Budget Books

I always find the Let's Go guides very easy to use and loaded with information, and this was no exception. They are very thorough; you'd be hard put to have a place in mind that is not touched on in some fashion. (Compared to Rick Steves, for example, whose books are limited generally to his favorite places in a country) My only complaint is their slant toward partying college types, so there is overabundant information on those particular activities and places.

When I decided to go for a little trip to France not too long ago, I bought 2 guides. The Let's Go France 2000 and an other more expensive guide with pictures. For a young traveller that I am, the Let's Go proved to be much more useful than the other guide, by far a better buy.

I went all over France in 2 weeks and my schedule was extremely tight. Let's Go France 2000 gave me all the information on hostels and hotels to call in advance, how to book train tickets in every city, how to get around and what to see. There are also maps of every major city, which is very useful when the streets are as crooked as in France. It is simply a gold mine of information. It told me what were the coolest places to stay, what to do and what not to do in every city. I was especially happy with their ratings of suggested restaurants - one cannot visit France without trying French cuisine. The guide told me where to go to get good food at the best prices. Let me recommend you Les Fontaines du Soleil in Carcassone, that the guide ranked as one of the top restaurants.

The only thing I can see is that it could use more pictures. I did use my other guide from time to time, (especially in the Jardins de Versailles), to know exactly what I was looking at. But for the price, I think this is understandable.

I believe that Let's Go France 2000 made my trip to France easier and a better experience. Everywhere I went, I knew what I had to see before I got there, and this way I could schedule an optimal trip for a minimal price. It was a wonderful experience for me and I am planning on going back as soon as next month.

I travelled to many places in Europe and Asia, and used many different kinds of guide books.

For this summer when I worked and travelled in France, Let's Go France absolutely made my journey fruitful and well-guided. I wish I read this book before I landed on Paris, especially after I got pickpocketed on Metro line #1 on my first day (Read p.41 Safety and Security chapter- it predicted my bad experience in great detail!)

It also has many maps and enough historic and cultural backgrounds for even small towns, which is great for those who seek everywhere.

If I visit somewhere else in Europe in near future, I will choose Let's Go series without hesitation.

I must say that as a student about to explore France I was a bit worried about going unprepared for the marvels I would find. After purchasing this book, I was impressed with the simple structure. Like the book was designed with me in mind. I was able to find out about all the do's and dont's in France though this great guide. Let this be your guide if you too are planning to live and learn all about France!

Let's Go France: 2001 has all of Let's Go's series-wide virtues in spades. First, it focuses on budget hotels and food, meaning you get an exceptionally careful, detailed survey of the budget scene in the city you're headed for. Second, it gives you more detailed practical information than any other guidebook on the market; Let's Go assumes its readers will end up drenched, tired, and without a car in the middle of Lyons at 3 AM, so it gives them a support system of nitty-gritty facts that other guides don't provide. No other book tells you how often each train leaves the station, what temperature it will be when you arrive, how precisely to walk to your hotel, and what to do if you get rabies. Third, it's funny. Having a Let's Go guide feels like traveling with an exceptionally witty and knowledgeable friend who never gets on your nerves.

What's more, Let's Go: France: 2001 is an exceptionally good Let's Go guide. I should know; I was in charge of editing it. We've strengthened, lengthened, and deepened our coverage to help you get a feel for the place as you walk around it, and we've added one-sentence breakdowns (new this year) of all the towns in each region, keyed to a regional map, to help you decide if you want to go there in the first place. City and town introductions have been lengthened and revised across the board with an eye to helping readers plan their travel, and accommodations have been added in each town. Sights coverage is breathakingly expanded. As always, every listing has been rechecked and reconsidered for 2001. All in all, this guide makes budget travel in France significantly easier and more fun than it would otherwise be.

I was very pleased with this particular purchase. The book arrived in great condition, and was exactly as described in terms of content. The main reason I bought it is because it was written by Raymond Smullyan. Only he could write such a great book. It is my second most prized book, the first being Smullyan's other book, "To Mock A Mockingbird," which I also purchased from Amazon.

As with any type of gymnastics, mental or physical, one finds that certain disciplines might not be of his liking. The same applies to this book, which is loosely divided into topics (Fables and Fancies, Philosophical paradoxes, Is Zen paradoxical etc. etc.).

These topics are written in essay form, some essays being a mere small paragraph and others covering several pages. While the author isnt covering one specific subject but several, he does have a main albeit underlying theme, that of the paradox in general. He searches for paradoxes in many areas and pinpoints not only the intellectual value in them but also the entertainment value as well.

Still, i wound up having mixed feelings as many of his essays struck me more as sophisms (for sophisty's sake alone) with little to offer while others came across as profoundly deep and effective. This imbalance is prevailent throughout this book and is sort of offsetting occasionally. When the author hits his target the result is excellent such as in the chapter entitled "Is Zen paradoxical" or in specific forays within other chapters.

I've discovered that he's written a book called "Is the Tao silent", and seeing that his essays on the Zen were dead-on, I'm thinking that trying it out might be a very good idea.

Still, the overwhelming feeling that stayed with me after reading this particular book was like having listened to a musician who's a virtuoso with his instrument but who often lacked in substance.

Nevertheless, from a purely philosophical point of view it had more than its share of good moments and it would be unfair not to mention that Smullyan does have the charisma of stimulating minds even through mere sophisms. Possibly an author that will intrigue you to explore more of his works...

One of the chief goals of The Intelligent Community Initiative is improving the intellectual ability of average citizens, and if you wanted to find a book not only superbly readable but capable of exercising the reader's critical thinking faculties in a way not typically done by the average book, you don't have to look any farther than this masterpiece by Raymond Smullyan.

Extremely readable and thought-provoking, the essays in this book raise many important issues. We found the chapter "Closed Systems of Thought" highly useful in explaining the world-view of Richard Dawkins in our analysis of Dawkins' book, THE IPOD TUTOR: THE ARGUMENT AGAINST RICHARD DAWKINS' THE GOD DELUSION. This is an Intelligent Community Initiative Top 500 Book.

Raymond Smullyan, of whom I am a longtime reader, is probably best known as a creator of fiendishly brilliant logic puzzles. He's also a mathematical logician of high caliber (and a magician, and a pianist, and . . . )

But some of his lesser-known works have consisted of philosophical reflections on a wide range of subjects (which nevertheless include a common thread that is devilishly difficult to pin down). There was _The Tao Is Silent_ (for my money, still his best); there was _5000 B.C._ (currently out of print); and just recently he's published _Who Knows?_ (which I recommend too).

This is one from 1980, and it's one of few "older" Smullyan works currently available in print. It's not a collection of logic puzzles; it's a collection of essays and short reflections of very much the same "flavor" as _The Tao Is Silent_.

As always, Smullyan is a sheer delight to read. In his hands, philosophy becomes what it should always be: a form of intellectual play (and nonetheless "serious" for that, although it surely isn't solemn!).

Get this while it's available. And if you like Smullyan, also check out the titles I've already mentioned, as well as his autobiographical _Some Interesting Memories: A Paradoxical Life_. He's a gifted man as well as pleasant and stimulating intellectual company.

This is another great book of puzzles by Smullyan. If you liked Satan, Cantor, and Infinity, and What is the Name of this Book? then you will like this.

some good ideas but not worth the purchase, i have done quite a bit of remodeling,just my thoughts.

This is very useful if you are contemplating a remodel or at the planning stage. It has great photos, ideas and considerations for each phase of the remodel. It is only an overview of the process so you will need a different book if you want a how-to-manual.

I started out by using the book, Affordable Remodel for a redecorating/small renovation project. I wanted to turn a small, nothing room into a guest/office for myself and found it to be a wonderful resource. Well as the project progressed I noticed that I could use the photos as sources for my students' class research project on Homes/then and now. The photos are wonderful illustrations of how far we have come along!

Love the book. Very detailed, great photo's. Great ideas! This book is very easy to read and understand because they are shown with photo's which really help. it is so well written that I will look at doing projects that I hadn't thought about doing. There are so many things that I do love and the book is so accurate. Page 194 shows a sink refinished with a coating and shows a before and after picture. My friend actually did this to her bathroom tub and tile and it looked NEW afterwards. The mirror trim is awesome too (mirredge) page 198.

Dr. Smith's book is fresh air in this political season of rhetoric concerning the so-called budget surplus. He has done an excellent job of tracing our country's economic policies through the various administrations of both major parties and helps one to understand how we got to today's situation.

I was especially struck at the fairness and even-handedness of Dr. Smith when dealing with both Democratic and Republican stances on the "surplus". He is very hard on Presidents Johnson and Reagan in creating the national debt that threatens our national economic well-being. He is also critical of both Al Gore and George W. Bush in their proposed uses of the "surplus".

This book is also well written. Dr. Smith has an uncanny way of taking complicated economic principles and rewording them in a straight forward, easy-to-understand format that was refreshing to read.

In summary I enthusiastically give this book the highest rating! It is a book for all open-minded persons how are willing to look beyond the rhetoric of today's politicians and seek the truth .

Dr. Smith's book is fresh air in this political season of rhetoric concerning the so-called budget surplus. He has done an excellent job of tracing our country's economic policies through the various administrations of both major parties and helps one to understand how we got to today's situation.

I was especially struck at the fairness and even-handedness of Dr. Smith when dealing with both Democratic and Republican stances on the "surplus". He is very hard on Presidents Johnson and Reagan in creating the national debt that threatens our national economic well-being. He is also critical of both Al Gore and George W. Bush in their proposed uses of the "surplus".

This book is also well written. Dr. Smith has an uncanny way of taking complicated economic principles and rewording them in a straight forward, easy-to-understand format that was refreshing to read.

In summary I enthusiastically give this book the highest rating! It is a book for all open-minded persons how are willing to look beyond the rhetoric of today's politicians and seek the truth .

This book contains a lot of facts concerning the abuse of the Social Security funds we send and have sent to Washington.

The author is a bleading heart liberal and bashes Bush throughout. He could have better spent the time Bush bashing by offering readers some what-if situations such as "How would privitatization of a portion of the funds affect the future Social Security recipients?"

Dr. Allen W. Smith has written accurately and understandably about a topic that usually well informed citizens avoid. We have heard such a drumbeat of the phrase "budget surplus". What is behind the numbers? Smith rightly complains that the total of the operating budget and the social security budget should not be added together to arrive at the size of the "surplus". Social security funds are owned by the SS Trust. They are not a kitty for program expansion or tax relief. The SOCIAL SECURITY surplus comes from a tax plan that was intended to shore it up for the future. By contrast, the operating budget surplus for 1999 was real but small. Projections for the future do anticipate a rise but with dubious assumptions of long term continuous expansion. Smith reminds us of our existing debt of $5.6 trillion at the end of 1999, requiring over $353 billion to finance. He criticizes both political parties for not putting the budget numbers in context and not advocating responsible fiscal policy. Smith has written several well received books and has been interviewed by CNN and numerous radio talk shows. This book is necessary to citizen literacy on economic policy for the present and future. Review by Victor Stolzfus, Ph.D, President Emeritus, Goshen College (IN)

I bought this book because I had never been married before, had no money and no one to tell me how it's done. It absolutely saved me! There was an A-to-Z checklist that included everything I wanted/needed plus things I hadn't thought of.

My daughter is getting married in 2008, and I'm using it again for her wedding!

Thanks to Diane Warner's book, my husband and I were able to have a wonderful wedding. She covers everything you need to consider. It helped me to stay organized, keep my sanity intact and we were still able to make the house payments. I can't thank her enough!

This book is somewhat useful, but I found it disappointing and I am returning it. It is comprised of mostly forms and blank pages to write notes etc. I can but a notepad for that! Some hints are helpful, but this is not the book for me.

Diane Warner has been there and done that. She has alternative tips for ways to have a dream wedding without going into Ch. 11. Her ideas don't seem "chintzy." According to Warner there is a whole universe of talented friends out there, from florists to photographers to musicians. If you like her book, enjoy NOTES FROM THE M.O.B. (mother of the Bride) by Sherri Goodall, great ideas and humor from the POV of the mother of the bride.

If you are looking at purchasing this book, keep in mind the date it was published. Alot has changed in ireland since 1999. Ireland is now on the euro, which means, your U.S retirement dollar will not go as far. Also, the housing prices have skyrocketed in ireland. The housing prices listed in the book just aren't there any more. The book does give alot of valuable iformation. Just keep in mind that it is a little out of date.

I have always been drawn to Ireland and was pleased to find a book that provides lots of practical advice for someone who's thought about making this major move. The information about regions and climate is especially helpful, as is the guidance on how to find a place to live and adjust to driving on the left. The information about food, both the availability of products and the restaurant boom, is encouraging. Worth picking up even as a travel guide.

Informative and fun to read. Offers loads of practical info on cost of living, climate, real estate, cuisine, and health care. Examines where to settle and suggests regions that provide the best climate and most affordable housing. Explores Irish culture, the role of the pub, the Irish view of people from the States, and how to contend with culture shock in Ireland. My mother is planning to retire part-time in Ireland and Patti Cleary's book has helped her and our family prepare for the adventure.

This is an exceptional guide for the retiree who is thinking about where to retire. Because it is so beautifully written, it reads like a novel. It gives one a real taste of Ireland, as if one is actually there. The author has covered every possible thing that I can think of that one needs to know before making an educated choice about where to retire. An excellent read, yet extremely practical at the same time. I heartily recommend it even for those who are years away from retiring, as, obviously, that's when the planning needs to begin.

You never know when a rainy day will be approaching and even in the summer, there are nights when soup seems the dinner of choice. Crazy about Crockpots is a book that allows you to spend less time in the kitchen and more time outdoors. With 101 Soups and Stews in this tiny book, you are sure to find some kitchen comfort in recipes you remember or a new one to create new memories.

Delicious offerings include:

Hearty Corn Chowder
Garden Chowder
Hearty Venison Stew
French Oven Stew
Cream of Carrot Soup
Tomato Soup
Stone Soup - a soup filled with delicious veggies

As many have discovered, crockpots are perfect for assisting cooks in preparing stocks for soups. Ginger Beef Stock and Tomato-based Stock are interesting and add new dimensions to the soups you are preparing.

~The Rebecca Review
Author of Seasoned with Love: A collection of
best-loved recipes inspired by over 40 cultures

I never made soup before I got this wonderful cookbook. Now I try to make a soup or stew at least once a week. Very easy to make and tasty.

"Crazy About Crockpots! 101 Soups and Stews for Less than 75 cents a Serving" is a cookbook for the busy cook who still wants to provide their family or their self with hearty meal that is much more than just heating up a can of soup. With recipes like Cream of Mushroom soup you can make your favorites from scratch. There are traditional recipes like Ham and Beans, Onion Soup, and Chili that you would expect and recipes like Cheese and Potato Soup (absolutely great), Cheesy Chowder, or Corn Chowder that are a bit more unusual. Most of the recipes are quick and easy to fix and taste wonderful. If you want to know what to do with that crockpot besides heating up canned soup you are sure to find some great ideas and very tasty recipes in this book. "Crazy About Crockpots! 101 Soups and Stews for Less than 75 cents a Serving" is a recommended read for anyone with a crockpot.

I bought this book because I went back to work and wanted to use our crockpot more often, but should have looked around some more. While this book didn't seem to have as many recipes that required a lot of preparation - sometimes the prep work negates the benefit of using the darned thing in the first place - it also relies too much on canned products, in my opinion. If all I need to do is open a can, I could just buy some Chunky Soup and skip the whole cooking process.

I was hoping for something a little more healthy and can probably make some of these recipes work with minor adjustments - and it might be great for beginning cooks. It just wasn't worth $10.20 for me and I wish I hadn't spent the money.

I like Debbie Travis's style, but the homeowner faced with a kitchen smaller than about 15x15 or a bathroom smaller than 8x10 might find the design ideas difficult to incorporate into his or her own home. As the owner of a tract home with a (very typical for this city) 4x6 bathroom and a 9x10 kitchen, I didn't find much of use.

I loved this book, and any other books that Debbie Travis has on the market. Her ideas are fantastic, and she will get your creativity juices flowing to start other projects.

Lots of pictures of differant styles to really spark ideas for any style of kitchen. And of course, she has unique projects in this book as well.

I highly recommend this book. Directions are clear and concise. You have LOTS of choices of innovative projects that are adaptable for many different lifestyles. Good for young, young at heart AND older people who want something different in homes.

This book came in super handy upon arrival to JFK with no place to stay and no idea how to get there! the best thing was the fact it's up to date- no problems with calling locations that no longer exist.

This is an excellent guide. I travelled around America with it and it was indispensible. It's current and comprehensive, without useless reams of information (which any backpacker will tell you is the last thing they need!) The guide gives you the basics - location, phone number and price. It's also ludicrously cheap - $3!!!! - and fits snuggly in your pack without taking up too much room. Loved it!!

I bought this book based on the strength of its reviews and in preparation for my first vacation. I wasn't all that impressed with it because it doesn't fit into my travel style. The listings did tell me all I needed to know, but not all I wanted to know. I browsed through the book a few times before giving it away and turning to the internet to map the hostels listed in the book against attractions and local transportation stations. For someone only visiting a few cities, this book (and the shipping charge doubling the price) just isn't worth it. You're better off visiting your local library or checking the internet.

In 1998 while travelling the USA for the first time, I
first heard about this hostelguide from other travellers who recommended it as the best guide in the USA for hostellers.
It is small and compact, doesn't take much space, with all
the information you could ever wanted on affordable accomodation, travelling the USA on a budget. I have been travelling the US once a year ever since and came along countless of other budget travellers praising this guide.

How to Make a Movie for Under $800 is a great buy for filmmakers, esepcially those whith dreams of theatrical distribution. Here Mr. Costanza lists theaters you can play your films at and how to do it on the cheap. He also gives us lists of distributors, in case you'd rather go the other way and have Hollywood get your movie out there to the world.

A very informative book and well worth the money. For me, it never got boring for a second, even in the chapter on legal contracts, and that's a rare one for filmmaking books. Well done to the author. I hope we can see his movies out soon.

I have to give at least that to the author. It will immediately become clear to you that he's very passionate about filmmaking as soon as you begin to read the first page, and it's hard to criticize his honest and down-to-earth effort at explaining the way things really are in Hollywood. In his opinion, you don't even need the 'Hollywood' machinery to make and distribute your movie.

I bought this book just over a year ago because, as an aspiring filmmaker myself, I was very curious to know how anyone could do a movie for under $800. Well Costanza did it, and he explains in detail how. I did have some issues with the quality of the book though. There are no photos or illustrations (except in the back of the book, where he plugs his movies), there were more than a few grammatical errors throughout, and the way the text is formatted on the pages gives the book the appearance of something that wasn't put together by professional editors. Those details aside, the author includes a lot of basic information that will be very useful to the microbudget filmmaker. Don't buy this book expecting it to be a 'how-to' manual for any technical stuff related to moviemaking. But, buy it if you're looking for a simple read about how to get started with the elementary stuff.

I absolutly loved this book. It has given me much direction for making my own movie. I never understood how to start, how to fund $$$ the movie, or where to find actors. Furthermore, it answers all the questions and fears I had. This books clearly explains what it takes to be the next Steven Spielberg or my favorite Quentin Tarantino. If you got the passion and the drive but need the direction GET AND STUDY THIS BOOK!!!

I didn't really know where to start to write my first movie. I received an email from Ken about his book. I wasn't sure about buying his book How To Make A Hollywood Movie For Under $800! His website helped me to understand how much I didn't know and so I ordered his book. I was very surprised when I started reading his book. It made me feel like I could really do this. He got me excited and I followed every step until my script was complete. Now I am half way through completing my film and I used his book like my film bible, and I keep it with me all the time. Great book, it really motivated me.