Humor Books

One of the best first hand accounts of the civil rights movement I have read. There were things in this book you will not find in the history books. A must read

A wonderful piece of work, Raines merely interviews the people from the wide and varied perspectives of the movement and gives them free rein to tell "their story" "their way" managing within this framework to lace a compelling and interesting plot around some states and some history that time and justice seemed to have forgotten.

Seven years Raines' junior, I grew up white and a carpetbagger (from the North. . .)in Augusta, GA and I now have context for stories I was told. One among many, I knew the Hamilton Holmes' car story told by the KA frat guys when they were adults, still bragging but also, "they didn't really mean it."

I am still quite mystified how a Birmin'ham boy, bragging that his Alabama ancestors fought for the Union, lived to tell about it.

I highly recommend "Fly Fishing . . ." as well. IT's NOT ABOUT THE FISH. Great read.

He thought it was tough being the baby brother; I can only suggest that he try getting fishing privileges as the Irish twin younger sister.

This book is on the list of 100 best or most influential books I've ever read--mainly because it is observant, honest, humble and direct, with no political agendas and no effete overtones. This is a title well worth re-examining some 20 years after publication. It can be browzed through at random, with something startling jumping at you on virtually every page. Or, it can be read straight through. It's quite a white-knuckle event. Many books have been written on the subject, but there's something quietly compelling about this one. Raines is one of our great journalists. This is a good way to become acquainted with him, in the days before he became elevated to one of the most prestigious newspaper jobs in the world.

--Jim Reed, author, DAD'S TWEED COAT: SMALL WISDOMS HIDDEN COMFORTS UNEXPECTED JOYS jimreedbooks.com

It was difficult to stop reading the book, once I started. This collection of interviews with the idealists, the activists, the real "fighters" in the civil rights movement in the 50s and 60s -- and the people who stood against them -- is an empowering, educational read. Truly, this book is a must for those interested in learning more about the civil rights struggle (a struggle that continues until today), and about movements for peace and social justice in general.

Howell Raines is the new executive editor for "The New York Times," but he is at heart a writer. Both strengths come to the fore in this excellent book on the American civil rights movement. As an oral history, it necessarily contains first-hand accounts of dozens and dozens of the main (and not-so-important) players in the movement. Raines does a fine and fair job of putting their stories into essentially chronological order and editing or moving bits and pieces only where necessary to ensure good flow for the reader. There were a few names I had heard of before, but many were new to me. There are surprises in this book. While we mostly associate the civil rights movement with the deep south in the mid-1960s, it actually got its start in Chicago in the 1940s when groups of people protested with the first lunch-counter sit-ins (when a manager came out to scold one of these groups with the flat, "We don't serve colored folks here," one quick-witted participant fired back, "That's OK, we don't eat 'em!"). Another revelation was the tensions between the older blacks and the younger black student generation. The older blacks, while not happy with segregation, sometimes felt that at least everyone knew where they stood with it--while the younger generation was champing at the bit to get out there and change the world overnight. Finally, it was interesting to read that many of the original founders of the movement were inspired far more by Gandhi than by Martin Luther King, Jr. A number of them express their opinion that King--while undoubtedly important and absolutely essential once the movement got underway--was not himself so convinced as to the value of a) the movement itself and b) non-violent protest--many of this friends and co-workers say here that he continued to espouse it only because eventually, he felt he had been thoroughly and unmistakeably identified with it. Although I was surprised that neither Coretta Scott King nor the Reverend Jesse Jackson were inteviewed for Mr. Raines' book, their absence is my only quibble with what is otherwise an enormously valuable and terrifically readable history.

1920s F E L I X T H E C A T

1920s f e l i x t h e c a t

1920s F E L I X T H E C A T

1920s F E L I X T H E C A T

This book is definitely a "must-have" for Felix fans. Unfortunately it is one of the very few - if not the only - collection of classic Felix newspaper strips. If only there were more books like this one!

Oh, wow, this is the funniest book! Every one of these cartoons totally cracks me up--I was rolling on the floor. I can completely believe BEK used to write for Seinfeld--he's got that just-a-touch off-color sense of humor that is so deadpan and funny. I'm buying it for my brother (he could use a good laugh about now).

This book is so great. It's a beautiful thing, too, so nice to hold. When I get the New Yorker every week, I always look for the BEK cartoons first, and I'm so glad to have my own collection. It completely cracks me up--I keep faxing cartoons to my friends, and I even sent a copy of the book to my grandmother!

I can't get enough of this book. It has truly put me in stitches. I chortle to myself as I walk down the street thinking about it; I talk about it non-stop. Kaplan has a unique, endlessly gratifying talent. His humor is brilliant and insurpassable, and his firm, knowing handle on the motives and foibles of today's humans is flabbergasting. I couldn't stop turning the page to see what he would deliver next! This book is like a little glowing gem.

You know BEK's work from the New Yorker even if you don't know his name. The cartoons are wonderfully funny and have a timelessness to them. He puts the most devastating words into the mouths of children and dogs. I highly recommend it to anyone, and especially those people who read the cartoons first in the New Yorker.

What a hilarious, insightful book! We have bought it for everyone we know! Can't wait for the next book and LOVE his cartoons in The New Yorker (it's the only reason we subscribe). Run, don't walk to you're nearest bookstore!

I thought that this book was hilarious. Professor Kerman is a genius. I hope he decides to write more books about his wild adventures.

This book is the funniest nd most enjoyable book that I have ever read and I reccomend it to sports fans who don't like the prices for everything being raised in sports.

"Sneaking Into Concerts" is very fun but I doubt ill be trying any of these methods. It is way off the standards of TicketSecrets.net but is was still worth the read for the entertainment value.

This is truly a Great Book,it combines seriousness and humor very well.The techniques that the professor shares with the readers really work!He drives home the fact that if this is a crime then why are there no victims?If you read the review from that feminist(I may not have spelled the word right,but I do spell useful things correctly)just remember that she is dead wrong and frankly, stupid.Thanks and enjoy!

Now we can all get in, ticket or no ticket. The professor teaches us by example how to get in to our favorite events. If you love sports or just events in general, "sold out" will never have the same meaning again. Scott writes with an irreverant wit, always asking, "Why shouldn't I be able to go in?" Hysterical and almost unbelievable. Even if you have no intention of trying his techniques yourself, live vicariously through Scott and his adventures and have some great laughs.

I read this book at the house of a fellow dog lover and ended up ordering 6 copies for other dog lovers I know! Can't wait to share it with them, as they will appreciate the not only the humor, but how well it represents the personalities of dogs we have all known and loved.

This book must be written by a really smart old dog because he does seem to know how everything works. I read some of it to my dogs and they totally agree. We all had a great tummy scratch and took a nap. I just ordered two more for other pups I know. Great fun!!

This book must be written by a really smart old dog because he does seem to know how everything works. I read some of it to my dogs and they totally agree. We all had a great tummy scratch and took a nap. Great fun!!

Cute and clever collection of observances on doggy behavior. Just for fun, but one of the cleverest of its type, and I love the illustrations.

I've never read a book which so expertly captures the warmth and humor of owning a dog. If I didn't know better, I'd say my dogs wrote this book. If you've ever owned a dog, or better yet, if you've ever seen a dog, this book is a must! It's funny!

Mutts always gives me a great deal of pleasure. Its low-keyed comedy is a delight.

Mutts is a fun, innocent comic--very much like the pet version of Calvin and Hobbes. It's a comic for anyone with an Earl or Mooch in their lives!

McDonnell seems to be running out of ideas of late, but in "Mutts Five" he still had some dandies. An excellent counterpart to the previous four volumes.

Mr. McDonnell's Mutts is my favorite comic. In each edition McDonnell manages to preserve the freshness of this comic strip making it a joy to read over the past few years. It's funny, lively, witty and the characters get cuter and cuter. He carefully introduces new characters while reinventing the old ones. You will love this book.

Another wonderful book by Patrick McDonnell. The stories and art are fresh and funny, silly and poignant. I have all of the Mutts books and calendars (OK, where's the 2001 calendar??)and have the same reverence for the strip as I had for "Calvin and Hobbes" and "The Far Side". Somehow McDonnell manages to endow all of the characters with distinct "person"alities, without anthropomorphizing them. Looking forward to more Mutts, ASAP.

Jonathon Dobrer has an irreverent method of cutting to the heart of common and frequent misconceptions and misleading information. His way of playing devil's advocate while imparting knowledge to the reader is unique. He asks questions (most of us would like to ask but are too shy) and provides "dumb" answers--exactly what the average person gets when dealing with companies and their policies. This book is funny and thought provoking at the same time. I couldn't wait to read the next chapter and am looking forward to his next sojourn into the literary forest.

serious; funny; --> seriously funny.
so funny, i couldn't put it down.
seriously.

Jon Dobrer is an eminently sane and insightful writer. His wide-ranging, free-wheeling style reminds me of the funny, yet serious
non-fiction of Anne La Mott. He's an original thinker (so rare
these days) who doesnt shy away from the tough call, and whose
irreverance more than once made me wince in painful delight.

Like M*A*S*H* this book finds humor and laughter even in the tragic. And every laugh serves a serious purpose.

Jonathan Dobrer's newest collection of essays showcases his gift for extremely engaging, often humerous and always thought-provoking writing. Who can resist delving into an essay that seems to be a confession of a crime "I just got back from making a drug run to Mexico."? It's not a confession nor a crime--but I leave it to the next lucky reader to discover the truth! His essays explore and address seemingly insurmountable social concern; separation of church and state, Sept. 11, the situation in the middle east, corporate fraud, immigration, racism, and national security. And whether or not you may agree with his observations, these essays will make you think and rethink your own observations. These are essays born to spark lively group discussion. The essays here also show Jonathan Dobrer's strong ability to write deeply moving essays such as the one on the death of Daniel Pearl, delightful whimsical pieces such as "Murder Most Vowel" and local interest pieces such as "Irony-Free in Anaheim" that address the issue of immigration in an intelligent, straight-forward manner done so well it could apply to any community in the U.S. This book is a delight to read, talk about, and read again. I look forward to Jonathan Dobrer's next collection!

Incredible true life adventure. Full of a lot of interesting history and insight about the bahamas out islands. His adventure of transforming his life of recluse as a school teacher who lived with his parents until he retired, into a legend in the Abacos is incredible and awe inspiring. An execellent read for anyone that has ever dreamed of transforming their life and escaping to paradise.

Highly recommend the book, especially if you are thinking of visiting Abaco... I recommend taking a trip to the Abacos and finding your own new addition. It won't cost you any less, but it will be worth a lot more.

I borrowed this book from a friend in New Orleans. I was a little dubious about it from the '60's cover art. The very first chapter cast a net over me! I stayed up for hours to finish the story and have read and re-read the book. I have to return the book so I'm going to buy the newest print. "De Doctah" did something so many people haven't the courage to do by "going island" and then putting it in print. If you are an armchair adventurer, this book may make you get up out of the chair! This book is a WOW! I'll even say it backwards "WOW"!

This book embodies the desire within us to experience a life that few will ever know. I look forward to the day my fiance and I do the same.

This is a must for anyone visiting the Abaco's. It provides an interesting insight into the real life of Bahamians. The jargon learned in this book will separate you from the typical tourist. You will be pleasantly surprised the next time your "boat done reached."

During a visit to the Bahamas in 1972 I read this superb and incredible biography. When I finished it I flew over and met Evans Cottmann while he was seeing patients in his little office. I visited his fairy tale green castle, saw his ketch and authenticated for myself this unbelievable and beautiful story. This book proves what man can do who is endowed with limited means, unlimited imagination and a desire to give and share his life.

This book is such a welcome relief from all the scandal that happens in our government. I loved looking into Bush's head, feeling Gore's personality and groping Schwarzenegger. This book has it all, especially a good laugh.

Paul and Judy have grown up. They are now playing politics.

You can do different things to different US politicians.

In this book you can:
see what is inside Bush II's head (nothing), touch Bill Clinton's underpants, pull Barbara Bush's hair, grope Aronld Schwarzenegger, lengthen Nixon's nose, feel Gore's wooden personality, play hide and seek with Cheney, read Bush I's lips (quotes of good things he has said), see what Hillary is REALLY thinking (president in 2008 instead of supporting NY), and TRY to stick a scandal to Reagan's teflon personality.

This is bipartisan humor in times of partisan books.

I'm giving this book to all my associates--just in time for the election--this small book will make it all bearable over the coming months with some big laughs!

What a fun book that could not have come at a better time! I recommend this as a gift for all occasions or just a laugh.

If, like me, you are more than a little fed-up with the brutal attacks and partisanship of this year's election, Pat the Politician will provide a welcome relief. A parody of the children's classic, Pat the Bunny, this humorous book pokes (and pulls) fun at folks on both sides of the aisle. Grown-up kids can pull at Barbara Bush's hair, stroke Bill Clinton's underpants, read Bush I's lips, feel Al Gore's wooden personality, and much more. This is great fun in a year that hasn't given us much to laugh about.

I've always bought comic books for the cover art. But with tens-of-thousands of comics out there, it was almost impossible to know which ones to search for. Of course, if I remembered a comic from when I was a kid that was a start, but what of the thousands I'd never seen? I was a blind collector. Gerber's books cover almost every comic book published till about 1965! 20,000+ photographs...fantastic! Even if I couldn't buy them all, I could at least see what was out there. The only weakness is that some later issues of the longer running titles are omitted. I would liked to have seen them all, but can understand the desire to wrap things up. For the price of one good 1950's era comic you can view just about ever cover published...a very good deal.

What a [great] set of volumes. I am a huge comic collector, owning every issue of Spider-Man ever printed, but I am also a great fan and collector of various other comics, and a comic-history buff. These books are a joy to just flip through, learning about Golden and Silver Age comics. The pictures are gorgeous, all in color on glossy paper. And there's 10's of thousands of them! Well worth the money and worth their weight in gold if you're a true comic fan and collector! Might be a bit much for just the casual comic enthusiast. These 2 books and the two volume Marvel set are the standard by which all other collecting resources should be held to!

What a [great] set of volumes. I am a huge comic collector, owning every issue of Spider-Man ever printed, but I am also a great fan and collector of various other comics, and a comic-history buff. These books are a joy to just flip through, learning about Golden and Silver Age comics. The pictures are gorgeous, all in color on glossy paper. And there's 10's of thousands of them! Well worth the money and worth their weight in gold if you're a true comic fan and collector! Might be a bit much for just the casual comic enthusiast. These 2 books and the two volume Marvel set are the standard by which all other collecting resources should be held to!

What can you say about two books that have 21700 comic book covers beautifully printed on gloss paper? WOW! for a start. No one is going to better Ernst and Mary Gerber's five-year labor of love to complete this project. If you collect comics from 1935 thru 1965 you need these. I don't collect them but as a publication designer I have an interest in the visual aspects of popular culture so I got a set...despite the price!

Open either book anywhere and start looking and it soon becomes apparent that this is a very comprehensive collection, I kept coming across comics that ran for a few issues, sometimes only one issue. Each cover has up to twenty-five pieces of information, essential for collectors. Many show a cover of the only copy known to exist. The first sixteen pages of each book has text about collecting comics and their values. I liked the page in book two that is devoted to ads that appeared on the back covers, strangely some collectors only go for these, if you do, go for a copy of 'Hey Skinny!' by Mike Beller and Jerry Leibowitz, surely the only book about the subject.

Author Gerber says on the jacket flap...''if you spend one minute examining each picture, eight hours per day, five days a week, it would require an astounding NINE weeks to complete the job.'' Nine weeks later have a rest and then go and buy the two volume 'Photo-Journal Guide to Marvel Comics' and start to look at a further 7700 covers!

***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.

I was amazed at the scope of this book, every cover from 1935-1965, and the labor that must have gone into compiling and producing it. Its extremely well photographed, carefully indexed, and the quality of paper and binding is excellent. For serious comic book collectors, it's worth every penny. A lifetime book.