Maxim Books

This book contributes nothing to the world, although it is pretty funny and an easy read.

When it comes to books like these, I am very skeptical. This one, however, is what men can believe in. It doesn't tell you lies and useless garbage on how men can get dates with beautiful women. It offers very good advice on how to dress, how to approach them and what they like and want from us. This is worth the asking price. This is one of the rare ones that is worth keeping. I counted up all the pages that really helped me, and made sense, and it was most of the book! It's quite a change from your typical books on this subject. BUY THIS!

Firstly I really think this book is telling you how to pull SOME chicks. It certainly isn't a universal key to the chastity belt! For example, they tell you that women like rich men. This is assuming of course that your intended date isn't an anti-capitalist protestor or member of the Communist party! Secondly it might mislead you into thinking all women are more promiscuous than they are. Some women will go for menage a trois, but there's some who won't sleep with you until they've been past the altar... So that's largely a culture thing for your more "liberated", liberal, American city chick (who isn't an anti-Capitalist protestor! :) ) Unfortunately I don't live in America, so some of the cultural references aren't helpful either.

I personally prefer Nick Casanova's "The Macchiavellian's Guide to Womanizing". His book is funny. Okay it might not have pictures of scantily clad ladies but it does have some good tips and is much more amusing. I think it's got a better general application.

Secondly note the race bias- all of the models seem to be white chicks. Maxim, FHM etc are bad for this... You do get good looking oriental women as well.

On the plus side, it gives you some tips on what to do which might seem more inventive and also it tells you how you can buy her presents without leaving your seat over the phone (which unfortunately were all American numbers!)... As for the sex tips, they seemed quite good, but if I wasn't getting more of it, I wouldn't buy this book!

Well, a beautiful woman is sprawled out on the cover. How typical for a book on this sunbject. Needless to say, that hesitated me in reading this. I have read other books on this subject, and it was like having a snake-oil saleman come to my door, wanting to sale me the typical junk. I was very surprised to find that this book was more useful than I thought. I was expecting the same old, same old. "HOW TO PICK UP BEAUTIFUL WOMEN, NO MATTER WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE!!" (...)You know the usual garbage.

This book stayed away from that. It gives the kind of advice that you can believe in. It has a of of great tips FROM women, not from men on how to be more successful with women. This makes it well worth the price. The only disappointment I had was that many of the pages are pictures, and I wanted more information instead. It was as if it was a rush job to get this printed. But, practically every page had a good ideas worth trying. Hey, Maxim, where is the second edition?! A single guy needs more information on what women want.

Reads like one big article straight out of Maxim magazine.

Has lots of usefull advice to help the average guy better understand and be more successful with women.

If you cannot even get a date this book really will not help you much, it's not that kind of a book, it seems geared more towards the inexperienced/confused guy who can easily get dates but keeps running into trouble. Trouble caused by his own ignorance.

This book presents in both funny and profound pictures and Zen sayings the wonderful qualities all dogs possess. Kept me in the moment as I read it.

This is a wondeful little book. I love the zen quotations, and the photos of dogs were lovely. I would have liked a bit more variety in the dog photos, and some of them seemed a bit contrived in order to match the quotes. All in all, it is a good book for anyone who likes dogs and is open to zen!

This slim volume contains some excellent photos of dogs with Zen and other Eastern-inspired quotes on the facing pages. For example, opposite a picture of a very majestic German Shepherd holding a leash in his mouth is the quote "Mastering others is strength, mastering yourself is true power." -Lao Tzu/Tao Te Ching. All quotes are attributed to their sources, and there is a list of the pictured dog breeds at the back (unfortunately the pages are not numbered). Some quotes are from the Tao, others from Buddha ("The fool who knows he is a fool is that much wiser. The fool who thinks he is wise is a fool indeed," opposite a quizzical looking mixed), Sanskrit, and individuals as diverse as Goethe, Rumi, Robert Persig, and the Dalai Lama.

It is slightly annoying that some quotes are cited only to the names of other books (e.g.," Zen Flesh, Zen Bones," "The Little Zen Companion."). The book doesn't completely elucidate the dog-Zen equation in its brief introduction, but this is obviously more for dog lovers than for serious students of Eastern religion and philosophy. A few photos could have better arranged or focused (and once in a while a quote seems a bit forced onto the picture), but overall this is a funny, calming, and sweet book that will speak to your inner dog. The nicely formatted book has 107 pages (including photos), and can be perused for light humor as well as insight.

As every dog owner knows, dogs live completely in the moment. It seems entirely fitting for a book like this to reveal the members of the canine kingdom for the happy little Buddhas that they are, through 50 black-and-white photographs paired with quotes from various Zen sources. I also highly recommend another little book of Eastern wisdom titled "Open Your Mind, Open Your Life" by Taro Gold which is filled with hundreds of insightful quotes to inspire and enlighten.

This book juxtaposes photos of dogs with Zen quotations and sayings. The photos are quite good, and the selected text was chosen with care and thought.

I'm not, however, able to make the required leap and see any real link between the words and images in this book. Perhaps I'm being way too literal here in wondering if dogs possess the sort of consciousness prone to contemplation, but I've never thought that Zen was prone to cuteness. Also, the typography used for some of the text pages is jarring, even irritating, when a simpler, cleaner arrangement would have sufficed.

I appreciate the merits of Zen and of dogs but yoking the two together does not yield a compelling message or insights. I'd rather play with my dogs.

In this novel Maxim operates on the assumption that since the human brain is compartmentalized, each individual can become several personas sharing the same body. Therefore each is a totally separate individual. This is different than a split personality in which each personality is really a part of the total person.

The other assumption is that genes can inherit memories from ancestors and thus if someone in an individual's past was a concert pianist, the memory is there in the individual's genes. Thus that individual can become a concert pianist.

A doctor who specializes in creating new personalities for people, takes advantage of this theory and is able to transform individuals into totally new individuals.

These theories are very interesting and are the only thing that keeps this book together. The book itself is a mismosh of activities and events. The author's descriptions often lack clarity where it is very difficult to picture what is happening and it is very difficult to follow the supporting characters. Some seem to appear out of the blue and it seems that the author assumes you know something about them.

A lot of what happens is implausible and some of the ideas seem to be copied from the old tv series The Incredible Hulk. (meek David Banner would turn into a super strong monster when he was enraged).

Maxim wrote a much better book dealing with the mind called "Time Out of Mind."

The cover of the original paperback (published in 1983) asks the question, "who is Able Baker Charley and why should we fear him/it?" Well put. Jared Baker is an average guy until his wife is killed. He loses control and is himself arrested and becomes a fugitive. Shadowy behaviorist Marcus Sonnenberg "rescues" Baker and makes him a subject of study. But Baker wants none of it. He just wants to be re-united with his daughter and get on with his life. Not so simple in the hands of John Maxim. The characters are well developed and for the most part quite sympathetic. Imagine a government agent that is actually likeable. Learning who/what is Abel Baker Charley takes the reader into the life of Tanner Burke, a budding film star; Connor Harrigan, a government operative out to find Baker and then to protect him, and several others representing various shades of evil (or good). The government wants Baker to study him, to get at Sonnenberg's other subjects, and to settle a score between the bad guy Peck and Sonnenberg. In the ensuing shoot-outs, and with Maxim's usual healthy body count, the reader learns about Abel and Charley and how they relate to Baker as well as Burke and his daughter. This is Maxim on two levels: the mind games not unlike Platforms (one of his best novels) and the Bannerman series with all the thrills that he produces so well. I had to knock off one star because of a monologue of Sonnenberg's that went on too long and the final shoot out that got overly confusing. At the same time each of these helped to define the characters, both the good guys and the bad. You'll be pulling for Baker - whoever he may be - all the way through a quick read. A must have for Maxim fans.

I can't say this any plainer: I wish John R. Maxim had written more books. At this stage of his writing career, he's a bit getting on in years (he's 70). Hopefully, he's got a lot more novels in him. I've very much enjoyed his 5 Paul Bannerman novels (and have been awaiting his proposed new novel THE BANNERMAN PROPHECY for ages now), but I'll tell you what: ABEL BAKER CHARLEY, which came out in 1983 and was Maxim's second novel, is readily one of the best action thrillers I've ever read, and, in fact, it's on my list of all-time favorites in the genre. Every couple of years, I'll dust it off and re-immerse myself in Jared Baker's harried world of dark alter egos, paranoid intrigue, and blazing bullets. And an axe. I remember a war axe.

Jared Baker was living a life in suburban bliss until the tragic accident that killed his wife and hospitalized his young daughter. Then something happened to him. Baker snapped. Now his body hosts three very different personalities: his regular self; an intuitive but disgusting mass of flab called Charley; and the amoral, violently primal Abel. Now, too, the law wants Baker for murder. The revenge-minded mob is gunning for him. The CIA is persistently keeping tabs on him. But his most inimical foe may be Marcus Sonnenberg, the deranged and secretive behavioral scientist and master manipulator. And, all the while, Baker desperately struggles to keep the two entities inside him at bay. But at least he's not alone...

ABEL BAKER CHARLEY is one intense and riproaring psychological thriller, full of twisty turns, big reveals, and explosive action. Maxim has a knack for rapidly involving his reader and keeping the pages turned at a frenzied pace. I've read this one over and over, and, honestly, few other novels have lived up to ABEL BAKER CHARLEY'S sense of gripping urban adventure and psychological suspense. The manner in which Baker, time and again, eluded his would-be captors and then exacted violent vengeance had me silently cheering as I read on, from the taut opening scenes in New York's Central Park to the electrifying finale, when all the various forces involved converged in one hell of a museum shootout. All the characters, but one, are complex and diverting. Only the skier/actress Tanner Burke seems to be one note and comes off as a mere token love interest. And even she has her moments. The world weary Connor Harrigan is brilliant.

The author writes Baker as a tortured and vulnerable man, a bloke caught up in the most unusual of circumstances and forced to go on the run. Without Abel and Charley, I might've found Jared Baker too normal and, therefore, too dull a character. As it is, there's a delicious, boyish thrill in being privy to Baker's secret abilities, which he very reluctantly unleashes on the persistent plague of serpentine spymasters, daunting assassins, thugs, and gangsters arrayed against him. With this book, the reader can revel in wish fulfillment. Really, who wouldn't want Charley's supernormal talents? And who doesn't wish for a beastie to summon so that you can taunt your tormentors with a phrase like "Come and get it, pig." When the implacable, demonical Abel goes into whirlwind action, as deprived of a conscience as he is, you can't help but root for him.

I have never missed a chance to read a "Maxim" book and Able Baker Charley does not disappoint. As with all Maxim books the unique plots and marvelous characters not only entertain and fascinate the author has made them so just plain likable that I find myself turning pages as quickly as possible to continue the adventure! ABC can take its place along side the rest of Maxim books as a "can't put down". If you have never read a Maxim grab one fast. The good news is that you are going to really love these books. If you have something else you need to be doing the bad news is you are going to really love these books!

Maybe its just me, but I just could not buy into the premise of this one. There were times I literally laughed out loud, and not because of a humorous passage, but that the scenario teetered on the brink of the ridiculous. I read MOSAIC and thought that was pretty good, but ABEL BAKER CHARLEY just didn't do it for me. I'm no stranger to psychological thrillers, and I can accept some pretty bizarre premises, but I think Mr. Maxim...I don't know what he was thinking with this. I have never felt so, well, insulted after finishing a book. I only give it a star because Maxim is not some hack and at least some effort was put into the building of suspense. I stuck with it in the hopes that I would have some moment of understanding, or at least acceptance, at the end, but I was sadly disappointed. If you are a Maxim fan, do yourself a favor and pass on this one.

I thought this book was inspiring. I would love to see some of the signs. It's simple to read, and yet so thought provoking. I laughed outloud in some areas, and saw myself in many other areas. Get the book and read it through with an open mind and let God speak to you.

Frankly, if there is a god, I think he/she/it would be annoyed with people presuming to speak for him/her/it -- and through billboards and cheesy books, yet. (Also, a book based on alleged sayings of God is not non-denominational.)

Living in Florida, I often thought what a great book these billboards would make. I love reading the book pages as much as I do the actual signs during my drives. Highly recommend this book to anyone!

Frankly Mr. Young, there IS a God, and I don't think it matters in what method or manner His message is communicated when it's done truthfully and coveys biblical scripture. It's not about the messenger, it's all about the message. God is not a concept. If your faith was stronger and you received Christ, you would understand exactly what I'm talking about. The big question is are YOU ready for what happens next?

What a great book! Don't be fooled by the title. It is not preachy or heavy. It simple, funny and inspirational. It talks to everyone. I found myself laughing out loud, especially because I saw myself in so many of the sayings. Think about it. How many times have you prayed to win the lotto? A must read and a great gift.

This book begins with the history of wireless communications and wireless networks. It then talks about the various wireless security threats. It follows it by describing various wireless security protocols and cryptography, which does not have any depth. All the protocols discussed can be understood by novice. He never talks about the current or future trends of these technologies. He describes about how to secure wireless devices which is really not necessary or so important. Then moving on to various voice technologies, he gives an good overview of these technologies, but never talks in detail about any one technology. If we want to learn more about these technologies we need to read another book.Same holds true for wireless data networks and security protocols. He talks about many technologies, but very little about each one of them.Not enough focus on even 1 technology, just the ABC's. We need to read another book for more details. Never talks about the current or future trends really. He also describes some applications of wireless security protocols in the real world, which might a little helpful to feel as to how they might be used.

Overall, read this book only to know about all the technologies available and security standards at a very superficial level. Only breadth and no depth. But the book can be understood by novice,as it is presented in lucid form. Cetainly not for some one wants to really know more or dig in deep about these issues.

Nice format to easily look up topics. Good to have for implementers.

Great insight on all aspects of wireless security. Written for both the novice and the professional, it was a great read...

When I wanted to expand my skills into wireless security, I bought almost every wireless book available. This is, by far, the best of the lot. If you already have a basic understanding of protocols and crypto, this book will be well worth the time.

I have done alot of research into 802.11b security and this book is a GREAT addition to my collection. Great examples, good overview and nice flow.

I've seen Pollino speak and this book is just like his presenations -- informative and authoritative. I fully recommend it to anyone interested in wireless security.

Good book to read and get quickly involved in a fast moving story line.

John Maxim writes a great thriller, and I love all the characters in the Bannerman series, but his Obstetrics and Gynecology is
horrible. None of it makes any sense. Just ignore the diagnoses, and the story is great.

John Maxim writes a great thriller, and I love all the characters in the Bannerman series, but his Obstetrics and Gynecology is
horrible. None of it makes any sense. Just ignore the diagnoses, and the story is great.

I would definitely like to say that the Bannerman books are above all my favorite. They are very, very difficult to put down once you start. And the intensity of the stories doesn't stop there. At the conclusion of the books, especially for me in Bannerman's Ghosts, all the lives of the characters come together, and the problems in the characters hearts and minds begin to resolve, and thats when the deep emotions set in. Those deep emotions come from John Maxim's excellent way of telling a story, as well as his thorough understanding of surviving, and the humanity in all of us looking for the perfect ending, once we have survived.

I love all the Bannerman books and Bannerman's Promise is no different. My only complaint with this one is that my favorate character is Billy, and he doesn't really have a roll in this one. But once again Maxim has hit a homer, the way his characters maintain levety at the strangest possible times had me laughing out lound. The pace was great. Mr. Maxim I have a request....MORE BANNERMAN!!

I've always enjoyed books of sayings,proverbs,quotations and such.I also often use them in discussions.Let's face it these short trueisms have been handed down from one generation to the next foe ages.
When I found this little book,I really felt, since the Chinese culture is so remote and different;I thought their Proverbs would be as well.
I guess that wisdom really knows no borders.
One thing you will see in this book is that the same thought is amply put into different words.
We have many proverbs on the benefits of reading;
I like this Chinese way of putting it;

"One who does not like to read is equal to one who cannot read."

And on sincerity;

"The longer the explanation the bigger the lie."

And on strategy;

"Don't lift a rock only to drop it on your own foot."

And on success;

"Failure is not falling down but refusing to get up."

Or as we would say'"If at first you don't succeed,try,try,again."

And this one straight to the point;

"Do not judge a person until the lid of his coffin is closed.

With many of the proverbs,a brief explanation of its meaning is given where the author thinks it is necessary.
Although it doesn't take long to skip through this little book;It's enjoyment can be extended by trying to come up with a Western Proverb that conveys the same thouhht in different words.

This is an excellent book. It has great proverbs that eloquently state things I am thinking. I often refer to it when I can't articulate a thought or experience I have had, and when I'd like to quote the book. It is a thought-provoking book in many ways. It is also well-organized, so when I'm looking for something in particular, I know exactly where to find it!

The most romantic that ever happened to me was motivated by this book and one of its proverbs. My boyfriend wanted to find something culturally significant (I'm Chinese)to use to propose to me. Apparently, he searched far and wide for a book like this and it was difficult to find, but when he found Theodora Lau's "Best-Loved Chinese Proverbs" it all fell into place. He also made quite the impression on my traditional Chinese family with such lovely words.

If you are Chinese or speak Chinese, this is not a book you will be interested in.

I bought this book after reading Elizabeth Wu's listmania..There are some deceptive chinese characters shown in the sample pages so I figured it would be in Chinese, maybe pinyin and the english translation !! Bad Mistake..!! If you are a reader on Chinese, its not fulfilling to read it only in English.

It's hard to define the genre of this 2003 book, the latest by this well-known Chinese-American author who is best known for her early work "The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts", the story of her girlhood in San Francisco. Years have passed and she has several other books to her credit. From the photo on the book jacket I see her hair is now gray and know that and she has lived through a changing America. The 70s and the peace movement have influenced her. And basically, this is what her book is about, told through the eyes of her Buddhist faith and her deep believe in peace.

The book is 402 pages long and is divided into three sections. Each one is different and yet connected. The first section is pure memoir, written with an artist's touch. It's the story of the fire in her Oakland community in the early 1990s and how her home burned to the ground. Among other things, a manuscript for a novel was destroyed. She has rewritten that novel which is the second, and longest, section of the book. The third sections tell of her experiences in running writing workshops for veterans, and this section could be classified as "self-help". Hence there is confusions of genres which makes it difficult for libraries and booksellers to categorize this book.

The entire work might be thought of in the context of literature in response to war and can be viewed as an epic journey, as our heroine must conquer obstacles and develop much self knowledge as she brings her message of peace to the world. She's well versed in the classics and there are constant references the Odyssey and other literary works as well as symbolism from all of the world's religions. In the first and last sections, the writer, herself, is in the center as she searches for community and finds possibilities for peace by creating communities that go far beyond the bonds of family and geography.

Sometimes her writing was a little too descriptive for me. For example, a tree might be beautiful but a description of several paragraphs slowed down the action. But I did relate to her sense of loss regarding her manuscript. And I really did like the novel she finally wrote in which a fictional couple, running away from the Vietnam draft, move with their young son to Hawaii and form a community of war protestors, including Vietnam soldiers who are fleeing the war. It was a bit preposterous but it was a good story, well told and I particularly loved the Hawaii she described. The last section inspired me as a writer and I found I even started using one of her techniques called "walking meditation" to let myself discover some of my personal writing needs.

I find the theme of war and peace in the context of Vietnam a little outdated. So much has happened since then as our world has changed. And, in a way, she is still locked in the thinking of the 70s. The anti-war message is a good one even though I think she is a bit naïve. However, she certainly is doing her part in trying to make positive changes. She uses her gift of writing to do this. I applaud her for her efforts. She actually makes the concept of "peace" seem possible. That is a good thing.

"If a woman is going to write a Book of Peace, it is given her to know devastation". Thus begins Maxine Hong Kinston's meditative part autobiography, part fiction, part lost spiritual text. This is a deeply poetic book that is framed by an incident of fire that led to many losses of lives and property, including the author's house and most of the material of her work-in-progress novel, "the fourth book of peace". After the fire, she decided to write anew about peace. From a different perspective. Kingston whose "woman warrior" stands as a great source of spiritual strength for many narrates the personal voyages she undertook through the course of this book, and peppers them with her quiet strength and wisdom. Towards the end, she concludes, "I am coming up with a new rule for living: Only do things that make you happy, and you will create a peaceful world."

Because of the subject matter of this book--which is predominantly about Kingston's writers groups for War Veterans--and because I love so much of her earlier writing, I do feel guilty giving "The Fifth Book of Peace" three stars. But, in the following sentences, I will explain my reasons for doing so. "The Fifth Book of Peace," like "The Woman Warrior" and "China Men" before it, mixes memoir with fiction. The first chapter, "Fire," is about Kingston's painful recollections of losing her home in the Berkeley Hills/Oakland fire of 1991--which sadly coincided with the passing of her father. The second chapter, "Paper," has Kingston elaborating on her quest for the Books of Peace, which might exist, or which might simply be a figment of her imagination. This material is very intriguing. But, from the third chapter on, "The Fifth Book of Peace" loses its early momentum. The third chapter, "Water," is a sequel to what might arguably be her masterpiece, "Tripmaster Monkey." In that novel, Wittman Ah Sing, the protagonist, fills the narrative with opinionated witticisms about art, culture and life. That same energy is completely lacking in "Water": Kingston's narrative (the original draft of which was lost in the fire) is for the most part in the third person here, describing Wittman and Tana's (his wife) move to Hawaii to avoid being drafted into the Vietnam War. Here the theme of peace is driven home in some very emotional scenes--my favorite being Wittman's intervention at a Sanctuary for those who do not want to serve in the Vietnam War. The longest chapter, "Earth," focuses on her writing group for War Veterans and overcoming human violence (war) through an emphasis on peace. But, as one of the Veterans--Severe Ted--says, "Violence makes a good story. It's dramatic." The problem is that writing about peace (which must be necessarily undramatic once achieved) is extremely difficult to do, and Kingston does not quite pull it off. Reading Kingston's descriptions of other peoples writings about their war experiences becomes so convoluted that the impact of what she did with these writing groups becomes lost on the reader. Nevertheless, "The Fifth Book of Peace" is a reminder of how awesome a responsibility the achievement of peace truly is.

Most of us who live in the Oakland/Berkeley area are familiar with the fact that Maxine Hong Kingston's home, containing her only copy of a nearly finished book, burned to the ground in the Oakland Hills Fire of 1991. She was returning from her father's funeral when she saw the hills in flames and made an attempt to save her manuscript. The lost novel was titled The Fourth Book of Peace, inspired by an ancient Chinese tale of three books that were deliberately burned.
Her new book, The Fifth Book of Peace, deals with her efforts to come to terms with her own losses as well as an attempt to understand the suffering of those who are veterans and survivors of war. This luminous book is set in four sections: Fire, a firsthand report of the 1991 inferno; Paper, her search for the original books of peace; Water, a recreation of her lost novel about a couple who flees to Hawaii to avoid the Vietnam War; and Earth, Kingston's moving account of the writing workshops she organized for war veterans.
Always a compelling writer, Maxine Hong Kingston has written a wise and spell-binding meditation on the power of Story and the challenge of living and acting on one's beliefs; she guides us toward peace without avoiding the fact that we live in a world at war.

Maxine Hong Kingston's The Fifth Book of Peace exhibits a journey through human conscience. Kingston lost the manuscript to her Fourth Book of Peace in a house fire in 1991, and through the process of reviving or regurgitating the contents of the book, she came up with The Fifth Book of Peace. The contents of this book was inspired by Kingston's personal experiences, such as the loss of her father, coincidently, Kingston returned home from her father's funeral only to see her neighborhood in a blaze of fire, as well as Vietnam Veterans' accounts of the war and during a writer's workshop that Kingston hosted.

The Fifth Book of Peace derives from Kingston's own view of war from a noncombatant and rather bistander perspective intertwines the issue of war and human suffering that come from thought and memory -- World War II, the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the first Iraq War. Possibly, she is attempting to encourage thinking and awareness. It is the overtones of education that Kingston states are the purpose or reason for being, "Educate America. Teach everybody"(60). Although these are the words taken from her mother as she asks Kingston about her purpose in life, "What have you done to educate America? Have you finished educating the world yet? You go educate America?" (60)

The book is divided into three enormous chapters that can be considered three separate books. There is plenty of information within these chapters that change in tone, and may take some quiet reading time to discern which parts are fiction and which parts are autobiographical. The first chapter, Fire, is the introduction to The Fifth Book of Peace, and presents an inkling of where the book will proceed. There is much dialogue between the characters in the book, as well as dialects and ethnic references to describe the characters and people that helped Kingston write the book.

The book has quite a number of notable passages, and one particular passage may possibly sum up the book: "Peace begins in thought. Thoughts enworded go from mind to mind, and mind makes the world. Peace, illusive, abstract, negative Yin, dream, would take a long writing-out to make real. Its book has to be longer than war books -- longer than a bumper sticker, longer than a sound bite. As we read, neuropeptides in the brain grow longer, longer than in nonreaders. Though becomes body. Sudden fast change is a method of war. The logic of peace has to be spoken out at length" (54).

I recommend this book for the pure purpose of expanding your mind or to add another perspective to the meaning of war.

I got this book because it was $4.99 and I needed to spend $4 more dollars to qualify for free shipping on another purchase. It was either pay $8 for shipping, or add this book for $4.99.

I now wish I'd paid the extra $3.01 so that I might not have this bad taste in my mind... that "bad read" taste that just lingers psychically. Ick. You see, I am the type of reader who will see a book through to the end no matter how awful. And therein lies the problem.

This book is of a particular genre, the "glamour job tell-all", sort of a Devil Wears Prada (but not even as good as that, and that wasn't all that good a book -- despite the way Merrill Streep single handedly saved the movie.)

Anyhow, the problem with this book is that for a tell all to "work" the reader sort of has to be sympathetic to the writer/protagonist. And with Lads, that just isn't possible because Dave Itzkoff is the kind of guy you'd go out of your way to avoid in life if you could.

While he skewers all the people he once worked with, from famed editor Mark Golin to loosely disguised Maxim editors, one sort of has to wonder if his coworkers even remember the guy -- he's that much of a wash out. He's such a weasel that self-admittedly only a handful of people show up for his goodbye party and of those most are there for the free drinks and of those there for the drinks most get their fill before making their escape by 7:00pm. Too bad the reader can't get out as easily.

Don't get trapped into spending hours with Dave Itzkoff via the pages of this book.

Gentle Reader, avoid my pain. Even if the book is free; don't do it!

Full disclosure: I was once a freelancer in the New York magazine business, and at Maxim on and off for a few years. (Now on with the review.) I really enjoyed this speedy read, but this may be out of sheer self-centeredness: I like stories that accurately give the reader a tour of a part of the world at a particular era, and this made for amusing reading because I floated in and out of that specific moment and place, at an Important Time In My Life, In the Big City. (I read part of the book in a nearby dive bar, and nearly spit out my beer a few times, certain scenes were so hilariously familiar.)

The average non-Maxim-affiliated reader can find plenty of laugh-out-loud moments in Itzkoff's memoir, but New York magazine-biz types have probably just rolled their eyes in disgust at the lad-mag employees who've "sold their souls." (Or rolled their eyes at Itzkoff, Toby Young, or others who unflinchingly hold up the mirror.) The book's definitely funny, but it's a wry, dark humor, given more to acknowledging smiles and nods than knee-slapping guffaws.

Would a comparison to Toby Young's (almost) tell-all be insulting to Itzkoff? Maybe. Young's pratfalls were retarded, cartoonish. Itzkoff's screw-ups (too numerous to call out here) were undoubtedly cringe-inducing, but funny and familiar and heartbreaking, too.

SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! The end is way too pat. I don't mind that Itzkoff and his dad end up on the shrink's couch, but it seemed like that resolution was just stuck on. The scene is well-rendered, but a longer road to the psychiatrist may have been in order.

Lads gets you both laughing and, with what the writer endures, cringing. Itzkoff is, simply, funny, and his book is smart and well-written, and thankfully much more than a rah-rah recounting of life inside Maxim. To be open, I know the author, but knowing him had no impact on the fact that at many times while reading I actually laughed out loud as Itzkoff described his jobs, his life in the NYC publishing world, his family, the painful dating world and those he worked with or for. But for all the criticism he lays on others, Itzkoff saves his harshest comments for himself; it's not self criticism, it's self flagellation. It's also exceedingly honest, and his examination of being a man in this Maximish world is thoughtful and thought-provoking.

A hilariously poignant - and pleasantly pessimistic - tale of one man's rise through New York's publishing industry circuit. Touching at times, yet always temperamental, Izkoff's skewed view on life, liberty and the pursuit of getting laid gracefully skirts the fine line between raunch and redemption, providing a captivating read in the process. An insightful peek behind the headlines and hijinks at Dennis Publishing, it comes highly recommended.

I love this book. It's devastatingly witty, heartbreaking at moments, and yes, heartwarming. A fun, wicked portrait of glossy twenty-something Manhattan life.

"The Wisdom of Eleanor Roosevelt" by Donald Wigal, PhD was my book club's selection for this past month. I was excited to learn more about Eleanor Roosevelt's life. I had no background info on her before I bought the book. Once I received this "biography", I found that nearly half of the book contains nothing but QUOTES from her. Another large portion of the book are her "My Day" syndicated columns. At the end of the book is her obituary.

Being someone who did not have any background knowledge of Mrs. Roosevelt, I was SORELY disappointed with this book. Others in my book club felt the same way as well.

In my opinion, the only way this book offers any value is as a SUPPLEMENT to a Real biography of Eleanor Roosevelt.

This is a very unique collection of quotes from the progressive era. Eleanor Roosevelt was a leader in the rights of so many. It was a good read and tribute to someone who helped with the start of the United Nations.

I have always been fascinated by this great lady, and this book brought the reason why home beautifully. She was an inspiration in her time, and much of what she believed and fought for is still relevant today. A must read if you are looking for common sense and wisdom from a woman's point of view

The wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the mother of six children, Eleanor Roosevelt traveled widely, wrote a daily newspaper coloumn, had her own radio show and was an indefatigable worker for a wide range of social causes. It hardly seems credible that it took more than half a century for a book of this type to be written and published. The Wisdom of Eleanor Roosevelt is filled with the First Ladies' pithy comments and
and useful advice. From start to finish, it's a rewarding read.

Her insights in a chronological order. Sounds boring, right? Not the case at all. The editor, Don Wigal, has done a masterful job of bringing this woman to life once more (are you listening, Hilary?) in a wonderful and flowing way.

For those who might not remember the era, Don paints a large backdrop for you so that everyone can appreciate the timely, and in many instances timeless, insights and the very, very forward thinking of this woman.

There are any number of books 'out there' that quote others. This one is different because it touches in such a special way. I cannot, for the life of me, imagine anyone who would close this book and not be touched and changed.

How much do I appreciate this work? I have moved from my first copy to nine additional ones to share with others. And now my wife is composing a list of others with whom this needs to be shared.

This is not a novel; these are reflective selections. Reflect and marvel (for some of us once again) at the wisdom of Eleanor.