P Books

I was introduced to "Surely You're Joking Mr Feynman" 10 years ago by a friend of mine. I read with delight that marvelous book many times ever since. I am glad that Mr Leighton took the time to put together all the adventures of that charming and "curious character". In doing so, he allows us the pleasure of reading them in a chronological order, giving us the possibility to brush a better picture of the man behind the adventures...

A absolute MUST!

This autobiography of the great physicist Richard Feynman should appeal to all those readers who want to know about his private life and scientific activities in detail.However, most of the material is taken from two previous books, "Surely you're joking, Mr Feynman" and "What do you care what other people think?". Some of the "adventures" were already related by James Gleick in his biography of Feynman, "Genius".So people who own these books can do without this one, unless they are real Feynman fans(like me!).
Another feature of this book is the CD which comes with it, and which contains a recording of a lecture by Feynman, covering most of the material of the Chapter entitled "Los Alamos from Below". I found this CD both entertaining and very useful, as it gives the listener a taste of what a lecture by Feynman sounded like. In fact, all the book, in its simplicity, sounds more like a series of lectures;and Feynman, in his distaste for "humanities", seems to enjoy "talking" to the public, with not a hint of literary artifice in his style!Of course, this could be seen as unbecoming such a brilliant mind, but Feynman keeps reminding the reader that he has no respect for anything but science(at one place, he talks about finding the professors of the philosophy department at Columbia particularly "inane").Some will also find his philandering a little exaggerated: but he is honest enough to admit that there is nothing he loves more than a "beautiful woman", and who could blame him?
Finally, it is worthwhile noting that, if some top-notch scientists had also literary gifts (two major examples being Poincaré and Einstein, whose writings are literary gems), Feynman couldn't care less: he even boasts that he does not give any importance to spelling mistakes, as long as the reader (or listener) understand what he is talking about! However, after reading his Nobel Banquet Speech , I was agreeably surprised with a much better style, which he even admits in the book. Talking about this speech, he says(p.343):"But then I said I received, all at once, a big pile of letters - I said it much better in the speech- reminding me of all the people that I knew; letters from childhood friends who jumped up when they read the morning newspaper and cried out 'I know him!he's that kid we used to play with and so on...'".Feynman seems to be quoting from memory, because this is not exactly what he said in the speech:"...victorious cries of 'I told you so' by those having no technical knowledge-their successful prediction being based on faith alone..."(see Nobelprize.org for the complete speech).

The stories in this book gave be belly laughs, and they also made me think.

A interesting view of life through the eyes of a down to earth genius.

This is a wonderful read....a chance to listen to a great scientist with a wonderful quirky mind. It is all interesting, some of it very touching, but the part on the investigation of the Challenger explosion is a classic study in bureaucratic malingering.

this book tells us about rfk,jfk and kenny o'donnel. it tells us about how they were, and it's very interessing. I suggest it to all people who are fan of the keenedys, like me. there are a few rares photos.

I used to work with the author's uncle, Cleo, who also plays a large part in this book. Over lunch and sometimes drinks after work, he used to tell us some of the wonderful stories of his and his brother's friendship with the Kennedy brothers. When I saw this book, I had to get it and it is bringing back wonderful memories of 25 years ago in Boston. In fact, if I am not mistaken, the author herself may have helped out in the office once or twice during school vacations. In any case, if you are a Kennedy fan, this is a touching, well-written book full of warmth and good stories about the Kennedys' and O'Donnells' as real people, written by someone who knew them. Don't miss it.

Kenny O'Donnell has done an outstanding job of providing insight to a man who figured largely in world history. He has drawn a very real, very strong portrait of a man who set and met many personal goals in his personal and professional life. Robert Kennedy was, in my opinion the most interesting of his brothers. Mr. O'Donnell does an excellent job of describing the aura of sincerity Robert Kennedy exuded. He helps bring a man into focus who has been dead for many years by describing the consistencies of his character. Robert Kennedy was clearly a very driven, very determined and very hard working man. He was also a very caring, very committed and very compassionate as well. He was a central figure in world history and I think the late Senator's works have certainly influenced the world for the better. This book is definitely worth reading.

A Common Good is an enjoyable, fast-paced read. It is a warm portrayl of Bobby, Jack and Kenny O'Donnel as people. There are laughs and poignant moments. It s a must for anyone interested in Robert Kennedy.

This is a very well written and, at times, touching book by (former JFK Chief of Staff) Kenny O'Donnell's daughter Helen (with a little help from former DNC advance man Jerry Bruno and her late father's audio tapes). There is great information about Kenny's relationship with RFK and, to a leser extent, JFK. As the elading civilian expert on the Secret Service, one word of caution, though: she misspells Secret Service agent Jerry Behn's name as "Bain" and she concludes that her father had a hand in planning JFK's Dallas motorcade route-he did not.
Vince Palamara
Secret service expert, History Channel, author of 2 books, in over 30 other author's books, etc.

For those of us who are aging and for our children who need to know how to deal with it (and us), this is a superb reference to every aspect of growing older. It is comprehensive, with a wealth of additional resources; it is infinitely readable; and--best of all--the author understands and addresses the psychological as well as the physiological and logistical problems of aging and dealing with older relatives and friends. It belongs on the shelf next to the dictionary in every home--if, that is, you can put it down long enough to place it on a shelf. Buy one for yourself and one for each of your children--and then tell all your friends about it.

"What I would have given for such a book when I was a caregiver to my aging parents. Each year many people are suddenly cast into the role of decision maker for their older parents. People, like me, who have no clue as to where to start to find the kind of resources their loved ones need. That is where a book like this can be worth its weight in gold. Rhodes steps up to bat with her book just in time to help those people deal with the stress of caregiving more effectively and with more awareness of the pitfalls. Of the many books about aging in my library, it is the best quick-read problem solver.....

So helpful, so much I didn't know, so easy to read, such a needed book, loved it, refer to it constantly. How are we all going to get through all the years of care-giving that are ahead of us Baby Boomers?! You must get prepared, read this book, it will help you, and the other one I loved is ELDER RAGE or Take My Father, Please! That one really made me laugh as I learned so much too, and boy don't we need that!

Help your parents age with grace and safety with the aid of this latest 'Complete Idiot' guide, which offers plenty of facts on how aging affects all qualities of life and which also offers solutions to common challenges. From simple plans on handling health care and money issues to caring for a parent at home and recognizing dangerous health signs, the Complete Idiot's Guide To Caring For Aging Parents provides all the keys to the common challenges facing aging parents and their kids.

"Your book is delightful. We found it to be practical, thorough and easy to read. All in all, a wonderful resource for older adults and their caregivers and families. Thank you for writing it!"

Mary Anne Kelly, Executive Director Southwestern Partnership for Aging

Definately, this is one of the best Anthropology-oriented books I've read, academically or for pleasure. The fact that it is mostly exerpts from actual ethnographies helps to get points across while still more than keeping my attention.

Well Done

got this book for an anthro class at my University. its basically just a compilation of short stories (3 pages - 10 pages) about case studies in anthro. its an easy read and actually was pretty interesting.

The book came fast and it was brand new. The book was crisp. It's a soft covered book but it still made that new hard-textbook sound. :0)

I've used this collection off and on for years in teaching Introduction to Cultural Anthropology. It's a great book, a real standard in anthropology. Honestly, I think the relevance and quality of the essays varies from edition to edition. I liked the 11th more than the 12th. Sometimes a 'favorite' essay gets replaced; and then in the next edition it is returned. Go figure.

I note that sellers of used copies are claiming that the 11th edition is virtually the same as the 12th, that nearly every article is the same. THIS IS NOT TRUE!!!!!!!! I can't tell you how often I have students believe this and buy the 11th edition, then struggle all semester because they don't have the chapters I've assigned. Only someone who has never used the book in class, either as a student or a teacher, would make such an egregiously wrong claim. So, if you're looking for a nice, cheap, used version, make sure that you buy the edition being used in your class. Most teachers will not assign every single chapter in the book; most select 8-12 chapters, and they can well be the chapters that are not in the older edition.

Caveat Emptor ...

This text was used in my introductory anthropolgy class, and I thoroughly enjoyed the readings. The text includes many case studies of differing cultures without being overly technical. I found this text easy to read, but very thought provoking. Highly recommended!

Another terrific book , supposedly the best in the series ("Strangers and Brothers"), but I think that several others are possibly better. And, really, it ends so dismally. Although I guess any other way would be too trite, and I'm quite sure that this is based on some real event in Snow's life, as I feel all the books are. The dons are all so sharply drawn, each clear in his own character. And the eating and drinking they constantly did! I guess they walked a lot. I loved it. The intrigues and politics that Snow writes about, are worthy of any Washington lobbyist. Except that here we are at Cambridge.

C.P.Snow has some fine qualities; he is succinct, perceptive and astute. This novel, perhaps to a greater extent than any of his others, reflects these qualities as "The Masters" is a triumph of characterisation. Jago, Brown, Calvert, Nightingale and Gay will live long in the memory and the understated way in which Snow brings them to life is most adroit. Ultimately, however, like all of the Strangers and Brothers sequence, it is a novel about the narrator, Lewis Eliot; the relationship between tale and teller here is particularly impressive. The reader becomes unconsciously embroiled in and fascinated by his life - here is a narrator who is both partial and impartial, intense and detached. The claustrophobic, parochial and insular world of academic life is captured perfectly here. I recommend it highly; for anyone who has read it and enjoyed it, I commend to their attention "The Affair" by the same author. Set in the same Cambridge college, many of the characters reappear and it is another very fine read.

I'd urge you to read this one. Few people describe the inner life of men, or at least his class of 20th century Englishman, so well as Snow. The characterisations are the strength, all vanities and motivations probed as if by a surgeon, though the "closed" politics plot is entertaining enough. Other reviewers list their favourite characters, I'd plump for Winslow and Brown myself. Beautiful writing style.

How does an assortment of 13 professors at an English university choose the next head of their college? "The Masters" examines the personal and university politics that shape this decision through the narrative style of C. P. Snow. This captures a brainy professorial world through heavy reliance on complex and conditional dialogue, acute but unspoken observations, and highly abstract character analysis. Here's an example of his approach: "His manner was deliberately prosaic and comfortable. He was showing less outward sign of strain than any of us; when he was frayed inside, he slowed his always measured speech, brought out commonplaces like an amour, reduced all he could to the matter-of-fact." Still, the story, while minutely imagined, doesn't go deep. It's a tempest in a teapot.

A novel set in the intimate, closed world of a school or college (or a convent, or cathedral close) has a better-than-average chance of being fascinating to begin with. Whether a school story is a work of literary art such as Snow's The Masters or Antonia White's Frost in May, a decent novel in the vein of Hughes's Tom Brown's School Days, Kipling's Stalky and Co., or Farrar's Eric, or even the kind of boarding-school story churned out by the likes of Angela Brazil and the author of the Greycliff series, school stories tend to hold one's interest because they are school stories. Generally written by one with insider knowledge, such books seem to reveal not only the characteristics of a society in microcosm, but also the particular stresses and strains imposed by intimate, closed worlds.

Snow's The Masters is perhaps the supreme example of this genre. A perfectly plotted and self-contained novel filled with unforgettable characters (Mrs. Jago, the embittered Despard-Smith and the beautifully-realized Professor M. H. L. Gay come to mind), The Masters is certainly C.P. Snow's best work. Snow's college world is no ivory tower. Passions and ruthless hatreds surface as two factions clash over the election of a new Master of a Cambridge college. The power brokers Chrystal and Brown display their practiced adroitness as they machinate to put their candidate in office and angle for a major benefaction from a wealthy industrialist. Political overtones from the outside world (the novel is set iduring the period of Hitler's rise to power) begin to agitate the election question further. This is a novel to read again and again.

Anansi Jr. (AJ) Spider is an avid gardener. He gladly spends hours tending to his rows of Scorpion Orchids, Crab & Lobster Claws, and Monkey Tail Shrub. In fact, he spends so much time in the garden one day that he forgets to eat, so his huge appetite sends him into town in search of the delicious Julie Mangos.

When he arrives at the mango truck in the middle of Macka Street Market, AJ quickly clears it out, greedily buying all the mangoes and making his way home to feast. Before he leaves, though, Amani Ant and his little sister Karima arrive, wanting a mango of their own. Much to his dismay, Amani finds that all the mangoes are gone, and he desperately wants one for Karima, who has never tasted one before. He asks AJ to spare one of his, but AJ refuses, instead mocking and laughing at the ants as he rushes off.

In his haste, though, AJ ultimately loses his prized mangoes, and what follows is a very valuable lesson in selflessness and sharing.

The story of Anansi and the Mango Truck is a heart-warming tale of the virtues of putting others before ourselves. Through his characters, Hooper teaches lessons that we all will be well served to apply in our everyday lives, whether it involves giving up our bus seats to elderly passengers or letting someone have a parking space that we found first. What's important to understand is that we only stand to gain by giving freely of ourselves in any and every way possible.

With incredible illustrations accompanying his text, Hooper's story is an absolute treat for the eyes. A must-read for book lovers of all ages.

After spending several hours tending his garden, Anansi Jr. (AJ) works up a tremendous appetite. He decides that the perfect way to ease his hunger is to head into town, go to the Mango Camion, and purchase some sweet, juicy Julie Mangos. AJ being AJ, he purchases as many mangos as he can carry, which is a lot since he is a spider and has four hands. While in town, Amani Ant decides he wants to treat his younger sister to a Julie Mango only to discover that the camion has run out. When he runs into AJ who has a huge supply of the fruit, he asks if he can purchase on of them for his sister. AJ refuses. As AJ travels home, he is so focused on keeping all the mangos for himself, that he ends up losing them all. It is then that Jamila Lizardly teaches AJ an important lesson about sharing, but it is up to AJ to apply this new wisdom to his life.

Don Hooper continues to display his ability to craft a story that reflects the oral tradition in COOMACKA ISLAND ANANSI JR. AND THE MANGO TRUCK. As is the case in most fables and folk tales, the story has an obvious, yet unspoken message, in this case focusing on the value of sharing. The vibrant illustrations are engaging and will quickly capture the attention of even very young readers, drawing them into the story in the process. The book also includes a section at the end that covers fun facts and a glossary, this helps readers with definitions of the more difficult vocabulary words, and also brief descriptions of some of the people, places, and things readers unfamiliar with the Caribbean may not have previously been exposed to. All in all, COOMACKA ISLAND ANANSI JR. AND THE MANGO TRUCK is a fun, richly told story with a universal message.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

I've read many bedtime stories to my 2 kids and few are as fun and as stimulating as this. The colors and the graphics are terrific and make me wish I were basking in the Caribbean sun.

Coomacka Island Anansi Jr And The Mango Truck
by Don P. Hooper
Illustrated by Darnel Degand

[...]
Great website for both you and your children to enjoy.

Coomacka Island, Anansi Jr. & the Mango Truck by Don P. Hooper is a Caribbean tale that involves Anansi Jr., a spider who loves mangoes and is a tale of learning a lesson in true friendship.

This is a enchanting, delightful, and stimulating read for young readers, it has bright colors, wonderful graphics & illustrations (Illustrated by Darnel Degand)which are so vivid they will have your children using their imaginations and asking questions.

I look forward to all the adventures to continue, and will honestly being collecting each one for my grandson Caden to enjoy. This is a wonderful book for all young readers and is highly recommended as a must for the children in your life.

A Definite 5 Star children's book!

Anansi Jr and the Mango Truck is the second installment in the Coomacka Island series. Based in part, on Afro-Caribbean folklore, Anansi was the great trickster and somewhat of cult hero to islanders. For hundreds of years, folk tales about the Macka Tree and the spirits dwelling within roots have been passed down through the generations. As with many cherished stories, the fictional fires erupted from a spark of truth.

The story begins with AJ tending his garden, filled with beautiful plants, including his award winning Monkey Tail Shrub. There was only one thing that he loved more than gardening and that was eating. However, he was a very greedy spider and had never experienced the joy of sharing. Nevertheless, on this day, he would learn a valuable lesson about the spirit of giving and friendship.

Once again, Hooper and Degand have delivered a fictional tale, filled with life lesson of immense importance. From the first colorful page, the reader is transported to the heart of the Caribbean. The emotion-filled drawings bring the words, as well as, the island itself to life. Introducing names with various origins, such as Swahili or Haitian, offers children an opportunity to expand their vocabulary, while embracing cultural diversity. Although Coomacka Island is an uncharted, fictional Island, the morals and values found here have universal appeal.

Featuring an entertaining forward and fun facts at the conclusion, Hooper and Degand have created a multi-layered, multi-cultural series that will be cherished by children, parents and teachers the world over. And with the addition of the interactive website, exploring Coomacka Island is only a click away. [...]

Happy Reading!

There are so few of these, especially from an English original. Buy it for your kids to learn more Spanish.

my son loves this book. he is 3(going on 30) and asks me to read it atleast once a week. i find it easy to follow if your child is following along in the english version. he has a great memory so he remembers the pics and when i am reading he is associating what he remembers to what i am saying and can understand most of the book. the use of what is on the pages in image and the words are very useful in introducing the language to a beginner. it actually helped me in my spanish 2 class!!! it is a fun and easy read, even for the tongue tied.

Unlike with Dr. Seuss, P.D. Eastman's books are so simple that translating them into Spanish is generally pretty idiot-proof; my son enjoys this book every bit as much in Spanish as he does in English. I would recommend it not only for preschoolers being raised with both languages, but even for older kids who are starting out with the language and remember the book in English. This is just the kind of simple, entertaining repetition that is great for building up basic vocabulary, at any age.

Great beginner reader in English or in Spanish. I teach a Spanish class for our area homeschooler's children. This is just what the dogcatcher ordered. I am able to compare English to Spanish with no problem.If you use VIVA EL ESPANOL ! teaching series you will like this book for your class.

My 7 year old son enjoys this book in Spanish - he is in a Spanish immersion class - learning Spanish all day in elementary school for the next 5 years. It's a great beginner reader book with fun pictures (and I'm learning Spanish, too, from it!)

Adam P. Knave is one of those writers who is incapable of not entertaining. His stories, essays, novels, scripts are always worth reading... The guy just knows how to amuse, scare, delight, and shock his readers -- often simultaneously, which is no small feat. CRAZY LITTLE THINGS is a collection of short stories that contains some of his best work and is definitely worth a purchase, read, re-read, and recommendation to everyone you know who enjoys quality writing.

THE Stories in this collection are a mix of horror, fantasy, and science fiction and I enjoyed them all thoroughly. My favorites were "Causing
Effects and Crazy Little Thing". I am glad to have a new author on
my list, that can make me shiver and that can make weirdness seem
normal.

Basically Crazy Little Things is a mix tape in book form. Like any good mix tape each story puts you in a mood and gets you revved up, pulls you right into it. Then? It ends. Often a tad predictably.

The brilliance of Knave's work is in how easily he is able to pull the reader in through the use of realistic nuance. He is excited about his characters, and the reader can feel it and be swept up. His characters notice and play on the small, everyday pieces of the world that make us all human, by highlighting the monsters we all keep inside.

Crazy Little Things is a the perfect mixtape of a book, one song or many at a time. As if he made it just for you, each tale is familiar, just a bit. If only they could be longer, and perhaps with less predictable chord progression.

Adam P. Knave pulls no punches. Zombies, ghosts, demons, donuts, teenage beauty pageants, many hapless victims, and Mr. Binkles all blend magically in this tour de force of horror, dripping sarcasm, and reality inspired mayhem. Knave paints colorful and believable landscapes from the every day reality of our lives. These stories make you jump, laugh, and think and always end in some unexpected fashion. This is not your everyday writer and these are not everyday stories. This is an awesome book that entertains from start to finish.

Adam P. Knave knows that for different people, fear comes from different places. With Crazy Little Things, he explores twelve different sources of fear, and is bound to have at least one which will strike a nerve with you. His stories feel real, packed with the kind of dialog and reactions you would expect were the situations in those stories to come true. This gives gives the twists he applies to traditional story elements of zombies, fairies, and even beauty pageants that much more punch. This is a collection you'll want to read in the dark, curled up with your favorite teddy bear.

On second thought, you might not want the bear nearby.

There are many very good & comprehensive crochet books out there, but this little book is a great shortcut to learning from the combined wisdom of those who have stitched and frogged before us. Not only does it anticipate mistakes (or variations with unexpected results), but more importantly it provides useful distinctions that allow me to choose, say, between 2 or 3 similar techniques without necessarily having to try them all out.

Minutes after leafing through this book, I discovered what mistakes I had been making in my crochet WIPs. It has saved me from frustrating errors & hours of frogging -- this by itself already makes the book well worth the price. Other great features: nice small size; clear & colorful images; very useful size charts for kids & adult garments.

The photos are just wonderful, and I wish I had this book when I was first learning to crochet. It is nice and small, so I keep it in my bag for reference now. It covers just about every crochet topic you need.

Thing to note...this book is the same content as the larger version(Teach yourself visually to crochet)...just in a smaller size. I wish I had known that because I purchased both. As far as I can tell, they are the same book.

Crochet VISUAL Quick Tips is a portable life-saver that is small, but packs an encyclopedia of knowledge to save your life in any crochet-emergency!

A picture says a thousand words, and the photographs here are amazingly well done, so that even with very little reading you can get the job done. If you already have the larger book, you would do well to have this one as well for ready reference in your work bag.

The directions here are straightforward, simple and complete. The steps to follow are even numbered, so you won't fumble by getting ahead of yourself.

If you ever take your work with you when you leave home, I strongly recommend that you purchase this book. It is very well worth the price, and you will never regret buying it.

I'd tried other books but the diagrams were never good enough, or they didn't word the instructions well or in a detailed manner, and I gave up trying to learn crochet for a LONG time. Once I picked up this book, I had some little stuffed animals (amigurumi) made in about a week and less than a month later I had a beautiful baby blanket done and you'd NEVER know that I have JUST learned how to do this. This book seriously made me love crochet and I don't plan to go back to knitting now that I know how much more fun and easy this is.

I bought both the crochet & the knitting book using this Visual Quick Tip instructional method. I really like both. The pictures are clear and the instructions can work you through even difficult stitches.

I picked up this book about two years ago and I am still cross-stitching its patterns! It is simply the best cross-stitch book ever and it doubles as a children's book too!

As a twenty-something crafter, it is often difficult for me to find cross-stitch books that are more modern and suit my tastes (I'm not a big fan of teddy bears and old samplers). I bought this book because my mother used to read Mother Goose to me when I was young, and I have been happily surprised! These aren't necessary geared toward the young adult stitchers, but the color usage and reminiscence of the patterns keep me coming back time and again. There are a few easy patterns, but most of them are fairly challanging to the intermediate stitcher, which is a plus. I definitely enjoy this book and am glad I added it to my collection while it was still available!

If you're looking for a cross-stitch book that has everything including cute patterns, this is the one you're looking for. You can't ask for a better cross-stitch book than this one. The colors and the designs are so refreshing and very good. I myself have done three of the patterns in the book now. If you are truly a cross stitch enthusiast, this book's for you!

The most beautiful cross stitch patterns for childrens bedroomart that I have ever seen... END

This is one of my all-time favorite books of cross-stitch charts!

Interestingly, I first saw the book "Mother Goose's Words of Wit and Wisdom" in an elementary school library. I loved the bright colors and great illustrations. But it took me a while to realize that *all* the illustrations in the book were counted cross-stitch designs! Once I realized that, I wondered if there were charts available of these illustrations. After a bit of searching, I discovered that indeed this second book was available - a book of charts!

The front of this book looks like the original, with the rhymes and illustrations. At the back of the book you'll find the corresponding charts. They are full-size graphs, black print on a blue grid with a color key for DMC floss.

Also included is a nice little explanation about Mother Goose and the Sampler, as well as a short section called Cross-stitch Essentials that gives a short tutorial on cross-stitch techniques.

This book is a real keeper!