Cigars Books

While reading this extraordinary and unique book it is obvious that Edwards put the time and effort into this project and Buchanan packaged it. Yet Buchanan seems to want all the credit. She alone is listed as the author, but what did she actually do? She wrote a distant and dry essay - well written no doubt, but what exactly is her relationship to this fascinating object called the Vietnam Zippo?

Judging from the lively discussion below on this page, Buchanan was, in fact, the publisher with the power to manipulate the crediting. It appears that Edwards' role was greatly diminished and he was relegated to the person who just provided the collection. Apparently another sad example of an artist being taken advantage of - there must be a back story here and it probably isn't pretty. What a shame this situation is considering what a finely crafted book it is.

The Vietnam War had many facets for those who served in that theatre of military combat from 1965 to 1973. One of the unique memorabilia associated with the conflict were the Zippo brand cigarette lighters that were ubiquitous among the American troops. Drawing from the collection of Bradford Edwards, Sherry Buchanan (an independent scholar, author, and expert on both Asian and Vietnamese contemporary art, history and culture) has created "Vietnam Zippos", a volume of images of Zippo brand lighters used and personalized by members of the American armed forces. Zippos lighters were visible associated with the burning of grass huts as part of search-and-destroy missions, they were used as engraved symbols of social protest, and often became a kind of talisman for American GIs during their hazardous tours of duty in that increasingly unpopular conflict. Beginning with a Timeline that begins in 1965 and ends in 1990 (when Vietnam Zippos were sold to tourists at Saigon Street Stalls), "Vietnam Zippos" is a fascinating and specialized military cultural history that is a unique and recommended contribution to the growing library of Vietnam War histories, biographies, and scholarly studies.

A touching compilation of soldiers who served in Vietnam and the history of Zippos in the Army. Full of color pictures: numerous Zippos dipictaing pictures, unit slogans, witty banter, and more. A must read for anyone who wants to connect with history.

It is a shame and a pity that such an impressive book should reflect such a travesty in crediting. What does Ms. Buchanan have to do with the Vietnam Zippo? There is ample evidnce that it was the focus of Mr. Edwards' attention for many years. Yet he is relegated to a minor participant in the book itself! Anyone who closely examines the book can see the truth - it is self-evident. Apparently, Ms. Buchanan's massive ego overshadowed her sense of justice - she, as the publisher in fact, decided to not even share the authorship with Mr. Edwards. Othewise, it a near perfect book - striking graphic design - highest quality photographs - excellent essays and thorough research. Life can be unfair.

My hippie Dad loved it! He is a history buff and had not heard of this practice!

I agree with Van55. (What else is new?!) This is a fantastic book. I bought my copy used through Amazon over a year ago, and I am still making reference to it. If you are a fan of quality Cuban cigars, you need this volume along with Min Ron Nee's work. In contrast to Min Ron Nee's book, this one has much more on the history and production of the cigars. The photos, many full page, are colorful and moving.

While this book does have descriptions and evaluations of various vitolas, the ones in MRN's book are much more thorough and complete. That does not mean that the ones you will find in the book are not useful, but they are best treated as an overview. Don't look for detail here. But then again, this book is less than half the price of the MRN book, and it is much easier to find.

Again, you probably need both books, but buy this one first. You won'd be disappointed. Makes a great coffee table book too!

I really appreciated this book for the photography and the explanation of the manufacturing process. Del Todesco does a great job of walking the reader through the myriad processes of creating a puro. The only thing about this book that left me a little disappointed was the review of cigars in the back. It seems a little difficult to review a cigar in one sentence, especially cigars that are as complex as a Montecristo #2 or a Hoyo de Monterrey...but time and again, he sums up an otherwise world famous cigar as "suitable for a beginner" or "mild, not much to recommend about this cigar". It just struck me as odd to have a compilation as deep as what is presented in this book and then give the cigars an extremely indifferent and passing glance en masse. The first 130 pages were interesting no matter what level of aficianado you are...the encyclopedia could use a good second edition enhancement.

This is a great reference book for specific havana brands. Life sized images of most cigars from nearly all brands is included along with vitola information and author's tasting notes/suggestions. This is in addition to general cigar information like history of tobacco, tobacco cultivation and creating a cigar. The specific details are a bit dated (1997) but still the best I have seen published in the US. However, Min Ron Nee's text is superior if you can obtain it.

I found this book at Amazon while searching for the second printing of "An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Post-Revolution Havana Cigars" by Min Ron Nee, that I understand is soon to be released for sale within the United States.

Mr. del Todesco's book, though now nearly ten years old, remains a valuable addition to the library of anyone who has an interest in Cuban cigars. The first 130 or so pages contain a detailed history of Cuba's cigar-making as well as a seed-to-cigar description of the creation of Cuban cigars. Most of these pages consist of excellent photographs of Cuba and of the farmers, torcedors and others whose skill and knowledge contribute to the manufacture of, arguably, the best cigars on earth. The last half of the book consists of sepia photgraphs and brief descriptions and tasting notes of the brands (marcas) and sizes (vitolas) of Cuban cigars that were in commercial production in 1996. Comparing these notes to more recent reviews of examples of later productions of these cigars is fascinating.

I'm glad that I happened to have stumbled onto the existence of this beautiful volume.

With the plethora of books currently available on cigars in general and on Habanos in particular, this is (still) the one item no cigar aficionado dare be without.

It is a great work by a classic 20th century cartoonist. An outstanding 1930s black and white story about drug and arms smuggling. For all ages, full of mild humour, suitable for young children.

First published in Le Petit Vingtième between 8/12 1932 and 8/2 1934. The book appeared in 1934 . Redrawn in 1955. It was first published in English in 1971.

A colurful and detailed adventure , Tintin and his dog Snowy meet up with an eccentric Egyptologist on a cruise , taking Tintin on a danger-filled adventure from Egypt to Arabia to India , in a hunt for whoever is behind the mystery of the Cigars of the Pharaoh , he is framed for heroin possesion , caught up in an Arabian war and sentenced to be executed , lost in the desert , locked up in a mental assylum in India , before being led to an international ring of drug trafficers. It is amazing the amount of detail Herge worked into these adventure comics.

Many of us grew up on them and love them for the nostalgia value.
I loved the animation in the underground Pharaoh's tomb.

On a journey to Egypt Tintin meets absentminded Egyptologist Professor Siclone. The professor is in search of mystery. The only clue is a symbol drawn on a piece of parchment. Once in Egypt Tintin and Snowy follow the professor into an underground passageway marked by the symbol and find empty sarcophaguses marked with their names. They escape and find themselves pursued by mysterious criminals. All the while the mysterious symbol keeps turning up on stone walls, painted on trees, and on cigar labels...

This comic is fun because of the exotic landscapes. Tintin travels through Egypt and India which are drawn with exotic flare. Whenever he thinks he has entered the traditional untouched east, western civilization intrudes: He rescues a lady from bandits only to discover that he has just spoiled a scene from an adventure movie. He is captured by Bedouins who recognize him as a celebrity reporter and are happy to have him as a guest. He approaches two arabs to ask directions and finds that they are in fact the Thompson and Thomson team who have donned robes to blend in. The east meets west theme, inherent even in the mysterious cigars marked with an ancient Egyptian symbol, kept me guessing through the book.

The Cigars of the Pharoah maintains the quality of other books in the series. There are jokes for children and for adults, so it is a good purchase for families and public libraries. There are some loose ends which are tied up on part 2 of the story: The Blue Lotus.

On a journey to Egypt Tintin meets absentminded Egyptologist Professor Siclone. The professor is in search of mystery. The only clue is a symbol drawn on a piece of parchment. Once in Egypt Tintin and Snowy follow the professor into an underground passageway marked by the symbol and find empty sarcophaguses marked with their names. They escape and find themselves pursued by mysterious criminals. All the while the mysterious symbol keeps turning up on stone walls, painted on trees, and on cigar labels...

This comic is fun because of the exotic landscapes. Tintin travels through Egypt and India which are drawn with exotic flare. Whenever he thinks he has entered the traditional untouched east, western civilization intrudes: He rescues a lady from bandits only to discover that he has just spoiled a scene from an adventure movie. He is captured by Bedouins who recognize him as a celebrity reporter and are happy to have him as a guest. He approaches two arabs to ask directions and finds that they are in fact the Thompson and Thomson team who have donned robes to blend in. The east meets west theme, inherent even in the mysterious cigars marked with an ancient Egyptian symbol, kept me guessing through the book.

The Cigars of the Pharohs maintains the quality of other books in the series. There are jokes for children and for adults, so it is a good purchase for families and public libraries. There are some loose ends which are tied up on part 2 of the story: The Blue Lotus.

As you might or might not know, most early Tintin was originally published in B/W format, with old style drawing. Yes boys and girls, it wasn't the colour edition we have now in hands. The first 9 titles are sceheduled to be released in English. This Cigars of the Pharaoh is one of them.

Most early Tintin might look very old to us. The drawing weren't that smooth, compared to the later coloured edition. If you're a die-hard Tintin fan, I'm sure you really wanted to know what the book originally looked like. You will notice that the panels also changed. Not just the size, but also the sequence. Some panels were even edited or deleted. Some panels are added. In short, you can compare both editions.

The book was carefully printed and packaged. From the looks, people would already guess that this book (and also the others) is a lux book. The paper was good. The hard cover was good. The binding was good. The printing inside was also good. What more can you expect? Here the book also provided several pin-ups or covers in colour. It's a very nice gift!

If you feel you're a die-hard fan of Tintin (and Herge) then no doubt you must have all these 9 B/W original editions.

If you are looking for a Great Cigar book that is written with a touch of class then look no further here it is. I recommend this book to both Male and Female, (Yo!! My fellow men you can learn what women are thinking!! TIP TIP TIP). Author has put knowledge, humor, and class into this book. If you don't read it buy it for your Lady...

I really liked this book. It was funny and I bought a couple for all my girlfriends. Right on, Rhona!

This is a must have for every woman, and men as well. Rhona writes with humor, class, and intelligence like no other. Perhaps I am biased after meeting her. But this is one heck of a book written by a real Lady!!

Great book. Lots of fun. don't leave home without it

I got married last month and gave one to each of my bride's maids at my bachlorette party. They thought it was great.And yes, we did light one up!

This book is too funny. You don't have to be a social terrorist or a cigar smoker to laugh your head off as you read about Jack's adventures.

I finished reading "Politically Correct Cigar Smoking for Social Terrorists" late last night. I have to say it's one of the most enjoyable reads I've had in a long while! Who would think that a book about Cigars would be so entertaining? There were many funny moments that I'm sure had my children wondering what their mother was doing at 2 a.m. to cause her to laugh like a maniac! My favorite chapters were "The Ant and the Grasshopper Revisited" and "The Princess and the Cigar ...An Irish Legend" I laughed so hard at those, I nearly fell off the bed! I hope there will be more from this talented writer soon!

If you are as fed up with the "political correct" stuff as so many real Americans are; if you are sick of Bill, Hillary, Janet Reno and their kind; and if you long to twist their liberalist dictatorial Puritan tails and thumb your noses at them.......this book if for you! It is hilarious, a wonderful read, and a joy to every true American sick of all the PC garbage strewn around the United States since January 1993.

There aren't many books that make me laugh out loud as I read, but this one did it repeatedly. I think that anyone, absolutely anyone, would enjoy this book. It's not as much about cigar smoking as it is about Riepe's tremendously funny view of the world, and the ills contained therein.

This is THE book for those who've ever harbored the urge to hunt down political correctness and stomp it out like a spent cigar butt. Jack Riepe has written what few would dare--in a way that left me laughing and thinking. I'm neither a cigar smoker nor a social terrorist, but as Riepe wields humor's universal language, commenting on everything from love to politics, he laughs easily at himself--and I laughed along with him. Warm, funny, and full of foibles. Don't miss my personal favorite, "The 200th Cigar," just the kind of tale that makes you want to read aloud to those around you. A great book to share.

This is a smart looking dossier with plenty of entries to last you a long time. There are fields on each entry for Brand, Size, Where Purchased, Price, Box/Individual, Time Smoked, Date, Rating, Last Meal Eaten & Time, Wrapper, and of course a Comments section. There's even a place to put the bands from each cigar.

I've only just started, so I'm not sure if adding the bands will make the journal thicker than the binding. Use a glue stick instead of tape, and you'll be able to fit more.

The only thing it lacks is a "Country of Origin" field. But the Comments section is big enough to include that if you like.

All in all, a great buy. Recommended with 5 stars.

This is a superb find. The book couldn't be more straight forward. This is a book that not only allows you to develop your own tastes and preferences in fine tobacco but also allows you to track some of the variables that will impact your reviews. The isolation of the variables allows you to sharpen your awareness and "learn" more about the cigars you have sampled. Not overly complex but very detailed and a must for any serious cigar lover or casual cigar enthusiast.

If you'd like to keep track of the different cigars you've smoked - not a bad idea considering the vast amount of smokes available - Cigar Dossier will have you logging thoroughly and in style. With about a hundred and sixty pages with four entries each, the average smoker could record a lifetime of stogies. Each entry provides space for the brand and size of cigar, where purchased, cost, time and date smoked, your rating, last meal eaten and time (I don't use this one, but it's a nice touch), wrapper color, your comments, and the cigar's band to be pasted. There's also a page on which you can list your favorite cigars and tobacconists, then a few more pages for your notes. It's nicely bound in a black hardcover with gold embossed letters. The pages are cream colored with soft burgundy print.

If I were asked to improve this book, I would add a block to each entry in which to record the country where the cigar is made. Other than that, this log has everything the cigar enthusiast needs. Cigar Dossier is a classy journal that would easily be a cherished family heirloom for future generations of cigar enthusiasts.

Read the past reviews says it all. This is a great find. I've been keeping a journal for a few years and now a very classy hardbound book shows the passion people can express about the cigars they smoke. I bought this black leather bound book with gold embossed lettering "Cigar Dossier". Although I do have one problem: I have done about 50 pages with my cigar bands glued in its appropriate box and now this book is becoming much thicker than the binder. This will cheapen the look more and more as time goes on. Nonetheless, this is the best I've seen and definitely worth the buy.

Very informative with wonderful before and after photos, I am Cuban and remember some of the places in the photos. Would highly recommend it to my friends.

great, easy read yet interesting history of Havana. Wonderful photos and fun highlights of the who's who of that era. The author did a good job of combining the two to make for a brilliant fun read

All Cubans dream of returning to Cuba someday, but sadly the Cuba of the 1950s, when Havana was truly the Paris of the Caribbean has been lost. Gone are the days when Cuba was truly an international destination with first class hotels and hundreds of bars, restaurants, and night clubs -- from sketchy little neighborhood joints to fabulous casinos. Here you could hear Olga Guillot at the Tropicana and see spectacular stage shows under the stars. As today, the streets were filled with the latest American cars; only at that time, many were fresh from Detroit assembly lines. Buildings in even the poorest sections of the city were well kept and crisply painted.

Someday, Havana may regain some of its lost luster. Until then, a new book "Havana Before Castro" takes you back in time to relive this great city at its prime. Author Peter Morruzi has put together a great collection of vintage photos in both color and black and white. The book documents life in Cuba from the beginnings of the Cuban republic to the glory days when locals and tourists packed Sloppy Joe's Bar and La Floridita -- "the cradle of the daiquiri."

In "Havana Before Castro," you'll get a taste of a dynamic city where popular nightspots abounded along the Prado, central Havana's promenade, and along Calle 23 in Havana's Vedado district. A chapter on the Havana Riviera provides stunning images on this resort casino where Cuban sculptors created beautiful pieces of art. The Riviera's lobby is itself a work of art with a breathtaking circular staircase and architectural details that present the best of 50's modern.

We especially liked the chapter on "Life as an Habanero." You can almost smell the aromas of fresh Cuban bread, strong café cubano, and fritas frying on a street corner grill, all carried along the streets of Havana by swift, sea-scented breezes.

"Havana Before Castro" is well researched and well written, providing an engaging read that goes beyond the beautiful photos. For those who remember these glory days, the book is truly a trip back in time. For those who never experienced Cuba before Castro, the book is a revelation: Havana was truly a beautiful, world-class city!

Hope and pray that it can happen again...


THREE GUYS FROM MIAMI
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Three Guys from Miami Celebrate Cuban: 100 Great Recipes for Cuban Entertaining (Three Guys from Miami)

Three Guys from Miami Cook Cuban

My wife and I escaped Cuba during the early sixties. Almost certain that we might be returning within a month or two (50 years ago) we did not bring along photographs, memories, or keepsakes of any kind.
"Havana Before Castro" is the best collection of memorabilia ever to touch my hands.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. You've made my day!
Andrew J. Rodriguez, author of: "Adios, Havana" a memoir.

The bandwith of this book is impressive. The photos are better than the narrative, but this book contains some interesting surprises.

This books shows you the lighters and gives a history of the lighter company. Many lighters. It doesn't give values of lighters, but its practically an encyclopedia on lighters..

A must for every collector.

Ad's book includes phantastic photography and an interesting concept regarding matching the things. The focus is not the jewel stuff one can always find in such books. It is the reflection of pure fascination of lighters, their history, function and the thrill of fire making history. Most important is the fact that the book adresses to the NON-collector as well as to the collector but more to the former. People that do not know anything about the subject will be fascinated by it. Although I am a collector I always read it again and again.

This is not a wishy wash romance by any stretch. This is a book about life, point blank. I have owned it for years and will continue to own it for as long as I am alive.

I must say that I usually read my books more than one time, but this one I have had for years and read quite a lot. No matter that I know what happens at the end, it is a compelling read; a love story and success story about a young child who grew up poor and alone then became the most notorious woman in the west and most successful businesswoman.

Lily Malone is such a great character and her adventures in untamed San Francisco will endear her to you. I highly recommend this book.

This is one of the best books I have ever read. It is the story of Lily, a poor orphant girl from Ireland who comes to San Francisco with her illegimate baby daughter. She has no work and has to become a whore in order to support herself. A grim beginning. However Lily keeps her integrity and makes good. How she rises to become; first the most famous whore in San Francisco; then a successful farmer; then wife of one of the most successful businessmen in the West is the meat of the matter. Her past comes to haunt her at every turn but she holds on. I admire grit, the courage to rise above circumstances and the book is filled with it. A most inspiring story.

This book has more depth in 10 pages than most have in 100. It is not just any novel. it shows a real human, with real emotions. She has the same insecurities we all have. But she does not let her insecurities beat her. Lily malone is as real as it gets. When you finish this book, you know you have been there...The era,the time, the people are all so real...It is truly awesome.

This book is great fun! It will teach you any trick you ever wanted to know dealing with cigars. Interlaced with great anecdotes as well. Who knew there were so many ways to blow smoke rings?!

This was given to me as a gift, I would have never expected what is really was. I collect many books on cigars, this one is the most fun I have ever had with one. The book is packed full of cool and amazing tricks to do with a regular cigar. You will have a blast "Amazing" friends!

You want to have more fun with your cigar? Get this book! Because you've laid out a lot of cash to smoke that stogie, you might as well impress the folks that don't care how much you paid for it. This book is loaded with tons of fun gags, tricks, and things to do with your cigar and smoking stuff. For less than what you'd pay for a couple of good smokes, you'll have the stuff to light up a good smoker and be the life of the party. I know, I've been getting big reactions from ideas in this book every time some one fires up a cigar. It's show time! Oh, and it makes a killer gift for your favorite cigar smoker. I've given away a bunch to cigar-smoking clients with great results.