True Secrets of Key West is WONDERFUL! I lived in Key West for years and was always annoyed by all the books people wrote that didn't know the REAL story. Books that claimed to be the real story...but they changed the names, dates and circumstances. This is one that got it right AND it was very funny to read. I give True Secrets of Key West my highest recommendation.

True Secrets of Key West is GREAT! I lived in Key West for years and was always annoyed by all the books people wrote that didn't know the REAL story. Books that claimed to be the real story...but they changed the names, dates and circumstances. This is one that got it right. I give True Secrets of Key West my highest recommendation.

Read this book prior to or contemporaneously with a trip to Key West. It gives you the full scoop on all of the santized facts from your tour guides. This book added a new dimension to our visit and was funny to boot. While it is somewhat hard to locate, it is well worth the effort. Also check out the website maintained by the authors.

This long awaited volume from Apogee book is a fantastic addition to their ongoing series. The level of detail that Mr. Sullivan goes into is incredible. As one who is considered an expert on the apollo program, I found that you could even find out where the velcro patches were in the cabin so that the crew would not lose their equipment while floating around.
This is an essential book for anyone who wants to know what made Apollo tick!
It gives the reader- for the first time ever a sense of the level of complexity that it took for us to get from the Earth to the Moon-and return safely. I just wish that there was one of the famous Apogee CD's, and a better breakdown between the differences in each spacecraft!

I have 5 of the Apogee books, Apollo 11 (1&2), Apollo 14, Apollo 15 and Apollo 17 and this one is definately for the apollo fan. Has lots of detailed drawings and diagrams. Really good for those who love engineering books.

Scott Sullivan has produced the book I was waiting for! I have been desiring a book about Apollo CM/SM details and construction, and this was the one that was worth waiting for.

Though I have been an Apollo addict for years, and have read all the NASA Mission Reports (also available from Apogee Books) some things were difficult for me to actually visualize without Scott's CAD drawings. Part of the problem with previous books, even well illustrated books, was the uniqueness and density of the CM design. For instance in space, there is no up, so it becomes sometimes difficult by reading accounts the interrelationship between the LEB and associated spaces. Now it is crystal clear.

I hope that Scott Sullivan will come out with a LM book to accompany this brilliant work. Thank you, Scott!

I hadn't known that M. Scott Peck was a Christian. Having read 'The Road Less Travelled' & 'People of the Lie' cover to cover and bought and browsed through other books of his, I thought 'What Return Can I Make' was the best. Being a born-again Christian, I'm a happier reader because this book is about being a believer in the Christian Faith.

After having read the book within a day, I went out and bought all the copies on sale from the store I'd first purchased it. Having gifted these, I was left with none for myself! It's only now, after about 3 years since I first read the book did I manage a copy for myself when I chanced on it in a book store.

Though not about Christianity, the only other book that has come close to touching me as much is 'Tuesdays with Morrie' by Mitch Albom.

If you guys haven't yet read 'What Return...' I suggest you do so pronto!

I have read this book several times and has given me new spiritual insights and has heightened my spiritual growth each time. I appreciate and thank Dr. Scott's efforts in bringing to light essential christian values to a level of acceptance and understanding in a lay man's views and not as theologically heavy as the subjects seem. This book is surely a must for all and a treasure to keep.

This is a wonderful book, full of deep insights into the relationship between psychology and faith (The copy I bought did not include the tape so I can't comment on the music, though I imagine that that would improve it still further).

This book is wonderful. The questions are not too hard and everyone will be able to answer some of them. I plan on having lots of fun with this book with my husband and friends for years to come. Everyone who enjoys r&b and hip hop music can relate to this book. It will bring back memories and spark many conversations.

I always enjoy Books as these they are fun for cook-Outs&things where you can ask questions&things on different Musical Artists.it covers a Wide Range.it truly has a Family Affari Vibe at how it covers so many different time periods but yet combines&brings them as one.

I heard these guys on the radio and saw them on TV talking about this book and they seemed real interesting and knowledgeable about music. The book proves it. It's full of tons of trivia questions about hiphop and r&b, but the best part is the funny and informative lists they have, like Top 5 Posse Records and Top 5 Blue-Eyed Soul records. I don't agree with their choice for the best Duet ("The Closer I Get To You" by Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack). I would have picked Donny and Roberta's "I Who Have Nothing". But anyway they got some good choices all over the book. You'll enjoy this book if you love music and you love trivia. It's like a hiphop version of "Jeopardy."

Using a question-and-answer format with mundane cartoon illustrations, the authors deal with typical questions young readers ask about hardware, software, the Internet, computer manners, and the "hard to predict" future of computers. Aside from a few geeky projects (a CD-ROM mobile), the book has things fun to know, such as a list of emoticons, many interesting websites arranged by topic to try, and a helpful glossary for those who have trouble separating an FAQ from a CPU. Some answers are pretty technical for younger readers but this is the kind of book you read in rather than through, and computer users from the most naive to the above-average in skills will find something of use here.

Reviewed by Susan Hepler. Copyright @ 2000 Children's Literature. All Rights Reserved.

Publishers Weekly:

May 24, 1999

The anchors of the CompuDudes NPR radio show answer kids' computer questions in Why Doesn't My Floppy Disk Flop? by Peter Cook and Scott Manning, illus. by Ed Murrow. From definitions of words such as "bug" and "hyperlink" to tips about how to get peanut butter off a keyboard, the book provides comprehensible and useful answers to a wide range of queries.

From The Union-Tribune - (San Diego, CA):

May 11, 1999

by Suzanne A. Smith

Why Doesn't My Floppy Disk Flop? is an excellent first book about computers for children ages 8 and up. The authors, Cook and Manning, are better known as the "CompuDudes," hosts of a popular computing show for kids on National Public Radio. This book is a compilation of the most frequently asked questions they have received on the show.

Cook and Manning answer questions, from the simple ("what is my computer doing when I first turn it on?") to the more complicated ("what is a cable modem?"), to the humorous ("why don't they make computers in colors?"). The answers to these questions are technically accurate and written in a casual, patient style that is easy for kids to read.

The book also includes some fun, computer-related activities, such as making a CD-ROM mobile, writing a simple program in BASIC, and helping Mom and Dad plan the family summer vacation using the Internet.

A useful chapter at the end of the book is titled, "Good Computer Habits." Here, kids learn how to considerately share a computer with others, back up the hard drive, safely participate in chat rooms, and even how to clean the computer monitor.

This book is good for young children who have expressed an interest in learning more about computers. Mom and Dad may even learn a few things as well.

Forecast - (Bridgewater, NJ):

May 1999

Discusses the history of computers and explains their various parts and uses, hardware, software, the Internet, good computer etiquette, and their future, and includes sidebars which answer questions that were asked on the author's radio show. Original. Grades 3-4.

From the St. Paul (Minnesota) Pioneer Press newspaper:

Monday, April 12, 1999

JEFFREY C. KUMMER STAFF WRITER

"......For a fun guide to computers in general, try, ``Why Doesn't My Floppy Disk Flop: and Other Kids' Computer Questions,'' by Peter Cook and Scott Manning, John Wiley & Sons. Besides being a handy reference for the kinds of computer questions that baffle kids (and adults, too), the book is packed with activities to help children learn more about computers."

This is the third book I have bought authored by Elizabeth Chadwick and even though I had to order it from the Great U.K., and wait well over two weeks for it, it was well worth the wait!

This story begins with the relationship of Waltheof of Huntingdon and Judith, niece of William the Conqueror. It also details the complex friendship Waltheof nutured and strained with Simon de Senlis, originally King William's squire and royal messenger. Things do not go well for Waltheof, who is easily led by rebels that happen to be his friends and he is eventally executed at the King's command.

Meanwhile, Waltheof's daughter Matilda and her mother Judith continue to run his estates in England. However, all that is about to change as Simon is commanded by the new King, William Rufus, to take over the control of his estates much to the chagrin and disgust of Judith and much to the delight of Matilda, her daughter.

The story is epic, sweeping through the countries of Normandy, England, and the Holy Land. Matilda and Simon have a stormy but eventually loving relationship that has weathered the worst of storms. Read this latest Elizabeth Chadwick novel if you crave excellent historical fiction! You will not be diappointed!

Elizabeth Chadwick has written a wonderful book based on Waltheof Siwardsson, Earl of Huntington and Northampton, and his lady love Judith, niece to William the Conqueror. These are real people and real events and the story is written so well that the reader can actually experience the emotions of the characters.

Ms. Chadwick has written a sequel to this story which should be out this year (2003), and she is currently working on a prequel to The Lords of the White Castle.

In 1067, William the Conqueror has become the King of England and Normandy. To secure his hard-earned throne, he holds hostage many local nobles including the Earl Waltheof Siwardsson of Huntingdon, who remains a noble because he did not fight at Hastings. Shockingly, Waltheof finds he desires William's Norman niece, Judith and even more surprisingly they make a match of it even while treachery lurks behind every niche and cranny.

Two decades later, loyalty has become even more complex as William recently died and his two kingdoms divided between his older sons. Many of the Conqueror's followers believe that the middle son should have received nothing instead of sitting on the Normandy throne. Waltheof's oldest daughter, Matilda marries her father's former squire Simon de Senlis. Matilda and Simon want to live and love in peace, but once again treachery and shifting alliances make life as dangerous if not more so than when her father was an English hostage in a Norman court.

Though the story of William and his sons have been told numerous times few efforts match the thrilling saga provided by Elizabeth Chadwick. The story line focuses on people wanting peace and love yet caught up in an age of immense chaos and turmoil fostered by treachery, hatred and betrayal. Real people and recorded information of the period provide fans with an exciting historical novel that is probably as much factual as fictional, all elements interwoven into a cohesive delightful tale that William readers will cherish.

Harriet Klausner

When I was 7 years old, my mother, grandmother and a cousin of mine went to Chicago, and one of the places we went was the Museum of Science and Industry.Before we went, my mother told me that as a young girl, she had seen the fairy castle when it toured the country before becoming a permanent exhibit at the museum. She told me how much she loved it, and I couldn't wait to see it. I was not disappointed. This IS the ultimate dollhouse. Every time I go to the museum, you can't get me to leave without seeing the fairy castle.I took my own daughter to see it, and now she loves it, too. The last time we went, I found this wonderful book at the gift shop, and was thrilled that now I could look at my beloved fairy castle whenever I wished. This book is a real treasure, with beautiful pictures of the castle. Anyone who loves dollhouses, and the fairy castle in particular, will love this book. It never fails to provoke happy memories for me.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting the castle in Chicago, and can hardly find the words to say how magnificent it was! Still, in the time I had to view it, so many details were missed. That is why this book is so great. It not only displays the castle with better lighting, it gives you a chance to savor all the tiny details you might never have seen. There is also some wonderful biographical information on Colleen Moore herself. A must for miniature lovers, little girls, and dreamers everywhere!

I was browsing in Amazon.com when I discovered this book. I was so excited that I couldn't wait to order it. Chicago's Museum of Science & Industry is one of my all-time favorite places on earth. I still go there whenever I go back for a visit. As a little girl, growing up in Chicago in the 60's, one of my favorite things was going to see Colleen Moore's Doll House every year. I'm sure you can probably imagine how magical this huge, intricately planned, priceless, bejeweled dollhouse seemed in a darkened room by itself, lit with soft lights, telephones all around it so you could listen to discriptions of each room as you peered through the glass barrier surrounding it. This book captures much of the beauty of the amazing miniature treasures and the magic of the house itself-and definitely puts a smile on my face.

The four volumes of the Raj Quartet overlap and complement one another, while at the same time forwarding the main storyline of the slow twilight of the British ascendancy in India, always with the rape of a white girl by Indian men as the central lodestone everpresent in the background, the nightmare which is seldom mentioned but which none can drive from their minds. Events occur, are discussed, witnessed as newspaper reports, court documents, interviews, vague recollections from years later, or perceived directly by the main characters. Then the next volume will take two or three steps back into previous events, and these same events will be perceived from another angle, perhaps only as a vague report heard far away across the Indian plain, or witnessed directly by another character, or discussed in detail long after their occurrence over drinks on a verandah. This may at times seem like rehashing, indeed as one reads the four volumes one will be subjected to the account of the rape in the Bibighar Gardens many times over; but what will also become apparent is that additional details, sometimes minor variations in interpretation and sometimes crucial facts, are being added slowly to the events discussed, as though the window to the past were being progressively wiped cleaner and cleaner with successive strokes of Scott's pen. In this way he draws the picture of the last days of the Raj not in a conventional linear fashion, but recursively, and from multiple angles. One gets the clear impression of life in India during the first half of the 20th century as similar in nature: Fragmented, multifaceted, largely dependent upon perspective and experience and never perceived whole or all at once.

Book 3 is the shortest of the four volumes, and may almost be termed a "chamber novel," focusing as it does on the peripheral character of Barbie Batchelor, a retired missionary and lodger at the Laytons' ancestral home. Barbie is an instantly recognizable character: The kind of person who always lurks about the edges of society, awkward, embarrassing, barely tolerated by her peers. Book 3 covers much of the same time period as Book 2, this time from Barbie's point of view and also from that of Teddie Bingham, Susan Layton's husband. Teddie meets Ronald Merrick while on duty and more of Merrick's character and history is filled in. Book 3 then moves beyond the point at which Book 2 ended and continues Barbie's story, her eventual ouster from the Layton's home and slow descent into illness and madness.

"The Towers of Silence" is the third volume in Paul Scott's "Raj Quartet". Scott does little in this novel to develop the plot of the first two volumes: the rape in the Bibighar Gardens still looms ominously in the background, but is not the central issue here - rather, Scott uses this novel to refocus on events and characters who have already appeared, and to introduce some new characters. Still, Scott's intricate examination of the last days of the British Raj is as acute and convincing as it was in those earlier volumes.

The central character in "The Towers of Silence" is Barbara Batchelor, a spinster and retired superintendent of a Protestant mission school. Scott relates with great care the vicious social snobbery of the British in India, both among themselves and against the Indians. The divisions within the British in India are accentuated by the tensions caused by social change in Britain itself - the imminence of a Labour government and the questioning of automatic social superiority based upon birth and "going to the right school".

Because the British isolate themselves from the Indians, living in small cantonments, it's almost a pressure-cooker situation, small differences and social mores taking on a great importance. Could Scott have been saying that Empire accentuated these trends or highlighted them, or was he saying that given such changes, imperialism seemed all the more absurd - a society so deeply at odds with itself, so unsure of its way forward could hardly continue to claim a right to rule over another society?

It seemed to me that Barbara Batchelor was symbolic of the obsolescence of British imperial ideals, both directly and indirectly. Dirctly, because she represented an anachronistic Christian missionary type of imperialism that (as far as my reading tells me) had been waning badly since the Mutiny of 1857. But also indirectly, because she irritates the British imperialists of the 1940s - her very presence and manners highlight their own lack of an imperial raison d'être.

Of the other characters, Teddie Bingham reappears from "The Day of the Scorpion" and his (often comic) courtship of Susan Layton is retold, but in far more detail. Ronald Merrick also reappears, and through him Scott exposes the deep insecurity and bafflement caused in the Army by the discovery that Indian prisoners of war were fighting alongside the Japanese in the "Indian National Army".

A suberb addition to an excellent series of novels.

G Rodgers

This is by far the best and most important book in Scott's Raj Quartet (though you need to have read the first two to appreciate it). The character of Barbie Batchelor makes this the masterpiece that it is. Scott's ability to create a sweeping historical, political, and philosophical panorama through the mind of such a seemingly marginal figure -- a retired missionary teacher of no great brilliance, who may be slowly losing her mind -- is a real achievement.

It's been some time since I last read this biography of Wayne Rainey, but I certainly remember the emotions, and especially the growing pride, I felt with each turned page. The writing was very easy to read, and the content flowed well from Wayne's childhood and foundation of a Champion in the making, through his personal relationships, and to the present (time of writing). I recommend this book to all that loved to watch his battles with Eddie Lawson, Kevin Schwantz, Freddie Spencer, and Mick Doohan, and wish to simply know more about the Champion. And I recommend it to anyone that thinks the world and life aren't fair. Perservere!

I met wayne as a fan in 1987 at Road Atlanta when he rode for Honda after having read so many magazines about him.I never Heard of Kevin Schwantz until that weekend and Wayne despite being very busy, courteously found time to have Shay take a photo of both of us and give me an autograph.He was so receptive and pleasant.That weekend I watched in awe his amazing battle against Kevin's Suzuki and would never forget that day for the rest of my life.Then I continued to watch him on TV from 1988 to that fateful day.The book brought tears and lumps in my throat.This book tells it all and is a must buy.I am also a racer a know the will and the determination to win at all costs.This book also helps us analyze ourselves and our personal relationship with GOD.A precious collector's item to have.

This is a must for every motorcycle racing fan. I am a GP fan but unfortunately Wayne's career ended a couple of years before I started getting into bike racing. This book is an amazing tale of courage. I could not imagine going through what he had to go through. One of the best biographies I have ever read.

The last 2-3 Adam`s Dilbert collections were lackin on edge somewhat. Not that you can ever go wrong by acquring a Dilbert comic but Adams has accustomed his readers to a very high niveau of humor.
"When body language goes bad" is a tremendous return to top form for the Dilbert creator.
New and very welcome twists take place as Dilbert gets downsized, the Pointy Haired Boss becomes an engineer (even if it is for just a day), Wally takes Asok under his wings to teach him his "deepest secrets" on how to avoid work, Dilbert`s mother adopts an even more caustic attitude than wè had seen her up to now, and of course Alice is as usual the aggro force of the corporate corridors.
Wally keeps stealing the show as usual and the Head of Human resources (or "livestock") comes up with new and improved ways to torture the already overtortured souls of the employees.

On a downside, as has been the case with almost all of Adams`last albums Dogbert and especially Ratbert (possibly the 2nd cultest character of the series) seem to have taken second stage.`
This is bizzare on one hand but understandable on the other as most of the Dilbert characters have a strong fan base but it`s also a fact that Dogbert is one of the driving forces of the comic. As for Ratbert, yes, it can be a personal preference thingie.
It`s probably getting boring to say "a must buy" for each new Dilbert publication, but, as the faithful know, it`s an addiction.

Okay so I love this sort of thing, but this is up to his best and will make perfect gifts for everyone I know with a bithday this year.

When Body Language Goes Bad is the twenty-first collection of Scott Adams' "Dilbert" daily comic strips. Hysterically and ruthlessly funny cartoons featuring overtaxed engineers, their clueless pointy-haired boss, incompetent co-workers, a dog with more power than most dictators, and an insidiously evil cat in charge of human resources fill the pages of this hilarious and sometimes regretfully timely collection. When the mean and unscrupulous boss says, "Ha ha! We're filing for chapter 11 because all of our so-called profits are fake. I'm laughing because I sold all of my stock on the same day I heard that our CFO did!", both the humor and the message come across clearly and sink in deeply.