I recently became aware of the many historical fiction books by Ann Rinaldi and was looking at the recommendations on Amazon to choose one to read. I clicked on 'Time Enough for Drums' and knew I just had to read it when I saw all of its rave reviews! Well, here's another one:

Jemima Emerson is a free-spirited, strong-willed girl of fifteen when talk of the Revolutionary War reaches her hometown of Trenton, New Jersey. Jem is a Patriot and is strongly against the British and their king, George III. She is also strongly against her private tutor, John Reid, who is a devoted Tory and is intent on keeping Jem under control and sculpting her into a young lady (The very last thing on Jem's mind!). As the war begins to take shape, Jem's older brother joins Washington's army, her younger brother wants to with all his heart, her mother sews for the soldiers and writes essays promoting the Cause, and her father, a merchant, refuses to stock British imports in his store.

The American Revolution is very much a part of the Emerson family's lives, but Jem is tired of spending long hours each day with her tutor when she could be riding her horse, visiting her grandfather, or helping the Cause. Lessons become more intense after John Reid is put in a position where he almost has to admit defeat and failure in keeping Jem under control and educating her.

One day Jem discovers a huge secret about John that puts his life in peril and forces him to trust her. The secret gives Jem newfound respect for him and causes her to view him in a different way. Eventually this respect turns into admiration and then into love, which is mutual between Jem and John.

When the war comes directly to Trenton, John Reid and Jem's younger brother leave to take part in the fight for independence. With the British occupying their town, Jem finds herself being faced with hard choices and forced to grow from girl to woman in a matter of several days. Through it all Jem remains true to herself and learns many valuable lessons about life and war. She has seen many awful for things for someone so young, but she has managed to learn something from each experience. At the war's end Jem emerges as a wise and spirited young woman with bright plans for the future and a new approach to life.

'Time Enough for Drums' was a wonderful book and definitely one of the best I have read. I loved Jemima's strong and willful character and the book's historical setting. Historical details were beautifully woven into a captivating plot that made me feel connected to the characters and the time. I know this is a book I will read over and over again, one that has found a special place in my heart.

I've always loved Ann Rinadli's books, but found most of them quite depressing. Her "Quilt Trilogy" was a real downer, and "The Secret of Sarah Revere" never seemed to stop making it's characters miserable. Miserable or not, however, there was one strong point that kept me reading - well-developed, interesting characters and plots that equal no other. Nowhere else, truly, have I ever read stories as intriguing and exciting as the novels of Rinaldi. It was this that drew me to this book.

Unlike her other works, this book is actually quite a happy one in places. Although the subject (the Revolution) isn't exatly joyful, Rinaldi writes it so well that you can't help but be interested even when it gets sad. Not sad enough to turn me off, though!

The plot is far from simple: Jem is a teenage girl at the brink of the Revolution, caught up in her family's ideals and aspirations of freedom and independence. Jem's free-spiritedness often gets in the way of her being a true adult, something she longs for even when acting juvenille. (It is this, the flaws Rinaldi gives to her characters, that make it that much more interesting). Although educated and good-looking, Jem's tutor John Reid (a former lover of her silly and shallow older sister) is a constant thorn in her side. Not only is he super-conservative, he's also a Tory - a person loyal to Britain - with strong ties to England and the King. Or so she thinks! Several interesting plot twists make this book fun as well as insightful, and the romances are so down-played and work so well into the story that the book seems more and more like historical fiction of the best kind and less like the common historical teen romance you most often see today.

A keeper!

I LOVED this book. It was full of rich detail and exciting scenes that I will always remember. Full of romance, excitement, suspense, and sadness, this is the best book that I have ever read. After reading one of Ann Rinaldi's other books, I discovered that I liked her writing style and I sought out another book by her. I found this book with the help of other amazon.com reviewers. Well, her goes another of these rave reviews:

Jemima Emerson is a strong-willed, opinoinated young lady that has been born into the time of war. The American revolution is flairing and has reached her town. The war takes many men special to here who wish to fight for their Cause. Among them are Jemima's loved brother and an extremely close childhood friend. But Jemima has not yet discovered that war has grasp of another man in her life--her strict and "mean" private tutor, John Reid. Jem constantly provokes her tutor and doesn't take responsibility for her lessons. When one day, once again, she disobeys the supposed tory her life changes. She is forced to see more of John Reid. He smoothly shapes her into a young lady, whom he has grown to love. She soon shares his feelings and Jem and John soon experience the difficulty of war. He is called away and she faces many hardships in her own family. Both of their lives change together and forever.

This book tells the story of a girl who is forced to grow up. She lived during the time of the Civil War. This story takes place in Richmond, Virginia. Susan is fourteen years old and thinks the war is very far away. She doesn't think it is going to effect her until the day her father is needed to work on a ship hundreds of miles away. Susan feels useless and alone. She has just met her long lost brother Lucien, who is the subject of town gossip because he isn't away fighting. Susan is left alone in her mansion with her angry mother and their beloved housekeeper, Rhody. Susan tries to find a way to help in the war effort but from her conversations with her brother she is unsure which side she supports. ... Susan must decide if she can perform a final act of courage that will show everyone what side she is on. At this point, she realizes she miust decide if she can do something that mayhurt her loved ones but that she believes is right.
I loved this book. Normally historical fiction books bore me beacuse they take place so long ago. But I could really understand why Susan felt the way she did. Her confusion with where she belonged really made sense to me. She is so much like girls today because she is confused about boys and also self-concious. This book made me want to keep reading and left me wanting more as it ended.

This book is about a girl named Susan Dobson Chilmark, and her mother is abusive. Her dad can't win an argument with her mom and she has a long lost brother that is then discovered later in the book. She and her best friend weren't allowed to be friends anymore. Her family had a reputation of being troubled and very crazy.
To win back a good reputation, she volunteers to collect silk dresses for the making of a balloon.With the help of her brother she was able to collect dresses. It was very interesting how and where she gets her dresses. That is for you to read.
The better thing is that this is also a love story. How did Ann manage to throw in a love story in the middle of the chaos of the life of Susan Dobson Chilmark? It is remarkable, and the ending to it is the most triumphant, sweetest ending I could ever read. This is a very exciting story, and I could never put it down until I finished!

This is one of my all-time favorite books. The story of Susan Chilmark. Susan goes through many changes in this book she meets her brother for the first time he has been estranged from the family since she was a baby. Her mother is known as the town nutcase she has many problems that Susan can not deal with. With her father away at war how can she handle her mother? But Susan does all that she can to help the cause for the confederacy. She goes around with her friend Connie and collects silk dresses for a ballon to spy on the yankees. But it seems that this ballon is tearing Susan apart. Susan has had many new and exciting experiences with her brother Lucien she has met a yankee and a new friend. To find out more read this book. I recomend it to anyone and everyone. It is my favorite of Ann Rinaldi's books! Enjoy it

Camryn Manheim is that rare celebrity who isn't afraid to speak her mind, who isn't afraid to be who she is. After reading this book, I found that I was inspired by the blood, sweat and tears it took for this actress to get where she is today. She's living proof that if you put your mind to something, you can accomplish it. Never say never.

Anyone can relate to this book, too. It's not just for people who've struggled with weight problems. It's for anyone who's ever been told 'no,' when deep down inside, they knew the answer was 'yes.'

And hey, don't let the title fool you. This is not a diet book! In fact, it's so rich with anecdotes -- happy and sad, triumphs and failures -- you'll want to devour it immediately. If you're like me, you'll read it once, then read it again.

"When I read Camyrn Manheim's "WAKE UP, I'M FAT!" I'll admit it...I cried. Cried tears of laughter more times than I could count at her toally honest, totally in touch 'coloring out of the lines' approach to life. I was 'reduced' (a favorite word we share!) to tears, too, at the all too real aspects of being...yes, I, too, can say it..."FAT"...in the glitzy, glittery, decidedly thin world of show business. The particular thin pocket of hell I chose as a career path was the

music industry--twin sibling to the author's vantage point in the theater/acting community of the business. To say I relived a lot of experiences (and laughs!) through these pages would be putting it mildly. Some quick jottings on this wonderful read: 1. Camryn Manheim should be declared emotional "Heavyweight Champion" of the world for her insights. 2. The creators of "Xena" should be paying this woman a royalty. Here's a real "warrior princess"...and a Jewish one at that! 3. Lastly, I was struck was a pang of regret that this feisty fellow human has been on earth for 38 years and I've never gotten to count her as a personal friend. My life would have been obviously richer for having done so... Fat, thin, of "mid-size", when you read this you'll realize that Camyrn is more than a tremendously gifted actress, or another showbusiness "talking head." She's a wonderfully honest, refreshing spirit with enough wit, wisdom, grit, and will power to teach people of every size a thing or two about acceptance--of ourselves and each other. Bravo Camryn!

When Camryn Manheim stood on the stage at this year's Emmy Awards, holding her Emmy overhead and shouting, "This one's for all the fat girls!" I cheered and cried. I received the book yesterday, and just finished it. I believe this book is for everyone, because *everyone* has had something in their life that was preventing them from realizing their dreams. Fat people don't have a lock on being afraid to live their lives "until". Camryn's book is a great read. It's entertaining, funny, and at times, very sad -- but ultimately, it's a success story. Against all odds, in spite of people who actively discouraged her, she's living her dreams, and helping others to live their dreams as well. To loosely quote Camryn, "If you're standing at the corner of "Life" and "You Better Get Going", step off the curb and don't look back." What are you *waiting* for?

Donny Osmond was my first teen idol, when I was a mere 13 year old over 23 years ago. I stayed in touched with his career off and on since then. This book really opened my eyes to the real Donny. I laughed and cried reading this book. I couldn't put it down. It took me 2 days to read it. Sadly, I somewhat neglected my poor husband and children.They knew I was so engrossed in the book. But they understood.. ;-) I'm planning to read it again. IT"S SO GREAT!! I LOVED IT!!! If you are a fan of his or any of the Osmonds, this is a MUST READ. Even if you aren't a fan, I'm sure you will enjoy this revelating and touching autobiography. THANK YOU DONNY!!!

...While I will probably never be a fan of the music I really enjoyed the book. I think there are some important lessons here regarding raising children in the entertainment industry. Lesson #1 - Don't do it! Frankly I am a bit surprised that he did not end up another casualty of child celebrity or head into dark places like his friend Michael Jackson. I was most impressed with Osmond's honesty and candor. His handling of his devastating career collapse as well as his social phobia really make for good reading. Somehow I suspect we haven't seen the end of Donny Osmond. Even if you run screaming whenever "Puppy Soldier of Love" comes on you may still enjoy the book. I certainly did.

TO THIS DAY, I GET RIDICULED AND LAUGHED AT FOR BEING A DIE-HARD DONNY OSMOND FAN FOR FOR 29 YEARS. PEOPLE TREAT YOU LIKE AN OUTCAST JUST FOR LIKING DONNY. MY FEELINGS FOR HIM HAVEN'T CHANGED SINCE I WAS 7 YEARS OLD. HE IS THE MOST TALENTED AND NICEST INDIVIDUAL YOU CAN EVER MEET. THIS BOOK SHOWS YOU HIS MOST SENSITIVE AND VULNERABLE SIDE AND TRULY MAKES YOU FEEL FOR HIM. I NEVER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT SOMEONE WHO HAD SO MUCH AS HE DID, COULD BE IN SO MUCH PAIN. TRULY A MUST READ FOR NOT ONLY OSMOND FANS, BUT EVERYONE. I BELIEVE THAT IF YOU ARE NOT A DONNY OSMOND FAN, YOUR FEELINGS WILL CHANGE DRASTICALLY ABOUT HIM AFTER READING THIS BOOK.

Don't even consider self-publishing without first reading The Self-Publishing Manual by Dan Poynter. His book will save you time and prevent you from making costly mistakes. Dan not only leads the industry, but is two steps ahead of it. I have been producing and marketing books since 1985 and Dan Poynter's advice gave me the foundation from which I built my business. He has been and continues to be very generous with sharing the secrets to his success. This 12th edition of The Self-Publishing Manual keeps you current and walks you through each step. Do you have questions about printing on demand? Not sure how to approach e-books? Dan has the answers. He continues to tell us where to look, who to contact, and how to maintain the image we strive for as small press publishers. This edition is filled with a gold mine of information - each page offers nuggets of publishing advice. This is the best investment you'll ever make as you enter or continue your world of self-publishing.

Linda F. Radke Author of Linda Radke's Promote Like a Pro: Small Budget, Big Show

Dan Poynter is an entrepreneur who discovered publishing when he spent eight years writing a book about parachutes and realized he probably wouldn't find a publisher. He wrote a book in 1973 about hang gliding, which became a best seller, and he was hooked. To date he has published over 80 books and revisions which have been translated into many languages. He has written a book on what he calls "the new publishing model."

Anyone who is even remotely involved in the publishing world knows that new authors don't stand much of a chance with publishers. The lucky few who do succeed wait a long time for their books to be published and often lose control of any profits. Mr. Poynter correctly points to eight main reasons why someone would want to publish their own book:

1. To make more money,
2. Speed
3. To keep control of your book
4. No one will read your manuscript
5. Self-publishing is good business
6. Self-publishing will help you think like a publisher
7. You will gain self-confidence and self-esteem
8. Finally, you may have no other choice."

The Self-Publishing Manual (How to Write, Print and Sell Your Own Book) is a bible on how to write, start your own publishing company, produce your book, advertise your book, decide what to charge, promote your book, and how to find your audience and get it sold. Mr. Poynter is a very concise and efficient writer who knows how to get his point across with his audience's pocketbook in mind. He explains the pitfalls of the publishing business and how to get the most bang for your buck. He does a great job of explaining the distribution end of the business...something very few people other than librarians and book distributors understand.

In short, Mr. Poynter knows his stuff and can offer some very good advice to all the fledgling authors out in book land. He even thoughtfully includes a chapter entitled "Coping with Being Published," which will help the new author transition from private to public life and what that entails. He includes a book calendar to help the author stay focused and organized during the process, and ends with a very useful appendix and glossary of publishing terms. This is an invaluable book for anyone with enough courage to make the foray into publishing. Mr. Poynter deserves a hearty thank you and congratulations from his grateful disciples.

Shelley Glodowski
Reviewer

Publishing can be a tough business, but with the advice of Dan Poynter you can make your book a profitable reality. 'The Self-Publishing Manual' includes great nuts-and-bolts advice and lots of helpful resources for getting your book written, produced and distributed.

The templates and forms Dan includes are useful, for everything from permissions requests to requests for print bids to discount schedules. Even if all you use are the lists of publishing web sites, printers, distributors, reviewers, etc., you will more than get your money's worth from this book.

Dan's information helped me produce a quality book on a tight timeframe. Not only did I get the book done quickly, it was profitable within one month after release.

I teach a course on publishing, and 'The Self-Publishing Manual' is the text I use. If you want to learn about publishing, this is the place to start.

This book is a nice read if you don't mind the inaccurate stories of Kurt Cobain and the musical group Nirvana. It seems Kurt told the author - Michael Azerrad - lots of bogus stories (which Kurt was known to do with the press) and Mr. Azerrad swallowed the tales hook, line, and sinker.

I blame the writer since many of the inaccuracies could have easily been determined to be truth or a lie by simply going to the court house and looking up past records involving Kurt Cobain, or checking with a few 'witnesses', but it seems Mr. Azerrad just wrote whatever Kurt told him and so it's hard to really enjoy this book since it is chock full of lies and fables.

If you wish to read a more accurate portrayal of Kurt Cobain, I would suggest Heavier Than Heaven. It too contains some inaccuracies (the author writes that Dave Grohl was shirtless during his performance of 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' on Saturday Night Live, which if the author actually took the time to view the performance could easily see this wasn't true). Of course these types of inaccuracies are cosmetic; whereas, Come As You Are is just a fictional tale with hints of truth sporadically thrown in.

I read this book for school. I found this ...old highlighted version of the book so I started to read it, and I was immediately hooked on it. I couldn't put the book down. I later received this book for my birthday. However, the book is more of Kurt's life, but gave excellent facts of the whole band and how it originated. It told of how Kurt battled drug addiction, and how the press hounded Courtney and the unwanted fame Nirvana had. The book is very well detailed, and the book seems like Kurt was actually telling you his life story. Several people that hardly knew who Nirvana was demanded to read the book as soon as I was finished with it. So of course I highly recommend it!

I went out and bought this book hoping to find out some information on NIRVANA/Kurt Cobain, needless to say that's just what I found when I read Come As You Are:The Story Of Nirvana. This book is one of the most interesting books on NIRVANA I've ever read, I recomend this book to ALL NIRVANA FANS or to anyone interested in Kurt.
This book starts off by telling you about Kurt's life as a child and then how he formed the band, and about being on tour and everything in between. This book tells a lot of stories about NIRVANA and Kurt, and there is a huge amount of actual conversation between Kurt, Krist, and Dave. This book really made me feel like I was actually there, the book is so well-written that you can get a really clear image of what is going on. Not to mention there are a ton of pictures in this book, I would say this is one of the best NIRVANA books I've ever read. A must have for anyone who likes NIRVANA or Kurt.

As I read this book, the thing that kept running through my mind was how much research the author had to do. That is the difference between this book and other biographies, especially when you think that the two best sources of information - Vince and wife Marie - have long since passed away. I commend him for his efforts as not just a writer, but as a researcher. I will say this though, there are volumes and volumes of information about the Packers and Lombardi, making the writer's job not easier, but less time-consuming because of the availability of all the information out there.

As for the writing, I loved the way he blended Lombardi's day-to-day life with the football seasons. Just when you thought he was going to give you some boring play-by-play, he took you in another direction, describing Lombardi's relationship with a player, an assistant coach, a business leader, even his secretary, and he did so in a thorough and fascinating manner. He then took you back on the field for the play-by-play, and as a reader you felt like you never left.

You don't have to be a sports lover to love this book, because to me it's not really a sport book. Instead, it is a journey into the psyche of a man who was driven to succeed in everything he did. Chapters on his personal appearances, business ventures and other interests were nearly as interesting as the tales of his obsession with football. Lombardi was truly driven to be the best at everything he did.

The title of this book says volumes because to Lombardi pride did matter. Everything he did - except perhaps his relationship with his immediate family - he did with the intent of showing others that quality mattered to him.

I loved the book and despite his many shortcomings, I love Lombardi.

I too started the book as a football fan, and ended the book as a fan of the man and his principles. From childhood, through minimal success on the field, then to enormous success as a leader in America in the 1960s. You get a sense of the true values and character of not just Vince Lombardi, but America during a time of national change. I was only 10 years old when he died, but the stories of the Lombardi Packers are still cherished in the midwest today. But that misses the point. How a man can lead every team he touched to the top is studied and presented and you can almost see into his mind. It was sad to see the family suffer through years of anguish, mixed with with pride, love, and loyalty. The author's style and storytelling were excellent.

The historical underpinings from the immigrant Italian family living in Brooklyn, cutting through WWII, stopping at West Point and continuing to Green Bay, Wisconsin is nothing short of a historical education of America in the 20th Century. Vince Lombardi's range of experiences through his involvement in the sport of football constructs a timeline of how rapidly the world has changed in the last 100 years. Maraniss delves into the life of Lombardi to discover what made him the legend he is in the society of sports people. Lombardi's strength of character sprang from his upbringing. Maraniss does such a fine job of detailing Lombardi's childhood that you can see where the strong influences of church and family guided his sense of duty and passion in life. The reader will be providing herself or himself an outstanding education of a facet of society that covers more than just the renaissance man named Vince Lombardi. Anyone who enjoys biographies MUST read When Pride Still Mattered.

Black Like Me is a powerful, startling book that shows the severity of the discrimination that the Blacks went through living in America in 1959. John Howard Griffin, the narrator and author, who goes through multiple procedures to become a Black man, writes the book in a form of his diary entries as he lives like a Black man-oppressed and categorized.
To me, this book is more than it seems. Although short, it delivers messages that are deep and inspiring. As I read, I realized the extent of the prejudices were much more severe than what I have been taught. Griffin's writing is emotional and thought provoking. He tells you what he is seeing and what he is feeling so fluently and detailed that you forget you're reading a book and you feel as if someone is reciting a poem or maybe just speaking to you.
Black Like Me is a book that should be read by all not only for the controversy, but for the historical value it possesses.

Black Like Me was not written in the interests so much as to move and startle the reader as it was to inform him; yet it has accomplished both. I know it has touched millions, and the common feeling of these readers, including me, is that this story needed to be told. I believe it didn't need to be shared just with the people of that time, to help them understand, to begin closing the gap between races. I feel it was meant to be shared with those who have come later, and those who have yet to arrive. It is often said that if one doesn't learn from history, it is doomed to repeat itself, and this book will be needed to remind generations far beyond of the tragedies of that time, and how never to let them happen again. John Griffin wrote Black Like Me in working for the dream of black and white equality, in the hopes of getting the truth to people everywhere. He needed to uncover the real story behind racism in the South for himself, but with his quest came persecution and hatred of another kind; anger directed towards him and his ideas and truths, not senseless anger like the racism he encountered in his travels. I admire and enormously commend Griffin for taking such a great task on himself, in spite of the fires he knew he would spark with his enlightenment.

... ...
09/07/02
Core 8
Book Review
Black Like Me
Book Review

For my summer assignment, I read the novel Black Like Me by John Griffin. It is an autobiography about a white man who explores The Deep South as a black man by changing the pigment of his skin. This is a terrific book and I strongly recommend it.
Mr. Griffin's purpose is to find out how African American's are treated compared to Caucasian American's. To achieve this, Mr. Griffin travels to The Deep South. He finds himself in the middle of two cultures who accept or reject him merely because the color of his skin. He finds the discrimination gets worse as he travels farther South.
The book takes place in the late 50's and early 60's. It is set mainly in New Orleans and The Deep South. The mood of the book is depressing and poignant.
I think Mr. Griffin proved his point by telling America and the rest of the world how badly black people in society were treated. His writing is fairly easy to read with a few difficult words. I would have liked the book more if Mr. Griffin was not so verbose. Overall, the novel is very moving and John Griffin vindicates himself. I would recommend this novel because it tells a lot of history and Mr. Griffin speaks very eloquently and from his heart.
The novel taught me some history along with how African American's were restrained from having a normal life.

This book is the story of an unusual family at the turn of the century, with twelve children. The father is an efficiency expert who runs the family like it is a factory assembly line, with everything timed down to the minute. Even the times for bathing are scheduled, so that the household runs smoothly. Mr. Gilbreth practices all of his ideas on how to run an efficient business on his family; they are the guinea pigs for new ideas.
He is the parent who disciplines all the kids, and the mom is really understanding of how hard it is to live in such an unusual family. Both of the parents were professionals, as the mom was also a psychologist and industrial engineer. They applied their professional ideas on raising the 12 kids. The children learn foreign languages, long division and about the solar system, using methods from Mr. Gilbreth's professional life. They were also taught touch typing and morse code by efficient methods. It is a very humorous look at the life of a large and unusual family. The ending of the book is sad, as Mr. Gilbreth dies, leaving Mrs. Gilbreth to raise the children alone.

The tone of the book is humor, as many of the situations are really funny, and the parents approach life with a sense of humor. The father is often very sarcastic, but not in a mean way. He liked to parade the family around and even though he was proud of them, he found the reactions of other people very funny. The parent's sense of humor made dealing with the problems of a large family easier, and made for a more loving lifestyle. Even though raising a family that large was serious business, they never took life too seriously. I think that is an important way to raise a family, by keeping a sense of humor. The father is a smart man, and he is never characterized as an idiot, even though he does some crazy things to help his family. The main theme throughout the book is the importance of humor in their lives.

CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN

Format: Paperback,1st ed., 180 pages ISBN: 0553272500 Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Younger Readers Pub. Date: February 1981 Other Formats: Hardback Recommended Age:Third grade and up

Wonderful...Once you start to read the first page you wont be able to put the book down. This perfect way to spend a rainy day. You will be very amused when you read about the hilarious events of the Gilbreth family. The family of twelve children have many adventures you will enjoy reading. The father is almost crazy and a very successful business man. He is very strict and overprotective. He won't let his daughters wear make up or dress the way they like to. They slowly change his mind and begin to dress their way. He thinks his children can do anything and is also believed he could do anything. He loved jokes and laughing and you will love the practical jokes they play on each other. The rich family loves to go to movies then out for ice cream. They also spend their summers at the beach, where their Dad forces them to learn to swim. He wants them to learn as much as possible about everything so he always finds a way to teach them new things. As an efficiency expert he made sure that everything was done in a time efficient way. It was a sin to waste time in the Gilbreth house and he was constantly coming up with new ways to save time. The Dad in the story liked to parade around and show off his kids. Although this was embarassing to some of the kids as they got older Dad found it hilarious. The mother also was sometimes embarrassed or insulted by the attention they got or the comments other people made. This book will keep you laughing right up to the last chapter when Dad dies. The book is a mixture of humor and then sadness at the ending. This is an excellent book that everybody should read. I recommend this book for anyone that knows how to read no matter how old or young!

Dina Bastianini, Pine-Richland High School

This book is the best book I have ever read. I own it and have read it many times. It kept me interested from the first page and you will not want to put it down. It is about a family of 12 children. Their dad is always thinking of new ways to save time and he thinks that he can teach him and his children anything. The family likes to play practical jokes on eachother and are always having a good time. This book is very interesting and never gets boring.

About John Lusk & Kyle Harrison, two Wharton MBA graduates who eschewed the siren call of the dot coms to start their own business selling computer mice shaped like the head of a golf club. A real page turner, this book originally started out as a series of e-mail newsletters that the authors wrote to keep their friends and family apprised of how their company was doing. I found the writing style honest and realistic, yet humorous. Must read material for anybody who has ever thought about starting a company, or who worked in the computer industry during the dot-com era and ever thought about joining a startup.

A real-life account of two young smart entrepreneurs with sterling educational credentials (MBAs from the Wharton School of Business) who start a business in an industry that they know nothing about. It's a tale told with insight, pace, and self-deprecating humor that will teach you a lot of lessons about being a small-business entrepreneur. After an era in which everybody focused on VC-funded companies seeking to dominate multi-billion dollar markets, it's refreshing to read a story that reminds you about the boostrap process of the great majority of American businesses. As a former small-business founder myself, many of their lessons and observations hit home with me, and I think this book represents a great education in the perils and pitfalls of taking a business idea from concept to fruition. Whether you are considering starting a business yourself or just enjoy reading a well-written story that will make you laugh, I'd rate The Mousedriver Chronicles as a must-read!

When I first saw this book, my heart did not exactly skip a beat. Another book about (and worse, BY!) 2 American entrepreneurs selling computer mice? Haven't publishers had enough of all these human interest business stories that all share the same beginnings and endings?

I decided to give the book a go anyway since it was a gift from a friend. Surprisingly, I was unable to put it down. Even though I am an Asian doing my MBA in Europe, I believe the experiences of the authors hold true for all aspiring entrepreneurs.

And what experiences! I won't give the story away (go to mousedriver.com and look at their Insider newsletter for a summary of some of their tales),but DO consider this book to get an idea of what it means to passionately believe in a product, get that product to the market -- and how to deal with all the obstacles in the way while preserving your sanity and bank balances.

If, like me, you have thoughts about being an entrepreneur but are not sure of what to start being passionate about, read this book and "Just Drive It" ! The marketing slogan for the MouseDriver (that's what these guys are trying to sell, a mouse that is shaped like a golf club) is certainly effective shorthand for all those who have always THOUGHT about being their own boss but have have not dared to fall out of their 8 to 8 routines (Worry about the landing later:-)

MouseDriver Chronicles is a true, compelling story that deserves a wider audience. I now understand why my friend (who gave me the book) actually went on to help publish it. Happy AND educational endings, anyone?