Z Books

Taipei in a Day is the best country guide I have seen about Taiwan. This is a clearly written and informative travel book. The author offers detailed information about the country, culture and people that makes for some very interesting reading and travel preparation. I like the fact that different day trips are arranged for visitors, and the maps, site names and addresses are listed in both English and Chinese, which makes getting around very easy. It is obvious that the author has a passion for travel and for Taiwan. He goes into detail about fun things to do, not only in Taipei but also around the entire island, as well as in Taiwan's outlying islands. He provides helpful information about how to get around, what to see and where to dine. The bilingual names and addresses come in very handy for non-native Chinese speakers. The information is very up-to-date and the included Taiwan from A to Z encyclopedia is very informative. I also like the bilingual menu translations, the communication tips, the hiking, hotel and dining guides and the holiday information. While I have found most travel books to be quite dry, the author took the time to add interesting photos and illustrations as well as humorous commentary about the language and culture. I found the book very useful for Taiwan travel.

Taipei in a Day was recommended to me by a friend for a recent trip to Taiwan. This book wowed me with it's local insights, humor and off-the-beaten-path directions and suggestions. The more I used this book to get around, the more comfortable I became in traveling in a strange land. I more than highly recommend this book for any travel to Taiwan. I hope to use it again and again. Thanks to Scott Freiberger for taking the time to know and understand Taiwan for all of us.....

While attempting to plan a trip to Taiwan from Australia I found practically nothing existed on Taiwan. The travel agents knew nothing about the country and even questioned why anyone would want to go to Taiwan.
While reading the Travel Advisor Forum I came across a reference from another Forumer who had read "Taipei In A Day" and found it very helpful.
I immediately ordered a copy from Amazon and found that the book not only covered Taipei but the whole of Taiwan. Without reading the book before going on our trip we would have found it more difficult than we did.
I recommend the book as an excellent guide to Taiwan and Taipei.


John D Smith
Salisbury East
South Australia

It is obvious that the author knows Taipei's most interesting nooks and crannies. This book could be indispensible to the traveler who really wants good advice. I highly recommend the book.

A number of travel guides I've seen are really good at identifying places to see and how to get there, but they don't go into great (or amusing) detail about how to blend in with the culture. This book gives you both - great details about where to go and explicit and entertaining details about how to fit in and not make any social mistakes. For example, I have friends in Taiwan and it's nice to know what gifts are appropriate to give! And, I love the amusing stories, such as the one talking about how men and women compliment each other's looks. The story about the "handsome" guy on the train is pretty funny. :-) So, if you are taking a trip to Taiwan, read this before you go, or at least take it on the plane for good travel reading and preparation before you get there!

Having grown up during the civil rights era, I find this book has great teaching potential for the non-violent movement. Today so many children see the violence on TV and in real life and this book depicts the historical highlights of the era. James Ransome's illustrations are a complement to the clever rhymed verse and his collage technique on the front and back covers and the inside covers tells the story in pictures. I think the sequence of the book portrays the main events of the era that ultimately changed the way of our nation. This is a book for everyone. The rhymes convey the message in a concise manner which the youngest reader can understand. I think this book should be in every school library.

This Is The dream, by Diane Shore and Jessica Alexander is a history packed book, with an opening statement by Martin Luther King, Jr. that sets the tone for the lesson to come in history.

"White Only", "Colored Waiting Room", these are the signs that you see in the beginning of this book. It starts with a time when we as a nation were fighting for the basics of equality - the Civil Rights Era, and takes you straight through to today's society where the signs that you see are no longer racially motivated.

This Is The Dream provides a timeline marking the stages that this nation went through to make civil rights a reality. Reading the text and looking at the pictures, made the struggle seem just a little more tangible for me as an adult, so I can imagine the impact that it will have on the mind of a child. Kids of all ages can and should read this book.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the phenomenal illustrations by James Ransome. His pictures are most certainly worth a thousand words.

This is The Dream, should be a requirement for all schools.

Reviewed By: Eleanor S. Shields, Black Butterfly Review

This book is an excellent teaching source for young students to learn about Martin Luther King's dream and how it inspired a nation to change. I have used this book to teach civil rights, comparison/contrast, and voice using Six Traits.

Many of the reviews already state this, but let me just reiterate: What a fine classroom tool you will find in "This is the Dream"! The story of the civil rights movement is summarized in simple, effective rhyme. It is perfect for all ages. The beginning pages clearly portray the injustice of "separate but equal" and Jim Crow laws. The middle of the story displays the tremendous strength of those who fought, not with guns and fists, but with walking, sitting, marching. Finally, we see the today we have taken for granted. It is a powerful witness to children of what once was and what could be again if we let predjudice take hold once more.
What I particularly enjoyed was the authors' choice to not reduce the movement to the hard work of a handful of people. History books tend to single out Rosa and Martin as the impetus and the leader of the movement. Such status is misleading for children. It was a peaceful militia of millions, a team effort. This book shows the bravery of the many nameless people who changed our country.
I believe this book would be a very worthy Caldecott winner. James Ransome is a "due" illustrator. If you haven't seen his work in other books-especially "Visiting Day" and "Under the Quilt of Night"- I'd encourage you to check it out. He is a master of depicting the subtle emotions of the human face. In "This is the Dream" his rich oil paintings brings history to life once again. And his use of photographs in his artwork is daring and innovative.
This is a suberb, important book.

As a first grade teacher, it is sometimes hard to find a book about the civil rights movement that is age appropriate. This book has a simple rhyme and beautiful pictures. These pictures simply show the differences before, during, and after the movement. The students in my class were speechless. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words!

Jak w piosence, Goralu, po co ci bylo... Mysle, ze Roman madrzej by robil, gdyby wrocil do ojczyzny po wojnie, ozenil sie i mial dzieci, ktore roslyby w slawie ojca. A tak, Polak, wieczny tulacz.. takie wspaniale geny pokolenia znakomitego przepadly, dzieci wyrosly na nie wiadomo kogo, jakichs malo rozumnych Anglikow. W Polsce pozostala niewielka grupa madrych i patriotycznych ludzi i teraz mamy efekty - politycy niezbyt madrzy, wiele glupoty naokolo. Pokolenie wspanialych ludzi albo zginelo w Powstaniu Warszawskim albo zostalo na emigracji. Gdyby wszyscy wrocili zaraz po wojnie, moze nie byloby tak zle i moze nie daliby sie oglupic, takze nie wierze, ze wsadzono by wszystkich do wiezien. Byliby sila moralna i oparciem. Jaka szkoda szkoda szkoda...

Czytalam z duza przyjemnoscia, zainteresowaniem i wiele razy ze wspolczuciem losy przedstawionego bohatera. Nie jest to czlowiek sukcesu w pojeciu amerykanskim, ktore od dawna wysmiewa cala Europa. Jest to czlowiek prawy, szlachetny. Pokazana jest prawda, takie jest zycie wiekszosci ludzi na swiecie, i od jakiegos czasu Hollywood wychodzi takiej prawdzie na przeciw, czym przypomina dobre kino europejskie. Bez upiekszania i makijazu. Dla mnie ksiazka ta pokazuje uzaleznienie czlowieka od historii, jak czasy, w ktorych zyjemy dyktuja nam zycie. Podoba mi sie obiektywne spojrzenie autorki, bez upiekszania, bez podanych gotowych wnioskow. Pokazala jedno zycie czlowieka, ktorego starczyloby na caly film. Wzruszyl, poruszyl i zachwycil mnie opis ziem, opis Kresow, o ktorych tylko wiem troche z historii. Jaka szkoda, ze te ziemie od nas odeszly, z nimi takie rodziny patriotyczne, jak rodzina Rodziewiczow. Przeminelo z wiatrem... Nostalgiczne opisy przyrody, straszna prawda obozow zaglady, smutek emigranctwa. I ciezka praca, rodizna, ktora jest jak wiekszosc, wszyscy sa zajeci soba. Potem na koniec zycia, zycie refleksja, wspomnieniami. Ciekawa jestem, czy bohater zyje.

Nauczylam sie z ksiazki wiele o historii wielu Polakow ostatnich lat, znanych nam z ksiazke, albo wcale nie znanaych. I jakby ukorzylam sie przed losem, ktory gotuje takie scenariusze. Moje zycie wydaje mi sie latwiejsze, ale tez burza dziejowa nie przerwala moich planow, co najwyzej, sama jestem za slaba, by je realizowac. W sumie wydaje mi sie moje zycie nijakie. Na pewno mniej barwne, bolesnie mniej barwne, porownujac do zycia bohatera. I jakby ani on, ani ja, nie mamy na to wplywu. Ksiazka jest zrodlem wiedzy na pewno dla historykow, ale takze dla socjolgow i psychologow. Polecam ksiazke tym, ktorzy chca myslec ogolnie o zyciu wlasnym, czy ludzi staszych w naszej rodzinie. Dla ktorych czesto nie mamy czasu lub ich ignorujemy z jakas nasza wyzszoscia pokolenia, ktore nie doswiadczylo wojny. Ciekawe, jaka ksiazke o mnie napisala by pani Aleksandra Ziolkowska? O podworku, na ktorym sie bawilam, ciezko pracujacych rodzicach,o wyjazdach na wies do dziadkow, ktorych to wyjazdow nie cierpialam, i teraz o nijakim codziennym zyciu. Mimo ukonczonych studiow, mimo tego, ze mam mozliwosc lektur ciekawych ksiazek. To, co powiem, brzmi jak herezja, ale taka mysl mi przychodzi do glowy: Moze wojna wywolalaby cos powazniejszego i wazniejszego, znalazlabym glebszy cel w zyciu i jakies wielkie uczucie, chocby roztrzaskane...

O Hubalu slyszalam w szkole, teraz dowiedzialam o jednym z jego zolnierzy. Ale ksiazka jest o losie czlowieka, ktorego jak w harcerskiej piosence rzucalo po swiecie "z miejsca na miejsce". Mysle, ze lepiej byloby, gdyby bohater wrocil do Polski i tam juz zostal. Wzruszylam sie, gdy sie spotkal po latach z dawna narzeczona, i jak to byli juz inni ludzie. Jego emigracja potraktowala okrutnie. Pokazalam moim rodzicom i wszyscy bardzo przejelismy sie przedstawionym zyciem Romana. Pamietam, byl film "Hubal", powinien powstac film "Roman" w oparicu o tej ksiazke. Ma ona wrecz gotowe obrazy, czytalam ja widzac wyraznie przedstawione postaci i sceny. Niezwykle piekne sa opisy dawnych polskich ziem na Kresach i dworu. Przypomina ma ta ksiazka "Szczeniece lata" Wankowicza.

It is written with genuine talent and feelings for the hero's life. I had tears in my eyes reading about his misfortun, about meeting with his former fiance Halinka after years had passed by. The book can be a base for a great movie scenario about the hero's life, Roman Rodziewicz. It has a fascinating plot, action and a "lost great love".

Jest to kolejne wydanie bardzo ineteresujacej biografii wieloletniego tulacza, Romana Rodziewicza, ktorego usiane niebezpieczenstwami losy wojenne doprowadzily do legendarnego oddzialu Hubalczykow, a nastepnie do hitlerowskiego obozu koncentracyjnego w Oswiecimiu. W koncu bohater ksiazki zrazony do decyzji aliantow oddajacych Polske Stalinowi, osiadl w Anglii, gdzie zalozyl rodzine. Nie mogac jednak oderwac sie od swej burzliwej przeszlosci, opowiedzial to wszystko Autorce, ktora potrafila przekonujaco przekazac czytelnikowi zarowne rzetelne fakty historyczne, jak i atmosfere tamtych, dawniejszych, wojennych i powojennych czasow.

The book was in excellent condition and shipped well with the time limit listed on my order

LOVE THIS BOOK.
Very well explained for even a beginner like me.. received in excellent condition and was well packaged. Fast service. would definitely recommend for any sewer.

I have been sewing for thirty-five years and have a library of books on embroidery, applique, sewing with fleece, etc. This is one of the best I have found. It covers everything from Applique to Zigzag with full color illustrations and excellent advice. I read it cover to cover and then bought a second copy to give to my sister (I wasn't about to part with mine!)

This book is perfect for anyone who has bought an embroidery machine for the first time. The steps and descriptions in this book are clear an concise and extremely user friendly. This book is useful for any type of machine.

This is a must-have book for any sewer, quilter, or embroiderer. Every single page is packed with innovative ideas and techniques, each accompanied by a multitude of photos that thoroughly illustrate the processes. I've been a quilter for 15 years, and just started machine embroidering; there were quilting techniques I'd never seen before, and I'm a quilting instructor! They thought of everything and every technique in this book. After just a brief thumb-through of the book my head was spinning with ideas and inspiration! I have well over 400 books in my needlecrafts library, and I can tell already that this is going to be one of my most-referred-to volumes. It's worth 100 times what they're charging for it! I guarantee you'll love it!

This book was written for all of the people that enjoy learning and/or for those folks that have been presented with the formidable challenge of having Alzheimer's or caring for a loved one with this condition. I am a nurse that has recently graduated from nursing school,and what I would have given to have already absorbed the knowledge base that this book offers. After all of the "book learn'in" nurses go through, their long process of the actual patient "clinicals" begin. During this period of the education student nurses are emerged into the real time process of patient care. My first clinical rotation took place in a long term care facility and yes, I had a patient load that was often 90% comprised of Alzheimer's patients. I soon realized that I had no real knowledge base from which I could draw to care for, or more importantly understand my patients feelings.
You absolutely need not be any sort of a medical professional to comprehend the material presented in the book, however, all medical professionals absolutely should not miss the opportunity of this important read.
In short, conditions such as autism and Alzheimer's are seemingly becoming more prevalent in our society. Books like this offer at least some hope in gaining the tools needed to have the ability to help and understand these types of disease processes.
Learn and read all that you can but if you only have the time or the initiative for one.........this is the book!
Thank you,
Sheryl Ford

As a worker in an Adult Day Facility, I have referred to Ms. Lokvig's book more times than I can count. It's organized practically by task which makes the information easily accessible. The author addresses the needs of the caregiver as well as those of the loved one, a necessary element of successful caregiving. I highly recommend this book to family, volunteer and professional caregivers alike.

Ms. Lokvig has stepped us through some of the most difficult behaviors and situations which may arise as we try to care for a person with dementia...the information she has lovingly and painstakingly gathered is readily accessible, as a previous reviewer has stated, so that one need not read the entire book to get to what one may need to know quickly.
I found the writing has a calming affect and is reassuring. The book is so rich with eamples of how to redirect a sticky situation. I am a professional in the field of gerontology and can recommend this fresh approach to a difficult road without hesitation.

While I was caring for my 80 year old mother, I was unable to find a useful book on dementia or Alzheimer's. Every book I read was utterly depressing and sobering. Jytte Lokvig's thoughtful and original way of working with people afflicted with this disease will make it all seem manageable. Her insight and knowledge of the condition and her approach-to-care is totally compassionate and perceptive. Through her years of working and caring for her patients, she has distilled an attitude of care that she brings home for everybody. I recommend Alzheimer's A to Z, most highly. Caregivers, buy this book! It will not only instruct you in taking care of your loved one, but will also assist you in taking care of yourself while you do.

"Alzheimer's A to Z: Secrets of Successful Caregiving" is a wonderful book for those dealing with a friend or loved one with Alzheimer's. The book is organized alphabetically by topic. These topics include agitation, baby talk, coaching, cursing, diet, driving, eating, fantasy, hallucinations, listening, medication, obsessive behavior, pets, routines, singing, undressing, vitamins, word substitution, and many others. Each topic gives examples of the specific item, suggestions on how to handle the situation, and related topics. This organization is one of the things that make this book so valuable. You don't have to completely read through the entire thing to try to find answers to your questions. Instead you can go directly to the topic. Written is a style reminiscent of a family friend helping you understand someone with Alzheimer's, it inspires confidence, empathy, and patience in the caregiver. A highly recommended read for the non-professional seeking advice and understanding when dealing with someone with Alzheimer's.

This is the most complete, easiest to read and comprehensive book I have read on the subject. Chock full of information that will help therapists and clients deal with whatever comes their way via anxiety. A winner.Reading Thomas Merton: A Guide to His Life and Work

I have had a copy for many years and have given copies to a grandchild and one child, since anxiety can be inherited (my father had it, and we also have hypoglycemia). I have also given the order forms in the back to friends. I first became aware of panic attacks as an eight year old, but I wasn't diagnosed until I was in my forties, and only after many counseling sessions for panic which didn't help. I found this book and it meant the end of Xanax for me. One doesn't have to read it all at once. The first things to learn are distraction and breathing exercises. Then move on to magnification and other thought control processes.

I first read this book in New Zealand.. and soon became hooked. Mainly as I suffer from anxiety and depression. I found it insiteful and cathartic. It helped me to understand more fully my idiosyncracies and attitudes, and gave me more peace of mind. It offers good advice on how to help combat these debilitating conditions and gain your life back. I would highly recommend it to anyone who suffers from these conditions, or lives with anyone who has them, to better understand what feelings are involved, and that no one ever chooses to suffer; for many reasons, it is simply how our brain reacts to difficult situations, and no one is to blame. An empathetic, yet highly practical book.

very easy to understand the causes of panic and aniexity, creates easy to understand solutions for people suffering from long term panic, GAD, etc..

I have just started using this book and it is such a relief. It is immensely practical and effective.

This is a newer edition; for more rave reviews from people who have been through the whole program, check out the older edition:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-reviews/0446670537/

(The link will be slow because it has to rebuild "your" view, but just give it time).

If you really want to get better, if you're ready to do whatever it takes (because it does take hard work!), then this book can really help you take those steps. It's one of the few that are genuinely about "self-help" - how to gain internal strength and heal yourself. Good luck!

In my elementary ed. teaching classes, our reading methods teacher shared this book as a fun way to explore the alphabet and expand vocabulary with both English and ESL students.

When I had my son two years ago, my parents got him the book, and from 13 months on, he has continually asked to read it and look at the pictures. The illustrations are vivid and action-oriented, so it captures and keeps a young child's attention the whole book long. It it a great way to introduce your young child to new vocabulary words as well. For example, A is for "Arf", and I would tell my son "Doggy barking." B is for ball "Doggy caught the ball." C is for "catch", "Doggy caught the ball." He must have learned 100 words from this book alone and the short phrases/sentences I made up to add to each page describing what each doggy was doing.

This is one alphabet book a parent needs to add to his child's library! I would recommend it for any child ages 1-5

Although the reading level begins at age 4 years, my 8 month old son has become very fond of this book. The pictures are exciting and stimulating. He smiles when the book is brought out and cries when we put it away. Overall, an entertaining book for any age.

This is a really great book. The dogs are so cute, they'll break your heart. My son's favorite is the dog jumping through the hoop. He's really cute -- I only wish my dog were so well trained! We also like the springer spaniel puppy, because she looks just like our dog Allie! A must for dog lovers of all ages.

We have read this book on a near-daily basis for the last 5 months. It always brings a smile, even when Kate is recovering from a bump or scare. The dog photos are very appealing to the baby, especially the ones (Mutt, Good dog!, Jump!) where the dog's expression looks like a smile. A bonus is the wonderful photo collages that adorn the end pages front and back of the book; they are at least as good as the photos in the actual text. My husband and I fell in love with the book in the bookstore, but it has proven even more alluring to the baby. Unlike our real dog, Arf Beg Catch doesn't get up and walk away from being handled. I'm thinking about buying another copy against the day when we wear the first one out!

Adults as well as children will adore this unique alphabet book. Both the upper and lower case letters are displayed for education purposes. But the real fun of the book are the delightful and engaging photographs of the dogs in action shots. (The cover photo has me puzzled though. Has that dog been tossed up in the air?) Delightful browser as well as an educational tool for learning the alphabet.

The canary caper is a good book Itlls about two boys and one girl who are looking for a lost bird they also found out other animals were being stolen around town you shound read this book to see what happens.

My son hads me read the A to Z mysteries to him, and this one we read in two nights. Great book!!

My name is Arden Feldman. I think that the book was very good. I liked how they solved the mystery. I really liked the part when the kids came out of the bushes and they looked like ninjas. I could not stop reading the book because it was so good.

What I like about the book is that the book has a lot pages to read and is interesting about A canary.
The canary is lost and there are three kids, Dink Josh and Ruth that found the canary.
The book is a good book for kids who like mysteries.
I like to read too much.

My 5 year old son loves this series -- we read them as quickly as they come out. In this one, pets are disappearing -- but why? These are not exactly mysteries -- unlike, say, the Clue Jr. books there's no way for the reader to solve the crimes before the crooks are caught -- but they are interesting and fun to discuss, chapter by chapter, as the plot thickens!

I heard about the book from friends who picked their copy up while in Z who really enjoyed reading it. I got copy just prior to heading off to Z for week. Read the book in a couple of days while laying under a palapa on La Ropa. Loved the characters, twists & turns in the plot and detailed the detailed descriptions of places in and around Z. I have recommended the book to a number of friends and am lending it to a couple who are heading off to Z at the end of Mar. Would love to see a follow-up book on how things have progressed.

Strongly suggest you don't start your read on the plane. Save it for reading on Playa LaRopa itself in Z to get a real feel for the story in the novel's actual setting. This is a fantasy story for either a man or a woman who loves life's experiences, romance, great food and Zihuatanejo. There are no complex story-lines or complicated plots. This is a breezy read as gentle as the waves lapping onto LaRopa and must be read right on the beach for the full effect. After returning to the cold north country re-read it to relive the wonderful experience that is Zihuatanejo.

The book jacket was the first thing to make me pick up the book. Interesting, great colors. By the 2nd chapter I found myself sneaking off to corners, eating lunch in the car, reading at stop lights just to get to another page. I have always traveled with bags packed in my mind only. This book makes me want to see Zihuatanejo and the people. I liked the way the receipts sort of sneaked into the story. It is dream of everyone to find their paradise. What a great read. Thank you for a wonderful story.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Cooking School at Z. The story captured my imagination and the story telling inspired my "inner-foodie". It's a great read.

The Cooking School at Z is a great summer read. No beach bag should be without it. Tantalizing foods. Exotic locales. Dan Kennedy truly captures the essence of Zihuantanejo. I was checking airfares by Chapter 4.

"Mickey Z. has written a novel about the end of the world that reads like a Stanley Kubrick movie of a Kurt Vonnegut novel cut into little pieces and spliced back together."
- Levi Asher, Literary Kicks

"Mickey Z. has thought a lot about politics and a lot about sex. He's thought about politics while having sex, and about sex while having politics. As a result, Mr. Z. has written an orgasmic Left revolt-book! I am surprised that I liked the novel, actually. I didn't know that I enjoyed anything written after 1931."
-- Sparrow, poet and presidential candidate

"Mickey Z.'s CPR for Dummies is a ribald collage of styles, points of view, and blasphemies. Written loosely in the style of a play, the novel includes the author as a character, a sex-crazed priest and a confession-booth orgy to rival the best of Rabelais. Both satiric and insightful, the book manages to invoke both Armageddon and optimism. With politics sure to rile even the most self-righteous liberal, Mickey pulls off a tour de force -- a textbook within a play within a parody within an urban memoir. It is a book that is as tongue in cheek as Vonnegut and Bukowski -- funny, sexy, surprising and entirely iconoclastic."
-- Christine Hamm, author of "The Transparent Dinner"

a.k.a. Ash Lomen


I liked this book... I'm just sure if everyone else will. Giving it a five star rating is something I'm almost hesitant to do... but after all... I am judging the book on how much I enjoyed reading it... and that was one whole hell of a lot.

CPR for Dummies isn't really a novel... it's not really even fiction... it's a story wrapped in a psychic storm of fact, fiction, opinions, and intercourse. It's a stream-of-consciousness designed for you to choke on. And swallow.

It's also (whatever it is) very funny...

Mickey Z's viewpoint is not always a popular one (or one I always agree with) but what can I say... I like a guy who asks questions. Consider the possibility that you may be (on occasion) wrong... and you might learn something.

Maybe even how to win a fight...

CPR for Dummies is a brilliant, inventive, and thoroughly enjoyable novel. It's filled with wild, engaging characters and an interesting mix of sex and politics--part Henry Miller and part Howard Zinn. While it has a storyline that moves compellingly forward, it also uses a postmodern collage structure that carves out plenty of free space for author playfulness, surprising anecdotes about history and science, and urgent political commentary. I read it in two sittings and found it to be both a real page-turner and an educational treat. And watch out for the ending.

With a copy of CPR for dummies opened to any random page, You will be the most popular person on the subway! Juicy as TimeOut's Jamie Bufalino, with a plot and engaging dialogue!

I don't think there'll be a more bizarre book released in 2008, that's for sure. CPR for Dummies combines a screenplay, a day-long gritty Lower East Side (that's NYC for people who don't know) sex narrative, a corrupt priest and his group of idiosyncratic followers, and the end of the world into something delightfully weird.

Briefly, on the last day on earth (think "Armageddon"), a sexually voracious woman and her boyfriend get trapped in a church with a priest and his small congregation, who divulge their stories as the world outside them gets crazier and the meteor gets closer. Climax of the book is a three-way orgasm in a confessional.

And that climax is previewed by Mickey himself. At the beginning of the book he tells you, in italics and parentheses, that it's going to happen. This is CPR for Dummies' central conceit -- no-nonsense meta comments from the author. (He even puts them in the back-of-the-book copy.)

They're the best thing about the book. They come at the end of every chapter (and the chapters are short an readable) -- for example, I'm almost done writing this paragraph.

(it wasn't very good, was it? You're probably bored already and clicking off to another site.)


Mickey Z's meta strategy becomes addictive; after a while you're waiting for his out-of-the-box comments, which often reveal which of the book's many entertaining anecdotes actually happened to him. When I (tried to) read A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, I got caught up in the preface. The first sentence: "It is not necessary to read the preface." Well, I thought, that's annoying -- it's probably not necessary to read the whole book. And I put it town.

Mickey Z's meta strategies are MUCH more palatable. When you finish this book, you feel like you know him, and you also feel like you've been through a long, strange trip to obliteration.