It's a long way to go to find out the question that we already know the answer to (42) but it is well worth the journey. Along the way you will meet Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, God, dolphins, Zaphod Beeblebrox, many aliens, and the Babel Fish. You will also see the Earth destroyed (and rebuilt), characters die (and recover), and discover that the Earth is not just a big hunk of mud, but actually one big computer. Douglas Adams uses his British wit to weave a tale that never goes where you expect it too, but always makes sense. Once you read the first book you will be hooked to read the rest (which is good because you have to read all four in order to find the question to the answer of 42)

Douglas Adams is funny in print, but his books really come to life when you listen to him read them aloud. He has a good sense of comic timing and often addes just the right split-second pause, or twists a word *just-so* and brings off a joke that might otherwise be missed.

We've had the 4-volume audio set for ten years and my kids have worn it out. I highly recommend getting this as a book on tape. (Better yet- bring them out on CD!)

The book says it all, the man(Douglas Adams) is a writing genious. He tells you everything you wanted to know about "Life, the Universe and Everything" Did you ever wonder how life started on the planet earth? Dull name earth, but anyways, read the book and you will know. What is 42 and why do the mice want my brain? I do not know this but you will if you read this spectacular book. This is the best book ever written by mankind. You can easily base a philosophy by this book. Life begins to make so much sense after you rad this book. There is no better!!!

The struggles we find ourselves in while becoming men are numerous. The struggles we find in being a man and being gay are even more numerous. Add to this growing up in a broken home. The odds are surely stacked against us.This book covers the life of a man that could be any one of us or are best friend.Randy had all odds stacked against him. A abusive and alcoholic father, a mother that could only protect him by taking the abuse herself. Coming to terms with his own sexuality Randy overcomes and gives hope to all who struggle with being gay.This is his life story filled with sorrow, lovers, friends and finally hope and strenght and success. I will read it again. OH yea!

Few books can be so rewarding as IN THE ARMS OF ADAM. Mr. Chumbley shares with us a journey of his life in a truely sincere and honest story. His examination of this journey is thought provoking, heart warming and beautiful. His poetic writing style is exquisite, as we follow a young man from chilhood horror to adult self satisfaction. Any person who has lived with abuse, and questions their own lifestyle and choices, needs to read IN THE ARMS OF ADAM. Gay men should Thank Mr. Chumbley for a true representation of our society towards gay men during this timeframe in our history. I really cannot say enough about this book, and the rewards it has given me after reading it. I will definitely read it again.

No matter what your experiences, gay or straight, one cannot help but be moved by this young man's coming of age. This is not another politically correct maifesto of the gay political agenda, rather, it is a poignant, touching account of the author's transformation from boy to man. The work is a statement of who he is at his core, and how the events of his life brought him to know his true self.

The writing is as complex as the subject matter -- at one moment simple, joyful and innocent; the next moment contemplative and brutally honest.

Although the author and I had radically different upbringings, I cannot deny the similarities between our respective journeys into manhood. The book offers a very personal look at one man's experience yet the reader cannot help but reflect on his or her own.

This is a touching, wonderful book.

This tap will make a long journey shorter with little ones in the car. The tunes makes a change from the usual nursery rthyms that we endure in the car. The music is funky. The songs are funny and easy to learn. It is the only tape my husband will have in HIS car. Occasionally I find him tapping his toe to the music. The book helped me learn of the words and when my daughter is older I am sure she will enjoy reading it too. At 2 years she is still a little young to even appreciate the graphics. Our favourite tune is "Tickle Time". When the whole family joins in we usually end up on the floor laughing. This tape will always remind me of my family having a great time together. It does not fail to put a smile on my daughters face.

Sandra Boynton's book and cassette not only have the kids singing but my husband and I find ourselves humming the tunes too! We were facing a nine and eight hour car trips with three kids (3, 2 and 3 weeks) and this made the trip go FASTER! The tunes and words are catchy and easy to sing along with. Some of the songs are from Boynton's other books, like"Barnyard Dance". Others became new favorites to us; Oh Lonely Peas and Bad Babies. Unlike other kid cassettes we have, this creation is done perfectly! Kids and their parents can both enjoy the humor, music and cleverness of Boynton and Ford.This became the only tape played in our car whenever we went anywhere, in fact we played the tape so much from August to October we wore it out. I'm buying another set today!

My 2 1/2 yr old son, already a fan of Boynton's magic, was enthralled by the book and accompanying tape. The songs are witty and easy to learn, and the music doesn't grate on an adult's ear the way some children's songs do. Once again, Sandra Boynton has done a great job of interweaving learning and fun! Particular favorties: Oh, Lonely Peas, Tickle Time, and So Long, Doggies. When I put my son to bed the other night, he said to me "Mommy, I love you more than cheese" This book and tape combination has really made an impression!

(My only 'complaint' - it would be great if there was also a CD version.)

This is the only book I've ever read that explains a concrete scientific system for controlling film exposure and processing. This book does not cover the artistic process, but instead the chemical/physical process. Ansel Adams explains in great detail the process of visualization of the desired image and a scientific method for achieving that goal through use of the Zone System.

A must read for any aspiring b/w photographer.

This is the book I turn to for the heavy duty technical data on the most important aspects of photography, but guess what? This is probably one of the most readable and easy to digest technical books on photography you are ever likely to read or need. Adams has a way of making mysterious worlds within Photography accessable. I will admit though that this book is not for the absolute beginner, though having said that those who want to stretch a little could find much that is of use without having too much knowledge off the mark.

When I looked at the three books of this series, The Camera, The Negative and the Print, I waded into each wanting to choose only the best one from the series. I quickly realised that neither of the other two had what The Negative had and I have subsequently realised that this was by far the best choice for me. The negative deals with Visualization and image values, Light and Film, Exposure, The Zone System, Filters and Pre-Exposure, Natural Light, Artifical Light, Darkroom processes, Dark Room equiptment and procedures and value control in processing.

This book is an absolute must for intermediate photographers who have mastered the basics and want to take a step up into the world of greater control over their imaging with an eye to developing and processing their own film and prints. Everything you need to know about getting your images right before you even hit the shutter is in this book, all you need to do now is accentuate the positive by going and buying The NEGATIVE!

Hands down this is the best B&W photography book written. The second in a three book series, Ansel Adams meticulously details every aspect of capturing an image on B&W film. The Zone System offers the reader the opportunity to create perfectly exposed photographs with precision. Both novice and experienced photographers will find this book beneficial. The three volume set is well worth the investment.

I was in seventh grade in 1978 when I first read Report From Engine Co. 82, and no book I've read since has ever had as profound an effect on me. Dennis Smith and his brother firefighters on Intervale Ave. inspired me and, I'm sure, many others to become firefighters. The book is gripping and "in-your-face", taking you into some of the most dangerous and frustrating working conditions imaginable.

I just re-read the book, and doing so rekindled the respect and admiration for the heroes of the FDNY that it originally instilled in me 22 years ago. Recently a friend and I visited "The Big House" in the South Bronx, talked with the firemen, took pictures of the neighborhood, and brought Smith's book to life. The pull box at Charlotte St. & East 170th St. made infamous by Smith's book has been replaced by an ERS box; the crumbling, burning tenaments replaced by suburban looking homes. All that remains of the horrors that took place there in the seventies is the memories of daily heroism performed by the men of Engines 82, 85, Ladder 31 and 712 perpetuated by Smith's book.

Now a teacher, I'll be sharing Report From Engine Co. 82 with my class this year. I hope that with the use of this book, I can inspire the same respect, compassion, and concern for human life in my students that Smith inspired in me so long ago.

You don't have to be a firefighter or a "wanna-be" to love Report From Engine Co. 82. Treat yourself to it as soon as you can.

As a firefighter, I read this book with some apprehension. Other firefighting books have not shown the true realism of the job. THIS BOOK IS THE EXCEPTION. A fantastic view of one of the busiest firehouses in New York City, from the firefighter's perspective. What's it like to go to hell and back? The author has been there and is here to talk about it.

This book is absolutely amazing. I started reading it because I was down to the deadline on choosing a book for a school report and now I'm sure I had the best book in the class. Smith takes you into the depths of a huge fire where you can actually feel the heat and choke on the smoke and then the next moment makes you feel his frustration when he takes you to his tenth malicious false alarm of the night. I have a whole new respect for the firefighters in my community and thank God that I have them. Not untill I read this book did I fully understand exactly what firefighters do. I am totally and compleatly amazed!

I've been on a tear of P.J. O'Rourke's books lately, starting with Republican Party Reptile and so forth. This is by far one of P.J.'s best. I'm on the other side of the coin politically (fairly liberal) myself, but P.J. usually spares no one, and I admire that (Rush and his wacko friends could learn a thing or two).

This book is just about how to get by if you're a bachelor. It's incredibly funny for the most part (the cooking sections should not be read if you've just ate!). This is a fantastic little book, very helpful if you plan to live like a slob or like a typical college freshman.

The Bachelor Home Companion: A Practical Guide to Keeping House Like A Pig written by P.J. O'Rourke is a very funny, keep you in stiches book.

You'll never keep a house neat and tidy after you read this book. Of Course, that's assuming that you already do. What its like as a bachelor in theory as to actually being one is, according to O'Rourke, a great disparity. If you want to laugh and be entertained at the same time then this little tome is for you to enjoy.

Humor abounds and your life will definately take a turn... for better or worse will depend on you.According to O'Rourke... "How often does a house need to be cleaned, anyway? As a general rule, once every girlfriend. After that she can get to know the real you."

This book is absolutely hilarious! I'm a big fan of PJ's, so how did I miss this little gem until now? Anyway, this book had me literally LOL (Laughing Out Loud) as I read it in my own bachelor apartment. PJ has captured the essence of bachelordom, namely, we are all basically mischievous boys at heart who love chaos and disorder. PJ on cooking - "If you think of it as setting fire to things and making a mess, it's fun". His recipes alone will leave you in stitches. And he provides all sorts of ready excuses for putting off anything related to cleaning or keeping up one's residence. This especially rang true as I surveyed my own humble abode and thought "You know, I kinda LIKE having all that clutter on the floor, it makes the place looked lived in." This book is simply required reading for anyone who's experienced the joys of sharing an off campus apartment with two other complete slobs, where beer cans and empty pizza boxes are the primary forms of interior decoration. Let's just say it's a pleasant trip down memory lane for any healthy, red blooded American male, and should get 6 out of 5 stars if such a thing were possible!

Journey to Cubeville is cram packed with outrageously funny jokes, as usual. Scott Adams is brilliant. His jokes are funny, and no matter how strange they are, they are somehow very close to the sad truth as well. I am a member of the DNRC (Dogberts New Ruling Class) and an avid Dilbert Fan who has all of the books. I can honestly say that this one is one of the best to date.

This book has some of Scott Adams' best work in it. Just pour on the sarcasm and take shots at corporate America!

In addition, there are punch out Dilbert finger puppets with a punch-out cubical so you can "Micro Manage" your own group of peons (as close as most of us will get :-)

Dilbert rules!! This is my first Dilbert book and I really enjoyed it. The situations and jokes are very funny and easy to relate to. Kudos to Scoot Adams spokesperson for the common man.

SEVEN YEARS OF HIGHLY DEFECTIVE PEOPLE is a must buy for anyone who likes Dilbert. Reading it is a hilarious review of Dilbert comics from 1989 to 1995-- all of them conveniently grouped by theme or person.

Scott Adams also includes his own notes after many of the strips, and they are both funny and revealing. Through his frequent discussions of the histories of the characters, one gains a greater apprecation for the many changes Dilbert has gone through.

I would highly recommend this book to any Dilbert lover.

Seven Years of Highly Defective People is a marvelous Dilbert book. It exposes the characters, and how they got started. It also includes strips from previous books and Scott Adams's thoughts on the comics in his own hand writing! It's a classic for any Dilbert fan. You can find your favorite characters like Dilbert, Dogbert, Boss, Alice, Wally, Catbert, Ratbert, Asok the intern, Tina the Tech Writer, Carol the evil secretary, and many, many more. I highly recommend this book.

Well, now you can find out, thanks to Scott Adams' annotated compilation of selected Dilbert strips. More than just another re-hash of old favorites, "Seven Years" is one of the better comic collections I've seen. Adams' individual analyses of each character is, perhaps, the closest you will get to studying actual Character Design theory for comic strips. Of course, he mentions nothing about the drawing style (how hard is it to draw Dilbert & friends anyway?) but if you want to know what goes into making memorable comic strip personalities, this book has it. Sadly, the inter-character chemistry isn't on a level with Peanuts, so don't expect any amazing insights on how Dilbert and Dogbert get along.

The majority of Adams' annotations refer in some way to the central joke of a certain strip; occasionally he also discusses artistic points and story arcs. Sometimes the comments are even funnier than the actual strip. All in all, it's an enlightening peek into the creative process of making a comic strip. Aspiring artists and fans of the genre should definitely have this book, and if you don't, borrow it from someone who does.

To even flip through this book is to become deeply enmeshed in the time that was (and for author Hal Lifson, still is) 1966!

If you grew up in the 60's like I did, you will gasp in delighted recognition with each turn of the page as you peruse this wildly colorful book.

This is not a highly inclusive record of everything from 1966; this is the author's own personal recollections of his youth and culture growing up in Encino, CA and all those things that comprised his environment during that time. Luckily for the rest of us, whether you grew up in that time or not, you will enjoy and very much relate to the stories Hal Lifson tells. For those of us who had a similar childhood, or those who want to get an idea of what it was like to be a kid in the 60's, this book provides enough detailed and factual captions to make it an educational must-read for anyone interested in 60's pop culture.

The pictures of the toys and products alone (remember using a real potato for Mr. Potato Head? Hey! I had that Mary Poppins lunchbox!) make this book worth getting, but Hal Lifson's observations and comments truly make you feel as though you were reminiscing with an old childhood friend about all the things that were important to you back then.
Extremely fun and highly recommended!

I happily offer my two cents worth about this book. I expected to leaf through it over time but rather found myself reading it cover to cover and reminiscing over every photograph before putting it down. This is a fun and easy read for everyone! It's full of photographs and not much text. Just enough to bring back wonderful memories of childhood in the year 1966.

You won't find references to politics or drugs as this book was written from the eyes of a six year old child during the 60's. "Hal Lifson's 1966" highlights the fads, fashions, entertainment, foods, toys, etc., all the "fun stuff" a kid remembers from that era. I smiled with warm memories as I turned each page.

If you were around during this time, I think you will find, as I did, this to be a loving tribute to an amazing year. If you weren't around in the 60's, you should definately read this book to see what you missed....you would have LOVED living it.

I wish, and expect, great success for this book and I thank its author, Hal Lifson, for sharing his childhood memories with the rest of us to enjoy.

Hal Lifson's 1966! is essential reading (and viewing) for anyone interested in 1960s U.S. Pop culture. The book is well written and the illustrations comprise a great and thoughtful selection of pop "icons" from 1966: From images of tv's Batman to advertisements for toys, comics, music albums, films and other mass-marketed products, the book provides an excellent travelogue through a sometimes overlooked facet of a unique and explosive period in U.S. cultural history. The book is great fun (and that's enough) - but it also provides some keen insights into the visual context that gave rise to the work of Andy Warhol and many of the pop visual and media styles that still resonate today. The introductory writings by Adam West and Nancy Sinatra are great "bonus material" that add to the book's thoughtful approach to it's subjects.

This was a very touching book about the Armenian Genocide. It is a story told through the eyes of a little boy; son of a wealthy prominent Armenian Lawyer that loses everything. It's a very easy to read book that was very fascinating to me (I couldn't put the book down); I was able to read cover to cover in about a week. The author does an excellent job of portraying the horrors of the Genocide, the cruelty of man, the courage of a young boy as he struggles to survive...this book should be made to a movie. I would not recommend this book to younger readers as there are strong references to rape, molestation and cruelty. However, I would strongly recommend and encourage reading this book to high school students.

Imagine being 12 years old, the youngest child in a wealthy family, with no concerns beyond plotting mischief. One day, soldiers arrive at your door, ending your carefree existence. Within a week, you are transformed from a lighthearted child into a homeless, starving orphan in constant fear of execution. This is the story of Vahan Kenderian. Author Adam Bagdasarian's novel, based on his great uncle, is a well written look at the horrors of the often forgotten Armenian Genocide. Written in first person, Bagdasarian does a wonderful job of making it seem as though he is the one that went through this terrible tragedy, rather than his great uncle. It is easy reading, with short chapters, and text geared toward the young adult. Don't hesitate to pick this book up just because of the easy reading, anyone would enjoy it. Forgotten Fire is a great book that you won't be able to put down.

I read this book two years ago and its impact is still fresh in my mind. The point of view of this story ... from the eyes of a child ... is creative and strong. I could not put this book down. I have recommended this novel to all of my friends and was thrilled to see that it was on the summer reading list of required books at the local high school. Finally, through the words of an Armenian author, the youth of our nation will be educated in the Armenian Genocide. Pass the word on to your local schools. A word of caution... there are portions of the novel that deal with sensitive issues, apart from violence. Teachers and parents should be made aware of this fact, yet use it in educating the students as to the ultimate brutality of the genocide. Thank you Adam Bagdasarian, your ancestors are smiling down at you and thanking you for such a moving novel. "Abrees!"