books comics & magazines

Books : A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose (Oprah's Book Club, Selection 61

2008-02-07T01:16:00.000-08:00

The highly anticipated follow-up to the 2,000,000 copy bestselling inspirational book, The Power of NowWith his bestselling spiritual guide The Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle inspired millions of readers to discover the freedom and joy of a life lived "in the now." In A New Earth, Tolle expands on these powerful ideas to show how transcending our ego-based state of consciousness is not only essential to personal happiness, but also the key to ending conflict and suffering throughout the world. Tolle describes how our attachment to the ego creates the dysfunction that leads to anger, jealousy, and unhappiness, and shows readers how to awaken to a new state of consciousness and follow the path to a truly fulfilling existence.The Power of Now was a question-and-answer handbook. A New Earth has been written as a traditional narrative, offering anecdotes and philosophies in a way that is accessible to all. Illuminating, enlightening, and uplifting, A New Earth is a profoundly spiritual manifesto for a better way of life—and for building a better world.

ECKHART TOLLE is a contemporary spiritual teacher who is not aligned with any particular religion or tradition. In his writing and seminars, he conveys a simple yet profound message with the timeless and uncomplicated clarity of the ancient spiritual masters: There is a way out of suffering and into peace. Eckhart travels extensively, taking his teachings throughout the world.

& magazines : Allure

2008-02-02T18:15:00.000-08:00

From the PublisherAllure is the beauty expert. Every issue is full of celebrity tips and insider secrets from the pros, like what works overnight and what works for a lifetime. Editors pick their favorite new products and reveal what new styles really work for you. Your subscription includes the annual special issues: Makeovers and Best of Beauty.

Product DescriptionAllure is the beauty expert. Every issue is full of celebrity tips and insider secrets from the pros, like what works overnight and what works for a lifetime. Editors pick their favorite new products and reveal what new styles really work for you. Your subscription includes the annual special issues: Makeovers and Best of Beauty.

& magazines : Lucky

2008-02-02T18:14:00.001-08:00

Amazon.comSpecial Edition for Amazon.com Customers: Lucky Shops Amazon! And now, Lucky magazine has created a new feature just for Amazon customers called "Lucky Shops Amazon." Packed with the same great information as Lucky magazine, each issue featuring Lucky Shops Amazon includes a special section devoted to products that the Lucky editors found when they shopped on Amazon. This special edition of Lucky magazine is only available to customers who subscribe to Lucky through Amazon.com!

Product DescriptionLucky is your ultimate shopping guide, spotlighting thousands of incredible finds in fashion, beauty, home and more. Each month, the Lucky editors hit the streets to find the best new looks AND the best deal...PLUS incredible Lucky Breaks on the hottest items! If you love to shop, you'll adore Lucky!

& magazines : w

2008-02-02T18:12:00.000-08:00

From the PublisherGo behind the runways with W and sit front row at the world's hottest shows to get the first looks at the most fabulous fashion. In each issue of W, you'll discover fashion that is elegant, opulent, and colorful, plus people, parties, and Hollywood -- all like you've never seen them before. And with your subscription, you'll get the must-have, super-sized Spring and Fall Fashion Issues!

Product DescriptionGo behind the runways with W and sit front row at the world's hottest shows to get the first looks at the most fabulous fashion. In each issue of W, you'll discover fashion that is elegant, opulent, and colorful, plus people, parties, and Hollywood -- all like you've never seen them before. And with your subscription, you'll get the must-have, super-sized Spring and Fall Fashion Issues!

& magazines : Vogue

2008-02-02T18:10:00.000-08:00

From Amazon.comVogue lives by the maxim that you can't be too rich or too thin--or have too many ad pages. But the glossy spreads of broomstick-thin supermodels draped in Prada and Chanel, and the endless pages of ads for the finest clothes, accessories, and makeup the beauty industry has to offer, help make it the leading magazine of women's style. Fashion is the main event, but every issue attends society parties, goes inside the home of a celebrity designer, and travels to an exotic resort or vacation spot. Like Playboy, Vogue is a magazine you can claim to read because the articles are good. Famously, the September fall fashion issue can easily top 700 pages. --Katherine Koberg

Product DescriptionVogue is the fashion authority. Setting the standard for over 100 years has made Vogue the best selling fashion magazine in the world. Each issue delivers the latest in beauty, style, health, fitness and celebrities and your subscription will include the must-have Spring and Fall Fashion editions. Before it's in fashion, it's in Vogue!

Books : The Appeal (Limited Edition)

2008-02-02T18:05:00.000-08:00

Amazon.comAs the author of twenty bestselling books, John Grisham has set the standard for legal thrillers since the debut of The Firm in 1991. Enjoy this Q&A--as well as a personal note to Amazon readers--from John Grisham.

1. Your new novel starts off where most courtroom dramas end--with the verdict. Where did you get the idea to reverse the usual order of events this time around?The actual trial is not a terribly significant part of the story. Most all of the action and intrigue begins after the trial is over, with the verdict and the subsequent appeal.

2. The Appeal overtly suggests that elected judges can be bought. If the novel is meant as a cautionary tale, what's next--the Presidential primaries?Why not? Over one billion dollars will be spent next year in the Presidential primaries and general election. With that kind of money floating around, anything can be bought.

3. Speaking of electoral politics, you've been more vocal recently about your political views ... first supporting Jim Webb for Senate and now endorsing Hillary Clinton for the White House. Have you given any thought to running for office yourself?No. I made that mistake 25 years ago, and promised myself I would never do it again. I enjoy watching and participating in politics from the sidelines, but it's best to keep some distance.

4. This is your first legal thriller in three years. How did it feel to get back to the genre that started it all, and can fans expect another thriller from you next year?I still enjoy writing the legal thrillers, and don't plan to get too far away from them. Obviously, they have been very good to me, and they remain popular. I plan to write one a year for the next several years.

5. Your nonfiction book The Innocent Man continues to be a bestseller in paperback. In your ongoing work with The Innocence Project, have you come across another story of the wrongfully convicted that begs to be written as nonfiction?There are literally hundreds of great stories out there about wrongfully convicted defendants. I am continually astounded by these stories, and I resist the temptation to take the plunge again into non-fiction.

6. What's on your bedside reading list at the moment?1. The Nine by Jeffrey Toobin2. Eric Clapton's autobiography3. East of Eden by John Steinbeck.

Books : Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity

2008-01-31T00:04:00.000-08:00

With first-chapter allusions to martial arts, "flow," "mind like water," and other concepts borrowed from the East (and usually mangled), you'd almost think this self-helper from David Allen should have been called Zen and the Art of Schedule Maintenance.

Not quite. Yes, Getting Things Done offers a complete system for downloading all those free-floating gotta-do's clogging your brain into a sophisticated framework of files and action lists--all purportedly to free your mind to focus on whatever you're working on. However, it still operates from the decidedly Western notion that if we could just get really, really organized, we could turn ourselves into 24/7 productivity machines. (To wit, Allen, whom the New Economy bible Fast Company has dubbed "the personal productivity guru," suggests that instead of meditating on crouching tigers and hidden dragons while you wait for a plane, you should unsheathe that high-tech saber known as the cell phone and attack that list of calls you need to return.)

As whole-life-organizing systems go, Allen's is pretty good, even fun and therapeutic. It starts with the exhortation to take every unaccounted-for scrap of paper in your workstation that you can't junk, The next step is to write down every unaccounted-for gotta-do cramming your head onto its own scrap of paper. Finally, throw the whole stew into a giant "in-basket"

That's where the processing and prioritizing begin; in Allen's system, it get a little convoluted at times, rife as it is with fancy terms, subterms, and sub-subterms for even the simplest concepts. Thank goodness the spine of his system is captured on a straightforward, one-page flowchart that you can pin over your desk and repeatedly consult without having to refer back to the book. That alone is worth the purchase price. Also of value is Allen's ingenious Two-Minute Rule: if there's anything you absolutely must do that you can do right now in two minutes or less, then do it now, thus freeing up your time and mind tenfold over the long term. It's commonsense advice so obvious that most of us completely overlook it, much to our detriment; Allen excels at dispensing such wisdom in this useful, if somewhat belabored, self-improver aimed at everyone from CEOs to soccer moms (who we all know are more organized than most CEOs to start with). --Timothy Murphy --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Greath Books comics & magazines

Books : The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

2008-01-31T00:03:00.000-08:00

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change was a groundbreaker when it was first published in 1990, and it continues to be a business bestseller with more than 10 million copies sold. Stephen Covey, an internationally respected leadership authority, realizes that true success encompasses a balance of personal and professional effectiveness, so this book is a manual for performing better in both arenas. His anecdotes are as frequently from family situations as from business challenges.
Before you can adopt the seven habits, you'll need to accomplish what Covey calls a "paradigm shift"--a change in perception and interpretation of how the world works. Covey takes you through this change, which affects how you perceive and act regarding productivity, time management, positive thinking, developing your "proactive muscles" (acting with initiative rather than reacting), and much more.
This isn't a quick-tips-start-tomorrow kind of book. The concepts are sometimes intricate, and you'll want to study this book, not skim it. When you finish, you'll probably have Post-it notes or hand-written annotations in every chapter, and you'll feel like you've taken a powerful seminar by Covey. --Joan Price --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Books : Mac OS X Leopard: The Missing Manual

2008-01-31T00:02:00.000-08:00

With Leopard, Apple has unleashed the greatest version of Mac OS X yet, and David Pogue is back with another meticulous Missing Manual to cover the operating system with a wealth of detail. The new Mac OS X 10.5, better known as Leopard, is faster than its predecessors, but nothing's too fast for Pogue and this Missing Manual. It's just one of reasons this is the most popular computer book of all time.

Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Leopard Edition is the authoritative book for Mac users of all technical levels and experience. If you're new to the Mac, this book gives you a crystal-clear, jargon-free introduction to the Dock, the Mac OS X folder structure, and the Mail application. There are also mini-manuals on iLife applications such as iMovie, iDVD, and iPhoto, and a tutorial for Safari, Mac's web browser.

This Missing Manual book is amusing and fun to read, but Pogue doesn't take his subject lightly. Which new Leopard features work well and which do not? What should you look for? What should you avoid? Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Leopard Edition offers an objective and straightforward instruction for using:
Leopard's totally revamped Finder
Spaces to group your windows and organize your Mac tasks
Quick Look to view files before you open them
The Time Machine, Leopard's new backup feature
Spotlight to search for and find anything in your Mac
Front Row, a new way to enjoy music, photos, and videos
Enhanced Parental Controls that come with Leopard
Quick tips for setting up and configuring your Mac to make it your own

There's something new on practically every page of this new edition, and David Pogue brings his celebrated wit and expertise to every one of them. Mac's brought a new cat to town and Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Leopard Edition is a great new way to tame it.

Books : New Moon (The Twilight Saga)

2008-01-31T00:01:00.001-08:00

Grade 9 Up–Recovered from the vampire attack that hospitalized her in the conclusion of Twilight (Little, Brown, 2005), Bella celebrates her birthday with her boyfriend Edward and his family, a unique clan of vampires that has sworn off human blood. But the celebration abruptly ends when the teen accidentally cuts her arm on broken glass. The sight and smell of her blood trickling away forces the Cullen family to retreat lest they be tempted to make a meal of her. After all is mended, Edward, realizing the danger that he and his family create for Bella, sees no option for her safety but to leave. Mourning his departure, she slips into a downward spiral of depression that penetrates and lingers over her every step. Vampire fans will appreciate the subsequently dour mood that permeates the novel, and it's not until Bella befriends Jacob, a sophomore from her school with a penchant for motorcycles, that both the pace and her disposition begin to take off. Their adventures are wild, dare-devilish, and teeter on the brink of romance, but memories of Edward pervade Bella's emotions, and soon their fun quickly morphs into danger, especially when she uncovers the true identities of Jacob and his pack of friends. Less streamlined than Twilight yet just as exciting, New Moon will more than feed the bloodthirsty hankerings of fans of the first volume and leave them breathless for the third.–Hillias J. Martin, New York Public Library

Books : Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't

2008-01-31T00:00:00.000-08:00

Books : Eclipse

2008-01-30T23:59:00.000-08:00

Readers captivated by Twilight and New Moon will eagerly devour Eclipse, the much anticipated third book in Stephenie Meyer's riveting vampire love saga. As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob --- knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?

Books : The Senator's Wife

2008-01-30T23:58:00.002-08:00

Praise for Sue Miller's The Senator's Wife“Pure Miller . . . tasteful, elegant, sensuous . . . insightful, complex . . . The Senator’s Wife is Miller’s latest extended contemplation of marriage, and a master class in the refinement of craft.” —The Boston Globe“Complex and beautifully drawn . . . with her keen eye and precise prose, Ms. Miller expertly conveys the passage of time and the evolution of emotions, giving readers the sense of lives fully lived.” —The Wall Street Journal“Miller plays her hand in a masterly fashion.” —The New York Times Book Review “I closed The Senator’s Wife and instantly wished there was someone around with whom to discuss the Jodi Picoult like ending.” —USA Today

Once again Sue Miller takes us deep into the private lives of women with this mesmerizing portrait of two marriages exposed in all their shame and imperfection, and in their obdurate, unyielding love. The author of the iconic The Good Mother and the best-selling While I Was Gone brings her marvelous gifts to a powerful story of two unconventional women who unexpectedly change each other’s lives.Meri is newly married, pregnant, and standing on the cusp of her life as a wife and mother, recognizing with some terror the gap between reality and expectation. Delia Naughton—wife of the two-term liberal senator Tom Naughton—is Meri’s new neighbor in the adjacent New England town house. Delia’s husband’s chronic infidelity has been an open secret in Washington circles, but despite the complexity of their relationship, the bond between them remains strong. What keeps people together, even in the midst of profound betrayal? How can a journey imperiled by, and sometimes indistinguishable from, compromise and disappointment culminate in healing and grace? Delia and Meri find themselves leading strangely parallel lives, both reckoning with the contours and mysteries of marriage, one refined and abraded by years of complicated intimacy, the other barely begun.Here are all the things for which Sue Miller has always been beloved—the complexity of experience precisely rendered, the richness of character and emotion, the superb economy of style—fused with an utterly engrossing story that has a great deal to say to women, and men, of all ages.

Books : The Food You Crave: Luscious Recipes for a Healthy Life

2008-01-30T23:58:00.001-08:00

ReviewYou’d think a book titled The Food You Crave (Taunton, $28) would be all about meat loaf, mashed potatoes and chocolate cake. Think again. According to author Ellie Krieger, the foods we really crave are fresh, healthy, nutritious. The beauty of this cookbook is that she’s found a way to turn all those old-time comfort foods into healthy, nutritious meals — providing all the flavor and satisfaction without all the fat and guilt. Krieger does it by using loads of fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy fats such as olive oil, whole-wheat flours, nonfat yogurts and the like. And the results are delicious. --The Kansas City Star

If you’ve planned to change the way you eat for 2008, a new book, “The Food You Crave: Luscious Recipes for a Healthy Life” (Taunton Press, $28) by Ellie Krieger is a must for your cookbook collection. Ms. Krieger’s name may be familiar to devotees of TV Food Network’s “Healthy Appetite” show. She’s a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition from Columbia University. Her accomplishments aside, she’s one good cook as evidenced by the numerous recipes in her new book that sent my taste buds tingling. All recipes include nutritional information along with tips that will help make each recipe a success in your kitchen. Color photography of many of the dishes made me want to jump from my desk and into my kitchen. This book is a keeper when I’m looking for ways to please the family while keeping to my plan of improving the way I eat. --Anne Patterson Braly, Chattanooga Times Free Press (TN)

For those who pledged to start the new year eating more healthful food but don’t want to forfeit flavor, has Ellie Krieger got the book for you. The host of the Food Network’s Healthy Appetite, she has written The Food You Crave (Taunton Press, $28) and that title shows she understands. She knows that turkey burgers aren’t for everyone and a good chicken or pasta recipe is worth its weight in gold. But she has managed to use ingredients we love — pasta, sugar and even a tiny bit of red meat — strategically so you get the flavor but the overall recipe is still on the healthy side. Krieger’s book, subtitled Luscious Recipes for a Healthy Life offers 200 recipes and I could print anyone on these pages without a second thought. They look good in the color photographs, have ingredient lists that sound great and calorie and fat counts that are entirely reasonable for those watching what they eat. From soups to sides to desserts, she offers a variety of dishes with an endless array of wonderful ingredients. It’s a fine place to start as having healthful food at your fingertips is important when life gets hectic. --The Providence Journal (RI)

Book DescriptionDo you think that healthy food couldn't possibly taste good? Does the idea of "eating healthy" conjure up images of roughage and steamed vegetables? Author Ellie Krieger, host of Food Network's Healthy Appetite, will change all that. A registered dietitian, Ellie is also a lover and proponent of good, fresh food, simply but deliciously prepared. And she's not about denial--no nonfat foods here, because when you take the fat out of natural foods, in go the chemicals. Don't deny yourself butter--use a pat of it, but put it front and center on those mashed potatoes, so you can revel in it with all your senses. The Food You Crave is all you'll need to change the way you eat and change the way you feel. It contains 200 recipes that cover every meal of the day and every craving you might have. Every recipe contains a complete nutritional breakdown, as well as tips on ingredients and techniques that will keep you eating smart and eating well.

Books : The Glass Castle: A Memoir

2008-01-30T23:57:00.001-08:00

Jeannette Walls's father always called her "Mountain Goat" and there's perhaps no more apt nickname for a girl who navigated a sheer and towering cliff of childhood both daily and stoically. In The Glass Castle, Walls chronicles her upbringing at the hands of eccentric, nomadic parents--Rose Mary, her frustrated-artist mother, and Rex, her brilliant, alcoholic father. To call the elder Walls's childrearing style laissez faire would be putting it mildly. As Rose Mary and Rex, motivated by whims and paranoia, uprooted their kids time and again, the youngsters (Walls, her brother and two sisters) were left largely to their own devices. But while Rex and Rose Mary firmly believed children learned best from their own mistakes, they themselves never seemed to do so, repeating the same disastrous patterns that eventually landed them on the streets. Walls describes in fascinating detail what it was to be a child in this family, from the embarrassing (wearing shoes held together with safety pins; using markers to color her skin in an effort to camouflage holes in her pants) to the horrific (being told, after a creepy uncle pleasured himself in close proximity, that sexual assault is a crime of perception; and being pimped by her father at a bar). Though Walls has well earned the right to complain, at no point does she play the victim. In fact, Walls' removed, nonjudgmental stance is initially startling, since many of the circumstances she describes could be categorized as abusive (and unquestioningly neglectful). But on the contrary, Walls respects her parents' knack for making hardships feel like adventures, and her love for them--despite their overwhelming self-absorption--resonates from cover to cover. --Brangien Davis --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Starred Review. Freelance writer Walls doesn't pull her punches. She opens her memoir by describing looking out the window of her taxi, wondering if she's "overdressed for the evening" and spotting her mother on the sidewalk, "rooting through a Dumpster." Walls's parents—just two of the unforgettable characters in this excellent, unusual book—were a matched pair of eccentrics, and raising four children didn't conventionalize either of them. Her father was a self-taught man, a would-be inventor who could stay longer at a poker table than at most jobs and had "a little bit of a drinking situation," as her mother put it. With a fantastic storytelling knack, Walls describes her artist mom's great gift for rationalizing. Apartment walls so thin they heard all their neighbors? What a bonus—they'd "pick up a little Spanish without even studying." Why feed their pets? They'd be helping them "by not allowing them to become dependent." While Walls's father's version of Christmas presents—walking each child into the Arizona desert at night and letting each one claim a star—was delightful, he wasn't so dear when he stole the kids' hard-earned savings to go on a bender. The Walls children learned to support themselves, eating out of trashcans at school or painting their skin so the holes in their pants didn't show. Buck-toothed Jeannette even tried making her own braces when she heard what orthodontia cost. One by one, each child escaped to New York City. Still, it wasn't long before their parents appeared on their doorsteps. "Why not?" Mom said. "Being homeless is an adventure."

Books : Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao

2008-01-30T23:56:00.000-08:00

Five hundred years before the birth of Jesus, a God-realized being named Lao-tzu in ancient China dictated 81 verses, which are regarded by many as the ultimate commentary on the nature of our existence. The classic text of these 81 verses, called the Tao Te Ching or the Great Way, offers advice and guidance that is balanced, moral, spiritual, and always concerned with working for the good.In this book, Dr. Wayne W. Dyer has reviewed hundreds of translations of the Tao Te Ching and has written 81 distinct essays on how to apply the ancient wisdom of Lao-tzu to today’s modern world. This work contains the entire 81 verses of the Tao, compiled from Wayne’s researching of 12 of the most well-respected translations of text that have survived for more than 25 centuries. Each chapter is designed for actually living the Tao or the Great Way today. Some of the chapter titles are “Living with Flexibility,” “Living Without Enemies,” and “Living by Letting Go.” Each of the 81 brief chapters focuses on living the Tao and concludes with a section called “Doing the Tao Now.” Wayne spent one entire year reading, researching, and meditating on Lao-tzu’s messages, practicing them each day and ultimately writing down these essays as he felt Lao-tzu wanted you to know them. This is a work to be read slowly, one essay a day. As Wayne says, “This is a book that will forever change the way you look at your life, and the result will be that you’ll live in a new world aligned with nature. Writing this book changed me forever, too. I now live in accord with the natural world and feel the greatest sense of peace I’ve ever experienced. I’m so proud to present this interpretation of the Tao Te Ching, and offer the same opportunity for change that it has brought me.”

Dr. Wayne W. Dyer is an internationally renowned author and speaker in the field of self-development. He has written numerous bestselling books and has created a number of audios and videos. He has appeared on thousands of television and radio programs, including The Today Show and Oprah.

Books : 7th Heaven (Women's Murder Club)

2008-01-30T23:55:00.000-08:00

A terrible fire in a wealthy suburban home leaves a married couple deadand Detective Lindsay Boxer and her partner Rich Conklin searching forclues. And after California's golden boy, Michael Campion has beenmissing for a month, there finally seems to be a lead in his case--avery devastating lead.Asfire after fire consume couples in wealthy, comfortable homes, Lindsayand the Murder Club must race to find the arsonists responsible and getto the bottom of Michael Campion's disappearance. But suddenly thefires are raging too close to home.Frightened for her life andtorn between two men, Lindsay must find a way to solve the mostdaunting dilemmas she's ever faced--at work and at home.

James Patterson's most recent major bestseller is Judge and Jury. He is one of the world's most popular and successful authors and lives in Florida and New York.

& magazines : Rolling Stone

2008-01-29T00:32:00.000-08:00

Founder and publisher Jann S. Wenner's brainchild remains the standard by which rock & roll magazines are measured, though even its most fervent boosters would concede there've been some growing pains for RS as it's strived to remain relevant through the decades. The erstwhile baby-boomer bible mixes fleshy covers of today's alluring celebs with coverage of graying rockers from the magazine's heyday. In addition to celebrity interviews, stalwart features such as CD reviews and Random Notes (the mag's long-running gossip section) provide familiar reading for older readers, as does the publication's superior political and cultural coverage. But the bulk of Rolling Stone's features are aimed at the younger pop-culture set. --Steven Stolder

This magazine is edited for young adults who have a special interest in popular culture. Its regular features include state-of-the-art audio and electronics columns, record reviews, reader correspondence, interviews and photojournalism features.

& magazines : domino

2008-01-29T00:31:00.001-08:00

Domino magazine is the guide to living with style for young, busy, fashion-conscious women. With a focus on home decorating, domino acts as design consultant, personal shopper and friend, offering inspiration, information and innovative ideas. Perfect for both renters and home-owners, each issue is packed with tips, shopping information and easy DIY tricks to help readers create the home and lifestyle of their dreams, on any budget.

& magazines : instyle

2008-01-29T00:30:00.001-08:00

Create a personal style that's uniquely yours with inspiring ideas from In Style. Discover the best of fashion in every price range and expert beauty advice you can use to create your signature look. Enjoy tips for entertaining with style and intimate looks at your favorite celebrities - their homes, wardrobe, and personal beauty secrets.

& magazines : Glamour

2008-01-29T00:29:00.000-08:00

Glamour is the twentysomething woman's "Miss Manners" and charm-school bible, bursting at the seams with intimations, propositions, and warnings: how to dress for a dinner party, how to turn him on in five minutes, how to avoid the dreaded "fashion don't." Glamour's mission is to help the young woman trapped between Seventeen and Vogue find her way to becoming a happier, healthier, sexier gal. Unabashedly girly, including all the things we've come to expect from beauty and fashion mags--celebrity style gossip, hot trends in hair and makeup, quizzes, and quick fixes for everything from broken nails to fractured friendships--Glamour is girl talk, pure and simple. --Daphne Durham

Glamour gives you the best hair and beauty tips that work for your face, our popular fashion workbook geared for your shape and your budget, the real scoop on all your relationship and sex questions, plus monthly horoscopes and important health and diet news. And your favorite Dos and hilarious Don'ts

& magazines : Cosmopolitan

2008-01-29T00:27:00.000-08:00

Cosmopolitan is the lifestylist and cheerleader for millions of fun, fearless females. Cosmo inspires with information on relationships and romance, fashion and beauty, women’s health and well-being, as well as pop culture and entertainment.

& magazines : Nintendo Power

2008-01-29T00:25:00.000-08:00

Nintendo Power is the official source for Nintendo fans of all ages, and the only magazine dedicated to the red-hot Wii™ and Nintendo DS™ game systems. Each month we deliver big-time gaming content like inside info, breaking news, the hottest game previews, and honest reviews.

Books : The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court

2008-01-27T17:45:00.001-08:00

It's not laws or constitutional theory that rule the High Court, argues this absorbing group profile, but quirky men and women guided by political intuition. New Yorker legal writer Toobin (The Run of His Life: The People v. O.J. Simpson) surveys the Court from the Reagan administration onward, as the justices wrestled with abortion, affirmative action, the death penalty, gay rights and church-state separation. Despite a Court dominated by Republican appointees, Toobin paints not a conservative revolution but a period of intractable moderation. The real power, he argues, belonged to supreme swing-voter Sandra Day O'Connor, who decided important cases with what Toobin sees as an almost primal attunement to a middle-of-the-road public consensus. By contrast, he contends, conservative justices Rehnquist and Scalia ended up bitter old men, their rigorous constitutional doctrines made irrelevant by the moderates' compromises. The author deftly distills the issues and enlivens his narrative of the Court's internal wranglings with sharp thumbnail sketches (Anthony Kennedy the vain bloviator, David Souter the Thoreauvian ascetic) and editorials (inept and unsavory is his verdict on the Court's intervention in the 2000 election). His savvy account puts the supposedly cloistered Court right in the thick of American life. (A final chapter and epilogue on the 2006–2007 term, with new justices Roberts and Alito, was unavailable to PW.) (Sept. 18) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Books : Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't

2008-01-27T17:44:00.001-08:00

Five years ago, Jim Collins asked the question, "Can a good company become a great company and if so, how?" In Good to Great Collins, the author of Built to Last, concludes that it is possible, but finds there are no silver bullets. Collins and his team of researchers began their quest by sorting through a list of 1,435 companies, looking for those that made substantial improvements in their performance over time. They finally settled on 11--including Fannie Mae, Gillette, Walgreens, and Wells Fargo--and discovered common traits that challenged many of the conventional notions of corporate success. Making the transition from good to great doesn't require a high-profile CEO, the latest technology, innovative change management, or even a fine-tuned business strategy. At the heart of those rare and truly great companies was a corporate culture that rigorously found and promoted disciplined people to think and act in a disciplined manner. Peppered with dozens of stories and examples from the great and not so great, the book offers a well-reasoned road map to excellence that any organization would do well to consider. Like Built to Last, Good to Great is one of those books that managers and CEOs will be reading and rereading for years to come. --Harry C. Edwards

In what Collins terms a prequel to the bestseller Built to Last he wrote with Jerry Porras, this worthwhile effort explores the way good organizations can be turned into ones that produce great, sustained results. To find the keys to greatness, Collins's 21-person research team (at his management research firm) read and coded 6,000 articles, generated more than 2,000 pages of interview transcripts and created 384 megabytes of computer data in a five-year project. That Collins is able to distill the findings into a cogent, well-argued and instructive guide is a testament to his writing skills. After establishing a definition of a good-to-great transition that involves a 10-year fallow period followed by 15 years of increased profits, Collins's crew combed through every company that has made the Fortune 500 (approximately 1,400) and found 11 that met their criteria, including Walgreens, Kimberly Clark and Circuit City. At the heart of the findings about these companies' stellar successes is what Collins calls the Hedgehog Concept, a product or service that leads a company to outshine all worldwide competitors, that drives a company's economic engine and that a company is passionate about. While the companies that achieved greatness were all in different industries, each engaged in versions of Collins's strategies. While some of the overall findings are counterintuitive (e.g., the most effective leaders are humble and strong-willed rather than outgoing), many of Collins's perspectives on running a business are amazingly simple and commonsense. This is not to suggest, however, that executives at all levels wouldn't benefit from reading this book; after all, only 11 companies managed to figure out how to change their B grade to an A on their own.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Books : Deceptively Delicious

2008-01-27T17:43:00.000-08:00

It has become common knowledge that childhood obesity rates are increasing every year. But the rates continue to rise. And between busy work schedules and the inconvenient truth that kids simply refuse to eat vegetables and other healthy foods, how can average parents ensure their kids are getting the proper nutrition and avoiding bad eating habits?

As a mother of three, Jessica Seinfeld can speak for all parents who struggle to feed their kids right and deal nightly with dinnertime fiascos. As she wages a personal war against sugars, packaged foods, and other nutritional saboteurs, she offers appetizing alternatives for parents who find themselves succumbing to the fastest and easiest (and least healthy) choices available to them. Her modus operandi? Her book is filled with traditional recipes that kids love, except they're stealthily packed with veggies hidden in them so kids don't even know! With the help of a nutritionist and a professional chef, Seinfeld has developed a month's worth of meals for kids of all ages that includes, for example, pureed cauliflower in mac and cheese, and kale in spaghetti and meatballs. She also provides revealing and humorous personal anecdotes, tear–out shopping guides to help parents zoom through the supermarket, and tips on how to deal with the kid that "must have" the latest sugar bomb cereal.

But this book also contains much more than recipes and tips. By solving problems on a practical level for parents, Seinfeld addresses the big picture issues that surround childhood obesity and its long–term (and ruinous) effects on the body. With the help of a prominent nutritionist, her book provides parents with an arsenal of information related to kids' nutrition so parents understand why it's important to throw in a little avocado puree into their quesadillas. She discusses the critical importance of portion size, and the specific elements kids simply must have (as opposed to adults) in order to flourish now and in the future: protein, calcium, vitamins, and Omega 3 and 6 fats.

Jessica Seinfeld's book is practical, easy–to–read, and a godsend for any parent that wants their kids to be healthy for a long time to come.

Books : Ready, Fire, Aim: Zero to $100 Million in No Time Flat

2008-01-27T17:42:00.000-08:00

This audiobook was created to help people get their businesses launched quickly and profitably while avoiding the pitfalls that make starting a new venture risky.It walks listeners through a focused strategy designed to get their business ventures started and moving toward profitability as quickly as possible. Ready, Fire, Aim begins with the most important moves that an entrepreneur. Topics include: getting started, generating revenue, improving the product, marketing, running a business meeting; hiring and motivating the appropriate employees and networking.

Michael Masterson has been making money for himself or others for almost four decades-since age 14. In that time, he's only taken two breaks-a stint with the Peace Corps where he learned the joy of teaching - and at 39, when he sold his $135 million business and retired. Over the course of his remarkably successful business career, Michael's been a partner in two businesses that grew beyond $100 million, two more that exceeded $50 million and at least a dozen that surpassed the $10 million mark. At one time or another, he's owned and run companies that were public/private, onshore/overseas, local/international, service/product oriented, retail/wholesale/direct mail, and even profit/not-for-profit. He has developed a loyal following with his writings on EarlyToRise.com which has over 181,000 readers.

Books : The Invention of Hugo Cabret

2008-01-27T17:41:00.000-08:00

Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery.

Books : The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich

2008-01-27T17:40:00.000-08:00

What do you do? Tim Ferriss has trouble answering the question. Depending on when you ask this controversial Princeton University guest lecturer, he might answer:“I race motorcycles in Europe.”“I ski in the Andes.”“I scuba dive in Panama.” “I dance tango in Buenos Aires.”He has spent more than five years learning the secrets of the New Rich, a fast-growing subculture who has abandoned the “deferred-life plan” and instead mastered the new currencies—time and mobility—to create luxury lifestyles in the here and now.Whether you are an overworked employee or an entrepreneur trapped in your own business, this book is the compass for a new and revolutionary world. Join Tim Ferriss as he teaches you:• How to outsource your life to overseas virtual assistants for $5 per hour and do whatever you want • How blue-chip escape artists travel the world without quitting their jobs • How to eliminate 50% of your work in 48 hours using the principles of a forgotten Italian economist• How to trade a long-haul career for short work bursts and freuent "mini-retirements"• What the crucial difference is between absolute and relative income• How to train your boss to value performance over presence, or kill your job (or company) if it’s beyond repair• What automated cash-flow “muses” are and how to create one in 2 to 4 weeks• How to cultivate selective ignorance—and create time—with a low-information diet• What the management secrets of Remote Control CEOs are • How to get free housing worldwide and airfare at 50–80% off • How to fill the void and create a meaningful life after removing work and the officeYou can have it all—really.

Books : Skinny Bitch

2008-01-27T17:39:00.000-08:00

"The authors are brazen...They're not trying to win popularity contests...they just want healthy people."

"Ready to jump-start 2006 with an electric prod to the system? ...They tell it like it is, and without delicacy."

Customer Review
No-nonsense, no-holds barred advice, February 5, 2006
By
VeggieTart (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Skinny Bitch (Paperback) I fully believe that some people have a genetic predisposition to be somewhat overweight, but that doesn't give us the right to eat all sorts of crap. So if you read this and follow their advice, you may not become a skinny bitch, but a skinnier bitch. Clothes I bought before I went vegan in 2002 are now loose around my waist, although nobody will call me skinny.

I have read many books since going vegetarian, then vegan, so I know much of the stuff in this book about the hormones and antibiotics and carcinogens in meat, dairy, and eggs, not to mention the treatment of the animals. I am all too aware that the government just doesn't give a sh*t about your health (in the words of the authors), and that the inmates are running the asylum when it comes to the USDA. I have read many of the books they recommend and use as sources. But I have never read a book that talks to you like an old friend to whom you can say almost anything and who can say just about anything to you.

Yes, they can be vulgar, and if you're offended by certain words, you maybe should find an alternative book. But this book will kick you in the butt about what you eat and the brainwashing of the meat industry, the dairy industry, the egg industry. There are a couple of things I don't like about the book. I tend to ignore suggested menus in books because I'm not the type to plan a week in advance what I will eat. I also don't like that they suggest eating fruit alone, but they don't harp on this point. And I do wish they had harshed more on the idiocy of diet plans, especially those that prepackage your (no doubt overprocessed) food for you.

If you still want your treats, they have a chapter of alternative brands of cereals, cookies, crackers, and chocolate that have fewer chemicals than mainstream brands. They also advise eating in controlled portions. To which I say, Duh. But in this supersized era, apparently, a lot of people have forgotten that. I can tell you some of the stuff they recommend is in my pantry or on my regular shopping list, and, yes, the products are more expensive than what's in your local mainstream store, but then chemicals and crap are cheap.

Be ready to have your notion of a diet book turned on its head and get ready for a sharp kick in the tail if you read this book. But you won't regret it.

Books : The Road (Oprah's Book Club)

2008-01-27T17:37:00.000-08:00

Best known for his Border Trilogy, hailed in the San Francisco Chronicle as "an American classic to stand with the finest literary achievements of the century," Cormac McCarthy has written ten rich and often brutal novels, including the bestselling No Country for Old Men, and The Road. Profoundly dark, told in spare, searing prose, The Road is a post-apocalyptic masterpiece, one of the best books we've read this year, but in case you need a second (and expert) opinion, we asked Dennis Lehane, author of equally rich, occasionally bleak and brutal novels, to read it and give us his take. Read his glowing review below. --Daphne Durham

McCarthy's latest novel, a frightening apocalyptic vision, is narrated by a nameless man, one of the few survivors of an unspecified civilization-ending catastrophe. He and his young son are trekking along a treacherous highway, starving and freezing, trying to avoid roving cannibal armies. The tale, and their lives, are saved from teetering over the edge of bleakness thanks to the man's fierce belief that they are "the good guys" who are preserving the light of humanity. In this stark, effective production, Stechschulte gives the father an appropriately harsh, weary voice that sways little from its numbed register except to urge on the weakening boy or soothe his fears after an encounter with barbarians. When they uncover some vestige of the former world, the man recalls its vanished wonder with an aching nostalgia that makes the listener's heart swell. Stechschulte portrays the son with a mournful, slightly breathy tone that emphasizes the child's whininess, making him much less sympathetic than his resourceful father. With no music or effects interrupting Stechschulte's carefully measured pace and gruff, straightforward delivery, McCarthy's darkly poetic prose comes alive in a way that will transfix listeners.

Comics : Buffy The Vampire Slayer #11 Comic Book (2008)

2008-01-25T20:43:00.001-08:00

An ill-prepared Buffy comes face to face with the new Big Bad in the form of an old- fahioned death match in this standalone issue titled A Beautiful Sunset. Buffy Season Eight continues to entertain longtime Buffy fans and newcomers alike with Joss Whedon at the helm and Georges Jeanty serving as series artist. "It already looks like . . . the start of the three-hundred-million-dollar Buffy movie you crave in your heart."-Ain't it Cool News A standalone issue written by Joss Whedon!

Comics : Simplified Anatomy for the Comic Book Artist: How to Draw the New Streamlined Look of Action-Adventure Comics!

2008-01-25T20:42:00.000-08:00

Maybe you’ve noticed. Today’s superheroes and action heroes aren’t as brawny and muscular as they used to be. In fact, almost all the characters in comic books and on TV have a fresh, new look--simplified, streamlined, edgier, with a hint of anime/cartoon design, and appealing to kids and adults alike. Now Christopher Hart, the superhero of how-to-draw books, has come to the rescue of artists everywhere with Simplified Anatomy for the Comic Book Artist. Anatomy has always been a difficult subject, but for this book Hart uses his straightforward approach to show a simpler way. In clear step-by-step illustrations and text, he shows: how to draw streamlined figures in poses; body types and muscles; the mechanics of facial expression; how to know which muscles to eliminate in a simplified drawing; grouping muscles; muscle contours versus bone contours; muscles in classic comic-book poses like flying and punching; and more. Now artist can stop struggling with the fine points of anatomy and start creating modern looking heroes and heroines with help from Simplified Anatomy for the Comic Book Artist.

Christopher Hart is the world’s best selling author of drawing and cartooning books. His titles have sold more than 2.5 million copies worldwide and have been translated into seventeen languages. He lives in Connecticut.

Comics : How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way

2008-01-25T20:41:00.000-08:00

Stan Lee, the Mighty Man from Marvel, and John Buscema, active and adventuresome artist behind the Silver Surfer, Conan the Barbarian, the Mighty Thor and Spider-Man, have collaborated on this comics compendium: an encyclopedia of information for creating your own superhero comic strips. Using artwork from Marvel comics as primary examples, Buscema graphically illustrates the hitherto mysterious methods of comic art. Stan Lee's pithy prose gives able assistance and advice to the apprentice artist. Bursting with Buscema's magnificent illustrations and Lee's laudable word-magic, How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way belongs in the library of every kid who has ever wanted to illustrate his or her own comic strip.

Comics : Perspective! For Comic Book Artists: How to Achieve a Professional Look in Your Artwork

2008-01-25T20:40:00.000-08:00

Customer Review

And the best part? It's written in comic book form!, July 6, 2006
By
Christopher Griffen "Commitment to mediocrity!" (Pleasanton, CA United States) - See all my reviews David Chelsea has produced an informative and entertaining resource in this book. He's cleverly managed to sum up perspective lessons from numerous sources into one compendium for comic book artists, fans of the genre interested in learning how it's done, or even the casual artist.

After the opening chapters dealing with depth cues, the picture plane, the horizon and vanishing point, and the use of cubes in illustration, he divides the book up into several tutorials covering one-point perspective, two-point perspective, three-point perspective, the use of circles and ellipses in perspective and the human figure in perspective.

You can easily sit down with a sketch pad (I would also recommend some graph paper) and go through his lessons one by one to get a more hands-on approach (I intend to do this soon!). The three-point perspective lesson is very complex but worth the effort, especially for the burgeoning comic book artist. Three-point perspective, as Chelsea points out, allows the artist to render some pretty dynamic scenes.

When I first saw that the majority of the book was written in comic book form, I wasn't quite sure what to make of it. However, once I got into it, I found it to be very entertaining. I was learning the process of perspective illustration while enjoying the medium I love: sequential art!

I highly recommend Chelsea's book. Even if you never sit down and attempt to use his methods, it will help you get your head around the whole topic. He also provides several short cuts for those who want to achieve those dynamic perspective effects without doing all the tedious legwork.

Comics : The Comic Toolbox: How to Be Funny Even If You're Not

2008-01-25T20:38:00.000-08:00

Customer Review

A helpful - and ENJOYABLE - book of fiction writing advice, June 14, 2000
By
TAMI Cowden (Henderson, NV USA) - See all my reviews No other book on writing I've read - and I've read a lot! - kept me chuckling throughout. I'd recommend this book for the laughs alone, but I can also recommend it as the fount of writing wisdom it entails.

Vorhaus not only explains the basic types of humor and the elements of a comic plot, but also lays out an excellent plotting structure useful for any type of fiction writing. Whether you merely want to add a few touches of humor to an angsty story, or you want to write the next comic blockbuster, this book will help you on your way.

P.S. Chapter 9 alone is worth the price of the book

Books : Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Fifth Edition

2008-01-25T20:29:00.002-08:00

...offers updated information on reporting statistics, writing withour bias, preparing manuscripts with a word processor for electronic production, and publishing research in accordance with ethical principles. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Style manual for writers, editors, students, educators, and professionals across all fields. Provides clear guidance on grammar, the mechanics of writing, and APA style. Includes examples, new guidelines and advice, and more. Previous edition: c1994. Softcover, wire-spiral edition is also available. Hardcover edition due later.

Books : World Without End

2008-01-25T20:29:00.001-08:00

In 1989 Ken Follett astonished the literary world with The Pillars of the Earth, a sweeping epic novel set in twelfth-century England centered on the building of a cathedral and many of the hundreds of lives it affected. Critics were overwhelmed--"it will hold you, fascinate you, surround you" (Chicago Tribune)--and readers everywhere hoped for a sequel.

World Without End takes place in the same town of Kingsbridge, two centuries after the townspeople finished building the exquisite Gothic cathedral that was at the heart of The Pillars of the Earth. The cathedral and the priory are again at the center of a web of love and hate, greed and pride, ambition and revenge, but this sequel stands on its own. This time the men and women of an extraordinary cast of characters find themselves at a crossroad of new ideas--about medicine, commerce, architecture, and justice. In a world where proponents of the old ways fiercely battle those with progressive minds, the intrigue and tension quickly reach a boiling point against the devastating backdrop of the greatest natural disaster ever to strike the human race--the Black Death.

Three years in the writing, and nearly eighteen years since its predecessor, World Without End breathes new life into the epic historical novel and once again shows that Ken Follett is a masterful author writing at the top of his craft.

Books : People of the Book: A Novel

2008-01-25T20:28:00.001-08:00

One of the earliest Jewish religious volumes to be illuminated with images, the Sarajevo Haggadah survived centuries of purges and wars thanks to people of all faiths who risked their lives to safeguard it. Geraldine Brooks, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of March, has turned the intriguing but sparely detailed history of this precious volume into an emotionally rich, thrilling fictionalization that retraces its turbulent journey. In the hands of Hanna Heath, an impassioned rare-book expert restoring the manuscript in 1996 Sarajevo, it yields clues to its guardians and whereabouts: an insect wing, a wine stain, salt crystals, and a white hair. While readers experience crucial moments in the book's history through a series of fascinating, fleshed-out short stories, Hanna pursues its secrets scientifically, and finds that some interests will still risk everything in the name of protecting this treasure. A complex love story, thrilling mystery, vivid history lesson, and celebration of the enduring power of ideas, People of the Book will surely be hailed as one of the best of 2008. --Mari Malcolm

In 1996, Hanna Heath, an Australian rare-book expert, is offered the job of a lifetime: analysis and conservation of the famed Sarajevo Haggadah, which has been rescued from Serb shelling during the Bosnian war. Priceless and beautiful, the book is one of the earliest Jewish volumes ever to be illuminated with images. When Hanna, a caustic loner with a passion for her work, discovers a series of tiny artifacts in its ancient binding—an insect wing fragment, wine stains, salt crystals, a white hair—she begins to unlock the book’s mysteries. The reader is ushered into an exquisitely detailed and atmospheric past, tracing the book’s journey from its salvation back to its creation.

In Bosnia during World War II, a Muslim risks his life to protect it from the Nazis. In the hedonistic salons of fin-de-siècle Vienna, the book becomes a pawn in the struggle against the city’s rising anti-Semitism. In inquisition-era Venice, a Catholic priest saves it from burning. In Barcelona in 1492, the scribe who wrote the text sees his family destroyed by the agonies of enforced exile. And in Seville in 1480, the reason for the Haggadah’s extraordinary illuminations is finally disclosed. Hanna’s investigation unexpectedly plunges her into the intrigues of fine art forgers and ultra-nationalist fanatics. Her experiences will test her belief in herself and the man she has come to love.

Inspired by a true story, People of the Book is at once a novel of sweeping historical grandeur and intimate emotional intensity, an ambitious, electrifying work by an acclaimed and beloved author.

Books : Atonement

2008-01-25T20:26:00.000-08:00

Ian McEwan's Booker Prize-nominated Atonement is his first novel since Amsterdam took home the prize in 1998. But while Amsterdam was a slim, sleek piece, Atonement is a more sturdy, more ambitious work, allowing McEwan more room to play, think, and experiment.

We meet 13-year-old Briony Tallis in the summer of 1935, as she attempts to stage a production of her new drama "The Trials of Arabella" to welcome home her older, idolized brother Leon. But she soon discovers that her cousins, the glamorous Lola and the twin boys Jackson and Pierrot, aren't up to the task, and directorial ambitions are abandoned as more interesting prospects of preoccupation come onto the scene. The charlady's son, Robbie Turner, appears to be forcing Briony's sister Cecilia to strip in the fountain and sends her obscene letters; Leon has brought home a dim chocolate magnate keen for a war to promote his new "Army Ammo" chocolate bar; and upstairs, Briony's migraine-stricken mother Emily keeps tabs on the house from her bed. Soon, secrets emerge that change the lives of everyone present....

The interwar, upper-middle-class setting of the book's long, masterfully sustained opening section might recall Virginia Woolf or Henry Green, but as we move forward--eventually to the turn of the 21st century--the novel's central concerns emerge, and McEwan's voice becomes clear, even personal. For at heart, Atonement is about the pleasures, pains, and dangers of writing, and perhaps even more, about the challenge of controlling what readers make of your writing. McEwan shouldn't have any doubts about readers of Atonement: this is a thoughtful, provocative, and at times moving book that will have readers applauding. --Alan Stewart, Amazon.co.uk --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

& Magazines : Redbook

2008-01-24T06:01:00.002-08:00

If you find the sex-and-the-single-girl style of Cosmo less relevant to your current how-do-I-juggle-kids-husband-job-sanity stage of life, then congratulations, you've graduated to Redbook. Don't worry, this isn't your mother's magazine; Redbook is loaded with steamy Cosmo-like articles (in other words, sex, sex, sex), only now they're covered under "Love and Marriage" and deal with helping you keep things together at home (including a monthly Q&A with John Gray called "Passionate Monogamy"). From here, Redbook branches out, with sections on kids and parenting, food, health and fitness, beauty, fashion, celebrity profiles, short fiction, book excerpts, and making time for yourself. --Jenny Brown

Redbook is the must-read magazine for today's young, married woman: an individual as passionate about her own needs as she is about those of her family. Each issue offers exciting, provocative features that address the all aspects of her life—everything from stylish fashion and beauty portfolios to scintillating stories on keeping her marriage fresh, to ideas on balancing home and career demands.

& Magazines : Us Weekly

2008-01-24T06:01:00.001-08:00

This magazine covers film, video, television and contemporary music. It provides in-depth editorials on top personalities, events and developments current in the world of entertainment.

& Magazines : The New Yorker

2008-01-24T06:00:00.000-08:00

Founded in 1925, The New Yorker hardly changed for its first 60 years, both in its dry, type-heavy design and in its reputation as a writer's and reader's haven. In 1987 it was on only its second editor when management decided to shake things up. A rocky decade ensued, but The New Yorker is now back at the top of its game under David Remnick's editorship. Each issue offers commentaries and reporting on politics, culture, and events, with a focus that's both national and international; humor and cartoons; fiction and poetry; and reviews of books, movies, theater, music, art, and fashion. Several times a year special issues focus on a theme--music, fashion, business. The writing is mostly first-rate, frequently coming from top literary and journalistic talents. The New Yorker's weekly issues can seem overwhelming--so much good stuff to read, piling up so fast!--but it's as easy to dip in for a small snack as it is to wade in for a substantial meal. --Nicholas H. Allison

Week after week, The New Yorker keeps its reader current. Subscribe now and don't miss the New Yorker's famous fiction and poetry, book and film review, its incisive looks at politics, people and the way we live, and of course, those CARTOONS. In-depth reporting, surprising opinions, sharp wit, the best in prose, poetry, and the visual arts can all be yours for just $1 an issue!

& Magazines : Popular Mechanics

2008-01-24T05:59:00.000-08:00

With plenty of features on the latest high-tech cars, tools, sports gear, and military developments, Popular Mechanics is the source for discriminating gadget heads. Full-page ads for spark plugs, extrastrong glues, and manly cigarettes fuel the magazine's testosterone engine, and many of the how-to articles are designed to help today's male achieve maximum speed, efficiency, and style in his leisure activities. In-depth articles on the history of the baseball glove, comparison tests of mulching mowers, and a list of the cables you'll need to build a home network join brief news bites covering science, outdoors, and home improvement. With a copy of Popular Mechanics and a fat wallet, you could be the alpha male you've always wanted to be! --Therese Littleton
Popular Mechanics is for people who have a passion to know how things work. It's about how the latest advances in science and technology will impact your home, your car, consumer electronics, computers, even your health. Popular Mechanics - answers for curious minds.

& Magazines : People

2008-01-24T05:58:00.002-08:00

People is the most wildly, consistently successful magazine in history (not to mention the most stolen from lunchrooms) and it's avidly read by half the population of America each year. Why? The people at People know what you want to read: the absolute latest, impossible-to-get dish on celebrity scandals (a $3-million-a-year fact-checking department keeps it real); definitive tribute issues; snappy wrap-ups on the whereabouts of yesterday's stars and the current Most Beautiful People; riveting stories of real folks caught up in the day's biggest news, health, and crime stories; and quick picks and pans on what's up in entertainment. And after years of black-and-white drabness, the mag has fully mastered the art of flashy, full-color photography. --Bob Brandeis

The editorial focus of this magazine is on the compelling personalities of today both famous and infamous, ordinary and extraordinary. It is a guide to who and what are hot in the arts, science, business, politics, television, movies, books, music and sports. Published weekly.

& Magazines : Kiplinger's Personal

2008-01-24T05:58:00.001-08:00

KIPLINGER'S PERSONAL FINANCE MAGAZINE provides affluent readers with the information they need to make smart decisions about their money. Each issue includes intelligent reporting on investments, taxes, insurance, paying for college, planning for retirement, home ownership, major purchases such as cars and computers and other personal finance topics.

& Magazines : InStyle

2008-01-24T05:57:00.002-08:00

& Magazines : GQ

2008-01-24T05:57:00.001-08:00

The "GQ look" is synonymous with classic cool and sophistication, and despite a recent outburst of trendy magazines (think Maxim and FHM) vying for the attention of young professional males, the steeped-in-tradition monthly GQ carries on without missing a beat. Yes, there's more décolletage gracing the cover than there used to be, but GQ continues to supply enough cultural commentary, celebrity profiles, features, and style guides to keep the modern man in touch with what's going on in the world from month to month.

GQ's ideal reader is probably one who actually might be able to afford any of the high-end suits, shoes, and watches featured among the countless ads packed between the covers. Though the average reader might enjoy scanning a fashion spread about steakhouses entitled "How to Dress for a Porterhouse" and reading articles like "50 Ways to Blow Your Bonus," it's unlikely that such folly holds much practical advice. Literary editor Walter Kirn keeps short fiction on display, and Alan Richman's writing on food and dining out is always entertaining, even when he comes across as borderline cranky. Two regular Q&A features, "The Style Guy" and "Dr. Sooth," run the gamut from when it's appropriate to wear a straw hat to problems in the bedroom.--Brad Thomas Parsons

GQ helps you look sharp and live smart. Each issue brings you revealing sports profiles, intimate photos of today's hottest up & coming actresses and models, tips on fine food & drink, sex, politics, fashion and grooming advice, The Style Guy's answers to your questions and so much more!

& Magazines : Cooking Light

2008-01-24T05:56:00.003-08:00

The emphasis of this magazine is on healthy eating and living. Each issue covers light cuisine and includes more than 70 recipes with photos. It also explores food and nutrition news as well as fitness, health and beauty.

& Magazines : Domino

2008-01-24T05:56:00.001-08:00

Comics : Spider-Man: Saga of the Sandman

2008-01-24T05:55:00.001-08:00

It was no day at the beach when criminal Flint Marko was mutated into one of Marveldom's most versatile villains and began a career of kicking sand in our favorite heroes' faces! Some of the best battles between Sandman, Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four and the Hulk are collected here in commemoration of his gritty film debut! Collects Amazing Spider-Man #4, #18-19; Fantastic Four #61; Incredible Hulk #138; Marvel Team-Up #1; Marvel Two-In One #86 and Untold Tales of Spider-Man #3.

Comics : Spider-Man: Birth of Venom

2008-01-24T05:54:00.000-08:00

The Beyonder's Battleworld might seem a strange place to get new threads, but it's Spider-Man who becomes unraveled when his shape-changing costume attempts to darken his life as well as his fashion sense! But ridding himself of his riotous raiment proves an even greater mistake when its alien enmity bonds with mortal madness to form our hero's most dedicated decimator! Plus: the first appearances of Puma and the Rose! Mary Jane Watson's startling secret! And the debut of the battling...Bag-Man!? Guest-starring the Black Cat, the Fantastic Four and more! Collects Secret Wars #8; Amazing Spider-Man #252-259, #298-300 & #315-317; Fantastic Four #274 and Web of Spider-Man #1

Books : Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy, and the West

2008-01-24T05:50:00.000-08:00

Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Harper (February 12, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061567582
ISBN-13: 978-0061567582
Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.1 inches

Books : Duma Key: A Novel

2008-01-24T05:49:00.001-08:00

A Note from Chuck Verrill, the Longtime Editor of Stephen KingIn the spring of 2006 Stephen King told me he was working on a Florida story that was beginning to grow on him. "I'm thinking of calling it Duma Key," he offered. I liked the sound of that--the title was like a drumbeat of dread. "You know how Lisey's Story is a story about marriage?" he said. "Sure," I answered. The novel hadn't yet been published, but I knew its story well: Lisey and Scott Landon--what a marriage that was. Then he dropped the other shoe: "I think Duma Key might be my story of divorce."

Pretty soon I received a slim package from a familiar address in Maine. Inside was a short story titled "Memory"--a story of divorce, all right, but set in Minnesota. By the end of the summer, when Tin House published "Memory," Stephen had completed a draft of Duma Key, and it became clear to me how "Memory" and its narrator, Edgar Freemantle, had moved from Minnesota to Florida, and how a story of divorce had turned into something more complex, more strange, and much more terrifying.

If you read the following two texts side by side--"Memory" as it was published by Tin House and the opening chapter of Duma Key in final form--you'll see a writer at work, and how stories can both contract and expand. Whether Duma Key is an expansion of "Memory" or "Memory" a contraction of Duma Key, I can't really say. Can you?

Customer Review

One of Stephen King's best, January 22, 2008
By
Julie Neal "The Complete Walt Disney World" (Sanibel Island, Fla.) - See all my reviews Yes, it's scary. Yes, it's long. But this new novel is more than just another Stephen King book. With a streamlined style and a plot that's never predictable, it's King at his crisp, clear, page-turning best. Before you read further, let me acknowledge I'm incredibly biased here. Not only have I been a Stephen King fan ever since 1975's 'Salem's Lot, I live on a small island off the west coast of Florida, exactly where this story takes place. Great sunsets, a beach lined with huge rental homes, a populace of "the newly wed and the living dead".... they're all part and parcel to this story, and all around me as I sit here typing on my little porch.

Beyond the colorful setting, "Duma Key" combines the concepts of bodies gone bad and creativity gone wild -- typical King material -- with the everlasting powers of friendship and love. It's a great beach read, an outstanding character study, a terrific horror story and, eventually, an uplifting tale of moral redemption.

Obviously that's plenty of raw material, but King masters it all, with a writing style that's better than ever. As always his imagery is simply stated yet memorably vivid -- waves, for example, crash on the beach with the sound of "the breath of some large sleeping creature" -- and even the most basic sentences and paragraphs have a perfect mix of energy, grace and wit. This time, however, King really takes his time, with a slow pace that allows for plenty of character development and story detail. Lead character Edgar Freemantle is a bit edgier than the standard King protagonist (he loses his arm in a freak accident, and has trouble controlling his rage) and I was especially riveted by the portrayal of the old woman Elizabeth Eastlake, a creepy lifelong islander with Alzheimer's disease. Some of the best moments occur when nothing much is happening, such as when Edgar argues with his wife or the many times he struggles with his sanity.

Eventually, of course, the plot takes off with a vengeance, and soon the pace winds so tight that by the time terror knocks at the door, you just know it's coming in. I don't know if I've ever pored through so many pages so fast. My other favorite Stephen King books are:

& magazines : Maxim

2008-01-23T05:49:00.000-08:00

Maxim is the essential guide for today's active male consumer. Every issue features fashion, sports, gadgets/gear, sex advice, music & movie reviews all in an entertaining and irreverent style where humor is a key element.

Customer Review

Used to be better, February 13, 2002
By A CustomerI've been reading Maxim since about issue #3. I used to really enjoy the magazine: their witty remarks and interviews with the monthly babes and product reviews were both entertaining and interesting. However, I'm now letting my subscription run out. Maxim has went through something like 3 editors since I've been reading and the magazine is getting progressively worse.

Maxim used to taste test microwave and fast food-type items and give them real, insightful ratings/reviews...things like pizza rolls, pizza pockets, etc. Now there's a fictional person named Hiroki, who does tests on stupid foods. So instead of "One tester said, 'Red Barron pizza had a crispy crust, but was a bit greasy,'" we're left with "Hiroki said the edible panties, 'Taste like chicken. Yum.'"

Another area where Maxim disappoints is in the number of advertisements. The magazine is now significantly thicker and stuffed with ads. In fact, I have ripped the first 10 pages or so out of my last several issues because those first 10 pages are all advertisements!

72 of 79 people found the following review helpful:
Used to be better, February 13, 2002
By A CustomerI've been reading Maxim since about issue #3. I used to really enjoy the magazine: their witty remarks and interviews with the monthly babes and product reviews were both entertaining and interesting. However, I'm now letting my subscription run out. Maxim has went through something like 3 editors since I've been reading and the magazine is getting progressively worse.
Maxim used to taste test microwave and fast food-type items and give them real, insightful ratings/reviews...things like pizza rolls, pizza pockets, etc. Now there's a fictional person named Hiroki, who does tests on stupid foods. So instead of "One tester said, 'Red Barron pizza had a crispy crust, but was a bit greasy,'" we're left with "Hiroki said the edible panties, 'Taste like chicken. Yum.'"
Another area where Maxim disappoints is in the number of advertisements. The magazine is now significantly thicker and stuffed with ads. In fact, I have ripped the first 10 pages or so out of my last several issues because those first 10 pages are all advertisements!
Maxim also puts a lot of emphasis on their women, who have decreased in quality (read: not as good looking). They do some heavy duty tweaking on the computer too; all of the models look like their skin is made of polished copper.

Maxim has called me no less than 4 times to get me to renew my subscription...I HATE telemarketers! The last time they called I finally asked to be removed from their calling list. They have been sending me "this is your last chance to renew letters" for about 4 months. Great, more junk mail.

Don't get me wrong, Maxim isn't a terrible magazine, but I don't think it's worth subscribing to anymore. You might want to stick to buying it on an issue-by-issue basis, or get the old issues from your friend. Save your subscription money for something else.

& magazines : Popular Science

2008-01-23T05:47:00.001-08:00

The "What's New" magazine of science and technology. Covering the latest developments in cars, electronics, communications, tools, energy, aviation, science, space exploration and much more.

Customer Review
Great content, but unsuitable advertising for your children, September 10, 2003
By
J. Mason
I have read PopSci for decades, and so quickly started a subscription for my son at age 10 when he showed interest. The articles are very good, but the advertisments are riddled with sexual peformace boosting products of all sorts.

I think that PopSci has a responsibility to consider that it is read by and marketed to children as well as adults, and should take a closer look at its sponsors. I couldn't let him bring it to school without ripping out pages first. I haven't noticed this problem with other periodicals of the same standing. By the way, when I contacted PopSci about my concerns about this, I received no response. Do advertisers come before the reading public?

Comics : The Comic Mind: Comedy and the Movies

2008-01-23T05:46:00.000-08:00

Although books on the comedies of the silent era abound, few have attempted to survey film comedy as a whole—its history and evolution, how the philosophical visions of its greatest artists and directors have shaped its traditions, and how these visions have informed both the meaning and manner of their work.Blending information with interpretation, description with analysis, Mast traces the development of screen comedy from the first crude efforts of Edison and Lumière to the subtlety and psychological complexity of Annie Hall. As he guides the reader through detailed discussions of specific films, Mast reveals the structures, the values, and the cinematic techniques which have appeared and reappeared in comic cinema.The second edition of The Comic Mind treats the comic developments of the 1970s in terms of the traditions of film comedy set forth in the first edition, including a discussion of the evolution of Jacques Tati and the emergence of Mel Brooks and Woody Allen as the two greatest American comic stylists of the seventies."The most comprehensive study of film comedy yet written in English. . . .The book's extensive index with references to companies from which 16mm prints of many of the cited films may be rented will be of great value to the film teacher and audiovisual librarian."—Choice

Comics : Stephen King's Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born - The Complete Comic Collection (Issues 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, & 7 Set)

2008-01-23T05:43:00.001-08:00

The complete set of all seven issues of DARK TOWER from Marvel Comics. May include DARK TOWER GUIDEBOOK (consult 'seller notes')!

Customer rEview

Ka is the wind, October 8, 2007
By
E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews "The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed."

Those words opened the first book of Stephen King's "Dark Tower" series, and they open the chilling, richly-drawn "Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born." This intense comic series reintroduces readers to a younger, less cynical Roland, and the harrowing tale of how he became a true gunslinger.

It opens with the gunslinger and the man in black, endlessly pursuing and pursued across the desert, and introduces us to their timeless natures.

Then the comic takes us back many years, to when Roland of Gilead was a teenage boy. He and a bunch of other boys are being tutored by Cort, a bondsman who knows all the fighting tricks, and is supposed to teach them to be gunslingers -- or be exiled forever. And when Roland sees his mother in bed with his father's wizard, Marten, he angrily goes off to take Cort's final challenge.

But when his father comes back to Gilead, he reveals that Roland has been manipulated by Marten. To save Roland's life, he is sent to Hambry on an undercover mission for the Affiliation. There he meets Susan Delgado, a beautiful girl who's been bought as the mayor's gilly. As you can guess, they fall deeply in love.

But Roland is still unaware of the dangers that surround him, or a horrific conspiracy to destroy Gilead and the gunslingers -- led by the distant, demonic Crimson King. As Roland's ka-tet splinters, they are framed for the murder of the local mayor -- and the resulting battle will begin the destruction of everything Roland loves...

"Gunslinger Born" is basically adapted from the flashbacks from Stephen King's "Wizard and Glass" novel, so fans of the book will probably already be acquainted with the tragic story of Roland's past. But it's almost as striking in comic form as in book form.

Part of that comes from Jae Lee and Richard Isanove. A lot of adaptations fall flat ("Anita Blake", anyone?), but their detailed artwork gives vibrant life to the story -- sun-dried fields, ruined buildings, ominously darkened chambers, and faces that seem to be riddled with shadows. There are moments of beauty (Roland and Susan's only tryst) and others of pure ugliness like Roland's fight with Cort, or the face of the shadowed, bloody Crimson King.

But artwork alone doesn't make a comic book good. Robin Furth and Peter David recrafted King's unique prose for this -- the dialogue is spare and understated, while the narration has an ironic, regretful quality, as if Roland himself were telling the readers of his story. It's even peppered with the language of this postapocalyptic world ("... set your watch and warrant on it.")

And we get to see Roland back when he was a brash teenager, very different from the grizzled gunslinger at the start. He's strong, brave and honorable, but also very naive. And we get to see other characters from his past -- his careworn father, the malignant Marten, his first ka-tet of teen boys, and his first, tragic love Susan.

And each part of the story has an extra one at the ending, fleshing out the history of the post-apocalyptic Mid-world -- stories of Maerlyn's mirror, the origin of the gunslingers, the devastating event that changed the world, the Crimson King and his ties to Roland, the history of Rhea the witch, and the Charyou Tree ritual. A lot of it has to do with Arthur Eld, the Mid-world version of King Arther.

"The Gunslinger Born" is a haunting, dark comic book experience, nearly as intense as the original text by Stephen King. A brilliant piece of work.

Books : The Secret

2008-01-23T05:39:00.000-08:00

Supporters will hail this New Age self-help book on the law of attraction as a groundbreaking and life-changing work, finding validation in its thesis that one's positive thoughts are powerful magnets that attract wealth, health, happiness... and did we mention wealth? Detractors will be appalled by this as well as when the book argues that fleeting negative thoughts are powerful enough to create terminal illness, poverty and even widespread disasters. The audio version of this controversial book, read by Byrne and contributing authors such as John Gray and Neale Donald Walsch, is uneven at best. The cheesy, obvious sound effects will not do much to add intellectual respectability to a work that has been widely denounced as pseudoscience. Mostly, this audio is hampered by its confusing and disjointed organization—techniques that worked reasonably well in the print version and the movie, such as cutting every few seconds from one enthusiastic expert to another, make for a choppy and somewhat bewildering listening experience. The gentle cadences of Rhonda Byrne's breathy, Aussie-infused voice are certainly the best part of the audio, but her material is scarce and provides mostly connective tissue between the testimonials. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Customer Review

Great DVD...Book gets a little mean spirited., December 10, 2006
By
bunnyrabbit4

I liked the DVD much better than the book. The DVD was totally positive, but like Ms. Boyer, I found some of the books comments made my energy take a dive. Here is why:

Ms. Byrne says that those of us who suffer weather disasters have created the disaster or adversity. Like the power of certain prayers, some things happen because of energies that have been invested far longer than the span of one life. When you move into a disaster prone area you encounter "risk energy" that may have existed for hundreds of years. If Ms Byrne thinks she is stronger than this energy and can stop future storms from entering New Orleans, let me be the first to invite her to live here....Keeping one author in a swank French Quarter apartment (untouched by flood waters) has to be cheaper than the millions we are spending to rebuild the levee system. Even though I don't agree with Ms Byrne I would sooner trust her to protect the city than the government engineers who sat clueless for two weeks while my apartment slowly dissolved under 11 feet of water.

I also share Ms Boyer's dislike of Ms. Byrne's comments about turning your back on "fat" people (or anyone else). The book assumes that everyone who wants to can access good feelings at a moments notice and encourages you to shun people who don't fit your physical or emotional ideal. For many people, especially those from emotionally or financially impoverished backgrounds, feelings of abundance and self-worth can be impossible to access. A few years ago I encountered a book by the social psychologist William Swann. His studies on the affect that self-esteem has on what you attract into your life make very interesting reading that is closely related to the topics discussed here. While forgetting the past is not that hard, creating a feeling that you didn't have while growing up is nearly impossible for most people. Yes, we do hear of rags to riches stories, but they almost always involve a pivotal personal encounter.

Perhaps there is a reason that this information has been kept a secret for so long. Maybe that reason is that too many people would have used the knowledge to abandon the sick, dying, and less fortunate and spend their time generating new toys and bigger and bigger houses. Religion has often existed to remind people that they should be grateful for not having adversity. If you can wish it away, why bother with those who can't? This whole scenario reminds me of the creation story told by the psychic, Edgar Cayce, many decades ago. He said that man was an angel who created matter as a plaything and became encased in it because he forgot his divinity. I see no spiritual problem with having it all, but that can and should include kindness and compassion toward everyone.

Books : The Pillars of the Earth

2008-01-23T05:36:00.000-08:00

Customer Review

Best historical novel I've read in 10 years, November 3, 1999
By
Suzanne Cross "Virtual Graeco-Roman" (Santa Fe, New Mexico United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Pillars of the Earth (Mass Market Paperback) I've never been a fan of Follett, and picked this book up with some misgivings - anyone these days can try to do an "historical" novel with some quick sex, some fake archaic new-speak, and a TV-movie-miniseries concept of history. While there are some minor flaws in this book, its sweep, characterization, tensions, and love of its subject are simply riveting. I could not put the darned thing down and have lost sleep for a week compulsively page-turning. Follett, unbelievably, seems to have made little splash with this book when it first came out - more shame to the critics who missed a "Gone With the Wind" from a conventional thriller author.

His primary strength in the book is his magnificent characters. By the end, Prior Phillip, Aliena, Jack, Richard, "Witch" Ellen, William of Hamleigh, Waleran Bigod, and a host of supporting characters are as real as people you know. Their strengths and weaknesses feel as sound as earth. I've just reached the part where the Cathedral is finished, and its magnificent image, built in love, hardship, and devotion, colors the whole book like light through stained glass. And I suspect the ending will be as immensely "right" as the entire rest of the book in its proportion in spinning out complicated human lives and emotions.

Follett manages to write of an age of religious devotion without tumbling into the two pits - making fun of medieval Christian faith, or uncritically adopting it. An IMMENSELY satisfying read.
I could quibble with what I feel is some gratuitous sex, some slightly contrived plot twists, but that's like complaining about some flotsam in the river as you're going over Niagara.
DO NOT MISS THIS BOOK if you love wonderful story-spinning and history.
Well done, Mr. Follett!

& magazines : FamilyFun

2008-01-22T05:14:00.000-08:00

What does family fun mean to you? Crafts? Recipes? Party ideas? Travel tips? FamilyFun magazine dishes up these and more boredom-defying activities in over 180 splashy, colorful pages. Geared toward parents with young children, this energetic magazine promises to enrich the lives of families. Offering a "we've been there, we know" sort of comfort to parents, folksy first-person articles let parents know they're not alone. A sense of community is expanded further in the "My Great Idea" section--culled from readers' letters--that suggests kid-tested ideas for everything from summer games to rainy-day projects. Homeschoolers will find plenty to ponder as well--a winter issue, for example, describes how a snowflake takes shape, then suggests a paper snowflake-making project. Reviews of digital games, books, videos, and DVDs, written by industry experts, help parents feel up to the minute. FamilyFun is positively inspirational to parents who want to shake up the routine and keep the magic in a family

Customer Review

Don't even have kids!, November 9, 2007
By
Happy in Houston "slcr1019" (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviewsI first saw this magazine in doctors' offices and browsed through it. I loved it and I don't even have kids! I have given subscriptions as gifts to friends who do, though, and they love it. It has great - and simple - ideas for activities, recipes, advice, you name it. Give it a try, I think you'll agree.

& magazines : Real Simple

2008-01-22T05:12:00.000-08:00

Real Simple is the new magazine for the way you want to live today. You'll find actionable solutions to streamline the ways you manage your life. Systems for reducing clutter, saving time, and reducing stress. Inspiring ideas about home, food, money, clothes, health, work, family, and holidays.

Customer Review

You've got to be kidding., February 7, 2003
By
Auliya "An Avid Reader" (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviewsBeautiful photography, but empty articles, and advertising, advertising, advertising. Every item, on every page, is an advertisement. Everything. Every sentence in every article, every caption, every line in the index. There are numerous special sections devoted to product endorsements, although they're phrased as "tips." They should give this magazine away for free, considering the money they must make off the advertising. Sure, while it's somewhat "handy" to know what's depicted and discussed (usually the URL and price are provided) it makes me a little uneasy. I feel suckered. I feel uncomfortable. Euugh.

& magazines : Self

2008-01-22T05:11:00.001-08:00

Covering women's fitness, beauty, health, nutrition, and style in a breezy but authoritative tone, Self is a handbook for self-improvement. The magazine reads quickly, featuring loads of lists and short segments garnished with bright graphics and numerous product images. The exercise features are outstanding--clearly explained and illustrated moves accompany inspiring photos. Every issue contains creative routines and practical advice for staying motivated and preventing injuries. Self's signature "Flash" pages offer bite-sized bits of the very latest findings and trends for busy women. Usable features such as "Style Lab," in which wearable clothes are mixed and matched on nonmodels, and the "Eat-Right Road Map," with tips and healthful recipes, make this magazine more practical than the standard women's glossy. --Amy Horn

Customer REview

Not for 30-Somethings+ (& BAD Cust. Service), June 20, 2005
By
J. Mathy "jmathy" (Danbury, CT USA) - See all my reviews I've subscribed to Self on-and-off for about 15 years, but have recently been feeling like I've outgrown the magazine. The articles seem to focus on issues facing single women who are just starting their careers. Fine, but not for me anymore! Also, their subscription department is terrible! My most recent subscription has been plagued with missed issues, double issues and late issues -- and a customer service department that can't quite pull themselves together.

& magazines : Self

2008-01-22T05:11:00.000-08:00

Customer REview

Comics : Reading Comics: How Graphic Novels Work and What They Mean

2008-01-22T05:09:00.000-08:00

It's a sign of how grown up comics have become that a book like Douglas Wolk's Reading Comics: How Graphic Novels Work and What They Mean can ignore the bashful throat-clearing that has plagued most mainstream writing about comics and just wade into the fray without having to apologize or justify such serious attention to what was until recently considered a throwaway kids' medium. Now that grownups everywhere are talking about comics without shame, what's newly refreshing about Reading Comics is the way that Wolk balances his love (sometimes tough love) for the two often warring (or at least mutually ignorant) sides of comics--the superhero tradition and the art comics that have gained highbrow attention lately--without ignoring the differences between them. Reading Comics is an appealingly idiosyncratic tour of many of his favorite artists that doesn't hesitate to criticize some of the most revered names in the business (like Chris Ware and Will Eisner) or investigate some of its most forgotten genre byways (like the '70s series Tomb of Dracula) with serious enthusiasm. --Tom Nissley

Customer Reviews

It's about damn time!, August 13, 2007
By
Jamie S. Rich (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews This book has been a long time coming. In the big question regarding how comics can start getting talked about more seriously, the simplest answer is for people to actually just talk about them seriously. Douglas Wolk gets that started. While the first 1/3 may have an air of "well, duh" to long-time comics readers and professionals, it's still great to read how Wolk contextualizes the fundamentals, and many of his ideas may challenge you to consider why you have the conceptions about this artform that you have.

Once the author starts dissecting other people's work, however, we're off to the races. Even books I didn't rate on my own or haven't read come alive when Wolk writes about them. He proves that comics aren't as simplistic as their reputation often implies, and as with any passionate critic, his enthusiasm is infectious.

Comics : Comic Art 9

2008-01-22T05:08:00.000-08:00

Comics : Comics, Comix & Graphic Novels: A History Of Comic Art

2008-01-22T05:07:00.000-08:00

For many years, those interested in the history of the art of comics--from scholars to fans--had very few options. The available books were either filled with glaring errors or far too limited in their scope. Along comes Roger Sabin and his near-definitive history. The best thing about this book is that it begins with a strong foundation--that comics is a separate and unique artistic medium--and goes on to leave practically no stone unturned, from mainstream superheroes to underground work to Japanese manga to the new alternatives to the strong European tradition. There's even an entire chapter on comics by and aimed toward women, hopefully dispelling the myth that comics are just for boys. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Customer Review

5/5, March 31, 2002
By
Peter A. Carbonaro "Yes, THAT Peter Carbonaro." (Oceanside, NY) - See all my reviews An art form that is often dismissed as mere entertainment gets its due in this huge, entertaining and enlightening book. Comics, Comix & Graphic Novels is undoubtedly the most comprehensive study of the graphic qualities and cultural impact of comic art, tracing the history of the genre from early woodcuts to modern times. In addition to documenting the origins of established comics such as Tintin and Batman, the contributions and influence of recent artists, including Katsuhiro Otomo of Akira fame and Art Spiegelman (Maus) are also discussed in depth. In addition to the treasure trove of illustrations in the book, Sabin's text deftly balances the history of comic art as entertainment with the placement of these comics in a cultural context. However, despite his scholarly tone the book never comes across as high-handed or pretentious. Beautifully produced and consummately authoritative, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in popular culture.

Books : The Wisdom of Menopause: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing During the Change, 2nd Edition

2008-01-22T05:03:00.000-08:00

Menopause doesn't have to be a dreaded curse of aging during which we can look forward only to hot flashes and whacked-out hormonal mood swings. According to Christiane Northrup, M.D. (Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom), menopause often marks the beginning of a woman's most sexually passionate, creatively inspired, and professionally productive phase of life.

While this may sound like wishful thinking, Northrup backs up her good news with solid medical expertise. As an obstetrician and gynecologist, Northrup has specialized in using a mind-body approach to women's health for decades, which means she doesn't just write about hormones, but also examines how a woman's lifestyle, emotions, and beliefs are affected by menopause. With the right diet, attitude, and perhaps some supplements along the way, women can actually look forward to a resurgence of energy and a revolutionary opportunity for personal growth--one that rivals the hormonally driven period of adolescence in its scope and urgency, she claims. And yes, at just under 500 pages, The Wisdom of Menopause does explain how to have a positive and healthy menopause in concise detail. Northrup has indeed "written the book" on menopause.

It helps that Northrup has been through menopause herself (she vowed she wouldn't write a book on it until she was on the other side). Readers have the sense that they are gleaning advice from a knowledgeable holistic doctor as well as a sage aunt whose life was radically altered by the "change of life" (Northrup divorced at the onset of menopause). After she shares her personal story of "the change," Northrup delves into a significant discussion on how self-sacrifice catches up with women in midlife. Suddenly, hormones are directing women out of the caregiver role and into an inwardly focused assessment of life and its meaning, she explains. Resentments (not hormones) are what spur the notorious surges of anger, as women reexamine the agreements surrounding their relationships with colleagues, friends, and family members.

From here, Northrup guides readers into a thorough section on menopausal hormone changes--a discussion that is scientifically informative, yet entirely accessible. While acknowledging the need for hormone-replacement therapy and the tremendous relief it can provide (helping to alleviate insomnia, hot flashes, and depression), Northrup encourages women to avoid synthetic hormones and instead consider "bioidentical" hormones (such as estradiol, estrone, and estriol). She also devotes an entire chapter to foods and supplements that support hormonal balance. By the way, she says to skip the wild Mexican yam creams: "they certainly don't provide the documented benefits of progesterone." Be warned: some readers may find the advice in Wisdom of Menopause too alternative for their liking. For example, in her discussion on insomnia, one of Northrup's recommendations is to cover the mirror at night, following the ancient Asian design principles of feng shui. (Skeptics will find Northrup's medical assertions carefully cited and footnoted in the rear of her book.)

Northrup gives a solid and practical diet plan that supports hormonal balance while countering the weight gain that so frequently plagues menopausal women ("focus on portion size, not calories," "eat protein at every meal," and cut down on refined and high-carbohydrate foods). Readers can also expect a thorough mind-body discussion in subsequent chapters that cover breast health, bone loss, and cultivating midlife beauty, along with chapters titled "Sex and Menopause: Myths and Reality" and "Creating Pelvic Health and Power."

She concludes with a list of mail-order and online resources, such as retailers for bioidentical hormones, progesterone cream, Chinese herbs, soy products, weight-loss audiocassettes, lubricants, and Kegel weights. Northrup takes a truly comprehensive approach to all the effective treatments of menopausal symptoms so that women can make their own highly informed and wise choices. --Gail Hudson --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Not What I Expected, But Still an Excellent Book, March 25, 2002
By
Imperial Topaz (Marrakesh, Morocco) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Wisdom of Menopause: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing During the Change (Hardcover) I do understand why some people have rated this book only one star. The book gets into a lot of areas outside of mainstream medicine. However, I felt most of what she had to say was medically sound. If you are looking for a book that gives only AMA-approved advice, this is NOT the book for you.

I think this book is actually quite valuable. Who would benefit from it most are people who want BOTH AMA-approved advice, AND who want to consider things like herbal remedies, acupuncture, and other natural treatments. These discussions are particularly valuable for anyone who cannot take traditional hormone treatments for various reasons--such as if you have deep vein thrombosis (which I do). She covers alternative therapies very well, in depth, and from the perspective of a physician who has had many years experience in trying these natural therapies with patients, and with herself. So, here you can get a POSITIVE physician's viewpoint on alternative therapies. Yes, it's true she discusses her personal life, and I personally enjoyed those parts. It's also true that she sometimes gets readings from Tarot cards, but if something comes out of them, she always checks into those areas which have come up in the readings with traditional medical tests and treatments. If you're not into "nurturing your fibroid," or tarot cards, just ignore those parts of the book. Ignoring these parts was not a problem for me. The important thing is, this book is NOT trying to convert people to new-age treatments. It is seriously discussing a number of alternative therapies, from a medical standpoint, that MANY people have already been using on their own for many years--but these people can't find any doctor who will seriously discuss the merits and demerits of any of these treatments. Furthermore, she DOESN'T concentrate ONLY on these alternative therapies--she discusses all the traditional therapies very well.

Should you buy this book? If you are the type of person who is only comfortable with traditional medical advice, you will NOT like this book. Buy another one. If you are someone who is looking for a SERIOUS discussion of alternative therapies, you will think this book is wonderful. I fall primarily in the former camp, but am also open to the latter camp for consideration. I found the book very useful, and felt it was well worth the money I spent on it. The main reason being that it discussed SO MANY MORE aspects of menopause than I ever would have dreamed of thinking about!! It is not a book you can sit down and read cover-to-cover. It has to be read slowly, and digested. After reading this book and another one, I went to see my doctor with a list of pre-prepared questions, and he said I was the best-informed patient he had ever had (here in Morocco). I suggest that you DO buy this book, but you might want one or two other books which cover different aspects of the menopause transition. The other book I chose was a paperback called "The Silent Passage," and between the two books, I feel very satisfied.

Books : The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals

2008-01-22T05:02:00.001-08:00

[Signature]Reviewed by Pamela KaufmanPollan (The Botany of Desire) examines what he calls "our national eating disorder" (the Atkins craze, the precipitous rise in obesity) in this remarkably clearheaded book. It's a fascinating journey up and down the food chain, one that might change the way you read the label on a frozen dinner, dig into a steak or decide whether to buy organic eggs. You'll certainly never look at a Chicken McNugget the same way again.Pollan approaches his mission not as an activist but as a naturalist: "The way we eat represents our most profound engagement with the natural world." All food, he points out, originates with plants, animals and fungi. "[E]ven the deathless Twinkie is constructed out of... well, precisely what I don't know offhand, but ultimately some sort of formerly living creature, i.e., a species. We haven't yet begun to synthesize our foods from petroleum, at least not directly."Pollan's narrative strategy is simple: he traces four meals back to their ur-species. He starts with a McDonald's lunch, which he and his family gobble up in their car. Surprise: the origin of this meal is a cornfield in Iowa. Corn feeds the steer that turns into the burgers, becomes the oil that cooks the fries and the syrup that sweetens the shakes and the sodas, and makes up 13 of the 38 ingredients (yikes) in the Chicken McNuggets.Indeed, one of the many eye-openers in the book is the prevalence of corn in the American diet; of the 45,000 items in a supermarket, more than a quarter contain corn. Pollan meditates on the freakishly protean nature of the corn plant and looks at how the food industry has exploited it, to the detriment of everyone from farmers to fat-and-getting-fatter Americans. Besides Stephen King, few other writers have made a corn field seem so sinister.Later, Pollan prepares a dinner with items from Whole Foods, investigating the flaws in the world of "big organic"; cooks a meal with ingredients from a small, utopian Virginia farm; and assembles a feast from things he's foraged and hunted.This may sound earnest, but Pollan isn't preachy: he's too thoughtful a writer, and too dogged a researcher, to let ideology take over. He's also funny and adventurous. He bounces around on an old International Harvester tractor, gets down on his belly to examine a pasture from a cow's-eye view, shoots a wild pig and otherwise throws himself into the making of his meals. I'm not convinced I'd want to go hunting with Pollan, but I'm sure I'd enjoy having dinner with him. Just as long as we could eat at a table, not in a Toyota. (Apr.)Pamela Kaufman is executive editor at Food & Wine magazine. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews

'Omnivore' may forever change the way you think about food , April 11, 2006
By
JL - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals (Hardcover) Michael Pollan's beautifully written, eye-opening new book already has me thinking about everything I put into my mouth. Clearly, this is an important, even a ground-breaking book. The Omnivore's Dilemma is much more than just an indictment of industrial food systems, or our treatment of animals, though. That's what other reviewers are concentrating on, and they're right. What I took away from this book, though, was just how thoughtless we have become about what we feed ourselves. More than anything else, Pollan's book is a plea for us to stop and think for a moment about our whole process of eating. Just as we get the political leaders we deserve, we also get the food we deserve. Pay attention!

Books : Water for Elephants: A Novel

2008-01-22T05:00:00.000-08:00

Jacob Jankowski says: "I am ninety. Or ninety-three. One or the other." At the beginning of Water for Elephants, he is living out his days in a nursing home, hating every second of it. His life wasn't always like this, however, because Jacob ran away and joined the circus when he was twenty-one. It wasn't a romantic, carefree decision, to be sure. His parents were killed in an auto accident one week before he was to sit for his veterinary medicine exams at Cornell. He buried his parents, learned that they left him nothing because they had mortgaged everything to pay his tuition, returned to school, went to the exams, and didn't write a single word. He walked out without completing the test and wound up on a circus train. The circus he joins, in Depression-era America, is second-rate at best. With Ringling Brothers as the standard, Benzini Brothers is far down the scale and pale by comparison.

Water for Elephants is the story of Jacob's life with this circus. Sara Gruen spares no detail in chronicling the squalid, filthy, brutish circumstances in which he finds himself. The animals are mangy, underfed or fed rotten food, and abused. Jacob, once it becomes known that he has veterinary skills, is put in charge of the "menagerie" and all its ills. Uncle Al, the circus impresario, is a self-serving, venal creep who slaps people around because he can. August, the animal trainer, is a certified paranoid schizophrenic whose occasional flights into madness and brutality often have Jacob as their object. Jacob is the only person in the book who has a handle on a moral compass and as his reward he spends most of the novel beaten, broken, concussed, bleeding, swollen and hungover. He is the self-appointed Protector of the Downtrodden, and... he falls in love with Marlena, crazy August's wife. Not his best idea.

The most interesting aspect of the book is all the circus lore that Gruen has so carefully researched. She has all the right vocabulary: grifters, roustabouts, workers, cooch tent, rubes, First of May, what the band plays when there's trouble, Jamaican ginger paralysis, life on a circus train, set-up and take-down, being run out of town by the "revenooers" or the cops, and losing all your hooch. There is one glorious passage about Marlena and Rosie, the bull elephant, that truly evokes the magic a circus can create. It is easy to see Marlena's and Rosie's pink sequins under the Big Top and to imagine their perfect choreography as they perform unbelievable stunts. The crowd loves it--and so will the reader. The ending is absolutely ludicrous and really quite lovely. --Valerie Ryan --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

With its spotlight on elephants, Gruen's romantic page-turner hinges on the human-animal bonds that drove her debut and its sequel (Riding Lessons and Flying Changes)—but without the mass appeal that horses hold. The novel, told in flashback by nonagenarian Jacob Jankowski, recounts the wild and wonderful period he spent with the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth, a traveling circus he joined during the Great Depression. When 23-year-old Jankowski learns that his parents have been killed in a car crash, leaving him penniless, he drops out of Cornell veterinary school and parlays his expertise with animals into a job with the circus, where he cares for a menagerie of exotic creatures[...] He also falls in love with Marlena, one of the show's star performers—a romance complicated by Marlena's husband, the unbalanced, sadistic circus boss who beats both his wife and the animals Jankowski cares for. Despite her often clichéd prose and the predictability of the story's ending, Gruen skillfully humanizes the midgets, drunks, rubes and freaks who populate her book. (May 26) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Customer Review

"In seventy years, I've never told a blessed soul.", May 25, 2006
By
Luan Gaines "luansos" (Dana Point, CA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Water for Elephants: A Novel (Hardcover) Stripped of everything after his parents' untimely death, twenty-three-year old Jacob Jankowski has failed to sit for his veterinary exams at Cornell, left with no home and no future, the country struggling through the Great Depression, bartering in goods instead of money. Hopping a train that by chance belongs to The Flying Squadron of the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth, Jacob hires on to care for the menagerie, his training an entre into this bizarre world; but as the novel begins, Jacob is an old man, restricted to an assisted living home, his memories sparked by a nearby visiting circus and a creeping helplessness that assaults his ageing body: "Age is a terrible thief. Just when you think you're getting the hang of it, it knocks your legs out from under you and stoops your back."

The story is related in the somber tones of the Depression, the hardscrabble and often unscrupulous business of a traveling circus and the heartless despots who make their fortunes on the backs of men who must do anything to survive. Star performer Marlena, an equestrian, is sensitive to the needs of her horses, although her mercurial husband, August, the trainer, is obsessively jealous and given to unspeakable cruelties. Uncle Al, Benzini Brothers circus owner-by-default, is a ruthless businessman who cares little for man or beast, engaged in a quest for fame to rival the great Ringling Brothers. With his advanced training in veterinary medicine, Jacob does his best to protect the animals from their harsh existence, especially Rosie, an elephant purchased to replace Marlena's lead horse. Jacob and Rosie share an affinity for one another, the huge creature at times almost human. Because of his growing affection for Marlena, Jacob suffers August's increasing affronts, caught in a cycle of inevitable violence, certain of a reckoning.

In chapters that move flawlessly back and forth in time, from the rowdy circus atmosphere to the antiseptic corridors of the assisted living home, the world is viewed through Jacob's perspective, as he rages helplessly against the decrepitude of old age and the secrets of the past. In prose both poignant and infinitely tender, Jacob dwells in both worlds, revealing the wounds of the past and the sorrows of the present. In one touching scene, Jacob awaits a family member to escort him to the circus, yearning for the Big Top with every fiber of his being, craving the familiar sights and smells of that pivotal summer of `31, the roustabouts, the kinkers, the rubes, the animals. The denouement is devastating, as inescapable as the indifferent world that turns a blind eye to the vagrants of the 30's. Yet Jacob's spirit retains the essence of his kind nature and a respect for others, a man who will not be broken by circumstances. All is redeemed in a coup d'grace that will leave the reader strangely satisfied and richer for having met this raggedy tribe of miscreants and lost souls. Luan Gaines/ 2006.

& magazines : Newsweek

2008-01-15T18:12:00.000-08:00

This weekly news magazine reports on each week s developments on the national and global news front through news, commentary and analysis. Its features include national and international affairs, business, lifestyle, society, the arts, politics, the economy, personal business, the Washington scene, health, science and technology.

Customer Review

Not Too Bad, October 26, 2006
By
Elijah Chingosho "Dr Elijah Chingosho"

Newsweek is an easy to read and interesting magazine. However, it is not as balanced as the Economist or Time Magazine but does come up with some interesting articles on developments worldwide. If you ignore the conservative slant of the magazine, you can enjoy the coverage and analysis of various current world events.

Newsweek helps me to keep up with developments in a diverse range of subjects including business and society, international affairs, politics, arts and other areas. I also appreciate its compact yet comprehensive nature.

The magazine helps put news into context. For instance, I was often frustrated during the recent Israeli-Hezbollah conflict in Lebanon as I could see the news on TV but did not understand the story behind the news. However, after I read about the conflict in Newsweek, I got to know the background going back into decades and I could now appreciate all the news stories in their proper context.

Comic : Piled Higher and Deeper: A Graduate Student Comic Strip Collection

2008-01-15T18:09:00.000-08:00

Graham, University of Warwick
I love "PHD." It's the only thing I've seen that captures everything about being a PhD student!

Mark, Oxford University
That is the funniest thing I have ever read. The pictures are great and the character development is so epic.

Customer Review
Precious Procrastination, July 12, 2005
By
David Schaich "David Schaich"
Grad students! Are you working too hard? This comic strip collection can help.

"Piled Higher and Deeper" ("PhD") is the first collection of strips of the legendary webcomic of the same name, written (and published) by Jorge Cham of Stanford University. This volume contains comics from roughly 1997 - 2002, including classics such as

--The Grad Student Documentary ("Having feasted, the grad student enters a lethargic state called "researching", in anticipation of the next free meal.")

--What is... the Thesis ("Is it so hard to believe? That grad school isn't real?")

--Post-Bachelor's Disorder ("Do you experience frequent headaches trying to count how many years you've been in school?")

--The High School Renunion ("Um... well... I... I'm still in school...")

and many others. From the first crudely drawn sketches of cramped classrooms and quals to the later, well-drawn strips of research and conferences, "PhD" never fails to entertain. Some of the humor may be dark and depressing, but that just makes it more realistic, and all the more potent.

If you don't believe that a grad student comic strip could possibly be so good, feel free to check out the strip's website, [...], where all of these strips are available for free. (But be warned - reading the entire archive could be hazardous to your research, and once you start, it's hard to stop...) Why buy the book when all its content is available free online? For one thing, to thank Jorge for all the hours of procrastination that he has so kindly provided. For another, to have access to the comics even when you're away from your compu... ok, never mind. The first reason is more than good enough by itself.

Even though "PhD" focuses on engineering, grad students in all fields should find it equally entertaining. And of course, grad students are not the only people who can appreciate this volume - former grad students and future grad students will almost certainly enjoy it as well. All grad students past, present and future should purchase this first "Piled Higher and Deeper" collection (or better yet, have it purchased for them) without delay.

Books : Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography

2008-01-15T18:07:00.000-08:00

1992: Andrew Morton showed a Princess in a light we had never seen before--Diana: Her True Story became a #1 New York Times bestseller.1999: Andrew Morton revealed the young woman behind the blue dress--Monica's Story was a #1 New York Times bestseller.January 15, 2008: Andrew Morton uncovers the true story of the biggest celebrity of our age.

ANDREW MORTON is one of the world's best-known biographers and a leading authority on modern celebrity. His groundbreaking 1992 biography revealed the secret world of Princess Diana, prompting Tina Brown to declare in The Diana Chronicles, “The journalist Morton most reminds me of is Bob Woodward.” Diana: Her True Story became a #1 New York Times bestseller, as did Monica’s Story, Morton’s portrait of the young woman behind the blue dress in the Clinton White House. The winner of numerous awards, including Author of the Year by the British Book Awards and Scoop of the Year by the London Press Club, he lives in London and has traveled extensively in the U.S., Canada, and Europe in his research for this biography.

Customer Review
Courageous use of Free Speech!, January 15, 2008
By
Rebecca Lauren
Let's face it, the Scientologists will do anything to prevent people from practicing their freedom of speech. Unless you agree with them (of course). I think this book is very well written and gives a historical account of the life of the actor. Great job Mr. Morton! I actually felt more compassion for the guy after reading about his life. It is so sad that he fell hard into a cult "religion". The book gives us a better understanding of why he did and who he is today as a result. Thank Heaven we do not repress people from their opinions in America as in other parts of the world! Hopefully this book will make more people aware of the dangers of cults...

Books : The Appeal

2008-01-14T21:54:00.001-08:00

The jury was ready. After forty-two hours of deliberations that followed seventy-one days of trial that included 530 hours of testimony from four dozen witnesses, and after a lifetime of sitting silently as the lawyers haggled and the judge lectured and the spectators watched like hawks for telltale signs, the jury was ready. Locked away in the jury room, secluded and secure, ten of them proudly signed their names to the verdict while the other two pouted in their corners, detached and miserable in their dissension. There were hugs and smiles and no small measure of self-congratulation because they had survived this little war and could now march proudly back into the arena with a decision they had rescued through sheer determination and the dogged pursuit of compromise. Their ordeal was over; their civic duty complete. They had served above and beyond. They were ready.

The foreman knocked on the door and rustled Uncle Joe from his slumbers. Uncle Joe, the ancient bailiff, had guarded them while he also arranged their meals, heard their complaints, and quietly slipped their messages to the judge. In his younger years, back when his hearing was better, Uncle Joe was rumored to also eavesdrop on his juries through a ?imsy pine door he and he alone had selected and installed. But his listening days were over, and, as he had con?ded to no one but his wife, after the ordeal of this particular trial he might just hang up his old pistol once and for all. The strain of controlling justice was wearing him down.--From Chapter One of The Appeal

Politics has always been a dirty game.Now justice is, too.

In a crowded courtroom in Mississippi, a jury returns a shocking verdict against a chemical company accused of dumping toxic waste into a small town’s water supply, causing the worst “cancer cluster” in history. The company appeals to the Mississippi Supreme Court, whose nine justices will one day either approve the verdict or reverse it.

Who are the nine? How will they vote? Can one be replaced before the case is ultimately decided?

The chemical company is owned by a Wall Street predator named Carl Trudeau, and Mr. Trudeau is convinced the Court is not friendly enough. With judicial elections looming, he decides to try to purchase himself a seat on the Court. The cost is a few million dollars, a drop in the bucket for a billionaire like Mr. Trudeau. Through an intricate web of conspiracy and deceit, his political operatives recruit a young, unsuspecting candidate. They finance him, manipulate him, market him, and mold him into a potential Supreme Court justice. Their Supreme Court justice.

The Appeal is a powerful, timely, and shocking story of political and legal intrigue, a story that will leave readers unable to think about our electoral process or judicial system in quite the same way ever again.

& Magazines : Smithsonian

2008-01-13T01:17:00.000-08:00

This magazine chronicles the arts, environment, sciences and popular culture of the times. It is edited for modern, well-rounded individuals with diverse, general interests. Each subscription includes a membership to the Smithsonian Institution which provides special discounts at Smithsonian gift shops, world travel opportunities through Smithsonian study tours and information on all Smithsonian events in any area.

Customer Reviews

For the insatiably curious, January 16, 2003
By
Debbie Lee Wesselmann

I always find at least one article in every month's SMITHSONIAN that interests me. From art to history to the sciences, this magazine covers American life, both past and present. Unlike the Smithsonian museums themselves, this is not exclusively an exhibit journal since it takes its readers to unexpected places and topics. A real treat for the broadly curious.

With a subscription, you'll get a membership to the Smithsonian Institute, enabling you to get members' prices out of their catalog and gift shops. Support this uniquely American institution - and learn a lot in the process.

Comics : Alan Moore's Writing For Comics Volume 1

2008-01-13T01:15:00.000-08:00

The master of comic book writing shares his thoughts on how to deliver a top-notch script! The main essay was originally written in 1985 and appeared in an obscure British fanzine, right as Moore was reshaping the landscape of modern comics, and has been tragically lost ever since. Now Avatar brings it back in print, collected for the first time as one graphic novel, and heavily illustrated by Jacen Burrows. Moore also provides a brand new essay on how his thoughts on writing have changed in the two decades since he first wrote it.

Customer Reviews

Short but very good, February 1, 2004
By
SPM "scott_maykrantz"

This is a collection of essays Alan Moore wrote in 1985 about writing comic books (with a follow-up essay from 2003 at the end). Actually, it's more about being a creative storyteller, not so much about comics. As you read the text, you realize that the nuts and bolts of panels, pages, and word balloons mean very little in comparison to honesty, inventiveness, intent, and understanding of your own talent. Alan Moore makes this clear as he writes, advising the aspiring writer to consider what he's doing long before he gets to the point of wondering how he can stack ten panels into a page.

Moore uses his own experience as a guide. Although he had not yet written (or completed) some of his greatest comics, by 1985 he had been working in British comics for years. He was also working on Swamp Thing and Miracle Man at the time. He uses Swamp Thing examples more than any other, which is good. That was the first great period of Moore's work, when he turned comic book writers into superstars along with illustrators. He describes one of his more daring stories of the 1980s --- a Swamp Thing issue in which menstruation is tied to a werewolf story --- from the ground up. First he had the social idea, then he came up with a framework for it, then he wrote the pages and panels.

Reading this short volume is a real inspiration for anyone who wants to tell stories. The advice here can liberate a writer from distractions and lead him (or her) toward the creative decisions that matter most. The final chapter adds a wonderful twist. Moore recommends that you avoid a personal style and focus instead of personal growth as an artist. Success should lead to experimenting, not a rut in which you tell the same lucrative story over and over. Alan Moore lives his life this way, so his advice has some well-earned authority behind it.

Books : The Pillars of the Earth

2008-01-13T01:12:00.001-08:00

With this book, Follett risks all and comes out a clear winner, escaping the narrow genre of suspense thrillers to take credit for a historical novel of gripping readability, authentic atmosphere and detail and memorable characterization. Set in 12th-century England, the narrative concerns the building of a cathedral in the fictional town of Kingsbridge. The ambitions of three men merge, conflict and collide through four decades during which social and political upheaval and the internal politics of the church affect the progress of the cathedral and the fortunes of the protagonists. The insightful portrayals of an idealistic master builder, a pious, dogmatic but compassionate prior and an unscrupulous, ruthless bishop are balanced by those of a trio of independent, resourceful women (one of them quite loathesome) who can stand on their own as memorable characters in any genre. Beginning with a mystery that casts its shadow on ensuing events, the narrative is a seesaw of tension in which circumstances change with shocking but true-to-life unpredictability. Follett's impeccable pacing builds suspense in a balanced narrative that offers action, intrigue, violence and passion as well as the step-by-step description of an edifice rising in slow stages, its progress tied to the vicissitudes of fortune and the permutations of evolving architectural style. Follett's depiction of the precarious balance of power between monarchy and religion in the Middle Ages, and of the effects of social upheavals and the forces of nature (storms, famines) on political events; his ability to convey the fine points of architecture so that the cathedral becomes clearly visualized in the reader's mind; and above all, his portrayals of the enduring human emotions of ambition, greed, bravery, dedication, revenge and love, result in a highly engrossing narrative. Manipulating a complex plot in which the characters interact against a broad canvas of medieval life, Follett has written a novel that entertains, instructs and satisfies on a grand scale. 400,000 first printing; $400,000 ad/promo; Literary Guild main dual selection; author tour. Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews
Best historical novel I've read in 10 years, November 3, 1999
By
Suzanne Cross "Virtual Graeco-Roman"
This review is from: The Pillars of the Earth (Mass Market Paperback) I've never been a fan of Follett, and picked this book up with some misgivings - anyone these days can try to do an "historical" novel with some quick sex, some fake archaic new-speak, and a TV-movie-miniseries concept of history. While there are some minor flaws in this book, its sweep, characterization, tensions, and love of its subject are simply riveting. I could not put the darned thing down and have lost sleep for a week compulsively page-turning. Follett, unbelievably, seems to have made little splash with this book when it first came out - more shame to the critics who missed a "Gone With the Wind" from a conventional thriller author.

His primary strength in the book is his magnificent characters. By the end, Prior Phillip, Aliena, Jack, Richard, "Witch" Ellen, William of Hamleigh, Waleran Bigod, and a host of supporting characters are as real as people you know. Their strengths and weaknesses feel as sound as earth. I've just reached the part where the Cathedral is finished, and its magnificent image, built in love, hardship, and devotion, colors the whole book like light through stained glass. And I suspect the ending will be as immensely "right" as the entire rest of the book in its proportion in spinning out complicated human lives and emotions.

Follett manages to write of an age of religious devotion without tumbling into the two pits - making fun of medieval Christian faith, or uncritically adopting it. An IMMENSELY satisfying read.

I could quibble with what I feel is some gratuitous sex, some slightly contrived plot twists, but that's like complaining about some flotsam in the river as you're going over Niagara.

DO NOT MISS THIS BOOK if you love wonderful story-spinning and history.
Well done, Mr. Follett!

MAGAZINE : Wired

2008-01-12T18:30:00.001-08:00

WIRED uncovers the most surprising and resonant stories about the people, companies, technologies and ideas that are transforming our lives. Whether it's technology...business...global politics...new media...arts and culture...the environment...or the best new products, WIRED is there, on the front lines of the 21st Century. Find out what's next with WIRED!

Customer Reviews

Still bleeding edge, which makes it different, July 9, 2002
By
Tony Ursillo

The best thing about Wired is that it has stayed true to its roots over all of these years. Wired has always had a forward-looking, sophisticated attitude toward technology. You can tell that every article is well-researched and no feature in the magazine is an afterthought. In every issue, you will find:

- stories about the unsung heroes who are really responsible for pushing the limits of technology

- some politically-oriented article that shows the growing interplay between technology and politics

- cool digital and electronic gadgets (that usually cost a lot of $$)

- fun stuff like Jargon watch, Wired vs. Tired, and even some of the ads (how often can you say that?)

Beyond that, I find Wired is the best place to read about things like the melding of human and computer and the progess of technology outside of the U.S. So, I find every issue interesting. It's a little less useful to me as an investor in technology stocks, but it does offer me that broader perspective on technology that helps put investable ideas into context. The clincher is the price - a small sacrifice for so much intriguing and entertaining content. I once considered discontinuing my subscription, but realized that it's so different from everything else I read and just one decent article an issue makes it worthwhile. Very glad I kept it. So, if you've never read Wired, I would give it definitely give it a try.

Comic : Archie Comics Presents: The Love Showdown Collection (Archie Americana Series)

2008-01-12T18:26:00.000-08:00

The historic "Love Showdown" story, originally appearing in ARCHIE #429 (Part One), BETTY #19 (Part Two), BETTY & VERONICA #82 (Part Three) and VERONICA #39 (Part Four) took the nation by storm as Archie vowed to choose between Betty and Veronica once and for all! Now you can relive this epic in one convenient, upscale paperback.

Customer Reviews

A must have for those that loved the love triangle!, January 31, 2007
By
Sofia Hernandez "Maddy, Eli & Joshy's Mom"

This was so great... it was in comic format but they collected all the, "to be continued" parts and put them in order. The story is so great, the artwork beautiful as usual; and the twist at the end is hillarious. I only wish that these books could be longer because I read through them too quickly. LOL

Who will Archie choose?, May 31, 2004
By
Jake Z "holden84"

I remember buying the comics that this epic story appeared in. There was a lot of excitement and promotion around the time of this story being released. Part 1 appeared in Archie #429, Part 2 in Betty #19, Part 3 in Betty & Veronica #82 and Part 4 in Veronica #39. The story revolves around the central conflict, and practically the basis of Archie Comics: Will Archie choose Betty or Veronica? Of course there was no resolution, he didn't choose, but there was Cheryl Blossom thrown into the mix. Overall it's a fun story and definately a collectors item!

books : Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning

2008-01-12T18:23:00.001-08:00

“Fascists,” “Brownshirts,” “jackbooted stormtroopers”—such are the insults typically hurled at conservatives by their liberal opponents. Calling someone a fascist is the fastest way to shut them up, defining their views as beyond the political pale. But who are the real fascists in our midst?

Liberal Fascism offers a startling new perspective on the theories and practices that define fascist politics. Replacing conveniently manufactured myths with surprising and enlightening research, Jonah Goldberg reminds us that the original fascists were really on the left, and that liberals from Woodrow Wilson to FDR to Hillary Clinton have advocated policies and principles remarkably similar to those of Hitler's National Socialism and Mussolini's Fascism.

Contrary to what most people think, the Nazis were ardent socialists (hence the term “National socialism”). They believed in free health care and guaranteed jobs. They confiscated inherited wealth and spent vast sums on public education. They purged the church from public policy, promoted a new form of pagan spirituality, and inserted the authority of the state into every nook and cranny of daily life. The Nazis declared war on smoking, supported abortion, euthanasia, and gun control. They loathed the free market, provided generous pensions for the elderly, and maintained a strict racial quota system in their universities—where campus speech codes were all the rage. The Nazis led the world in organic farming and alternative medicine. Hitler was a strict vegetarian, and Himmler was an animal rights activist.

Do these striking parallels mean that today’s liberals are genocidal maniacs, intent on conquering the world and imposing a new racial order? Not at all. Yet it is hard to deny that modern progressivism and classical fascism shared the same intellectual roots. We often forget, for example, that Mussolini and Hitler had many admirers in the United States. W.E.B. Du Bois was inspired by Hitler's Germany, and Irving Berlin praised Mussolini in song. Many fascist tenets were espoused by American progressives like John Dewey and Woodrow Wilson, and FDR incorporated fascist policies in the New Deal.

Fascism was an international movement that appeared in different forms in different countries, depending on the vagaries of national culture and temperament. In Germany, fascism appeared as genocidal racist nationalism. In America, it took a “friendlier,” more liberal form. The modern heirs of this “friendly fascist” tradition include the New York Times, the Democratic Party, the Ivy League professoriate, and the liberals of Hollywood. The quintessential Liberal Fascist isn't an SS storm trooper; it is a female grade school teacher with an education degree from Brown or Swarthmore.

These assertions may sound strange to modern ears, but that is because we have forgotten what fascism is. In this angry, funny, smart, contentious book, Jonah Goldberg turns our preconceptions inside out and shows us the true meaning of Liberal Fascism.

About the Author

JONAH GOLDBERG is a columnist for the Los Angeles Times and contributing editor to National Review. A USA Today contributor and former columnist for the Times of London, he has also written for The New Yorker, Commentary, the Wall Street Journal, and many other publications. He lives in Washington, D.C.

Customer Review
"I ask you to judge me by the enemies I have made" - Franklin D. Roosevelt, January 8, 2008
By
David McCune "self-deprecating and proud of it"
And boy, does Jonah Goldberg have himself some enemies. It was inevitable that the review section for Goldberg's "Liberal Fascism" would degenerate into the Mother of all Flame Wars. The advance dislike for this book has been simmering for months. People have been chomping at the bit to write their 1-star reviews. I'd advise all potential readers of this book to bear in mind how unlikely it is that a number of liberals dashed of to buy and read this book on the day it was published.

For those willing to give Goldberg the chance, he offers the following thesis: that the label fascist has its roots in the governing philosophies of Italy's National Fascist Party and Germany's National Socialist (Nazi) Party. He argues that there has been a false duality created between the Soviet Socialists of the USSR and the socialists united under the fascists in Italy and Germany. He argues that the totalitarian impulse, the philosophy of state control of decisions taking priority over individual freedoms, is the core uniting principle behind these brands of socialism, and he argues that the ongoing home of such statism is in what has come to be known as the "liberal" politics of the modern progressive movement. As you can imagine, that doesn't sit very well with the targets of his argument (hence the rain of 1-star reviews).

I'd encourage open minded readers of all backgrounds to read Goldberg's book and address his arguments. I find his conversational and somewhat informal style to be witty and readable. That said, longtime Goldberg fans should know that this is not a book-length "G-File" (the hip and irreverent column he wrote for National Review Online). This is a serious scholarly work, and it deserved to be read and judged as such. Goldberg is attempting to right what he views as a historical injustice. He is not attempting, as many seem to think, to say that all liberals are closet Nazi's, but rather to say that, contrary to popular misconception, it is not conservatism, but liberalism, that traces its roots to the fascists. In some ways it is a book-length extension of the question conservatives sometimes pose to liberals: "If you leave out the parts about killing all the Jews and invading Poland, what specifically about the Nazi political platform do you disagree with?" After Goldberg's book, that question is much less easy to shrug off.

This is certainly going to be a very talked-about book for 2008.

Magazines : SmartMoney

2008-01-12T01:45:00.000-08:00

SmartMoney comes to you straight from the editors of the Wall Street Journal, the best financial reporters in the business. Every issue brings you the information you need to know to deal with markets and protecting your wealth. Turn to SmartMoney for no-nonsense advice you can put into action.

Customer Review

The best personal finance mag out there, February 18, 2002
By
Tony Ursillo

- Ten Things: a "watch out" list of 10 things that you should know about the different professionals you interact with (your dentist, your accountant, a real estate broker, etc.). Always an eye-opener.- Stock Screen: Paul Sturm is a knowledgeable, value-oriented journalist who puts together a list each month of 8-10 stocks that make it through a rigid screen of several characteristics. Each month, he features a different screen and he uses a good mix of quantitative characteristics and common sense to generate the list.- Feature articles that profile common people and the serious personal finance problems they have endured (e.g., collecting on insurance, fighting the IRS, traveling overseas).

SmartMoney is frequently compared to Money magazine, but Money is often more narrowly focused on investing and it sometimes dumbs down its articles. I also read BusinessWeek, Forbes and Fortune regularly. While they all have their place, none provides the depth and common sense focus of SmartMoney when it comes to personal finance. I have photocopied and saved countless articles and I sometimes refer to them years later. ... my advice is to get a subscription now - it's definitely worth it.

Comic : Comics Values Annual 2007: The Comic Book Price Guide

2008-01-12T01:40:00.001-08:00

*Cross-referenced listings aid in easily identifying and accurately assessing collections
*Features original cover artwork of Spider-Man - comic book hero and Hollywood heavyweight with his own movie trilogy
It's nearly impossible to turn on the television or go to the movies without running into some of your favorite superheroes - what a wonderful situation to be in if you're a comic book collector! You see it in the collector values of collectible comic books, and it's evident in the extreme notoriety Comic-Con International is generating - the world associated with comic books is thriving, and one key to success in the collectible comic book market is a reliable price guide. Packed with 1,000 detailed cover photos and more than 94,000 listings, this guide arms you with the essential tools for high-performance collecting.

Customer Review

GETTING BETTER EVERY YEAR!, May 19, 2007
By
Tim Janson

The 2007 edition of Comics Values Annual from Krause Publications is out and it continues to get better and better each and every year. This book gains momentum every year as an alternative to the more well-known Overstreet price guide. The main problem with Overstreet is the endless pages of dealer ads that grow longer each year. Who needs 150 pages of dealer ads anyway? Do people really order that many comics from dealers, especially with eBay? I also don't need the dozens of pages of dealer market reports that are basically already stale by the time the book comes out.I just want prices and information, which is what Comics Values Annual 2007 delivers in a no-frills package.

This edition gives a brief introduction on the industry, a grading guide, and features an interview with artist Joe Jusko. The CV Annual is very different from the Overstreet in its layout, Rather than simply list each title alphabetically, this guide lists titles alphabetically by MAJOR publisher beginning with DC and then continuing with Marvel, Image, Dark Horse, Classics Illustrated, and then tossing in miscellaneous Golden Age titles, Misc. B & W, titles, and misc. color titles from modern publishers like Valiant, Gold Key, Gladstone, Malibu, etc...Now this may not be to every collector's liking as we've been conditioned to one type of delivery, but I personally like it. I mean it's still a Marvel and DC world to most collectors, especially in regards to Silver and Golden Age books so why have to thumb through all the junk no one's interested in when Marvel and DC have their own sections.

Another big difference between the CV Annual 2007 and Overstreet is that this book only lists the NM price per issue while the Overstreet gives three prices. I can go either way on this one. On one hand, it's nice to have all three major grades listed. On the other hand, it's not all that hard to calculate the price yourself based on the grade. Plus, Overstreet has to end up using a miniscule typeface to fit all those prices in the book.

I think the biggest advantage of the CV Annual is that instead of listing a range of issue numbers, it lists each title number by number. This allows for more information to be supplied such as story arc name, character appearance, artist credits, etc. This is a BIG plus!

If you want a price guide that gets right down to it without all the fluff and waste, I cannot recommend the Comics Values Annual 2007 any more highly!

Reviewed by Tim Janson

Books : Happy for No Reason: 7 Steps to Being Happy from the Inside Out

2008-01-12T01:37:00.000-08:00

What would it take to make you happy? A fulfilling career, a big bank account, or the perfect mate? What if it didn't take anything to make you happy? What if you could experience happiness from the inside out -- no matter what's going on in your life?

In Happy for No Reason: 7 Steps to Being Happy from the Inside Out, transformational expert Marci Shimoff offers a breakthrough approach to being happy, one that doesn't depend on achievements, goals, money, relationships, or anything else "out there." Most books on happiness tell you to find the things that make you happy and do more of them. Although there's nothing wrong with that, it won't bring you the kind of deep and lasting happiness most people long for -- the kind you'll never lose, no matter what happens in your life. Based on cutting-edge research and knowledge from the world's leading experts in the fields of positive psychology and neurophysiology, plus interviews with 100 truly happy people, this life-changing book provides a powerful, proven 7-step program that will enable you to be happier right now -- no matter where you start.

Studies show that each of us has a "happiness setpoint" -- a fixed range of happiness we tend to return to throughout our life -- that's approximately 50 percent genetic and 50 percent learned. In the same way you'd crank up the thermostat to get comfortable on a chilly day, you can actually raise your happiness set-point! The holistic 7-step program at the heart of Happy for No Reason encompasses Happiness Habits for all areas of life: personal power, mind, heart, body, soul, purpose, and relationships.

In these pages you'll discover moving and remarkable first-person stories of people who have applied these steps to their own lives and have become Happy for No Reason. You'll read phenomenal tales from a former drug dealer turned minister, a hit filmmaker, and a famous actress who escaped a "family curse," as well as stories from doctors, mothers, teachers, and business executives. You'll learn practical strategies that will help you experience happiness from the inside out.

You don't have to have happy genes, win the lottery, or lose twenty pounds. By the time you finish this book, you will know how to experience sustained happiness for the rest of your life.

Customer Review

Many reasons to read this book, December 29, 2007
By
Joe Tye "Head Coach, Values Coach America"

When I first saw the title, "Happy for No Reason," I'll have to admit that my initial reaction was that this would be just one more new age, touch-feely, full-of-fluff feel-good book. So I was very pleasantly surprised to see how thoroughly-researched, well-written, and down-to-earth practical this book is. "Happy for No Reason" is a groundbreaking philosophy that belongs in the same category as the work of David Burns (cognitive mood therapy), Martin Seligman (learned optimism), Daniel Goleman (emotional intelligence) and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (flow). It is a brilliant blend of scientific research summarized in language that anyone can understand plus stories from people Marci calls the Happy 100, people who are role models of happiness for the sake of happiness, not because of love or money or other exogenous factors.

I was so impressed with this book that I gave copies to each of my children as Christmas gifts this year. I'm hoping they will read it with a pen or highlighter in hand, which is what I found myself doing - and would recommend to you as well. It's easy to be unhappy, which might be why so many people are. Watch TV for an hour and you'll have a hundred reasons to not be happy; it's nice to know that you can choose to be happy for no reason at all.

Magazines : Cosmopolitan

2008-01-08T18:29:00.000-08:00

Customer Review

Cutting Corners Causing A Decline in Total Quality, August 3, 2007
By
C. Farley "seafaire"

This was my "first" grown-up girl magazine and I still share a fondness for it and usually buy it at least three or four times a year. My guess is in order to keep the cover price down, the mag is trying to cut corners on other importent areas like--paper quality. The magazine is printed on a lower quality paper than most--decreasing its' durability and readability. Also, let's face it--some of the writing is just not up to the same level of many competing magazines. The articles seem repetitive, simple-minded and without a lot of useful information. Let's hope the "old gal" gets a quality "face-lift" and soon.

Quick processing!, May 14, 2007
By
Mussergirl

This order got here faster than I thought it would!!! And way cheaper than buying it in the store!

Super Informative!, October 29, 2007
By
kazdaddy4life "WK"

This Mag is awesome! Lets just say it is very informative! (wink, wink). A must have for all lovebirds.

Comic : Comic Book Nation: The Transformation of Youth Culture in America

2008-01-08T18:26:00.001-08:00

Author : Bradford W. Wright

Pow! Bam! Crash! Analysis! According to this insightful and highly entertaining political and cultural history of comic books, Superman was not just "fighting for the American way"--he was inventing it. Comic books, perhaps the central staple of U.S. youth culture, have been fundamental in both shaping and reflecting the country's political, social, ethical and even sexual mores ever since Superman made his first appearance on the cover of Action Comics in 1938. Wright, a faculty member at the University of Maryland's University College, charts how these popular pulp stories (over 100 million comics were printed in 1949) mirrored myriad, often conflicting, political positions: Superman's first enemies were corrupt politicians and slum lords aligned against the New Deal; '50s books reflected national anticommunist hysteria as well as mixed messages about the Korean War; violent "crime comics" of the 1950s reflected the decade's social unrest; Iron Man in the 1960s found his earlier anticommunist politics shaken by the war in Vietnam. Wright explores how the politics of the writers and artists, usually liberals and often Jewish, were reflected in their work, while at the same time they had to conform to frequently more conservative cultural standards that often led to a backlash against the genre. By the late 1940s, comics were at the center of a full-fledged cultural war; claims that they corrupted youth and caused crime and juvenile delinquency, resulted in congressional hearings and laws that banned the books. Carefully placing comics in their broader social contexts and weighing seriously their critics' charges, Wright creates an intelligent study not only of comics but of shifting attitudes toward popular culture, children, violence, patriotism and America itself.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Customer Review

Thorough survey of the business and culture of comic books, January 14, 2003
By
D. Cloyce Smith
This review is from: Comic Book Nation: The Transformation of Youth Culture in Americ (Hardcover) In jargon-free, exuberant prose, Bradford Wright has written what may well be the definitive history of comic books. As Wright notes in his introduction, however, since his investigation is also a survey of mass adolescent culture, he properly focuses on "popular" commercial magazines--especially on superhero-themed comics--to the exclusion of newspaper funnies (like Dick Tracy and Li'l Abner), underground comics and graphic novels (such as works by R. Crumb and Daniel Clowes), and cartoon series for children (Archie and the Disney characters).

Painstakingly researched, "Comic Book Nation" is really three books in one. Wright provides both plot outlines and summaries of trends in subject matter, from the launch of Superman to the sinister underworld of the Watchmen. He also places those themes and developments in the larger cultural context, from Depression-era longings and liberalism, through the patriotism induced by World War II and the Cold War, to the anti-crime vigilantism of the Reagan era. Finally, he charts the multiple peaks and valleys experienced by the business itself: its unpredictable sales patterns, the unhappiness of its work force, the rise and fall of the largest publishers, and the takeover of the industry by corporate and licensing interests. Along the way, he examines the 1940s and 1950s backlash against the violent and sexual nature of comic books (which resulted in the Comics Code Authority, an agency of censorship unparalleled in its broad sweep and its power); the heyday of EC Comics, purveyor of classics ranging from "Tales from the Crypt" to "Mad Magazine"; and the brilliant, original creation of "Spider-Man" and the succeeding generation of reluctant, misunderstood heroes.

Wright wisely avoids making aesthetic judgments, and it's a tribute to his objectivity that readers would have a difficult time figuring out which series rank among the author's own favorites. Likewise, although Wright's left-of-center political judgments are on display throughout (and I confess I often found myself in agreement with him), he is consistently even-handed and empathetic when discussing the advocates of censorship (like Fredric Wertham) and the creators of more "patriotic" and even propagandistic comic books (such as Charlton Publications).

Not having read a superhero-themed comic book in years, I admit I was drawn to buy and read this book by Michael Chabon's "Kavalier and Clay," and I can confirm that this is a great book for readers of that novel who want to learn more. Although I imagine that some comic book fans (especially young readers) might find Wright's study long on analysis and short on comics, "Comic Book Nation" is truly a seminal contribution to the field of culture studies.

Books : Plum Lucky (Stephanie Plum Novels)

2008-01-08T18:23:00.001-08:00

Author : Janet Evanovich

Book Description
Looking to get lucky?

Stephanie Plum is back between-the-numbers and she’s looking to get lucky in an Atlantic City hotel room, in a Winnebago, and with a brown-eyed stud who has stolen her heart.

Stephanie Plum has a way of attracting danger, lunatics, oddballs, bad luck . . . and mystery men. And no one is more mysterious than the unmentionable Diesel. He’s back and hot on the trail of a little man in green pants who’s lost a giant bag of money. Problem is, the money isn’t exactly lost. Stephanie’s Grandma Mazur has found it, and like any good Jersey senior citizen, she’s hightailed it in a Winnebago to Atlantic City and hit the slots. With Lula and Connie in tow, Stephanie attempts to bring Grandma home, but the luck of the Irish is rubbing off on everyone: Lula’s found a job modeling plus-size lingerie. Connie’s found a guy. Diesel’s found Stephanie. And Stephanie has found herself in over her head with a caper involving thrice-stolen money, a racehorse, a car chase, and a bad case of hives.

Plum Lucky is an all-you-can-eat buffet of thrills, chills, shrimp cocktail, plus-size underwear, and scorching hot men. It’s a between-the-numbers treat no Evanovich fan will want to miss!

Customer Review

It's all about luck, January 8, 2008
By
Fred Camfield

Statisically speaking, luck has a normal distribution, that is, it has a bell shaped curve. Most people are in the middle with an average amount of luck, but some people are at an extreme point on the curve and are unlucky all the time (like that character in Lil Abner who walked around with a black cloud over his head), and some are at the other end and are lucky all the time. So goes life.

It's St. Patrick's Day and there is a rainbow in the air. Grandma Mazur stumbles into a duffle bag full of money - lots of money. She thinks that it is lucky money and hers to keep. Let the good times roll. She is off to Atlantic City. But other people have claims on the money. The story has an interesting cast of characters including an ex-jockey who thinks that he is an invisible leprechaun (he is always lucky, but manages to fumble it away); of course there are Stephi, Lula, and Connie from the bailbonds office; Diesel appears from Stephi's past - another man in her life; a short guy hired by Grandma Mazur; the gangster Delvina; and a horse to add to the adventures and misadventures. Of course there is the money.

You will have to read the novel to see how it all shakes out. The novel is not great literature, but is extremely funny. ROFL. Some scenes towards the end had me laughing so hard I had trouble continuing.

It is a short novel, and a quick read, at 166 pages with 28 lines per page somewhat widely spaced in easy reading type. It contains what a friend would call earthy language. I would personally classify it as PG-13.

Magazines : Redbook

2008-01-08T01:14:00.000-08:00

Redbook is the must-read magazine for today's young, married woman: an individual as passionate about her own needs as she is about those of her family. Each issue offers exciting, provocative features that address the all aspects of her life—everything from stylish fashion and beauty portfolios to scintillating stories on keeping her marriage fresh, to ideas on balancing home and career demands.

Customer Review

A well-balanced magazine! Enjoyed it then; enjoy it now! , November 27, 2007
By
*Betty Dravis* "BettyDravis@gmail.com, author...

I enjoyed reading this magazine when I was raising my children because it had something of interest to almost everyone in the family. When the kids were at school, I especially liked putting my feet up and settling down with a cup of hot tea while reading the few short fiction stories that were featured in each issue.

I was disappointed when the publishers went "with the flow" and discontinued the short fiction a few years ago, but I continued to read it for the other interesting features.

As the kids grew up and situations changed, I quit reading magazines so much and lost myself in my true love--reading novels. Thus, Redbook was lost somewhere along the way.

Recently, when I saw Redbook in Amazon, it was like seeing an old friend ... an old friend showing more "cleavage," to be sure. But, regretfully, that's the signs of the times. On a whim--I ordered a subscription. The price was right, and I haven't regretted my decision.

Some reviewers have complained because they think Redbook tries to appeal to too many sections of society, but I find that a plus. I like learning about things other generations and cultures find of interest.

Comics : I Killed: True Stories of the Road from America's Top Comics

2008-01-08T01:12:00.001-08:00

Some of the funniest—and most outrageous—stories a comedian has don't get told onstage. They're passed around after hours and derive from the bizarre intersection of travel, intoxicants and the colorful characters on the fringes of the comedy world. (A little poverty can't hurt—the best stories from "top comics" often come from the early days.) In this collection, Ron Shock tells of being goaded by outlaw comic Bill Hicks into dropping acid before a show, infuriating the audience and escaping just in time. Jay Leno recounts how he accidentally left a groupie tied to her bed overnight—and she loved it. Black comic Alonzo Bodden recalls ripping into a redneck from the stage and having audience members tell him later that his target ran the local Klan. Shydner, early in his career, performed regularly at a variety of bars around Washington, D.C., and found himself opening for a riled-up audience eager to see the Ramones. He suffered through a "beer shower," and one of the Ramones thought that was his act: human beer sponge. Jerry Seinfeld, in his foreword, calls comedy "one of the Great Jobs"; this volume makes for excellent bathroom reading—and that's a compliment. (Oct.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Customer Review

Gut-bustingly funny and very very real, March 11, 2007
By
Joanna Daneman
This review is from: I Killed: True Stories of the Road from America's Top Comics (Hardcover) I hate to say this, but this makes a great uh, bathroom book because you really can't read it all in one uh, go. The stories are so funny that after you read one or two particularly good ones, you just have to stop and appreciate them.

These are tales of comedians on the road. Tales of being stiffed by the club manager, of bombing in front of audiences, of nearly missing being clocked by the mob for ridiculing the don's mother, of making an ass of yourself in front of Johnny Carson, trying to get that big break. There are stories from every top comedian including Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock.

You will almost feel as if you took a tour of the clubs yourself, learning about pernicious heckling, poor pay, no pay, bad food, bad hotel rooms and strange women. And there are the stories of Rodney Dangerfield, who bombed so bad in life he ended up selling vinyl siding to support his kids before he went back and "killed" bigtime. He never forgot and extended a generous hand to so many.

If you love love love comedy and admire some of our great artists as I do, you will absolutely want to read this book.

Books : An Inconvenient Book: Real Solutions to the World's Biggest Problems

2008-01-08T01:08:00.000-08:00

In this appraisal of America's woes, conservative TV and talk-radio host Beck (The Real America) lays lighthearted siege to everything that makes the world worse. [P]olitical correctness is the biggest threat this nation faces today, he declares, as it makes us prey for Islamic fundamentalists, renders taboo the roots of our economic troubles (poor people are, in fact, lazy, he argues) and creates rampant distortion in the media. Beck goes paragraph for paragraph with global-warming alarmist Al Gore, merrily slaughtering the sacred cows of the environmentalist crowd. Not sated by the hide of the former vice president, he goes after everything and everyone from poverty to perverts, offering solutions to these and other problems (e.g., the key to success in the capitalist system is to believe in it). While often informative, as in his chapter on global warming, Beck is sometimes tedious, particularly when dealing with Islam and education (France is literally teetering on the edge, and our biggest ally, England, is about to be turned inside out as well). He's at his best when most absurd, and funniest when he's his own target (the father of four is little more than a flesh-and-bone jungle gym). This should make a good read for conservatives. (Nov.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Customer Review

Glenn shines with a few sick freak caveats, but great job!, November 24, 2007
By
Montgomery Scott "USS Enterprise"

I just finished reading this great book by Glenn Beck. I'll try to write a thorough review, so a few criticisms will be here, but I love Glenn (we go way back, though he doesn't even know me!), and the book was a delight to read.

As I sat down and poured myself a Coke Zero (thanks Glenn, I'm hooked), I prepared to read. First, I was impressed just by picking it up. Glossy pages! Smells of new print (like a new textbook)! High production quality! This is a serious book for only $15! Glenn has said multiple times that he tempers his ADD by surrounding himself with good people, and this book is no exception. Kevin Balfe shines through (even gets 2nd billing as an author). Stu and Dan obviously helped, with a few new names (who I'm guessing must be the liberals he mentioned having to hire).

The book covers just about everything, with 1 chapter covering the main bullet points on Global Warming. Anybody with a small amount of an investigative mind sees the agenda behind the current scare, and Glenn hits most points right on. There are better books if you want the science, free from Big Corn (agribusiness), tax raisers, and big/global government types--this is just an introduction. There's only 23 pages on that, because he quickly moves to Marriage and Porn. The next chapters cover Islam, Body Image, Blind Dating, Income Gap, Oil Dependence, Liberal Universities, Political Games, Movie Rentals, Media Bias, Political Correctness, Tipping, Child Molesters (skip this one, it's disturbing), the UN (connected to the previous chapter), Remembering Names, Minimum Wage, Aging, Opinion Polls (GREAT CHAPTER), Poverty, Parenting, and Illegal Immigration. Just enough to get you a quick intro to Glenn's world view, with tons of funny ADD bubbles, hysterical cartoons, and entertaining graphics.

I buy and read just about every new conservative book that is published. This is not an Ann Coulter book with extensive footnotes and insight. Not a Sean Hannity book of repetition. Not a Michael Savage book with mindless vitriole (except 2 comments on Rosie's weight, and some comparison between Nancy Pelosi and Lindsay Lohan that I can't understand). Most of these books you have to sit down and focus on to read, and many get boring after 50 pages. Put it another way--you've never read a "political" book like this, because it's not really political. It is the fusion of entertainment and enlightenment (don't sue me...). It also beats the socks off the "real america", which was rather boring to read (I think Glenn wrote it himself...). It's not about left and right, but right and wrong, and Glenn really does say what those of us who aren't thinking, are thinking.

Those of you who write negative reviews without even reading the book have no clue who Glenn really is as a person. He's not as witty as Ann Coulter or Rush Limbaugh (and does not claim to be), but he's entertaining and REAL. If you listen to his show long enough, you will realize that he is a complete amateur, and that most of his famous Media Matters gaffes are just him being completely bumbling and not expressing himself right. He is the most paranoid optimist you'll ever hear on the future of the American people, which is why I love listening to him.

A few small comments. First, if you are a freak, and a fan of the show, most of this is nothing you haven't heard before. As a matter of fact, I think some of the photos (the gay Glenn photo for sure), and some of the text is lifted right out of his Fusion magazine. I can't blame him--Fusion has a fairly limited circulation, so I'd imagine 95% of the readers haven't seen this before. Second, there are a few small mistakes. Blame it on Glenn's ADD. Which, if you had to suffer through the boring week on the radio when he took Ritalin, you should be grateful for (he talked to callers for longer than 2 minutes and actually listened to them... it was a snooze). I must point out, that last I checked, the governor of Washington State was ChrisTINE Gregoire, who is most definitely not a "he" (page 151). Also, I think the Merriam-Webster TIP definition is apocryphal--at least it wasn't in my edition (page 164). In Glenn's defense, the book is full of references to his ADD and inability to remember facts and names, so it is internally consistent.

One more thing--I stand firmly against the Public Affairs Act of 1975, and Glenn is a hatemonger for supporting it. All of you should call your senators and tell them not to let Bush and his cronies at Halliburton get away with supporting Big Oil with the continuation of the Public Affairs Act of 1975 (page 236). Way to go, Glenn! Can't wait to see what your next big project might be (you've made some references on your show.....)

books comics & magazines : Vanity Fair

2008-01-06T17:54:00.000-08:00

Nobody knows more about star power than VANITY FAIR, where you get access to people, personalities and power like no other magazine. From unmasking Deep Throat to intimate interviews with Jennifer Aniston, Martha Stewart and Lindsay Lohan, VANITY FAIR scooped the competition and gave its readers the must-read exclusives everyone has been talking about. Your subscription includes must-see special issues like the Hollywood issue and the Music issue, and monthly coverage of the movers and shakers in entertainment, media, politics, business and the arts.

Review
Great mix of gossip and hard news, December 17, 2001
By
mirope "mirope"

"Vanity Fair" is head and shoulders above anything else on the magazine rack. On the one hand, it has loads of fun, gossipy stories on celebrities - past and present - combined with state-of-the art work from the premier photographers in the business, including Herb Ritts and Annie Leibowitz. While the articles on entertainment celebrities are usually pure PR fluff pieces, there are also more in-depth articles about the power players behind the scenes and old Hollywood legends. These voyeristic guilty pleasures sit comfortably side-by-side with some of the best serious journalism in print. Month after month, "Vanity Fair" addresses important issues that are only covered superficially in most of the media. The editors aren't afraid to allow their reporters to do long pieces on foreign affairs, politics and the economy. If it's been a major event on the world scene, "Vanity Fair" has covered it, and covered it well. I almost always read it cover to cover, and always come away feeling like it was time well spent.

A great mix of Entertainment, Fashion, and Society..and a great deal, June 29, 2005
By
A. G. Corwin

Vanity Fair has undergone a major transformation in the last several years from magazine geared towards women to a monthly that appeals to a much broader audience. The writing has gotten consistently better as well, though the occasional article will be little more than fluff. Photography is always lush, with the art world's top talent contributing beautiful done shots of major stars. Issues like Young Hollywood, or New Music Stars are fantastic, and every issue is something fresh and interesting.

In any given month we get a star showcase on the cover. Recent months have seen Lindsay Lohan, Sandra Bullock, and Hilary Swank. Interviews with these stars are fascinating because they invariably reveal more than they expect to. A recent interview with Sheryl Crow revealed the best of Vanity Fair, an intelligent, emotional, and honest interview that reveals a lot about Sheryl. The acccompanying photography is simply gorgeous. Every month has a rambling diary from the frequently tiresome Dominic Dunne (yes Dom, we get it, you know everyone.), a hard hitting political piece, and a expose on the past of politics, hollywood, or society. The articles are mostly great stuff, but with some clunkers in every issue. Every time I receive an issue, I know there will be articles that will fascinate me. Friends use to claim that Vanity Fair was a girl's magazine. Well, its not just for women anymore.

That being said, don't just order here. Go to their website and to the subscription inserts in the magazine itself, compare the prices, and request that a billing notice be sent to you instead of paying with a credit card. This way when your subscription is up for renewal, you have the opportunity to cancel without your card being charged. Often times sites like this one utilize a third party service that contracts with the various magazines, your payment goes to them and they auto-renew you. I find it easier to do it through the magazine themselves. Saves me the trouble, and invariably, the magazine comes a lot quicker.

books comics & magazines : Comic Artist's Photo Reference: People and Poses (Comic Artists Reference)

2008-01-06T17:50:00.000-08:00

Adult/High School–This is a terrific book for all artists, not just those interested in comics. Professional artists demonstrate how to use photo references in drawing, what materials to use, and techniques needed to do studies and finish the work professionally. The photos show models in various action poses, alone and in pairs, with and without props, in capes and street clothes, and expressing several emotions. The only difference between this and a professional artist's photo reference book–and what makes it a perfect addition to a library or art classroom–is that the models are all clothed. The CD-ROM has the images from the book and can be used by groups working together.–Dana Cobern-Kullman, Luther Burbank Middle School, Burbank, CA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The ultimate reference for comic artists, this unique book/CD set is packed with photos of men and women in basic and dramatic superhero poses uniquely tailored to the comic artist’s needs. Comic Artist’s Photo Reference:
-Delivers over 500 color images of beautiful women and muscled men in the poses comic artists need
-Features six step-by-step demonstrations by well-known artists, so readers can learn firsthand from the pros
-Comes with a CD-ROM of over 500 additional photos for added inspiration
With this reference, comic artists of all skill levels can draw from a diverse group of models in a hundreds of poses--any time they want!

REVIEW

Useful Artist's Reference, July 30, 2006
By
LadyNaava "LadyNaava"

People and Poses is an excellent drawing reference for those interested in drawing human figure in action poses. This Impact title is chock full of spectacular photos of the human figure and contains a small amount of drawing instruction towards the end. I particularly like the 'couple's photos,' and the pictures depicting wounded/injured poses. Overall, a great resource sure to please those interested in improving their art. 5 stars

very handy for the professional, July 5, 2006
By
Drusilla Kehl "Artist & Rat Lover"

I already own Buddy Scalera's Pose reference DVDs and was delighted to see he'd come out with a book. I am a professional storyboard artist and find the figure and light/shadow reference in this book to be extremely helpful. While it may be geared more to the comic book artist (fighting and swordplay poses); nevertheless, I think it is worth owning. It comes with a DVD with more material. For a modest price, I think it's a terrific source for anyone drawing the human figure.

Perfect for the animator or comic artist, December 26, 2006
By
Chaya J. Anderson "SecretAgent00K9"

GREAT GREAT GREAT!!!! I bought this book before it was widely released and brought it to one of my animation classes at school. All the other students liked it so much, they wanted a copy as well; but because at that time it was difficult to find, I had to watch my back to make sure nobody snatched my copy when I wasn't looking! This book is packed with lively and dramatic poses from fabulous perspectives! It's perfect for the animator, illustator, and comic book artist, helping the artist achive those hard-to-draw angles. I highly recommend this book!

books comics & magazines : Ready, Fire, Aim: Zero to $100 Million in No Time Flat (Agora Series)

2008-01-06T17:46:00.000-08:00

Author : Michael Masterson

This book walks readers through a focused strategy designed to get their business ventures started and moving toward profitability as quickly as possible. Masterson feels that too many people are distracted when they're starting their business and stop by focusing on the obstacles. The book will start with the most important moves that an entrepreneur needs including: not spending too much time planning, not spending too much money, getting operational fast, getting quick cash and not looking for a team but focusing on what the founder can do on his or her own. Then, the book discusses in detail the other necessary steps to success from effective communication, selling, hiring a team, expanding one's business, being a mentor, etc.

From the Inside Flap

If you had the opportunity to work where, when, and with whom you wanted—all while getting paid very well—would you take it? Self-made multimillionaire and bestselling author Michael Masterson did, and with Ready, Fire, Aim he'll show you how to do the same.

Whether you're thinking about starting a new business or growing an existing one, Ready, Fire, Aim has what you need to succeed in your entrepreneurial endeavors. In it, Masterson shares the knowledge he has gained from creating and expanding numerous businesses and outlines a focused strategy for guiding a small business through the four stages of entrepreneurial growth. Along the way, Masterson teaches you the different skills needed in order to excel in this dynamic environment.

While some of the concepts covered may seem novel, all of them have been proven to work time and again. Among other things, you'll discover:
-Why selling is your first business priority and the one thing you should never stop doing
-The handful of numbers that are critical to every business
-When to cut your losses short and when to let your winners run
-The front-end/back-end method of doubling profits easily
-Why having a Plan B is as important as Plan A, and when and how to create it
-The difference between pushers, thinkers, organizers, and sellers, and how to attract the ones you need for your business

Over the course of his remarkably successful career, Michael Masterson has helped start and develop dozens of multimillion-dollar businesses, including one whose revenues exceeded $135 million and another still growing at $300 million. Now, with Ready, Fire, Aim, he'll show you how to make your way to the top by designing powerful marketing campaigns that will regularly outsell your competitors; implementing innovative operational procedures that will reduce costs and hassles; and using the revolutionary power of the Internet to reduce customer complaints and increase profits.

To start and grow multimillion-dollar businesses over and over again you have to master certain skills. Ready, Fire, Aim reveals what those skills are and shows you how to quickly master them. Filled with in-depth insights and expert advice, this remarkable guide for entrepreneurs gives you a blueprint for business and financial success that will allow you to enjoy life to its fullest.

MAGAZINES : Discover

2008-01-05T17:55:00.000-08:00

Product Description

From Amazon.com
Science rules the headlines these days, with new developments each week in genetics, astrophysics, computers, and medicine, and Discover is a great way to get a broad spectrum of science news. Designed for the general reader, Discover translates and interprets many of the same stories professionals peruse in Scientific American. Accessible articles on genetically engineered food, what's living in your pillows, real robots in action, and what makes a Stradivarius sing add up to a truly delightful family science magazine. Each issue brings to light new and newsworthy topics to stimulate dinnertime and water-cooler conversations beyond the mundane, and Discover spices the mix with puzzles, Web links, book reviews, and experiments for amateur scientists. --Therese Littleton

Product Description
DISCOVER Magazine provides access to startling developments in science, technology and medicine with a renewed emphasis on how those breakthroughs affect the world.? DISCOVER is where curious people turn for the news and stories that interest them?and that make them more interesting.

One of my all-time favorites!, April 3, 2002
By
K. L Sadler
As a scientist/educator, I enjoy reading about current science being done in all fields, whether neuroscience or astronomy. We get so specialized in our fields sometimes, we forget about the other sciences which we are not personally involved in. This is one of the better science journals for laypeople who have limited background in most sciences. It's great for me, and I have a large background in most sciences. But so much happens in all areas of scientific endeavor that it is impossible to keep up with. So a magazine like Discover helps to close the gap on my personal ignorance in other areas of science besides neuroscience.

Discover is by the same people running Discovery Channel. Their information is good, they do the research, and they often broach difficult and contrary science concepts which may not be mainstream yet. Their writers and editors do an excellent job. My own personal favorite article each month is Vital Signs, from doctors about medical cases that may be strange or that need to be brought to the attention of the public. I always read that first.

This is a good magazine for high school students to have access to in addition to the regular science textbooks. The type of information given often makes science more accessible for high school students. They can see why someone would choose to go into particular fields of science, and why research is needed.

One of my all-time favorites!, April 3, 2002
By
K. L Sadler
As a scientist/educator, I enjoy reading about current science being done in all fields, whether neuroscience or astronomy. We get so specialized in our fields sometimes, we forget about the other sciences which we are not personally involved in. This is one of the better science journals for laypeople who have limited background in most sciences. It's great for me, and I have a large background in most sciences. But so much happens in all areas of scientific endeavor that it is impossible to keep up with. So a magazine like Discover helps to close the gap on my personal ignorance in other areas of science besides neuroscience.
Discover is by the same people running Discovery Channel. Their information is good, they do the research, and they often broach difficult and contrary science concepts which may not be mainstream yet. Their writers and editors do an excellent job. My own personal favorite article each month is Vital Signs, from doctors about medical cases that may be strange or that need to be brought to the attention of the public. I always read that first.
This is a good magazine for high school students to have access to in addition to the regular science textbooks. The type of information given often makes science more accessible for high school students. They can see why someone would choose to go into particular fields of science, and why research is needed.
I do not always agree with the information given. Too many times, it seems that Discover and its editors promote ideas or new medical concepts/technology which has not been proven. As always, lay readers should be sure to get a variety of inputs and information, as well as second opinions before accepting what is said by Discover or any other source. An example of this is the retinal implant spoken about in 2001. Readers should not go asking their physicians about such technology for themselves, but should do as much research as possible prior to making a decision on experimental procedures.Karen SAdler,Science Education,University of Pittsburgh

The lighter side of Science, October 26, 2001
By
Zack Davisson
Discover is a fun magazine, and a much easier read than Scientific American. Mind you, it does not have the density of it's fellow publication, but I seem to pick Discover up more often lying around the house.

A nice broad range of categories are covered by Discover, with an eye for "topical science." The editors are good at identifying scientific trends (like cloning), and are quick to get articles out. This is a great benefit for those who want to stay knowledgeable about science, but do not have the time to invest in deep research.

As with any science magazine, fantastic pictures fill the pages. Charts and images are well-used to illustrate and clarify unfamiliar topics. A well put-together magazine.

COMICS : Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga and Graphic Novels

2008-01-05T17:49:00.000-08:00

Author : Scott Mccloud

Customer Review

For any fan of comics (even if you can't draw), November 24, 2006
By
mrliteral

When it comes to artwork, I am at the stick figure level. My talents for making visual art, whether painter, comic book artist or whatever, are, at best minimal. At first glance, therefore, it might seem that I am not the right audience for a book like Scott McCloud's Making Comics. I am, however, a long-time comic book fan. The advantage to Making Comics for a drawing layman like myself is the same as watching a "making of" documentary of a movie (or listening to a DVD commentary). You gain a better understanding of what you are looking at.

Unlike a painting, comic strip writing is a sequential art, a depiction of a series of pictures that, typically with text, tell a story. McCloud gets into the narrative aspects of comics writing immediately with a chapter on writing with pictures in which he discusses how the sequence of pictures (or panels) typically relate to each other. For example, panels can go from moment-to-moment, depicting a single action as a series of moments (like showing a baseball player swinging a bat. A different panel transition is action-to-action, showing a subject doing a series of actions (panel one shows the player hitting the ball, two shows him running, three shows his sliding, etc.). Besides these choices of moment, there are also choices of frame (essentially, point of view), choice of image, choice of word and choice of flow.

McCloud also goes into how to draw people, how to blend word and picture, how to build worlds, and, in the only chapter that is really specific to actual artists, what the tools of the trade are. There is a lot in this book, and it's all told with McCloud's easy going narrative where a depiction of himself guides us through all the ideas.

Part of the magic of comics is the way the reader's mind fills in the gaps, an idea that McCloud first introduced in Understanding Comics. With a couple dots and a line, we can see a face. When we see two panels, one showing a player swinging at a ball, the next with him making contact, we "see" the motion even if it's not really there. Similarly, we feel like it is actually McCloud talking to us, even if it's really just a picture of him (and making is nothing like what he really looks like).

In short, this is a brilliant book. I am not a huge fan of Reinventing Comics, but Understanding Comics is a classic and this book follows right in its footsteps. If you enjoy comic books (or comic strips), this book is a must-read, even if you can't draw.

Great for learning the craft of comics (and for classroom use), September 8, 2006
By
C. Hill

"Making Comics" is true to its title -- it's very well suited for folks eager to learn the craft of "making comics." I teach a Sequential Art class at California State University, Fullerton and I have made it a required reading book, because it so solidly articulates the elements of comic art from the perspective of the artist. McCloud has been teaching comics at workshops and guest speaking engagements across the country. His having been in the teacher's seat manifestly helps make his points all the more applicable and meaningful. For instance, McCloud uses examples from comics from around the world (Asian mangas, Eurocomics or BD, Western superheroes and alternative comics) that will resonate with modern audiences who perceive comics as more than the "mainstream" superhero comics. "Making Comics" casts the same clarity and passion that made "Understanding Comics" so compelling, and it is not as speculative as "Reinventing Comics." Readers of "Understanding Comics" may find that "Making Comics" covers a lot of the same ground, and that is inevitable (so if you are more into analyzing comics rather than making your own, "Understanding Comics" is for you). In a nutshell, Making Comics is a solid starting point for budding and eager comic artists!

BOOKS : I Am America (And So Can You!)

2008-01-05T17:45:00.000-08:00

Author : Stephen colbert

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers

WeeklyStarred Review. Realizing that it takes more than thirty minutes a night to fix everything that's destroying America, Colbert bravely takes on the forces aligned to destroy our country—whether they be terrorists, environmentalists, or Kashi brand breakfast cereals. His various targets include nature (I've never trusted the sea. What's it hiding under there?), the Hollywood Blacklist (I would have named enough names to fill the Moscow phone book), and atheists (Imagine going through life completely duped into thinking that there's no invisible, omniscient higher power guiding every action on Earth. It's just so arbitrary!). Colbert also provides helpful illustrations and charts (Things That Are Trying to Turn Me Gay) [and] a complete transcript of his infamous speech at the 2006 White House Correspondents' Dinner [...] all of which add up to a book that is sure to be a bestseller and match the success of Colbert's former Daily Show boss Jon Stewart's America (The Book). (Oct.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Book Description

What The Daily Show is to evening news, The Colbert Report is to personality-driven pundit shows. Colbert brings his sarcastic charm to a half-hour report, tackling the important issues of the day and telling his guests why their opinions are just plain wrong. Stephen stands for truthiness and his American right to copyright that word and claim ownership of it.Stephen Colbert describes his book as a simple book from a simple mind--Stephen Colbert. It is one man's attempt to wedge his brain between hardback covers. In plain conversational language, not to mention the occasional grunt and/or whistle, Stephen explains his take on the most pressing concerns of our culture: Faith, Family...Hygiene. Why write this book now? Stephen fears America has lost its balls. He hopes to re-ballify us. Even the ladies. Ladies can have balls--lady-balls. Stephen likes to call those "Thatchers." Stephen will show how he got his mammoth swinging sack, with tales of courage and vital documents from his own life: the Mother's Day card he made at age six, disputed credit card bills, putt-putt score cards--all the major milestones.

The perfect Christmas gift!, April 19, 2007
By
Stephen Colbert "Stephen Colbert" (USA! #1!)
This review is from: I Am America (And So Can You!) (Hardcover) I cannot recommend this book highly enough. A powerhouse. A tour de truth. I laughed. I cried. I lost 15 pounds! A must buy!

Inspirational. Motivational. Educational. Truthitational., October 10, 2007
By
Kathleen Hoppe "mom of the Great 8"
This review is from: I Am America (And So Can You!) (Hardcover) Get a little inspiration! Just when you may be wondering how much longer you can stand living in a country that airs Fox News 24/7, along comes Stephen Colbert's long awaited diatribe. Reading him rail against homosexuals, liberals and the media is a bit like being back in high school and trying to decide who to vote for on the Student Council. You may realize that while one of the guys is a real douche bag, he just has that certain "it" factor that you know will make HIM win and you want to make sure you can say you voted for him. You want to be on his side and speak HIS language. Stephen Colbert's character on the Colbert Report is exactly that kind of guy; except that while you are shaking his hand (or reading the words) you are thinking how insane it is that there are people out there WHO ACTUALLY *DO* THINK LIKE THIS. You draw from the wellspring of his deep insanity, smiling, nodding, thinking "where will I hide my kids when these people organize?" (If you're smart you'll realize that they already have, they're called the Republican party, and you'll be out there campaigning against them.) Colbert uses this book to flesh out his character in a way that allows us to feel even more intimately linked to his neo-right wing propaganda cause. He begins with an explanation of how he came to be the Man he is today, how he was shaped into the conservative model of greatness that leads the ColbertNation. Be sure that this is nothing BUT the opinion of Stephen Colbert OF the Colbert Report. If you are a fan of the show, you will LOVE the book, as I did, knowing it has no relation to Stephen Colbert the actor who plays the character on the show. If you have no idea what show I am talking about, you'd be best off buying the book and reading it after watching the show on Comedy Central a few times first. Or better yet, and better for Stephen's pocket book, buy the newly released DVD of the "Best of the Colbert Report" available everywhere. IF you read the book and love it without having ever watched the show, God help us.

Ow., September 8, 2007
By
SpaceBass
This review is from: I Am America (And So Can You!) (Hardcover) I picked up this book too fast and broke my wrist. There should be a warning label.

MAGAZINES : ESPN The Magazine

2008-01-04T23:04:00.001-08:00

Product Description

Amazon.com

Like the industry leader in sports television that created it, ESPN the Magazine is big, bold, and brash, using its oversize format to show off striking full-page images and splashy sidebars. It's not all flash, though: the magazine also gets contributions from familiar on-air talent such as Dan Patrick, Chris Berman, Stuart Scott, Peter Gammons, and John Clayton as well as the athletes themselves. The biweekly format doesn't allow for the minutiae that The Sporting News handles, so you'll get broader features--playoff previews, personality profiles, photo spreads--with an emphasis on basketball, football, baseball, hockey, and some extreme sports, though off-season coverage tends to be limited to a page or two. --David Horiuchi

Product Description

The Magazine for the NEXT generation of sports fans with emphasis on the personality, lifestyle & off--the-field activities of today's newsworthy &up-and-coming athletes. All delivered with insights, humor, cutting edge design and in-your-face photography.

Customer Review

has big feet, December 24, 2006
By
David A. Baer

Like a puppy with large paws, ESPN The Magazine may grow up to be a large periodical. Right now I'd call it a fun-loving puppy without housetraining. Don't get me wrong, puppies are cute. I like puppies. Everybody does. You may not want to pay an annual subscription for a magazine that looks and acts like a puppy, though. That's your call. I wanted SI, but that venerable publication can't be had for the price of frequent flyer miles like ESPN The Magazine can. So I compromised. By comparison with SI, ESPN The Magazine gives you a flashier, big-photo, post-modern jumble of short pieces that seems to derive from the verbal, television-friendly style of its parent. I'm not the deepest of sports fan, so I don't mind this. But if you're after the kind of in-depth analysis that SI offers, you might be disappointed by this alternative. ESPN The Magazine is definitely a *fun* read, and if that's what you want, you'll like this. When my first issue came wrapped in a 'special promotional issue cover jacket' that presented Ricky Bobby as 'Sports Figure of the Year?', I knew instantly that this publication couldn't be all bad. And it's not. But it's light. It's airy. It's bubbly. Think SI Lite. Think halfway between a comic book and USA Today. Think a puppy with big feet. Hey, puppies are just all right with me.

Embarrassingly Bad, June 9, 2007
By
JAD

I should preface my review with two facts. First, I don't pay for ESPN The Magazine, it just started showing up in my mailbox a few months back and hasn't stopped. Secondly, I love sports, so I'm interested in the material. With that said, this magazine seems to have been designed for those under the age of 14, or at the very least, individuals with attention spans equal to Robin Williams on speed. The writing is juvenile and boring while the format is clearly an attempt to mask these faults. To make up for its kiddie pool depth, the magazine is stuffed with things like countdowns, top 10 lists, odds and anything else an interns can whip up before the deadline. Bottom line, it takes 4 minutes to read the thing cover to cover, and at the end you'll wish you had that time back.

COMICS : Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life

2008-01-04T22:59:00.001-08:00

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

At age 10, Steve Martin got a job selling guidebooks at the newly opened Disneyland. In the decade that followed, he worked in Disney's magic shop, print shop, and theater, and developed his own magic/comedy act. By age 20, studying poetry and philosophy on the side, he was performing a dozen times a week, most often at the Disney rival, Knott's Berry Farm. Obsession is a substitute for talent, he has said, and Steve Martin's focus and daring--his sheer tenacity--are truly stunning. He writes about making the very tough decision to sacrifice everything not original in his act, and about lucking into a job writing for The Smothers Brothers Show. He writes about mentors, girlfriends, his complex relationship with his parents and sister, and about some of his great peers in comedy--Dan Ackroyd, Lorne Michaels, Carl Reiner, Johnny Carson. He writes about fear, anxiety and loneliness. And he writes about how he figured out what worked on stage.

This book is a memoir, but it is also an illuminating guidebook to stand-up from one of our two or three greatest comedians. Though Martin is reticent about his personal life, he is also stunningly deft, and manages to give readers a feeling of intimacy and candor. Illustrated throughout with black and white photographs collected by Martin, this book is instantly compelling visually and a spectacularly good read.

CUstomer Review

Wonderful book, a must read, thank you Steve Martin!!!, November 22, 2007
By
Thomas B. Gross

My pre-ordered copy from Amazon arrived the day before Thanksgiving. I tried to explain to my son who was home from college for the break how much I looked forward to reading Steve Martin's autobiography. He thought it sounded about as interesting as reading the autobiography of Chevy Chase.

But to anyone old enough to remember Steve Martin's sensational, if seemingly brief, career as a stand-up comic, this is a fascinating book, not to be missed. There is much here that was new to me. I had no idea, for example, that he appeared so many times on the Tonight Show before becoming really famous, or that he had appeared as a bearded, long-haired comedian before adopting his famous clean-cut 3-piece white suit look, or that he suffered from debilitating panic attacks just as he began his career as a writer on the Smothers Brothers show.

For the first 80 pages or so I thought his life story was a bit humdrum, almost like a parody of Bob Dylan's "Chronicles". Martin grew up 2 miles from Disneyland, and the fact that he became an entertainer seemed almost inevitable. But the book really takes off as he recounts the early days of his career making the transition from magician with a few funny bits to a full-blown stand-up comic. Not that Steve Martin is the colossal genius that Bob Dylan is, but it's interesting that much as Dylan describes how he became a songwriter because he realized he could never succeed as a virtuoso guitarist, Martin writes how he became a comic because, well, who doesn't want to be in show business?

At the height of his career as a stand-up comic Steve Martin was the funniest man in America. One of the joys of this book is that he appreciates how funny he was and delights in retelling the same jokes that amused us then and amuse us now. For the generation of Americans who came of age in the Seventies, Steve Martin's routines remain an important part of our lives. For example, for me personally, on the night in September 1978 when I finished my first day as a microprocessor programmer I recalled his profound insight: "...and the most amazing thing to me is: I get paid for doing this." I am very grateful that Steve Martin has taken the time to write this book.

Well, Excuuuuuuuse Me!, December 3, 2007
By
prisrob "pris,"

"Even for readers already familiar with Mr. Martin's solemn side, "Born "Standing Up" is a surprising book: smart, serious, heartfelt and confessional without being maudlin. Decades after the fact he looks back at a period of invention and innovation, marveling at the thought that his efforts might have led absolutely nowhere if they had not wildly succeeded. While there is much to validate his sense of having been lucky, nobody put it better than Elvis Presley, whom Mr. Martin once encountered backstage when both were enjoying the status of show-business kings. "Son," he says Presley told him, "you have an ob-leek sense of humor." Janet Maslin

The wild and crazy guy known to us from Saturday Night Live, is in reality a straight square guy. His performance dress is a pressed suit and smartly parted hair. In fact when Steve Martin was in college his intellectual pursuit was philosophy where he garnered 'A's'. He deplored the wearing of jeans, and he gave up his one hippiness, smoking marijuana-it caused him anxiety. He was born near Disneyland, and the years of his youth were not happy ones. His father was a businessman who had yearned to be in show business. He gave up that life because he needed to earn a living for his family, and in doing so he gave up his dream. He was a man with little humor and rarely paid attention to Steve. It was Steve's mother who was the light and love. Her greatest love was shopping and when she died, Steve and his sister buried her facing a shopping mall.

Steve's early years started by working with magicians and he would fastidiously copy down every magic act. He worked at Disneyland and knotts Berry Farm for most of his youth, and then he was ready to move on. He moved to San Francisco to do comedy. One of his first jobs was to bring in people for an audience at a club. He entered this foray at the beginning years of Hippydom and though he was never really part of this era he enjoyed it. He gradually built up his stand-up comedy act. He appeared on Johnny Carson many times. His act was so strange that Johnny relegated him to appear with his stand-ins. After Steve made a hit on 'Saturday Night Live' and in his stand-up routine Johnny welcomed him back to the prime time. Steve realized that when his 'gigs' became so large that he could not bring the audience into the street he realized stand-up was over for him. He has appeared in many 'family films, written several books and still has a comedy routine. His life has become exactly what he wants it to be.

"Martin's memoir will similarly confuse those who come to it looking for laughs. It is a mostly unfunny yet oddly stirring book about the comedian's early life, beginning with his boyhood before moving through his 20s and on up to 1982. Having watched him make a career out of mixed cues, out of blending lofty ideas with physical comedy, Martin's audience can get confused. He once predicted that if he withheld a punch line long enough, "the audience would eventually pick their own place to laugh, essentially out of desperation. And so, having been conditioned by the first 20 years of his career, we have a Pavlovian response to the mere sight of him: We laugh. Even if it is out of desperation, it's no less sweet. " Erika Schickel An insightful book and look into the stand-up life of Steve Martin. Highly Recommended. prisrob 12-03-07

BOOKS : The Kite Runner

2008-01-04T22:50:00.000-08:00

**1574 of customer reviews rate this book for 5 stars**>>>good book

Author : Khaled Hosseini

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com

In his debut novel, The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini accomplishes what very few contemporary novelists are able to do. He manages to provide an educational and eye-opening account of a country's political turmoil--in this case, Afghanistan--while also developing characters whose heartbreaking struggles and emotional triumphs resonate with readers long after the last page has been turned over. And he does this on his first try.

The Kite Runner follows the story of Amir, the privileged son of a wealthy businessman in Kabul, and Hassan, the son of Amir's father's servant. As children in the relatively stable Afghanistan of the early 1970s, the boys are inseparable. They spend idyllic days running kites and telling stories of mystical places and powerful warriors until an unspeakable event changes the nature of their relationship forever, and eventually cements their bond in ways neither boy could have ever predicted. Even after Amir and his father flee to America, Amir remains haunted by his cowardly actions and disloyalty. In part, it is these demons and the sometimes impossible quest for forgiveness that bring him back to his war-torn native land after it comes under Taliban rule. ("...I wondered if that was how forgiveness budded, not with the fanfare of epiphany, but with pain gathering its things, packing up, and slipping away unannounced in the middle of the night.")

Some of the plot's turns and twists may be somewhat implausible, but Hosseini has created characters that seem so real that one almost forgets that The Kite Runner is a novel and not a memoir. At a time when Afghanistan has been thrust into the forefront of America's collective consciousness ("people sipping lattes at Starbucks were talking about the battle for Kunduz"), Hosseini offers an honest, sometimes tragic, sometimes funny, but always heartfelt view of a fascinating land. Perhaps the only true flaw in this extraordinary novel is that it ends all too soon. --Gisele Toueg --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers

WeeklyHosseini's stunning debut novel starts as an eloquent Afghan version of the American immigrant experience in the late 20th century, but betrayal and redemption come to the forefront when the narrator, a writer, returns to his ravaged homeland to rescue the son of his childhood friend after the boy's parents are shot during the Taliban takeover in the mid '90s. Amir, the son of a well-to-do Kabul merchant, is the first-person narrator, who marries, moves to California and becomes a successful novelist. But he remains haunted by a childhood incident in which he betrayed the trust of his best friend, a Hazara boy named Hassan, who receives a brutal beating from some local bullies. After establishing himself in America, Amir learns that the Taliban have murdered Hassan and his wife, raising questions about the fate of his son, Sohrab. Spurred on by childhood guilt, Amir makes the difficult journey to Kabul, only to learn the boy has been enslaved by a former childhood bully who has become a prominent Taliban official. The price Amir must pay to recover the boy is just one of several brilliant, startling plot twists that make this book memorable both as a political chronicle and a deeply personal tale about how childhood choices affect our adult lives. The character studies alone would make this a noteworthy debut, from the portrait of the sensitive, insecure Amir to the multilayered development of his father, Baba, whose sacrifices and scandalous behavior are fully revealed only when Amir returns to Afghanistan and learns the true nature of his relationship to Hassan. Add an incisive, perceptive examination of recent Afghan history and its ramifications in both America and the Middle East, and the result is a complete work of literature that succeeds in exploring the culture of a previously obscure nation that has become a pivot point in the global politics of the new millennium.Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Customer Review

Your heart will soar, June 17, 2003
By
Ron Franscell, Author of FALL
This review is from: The Kite Runner (Alex Awards (Awards)) (Hardcover) The earth turns and the wind blows and sometimes some marvelous scrap of paper is blown against the fence for us to find. And once found, we become aware there are places out there that are both foreign and familiar. Funny what the wind brings.

And now it brings "The Kite Runner," a beautiful novel by Afghan-American Khaled Hosseini that ranks among the best-written and provocative stories of the year so far.

Hosseini's first novel -- and the first Afghan novel to be written originally in English -- "The Kite Runner" tells a heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between Amir, the son of a wealthy Afghan businessman, and Hassan, the son of his father's servant. Amir is Sunni; Hassan is Shi'a. One is born to a privileged class; the other to a loathed minority. One to a father of enormous presence; the other to a crippled man. One is a voracious reader; the other illiterate.

The poor Hassan is born with a hare lip, but Amir's gaps are better hidden, deep inside.

Yet Amir and Hassan live and play together, not simply as friends, but as brothers without mothers. Their intimate story traces across the expansive canvas of history, 40 years in Afghanistan's tragic evolution, like a kite under a gathering storm. The reader is blown from the last days of Kabul's monarchy -- salad days in which the boys lives' are occupied with school, welcome snows, American cowboy movies and neighborhood bullies -- into the atrocities of the Taliban, which turned the boys' green playing fields red with blood.

This unusually eloquent story is also about the fragile relationship fathers and sons, humans and their gods, men and their countries. Loyalty and blood are the ties that bind their stories into one of the most lyrical, moving and unexpected books of this year.

Hosseini's title refers to a traditional tournament for Afghan children in which kite-flyers compete by slicing through the strings of their opponents with their own razor-sharp, glass-encrusted strings. To be the child who wins the tournament by downing all the other kites -- and to be the "runner" who chases down the last losing kite as it flutters to earth -- is the greatest honor of all.

And in that metaphor of flyer and runner, Hosseini's story soars.

And fear not, gentle reader. This isn't a "foreign" book. Unlike Boris Pasternak's "Dr. Zhivago," Hosseini's narrative resonates with familiar rhythms and accessible ideas, all in prose that equals or exceeds the typical American story form. While exotic Afghan customs and Farsi words pop up occasionally, they are so well-defined for the reader that the book is enlightening and fascinating, not at all tedious.

Nor is it a dialectic on Islam. Amir's beloved father, Baba, is the son of a wise judge who enjoys his whiskey, television, and the perks of capitalism. A moderate in heart and mind, Hosseini has little good to say about Islamic extremism.

"The Kite Runner" is a song in a new key. Hosseini is an exhilaratingly original writer with a gift for irony and a gentle, perceptive heart. His canvas might be a place and time Americans are only beginning to understand, but he paints his art on the page, where it is intimate and poignant.

Afghanistan, The Taliban, and Family Love, May 21, 2004
By
prisrob "pris,"

This review is from: The Kite Runner (Alex Awards (Awards)) (Hardcover)"The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini is one of those marvelous books that opens up our hearts and minds. This book puts a name and face to the people we are helping to free. This is a book at once so magnificent,it is difficult to comprehend and describe. How could we be fighting for freedom in this far off land, Afghanistan, and not understand the people; their heritage, their land and what they lost?

This book transports us to a very different time in the 1960's. Amir and Hassan, friends, raised in the same household, but in different worlds. Amir is the son of a wealthy businessman, and Hassan is the son of the servant, Hazara. There may be a difference in the lives they led, but they became fast friends. Amir would learn to read and Hassan would not. Amir would have the most beautiful toys and particularly kites, and Hassan would be able to help Amir play with the toys and run (fly) his kite. Amir was the spolied son, Hassan was the intelligent and intuitive servant's son. Their lives would intertwine even when separated.

When the Russian army invaded, Amir and his father fled to the United States, California. Amir grew up in a different land, but with the same Afghanistan culture. He and his father became close. Amir married, went to college, all the while wondering what happened to his childhood friend, the one he betrayed.

As time marched on, Amir lost his father to cancer and was summoned to Pakistan to meet with an old family friend. This turns out to be a life renewing event. Amir searches for news of his friend, Hassan. The search takes him back to Afghanistan, to an orphanage, a meeting with a member of the Taliban, a search for his lost city and culture and for a prize he will cherish, for the truth and for the life he regains.

This is a gritty book, the beauty and violence of this country, Afghanistan, comes to life. The customs and food and smells of the city; the desolation of life and the loss of the country to madmen who are running it with only their imagined vulgar needs and wealth in mind that destroys a culture so varied and rich.We can imagine we are there, and we can share in the sights, the smells, the utter disregard for human life. But we can never know what these people have lost. A book, I will cherish, so will you. prisrob

MAGAZINES : SmartMoney

2008-01-04T22:45:00.000-08:00

Product Description
From the Publisher

About this Title

SMART MONEY is a personal business magazine edited for discriminating investors, featuring practical and imaginative ideas for investing, spending, and saving. Articles and features provide action-oriented information on investment opportunities and pitfalls. Editorial asks tough questions about the big names and big businesses that affect important personal business decisions.

Customer REview

The best personal finance mag out there, February 18, 2002
By
Tony Ursillo

I have been a subscriber for 5 or 6 years now and I always find each issue to be valuable. SmartMoney strikes a good balance between investment advice/coverage and information/articles that deal with the other aspects of your financial life. Among the features I look forward to every month:
- Ten Things: a "watch out" list of 10 things that you should know about the different professionals you interact with (your dentist, your accountant, a real estate broker, etc.). Always an eye-opener.- Stock Screen: Paul Sturm is a knowledgeable, value-oriented journalist who puts together a list each month of 8-10 stocks that make it through a rigid screen of several characteristics. Each month, he features a different screen and he uses a good mix of quantitative characteristics and common sense to generate the list.- Feature articles that profile common people and the serious personal finance problems they have endured (e.g., collecting on insurance, fighting the IRS, traveling overseas).
SmartMoney is frequently compared to Money magazine, but Money is often more narrowly focused on investing and it sometimes dumbs down its articles. I also read BusinessWeek, Forbes and Fortune regularly. While they all have their place, none provides the depth and common sense focus of SmartMoney when it comes to personal finance. I have photocopied and saved countless articles and I sometimes refer to them years later. ... my advice is to get a subscription now - it's definitely worth it.

Great magazine, December 16, 2002
By
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I subscribe to all of the big names, Fortune, Forbes, Money, Businessweek and by far Smartmoney has given me the best bang for my buck. It's easy-to-read timely articles are a no-nonsense approach to what every individual needs; honest, straight-forward advice.

BOOKS : the best of Dinosaur Comics: 2003-2005 A.D.

2008-01-04T22:41:00.001-08:00

All of 12 customer reviews rate this comic for 5 stars

Author : Ryan North

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Dinosaur Comics is an intelligent, thoughtful and hilarious daily comic which creatively uses the same six panel format for each installment. The daily comic first appeared on-line at www.qwantz.com and now boasts over 300,000 unique readers each month. Fans "click in" to see the philosophical thoughts, rants and misgivings of T-rex, the neurotic main character played by, well, a house-stopming-0apparently-college-educated Tyrannasaurus Rex. He carries on regular dialog with Utahraptor and Dromiceiomimus while God and the Devil make regular off-screen cameos.

About the Author

Ryan North is awesome, all the time.

Hey ladies!, April 19, 2006
By
Emma

Dinosaur Comics is a product of brilliance. I'm so glad this book is now available!

For the Sake of Full Disclosure..., June 7, 2006
By
Tom Grant

I personally have not bought this book (I live in England), but I have read the comics online, and I would like to make sure that anyone reading this review gets the full story on Dinosaur Comics. The bottom line is, these comics are amazing, but - this is a big but - often very philisophical and even intellectual. In fact, many of the best bits are based on T-Rex's penchant for ranting about philosophy and sociology. If you get your ire up when people start using big words, then this book will irritate you to no end. I think this stuff is great, but as long as you can get a perfectly reliable preview (for free) of the sort of things to expect (qwantz.com) there's no reason not to make sure whether or not this is your sort of humor.

Excellent, August 8, 2006
By
Alexander John Enten "Hamlet Sr."

This book is fantastic. If you are a fan of dinosaur comics, then this book provides is great because of its portability and also because it is very classy b+w. If you are not a fan of dinosaur comics this book is a classy, black and white representation of the comics from the popular webcomic. I have no real reason to repeat what many others have said about Mr. North's work, but I will anyways. It was said best this way: "Picture watching the same movie again and again, where the dialogue is changed so completely, and with so much skill that you forget that you've seen these images before. Now picture that every day for two years. That's Dinosaur Comics." This is that, in book form. Awesome.