podcasts that will give you Paris tours! The advice is practical and affordable--with just one guidebook, you will have the best possible travel experience.

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And Then the Roof Caved In: How Wall Street's Greed and Stupidity Brought Capitalism to Its Knees

2009-07-14T15:06:00.000+07:00

And Then the Roof Caved In: How Wall Street's Greed and Stupidity Brought Capitalism to Its Knees

Product Description
CNBC's David Faber takes an in-depth look at the causes and consequences of the recent financial collapse

And Then the Roof Caved In lays bare the truth of the credit crisis, whose defining emotion at every turn has been greed, and whose defining failure is the complicity of the U.S. government in letting that greed rule the day. Written by CNBC's David Faber, this book painstakingly details the truth of what really happened with compelling characters who offer their first-hand accounts of what they did and why they did it.

Page by page, Faber explains the events of the previous seven years that planted the seeds for the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. He begins in 2001, when the Federal Reserve embarked on an unprecedented effort to help the economy recover from the attacks of 9/11 by sending interest rates to all time lows. Faber also gives you an up-close look at where the crisis was incubated and unleashed upon the world-Wall Street-and introduces you to insiders from investment banks and mortgage lenders to ratings agencies, that unwittingly conspired to insure lending standards were abandoned in the head long rush for profits.

•Based on two years of research, this book provides deep background into the current credit crisis
•Offers the insights of experienced professionals-from Alan Greenspan to prominent bankers and regulators-who were on the front lines
•Created by David Faber, the face of morning business news on CNBC, and host of the network's award winning documentaries
From regulators who tried to stop this problem before it swung out of control to hedge fund managers who correctly foresaw the coming housing crash and profited from it, And Then the Roof Caved In shows you how the crisis we currently face came to be.

Review
a" fantastic book on the housing meltdown . . .—The Motley Fool

“CNBC’s David Faber delivers a clear-eyed look at the origins of the crisis. . . As an anchor of the Faber Report, the author was on the front lines of the financial crisis and spoke with many of its key players.—Fortune magazine

From the Inside Flap
CNBC's David Faber unmasks the truth behind the economic crisis, whose defining theme at every turn has been greed. Greed that, when coupled with the regulatory failure of the U.S. government, was allowed to rule the day.

And Then the Roof Caved In painstakingly details what really happened to cause the greatest economic collapse since the Great Depression. Written by David Faber—the award-winning correspondent who has covered Wall Street for more than two decades—this compelling story is filled with the firsthand accounts of the bankers and regulators who unleashed this crisis on the world. They tell Faber what they did and why they did it.

Faber traces the lineage of the subprime industry and takes you back to the attacks of 9/11, after which Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan embarked on an unprecedented effort to help the economy recover by sending interest rates to all-time lows. Faber details the precipitous drop in lending standards, which allowed people with marginal incomes to take on mortgages they could not afford, and explains how those mortgages came back to wreck the financial system.

And Then the Roof Caved In also reveals where this crisis was incubated—Wall Street—and introduces you to insiders from investment banks and mortgage lenders who fostered the boom and, in doing so, planted the seeds for such an astonishing economic collapse. Throughout the book, Faber weaves a narrative that takes you from subprime lenders like Quick Loan Funding and big investment banks like Merrill Lynch to regulators who tried to stop the crisis before it spiraled out of control and hedge fund managers who correctly foresaw the coming housing crash and profited from it.

Engaging and informative, And Then the Roof Caved In offers a definitive, up-close and personal analysis of the roots of this stunning worldwide economic failure.

From the Back Cover
And Then the Roof Caved In skillfully explores the causes and consequences of the recent financial collapse. Written by David Faber—the award-winning CNBC correspondent—this compelling account is filled with the candid reflections of the people who brought the crisis to life. Expanded from the CNBC documentary that the New York Times called "broad, comprehensive, and compelling," and that Frank Rich noted as "superbly done," this book is a must-read.

"Historians investigating the financial collapse of '08/'09 must begin by reading this book. This is close-range reporting . . . the work of a veteran financial journalist who was 'present at the creation' of this crisis. Faber has it all, up close¿the people, failures, and greed. He tells us what it was like to be on the inside when the roof caved in."
—Brian Williams, Anchor and Managing Editor, NBC Nightly News

"Faber has written a masterful insider's guide to the implosion of the American financial system. He takes you as close as Greenspan's early worries and then shows you how the disastrous hair-triggers built into the system fired off—and how a few bright minds turned disaster into great fortunes. Faber brings readers right inside his notebook—long regarded as the best in financial news—and emerges with a story that is breathtaking."
—Joshua Ramo, author, The Age of the Unthinkable and Managing Director, Kissinger Associates

"There is no one better than David Faber when it comes to following the financial services business. His incredible access and valuable insights make his reporting a 'must-see' for millions of viewers around the world. Now, he's written a book that is a 'must-read' for anyone who wants to understand how a housing bubble turned into a worldwide economic crisis."
—Joe Kernen, Anchor, CNBC's Squawk Box

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Customer Reviews
And Then the Roof Caved In: How Wall Street's Greed and Stupidity Brought Capitalism to Its Knees

Clear insightful and accurate
As someone who experienced the mortgage securitization mania, and the rise of credit default swaps while at Lehman Brothers during the first half of the decade, I found this book to be an excellent post mortem on the "what and why" of the housing debacle and recession. It is not intended to be a scholarly tome, but instead a straightforward explanation of the easy money and loose lending times, including what broke down, how all of the parties (including home buyers, mortgage brokers, Wall St, the rating agencies, and the Government) acted in their own self interest to create the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand exactly how we got into the mess we're currently in, and how disingenuous our lawmakers are when they point fingers at everyone involved except themselves.

A Fantastic Primer On What REALLY Happened And Why
David Faber has written an excellent history of the financial collapse of 2007-2008 and beyond. He does a yeoman's job of wrangling difficult facts and virtually impossible-to-understand financial instruments into a comprehensible story, explaining the economic insanity through individuals who occupy the various roles. He answers the main question most people have about this mess ("Why would banks lend money to people they KNEW could not pay it back?") and along the way debunks the most popular but incorrect answer ("The government forced them to with the Community Reinvestment Act and subsequent regulation.") Faber specifically explains why that explanation is not accurate, and then explains the even more unbelievable truth of why this occurred.

This book should be a great starting point for anyone who is caught in the aftermath wondering what happened. By the time you finish it, you will be conversant in the entire topic, and ready to tackle more arcane explanations with the vocabulary and big-picture items firmly understood.

One editorial note: Either Mr. Faber or his editors (or both) consistently misuse the word "comprise" and its various forms, and the book consistently uses "insure" when it should use "ensure" (which is particularly confusing in the context of a discussion of insurance products). But these small nits aside, the book is a terrific one-day read, well worth the price of admission.

The Help

2009-07-14T14:40:00.000+07:00

The Help

Product Description
Three ordinary women are about to take one extraordinary step.

Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone.

Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.

Minny, Aibileen’s best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody’s business, but she can’t mind her tongue, so she’s lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town to know her reputation. But her new boss has secrets of her own.

Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed.

In pitch-perfect voices, Kathryn Stockett creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women—mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends—view one another. A deeply moving novel filled with poignancy, humor, and hope, The Help is a timeless and universal story about the lines we abide by, and the ones we don’t.

Review
“The Help by Kathryn Stockett is a story that made me weep as I rejoiced for each of humanity’s small but steady triumphs over hate and fear. I will never forget this wonderful book.”
—Dorothea Benton Frank

“A magical novel. Heartbreaking and oh so true, the voices of these characters, their lives and struggles will stay with you long after you reluctantly come to the end.”
—Robert Hicks, New York Times– bestselling author of The Widow of the South

“I love The Help. Kathryn Stockett has given us glorious characters and a powerful, truth-filled story. Abilene, Minny and Skeeter, show that people from this troubled time came together despite their differences and that ordinary women can be heroic.”
—Jill Conner Browne, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of The Sweet Potato Queens series and resident of Jackson, MS

“Set in the rural South of the 1960's, THE HELP is a startling, resonant portrait of the intertwined lives of women on opposite sides of the racial divide. Stockett's many gifts – a keen eye for character, a wicked sense of humor, the perfect timing of a natural born storyteller – shine as she evokes a time and place when black women were expected to help raise white babies, and yet could not use the same bathroom as their employers. Her characters, both white and black, are so fully fleshed they practically breathe – no stock villains or pious heroines here. I'm becoming an evangelist for The Help. Don't miss this wise and astonishing debut.”
–Joshilyn Jackson, Bestselling author of Gods in Alabama

“A wonderful book. A compelling and comically poignant tale about three women, and a time and a place that is in many ways very much still with us.”
—Beth Henley, Pulitzer Prize– winning playwright of Crimes of the Heart

“Lush, original, and poignant, Kathryn Stockett has written a wondrous novel. You will be swept away as they work, play, and love during a time when possibilities for women were few but their dreams of the future were limitless. A glorious read.”
—Adriana Trigiani, bestselling author of the Big Stone Gap series and Lucia, Lucia

“Full of heart and history, this one has bestseller written all over it.”
— PW starred review

“This heartbreaking story is a stunning debut from a gifted talent.”
— Atlanta Journal

“It's graceful and real, a compulsively readable story of three women who watch the Mississippi ground shifting beneath their feet as the words of men like Martin Luther King Jr. and Bob Dylan pervade their genteel town. When folks at your book club wonder what to read next month, go on and pitch this wholly satisfying novel with confidence. A-“
— Entertainment Weekly

"[A] wise, poignant novel...You'll catch yourself cheering out loud."
—People Magazine (3.5 out of 4 stars)

"[A] story with heart and hope...A good old fashioned novel"
—New York Daily News

"This book was sitting on my desk and everyone kept coming in and when they’d see it they’d gush about it, “I love this book”. So I brought it home and it didn’t disappoint. It’s very much a book like you would imagine Oprah would pick for her book club. Set in the early sixties, it’s about female friendship and race relations and it’s heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.”
—John Searles, The Today Show

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Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry Into the Value of Work

2009-07-14T13:40:00.001+07:00

Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry Into the Value of Work

Product Description
A philosopher / mechanic destroys the pretensions of the high- prestige workplace and makes an irresistible case for working with one’s hands

Shop Class as Soulcraftbrings alive an experience that was once quite common, but now seems to be receding from society—the experience of making and fixing things with our hands. Those of us who sit in an office often feel a lack of connection to the material world, a sense of loss, and find it difficult to say exactly what we do all day.

For anyone who felt hustled off to college, then to the cubicle, against their own inclinations and natural bents, Shop Class as Soulcraft seeks to restore the honor of the manual trades as a life worth choosing.

On both economic and psychological grounds, Crawford questions the educational imperative of turning everyone into a "knowledge worker," based on a misguided separation of thinking from doing, the work of the hand from that of the mind. Crawford shows us how such a partition, which began a century ago with the assembly line, degrades work for those on both sides of the divide.

But Crawford offers good news as well: the manual trades are very different from the assembly line, and from dumbed-down white collar work as well. They require careful thinking and are punctuated by moments of genuine pleasure. Based on his own experience as an electrician and mechanic, Crawford makes a case for the intrinsic satisfactions and cognitive challenges of manual work. The work of builders and mechanics is secure; it cannot be outsourced, and it cannot be made obsolete. Such work ties us to the local communities in which we live, and instills the pride that comes from doing work that is genuinely useful. A wholly original debut, Shop Class as Soulcraft offers a passionate call for self-reliance and a moving reflection on how we can live concretely in an ever more abstract world.

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Customer Reviews
"Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry Into the Value of Work"
A Return to Common Sense! June 6, 2009
Loyd E. Eskildson (Phoenix, AZ.)
Working with one's mind instead of one's hands has been considered "better" for as long as I can remember - increasingly so in recent years. Crawford's "Shop Class as Soulcraft" will hopefully help eliminate this prejudice.

Crawford identifies two problems with this thinking. The first is that being able to fix things allows one some control over their life, instead of having to turn to a repair shop when eg. a "low oil pressure light" comes on in one's car. The second is that today's average worker is mired in an ill-defined world where it is often not possible to evaluate the quality of one's work, or to derive a sense of pride. Worse yet, he/she is often required to do a task incorrectly, to suit corporate biases - eg. employment in a "think tank." Worst of all, is being placed into a white-collar situation (managing, writing abstracts) without any area-specific knowledge, and being required to act guided only by a standard management outline. A third, not mentioned by Crawford, is that on-site working with one's hands is probably the occupation most protected from outsourcing. And a fourth is that it bypasses the increasingly exorbitant expenses of going to college.

Crawford doesn't bring these insights down purely from an ivory-towered abstract academic world - he himself owns a motorcycle repair shop and has worked on an assembly-line and as a VW mechanic. He clearly enjoys being his own boss and the mental challenge of diagnosing motorcycle problems and selecting the best repair strategy. On the other hand, it is a bit too easy to see the book as an apology for the career choices he has made, rather than a tested thesis. (P.S.: This reviewer has sympathy for Crawford's conclusions, having worked as a college instructor, middle/upper manager in a sea of back-stabbing and political correctness, and a cross-country truck-driver.)

A great book with so many useful lessons. June 27, 2009
Christopher M. Reynolds (Arizona)
It's hard to put into words the message I got from this book. As a college graduate with dual degrees in economics and engineering who spends most of his day in a cubicle, pushing paper and feeling my soul drain out of my body, this book put into words a lot of the feelings and internal conflicts I struggle with daily. About a year ago, I grew tired of not working with my hands and using my creativity so I enrolled in a machinist training program at a local community college to satisfy my needs. I got so much out of working with my hands, it was almost therapy for me. The author writes about how much we can gain from working with our hands, stimulating creativity, problem solving, and a real connection with a tangible result from our work. Think of how many days you've spent at the office, making conference calls, sending emails and filling out spreadsheets, only to go home and wonder "What did I really do today? What is the proof of my work today?" Reading this book puts a lot into perspective and extolls the virtue of skilled trades, and the author urges a well-deserved re-examination of the skilled trades as a rewarding career option.

Reason has a new apologist June 1, 2009
Bruce W Holsted (North Little Rock, AR USA)
Woah - This book is as substantial as it gets. I'll echo all that David McCune said in his review. Anyone who works with their hands, and likes it, will find a friend in this work. For those of us that have to problem solve with the fruits of a steel mill in our hands, we will find this book giving voice to our soul. It should be a graduation gift to all on your list this year. Thanks Mr. Crawford, for saying what needed to be said in a beautiful way, and thanks for the nod to Persig. www.bruceholsted.com

About the Author "Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry Into the Value of Work"
MATTHEW B. CRAWFORD is a philosopher and mechanic. He has a Ph.D. in political philosophy from the University of Chicago and served as a postdoctoral fellow on its Committee on Social Thought. Currently a fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture at the University of Virginia, he owns and operates Shockoe Moto, an independent motorcycle repair shop in Richmond, VA
Shop Class as Soulcraft

The Official Guide for GMAT Review, 12th Edition

2009-07-14T11:48:00.000+07:00

The Official Guide for GMAT Review, 12th Edition

Editorial Reviews
The Official Guide for GMAT Review, 12th Edition is the only book on the market written by the creators of the GMAT exam. Inside you’ll find more than 800 actual GMAT questions from previous tests with answers and detailed explanations. There’s also a grammar review, math review, actual essay topics, sample responses, and scoring information insights into the GMAT exam that debunk test-taking myths. Plus, use the diagnostic section to pinpoint your skill level and focus on the areas where you need the most help.

Customer Reviews
12 Edition Review: Not a Guidebook but an excellent source of Real GMAT Questions April 24, 2009
GMATClub.com (USA)

"The official Guide for GMAT Review,12th Edition"
I started GMAT Club - online MBA community; my GMAT score is 750 (49, 42), and here are my thoughts about this book:

Strengths:
1. 907 real GMAT questions retired from past tests
2. Practice questions are organized by level of difficulty
3. Practice questions follow actual GMAT test patterns (it's great to have one's ear trained, esp. in verbal)
4. Contains a 100-question diagnostic test

Weaknesses:
1. Does not include any test-taking strategies
2. Though it has a few short review sections for each area, they are weak and very unfriendly
3. Questions are predominantly low to medium in difficulty which is often not representative of questions one encounters on the test
4. There is a 66% overlap with the previous version (11th edition)

Contents (number of questions per section):
1. Diagnostic Test - 100 questions
2. Problem Solving - 230 questions
3. Data Sufficiency - 174 questions
4. Reading Comprehension - 139 questions
5. Critical Reasoning - 124 questions
6. Sentence Correction - 140 questions

* Why is this book valuable/must-have?
The Official Guide is published by the creators of the GMAT and therefore it is the only source of actual GMAT questions representative of what you will see on the test.

* Why is the book not sufficient by itself?
This Guide contains only questions and lacks insightful information about the test, a math/verbal concept review section, or any test-taking strategies. To get up to speed, you will need to get a study guide such as Kaplan Premier Program or Princeton Review's Cracking the GMAT Cat.

* How should this book be used?
This book should NOT be used as a study-guide. It is a collection of questions - think of it as a way to practice your test-taking strategies but not a way to learn them.

* What if I own a previous edition of this book?
If you have the 11th edition, the only difference between the two is 300 new questions, or about 30%. Most test-takers agree that 300 new questions is not a compelling enough reason to own both editions, as the 11th edition offers enough practice. If you do need additional practice questions, get the Math or Verbal workbooks instead as they each have 300 questions.

* What is a recommended study plan using The Official Guide?
There are a number of approaches that work - here is one that most find reasonable:

Step 1: Buy a GMAT Guide from Kaplan or Princeton Review. Get familiar with the test and brush up on fundamentals (math and grammar); also these books will give you a good base for test-taking and timing strategies.

Step 2: Take a GMAT Prep (2 free tests downloadable from MBA.com) - but don't waste these; these are free but very valuable tests. Take 1 after you go through the Guidebooks and save the second one for later. These tests will be representative of your GMAT score (plus/minus 40 points).

Step 3: (Optional - if you want a 650+ score) Get a specialized Math and/or Verbal workbook from Kaplan, Manhattan GMAT or EZ and do a deep dive into the fundamentals - this is what will help you crack the test - solid knowledge of Math and Grammar.

Step 4: By now you should have a good understanding of question patterns, strategies, and timing. Start working on the Official Guide and honing your skills - this is especially important for Critical Reasoning questions that have certain unspoken patterns and rules that only the Official Guide offers - work through the questions to train your ear. Keep in mind that these questions are on the easier side if you are aiming for 650+.

Best approach for the GMAT! May 1, 2009
Samantha Jones (WV, USA)
"The official Guide for GMAT Review,12th Edition"This book is a "must have" for everyone who intend to take the GMAT, but only if you use it the right way.

The best approach for using this book:
First:
-Go through this book at the very beginning when you first start preparing for the GMAT.
-This will give you a good understanding of what you should expect to see when you take the actual test.
Next:
-If you feel you are 100% comfortable with all the concepts involved - go ahead and crack every question in this book and you'll be good to go.
-If you feel you lack some if not all of the concepts involved - keep this book aside, go through some of the other study guides (such as the Kaplan, PR, or if you want more in-depth insight, consider EZ Solutions series of books), and then at the end come back to this books and answer every question.
Next:
-Go to mba.com and take the practice GMAT.
Finally:
-If you feel, you still need more practice, consider browsing the internet to find any free questions you can lay your hands on.

I am certain that if you follow the above steps, you'll be well prepared for the GMAT without the need to take any prep course or expensive private tutoring.

Positives:
-Indisputably, one of the best GMAT books - if you want to know what types of questions can potentially pop up on the GMAT.
-Excellent source for practicing real test questions for all difficulty levels.

Negatives:
-No conceptual knowledge of any concept whatsoever.
-No test taking strategies or suggestions.
-Answer explanations are fine, but not that methodical.
-Some typos here n there.

If you need supplemental help, you may want to refer to your old school textbooks, that is, if you still have them!

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Power Ambition Glory: The Stunning Parallels between Great Leaders of the Ancient World and Today . . . and the Lessons You Can Learn

2009-07-13T14:42:00.000+07:00

Power Ambition Glory: The Stunning Parallels between Great Leaders of the Ancient World and Today . . . and the Lessons You Can Learn

Product Description
Based on an extraordinary collaboration between Steve Forbes, chairman, CEO, and editor in chief of Forbes Media, and classics professor John Prevas, Power Ambition Glory provides intriguing comparisons between six great leaders of the ancient world and contemporary business leaders.

• Great leaders not only have vision but know how to build structures to effect it. Cyrus the Great did so in creating an empire based on tolerance and inclusion, an approach highly unusual for his or any age. Jack Welch and John Chambers built their business empires using a similar approach, and like Cyrus, they remain the exceptions rather than the rule.
• Great leaders know how to build consensus and motivate by doing what is right rather than what is in their self-interest. Xenophon put personal gain aside to lead his fellow Greeks out of a perilous situation in Persia–something very similar to what Lou Gerstner and Anne Mulcahy did in rescuing IBM and Xerox.
• Character matters in leadership. Alexander the Great had exceptional leadership skills that enabled him to conquer the eastern half of the ancient world, but he was ultimately destroyed by his inability to manage his phenomenal success. The corporate world is full of similar examples, such as the now incarcerated Dennis Kozlowski, who, flush with success at the head of his empire, was driven down the highway of self-destruction by an out-of-control ego.
• A great leader is one who challenges the conventional wisdom of the day and is able to think out of the box to pull off amazing feats. Hannibal did something no one in the ancient world thought possible; he crossed the Alps in winter to challenge Rome for control of the ancient world. That same innovative way of thinking enabled Serge Brin and Larry Page of Google to challenge and best two formidable competitors, Microsoft and Yahoo!
• A leader must have ambition to succeed, and Julius Caesar had plenty of it. He set Rome on the path to empire, but his success made him believe he was a living god and blinded him to the dangers that eventually did him in. The parallels with corporate leaders and Wall Street master-of-the-universe types are numerous, but none more salient than Hank Greenberg, who built the AIG insurance empire only to be struck down at the height of his success by the corporate daggers of his directors.
• And finally, leadership is about keeping a sane and modest perspective in the face of success and remaining focused on the fundamentals–the nuts and bolts of making an organization work day in and day out. Augustus saved Rome from dissolution after the assassination of Julius Caesar and ruled it for more than forty years, bringing the empire to the height of its power. What made him successful were personal humility, attention to the mundane details of building and maintaining an infrastructure, and the understanding of limits. Augustus set Rome on a course of prosperity and stability that lasted for centuries, just as Alfred Sloan, using many of the same approaches, built GM into the leviathan that until recently dominated the automotive business.

Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Forbes magazine's editor and CEO collaborates with classical scholar Prevas to examine the lives of the ancient world's greatest leaders, including Julius Caesar, Hannibal and Alexander the Great, and the lessons they have for today's business people. Interspersed throughout are 20th- and 21st-century examples of leaders whose careers parallel those of the ancient leaders, men like Alfred Sloan, who, like Augustus consolidating the Roman Empire, transformed the motley collection of automobile companies that was General Motors in the early 1920s into the world's largest corporation. Unfortunately, the historical studies rest uneasily alongside the contemporary business cases, which are often tenuously related to the ancient stories. Worse, the entire work rests on the unsubstantiated claim that businesses are like military empires, and the lessons drawn are often banal; for example, from the story of Hannibal's daring winter march over the Alps to take the Romans by surprise, the authors suggest we should think outside the box, respond to attacks and pay attention to detail. (June)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review
“Power Ambition Glory serves as a remarkable historical guide. It’s both a reference guide to the rise and fall of empires, as well as a fresh look at modern business leaders and how they fit the framework of history.”
—From the foreword by Mayor Rudy Giuliani

“An appealing read that draws a remarkable correlation between great leaders of the ancient world and highly profiled leaders of our time. It is both interesting and instructive to learn of these striking parallels and to realize that extolled leadership at any time often includes similar vision, like deployment and unconventional strategies. It is also interesting to find that notable personal failings of recent times have roots in yesterday. Those who are interested in leadership can profit greatly from reading this novel piece.”
—Larry Bossidy, coauthor of Execution and former CEO of Honeywell

“Power Ambition Glory crystalizes the commonalities of highs and lows of modern and ancient leaders. The book is, in fact, an inspiration in showing how simple tenets such as focusing, setting an example, and embracing diversity lead to true greatness. It is a book that speaks to today’s void. What we lack today, Steve Forbes and John Prevas remind us can be regained again by learning from the lessons of the classic ancient leaders and even some modern CEOs that lived by their examples.”
—Meredith Whitney, CEO and founder of Meredith Whitney Advisory Group

“Steve Forbes knows the importance of history, and this book brings that to our attention in a fascinating and pertinent way. Power Ambition Glory is a wonderful read from beginning to end, and people in all fields will learn and be inspired by it. Steve is one guy everyone should listen to!”
—Donald J. Trump

“Steve Forbes and John Prevas have brilliantly woven together the ancient world and permanent princi...

Review
“Power Ambition Glory serves as a remarkable historical guide. It’s both a reference guide to the rise and fall of empires, as well as a fresh look at modern business leaders and how they fit the framework of history.”
—From the foreword by Mayor Rudy Giuliani

“An appealing read that draws a remarkable correlation between great leaders of the ancient world and highly profiled leaders of our time. It is both interesting and instructive to learn of these striking parallels and to realize that extolled leadership at any time often includes similar vision, like deployment and unconventional strategies. It is also interesting to find that notable personal failings of recent times have roots in yesterday. Those who are interested in leadership can profit greatly from reading this novel piece.”
—Larry Bossidy, coauthor of Execution and former CEO of Honeywell

“Power Ambition Glory crystalizes the commonalities of highs and lows of modern and ancient leaders. The book is, in fact, an inspiration in showing how simple tenets such as focusing, setting an example, and embracing diversity lead to true greatness. It is a book that speaks to today’s void. What we lack today, Steve Forbes and John Prevas remind us can be regained again by learning from the lessons of the classic ancient leaders and even some modern CEOs that lived by their examples.”
—Meredith Whitney, CEO and founder of Meredith Whitney Advisory Group

“Steve Forbes knows the importance of history, and this book brings that to our attention in a fascinating and pertinent way. Power Ambition Glory is a wonderful read from beginning to end, and people in all fields will learn and be inspired by it. Steve is one guy everyone should listen to!”
—Donald J. Trump

“Steve Forbes and John Prevas have brilliantly woven together the ancient world and permanent principles of effectiveness to provide guidance for today’s would-be leaders.”
—Newt Gingrich

Customer reviews :

Great Lessons For Leaders July 2, 2009
Michael Gooch (Texas, USA)

As a current corporate director of human resources, I am on a continual quest for books on leadership. That is, "good" books on leadership. I am especially interested in those that draw from an analogy. As an example, I really enjoyed the great work - High Altitude Leadership: What the World's Most Forbidding Peaks Teach Us About Success (J-B US non-Franchise Leadership) and the simple yet effective - The Tazie Effect. (Of course I am also partial to my own book, Wingtips with Spurs) With this tome by Forbes and John Prevas, the analogy is much closer to home than either of these titles. Business and government leadership are not only comparative, indeed they are often interdependent.

As we have the roman military and the Catholic Church to thank for our current leadership model, this book truly hits the mark with its great lessons and teachings. If you do not believe the comment in the preceding sentence, consider this simple example.

Obey us completely or be:

1. Put to death (Roman Military)

2. Excommunicated (Church)

3. Terminated (Modern Business)

Power Ambition Glory: The Stunning Parallels between Great Leaders of the Ancient World and Today . . . and the Lessons You Can Learn is a remarkable historical guide that easily slips into the business arena. Taking lessons from the rise and fall of empires, and then building correlations with our modern business leaders, the wise among us will take these lessons to heart and reflect them in our actions. This is an appealing book that notes a strong correlation between leaders throughout history and business/management leaders in the current era.

I hope you find this review helpful.

Michael L. Gooch, SPHR

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The Shack

2009-07-12T15:58:00.000+07:00

The Shack

Editorial Reviews
"The Shack" is a one of a kind invitation to journey to the very heart of God. Through my tears and cheers, I have been indeed transformed by the tender mercy with which William Paul Young opened the veil that too often separated me from God and from myself. With every page, the complicated do's and don't that distort a relationship into a religion were washed away as I understood Father, Son and Holy Spirit for the first time in my life. --Patrick M. Roddy, ABC News Emmy Award winning producer

Finally! A guy-meets-God Novel that has literary integrity and spiritual daring. "The Shack" cuts through the cliches of both religion and bad writing to reveal something compelling and beautiful about life's integral dance with the Divine. This story reads like a prayer--like the best kind of prayer, filled with sweat and wonder and transparency and surprise. When I read it, I felt like I was fellowshipping with God. If you read one work of fiction this year, let this be it. --Mike Morrell, zoecarnate.com

When the imagination of a writer and the passion of a theologian cross-fertilize the result is a novel on the order of "The Shack." This book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" did for his. It's that good! --Eugene Peterson, Professor Emeritus of Spiritual Theology, Regent College, Vancouver, B.C.

About the Author
William P. Young was born a Canadian and raised among a stone-age tribe by his missionary parents in the highlands of what was New Guinea. He suffered great loss as a child and young adult, and now enjoys the 'wastefulness of grace' with his family in the Pacific Northwest.

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Customer Reviews

No Flannel-Graph Jesus
In the book world, it's hard to explain "the buzz." What causes word of mouth to start spreading? What turns an unknown author and novel into a surprise bestseller? Even more inexplicable for the book snobs is when a story fails to meet their literary standards and yet touches the masses in an undeniable way.

"The Shack" is the buzz book of the past few months. I hadn't even heard of it in November, but by the end of December I'd had relatives, friends, and online pals from across the country telling me I "had" to read this one. I've been burned by such recommendations in the past, particularly in relation to spiritually oriented titles. (Can anyone say "The Prayer of Jabez" and "Left Behind"?), but I was willing to give it a shot.

William P. Young's book has an intriguing premise. Years ago, a father name MacKenzie Phillips took his children camping and lost one of them to a man who has kidnapped and killed others. Mack has grieved since then. His marriage has struggled. Understandably, his relationship with God has suffered. Then, one wintry day, he receives a note in his mailbox inviting him back to the woods, to the shack in which his daughter's dress and bloodstains were found. The note, it would seem, is from God.

From this simple yet effective premise, Young leads Mack Phillips back to his point of despair and anger. The encounters he then has with God there in "The Shack" serve as thought-provoking moments for both Mack and the reader. This is not the God of stodgy Sunday school classes. This is not a flannel-graph Jesus. This is not limited to a fluttering dove of the Holy Spirit. The descriptions here are startling, while remaining true to the nature of God's love and grace as portrayed through Scripture. Not only are they startling, they're wise and moving and beautiful.

Some might argue that "The Shack" has little theology or accuracy to it, but the very argument is what Young is trying to melt away. I earned a Bachelor's from a Bible college, and the majority of Mack's godly encounters could be wrapped up in biblical theology: redemption, grace, forgiveness, propitiation, etc. Do I agree with every line of the book? Not necessarily. Yet, while never sounding like trite religion (because they're not and never should be!), the words spoken by God in this book are full of vibrancy and life.

Is it the best crafted novel ever? No. In many ways, it could be encapsulated in a non-fiction treatise. However, in sharing this remarkable tale in a fictional form, Young has breathed wonder and wisdom into a story that will continue to buzz around for years to come.

The 5000 Year Leap: A Miracle That Changed the World

2009-07-11T13:18:00.000+07:00

The 5000 Year Leap: A Miracle That Changed the World

Product Description

The 5000 Year Leap: A Miracle That Changed the World. For many years in the United States there has been a gradual drifting away from the Founding Fathers original success formula. This has resulted in some of their most unique contributions for a free and prosperous society becoming lost or misunderstood. Therefore, there has been a need to review the history and development of the making of America in order to recapture the brilliant precepts which made Americans the first free people in modern times.

Product Details
     - Amazon Sales Rank: #43 in Books
     - Published on: 1981-01-01
     - Original language: English
     - Number of items: 1
     - Binding: Paperback
     - 337 pages

In this book, discover the 28 Principles of Freedom our Founding Fathers said must be understood and perpetuated by every people who desire peace, prosperity, and freedom. Learn how adherence to these beliefs during the past 200 years has brought about more progress than was made in the previous 5000 years. Published by National Center for Constitutional Studies, a non-profit organization.

GLENN BECK, award-winning radio and Cable TV host has been encouraging people to read THE 5000 YEAR LEAP !

Editorial Reviews:
GLENN BECK, award winning radio and TV host has been talking about "The 5000 Year Leap!" Have you ever read a book which literally changed the course of your thinking and your life? The founder's success formula, as presented in 5000 Year Leap would solve nearly every problem we have in American today if followed. This book will give you a feeling of confidence in today's confused world. Once an individual has a working knowledge of the only correct and proven principles for freedom, prosperity, and peace, then other history can be taught from a whole different perspective. American History becomes a study of how the United States throughout its 200 plus years has either supported the principles of liberty and prospered, or violated these principles and suffered. Can any other knowledge be more helpful to the rising generation in America today? America desperately needs better and stronger leaders. We need leaders who know correct answers and will step forward and make a positive diference in this world.

About the Author

W. Cleon Skousen received his Juris Doctor degree from George Washington University Law School and was later admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia and before the District Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. His professional background included 16 years with the FBI, four years as a Chief of Police and ten years as a university professor. He was founder of the National Center for Constitutional Studies which originated in 1971. After the American election of 1980, Skousen was appointed to the Council for National Policy, a think tank of influential politicians, scholars and academics that lent support and advice to President Ronald Reagan s administration.

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Customer Reviews

A Must Read For All Americans
This is an incredible book that should be read by all Americans.

I first read this book back in the mid 1980s shortly after it was first published. It had such a profound effect on me that I can still recall where I was when I was reading it. That is rather amazing as I have I have probably read about 1600 books since then.

I was excited to see that it had recently been republished as my original copy is pretty ragged. It was great to reread it and brush up on the great ideas contained in it.

The premise of the book is that because of the free market system that took root after our Constitution was enacted, the United States literally made a 5000 year leap of progress in the time since then. The author, W. Cleon Skousen, discussed the changes from the time of the founding of Jamestown in 1607 to the early 1980s when the book was written. In discussing Jamestown, he said: "The most striking thing about the settlers of Jamestown was their startling similarity to the ancient pioneers who built settlements in other parts of the world 5,000 years earlier. The whole panorama of Jamestown demonstrated how shockingly little progress had been made by man during all of those fifty centuries."

He went on to say, "The settlers of Jamestown had come in a boat no larger and no more commodious than those of the ancient sea kings. Their tools still consisted of shovel, axe, hoe, and a stick plow which were only slightly improved over those of China, Egypt, Persia, and Greece. They harvested their grain and hay-grass with the same primitive scythes ..."

He then discussed the Constitution that was developed by the Founders. It took 180 years for them to put it all together from the beginning of Jamestown in 1607 to the enactment of the U.S. Constitution in 1787. He goes through the inspirations and sources for their thoughts in explaining how the U.S. Constitutional system came about.

Dr. Skousen contrasted the situation described in Jamestown above to the present day. He talks about the phenomenol results produced by the free enterprise system. Some of the incredible inventions and changes that he cites are as follows: the internal combustion engine, jet propulsion, exotic space travel, 'all the wonders of nuclear energy', massive changes in communications, the doubling of the life expectancy, central heating/air conditioning, surgical miracles, cures for numerous diseases, etc. Needless to say, the list could go on and on.

In showing how our system was designed, Skousen goes through 28 principles that the Founders developed from their study of sources such as Cicero, Locke, Montesquieu, Adam Smith, and others. Skousen has done what most people don't have the time or inclination to do: Study the original source materials and bring it all together.

Obviously, it would be great if every American studied the sources listed above as well as The Federalist Papers, the writings of Jefferson, Franklin, Madison, and others. Since that is unlikely, this is a great way to gain a good general understanding of the roots of our nation.

One great thing about this book is that the author discusses some of the problems that we have faced in recent years due to failing to follow the Constitution and the principles of the Founders. Some of these are issues like the mounting national debt, excessive taxation, and judicial activism.

Dr. Skousen also does a great job of explaining the political spectrum and the absurdities of the left-right labeling so often used in discourse today. He explains in an easy-to-understand manner that the far left and far right as the terms are used today are really the same thing, ruler's law, and are totally out of step with the way the system was intended.

One could easily go on about this book for a long time, but I will spare the reader that. Suffice it to say, this is an amazing book that should be read by all.

I would also highly recommend, "The Making Of America" The Making of America: The Substance and Meaning of the Constitution by the same author. Anyone who reads those two books will know more about the way our system was designed and supposed to work than 99% of all Americans including 'constitutional lawyers'. Buy this book.

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Catastrophe

2009-07-11T01:34:00.000+07:00

Catastrophe

Product Details
     - Amazon Sales Rank: #26 in Books
     - Published on: 2009-07-01
     - Released on: 2009-06-23
     - Original language: English
     - Number of items: 1
     - Binding: Hardcover
     - 384 pages

Product Description
It's time to take back our country. Now. It's that simple. It's that urgent. So begins Dick Morris and Eileen McGann's latest and most important book. They say that we must act before President Barack Obama fully implements his radical political agenda. Because after Obama has won his war on prosperity and canceled the war on terror, it will be too late to regain our liberty or our security. At a time when we needed a pragmatic centrist to lead us out of recession, we got a doctrinaire socialist who wants to use the crisis to put the government in charge of the economy and enact European socialism here in the United States. Cars, banks-what's next? He will keep at it until Washington governs every major business in America and sets all our salaries. It's a catastrophe. Dick Morris and Eileen McGann saw the meltdown coming. In their book Outrage, they called out the house of cards that was Fannie Mae. In Fleeced, they went after the credit card companies, the subprime mortgage lenders, and the hedge fund billionaires who conspired to wreck the economy-and Barack Obama, whose policies, they predicted last summer, would "trigger a stock market crash." Now, in Catastrophe, Morris and McGann take a hard look at America in free fall-and at how Obama is transforming a vulnerable America into a socialist state. They tell the truth about Obama and his radical policies: He will destroy our health care system so that no one gets adequate care. He designed his bank rescue plan to pave the way for nation-alization of the banks and socialization of the economy. He firmly believes in government control of our major industries-he's already commandeered the banks and the automobile industry. He plans to reshape the political landscape to keep the left in power for decades by cooking the census, enfranchising illegal immigrants, muzzling talk radio, and coercing workers into unions. He is attacking those who fight terrorism while letting the terrorists go free. He gives aid to Hamas while Shariah Law threatens to take over America. He has repealed the Declaration of Independence and put us under a worldwide, European-dominated financial regulatory system. But Obama is not working alone. Morris and McGann spell out how Congress is complicit: How Senator Chris Dodd and Congressman Charlie Rangel use special interests and special friends for their own enrichment and glorification. How Ted Kennedy Jr. is exploiting his father's health care power. "This is no time for apathy or alienation or hopelessness," Morris and McGann remind us. "It's a time for action." And that action must begin now-before it's too late.

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Customer Reviews:
Lest One Forget, Dick Morris Was Bill Clinton's Political Advisor
When the critics start calling this book "Extreme Right Wing Dribble", remember that the author of this dire warning was Bill Clinton's Political Advisor for two decades. He helped make him President of the USA. So if Dick Morris is warning that a very dangerous Government created tidal wave is approaching, maybe we all should take time to check it out and head for the high ground if he is correct? This is not the only voice screaming in the wilderness. Glenn Beck has just published a book of similar warnings called "Common Sense."
This 359-page tome has 16 chapters included in three major sections. Those overall sections are titled "How Obama Is Causing A Catastrophe," "How Congress Causes Catastrophe" and "How Special Interests Cause Catastrophe." The authors don't pull any punches or go easy on any of the guilty parties responsible for this oncoming tragedy. "At a time when we needed a pragmatic centrist to lead us out of recession, we got a doctrinaire socialist who wants to use the crisis to put the government in charge of the economy and enact European Socialism here in the United States. Cars, banks--what's next? He will keep at it until Washington governs every major business in America and sets all our salaries." Never mind that socialism has never worked anywhere in the history of the world.
The individual chapter headings provide a pretty decent idea of the book's content. "Obama's War on Prosperity", "The Bank Bailout That Bombed", " Obama's Health Care Catastrophe", "Obama's Blueprint for Political Domination", "Christopher Dodd and Charles Rangel: From Idealistic Reformers to Privileged Insiders" and "The Sheer Chutzpah of Countryside Financial Executives" reveal much and the material in those chapters backs up the chapter titles. The book also has an excellent introduction and nearly forty pages of Appendixes.
The basic theme is "It's time to take back our country. Now. It's that simple. It's that urgent."
"Obama has cancelled the war on terror and declared a war on prosperity."
The President was not kidding when he told "Joe the plumber" that what he knew about was redistributing wealth. He stopped talking about "Civil War Reparations" early in the campaign and the media went along with burying that hot button issue. The same media ignored Mr. Obama's almost complete lack of work experience and his connections with ACORN which is about to change it's name and go underground and probably re-emerge in control of the tax payer funded "AmeriCorps" and/or a Homeland Security Army. Acorn isn't really "COIN of the realm." It may be the administrations muscle, but it's not yet government financed.
Does anyone else hear any echoes of the rise of Hitler and Nazism?
"Upper-income taxpayers must feel a bit like hogs at the Chicago stockyards--being fattened with stimulus spending so they can be slaughtered with tax increases two years down the road...all to make a nice breakfast for the federal government.""Obama cannot succeed by waging war on the rich. It didn't work when FDR tried it, and it cannot work now."
The speed at which all these changes are being pushed through under the Liberals two favorite disguises "Crisis" and "For the Children" resembles an out-of-control train. As Morris and co-author McGann so clearly report, this government is not only bankrupt but also it is in the process of bankrupting all future generations of Americas. The twin crisis of a bankrupt Social Security System and Medicare will arrive within the next eight years and there will be no money to save it. Worse, the United States won't be able to borrow the money either. Our freedoms and our economy are on the verge of a virtual collapse. Wake Up America! The Snake Oil Salesmen have arrived. Normally, this recession would be over. Not this time. Why?
Believe it or not, it's because the new administration doesn't want it to return to normal and its programs are consciously designed to impede any recovery. Mr. Morris, by the way, predicted all this in print and on television more than a year ago when everything in the economy appeared rosy and now he can sit back and say, "I told you so!" Unfortunately he doesn't want to be able to do that, because the next steps in his predictions will take away most of America's wealth and freedoms. This is a very important read for anyone interested in his freedom and well being.

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Cook Yourself Thin: Skinny Meals You Can Make in Minutes

2009-07-11T00:51:00.001+07:00

Cook Yourself Thin: Skinny Meals You Can Make in Minutes

Product Details
     - Amazon Sales Rank: #40 in Books
     - Published on: 2009-04-28
     - Released on: 2009-04-28
     - Original language: English
     - Number of items: 1
     - Binding: Paperback
     - 240 pages

Product Description

LOSE WEIGHT WITHOUT LOSING YOUR MIND!

Cook Yourself Thin is a healthy, delicious way to drop a dress size without all the gimmicks. The ladies of "Cook Yourself Thin," a new Lifetime reality show, offer 80 easy, accessible recipes in this companion cookbook that teaches readers how to cut calories without compromising taste.

For some of us, losing weight has always been a struggle. The challenge: figuring out how to cook healthy, low-fat foods that won't leave you hungry, bored, or running for a gallon of ice cream! Cook Yourself Thin shows how to cut calories, change diets, and improve health without sacrificing the foods we love.

Cook Yourself Thin is not a fad diet. It gives skinny alternatives to your cravings. You can't live without your chocolate cake or mac 'n' cheese? You don't have to! (See Deep Dark Chocolate Cake, page 197.) There's never enough time to cook? Cook Yourself Thin keeps it simple─with easy instructions and fun recipes you'll want to make again and again.

What are you waiting for? Cook Yourself Thin!

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customer reviews
Yes, you CAN cook yourself thin.
I haven't seen the show, but running across this book piqued my interst. Is it possible to cook yourself thin? Well, it is but it does involve some effort on your part. In all actuality, I found the book contained many favorite recipes and things I love to eat. Plus, it seems healthy enough. As far as cookbooks go, this one does involve skimping on the better ingredients--butter, of course--but it doesn't seem to affect the taste all too much. So, therefore, a recommend, if you are willing to do the shopping and cooking, which seems simple and straightforward enough. I also found that Goodbye, Fatty! Hello, Skinny! How I Lost Weight And Still Ate The Foods I Loved-Without Dieting helped me out, as well.

TAKE THIS BOOK FOR WHAT IT IS....
A. Jorgensen (Hillsborough, NJ United States)
Let me address 2 things here. Time and Calories, which seem to be issues in other reviews...
First, calories: Calories for fruits and vegetables are all average. They are all nature made, so one may be sweeter than the other- we have all had one bitter strawberry and one really sweet one, right? The sweetness of these items fluctuate making the calories fluctuate. There is no "definite" caloric value for a fruit or vegetable! I have books that contradict caloric intake as well. It depends on the item being tested and the ripeness and sweetness of that specific item on that particular day! I do agree they should have more nutritional value than just calories though...
And as far as calories being high, you are eating a meal- they can't be much lower!! And it makes a difference if the calories come from fiber or from fat too...
Second is time. Some of these are time consuming recipes. I made the carrot cake (my new favorite recipe) and it took a while to grate the carrots by hand, so I used a food processor which was phenomenal. You need to use your head sometimes to cut corners if you don't have a lot of time. Other than the desserts, the meals also can be time consuming, but some are fast. Just like any other cookbook! This book isn't titled "quick meals for lazy people" It is a book filled with healthy alternatives for people who like to eat!
We are also not selling a movie, so who cares where the show airs! I personally love the show and the people on it. The book is also not a rip off of any other book- its the same concept and many books out there (not just hungry girl), but it's got different recipes. (which are better tasting in my opinion)
Someone also made a comment about the whole wheat noodles tasting like glue- they are whole wheat and much healthier for you. If you are not used to it, they may not taste good to you. You have trained yourself to eat crap- eating healthy does not taste like chocolate cake! You will eventually enjoy the taste of healthy foods, becoming acustomed to those flavors, just like you trained yourself to like fattening foods. I used to hate diet soda, and I made the switch about 6 years ago, and now if I taste a regular soda, I can't drink it, it's too sweet! The bottom line is you need to give your body (and tastebuds) time to adjust to a new way of eating. You will like the way how you feel after eating healthy foods, you mind will actually FEEL healthy, which affects your body. The power of the mind is very powerful and will make a differene in your weight too.
Nonetheless the book is fantastic and the recipes are much healthier than their alternatives, common sense would tell you that when you read the ingredients! (hardly any butter!) But it's not a diet book, they let you use full fat items, but just to add taste. You don't need to omit butter and cream cheese from you diet forever! It is a great companion to someone on weightwatchers as well. Fantastic book!!!

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The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Random House Reader's Circle)

2009-07-10T15:10:00.000+07:00

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Random House Reader's Circle)

Product Details
     - Amazon Sales Rank: #3 in Books
     - Published on: 2009-05-05
     - Released on: 2009-05-05
     - Original language: English
     - Number of items: 1
     - Binding: Paperback
     - 304 pages

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Product Description
January 1946: writer Juliet Ashton receives a letter from a stranger, a founding member of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. And so begins a remarkable tale of the island of Guernsey during the German occupation, and of a society as extraordinary as its name.

Customer Reviews
A True Delight!
What a wonderful book! Having just finished this one, I am still smiling and thinking of the characters. Had I the time and money, I'd be booking a trip for Guernsey right this minute. As it is, I feel as though I've already visited and been made to feel at home.

Set in both London and Guernsey Island, this novel follows author Juliet as she becomes friends with the inhabitants of the island shortly after the end of World War 2. Told in epistolary style, Juliet learns of the occupied island and its deprivations, as well as the resounding spirit of the people who live there. As she writes, she becomes more and more intrigued with the stories of the people who survived the hard times, and she decides to create a book based on their experiences. In order to gather more information, Juliet moves temporarily to the island and soon finds herself immsersed in the culture and relationships.

This is absolutely one of the most delightful books I've read all year. The characters are real, the relationships are unique, and Juliet is hysterically funny, as well as warm hearted and genuine. I did have a bit of trouble keeping all the characters straight in the beginning, but once I caught on, I was enthralled. The pages just fly by and while you will learn a little of what happened to Guernsey during World War 2, you will learn much more about love and friendship. Highly recommended!

For Lovers Of Literature And Life
I wasn't that eager to read this lovely book. The title sounded silly and I've read a few other books that were told entirely in the form of notes or letters like this one and I wasn't too impressed. And an aunt and her niece authoring a book together? I couldn't imagine it. Yet, miraculously, THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY manages to offer wonderful well rounded characters, a genuine sense of historic time and geographic place, some real inspiring stories of courage under hardship during World War II and a sweet if rather predictable love story.

The book takes place in England during the mid 1940's when the country was recovering from the effects of the long war years. The central character of the novel is Juliet, a thirty something single Londoner who has had some success writing a humorous newspaper column and is now looking for a book subject. Through chance and a mutual love of the power of literature Juliet begins corresponding with a group of diverse people on the British island of Guernsey who used books and the fellowship they found discussing them to help them get through the hideous occupation of their island by the Germans. The authors do a wonderful job giving unique voice and style to each of the letter writers (maybe having two authors really helped in this case) long before Juliet meets her new friends face to face. In the second half of the book, also written in letter form, Juliet is on Guernsey herself and this part of the book is not quite as strong as the beginning as the plot settles in to more of a traditional love story form and the literature themes are somewhat lessened. Still,through its final page, this is an original and entertaining book.

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Black hills

2009-07-10T14:12:00.000+07:00

Black Hills

Product Details
     - Amazon Sales Rank: #21 in Books
     - Published on: 2009-07-07
     - Released on: 2009-07-07
     - Original language: English
     - Number of items: 1
     - Binding: Hardcover
     - 480 pages

Product Description

#1 New York Times–bestselling author Nora Roberts takes us deep into the rugged Black Hills of South Dakota, where the shadows keep secrets, hunters stalk the land, and a childhood friendship matures into an adult passion.

Asummer at his grandparents’ South Dakota ranch is not eleven-year-old Cooper Sullivan’s idea of a good time. But things are a bit more bearable now that he’s discovered the neighbor girl, Lil Chance, and her homemade batting cage. Even horseback riding isn’t as awful as Coop thought it would be. Each year, with Coop’s annual summer visit, their friendship deepens from innocent games to stolen kisses, but there is one shared experience that will forever haunt them: the terrifying discovery of a hiker’s body.

As the seasons change and the years roll, Lil stays steadfast to her dreams of becoming a wildlife biologist and protecting her family land, while Coop struggles with his father’s demand that he attend law school and join the family firm. Twelve years after they last walked together hand in hand, fate has brought them back to the Black Hills when the people and things they hold most dear need them most.

An investigator in New York, Coop recently left his fastpaced life to care for his aging grandparents and the ranch he has come to call home. Though the memory of his touch still haunts her, Lil has let nothing stop her dream of opening the Chance Wildlife Refuge, but something . . . or someone . . . has been keeping a close watch. When small pranks and acts of destruction escalate into the heartless killing of Lil’s beloved cougar, recollections of an unsolved murder in these very hills have Coop springing to action to keep Lil safe.

Lil and Coop both know the natural dangers that lurk in the wild landscape of the Black Hills. But now they must work together to unearth a killer of twisted and unnatural instincts who has singled them out as prey.

About the Author
Nora Roberts is the number-one New York Times– bestselling author of more than 150 novels, including Tribute, High Noon, Angels Fall, Blue Smoke, Northern Lights, and many more. She is also the author of the bestselling futuristic suspense series written under the pen name J. D. Robb. Roberts has more than 280 million copies of her books in print.

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Customer Reviews
Have your ticket ready
The Queen of suspense-filled romance novels once again treats her loyal fans to a thrill ride of intrigue that twists and turns through the Black Hills of South Dakota. As expected, this ride has well-defined backdrops, with all the sights, sounds, and smells, culminating to give the reader an experience of a life time. Enough with the standing in line...let's get to it.

When Lillian Chance was a teenager, a chance meeting would introduce her to a young man named Cooper Sullivan. During a dinner between Cooper's grandparents and the Chance family, the two would form a bond that spans a lifetime. Years later, both would go on and pursue their dreams. Lil Chance is a world-renowned biologist that specializes in big cats and founded the Chance Wildlife Reserve in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Cooper Sullivan is a cop that also works security. That is, until a colleague of his is murdered. Coop, has finally had enough and returns to the small town in which he grew up.

Hold on tight, 'cause here comes the drop. Just as Coop returns home, he discovers a murderer lurking within the town, and with each new murder getting closer to Lillian, his feelings toward her grow deeper and deeper. Will he be able to protect her? Will the love they once shared be rekindled? Lil still has bitter feelings toward Coop, can she put them aside? I could tell you, but what fun would that be? Nora Roberts has an uncanny ability to build suspense and she does just that in her newest novel. This is a romance, however, and unlike rollercoasters that whip the reader around at breakneck speeds, Black Hills allows the reader to enjoy every aspect of the ride.

Nora Roberts has put great detail and research into the backdrops and this ride is more reminiscent of a themed-coaster and not an old-fashion raise your hands and scream-coaster. That is Nora's style: depth, quality, and substance.

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The Lost Symbol

2009-07-10T13:33:00.000+07:00

The Lost Symbol

Product Details
     - Amazon Sales Rank: #2 in Books
     - Published on: 2009-09-15
     - Released on: 2009-09-15
     - Original language: English
     - Number of items: 1
     - Binding: Hardcover
     - 528 pages

Product Description

Dan Brown’s new novel, the eagerly awaited follow-up to his #1 international phenomenon, The Da Vinci Code, which was the bestselling hardcover adult novel of all time with 81 million copies in print worldwide, will be published in the U.S. and Canada by Doubleday on September 15, 2009.
THE LOST SYMBOL will have a first printing of 5 million copies, and it will once again feature Dan Brown’s unforgettable protagonist, Robert Langdon. Brown’s longtime editor, Jason Kaufman, Vice President and Executive Editor at Doubleday said, "Nothing ever is as it first appears in a Dan Brown novel. This book’s narrative takes place in a twelve-hour period, and from the first page, Dan’s readers will feel the thrill of discovery as they follow Robert Langdon through a masterful and unexpected new landscape. THE LOST SYMBOL is full of surprises."
Dan Brown’s popularity continues to grow. The film of The Da Vinci Code was a #1 box office smash when it was released by Columbia Pictures in May 2006 with Ron Howard directing and Tom Hanks starring as Robert Langdon. Box office receipts were $758 million. The same team will release Angels and Demons theatrically worldwide on May 15, 2009.

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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
From the Publisher
Dan Brown’s new novel, the eagerly awaited follow-up to his #1 international phenomenon, The Da Vinci Code, which was the bestselling hardcover adult novel of all time, will be published on September 15, 2009.

The Lost Symbol will once again feature Dan Brown’s unforgettable protagonist, Robert Langdon.

“The Lost Symbol is a brilliant and compelling thriller. Dan Brown’s prodigious talent for storytelling, infused with history, codes and intrigue, is on full display in this new book. This is one of the most anticipated publications in recent history, and it was well worth the wait,” said Sonny Mehta, Chairman and Editor in Chief of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.

Brown’s longtime editor, Jason Kaufman, Vice President and Executive Editor at Doubleday said, “Nothing ever is as it first appears in a Dan Brown novel. This book’s narrative takes place in a twelve-hour period, and from the first page, Dan’s readers will feel the thrill of discovery as they follow Robert Langdon through a masterful and unexpected new landscape. The Lost Symbol is full of surprises.”

"This novel has been a strange and wonderful journey," said Brown. "Weaving five years of research into the story's twelve-hour timeframe was an exhilarating challenge. Robert Langdon’s life clearly moves a lot faster than mine."

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Finger Lickin' Fifteen (Stephanie Plum Novels)

2009-07-08T14:44:00.000+07:00

Finger Lickin' Fifteen (Stephanie Plum Novels)

Book Description
EVENT: The next Stephanie Plum novel, in which complications arise, loyalties are tested, cliffhangers are resolved, and donuts are eaten.

WHERE: Wherever books are sold across America

WHAT TO BRING: Sunglasses, insect repellant, a flotation device, suntan lotion, cheez-doodles, extra-large towel, fire extinguisher, baseball bat, lip balm, monkey leash, sixty three pieces of chewing gum, and one canister of oxygen (don’t ask). Hey, it’s a Stephanie Plum novel!

From Publishers Weekly
Bestseller Evanovich recycles tired themes better executed in earlier adventures in her latest Stephanie Plum adventure (Fearless Fourteen, etc.). When Lula inadvertently witnesses the beheading of culinary TV star Stanley Chipotle in a Trenton, N.J., alley, Stephanie's on-again off-again boyfriend, cop Joe Morelli, reluctantly takes the case. Lula, with the help of Grandma Mazur, enters the same barbequing competition Chipotle was in town to promote, hoping to lure the murderers out of hiding. Meanwhile, Ranger has recruited Stephanie to help solve a series of break-ins at properties under the protection of Rangeman Security. The inevitable sparks fly between Stephanie and Ranger, with Morelli grumbling on the sidelines. Evanovich dishes up her usual mixture of shoot-'em-up action (numerous cars explode) and quirky characters (notably a neighborhood flasher with a devoted following), but the lackluster plot will disappoint fans. (June 23)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author
JANET EVANOVICH is the #1 bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum novels, twelve romance novels, the Alexandra Barnaby novels, and How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author. She lives in New Hampshire and Florida along with her St. Bernard granddog Barnaby.

Janet Evanovich and Michael Connelly: Author One-to-One

Customer Reviews
Just enough humor and passion and mystery to qualify as a summer breeze.
Normally, I start a review by discussing the author, but Janet Evanovich is such an accomplished writer, I don't think that will be necessary. It is hard to believe that it has been fifteen years since we were first introduced to the sassy bounty hunter, Stephanie Plum. A show of hands from those who can remember One for the Money: One for the Money (Stephanie Plum, No. 1). Well, Stephanie, has come a long way since she first started chasing Joe Morelli. The last few books in the series, however, had readers convinced it was time to put this series to rest - and I was one of them. But Finger Lickin' Fifteen is, in some ways, a return to form for the best-selling author.

Stephanie Plum has had enough experience by now to be a seasoned vet, but somehow she still manages to stumble along the way - but I guess that is part of her charm. There are two things we can count on about Ms. Plum: She will bumble her way through the book and never commit to a serious relationship - both hold true in her latest adventure. Fifteen Lickin' Fifteen has all the characters that we've come to love and even spends time developing some of their stories.

Lula, the clerk with a dubious past, witnesses the brutal murder of television star, Stanley Chipotle. This brings her the unwanted attention of keystone-capered-type-killers that are just as inept at their chosen career as Ms. Plum is at hers. Well, a big reward is offered for the capture of the killers, and Lula, along with Grandma Mazur, enter the cooking contest the TV star was in town to promote in hopes of catching them. Stephanie, meanwhile, is working with her on again, off again lover, Ranger, to solve a series of burglaries that appear to be inside jobs.

Let me end there so I don't spoil it for you, but I will say that I really, really, really, really, wanted to give this book a top score. I love Janet Evanovich, and her Stephanie Plum series, but this fifteenth installment failed on more than a few fronts to fully engross the reader. The Lula story is never fully developed, and while there are hilarities, they are rather shallow and pedantic. The heat begins to rise when Stephanie and Ranger are together, but this too is rather tiresome. Overall, Finger Lickin' Fifteen, has just enough humor and passion and mystery to qualify as a summer breeze. It doesn't achieve what the first six books in the series did: Plum Boxed Set 1 (1, 2, 3): Contains One for the Money, Two for the Dough and Three to Get Deadly(Stephanie Plum Novels) & Plum Boxed Set 2 (4, 5, 6): Contains Four to Score, High Five and Hot Six (Stephanie Plum Novels) but it is slightly better than the more recent books in the series..............If you are caught up with the series then I would highly recommend Clarence Cage's novel Ashes Divide: Ashes Divide a much better novel that blends suspense and intrigue flawlessly.

The Scarecrow

2009-07-08T11:29:00.001+07:00

The Scarecrow

Book Description
Forced out of the Los Angeles Times amid the latest budget cuts, newspaperman Jack McEvoy decides to go out with a bang, using his final days at the paper to write the definitive murder story of his career.
He focuses on Alonzo Winslow, a 16-year-old drug dealer in jail after confessing to a brutal murder. But as he delves into the story, Jack realizes that Winslow's so-called confession is bogus. The kid might actually be innocent.Jack is soon running with his biggest story since The Poet made his career years ago. He is tracking a killer who operates completely below police radar--and with perfect knowledge of any move against him. Including Jack's.

Michael Connelly and Janet Evanovich: Author One-to-One

Customer Reviews
Connelly is back on top.
When it comes to chilling suspense thrillers few can match the level of Michael Connelly. So it should then be no surprise to see all the good reviews his new work "The Scarecrow" is receiving. There are some very chilling and sadistic scenes that would make the Marquis de Sade envious - but there is a lot more to this book than grizzly murders. Jack McEvoy is the book's lead - a newspaper reporter (you may remember him from "The Poet") The Poet

Well, both newspapers that Jack is affiliated with (Rocky Mountain News and The Los Angeles Times) are on hard times. As with most Connelly, technology plays a key role in moving the story along. In the Scarecrow, the cyber villainy comes from a place known as The Farm - an underground desert bunker where all your cyber fears are realized. Jack gets laid off relatively early in the book and goes searching for "The Scarecrow" But before he can begin his investigation, Jack, must deal with a teen-aged kid that made a false confession of murder. Using good, old-fashioned detective work, Jack discovers the kid only confessed to stealing the murdered woman's car. Exciting so far, right?

And we're only getting started. I won't go further with the story, but The Scarecrow shows the reader just why Michael Connelly is in a league all his own when it comes to suspense thrillers. The characters, the story, the plot, the interaction, the flow, all refined and detailed by the touch of a true master. I'm more of a historical fiction fan, and just finished reading Clarence Cage's epic novel "Ashes Divide" Ashes Divide (highly recommend) but when I got my hands on this chilling thriller I was unable to put it down.

A really good book considering it doesn't feature Harry Bosch
The Scarecrow works at a computer farm where top secret data is stored for many top law firms and businesses that want their secrets secured. The scarecrow scares off any potential hackers to the farm. He's also a master criminal that has been getting away with many vile crimes for many years without even a sniff of suspicion by law enforcement.

Jack McEvoy, the crime reporter for the LA Times is featured in this novel. McEvoy was the lead in THE POET, where he helped catch a man who killed his brother and wrote a bestselling book about it. Now, McEvoy is a victim of the tough economic times and is laid off from his job. McEvoy hopes to write one last great story and go out with a bang. While looking into a case where a 16-year-old gang banger murdered a prostitute, he discovers the kid may have been innocent. More importantly, he discovers there have been other people put jail for similar crimes that may also be innocent. Jack begins investigating and enlists the help of one time lover, FBI Agent Rachel Walling.

The good: I don't think they were mentioned by name, but Bosch and Mickey Haller both get mentions in this novel. Connelly's writing is excellent as always, a true page turner.

The not so good: I don't think Connelly does this with Bosch novels, but in this book, Connelly covers the point of view of the Scarecrow. Other authors are great at this, but Connelly is at the top of his game when he writes a straight procedural and we don't know who the villian is.

Connelly fans should rejoice that the author has two books coming out this year. THE SCARECROW is not as good as most Bosch novels, primarily because Jack McEvoy isn't the same beloved character as Harry Bosch. Still, a must read.

A Story of People and Newpapers Dying.
The economic case for the newspaper business has been much discussed. Michael Connelly gives a great insight into the business and puts a human face on its death. That part of the story is realistic and interesting. I can not help but to feel sorry for the what appears to be the death of newspapers.

Juxtaposed is an internet killer. Michael shows great knowledge of the internet and that part is interesting. The return of Jack McEvoy and Rachel gives us interesting protagonists to find the bad guy.

Michael Connelly is the best mystery writer working today in my view. Lee Childs is a close second. Having said that I wonder why he decided to reveal the bad guy so early in the book. I think it took away from the excitement and that is why I gave the book 4 stars.

I remember a very similar killer from someone's mystery. Does anyone remember a similar villain.

Glenn Beck's Common Sense: The Case Against an Out-of-Control Government, Inspired by Thomas Paine (Paperback)

2009-06-24T11:35:00.000+07:00

Glenn Beck's Common Sense: The Case Against an Out-of-Control Government, Inspired by Thomas Paine

Product Description
"If you believe it's time to put principles above parties, character above campaign promises, and Common Sense above all -- then I ask you to read this book...."
In any era, great Americans inspire us to reach our full potential. They know with conviction what they believe within themselves. They understand that all actions have consequences. And they find commonsense solutions to the nation's problems.

One such American, Thomas Paine, was an ordinary man who changed the course of history by penning Common Sense, the concise 1776 masterpiece in which, through extraordinarily straightforward and indisputable arguments, he encouraged his fellow citizens to take control of America's future -- and, ultimately, her freedom.

Nearly two and a half centuries later, those very freedoms once again hang in the balance. And now, Glenn Beck revisits Paine's powerful treatise with one purpose: to galvanize Americans to see past government's easy solutions, two-part monopoly, and illogical methods and take back our great country.

Customer Reviews
Common Sense Inspired By Thomas Paine June 8, 2009
Joel D. Mclaughlin (Phoenix, Arizona)
165 out of 201 found this review helpful

Oh wow, incredible content piece. Being a small business owner in America at the age of 24, it makes me very nervous about our future. Everyone needs to read this book to have their light turned on so that they can understand the sense of urgency needed to really make changes. Change we can really believe in (to keep our country ours and afloat).

Great work Glenn Beck, my eyes are opening from a squint.

Joeleosmosis

Wake up America! WE ARE NOT SHEEP! June 16, 2009
Sandy Winnich (Arlington, TEXAS)
93 out of 112 found this review helpful

Glenn Beck is a character (though I don't always enjoy his commentary). He could be just riding the wave of small government mentality out there for all I know, but this book is worth every cent and every second it takes to read. The premise is simple: the federal government has gone collectively INSANE and we taxpayers and constituents are passively sitting on the sidelines watching them take the ship into massive socialist icebergs. In other words, we've completely ignored common sense.

Beck says that we've gotten away from our founding principles, as he says in the book: "The fastest way to be branded a danger, a militia man, or just plain crazy is to quote the words of the Founding Fathers." That should be the first indication that we're not operating on common sense. Beck goes over other indications like the fact that all income tax from every American taxpayer over 10 years wouldn't even cover the debt--not to mention the interest on the debt. Also, Beck highlights absolutely illogical gerrymandering to produce Congressional districts that look a lot like a squirrel after it's been run over by an 18-wheeler (that's my clever analogy).

He kinda goes of course and criticizes environmentalism (which I support), but one of the major points he makes is that this mess is a BIPARTISAN mess. It's not just the Democrats; it's not just the Republicans- they're both in on it. The critics of this book that deride Beck's partisanship are way off base. I guess they haven't read the book! As one of his headers reads, "Political Parties: Dividing the People but taking us to the same place" (that place is evidently debt prison.

This is a must-read along with other recent books on the calamity that has befallen us like Surviving the Second Great Depression: How to Take Advantage of the Government That Is Trying to Take Advantage of You and Meltdown: A Free-Market Look at Why the Stock Market Collapsed, the Economy Tanked, and Government Bailouts Will Make Things Worse. Get them and wake up! WE ARE NOT

Sookie Stackhouse, Books 1-7 [BOX SET] (Mass Market Paperback)

2009-06-24T09:28:00.000+07:00

Sookie Stackhouse, Books 1-7 [BOX SET] (Mass Market Paperback)

Product Description

Sookie Stackhouse is the main character in The Southern Vampire Mysteries, a series of eight books written by bestselling author Charlaine Harris

Customer Reviews
A truly superb series of novels
This past year I began a reading project of the major vampire novels and stories, from John Polidori's THE VAMPYRE to Bram Stoker's DRACULA to Richard Matheson's I AM LEGEND to Theodore Sturgeon's SOME OF YOUR BLOOD to more recent works. I had previously read various novels, including the Anita Blake series, which started promisingly but not only never lived up to its initial promise but regressed to embarrassingly awful pornography. In August of this year I decided to read Charlaine Harris's vampire series, which was originally known as The Southern Vampire Mysteries but eventually became better known as the Sookie Stackhouse Novels.

Now, this is where the story gets odd. Completely independently of my reading project I had heard about and planned on watching Alan Ball's new series TRUE BLOOD. I was a huge fan of SIX FEET UNDER and was anxious to see how he would handle a series dealing with vampires. A few days after I had ordered the first four Sookie Stackhouse novels I learn to my great shock that Ball's new series was based on the very same novels. It is the most serendipitous coincidence in my life as a reader.

Because so many people have become aware of these books as a result of the TV series, a word about the differences between the two is in order. There are both definite similarities and some sharp differences between the two. The books focus much more on Sookie and less on the lives of the supporting characters, not surprising given that Sookie is the narrator in the novels. Sookie's narrative voice is for me one of the joys of the books and I miss that very personal perspective when I watch the TV series. The books are also far less sexual than the series, though there are several sex scenes (though it never descends to the pure porn found in the Anita Blake books). The series differs sharply from the books when it deals with characters other than Sookie. For instance, Tara in the books is a minor (and white) character. Jason plays a far smaller role. Just about everything touching Tara and Jason cannot be found in the novels. Sam and Tara are not involved. Without giving spoilers, Lafayette cannot be regarded as an important character in the books. On the other hand, Eric is as important as the other three main characters in the books, Sookie, Bill, and Sam. Still, based on all but the last 2 or 3 episodes of Season One of the TV show, Sookie's story there is pretty close to that is the first novel in the sequence.

The one huge advantage of the novels over the series is that there is just so much more that happens. Season One of the series corresponds to the first novel in the sequence. I expect that the TV show will begin to diverge from the novels in the second season. So I see no reason for anyone who enjoys the show not to plunge in and enjoy a whole string of new adventures in the life of Sookie Stackhouse, barmaid and telepath. What has delighted me is how consistently superb the novels are. I felt the second novel in the series, DEAD AND LIVING IN DALLAS, was a bit less entertaining than the second book, but all the rest in the sequence were increasingly excellent. And they all mesh to tell a unified story. One novel ends and the next picks up the story perhaps as little as two or three weeks later.

The novels also introduce new and more interesting supernatural characters. The Anita Blake novels did this as well, but I felt that that series was increasingly less successful. Both series introduce weres (were wolves, were tigers, were panthers, and others), witches, vampires from other locales, and fairies. But throughout it all Sookie remains both an innocent and an explorer.

All in all, this is one of the most enjoyable long series of novels that I know. My only real disappointment is that a date has not yet been announced for the next and ninth novel in the series. Charlaine Harris (who lives in the southern part of my native state of Arkansas) has a couple of other series and 2009 apparently is devoted to those. My hope is that perhaps the success of the TV show will cause Ms. Harris to revise her plans and bring out another Sookie Stackhouse sooner rather than later.

I will add that on some boards many fans of the books don't like Anna Paquin as Sookie. I do. She isn't quite the way the books describe Sookie, being slender and not at all voluptuous, whereas in the books Sookie is constantly described as curvy and very chesty. But I think Anna Paquin gets a lot of the spirit of Sookie. She feels in her performance very much like someone who has been traumatized by hearing the thoughts of others.

If you are a fan of TRUE BLOOD, you should definitely read these. I actually prefer the books to the TV show, though I like the show as well. But if you haven't watched the show, but enjoy well written book on supernatural themes, you should read these anyway. In the recent tradition of revisionist accounts of vampires, this is one of the best.

Great Escapism...
First off - if you are interested in the True Blood series on HBO - get these books and get this set. I was STRONGLY recommended to read these books after talking about the show by a friend who read them when they first came out. So I did...purchased one at a time. Boy do I wish I would have bought the set right off and then get the additional books later for I would have saved a bit of money and had a great way to keep all the books together and in great shape. Nevertheless, the books and show ARE different and yet both are worthy of reading/watching if you are into this genre of books. I have enjoyed both for various reasons, but for the books, I truly enjoy the narrative of Sookie through all her trials and tribulations of interacting with "special" characters. This is not a wannabe Anita Blake type of series, but very unique, exciting and often lighthearted...definitely not as dark! Harris has written these books in such a way to really draw one into them, sometimes even identifying with human emotions that is sometimes unexpected. Now I have all the paperbacks, without the boxed set container (sad), and am awaiting the next book in the series.

Plus I will continue to watch the show, knowing on what it is based and that I should not expect the same thing as I read in the books...yet knowing the same "flavor" will be retained. That makes for good reading and for good TV/movie adaptation.

Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto

2009-05-11T15:07:00.000+07:00

Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto

Product Description
Conservative talk radio's fastest-growing superstar is also a New York Times bestselling phenomenon: the author of the groundbreaking critique of the Supreme Court, Men in Black, and the deeply personal dog lover's memoir Rescuing Sprite, Mark R. Levin now delivers the book that characterizes both his devotion to his more than 5 million listeners and his love of our country and the legacy of our Founding Fathers: Liberty and Tyranny is Mark R. Levin's clarion call to conservative America, a new manifesto for the conservative movement for the 21st century.

In the face of the modern liberal assault on Constitution-based values, an attack that has steadily snowballed since President Roosevelt's New Deal of the 1930s and resulted in a federal government that is a massive, unaccountable conglomerate, the time for re-enforcing the intellectual and practical case for conservatism is now. Conservative beliefs in individual freedoms do in the end stand for liberty for all Americans, while liberal dictates lead to the breakdown of civilized society -- in short, tyranny. Looking back to look to the future, Levin writes "conservatism is the antidote to tyranny precisely because its principles are our founding principles." And in a series of powerful essays, Levin lays out how conservatives can counter the liberal corrosion that has filtered into every timely issue affecting our daily lives, from the economy to health care, global warming, immigration, and more -- and illustrates how change, as seen through the conservative lens, is always prudent, and always an enhancement to individual freedom.

As provocative, well-reasoned, robust, and informed as his on-air commentary, Levin's narrative will galvanize readers to begin a new era in conservative thinking and action. Liberty and Tyranny provides a philosophical, historical, and practical framework for revitalizing the conservative vision and ensuring the preservation of American society.

Customer Reviews:
Conservative Catechism March 24, 2009
Charlie
347 out of 417 found this review helpful

This book is perfect for the individual who has always "felt" conservative, but couldn't quite explain herself. Mark Levin's "Liberty and Tyranny" begins with an excellent overview of where our country is as a constitutional republic and how we got here. He then states clearly his book's theme and rallying cry -- Conservatives must know the philosophical foundations for the principles they purport to advance in order to defend liberty from the "soft tyranny" of modern liberalism.

Levin goes on meticulously (many more than 300 endnotes), but plainly explaining the principles of classic conservative philosophy of "prudent" progress, a government that is subservient to the people (rather than the other way around), the fundamental truth that rights are not derived from the government but from a higher power, that the free market system more than any other in history provides the best, most efficient and most just opportunity for individual prosperity as well as for the general welfare, and much much more.

Levin's book provides ample evidence of government encroachment on individual liberty and our country's descent into the soft tyranny warned of by Alexis de Tocqueville in our country's earliest years. Economic regulation, environmental extremism, the usurpation of representative government by the judiciary, unprecedented and uncontrolled illegal influx of people into out country, and the like threaten our economic viability. Finally, Levin's book details how the liberal (and some so-called conservative) political elite rejects the notion of American Exceptionalism and seek to surrender voluntarily the sovereignty our forefathers fought and died to give and to preserve for us.

This is a must read for those who wish to understand, defend and advance Conservatism

The Left doth protest too much with their silence March 24, 2009
Anna (New York)
1399 out of 1708 found this review helpful

NY Times Best Seller - Hardcover Nonfiction - #1 for 11 of 12 weeks!
Amazon: #1 Nonfiction book for over 30 consecutive days.
Over 1,016,000 in print, and in it's 18th printing. Over 700,000 sold!
This is just the beginning. Though primarily written for the domestic market, there are certain truisms that speak to oppressed people globally. When L&T is translated, it may well become the Liberty Bell of our time as it exposes the persona of the pied piper-like statists.

...meanwhile, a deafening silence from ALL major media outlets. How much longer are they going to ignore Liberty & Tyranny? If you are ever asked "What media bias?" by your liberal friends, use this as your prime example.

In general, the louder someone complains, the closer you are to the truth. I anticipate a lot of ad hominem 'reviews' from statists here. Do not let them talk you out of reading this book.

In any given generation, there are but a few authors and thinkers whose creations can survive the ravages of time and the shifting sands of societal evolution. It is rarer still when a key book is written, recognized, and celebrated contemporarily.

Mark R. Levin logically lays out what has made the United States of America different from all other nations in the history of humanity. He re-introduces us to the founders and framers, and those people who inspired them long ago. At its most basic elements, our country was founded on the ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness...and that we have these rights conferred on us, not by man or government, but by Natural Law, which originates with the Creator. Mr. Levin puts us back in touch with our founding doctrines, which are the at the very heart of what conservatism is and has always been.

For too long, Conservatives have let themselves be defined by the media. Mr. Levin's book recasts what it is to be a proud Conservative, and gives voice to those who are often silent in the face of ideological slander. If you believe in this great country, if you believe in truth and honesty, if you believe in life and principles, if you believe in freedom and patriotism, if you believe that all people are created equal and it is up to the individual to succeed according to their talents and interests, and if you believe in a smaller efficient government, and lower taxes, then this book is for you.