G Books

I don't typically read this type of fiction. I gravitate towards legal fiction instead. The first chapters of this book may have changed my way of thinking. I would be very interested in reading the rest of this book. I find the topic especially interesting since I live and work less than ten miles from Reston, Virginia!

I thought this was a great idea for a novel. What do I have to do to get the full version? This topic seems especially interesting to me given the fact that it seems like there are always different viral outbreaks happening like MRSA and SARS. Additionally,I think this is interesting because it ties in the fear we all have of viruses with the real possibility that terrorists could try and use this type of virus as a weapon!

Death Scourge has everything -- strong settings, a strong main character, great pacing and style and a story line that won't let go. It's contemporary, and compelling. I want to meet Rishad Zharmakhan and find out what happens next!

this is a very interesting beginning. I would like to know how things turn out. It could possibly happen in our terrorist prone world. Very timely subject.

A remarkable intriguing idea for a historical and scientific seat-of-your-pants thriller. I wonder if the plot was actually based on any historical evidence. The author does the most with his intriguing idea. He clearly has a great knowledge of science and combines it with writing skills. The reader is kept wondering, 'What is going to happen now?" and keeps reading to find out.

Terry Anderson's Den of Lions is a den of insights into the radical bi-polar terrorist mentality in which he was trapped for over seven years. His descriptions of the bombings, shootings and random daily violence that permeated around the non-citizens and the citizens of Lebanon, make this a classic Middle East hostage survivor's story. Anderson's poems of his cruel incarceration are filled with searing depth that transport you to the various scummy basement cells which he shared with other Westerners. Den of Lions and Hostage by David Jacobson go hand in hand and are important contributions in the collection of Middle East books that help those of us citizens who were not there or too young to remember, the horror that Beirut was during the eighties and early ninties. Very highly recommended!

Mr. Anderson's book is a lesson on how to maintain sainity in the most horrible situations you could every be in; kidnapped and the lose of personal freedom.

This book is not a pleasant read. It is very important though in that it allows the reader, who is probably very comfortable while reading, to feel the sense of dispair that Mr. Anderson went through.

The political reasons as well as the climate in the Middle East in the 1980's is very interesting and this account allows us to see it from a totally different perspective.

Plus it has a happy ending, I highly recommend it.

Den of Lions: Memoirs of Seven Years by Terry Anderson is one of my favorite books. The book grabbed my attention and kept it. I read the book in one day. Learning of Terry Anderson's ordeal through his eyes and in his words was amazing. Having been only 4 when he was taken hostage, I did not really know much about him until he was released from Lebanon in 1991, when I was 10. I grew up watching the news with my parents and I can remember seeing his return on television.
When I decided to study journalism in college, I chose the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University. When I heard that Terry Anderson was going to be joining the faculty at Scripps, I was truly excited. I read his memoirs and then had the opportunity to hear him speak about his ordeal. Having him as a professor at Scripps was a wonderful experience for all journalism students. I have the great privilege of saying that I met one of my role models and I am grateful for that.
Den of Lions: Memoirs of Seven Years is one of the best books I have ever read. It is touching and wonderfully written. It tells Terry Anderson's story in a way that only he could.

I do not want this to sound insensitive, but the one thing I kept thinking as I was reading this book is why was he there? The U.S. government was telling U.S. citizens to leave, the Lebanese government did not care, his employer wanted him to leave, and there were increasing hostage incidents. The book his the story of his capture and the seven years he spent as a captive of this militant group. He does a good job in describing the locations he was in, the people that were his captors, and the other persons that he was with. I thought the most interesting parts of the book detailed his conversations with some of his captors and their views on the situation.

The book is a very interesting view of what happened to the author. The details are rich and he does a good job of painting the scenes for us. He also did a good job of explaining the depression of being a captive and what it is like to loss seven years of your life, although I do not think any author could truly express the emotional pain that he must have gone through. If you are interested in this part of the world or this story, this is a great book. It is also interesting given the current climate in the Middle East to read about what was happening 20 years ago.

I am a Westerner who has lived in Lebanon for many years and yet I gleaned new knowledge of the Middle East from reading "Den of Lions". Terry Anderson is a wonderful writer, and the addition of his fiancee's thoughts and feelings adds depth of insight into the agony of hostage-taking. There are interesting looks into the interaction between hostages and into the daily frustrations of the waste, and yet somehow the not-waste, of almost seven years away from freedom of choice. This is a book that has stayed on my mind.

This is both a great read and an important historical document. Fanny Trollope was the mother of Anthony Trollope, perhaps the most prolific English novelist of the nineteenth century and my favorite. Fanny's husband was ineffectual in the breadwinning department, but fortunately for the family, Fanny herself was energetic and enterprising. She took one of her sons (not Anthony) and an artistic young man to the United States. She was planning to join a friend of hers who was a mover in setting up the utopian community in Harmony, Indiana, but the place turned out to be squalid, and she didn't stay long.

Fanny spent most of her time in the U.S. in Cincinnati and in her book is very hard on the city and its inhabitants. She especially objected to the pigs' role as garbage collectors. (In those days, pigs roamed the streets freely, like sheep grazing.) Fanny felt most of the people she encountered were loud, dirty, vulgar, and fanatically patriotic. It is her vivid descriptions of the physical conditions and the people that give this book its historical and entertainment value.

While she was living in Cinci, she opened a retail emporium and filled it with rather shoddy merchandise sent from England by her husband. She also attempted to bring culture to the inhabitants. Not surprisingly, both ventures failed.

After Mrs. Trollope returned to England, she supported her family by writing novels that were quite popular at the time, though they haven't become the classics her son's have. She spent her final years living in Italy with another son and his wife.

This is an extremely entertaining commentary on American manners and well written. I agree, however, with Mrs. Trollope's son, Anthony, who commented that Mrs. Trollope is a keen observer but she understands little. Certainly her complaints about the lack of gentility among Americans is valid but she completely missed the wonderful lack of class restraints endemic to English society which afforded Americans "class mobility"--freedom of opportunity (except for native Americans and slaves).

Fanny Trollope (1779-1863) wrote over 35 novels and several non-fictions books in her effort to rescue her family from poverty. However, the most read of all her books is "Domestic Manners of the Americans" which she published in 1832. It was in that distant year that Fanny and two of her children traveled across the Atlantic Ocean. Her purpose was to join a utopian community in Tennessee whose denizens were freed slaves.
Fanny left her impecunious and feckless husband the barrister Thomas Trollope back home in England. Her famous son Anthony did not make the trip as he was a student at Harrow School. Fanny knew her husband would join her in the USA when money became available. Later the family would flee to Bruges to escape creditors. Fanny eventually lived out her life in Florence near her son Thomas Trollope.
After leaving Tennessee the Trollopes settled for two years in the Queen City of the West Cincinnati, Ohio. Fanny did not like America or the American people! She found us xenephobic; boastful, prideful and violent.She hated the hypocrisy of life in Midwest Ohio although she did attend such cultural attractions as opera, plays and lectures. She favored the state Anglican Church of Great Britain not caring for America's separation between church and state.
This book could well be read alongside Charles Dickens' "American Notes for General Circulation" based on his 1842 six month trip to the USA.
Both Trollope and Dickens found the Americans crude, lacking in manners
and eager to make a quick buck. Listen to Trollope at her most scathing:
"..among the rich and the poor, in the slave states, and in the free states...I do not like them. I do not like their principals, I do not like their manners, I do not like their opinions." (p.314).
Fanny Trollope's book is more interesting than Dickens since she discusses colorful characters and shares anecdotes about her sojourn in our young republic. Like Dickens she hates the odious practice of tobacco chewing and the mangling of the English language. Trollope found us Yankees to be too serious and viewing us as poorly read. Unlike the wealthy and famous Dickens, Mrs. Trollope was a middle-aged woman fighting off poverty with her pen. I enjoyed her descriptions of nature such as those she paints of the Potomac River, Northern Virginia and the Niagra Falls area in New York and Canada. She is aware of flora and fauna and describes them with knowledge and in beautiful prose.
Dickens and Trollope give us the eye to see America in the days prior to the Civil War when the curse of chattel slavery ruled the land. Since those days America has granted freedom to all citizens. I wish both Fanny and Charles could visit us again in the 21st century. Their remarks would be of great interest to this reviewer and countless others!

All I can say is: what a great read! Who knew? Quite frankly, upon first sight of this book I must admit a bit of dread as the puritanical artwork does not smack of fun and games. Of course, as a literature student, I should know better than to ever judge a book by its cover.
Had I been Fanny Trollope writing such an account of America in the 1820s, I would be hardpressed to say that I would have changed a single word. Trollope has been the victim of many mean spirited caricatures and accusations by Americans and it still continues today, but what is interesting is that no one can do more than attack her person. In other words, no one seems to be able to refute her claims.
Trollope's "bitchiness" seems, for the most part, merited by my standards and while she finds much to complain about concerning an American democracy in its adolescence, she certainly discovers just as many things that she likes or finds beautiful.
Plain and simple, Americans collectively have a hard time taking criticism, especially from an outsider...and at that time, political criticism from a woman was deemed absurd if not audacious.
Last but not least, Fanny Trollope is always sure to preface anything she says with the conscious realization that she can only speak for what she has seen/heard personally and is thereby not judging ALL of America.
Trollope is witty and anecdotal and I think anyone interested in what an outspoken Englishwoman had to say about the New World should certainly pick up a copy. I found particular interest in gender/religious issues but got the most laughs out of her descriptions of American manners (or the lack thereof).
It is always interesting to see how much things have changed, and better yet, how many things have remained exactly the same!

Very entertaining read of the author's trip through 19th Century America, full of wonderful description and enlightening observations. Despite the griping below, Mrs Trollope simply reports what she sees - men spitting tobacco on the floor, ladies off in another room while the guys have a good time, etc. She reports accurately on our forefathers' rugged pioneer spirit, but points out the lack of education everywhere. We want to shout "lies!" but Mark Twain wrote about the same thing, and the aspects of our society that haven't changed much are still being commented on with the same frankness by writers like Saul Bellow, Gore Vidal, Dawn Powell, Paul Theroux and Joan Didion. Many true-hearted Americans will enjoy this book no end. Mrs Trollope clearly loved America and simply wrote truthfully about; she is simply beholden to no one - the essence of good writing. A thoroughly refreshing read.

my mother recieved a copy of this book when she had her open heart surgery. i have read it and have been hooked on it ever since. when i lost my mother my sister got rid of the book before i could get to it. i was extremely glad i found it on amazon,com after my own heart attack. it is a lifesaver.

After my father had an emergency triple-by-pass, our entire family experienced a "wake-up call" and finally decided to start learning about our hearts and how to eat for better heart health. One by one, each of us has bought a copy of this book--it is SO well written and Mr. Piscatella explains everything so well that it makes you excited about eating healthier. He is also very realistic about what it takes to change habits you've developed over many years. The first half of the book is all of the background information you need and the second half is the cookbook portion. The recipes are a helpful way to get started in your new appraoch to cooking and eating! Do yourself a favor and get this book--and get one for others in your life who need to take better care of their heart!

I started using this book for my husband. He as a combination of bad genetics and scant will-power. The dishes are very easy to make, most of the ingredients are already in your kitchen, and best of all, they are delicious. It is very easy to follow and you can't believe you are eating so healthy because it tastes so good.

In this cookbook designed for the heart patient, Piscatella devotes the first half to discussion of heart disease, cholesterol, unhealthy elements of American diet, and a seven-step plan to change eating habits - including reductions of fat, salt, sugar and even restaurant eating.

The second half introduces the recipes, accompanied by nutritional information, variations and serving suggestions. Recipes range from Italian vegetable soup to grilled swordfish steak, chicken curry and barbecued lamb roast. There's even a pie crust recipe. With an emphasis on herbs and judicious use of small amounts of fat, recipes are attractive as well as healthy.

I just bought this book for my husband and me, and I can't put it down. The information in the first half of the book is priceless. It goes in-depth about not only the workings of the heart and the causes of coronary heart disease, but also contains a step-by-step guide for how to change your lifestyle to prevent, control, or even reverse heart disease. The recipes in the second half are delicious and practical, if somewhat pricey. The author's focus is on presenting a practical, "do-able" approach to health, and he certainly achieves that. If you aren't buying it for yourself, buy it for your kids... their future dietary habits are determined by how they eat today. And "traces of the disease are common in American children by age 10" (p. 25). I'm buying another one for a friend.

Dispatches from The Sandbox describes what our troops are experiencing
on many levels while attempting to secure Iraq and Afghanistan.

As a civilian and U.S. citizen I have always supported our military
and the men who are doing all the work. Their dispatches are
fascinating funny and informative.

I am better informed about what they are experiencing.

Who are these Marines and Soldiers whose courage and tenacity is so glorified and politicized by those who never served ?

Editor David Stanford brings us the daily stories of those fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, and in their own blunt words. An Gary Trudeau-inspired addition to his 11-year old Doonesbury.com website, Trudeau and Stanford invited the warriors overseas to write back so the folks back on the homefront could stay informed about the war. They weren't looking for strategy and tactics, but rather the daily routine - ranging from boring to mundane to kinetic - that the troops experienced.

And write they did, as "mil-blogging" increased in popularity, the writing skills of a few of the blogging Marines and Soldiers brought the wars back home in a visceral fashion that often leaves the reader with damp eyes. No slick writing here, but rather just the honest words of your son and daughters and husbands at war.

1st Sgt Troy Steward, New York Guard, writes of his time in Afghanistan as part of an Embedded Training Team (ETT) with an Afghan National Army Unit. Sgt Roy Batty, stationed in Baghdad, writes of the boredom associated with living on a FOB and then later segues into problems with an Iraqi Police unit that shot and killed an old man. "They are our buddies," he writes,"our comrades in arms with whom we are supposed to bring Jeffersonian democracy and security to this wonderful country..." . 1st Lt Stefan laments the death of a fellow officer, 2nd Lt Scott Lundell, with whom he attended OCS. "Rest in peace,"Stefan grieves on his keyboard,"...a brother in arms who is loved and missede. The debt will not go unpaid..."

Stanford has sifted through the hundreds of articles posted on the more popular milblogs such as bouhammer.com, sackiniraq.blogspot.com. and traversa.typepad.com, and posted a few of the best. "The Sandbox" has articles from men and women, officers and enlisted men, and warriors, chaplains, and corpsmen. These are unforgiving wars where the combat zones start at the border, and Stanford lets those doing the fighting talk about how it affects them. In an environment where the media is criticised for playing politics by wanting to show photos of coffins being returned to the United States, one can instead read SPC J.R. Salzman's (jrsalzman.com.weblog) blunt description of having his arm blown off "...the tast of blood in my mouth, realizing that the bottom half of my arm was missing with nothing left but a couple of fingers and part of my hand hanging off by some skin and tendons and realizing how much pain I was in."

The value of "The Sandbox" is that it lets the reader forget the petty politics of the last few years and instead get to know something about the Marines and Soldiers who are doing the fighting and dying. Republicans - Democrats are unimportant when one reads 1st Sgt Stewards reports from Afghanistan, or SPC's Salzman writing about how "the last time I saw my wedding ring was when it was being snipped off with a pair of bolt cutters at a hospital in the Green Zone in Baghdad." Thank you, Gentlemen, for what you are doing, and thank you for sharing it with us; "The Sandbox" should be read by every American.

This book is a compilation of e-mails from men and women
in the army, navy and marines stationed in the middle East
war zones. It gives a true picture of what is going on
over there and how it affects our military personnel; how they
feel and what they think. I bought it to give to the people that
I know who think that George Bush was right to go into Iraq
and that the war is just fine. I hope that it will help them to
change their minds about the war and vote for peace on Nov. 8.

The reports from individual soldiers, Matines and Seals in Afghanistan and Iraq are invaluable.

You do NOT have to be a Doonesbury fan to like and appreciate this book.
You do NOT have to be a history or military buff to understand and appreciate all of what is written in this book.

You will NEVER forget these men and women, their voices, their tears, their laughter, their anguish, their fears, and most importantly their most honorable sacrifices.

DON'T MISS THIS BOOK!

Just finished reading Paul Petredis' terrific effort. I am the current President of the 35th Infantry Regiment Association and I found the historical aspects of the story to be of particular interest. Paul's story is riveting. I liked the fact that he didn't try and make it a story of personal heroism. As they say in Dragnet "Just the Facts, Mam" and that's what Paul gave us but they were interesting facts and interesting reading. Seems like there should of been a movie come out of this. Thanks Paul. I enjoyed it.

This is the most gripping, facinating non-fiction book I have ever read. It shows the will to survive in the face of overwhelming odds. I wish every high school student would read this book and discover the meaning of a true hero. It is very different from what the movies portray. I recommend reading this book. You won't want to put it down.
O. Mastellos

Facinating true story.

Escape From North Korea by Paul G Petredis

His book is superbly researched and a darn good read of the Forgotten War and the path which lead to it. His personal experience being a soldier in Korea and surviving the conflict gives great credit to him as a man, and his narrative about how he escaped from North Korea is almost beyond description, and should be a must read for anyone who enters the US Military Service. Hope to see future writings by Paul Petredis.

F.Petersen

WOW... war becomes real on these pages, almost too real, and from a soldier with his first-hand account. I found it to be a story of survival and determination, and a credit to the author and to our military. I suppose the most significant part of this story, is the insight into what our soldiers are facing everyday in the Middle East. It should be "must" reading for every person in our Armed Forces, as to what to expect, and how to overcome the impending obstacles, in battle and if captured. An excellent book and a credit to its author. Well done!

I read this book in a weekend! I could not put it down. It had humor, suspense, twists and turns - all the makings of a great book. I can't wait to see where this author takes us next!

Enjoyed the story immensely..wonderful character analysis of man & animal..Is a sequel in the offering? Terrific new author.

I really enjoyed the comparisons of the animal world with the human world. The writing style of this book truly kept me constantly wanting to read on. There is crime, love, travel and plot twists in this book that add to all the excitement! I'm looking forward to reading any other works this author will produce!

This is a completely different view of love, death and intrigue. The most amazing thing to me is how the animal characters jump out of the book and become so real. Each animal character having it's own unique personality.

A truly different type of fantasy book. The author conveys the innocence of the animal kingdom and the cruelty of the human race.

Hope this author continues with this type of storyline, would like to read more.

Started reading and got into the story and was loving it and didn't want to stop

Have you ever needed an erotic fantasy to erase the traces of a bad relationship? The Fantasy Master, written by relationship author, G.L. Henderson, gives you just that. This novel travels through the female mind in a sensual fashion that will have you crossing your legs tight and squirming in your seat.

The Fantasy Master centers around the protagonist, Jasmine, her man,
Lewis, and her best friend, Renee, who enjoy a tight relationship until Lewis begins acting up. The circumstances that follow set up a series of mysterious events which change their relationships dramatically.

Using his astonishing insight into the female mind, Henderson introduces Anthony, a dream of a man, who takes Jasmine on a journey of fantasy, romance, erotic adventure and self-discovery.

Hold onto your hearts, ladies, as Anthony says, "Let me hold the key to your erotic door," and proceeds to take you through the physical and emotional sides of an erotic escape.

Although a little slow to start, the novel quickly draws you into the lives of characters you think you know...but think again. The Fantasy Master reveals their underlying motives and keeps you speculating until the end. The interactions of these characters will have you second guessing your own relationships.

Employing the themes of friendship, jealousy, infidelity, envy and love, the Fantasy Master mirrors society, while teaching us some of life's toughest lessons. The unpredictable ending will keep the Fantasy Master in your dreams for some time to come.

A Mocha Mind Book Review
By Gioya Mcrae
©2008 Mocha Mind Communications

Lawd, Lawd, Lawd and yes I said Lawd.. What a great book for the GROWN & MATURE! G.L.Henderson has so much fantasy for one to vision, however, reality and a spiritual message was soon to follow.

G.L.H. = Good Looking Handsome 1 is definitely about to wake up the favor for ADULTS and bring back the ROMANCE in a couples' RELATIONSHIP! One can't get mad for a MAN TELLING IT LIKE IT IS!

Keep up the GREATNESS!

My co-worker bought this book to work with her and told me to read it. I went to the hairdresser that day and finished the book in 3 1/2 hours, no lie. I couldn't put the book down. A definite page turner. It had everything love, lust, dishonesty and spirtuality. You must read this book. I'm looking forward to his next book.

I felt as if you had looked into my life and wrote about it. You seemed to have gotten into my mind and knew all of my thoughts and feelings... And the part where Jasmine is in the bathroom... Now I know why you are the "Fantasy Master"!:) I know a part of me wished it was me in the tub and a bigger part of me wished that it was me that was blind folded and whose body was being rubbed. When you read this book I feel everyone will be able to relate wheither you are a man or a woman. If you have ever loved or gave love you will find a part of you. And if you have ever fantasized about what good love feels like then this will help you. I know some men who could use some lessons from G.L. the REAL "Fantasy Master."

well i can say that this book is not just for older poeple but it's also for the younger ones. I am 18 years old and i find this book to be very real. It help you to walk in your fantasy and also walk into reality at the same time. Although G.L is my god-father i never seen this side before. He is a very deep person. And i have to say that this book shows just what kind of man he is. This is not just a regular book this help you in many ways then one. If you have not read this book please make it you business to do so. Trust me it is something you will love. This book shows you how to love , pray, romance,and most of all trust in God so that you can later trust yourself. But if i could rate this book a 100 that's what it will be! If you have read this book pass it on and tell someone about it. Help support! Love you dad From Your Baby Girls! Kema and CAM

I read a book a bit to late - during the last weeks on a notice period. Many people were asking me at that time, how could I not find myself in a thriving, well known and one of the biggest corporations in the world. And to my surprise, I couldn't give a concise and plausible answer! To be honest, I didn't understand myself "How and where it all went wrong?"

After reading the book, I not only know why I had an urge to leave, but also understand all previous cases when I was changing the job. Furthermore, I know what tasks or roles should I look for to enjoy my work there. And believe me, it wasn't an obvious answer.

I wholeheartedly recommend that book to everyone, who spends at least a third of his life at work.

This book is a must-have for anyone looking to improve their current work experience. Even if you're looking for a new job, succeeding at a current job is the BEST step forward to a new one. VERY HELPFUL!

I loved reading about the different varieties of people in the book- how they react and interact. It really helped me to understand the people around me- and not react to exhibitied characteristics that are consistent with their personality type. Great book!

This is a must read for anyone who has had 'one of those days (weeks, months or years!) at the office.'

Up to now, it had been my belief that human interaction and concise, measurable solutions have little or no common ground. These authors have not only found that common ground, they've created a road map of it for us all!

This book provides measurable, quantitative solutions for human issues with regard to individual and team dynamics and it does so in an entertaining, easy-to-understand way.

Bottom Line: The things I learned while reading this book made my work experience much more enjoyable. Many thanks to the authors for the 'Road Map'!

I loved that the book gave useful suggestions that could be implemented right away. In addition to some great team exercises (www.LikeWorkAgain.com), the book also provides exercises that you can do right away by yourself. I also enjoyed the balance that the book struck between helping your current situation and deciding if you need to start looking elsewhere (it actually lives up to its title).

This is such a good book. I bought it for my 10 yo son and he reads from it often, and then comes to me with all sorts of sophisticated tidbits about math, that I'd either forgotten or never known!
It's a very gentle way of getting to know complex mathematical theories, and its explanations are clear and succinct. Although alphabet based, this is not for small children, I would not give it to anyone younger than 9.
I'm very happy with this book and would happily recommend it. We're going to get Q is for Quark next.

At her Montessori preschool, my daughter loved only math "work," mastering the binomial and trinomial cubes early on. At 5, as we began homeschooling, her reading level exploded and she fell in love with words. Unlike "hands-on" math, she had no interest in arithmetic or pages of problems. She's a highly gifted, visual-spatial learner who also reads rapidly and at a high level. Now, at 8, I present her with "literary math," books with mathematical concepts and lots of words and pictures. This book is one of the best examples of that genre. When I handed it to my daughter, she eagerly began flipping through the pages, then scanned the table of contents. "V is for Venn diagram!" she said happily. "I LOVE Venn diagrams!" She read everything about them and studied the amusing pictures in detail. Then she began to describe aspects of her life to us in Venn diagrams. So it has gone with the rest of this book, which I highly recommend.

First off, be aware that google is the internet search site, NOT a mathematical term. A googol is, though, and it is a 1 followed by 100 zeros, which happens to be a number larger than the number of grains of sand on the earth. This book is interesting stuff!

I took a chance on ordering it because I had never heard of it before but it intrigued me. For each letter of the alphabet, a mathematical term (or two) is defined. It's fun, mathematical terms are clearly explained and some of the letters give you go-along activities.

I've been reading this aloud to my kids (ages 8 & 10) and they enjoy it. I even learned some new things, and I have a degree in mechanical engineering (which requires a lot of upper level math.) Your kids don't have to be gifted in math to enjoy this one. Some of the topics are A is for Abacus, B is for Binary (great explanation!), C is for cubit, D is for Diamond, E is for equilateral and exponent, F is for Fibonacci and G is for Googol. If you don't know what those mean, you'd better get the book!

Even if my 8 yo doesn't remember what an exponent is, she may remember them when she comes to them again and it won't be so intimidating. The more explanations the better, right? This book doesn't teach you anything you HAVE to know, just lots of interesting things that make math fun. Maybe that makes it more interesting - because you don't have to know it.

I caught my 10 yo teaching my 8 yo how to make a mobius strip and what it was. I had to say, "HEY! Have you been reading ahead without me?!" He sheepishly admitted it, but it was so interesting he just had to!

I would say this is probably good for 3rd or 4th grade and up. A younger age could understand some of the topics, but some of the math topics require a bit higher order thinking.

This book enthralled my fifth graders. They are fascinated with large numbers and love the name googol. This book helps get kids excited about math.

David Schwartz is brilliant! In G is for Googol, he brings together a wealth of mathematical information for strong independent readers. A is for abacus, F is for Fibonacci, and K is for Konigsburg! If you don't know how to pronounce rhombicosidodecahedron, don't dispair! Schwartz will show you how, and his entertaining and informative book will keep inquisitive kids enthralled for hours!