Editorial Review

The acclaimed national bestseller-a no-holds-barred account of what you can really expect when you're expecting

Oh, the joys of pregnancy! There's the gassiness, constipation, queasiness, and exhaustion, the forgetfulness, crankiness, and the constant worry. Of course, no woman is spared the discomforts and humiliations of pregnancy, but most are too polite to complain or too embarrassed to talk about them. Not Jenny McCarthy!

In the New York Times best-selling Belly Laughs, actress and new mother Jenny McCarthy reveals the naked truth about the tremendous joys, the excruciating pains, and the unseemly disfigurement that go along with pregnancy. Never shy, frequently crude, and always laugh-out-loud funny, McCarthy covers it all in the grittiest of girlfriend detail. From morning sickness and hormonal rage, to hemorrhoids, pregnant sex, and the torture and sweet relief that is delivery, Belly Laughs is must-read comic relief for anyone who is pregnant, who has ever been pregnant, is trying to get pregnant, or indeed, has ever been born! ... Read more

Reviews

Funny!!!, June 30, 2009
There are a lot of pregnancy books out there that just, in my option, want to just give you the facts, overlooking the fact that pregnant women need to laugh a little, too. Well, thankfully, there is Belly Laughs and while it is filled with the trials and tribulations of pregnancy, Ms. Mccarthy never fails to poke a little fun at it, too, and at herself. It's just a great read all pregnant women should read. I also liked and would suggest Really Pregnant! Confessions of a New Mom-To-Be or Why I Couldn't Stop Eating Brownies.

Refreshing!, December 1, 2004
I thought this book was truely hilarious, and like many others read it in one sitting.

This book is the antithesis to the matronly and patronising "What to Expect" books. The purpose of this book was not to be educational in this style (she doesn't pretend to be a medical professional) but to be frank about the things most of us are reluctant to discuss.

I for one am so sick of celebrities giving interviews about how wonderful, miraculous and perfect their pregnancies and births are (not to mention the hallmark-card motherhood sentiments). Sure, we all can appreciate just how wonderful the whole process is, but this is written about ad nauseum. It makes us 'real mothers' feel ashamed about our less-than-perfect experiences and feelings. Its time pregnancy/birth/motherhood was represented more realistically in the media.

I think for too long it has been 'taboo' for mothers to complain at all, or admit that things are not always wonderful (perhaps this is contributing to the worrying rates of PND?) I see this open and honest book as a step in the right direction for demystifying the whole process. It tells you the things other books either don't or gloss over, and I applaud her for her courage.

Can't wait to see what she comes up with for the second installment..I hope she is able to be open and honest about more than just her bodily functions but also the mixed feelings that sometimes go along with motherhood.

This book is hilarious!!!!, April 6, 2005
I'm not expecting, but one of my best friends is expecting her first child. My coworker brought this book into work, and she said we had to read this book. I had tears running down my face. This book is a quick read and you can finish it easy in 1 - 2 days. This book takes a light hearted look at pregnancy. Pregnancy is a beautiful experience, but it was fun to read her frank and funny views on gas, the belly expanding, and the all so quiet topic of pooping on the delivery table. There were so many moments when I laughed out loud and had to look around to make sure no one was looking at me all strange.

Some of her other funny stories includes; craving mustard, when she hated mustard. Jenny liking mumus because nothing else fit. Jenny having strange dreams while pregnant. Dealing with hemorrhoids, weighing her breast. Her trying to keep her boobs from hanging off the sides of the mattress due to their size. Surrender to the maternity bra. A pregnant woman's fart can truly bring a man to his knees. I had to find tissue after reading that line. I had so many laughing tears running down my face. The different changes the body go through. Crying for no reason due to hormonal changes, and pregnancy stupids. Skin changes, pregnant head, bad headaches and wanting to saw the head off. Premature labor. Hating skinny women. How she panicked when the epidural wore off and her concerns was still "Am I pooping on the table." Don't make a pregnant woman want to pee.

This book is not meant to be a pregnancy guide, it's meant to take a light hearted comical look at going through the pregnancy experience. I mean the book is after all called Belly Laughs. If you are expecting this book to have some new insight on pregnancy then you will be mistaken. If you have a great sense of humor you will find yourself enjoying this book a lot.

This book will make you laugh and laugh some more. I bought a copy for my best friend, and she loved it. This book is hilarious!!!!!!!!

It's ok to think about yourself when pregnant!, April 11, 2006
So, for the most part the reviews are either 'OMG, this book is so funny' or 'OMG this book is so offensive!'
It's funny, no questioning that. It's crude, no questioning that either. If you find the "F" word offensive, don't buy it. If you find referring to your privates in "crude" language offensive, don't buy it. For those of us who have conquered the world of adult language and realize that words are just words there are no real problems.

Don't buy this book if you are looking to be educated about pregnancy. It's entitled "Belly Laughs". These are Jenny's anecdotal stories that we all ge to laugh about.

If you are one of those people who is horrified if you hear a pregnant woman call herself fat, say she isn't going to breastfeed or is more concerned with her own image than this "perfect beautifu life inside her" don't buy. For those of us who have actually been through pregnancy without sugar coating it, some days you do feel fat, sometimes you DO want to have sex without jr. kicking you and every once in a while we want to think more about ourselves than being pregnant. It's good that there is a book in the mainstream that validates that feeling instead of saying "all you should think about is this life inside you". Sometimes us pregnant girls want to think about our OWN lives.

Jenny tells it like it is!, May 20, 2004
If you are tired of people telling you what a beautiful experience pregnancy is, this is the book for you! Sure, it is crude, but she tells it like it is. I was shocked at what happened to me during me first pregnancy and would have appreciated Jenny's frank talk, as I didn't hear about these things from anyone else. I thought that I was a freak of nature. At least now I know there were at least two of us! Belly laughs indeed!

Tales from the trenches...Funny, reassuring & right on!, June 3, 2004
Candid, often hysterical "up close and personal" accounts of some of the most embarrassing, annoying, confusing experiences a mother-to-be (or in my case a mother pregnant with her second child) is faced with. It was pure joy and instant relief!...It's as if I was talking to a close girlfriend over a cup of coffee only too happy to discover that I am truly not alone in the occasional feelings of anxiety, guilt, envy, paranoia and general frustration the hormones seem to stir up during this otherwise blessed 9 month period. Humor is indeed therapeutic, an essential tool for successful parenting. Another book that I highly recommend for the same reasons is called "The Pocket Parent." This book is loaded with humor, compassion and hundreds of sanity saving suggestions written exclusively for parents of toddlers. The many short true annecdotes included from the true experts--moms and dads in the trenches of parenthood--continue to help me keep in mind that I am not alone in my hair-raising experiences, thoughts and feelings especially on a really bad day! Both books are excellent additions to your home library that will make you laugh while replenishing your spirit as a more confident parent!

Short, not sweet, but totally HONEST!, October 28, 2004
Pregnancy BBS's are riddled with the abbreviation "TMI," meaning "too much information," which drives me crazy. Posters use it when they're about to timidly discuss the really horrible aspects of pregnancy, usually involving orifices or bodily fluids.

Well, you won't find the abbreviation in Jenny McCarthy's book, and that's 'cuz there's apparently no such thing as "TMI" in her world. Orifices & fluids aplenty: what a refreshing approach!

I read this book, then passed it along to my husband so he can see that even glamourous, beautiful celebrities suffer from hemmorrhoids and other afflictions.

This book is down to earth. I didn't find it laugh-out-loud funny, but it is realistic and cheerful, and that's exactly what I look for in a "middle-trimester-doldrums" kind of book. Enjoy!

Crude, honest, and funny, August 5, 2004
Say what you will about Jenny McCarthy, the girl is funny, and she tells it like it is. I had seen her talking about her pregnancy on tv, so that sparked my interest in this book. For any woman going through a tough pregnancy who needs a pick-me-up, this is definitely it. It is difficult to get the honest truth about pregnancy from women, but Jenny McCarthy is not one of those women. She bares all, but, in the end, all the pain and suffering was worth it. And that's what we want to hear, isn't it?

McCarthy's sense of humor can sometimes be like a 7th-grade boy's, which will suit her well as a mother to a young boy. Most of what she says is painfully true, and you will find yourself smiling through the short chapters.

Extremely Disappointed In This Book, August 29, 2009
I expected to love this book, given all of the great reviews. Turns out I hated it. I originally planned to get this from the library, but based on the great reviews ended up deciding to just buy it -big mistake. The book wasn't very entertaining or funny at ALL! I am pregnant now, and have an 11 year old son. Maybe if I'd never had a baby before I would have found it more interesting, but really all this book turned out to be is one exaggeration or one cliche comment after another. Not to mention it's skinny with big print which means it took me all of maybe 2 hours to read. I'd give anything to get those two hours (and my money) back, what a waste! Usually if I take the time to write a review it's because I LOVE a given product, but this time I figured I'd better warn other pregnant women who are reading all of the glowing reviews, maybe I can save someone else a few bucks and wasted time. Sorry, but can't recommend this one.

Funny; not informative, February 22, 2006
Good if you are just looking for laughs and a non-educational view of pregnancy. Very funnny in some parts. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Cute after cute after cute after cute. The redonkulously adorable wall calendar based on Cute Overload—"the fuzziest, nicest blog on the planet" (CBS News)—Cute Overload is chock-full of irresistible animal photographs enhanced by witty, pitch-perfect captions. Each full-color spread celebrates one "Rule of Cuteness" (#2: Look helpless; #12: Fuzz + floppy limbs are cute) with a large photograph at the top of the page and dozens of smaller ones in the grid below. Round little bunnies. Impossibly small ponies. Plus puppies, kittens, hamsters, and guinea pigs. It's equal-opportunity cuteness, all year long.
... Read more

Reviews

Entertaining on so many levels, December 2, 2010
Mind you I visit Cuteoverload.com daily (sometimes several times a day). So I'm already partial to the style of writing and humor from the site. The calendar is a well made quality calendar with an awesome layout and style. What makes it more fun is that the pictures all have a little something to say. I know that the humor style they use isn't for everyone, and that some feel it is more juvenile, but for some of us, we'll always be kids at heart, and really there's all ages from teens to grandparents who visit the site and comment and laugh together daily. I think this calendar is a great addition to that feeling.

I also find it fun to look at cute animal pictures that do sometimes push the boundaries of what most people consider cute. It has given me the opportunity to look at things in a different way. When you add in the witty (in my opinion) commentary, well then, you've got a winner in my book! :-)

Suggestion, check out Cuteoverload.com first if you've never been, then decide if this is the calendar for you. If you like witty puns, making up silly/unusual stories to go along with the pictures of your standard calendars, and other creative sparks, then you might appreciate this calendar.

Not what I wanted, December 20, 2010
I ordered this calender because I am familiar with the website and thought my mother would enjoy it. It is titled 365 days of pictures and I expected it to be a calender that flipped a picture each day, it should be called 28-31 pictures per month calender because it is a wall calender where each month has a jumble of tiny images. The pictures are too small for my mother to see! Ridiculous.

Cute Pics but Corny Captions & NOT a Box Calendar, November 30, 2010
It was my mistake. The descriptions of both the box and wall version of this calendar call it a wall calendar (as of this writing, at least), so as I browsed the calendars that came up in my "daily calendar" search of Amazon, I mistakenly ordered this wall calendar when I really wanted the box version.

But that's not the main problem. Again, due to my uncharacteristically non-thorough reading of the item's description, I didn't know it had captions ... 365 of them, even in this wall calendar version. And, to my taste, most are corny attempts at humor, much of it anthropomorphism, and some of it in bad taste (I've since heard that the box calendar is far worse).

So, I write this more to alert than to criticize that, 1) this is NOT a daily box calendar, and 2) it has captions which you may deem witless.

Actually, the idea of cramming daily photos into the monthly grids is pretty neat and most are indeed adorable, but they'd stand better all by themselves even if the attempts at humor were more successful.
... Read more

Editorial Review

This groundbreaking Pulitzer Prize-winning book sets the standard for interdisciplinary writing, exploring the patterns and symbols in the thinking of mathematician Kurt Godel, artist M.C. Escher, and composer Johann Sebastian Bach. ... Read more

Reviews

Way out of my comfort zone, but still great., June 2, 2000
I'm here to witness that even people as seriously math-challenged as I am can participate in this wonderful book. It took me a *long* time to read-- I flipped back and forth, beat the pages up, asked my more math-oriented friends for help. I spent forever trying to solve the MU exercise. It was worth it. I still feel like I understood parts of it only in intuitive flashes, but those flashes showed me a room more interesting than most of the well-lit chambers ordinary books provide.

Reading Godel, Escher, Bach is like joining a club. People who see you reading it will open spontaneous conversations and often gift you with unexpected insights. (I had a fascinating conversation with a total stranger about Godel's theorem.)

Wish I could give more than five stars.

A Profound Meditation On Human Creativity, October 1, 2000
G�del, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid debates, beautifully, the question of consciousness and the possibility of artificial intelligence. It is a book that attempts to discover the true meaning of "self."

As the book introduces the reader to cognitive science, the author draws heavily from the world of art to illustrate the finer points of mathematics. The works of M.C. Escher and J.S. Bach are discussed as well as other works in the world of art and music. Topics presented range from mathematics and meta-mathematics to programming, recursion, formal systems, multilevel systems, self-reference, self-representation and others.

Lest you think G�del, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid, to be a dry and boring book on a dry and boring topic, think again. Before each of the book's twenty chapters, Hofstadter has included a witty dialogue, in which Achilles, the Tortoise, and friends discuss various aspects that will later be examined by Hofstadter in the chapter to follow.

In writing these wonderful dialogues, Hofstadter created and entirely new form of art in which concepts are presented on two different levels simultaneously: form and content. The more obvious level of content presents each idea directly through the views of Achilles, Tortoise and company. Their views are sometimes right, often wrong, but always hilariously funny. The true beauty of this book, however, lies in the way Hofstadter interweaves these very ideas into the physical form of the dialogue. The form deals with the same mathematical concepts discussed by the characters, and is more than vaguely reminiscent of the musical pieces of Bach and printed works of Escher that the characters mention directly in their always-witty and sometimes hilarious, discussions.

One example is the "Crab Canon," that precedes Chapter Eight. This is a short but highly amusing piece that can be read, like the musical notes in Bach's Crab Canon, in either direction--from start to finish or from finish to start, resulting in the very same text. Although fiendishly difficult to write, the artistic beauty of that dialogue equals Bach's music or Escher's drawing of the same name.

As good as all this is (and it really is wonderful), it is only the beginning. Other topics include self-reference and self-representation (really quite different). The examples given can, and often do, lead to hilarious and paradoxical results.

In playfully presenting these concepts in a highly amusing manner, Hofstadter slowly and gently introduces the reader to more advanced mathematical ideas, like formal systems, the Church-Turing Thesis, Turing's Halting Problem and G�del's Incompleteness Theorem.

G�del, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid, does discuss some very serious topics and it can, at times, be a daunting book to handle and absorb. But it is always immensely enjoyable to read. The sheer joy of discovering the puns and playful gems hidden in the text are a part of what makes this book so very special. Anecdotes, word plays and Zen koans are additional aspects that help make this book an experience that many readers will come to feel to be a turning point in their lives.

Like every other book written by Hofstadter, G�del, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid, has an index and a bibliography that must be noted as exceptionally well done.

Although filled with English wordplay, this book is in no way tied to the American origin of its author. For years, it was thought that G�del, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid, would be impossible to translate, but so far, it has successfully been translated into French, German, Spanish, Chinese, Swedish, Dutch and Russian.

A profound and beautiful meditation on human thought and creativity, this book is indescribably gorgeous and definitely one of a kind.

Escape from predestination, December 14, 1999
It seems highly appropriate that Douglas Hofstatder should re-release his epic work now. His central theme plays so eloquently in this place and time: Every system folds in on itself, be it physics, mathematics, or any form of language. All these systems are inherently self-referential, and as such, take on a life of their own. A life their creators could never imagine. Many reviewers have focused on the explicit messages of the book, their likes or dislikes, but the great beauty of this work lies within the realm of what it does not say. It is, no doubt, the most difficult book I have ever read, and I have to admit it took me several false starts to finally get through the thing. It is so incredibly deep - one cannot simply wade through it like a sci-fi novel. But if you take your time, spend, say about a year on it - work through the TNT exercises, discover the hidden messages the author has left, read the bibliography - and at some point it will strike you; the incredible richness of the message. The book, you, the world, all of it IS open. The pages of this universe are blank, unwritten. Dr. Hofstadter has woven a message of eternal optimism, one that transcends even the infinite depth to the tapestry of topics spread before us: The great freedom that we, nature's most remarkable matrix, are part of a future without destiny. Even if we were created, any purpose impressed upon us is lost in a cacophany of unexpected relationships. Deterministic, yet infinitely complex and unpredictable. We can never understand anything completely, and thus every life can experience the magic of observing that which cannot be explained. This is a book of wonders, and you will never regret the time you spent on it.

A worthwhile effort to read, January 9, 2001
I first read GEB some 20 years ago as a high school senior/college freshman. Even though I was a mathematically inclined physics major, an amateur classical musician, and a lightning-fast reader, the book still took me a year to finish. This is the sort of weighty tome where one reads a chapter, and then sets the book aside for awhile to let things settle in. It's no wonder that a poll by New Scientist magazine of highly-regarded scientists had to be rephrased as "EXCEPT for Godel Escher Bach, what scientific or technical book would you take to an uninhabited island?"

I will cheerfully confess that I cannot remember all of the details of the book, and that there were times when I simply couldn't get at what Hofstadter was trying to explain. Still, some of Hofstadter's writing has stayed with me the past two decades--his classic analogy of Godel's theorem with a stereo system, his discussion of the difficulties of creating an "accurate" translation (using the beginning of "Crime and Punishment"), his wondrous tying-together of math, music, and art. The totally math-phobic will find these, and many other concepts, readily accessible and even symbol-free. Wish I could say as much for some "general audience" philosophy books!

hasn't aged well..., October 6, 2002
When this book first came out, I, along with probably most mathematically and scientifically minded people of my generation, would certainly have considered it one of the best books ever written. Hofstadter has refined the task of writing a book into almost an art form. Drawing on the central theme of "strange loops" (ideas that loop back on themselves in a paradoxical manner, as might be seen in the art of M.C. Escher), Hofstadter successfully draws together ideas from a large variety of different human pursuits. An important idea--shown to be connected to other ideas in artificial intelligence, music, and art--is Godel's incompleteness theorem, which shows that there are limits on our ability to prove concepts that may, nevertheless, be true. This, too, is based on a "strange loop"--these loops seem to crop up everywhere and Hofstadter spends a lot of the book showing how they are pretty much fundamental to human knowledge.

However, after reading the new preface in this 20th anniversary edition, I'm left with the sense that this once great book is now merely good. For one thing, Hofstadter seems to have evolved from a brilliant young man with a lot of great ideas into a somewhat cantakerous middle-aged man. He seems angry at the New York Times, and his readers, for not fully understanding the central message of the book. Yet he also excuses himself from making any attempt to update the book or bring the ideas in line with many of the enormous changes that have happened over the last 20+ years. It seems surprising to me that Hofstadter would constrain his own book to having only one central message--surely he should understand that a book of this complexity will mean many things to many different people, and that indeed is the reason for its popularity.

So, I still highly recommend this book, but I'm left just a little disappointed that Hofstadter seems somewhat at war with his readers and as a result, won't attempt to update the book or try to help us reconcile the many events of the last 20 years with the themes of his book.

Brilliant and *still* misunderstood!, June 30, 2003
I've been reading reviews of GEB for years, and the most fascinating thing about them, aprt from the near-uniform enthusiasm of the readers, is that almost none of the enthusiatic readers have any idea of what the book is actually about! The typical reader seesm to think of GEB as a jouyous romp through any number of fascinating bits of logic, math and science without any idea as to what Hofstader's actually doing.

Yes, it's about Goedel, and recursion, and "strange loops", and linguistics Bach and ants and all that- but only trivially. The bulk of the book is taken up with what amounts to a very entertaining tutorial that sets the reader up for the real thesis of the book. What Hofstadter has attempted in GEB is nothing less than a concise, bottom-up theory of mind. You can read it as a theory of AI, or a theory of human intelligence, but either way he's telling you how to construct an intelligent entity.

True, he doesn't really have a theory of *how* a self-aware being should arise from his metaphorical anthill, but then, neither does anyone else. But he does have a very good story as to how intelligence does arise in such conditions.

If you've read this book before without understanding what his aim was, read it again, with that notion in mind. And if you haven't read it, and you're the sort of person who enjoys mathematic and scientific amusements of any sort, well, read it and discover how much fun a speculative theory can be.

A Golden Braid with Very Many Strands, June 5, 2006
GEB: an Eternal Golden Braid is a difficult book to explain. It's a book about strange loops, recursivity, paradox, number theory, formal systems, molecular biology, Zen Buddhism, impressionism, and fugues. These concepts are introduced through the works of mathematician Kurt G�del, artist M.C. Escher, and composer J.S. Bach, as well as some other supporting characters, like Charles Babbage (the first one to think of an Analytical Engine, a mechanical device for churning out algebraic theorems) and Alan Turing (of Turing Test fame). And then, of course, there are the dialogues, populated by the Greek warrior Achilles, a tortoise, a crab, and an anteater. Out of this confusing mess of concepts Hofstadter attempts to grapple with a truth he feels lies at the heart of Artificial Intelligence and Human Consciousness--that it forms from the same tangled hierarchies as G�del's Incompleteness proof or Escher's "Print Gallery" or Bach's "Canon per Tonos" (a theme that changes notes according to a fixed system that somehow always returns to its starting note, one octave higher in pitch).

Much of the book deals with formal systems--meaningless symbol-shunting procedures for producing theorems from axioms--and the way they are mapped on to "truths" about the world (what Hofstadter calls "isomorphisms"). One of the most extensively used formal system in the book is called TNT, for `typographical number theory' (also one in a series of Hofstadter puns, as TNT, when joined with a process called G�del Numbering, tends to self-destruct), which is just a new way of expressing simple number-theoretical truths (such as the commutativity and associativity of addition; i.e., b+c=c+b and b+(c+d)=c+(b+d)). On the surface, formal systems seem utterly trivial. Hofstadter introduces them as a theatre on which strange loops emerge. Strange loopiness enters formal systems when they can express Epimenide's paradox, a single sentence that reads "This sentence is untrue." Hofstadter explains how this realization came to pass when a German mathematician named Kurt G�del discovered inconsistencies in Bertrand Russell and Alfred North Whitehead's "Principia Mathematica", a treatise meant to banish self-reference in set and number theories. Any formal system capable of expressing all number-theoretical truths can also be used to represent itself through a system of G�del Numbering, which is just a way of interpreting symbols in the formal system as large numbers. Any formal system powerful enough to represent itself through G�del Numbering can make the statement "There is no theorem with G�del Number G'", where G' is the G�del number for that statement. In other words, a powerful formal system will inevitably make claims that are paradoxical, inconsistent whether you call them true or false.

Hofstadter combines the strange loopiness of formal systems with the concept of isomorphisms to come to some conclusions about human consciousness. First, he claims that the brain has a formal system for representing concepts in the world that exhibits self-reference and self-modification in a tangled hierarchy, just like the simplified formal systems he introduces in the book, Escher illustrates, and Bach incorporates into his music. He takes his time making his case, ending each chapter with a dialogue between Achilles and a Tortoise, a convention Zeno used to prove the impossibility of motion, and Lewis Carroll burrowed in his Two-Part Invention. These dialogue's are usually esoteric and highly amusing, including a series on Achilles' record player and one of the Tortoise's records designed explicitly to create vibrations that destroy the record player. This is a parallel to the explosive self-repudiation of TNT--any record player that can produce a high fidelity representation of the magnetic strips on the record will destroy itself, and any record player that can't is useless as a record player. Another dialogue introduces an anteater who converses with an ant colony that is collectively cognizant, even if each individual ant isn't (a parallel to meaning arising from meaningless formal systems of neuron representations in the human mind). In the main text, Hofstadter introduces the reader to the computer languages of Bloop, Floop, and Gloop (Gloop is just theoretical, a self-altering program reminiscent of the tangled hierarchy of the human mind), simple programs designed to reproduce themselves (an analogue to strings of DNA that encode for DNA synthesizing enzymes), and the Zen concept of MU (where neither `yes` or `no` suffice, say MU, or `unask the question`).

Fans of M.C. Escher will want to take another look at his "Print Gallery", a picture of a man looking at a picture of a town that contains the gallery the man is in, and the picture he's looking at. This is a tangled bit of self-reference has a blemish at the lower right-hand corner of the picture frame (the picture frame in the print, which is in the center of the print). In this blemish M.C. Escher writes his signature, but Hofstadter points out that the "blemish" is an inescapable side-effect of the self reference. No consistent image could appear in that blemish, just as no consistent interpretation of Epimenide's paradox is correct. Human's don't have privileges access to the formal system of their representations of the world--the inviolate level of human consciousness is off-limits to our perception. "From this balance between self-knowledge and self-ignorance comes the feeling of free will (p. 713)," says Hofstadter. This is the central idea of his book. Formal systems are ubiquitous, and powerful formal systems exhibit tangled hierarchies. The human mind is no exception, and the "blemish" of human consciousness is that inevitable bit of self-ignorance that gives us free-will. By breaking it down to the saliencies of a formal system, Hofstadter has high regard for the prospects of Artificial Intelligence, which ought to be able to build upon a similar edifice.

This is a difficult book to read and understand. It's deeply compelling and reads differently each time. I recommend it to those who have a lot of time on their hands.

Many dialogues make light reading, December 1, 2005
You might have been recommended this by a friend, or come across web recommendations. Almost everyone gives it more than 5 stars! But...
you can think of many reasons why you do NOT want to read this. There is lots of maths (it is a book about maths!?), it is loved by geeks, and it seems to cover too many things (consciousness, intelligence, reductionism, holism, recursion, self and soul!)...

You don't know if you want to start on an epic 700 page book about abstruse stuff right now. Perhaps later.

Hold it! You can enjoy this book just because of the brilliant writing, the puzzles and wordplay that make it a dream of Renaissance-style writing. The Rule of Four, Hypnerotomachia, Name of the Rose etc can't match this brilliance.

I suggest a really easy way to start this book: Read a dialogue. Each chapter has an opening dialogue: Tortoise and Achilles and a few others spar; their verbal wizardry opens up new worlds; each is set to music, imitating the style of a Bach piece so closely you can almsot hear the music while you read. The main chapters discuss the serious stuff seriously. A typical dialogue is less than 5 pages; so give it a quick try NOW.... see if you enjoy the heady mix of literature, puzzles and deep stuff!

My favourite is Crab Canon.. this was the first bit written, the whole book was written around it. Crabs (supposedly) walk backwards; see the illustrations (Escher's art, Bach's score, both called Carb Canon) upside down, and then .. read the dialogue backwards.
Here it is: http://www.barryland.com/canon.html

Or try "Sonata by Unaccompanied Achilles": this has a couple of lovely little puzzles.
http://www.rdegraaf.nl/index.asp?sND_ID=141084

Or, ... oh! there's so many little gems to recommend.

And if you like the first dialogue you read, get the book. Then read the preface, and then read the dialogues - in order - and skip the chapters .. till later.
That makes it a great fun read.. and a short book in itself!

Then having enjoyed yourself, read from the beginning and enjoy the whole thing afresh... at yor own pace. I read the dialogues quickly, and absorbed the book over a year, solving word and logic puzzles, tripping over imagery and more ...

So, have fun with this great book. It might change your life, as it did mine.

Down the Rabbit Hole..., May 17, 2007
This is a difficult book.

Difficult to read. Difficult to understand. And, I'm finding, difficult to review. What's it about? Good question. The author, himself, isn't very clear on this point, describing it as "a metaphorical fugue on minds and machines in the spirit of Lewis Carroll." I'm not sure I can do better than that. I will tell you this, however: if the book has a "point," it does seem to be that man's consciousness is ultimately mechanical and, therefore, that there is no reason that machines cannot finally be intelligent in the same sense that man is. (And, in fact, be as man in just about every internal way.)

While I take issue with this conclusion, and some of Hofstadter's reasoning along the way, I don't think that my debating his points is the basis on which a prospective reader should decide whether or not to pick up this book. Instead, the prospective reader should know: that this is a lengthy and deep work. It will take a *long* time to read properly, and most readers should not read more than a chapter a day. Many of the sections, and especially the various dialogues that preface the chapters, are quite clever. (These dialogues are usually between Achilles and the Tortoise, of Zeno's paradoxes, and their friends.) Some of the chapters grow incredibly technical. The subject matters vary, wildly and rapidly, and there will be points in reading where you will question your investment.

In the end, you will feel good for having pushed through the hard bits. It will coalesce, more or less, into a whole. Whether you finally agree with Hofstadter's conclusions or not, you'll have learned much and thought about important topics you might otherwise not have.

A good book, certainly not for everyone... but, if you're the "right" audience--someone deeply interested in questions of intelligence, mathematics, computer science and free will, and possessed of a bit of an ironic sense of humor--then this book cannot be recommended highly enough.

Five stars, for the work it represents, and the doors it opens to the reader.

Remember: We're in Planesville, January 22, 2004
I give this book high marks. The read is difficult, I concede. However, remember that in order to make progress, oftentimes we must take a leap of faith. The book even argues that proving something to be true requires you to "just believe" because logic eventually runs out upon deconstruction. See chapter VII.

I have had similar trouble that others report. I have had to re-read parts to make sure I get his points, whether I agree or not. And yes, he conveys his ideas in what some may consider an offhand way. There is much value in the saying, "To be great is to be misunderstood."

You dont have to like this book. Just make sure you're certain why you do or don't like it. Is it because the Hof doesn't know what he is talking about, or because he "wastes" your time with his lingo and fictional prancing about? Or is it because there's a chance that you don't understand? I am not condescending readers who don't like GEB, but we too often rate someone's ideas based on our inability to understand and yes, sometimes be entertained immediately. Don't expect him to do all the work. What are you bringin' to the party?

This book is challenging. Once you have spent enough time with it, you might see that it requires you to challenge your understanding of things, take that leap of faith (it's not all about logic), suspend judgment, then see what you think when you get to the other side. Consider the section devoted to the topic of Euclidean vs. non-Euclidean geometry:

Euclid of Alexandria perfected the art of rigor in his Elements, becoming arguably the most influential mathematician in times of antiquity. He made a most convincing case for the accuracy and truthfulness of much of the fundamental geometry we know today. He did so by using five principals upon which to base the remainder of his volumes of assertion. Four of the five principles were based on truths quite simple and so understandable, for the most part we hold them to be self-evident. One of those (the first) was the notion of a straight line, as simple and direct as connecting point A to point B.

His work seemed universal, truthful, and beyond reproach, especially considering the painstaking efforts he went to prove the seemingly most basic of concepts. This all seemed well and good, until others, implicitly or otherwise, began to question the notion or suggest what a different version of what a straight line is. In other words: What if there was more than one type of straight line? How could this be?

To make a long story only slightly longer, we find that there in fact IS more than one type of straight line (what's the difference between a straight line drawn on a piece of paper and a straight line drawn on a basketball? hmmmm....), which spawned elliptical and spherical geometries. Turns out that Euclidean geometry is actually a subset of geometry, not the entire geometry. All these years we thought that a piece of the pie was the whole pie.

The point here is that you must endeavor to see outside what you know to be true. It's not always comfortable or seemingly conceivable, but we must accept a degree of uncertainty before we can realize a new level of certainty.

Give the book a shot. Maybe two. Suspend your judgment and take the hit. You'll see. Regards. ... Read more

Editorial Review

PEOPLE LOVE THEIR PETS.

SOME PEOPLE LOVE THEIR PETS
A LITTLE TOO MUCH.


Who could blame Mr. Whiskers for trying to high-dive from a penthouse window or Fluffy for crawling into a washing machine? After being dressed up for Halloween, married off in elaborate weddings, toted everywhere in baby backpacks, or just plain coddled within an inch of their sanity by obsessively doting owners, these pets are on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Or worse. They’d call the suicide hotline–but they don’t have fingers.
... Read more

Editorial Review

Shoes feeds the obsession of the footwear lover with hundreds of pumps, sandals, slingbacks, platforms, and boots gorgeously photographed in full color. Based on Linda O’Keefe’s international bestseller Shoes, it's a parade of glamour and style. Sky-high over-the-knee boots from Jean Rousseau. Vintage Vivier pumps. And from Andrea Pfister, girlish floral sandals. Plus Jimmy Choos and Jourdans, Casadeis, Manolos, and more. Every one guaranteed to be a perfect fit.
... Read more

Reviews

Great calendar!, November 19, 2010
Don't understand the reviewer who gave this one star. This is a great calendar with lots of wonderful shoes. There is only maybe a half dozen that are older shoes, if that, and those are still very stylish. Bottom line, if you love shoes, you will love this calendar. This is my third year to buy this one, and I plan on buying one each year. I would definitely recommend this calendar - the shoes are wonderful!

Amazing, September 21, 2010
This is what I have been looking for everywhere. I can't wait till Jan 1st 2011 to open it and start admiring the shoes.

Expected beauty, not the beast, October 24, 2010
I bought the 2010 version and expected beautiful designer shoes everyday. Instead I got pictures of hideous shoes. Some dating back to the 1800s (which is fine if I wanted a history of shoes.) Anyway, I feel this was a waste of money since I wanted beautiful shoes daily and 80% of the shoes are extremely ugly. Do not recommend this desk calendar. ... Read more

Editorial Review

A lighthearted twist on Rapunzel, the beloved fairy tale from the Brothers Grimm, Tangled brims with thrilling adventure, a distinctive cast of characters, a daring heroine, and, of course, seventy feet of golden hair. Featuring the stunning concept art behind the newest Disney masterpiece, The Art of Tangled also includes a preface by John Lasseter, a foreword by Directors Nathan Greno and Byron Howard, and interviews with the artists, animators, and production team—including Art Director David Goetz—that shed light on the history and artistry of this landmark film. ... Read more

Reviews

One of the Best "Art Of" books., November 10, 2010
This is simply one of the best "art of" books I've read. Though smaller than the typical coffee table Disney books (i.e. Pocahontas...Tarzan) it packs a ton of sketches, drawings, paintings and inspirational art within its covers, and one can't help but be transported into this magical world when looking through it. If you're a fan of Glen Keane (Head animator of Beast, Mermaid, Tarzan, etc.) you'll really enjoy the large amount of his drawings that are displayed. It was also nice to see some of Glen's daughter, Claire's work within these pages. There are many other amazing drawings and paintings as well which include work by Lisa Keene and David Goetz, as well as the wonderfully talented Andy Gaskill and Jin Kim.

But even if you don't know any of these names and just want to know a little bit more about how this film was made, you won't be disappointed. The art, in and of itself is simply spectacular and you'll get basically a portfolio representing many different styles and viewpoints. I was often disappointed in the earlier Disney "art of" books because I simply wanted to see more - more drawings and more paintings. But this book exceeded my expectations and really packs it in.

The writing is very good as well. I enjoyed hearing about Glen Keane's desires in making a "Sincere Fairy Tale" which was carried forward by directors Howard and Greno. There's also a very good chapter on the design and style of the film which shows the inspiration of Pinocchio and Cinderella right next to the Tangled Designs. Photos of Disney Land Architecture and how it inspired the film were also fun to look at.

The book is well made and is a very good quality, similar to the previous Disney books in binding and paper stock. The printing is terrific and the full color art seems to have been captured beautifully. Anyway, if you're a fan of Disney, or simply curious about the making of this film, I really think you'll like this book. Having collected these things since I was a kid, this has got to be one of my favorites. The animation drawings, the architecture, and the paintings are all tremendous. The space in the book is well utilized and there isn't a lot of filler screenshots like some earlier works. Hope you enjoy.

Magical, November 13, 2010
This is a very beautiful book for Disney's 50th feature film, Tangled, which is also the first 3D computer-animated fairy tale for them.

The 160-page hardcover is filled with the very distinctive Disney style art, featuring character designs, environment and storyboards.

I love the beautiful character sketches and there are lots of them. Some of the character artists are Jin Kim, Claire Keane, Bill Schwab who drew really expressive characters. But much of them are drawn by legendary animator Glen Keane, and they really stand out with their lively action poses. It's fun to see the many expressions and tricks Rapunzel can do with her 70-feet hair. Other than Rapunzel, there are sketches for Flynn Rider (prince), Pascal (chameleon), Maximus (horse) and other characters like the bad guys.

As for the environment art, you'll get to see the familiar Disney towns and castles as interpreted by artists today. The design inspiration comes from previous Disney films like Cinderella, Pinocchio and Sleeping Beauty. Some of the paintings from those films are also included. It's about translating what used to be 2D into 3D and you can read all about the challenges from the artists' interviews.

The change in medium for creating Tangled makes it feel like a totally fresh Disney fairy tale, yet it also feels like the older ones at the same time. It continues Disney's legacy in animation in a fine way.

This book is a treat to artists, animators and art lovers. A lot of great artists contributed to the art and unfortunately I can't name them all so you'll have to get the book to check out their work.

-

(There are more pictures of the book on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.)

If you love Glen Keane, you'll love this book!, November 17, 2010
As artbooks go, this offering was a great compilation of production stills, storyboard work, layouts and most importantly Glen Keane sketches. The book is separated into the history, the characters, the layout designs and story.

I love how most of the book gives each section a lot of emphasis on the pre-production work, the renderings, the character drawings and models. There wasn't as much 3D stills even though this movie is technically the first Disney fairy tale in that format. However, what makes this book such a nice addition to my artbook set is that it focused more on the pre-production hand drawn/painted artwork that is the hallmark of many Disney animated movies.

if you love Glen Keane artwork...., November 20, 2010
if you love Glen Keane artwork then you will love this book. I think this is probably for me one of the best art of books I have ever added to my collection. From the opening of the cover you will see this book is full of sketches mostly by Glen Keane and Jin Kim both amazing artists. They went all out with this book and gave animation art lovers what they want in an art of book, tons of sketches and full color artwork. Many of these art of book only have a few pages of stuff that you really want to see but this book is the exception to that for sure.

Awesome Disney Art, December 24, 2010
I have seen the movie and this book is absolutely amazing. Every little detail either in the movie or behind the scene is portrayed so gorgeously. That includes the landscape design, characters, storytelling, and the animation. This is one of the best Disney art book I've ever gotten. It's a must for not only animation artists, but everybody who loves the art of Disney. Disney is one of the few studios, which brings our beloved fairy tales into life, in such case, Tangled is among those successfully Disney classics.

Amazing artbook, December 9, 2010
This artbook is worth the money. Every page is packed full of amazing concept drawings and illustrations by top artists for the movie. Even though the movie is done in 3D animation, all the drawings in the book makes it almost feel like it was a traditional 2D animation film.

Beautiful, December 9, 2010
I thoroughly enjoy this book and the artwork included therein. Glen Keane is one of the most dynamic and expressive artists out there and the other artists included here are phenomenal as well. Paintings and sketches are topnotch.

Must have for any artist, December 2, 2010
This book is truly a must have for any artist who loves Disney's style of animation (Or Glen Keane's artwork). The other reviews have covered it pretty well so I'm not going to go into a lot of detail like the other more helpful folks have; I just want to add my vote for this book being a 2010 must have. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Dumber an Hour from Now, November 28, 2010
Great concept for a book: divided into 52 chapters, each addressing a body of knowledge we either learned (and forgot) or somehow skipped during our education. Each section gives the reader enough of an introduction to a)have a general grasp of the topic and b)know how to pursue more depth on the subject. It's fun--"China," "The Jazz Age", "American Film"--all of those cultural touchstones that help us put our world into context.

Unfortunately, bias creeps into this book, as it does with everything else. Judeo-Christian Religions (Weekend 38)describes the Christian "belief" in Christ's Resurrection from the dead, but in Islam (Weekend 17)this is said about Mohammad: "In his middle age, he received a commandment from God to recite God's holy word."

To be fair, the section also describes what "Muslims believe," but Mohammad's experience with the angel Gabriel is stated as FACT. Then why isn't the Resurrection treated as fact? And what about the Hindus, who "understand" Ganesh as an elephant-headed god? Isn't that as factual as the Angel Gabriel's instructing Mohammad to "recite"?

I know this sounds nit-picky, but it kind of makes me wonder what else is a little skewed in this book.

Bottom line: if you enjoy this book as I did, CHECK THE DATA before you accept the information.

Correction, November 21, 2010
The Day the Music Died - Buddy Holly died in a plane crash in IOWA - not Wisconsin


... Read more

Editorial Review

Twenty one games, optimized for and tested thoroughly on the Kindle 2 and Kindle 3 devices!

You will need either whispernet or wireless access to load a game, but not while playing.

Games include:
Klondike Solitaire (like what comes with windows)
Sudoku (100 puzzles of various difficulties)
Same Game (addictive puzzler)
Dice Poker
Lightsout (simple but fun puzzle game)
Blackjack
Video Poker
Line4 (connect 4 pieces in a line, for two players)
Checkers (vs computer)
Chess (for two players)
Nine Queens Puzzle (classic chess puzzle)
Peg Puzzle (jumping pegs)
Tower of Hanoi (classic puzzle)
Tic-tac-toe
Battleship
Hangman
Rock Paper Scissors
Face Memory
Guess my number
Dice roller

Also included is access to bonus game content ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Go Keith! Loved it!, April 29, 2009
Not only is the most comprehensive book of Keith quotes and his wit and wisdom, it's also funny. The Keith information is pretty comprehensive-- it's a novel concept of how to tell the Keith Richards story outside of a traditional biography. Plus- you have this format of a making-fun-of-self help books that actually has a lot of pretty good self-help advice. Living life the Keith Richards way, while a humorous concept, actually makes a lot of sense, because so much of what he has to say is surprisingly smart and wise-- and you get it why he survived this long. Especially liked the Keith timeline that put forth the full biography of Keith in a way not seen before. There's some not-often seen facts about his childhood (his first gig as a teen where he got stranded at a bus stop over night, his early job demonstrating refrigerators), the run-down of his fight with "Brenda" Jagger, and the timeline of his arrests, car-crashes, and Ron Wood-related disasters. A lot of these quotes will be familiar to the rock n roll fan, and some of them will be surprising and new. And- you get Keith's mum's recipe for Shepherd's Pie. An original concept, fun, and recommended-- especially for a Stones fan.

LOVE this book!, April 30, 2009
I love how this book pokes fun at self help books, but at the same time is the best self help book you'll ever need. It's funny, witty, and thought provoking. All the wisdom you ever need can come from Keith Richards. I have this book out on the kitchen table and read a few pages or a few lines every day. It offers me just the right amount of wisdom and advice when I need it. It is well written and full of facts, too. It is a must for any Stones fan, but even those who are remotely familiar with Keith and the Stones would appreciate it, too. Get this book, you'll love it!

The Book of Keef, May 7, 2009
Wow this girl did her research. If you're a die hard Keith Richards or Stones fan pick this up! Fun and interesting read...It's essentially a Keith Richards Bible :)

Keith Richards fans have found their Holy Grail!, May 20, 2009
Jessica West illuminates with a thoughtful, picaresque, thorough and thoroughly entertaining light the many aphorisms and applications of the "heroin-addled guitar player from the projects" who ended up as a "twenty-first century philosopher and urban street guru." One of my favorite sections is "Keith and Nietzsche" where the author finds the wisdom of celebrated philosophers mirrored in quotes from Keith -- "Life is not a problem to be solved but a reality to be experienced" (Kierkegaard) and "I like the expanding vision of life, of what goes on. I find it a fascinating story -- a great book." (Keith) -- Yes, a great book indeed!

Keithism!, May 6, 2009
This is a very loyal book to a very controversial figure and his personal philosophy: Keithism. The lifestyle of Keith Richards is self-destructive but at the same time powerfully preservative. This superb insight sheds light onto the dark depths of the human being, and how even in the muck and slime of humanity, beautiful things may shine. Just as the great Nazi philosopher Heidegger said that we must be held out into nothingness to comprehend our own meaning, Keith Richards says, "At our best, we master the art of going just over the edge of the abyss, then pulling back.". By the way, Richards once lived in a secret Gestapo hideaway. Mrs. West riffs with a vivid verve on a remarkable man and his unique personal philosophy. After all, the man who outlived his heroin addiction, outrageous lifestyle, and trepanned brain surgery might have a thing or two to say about that muddled thing we called life.

Recommended, May 2, 2009
On concept alone, this one gets high marks. The writing is great-- and the author goes into all sort of creative avenues in bringing the story and philosophy of Keith Richards to life. It's not meant to be a super-serious book, but fun and informative, and on that level it delivers. Good gift for mothers day, fathers day, and graduates! Very unique book. Haven't seen one like this before.

AH ! FINALLY, THE WISDOM OF KEITH! MS. WEST NAILS IT., May 5, 2009
A brilliant concept, very well written, astute and funny "self help" book - an ingenious way of telling Keith's story and philosophy through quotes, humor and smarts. Unique, extraordinarily entertaining, full of surprises - take it from Keith, follow his lead cause if he can survive... You so don't have to be a Rolling Stoner to relish and delight in this wonderful ride. Cheers to you Ms. West! Now excuse me while I get another helping of wisdom from a second visit. Did someone say? "need a gift" ... uh...for everyone you know!

It will change your life, April 30, 2009
Well, it won't really change your life, but it will give you some laughs and some nice insights. What a great idea, and it is well executed to boot.

Pre-review in anticipation, May 11, 2009
Oh, man, I actually see something I WANT for Father's Day! Can't wait to read the affirmations of a true survivor. The title alone is golden!

WOW!, June 5, 2009
Well done! Combo humor book, Keith bible, self-help, quotations book, reference, and music bio. Add it to your Wit and Wisdom books, alongside Abe Lincoln and Winston Churchill. There's that many quotes in it. For those who didn't know how wise and cool Keith is, this is the chance to find out. Good for fathers day! Good for graduates! I've already found myself letting some Keefisms run through my head when needed: There's always the future...Trouble..it's all showbiz... Now all I need is a skull ring. Looooovvve. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, even the gruff Sam Spade all owe a great deal to G.K. Chesterton's beloved amateur detective Father Brown.Through five books armchair sleuths have followed the frumpy little priest through a jubilee of stories, near half a hundred delicious mysteries perfectly suited to lazy mornings, warm afternoons -- or dark and stormy nights.Chesterton's plots never fail to satisfy his readers, and in this collection of the entire original Father Brown library you will find hours of enjoyment.

Chesterton never stooped to mere violence to advance his stories, making this collection as suitable for younger mystery fans as it is for older fans.Like his creator, Father Brown combines practical wisdom with a sparkling sense of humor.If you love a mystery, you owe it to yourself to spend some time with Father Brown. ... Read more

Reviews

A classic that is great fun, December 11, 2009
G.K. Chesterton was a writer with theological and philosophical leanings. He wrote several serious tombs as well as fiction. The Father Brown series is of course one of his fiction endeavors. If you like mysteries, lighthearted story telling or both, than you will enjoy this book. This Kindle download contains the entire collection of short stories that are the Father Brown Mysteries, and therefore is a bargain. Chesterton was a brilliant writer and thinker, and this is a great introduction to him.

good read, January 27, 2010
These are nice mystery short stories. It is really good to be able to read these on my Ipod Touch.

Great Quick read., December 14, 2010
Though these short stories are not to the level of Agatha Christie's work, they are well developed and well written.

good stories but be warned, November 24, 2010
These aren't classics for nothing but be warned if you have a low tolerance for bees in authors' bonnets - Chesterton has an agressive one about his dedicated Catholicism and it can wear a little thin due to sheer repetition. Most of these stories have at least one pointed exchange about it and his biting satires of groups with different ideas don't exactly come off as even-handed. That said, i just read these stories two or three at a time so i don't miss out on these ingenious mysteries. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The Complete Far Side contains every Far Side cartoon ever syndicated- more than 4,000 comic gems, with more than 1,100 that have neverpreviously appeared in book form!Also included is a rare glimpseinto the mind of Far Side creator Gary Larson, with his quirky andthoughtful introductions to each of the 14 chapters. Still want more?Complaint letters, fan letters, and queries from puzzled readers roundout this eclectic and definitive collection of what many peopleconsider the most side-splitting cartoon of all time. Actor, author,and comedian Steve Martin writes the delightful and pithy foreword,and Larson's former editor describes what it was like to be "the guywho could explain every Far Side cartoon." It's everything you couldwant from The Far Side - and much, much more!

Revered by fans as the funniest, most original, most "What the...?" - inspiring cartoon ever, The Far Side last appeared over nineyears ago and still boasts millions of rabid devotees. During its14-year run, the cartoon was syndicated internationally in more than1,900 daily newspapers, translated into 17 different languages, andspawned 22 Far Side books. ... Read more

Reviews

A Piece of History, November 6, 2003
The first thing you notice about The Complete Far Side is its weight. This is a heavy item. (...) Even the slipcase is made of some super-industrial-strength cardboard, because a regular thickness just wouldn't be up to the task of housing the two absolutely massive bound volumes within.

You really can't imagine how big and heavy this thing is. Get a rough estimate in your mind. Now double it. Good, you're getting close. (...)P>The second thing you notice is quality. Everything from the full-color pages (even when the comics are in black-and-white) to the cloth binding with gold embossing, to the full-color plates decorating the outside of the slipcase shouts "We are the nicest-looking books you will ever own."Even if the contents were the Detroit Yellow Pages, these books would still be a pleasure just to look at and feel. Fortunately, the contents are a long way better than the Yellow Pages. And that brings us to the third thing you'll notice: the absolute, pure, unalloyed genius of Gary Larson. You get every Far Side ever published along with a heap that never have been. Lots of old comics I remembered as being in black and white, are redone in color here. Plus you get several meaty essays by Gary Larson himself, that add even more context to the Far Side phenomenon.

But the best part of The Complete Far Side may not even be Larson's work -- rather, it's the exhaustive documentation of people's reaction to it. Every time some nutjob with too much time on his hands wrote an angry letter to the newspaper complaining about a Far Side, that letter is reproduced here next to the panel in question. Often, the syndicate's response is included as well.

People who complain that they've already read, and bought, many of the comics in this compendium are missing the point. This is the book equivalent of a DVD Ultimate Edition. No, it's better than that. This is more than a bunch of comics; it's a historical record of an artist's life's work and the impact it had on the world around him. This is a work of art that you will keep in your family and hand down through the generations, unless you sell it on Ebay in a few years for five times its current price. It's the highest-quality version possible of one of the highest-quality comics ever created.

Ultimately, I can say only this: the Complete Far Side belongs in the collection of anyone who loves books. Or humor itself. Or weiner dogs. Cows. Primates. Scientists. Insects. Grannies in those pointy glasses. Dinosaurs...

Nearly the ultimate (comprehensive) collection, November 13, 2003
In terms of content, this is *nearly* the ultimate collection of Gary Larson's wonderful Far Side comics (why do all the good cartoonists like Larson and Watterson retire early, while banal ones like Jim Davis [Garfield] go on ad nauseum?).

Books are very well made, like good art history volumes, with thoughtful notes included between each section (divided by years), and the paper and ink quality is excellent.

However, while this collection features all of the Far Side comics published since inception (and a few more never before seen by the public), it leaves out Larson's hilarious Farsidian take on classic art pieces as featured in the superb "Weiner Dog Art" collection from the 90's. Also, and I suppose this would have made what are already two massive tomes even more unruly to handle, it leaves out all of "Prehistory of the Far Side" material.

So just make sure you get "Weiner Dog Art" and "Prehistory", and then with this collection you'll have the ultimate Far Side opus.

Well worth the price - The Complete Far Side!, November 16, 2003
Attention all Far Side fans! It may have been nearly nine years since Gary Larson hung up his famous pen and eraser, however you can continue to get your "fix" of the Far Side for a very long time to come with this outstanding collection.

I was impressed that the publisher of this volume has taken the time to put together a nearly comprehensive collection of every Far Side cartoon ever published (well over 4,000 in total). The cartoons are printed on very finely milled paper, the books are beautifully bound, and they are even placed inside a very nicely done slipcase. Not only will you enjoy reading these classic cartoons, they will look terrific on your bookshelf!

Just be warned, they are very heavy - each volume has to weigh 20 pounds a piece.

You cannot afford to pass this collection up - do not let the price scare you away - you will not be disappointed!

Happy reading!

Sublimely Weird, October 30, 2004
Because Gary Larson's "The Far Side" cartoons didn't appear in my newspaper, I never saw them as they came out. Instead, I'd see them tacked to office cubicle walls, or on greeting cards, or desktop calendars, or coffee mugs -- in short, all over the place. It didn't take me long to become a big Larson fan.

When I first came across "The Complete Far Side" a year ago, in a local book store, it was set up on the kind of display stand normally reserved for encyclopedias, major dictionaries, and other scholarly works of that sort. As I reverently turned the pages, laughing at just about everything I saw, my hands got really sweaty. ("Ohpleaseohpleaseohplease!") It was mighty pricey. It was HUGE. Where am I going to PUT this thing??? No, I really can't .... and I'd walk away, looking back longingly.

So I thought about it for a full year, watching sales come and go, and the books disappear for a time, only to reappear, and finally I broke down and ordered them from Amazon. The shipment box comes with a prominent "warning, heavy contents" sticker. Larson calls it an "18-pound hernia giver". Page "xxi" in Volume One shows a full-page cartoon of the books being assembled with a crane. You get the idea.

And I still had to figure out where to put them. They won't fit on any of my bookshelves. They're much too big for the coffee table. Under my bed? The monsters would eat them, and the crunching would keep me awake. Finally I hit upon the ideal solution: I slung them onto my dresser, between my "Compact Oxford Dictionary" and the filing cabinet.

Interesting note: the two-volume microprint dictionary comes in its own display case, complete with magnifying glass, and turns out to be EXACTLY the same height and depth as "The Complete Far Side". So they look really nice together.

The display case itself is very attractive, with a picture of cooks hunting flying cows on one side, and a "family portrait" of some of Larson's stock characters on the other side: the Neanderthal, the nerdy-looking boy, the mad scientist, the woman with horn-rimmed glasses, a snake, and a praying mantis, to name just a few. The cover of Volume One has a portrait looking like a parody of Queen Elizabeth I or a contemporary, in a stately dress; Volume Two has the same portrait, this time of a cow. Inside the covers of each book are sketches of "Cow Town", sort of what the seedy part of town might look like in a bovine-dominated civilization.

And then there are the cartoons themselves. They're arranged roughly in chronological order. At the start of each year is an essay written by Larson, describing various fascinating aspects of his formative years along with how he came up with some of his ideas. Right before each essay is a two-page panoramic cartoon with the year emblazoned on it. For instance, 1981 has "When Cows Ruled the Earth", one of my favorites.

Interspersed with the daily cartoons are various letters, ranging from the puzzled ("What does the Cow Tools cartoon mean???") to the admiring, to the utterly outraged ("Gary Larson is sick, sick, sick!!!") And then there was the infamous 1987 "Jane Goodall Tramp" cartoon, which, as it turns out, Dr. Goodall enjoyed a great deal. It can be a great honor to find oneself in a "Far Side" cartoon.

True, Larson's cartoons aren't for everyone. Some of them are pretty outrageous, like the one of the alligator being shooed out of the nursery ("Heaven knows how he keeps getting in here, Betty, but you better count 'em"), or the one where the doctors are testing babies for static cling. Any number of animal and human characters throughout the years meet their untimely demise in various bizarre and creepy ways, be it the man-eating mailbox, the giant Venus flytrap disguised as a swing set, or the cows waiting not-so-patiently in line at Anderson's meat-packing plant. ("Hey! You! ... No cutting in!")

As time permits, usually at bedtime, I've been leafing through the books page by page, with note paper handy, writing down the page number and date of any cartoon that strikes my fancy, from my favorite classics to ones I've seen for the very first time. A significant number of them are in color, including hundreds which Larson went back and redid, all the way back to 1980 -- the first year of publication. The color ones tend to be the best, as the details stand out better. As Larson gets more and more comfortable with drawing the cartoons, they tend to get funnier. As a result, I have three pages of notes for Volume One, and twice that many for Volume Two.

There are only two things I wish the books had. The first is, admittedly, unrealistic: an index by cartoon caption and another by topic (cows, chickens, cave men, aliens, etc.) But, they'd probably have to be micro-printed to fit in a two-volume work, so never mind.

My second wish is more doable, and in fact does come with the Oxford: pull tabs, for coaxing the volumes out of the box. As it is, the operation consists of sliding the case to the front of the dresser, tipping it forward ... ever ... so ... gingerly, and trying to catch the books before they fall onto my foot and break a toe or something.

But these are minor quibbles. If you're at all a fan of "The Far Side", and have the money and the room, you'll want these books. They're great for endless hours of entertainment.

My one warning: don't try to read these while you're recovering from abdominal surgery. It will hurt.

A worthwhile investment, October 28, 2003
This is the Holy Grail for Far Side fans; a two-volume, leatherbound, slipcase edition of every single Far Side strip ever produced, including ones that were never anthologized. It carries a hefty price tag, but this should not be an issue for a true Larson fan; the price of admission pales in comparison to the endless amount of humor and satisfaction that one will get time and time again. The Far Side never gets old, and it's like having a long-lost friend come back.
The pages are thick and glossy and extremely well-bound; it's like an encyclopedia, only with a lot more relevant information and more interesting pictures. Organized chronologically and with a two-page cartoon introducing the year, the Complete Far Side shows the progression of Larson's humor and the transformation of the public reaction to his cartoons (this is done with various letters from editors and such, though not in a way that mimics The Pre-History of the Far Side). Some of the strips are presented in color, something that will perhaps be seen as a disappointment to some, but to the majority it is nothing short of a bonus; most of these that are in color have been previously anthologized in black and white.
I personally find Steve Martin's introduction to be a brilliant homage to Gary Larson, and the comments from Larson's editor prove to be tongue-in-cheek moments where one who truly "gets" The Far Side can laugh at the ignorant masses.
This is the centerpiece of my library now, and while it is somewhat bulky, when it's in your lap or on the table, the ten pounds per book seems irrelevant when you realize the sheer scope of what you have in your hands.
And if you ever visit the Midvale School for the Gifted...pull, don't push.

Weighs as much as a cow too., October 21, 2003
At over 19 pounds in weight and containing some of the funniest cartoons ever drawn, this book can be a real side-splitter.

More than half of the cartoons have been colorized, and they actually look very good done this way, so even if you have all the individual books there are still good reasons to get this compilation (including the ~1100 or so strips that have not previously been collected I believe).

There are three or four panels per page typically, and a couple page intoduction to each chapter (year) by the author.

Steve Martin's short introduction isn't all that funny in my opinion.

For any Larson fan, this certainly is a must-have work.

These will be reprinted, December 22, 2003
An earlier reviewer claims that this book will not be reprinted. I called Andrews McMeel Publishing and they say they have already started a new run and will continue to reprint the book as long as there is a demand for it.

Absolutely Sublime, November 5, 2003
I didn't know that this book was coming out. I saw it in a book store and balked at the price tag, but was rescued when I received it as a gift. Now that I have seen it I can honestly say that it is worth far more than the list price. This is simply the greatest compendium of comics ever.

The books are beautifully bound, and the set is VERY heavy (remember to lift with your legs, not with your back) and very large. That brings me to my only complaint about the set, which is that at a bit over 14 inches tall, the books will not sit in most standard bookcase shelves, so I have to figure out someplace else to put them now. It is a small price to pay for all of Larson's brilliance (and Cow Tools, too)!

The books are very well printed and many of the panels are in color (even some of the original black and white panels) which to me adds to the beauty of the books, although I understand some purists have objected to the 'colorization.' To those people I say 'get a life.' This is how Larson wanted them and I totally agree. I couldn't be happier with the set!

Wow., October 23, 2003
I would love to see the leather bound edition of this because the hard back edition is just fantastic. The binding is solid, the paper, printing, everything is of fantastic quality. The cartoons are absolutely hilarious, despite their age and Gary Larson's fear that they would not be understood now. I spent two hours reading these tonight and I've got a long, long way to go.

It's a great piece of extremely high quality. You can do no better than this. If you or someone you know is a fan of the Far Side then this is an absolute must have.

Two of the world's greatest word-jewellers., November 9, 2003
Gary Larson and Steve Martin in one volume? Get it, whatever the price.

Both authors polish their words until they shine; until they sound so familiar that they ease into your ear, yet literally contain such astonishing content that you can't contain your laughter.

Larson, I think, is more a wordsmith than a cartoonist. How many of his cartoons are just literal depictions of a verbal pun? And how many quite funny cartoons become gems though their perfect captions? ("Latte, Jed?", or the incomparable "She's lookin' good, Vern..." stick in my memory)

Larson uses the rhythms and patterns of normal speech to lull us into a false sense of security, then subverts our interpretation of of the sentence with a surprising image. A true master of uniting the verbal and the visual.

Why did he choose the world of natural science so often for his subject matter? Maybe nature is plastic, fluid, and playful (as he shows in his visuals) whereas the way we use language nowadays, sadly, is not.

Shrug off your sticker shock (didn't Larson do a cartoon about that phrase once?) and get it. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Seeing is believing . . . The Smash Hit SuperFreakonomics is now Bigger and Better

SuperFreakonomics was an instant New York Times bestseller that caused a media uproar, continuing the amazing success begun with the groundbreaking, worldwide sensation Freakonomics.

With the Illustrated Edition, Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner bring alive their smart thinking and great storytelling with an explosion of visual evidence, including:

• A by-the-numbers tally of a high-priced call girl's career, and a tracking sheet from an intensive survey of Chicago street prostitutes.
• A visual quiz that lets you pit your memory against the memory of a chess grand master.
• Images of the hurricane-killing machine and other geo-engineering inventions described in SuperFreakonomics.
• A look into whether doctors are better at saving lives in TV dramas or in real hospitals.

Whether probing the intricacies of sex change oper-ations, the effectiveness of child car seats, or what really motivates people to do good, the Illustrated Edition of SuperFreakonomics employs photographs, drawings, and graphs that will lead readers to see the world in a bold, fresh way.

Reviews

Excellent! Even Better than the first, November 15, 2010
I love this book. It is a fascinating look at real data that often tells us a very different story than we are quick to believe. No, it is not a foundational bastion of absolute certainties, but it was never intended to be. This book offers a different way of looking at common everyday issues and poses the idea of "maybe it's not like you always thought it was." It is funny, poignant, quirky, curious, odd and in some cases quite practical (e.g. the Realtor chapter). It's also a quick read, keeps the readers attention throughout.

I loved it.

I particularly like this edition better than the first (Freakonomics) because it saves each punchline for just the right place. The first book, gave you all of the really exciting and interesting punchlines right up front, then gave you chapters detailing each example further into the book. The result was that by the time you got half way through, it became somewhat boring. You already knew what the answer was, so you lost the thrill of surprise and the joy of wondering and speculating and trying to figure it out along the way. This book plays it just right, with a fascinating punchline punctuating each chapter.

Lipstick on a Pig!, October 27, 2010
I didn't like the original Superfreakonomics" because it contained hidden distortions, little edification, and a prurient fixation on sex for no useful purpose. This 'new, improved' version is only slightly better, thanks to the glossy paper, illustrations, and a few charts.

"People respond to incentives, although not necessarily in ways that are predictable" is the unifying theme claimed by Levitt and Dubner's latest book. They go on to state that their reports rely on accumulated data rather than individual anecdotes, opinions, and anomalies.

One of Levitt and Dubner's first expositions concludes that walking drunk leads to 5X deaths/mile as driving drunk. Validity, however, requires both walking and driving drunks be equally intoxicated. My experience with ambulatory inner-city 'down and outs' is that they are probably far more intoxicated than the average drunk driver - an important distinction. Then its on to concluding that rural Indian families with cable TV had lower birthrates and were more likely to keep their daughters in school, and reporting that Indian penises are generally too small for standard condoms (why do we need to know this?). As for agents, prostitutes using an agent (pimp) earn more and are beaten up less, while home-sellers using an agent (realtor) get little or no monetary value - though their homes did sell about three weeks faster. Their rhetorical question: "Why is a street prostitute like a department store Santa?" "They both take advantage of short-term job opportunities brought about by holiday spikes in demand." Milking their salacious topic one more time, readers also learn that the demand for prostitutes is far lower now than 60 years ago - in large part because of the feminist revolution and 'giving it away for free.' We also learn about the Everleigh sisters (Aida and Minna) and their brothel in early Chicago - selection criteria, employee earnings, customer preferences, etc., and Allie, a computer programmer who turned to studying economics - after several years of prostitution.

Then its why doctors are so bad at washing their hands (one reason, not mentioned, is that they usually get paid more for rework); the book's solution comes from Cedars Sinai and its use of a xcreen-saver display of germs cultured from an unwashed hand. Largely, but not entirely, replacing their horrible geo-engineering example of the first edition (aimed at preventing Global Warming) is a section on hurricane prevention; they still had to suggest 'garden hoses to the sky' pumping SO2 into the stratosphere (acid rain redux) and extending power plant chimneys - despite having to survive jet-stream, hurricane, and tornado winds, and the risk of unintended consequences. (The current issue of "The Economist" suggests that a new problem of increased ultraviolet radiation would result from injecting sulfur into the upper atmosphere, and that some areas would still undergo major reductions in rainfall - eg. China.)

Bottom Line: "Superfreakonomics" ('new and improved') is an easy read, though not an in-depth analysis and does not represent unassailable or even always useful conclusions. On the other hand, much of the reading is interesting, though only tenuously related to learning economics principles, at best. Finally, while the authors may be qualified to discuss and make micro-economic recommendations, I'd look elsewhere for important science advice on breaking up hurricanes, ameliorating global warming, etc. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

a TON of thought went into this book., August 6, 2010
this book goes above and beyond. it features the amazing, multi-layered and completely readable script by christopher nolan. however, it also has storyboards, full credits for the film, an excellent preface and a PASIV device instruction manual. The PASIV device (better known as the dream machine) "instruction manual" is amazing and fun to look at. it's also very intricate and detailed. this book is really an essential purchase for anyone who wants to look deeper into the masterpiece that INCEPTION is. i think its one of the best published scripts i've ever bought.

More than I bargained for!, August 6, 2010
I bought this hoping it would help me wrap my brain around the movie. I was expecting just a straight screenplay, but the book also includes an interview with Nolan, storyboards, concept art and schematics of the "PASIV" device they use to enter dreams. Very cool.

Very Very Good, but not exactly what you see in the movie, August 6, 2010
Since I watched Inception for the third time two weeks ago, I've been waiting for this, because really there's some dialogue I did not capture in the theatre

This is the book I wanted, reading this just like reading a novel without getting bored. It is probably the best script I've read since Batman Begins, also by Nolan

Some original concept arts are included along with a interesting dream machine manual

Some of the scenes in the movie are not included in this script (one example is in the final kick back scenes where in the movie, there are lots of cuts from different levels, but in this script, it is much simpler), and some of the dialogues are slightly different, actually I think Nolan added some additional scenes in the movie just in order that the audience are more easily to catch up the plot.

Highly recommended
4.8/5

A Must Have if you Loved the Movie, October 10, 2010
This book is the perfect takeaway if you loved the film like I did. It contains the complete shooting script (there is no novelization), a chapter of concept art, an extensive interview with Nolan about the creative development and themes in the film, storyboards, and a mock operating manual for the PASIV dream device. All in all this is an amazing find for less than $20, and you end up appreciating the film even more. Nolan deserves the Oscar for best screenplay.

Dreams, September 28, 2010
It would help a lot to understand the movie. An excellent interview as an introduction to the script.

For Inception Fans, September 23, 2010
This book is made for Inception fans. This adds to the movie experience and makes you relive the movie and remember the movie as if you were watching it again.

Good Buy, September 11, 2010
I am very enthralled by Nolan's Inception and so I was very excited to find that he had published a book with more detailed information about the idea, the characters, and the script. The book was not quite was I hoping for however. It features an interview with Nolan where he briefly touches on his ideas and thought process but its the same thing heard in every interview/special/whatever that he's given on Inception. There wasn't any more insight into the characters -- something I found extremely disappointing. The film follows Cobb so closely that some of the other (fantastic) characters are eclipsed and I would've liked to know more about them. As an aspiring writer, I'm sure he has their details all figured out, its just a matter of sharing them. Finally, the book says it features the shooting script. For those that don't know, shooting scripts are the scripts that are used in the production of the film. In the book, there are incomplete and missing scenes as well as missing dialogue -- so unless these were added last minute or were improvised, this is not a shooting script.

Still, the script is complete enough to gain more insight into the film and get a better grasp of what is happening when. I enjoyed reading it. I'd buy it again, but perhaps with more realistic expectation. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Welcome to the hilarious, strange, elegiac, outrageous world of David Sedaris. In Naked, Sedaris turns the mania for memoir on its ear, mining the exceedingly rich terrain of his life, his family, and his unique worldview-a sensibility at once take-no-prisoners sharp and deeply charitable. A tart-tongued mother does dead-on imitations of her young son's nervous tics, to the great amusement of his teachers; a stint of Kerouackian wandering is undertaken (of course!) with a quadriplegic companion; a family gathers for a wedding in the face of imminent death. Through it all is Sedaris's unmistakable voice, without doubt one of the freshest in American writing. ... Read more

Reviews

Funniest memoir I've ever read!
This book is classified as a memoir, and it's the funniest one I've read to date. Growing up Greek in North Carolina couldn't have been easy, but adding to the mix a crazy grandmother and a sibling with a penchant for using towels as toilet paper makes it that much harder (and funnier, to us).

David was struck with enthusiastic OCD as a child, only to find ways to "cure" his tics in college. His stories of life after schooling include apple-picking and packing, working with jade (not to mention a crazy, hypocritical Christian), and refinishing woodwork with a Jew-hating Lithuanian and a somewhat confused black guy. He hitchhikes with all levels of human decapitation until a rowdy truck driver combs thicket by the roadside looking for him.

Not all of the fifteen stories are side-splitting funny. "I Like Guys" highlights accepting his homosexual feelings, and an undercurrent of seriousness lines the story. "Ashes" tells of his mother's cancer, and a sense of tragedy seems to sober his usually razor-sharp satirical style.

The last (and title) story, "Naked", tells of his experience with a nudist colony. It's written in more a journal form (the others are written in a 'flashback' form) and by the end, you feel strange in your own clothing.

I definitely plan on recommending this book to my friends. I don't see how you could live your life without picking up a Sedaris book.

Very, very funny
NAKED is--by far--the funniest book I have ever read. Several people suggested that I read it, and I ignored them for a long time: I had a lot of other books I wanted to get to first. I finally read it this weekend. The next thing I knew, I was ordering HOLIDAYS ON ICE and BARREL FEVER.

NAKED is a collection of true stories from David Sedaris's life. I only wish my life was half as funny.

"Chipped Beef," "Get Your Ya-Ya's Out" and "I Like Guys" are highlights of this collection, but the funniest story is "A Plague of Tics." In it, Sedaris discusses his strange behaviors as a child: licking lightswitches, hitting himself with his shoe. I laughed so hard reading this story that my roommate told me I was going to have to shut up.

Give NAKED a shot. If you like it, pick up BARREL FEVER. It isn't as funny, but it's close.

Guaranteed to embarrass you if you read this book in public
I bought this book for my wife for Christmas and then had to sit there in jealousy as she chuckled, giggled, snorted and roared her way through this book. When she finished the book and let me read it, I now knew what she was laughing about.

Sedaris' antics with his dysfunctional, Greek-American family are guaranteed to make you laugh out loud. I made the mistake of reading this book on the train, and I could not contain my laughter at points. The chapters on "Ya-Ya," hitchhiking back home from college with his parapeligic "wife," speaking Elizabethan English at the family dinner table, riding a Greyhound bus on the floor, etc., will have you, literally, rolling on the floor. I enjoyed Sedaris' catchy one-liners and deadpan humor in describing people he encounters even more than his wacky antics.

What also makes this book attractive is that Sedaris is not just poking fun at people or deliberately being funny for humor's sake. In the middle of a chapter, he would say something profound or make you realize that the guy is much deeper than a humor writer. That provided a welcome relief to the hours of side-splitting laughter that you'll be enduring when picking up this book. Highly recommended!

The Funniest Book I Ever Read
I was about to go on a long plane trip. A good friend gave me Naked, saying "I hear this guy on NPR and for some reason I think of you." I never did read the book on the plane ride (lucky for my fellow frequent flyers since my laughter would have annoyed them no end). When I finally got around to reading it I laughed from start to finish.

In one chapter (I can't use the book for a reference since it is in circulation to all my good friends who have a demented sense of humor) he talks about his mother's discovery that she has terminal cancer. The idea that this can be side-splittingly funny without being mean spirited is amazing and indicitive of how brilliant Sedaris is.

If life is getting you down and you need someone to make you laugh precisely because life can suck sometimes, find a place where you won't annoy people with your laughter and read Naked. ... Read more

Editorial Review

From spooker poles and Perrier bottles to water bombs and cayenne pepper, Bill Adler, Jr., has tried every conceivable method to rid his backyard of these fluffy gluttonous rodents. Revised and even craftier than the first edition, which sold over 100,000 copies, this new revision contains humorous advice on keeping squirrels out of the flowerbeds and bird feeders. ... Read more

Reviews

A definite stocking-stuffer for any birding friends, November 11, 2001
There are some books that you just HAVE to have - if only because the topic they're on is so funny. This is one of those! Not only that, but it actually is handy for birders, in a practical way.

Whether you like or don't like squirrels, you have to account for them when you're trying to feed birds. Otherwise your birds end up with no food and you have many fat squirrels running around. This book gives you ways to handle this situation whether you mind the squirrels, or just want them to be in their own area.

It rates various feeders, complete with photos, showing you the drawbacks and benefits of each one. It talks about different kids of food, and different ways you can work with them to make them bird-only. It gives you ways to distract the squirrels. And it's REALLY funny!

A must-buy for any birder on your present list, and tuck one into your own stocking, too.

Excellent. Solid, practical advice with humor and style., March 3, 1999
We all love those furry little creatures but there comes a time when you must say "enough." With wit and humor, Bill Adler offers practical advice on how to keep squirrels from ruining your fun, hurting your lawn and gardens and taking food from the bird feeder. It's a must for anyone who owns a home.

Funny and Informative, February 26, 1999
I love both birds and squirrels. I don't mind feeding the squirrels, I just don't want them destroying my bird feeders. With the help of this book I was able to set up a bird feeding station that was safe from squirrels but also had a ground feeder just for them. It's a great book.

Extremely funny but helpful with practical ideas and advice, April 24, 1999
As I was standing at my double patio doors with my nose pressed to the window watching the squirrels raiding my bird feeders, I became so agitated I abruptly jerked the door open to scare them off and banged myself in the mouth with my door. I decided at that moment to wage war. Although I haven't won yet, the book offers good advice on how I can get revenge without doing bodily injury to the little monsters.

Inadvertantly increased my appreciation for squirrels, November 27, 2001
I really enjoyed this extremely humorous book. After reading it, any failure on any birder's part to get rid of his sleek, well-fed squirrels is understandable. They're great athletes, motivated and social to boot.

It is great stocking stuffer for your squirrel-obsessed birder spouse or friends!

For Determined Bird Watchers, June 8, 2005
This book is a guide to keeping your bird feeder squirrel-free. Adler had a particularly pestiferous squirrel who found ways around every squirrel-barrier Adler could think of to protect his bird seed. The squirrel's notorious feats put Adler on the war-path. In writing this book, he is not only fighting that one squirrel, but all of squirrel-kind. If readers pull-off a successful squirrel battle because of ideas in this book, then Adler can declare victory.

Bird watchers, (or would-be bird watchers) are the intended audience for this book, so the book begins with some suggestions about how to attract birds, along with a list of suggested foods to offer and descriptive profiles of birds who commonly come to North American feeders. Adler then turns his attentions to squirrels and provides a supposedly thorough description of squirrels, their biology, and behavior. Next, he describes and compares common bird feeders according to how squirrel-proof they are. Following this are a list of anti-squirrel devices that can be added to a feeder, and a list of combative actions a bird-viewer can take to ward off squirrels. Adler concludes with "101 Cunning Stratagems" (an attempt at humor?), ideas for squirrel lovers, ideas for dealing with problem cats at feeders, and a list of resources for bird-watching and squirrel-fighting equipment.

It's hard to tell whether this book was intended to be humorous, or what. Certainly, the comparison of bird feeders is far too serious to be funny. (And unfortunately, the feeders are listed by brand-name, rather than by some grouping according to general type or shape.) Some of the "101 Cunning Stratagems" seem intended to be funny, but fall short of the goal. Overall, the entire book reads as if it could have been a decent magazine article, but Adler had to really work to come up with ideas enough to stretch his material to fill out an entire book. For instance, he fills out his list of 101 stratagems with a number of patent descriptions, which are neither funny nor descriptive enough to give you an idea how the devices being described actually work.

Even though he seemed desperate to add to his work count, Adler still left out some key information. Namely, he provides almost no information about different types of squirrels, and how their approaches to feeders differ. Adler lives in a city, where he apparently only sees gray squirrels, which is probably why he barely mentions any other types of squirrels. In our experience, red squirrels are much more aggressive and agile than the grays-with our large population of red hoodlums, grays wouldn't stand a chance in our neighborhood. We also see flying squirrels at our feeder, but they don't bother us since they only come out at night when the birds aren't in the feeder, and they don't seem to gobble as much seed as the reds. They sure can jump, though. Then there are the black squirrels, which are the big gorillas of the squirrel world. I've seen them in Toronto, and I've also heard they haunt Washington, D.C. after escaping from the National Zoo. Do they also make pests of themselves at feeders? Adler leaves us in the dark about these critters.

Adler interviews world-renowned squirrel expert Vaun Flyger in the chapter on squirrel biology, and Flyger assures him that the best way to outwit a squirrel is to treat them like chicken; i.e., use them in any recipe that calls for chicken. In other words, Flyger advocates the "final solution". Adler doesn't consider this approach seriously in this book (but speaking from experience, it works, and better than any squirrel bafflers. Once neighborhood squirrels get the idea you're out for blood, they quickly learn how not to eat from your feeder).

Funny, good, and wise... what more do you want?, November 23, 1998
Hey, I like and feed the little rodents myself, but they're party crashers in the bird world. Our feeder says very clearly: "Bird Station." Furry rats need not apply.

This is not merely a good read but a funny book. Mr. Adler has scored five stars from me, even before I read about Rosie O'Donnell's rave.

Good fun for birdlovers., July 21, 1998
I must admit that I'm a bit nutty over brids, and I don't much like the squirrels pilfering expensive seed. This book gave me some good advice for keeping the tree rodents away from the feeder. And it is funny too. Any birdlover will appreciate this.

Not Remotely Tremendous, January 10, 2006
I'll keep this review short and sweet, since the book isn't exactly the utmost in literary achievement ever produced. The book is decent, probably right on the 3 star mark given what it tries to do and what it does. The intention of the book is to, well, outwit squirrels - a silly notion given a day or 2 observing the little...um, natural friends. Wit isn't what makes the squirrel dangerous. It's the endless effort a squirrel will go through to get your food. The overall effort described here should probably be called, "Outenduring Squirrels," since that's what you will need to do.

Overall, the book is hit or miss with the advice it gives. Living in a neighborhood with approximately more squirrels than blades of grass, you tend to either pick up ways to stop them from getting to your feeders, or you stop feeding the birds. Or as some have done, you throw in the towel and get used to having your seed receptacles ravaged by these tree rats. The advice in this book is sometimes right, and sometimes off the mark. That opinion is based on copious amounts of personal experience.

I got this as a gag gift from my father-in-law, since he knows how much I hate these animals. It was entertaining enough, though at times his sense of humor wasn't exactly what I would call top notch. Other times it was downright irritating. So it goes. I don't think squirrel banter is going to be on prime time television any time soon. Until then, you'll have to make do with books like this, which are good enough but hardly knocking on the door of your local bookstore's best seller list.

Serious approaches, humorously written, March 4, 2001
I wish I had known about this book two years ago. Mr. Adler provides insight into the single-minded focus of these furry creatures and their expensive impact on attempts to fill the backyard with a variety of colorful birds. Be sure to read the section on Nixalite. If only Bill Adler could be convinced to write a book on squirrels and their egregious misappropriation of the attic. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This is not just a book for kids - for 'Dad' read any opponent who beats you regularly! This book teaches the 50 Deadly Checkmates - basic attacking patterns that occur repeatedly in games between players of all standards.

Each mating motif is carefully and simply explained, and several illustrative examples are given. A final test enables the reader to grade his pattern recognition abilities, and the last chapter explains what to do if your Dad is Garry Kasparov.

Fun, instructive - and guaranteed to improve your game. ... Read more

Reviews

They don't aways work but some good stuff anyway, September 13, 2006
I got this book. My dad didn't fall for all but one of these checkmates. But then I was happy. I tried them all, but he would get me down too much to use any of them so I think just the beginners book for juniors worked better anyway. I did get him in the backrank one because he was upset by my little sister tossing stuff when she didn't get her way and he was not paying attention. I got a beginners book for juniors and and a traps book and both worked better. I now beat my dad more than half the time.

LEARN MATING PATTERNS - an excellent book on learning how to mate quickly and efficiently, December 26, 2005
Do you know how to mate? You can now get actual experience in the most important basic positions. This book will test you and teach you new positions you probably didn't know about before.

Without knowing these patterns you will miss many important opportunities in your game. HOW TO BEAT YOUR DAD AT CHESS has 50 of the most important patterns. By looking at the title and cover it may at first appear to be just a book for kids, but it is for all ages (though not for a beginner).

[...]The cover may look silly, and the title may not really tell you what the book is all about, but it is well organized and should be a fine addition to additional books on other parts of tactics.

I highly recommend this as an important and excellent book for those who are intermediate skilled chess players.

Fifty Deadly Checkmates..., July 31, 2004
There are only two weaknesses one could find in this book. The first is the cover: a work like this should not have the cover of a fifth grade drawing project. The second is the title: it should have been "Fifty Deadly Checkmates You Could Beat Your Dad With". Based on the principle of pattern recognition the author introduces you to fifty checkmate patterns and emphasizes the elements necessary to attain them. From "Anastasia's Mate" to "The Fischer Trap" it does an excellent job depicting the deadly patterns that would lead to mates. But there are no discussions of openings or middle game antics, not to mention the tedious end game struggles. Certainly, pattern recognition plays an important role in chess, but so does elemental principles of positional and tactical plays, of which this book shows only few examples. Taken together, these checkmates reinforce principles such as the value of the defensive f-pawn and the beauty of seemingly senseless decoy sacrifices. But students of elemental principles of sound chess may find this book somewhat disappointing.

Learned some good checkmates, November 9, 2005
After reading my Chess For Juniors and Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess books I got this one. I loved Chess For Juniors a lot but found Bobby Fischer to cover checkmates but not as good at this book. Bobby Fischer was too easy and some of this book was hard but I stilled learned from it.
If you are thinking of getting Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess then don't and get How To Beat Your Dad At Chess instead because it is better.
You can learn the back rank and legels checkmates and a lot more to help you win.

Not for kids only, March 20, 2000
I found the title to be an unfortunate choice; it makes the book look like a kids book. Kids will benefit, but so will anyone with a USCF rating below ~1500. This is not a book about how to move the pieces. It doesn't outline basic strategy such as controlling the center, developing your pieces, or castling early. Instead, almost the entire book is devoted to "The 50 Deadly Checkmating Patterns." These range from the simple back-rank mate to four variations of the Greek gift sacrifice to methods of salvaging a "Petrosian draw" in the endgame. Chandler argues that these are common themes, and that by working through the well-diagramed, two-page-per-example sections, we will notice these possibilities in our play. He includes a test section at the end to how well the material has sunk in. The text is easy to read with clear, well-anotated diagrams (the key move is indicated by an arrow as well as the text), and the hardcover version withstands abuse in your gear bag. This is a superb book to glance at while you're waiting for the tournament to start.

Dive right in!, October 24, 2005
I started off with CHESS FOR JUNIORS (my third book was UNBEATABLE CHESS LESSONS FOR JUNIORS) as my first chess book (excellent first book) dove right into HOW TO BEAT YOUR DAD AT CHESS. I really found the checkmating patterns to be well organized - a great tactical workbook! I wouldn't hesitate to get all three of the first books I read. I have moved on to others, and come right back and say - these are the best three books to start off with!!!

Really nice format - don't judge book by the cover, December 20, 2002
I first saw this book at a display by a chess book vendor at a large chess tournament that was being held in Denver last year. I am an adult active tournament player, currently with a 1570 USCF rating. A friend was walking out and said he had bought a book. As a joke I said "How to beat you dad at chess"? and everyone laughed, since my friend was also an experienced player.

A few months later one of the people who was with me when I made that joke told me he had looked at the book at a store, and was really impressed, and bought it. He said that I would really like it. I had a gift certificate to amazon.com, so I decided to buy it also.

It turns out that my joke was not really as funny as I thought it was! This book is not really for people who want to learn how the pieces move. It is a collection of mating patterns.

While most of the material was not new to me, I really liked how the book was laid out. You can read it in little chunks, which is really nice. Each mating pattern is about 2 pages, so it is easily digestable. You can also read it without a board setup, which is really nice too, when you are on a plane, or just want to lay on the couch.

I would recommend this to players from about 1000-1500 USCF strenght, or those that want to brush up on their mating patterns. Again, not for people just learning the game. It might look a little embarrassing if you are an adult, and leave it out on the coffee table, but just remember to "not judge the book by its cover". I am glad I didn't!

Will Sharpen Skils, August 22, 2005
After my first book "Chess For Juniors" (the absolute best first book to get when learning chess - the entire series is great) I got "How to Beat Your Dad at Chess". I found it to really help me improve my checkmating skills! And, I recommend it very much. It could use more problems, which is why I gave it 4 instead of 5 points.

One of the best chess books you can buy, February 6, 2003
This book teaches mating tactics in so many ways!

* 50 patterns, 2 pages each
* For each pattern, a brief description of the elements which must be present. (This is similar to more advanced checkmate books, but at a very simple level.)
* Then, a couple of diagrams with arrows, showing the motion of the key pieces, with the moves written below. Very good for improving visualization, so you might spot the pattern later.
* Then another similar pattern, with 2 diagrams.
* Then a couple of positions for you to work out yourself, with solutions directly underneath.
* And finally, near the back of the book, a set of a few dozen positions. They include theme numbers for you to use as hints if necessary. Solutions are separate. This reinforces the learning.

These are all attacks on the castled king, not How To Take Advantage of Opening Blunders, or How To Solve Unlikely Chess Positions. These positions can actually occur in your games, even Fischerandom. The attacks are simple, but not obvious. Some are even by the Black pieces!

Nice hardcover for a thin book. Large diagrams. Feels great in your hands. Very well-designed.

Excellent book for someone rated between 1200 and 1500. I keep it in the bathroom. (I use different chess books in different ways. I take tactics puzzles to the gym. I always keep a chessboard handy for endgame books. I use a miniature set for studying openings. And I follow along with game anthologies by using a computer database and watching the computer analysis. And I am improving rapidly.)

Do one theme (two pages) per day. In two months you'll have actually finished an entire chessbook, and you'll miss it! You will find yourself improving your own defenses because you'll know what to look out for. One of the few chess books you'll actually read cover to cover, and it's cheap for a hardcover.

Moderate Checkmate Patters to Learn, November 10, 2005
I guess I am more into the "workbook" type of books for learning tactical patterns such as "1001 Brilliant Checkmates" by Reinfeld or "Combination Challenge" by Hays.
However, "How to Beat your Dad at Chess" is a better than average chess book. It could use MORE PROBLEMS to work on, which perhaps is my only complaint, but a good one! ... Read more

Editorial Review

The year was 1957, the month September, and I had just turned eight years old. Dwight Eisenhower was President, but in my life it was the diminutive, intense Sister Mary Lurana who ruled, at least in the third-grade class where I was held captive. For reasons you will soon understand, my parents had remanded me to the penal institution of St. Brigid’s School in Westbury, New York, a cruel and unusual punishment if there ever was one.

Already, I had barely survived my first two years at St. Brigid’s because I was, well, a little nitwit. Not satisfied with memorizing the Baltimore Catechism’s fine prose, which featured passages like “God made me to show his goodness and to make me happy with him in heaven,” I was constantly annoying my classmates and, of course, the no-nonsense Sister Lurana. With sixty overactive students in her class, she was understandably short on patience. For survival, she had also become quick on the draw.

Then it happened. One day I blurted out some dumb remark, and Sister Lurana was on me like a panther. Her black habit blocked out all distractions as she leaned down, looked me in the eye, and uttered words I have never forgotten: “William, you are a bold, fresh piece of humanity.”

And she was dead-on.

One day in 1957, in the third-grade classroom of St. Brigid’s parochial school, an exasperated Sister Mary Lurana bent over a restless young William O’Reilly and said, “William, you are a bold, fresh piece of humanity.” Little did she know that she was, early in his career as a troublemaker, defining the essence of Bill O’Reilly and providing him with the title of his brash and entertaining issues-based memoir.

And this time it’s personal. In his most intimate book yet, O’Reilly goes back in time to examine the people, places, and experiences that launched him on his journey from working-class kid to immensely influential television personality and bestselling author. Readers will learn how his traditional outlook was formed in the crucible of his family, his neighborhood, his church, and his schools, and how his views on America’s proper role in the world emerged from covering four wars on five continents over three-plus decades as a news correspondent. What will delight his numerous fans and surprise many others is the humor and self-deprecation with which he handles one of his core subjects: himself, and just how O’Reilly became O’Reilly. ... Read more

Reviews

Irish Eyes Are Smiling
Well, I am neither Irish nor Catholic, however, this book is entertaining and I not only smiled - I laughed aloud especially when reading chapter 13,"Mysteries Of The Universe" - my thoughts exactly!

Bill O'Reilly, of the Factor fame, manages to appear completely confident and satisfied with himself, not only on television, but in his books. This book relates memories of the America and the world from the nineteen fifties onward which are shared by many Americans; what makes the book readable and unique are his opinions about life and people, his excellent education, good broadcasting jobs, awards, and the value of truthfulness all spiced with his brand of humor and bluntness.

I recommend this book for the insights, the laughs, and the refreshing mix of humor and thoughtfulness. I suspect this isn't the "end of the story" and another will be forthcoming as the aging bold fresh piece of humanity continues to enjoy his debates and projecting his fair and balanced viewpoints (his words) so we can agree or disagree!

Bold and Fresh
Just finished A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity and I must say that Sister Lurana got it right. Bill is both bold and fresh and his take on politics is also bold and fresh and I really identify with him. He tells it like it is, apologizes to no one (nor should he) for his opinions. Keep it up Bill. There are those of us who really appreciate your views. We aren't Democrat or Republican. We are Independant thinkers, just like you, who want whats best for our once great country. I know that with more people like you, we can once again be A GREAT AMERICA.

Buy this book. You will not regret it and you will learn much.

A BOLD FRESH PIECE OF HUMANITY
THIS WAS A GREAT BOOK... I LAUGHED AND CRIED AT THE SAME TIME.. IT REMINDED ME OF MY YOUTH, ONLY FROM A GIRLS SIDE OF IT... (WE WERE JUST A FUN LOVING AND DARING AS THE BOYS WERE) I WILL PASS THIS BOOK ON TO MY FAMILY TO READ. NOW I LOOK AT O'REILLY AND CAN SEE THE SAME MISCHIEVE IN HIS EYES, AS I PICTURED HIM GROWING UP IN THE BOOK..... WILL READ THIS AGAIN. SO MUCH WONDERFUL LIFE LESSONS IN IT...I WOULD HAVE LIKED MORE TO HEAR OF HIS LIFE AND FAMILY NOW. HE BARLEY TOUCHED ON THAT.

Great Read
My husband got this book for his birthday, he's thoroughly enjoyed it and is going to read it again after everyone else is done with it. Our daughter got it for him and she said it was pretty bad when you purchase a gift for someone and you're already 5th in line to read it before it was even opened. Great book. Explains a lot about him that would otherwise never be understood.

RICK SHAQ GOLDSTEIN SAYS "PETER JENNINGS WANTED HIM TO "ROUND OUT THE ROUGH EDGES", BILL SAID NO THANKS I WANT TO KEEP THE EDGES
Readers who are expecting a "blistering" sermon on Bill's political beliefs will be disappointed. But readers who enjoy a wonderfully nostalgic coming of age memoir with insights to a worldwide broadcasting icon's upbringing that ranges from catholic school to high school to college and the great beyond... will be enormously rewarded with this literary treasure. If you are a "BABY-BOOMER" you will be constantly exhilarated and your thoughts will go back to your early years as you are taken back in a historical time machine to the TV programs and rock and roll songs of your youth, with Bill as your contemporary tour guide. Heavily sprinkled throughout his life story, at just the right moments, are TV programs such as "The Ed Sullivan Show", "Mr. Ed", "Leave It To Beaver, "The Donna Reed Show", "The Mickey Mouse Club", "Ozzie and Harriet", "Happy Days", and more. Interspersed to make a point are lyrics and song titles from such classic rock and roll performers as Elvis, Sam Cooke, Rod Stewart, The Beatles, The Isley Brothers, The Standells, and others. I feel it's important to mention this, as I feel a large core of potential readers, will be "touched" by the romantic humanity that Bill displays in sharing his life with you... which among other things included teaching high school for two years in Florida.

The author does not flinch from his central belief system which is: "IF THERE IS ONLY ONE THING THAT YOU TAKE FROM THIS BOOK, LET IT BE THIS: DESIGN YOUR OWN LIFE. NEVER GIVE UP TRYING TO MAKE IT ON YOUR OWN. GET BACK UP WHEN YOU GET SLAPPED DOWN, AND DON'T WASTE TIME BUYING INTO IDEOLOGICAL NONSENSE. EXPECT - AND ACCEPT - NOTHING FROM ANYONE ELSE DO IT YOURSELF."

Being that I am the same age as Bill... and from the exact same part of the country as Bill... it's amazing how the main mantra's he built his life around are the same as mine. The following quote is from Bill... but it is exactly the way I was raised by my Father... and the exact way I raised my son... so even though it was in Bill's book... I will take credit for it also (you can verify it with my son) "IF YOU EARN IT, IT'LL MEAN A LOT MORE THAN IF IT'S GIVEN TO YOU. TAKING STUFF MAKES YOU WEAKER. EARNING STUFF MAKES YOU STRONGER." *AMEN!*

Perhaps the most enjoyable part of the book is Bill's time spent at St. Brigid's parochial school where he and his "EVIL-TWIN" Clement made the Nun's life a living hell... and Clement always believed in payback... even during the schools Rip Van Winkle play. (Even Bill refused to participate in his pal Clement's dastardly plan.) The author shares some of the punishments at his elementary school: TALKING OUT OF TURN - SLAP ON THE HAND WITH A RULER. TALKING BACK TO THE SISTER - SLAP IN THE FACE, OFTEN HARD. BEING A WISE GUY IN GENERAL - NOTE HOME TO PARENTS, WHICH HAD TO BE SIGNED AND BROUGHT BACK TO NUN. (THIS USUALLY LED TO DOMESTIC PUNISHMENT.) SLOPPY APPEARANCE OR WORK - AFTER SCHOOL DETAINMENT.

Bill is very proud of the fact that he never did any drugs and has never been intoxicated. He is very proud of his religion and his belief's, but will never push it on anyone... nor discuss it on his show unless he is led there. He is very proud of America and when he went to England for a time in college he was so tired of all the anti-American comments and being constantly mocked because of his "NEW YAWK ACCENT" that he finally said: "HEY BUD, YOU'D HAVE A GERMAN ACCENT IF IT WASN'T FOR MY FATHER AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER NEW YORKERS LIKE HIM. SO "BLANK" YOU, FISH AND CHIPS AND THE BEATLES. GET ME?"

The author has covered wars in El Salvador, the Falkland Islands war in Argentina, Northern Ireland at the height of the trouble, the Golan Heights, and the current situations in Iraq and Afghanistan... yet the event that made him "KNOW FOR CERTAIN THAT JOURNALISM WOULD BE MY PROFESSION"... was when he covered the forced integration of South Boston in 1974.

Having grown up in a working class neighborhood Bill has never forgotten his roots. To this day he fights for the underdog and perhaps a good summary of his life goal is the following quote:

"WHEN IT IS ALL OVER, WHEN YOU ARE DEAD IN THE GROUND OR IN AN URN, YOUR LEGACY WILL BE DEFINED BY TWO SIMPLE QUESTIONS: HOW MANY WRONGS DID YOU RIGHT, AND HOW MANY PEOPLE DID YOU HELP WHEN THEY NEEDED IT?"

O'Reilly's Roots
The book tells us from where this iconic independent hails and does so with the wit, insight and windmill jousting that we have come to expect from the author. There aren't enough stars to rate this work!

A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity
Excellent reading, entertaining and also educational. I had read the book and ordered three more from Amazon as gifts I just wanted to share a very good book. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This deluxe collection features arrangements of all ten Vince Guaraldi arrangements from this annually anticipated holiday classic: Christmas Is Coming * The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) * Christmas Time Is Here * Fur Elise * Hark, The Herald Angels Sing * Linus and Lucy * My Little Drum * O Tannenbaum * Skating * What Child Is This. It also includes a stunning color section featuring Peanuts(TM) illustrations! ... Read more

Reviews

Wonder for any piano music lover, July 24, 2006
There are several reasons I love this book. For one, the songs are very familiar and are pleasing to play. These are instumental works so you get to play it the way it is performed, instead or incorporating the melody into the right-hand piano parts. The chord progressions are very interesting (flat 9th chords, flat 5th, etc.) especially the way they are voiced. You can see an example at the sheet music plus web site. There is another version of this book with parts that are easier to play. I have only seen one sample page from that book (Linus and Lucy) and in the other book it is played in C major and doesn't have the left-hand rhythmic anticipations (first note begins an eight note early) while this book has the song in E-flat, which is a little harder to play but sounds richer. I have a QRS player piano roll of Linus and Lucy and I noticed that it matches the Christas CD better. The song on the CD goes through the main part of the song three times with two swinging (hard to play) refrains. The two refrains are a little different, with the second one being more dissonant than the first. The book documents only the second. The bass line for the refrains are simple walking quarter notes while the piano roll has a rag-time style alternating eight note bass notes and chords. This is fine by me because this is plenty hard to play as it is (triplets over quarter notes, etc.).

At any rate, check out the sample at Sheet Music Plus to see if the difficulty matches you ability. If so, this is a great purchase.

A faithful transcription, January 16, 2007
I got this book as a present one year and was absolutely amazed. I've always loved the Charlie Brown Christmas Special and came to appreciate the music more and more as I grew up. Reading through the book, I discovered that the authors had done a painstaking job of transcribing Vince Garauldi's performance nearly note-for-note. When you first start playing "The Christmas Song" for example, you hear those flat-9 chords Vince loved to play and think to yourself, "Yeah, that's the real deal." Even the improvised solos are transcribed wonderfully.

This is NOT a book for the faint of heart. If you are unfamiliar with playing jazz piano, you may quickly get overwhelmed. However, what better way to learn some advanced chord voicings than to play it exactly the way the arranger did? The songs are beautiful and incredibly fun to play, but without at least an intermediate piano skill level, you may get frustrated.

First-Rate!, February 1, 2007
If you are looking for a Piano Solo book with arrangments by Vince Guaraldi for Charlie Brown Christmas music, This Is It! All of the songs from the CD "A Charlie Brown Christmas" appear in this book. Do Not be fooled by the word "arrangment", if you happen to be looking for the original music. All of this music sounds almost exactly like the CD (and movie for that matter) even to the point of being written in the same key (F Major, G Major, Ab Major sometimes). Excellent Buy!
Level Rate:Late Intermediate-Early Advanced

Not for beginners, May 12, 2009
I was excited to order this as I absolutely love "A Charlie Brown Christmas." I was eager to play some of my favorite Christmas songs from this book but quickly found that it was a lot more advanced playing than what I was used to. I have played piano for a few years and could not attempt some of the songs in there. Definately a good book if you are willing to try to learn to play them. Probably not the best if you aren't very advanced in your piano playing though.

Re: Linus and Lucy, December 23, 2008
I can't speak for the other songs in this book, but if your goal is to play 'Linus and Lucy' note-for-note, the sheet music in this book omits the first jazz solo. The full song with both solos is in this book: The Vince Guaraldi Collection: Piano (Artist Transcriptions).

Other than that, the transcription on the song is accurate and the formatting is easy to read.

This is the one you want, December 8, 2007
Just received my copy of this song book last week, and like the other reviewers said this is simply great. No watered down arranged version for beginners. If you want the orginal music the way it was played then this is the one you want. Yes, it's a little demanding, but that's what practice is for. Playing it for the first time really put me in the holiday spirit. This is simply wonderful.

The original music, January 7, 2008
The music in this book is a true rendition of what you hear on the soundtrack. Expect Jazz Piano, tough for a beginner, but well worth it.

Not "Easy" but not difficult either, March 22, 2010
I bought this for my 8 year old who has been taking piano for almost two years and is at the end of the Level 2 book for his course. He wanted to play Linus and Lucy. We were disappointed when we received it and found out it was not "Easy". The notes themselves were rather simple but the synchronization of the hands was not simple. I spoke with his piano teacher and she said that this was just beyond his current capabilities and the easiest of books are called usually "Big Notes". So if you are looking for an easy piece to play, this is probably not it. However, it is a great representation of the song Linus and Lucy and our disappointment in the level of difficulty does not detract from the actual product. I give it 5 stars for being a great music book. But if you are looking for something for your beginning piano player this is probably not it.

A welcome change from ho-ho music, November 27, 2010
Most of these are pretty hard (I'd say advanced intermediate), but having something like "O Tanenbaum", with walking bass and sophisticated chords, in your repertoire is a way to make points with people tired of snowflake songs. "Christmas Time is Here" is kind of a sleeper hit, and "Chestnuts Roasting" is a huge improvement on most of the arrangements available elsewhere. God bless Mr. Guaraldi wherever he is.

My life long dream!, April 14, 2010
This book was what I expected and more! I'm thirteen and I'm IN LOVE with everything peanuts. I've always wanted to learn how to play Linus and Lucy, Christmas is Coming, and Christmas time is here. Thy were all in this book. Playing Linus and Lucy's main theme is easier than I thought but the solo section is a little more difficult. Over all I'm extremely glad with my purchase 8] ... Read more

Editorial Review

Emboldened by the enthusiastic response to Belly Button (Round)—a song from her Grammy-nominated book/CD, Philadelphia Chickens—Sandra Boynton further contemplates this mesmerizing subject.

Featuring a beachful of bare-bellied hippos—including one tiny baby who can only say “Bee Bo”—the Belly Button Book is the latest quirky addition to the phenomenally successful Boynton on Board series. Every page captivates with Sandra Boynton’s inimitable illustrations and joyful rhyming text:

Soon after dark, upon the beach, we sing a hippo song, and if you’re feeling in the mood, we hope you’ll sing along: “Belly Belly Button, you’re oh so fine. Ooo, Belly Button, I’m so happy you’re mine.”

Shiny and sturdy, and featuring a great (navel-shaped, naturally) die-cut cover that offers a provocative glimpse of the merriment inside, the Belly Button Book provides enduring, giggly, read-aloud fun. ... Read more

Reviews

A great book for belly button lovers!, September 26, 2005
My 20 month old has an obsession with her belly button, if she can lift her shirt she is constantly playing with it. If she has on a bodysuit that covers it she tries to play with it through her shirt. She also loves to pull up other peoples shirts to find theirs. She also loves Sandra Boyton books, we read "Pajama Time" and "Barnyard Dance" about 5 times a day or more. So when I saw this new book from Boyton I knew she would love it!

I think this is one of Boyton's better books. The illustrations are always adorable but the text in this one is top notch. Its a very cute story of hippo's and how they love their bee bo's, belly button for hippo's. They go to the beach to show off their bee bo's, sing a song about them and praise and love them.

The fun rhyme of the text help hold my toddlers attention, not to mention the subject matter.

I would highly reccomend this book to any hippo, belly button or Sandra Boyton fan's. You wont be dissapointed.

Another winner from Boynton, July 8, 2005
Sandra Boynton has, for many years, written books that my child and many others I know hold as their favorites. With this latest, spun from Philadelphia Chickens, she's created another one that both parents and children will love.

Featuring a bunch of hippos playing on the beach, the song is an homage to our belly buttons. Knowing the fascination that so many kids have with their navel, this one is sure to please. The hippo illustrations are exactly what you'd expect from Boynton, and the rhymes are silly fun. And anyone who reads this one will especially enjoy the hippo baby who can only say, "Bee-bo," when referring to their belly button.

Boynton seems to have an amazing understanding and perception of exactly what young children will enjoy in a board book. This is another winner, to add to an already extensive list of impressive works.

My baby loves this book!, June 17, 2006
The product information for this book says "ages 4-8." I would guess that kids that age would enjoy it, but it is definitely written for little kids to have read to them by parents, who will love it just as much. It's a board book, so the youngest in your family can chew on it to their heart's content. It's cute. It's funny. It contains puns adults will get without making the kids feel left out. It has a nice rhythm and rhyme. It's just generally a great deal of fun!!!!

The World's most perfect book in the eyes of a 16-month-old, May 25, 2006
My son picked this book out at our last trip to the library. That was over three weeks ago. Since then, he has insisted on us reading it at least once every day and gets quite upset when I try to suggest another book. Sometimes we read it twice in a row! Obviously, before this book is returned to the library we will have to purchase our own copy. My son has two favorite parts to this book: The first is when the hippopotomus is explaining what "bee bo" means (BELLY BUTTON!!!); my son breaks out in a huge grin there. The second is for the belly button song. I'm not sure what the tune to the song is so we just made something up but there's no avoiding having to sing the song repeatedly. My son won't let me turn the page until I've sung several rounds. This was a surprise hit for us and I highly recommend it for anyone in this age group.

This book is so sweet!, October 11, 2005
My son who is 18 months just adores this book! Everytime I say Bee bo he just laughs and laughs. And he always dances when I sing the song. It is such a sweet book and it's great for teaching body parts and having fun while you read to your child.

Fabulous book!, October 10, 2005
This is a wonderful book for the child with an obsession with their belly. My daughter plays with hers all the time, which I believe most little ones do. If your child has not discovered their bee-bo yet, this book is a great fun introduction. Another must have from Sandra Boynton.

Bee Bo!!, March 19, 2006
Bee Bo great!!! This is such a cute, colorful, fun book. My daughter just laughs when I say "Bee Bo" in a funny hippo voice. So, she is the reviewer, really. Very cute, highly reccommended.

Another Sandra Boyton Favorite!, January 17, 2006
This one of the only SB books we were missing and it is by far one the best! I love it and my 20-month old son loves it too! It nice to have with the SB song book (philadelphia chicken) and CD, now we know the tune of th hipo song :o). But Snuggle Puppy is the best SB book and my son requests it all the time (as well as the song on the CD).

I am addicted!, March 17, 2006
I know that this book was supposed to be for my daughter, but I am usually the one who giggles the most at 'bee-boo' and other cute parts of the book.

Another great Boynton book, March 1, 2006
Let's face it Sandra Boyton rocks. Her books are fabulous, her illustrations distinct and catchy and cute. This one, about how much Hippos love their belly buttons, was an immediate hit with my three daughters (ages 1, 3 and 3).

add it to your Boynton collection! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Those who don’t learn from history are condemned to repeat it.

From the Stone Age to the information age, the undead have threatened to engulf the human race. They’re coming. They’re hungry.

Don’t wait for them to come to you!

This is the graphic novel the fans demanded: major zombie attacks from the dawn of humanity. On the African savannas, against the legions of ancient Rome, on the high seas with Francis Drake . . . every civilization has faced them. Here are the grisly and heroic stories–complete with eye-popping artwork that pulsates with the hideous faces of the undead.

Organize before they rise!

Scripted by the world’s leading zombie authority, Max Brooks, Recorded Attacks reveals how other eras and cultures have dealt with–and survived–the ancient viral plague. By immersing ourselves in past horror we may yet prevail over the coming outbreak in our time. ... Read more

Reviews

Excellent appetizer for Brooks' other work (or a dessert!), October 13, 2009
Unlike a lot of the negative reviews, I knew what I was getting in the post when I ordered this (so if you can't read a product description, why are you giving a bad review?)...The graphic novel is a really fun read, especially for hardcore zombie fans.
It's exactly what the title states, a collection of short stories of recorded zombie attacks during several different times and places. Most are only about 9 or 10 pages, so you get through the book quite quickly. The art is fantastic, depicting gory details of the different attacks. The dialogue is a bit light however. I just wish that Max Brooks dove a bit deeper into each event, adding a bit more depth to them.
If you're already familiar with Max Brooks' other zombie books, you'll find this a nice accompaniment to the other tales. And if you're not, well this is a nice introduction to the world to zombie attacks! Also, if you like what you've read and what to read something a bit more detailed and character driven, try The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman.

Just Not Worth It, December 24, 2009
A worthy effort - I can truly see a product like this being fantastic, if the time had been taken to create original, engaging stories rather than merely license old ones. Even just the premise of applying the same methodical, historical/geopolitical thinking Brooks does to "World War Z" to stories of zombie attacks throughout history seems to write itself. Brooks would not even have been needed. An anthology of writers and artists would have been more than fine.

What you have in this product is instead some sparse accounts taken from the back of "World War Z" and illustrated. No dialogue. No flavor. You'll read the whole thing in about fifteen minutes and none will provide you with any real satisfaction. They're really just scenes, not stories in any sense.

Can only really recommend this for the hardest of hardcore Max Brooks fans or zombie fans. Not much in it for anyone else.

But if knowing that this seems like you're sort of thing, please enjoy.

NOTE: I think one of the reasons I was so annoyed by this product is that it's not advertised as what it is. The term "graphic novel" is so insanely misused that I can hardly blame them for it, but this isn't even a narrative at all. I was expecting a collection of short stories and it's not even that.

Nice companion to the other two Brooks books, October 21, 2009
An illustrated account of zombie attacks throughout the history of mankind, Recorded Attacks shows you in chilling black and white the best chapters of The Zombie Survival Guide. As a fairly serious fan of quality Zombie films and stories (I've been to the Monroeville Mall), I highly recommend this to anyone that is interested in Zombie lore. The only reason I gave it 4 stars out of 5 is because it's fairly light on dialogue, even for a graphic novel, but that is the only (minor) drawback to an otherwise great addition to the zombie mythology.

way to cash in, July 26, 2010
If you already have the fabulous zombie survival guide. Then you already have these stories.
If on the other hand you have no imagination then you may need this picture book.

A must-have book!, October 28, 2009
I loved this new book by Max Brooks. It is incredibly detailed with the illustrations popping off the pages. I have to say that the pictures were a bit scary but that is partly what I love about Zombies. The imagery is unforgettable and the dialogue perfectly paced. It is very engrossing and I would definitely recommend it. Just don't read it right before going to sleep (YIKES). I think this book would make a great gift and a terrific addition to your Zombie library.

Fabulous read for even the most squeamish, October 24, 2009
I'm not a big reader of horror-related books, but I couldn't pass up the ingenius humor of the Zombie Survival Guide when I first saw it in the bookstore years ago. I'm now a committed Max Brooks fan. His meticulously committed writing style soon had me convinced that zombies were lurking over my shoulder ready to take a bite out of my unsuspecting body at any moment. I couldn't help but reassure myself by quickly taking inventory of any possible bludgeoning item in the immediate vicinity. Even more intriguing were the Recorded Attacks detailing previously unknown zombie attacks throughout history. I waited anxiously for the release of The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks graphic novel and quickly devoured the contents when it arrived. Roberson does not disappoint. Each story was rendered to transport the reader to the historical era in which it occurred and leaves the reader with no doubt that our history teachers omitted extremely important events in history that would prepare us for fending off the zombie hordes. Recorded Attacks is visually disturbing as any zombie-related graphic novel should be, but not so disgusting that non-horror readers, like myself, would be repelled. Unfortunately, the book was limited to illustrating the accounts in the original. Understandable, but it left me wanting more. Guess it's time to re-read World War Z.

Max Brooks: The Authority on All Things Zombie, October 14, 2009
Max Brooks is clearly a gifted and talented writer and it is clear that his Zombie series has captivated a wide range of readers. I am not your average Zombie maniac and I must admit this genre generally does not appeal to me. But the graphic novel version of the Zombie Survival Guide is superb. For all those fans of everything Zombie, this book is definitely a must read. The illustrations in the text really help bring the story to life in a way that's far more interesting than when you read the book. Brooks made a smart decision by writing this graphic novel and i'm looking forward to reading more of his work.

In the great words of Mr. Brooks himself, "Not funny, nothing new, and no main character", October 11, 2009
"Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks" is a fantastic aide to his zombie series. It is a graphic novel, and brings a new and welcomed element to "The Zombie Survival Guide". The story represents "historical accounts" ranging from 60,000 years ago to 1992. Brooks' stories themselves transport the reader into a world where zombies have always been present and even offers mockingly-serious explanations of why certain things were done in the past. It is a graphic novel, and the keyword being graphic. Ibraim Roberson created a dark world, perfect for a land infested with the undead. There are some parts that may not be suitable for younger audiences, but I personally liked the added touch.


Whether you're a zombie fanatic, a graphic novel fan, or obsessed Max Brooks: chances are you'll enjoy "Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks". And I'd like to stress one more time, before Max hunts me down - "It isn't funny. There's nothing new. And there's no central character." If you can see past that, which I'm sure most can (and will!), this is a book for you. It is a fantastic escape and is well worth the cost.

cool pictures but thats about it, November 1, 2010
Let me start off by stating Im a huge Brooks fan. Overall the pictures where cool, but I read the same stories in Zombie Survival Guide. Not sure if it was worth the money, I finished it in about 30 mins and that included looking at the drawings in detail.

Good Introduction to Brooks' Work, But An Average Graphic Novel, October 4, 2010
Zombies are making a major comeback and will soon be as popular as vampires and werewolves are now. I've always had a semi-interest in zombies and find the original NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD to be one of the most frightening movies ever made. I have heard of Max Brooks two zombie books, THE ZOMBIE SURVIVAL GUIDE and WORLD WAR Z, but I haven't read either of them. When I saw THE ZOMBIE SURVIVAL GUIDE: RECORDED ATTACKS for a sale at a local bookstore, I thought it might be a good introduction to Brooks' work.

The book is written in a graphic novel format and chronicles 12 "historical" zombie attacks from the "written record". The first takes place in approximately 60,000 B.C. in Africa and the last in 1992 just outside of Los Angeles. In between there are battles between zombies and the Romans, Japanese, and Russians. Some instances of these attacks are started by military and scientific experiments. The book seems to suggest that the virus that reanimates the dead arose in Africa. Except for one or two instances, how the virus spread from one continent to the next is never explained. The book is illustrated in detailed and graphic black and white.

From what I gather, the book is a good introduction to Brooks' two previous zombie books. The events in THE ZOMBIE SURVIVAL GUIDE: RECORDED ATTACKS are actually taken from the end of THE ZOMBIE SURVIVAL GUIDE and some of the events are referred to in WORLD WAR Z. However, as a graphic novel, the book doesn't really offer much. The illustrations are detailed and graphic, but other than the changes in clothing and facial characteristics, one zombie attack looks the same as any other. The virus infects reanimates someone who is recently deceased, they go off looking for living flesh to eat, more people are infected, an outbreak occurs, the living survivors find themselves trapped and have to either fight their way free, survive a siege until help comes, or outwit the undead hordes.

There isn't very much writing to the book. What little writing there is is fairly simple to understand so the book can be finished in a short time. I read the entire graphic novel in about 30 minutes.

I enjoyed the concept and the book has piqued my interest in exploring Brooks' other works. However, though the details of the illustrations are impressive, there's really nothing outstanding in terms of a graphic novel.

Recommended for zombie fans, people who are interested in Max Brooks' work, and fans of horror (particularly historical horror) comics. ... Read more