Roberts Books


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Roberts Books sorted by Average customer review: high to low .

Roberts
The General Care and Maintenace of Bearded Dragons
Published in Paperback by Advanced Vivarium Systems (1993-09)
Authors: Philippe De Vosjoli and Robert Mailloux
List price: $11.50
New price: $9.65
Used price: $0.94

Average review score:

Amazingly Helpful
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2001-06-17
This book is amazing!! I bought it about two weeks before my parents bought me a bearded dragon. It told me everything i need to know. It tells you everything about making terrariums and what to feed them. It also has sections on breeding and general information on the different species. This is a must buy if you are planning to raise a bearded dragon.

I LOVE THIS BOOK
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2001-06-14
I bought this book when my parents bought me a baby bearded dragon. this has everything you need to know about raising dragons. it tells you all the feeding instructions and it also has an extensive list of diseases and ailments and there respective symptoms. it tells you all about how to create a good terrarium. it also has information on breeding and overall care of the dragons. this is an amazing book and i would recommend it to anyone that is looking to buy a bearded dragon.

Response to "A Reader From Sweden"
Helpful Votes: 7 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2002-04-13
what do you expect...this book was written by a man who breeds bearded dragons and it is a book about bearded dragons. It is a wonderful book and tells you everything you need to know about keeping a bearded dragon whether you are breeding them or not. I personally own a 1 year old dragon, and this has been like the bible to me. Whenever something is wrong i consult this book and it will always have the answer you need. All the other books are written by herpotologists who have never actually owned, bred, or loved a bearded dragon. This book is amazingly helpful and comes from a person who knows what he is doing. I would recommend it to anyone who is planning on owning and loving a bearded dragon.

Excellent
Helpful Votes: 7 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2001-08-14
This is a very through book on the care and maintenance of Bearded Dragons. It is excellent for the beginer lizard keeper. I highly recommend this book if you want to take good care of your Bearded Dragon(s).It contains information on their diet, vivarium design, and other very useful information. It is one of the most reliable reptile books I have read.

Not a very useful book
Helpful Votes: 8 out of 13 total.
Review Date: 2001-11-28
I don't like this book at all, the authors only writes about keeping the bearded dragons in big outdoor vivariums, and not about having just 1-3 bearded dragons as pets.

Very little information about feeding, housing and everything you really want to know. The authors also doesn't seem to think about the bearded dragons as pets, to cuddle with and have fun with, but only as something you can breed.

I almonst never read or look in this book, and I regret that I bought it.

I rekommend Liz Palikas book "Your Bearded Dragon's Life" and the book "The guide to a owning a BD" by David Zoffer and Tom Mazorlig instead!

Roberts
Hollywood Bad Boys : Loud, Fast, and Out of Control
Published in Paperback by McGraw-Hill (2002-06-10)
Author: James Robert Parish
List price: $14.95
New price: $1.50
Used price: $0.01

Average review score:

Getting Past the Tabloids
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2002-10-04
Hollywood has a long history of bad boys as this fascinating book shows. Bad behavior is as old as Hollywood,but this book is not a simple recap of tabloid stories. It gives an interesting background to the actors' careers, their missteps, and the consequences of their bad behavior. It can also serve as a cautionary book. So much of the bad behavior is a result of booze and/or drugs and in many cases derailed or destroyed very promising careers. I would definitely recommend this book.

Parish is a living, breathing, show biz encyclopedia
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2002-08-05
He not only gathers information that would otherwise require assistance from the CIA or NSA, he disseminates it in a lively, juicy, easy-to-read manner. He bridges the gap between researchers and the everyday yahoo who wants to know the most salacious details of Hollywood royalty acting like the pampered, indulgent maniacs they often are. One would expect this kind of all-encompassing, zippy, definitive collection from Parish, who has mastered this form, and he does not disappoint.

Getting Past the Tabloids
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2002-10-04
This is a fascinating look at Hollywood history. Bad behavior is as old Hollywood and bad boys go back to the earliest days. But this is not a simple recap of tabloid stories; this is an indepth look the backgrounds and careers of these bad boys. It also traces the consequences of this bad behavior. The book could also serve as a cautionary tale; much of this bad behavior is the result of booze and/or drugs and in many cases derailed or completely destroyed promising careers. I recommend this highly interesting book.

A GOOD READ ABOUT BAD BOYS
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2006-03-27
THIS IS A GOOD READ ABOUT SOME OF THE BAD BOYS OF HOLLYWOOD. AMONG THE MALE ACTORS COVERED ARE BEN AFFLECK, JAMES DEAN, DEAN MARTIN AND BURT REYNOLDS. THE STORIES ARE 4-5 PAGES BUT ARE PACKED WITH DETAILED INFO CONCERNING DRUGS, DRINKING AND SEXUAL BEHAVIOR THAT WILL SHOCK ALOT OF PEOPLE. I REALLY ENJOYED THIS WELL WRITTEN AND INTERESTING BOOK. I HAVE ALSO READ HOLLYWOOD BOOK OF SCANDALS BY THIS AUTHOR AND ENJOYED BOTH VERY MUCH. IF YOU ARE CURIOUS ABOUT THE SCANDAL CONCERNING THE SO CALLED STARS OF HOLLYWOOD THEN THIS IS FOR YOU. VERY RECOMMENDED.

"Bad Boys Bound Between Covers"
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2002-12-15
What do Charlie Chaplin, W. C. Fields, and Dean Martin have in common? In addition to passing away on Christmas Day in their respective years of death, all 3, along with 67 others, appear in
"Hollywood Bad Boys," from the prolific pen of James Robert Parish. From Ben Affleck to Gig Young (Oscar winners both), you get a succint account of the lives (and, in 37 cases, the deaths) of the notables and the wannabes, that, for better or worse, made the American entertainment industry what it is today.
If you like E!'s "True Hollywood Story" and "Mysteries and Scandals," you'll love "Hollywood Bad Boys."

Roberts
How Humans Evolved
Published in Paperback by W. W. Norton & Company (1999-12)
Authors: Robert Boyd and Joan B. Silk
List price: $77.40
New price: $52.00
Used price: $0.86

Average review score:

Excellent Overview Of Human Evolution
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-23
Boyd & Silk do an excellent job of covering the broad expanse of human evolution. The examples, explanations, illustrations and periodic anecdotes are very well-organized and cogent. I especially enjoyed the coverage of opposing points of view and the pros/cons for each.
The one thing I was in disagreement over though was their inclusion of Koko as an example of how gorillas can be taught human language skills (in this case American Sign Language). It's been observed that at least some of what Koko appeared to be communicating via signing was the result of unconscious nonverbal prompting on the part of Francine Patterson, hence why many linguists are skeptical of using Koko as an example of animal use of ASL.
Besides that (which the authors may just simply have not known about) the book is INCREDIBLY well-researched and honest in it's examination of modern-day evolutionary theory. Highly recommended for anyone interested in evolution, biology or anthropology.

Best Textbook in a long time!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-21
This textbook perfectly outlines each chapter. The author states the important points before going into depth. If you find yourself reading a textbook for class and having to re-read over and over again because you keep zoning out, this book really helps. I found it to be very interesting and a helpful study tool.

Excellent
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-05-06
Presents material in an interesting, concise, and easy-to-read format - excellent choice for biological/physical anthropology students!

Excellent Text!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-10-12
This is a textbook that I actually enjoyed reading from cover to cover. It is an excellent introduction to evolution, primatology, and anthropology. Highly recommended for either the undergrad or the layman.

Terrific introduction to the study of human evolution
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2007-03-17
This is a terrific introduction (a textbook) to human evolution. It is written in a very accessible fashion--not just students but those in the larger public interested in the mechanism and products of human evolution will find this a useful volume.

The first part, of course, focuses on the evolutionary process, with a nice introduction to adaptation by natural selection and to genetics. Other introductory chapters introduce readers to the nature of species, phylogeny, and the synthetic theory of evolution. The discussion is well written and understandable. There are many examples to illustrate key points.

The next section explores primate evolution and behavior, to provide context for understanding human evolution and behavior. The chapter on the evolution of primate social behavior is especially helpful. Next, the authors take a look at the evolutionary lineage of humans, from primates to early hominids, to the genus Homo, to Homo sapiens. The text goes on to examine how language evolved, as well as evolution in modern humans (e.g., genetic diversity, the human life cycle, human behavior, and mate choice and parenting).

All in all, a nice introduction to the study of human evolution. Well worth taking a look at. . . .

Roberts
If They Mated
Published in Paperback by Hyperion Books (Adult Trd Pap) (1995-11)
Authors: Robert Smigel, Andy Richter, Louis C. K., Ned Goldreyer, Michael Gordon, Jonathan Groff, Marsh McCall, Brian Reich, David Reynolds, Dino Stamatopoulos, Michael Stoyanov, and Mike Sweeney
List price: $7.95
New price: $11.77
Used price: $0.70
Collectible price: $10.00

Average review score:

Enter The Cone Zone
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2004-10-14
This book is GREAT! It was all I expected and better. I laughed out loud alot, and the pictures, although in black and white, are hysterical! A great touch is the pictures of Conan and Andy's reactions. This book is a great buy!

What are you waiting for? Go buy it!

Conan Kicks!
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2002-10-06
Conan O'Brien is one of the funniest men alieve and this book proves that!This book evolved from a sketch on the show(one of the best, other than Pimpbot 5000). He and the Late Night Writers are amazing,they come up with so many diffrent sketches that its not even funny. If you have ever wondered what celebrities babies looked like this book is a must have.
HAIL CONAN!

heart,
ivy the barbarian

The Funniest Book Ever!
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2000-10-31
If They Mated is one of my favorite skits on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, so I just had to buy this book. I am glad I did, it is one of the funniest books I've ever read. Even if you never saw the show before, or this skit, I highly recommend getting this book, I guaranty you'll laugh! I would have rated it a 5 but the pictures in the book are grayscale, color would have been much better, but it is still a great book.

He's very funny
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2000-01-27
The book is funny with hilarious pictures and commentaary. In my opinion Conan O'Brien is the best show between the hours of 12:30 AM and 1:30 AM on nbc.

Conan O' Brien-nuff said
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2000-08-15
Ive always loved Conans humor. He is the king of couch humor. A classic comedian. In this book he showcases my favorite, and I think everyone elses too, jokes that he does. IF THEY MATED. Very funny book. Purchase this now.

Roberts
The kid from Tomkinsville (Baseball diamonds)
Published in Paperback by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich (1987)
Author: John Roberts Tunis
List price: $4.95
New price: $4.00
Used price: $0.01

Average review score:

The Kid form Tomkinsville
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2003-04-21
This noevl The Kid from Tomkinsville, is a very interesting book. The author John R. Tunis tells us about Roy Tucker, a young man from Conneticut trying out to play for the Dodgers.

One of the best sports books ever
Helpful Votes: 17 out of 17 total.
Review Date: 2001-07-26
When I was in junior high, I was addicted to reading juvenile sports fiction. Shortly after beginning seventh grade, I went to the alphabetical beginning of the fiction section in the school library and began moving down the alphabet. As I went, I examined the books and read all that were sports related. In a little over two years, I had read every sports fiction book in the collection. Of all those books, the Kid From Tomkinsville was one of the most memorable.
While the background of the 1940's made the presentation difficult for someone in their early teens in the 1960’s, the descriptions of baseball more than made up for it. Roy Tucker is the title character and an excellent pitcher. However, immediately after one of his best games, he slips and cracks his pitching elbow. This finishes him as a pitcher and the main theme becomes his quest to come back as an outfielder.
He is initially very effective and believes success is assured. However, he soon begins to struggle and doubts creep in. The description of all of this is a combination of one of the best baseball stories as well as one of triumph as a combination of talent, hard work and persistence lead to his success. I still remember the scene where his manager comes to his room and tells him the problem is that he is playing for himself and not for his team.
John Tunis is one of the best writers of sports fiction that has ever lived. He makes baseball exciting, even when all the action is taking place off the field. While our society has moved on to a point quite different from the time period of the story, baseball is still a game where strategy, preparation and dedication can triumph over athletic ability. That has not changed, and the descriptions in this book will continue to keep the attention of baseball fans for decades to come.

Great for young sports lovers
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2000-09-26
Like another reviewer, I fell in love with John R. Tunis as a kid. Tunis has great characters and great stories. Perfect for the kid who loves baseball.

Incredible!
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2000-08-08
I was hardly a baseball fan at all when I began this book. Now baseball is one of my greatest loves. This book is terrific! Whether you love baseball or not you'll be pulled in as Roy-the main character-tries to overcome a freak injury and rejoin the Brooklyn Dodgers.

One of the great baseball books
Helpful Votes: 6 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2000-06-10
I read this book the first time back in the mid-80's in high school. I had a burgeoning love of baseball and fell deeply in love with Tunis' works. The point I got from this story is that there is always another door to get to your dream.

Roberts
Larry Gets Lost in Seattle
Published in Hardcover by Sasquatch Books (2007-03-13)
Author: John Skewes and Robert Schwartz
List price: $16.95
New price: $7.95
Used price: $16.90

Average review score:

Alternately Charming, Informative, And Evocative
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-17
This is my 18-month-old son's favorite book at the moment -- despite the fact that he's never visited Seattle, owned a dog, or met anybody named Pete (yet). But you don't have to be a kid to enjoy this tome; it's also the ideal book for anybody with a passing interest in where the Mariners play, what "The Fremont Troll" looks like, and the process by which aesthetically magnificent design & lettering can be married to a punchy and always-compelling travelogue. Highly recommended.

Great Kids (and Adult) book about Seattle
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-29
This book is adorable. The story chronicles a young boy and pup as they explore Seattle. When Larry gets lost the readers are taken on an amazing tour to all of the best sites. The book has fresh artwork and is written in a light. humorous way. The story reads along for small children explain the highlights of the city but for older kids sitting in on story time, or adults who still love this stuff, there are a couple places of extra information that make the book so much fun. Right up there with Click, Clack, Moo!

Pete's quest ends happily and so will your experience reading this book.
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-25
My wife and I visited Seattle this summer and wanted to pick up a local book about the city that we could share with our son (who traveled with us, but in my wife's uterus). The story of Larry and Pete was beautifully illustrated and we enjoyed the extra details about the city imbedded in the story. After spending 4 days in the city, we saw most of the sights detailed in the story-although, unlike Pete, we had a map. The story is endearing on another level because as we welcomed our son into the world this weekend we named him Pete! We are pretty sure that Larry Gets Lost in Seattle is already his favorite book.

Great book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-05
I just saw this book - super cute especially for tykes living in the Seattle area. Great rhymes and my daughter - 20 months - enjoyed it.

We Love Pete and Larry
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-08-28
Great children's book especially if you live in Seattle. My son recognizes some of the pictures! Great fun.

Roberts
The Last Hero (Volume II)
Published in Audio Cassette by Blackstone Audiobooks (2000-01)
Author: Peter Forbath
List price: $56.95
New price: $35.88

Average review score:

one of the best novels ever written and published
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-02-02
this is a great phenomenal saga. an adventure that rarely successfully delivered with a pen. 'the last hero' is a modern classic that should be on your bookshelf with 'lonesome dove', 'brules', 'shantaram', 'the kite runner', stephen hunter's 'point of impact' swagger series, robert ludlum's genuine creations from 'the gemini contender' to 'the matarese circle', all of a. j. quinnelle's novels, all of louis la'mor's westerns....they are all good memories, touched your soul and made your life more vividly colorful.

The Last Hero
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2005-02-02
This book is quite simply amazing. From the first page you are hooked and become an invisible member of the crew hacking your own way through the Ituri Forest. Stanley is brought to life along with many other real-life people, including Tipoo Tib, the slave dealer. Read this book and you will never forget it, the whole atmosphere of unexplored Africa and its hidden tribes will be with you always. The unknown beauty of the Congo River and its people take you into a new world with different standards, different morales and a very different slant on life. The actions of Emin Pasha will move you to tears and the whole experience of this book is one that every person should enjoy.

Historical fiction doesn't get any better than this.
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2002-08-05
Compulsively readable, thrilling story, vivid evocation of darkest Africa and a potrait of Henry Morgan Stanley that leaps right of the page and grabs you by the throat, this story of the insane expedtion to rescue Emin Pasha's people from the conquering dervishes is everything you want a serious book of historical fiction to be. Especially recommended for those interested in the literature of exploration and discovery into land's unkown in the Western world in the 19th century. How many 700+ page books are you sorry to see come to an end? This is such a one. Enjoy.

The Last Hero
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2002-01-12
This awesome novel of exploration into Central Africa during a time of civil unrest is by far one of the best books I have ever read. The characters are well developed and the tale gripping, based on actual historical events, the novel is a must read. Once you pick it up, you will not want to put it down. Since reading this novel, I have acquired all, of the late, Peter Forbath's novels. His vivid detail of the surroundings, the authority figure that demostrates both compassion and understanding as well as harsh punishments, and the intertwining of the characters' lives make this an amazing tale of Central Africa events in the late 1800's.

Wonderfully Written Historic Novel
Helpful Votes: 6 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2000-06-22
The story told in "The Last Hero" is that of Sir Henry Morton Stanley (of "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?" fame, but that's another story) who, in 1885 organized and led a mission to rescue Emin Pasha, governor of Equatoria, the southernmost province of the Egyptian Sudan, which was surrounded by the Mahdist uprising. Amazingly, Stanley decided to approach Equatoria from the Atlantic side of Africa by going up the Congo river and overland through central African forest. The expedition crossed hundreds of miles of then-unknown Africa, encountering every obstacle and difficulty along the way. The eventual end of the mission is one of history's great ironies, but I don't want to give anything away.

"The Last Hero" is a very well-written adventure story, all the more interesting because it is true. My only complaint (a very minor one) concerns the absence of notes and bibliography which could have given some historical documentation and sources.

Another good book is "The River Congo: The Discovery, Exploration and Exploitation of the World's Most Dramatic River" (nonfiction) which is also by Peter Forbath (a journalist who reported on Africa). Henry Morton Stanley was also a bestselling author, he wrote: "How I Found Livingstone" (1872); "Through the Dark Continent" (1878); and "In Darkest Africa" (1890).

Roberts
Letters from the Flesh
Published in Paperback by Robert J. Sawyer Books (2006-04-30)
Author: Marcos Donnelly
List price: $16.95
New price: $8.40
Used price: $7.70

Average review score:

Completely Different
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2005-12-13
'Letters from the Flesh' is the most different SF novel I've read in years. It is full of surprises, and I'm still thinking about it months after reading it. For me, these are very good things.

Delightful little Epistle for us sinners of Corinth :)
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-09-13
I just got a copy of this and it's awesome. A warning, though. This is not a book for the close minded. There are things in this book that will make you THINK. There are those who might even go so far as to call it Blasphemous. If you use the word Blasphemous or don't like to think, I suggest you don't read this. It will only give you a headache. Everyone else - Let's proceed.

It's written on the model of "The Screwtape Letters" until toward the end, where the similarity fades. I got the impression reading this that Mr. Donnelly was channeling Lewis as he wrote, and that CS Lewis had either gone insane in the afterlife or had some ephiphany and in a most entertaining an fulfilling manner.
The Characters are well developed as people. Lillian was deliciously demonic in tone and Luke, my favorite character sounded like someone I had met before, some real flesh and blood person not a character in a book.

The story is concise and well executed, the timing excellent and the plot engaging. The ending took my breath away. Literally. I found a few parts of it confusing, as this book is much more philisophical in my opinion. I can't really explain that, and I suppose it's Lewis' form. If you've read his stuff, you feel like your being taught something subliminally and your wiser at the end for it, but not really sure how or what. Same here. That being said, it is still incredibly entertaining.

I usually don't read fiction, but this I devoured in about 2 hours and couldn't put it down. I can't rave enough about this and am recommending it to everyone I know.

So, what are you waiting for. Buy the book. Trust me, I'm never wrong about these things. :)

Very clever; a fitting debut for Rob Sawyer's new logo
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2004-07-24
This book started a bit slow, as the author set the context in perhaps too much detail, but is well worth perseverance. As the complexities grew, I feared that the author would fall into a common SF weakness of an abrupt, elaborate and unconvincing ending. Fear not; the ends are tied up neatly, and despite a playfulness that may offend some readers, cleverly leaves an opening for (broadminded) Christian beliefs.
Althought this could hardly be called a conventional novel with conventional pot or characters, Donnelly evokes interest in and sympathy for the characters, to the point where I let out a fervent "Oh, no!" at one plot twist.
This book would be excellent fodder for a discussion group.
PS A tip for Donnelly: The consistent repetition of Lilian's annoying e-mail salutation is NOT one of the highlights of the book!

What If?
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2004-07-14
This tale sets a new dimension in science fiction and examines what we think we know about our past, present, and future. Kudos to Marcos Donnelly for giving us a very interesting and original story.

Another excellent read
Helpful Votes: 6 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2004-06-23
It's always a pleasure reading new fiction from Marcos Donnelly and his latest contribution to the SF world is no exception. Following the religious explorations of his first novel (as well as a number of his shorter pieces), Donnelly now turns the reader's eye to the conflict/tensions between science and religion -- in this case, Creationism and evolution -- while paying an endearing homage to C.S. Lewis' THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS in the process.

The book tells its tale through two sets of seemingly unconnected letters: One set from Dr. Lillian Uberland, a biology professor, to her sometimes bull-headed cousin Michael, and the other from Paul of Tarsus (after a fashion) shortly after his conversion on the road to Damascus two thousand years earlier. What emerges from these alternating storylines, apart from brilliant plotting and characterization, is an unrelenting examination of the passions of belief that is certainly refreshing to find in SF, much less the wider world of mainstream fiction.

Intelligent, engrossing, and blazingly (and brazenly) hilarious in parts, LETTERS FROM THE FLESH is a wonderful read through-and-through, and most assuredly does not disappoint.

Roberts
Monkeyluv: And Other Essays on Our Lives as Animals
Published in Paperback by Scribner (2005-09-15)
Author: Robert M. Sapolsky
List price: $14.00
New price: $7.94
Used price: $6.69

Average review score:

Too much fun for such a serious book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-17
No one comes colose to sapolsky in having fun with genetics and evolutionary science. This set of essays is just a blast.

no surprise
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-09
It should come as no surprise that Monkeyluv, as with all of Sapolsky's books, is a masterpiece. There is no better science writer of our day.

Great book about your brain and your body in the world
Helpful Votes: 16 out of 17 total.
Review Date: 2006-08-28
I absolutely LOVED this book! I read it very quickly and had trouble putting it down. It is fascinating, educational, funny, enjoyable and well written about complex issues.

Sapolsky, who is the author of A Primate's Memoir, The Trouble with Testosterone and Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers, is a professor of biology and neurology at Stanford and a recipient of a MacArthur "genius" grant. I found his genius not only to be in his insight and ability to frame questions and pursue their answers, but also to be able to write about it in a way that is accessible to a "nongenius."

This book is a collection of previously published essays that are updated for this edition (the updates include notes for further reading and on source materials). Sapolsky divides the book into three parts ("Genes and Who We Are," "Our Bodies and Who We Are" and "Society and Who We Are") and introduces each section with cogent current thinking on the issues addressed. For example, to introduce the first section, Sapolsky writes about how the nature-nurture argument is a red herring; genes contribute to personality/behavior when the environment interacts with them in ways conducive to gene-induced behavior! For example, in "Of Mice and (Hu)men Genes," Sapolsky writes about genes that may indicate a proclivity for depression, but only in certain environments, and summarizes that the reader should be wary of simple expanations. (And, he asserts, as humans we may have more responsibility to create positive environments that interact benignly with risky genes than to understand which genes cause what.) In the second section's "Why are Dreams Dreamlike?" Sapolsky illustrates how answering some questions about how the brain and psyche function just brings up other, deeper questions.

Sapolsky's illustrations of his points are fascinating and enlightening (and often funny!). In "The Genetic War Between Men and Women," he writes about how the genes from the father of a species have one goal ("greater, faster, more expensive growth") while genes from the mother have another ("countering that exuberance"). The success comes in nature's ability to balance these goals: "The placenta is ... the scene of a pitched battle, with paternally derived genes pushing [the placenta] to invade more aggressively while maternally derived genes try to hold it back." He lists other examples of this balance in humans and other species. This view of nature and how reproduction is nurtured fascinated me and helped me to see things in a new way.

Sapolsky's topics are wide ranging, and the book reminded me a bit of Freakonomics in its tendency to turn its problem-solving focus on whatever issue crossed its path. For example, in the final section, he writes about the differences between the
religions of desert peoples and the religions of tropical peoples -- the former tend to have a single god with miltaristic iterations and few rights for women while the latter tend toward pantheism and matrilocal marital residence. "Most evidence suggests that the rain-forest mind-set is more of a hothouse attribute, less hardy when uprooted." I guess that's evident, but Sapolsky's writings on the topic, again, gave me a new way to look at something I hadn't considered before. In this book, he addresses game theory, gene mapping, musical tastes, gender-communication issues and neurogenesis with wit, clarity and insight.

I recommend this book if you're the least bit curious about your brain, your body, the natural world and the society in which you live.

Fascinating reading, and learn stuff along the way.
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2006-06-05
This guy knocks my socks off. Read him just for pleasure and learn loads while your at it. I find this truly fascinating.

Delightful
Helpful Votes: 7 out of 12 total.
Review Date: 2006-10-16
I have never read anything by Sapolsky before. Now that I have he goes right to the top of my list with Richard Dawkins and Desmond Morris.

Roberts
Murder By Proxy
Published in Hardcover by Rutledge Books (2000-06-30)
Author: Robert Paul Szekely
List price: $23.95
New price: $3.50
Used price: $0.39

Average review score:

Light-hearted Mystery Thriller
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2002-09-21
All the characters in the book are so real, they remind me of a lot of people that I know. From the first sentence to the last, the book keeps you guessing. Will there be a sequel I wonder. I hope so. Lets encourage the author by supporting him. Buy this exciting and humorous book. You'll be glad you did.

You don't know what you are missing!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2002-07-19
It is too bad that a big name critic has not reviewed this book. So many more people would have the opportunity to read this exciting, fun story. Get a copy while it is still available.

A Must-Read !
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2002-06-27
Chapter 13, titled MANSFIELD, is only two pages long, but it is packed with dynamite dialogue and descriptions of the room called THE CLOSET. Do yourself a favor. Read it !

A terrific summer treat !
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2002-06-27
The high-profile Law Firm of Daniels & Rumm, with its wonderful characters like Jacq Daniels, Jarvis Rumm, Marcus Lambrusco, Sherry Weinstein, Gina Collins and Brandy Jones (just to name a few), weaves a wonderful story of suspense and excitement. I enjoyed the names of all the great actors in the book. Get a copy. It's one of a kind!

The First Line::
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2002-06-27
'The curved blade of the knife flashed forward and deep.'
That's the first line in the book...enough to carry you to the second line, and so on. Couldn't put the story down. Scary, but lots of humor, too. Loved it!


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