Big Books

This is one of those books that I could read every night and not get sick of. In fact, over the past three years I HAVE read it every night for weeks at a time and still love the flow of the text.

My favorite lines include, "And she gazed at the sky, the sea, the land, The waves and the caves and the golden sand. She gazed and gazed, amazed by it all, And she said to the whale, 'I feel so small.'" The word "small" is in a smaller font than the rest of the text and is so appropriate for the two page spread that includes the tiny snail (barely visible) amidst a scene of snowy mountains, forests, bears, bald eagles, the sea.

Perfect for teaching the concept that it doesn't matter how big or small you are, you ARE important and CAN be successful. As the snail sets off on his mission (I won't spoil it), the text reads "'I must not fail,' said the tiny snail." GREAT lesson!

Can you tell that we love this book?!?!?

I read 3 books every night to my almost-4 year old daughter (I love to read and share this love with her) and this is one of our very favorites. It is beautifully written, marvelously illustrated and just so very sweet. My husband loves to read it too. A book for children that makes even parents dream about travelling adventures on the back of the whale! Most highly recommended.

My 27 month old son and I really enjoy Julia Donaldson's books and this book is among our favorites. It was the first of her books that we read and we liked it so much that we thought to purchase her other books without looking at other reviews and we have not been disappointed. She is a great children's book author and knows how to keep her stories interesting and just the right length for their attention span(I started this book with my son when he was under two and instead of reading the printed text which would be too long for a two year old, I described each page since the illustrations tell the story themselves-I was able to keep his interest by adding a little bit of detail each time we read it.) The illustrations are wonderful and I feel like my son got exposed to the great vastness of this world by simply going on an adventure with the snail and the whale:-)

The story of a snail that wants to see the world and the whale that gives her a ride. Very nice story and the rhymes and the cadence make it fun to read out loud.

Again wonderful illustrations and a great story. Easy to paraphrase for a younger child and then to be reading exactly as written for the three year old.

Great book, it was very informative and OH! so very true. Joyce Meyer is the greatest. A very profound visionary.

I purchased this for a bible study at my church and have been reasonably happy with it. I don't totally agree with some of her concepts, but the general idea is definitely worthwhile.

A must for those who have the "I can't believe I said that!" moments!

There are few books that I have read more than once, and this is one that merits not only reading more than once, but in having it on hand for a constant reminder. It could not have had a more appropriate title. It catches the eye then captures the heart and soul of anyone who feels (or can fianally admit..because many of us do) they have a problem with their mouth. It also gives them hope that they are not doomed to the self excuse of "well, that's just the way I am. I tell people what I think and people admire me for it". Uh....no they don't. Once you discover that you don't always have to win, your life becomes so much more peaceful. This book has helped me very much to begin that process. I try now, not to let every thought work like a gumball machine....from the brain to the tounge then out of the mouth. I now think very hard about what I say, first. And, because of that I see now I don't always have to open my mouth. I've had some painful withdrawal episodes in the process, but it has been worth it. I like myself better, now. This book has truly been a God send. Thank you.

We have watched Joyce Meyer's weekly (Mon-Fri) program for a few years now and overall find her to be a very good practical teacher on how Scripture corresponds with daily life issues. The product is formatted well and is designed to partner with her book of the same title. A worthwhile topic!

I was giving this book by a spiritual mother. Joyce, in her tell it like it is manner, informs us of how we set ourselves up for the 'lesser' things of life.
She gives a practical spin to the scripture 'life and death is in the power of the tongue". Its not about get rich scheme success or how to name it and claim it; this book teaches you how to train your ear and bridle your tongue to only speak what will manifest Godly character in your life. It also teaches us about the ills we do to poison our spirits and how to be liberated! PRAISE GOD!

I love this book! I purchased it for my friend who was looking for a book of animals that had actual pictures, not art. It's perfect. The realization of the book is awesome.

I got this book for my 15 month old grandchild and it is her favorite book. Every page has several animal photos and she wants to "read" it again and again and make all the noises!

I really only got this book as an 'extra' purchase, to qualify for free shipping. However it has become an unexpected hit with my 16 month old who can now identify most of the animals from the pictures, and she will ask for this book over and over and over again.
The book includes some rather obscure animals, which probably wouldn't be on my 'introductory list' of animals for a young child. My list would probably run "lion, tiger, bear, cat, dog" (which are also included)... rather than the "gosling, chinchilla, parakeet, egret and kookaburra" which you'll also find in this book. My husband and I have both learned a few new animals as well!
All in all and great buy that keeps my daughter entertained for hours.

This is my 10-month old twins' FAVORITE book in the world (and we have LOTS of baby/children's books). I think they like the close up pictures, the size, and the fact that some animals seem to be looking right at them. Highly recommended.

These books are a great deal for hours of fun! My little guys looks at the pictures over and over and doesn't ever seem to get tired of hearing the names of all the pictures. These books have been great for his vocabulary as he tries to say all the words too!

Michael's book is wonderful!!! It is a weekly read for me and has added so much to my gratitude for my recovery. This book truly embraces and passes on to it's readers the BEST of the 12 step recovery rooms. So much wisdom is found in AA, yet... filtering through some of the "nonsense" shared by individuals at an AA/NA/OA,etc. meeting is not always easy for the person seeking recovery.
Seeking "the Wisdom to know the difference" for our recovery is when God truly blesses us with that very GIFT! I suggest we use the Wisdom of the Rooms as a format for some awesome recovery meetings! Michael Z. has given us the perfect book to do that. with!

Each time I read this book I get something new from it. Reading a quote from this book is like attending one of those meetings that changes your soul, and Michael Z's interpretations seem to reach out connect with me on almost every level. The spiritual wisdom in this book touches those in and out of recovery, and the people I've given it to not only identify, but often buy copies to give as gifts - it's that's kind of book.

Quotes like "When fear knocks on the door and faith answers, no one is home", seem to be just the thing I need to read when I pick it up. I can literally just glance at any page and find something that speaks to me right when I need it. Whether I'm struggling with my concept of God, or with my fear, or even with setting healthy boundries ("No is a complete sentence"), it's all here for me.

If you're looking for a book of spiritual yet practical wisdom that can fill your well with faith and hope, this book will become a favorite of yours, too. I love "The Wisdom of the Rooms" and look forward each week to the new quotes Michael Z puts out for free (visit the website: www.thewisdomoftherooms.com) and you can sign up.

This is a must have for those in and out of recovery, and it will enrich any spiritual practice you currently have. For those of you who haven't read it yet, you're in for a wonderful treat. Enjoy the wisdom!

An outstanding spiritual guidebook for those in recovery or those who just want to embrace their higher power. It helped me stay connected to what's really important and not feel so alone in this world. It's one of those books you can read again and again and always grasp something new. Thanks Michael Z!

For an "on the go" person in recovery like me, this is like the blackberry of 12 step meetings. Any page I open in this book, seems to give me exaclty what I need to read at that time, to give me a spiritual perspective on any situation. The way the author explains the quotes with ease, and then allows the readers to internally answer some questions regarding the quote, can bring tranquility to a turbulent head.

I wish more books on recovery were written this way.
Thank you Michael Z!!

I have been in AA for 15 months and love the new life that I have been fortunate to receive. I first became familiar with Wisdom of the Rooms a year ago when a recovery center in Arizona sent me my first one. Since then I look forward to receiving my weekly mailings from Michael Z. When I found out that Michael was compiling a book, I bought 20 of them. The reason being is that there are 12 people who, in my early recovery took me under their wing and helped me to work the program of AA, to have the Promises come true and to have a Spiritual Awakening. The least I could do is share the love that Michael has put into this book with them.

Think about your daily physical exercise regimen. Now compare that to the mental exercise routine you use in your journey to become a life-long learner. Come up a little short? The Daily Drucker will help.

In my book, Mastering The Management Buckets: 20 Critical Competencies for Leading Your Business or Non-profit, "The Drucker Bucket" honors Peter Drucker, the father of modern management, who was welcomed to his heavenly home in 2005, just a few days shy of his 96th birthday. His seminal book, Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices, runs 839 pages. Here's the Drucker Bucket core competency:

"We are privileged to be leaders and managers and we steward that privilege by being lifelong learners and practitioners in the art of management. We don't just give lip service to management--we are disciplined students of great leadership and management thinkers like Peter Drucker, Ken Blanchard and others."

I encourage my clients to read at least one book by Peter Drucker every year. If you're in management, why would you not want to learn from the management guru? To dip your toe in the Drucker Bucket, read The Daily Drucker.

Bestselling author Bob Buford, who graciously wrote the foreword to my book, mentions Drucker in the foreword, "Peter always said, `The purpose of management is not to make the Church more businesslike, but more Church-like." Drucker was a gift to all of us. This is the perfect book.

I think one has to be mature enough to understand, at least on some level, and appreciate the wisdoms of Mr. Drucker collected in this compact and very intense book, but once you get them, you become a different person.

This book offers excellent insight into Drucker's writings on business philosophy. For those who have never read Drucker at all, this book is a great starting point, as it encapsulates much of his writing into a single volume. The book is of particular value to anyone working in a service-related company, especially in a society where knowledge is one of the most powerful assets managers are required to protect and preserve.

An entry from January 7th reads: "Knowledge workers own the means of production...the organization needs them more than they need the organization..." The action point listed is, "Attract and retain the highest producing knowledge workers by treating them and their knowledge as the organization's most valuable assets."

The information provided in this book, when put into practice, will help any manager become more efficient and reflective about how her/his actions fit into the bigger picture. The foreword, by Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, is also very worth reading and gives a little-seen and inspirational glimpse of Drucker.

The book was in good condition and was delivered on time. It is a great read!!

Every morning when you get to your office, you boot up your computer and you wait - conservatively - 2 minutes. During those 2 minutes, you should be reading that day's entry in the "Daily Drucker." Whether the Topic of the Month is "decision-making," "leadership" or "organizational behavior," Drucker's signature style will clear your head and give you a "swing thought" for the rest of the day. A daily dose of Drucker will remind you how you "should" run your business day, in order to be effective, rather than running things the way they really "are."
If you make his insights your own, you will learn about yourself and your organization. Eventually, you will reach your goals.
Unlike other books, this one does not contain a sustained argument, so it doesn't become dull. And, many of the quotes might be regarded as some of Drucker's most user-friendly. Plus, each quote is capped off with an "action item" by the editor, Maciarello, who does an admirable job in teasing out some of the implications of Drucker's writing.
P.S. This is the perfect gift to give an executive.

This is one of the most useful books I've read to date on bringing a product to market. It covers all the basics and then some. I have recommended it to all my friends!

People may joke that Tamara Monosoff became a millionaire with the help of suckers like me buying her book. THAT IS NOT THE CASE! She is an extremely intelligent and fascinating woman. If you cannot launch your own business after reading her book, it is in no way Tamara's fault. I am amazed at how much time and effort she obviously devoted to writing this book. Just when I would ask myself a question regarding something she wrote, she was answering it in the very next sentence. The book is FULL of helpful examples, websites, and addresses. I would STRONGLY recommend this book to anyone.

This book is well worth the money. Short and sweet review and gets to the point now go buy this book!

I thought the first thing I needed to do with my invention was make a prototype. NO! Tamera says the first thing I need to do is get a spiral notebook and keep a hand-written ledger of everything I do, chronologically, to protect myself in court. I NEVER would have thought of that.

She explains step by step what to do next and HOW to do it: how to do market research, patent research, etc. But most of all, she gets right to the meat of everything. Tamera does not fill up her pages with fluff to make a dreary fat book. She guides us through the steps and all the way, she recounts how one particular mom handled these steps. She also puts in so many other examples from other mom inventors along the way.

It seems so easy, and she is inspiring. When I was a stay home mom, I felt overwhelmed, and out of touch with the professional world. Husbands and family aren't always necessarily supportive. Tamera says don't let any of that hold you back: you are much smarter than you think, so get that idea to market!

This is such an amazing book. Tons of great information, advice, references, and examples. Reading this book has made me want to start my own business, rather than just try to sell my idea. It is overwhelming, but so exciting at the same time!!! Thank you so much for such an incredible guide!!!!

Can you imagine my surprise when I encountered this book on Amazon.com!

I am 18 years old and I read "Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters" in elementary school and I was enamored with the story then! And I still am. This "African Cinderella" is sure to resonate with young girls and make them curious about Africa.

It is the story of an African King who has two beautiful daughters, only one of them, Manyara, is mean, nasty, and "haughty" (this book is where I learned that word!) while Nyasha is sweet, compassionate and kind. When their father learns that a ruler of another kingdom is to take a wife, he decides that both of his beautiful daughters should go. However, Manyara arrogantly leaves alone to get there before her sister, ever so certain that she will be chosen.

On the way both her and her sister encounter a series of tasks and through these, their true characters are tested.

Other than a great story, the illustration is absolutely beautiful! They are artwork unto themselves. Love this book! I can't wait to purchase this for the little girls in my life! Or, i just may buy it to reminisce!

Wonderful book about Manyara and Nyasha, daughters of an African King. This books shows that beauty comes from within. Manyara is a selfish sister and wants nothing more than to be queen and she will stop at nothing to be it. Nyasha is kind and loving and only wants to be happy. She sees the beauty in nature and people. A king from the neighboring town is searching for a wife and immediately Manyara wants to be queen. Manyara gets up early and sneaks to the village of the King but she is met by a little boy who wants food, and a elderly woman whom she is told to be kind too. She doesnt give the boy food and is verbally mean to the old woman. Nyasha goes through the forest and finds the same people but this time she gives food to the little boy. She is met by a woman who points the way to the city and she is kind to her and gives her sunflower seeds. As they approach the city, Manyara runs out and crying saying that she saw a snake with 5 heads and was telling her how rotten of a person she is. Nyasha is brave and walks in only to a find a simple snake for whom she was friends with. He tells her that he is the king and the elderly woman and little boy in the forest. He then asks her to be his queen because she is the most beautiful and kindhearted of them all.

The illustrations are breathtaking. The story emphasizes the true ugliness of getting to the top no matter what, while at the same time showing the beauty of compassion, empathy, and taking the time to make true connections with others and embracing their essence. These are values that we must instill within our children. I read this story to my own beautiful daughters over and over and it opens the door for deep discussions about the nature of their special bond as sisters and the need to not face one another as competitors, but as lifetime companions and support for one another.

This book is about these two sisters Manyara and Nyasha father of Mufaro. Manyara is the rude sister. Nyasha is the warm loving sister. One of them would be getting married to a king and the other will be their servant. Manyara well she wanted to get a jump start on things so when she was going to find the king she seen a boy (that was in need for food) that she refused to give food to, then she came apon a old lady she didn't listen to, she also met up with some trees that laughed at her and she laughed back at, and last she came upon a guy with his head in his arm.
So if you really think people that are rude won't get far and their rudeness will just catch up with them later as they go threw life. This book has inspired me to be a better person in many ways. This book is an amazing book it not only expresses the persons outside feelings but it expresses the persons inside feelings.

This story is based on an African tale that is similar in nature to Cinderella. In this story a man named Mufaro had two beautiful daughters, one named Manyara, and one named Nyasha. Manyara is rude to Nyasha, who just calmly bears it. When a call comes saying the Great King wants a wife, Mufaro plans to take his daughters to the palace the next day. Manyara decides to leave in the night to make she is chosen to be Queen. During the journey she is rude to a number of people, who turn out to be the King himself, shape-shifted into those forms as well as the form of a garden snake well-known to Nyasha. When Nyasha passes the next day, she is kind where her sister was rude. Needless to say the King picks Nyasha, and they live happily.

The story is told well, and the language used is wonderful, though not quite as wonderful as the illustrations. They almost look more life-like than photographs. The way lighting is used is amazing, and they are just stunning pictures. Everything about this book is wonderful, with nothing to detract from it.

Loggie-log-log-log

I remember my mother reading Frances books to me when I was little, and I couldn't wait to read them to my daughter. The Frances books are wonderful children's stories.

The book is great, and my daughter had to "read" it as soon as it was opened.

I loved the Frances books growing up and now my two-year is enjoying them. I just read Bread and Jam to her and she loves it, especially the songs Frances sings (I sing them to the tune of Mary has a Little Lamb). I love the parenting advice in the book, too. We love the description of the lunches these little badgers unpack and eat at school. I love the quality of the illustrations and the writing. I think it's children's book writing at the best. So many books now are just plain silly!

I read the FRANCES books to my daughters (now grown) and am buying every one I can get my hands on to read to my two grandsons and my granddaughter. The character of Frances is so very human, and she has such realistic foibles that every child can identify with. Frances is a classic.

(I have no qualms about the parental roles portrayed in the book. Can't parents choose the roles they wish, and isn't the traditional role a valid choice?)

It was one of my favorites as a kid and now I read it to my little girl

This is an excellent book. Very theologically sound too. An great reminder to look outside of ourselves, and be focused on giving God glory.

This book is an eye opener for those of us who gotten the order for life completely flip flopped. Not only does it open your eyes, but lovingly guides you to a right perspective on Who should be big in your life. Hint: it is not people. This book will free you from self imposed or other imposed bondage.

"Fear of man is such a part of our human fabric that we should check for a pulse if someone denies it." (pp. 17). Do I have your attention now? At our church's recent seminar on "How to Share Your Faith" the topic of fear came up as a main reason we don't share the Gospel more often. Since the Bible says that our hearts tend to turn all good things into idols, it should come as no surprise that the primary way we do this is with other people. And this idol impacts us in countless ways! From the back cover: "Pride, oversensitivity, defensiveness, avoidance of others, easy embarrassment, people pleasing, needing approval...You'll be surprised to learn how the fear of others controls you--and what you can do about it."

This is more than a self-help book - it is a theology book that reminds us of who God is, who we are, and how that relationship is supposed to look and impact all of our other relationships. Ed Welch is a counselor, but he is also a theologian, and he combines the two to really examine our hearts and our Lord. And his goal is not to dismiss your fears, but to place them in context. "If you have ever walked among giant redwoods, you will never be overwhelmed by the size of a dogwood tree. Or if you have been through a hurricane, a spring rain is nothing to fear. If you have been in the presence of the almighty God, everything that once controlled you suddenly has less power." (pp. 119). Knowing and fearing our God, exposes and cuts away the roots of our fears. Understanding our idols (people), show us how they don't deliver what we ask of them:

"People are our cherished idols. We worship them, hoping they will take care of us, hoping they will give us what we feel we need. What we really need are biblical shapes and identities for other people. Then instead of needing other people to fill our desires, we can love people for the sake of God's glory and fulfill the purpose for which we were created." (pp. 182).

The book is broken down into two parts. Part I is titled "How and Why We Fear Others" and Part II is "Overcoming the Fear of Others". His analysis of our hearts, our fears and the solutions to these issues are Biblical and Christ-centered through and through. It is readable and practical. It is helpful and hopeful! This is one of the most important books I have read in my walk with the Savior, and I urge you to read it as well! What have you got to lose - except the fears that bind you and rob you of your joy?

Anyone who is honest will find this topic relevant in their life. Welch exposes our tendency to be trapped into pleasing people instead of pleasing God. I have purchased 6 copies of this book to give away in the last 5 months and I will give away more in the next year.

This book presents the regretful truth of fallen man.

'Therefore we cannot rightly say, 'My God is not a God of judgment and anger; my God is a God of love.' Such thinking makes it almost impossible to grow in the fear of the Lord. It suggests that sin only saddens God rather than offends Him.' pg 103

'There was a time in my own life when I would practice the presence of God; then, when I felt His presence, I would pray. All went well, until the day I didn't feel His presence.' pg 83

'The emphasis on self-esteem also contributes to the fear of man. For example, even tho most self-esteem books indicate that it is something you can develop by yourself, almost all the books also say that one of the best ways to raise your self-esteem is to achieve some successes (which are then compared to what others do) or to surround yourself with people who affirm you (which leaves you dependent on their opinion).' pg 75

This would be my first choice book to work thru in a small Bible study group. Not only does Edward T Welch succeed in challenging our faulty 'Dr Phil' views, but he re-addresses our low view of God, in a practical and pastoral way. The subject matter is interrelated with our steadfastness and faithfulness, all of whom could benefit by reading this wonderful book.

A worthwhile excursion and bible-based exhortation which contradicts many Christian resources - especially the popular sort.

So you could go borrow the book at the library or buy the paperback, get the content down, and be done with it. But for same reason people buy very expensive European cars, there is something attractive to looks of a exterior that makes the consumer want to own, not rent, but possess. I love both books by Orwell, and this edition is one to show off.

When I saw that Chris Hitchens wrote the intros to this I was optimistic that he would shed a great amount of light on the subjects. Unfortunately, the intros are too short to get into much depth.

This is a handsome republication of Orwell's two most renowned works, Animal Farm and 1984. Even if you're just looking for 1984, this edition is to be commended; it comes with a fine introduction by today's leading Orwell enthusiast, Christopher Hitchens, and the reward of including Animal Farm requires very little in the way of additional effort or expense on your part. At 80-odd pages, you may as well pick it up in the same volume, and you're virtually certain to be glad that you did.

I'm not alone in being of a generation that was first required to read Orwell in my student days (Middle School, in my case.) It seems that there was a lot of literature churned out then, accessible to if not directly aimed at children, with the horrors of totalitarianism as its theme. In addition to reading Orwell, we were also reading Huxley, Bradbury, and Verne -- the youth-oriented John Christopher books being yet another example. The generation that lived through Nazism and Stalinism clearly wanted the younger set to be aware of the horrors that could be, and to remain on guard against them.

It doesn't seem to be quite that way anymore. Orwell's name is invoked today, but often in trivializing contexts: "Big Brother" is now a brain-numbing reality show, and "Orwellian" is a convenient and often hysterically-applied charge to political opponents. Some complaceny does seem to be inevitable: we are now further removed from the days when the likes of Hitler and Stalin killed tens of millions. Still, regimes arise that are nearly as horrific on a local scale, from Pol Pot to Saddam Hussein to the Taliban, and are real enough that Orwell's book is no joke. Orwell deserves attention if for no other reason than to sensitize us to the bad form associated with invoking his name in a trivializing context. There was a political ad on Youtube last year from an Obama supporter that cast Hillary Clinton on a giant Big Brother-like screen. I'm not in the least a fan of Senator Clinton, but associating her image with those of 1984 -- as was also done in an infamous Apple Computer ad -- trivializes Orwell's message in a deplorable way. Orwell wrote his novel to warn against real dangers that his generation lived through, and which others might yet, not as a marketing ploy to be used in selling either computers or nearly indistinguishable democratic political candidacies.

The main reason I am writing this review, however, is that re-reading Orwell in my 40's is a stark reminder that his novels are more than political parables, but are worthy literature. I hope that those reading these reviews will be aware of this, and not shut their minds to a rewarding literary experience.

As a kid, I was able to perceive the pedagogical intent of these books, but less so was I able to appreciate the literary artistry. 1984 in particular passes the Nabokovian test of creating a fully believable, if terrifying, alternate world. Beyond that, on nearly every page, Orwell leaves an image that just might stay with you forever. Small wonder that so many of the terms in 1984 ("Big Brother," "Newspeak") have burrowed their way into our lexicography.

Orwell was a man of the left who understood something that many of his compatriots did not; that what had arisen in the Soviet Union was a regime unprecedented in its horror (arriving before, and ultimately outlasting, its horrific mirror image, Hitler's Third Reich.) At a time when others on the left simply refused to believe in the reality of the USSR, he looked at it unflinchingly and wrote what it was really about.

Also, in childhood, I was not able to fully appreciate that Orwell's books simply weren't negative-utopian nightmare-fantasies, but paralleled actual events in the USSR with chilling accuracy. I knew, at some level, that he was satirizing certain events and characters in the Russian Revolution, but only in adulthood was I able to closely recognize nearly every episode and character in Animal Farm. Those familiar with USSR history will find it all here in the two books: the rewriting of the past to reaffirm the infallibility of the Party, the sudden reorienting of national propaganda to suit the latest twist of foreign policy, and the complete elimination of all references to those unfortunate souls decreed never to have existed.

Truly, the thing that makes 1984 terrifying now, is not what was imagined in the novel's construction, but what was real in its sources. It exaggerates even relative to the Stalinist state -- but not by much. It is this recognition that makes it a chilling read today.

1984 is the more vivid and evocative of the two novels. Excepting one passage (Goldstein's dreary history lesson about 2/3 of the way through) it is riveting almost throughout its 300 pages.

A few notes for younger readers: The moral of Animal Farm is not that Napoleon was simply a bad apple, but rather that the system adopted by the Animals ensured that ultimately such a tyrant would dominate. (I find the end of Animal Farm to be something of a false note; in the end the pigs prove no better than, and resemble, the humans they replaced, but this understates the tragic reality that the USSR was worse still than that which it replaced.)

As I close, I leave you with one random question about 1984: how come it never occurs to Eastasia and Eurasia to combine against Oeania? Given that Oceania keeps flipping its allegiance from one to the other, you'd think they'd ultimately catch on and both decide to attack Oceania at the same time.

Silly questions aside, this book is highly commended. Worth re-reading again, especially if you only have read Orwell when as immature as was I.

Many of us were assigned these books to read in school by thoughtful teachers. All of us should read them. In both, George Orwell gives us the tools to see exactly what liberty means and why we cannot afford to lose it.

In "Animal Farm," the fable is sufficiently removed from human experience that you can read this one to quite young children, just as you can "Alice in Wonderland" or other classics which say more each time you read them as you grow up. Even a first-grader could see the relationship of the politics of the barnyard to the politics of the playground. The jeering refrain of "Surely you don't want Jones back" can easily be recognized as the propaganda fallacy called "Reductio ad Hitlarum." Whenever the ruling pigs ran out of useful things to say, they fell back on slogans which meant nothing, but which could be molded to mean whatever they wanted them to mean in a given circumstance.

The completely classic "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others" is one we must keep in mind whenever politicians start using words as if they mean the reverse of what they do mean.

1984, too, has its beautifully classic lines. The main characters are all members of the Ingsoc Party (English Socialism). It is not until well into the book that we learn they are only some 15% of the population; the rest are proles. The proles are easily dismissed as insignificant: "They can be granted intellectual liberty because they have no intellect." Use that line the next time someone tells you it's not important to educate our entire population to the best of their capabilities.

When the main character, Winston Smith, attempts to placate his tormenter by saying "You are ruling over us for our own good," he is scorned as "stupid, Winston, stupid." The party big shot responds with one of the most chilling lines I have ever read: "If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face--forever."

Through the medium of conversations in the lunch room of the "Ministry of Truth," Orwell is able to tell us much about the creation and preservation of a totalitarian state. One key is the control over language which the Party exercises: "Newspeak." One of the people working on the Newspeak dictionary explains it to Winston: "You think, I dare say, that our chief job is inventing new words. But not a bit of it! We're destroying words--scores of them, hundreds of them, every day. We're cutting language down to the bone." He brags that very soon "all real knowledge of Oldspeak will have disappeared. The whole literature of the past will have been destroyed. Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton, Byron--they'll exist only in Newspeak versions, not merely changed into something different, but actually changed into something contradictory of what they used to be."

Putting these two in a single hardbound volume and adding a thoughtful introduction by Christopher Hitchens was a stroke of genius on the part of Harcourt Books. It will make it all the easier for professors of political science, literature, history, psychology . . . indeed, if it was not such a contradiction with regard to books so dedicated to liberty, I'd say make them required reading.

Animal Farm and 1984 are classic literature. You've probably already read them.

This edition presents them in a classic manner -- it is a lovely book, lovely dust jacket, and Christopher Hitchens does the intro. I usually find him funny and a little snarky, but in this intro, he is serious, high-minded, informative, and respectful.

I wanted to read 1984 again, since so many people are kicking around the terms "Orwellian" and "Big Brother" regarding current politics. I'm so glad this is the volume I bought. I know I would have gotten the same *words* in a flimsy paperback, but this was a really nice read.


I read both novels again. It has been... 20 years? Maybe longer since my first read-through. I'm a different reader than I was before.

Now it seems to me that the people who shout "Orwellian" the loudest, the people that warn of "Big Brother" most fiercely, are the ones who really want to be Orwellain Big Brothers. Interesting.

I've got that grisly Room 101 scene back in my head -- I had forgotten that one. Thanks, Mr. Orwell.

This is a lovely edition. Treat yourself.