I have read the book and this is one of the best Hardy Boys stories I've read yet. Read how the Hardy Boys escape the jaws of a pit bull, dodge boxes of dog food and catch the criminal. Suspense,danger and lots of dogs to rescue. CRIME IN THE KENNEL is hot!!

Iola's dog , Spike, is dognapped . The Hardys follow its trail but first get locked in a dog cage . Ha ,ha!

Martin Gardner has an excellent review of this book in his collection of essays, _The Night is Large_, and I can add little to what he says.

The opening essay is a short, partly autobiographical account of how Berlin came to embrace his distinctive pluralism. It provides the clearest, most concise explanation I have seen to date of why Marxism and its ilk are wrong. His essay on de Maistre is longer than its subject deserves, but not uninteresting.

All of Berlin's essays display his encyclopedic knowledge and shrewd judgment. It is said that he was one of the fastest talkers on record; he writes with equal volubility, packing into each sentence a book's worth of history and theory. These essays are not for the neophyte or the casual reader -- the forthcoming _Power of Ideas_ (March 2000) promises to be more accessible -- nevertheless, they are virtuoso examples of the much praised but little practiced art of sympathetic critical interpretation.

The late Isaiah Berlin was one of the foremost liberal thinkers of the 20th century, a man and scholar who developed and promoted some of the most powerful arguments for individual liberty and liberal societies while, at the same time, wrote some of the most powerful essays in the history of ideas, particularly with respect to Enlightenment and Counter-Enlightenment thinkers, political philosophers, and ideologues of various persuasions. Some of his essays have become legendary: the essays on liberty, on Karl Marx and Disraeli, on Tolstoy. He left behind a significant body of work, most of which has been edited by Henry Hardy (if you read all of his essays, you will find they overlap quite a bit, but that is the product of an engaging thinker who preferred conversation to writing). "The Crooked Timber of Humanity" is among his finest collection of essays.

If there is any theme to this anthology, it is that human societies are like "crooked timbers"; trying to bend them is unnatural and only results in disastrous consequences. The attempts to bend them--essentially experiments in social engineering--marked the 20th century, from Lenin's Russia to Hitler's Germany to Pol Pot's Cambodia. These experiments had deep roots in modern political thinking, extending back into the nineteenth century. They manifested themselves in illiberal, totalitarian regimes in the 20th century and took an untold number of lives.

But "The Crooked Timber of Humanity" is not a study in history, although it comes from the mind of a man who lived across the span of the century he was writing about. It is a history of ideas and, in particular, of the belief that the interests, motivations, and goals of people can be, and are, the same at all times and in all places. This type of philosophical monism holds to a single vision of how societies ought to be arranged; is characterized by an idealism and utopianism that are to be attained at all costs; and is found in a number of modern ideologies such as fascism and nationalism. Berlin's essays cover idealism, utopianism, Vico, the Enlightenment, Romanticism, and the views of de Maistre, all of which held to some form of singular, monistic political thinking.

Berlin's answer is reasonable and humane, a pluralstic point of view that holds that human desires and ends are varied, that utopianism in its many forms (Communism and fascism, to cite two) is conceptually incoherenet and unnatural to the experience of being human, and that human experience is multi-dimensional and constantly changing.

This collection of essays exhibit Berlin's pronounced clarity of thought (one of his wonderful trademarks) and illustrative prose (with all those rolling sentences). Berlin once said in an interview that, given his experience of the 20th century, all we should and can expect is a "minimally decent society," one that is free and liberal and open enough to allow human beings to realize their own ends, whatever imperfections such a society might have. The world since the Enlightenment, and in particular the world of the 20th century, has taught that anything else tends to lead to forceful and violent attempts to fashion society according to a specific ideal; as Berlin puts it in this book, to make such an omelette, many eggs have to be broken. He promotes a political philosophy at odds with this type of thinking and, in so doing, has become one of the great voices of liberty.

Of course, as incisive as Berlin was, he was not without controversy; his essay on de Maistre was not well received when it was first written, and, since his death, he has been lauded with every praise that can be heaped on a thinker. Whether or not he deserves all of that praise is a completely separate issue. "The Crooked Timber of Humanity" is a fine collection of essays on political philosophy and a fine sampling of Berlin's way of thinking.

I bought this book hoping to get some ideas on how to make my backyard into a New Orleans garden oasis and this book delivered. Not only is it a helpful resource for gardeners (it has a chart of commonly used plants in New Orleans gardens), but it also is nice to just leaf through and look at the pictures. My only gripe is that there weren't enough gardens featured.

Here is that unusual New Orleans book, beautifully written by Jeannette Hardy and Lake Douglas, and sumptuously photographed by Richard Sexton, that journeys outside the heavily touristed French Quarter and into the neighborhoods that truly infuse the city with its unique spirit. French Quarter gardens are not neglected, of course, but the book is easily the best of its kind at revealing the entire far-flung city, its people and their lovely and sometimes idiosyncratic gardens.

This book has an interesting storyline, but there was no suspense or action, really. A quite good read for Hardy Boys fans

This book was great! I think solar cars are our future so it provides information on the topic. There was a lot of action. I think this book was great!

Insight Guide Chicago is a mine of useful information in an accessible format. This, however, is not what distinguishes the Insight Guide from books with a similar mission, such as Frommers or Fodors. What marks Insight Guide apart is its wonderful photographs, which provide the would-be tourist with a rich taste of what it must be like to spend time in this vibrant, world class, but still comfortably Midwestern city.

The other thing that sets this Insight Guide apart - even from others in the series - is the darkness of its text. If you read this book like a book, rather than a reference work (its stylish writing invites such use) you are regaled at every turn with tales of poverty, crime, corruption and racial division. That Chicago suffers from these problems is no doubt true but reading about them in a guidebook doesn't make me want to go there.

i found this chicago travel quide to be an exceptional difference in the usual "go here, do this" mentality of most tour books. the writing was insightful and thought-provoking, the information was straight forward and the photographs were exceptional. evidently a well thought out and researched book. even though this edition is somewhat dated (1999) i highly recommend this purchase.

A year ago, we learned about a LaureI & Hardy trivia book which was in the works. Frankly, we weren't expecting much, since most such books are - well, trivial. So, we were very happily surprised with Laurel & Hardy in "Big Quizness". Written by siblings Robert and Tracie McFerren and copiously illustrated by Robert, the book is an entertaining parade of unusual aspects of the L&H Þlms. Only the Þrst third of the book is the expected Trivia Contest. Questions are posed about almost every L&H Þlm, going chronologically from the Þrst (Lucky Dog) to last (Atoll K). Some of the questions are fairly easy for L&H buffs (in Come Clean, which þavors is ice-cream vendor Charlie Hall out of? Orange, gooseberry and chocolate!), while others are head-scratchers even for longtime aÞcionados (in what month does Way Out West take place?). The authors are kind enough to refrain from asking about the lost L&H Þlms Hats Off - a vitally important but long-gone 1927 two- reeler - and The Rogue Song, a 1930 Technicolor musical starring Lawrence Tibbett with Stan and Ollie in support. However, in one of the most valuable portions of the book, these two lost gems are recreated in detailed descriptions of each Þlm's action. Chapters four through ten are probably the most enjoyable, focusing on unusual facts about the Þlms. Films with "Weird or Uncontrollable Laughter" are listed, along with the perpetrator; all of the gags involving feet are described; all of the scenes in which the telephone is used for laughs are summarized. We found only a couple of mistakes (Pardon Us at its original 56 minutes is the boys' shortest feature, not the 58- minute Block-Heads; Roy Seawright did not win four Oscars for special effects in L&H movies) and a few omissions (Stan sings - brieþy - in Busy Bodies as well as the eight listed Þlms; the most outrageous double-entendre in an L&H Þlm is delivered by Ollie to Mae Busch during Tit For Tat, not listed in the "Read Between the Lines" section). Sections about the Boys' characteristics are quite interesting; we learn that Stan scratched his head 256 times, doing it Þrst in 1928's From Soup to Nuts, and most frequently - 15 times - in 1935's Bonnie Scotland. Stan's greatest quotes, collected here, are as funny as ever. A chronology of the boys' lives will prove useful to the more scholarly L&H admirers, as will a lengthy listing of non-L&H Þlm appearances made by the supporting players. Not only are regulars such as Charlie Hall thus documented; even Fred "Snowþake" Toones - who appears in just one brief shot of Way Out West - gets a listing of notable Þlms. Although there are a few stills and bits of memorabilia reproduced, most of the illustrations are charming drawings by Robert McFerren. This book is obviously a labor of love by two devoted L&H fans. It's an entertaining, amusing and enlightening read that any devotee of Stan and Ollie should own, and it's certainly going to enliven future meetings of the Sons of the Desert (The Laurel & Hardy Appreciation Society). This review previously appeared the nostalgia entertainment newsletter Past Times (Managing Editor Randy Skretvedt) and is reprinted with permission.

I have every Laurel and Hardy book there is, but this is one of my favorites. It is fun reading, enjoyable and enlightening. If you are a fan, this is a must. Everything from trivia to costars and everything in between. It is hard to find and out-of-print, so if you come across one, grab it!

I enjoy the art of the human body. Yet never had I imagined it could be an art form like this. The tatoos are immaculate... and the details with which the author used is incredible. Definitely one that you want to keep looking at again and again.

do you think you are serious about tattooing? consider yourself a bit of an expert on it? and you don't have this book? (not even any of the other tattootime issues?) then re-think and re-consider! anyone serious about tattooing, its backgrounds, its history should have this book. and all the other four issues. they are all out on hardy marks publications; the publishing company owned and run by don ed hardy. whom you should know.

this volume is entitled "life and death tattoos", but is not as morbid as its title might suggest.

so far i've only had time to read but a few chapters. and already i can wholeheartedly recommend this book! (as usual: even for the photographs alone...)

there is an interview with one of my favourite american writers: donald richie. he's spent most of his life in japan, and therefore knows a lot about its history, its people, its culture, and its tattooing! he does have a lot of interesting things to say; especially if you're a japan fanatic like myself. btw: richie has written a book called "the japanese tattoo" - which is very, very good if you want to find out more about that subject. check out my separate review.

there's an article written by a pathologist who elaborates on tattooing from his perspective. philosophically interesting and very entertaining.

another great article is the one about the medical pathology museum of tokyo university. what do they show there? well, preserved skins from deceased tattooees!

also there's a special "portfolio" feature on dan thomé, showing some interesting, south pacific inspired tattoos.

As a great admirer of "Jude the Obscure" and "Tess of the D'Ubervilles," I was intrigued when I saw this collection of some of Hardy's shorter works, and was not disapointed. The common theme running through these sketches is Hardy's dissatisfaction with the institution of marriage. Written in Hardy's impeccable style, these stories are short and biting looks at the circumstances that surround and influence marriage. You'll find few happy endings among these tales, but they are an enjoyable read. It's always a pleasure to immerse oneself in Hardy's world and language, and the twisted little plots Hardy creates show a side of his genius I had not previously realized.

These stories are not as profound as some of Hardy's other works, and, by necessity, the characters are not as well developed. However, I would still recommend this book. For a fan of Tess or Jude, it's a fascinating look into the mind of Hardy at the time he was writing these novels. And for someone who's never read any Hardy, they are an easy and enjoyable introduction to a wonderful author.

What wonderful language! What wonderful characters! If you're looking for happy endings, don't look here. Tragedy, suicide, and deceivement abound in these short stories. (My 1965 hard-cover copy also includes A FEW CRUSTED CHARACTERS.) But if you appreciate remarkable writing that will take your breath away, this is it! Comparable to Hardy's THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE.

This book was great. It was full of suspense and irony. Except for the very beginning it keeps you in the story the whole time. You can never predict who the stealer is. I think anybody can read this and understand it.

This book is really cool, there's lots of action and it is in Italy. It seems scary at first but the end is very exciting and impressive. I would recommend it for kids of all ages.

Thomas Hardy's "The Mayor of Casterbridge" es a truly remarkable novel. Interesting throughout, it is the story of the rise and fall of a man named Mechael Henchard. Ay the beginning of the novel, Henchard is a volatile, twenty-one-year-old hay-trusser. He becomes drunk at a fair and sells his wife and daughter to a sailor in an auction, which originally began as a joke, turns serious.Upon realizing that he has sold his family, Henchard searches for them to no avail, and takes an oath to give up alcohol for twenty-one years. After the supposed death of the sailor, Michael's wife, Susan Henchard, and her daughter began a search for Michael Henchard, who has become the mayor of Casterbridge.
The novel proceeds as many soap-opera-like events unfold. The unique plot-twists made reading the novel a very entertaining experience. An unfavorable trait Henchard possesses is not letting go of past mistakes. Although he tries to atone for the past indiscretions, fate always seems to catch up to him. These factors and others contribute to the downfall of Michael Henchard.

Mayor Henchard was drunk when he sold his wife and child. This instance of reckless cruelty would come to haunt him in his later years. Overall a pious and good man, his downfall was his reluctance to face his past. His will dictated his epitaph. He will never be heard from again. (The will is on the last few pages of the book.) Fading into nothing, it challenges the reader to find a term for death. Is death the physical end of life, or the emotional end of life. Readers will be challenged to determine their own answers to Henchard's damnation.