Carroll Books

I'm using this book to teach myself and a few friends in my department GR. Apparently (according to my professor who was with Carroll at Harvard), thats how the book came into existance in the first place. As far as I can tell, the book is excellent. I highly recommend it.

Kudos to Carroll.

This book is an excellent INTRODUCTION to SR and GR for the graduate physics student as well as the graduate mathematics students.

Pure mathematics often loses sight of the ideas which motivated it and physics often loses the mathematical foundations from which it is built.

This book offers some level of mathematical formalism to the physics student while exposing the ideas motivating the mathematical concepts.

I particularly like how he builds up the mathematical machinery of GR by introducing sets then topology on this set giving a topological space. Now he adds in the ideas of a manifold which make this topological space look like Rn locally with the patches sewn together smoothly. The manifold comes equipped with tangent space, cotangent spaces and their product spaces giving tensor spaces. These are defined nicely with reference to component formalism as well as the multilinear algebra approach as maps from products spaces to the reals, etc. He delves into forms and tantalized the reader with deRham cohomology although doesnt go into it. He shows how these can be differentiated ( exterior derivative ) and integrated.

Now the metric is introduced giving a geometry. To this is added a connection which is independent of the metric and leads to notions of parallel transport and differentiation of tensors ( covariant derivative ). One sees that in a special case one can derive a unique connection from the metric ( Levi-Cevita ) which is used in GR.

Fibre bundles, Lie derivatives, pullbacks etc are introduced as needed.

He then presents some introductory GR material by applying the mathematics.

This is an advanced text, but all the same it is not particularly rigorous or dense, so it is in principle accessible to the beginner. With an easy authority, Carroll leads us on a wandering journey through the mystical lands of general relativity. This is very different from, and compliments nicely, the clarity and directness of Wald. As a student of GR, I use Wald for the bottom line on any subject, and Carroll for the random physical or computational insights that I invariably find in any section of the book. Carroll's prose is like music to the ear and I always enjoy myself when I decide to open up this book.

Be warned that there are lots of mistakes in this first edition--you might want to wait for the second one.

Also, his chapter on cosmology is better than any I've seen.

My comments come with a few caveats.

1. This is my fourth GR book.
2. I'm not hardcore into physics. I'm not a physic grad and I'm reading GR for fun. I have a decent graduate math background but I've been corrupted with 10+ years in working in various roles software engineering, electronics engineering and marketing.
3. I assume that since you're considering buying this book, you're goal is to get at the "real" GR, not the watered down discover channel version.

With these caveats in mind, here are my comments.

First, on a scale of 1-5, I rank Carroll at level 3 in terms of math/physics maturity and thoroughness. Here is my full ranking of authors from my limited reading: 1. schutz 2. hartle 3. penrose 3. carroll 4. wald 5. physics journal articles

Second, using the rankings above, I recommend Carroll as the second port of entry. If you're comfortable with multivariable calculus, start with schutz (#1). You'll get warm fuzzies doing the toy exercises. But Schutz is tensor/math-lite. If you've had advanced calculus and geometry already, jump in with carroll (#3). But you'll be hard-pressed to find anyone else as polite to the reader. He won't prepare you for 80 percent of what's published. If you're ready to throw off the training wheels and jump dive into mainstream GR go with Wald (#4).

Note that Hartle (#2) is a good "tweener" book with feel-good exercises and some of the full-on GR equations at the end. I bet most instructors teaching a first year grad course would go with Hartle along with a dose of supplementary material.

Third, don't expect Carroll to be your last GR book purchase if you want to reach the promised land (see caveat #4). Living and breathing GR is found in physics journals and for that you'll need Wald or another advanced GR book.

I am currently on the 4th chapter of Carroll's "Spacetime and Geometry" and thus far I am amazed at how clear it is. Sure there is a lot of math in it however that also is very clearly explained. In fact, I think that Carroll explains the differential geometry material better than any mathematician has in any book on the subject. If you want to learn general relativity, there is no getting around the math; sooner or later you'll have to learn it. I'd suggest, especially if you are self-studying the subject, to rather pick up this book and go through it than pick up a more "elementary" text and a book on Riemannian geometry to look at later.

(Although I do also highly recommend Kay's (Schaum outline) "Tensor Calculus" for self study. The prima donnas don't like Kay's book because it "doesn't have enough theory." I suppose if a freshman calculus book does not have the Lebesgue integral defined in ti they'll complain about that too.)

Because, you can always skip through certain sections if the math is too heavy and go back through it later. And like I wrote earlier, you won't find a better introduction to the mathematical material than here.

Carroll should be given the Nobel prize for this book. If not in Physics, then in literature. I'd give this textbook 10 stars if I could.

Julia Carroll's fascinating book is a journey through a gifted healer's world. We travel with her deep into the inner terrain of the body-being, high into the multi-dimensional realms of spiritual guidance and assistance, and around the world in her quest to learn and to serve those called to her for healing. All along the way, we are touched by the people her healing hands and heart have touched. Carroll also shares with the reader healing secrets learned from many traditions, but it is the stories of her work with specific clients that reveal to us her greatest secret: her total surrender to and trust in the healing power of Grace.

In this life, Julia Carroll signs on to be a Master Healer. Her personal journey into the world of spirit and the realities of modern medicine initiate the reader into the both the possibilities and dangers of the qwest. Time and again Julia summons forth deep inner courage and spiritual wisdom to make tough choices, often life and death decisions - sometimes her own. The book left me feeling that the life of a healer is a precarious one at best-full of tests of faith, courage and grace.It also left me marveling over the divine protection available to each of us when we finally commit to our gifts and doing God's work.

When I finished reading the book, I turned to the blank pages at the back and chronicled many coincidences, divine protection and amazing experiences that I too have encountered along the way. The book was not just an autobiography, but a well thrown grenade made to shake me up and make me think beneath the surface of my own life.

Thanks to Julia for openly and generously sharing healing secrets from various traditions in the final chapters of the book and for connecting the dots through the use of case studies to some of the psychologial cords that bind our lives and influence our health and well-being.I also appreciate Julia's sharing her spiritual life and the amazing student/ teacher relationship she treasures so deeply.

The subject of the complexities of karmic ties, other dimension, psychic and intuitice experiences, spiritual masters is not an easy one to tackle.

Julia, through her personal story, does a formidable job of opening us up to other realities and ways of connecting and healing. She gives us a new language to use, a reference point from which to launch a more vibrant and conscious life.

It is an exciting autobiography, inconceivable at times, leaving me breathless and grateful that I haven't had to face all of Julia Carroll's trials - yet!

Sheela Hewitt, Seimei Practitioner and Healer

Julia Caroll is unique in her connection with nature - especially animals! I have yet to meet anyone on this planet that has initiated dolphins into Reiki. Wow! What a service to this place we call earth.

Dr. Patrick Price, DC, BD
"THE BODY DETECTIVE"

Julia Carroll is the real thing. In her book she has a world of spiritual information to offer, whether you have already encountered the healing art of Reiki in your life or you are seeking knowledge of this ancient, tried, and true practice. The benefits are clear, as is her writing and recommendations. Reading this book makes you aware that you are encountering a Master who with joy and love seamlessly presents a path that is open to everyone. Dive in.

I know Julia Carroll to be a gifted healer. I am delighted that she is passing on her rich legacy reflecting a lifetime devoted to healing. Her presentation is unique and she offers a whole panorama of modalities which she has both developed and mastered. This is a must read book for anyone interested in the healing arts.

This book is a must read for anyone interested in the inner qualities of our nation's most well-known and respected figures and the lesser-known, who were the people who shaped our country. From the early settlers and our founding fathers to people of the present, this book offers a touching and rewarding look into the lives of people during war, hardships, family life, and many other aspects of life. Letter writing truly reveals the inner part of ourselves. A wonderful book!

Andrew Carrol writes an intresting novel compiled of historic letters in various stages of our Nations history. Whether they are from prominent, well known people, or lesser known, yet just as important members of our society, they keep us enthralled.

I'm 24 years old, young enough not to have lived through many of our Nations defining moments, but when I read these letters (and the helpful notes by the author!) it made me feel as though I knew exactly what was going on. Mr. Carrol did an excellent job, and I've let many others read this novel!

~Gina

This book is one of the best investments I've made over the past year (I typically buy 3-4 books a month). I teach - and am passionate about - American History at the high school level. I discovered this book on Amazon and purchased it out of curiosity and a desire to add to my stash of "primary sources." What a great find! The letters are grouped thematically, not chronologically, and offer a great mix of subjects, authors, and viewpoints. While my primary motivation for purchasing this book was its potential use as a classroom source/reference, it proved an interesting "read," as well. History really comes alive, as do the "players" and events, through reading correspondence. While these letters were not necessarily intended for public consumption, it allows for real insight into the past, and into the psyche of the people who have helped to shape our country. Each letter is "set up" for the reader with an introduction explaining the context in which the letter was written. There are also "postscripts" to let the reader know what took place after the letter (a "conclusion," so to speak). Thank you, Mr. Carroll - it's obvious that a lot of work (and editing!) was expended here for the benefit of your readers!

This book is easy to read and interesting. The editors notes in front of and behind almost every letter really make the book that little bit more. I found all of the letters interesting and many of them quite moving. Many of the letters illuminated subjects about which i was familiar but did not know that little part of the story. I recommend this book for any and every one. You do not have to be American (although much of the information is perhaps from an American perspective) to feel the things that are brought forth by the reading of these letters.

What a fantastic book. The letters I've read have brought voices to America's past. It's like reading a hundred stories in one book. For me, it's been an emotional read. The voices of people-slaves,soldiers, presidents and mothers that helped shaped our nation are still ringing in my ears. I'm recommending this to all my friends. A great trip though history.

Wow, I loved this book. I remember reading an excerpt from it somewhere online several months ago and I was so engrossed in it that I finally had to buy the book recently. And I was not disappointed - the entire book was incredibly easy and engaging to read. The only minor exception was that the last third of the book kind of got away from what made the book so interesting the first 2/3, but overall I would still give the book five stars without a thought. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed reading a book as much as I did this one.

the only few words i can use to describe this book is that it was a truly....inspirational and fantastic read. great book, i was so engrossed in it that i finished it in two days. runners and non runners alike can enjoy it. running for women has come a long way. i have read it once and will read it again. go ahead people buy it....you will never regret having this book in your collection.

As a woman born in 1980, I really had never grasped the concept of what the generation before my birth had done. I never really understood what the world believed about the abilities of women. Katherine Switzer's story is powerful and amazing. I'm so glad I could grow up believing that I could do anything. The book is well written and powerful.

This was hands down one of the most inspiring running books I've ever read. Kathrine's foresight into the sport of running amazes me - we can thank her not only for bringing the women's marathon to the 1984 Olympic games but also for today's modern marathon "comforts" that didn't exist when she first hit the streets of Boston.
I read this while training for a marathon and her story kept me going during those long and painful runs. This book is a must-read for any runner, male or female.

If ever there was a real-life Wonder Woman, it's Kathrine Switzer...whose brave pursuit and promotion of running events have benefitted countless millions who want to similarly express their joy for the sport. This fun-to-read, fascinating autobiography beautifully communicates the voice of its author: enthusiastic, funny, passionate. It's a must-read for marathoners and entertaining for anyone else who's ever shared in the excitement of witnessing and/or participating in a sporting event.

I dare anyone to read this book and not be changed.

No one has Hilton's power of drawing a reader into the mind and heart of an ordinary bloke. I don't know how he does it; why do I care so much about his characters? He knows how to help the reader to sincerely CARE ABOUT a character, and therefore even his fellow man.

The twist and twist of the plot and timeline can be challenging at times, but well worth the effort.

And I thought the book was absolutely great BEFORE I read the last page!

(BTW, don't confuse this great book with the mediocre chickflick movie of the same name, and I don't recommend watching the movie first, as it might spoil some of the suspense.)

I had first seen the wonderfully sentimental movie, which is one of my favorites.

The book is not so sentimental. In reading the book, I was unprepared for how well-depicted would be the pain of the protagonist's psychological plight, how thought-provoking this book would be about society, and how much an individual could realistically be shown to be at a loss - no matter his external circumstances.

This is very much about someone who senses that once his life had meaning to him, and he had happily occupied a niche in the world - and can't rediscover it. The author is so wonderful in conveying this desperation.

Mr. Hilton also wonderfully conveys the highs and lows of both the well-born establishment, and the utterly displaced, of inter-war England.

And amazingly, he brilliantly evokes the wonderfully dreamy feeling of being in love. The scenes in which Smitty finds the small town, climbs up to the small lake in the hills, what he sees when he awakens, and the following several days, must be among the most moving in fiction.

I also love how the author shows the differences in personality between the earnest, sweet, easily alarmed, humble Smitty and the somewhat cynical, immensely able, practical-joking, self-deprecating Rainier - much of the difference seems engendered by the way they're treated and their places in life.

I love how subtly the author shows Mrs. Rainier's reaction to Rainier's discoveries - it's just brilliantly done. And the book's ending could not be more satisfying.

This is a more thought-provoking book than Goodbye Mr. Chips - and as much as I enjoyed that, this is a better one. I loved this as much as Hilton's So Well Remembered - which is high praise.

This completes the trilogy of classic James Hilton novels (the other two being "Lost Horizon" and "Goodbye Mr. Chips") which were all made into movies during Hollywood's Golden Era. It is the lesser known of the three novels, although Random Harvest is his most complete work.

The story is a romance, a mystery, a critque on England's class structure, and a parable. Hilton uses the lost years of Charles Rainier as a methaphor for the lost years of the 1920/1930's when England failed to prepare for the next war. Told in flashbacks and bookended by World War I and World War II, the resolution is only revealed in its final sentence that will shock you and change everything that you have just read & thought you understood. You will go back and re-read the book as your perception of all the characters are altered by the surprise ending.

Two cautions: First, see the 1942 Ronald Coleman/ Greer Garson movie AFTER reading the book to see how the ending is handled. Second, the opening few pages are set in an England and of a time that will be unfamiliar to most Americans, but if one continues on, the reader will be deeply rewarded. The ability to be surprised is a rare gift and Hilton delivers.

Random Harvest is my all-time favorite story. It might well be called The Wonderful Story or The Beautiful Story. Who hasn't read James Hilton's Good-buy Mr. Chips or Lost Horizon? This book, in my view, is his best work. It was this work that convinced me Hilton had to be a mystic although I don't know that. I do know that on one level, the earthy one, this is the best romantic novel I've ever read. On another level, social or historical, the work is a bringer of hope- written during WWII about WWI and ending on the eve of WWII the story speaks directly to our own uncertain post 911 era. But most importantly this is a work of spiritual completion. It can be read as the story of two people, or for Jungians in particular the coniunctio (union of opposites), the reconciling of the male and female within each of us, and in another context the "Marriage Feast of the Lamb"... This is, indeed, "The Wonderful Story."

A magnificently engrossing story that takes place over several years and including many twists and turns that make it difficult to write a review that does not give away too much of the plot. It starts with a war injury that brings amnesia induced loss of identity to our main character. The life that he builds from scratch is washed away when a car accident brings back his earlier memory, while losing the memory of his most recent life and identity. The two identities are quite dissimilar making it most difficult for the love of his second life to trace him once again to where he has built an entire life upon his early roots. The clash of his two identities and what he does with the women from both his lives is the crux of the book. Both his lives are truly worthwhile and if only there were a way to combine the best of both parts - but impossible to go back . . . the eventual answer is one of the most breathtakingly satisfying conclusions of all time.

James Hilton's (Goodbye Mr. Chips, Lost Horizon) greatest novel. A romance for the ages. If still possible for you, this is one time the book should definitely be digested before the movie (also great but substantially different).

Terry Carroll's collection sits on my coffee table and has been enjoyed by virtually everyone who has thumbed through it. The beautiful photographs celebrate life with a variety of people and places from all over the world. The relationships depicted are also varied, from fleeting, captured moments, to expressions of enduring friendship and love. The effect is often sweet, but never sappy. The photos themselves are well composed, and professional, but also possess a candid, "everyday" quality. For me, it is this balance that helps make "Relationships" so accessible and enjoyable.

Terry Carroll's book is a fascinating collection of photographs capturing the variety and mystery of human relationship. His black and white photos have the look and appeal of old-style journalism as if the photographer happened upon a scene at the exact perfect moment. Each image is accompanied by a title that hints at a deeper story inviting the viewer to wonder at these relationships. We notice a subtle body language, expressive emotion in faces and are finally drawn into the background where the details continue to intrigue. When I leave this book on my coffee table I notice people pick it up to flip through it and end up absorbed. For this reason I would especially recommend the book for waiting rooms where there will be the opportunity to return to it again and again for something new always seems to be revealed.

In these times of economic distress compounded by global terrorism and domestic strife, Terry Carroll's book of photographs, "Relationships", transcends our world's hard edge with a delightful account of humanity's richer side. Terry Carroll gives the viewer an almost magical encounter between himself and his subjects. Laced with humor, insight and masterful timing, "Relationships" is a must get for one's own pleasure in addition to being a wonderful gift for family and friends.
Nicholas Pavloff, photographer

I keep Terry Carroll's "Relationships" book on the coffee table in the lobby of my real estate office. Everybody who looks at it gets a faraway look on their face as they page through the images -- a look both wistful and dreamy. Terry's images, the glimpses inside of lives outside our own, leave us feeling somehow entirely unique yet connected by a strong common thread to the rest of our world. Everybody closes the book with a smile -- a calm and appreciative smile for work well done, and for a moment of joy.

I have this book on my desk and every day I smile when I look at the photograph on the front cover. The book draws you into the life stories of many people you will never personally know but somehow can relate to as the artist captures their joy, pain, boredom, rapture, anger and guilt. Terry Carroll has carefully sequenced the photos and coupled them in a way that the whole book can be enjoyed as a travelogue of countries and of moods. This book exudes love of humanity. Give it as a gift to lift one's spirit.

Just finished reading it (little hard to find copy) and once again Colin Wilson doesn't disappoint. I'm truly amazed at the amount of research the author put in. Recommended to readers who like true crime.
There are others who have said the same thing but Wilson's perspective makes all the difference.

I bought my initial copy of this book almost 30 years ago. I am drawn to re-read it every four to five years and everytime, am overwhelmed by the effortless blending of research and information into an exceptionably readable style. An academic myself, I know how difficult it is to explain complex ideas in simple terms, so I salute Colin Wilson for his fluid style and readability.

Essentialy, Mr Wilson's argument asks: "Can people be bad?" His discussion and evidence suggests firmly that, yes, people can be; which negates the "Nature Vs Nurture" debate which has raged steadily for so many years. His annecdotal examples support his hypothsis in a believable and compelling manner. I find this a facinating insight into the pychological make up of the distanced person, who views their fellow human almost as an abstract, whilst thinking: "As I am above this, I shall and can, do as I please."

A truly insightful study into the human mind and its depths. Essential reading for anyone who has ever wondered about the fundamental nature of humankind.

if you have ever read anything by colin wilson (certainly youve read "the outsider") then definetly read this book. The things this book can teach us about society and humanity is unparalelled in a 'simple' true crime fashion. One of our centuries greatest philosophers has an intriguing view on many things, yet quite often you will find yourself agreeing with much of what he says about us all.

I had read only one book by Colin Wilson ("The Outsider", of course) when I found a paperback in a used-book store. There followed a month of fairly intense reading, because "A Criminal History of Mankind" is fascinating from beginning to end, and many sections I read over again. Wilson divides the book into three main sections: 1) The Psychology of Human Violence 2) A Criminal Outline of History 3) The Age of Mass Murder. In the first section, Wilson notes that criminal actions have been motivated by the "hierarchy of needs":food, shelter, sex, and the need for admiration. (In recent years, we have seen those who commit murder in order to gain fame.) Wilson describes what he calls the "right man", a sociopath obsessed with image and self-esteem. Most of these people are life's losers, but not all. A startling exception is the successful comic actor Peter Sellers, whose son's biography shows Sellers to have been almost criminal in his manic, morbidly obsessive nature. The second section is, by Wilson's own admission, H.G. Wells' "Outline of History" from a criminal point of view, everything from ancient Athens to Victorian London. Interestingly, Wilson writes: "This book is centrally concerned with crime; but if we ignore the creativity, we shall not only fail to understand the crime: we shall miss the whole point of human history." The third section goes into our own era, the Bundys, the DeSalvos, the Mansons. Wilson spends a full 50 blood-drenched pages on the Mafia. The book, published in 1984, touches only briefly on the disturbing increase of children who kill. Along with the horrors, there are pages of incisive philosophy: "It is true that we cannot live without an ego; a person without an ego is little more than an idiot. Another name for ego is personality, and in artists, saints, and philosophers, the personality is a most valuable tool. Neither St Francis nor Beethoven nor Plato would have achieved much impact without their personalities. But the personality is a dangerous servant, for it has a perpetual hankering to become the master. Every time we are carried away by irritation or indignation, personality has mastered us."Violence will always be with us. A casual glance at yesterday's New York Times finds the coverage of a man who threw his baby from a 15-story window while bickering with his wife. But Wilson ends his riveting book with cautious optimism: Referring to the criminal as a distortion of humanity, he writes (and quotes the German poet Novalis) that when humanity itself is aware that this is only a nightmare, we are close to awakening.

The title is misleading... this is a work far beyond criminal history. It is comprehensive history and philosophical work... it is Colin Wilson at his best... and as always difficult to find but easy to read.

It startd out as just another run-away investigation. A pretty Paiute girl, sick of her life on the reservation, heads to Hollywood hoping to make it rich in the sex trade. Private detective Jack Lifey won't make her go home to the abuse she faced there, but he does want to talk to her, make sure she's following her own plans.

The invetigation is only one of Jack's problems. His daughter is shot in a drive-by shooting, his girlfriend police detective Gloria Ramirez is havin problems with their relationship and Jack can't seem to get away with his impossible wish to save everyone, even if they don't want to be saved.

Author John Shannon writes a moving tale that goes far beyond a simple mystery. Jack Lifey is a perfect everyman, but also a man who maintains his hope no matter what. The Los Angeles setting comes to life, whether Jack is patrolling the lowest sewers of the porn business or visiting the homes of the elite in Malibu or nearby Rancho Mirage. Fans of Jack Lifey will want to grab DANGEROUS GAME fast. If you're new to John Shannon, you're in for a treat

Whether you're someone who has followed Jack Liffey from his first appearance in print, or a lucky reader who just found this mystery series, you are sure to become a lasting fan. John Shannon brings this character to life with creative writing excellence. Readers are not only caught up in the life and loves of Jack Liffey and his daughter, Maeve, but are colorfully transported in each John Shannon novel through the historic streets of the greater Los Angeles area. This latest John Shannon thriller, "Dangerous Games," keeps the reader emotionally involved from the first chapter through to the exciting end of the read. Don't miss this book. It is John Shannon's best, so far.

First and foremost, Shannon's "Dangerous Games" is a good story well told. The relationships among the ongoing cast of characters continue to unfold around a plot that accelerates to a satisfying conclusion.

Equally importantly, Shannon captures the complexity and contradictions of Los Angeles in a way few writers have. He sees what an ugly and shallow place it can be, and yet still clearly loves it. He recognizes what a magnet it is to the rootless, yet is grounded in its history. He understands what a sprawling megalopolis this place is, yet knows that most of us live in neighborhoods, each with its own character. And, he understands the effects the climate and topography have on our lives. The final scenes, for example, are set in the middle of a Santa Ana condition, so that the edgy danger of the winds and even the color and light in the sky almost become characters themselves.

A good story with a strong sense of place. If you're in L.A. read it before October, when the Santa Anas kick in.

John Shannon's books just keep getting better and better. He's a writer who is not afraid to walk around on the wild side of the brain.

Some books are like candy: you read them, find them delicious, and then hope they didn't leave you too fat or too lame.

Other books are like haggis: they're interesting and intriguing. You like to read about them and you would have liked to have experienced them yourself so you could tell people about them, but when you actually get one in front of you, you don't really want to taste it. Get this thing away from me!

Shannon's books are like a good pastrami sandwich on rye: complex, fun to read, delicious. They fill your brain with wonderful flavors, and--when you are done--you can argue endlessly with your friends about whether this one was as good as the last one and about whether there is a better one out there somewhere or not.

This is a great book. All the books in this series are excellent. They'll keep you pasted to your couch for sure. And they will engage your brain, not just vaguely pass through it as so many mysteries do. All I can say is order one, let the mailman bring it to your table, and sit back and enjoy. I don't recommend you put mustard on it...but to each her own.

This has to be the best book I have read in years. the dialogue is so real you would think you were standing on the corner of Soto and Brooklyn talking to the people that hang out there. I started this and could not put it down until I finished. Shannon is getting better and better.

This deliciously irresistible work by Man Martin created a magical community with such finely drawn characters that you wish they were real--all of them. It is rare to find a book where every character delights--even the seamy ones. You almost expect (and certainly wish) to be able to give Earl a call when your car takes a turn for the worst, when you crave green eggs and ham, or when you suffer a bad fall. You suffer when hearts break but are amazed at the resilience of the human spirit. Sly humor or frank laughter bubbled throughout the book. I carried this book everywhere so I could sneak in just a few more minutes of reading and I longed for more when it was done. Then I went and bought extra copies to give as gifts so I would not lose my own copy. Bravo, Man Martin--the pleasure of Deepstep lingers still. How lucky we would be to live where such sweetness and humor are paired with great enduring love.

Reading the new book, Days of the Endless Corvette, was like curling up in a big ol' comfy easy chair in front of the fireplace at a cozy inn. I couldn't wait to see what happened on each subsequent page, and I felt truly connected to the cast of eccentric country characters. Man Martin's words convey sweet charm, sly humor, and fascinating philosophy. His style is unique and at times downright hilarious. More than a few times, I scared the wits out of my dogs when I broke into shrieks of spontaneous and loud laughter... You really MUST read this book!

The town I grew up in was not exactly like Man Martin's Deepstep, Georgia. For one thing, it was in Kentucky. For another, it was certainly much bigger (small as it was) than Deepstep. But it was populated with people who can best be described as "characters," in the can-you-believe-what-he/she-just-did? sense, and at times it seemed that the swirling morass of often unusually directed energy was without purpose except to keep everyone in place for all time, as though they'd been hit with cosmic hairspray.

The main characters of Days of the Endless Corvette are at the center of just such a vortex. Earl is a mechanic with an intuitive ability to repair close to anything and even wind up with parts to spare. He thinks he could harvest enough left over parts to build a Corvette from nothing. Ellen is curious, well read and thoughtful in a way that makes most of Deepstep uncomfortable. She gave up a lot to have her daughter, including Earl. They are in love, but they can't be together.

But Martin handles this with such easy grace that the story aches but does not hurt. Some might find this a bit too sentimental or easy, but that misses the larger point. True to small towns (and to most people wherever they live, I would venture), the folks who populate Days of the Endless Corvette are most all decent people who are doing the best they can. With two notable exceptions, there are no people in the book out to bring down Earl either through malice or indifference. Instead, Earl's greatest struggle is with himself: he must learn to live with disappointment.

The story's narrator is a bit of a curiosity, too, and Martin knows it, having the narrator feign outrage at one point that the reader might doubt his veracity. He is, however, at the only place in the story where the paths of Earl and Ellen consistently cross, and then only in tangent.

Forrest Gump meets Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance with a southern twang. OK, you literatis probably wonder what I mean by this. The protagonist is awkward, introverted but talented mechanically, and he lives in a world of ideas to replace the human element that he finds so stressful. His star-crossed love object broke his heart (and mine) when she marries a dumb jock because of pregnancy, while the protagonist is still working on second base. The references to southern living are refreshing in that they don't depend on bigotry or center around food.
This was a captivating story and an enjoyable summer read, notwithstanding that it was the author's first novel, which for other persons has sometimes resulted in a product only a mother could love. This first novel has appeal to all, and indicates the author has a good future.

Meet one of the most endearing protagonists since Huck Finn: Earl Mulvaney, the small-town Southern hero of Man Martin's debut novel. Have your box of Kleenex handy for Earl's heartbreaking obstacles as he cares for his mother, pursues his Corvette dreams, and woos his childhood sweetheart. Yet Martin's novel combines tragedy and comedy, and you will laugh out loud plenty. In short, your spouse is going to think either you're drunk or going through "the change" while you read the book, but your book club will understand. (And yes, you should read Days of the Endless Corvette with a few friends; it is a novel to share.) Earl's got to put his dreams into action among idiosyncratic small-town Southern characters you'd swear were real--they're that funny. The population of Humble County includes a mechanic who believes that cars evolved from fish and a trailer-restaurant owner who cleverly bypasses the county's alcohol and hunting restrictions. Another town resident endlessly pines for a lost love, not the wife who left him, but the dog she took with her, Digger. Whether this cast is chasing down bees or putting out various fires, the book's wise and winking narrator loves a good joke, so humor scatters down almost every page. Yet Martin's playful and innovative technique doesn't sacrifice soul, which makes this a novel for all lovers of great Southern literature.

Days of the Endless Corvette is in part about bringing a hero from boyhood to manhood, but along the way, it touches on everything from Schrodinger's cat to Civil War treasure. The novel is also about lovingly sharing stories, of the meaningful transformation storytelling brings. One of the characters tells his son, "If you love what you do, every day is like a vacation." Reading the book, you will know that you are in good hands, that the author loves what he does, and that you and he are taking a wondrous ride together.

An incredible look into the heart and soul of America as it really was in the 30's & 40's. Written with perfect passion and honesty like never before or since. READ THIS BOOK!

There are very few novels that have knocked me out of my chair as consistently as this one. Thompson's writing may seem crude to the uninitiated, but one cannot resist being swept up by his delightful tapestry of slang which peppers some of the most captivating prose I've ever read. It's about life in America, in it's underwear, up way past its bedtime, broke, beaten up, bombed out of its skull, with a tenacious hope running through it all like a river. No heterosexual American male in his right mind will be able to put this book down, and none should miss the chance to read it.

Hi,
I love his work and am looking for any information on Earl Thompson, i.e., where he died and how, family, etc. Anyone out there with any info can contact me at dpollock@adelphia.com.
Thanks,
Donald Ray Pollock

He could have given us more books like Garden. Yes, the topics are a little off-kilter and the language a little rough, but the man could write! In my own opinion, Thompson belongs on the shelf next to Hemingway and Steinbeck as an American treasure.

When the smoke of obscenity trials cleared in the 1960s, publishers were free to print well known novels like Joyce's Ulysses, Miller's Tropic of Cancer and Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover. The new freedom to write about sexually explicit topics subsequently led not only to a spate of sexploitaton novels such as Grace Metalious's Peyton Place and Harold Robbins's Carpetbaggers but also to a handful of honest, forthright novels that focused on men and women in their teens and twenties, including Thompson's Garden of Sand, Agnar Mykle's Lasso Round the Moon, and R. V. Cassill's Pretty Leslie. The sexual frankness of these novels so overshadowed their merit that they were doomed to a sniggering relegation to the back shelf. It is time to redeem them. I doubt any American writer, including Mark Twain and J. D. Salinger, has ever got inside the head of an adolescent young man more than Thompson in Garden of Sand and Tattoo. There is sex, yes, but also the ethos and the degradation of poverty and the wild hopes and expectant dreams of people without money, privilege, or an Ivy League education. Clearly, Thompson lovingly worked and reworked his writing, piling up detail upon detail, observation upon observation, all of which results in a novel much like a Breughel painting: having naturalistic characteristics but an elegaic tone. He reminds us of what growing up REALLY was like.