Wallace Books

This superbly readable almanac has loads of interesting tidbits and narratives, and is as relevant today as when it arrived in the mid-1970's. The authors look at such varied topics as world events, history, science, politics, U.S. Presidents, psychic predictions, religion, authors, sex, inventions, etc. Whatever your taste, there is almost certain to be many things of interest to you in this readable and informative book. The authors also have a properly skeptical view of politicians, politics, and propaganda. You can pick this book up for a couple minutes or for several hours, read it in one long sitting, or use it constantly and briefly as a source of reference. The book should be of keen interest to trivia buffs, and though slightly dated, is very much worth having even in this day of internet information.

The father/son author team of Irving Wallace (1916-1990) and David Wallechinsky wrote easy prose that proved very popular with readers. They followed up this winning 1975 effort with PEOPLE'S ALMANAC Volume 2, plus THE BOOK OF LISTS and THE INTIMATE SEX LIVES OF FAMOUS PEOPLE.

My parents gave me the money for this book when I was in junior high school. I lost it but found another at a used bookstore in Chicago. I still have that copy and refer to it quite often. The epitaphs are my favorite: ("Here lies Lester Moore/four slugs from a .44/No Les/No Moore." or "Here lies Ann Mann/who lived an old maid/but died an Old Mann.") We need a new version to tell us about all that happened in the last 25 years!

When I was 21, I was hit by a car against a building and suffered a mild stroke because of the accident. After my initial recovery, I was not able to read anything longer than a short newspaper story. . .I just couldn't concentrate long enough to retain anything. A dear friend brought me a copy of The People's Almanac. I thought, "Great. . .just what I need. . some book to tell me when the sun will rise and set." What I got was a valuable treasure! I was able to read, comprehend and RETAIN these wonderful articles about EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN! To make a long story short (TOO LATE). . .the information and interest I cultivated from reading this book and the ones that followed help to make me a JEOPARDY! champion in 1989! Thank you, Wallace FAMILY!

I bought my copy of this great book over twenty years ago as a teen. What I love most is that it is not a dry compilation of facts, but a wonderful collection of information presented in a fascinating and entertaining way. After all this time, I still get it down from my bookcase and read for the hundredth time about "Footnote People in U. S. History" or "Man-Made Disasters." If you can find a copy, buy it. You won't be disappointed.

This book is a treasure for the predictions alone. They lead off the book in chapter one "the other side of the looking glass: predictions of present-day psychics". It also has predictions by psychics of the past and modern day scientists. Notables include the Berkeley Psychic Institute, Nostradamus, Leo Tolstoi, Daniel Bell-Sociology prof at harvard, Arthur C. Clarke, Paul Ehrlich of Stanford who wrote the population bomb, Orville Freeman- former secty of Agriculture, Herman Kahn- the 300 pound economist, Margaret Mead, McGeorge Bundy, and Roger Revelle: Dean of research at the Univ. of Calif. and Al Gore's original mentor on the environment. The rest of the book is chock full of interesting tidbits. The self-purported difference between this Almanac and others is that this one avers that it gives you facts with truth and honesty. That is to say it avoids special-interest propaganda and government double-talk. The authors present it as a reference book that tries to be entertaining while giving the reader in-depth material on selected topics rather than endless, dry, bare-bones dates and figures on all subjects. Buy it and be the judge. This is a collector's item for all aging hippies from the Age of Acquarius.

This book was amazing, up until the very last page I was aborbed in it. One of the best NDE accounts I have read.

What a story. It has it all and it is non-fiction. An airplane crash and survival and so much more. It is all about human triumph and spiritual awakenings.

It is well written and takes you emotionally through so much. This women's life will inspire many people - she certainly has inspired my life. I highly recommend buying and reading this book.

This is one of the best books I've ever read. It is a life changer. You'll look at everything differently and never take anything for granite again! It is a clear vision of heaven! What a wonderful inspiring story! I wish she'd write another to tell us how life is going now!

This is the best life-after-death account I've ever read, and has actually changed my perspective on why we're here and what matters. Regardless of your religious beliefs, this book will really make you think.

All I can say about this book is WOW! This true story is so amazing for many reasons, that I simply could not put it down from the minute I started reading it. I had a husband to greet and a dinner to cook, but I couldn't put the book down. RaNelle and Terry's ordeal from their plane crash is told in graphic, heart-wrenching, horrifying detail. Again I say WOW! Absolutely incredible. I'm not gonna give details because you have to read it to see how extraordinary it is. Then, to me, the good part starts. RaNelle has a Near-Death Experience right after being rescued. What follows made me cry. I felt her pain, fear and wonder. Her descriptions of the Other Side are breathtaking, astounding, and there are lessons to be learned for all of us who want to listen. Please, do yourself a favor and get this book.....if you do, God meant for you to have it.

Another great experience buying a child's book through Amazon. Books received timely and as advertised. My granddaughter loves the books. I read to her every night. I like them to. Grandpa Jim

This is a good ficton book. That's what I think. It has a good cover It was a good story, and it is especially funny when Flea popped out of Gray's head. Then they had to teach her how to fly. It didn't seem so exiting that Bullsnake was not moving. But it got exciting when he moved. This book has great excitement in it! I hope you have this GREAT Book like me!

This book is about a cat that adopts a baby bird that has fallen out of it`s nest because the cat, Gray, doesn't like to eat birds. (Whoever heard of a cat that doesn't like to eat birds?) And when the bird (Gray calls Flea) goes south for the winter Gray is sad because she taught her how to fly.

I thought this book was funny.

It might have taken me a little while to read this book, but it was fabulous. There wasn't a part that I really liked the best because I enjoyed the whole book. If you like cats, birds and funny stories you will love this book.

My nine-year old daughter loved this book. The Wallace's tell this story from the animal's perspective, and do so with great success. Being country-dwellers, and animals owners, we could totally relate to all of their thoughts and antics. Gray, the new cat, along with Callie, the older (and wiser) cat, and their yard-mate Bullsnake share their lives with Mama Bird, Papa Bird and their babies. Find out what happens to Flea, the baby bird, when he takes comfort on top of Gray's head! Find out what happens when Gray visits the barn full of rats! The illustrations add much to the story.

This book is a cherished gift from a friend back in 1973. The ink drawings are very clever and enjoyed by kids of all ages--even the adult kind. Our daughters were all raised with this book and they loved it. I expect that the Slithergadee may have something to do with the eldest becoming an attorney!

This book was one of my favorites when I was a child. I can still recite many of poems from memory 30 years later. I can't wait to read it to my children.

I came across this book when I was in graduate school--living with two commercial artists and studying for my master's in library science. We were in a book store one evening when the woman I lived with started pointing out the cleverness of the illustrations and how well they matched the poetic selections. After all these years I remember my favorite--a little racoon standing in the snow very soberly reciting "I do not like thee Doctor Fell, The reason why I cannot tell..." He is speaking to an old country doctor who is walking through the snow wearing a coonskin hat, carrying his bag, looking soooo tired--and here is this animal lecturing him--the scene is both serious and silly---and they are all like that--there is a depth, an intelligence, that brings the reader back again and again. I read my copy over and over. It was in the children's section, but the humor in the illustrations is definitely aimed at adult appreciation.

There is no way for me to convey the top notch quality of Mr. Tripp's humor and art work in the sketched scenes that decorate both front and back covers and also accompany each verse in this volume. While each of the nonsense verses are wonderful in their own right, the accompanying drawings (with the comments created by Mr. Tripp for the little animal characters he has sketched for each scene) are absolutely delightful!

I received this book as a gift from my husband many years ago and I have worn it to a frazzle enjoying it over and over; it is my healthy tension-reducer and stress manager. Although it is presented as a child's book, I am convinced it was sketched for grownups. I am at a loss for words to tell what an indescribably delicious treat you will find in this book no matter what your age!

My wife bought our family copy when it first came out in 1973. She was at a conference in Boston and saw it go on display. Our daughter, born 1971, was raised on it and both my wife and I can quote passages at the drop of a word. Favorites are "The Slithergadee" and "The common cormorant or shag...." Our daughter is now expecting her first child (our first grandchild) and we presented her with our copy. We have recently purchased a paperback copy to read when the child is at our home. Our daughter's sister-in-law read our original copy and is now looking for a copy to read to her son. It is great for teaching children reading and an understanding of art and life. (Yes, I have several Wallace Tripp illustrations.)

"A kaleidocycle is a closed chain of tetrahedra that can cycle endlessly through a center hole. ? Best known for his strangely realistic depictions of things that defy the laws of physics, Maurits Cornelis Escher became interested in problems of repetition and symmetry after traveling to the Alhambra, a 14th century Moorish castle in Granada, Spain. Fascinated by the periodic (i.e. regularly recurrent) designs of the castle's mosaics, he began to pursue the idea that a plane can be divided into uniform, interlocking figures, forming a pattern that repeats itself at set intervals, theoretically to infinity. Instead of simply combining abstract shapes to produce a pattern, however, Escher decided to use more meaningful figures--shells and starfish, angels and devils, for example--images that could be connected not just graphically but also conceptually. Kaleidocycles, created by mathematician Doris Schattschneider and graphic designer Wallace Walker, explores the three-dimensional implications of Escher's two-dimensional periodic designs. With a little glue, you can easily assemble the enclosed models--all printed with repeating patterns derived from the artist's original drawings--into various kaleidocycles and geometric solids. In doing so, you will transform Escher's beautiful designs into true examples of infinite repetition: the interlocking images will wrap endlessly over the surfaces of the three-dimensional objects. ? Kaleidocycles contains a 48-page book with over 80 reproductions and diagrams, assembly instructions, and a fascinating discussion of the geometric principles and artistic challenges underlying Escher's designs and their transformation to three-dimensional models; and seventeen die-cut, scored, three-dimensional models (11 kaleidocycles and 6 geometric solids) Cigar box-style packaging, size: 9-1/2 x 12-1/4 x 1-1/2". [Refers to revised edition:] ISBN: 0-7649-3110-5

KALEIDOCYCLES 3-D MODELS ONLY
"Purchase an extra set of the 17 models for each additional participant. Assembly instructions are not included. ISBN: 0-7649-3207-1."--? Pomegranate

This is the bet presentation and best manufactured kaleidocycles that I had bought. Sent in a very good and fast way.

Want to get your kids or students interested in math? Let them put together a geometric solid covered with interlocking trolls or other tesselated designs, then hang them from the playroom ceiling! Your kids will never get over it!

Beautifully colored, easily put together. and very, very neat...

If you are as fascinated with the graphics of Escher as I am; you'll be entertained,amazed and engrossed with this 'kit' which allows you to assemble and hold these wonderful models of intrigueing mathematics , coupled with the graphic art and figures of the master himself; M.C.Escher.
It is one thing to look at Escher's magnificient work in 2-dimension; but it is another experience entirely, to hold these 3-dimensional models and view the figures and patterns as you turn as fold these models on themselves,
One of the other reviewers talked about creating additional models; and that is obviously possible ,because there is all the information needed to do that; right here in the book.
I have had this kit for some time ; but hadn't actually constructed any of the models. I recently was told about a man who constructed ball and stick models. I contacted him,and visited him to see his models. I brought along with me a book ,
"Polyhedron Models" by Magnus Wenninger .This is an outstanding book covering the subject as well as 119 models. The man I was visiting ,had the book and even knew its author. This book deals with models whose surfaces are flat and made of cardboard or if desired ,other materials. To see what these fascinating models look like, look them up on the net under "Magnus Wenninger".
The man I visited constructs similar models;but uses only wooden balls and sticks. Think of those chemistry models of compounds,and you can imagine how beautiful and interesting they can be. All models begin with one of the known uniform polyhedra and from them the stellated models are formed. The variations are in the many millions.
Anyone who has much interest in this sort of stuff will find an excellent chapter ,Polyhedra,in "Mathematical Recreations and Essays" by W.W. Rouse Ball,a real classic in the subject of Mathematical Recreations.
The man I went to visit has been working on these models for many,many years. He has created his own techniques and even an intrigueing appratus to make the holes in the balls. The exactness is so critical,that making them by hand would be terribly difficult. To date he has made about 500 0f these ball and stick models.
So, after my visit,it was a real joy to sit down and construct some models.

My 9-year-old son and I had tremendous fun assembling the models in this kit. Each of the models in the kit contains an adaptation of Escher's periodic design in a way that the geometric solid is continously covered with it. Though a unique personal experience, my son learned what tetrahedron, octahedron, dodecahedron, cuboctahedron and kaleidocycle look like. This is the best project we ever worked on.

This was as comprehensive a study as I can imagine possible on how New York City, under the guise of urban renewal, allowed certain poor areas of the Bronx, Brooklyn and Manhattan in the 1970's and 1980's to burn down, displacing huge numbers of people, and resulting in the spread of TB, and AIDS throughout New York City, the surrounding areas, and beyond.

Especially of interest in its detailed analysis of how and why New York's poorer neighborhoods were pushed over the cliff of decline thanks not only to the city, but to (who'd have guessed?) the RAND Corporation. "Urban renewal" will never look the same again. geocities.com/singlepayerweb

The significant feature of this magnificent book - the last shape taken by an ongoing series of studies into the results of neo-liberal public policy by Roderick and Deborah Wallace - is that the authors know what they are talking about. Their expertise in statistical studies, developped in a completely different field of study (zoology) is such that, when they first by chance found themselves reading the so-called statistical arguments for expenditure cuts in fire prevention and other services, they KNEW - not as bleeding-heart liberals, but as professional statisticians - that what they were reading was incompetent, pseudoscientific, ideologically motivated nonsense. Since then they have waged, in a string of devastating publications, a truly heroic struggle against the powers of prejudice, governmental meanness and big business-motivated press disinformation. If the the poor stupid general public that reads the newspapers and elects the politicians were ever allowed to know about the Wallaces and their battle for the truth, they would have long since been recognized as among the greatest names alive. Think about it: why did they take it upon themselves to fight this fight? Not, by any means, to advance their career: their career was in another field, and might even have been endangered by their taking controversial stances on public matters. Not for self-interest; and not for a thirst for fame - for they carried on for decades in spite of being completely ignored by the major media. They acted only out of pure civic passion and a sense of right and wrong. Therefore, known or unknown, the Wallaces are genuine living heroes, and their names deserves to ring as nobly as that of old Sir William of that ilk, who also fought for the downtrodden and ignored when there was nobody else to fight for them.

The Wallaces document the effects of the reduction in fire service and planned strinkage of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, I would have liked to see statistics included in how many fire deaths (civilian and firefighter), major injuries, families left homeless, etc. Another not to be missed book is Report from Engine 82: written in a totally different style, but brimming with empathy for the inhabitants of the area, it's the memoir of a fireman who fought fires in the South Bronx during this era.

This book gives a thorough analysis on how public policies were the catalysts for the socioeconomic destruction of low-income communities of color in New York City. Necessary reading for those who still do not realize that activism and organizing are important vehicles through which marginalized communities keep in check the forces that seek to further fragment and disenfranchise them.

I have read this aloud to K5 and 1st graders during weekly school library visits. It is GREAT for comprehension and encourages listening skills. Students listen intently and are delighted to guess correctly the items described by the backwards bird dog. Will read again this year to new classes when I replace well-worn paperback! School Librarian

I first read this book when I was about seven, and I keep reading it! I think it's hilarious! If you have a kid who is into funny stories, they won't put this book down! Trust me.

...This book is about a dog named J.C. He is a bird dog and everyone knows that this kind of dog leads with its nose. J.C. is welcomed to a new home where a cat whacks him on the nose...a dog bites him on the nose...a bee stings him on the nose...and a momma bird pecks him on the nose. All he wants is love and be appreciated by his new family. But how can he point with his nose when everyone is trying to attack it. There must be a better way. I guess this is what happens when you are curious about everything.The part that I liked was when everyone wanted to always attack his nose. Like the first time he saw the cat. "I mean it." His lip curled. "you come any closer, I'm gonna rip your nose off."I mean J.c. wasn't even doing anything to the cat and he gets angry for no reason. "Oooouch! I squealed. "That hurt! You really did...you ripped my nose off."Another part that I liked was when the bee stung him. The bee was getting some pollen from the flower and J.C. asked "Are you getting something to eat? Are you playing down there?" The thing was that the bee didn't even talk. "Yipe,yipe,yipe," I cried and jumped back. The bee had stung him on the nose and it really hurted him. My favorite part was really everything. Because it was very funny and exciting. J.C. was a curious dog who was very confused when it came to certain things. Like when it came to his nose, he always wanted to sniff things and that's why his nose always got hurt. He liked to searched different areas and go on adventures. I guess you can't always be curious about everything you see or hear.

Summary: This book is about a little bird dog who gets a home with Justin. Then the puppy get scratch by a cat, bit by a dog stringed by a bee,and peck by a bird. When he started growing up he started to point backward to protect his nose. Opinion: I think this is a very good book because this little puppy doesn't want get his nose hurt so he point backwards instead of frontward. I think it was very funny too because when his noes was sore it blew up like a balloon. Character:The character in this book are Justin who is a little boy,Bill who is the father Carol who is the mother ,and J.C who is the main character because j.c is the dog. Bill Wallace had won 17 state awards on this one book.

I don't know how somebody would not give this book 5 stars.I read this book for the first time when I was in 2nd grade. I'm now in seventh and still read it once a year.

This is a great book. It has lots of friendship and sadness. Liz's house is full of animals. She has a hawk named Bessie.She has 2 turtles named Josh and Mr.T. She has a ibex named Ivan. She has lizards and she has her very own pet ferret named Fred. Soon she gets tired of all the animals. So she yells at her dad. Her dad soon takes the animals to the animal place where he works. To find out what happens next,you need to read Ferret in the Bedroom,Lizards in the Fridge. I recommend this book to people who like animals.

The setting of the story happens in both, the school and the home of Elizabeth Robbins who is the main character.
Elizabeth's house is like a zoo and her friends are afraid to go in it.
At school, everyone calls her Liz-art because she likes animals.
There are also other characters in the story: Shane Garrison. He likes animals too. Sally, who doesn't like Jo Donna, and Jo Donna Hunt, who doesn't like Elisabeth and she acts cool because she thinks she is popular.

The story begins when Liz invites people to make posters in her house for the election and many bad things happened. For example Mr.T (a turtle) went pipi on a girl. Or when the bull attacked Sally.

The problem continues when Liz tells her father, who is a zoologist, that he must get rid of all the animals he keeps at home or she'll never win the sixth-grade class presidency.
Sally and Liz try hard to win the election, but none found success.

The resolution to the story happens when Elisabeth steps on stage and says she wanted all the animasl back because she realized those animals where her friends, and that she told her dad she wanted to get rid of them to have friends and to win class presidency.

The ending comes one day when Shane Garrison knocks on Liz's front door.
Shane said that he liked her speech and that he also liked animals and that they were his friends too. They went for a walk and then saw Jo Donna,Shane turned around and held Liz's hand.
From that moment on they became good friends.

I recommend this book because it's a fun book to read and it keeps you interested and curious about what is going to happen next.
And it teaches you a lesson: not to get rid of your real friend just to be popular.

This book was about a girl and her pets and she was trying to win to become class president. So she had to decide if she wanted to give up her friends or give up her pets. So she gave up her pets and then she was upset because she was lonely with out them. And this story takes place at her school and home. The main characters were Liz but everyone called her lizard Miss Wimberl, Sally, Mrs Jones Mr.Mcdonald, Shane, Lizs Mother, Farther, Jo Donna Hunt and lizs animals Fred and Bessie. I would recommend this book for kids my age and older because it was a terrfic book to read.

There is no way to express my feelings about this book. It really changed my attitude about reading. I liked reading a lot; however it made me like reading even more.
I can really understand why this book is an award winning book. My favorite characters are Sally and Liz. I like how they are always covering for each other or right by each others side. There is nothing I would change about this book and I give all my thanks to the author, Thank You Bill.

In the story Ferret in the bedroom , Lizards in the fridge was Elizabeth was running for class president. Her dad is a zoologist and he keeps stray animals, which effects her election for class, president.

Elizabeth is the main character of this story. She is a white girl with freckles. Elizabeth is nice, loves animals, and is very competitive.

The problem for elizabeth is that her dad is a zoologist. The reason why this ia a problem for her, is she is trying to run her campaign from her home. When her guest are over the animals always get out.

Elizabeth solves the problem by asking her dad to keep the animals locked up while her friends are over. So that is how she solves the problem.

My opinion of this is that his is a very good book. It teaches us that we must communicate with each other. I would also recommend this book to other people because it talks about how some people don't care about animals.

The chosen stories are excellent--all of top quality, both from a literary and (often) from a philosophical perspective. It is very easy to use the fine translation side-by-side with the original French.

This is classic literature, a very good book. I'd be interested in a modern works like this as well. Seems like I saw one out there somewhere....

This book includes some great authors - the ones you should at least know about if you are going to learn the French language and appreciate French culture. I have always loved the idea of having the English translation on the opposite page. I think it makes learning structures easier. You see how we would write something in English, and then you see how the structure differs in the French version.

I bought this book for my ailing and flailing French vocabulary. Although I speak fluently, my diminishing vocabulary is directly accredited to my non-use and non-practice of the language. One note - many phrases are translated literally, yet lack the tonality and subtle nuances which are found in true meaning. Otherwise, a very easy read and a useful book for those of us who lack opportunity to speak the language. Would certainly recommend this book for an intermediate level and up.

First the good. These stories are worth reading anyway, even if not trying to improve your French. Can't believe I never read Micromegas before! Can't believe it was written mid 1700s! So the selection of stories is an excellent one and the practice and vocabulary building comes quickly. For that reason, I'd unquestionably buy this again.

The bad. I know enough French to know that the translations are atrocious. Though I am not fluent in French, I believe I could have done a better, truer translation (with help of a French dictionary). Beautiful phrases are translated into mundane English cliches and some unknown French words are, on some occasions, "translated" into the identical (and equally unknown) word on the English side. Did the translater not have access to an English dictionary or did he not know what the French word really meant?

So -- definitely a useful buy for learning and practicing French and (particularly if you can read most of it in French) interesting stories as well. Just try not to refer to the English counterpart more than you must, such as for the periodic word translation.

I happened upon the audio version of this book, the cover of which told nothing about the book, but I took a chance and bought it, used. This is absolutely one of the best books I have read. It tells a good story, is thoughtfully, intelligently and beautifully written; much care was taken. I agree, as one reviewer here has said, this book is worth revisiting. There are few books worthy of being read again.

A very enjoyable book that I could not put down. It brought me back to my VT roots. Not only did I enjoy the characters, and find them very realistic to the Vermont environment, but mostly I found myself intrigued with the specific venues of Vermont that the author brought to life. The way he characterizes the people and places within the book makes even a "real Vermonter" feel this is a person and a place they know. I was most excited about the fact that it was the first book that both I, a 40+ year old high-tech Boston suburbanite and my father, a 65 year old Vermont Dairy Farmer enjoyed it. It's a multi-generational book that I encourage you to read.

I was enraptured with this book - from the prose to the seasons - so vividly described in the Vermont countryside.
Moreover, it goes to the heart of living, loving and leaving
a legacy, even something as simple and profound as a tale well told.

Mirror Lake tempted my own desires as each character pulled a different emotion. I connected most with Nora, a woman captured by the beauty of nature while enjoying a life lived off the land. An uncomplicated woman at first, her life becomes more three dimensional with each page - many moments dealing with love and grief.

My most loved aspect of the book is the description of drink and scenery. It allowed me to close my eyes and relax into a winter slumber in the middle of July.

"Mirror Lake" is an exemplary debut novel which explores the full range of human emotions. Christopher Burns offers a powerful reading.

In this story we meet two men who would probably have never even taken notice of each other had it not been for a dangerous quirk of nature. The younger of the two, Nathan Carter is still in his twenties. He's come to Vermont following his father's death. When his jeep runs off the road during a blinding snow storm, 79-year-old Wallace Fiske becomes his care giver. But Wallace gives more than nursing, he tells Nathan his story which centers on his marriage to Nora.

Is Wallace embellishing the truth or is he relating his past life as it actually took place? When Nathan begins to try to discover for himself what really happened some half a century before he discovers a number of surprising things about himself.

Greene's absorbing tale is both entertaining and thought provoking.

- Gail Cooke