Bibliography Books

The book is a really good reference on Disney records. The color pictures are a really nice addition.

This book is for hard core collectors of Walt Disney records on vinyl and in that respect it is indespensible. There is plenty of material for the Disney amateur historians too. The real treat for all the rest of us is 250 plus color photos of album covers and recordings. It's enough to give anyone the collecting bug. A very complete guide hat lists all of the Walt Disney record even on other labels. Lists picture discs, Little Golden Books, soundtracks to movies and TV shows, storybooks, and material from Disneyland. Includes EP's, 33 1/3 LPs, 45's, and 78's including alll records from 1933 to 1988. Functional table of contents and index help to locate items in the book. Very useful material on accurate grading the condition of records. A short history on the history of Disney records is in the book, an animated film filmography, and the music composers for all of Disney on film is very useful. Softbound covers, no dust jacket, 256 pages in length.

If you are also interested in the process, the how and why of the music of Disney, you also need to read the wonderful book, "The Musical World of Walt Disney" by David Tietyen.

I enjoy this book alot - it's complete and chock-full of useful information concerning the collection of Disney Records. Of course the prices are something to behold too (I figure I have about $50,000 (hyperbole) in my collection). The guide is very well organized and the individual entries usually consist of a picture, record number, brief description (at least enough to identify a particular cover version) and price. The guide even goes so far as to identify non-Disney labels issuing Disney material.

I wish the guide went into deeper discussions of the various Disney labels and the inner sleeves. I have several examples of, say, a Buena Vista label, and between the two BV labels, they are different! Which one to collect? Sometimes the guide falls a little short, but not often enough to prevent me from recommending this book for the serious collector or even the curious weekender.

Overall, to me, it's a valuable reference and fun to ponder. Now it's always a thrill to find a Disney record and read about some of the history behind it.

Happy hunting...

This is an invaluable resource for Disney record collectors. Beautiful pictures and detailed discriptions of every record the Disney company ever released. The prices listed might seem high, unless you remember that they are only for records in near perfect condition. I have already bought 2 copies.

This softbound 256 page book is a handy 6 x 9" making it convenient to take with you as you antique. It contains more than 250 full color, sharp photos of album covers and recordings. This is the first comprehensive price guide and discography covering the complete output of Disney recorded music on both Disney and other labels. It covers the years 1933 to 1988 and is very complete. There is a useful table of contents and index making it easy to locate items. A history and condition guide is provided. Topics range from LPs, 45's, 78's to Little Golden Records. You can't collect items of this topic without this guide. Add it to your library.

Yet again, J Ridley takes the reader on a remarkable journey, guiding you through the maze of factual background without ever letting your hand go. His mastery of the English language and notable training as a barrister make him the best narrator of the century.

Ridley is brilliant as ever. In his masterly style, he portrays both historic detail and periodic insight in such manner that the reader is captivated from the first page onwards. The ongoing battle with Lady Antonia Frazer's biography is a delight (especially when historical inaccuracies in her biography are condemned to footnotes). A book one cannot put down for a single moment.

Ridley paints a picture of a King who is as ruthless a tyrant as any 20th Century dictator. Henry VIII is shown as a ruler who forced his ministers to do his bidding and then executed them to satisfy public opinion, once his policies began to loose popular support. He would stop at nothing to get what he wanted, including breaking with the Pope in Rome and reforming the Church in England with him as the head, when the Pope refused to grant him an annulment from his wife, who could not give him a male heir. Thereafter, Henry played Protestant and Catholic factions against each other, so that he could remain in complete control as an arbiter; alternatively burning influential Protestants as heretics and Catholics who refused to recognize him as Supreme head of the Church of England as traitors. Ridley's picture shows us a king who would stop at absolutely nothing to get what he wanted, including turning society and 1000 years of religion completely upside down! A fascinating look at the Stalin of the 1500s!

Sometimes appearances can be deceiving. When I first received this book and saw how HUGE it was (and in small print, yet), I thought I was in for a long, tedious and boring read. In other words, the kind of book that you start but it becomes harder and harder to keep reading until you finally give up way before the ending.

To my surprise, this book engrossed my attention from day one and became impossible to put down. Jasper Ridley has done a masterful job of giving us a very detailed biography of one of the most memorable kings in history. Unlike so many other books about Henry, Ridley refuses to monopolize the subject matter with sensationalistic details revolving around Henry's wives. Instead, he concentrates on the much more important religious, political and social aspects of his reign.

I think this book captures the true essence of Henry VIII--a tyrant, selfish, arrogant, and demanding. A person who in almost every instance was able to manipulate people into doing his dirty work for him. An individual who could play tennis with a subject he considered a "friend", such as Thomas More, and then easily have this bosom companion executed without nary a shred of remorse whenever it would serve Henry's advantage to do so. One of Henry's most popular practices was to sail the Thames surrounded by women and fawning courtiers while a former close advisor, friend etc. was being executed. This king was a master of disguise, making it appear that he had little or nothing to do with distasteful events and absenting himself from the controversy at hand.

The author mentions early on that, in effect, while gazing at the famous Holbein portrait of Henry VIII in all his glory, people were mesmerized by the majesty as portrayed in the painting. What they did not notice were the hard, unfeeling and pig-like eyes that were barely visible in the already bloated face. If the eyes indeed are the "windows of the soul", Henry was a very cruel individual indeed.

Although his reign was extremely productive in many ways, such as his interest in solidifying England as a naval power, the most striking aspect is, of course, the religious break with Rome. Here too, Henry waffles back and forth as the winds blow. To say this was an achievement is merely subjective; it began a period of intense religious misunderstandings which resulted in the deaths of untold innocent people who refused to accept this or that form of religious belief and worship. As such, I cannot classify Henry's break with Rome as a positive issue. I am not religious, and therefore perhaps not qualified to judge this. But the results of this action are being felt well into modern times. It is a subjective issue as to whether this extreme action on his part set his country and Europe on the right course.

As initially stated, do not be put off by the size of this book. It will engage your attention and provide a picture of Henry (essentially minus the much touted wife leaping) that probably comes closest to what this famous monarch was actually like.

Jasper Ridley's bio of Henry VIII, if nothing else, suggests to me that executioners must have had a steady employment during early 16th-century England. In Ridley's biography, England's formative king is essentially a psychopath, and the country became Protestant, not because of any doctrinal attachment to the Reformation, but as a consequence of political machinations and goals on Henry's part. This, in fact, is one of the book's great strengths; Ridley is rare among biographers in his thorough attention to and excellent summary of the thicket of political events surrounding Tudor England, and this book does an excellent job of explaining these intricacies. Especially fascinating was the depiction of the conflict between Henry and Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. Henry would have probably gotten the papal annulment that he wanted to dissolve his marriage to Katharine of Aragon, if only Charles had not effectively controlled the pope and been such a bitter enemy of Henry's; then Henry would have found no need to break from the Catholic Church, and history would be entirely different! For a Renaissance monarch, Henry seems more to resemble one of the 20th century's bloodthirsty dictators in this book. While the depiction initially surprised me, Ridley backs up his claims with such excellent documentation and use of primary sources (which I was able to check), that he definitely has a point! A fascinating bio.

CGC is great but this is the "bible" for the industry. Long live the King!

there is many information that you can use and know other sites that you didn't know before, so you can check prices and where to buy the best bargain.
paper is also great. glossy.

38th edition of Overstreet is the best yet. The ads are a valuable resource for pricing and buying/selling. The top sales of CGC certified comics is handy, too. There are articles from the Overstreet team of advisors -- collectors & dealers who know the latest trends.

I use this to beef up my own collection, knowing the trends and investing smartly. What are the top ten sellers? What Silver Age hero is in high demand? What's my House of Mystery lot worth? It's all here!

Other interest:

Comic Book Collecting: A Valuation Guide

I have been a comic book collector for over 50 years. During that time I've looked at every price guide ever published. While I get an occasional insight from other sources, I consistently find that the Overstreet annual guides are by far the best source. I also find that collectors of all ages and sophistications rely on this guide so it tells me what the market will be for comics I might want to buy or sell.

Some people feel like they don't need to buy these every year. I disagree!

Even the advertisements are valuable . . . I've found many helpful, low-cost suppliers through these pages over the years.

I especially enjoyed the updated versions of articles about much older comics in this edition. Don't miss them.

And I rarely even look at the prices. This is THE reference book for what was published, when, the actual title, which issues feature notable artists, guest appearances, first appearances, origins, major events like weddings and deaths, etc. If you collect comics you need this.

This book sets out resources, ideas, and materials which could prove to be useful in identifying Civil War-era ancestors. It helped me quite a bit, although I was lucky enough to find other resources not identified in this book. Without this book the job would have been, at the very least, far more time-consuming and difficult.

A little thin, but most of what you'll need is here.

My father purchased a Civil War era pistol engraved with the name of the owner and his regiment. He turned to me and my years of genealogical research experience to help him find information on the gun's owner. I was at a loss because I had avoided the maze of military research, not knowing the how's and where's. Well, not any more! Bertram Groene's "Tracing Your Civil War Ancestor" answered years of questions I've had in a clear, concise and very readable book. Not only do I now know where to find information for my father, but I can delve into the military background of my Civil War ancestors and my Revolutionary War ancestors. Anyone who served in innumerable wars can be found using Groene's book. A must have for your library because you're bound to have a vet.

Packed full of information if your serious about your Civil War Ancestors this is the book to get. I found it very helpful on how to obtain information on my ancestors, most of them confederates!!! I would reccomend this book very highly.

There are thousands of volumes of information about the U.S. Civil War. There are even entire libraries specializing on the subject. So where do you begin?

Groene provides an excellent launching point by describing the most significant U.S. Civil War references, and he suggests not only where to search but how.

He goes into considerable detail on how to use the 128-volume Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies in the War of the Rebellion (OR) reference, and it 31-volume naval counterpart (ORN). He also suggests resources for regimental histories that will help you trace the histories of higher-ranking officers and get information covering everything from the regiment's mustering to the disbanding of its survivors.

There's a large section in the book devoted to identifying U.S. Civil War equipment and researching the backgrounds of its owners. Groene shares his own research experiences regarding how a name on a sword or pistol has often lead to the discovery of an interesting chain of events.

This book is ideal whether you are a genealogist, a U.S. Civil War historian or a weapons collector.

This book will be invaluable to any genealogist, even the very experienced. Groene tells you where to begin, where to write, where to go, and what to look for. Includes instructions to identify and verify Civil War-era weapons and accoutrements for interested collectors.

There's a new addition to my reference shelf that's been really helpful when I or my daughters want to look for a new book to read. It's called 500 Great Books for TEENS by Anita Silvey. I love the easy way books are categorized here. Age recommendations come right under the book title so I can easily see that The Whale Rider is best for 12 - 14-year olds while Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods is probably more suited to older teens.

And the categories are great! I can look for humorous books, classics, mysteries and thrillers, war and conflict books and many more classifications that will help suit the mood for the type of book my daughters and I are looking for.

Silvey's done a nice job, too, with the extras at the end. I can look up books that take place in certain states or countries or at certain historical times. My daughters and I are actually psyched about checking off the books on the lists we've already read then adding more as we read more.

This is an excellent book with far more interesting titles than Nancy Pearl's book lust. It is incredibly well organized with sensible categories and writing. There are some excellent choices of books in there as well. I thought there were a few books that were misplaced and she revealed too much plot for many of the books, which is why I did not give her a five out of five.

The first thing that I did when I saw this book was check the index to see if Harry Potter books was listed. It was. And the opening sentence about the book says: 'As a way to entice the young into reading, few stories surpass the Harry Potter novels.' Again as Ms. Silvey says, the Harry Potter books will naturally 'find its detractors.' Sure. But the first sentence is the key. More kids have gotten into reading by being introduced to Harry Potter than any other book ever.

OK, if she got this one right, how about other books? In this same section: 'Fantasy' - Ms. Silvey talks about the Diana Wynne Jones Chrestomanci series. About these books she says: 'its advocates always argue its literary superiority to the Harry Potter saga.' Right On! When the kid has finished the Harry Potter series and looking for something else, point him to the Jones books. Or to Narnia. Or to Anne McCaffrey -- all of which are discussed by Ms. Silvey.

This is exactly what a book like this should do. Give you the ideas to get the youngers to reading. And this is exactly what the book delivers. If not in Fantasy, then in advernture, history, mystery, science fiction and several other categories.

Complaints, a few - she doesn't list Isaac Asimov's Foundation series in the science fiction section. Things like that. But could you ever pick 500 titles upon which we would all agree.

An excellent resource book.

Any shopping for a book to give to a teen reader will welcome 500 Great Books for Teens, a guide to some of the newest in the young adult publishing world. Silvey is one of the nation's foremost authorities on books for teens, has interviewed teen readers across the country, and emphasizes here books published in the past five years. It's an excellent librarian's or parents' pick; especially considering how many books on 'best of pick for teens' focus on those over published over ten years ago.

I am usually skeptical when reviewing resources or ads because, as a shopper, I have to know what I'm recommending and stand by it. I was recently given carte blanche to handle several people's gift lists AND review lists. The review buying is easy, it's largely what juts came out. The gift selections need to be more specific, and with all the product out there shouting to be bought --well, the task is trying enough for those of us who just want a good read, let alone purchase them for other people.

THIS reference was an invaluable help to me, and will be to parents, teachers, librarians and anyone facing the huge variety of choices out there. The book lists 500 titles, and each one has a very readable and detailed essay about the selection.

It is further categorized in 21 different genre sections: adventure and survival, politics and social history, horror, romance, war and conflict, fantasy, plays, graphic novels, poetry, memoir, and spirituality.

This reference has a balanced mix of classics, but the majority of titles are new. Since many readers are familiar with classics, this volume does well in mostly sorting out what's new. It also gets a parental recommendation because you can know what your teen is reading and promote discussion. If you're a shopper, this is your bible!

This is a great dictionary, but I wouldn't recommend it for beginners.
It's more suited for advanced learners of English. There's just one thing I don't like about it: you cannot find pronunciation of all words. :(
4.5 stars out of 5 stars.

The title may say "Canadian" but this dictionary is equally useful to Americans and other users or students of North American English. British and American English dictionaries often give little coverage of the other's special vocabulary (slang, idioms, regionalisms, bureaucratic terminology, etc), this Canadian Oxford Dictionary covers American, British and of course Canadian vocabulary. Even regionalisms are covered and lablelled as such. This dictionary has extensive geographical and biographical entries (covering the world). The IPA sytem is used and a handy IPA reference chart is printed on the bottom of each and every page. Each word entry includes etymological information. This dictionary also treats its readers like adults and does not shy away from `naughty` language. The appendixes are Canadian oriented. The paper, printing and binding are of a high quality and the dust jacket is attractive. The above mentioned features coupled with a low price make this dictionary a great buy.

The Canadian Oxford Dictionary was written by five Canadian lexicographers and originally published in June 1998. Wordsmiths regard this work as the Cadillac of Canadian dictionaries and the foremost authority on current Canadian English. It encompasses 130,000 entries, including 2,000 Canadian words, 500 Canadian regionalisms, 1,200 Canadian place names, 800 Canadian biographies and 300 Aboriginal people and cultural entries.

The book is well bound, with an Oxford blue hardcover made of a synthetic material called Kivar 5 which has gold foil stamping, called blocking, emblazoned on the spine and is protected by an attractive removable dust cover. The paper is high quality 30-lb lightweight bone white stock called Rampart Opaque. This type of paper allows the dark black text done in Swift font to be more legible and pleasing to the eye. The pages are thumb indexed and have attractive blue speckling on the outside edges.

This dictionary is of such a high quality both in content and construction, that it should be considered a mandatory reference book in every Canadian home, classroom, library and office.

Two other fine Canadian dictionaries are the:

IP Nelson; and
Gage.

The Oxford Canadian English dictionary is a must for all exchange students spending some time in beautiful Canada, and for everyone who wants to have a handy reference book and dictionary at home. It helped me enormously in my Canadian culture course, giving me information about Canadian people and events; for example, about Joyce Wieland, Greg Curnoe, the October crisis, but it also served me as a 'normal' dictionary. Terms and expressions are explained in an understandable manner so that non-native speakers of English have a chance to familiarize themselves with such words as 'draft dodger' or 'nuclear family'. The Oxford Canadian English dictionary is the best dictionary I've ever seen, and I can only recommend it to everyone who works with English or is interested in getting to know the English-speaking world.

The Canadian Oxford Dictionary was written by five Canadian lexicographers and originally published in June 1998. Wordsmiths regard this work as the Cadillac of Canadian dictionaries and the foremost authority on current Canadian English. It encompasses 130,000 entries, including 2,000 Canadian words, 500 Canadian regionalisms, 1,200 Canadian place names, 800 Canadian biographies and 300 Aboriginal people and cultural entries.

The book is well bound, with an Oxford blue hardcover made of a synthetic material called Kivar 5 which has gold foil stamping, called blocking, emblazoned on the spine and is protected by an attractive removable dust cover. The paper is high quality 30-lb lightweight bone white stock called Rampart Opaque. This type of paper allows the dark black text done in Swift font to be more legible and pleasing to the eye. The pages are thumb indexed and have attractive blue speckling on the outside edges.

This dictionary is of such a high quality both in content and construction, that it should be considered a mandatory reference book in every Canadian home, classroom, library and office.

Chemical And Biological Warfare analyzes the key issues related to chemical and biological warfare, detailing known chemical and biological agents, how they may be used in weaponry, and the possibilities of their use in modern conflicts. Readers seeking a technical survey of proliferation and basic concepts of chemical and biological weaponry receive more in-depth information here than in many titles.

A first class presentation of Chem/Bio warfare basics. Highly recommend it.

A first-rate survey of this important topic. Croddy has produced a calm and clear overview that should prove invaluable to both students and scholars.

I read, and enjoyed, Judith Miller's Germs book, but its sometimes superficial journalistic treatment left me wanting more concrete information: on chemical and biological agents, where they come from, who has them, how they could get used, what we can do to stop or counteract them, etc. I found all that and more in this excellent book, which, in spite of its straightforward presentation, is every bit as gripping as Germs. Croddy is no alarmist---he thinks a lot of the recent hoopla is overblown given the difficulties any terrorist would have spreading an agent like anthrax (and, thank God, he appears to be right on this score)---but there's plenty to get alarmed over in this book, and now is the right time to read it and digest its lessons, rather than waiting for the next chemical or biological panic attack.

Chemical and Biological Warfare: An Annotated Bibliography is a great book to read before bed, on the subway or lounging on the beach. It is sensitively written, and though the roto-protagonist isn't very well developed as a character, the subplot and the overall romance is beautiful. If you liked The Firm, you'll love this book. (I have gotten some great pick-up lines from this book, too!)

The book is very helpful, especiallly formatted for the comic book fan. It is also great because of how it is organized. I think it is as good as Overstreet.

I picked up this book simply because I was interested in pricing my comicbook collection. Imagine my surprise when I read the wonderful editorial on heroes (both real-world, and the four-color kind) as well as the moving tribute to those heroes of the 9/11 tragedy. I highly recomend this book to everyone!

If you are looking for a great price guide to price out your comicbook collection, then this is the book for you! Fair, realistic pricing, and fine editorial content as well

As always, the Team of Malloy, Wells, and Sodaro bring sanity and clarity to the multi-tiered world of comicbook prices. This guide has consistently ranked as one of the best price guides on the market. Malloy truly has a handle on what stuff is truly worth. This edition is especially relevant in the post 9/11 world, as it contains a pair of stirring tributes to "Heroes" (both the four-color and the real-world kind). I heartily recommend this book

The 2007 edition of Comics Values Annual from Krause Publications is out and it continues to get better and better each and every year. This book gains momentum every year as an alternative to the more well-known Overstreet price guide. The main problem with Overstreet is the endless pages of dealer ads that grow longer each year. Who needs 150 pages of dealer ads anyway? Do people really order that many comics from dealers, especially with eBay? I also don't need the dozens of pages of dealer market reports that are basically already stale by the time the book comes out.I just want prices and information, which is what Comics Values Annual 2007 delivers in a no-frills package.

This edition gives a brief introduction on the industry, a grading guide, and features an interview with artist Joe Jusko. The CV Annual is very different from the Overstreet in its layout, Rather than simply list each title alphabetically, this guide lists titles alphabetically by MAJOR publisher beginning with DC and then continuing with Marvel, Image, Dark Horse, Classics Illustrated, and then tossing in miscellaneous Golden Age titles, Misc. B & W, titles, and misc. color titles from modern publishers like Valiant, Gold Key, Gladstone, Malibu, etc...Now this may not be to every collector's liking as we've been conditioned to one type of delivery, but I personally like it. I mean it's still a Marvel and DC world to most collectors, especially in regards to Silver and Golden Age books so why have to thumb through all the junk no one's interested in when Marvel and DC have their own sections.

Another big difference between the CV Annual 2007 and Overstreet is that this book only lists the NM price per issue while the Overstreet gives three prices. I can go either way on this one. On one hand, it's nice to have all three major grades listed. On the other hand, it's not all that hard to calculate the price yourself based on the grade. Plus, Overstreet has to end up using a miniscule typeface to fit all those prices in the book.

I think the biggest advantage of the CV Annual is that instead of listing a range of issue numbers, it lists each title number by number. This allows for more information to be supplied such as story arc name, character appearance, artist credits, etc. This is a BIG plus!

If you want a price guide that gets right down to it without all the fluff and waste, I cannot recommend the Comics Values Annual 2007 any more highly!

Reviewed by Tim Janson

This is an excellent book. My great-grandfather was a bootmaker in company K of the 9th Mass and I've collected every document I can find on the 9th's existance. The insights this book offers are priceless. Samito has done a wonderful job.

Mr. Samito's work is a careful examination of a tumultuous period in American history, and a compelling human drama. Would make a great movie- better than Braveheart or The Patriot!!

Mr. Samito's work is a careful examination of a tumultuous period in American history, and a compelling human drama. Would make a great movie- better than Braveheart or The Patriot!!

This compelling book truly transported me to the nineteenth century. Mr. Samito eloquently presented the words of this little known figure in a truly remarkable fashion. The history community is truly in debt to Mr. Samito for uncovering these long lost treasures of the nations past. Any history "Buff" worth their salt needs to read this book. I only hope Mr. Samito continues to produce works of this quality for some time to come. Ken Cooper

I don't normally read historical books, especialy ones about little known Civil War generals, but this one came highly recommended by a friend so I gave it a shot. I was won over immediately! As it turned out, the life of Patrick Guiney was remarkable and compelling. His letters to his wife were eloquent and heartwarming, and his courage in the face of what must have been a very painful injury was inspiring. Samito's editing was never intrusive, and elucidated the more ambiguous aspects of the text. I found his explication of the Boston cultural and political scene of the time to be particularly insightful. Overall, a surprisingly good read! Nick Cavuoto

I feel fortunate to have purchased this book before they ran out - it's great! Hopefully it will become available again soon.

A great little book containing recording details of everything the Carpenters recorded. Exhaustive coverage and one of the better books in this wonderful series.

The thing that I like about this book is that it is cd sized and I can put it side by side with my cds.I have bought others and done the same with them.They make great,and convenient,reference books.Detailed and compact.

Gives review of almost every song album by album. There are also quite a few nice photos, a few that I had not seen before. My only complaint is that I wish the author had been able to cue us in on a little more about the MAKING and recording of each song...since he credits Richard Carpenter for contibuting. Good book for us hardcore Carpenter collectors!!

One of the best compilations of data, photos and inside "tid bits" yet to hit the market on arguably, the most gifted vocal group of the 1970's... Several rare b/w and color photos grace the pages of this handbook detailing tracks from each studio album. Don't miss this one!