Arthur Books

In a similar setup to the Gavagan's Bar stories, but, as Clarke says, set in the UK, not the USA.

His bar actually features John Christopher, John Wyndham and 'George Whitley' in small cameos in the tall tales recounted by Harry Purvis. So a haunt of the literary types someone under a newspaper building or thereabouts, is what he says, so maybe pointing out a real pub somewhere he liked?

Anyway, all from around the 1950 mark, these. All they are intended to be is fun stories, and the author pretty much succeeds at that, in general.


Tales from the White Hart : Silence Please! - Arthur C. Clarke
Tales from the White Hart : Big Game Hunt - Arthur C. Clarke
Tales from the White Hart : Patent Pending - Arthur C. Clarke
Tales from the White Hart : Armaments Race - Arthur C. Clarke
Tales from the White Hart : Critical Mass - Arthur C. Clarke
Tales from the White Hart : The Ultimate Melody - Arthur C. Clarke
Tales from the White Hart : The Pacifist - Arthur C. Clarke
Tales from the White Hart : The Next Tenants - Arthur C. Clarke
Tales from the White Hart : Moving Spirit - Arthur C. Clarke
Tales from the White Hart : The Man Who Ploughed the Sea - Arthur C. Clarke
Tales from the White Hart : The Reluctant Orchid - Arthur C. Clarke
Tales from the White Hart : Cold War - Arthur C. Clarke
Tales from the White Hart : What Goes Up - Arthur C. Clarke
Tales from the White Hart : Sleeping Beauty - Arthur C. Clarke
Tales from the White Hart : The Defenestration of Ermintrude Inch - Arthur C. Clarke


Negative feedback showstopping blowup.

3.5 out of 5


Giant Squid control lacking.

3 out of 5


Sensation register commerce.

2.5 out of 5


Captain Zoom gun prop death ray.

3.5 out of 5


Bee ooze.

3.5 out of 5


Stuck in a hit pattern.

3 out of 5


War program insults.

3.5 out of 5


The number of mad scientists who wish to conquer the world, said Harry Purvis, looking thoughtfully at his beer, has been grossly exaggerated.

3 out of 5


Whiskey making case a bomb.

3 out of 5


Submarine getaway extraction.

3.5 out of 5


Wellsian hothouse epic coward.

4 out of 5


Iceberg towing bet interruption.

3 out of 5


Antigravity flameout.

3 out of 5


Snoring cure insomnia reversal.

3.5 out of 5


Word count loop cheat pushover.

3.5 out of 5





3.5 out of 5

Absolutely Hilarious. A must have. I shouted for Joy when I saw it was in print again.

I wouldn't throw it away! This is one of the most entertaining collections of stories in the sci-fi genre. At the White Hart, a British pub, are an odd assortment of patrons from the literary and scientific fields, as well as laymen interested in the discussions going on around them. One Harry Purvis inevitably manages to dominate the talk with his incredible tales of wondrous scientific romance, which he insists are true. He will often find a good reason for leaving just as a flaw in his story starts to become obvious to one or more of his listeners, and they wax suspicious that the tale truly is incredible. The way Clarke weaves real science with interesting and hilarious short fiction makes this one of my favorites of all his works. I would especially recommend it to readers who are new to science-fiction. Unlike a lot of such works, this one only gets better with age.

I couldn't put this down. I'm a new comer to science fiction, but if all the sci-fi writers can do what A.C. Clark does in this book, I am really looking forward to reading them. Each short story in the book relate to one another. They basically build up to a climax and then you're left wondering, "Is that it??? I want more!". Even though this book was written circa 1957, it is a "way out" read and very enjoyable!

If you can think of one set of SF short stories involving tall tales told in bars, it's probably Spider Robinson's "Callahan's' series. But if you can think of two, this is probably the second.

Although never as big a Clarke fan as I've been of Asimov and Heinlein, I still have fond memories of several of Clarke's books. _Rendezvous with Rama_ is probably his best novel and it's been one of my favorites of his since it was first published. His short stories, too, are generally of high quality (remember e.g. 'The Nine Billion Names of God'?).

The series of tales collected herein is a bit different (for Clarke). For one thing, they're _funny_ -- Arthur C. Clarke funny, that is, not Douglas Adams funny, but funny all the same.

They're on the light side and they're deftly executed. But don't expect guffaws; in order to appreciate Harry Purvis and his stories, you pretty much have to be the sort of person who thinks 'The Defenestration of Ermintrude Inch' is a funny title.

If you've read Clarke but you haven't read this book, grab a copy and see what you think. The 'White Hart' isn't Callahan's, but it's a pleasant place to hang out and listen to some tall tales.

first edition half this size by same author for $6.50
'beyond the dictionary in spanish'

I'm an intermediate Spanish learner, and when I get sick of grinding memorization, etc, I pick up this book. It's enjoyable, and you really can read it straight through.

Here's a representative entry that shows how many examples the author gives from various countries --

carpeta: A Friend of unusual Falsity since not only does it not mean "carpet" but has very diverse meanings within the Hispanic world. In Spain and Mexico it means a "file," of the sort used in offices. In Peru it means a "desk" of the sort used in schools (elsewhere usually pupitre) and in Colombia it means a "table-cloth" (ornamental; not for meals). I have also heard it used for a "brief-case."

A carpet, as you know, is una alfombra. Wall-to-wall carpet is hecha a medida, "made to measure," but is often referred to as moqueta, "moquette" (carpet-material).

In an earlier commentary about this book, a reviewer wondered how a $7 paperback could be going for upwards of $140. Well, the answer is: scarcity. This is where you have to be careful. The book listed under the title "Cassell's Colloquial Spanish" is said to be the third revised edition, published in 1981. That edition is indeed quite rare, which accounts for its fetching big bucks. However, that's not the end of the story. A couple of other reviewers lamented that there isn't an updated version of this book. It turns out there is, but with a different subtitle.

Which leads me to my story. After seeing the book offered from one of the online sellers at a "bargain basement" (compared to all the others, that is) price, I ordered what I thought to be the 1981 edition. When the book arrived, though, I noticed some differences from the picture and publication info I'd seen at Amazon. So I went back and compared ISBN numbers. The book I'd ordered was not the 1981 edition; the ISBN number for that one is 0020794304. The ISBN number on the one I received is 030407943X. Confused, I typed in that number and was startled by the result. The title of the book with that ISBN number was listed as "Spanish Colloquial", and no author's name was listed anywhere (BTW, Amazon has corrected the title and added the author's name). What's more, the publisher was listed as Orion Publishing Company, not Cassell's. The particularly strange thing about that is the name Orion appears nowhere in the book I have, while the name Cassell's appears several times (I found out later that Orion owned the printing rights to the Cassell's line for several years, but no longer). In addition, the book's cataloging info indicates that the 1981 edition was reprinted three times: 1985, 1988 and 1993. The copy I have is the 1993 reprint, even though the concluding words of the introduction are "Abingdon, 1980, A. Bryson Gerrard." My guess is the 1993 reprint is far less rare than the 1981 third edition. To top it all off, several sellers were offering the 1993 printing at prices lower than what I paid.

So was I duped? It appears that way. But I'm not going to send the book back, because it does contain everything I was hoping to find in the first place. And I concur wholeheartedly with all of the other reviewers. Gerrard has done a tremendous service to English speakers who are passionate about learning Spanish. Some of the information in Gerrard's book is a bit dated, though, which obviously can't be blamed on him. Just try to recall the state of the Internet in 1980 and you'll understand. I don't know if Mr. Gerrard is dead now, but don't let the passage of two and a half decades dissuade you from enjoying his fine work. However, taking into account the need for a more contemporary reference, I would also recommend "Streetwise Spanish" -- both volumes, the dialogue book and the dictionary/thesaurus.

This book is a gem for the student of Spanish, providing the various colloquial meanings of a good many useful Spanish words. The author's various first-hand anecdotes about the situations in which he heard the words used in a particular way will amuse even the casual monolingual reader. Some of his warnings about linguistic etiquette might be a little out of date in the more modern, and Americanized, parts of the Spanish-speaking world, but it's always better to err on the side of propriety. Your command of colloquial Spanish will break down barriers that mere conversational proficiency cannot overcome , and this book has proven to be an excellent teacher for me.

As a speaker of fluent Spanish, this book was invaluable in getting subtle nuances, learning false cognates and distinguishing between meanings from one country to another. It's a fun read as well. I have about 5 copies for my own references and to give away given how valuable and well-written it is.
What I don't understand is how a $7 paperback is going for $40 to $140 on the Internet!

The Mr. Putter and Tabby series is a delightful and whimsical set of tales about an older man and his pet cat. These are simple tales, no complex Russian novel-like characters with conflicted psyches (although his neighbor Mrs. Teaberry is a little strange). Arthur Howard's illustrations are a perfect match for the story - just the right mix of whimsy, expression and humor. The last illustration of Zeke looking out the window at the incoming pears still makes me laugh.

Pick the Pears is one of best in the series (along with "Walk the Dog" and "Feed the Fish"). Our kids range from five to eight and each loves the book which has put the book on heavy rotation in the bedtime story schedule.

I agree with all the reviews. The Mr. Putter books are all wonderful beginning-readers, but this one is especially enjoyable. My Kindergardener read it to me over the last few days, and he was laughing out loud! He really enjoyed reading this book. He thought that Mr. Putter shooting apples through the air with a sling shot was increadibly funny (as were his pink poodle underwear!) He loves the characters, Mr. Putter and Tabby. I'd recommend any book in this series for children learning to read, but I highly recommend this one because it is so much fun!

I use the Mr. Putter & Tabby books for my ESL students. Mr. Putter & Tabby Pick the Pears is their favorite. The language is perfect for either children to build vocabulary or for older language learners for translation and acquisition. The stories are cute and charming. The illustrations are delightful. They look deceptively simple, but really are extremely well done with watercolor. The artist truly brings the characters' personalities to life.

What is particularly nice is the gentle humor used and the continuing themes. Mr. Putter is constantly referred to as "old" or not receptive to silly jokes (i.e. the poodle boxers) during the books but there are flashes of his playfulness throughout the series. while he is set in his ways with his garden, his tea and his love of opera, he still loves toys, trains, car rides and planes. Mr. Putter & Tabby are perfect companions who also have a very close relationship with Mrs. Teaberry, the next-door neighbor and her good dog Zeke. Tabby and Zeke have no dialog but their personalities shines through as well.

This series of books cherishes the differences between people and respect for the elderly. It has been my honor to present seven of these books to my students. They love them. Mr. Putter & Tabby Pick the Pears is the best of the series although they are all gems.

Mr. Putter and Tabby are just a delightful reading experience. Pick the pears invokes the fun and creativity sometimes forgotten in today's much more fast paced world. We have this entire series and read from it at least weekly, but Pick the Pears is easily in the top three.

Some books have magic in them. You know the ones. They stay with you long after you've closed the cover. The rhythm of Ryland's words along with Howard's whimsical illustrations will have you "zinging pears" right along with Mr. Putter.

The Mr. Putter series is just about as good as children's writing gets. You can't go wrong with any one of them. But this one is our favorite.

The Power of Empathy : A Practical Guide to Creating Intimacy, Self-Understandingm and Lasting Love
by Arthur P. Ciaramicoli, Katherine Ketcham

This particular book does given my lots of understandings of it while i am using the simply powerful of the Empathy that we are facing or using while in this world that is full of things that happenning towards our life..!!
As this book can let me know what is an Introductions of it while carefully explaining waht is Empathy ? and What is the Bright or dark side of it? While also let us know what is happenning towards of society of life in this world by giving us some life sample within this book by making us to be more convinced that what is the Power of Empahty.

From the first few chapters i still do remember that Childrens do also know how to used the Power of Empathy to please the parents especially a daddy while after his working day...by trying the power of empathy to make the daddy to bring her out of the house..!! goodness, this is a real factual one that i had used once when i was a kid.
Well, this book is well written and as a layman people we shall be easily understand caused we are actually know what is the real feelings of the Empathy...while i do strongly believed that all of us here does have the abilities of Giving or recieving Love here...while we are reading this book...searching what is the Power of Empathy....!!
Before i got this book i have not feel the real power or real understanding of being Empathy. As after sucessufully reading the whole book while during the last few chapters they do teach use how to be..step by step teaching us how to overcomes those setbacks...teaching us how to determine a person behaviours, how to know he is making used of us by using the power of Empathy that shall be given them a lots of advantages.
While I do also learn what is the real power of it while you must read it with a learning mode.....while try to understand what is the book teaching here....read it with a slow motions..while this book i will surely will be using as a reference book for a methodologhyy to teach myself to be fully understand what is the real power of Being empathy so it will effects the real life of me especially i am a not a fully awared of it of being empathy ....to forgive people..understand people feelings...to see what people thinking...and so on...!!

I will not say to much here...the rest is up to you to read on...while i am just wamt to add on before i will stop here....!! This book is a good book for layman as me, i can easily understand what is all about being Empathy, the plus and negative side....while also the true stories to convinced you to believed it while this world is full of factual one...and off-course those stories does gave me a real teaching for me..while i do understand what is the real effect of being one of the good societies that practised the power of the Empathy at the good side...!!
So I do also would like to introduced to all of those people whom does not fully why he or she can't easily forgive or understands people feelings...!! A marvelloues book that shall be keep for the next generations...!!

Hello ! i have just have read the first chapter of the book till now but i already can understand what emathy is all about. the style is simple and readble. interesting. i undersatnd how to be more empath than in the past. now i see how i wasnt empath in the past and apreciate the people that empathy are their natural whey of understanding people. a good book. this is the first book that i have bought about empathy so i cant compare it to other books on theat subject. i wish i have read it before.

This book vividly explains how empathy can have a profound effect on your relationships. These can be business, personal, marriage, or any relationship. Getting to understand and appreciate the perspective and background of the "other side" can lead to a more productive means of communication. Most relationships break down because of a lack of communication. The Power of Empathy gives one a road map on how to direct your thoughts, actions, and emotions in dealing with anyone that matters. The implications of this approach are enormous. If spouses can learn to truly empathize with each other, their bond will strenghten. Business people can use empathy to learn how to better serve their clients. Politicians can use empathy to effectively provide for the needs of their constituents. Teachers can be more effective; doctors more responsive to patients needs. Even lawyers would be more in tune with their client's needs. The Power of Empathy is very readable. You don't have to have a background in psychology to understand and appreciate this book. Dr. Ciaramicoli gives real life examples of the uses of empathy with references to the literature. His message is documented by many authoritative sources in science and the arts. Everyone- and I mean everyone- can profit from this masterwork. It is highly recommended! The gospel of The Power of Empathy must be spread throughout the world.

This book vividly explains how empathy can have a profound effect on your relationships. These can be business, personal, marriage, or any relationship. Getting to understand and appreciate the perspective and background of the "other side" can lead to a more productive means of communication. Most relationships break down because of a lack of communication. The Power of Empathy gives one a road map on how to direct your thoughts, actions, and emotions in dealing with anyone that matters. The implications of this approach are enormous. If spouses can learn to truly empathize with each other, their bond will strenghten. Business people can use empathy to learn how to better serve their clients. Politicians can use empathy to effectively provide for the needs of their constituents. Teachers can be more effective; doctors more responsive to patients needs. Even lawyers would be more in tune with their client's needs. The Power of Empathy is very readable. You don't have to have a background in psychology to understand and appreciate this book. Dr. Ciaramicoli gives examples of the uses of empathy with references to the literature. His message is documented by many authoritative sources in science and the arts. Everyone- and I mean everyone- can profit from this masterwork. It is highly recommended! The gospel of The Power of Empathy must be spread throughout the world.

The Power of Empathy is a marvelous and comforting book about a topic that many people experience on a day-to-day basis, yet unaware that they are doing so. In others, empathy is an aspect of human nature that actually needs to be developed, whether from scratch or through enhancement. Whichever category you belong to, Dr. Arthur Ciaramicoli's book will help bring you to a point of understanding the concept of empathy, which, in turn will help you help yourself and others. I found myself constantly nodding my head as I read, reacting to stories and explanations in the book of things that I seemingly experienced in my own life in one way or another. It is fascinating to see how empathy is an ongoing part of our lives, yet most of us remain non-cognizant to it, however satisfied that a result was achieved. But it is important to comprehend the means for reaching our goals of understanding, feeling, and sympathizing. The Power of Empathy is the benchmark tool for guiding one in accomplishing this. Dr. Ciaramicoli's personal love, understanding, and empathy are poured out in these pages, as he sensitively yet passionately supplies the readers with the wisdom and knowledge needed for developing love, understanding, and empathy for ourselves and others.

I have been looking for this book for 20 years! I also (like other reviewer's) picked it up at a grocery store one dull summer in 10th grade. I was completely lost in it...I cannot wait to read it again. Puts "Underworld" to shame!

Wow. This book stopped me and my friends right in our tracks back in 1980... there were like 6 of us who were horror aficionados in high school. We all read & exchanged Steven King, Clive Barker, Lumley, etc... then some of us started buying horror books indescriminately - at the grocery store checkouts, garage sales, etc. 'The Prey' was one of those... we came across it accidentally, but it immediately moved to the top of everyone's list who read it... we were even asking for it back for re-reads !!! (and i seldom re-read anything!). This re-read exchange went on for a few years and eventually our circle fell apart and I don't know who ended up with the original copy...i hadn't seen the book or even thought about it for maybe 10 years. then i thought about it, and realized what an impact this book had left on me, and went searchin. man was i psyched when i saw it was re-released !!! my new copy is en route and i cannot wait.
This is one of the greatest horror books ever written. everyone that i now who has read it would agree. As i type now - about 17 or so years after last reading the book for the 2nd time - I still have no doubt this is likely the best horror novel i have ever read.

Morivania, a young man from Austria, after having observed his father succumb to the powers of a mysterious man named Luther is out to avenge his father's death. Luther and his agents take on the form of wolves and follow Morivania, dog him, if you will, across Europe while he searches for the secret to destroy Luther. The wolf-beasts attack and devour unsuspecting victims while on Morivania's trail. (During my reading of this, I had to periodically check that my own black dog was still a big galoot and hadn't morphed into one of these frightening creatures!)

This book had the feel of a classic! The style and language literally transported me to the 1800's during the time of the French Revolution. Smith's first rate talent as a writer will keep you in bone-chilling suspense as Morivania enters ghastly catacombs and numerous dark wooded trails. There are plenty of moments which will make your hair stand on end and which develop into outright terrifying events!

The Prey is a magnificent novel that is sure to please fans of classic horror. I can't recommend it highly enough!

Morivania, a young man from Austria, after having observed his father succumb to the powers of a mysterious man named Luther is out to avenge his father's death. Luther and his agents take on the form of wolves and follow Morivania, dog him, if you will, across Europe while he searches for the secret to destroy Luther. The wolf-beasts attack and devour unsuspecting victims while on Morivania's trail. (During my reading of this, I had to periodically check that my own black dog was still a big galoot and hadn't morphed into one of these frightening creatures!)

This book had the feel of a classic! The style and language literally transported me to the 1800's during the time of the French Revolution. Smith's first rate talent as a writer will keep you in bone-chilling suspense as Morivania enters ghastly catacombs and numerous dark wooded trails. There are plenty of moments which will make your hair stand on end and which develop into outright terrifying events!

The Prey is a magnificent novel that is sure to please fans of classic horror. I can't recommend it highly enough!

I enjoyed reading this novel very much. The author has a great way with description, even though some of his characters are somewhat one dimensional (and by the end of the novel there are a lot of them). What really drives the story is the overwhelming pursuit of the main character by diabolic forces that are portrayed as so powerful, you have little hope for his survival. Mr. Smith has also embedded a number of unique plot devices within his story which I enjoyed very much.
However, the payoff after all of this great setup is very disappointing. I can't go into detail without spoiling the ending, so suffice it to say the end seems very rushed, almost as if the author hit his word limit and had to rap it up as quickly as he could.
After reading some of the other reviews (as you can see, many are just repeats of each other) it makes me wonder if we read the same book. The person who made the analogy of classic horror movies that used suspense instead of blood and guts is dead wrong in their assessment; this book contains enough violence and grue to keep the most jaded gore-hounds out there happy.
I'm giving it 3 stars for the first 11/12ths of the book which I thought was a good, pulpy read. If the ending matched the build up, I would have gone to 4 stars.

This book is great! This book teaches you tricks that really work and really makes you wonder how people came up with them.

One thing I wanted to reccommend - Although this book is for mental math, going through it, I always kept a pencil and paper by my side - some of the concepts/tricks were a little abstract to simply read and absorb the first time around, so they needed a couple of examples (on paper) to solidify the 'trick' for me. After I worked out a couple of problems on pen and paper, I was able to grasp the ability to do them mentally.

One of the best things this book teaches is guesstimation and more importantly, how to forumulate your 'guesses' so you are not so far off from target. I had been doing guesstimation for ages but the methods mentioned in the book were pretty good guidelines for my future guesses.

This book is a must have for anyone that is afraid of numbers because these simple tricks will make difficult math problems a little easier to deal with. The time saving techniques this book is filled with can shave seconds off of your problem solving skills which, come test time (math test, SAT, any test which involves math), you'll be thinking about this book and thanking the author.

This book is very well written. I have always done well in math classes. I never really enjoyed mathematics though. This book makes what seems impossible possible. If you ever wanted to be able to square a number like 72 in your head in seconds this is the book for you.

I have always been good at math, but I still found a lot of the tricks in this book new and handy. Most of these tricks don't require that you are good at math - my husband was even able to do them!

I recently purchased this book after a stranger in a bookstore suggested it. I'm already impressed. There are quite a few 'speed math' books out there, but this one is easily accessible to everyone and is intended to help with everyday life. I'm fairly advanced in college-level math and I intuitively knew some of the suggestions in the book, but it has helped me brush up, learn new things, and most of all learn how to do it BETTER.

I highly recommend this book to students because it is a tremendous help to know how to perform quick math in your head. Even if you have a calculator, just knowing what to expect for the outcome helps you perform faster and serves as a double-check when you need it. And knowing how to do math quickly is essential on a standardized test like the SAT. Even if you know how to do all the problems correctly, the time limit can cripple you--so do yourself a favor and get this book.

Some of the topics covered in this book include 'basic' to 'advanced' multiplication, mental division, guesstimation, calculating the day of the week, and memorizing numbers through mnemonics.

I'm neither interested in squaring three-digit numbers in my head nor in doing mathematical magic. I'm only interested in practical mental math. I did buy this book for chapter 5; *** Good Enough; The Art of 'Guesstimation' ***. I've been doing guesstimations for many years intuitively, not very structured. This fine chapter teaches beginners the art of guesstimation while experts can go back to the basics and hone their skills while they might discover something new ... I did do so with approximating years needed for trippling an investment given interest rates of X% p.a.

I have to rate this book highly, due to one thing in particular; a load of photos NEW to someone who's been buying all things Marx since the 1970's. Some of the candid, on-set shots; some of the very rare shots of Zeppo; and some shots from scenes that were later cut...these are the stuff of dreams. Crazy dreams, but dreams, nonetheless.

It just misses five stars for two reasons: a nice crop of pictures we've all seen a thousand times and, worse, a number of well-known, yet misquoted, lines.

Did someone proof this? There's not much writing, so it couldn't have taken long...and, after all, Arthur's an author in good standing.

You'd think he could take some of the money he's made off his pop over the past forty years and buy a complete set of Marx CD's. Then he could nab the quotes directly. No excuse for this.

Yet I, for one, still recommend it for the visual treasure it is. A great "coffee table book" - and on a hilarious subject that makes you long to crack it open and take it all in, as opposed to some of those paper paperweights you've typically seen gathering dust in living rooms various and sundry.

The best Groucho book to come around in years. I loved it!

I've owned this book for several weeks now and it continues to have this strange affect on me: every time I pick it up, my mouth opens wide in awe and then twists into a grin that runs from ear to ear!! I just can't stop smiling! This is not your average picture book on the Marx Brothers.

Make no mistake....this book is first and foremost about the pictures and all have been STUNNINGLY reproduced. There is a richness and depth to the photos that you find in, say, coffee table photography books (Ansel Adams comes to mind). Some of the photos have been published before, but the majority of them are being seen here for the first time in book form. But even if you've seen some of the photos before, you've never seen them like this! This truly must've been a labor of love.

Accompanying the photos is a casual running commentary supplied by Arthur Marx which is at once charming, engaging, revealing and entertaining. You can almost imagine yourself thumbing through a Marx family photo album with Arthur stopping here and there to share the memories he associates with each picture.

This book satisfies on so many levels, but don't expect it to be a primer on the life and times of Julius H. Marx. For that find a copy of Hector Arce's GROUCHO (if you can!) but keep a copy of this book nearby because it wonderfully illustrates yet another facet of the man we know as Groucho.

I give this 5 stars (and 4 hard-boiled eggs!)!!!

Initially the quality of the photos is striking. Then you look at the subject - a man who brings joy through his art of comedy - and some of the most emotionally moving images of Groucho emerge. And some gorgeous photos of the rest of the brothers also.

What fans of a dead artist always encounter is the lack of anything "new" out there. This fills a gap. I have been a Marx fan since my youth and have found the expenditure on this book, and the wait, worth it. The best picture book on the Marx brothers to date.

This book allows you to be in the Marx Family and experience what it must have been like to have a Father who was none other than the "One and Only, GROUCHO!!!"

I have nothing but the utmost respect for Arthur and thank him for sharing his memories and ALL of his fantastic photo's of his Father and Family.

If a picture is worth a million words then this book is worth at least two million ("or three for a dollar").

New York City Food is a cool combination of a food history of the greatest city in the world combined with recipes for those of us who hate the fact that we can't get to NYC often enough! It's NOT a restaurant guide, so careful not to try to use it as such. But it's a great read and can help you navigate the Apple's neighborhoods on your next trip. Thanks to this book, I found the "holy grail" of half-done pickles on the lower east side on my last trip!

Everybody knows about Junior's cheesecake, Mama Leone's, Ebbinger's Bakery, Lundy's (not Lindy's) the Stork Club, 21, etc., But this books brings it all together in a wonderful compendium of insights into the history of great dining in the restaurant capital of the world. No place on earth offers the variety and quality in both Haute Cuisine and everday fare as does NYC. Mr. Schwartz, unlike some actually recognizes that there is more than one borough in NYC and finds the best of the best in all of them. There are beautiful recipes, amusing stories, wonderful pictures in a book that really captures the spirit of the many places it describes.

If U LUV NY and U LUV NY DINING, then you have to have this book.

Great book. I keep in on my coffee table. Everyone that picks it up thinks it is great.

You needn't have ever boiled water to love this book. What a gift! Thank you, Arthur Schwartz. Not only is this a fabulous, true-voice book for anyone who draws breath and has any interests past the tip of his or her own nose, it is a rarity to find such a soulful history. Schwartz somehow manages to make you feel you were there when it all happened -- where it continues to happen. (And I was not fortunate to live in the City). And the recipes are quintessential.

This book should be considered collectible as one of the finest examples of this unique genre. It is 'Pruniers' a thousand times over. You won't read it once and shelve this book; you will reread passages and quotes, so wonderfully complemented by Chris Callis' photographs and all the archival images, and take a little trip into New York City and the world.

This is a great book, written by someone with impeccable credentials ... former chief food columnist for the New York Times, and a NYC born and bred native.

The author delves deeply into the history of NYC, and then works his way forwards to the present era - but he spends most of his time and energy covering the topic from the gilded age of the 1890's through the late 1980's. Between those dates he overviews all the most well known and influential restaurants of the day, along with information on who the movers and shakers were, what was served, and how they influenced the trends of the day. The author also includes about 100 classic recipes, from a wide variety of sources, directly relating to the names that he covers.

The author does the job credit - the historical information is meticulous, the recipes authentic (and he even included a recipe index in the back), and the book is well organized and well packed with classic photos and anecdotes, and plenty of New Vork verve and originality.

Want to know the origins of Steak Diane" ? Porterhouse Steak ? Lobster Newberg ? NYC Pizza ? It's all in there.

Just a few minor nits, in no particular (there are really just my own notes, to serve as a memory jog for eventually writing a letter of feedback to the author).

* Seafood (chapt 2): This chapter was already obsolete at the time it was first published. There are no photos of the Fulton Fish Market (gasp), nor is there any significant coverage of it's recent relocation to uptown. That section DEFINITELY needs update and expansion, both text, photos, and recipes.

* Porterhouse: very interesting and nicely done, but it could be expanded a tad to better clarify the distinction (in modern usage) between the Porterhouse, T-Bone, and Sirloin steaks. Many people are confused by those terms, and usage varies from region to region & country to country, so it's important to clarify the New York usage of those terms. The first two (as I'm sure you already know) are cut from opposite ends of the same "short loin" primal, and the third is from the sirloin primal just behind (rumpward) of that.

* Pictures: the pic of a bagel with lox & cream cheese in the front matter should have been repeated on p.119.

* Italian: the Italian section, at 24 pgs, is only given half the page count as the section on Jewish, at 44 pgs. Understandable I suppose, given that the author is Jewish, but it could use some expansion in a future edition ... the section on pizza, for instance, lacks a recipe, and sausage & peppers is given short shrift. Both can be made easily at home, from scratch, either with or without fancy tools & casings.

* Other nations: the sections on more recent contributions by immigrants from other nations could all be expanded by at least a page each, and include a recipe or two ... Japanese (ex: Nobu), Korean (the name of a top restaurant I went to in Queens escapes me ATM), etc.

* Restaurants: Loved all the historial info, but a few of the blurbs end a bit abruptly, without mention of whether or not they were still open at the time of this book's publication.

* Recipe Index: I wish that more authors remembered to include them. Minor editorial nit - it should have started on a new page, and been clearly differentiated from the main index with a header of some sort.

This book is adorable! It's so fun and the creativity is amazing. My 14 month old loves dogs and this book has become one of his favorites!

With kids toys being so much about brands and high tech capability - this whimsical and imaginative book is such a delight. I can't wait for my son to see it on Christmas day. Adults I have shown it to have enjoyed it too.

This book is wonderful! I bought several copies for my dog-loving friends because the price was very reasonable- they all thought it was delightful. The illustrations are fantastic, and the broccoli/cauliflower poodles are especially cute!

I cataloged this donated book into the academic library's collection where I work. I selected it from the books that had been donated for our annual book sale because I knew parents with little children would enjoy having something to occupy the attention of their kids while they were studying/researching. What a remarkable imagination this book testifies to! I photocopied the "Working like a Dog" page to testify to my meager efforts, it adorns my cubical. Everyone with children will want a copy of this book.

My daughter, age 20 months, just loves this cute little book. She asks to read it again and again.

Jupiter, Pete, and Bob (the Three Investigators) have their third case and this one is stranger than ever. An archaeologist in Hollywood has a mummy which he claims is whispering to him. He doesn't know what it's saying and is afraid of being thought crazy, but he's willing to let the boys help. They also meet a young Libyan boy who's come to bring the mummy Ra-Orkon home, but things get dangerous when Pete and the Libyan boy are inadvertently kidnapped.

This book was perhaps a bit more exciting than the previous two, but my son and I thought it wasn't quite as clever. This is a series I read/devoured as a kid back in the 70s, and I enjoyed reading it with my son. The characters are extremely likeable and it always made me wish I had access to a "salvage yard" and could fix and figure out things like Jupiter Jones. Rereading these books brings back fond memories and I can almost *smell* the library again, but I think many young readers would enjoy this exciting and well-written series. It is unfortunately underappreciated and almost forgotten today.

I think this book was awesome. It is a really good book for mystery lovers. But if you don't like to be scared at night, don't read it at night! Otherwise, I couldn't put it down. I read it at breakfast, lunch and whenever I was bored.

I've a soft spot in my heart for The Three Investigators. Originally conceived in the 60s as a knock-off Hardy Boys series, the adventures follow three boys who run their own detective agency. One boy is the nerdy smart one, one boy is the brawn, and one boy (Jupiter Jones: former child model) is the leader of the crew. The boys set their headquarters in an old mobile home trailer, hidden beneath a pile of junk at the Jones Salvage Yard. Their mysteries tended to mimic that of Scooby Doo in some ways. In each book someone is threatened by a supposed supernatural force. It is up to our three intrepid explorers to solve the mystery and save the day. For a time, Alfred Hitchcock allowed his name to be associated with the series, even going so far as to include a special note at the beginning of every mystery. In time, however, his name was dropped and "Alfred Hitchcock and The Three Investigators" was shortened to the less wordy, "The Three Investigators". As a young girl, I loved these superficially male books. Who doesn't want a secret headquarters under a junkyard? Or to solve mysteries with names like, "The Secret of Skeleton Island" or "The Mystery of the Talking Skull". These books are so enjoyable that kids of every gender will gravitate towards them.

This particular mystery, "The Mystery of the Whispering Mummy" is a good starter Three Investigators book. In it, the tale follows a mysterious mummy, known to whisper Egyptian incantations in the dead of night. When the mummy disappears without a trace, the three boys have to separate fact from fiction in an effort to locate its remains and solve its loose tongue. Lots of fun and surprisingly absent of Arab stereotypes. The boys make friends with an Egyptian lad and his part is played out without any racial barbs or slurs (amazing, due to the book's original 1965 publication). Enjoy this rollicking adventure and expect a good time.

My introduction to this series was my older brother's slightly worn Scholastic copy of Mystery of the Green Ghost. We both read it several times, and once we found out there were more, look out! We read them from the library, we cajoled Mom into taking us to the mall to buy them, we bought them at a local used bookstore. We were both hooked!
I can recommend every book in this series. My brother and I both read all the Hardy Boys (and liked them a lot), but these blow them out of the water! I think you can get 1-10 new (they've been reprinted), the rest you'll have to get used.
I've still got a complete set, but I'm rebuying them for a nephew. He's as excited about them as I was over 20 years ago. Excellent characters, spooky happenings, and just enough chills to keep a kid's pulse racing.
If you have kids, I can't recommend these highly enough.

Quite a few children's mystery book series have become classics. Most people are familiar with Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, and Tom Swift. Even the Boxcar Children are relatively well-known. However, Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators were well-written books that offered an intelligent, interesting and more contemporary alternative to many of the earlier classic series. Many people recall the earlier series well, but the Three Investigators series, which Robert Arthur wrote and debuted in 1964, has, for now, largely been overshadowed by the other series and generally forgotten. Fortunately, all of these books are available either from Amazon or from other internet sources.

This book is the third book in the series, following "The Mystery of the Stuttering Parrot," and preceding "The Mystery of the Green Ghost." This mystery finds the three investigators looking into the mystery of the mummy of Ra-Orkon, which appears to be whispering to the professor that owns the mummy. While we can hope for something genuinely supernatural to happen, we know from the first two stories that the three investigators base their solutions on logic and science.

The three investigators, Jupiter Jones, Pete Crenshaw and Bob Andrews, are puzzled by how the mummy can speak. The obvious answer is some sort of radio, but there is none. A ventriloquist is also ruled out. Just how can the mummy be speaking? Perhaps there is something supernatural happening in this story! The supernatural investigation must wait because the mummy of Ra-Orkon is taken. Soon the sarcophagus of Ra-Orkon is taken; only the sarcophagus contains two boys! Things are heating up for the three investigators.

Perhaps the biggest question of all for readers is why is Ra-Orkon valuable? There were no jewels or valuables found with Ra-Orkon. Is the cat that appears truly the spirit of Ra-Orkon, determined to see his mummy returned to his homeland? These are but a few of the mysteries awaiting readers.

I enjoyed this Three Investigators novel. I was unable to figure out the whispering mummy and had to await the answer revealed by Robert Arthur, the author. There were moments when at least one member of the Three Investigators seemed to be in real danger. Robert Arthur managed to unfold the story in a way that kept me interested without revealing the answers too soon.

If you are looking for mystery books for children and you are looking for an alternative to the stories I listed earlier, I highly recommend the Three Investigator series. I do recommend starting with the first book in the series, which is an excellent introduction to this series.

Enjoy!