Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Average customer rating:

Good read

Fashion Forward

Not his best but good enough

Somewhat amusing

Moderately amusing
Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
David Sedaris
Manufacturer: Back Bay Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Essays | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Satire, General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Parenting & Families | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Humor | United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers

philosophy hope in a jar daily moisturizer

ASIN: 0316010790
Release Date: 2005-05-31

Amazon.com Audio Review

Sedaris's career is closely linked with two things: audio (he was discovered by NPR's Ira Glass), and the personal lives of himself and his family. In Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, he describes fights with his boyfriend, and his sister-in-law's difficult pregnancy. When sister Lisa complains about the stories involving the family, he writes about that, too. Sedaris's latest provides more evidence that he is a great humorist, memoirist and raconteur, and readers are lucky to have the opportunity to know him so well. Perhaps they are luckier still not to know him personally. --Leah Weathersby

Book Description

It just isn't fair: most of us would be lucky to be able to express ourselves in writing half as well as David Sedaris does in his new book, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim. But on top of his skills with the written word, the author also has substantial gifts as a performer, and he proves this on the audio version of the book. In his essay The Change in Me,Sedaris remembers that his mother was good at imitating people, and it's clear that he takes after her. Whether he's doing impressions of high-voiced brother Paul, or recalling times when he and his sisters tried to win good karma by speaking and acting like well-behaved, fairytale children, Sedaris's nuanced performance hits the right note on both the opening, comedic stories, and the more poignant essays that tend to come later in the reading. In fact, for those who have already read some of the best stories in other publications including The New Yorker, the CD or cassette version of this collection is probably the best bet for furthering your appreciation of the material.Sedaris's career is closely linked with two things: audio (he was discovered by NPR's Ira Glass), and the personal lives of himself and his family. In Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, he describes fights with his boyfriend, and his sister-in-law's difficult pregnancy. When sister Lisa complains about the stories involving the family, he writes about that, too. Sedaris's latest provides more evidence that he is a great humorist, memoirist and raconteur, and readers are lucky to have the opportunity to know him so well. Perhaps they are luckier still not to know him personally. --Leah Weathersby

Download Description

David Sedaris plays in the snow with his sisters.
He goes on vacation with his family.
He gets a job selling drinks.
He attends his brother's wedding.
He mops his sister's floor.
He gives directions to a lost traveler.
He eats a hamburger.
He has his blood sugar tested.

It all sounds so normal, doesn't it?
In his newest collection of essays, David Sedaris lifts the corner of ordinary life, revealing the absurdity teeming below its surface. His world is alive with obscure desires and hidden motivesâa world where forgiveness is automatic and an argument can be the highest form of love. Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim is another unforgettable collection from one of the wittiest and most original writers at work today.

Customer Reviews:

Good read.......2007-10-05

This book was a good read. At times I was bored with the writer, but over all it was a great book!

Fashion Forward.......2007-08-24

David Sedaris puts things in writing that aren't discussed in polite company but ring true to everyone. And sometimes he tells polite, but amusing tales too. What insight.

Not his best but good enough.......2007-08-10

I enjoyed "Dress Your Family...". It delves more into his family and personal relationships than the others have and while funny - it is occasionally funny in a disturbing way. You can't help but wonder how much is true and how much is sort of maybe true but somewhat embellished. You find yourself hoping there is in fact embellishment because we're talking serious dysfunction otherwise - particularly when he discusses one of his sisters and his brother.

His writing is as usual quick and biting and witty. He is self-deprecating, but compared to a couple of his siblings, and maybe his father (as he describes them) - he is the *less messed up*, which is scary.

Although I didn't like it as much as "Me Talk Pretty One Day", I still recommend it.

Somewhat amusing.......2007-07-26

This was the first title I have read from the author and after seeing all of the reviews, I somewhat expected this to be one of the those laugh out loud books. With a few exceptions, it wasn't. I was still entertained by the accounts of this very unique family and was able to relate to various pieces of the different stories. I dont regret picking up this book up but I I think I was expecting more.

Moderately amusing.......2007-06-25

This is the first book I've read by the author after many recommendations from people. The book was so-so...the only time I laughed out loud was in the "Girl Next Door" when he finds out the little girl's hick grandmother is nicknamed "Rascal." That was brilliant. The reason the stories lacked a lot of humor for me is because they were so banal and commonplace. This guy does not have a unique family--everyone I know has a family just as crazy, but in different ways. My family is twice as nutty as his, though nobody drinks. I just didn't feel like this guy had any experiences worth writing about. As another reviewer pointed out, the book read like some random dude's mildly amusing, though ultimately pointless, blog.

Average customer rating:

Corporate greed
An amazing account of how corporations poisoned millions.

Outrageous Misconduct
Paul Brodeur
Manufacturer: Pantheon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0394533208
Release Date: 1985-10-12

Customer Reviews:

Corporate greed.......1998-10-10

A completely compelling account of exactly how far a business will go to make a profit. Brodeur is a brilliant writer.

An amazing account of how corporations poisoned millions........1998-03-08

An amazing account of how the asbestos companies poisoned millions and conspired to prevent the release of the dangers of asbestos. The book displays the possibilities of corporate greed and contains a blueprint for preventing future toxic nightmares.

Outrageous, Contagious Joy: Five Big Questions to Help You Discover One Great Life

Average customer rating:

Easy reading in a very organized format
Keep Your Eyes On the Big Picture!
Where have all the editors gone?
Still reading it and will read it again and again
"A Must Read"

Outrageous, Contagious Joy: Five Big Questions to Help You Discover One Great Life
Ed Young
Manufacturer: Berkley Hardcover
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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You!
High Definition Living: Bringing Clarity to Your Life's Mission
The Creative Leader: Unleashing the Power of Your Creative Potential
The Ten Commandments of Marriage
Fatal Distractions seven Obstacles That Mess Up Our Lives

ASIN: 0425211851

Book Description

LIFE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE JUST GOOD. IT CAN BE GREAT.

Let noted pastor, author and speaker Ed Young show you how.

Ed Young, pastor of one of the most attended churches in America and host of an inspirational TV show aired in over 150 million homes worldwide, believes that there is a definite path to true happiness. The media glamorizes life as a series of peak experiences and high-adrenaline adventures. But life is not like that, and circumstances are seldom the way people want them to be. Beginning with his five life-altering questions and eye-opening insights, Ed steers readers not only to a better life but to an even greater place beyond happiness that he calls outrageous, contagious joy. This is God's priority for everyone-a great, joyous life with happiness beyond their wildest dreams. Now Ed Young reaches beyond his congregation to share the message with us all.

Customer Reviews:

Easy reading in a very organized format.......2007-05-12

I enjoyed Ed Young's book fresh language and clearly organized ideas. The books is down to earth and applicable to any Christian. It would even be a good tool for evangelism.

Keep Your Eyes On the Big Picture!.......2007-05-07

Apparently, my definition of "glaring errors" is quite different than others. This book is excellent and provides much-needed encouragement, advice, and hope for people today. People who set out to look for errors will always find minute, inconsequential errors in books. Every book has them, because editing on tight deadlines is tough business; and these errors usually do very little to take away from the overall meaning and effectiveness of the book. Pointing these out just keeps people who need to read this book from picking it up and quite possible changing their lives. That's a shame. I've been involved in editing books for many years, and word histories are often difficult to pin down. One book says one thing and another something very different. For "hap," the meanings "chance" and "luck" are essentially the same thing, regardless of the point of origin. By the way, I don't know how much I'd take stock in a review about editing that has such a "glaring" run-on sentence at the end. The subtitle of this book is: Five Big Questions to Help You Discover One Great Life. Let's keep our eyes on the Big picture.

Where have all the editors gone?.......2007-05-04

I am not familiar with Ed Young or his church, but I picked up this book because I, too, believe that Christians should be filled with Joy. Unfortunately, in the first chapter there were two glaring errors that made me question the accuracy of the remainder of the book. First, Mr. Young attributed to Roy Rogers the quote, "Too many people spend money they haven't earned, to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like." Obviously that is a Will Rogers quote - not Roy Rogers. Then a few pages later he asserts that "happiness" comes from the latin word "hap" which means chance. Actually, "hap" was a middle English word for luck. I read the entire book, and I feel that these errors were indicative of the lack of proper editing, which is a shame because the concepts are excellent, but the execution leaves much to be desired.

Still reading it and will read it again and again.......2007-03-02

I just started this book and put it down only to concentrate on my college courses. My plan is to read it through once to get the feel for it then re-read it while interactively doing the exercises. Great book for spiritual growth and for sharing with fellow Christians.

"A Must Read".......2007-01-24

Ed Young has a wonderful gift and that is the ability to reach the minds, hearts and souls of people. He does it with his message during his church services and now has accomplished the same effectiveness through his writing. One can not help but feel the power of God and be uplifted after reading this book. I highly recommend it to all.

Average customer rating:

The Grillmeister
For the man who thinks he knows everthing about ribs
Great ribs, great fun
good book needs more pork
Fun Barbeque

Raichlen on Ribs, Ribs, Outrageous Ribs
Steven Raichlen
Manufacturer: Workman Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Barbecuing & Grilling | Outdoor Cooking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0761142118

Book Description

It’s a marriage made in BBQ heaven: America’s foremost grilling guru takes on ribs. Baby backs and spare ribs, short ribs and long ribs, pork ribs, beef ribs, lamb ribs, and more—a passionate, single-subject celebration of meaty, smoky, sweet ’n’ spicy, crowd-pleasing, fall-off-the-bone-tender ribs.

A perfect rib is the culmination of the griller’s art, and nobody’s better at showing how to put it all together—the tastes, techniques, ingredients, recipes, tips—than Steven Raichlen, award-winning author of Barbecue! Bible, How to Grill, Beer-Can Chicken, and other BARBECUE! BIBLE® books with 3 million copies in print. Here are 75 mouth-watering, repertoire-expanding, rib-rocking recipes: Buccaneer Baby Backs with Rumbullion Barbecue Sauce. Lone Star Barrel Staves. Tandoori Ribs. Maui-Style Short Ribs. Jamaican Jerk Ribs. Thai Sweet Chili Ribs. The Original Dinosaur Ribs. Cousin Dave’s Chipotle Chocolate Ribs. But the book is also a rib clinic: It covers the nine methods for cooking ribs, from direct grilling to spit-roasting. The essential techniques for handling ribs. Key ingredients in making homemade sauces, mops, and rubs. And boxes throughout to help take your rib cookery to the next level—even to the competition level, with tips on how to enter and how to win.

Customer Reviews:

The Grillmeister.......2007-09-04

I have owned a grill for may years, but never really enjoyed grilling because it never turned out that great. I would just throw meat on the grill and then I guess just hope for the best. That changed when I got this book for Christmas. I was so excited about the guidance that this book provided me with, I was grilling ribs on my back deck three weeks later, in 15 degree weather. They turned out to be the best ribs I ever made, maybe even ever tasted. I have made several other recipes from the book since then, and they were spectacular. I am determined to try them all. Also, I have bought two more of Steven Raichlen's books, Beer can Chicken and the Barbecue Bible, which have proven to be invaluable as well.

For the man who thinks he knows everthing about ribs.......2007-08-06

Bought this for my husband. He thought he knew everything thing there was to know about ribs, until he read this book. Very good. Highy recommend it to all rib enthusiasts.

Great ribs, great fun.......2007-04-09

I got this book last summer and have used it many times - there's alot of basic info on ribs to understand how to cook various types of ribs to get the best results in each case. The first recipe in the book for basic ribs is winner - I make it all the time in the summer, adjusting it here and there to get different flavors. He really knows alot about the grill, so that information is worth the price of the book alone. If you love ribs, buying this book is a no brainer.

good book needs more pork.......2007-01-20

I like Steven,s other books better. i was looking more for pork rib recipes

Fun Barbeque.......2007-01-10

The book is certainly worth the price. Tips for the beginner are valid and the receipes for marinades are numerous

Black Holes and Time Warps: Einstein's Outrageous Legacy (Commonwealth Fund Book Program)

Average customer rating:

The science behind the movie "Contact"
Relativity Explained
Great complement to Stephen Hawkins' books
Truth is stranger than fiction!t
A thought-provoking book

Black Holes and Time Warps: Einstein's Outrageous Legacy (Commonwealth Fund Book Program)
Kip S. Thorne
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Astrophysics & Space Science | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

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Relativity | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books

Exploring Black Holes: Introduction to General Relativity
Time Travel in Einstein's Universe: The Physical Possibilities of Travel Through Time
The First Three Minutes: A Modern View of the Origin of the Universe
The Inflationary Universe: The Quest for a New Theory of Cosmic Origins
The Future of Spacetime

ASIN: 0393312763

Customer Reviews:

The science behind the movie "Contact".......2007-06-12

When Carl Sagan wanted to have his fictional herione from Contact travel in time, he turned to Kip Thorne.

This book is Thorne's attempt to more fully explain the science of time travel.

And in the process Thorne takes you to the prediction and discovery of black holes.

First seriously suggested by the theories of Albert Einstein, a black hole is a star that has grown so massive (at least three times the size of our sun) that it litterally can't sustain itself against its own weight. It assumes a gravitional force so powerful that not even light can escape its grasp.

Obviously, therefore, learning what resides beyond the visible dark exterior of a black hole has eluded science.

Yet that dark exterior has fueled speculations that black holes may enable nature (and possibly man) to perform seemingly magical feats.

As mentioned at the outset, one of the most interesting of these feats is time travel and the reason is because the great gravitional power of a black hole litterally allows it to warp the space around it. For us it would be a little like standing on one end of a water bed when someone places an anvil on the other end. Owing to the great weight of the anvil, the bed is contorted and owing to its contortions we find ourselves falling toward the anvil.

Assuming a sufficiently heavy anvil we could see both ends of the water bed being connected.

One obvious challenge would to be travel a black hole without becoming a part of it.

Another not so obvious challenge is the fact wormhole creation at best is an exotic affair not occuring above quantum distances. In this way, any people wishing to use one would have to go an extreme wieght loss program!

Because of its thoroughness, Thorne gives an extended discussion of the characters involved in the story he's telling. For example, Thorne explains that physicists use both flat and curved universe models to understand black hole behavior. Additionally, even though predicted by his theories, Einstein actually disputed the existence of black holes. As a result, the Soviet Union and not the US was the first country to really encourage serious discussion of them. However, once predicted and then once found, black holes became a unique entree into the laws of physics and with it the mind of God himself.

For those who read or saw Contact and enjoyed it, this will be an excellent account of the fact behind the fiction.

Relativity Explained.......2007-02-16

Kip S. Thorne explains Einstein's Theory of Relativity well. I have always been interested in time and space, and black holes, and anything that had to do with the universe and space. Thanks to this book my understanding of some theories has increased. I learned more about Enstein's quirks and devotion to the pursuit of scientific knowledge. A fascinating book.

Great complement to Stephen Hawkins' books.......2006-07-28

You could consider this as a good place to continue if you have already read Stephen Hawkins' "A Short History of Time" and want to deepen your understanding of modern cosmology at an introductory level.

Truth is stranger than fiction!t.......2005-07-25

This is a great book about the concepts of relativity, black holes and wormholes. It takes you through a breathtaking journey right from relativity to the development of the ideas of black holes. The matter is presented in a lucid way making it very easy for laymen like me and generating a genuine interest in this area. An unputdownable book, a fantastic journey full of knowledge.

A treat for all readers, I would especially recommend this to avid sci-fi readers - for once, truth is really stranger (and beautiful) than fiction.

A thought-provoking book.......2005-04-03

Thorne is very clear and detailed. I would say for non-scientists like myself, if you're only going to read one book on the subject of Cosmology in your life, make it this one.

Zobmondo: The Outrageous Book of Bizarre Choices

Average customer rating:

Great
ZoBmOnDo!!!!!
A little racy
Zobmondo! Great Campfire discussions!
Pretty cool

Zobmondo: The Outrageous Book of Bizarre Choices
Randy Horn
Manufacturer: Workman Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0761124209

Book Description

Zobmondo!! takes the idea of parlor game questions to a new level of debate and lunacy. Based on the new Hasbro board game of the same name, it's a chunky book of 400 questions that range from the heinous to the nauseating to the downright disturbing, each a field-tested conversation starter-because no matter how strange or far-fetched, Zobmondo!! knows that choice provokes thinking, and thinking is fun.

Some questions, like a Rorschach test, reveal values: Would you rather . . . Age only from the neck up-OR-age only from the neck down? Be stupid and rich-OR-smart and poor? Some delight in their own grossness: Eat three earthworms-OR-wear a necklace made of them on your wedding day? Be trapped in an elevator with wet dogs-OR-three fat men with bad breath? Some churn up prejudices: Lose your mate to the same sex as yourself-OR-the opposite sex? Some create that squirming sensation: Get a bad case of poison ivy way up inside your nose-OR-inside your inner ear? Or ethical dilemmas: Be president of a firm that poaches endangered species-OR-work for a corrupt politician? And some are just deliciously absurd: Catch a porcupine thrown from a second-story window-OR-a skunk thrown from the same window? Each question is followed up with related, often off-the-wall information, from odd trivia to dumb jokes to the occasional practical advice (go for the skunk--the porcupine's got 30,000 quills, while tomato juice will take away the skunk smell).

Customer Reviews:

Great.......2007-05-15

Book arrived right on time for my daughters birthday party. It was in excellent condition when it arrived and the hit of the party!
Thanks!

ZoBmOnDo!!!!!.......2007-04-23

Zobmondo is a hilarious book of with thousands of bizzare choices. The choices come from would u rather marry your first boyfriend/girlfriend or marry someone your parents chose for you? And would u rather take a bumpy two-mile ride sitting wedged (feet hanging out) in the main compartment of a small metal shopping cart or take a 25-mile ride in the empty but rotating bin of a cement truck? It's the perfect book for somebody who likes reading comedy books because this is the funniest book I have ever read.

A little racy.......2006-02-23

I would give this 5 stars, except that I was a bit surprised when I read some entries pertaining to sex. There is another version of Zobmondo that is supposed to be dirty, so I guess I figured this version would be clean. All in all, it's a great way to encourage the art of discussion, even if it encourages a discussion of the merits of eating live rodents' body parts.

Zobmondo! Great Campfire discussions!.......2002-07-17

I got this book from my querky sister... Now I'm the querky sister! What great entertainment this turned out with our weenend camping trips. Makes for great discussions and very thought provoking. Interestingly enough, although conversations about the choices were loud and long, no one got angry or upset, just good laughs and a lot of fun. (could even fun for kids when some censorship is used! ha!) Recommend this book for anyone who likes to entertain -- just as fun as MAD-LIBs but without the pencils.

Pretty cool.......2002-03-18

...It's definetly better to ask the questions to your friends, you get a much better response.

However, the questions are awesome and make you sit and ponder. There are defiently some questions that aren't for everyone. A lot of them make me kinda quesy. Some of my other 16-18 yo friends wouldn't like it, but the majority would found it down right sweet, as soon as i get back to high school. And the size is handy because you can fit it in pratically any pocket.

My brother's favorite part is the little side notes at the bottom of each page. Wheather it's a joke or fact relating to the question.
So would you rather
Always show up 20 minutes late for everything
-or-
always show up 90 minutes early for everything?

An Underground Education : The Unauthorized and Outrageous Supplement to Everything You Thought You Knew About Art, Sex, Business, Crime, Science, Medicine, and Other Fields of Human
Average customer rating:

Enjoyed this entertaining book of Trivia

Juvenile, at best

Underground Education

Disappointing read

Enthralling Arcana
An Underground Education : The Unauthorized and Outrageous Supplement to Everything You Thought You Knew About Art, Sex, Business, Crime, Science, Medicine, and Other Fields of Human
Richard Zacks
Manufacturer: Anchor
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Mental Floss Presents Condensed Knowledge: A Deliciously Irreverent Guide to Feeling Smart Again

mental floss presents Forbidden Knowledge: A Wickedly Smart Guide to History's Naughtiest Bits (Mental Floss Presents)

An Incomplete Education: 3,684 Things You Should Have Learned but Probably Didn't

Everything You Pretend to Know And Are Afraid Someone Will Ask

mental floss presents Instant Knowledge (Collins Gem) (Collins Gem)

ASIN: 0385483767
Release Date: 1999-04-20

Amazon.com

Forget the history you were taught in school; Richard Zacks's version is crueler and funnier than anything you might have learned in seventh-grade civics--and much more of a gross-out, too. Described on the book jacket as an "autodidact extraordinaire," Zacks is also the author of History Laid Bare, making him something of an expert guide through history's back alleys and side streets. There's no fact too seamy or perverse for Zacks to drag out into the light of day, from matters scatological and sexual to some of history's most truly bizarre episodes. Curious about ancient nose-blowing etiquette? What about the sexual proclivities of Catherine the Great? Throughout chapters such as "The Evolution of Underwear" and "Dentistry Before Novocaine," Zacks proves a tireless debunker of popular myths as well as a muckraker par excellence.

Book Description

The best kind of knowledge is uncommon knowledge.

Okay, so maybe you know all the stuff you're supposed to know--that there are teenier things than atoms, that Remembrance of Things Past has something to do with a perfumed cookie, that the Monroe Doctrine means we get to take over small South American countries when we feel like it.  But really, is this kind of knowledge going to make you the hit of the cocktail party, or the loser spending forty-five minutes examining the host's bookshelves?

Wouldn't you rather learn things like how the invention of the bicycle affected the evolution of underwear?  Or that the 1949 Nobel Prize for Medicine was awarded to a doctor who performed lobotomies with a household ice pick?  Or how Catherine the Great really died?  Or that heroin was sold over the counter not too long ago?

For the truly well-rounded "intellectual," nothing fascinates so much as the subversive, the contrarian, the suppressed, and the bizarre.  Richard Zacks, auto-didact extraordinaire, has unloosed his admittedly strange mind and astonishing research abilities upon the entire spectrum of human knowledge, ferreting out endlessly fascinating facts, stories, photos, and images guaranteed to make you laugh, gasp in wonder, and occasionally shudder at the depths of human depravity.  The result of his labors is this fantastically illustrated quasi-encyclopedia that provides alternative takes on art, business, crime, science, medicine, sex (lots of that), and many other facets of human experience.

Immensely entertaining, and arguably enlightening, An Underground Education is the only book that explains the birth of motion pictures using photos of naked baseball players.

Richard Zacks is the author of History Laid Bare: Love, Sex and Perversity from the Ancient Etruscans to Warren G. Harding, which was excerpted in classy magazines like Harper's and earned the attention of the even classier New York Times, which noted that "Zacks specializes in the raunchy and perverse."  The Georgia State Legislature voted on whether to ban the book from public libraries.  He has studied Arabic, Greek, Latin, French, Italian, and Hebrew, and received the Phillips Classical Greek Award at the University of Michigan.  He has also told his publisher that he made a living in Cairo cheating royalty from a certain Arab country at games of chance, although the claim remains unverified.  His writing has appeared in the New York Times, The Atlantic Monthly, Time, Life, Sports Illustrated, The Village Voice, TV Guide, and similarly diverse publications.  Zacks is married and busy warping the minds of his two children, Georgia and Ziegfield.  He resides in New York City, and can be reached via e-mail at rzacks@echonyc.com.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

Enjoyed this entertaining book of Trivia .......2007-06-28

I enjoyed this entertaining book. This book is not a deep educational study of history, but a book filled with interesting bits of historical information, OR funny facts & trivia!

Some facts will make you laugh, and others will puzzle you. Nothing wrong with that. When I got this book I was looking for a "light reading" book to read on a plane trip. After the trip, I lent the book to a friend and my friend enjoyed it too.... (Therefore, we both give it 5-stars).

Juvenile, at best.......2007-06-12

This could have been titled something like "One Man's Attack on the History of the Church", or "One Man's Attempt to Disparage Western Civilization", and that would've been more descriptive. Zacks spends about half the book dredging up odd and unflattering facts about the Catholic church (which doesn't exactly require a great historian) as well as blaming many of the ills of modern civilization on various popes. It is a restful page, not to mention chapter, when Zacks isn't pounding the Catholic church about something. The chapter on religion mostly beats on the Catholic church to the point where Zacks himself starts to feel guilty and points out that they are an easy target. Then without pausing to catch his breath he proceeds to go on and take some more pot shots. He spends quite a bit of the chapter talking about the crusades in such a fashion that you'd think the Muslims were just frolicking in the woods making daisy chains. And speaking of Muslims, in the entire chapter on religion there is one paragraph on Islam, and that a complimentary one from Voltaire. That was one thing I learned, I never knew Voltaire said anything complimentary about any religion.
He then goes after the Puritans and Mormons, and although by his own research the Puritans were far more tolerant than the Anglicans, he feels compelled to disparage his own conclusions. When I say "go after" I am not saying that I am disputing his facts. I am saying that it is something like reading about the Civil War as told by Jeb Stuart. You might technically be getting the facts, but you're not getting much perspective.

Zacks also keeps calling anyone who reads the Bible or talks about morality "Bible thumpers". Hilarious. He's full of little snide and juvenile comments like this that at best are whimsical, and almost always biased. He speaks of the history of political lies from most recent to oldest- and uses Nixon's "I am not a crook" as his most recent sample. I can think of one or two more recent.

A lot of the facts were not all that outrageous, either. Nobel invented dynamite? Does anyone not know that?

This isn't to say that there weren't interesting facts, or even that it was poorly written (it was not), just that it was often insulting and condescending. Imagine if he kept saying "f**got" or something like that over and over instead of "Bible thumper" and you can get the idea. As a Bible thumper I get ridiculed from time to time, and I don't usually whine about it, but I don't usually have to pay for the privilege, either. Finally, I'd say most of the same facts I got from a book I'd read earlier, "The Know it All", written with a lot more panache and without leaving me with the feeling that I had been dragged through a sewer.

Underground Education.......2007-05-12

I already had a copy of this book; i liked it so much I got another copy as
a gift for a friend, who is also an educator. The work could do with a little
more documentation, but it's a great read overall.

Disappointing read.......2006-12-26

It was my fault; I did not heed the warnings of some of the other evaluations of this book on-line. I thought that An Underground Education would be something akin to An Incomplete Education (4th ed), or at least Reader's Digest's Strange Stories and Amazing Facts (1976). An Incomplete Education is a terrific book full of tid bits of history, science, art, etc. which I thoroughly enjoyed. Strange Stories and Amazing Facts was also full of information ranging from Super Novas to the Loch Ness Monster, and I loved reading this book with my grandfather and still flip through today. Unlike An Incomplete Education or Strange Facts, An Underground Education was neither inciteful nor educational. It was basically a "history" of the sexual preferences and perversions of people throughout history, with some titillating pictures of hermaphrodites.

This is a book I would have enjoyed at age 14, but not as an adult.

Enthralling Arcana.......2006-12-04

An absolutely marvelous examination of those historical tid-bits that they never teach you in school, like the indecent forgotten parts of the Bible, the sexual side of slavery, and the evolution of underwear. Ah, but we're here to discuss the morbid side of life, and there's a lot of disturbing darkness scattered throughout the book, especially in the "Crime & Punishment" and "Medicine" chapters. An immensely fascinating and enlightening book - highly, highly recommended!

Positively Outrageous Service: How to Delight and Astound Your Customers and Win Them for Life

Average customer rating:

Insightful!

Positively Outrageous Service: How to Delight and Astound Your Customers and Win Them for Life
T. Scott Gross
Manufacturer: Kaplan Business
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Customer Service | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Retailing | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Management | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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Positively Outrageous Service
Outrageous!: Unforgettable Service...Guilt-Free Selling

ASIN: 0793188237
Release Date: 2004-09-01

Book Description

In today's tough economy, cutting prices and providing good service aren't enough. To be truly successful, innovative businesspeople must learn the art of Positively Outrageous Service (POS)-doing the unexpected unexpectedly and giving the customer more than he or she could hope for.

POS put customer service guru T. Scott Gross on the map in the early 1990s. For the first time in more than ten years, he brings these concepts into the 21st century with the second edition of Positively Outrageous Service. He examines what's wrong in the service industry today and how to turn those negatives into POS. In his signature, slightly irreverent, but always insightful style, he shows managers at every level of the service industry how to:

•Follow the four key Principles of Promotions to build a customer base, have fun, get people to your store, get people involved with your product,and do something good for others.

• Hire the right people and show them the fundamentals of POS.

• Energize and obtain the most creativity out of employees.

• Win over customers when mistakes happen, no matter who is at fault.

POS is not just a way of doing business, according to Gross, it's also a state of mind and the key to success in the 21st century. T. Scott Gross is a consumer advocate whose client roster for consulting, training, and speaking reads like a who's who of the Fortune 500. Countless businesses, including Southwest Airlines, FedEx, McDonald's, Sears, and Wal-Mart, have asked him to motivate the troops at sales meetings and conferences worldwide.

Customer Reviews:

Insightful!.......2005-07-25

This folksy compilation of stories about people and companies who deliver "Positively Outrageous Service" (POS) has the right mix to prove that people love great service and the companies that deliver it. The stories may meander, but author T. Scott Gross is so popular because he knows how to weave humor, personal anecdotes and actual business stories into a cohesive argument that almost all business is personal and local. This form of bottom-up business advice places great importance upon the front-line employees who represent your business. Gross explains that front-line workers can make or break your brand and your sales, no matter what size your business is. He provides good business lessons, so don't let the light reading mislead you. We recommend this book to managers of any business in the service sector who want to give their employees the power and motivation to deliver great service.

Letters to Penthouse XV: Outrageous, Erotic, Orgasmic!

Average customer rating:

Penthouse XV

Letters to Penthouse XV: Outrageous, Erotic, Orgasmic!
The Editors of Penthouse Magazine
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Letters & Correspondence | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Letters & Correspondence | Literature & Fiction | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

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Letters to Penthouse XVIII (Letters to Penthouse)

ASIN: 0446611220

Customer Reviews:

Penthouse XV.......2007-01-04

These were sent to a friend of mine whom said he liked the book completely
Highly recomends

Baseball Eccentrics: The Most Entertaining, Outrageous, and Unforgettable Characters in the Game

Average customer rating:

Don't Let The Cover Fool You

Baseball Eccentrics: The Most Entertaining, Outrageous, and Unforgettable Characters in the Game
Bill Lee , and Jim Prime
Manufacturer: Triumph Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Sports | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Baseball | Sports | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 157243953X

Book Description

Baseball Eccentrics is a celebration of the characters who have graced the game over the years, as told by one of the biggest of them all. Bill Lee also decries the scarcity of interesting personalities in today's game and examines some of the roots causes for this lack of spontaneity. His hilarious collection is a tribute to flakes past and also a call to today's players to loosen up and have some fun.

Customer Reviews:

Don't Let The Cover Fool You.......2007-04-22

I appreciate Bill Lee's sense of humor and genuine love for the game of baseball. However, I base my rating of only two stars on the fact the vast majority of the stories are found in numerous other books and have been told in similar form for years. There are few original stories if you have already read humorous anecdotes about baseball in other books. In addition, the cover of the book showing Yogi Berra smiling while reading a three dimensional comic book leads one to believe this would be a book suitable for kids to read. On the contrary, the book is laced with profanities. If this doesn't bother you, and you are not already familiar with funny baseball stories, then you probably will enjoy the book and give it a higher rating than I did.

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