price：$10.48
Knopf
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Outstanding) 『If you are interested in running - both for an interesting story and an interesting discussion on how to run, this book is great.』
(Enjoyable, inspiring, exhilarating) 『You do NOT have to be a runner to be captivated by this book. It's a true adventure story and a real page-turner full of fascinating people and ideas. Every ten pages or so you'll want to tell someone "Listen to this...".』
(Excellent.) 『A very entertaining book with interesting characters and useful information. A must-read for runners.』
(Born to Run) 『Great story. Book arrived in excellent condition, and very timely. If there is anything that could make me take up running, it's this book.』
(Reads like a novel, feels like a philosophy) 『About a third of the way through the book I stopped and ordered one fedexed to my favorite client.
When he was a third of the way through he called me and asked if it was fiction or non-fiction.
In a meeting last week he mentioned the book to his staff in glowing terms.
The concepts in the book have come up in conversations on airplanes, at neighbor's houses and with family.
And we're not even runners.
Buy this book and read it.』 『Full of incredible characters, amazing athletic achievements, cutting-edge science, and, most of all, pure inspiration,Born to Runis an epic adventure that began with one simple question:Why does my foot hurt?In search of an answer, Christopher McDougall sets off to find a tribe of the world’s greatest distance runners and learn their secrets, and in the process shows us that everything we thought we knew about running is wrong.
Isolated by the most savage terrain in North America, the reclusive Tarahumara Indians of Mexico’s deadly Copper Canyons are custodians of a lost art. For centuries they have practiced techniques that allow them to run hundreds of miles without rest and chase down anything from a deer to an Olympic marathoner while enjoying every mile of it. Their superhuman talent is matched by uncanny health and serenity, leaving the Tarahumara immune to the diseases and strife that plague modern existence. With the help of Caballo Blanco, a mysterious loner who lives among the tribe, the author was able not only to uncover the secrets of the Tarahumara but also to find his own inner ultra-athlete, as he trained for the challenge of a lifetime: a fifty-mile race through the heart of Tarahumara country pitting the tribe against an odd band of Americans, including a star ultramarathoner, a beautiful young surfer, and a barefoot wonder.
With a sharp wit and wild exuberance, McDougall takes us from the high-tech science labs at Harvard to the sun-baked valleys and freezing peaks across North America, where ever-growing numbers of ultrarunners are pushing their bodies to the limit, and, finally, to the climactic race in the Copper Canyons.Born to Runis that rare book that will not only engage your mind but inspire your body when you realize that the secret to happiness is right at your feet, and that you, indeed all of us, were born to run.
From the Hardcover edition.』 『Book Description Full of incredible characters, amazing athletic achievements, cutting-edge science, and, most of all, pure inspiration,Born to Runis an epic adventure that began with one simple question:Why does my foot hurt?In search of an answer, Christopher McDougall sets off to find a tribe of the world’s greatest distance runners and learn their secrets, and in the process shows us that everything we thought we knew about running is wrong.
Isolated by the most savage terrain in North America, the reclusive Tarahumara Indians of Mexico’s deadly Copper Canyons are custodians of a lost art. For centuries they have practiced techniques that allow them to run hundreds of miles without rest and chase down anything from a deer to an Olympic marathoner while enjoying every mile of it. Their superhuman talent is matched by uncanny health and serenity, leaving the Tarahumara immune to the diseases and strife that plague modern existence. With the help of Caballo Blanco, a mysterious loner who lives among the tribe, the author was able not only to uncover the secrets of the Tarahumara but also to find his own inner ultra-athlete, as he trained for the challenge of a lifetime: a fifty-mile race through the heart of Tarahumara country pitting the tribe against an odd band of Americans, including a star ultramarathoner, a beautiful young surfer, and a barefoot wonder.
With a sharp wit and wild exuberance, McDougall takes us from the high-tech science labs at Harvard to the sun-baked valleys and freezing peaks across North America, where ever-growing numbers of ultrarunners are pushing their bodies to the limit, and, finally, to the climactic race in the Copper Canyons.Born to Runis that rare book that will not only engage your mind but inspire your body when you realize that the secret to happiness is right at your feet, and that you, indeed all of us, were born to run.
Amazon Exclusive: A Q&A with Christopher McDougall
Question:Born to Runexplores the life and running habits of the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico’s Copper Canyon, arguably the greatest distance runners in the world. What are some of the secrets you learned from them?
Christopher McDougall:The key secret hit me like a thunderbolt. It was so simple, yet such a jolt. It was this: everything I’d been taught about running was wrong. We treat running in the modern world the same way we treat childbirth—it’s going to hurt, and requires special exercises and equipment, and the best you can hope for is to get it over with quickly with minimal damage.
Then I meet the Tarahumara, and they’re having a blast. They remember what it’s like to love running, and it lets them blaze through the canyons like dolphins rocketing through waves. For them, running isn’t work. It isn’t a punishment for eating. It’s fine art, like it was for our ancestors. Way before we were scratching pictures on caves or beating rhythms on hollow trees, we were perfecting the art of combining our breath and mind and muscles into fluid self-propulsion over wild terrain. And when our ancestors finally did make their first cave paintings, what were the first designs? A downward slash, lightning boltsthrough the bottom and middle—behold, the Running Man.
The Tarahumara have a saying:“Children run before they can walk.” Watch any four-year-old—they do everything at full speed, and it’s all about fun. That’s the most important thing I picked up from my time in the Copper Canyons, the understanding that running can be fast and fun and spontaneous, and when it is, you feel like you can go forever. But all of that begins with your feet. Strange as it sounds, the Tarahumara taught me to change my relationship with the ground. Instead of hammering down on my heels, the way I’d been taught all my life, I learned to run lightly and gently on the balls of my feet. The day I mastered it was the last day I was ever injured.
Q:You trained for your first ultramarathon—a race organized by the mysterious gringo expat Caballo Blanco between the Tarahumara and some of America’s top ultrarunners—while researching and writing this book. What was your training like?
CM:It really started as kind of a dare. Just by chance, I’d met an adventure-sports coach from Jackson Hole, Wyoming named Eric Orton. Eric’s specialty is tearing endurance sports down to their basic components and looking for transferable skills. He studies rock climbing to find shoulder techniques for kayakers, and applies Nordic skiing’s smooth propulsion to mountain biking. What he’s looking for are basic engineering principles, because he’s convinced that the next big leap forward in fitness won’t come from strength or technology, but plain, simple durability. With some 70% of all runners getting hurt every year, the athlete who canstay healthy and avoid injury will leave the competition behind.
So naturally, Eric idolized the Tarahumara. Any tribe that has 90-year-old men running across mountaintops obviously has a few training tips up its sleeve. But since Eric had never actually met the Tarahumara, he had to deduce their methods by pure reasoning. His starting point was uncertainty; he assumed that the Tarahumara step into the unknown every time they leave their caves, because they never know how fast they’ll have to sprint after a rabbit or how tricky the climbing will be if they’re caught in a storm. They never even know how long a race will be until they step up to the starting line—the distance is only determined in a last-minute bout of negotiating and could stretch anywhere from 50 milesto 200-plus.
Eric figured shock and awe was the best way for me to build durability and mimic Tarahumara-style running. He’d throw something new at me every day—hopping drills, lunges, mile intervals—and lots and lots of hills. There was no such thing, really, as long, slow distance—he’d have me mix lots of hill repeats and short bursts of speed into every mega-long run.
I didn’t think I could do it without breaking down, and I told Eric that from the start. I basically defied him to turn me into a runner. And by the end of nine months, I was cranking out four hour runs without a problem.
Q:You’re a six-foot four-inches tall, 200-plus pound guy—not anyone’s typical vision of a distance runner, yet you’ve completed ultra marathons and are training for more. Is there a body type for running, as many of us assume, or are all humans built to run?
CM:Yeah, I’m a big’un. But isn’t it sad that’s even a reasonable question? I bought into that bull for a loooong time. Why wouldn’t I? I was constantly being told by people who should know better that “some bodies aren’t designed for running.” One of the best sports medicine physicians in thecountry told me exactly that—that the reason I was constantly getting hurt is because I was too big to handle the impact shock from my feet hitting the ground. Just recently, I interviewed a nationally-known sports podiatrist who said, “You know, we didn’t ALL evolve to run away from saber-toothed tigers.” Meaning, what? That anyone who isn’t sleek as a Kenyan marathoner should be extinct? It’s such illogical blather—all kinds of body types exist today, so obviously they DID evolve to move quickly on their feet. It’s really awful that so many doctors are reinforcing this learned helplessness, this idea that you have to be some kind of elite being to handle such a basic, universal movement.
Q:If humans are born to run, as you argue, what’s your advice for a runner who is looking to make the leap from shorter road races to marathons, or marathons to ultramarathons? Is running really for everyone?
CM:I think ultrarunning is America’s hope for the future. Honestly. The ultrarunners have got a hold of some powerful wisdom. You can see it at the starting line of any ultra race. I showed up at the Leadville Trail 100 expecting to see a bunch of hollow-eyed Skeletors, and instead it was, “Whoah! Get a load of the hotties!” Ultra runners tend to be amazingly healthy, youthful and—believe it or not—good looking. I couldn’t figure out why, until one runner explained that throughout history, the four basic ingredients for optimal health have been clean air, good food, fresh water and low stress. And that, to a T, describes the daily life of an ultrarunner. They’re out in the woods for hours at a time, breathing pine-scented breezes, eating small bursts of digestible food, downing water by the gallons, and feeling their stress melt away with the miles. But here’s the real key to that kingdom: you have to relax and enjoy the run. No one cares how fast you run 50 miles, so ultrarunners don’t really stress about times. They’re out to enjoy the run and finish strong, not shave a few inconsequential seconds off a personal best. And that’s the best way to transition up to big mileage races: as coach Eric told me, “If it feels like work, you’re working too hard.”
Q:You write that distance running is the great equalizer of age and gender. Can you explain?
CM:Okay, I’ll answer that question with a question: Starting at age nineteen, runners get faster every year until they hit their peak at twenty-seven. After twenty-seven, they start to decline. So if it takes you eight years to reach your peak, how many years does it take for you to regress back to the samespeed you were running at nineteen?
Go ahead, guess all you want. No one I’ve asked has ever come close. It’s in the book, so I won’t give it away, but I guarantee when you hear the answer, you’ll say, “No way. THAT old?” Now, factor in this: ultra races are the only sport in the world in which women can go toe-to-toe with men and hand them their heads. Ann Trason and Krissy Moehl often beat every man in the field in some ultraraces, while Emily Baer recently finished in the Top 10 at the Hardrock 100 while stopping to breastfeed her baby at the water stations.
So how’s that possible? According to a new body of research, it’s because humans are the greatest distance runners on earth. We may not be fast, but we’re born with such remarkable natural endurance that humans are fully capable of outrunning horses, cheetahs and antelopes. That’s because we oncehunted in packs and on foot; all of us, men and women alike, young and old together.
Q:One of the fascinating parts ofBorn to Runis your report on how the ultrarunners eat—salad for breakfast, wraps with hummus mid-run, or pizza and beer the night before a run. As a runner with a lot of miles behind him, what are your thoughts on nutrition for running?
CM:Live every day like you’re on the lam. If you’ve got to be ready to pick up and haul butt at a moment’s notice, you’re not going to be loading up on gut-busting meals. I thought I’d have to go on some kind of prison-camp diet to get ready for an ultra, but the best advice I got came from coach Eric, who told meto just worry about the running and the eating would take care of itself. And he was right, sort of. I instinctively began eating smaller, more digestible meals as my miles increased, but then I went behind his back and consulted with the great Dr. Ruth Heidrich, an Ironman triathlete who lives on avegan diet. She’s the one who gave me the idea of having salad for breakfast, and it’s a fantastic tip. The truth is, many of the greatest endurance athletes of all time lived on fruits and vegetables. You can get away with garbage for a while, but you pay for it in the long haul. In the book,I describe how Jenn Shelton and Billy “Bonehead” Barnett like to chow pizza and Mountain Dew in the middle of 100-mile races, but Jenn is also a vegetarian who most days lives on veggie burgers and grapes.
Q:In this difficult financial time, we’re experiencing yet another surge in the popularity of running. Can you explain this?
CM:When things look worst, we run the most. Three times, America has seen distance-running skyrocket and it’s always in the midst of a national crisis. The first boom came during the Great Depression; the next was in the ‘70s, when we were struggling to recover from a recession, race riots, assassinations, a criminal President and an awful war. And the third boom? One year after the Sept. 11 attacks,trailrunning suddenly became the fastest-growing outdoor sport in the country. I think there’s a trigger in the human psyche that activates our first and greatest survival skill whenever we see the shadow of approaching raptors.
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Oliver Twist) 『I have never read this before and only knew the story by watching the musical or TV mini series. I was dismayed while reading "Oliver" to realise how much of it was changed and adapted. I loved reading the original and found Charles Dickens style easy to read and very entertaining.』
(Never read.) 『Even I have heard of this book by my family. But I have never read this book. I will read this book and write more when I read the book.』
(Great Lit) 『I received this item in a timely manner, and it was also in good condition.』
(A virtual textbook on how to write a bad novel) 『At long last, I have completed this dreadful book. I started reading Oliver Twist ten months ago and swore it off a half-dozen times. I disliked right from the first chapter, but the deeper I got, the more I felt compelled to finish it so I could truthfully say that I'd read this "classic" and that I didn't like it. Oliver Twist is #5 (chronologically) on the must-read novels of The Well-Educated Mind: A Guide to the Classical Education You Never Had. I thoroughly enjoyed Don Quixote (Penguin Classics) and even the challenging The Pilgrim's Progress (Penguin Classics), and I absolutely loved Gulliver's Travels (Penguin Classics) and Pride and Prejudice (Penguin Classics). This book, however, is not in the same class.
This is the first Dickens I've ever read, and despite my absolute loathing of this novel, I won't swear him off as an author: I "get" what people like about him. However, please pay attention to the negative reviews from readers who have read other Dickens novels when they say this is not his best. I trust them because they identify all of the things that I hate about this book and say they're absent from his better works.
First and foremost, Oliver Twist is excessively wordy. Dickens never takes the opportunity to say in fifty words would he could say in ten -- he uses 100 or more instead. That's because, as I've learned, he was paid by the word to write this! While modern writing stresses the concise, this is the opposite. There are dozens of examples one could point to, but off the top of my head, here's one: A murderer is feeling and he runs into a street vendor hocking some kind of Victorian stain remover. It goes on for a page and a half about all that this cleaner can do, only to get to the point that the vendor says it can even get out blood stains (which the murderer has on his hat), and then the murderer flips out and runs away. There's even one chapter that begins with several paragraphs explaining that it has nothing to do with the plot, and everything -- everything -- is described in such obsessive detail, you will have to skip over entire sentences just to get to the point time and time again.
Secondly, the character of Oliver is thoroughly unlikeable. He's such a sad sack that I was actually rooting for his bullies and tormentors. Dickens quite unskillfully tries to manipulate his audience into false compassion by throwing everything short of sexual molestation at the poor child, right from birth. In this ugly underworld, everyone is petty and cruel for no reason -- but they're especially mean to Oliver. We only later find out why.
The books politics are thoroughly Marxian, too. The unspoken villain, all along, is industrial capitalism. This is why the poor degenerates in the slums live so badly. But, of course, if not for capitalism and the industrial revolution, most of them would have never lived at all. This would have suited the elites -- the true heroes of the story -- just fine; for what starts out looking like a portrayal of the injustices (real and imagined) faced by the working class, Oliver Twist is really an elitist smear against the "low-born."
Aristocrats have always championed socialism as a means of preserving the old order. Capitalism, even the state capitalism of Oliver Twist, allows for too much social mobility. By mid-way or so through this book, it becomes evident that it is only the lower middle class -- the petty bourgeois -- that are exploiting those under them. The elites are of unimpeachable character and come in to save Oliver -- who, (spoiler alert) is high-born after all! No wonder all those low-life miscreants were so rotten to him.
Now, for what was good about the book: The criminal gang. The characters of Fagin (though probably antisemitic), Sikes, the Dodger and Charley Bates, and especially Nancy are wonderfully rendered. The sections of the book that focus on them -- WITHOUT that annoying little brat Oliver -- are enjoyable, even in spite of Dickens' verbosity. Oliver is the worst, but all of his elitist protectors are unbearably overdone, too. Every scene involving Oliver and them is so "oh, I'm so grateful, I love you so much;" "Oh, Oliver, you bring us so much joy!" -- and that's after five minutes of meeting them.
And finally, the plot: It is built on such ridiculous coincidences.. I can only marvel at how dumb the nineteenth century audience must have been to gobble this up. Still, I wouldn't have necessarily hated it so much had it been told over 100 pages instead of 455. I can only imagine what a modern book editor would do if Dickens submitted this manuscript. This book was simply awful. I hated it. And yet... I feel compelled to give Dickens another shot, nonetheless. If indeed I'm fooled twice, then shame on me.』
(Buy this book!) 『I loved this. I was on the edge of my seat waiting for something good to happen to poor Oliver. I especially loved the names that Dickens chose for the characters; Mr. Brownlow, Mr. Bumble, Mr. Sowerberry, Mr. Grimwig, Duff and Blathers...they're all perfect. Why did I wait so long to read this book? Wonderful.』 『Oliver Twist is a classic tale of a boy of unknown parentage born in a workhouse and brought up under the cruel conditions to which pauper children were exposed in the Victorian England. With this novel, Dickens did not merely write a topical satire on the workhouse system and the role of the 1834 New Poor Law in fostering criminality. He created a moral fable about the survival of good, a romance, and a gripping story in which he exploited suspense and violence more effectively than any of his contemporaries.
The new Oxford World's Classics edition of Oliver Twist is based on the authoritative Clarendon edition, which uses Dickens's revised text of 1846. It includes his preface of 1841 in which he defended himself against hostile criticism, and includes all twenty-four original illustrations by George Cruikshank. Stephen Gill's groundbreaking introduction gives a fascinating new account of the novel. He also provides appendices on Dickens and Cruikshank, on Dickens's Preface and the Newgate Novel Controversy, on Oliver Twist and the New Poor Law and on thieves' slang.』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Great book!) 『The book is really fantastic, and it came in brand new condition. I would highly recommend it.』
(It really resonated with me) 『I'm perplexed by all the negative reviews about the author being self-centered. This is a book about her so of course it's going to be "about her". The author is genuine and honest. I relate to what she went through in her first marriage and I completely understand the need for her to find herself. If all of us could just get up and go to 3 countries in a year... I found the second part of the book to be a bit tough to get through in the beginning but as she started to "get" the meditation for what it is supposed to be, it got a little easier to read. I think any woman who has gone through a not-so-great marriage and then decides to divorce will relate to this book and the author's feelings. I can't wait to read her new book, Committed.』
(Like a joyful, luxurious fantasy) 『I am enjoying this book more than any other book in a very long time, and I read a lot. However most of the books I read are of a practical nature, rarely do I read fiction, or books for fun. I picked this up because the author was in Italy, which is a fantasy of mine, Venice in particular... I thought I'd page through it. One night, as I was headed to bed, I picked it up to see how it started... I ended up standing in my living room for 3 chapters reading, enthralled. I find myself re-reading paragraphs, rolling the words around my mouth. Mostly I envy her, both her travels, adventures, and journey of self-discovery, and also her writing style. It is beautiful, descriptive, and engrossing. I do see others' point, in that she does seem a little self- consumed, but it IS a memoir ... I read many books focusing on the needs and tragedies on earth( I have 9 children, 5 of whom were adopted from 3rd world countries), and its a nice change sometimes to live vicariously through someone who can live onto herself, once in awhile. Although It is not my own path. I do not have to agree with her, and do not on many points, especially her religious perspective... to enjoy it- but it is amazingly written, and a joy to read. Read it, enjoy it!』
(Book) 『This was a book I'd been looking for and was happy to find it for such a great price. Came in great condition and in great timeing.』
(No! No! Yes!) 『After reading parts one and two I stopped. I was so disappointed; I'd hoped to read a book to which I could say Yes! Yes! Yes! all the way through.
I couldn't say Yes to Italy. As many of the 1* reviews complain, all she does is whine. I do not like to read long essays on depression and loneliness. I groaned all the way along and skipped huge chunks here. A few sentences would have done the trick. Also, if there's one thing I can't stand is people complaining of the consequences of their own actions. SHE wanted to leave her husband! SHE made that move! The adult thing to do in that case is accept that life doesn't always adapt to your plans for it; that her husband's reaction is the consequence of HER decision. Stand up like a woman, for God's sake, and don't go on and on about how generous you were and how mean he is!
I'd have preferred more about Italian culture than about its food. I'm really not into self indulgence, telling yourself how much you're worth it, how much you deserve to be spoilt, and gorging! She came over as a privileged [...] with an overblown sense of entitlement.
The India part really bothered me. Not because I'm a devoted Christian or anything like that, but because I have been connected to a highly respected, authentic Indian ashram for almost 40 years and the picture she presents is so very misleading. I'm concerned that the millions reading this book will get the wrong impression.
First of all: the way to find a true Guru is not to walk into somebody's house, see a picture of a beautiful woman, and declare "I want a spiritual guide too!" And then unquestioningly accept that beautiful woman as your Guru. Back in the days, finding a real Guru came only after a prolonged and difficult period of intense searching, and even today it should not come easily. Real Gurus are few and far between, today more than ever. Today there's a veritable supermarket of gurus (note the lower case!) and if you don't want to get into trouble then PLEASE BE CAREFUL, and DO YOUR RESEARCH. There are a lot of moneymakers out there. A lot of scams. A lot of powerhungry people who speak authoritively and use their charisma for non-spiritual ends. Yoga and meditation is big business. Google is your friend. Accept nothing at face value; be as sceptical as the most hardened atheist.
I researched Gilbert's guru and unfortunately her record is not clean. Her guru's guru was involved in sex scandals; there are financial and power issues going on in the organisation. Generally, any organisation that attracts thousands of Americans/Westerners and charges overpriced fees for meditation is suspect. A genuine Guru just does not do this. The Ashram I go to never charges a penny, not even for food. It is all free, has been for almost a century, and that is how it should be. Beware of sex scandals and power struggles. A spiritual teacher can climb very high, but at those heights the ego gets particulalry slippery and that's when the power trips begin. I know many lovely, sincere seekers who belong to a similar cult with the same issues, and it breaks my heart for friends whose trust was abused and eventually destroyed with gurus unworthy of the name. I hope Gilbert manages to free herself one day. And I hope her readers are more discriminating than her.
It took me several days before I could stomach the Indonesia section, and I'm glad to say that it redeemed the first two parts. Here, I really connected to Gilbert and cheered her on. I was happy (and a little envious!) when she found Felipe. What a delightful man! She did well by her friends in Bali, and was obviously loved by them (another thing I did not like in the India part was that almost no Indians featured in it!) Gilbert really blossomed in Bali, became a full woman, and it seems to me this was more "her" than the Ashram Liz. So the trip was worth it; she did grow out of her narcissism and is to be commended for that.
The book is a light read; she does know how to engage the reader. This should however not be taken as a life-changing spiritual manual. It's new age fluff, but as such adequate. So, my verdict of the book is: No. No. Yes! Good luck to her.』
price：$6.40
Random House Audio
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Excellent book!) 『I bought this book for my son after he saw the movie. Again I always go to amazon when I am in need of a book. I always find it there!!!』
(Into the Wild) 『From start to finish, I read this book knowing the terrible fate of Chris McCandless. The story begins with the discovery of his dead body in an abandoned bus. From the time this young man made set off to the wilderness of Alaska, he became Alexander Supertramp. He had given away everything, the only thing that he held on to from his former life was his name, and by changing that he was now free. "So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more dangerous to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun." -- Chris McCandless. This bit of writing from the young man who escaped society really embodies his view on life.
Chris had changed his name, burnt all the cash in his wallet, and left all of his possessions behind. Just like a snake, he had shed his skin. All that Chris had on him when ventured up to into the wilderness of Alaska was a .22 caliber rifle, a ten pound bag of rice, a field guide of edible plants and berries, cheap hiking boots, and the clothes on his back. The life he saw ahead of him was going to be untouched by the society that had poisoned his previous one. To many, Chris could be described as naïve, and his story, depressing. But the way that Krakauer tells the story gives McCandless a near mythical status. He is the man who took his live by the handlebars and did something so bold, that his story could almost come off as fiction. Krakauer does a fantastic job presenting his research andhis own opinions and commentary in this book. The feelings that you develop for Chris are extraordinary, and I think that is what makes this book one of my favorites of all time. 』
(Idealism Gone Wild) 『I had enjoyed Jon Krakuer's book Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster. Thinking that Into the Wild would be of the same high quality, I was very pleasantly surprised to find that I had made a wise choice. Krakuer's work tends to stick with you long after you have finished the book. I had originally purchased the book back in 1997. My son borrowed it for a while and then it landed at my mother's house where she finished reading it this year. Somehow, it made it back home to my bookcase so I thought I would write a short review (or opinion) before placing it back in its rightful place among the nic-nacs, pictures and family of books.
The writing is first rate as the author takes us on a journey he made trying to understand the mindset of this intense young misguided man. I have personally known a few young men (and women) that fit into this stubborn idealism. While their thoughts and dreams are noble, they are never quite prepared for that heavy dose of reality that life sometimes rains down on our heads.
Throughout the book, I had an extreme sadness for the family that he had left back home. As a parent to five children, I can only imagine the anguish that filled each day of their lives. While some may admire McCandless's courage, I can only read this from the aforementioned perch of parenthood. Therefore, I come away with a different conclusion than the author. I am not saying he is wrong. Just different opinion.
Well written. Properly paced with just the right amount of tangents. Highly recommended for those who enjoy well-versed non-fiction.
I hope you find this opinion helpful.
Michael L. Gooch Author of Wingtips with Spurs 』
(Every Page is an Adventure) 『"In April 1992, a young man from a well-to-do family hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley. His name was Christopher Johnson McCandless...Four months later, his decomposed body was found by a moose hunter."
Although the author, Jon Krakauer, starts off the story with the protagonist, Chris McCandless, who has taken an adventure into Alaska and never returns, Into the Wild is a compelling story that can be read and enjoyed by all ages. Krakauer tries to give the readers the conclusion and makes them understand how it happened. It allows the readers to figure out and understand the actions that lead up to the finding of McCandless's body in an abandoned bus in the wilderness. Krakauer really wants the reader to be able to recount on McCandless' journeys and understand his reasoning behind all of them. As this is a true story, Krakauer was able to accurately recount the adventures of Chris through talking and hearing of stories by other people who met him along the way.
The title, Into the Wild, is extremely fitting for this book, as he just seemingly vanishes into the wild without a trace. He leaves behind his previous life, burns his cash, loses his car, and takes no maps or anything for himself into the wilderness. McCandless is ready to endure nature and whatever it throws at him. He wants to be able to rely on his surroundings and be able to survive on nature, rather to rely on material objects for him to be able to survive.
Along with the narrative, Into Thin Air, about an expedition to Everest, Krakauer has a large amount of experience in writing about the dangerous side of the wilderness, a skill that is prominently portrayed in this book. Krakauer has a large amount of experience in the wilderness that is similar to McCandless, and he recounts pieces of his own experiences throughout the Into the Wild. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who loves to read about adventures in the wilderness and a story of a boy who wanted to turn his life in a completely different direction. Although, Krakauer had already told me the ending, and there would be no surprise for me at the end, like many books. Every page I found there was a surprise for me. This book caught my attention from the beginning and held my attention until the end, turning every page into an adventure for me. From my personal opinion, I usually never liked finding out the conclusion in the beginning of the book. But in this example, Krakauer tries to give the conclusion in the beginning to give the reader a feeling of confusion, making the reader want to figure out what happened to this young kid. It gave me a motivation to find out the events that led up to his death in an abandoned bus in the wilderness, and causing me to read the book in about two sessions.
As a fifteen-year-old, I can completely relate to the feeling of wanting to be out in the wilderness surviving on your instincts. After all, every kid wishes they could be a free soul and be able to wonder off into the distance. 』
(If you're looking for an adventure story, look elsewhere.) 『For those who are really intrigued by what happened to Chris (the young man who died in Alaska) and want to understand his motivations, the book may be worthwhile. Krakauer spends lots of time interviewing those who could give insight into Chris's psyche. You'll read about Chris as a kid, his family, his relationship with his father and his sister, impressions of Chris from those he met while vagabonding across the US, etc. You'll also read about others, who, like Chris, struck out on their own to challenge themselves against nature. After reading the book, I felt it was much more a psychological study of the behavior of loners, than it was a book about any compelling adventure.
In addition, it seemed to me that much of the book was a digression. I had the strong impression that Krakauer was adding filler to have enough material to make a book out of the magazine article he wrote for Outside Magazine. For example, there are long quotes from various authors at the beginning of each chapter. There is a long chapter on other 'adventurers' who took on challenges that cost them their lives. There is information about plant toxicity and speculation about what might (or might not have) caused Chris to become so weak. There is even a chapter about his parents going to the bus where Chris died and looking over the site. But what wasn't there, was a compelling or dramatic story that could drive a narrative. Chris just went into the wild, got in over his head, had no backup plan (by design) and paid with his life for his passion to be apart from people. Sad, perhaps interesting as a psychological study, but not particularly compelling otherwise. So, if you're looking for a gripping narrative based on a compelling true story.... look elsewhere.
』 『In April 1992 a young man from a well-to-do family hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley. His name was Christopher Johnson McCandless. He had given $25,000 in savings to charity, abandoned his car and most of his possessions, burned all the cash in his wallet, and invented a new life for himself...
"Terrifying...Eloquent...A heart-rending drama wandering of human yearning."--The New York Times
"A narrative of arresting force. Anyone who ever fancied wandering off to face nature on its own harsh terms should give a look. It's gripping stuff."--The Washington Post
From the Audiobook Download edition.』 『"God, he was a smart kid..." So why did Christopher McCandless trade a bright future--a college education, material comfort, uncommon ability and charm--for death by starvation in an abandoned bus in the woods of Alaska? This is the question that Jon Krakauer's book tries to answer. While it doesn't—cannot—answer the question with certainty,Into the Wilddoes shed considerable light along the way. Not only about McCandless's "Alaskan odyssey," but also the forces that drive people to drop out of society and test themselves in other ways. Krakauer quotes Wallace Stegner's writing on a young man who similarly disappeared in the Utah desert in the 1930s: "At 18, in a dream, he saw himself ... wandering through the romantic waste placesof the world. No man with any of the juices of boyhood in him has forgotten those dreams."Into the Wildshows that McCandless, while extreme, was hardly unique; the author makes the hermit into one of us, something McCandless himself could never pull off. By book's end, McCandless isn't merely a newspaper clipping, but a sympathetic, oddly magnetic personality. Whether he was "a courageous idealist, or a reckless idiot," you won't soon forget Christopher McCandless.』
price：$6.98
William Morrow Cookbooks
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (yummy) 『Got this book for my Dad as a gift because he wants to go to the places on the show. He really liked it - as did my Mom, my daughter and me. It's helping Mom and Dad pick out some places to eat when they go away on vacation this spring. And my daughter and I are borrowing it to plan where to eat on a day trip this spring. Great book for fams of the show!』
(Love This Book!) 『We couldn't wait to get this in the mail! Guy is the best and the book is wonderful!』
(Present) 『Combined this with a gift certificate of a nearby DDD place and it ended up being a great gift!』
(Disappointed fan.) 『Book is in black and white, recipes- but no photo's of finished foods. Book should have colored photos of the foods, needs more photos of diner's and food and less recipes. Make it more visual. Please.』
(Good recipes but flawed layout!) 『While I do like the show, I agree that this book was a bit disappointing. All the recipes I've made from it have been great (especially the Squeeze Burgers, which make the book worth buying by itself) but I have one HUGE complaint...NO PICTURES OF THE FOOD! Instead of pictures of the finished product, or part of the process, or something that actually has to do with the recipe, there are tons of pictures of OTHER food that's not in the cookbook or of Guy 'looking cool in a convertable' and local scenery. It's worth having, but get a used copy and save up for Good Eats: The Early Years』 『
Food Network star Guy Fieri takes you on a tour of America's most colorful diners, drive-ins, and dives in this tie-in to his enormously popular television show, complete with recipes, photos, and memorabilia.
Packed with Guy's iconic personality,Diners, Drive-ins and Divesfollows his hot-rod trips around the country, mapping out the best places most of us have never heard of. From digging in at legendary burger joint the Squeeze Inn in Sacramento, California, baking Peanut Pie from Virginia Diner in Wakefield, Virginia, or kicking back with Pete's "Rubbed and Almost Fried" Turkey Sandwich from Panini Pete's in Fairhope, Alabama, Guy showcases the amazing personalities, fascinating stories, and outrageously good food offered by these American treasures.
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Great book) 『I love this book. Buy it. Bill Bryson's writing style makes this a fun and interesting read. Learned/retained more information from this book then I did from all my highschool classes and what not.』
(Most interesting book I've read in years!) 『Great, great book. As advertised, it's what all science text books should have been: interesting. Bravo, Mr. Bryson! Looking forward to downloading some more of your titles.』
(a wonderful read) 『"A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson was a wonderful book to read. Although it has no discernable plot or conflict, but it was still a marvelous way to spend a frigid afternoon perusing through a delicious memoir. The remembrance, (or more likely, Bryson's quest for knowledge) was spawned when the author was taking a science course, and his textbook had a very dry explanation of the earth, simply showing a cutaway then labeling the different layers. The narrative gave no explanation to why they were there in the first place. That's what this extended essay is - Bill Bryson wants to know why things are the way they are, except in a much more interesting, well-written form. The book is true to its title, starting with "The Big Bang," and goes all the way through to the rise of homo sapiens. It covers that and everything in between in an easy-to-digest, user-friendly style that seems to give the proverbial wink of the eye to the reader from time-to-time. The tome does a very good job at giving credit where it is due. He starts by giving a "short back round" on the person; then, goes on about what important contribution he or she made to the topic that the book is currently discussing. I found everything in this book to be true as far as I could tell. Bryson did not omit any of the facts, even the more confusing stuff. He wrote his narrative in plain English, and used an explanation where it was needed, allowing the average layperson to understand normally challenging parts of the book. For instance, he writes, "To get down to the scale of atoms, you would need to take each of those micron slices and shave it into ten thousand finer widths. That's the scale of an atom: one ten million of a millimeter". - (135) Here is an excellent example of one of Bryson's witty explanations that he uses to help people to understand something that is so unimaginably small. He has many more like that though out the book on different topics that enable the reader to more concretely picture abstract things more precisely. Bill Bryson has a very interesting way of thinking about things. At the beginning of the book, he makes it very clear that the human race is lucky to be here, if one ratio was different then it is life as we know it could not have existed, and that there are trillions of atoms that have to coexist in order to make up a person. "Welcome. And Congratulations. I am delighted that you could make it. Getting here wasn't easy, I know in fact, I suspect it was a little tougher then you realize". - (1) It is in passages like these that I could tell the Bryson enjoyed writing this book, and he was clearly fascinated by what he was learning. He spent three years talking to people knowledgeable on their subjects for the book; I think that he thoroughly enjoyed everyone of his years. This is one of those few books that I was completely captivated by, and would spend hours on end reading it. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and found that the narrative actually opened up my eyes to things I had either not understand or had just taken for granted. 』
(Not quite what I expected) 『Having read several of Bill Bryson's books and totally enjoying them, I was dismayed with this effort. Even with a degree in the sciences, I felt as though I was in the intergalactic dental chair having every atomic thought particle vacuumed out of my being. Bill, stick with the humorist travel writer theme that you do so well.
Judging from the reviews, many readers valued the book. As for myself, maybe the planets were simply out of orbit, the stars not aligned or Einstein's Law of Relativity slipped. It was overwhelming and difficult to follow. Too much to absorb and retain. Rarely do I not finish a book, but after space traveling nearly half-way through this endeavor, I had to fold and put down.
Will keep in my personal library for reference. 』
(Just about says it) 『Get out your hi-lighter and keep a pen handy to make comments in the margins. This is a good reference book. For what you ask? Read the title again. Not the easiest of reads, but then look at the subject matter. Much easier to understand than Stephen Hawking's "A Brief History Of Time." From the Big Bang to evolution, to ... well nearly everything, Bryson does a magnificent job in trying to explain it all and with a sense of humor. If you don't know anything, or even if you act like you know it all, read this book to make sure. Very good reference book.』 『Bill Bryson is one of the world’s most beloved and bestselling writers. InA Short History of Nearly Everything, he takes his ultimate journey–into the most intriguing and consequential questions that science seeks to answer. It’s a dazzling quest, the intellectual odyssey of a lifetime, as this insatiably curious writer attempts to understand everything that has transpired from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization. Or, as the author puts it, “…how we went from there being nothing at all to there being something, and then how a little of that something turned into us, and also what happened in between and since.” This is, in short, a tall order.
To that end, Bill Bryson apprenticed himself to a host of the world’s most profound scientific minds, living and dead. His challenge is to take subjects like geology, chemisty, paleontology, astronomy, and particle physics and see if there isn’t some way to render them comprehensible to people, like himself, made bored (or scared) stiff of science by school.His interest is not simply to discoverwhatwe know but to find outhowwe know it. How do we know what is in the center of the earth, thousands of miles beneath the surface? How can we know the extent and the composition of the universe, or what a black hole is? How can we know where the continents were 600 million years ago? How did anyone ever figure these things out?
On his travels through space and time, Bill Bryson encounters a splendid gallery of the most fascinating, eccentric, competitive, and foolish personalities ever to ask a hard question. In their company, he undertakes a sometimes profound, sometimes funny, and always supremely clear and entertaining adventure in the realms of human knowledge, as only this superb writer can render it. Science has never been more involving, and the world we inhabit has never been fuller of wonder and delight.』 『From primordial nothingness to this very moment,A Short History of Nearly Everythingreports what happened and how humans figured it out. To accomplish this daunting literary task, Bill Bryson uses hundreds of sources, from popular science books to interviews with luminaries in various fields. His aim is to help people like him, who rejected stale school textbooks and dry explanations, to appreciate how we have used science to understand the smallest particles and the unimaginably vast expanses of space. With his distinctive prose style and wit, Bryson succeeds admirably. ThoughA Short Historyclocks in at a daunting 500-plus pages and covers the same material as every science book before it, it reads something like a particularly detailed novel (albeit without a plot). Each longish chapter is devoted to a topic like the age of our planet or how cells work, and these chapters are grouped into larger sections such as "The Size of the Earth" and "Life Itself." Bryson chats with experts like Richard Fortey (author ofLifeandTrilobite) and these interviews are charming. But it's when Bryson dives into some of science's best and most embarrassing fights--Cope vs. Marsh, Conway Morris vs. Gould--that he finds literary gold.--Therese Littleton』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Historical Romance) 『Was in perfect condition. Arrived in time promised. Thank you for allowing me to have another in my library.』
(Awesome!) 『 I started with book one and this book was like the first 4 Awesome! It was fast paced with easy transitions into the next action sequence. Lots of twists and turns LOVED it!』
(Once again) 『Ms. Gabaldon does it again. The writing style in her books will surely stand the test of time, making these books into classics for years to come. As always, great storyline and powerful characterization. When an author can give you cold chills, she is truly gifted.』
(Great read) 『Diana is a fantastic author and her Outlander series is a must own. I re-read the set a couple times a year-』
(Wonderful book!) 『This is a great book in the Outlander series. Who wouldn't want to read about the continuing adventures of Claire and Jamie? Happy reading.』 『Eagerly anticipated by her legions of fans, this sixth novel in Diana Gabaldon’s bestselling Outlander saga is a masterpiece of historical fiction from one of the most popular authors of our time.
Since the initial publication ofOutlanderfifteen years ago, Diana Gabaldon’sNew York Timesbestselling saga has won the hearts of readers the world over— and sold more than twelve million books. Now,A Breath of Snow and Ashescontinues the extraordinary story of 18th-century Scotsman Jamie Fraser and his 20th-century wife, Claire.
The year is 1772, and on the eve of the American Revolution, the long fuse of rebellion has already been lit. Men lie dead in the streets of Boston, and in the backwoods of North Carolina, isolated cabins burn in the forest.
With chaos brewing, the governor calls upon Jamie Fraser to unite the backcountry and safeguard the colony for King and Crown. But from his wife Jamie knows that three years hence the shot heard round the world will be fired, and the result will be independence— with those loyal to the King either dead or in exile. And there is also the matter of a tiny clipping fromThe Wilmington Gazette, dated 1776, which reports Jamie’s death, along with his kin. For once, he hopes, his time-traveling family may be wrong about the future.』
price：$11.90
Knopf
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (how to feel Italian) 『great info set forth in a friendlt but informatine manner. YTou want to try these receipts and we have. We have 4 of her books. None has disappointed. Basic info but not basic food!』
(lidias cookbook) 『I watch Lidia on her tv shows and have been to Italy and cook. I enjoy her on tv and now can read some of her faMOUS RECIPES IN HER COOKBOOK.i THINK THE BOOK IS SUPERB i have tried a few recipes and they are great.I enjoy that she goes to different place in Italy and then uses their recipes in her book.Being Italian American myfamily only cooked dishes from some parts of Italy.I am enjoying cooking her recipes that are from different regions of Italy Philip』
(Great Italian cookbook!) 『I purchased this book for my BF who is the cook in our house. He has made quite a few of the recipes and so far they are wonderful. The Baked fish with Savory Bread Crumbs is awesome, and the Zuchini with Anchovies and Capers, yum! Also try the Pasta With Baked Cherry Tomatoes. I am looking forward to more!』
(Good recipes for everyday and weekends) 『This book is a good compliment to my Italian cookbooks by Hazan, Bugialli and Rosetto-Kasper. The voice of the cook is fun, you sense Bastianich's quirks and preferences easily but you are never talked down to. She loves to cook and eat this food and wants you to share her passion. The techniques in most recipes are not beyond even a beginning cook. Simple recipes like penne and mushrooms and rice and butternut squash have already become part of my regular dinner line-up. The socca casserole of cabbage, beef and potato is great for winter weekend meals, just the thing for family and friends after outdoor exercise. I took this book out of the library and tried out some of the recipes before I bought it and recommend that folks do this before they purchase any cookbook.』
(Llidia Cooks from the Heart of Italy) 『I am addicted to this cookbook. I watch all of Lidia's TV shows that I possibly can with her cookbook by my side. My ancestors are from Southern Italy so I am interested and want to try Northern Italy recipes that Lidia has in this book. I have not been disappointed and I highly recommend this Italian cookbook by Lidia.』 『In this inspiring new book, Lidia Bastianich awakens in us a new respect for food and for the people who produce it in the little-known parts of Italy that she explores. All of the recipes reflect the regions from which they spring, and in translating them to our home kitchens, Lidia passes on time-honored techniques and wonderful, uncomplicated recipes for dishes bursting with different regional flavors—the kind of elemental, good family cooking that is particularly appreciated today.
Penetrating the heart of Italy—starting at the north, working down to the tip, and ending in Sardinia—Lidia unearths a wealth of recipes:
FromTrentino–Alto Adige:Delicious Dumplings with Speck (cured pork); apples accenting soup, pasta, salsa, and salad; local beer used to roast a chicken and to braise beef FromLombardy:A world of rice—baked in a frittata, with lentils, with butternut squash, with gorgonzola, and the special treat of Risotto Milan-Style with Marrow and Saffron FromValle d’Aosta:Polenta with Black Beans and Kale, and local fontina featured in fondue, in a roasted pepper salad, and embedded in veal chops FromLiguria:An array of Stuffed Vegetables, a bread salad, and elegant Veal Stuffed with a Mosaic of Vegetables FromEmilia-Romagna:An olive oil dough for making the traditional, versatile vegetable tarterbazzone,as well as the secrets of makingtagliatelleand other pasta doughs, and an irresistible Veal Scaloppine Bolognese FromLe Marche:Farro with Roasted Pepper Sauce, Lamb Chunks with Olives, and Stuffed Quail in Parchment FromUmbria:A taste of the sweet Norcino black truffle, and seductive dishes such as Potato-Mushroom Cake with Braised Lentils, Sausages in the Skillet with Grapes, and Chocolate Bread Parfait FromAbruzzo:Freshscrippelle(crêpe) ribbons baked with spinach or garnishing a soup, fresh pasta made with a “guitar,” Rabbit with Onions, and Lamb Chops with Olives FromMolise:Fried Ricotta; homemade cavatelli pasta in a variety of ways; Spaghetti with Calamari, Shrimp, and Scallops; and Braised Octopus FromBasilicata:Wedding Soup, FieryMaccheroni,and Farro with Pork Ragù FromCalabria:Shepherd’s Rigatoni, steamed swordfish, and Almond Biscottini FromSardinia:Flatbread Lasagna, two lovely eggplant dishes, and Roast Lobster with Bread Crumb Topping
This is just a sampling of the many delights Lidia has uncovered. All the recipes she shares with us in this rich feast of a book represent the work of the local people and friends with whom she made intimate contact—the farmers, shepherds, foragers, and artisans who produce local cheeses, meats, olive oils, and wines. And in addition, her daughter, Tanya, takes us on side trips in each of the twelve regions to share her love of the country and its art.』 『FromLidia Cooks from the Heart of Italy: Soup with Bread&Fontina Pasticciata (Seuppa ou Piat)
This might seem like an unusual dish, a pasticciata (a layered casserole) of bread and cheese that's baked, cut into portions, and served in a bowl of hot broth. Yet the tastes and eating pleasure ofseuppa ou piatwill be completely familiar and welcome to anyone who loves the gratineed crouton of French onion soup or enjoys a crispy grilled-cheese sandwich with a bowl of rich chicken broth alongside. This is a good dish for company, because you can have both the broth and the pasticciata hot and ready to be put together when your guests come. (Chicken stock is my preference, but a savory vegetable stock or a meaty beef broth is just as good.)--Lidia Bastianich
1/2 pound fontina from Valle d'Aosta (or Italian Fontal)
1 cup freshly grated Grana Padano or Parmigiano- Reggiano, plus more for passing
18 slices Italian bread, cut 1/2 inch thick from a long oval loaf, left out to dry overnight*
Recommended Equipment: A baking dish or oval gratin dish, 3 quarts or larger; heavy aluminum foil
Directions
Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven, and heat to 400 degrees. Heat the broth almost to a simmer--season with salt to taste--and keep it hot. Butter the sides and bottom of the baking dish. Shred the fontina through the larger holes of a hand grater and toss the shreds with the grana (grated hard cheese).
Arrange half of the bread slices in one layer in the baking dish. Ladle out 1 cup of broth, and drizzle it on the bread slices, slightly moistening them all. Sprinkle half of the cheese on top of the bread in an even layer. Cover the cheese with the remaining bread slices, filling the entire surface of the dish. Moisten these slices with another cup or so of stock; top the bread with all the remaining cheese, scattered evenly.
Tent the pasticciata with a sheet of heavy aluminum foil, arching it so it doesn’t touch the cheese topping, and pressing it against the sides of the baking dish. Set the dish in the oven, and bake until heated through, about 25 minutes. Remove the foil, and continue baking for 10 minutes or more, until the top is golden brown and bubbly. Take the dish from the oven, and letit cool and set for 5 minutes or so.
To serve: Cut out large squares of pasticciata and, with a spatula, transfer them to warm shallow soup or pasta bowls. Ladle a cup of hot broth over each portion and serve immediately, passing more grated cheese at the table.
*Country Italian bread is best for this pasticciata. The width of the bread can vary since it is layered snugly in the baking dish, then cut in squares when served.
price：$7.02
Wiley
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Best Guide to Walt Disney World) 『This is the best guide to Disney World out there. I have several others that I use, but this one has the most in depth information. I have used various editions of the guide for trips with both friends and family. It will help you plan your trip whether you are honeymooners, friends, or a family with kids.
The touring plans literally save hours of time in lines. I have gone twice during the busiest seasons and never had to wait in line more than 20 minutes in line for any ride or show. You will be able to see and do as much as possible in whatever time you have for your trip. The guide also includes many suggestions to slow down, relax, and just enjoy your vacation days.』
(The definitive guide!) 『Great guide and necessary for optimizing the riding of Disney's attractions. Read all opinions/reviews as they can be wide and varied. We travel to Disney World every year and I buy this guide for updates and what to expect.』
(Best Guide for Disney) 『Although this book has tripled in size since we last used it over a dozen years ago, it was worth reading it to prepare for a trip to the World. Just as when we used it before, we took suggestions from the book's touring "plans" but didn't follow them exactly. The restaurant reviews were very helpful.
If it has been awhile since you visited WDW, this would be a good book to have. However, since we flew to Florida, the book was too big in size to take along!』
(FANTASTIC) 『This is the best guide book I've ever read. It has really opened my eyes to what to expect when traveling to Walt Disney World, especially coming from Australia. I feel like I am better prepared for our trip』
(best for fine details) 『There are a lot of books out there to help you plan a trip to Walt Disney World. What I like about this book is it has lots of fine details in it. It does not have many pictures, except when required to explain a specific detail. For example, there are room diagrams (not photographs) of the standard size rooms of each of the resorts, with square footage stated on each room. You will know pretty much what to expect from the room setup before you get there. Also, the book states great websites of even more details/explanations.
This book boasts updated ratings of specifics like the resorts (room quality and pool quality, for example) and restaurants. It appears that the book updates these ratings, so the most recent edition should be an advantage. And anything that hasn't changed is stated the same from edition to edition (from what I can see).
If you already have the official Walt Disney World guide, this book will make the official guide look like a travel company brochure. The official guide has lots of nice pictures and short statements on different things. And I enjoy reading travel company brochures, and looking at the pictures. It's fun. If you already have the official guide, and now you're looking for more in-depth information, then you will be very happy when this one arrives on your doorstep a few days from now.
I stated this (in other words) above, but the most recent edition will be (I feel) an advantage over older editions. This book keeps up with the changes very well. In fact, the book includes well thought out daily touring plans for each of the parks to help out with changes in crowds, and such. The book states that when they get complaints from people about having problems with following one of these guides, it's usually someone with an older book. Although this sounds like a statement to try to boost current sales, I believe Disney World is changing. The strategies that worked well just a few years ago could be a disaster today.』 『
Despite signifcant downturns in the economy, Disney theme parks have maintained attendance rates and made gains in attendance at some parks.
Walt Disney World Resort theme parks are rated best in the world. earning high marks for things outside of the traditional theme park experience. Epcot's International Food&Wine Festival, which takes place for six weeks every fall and showcases food from twenty-five countries, was rated by Forbes Traveler as one of the Best U.S. Food and Wine Festivals.
』 『
Test Your Disney Smarts! Amazon-exclusive quiz from author Bob Sehlinger
1.Which restaurant has the best view at Walt Disney World?A.LakeView Restaurant,B.The California Grill,C.Cindarella’s Royal Table2.Afternoon milkshakes for two kids will cost you:A.$5.72,B.$8.38,C.$12.593.Disney Kids’ Meals are available for children of what ages?A.3-9,B.3-11,C.Under 184.When is the best time to take the kids on Dumbo the Flying Elephant?A.Before 10 a.m. or after 9 p.m.,B.Immediately following lunch,C.At exactly 3:15 p.m.5.Which Disney theme park is five times the size as the Magic Kingdom?A.Disney’s Hollywood Studios,B.Epcot Center,C.Animal Kingdom6.The best time to visit Walt Disney World is:A.On your child’s birthday,B.The day of your child’s final exam in math class,C.During the period between Christmas Day and New Year’s DayAnswers:1)B, 2)B, 3)A, 4)A, 5)C, 6)AFive Unofficial Ways to Prepare For Your Trip to Walt Disney World Amazon-exclusive content from author Bob Sehlinger1. Select the time of year for your visit:Walt Disney World is busiest Christmas Day through New Year’s Day. Thanksgiving weekend, the week of Washington’s birthday, the first full week of November, spring break for colleges, and the two weeks around Easter are also times when visitation can peak at 92,000 visitors in a single day. The park is far less crowded during the off season, but be advised that the parks often open late and close early during that time. You can find detailed charts and info on the best times to visit in The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World.2. Shape up:Visiting Disney World requires levels of industry and stamina more often associated with running marathons. As you plan your time at Disney World, consider your physical limitations. It’s exhausting to rise at dawn and run around a theme park for 8 to 12 hours day after day. Every Disney World vacation itinerary should include days when you don’t go to a theme park and days when you sleep in and take the morning off. Plan these to follow unusually long and arduous days.3. Formulate your park plan:First-time visitors should see Epcot first; you’ll be able to enjoy it without having been preconditioned to think of Disney entertainment as solely fantasy or adventure. See Animal Kingdom second. Like Epcot, it’s educational, but its live animals provide a change of pace. Next, see Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which helps transition fromthe educational Epcot and Animal Kingdom to the fanciful Magic Kingdom. Also, because DHS is smaller, you won’t walk as much or stay as long. Save the Magic Kingdom for last; it’s the park that epitomizes Disney World for most visitors.4. Create your touring plan:Which rides and attractions appeal most to you? What are you willing to forgo? Planning your day in advance can save you up to four hours of waiting time in line. We have developed a hierarchy of categories that will help you evaluate each ride and plan the best way to enjoy them all. For example, SUPER-HEADLINERS are the best attractions the theme park has to offer– and they usually have the longest lines. MINOR ATTRACTIONS are midway-type rides, small “dark” rides (cars on a track, zigzagging through the dark) and walk-through attractions—which can be a lot of fun, without the long wait. Remember that bigger and more elaborate doesn’t always mean better. See examples of touring plans (and create your own) in The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World.5. Getting hungry?:There are three lessons to learn before you dine in the parks. One: Theme-park restaurants rush their customers in order to make room for the next group of diners. If you want to linger over your expensive meal, don’t order your entire dinner at once. Order drinks. Study the menu while you sip, then order appetizers. Tell the waiter you need more time to decide among entrees. Order your main course only after appetizers have been served. Dawdle over dessert. Two: If you’re dining in a theme park and cost is an issue, make lunch your main meal. Entrees are similar to those on the dinner menu, but prices are significantly lower. Three: Disney adds a surcharge of $4 per adult and $2 per child to certain popular restaurants during weeks of peak attendance, including Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, and in 2009 every day from Memorial Day through July 4.』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Hilarious!) 『"Me Talk Pretty One Day" is a collection of autobiographical essays written by David Sedaris, which is even funnier than his earlier undomesticated make belief "Naked".
Unless you don't find frenzied bouts of laughter embarrassing, I would not recommend reading this book in public. I read it on the plane and laughed so hard that the stewardess asked me if I was alright. I waved her away, suffering from uncontrollable fits of hysteria.
Any book by David Sedaris is funny, but this one is simply hillarious.』
(My first review ever on amazon.com) 『This was the first David Sedaris book I came across. After reading Me Talk Pretty One Day, I immediately needed more Sedaris. I've never laughed out loud while reading before finding this gem and became addicted to Sedaris' storytelling. Simple observations and family related memories are delivered with wit and enthusiasm. The only thing better than reading Sedaris is listening to Sedaris. Luckily, he reads his stories in the audiobook versions, which adds another dimension of character to what is already sublimely funny.』
(Caustic humor that is laugh-out-loud funny) 『I listened to David Sedaris' When You are Engulfed in Flames as an audio-book (read by the author) and enjoyed it so much that I special-ordered Me Talk Pretty One Day into my library as an audio-book. Reading is good, but when it comes to material like this, audio is the way to go.
Sedaris' deadpan delivery is priceless. Seven of the stories in this collection are recorded live. These stories are among the best in the collection, and they are enhanced further by the live audience (those pregnant pauses, the anticipation, and the delirious laughter that follows each punch-line).
Sedaris' stories (or essays, as they are often referred to) are amusing, real-life, anecdotes about the mundane. These are the stories told by the funniest guy at a dinner party.
As with any collection of essays, some are better than others. This collection gets off to a strong start with Go Carolina. Many of the standout stories are the ones that were recorded live, in particular The Youth in Asia, I'll Eat What He's Wearing, and See You Again Yesterday. Other stand-outs include: Shiner Like a Diamond and Learning Curve.
In Canada we have a popular story-teller named Stuart McLean who is probably unknown outside the Great White North (we also like hockey and drink coffee at a place called Tim Horton's). David Sedaris is similar to McLean in that he tells amusing anecdotes'; however there is a distinct difference. McLean is strictly G rated entertainment; sentimental and charming. Sedaris, while not R rated, is delivering PG material. Readers and listeners should be prepared for coarse language, sexual content, and references to recreational drug use. He speaks openly about his drug abuse and his homosexuality, which may be off-putting to some. And his humor is extremely caustic - and that may not appeal to everyone. (I on the otherhand, appreciate caustic humor)
All in all, this is a highly entertaining collection of stories. Overall, I found the variety and quality of stories told in When You Are Engulfed in Flames to be a little better, but Me Talk Pretty One Day makes for enjoyable reading and/or listening. There are moments that are almost certain to have you laughing out loud. 』
(David Sedaris will make you laugh.) 『David Sedaris will make you laugh, as he makes fun of himself, and the people he meets along the way. This is especially great to listen to on long road trips when you need more than music to get you through the drive.』
(lost item) 『I did not receive the books I ordered, but I did get a full refund.』 『Anyone that has read NAKED and BARREL FEVER, or heard David Sedaris speaking live or on the radio will tell you that a new collection from him is cause for jubilation. His recent move to Paris from New York inspired these hilarious new pieces, including 'Me Talk Pretty One Day', about his attempts to learn French from a sadistic teacher who declares that 'every day spent with you is like having a caesarean section'. His family is another inspiration. 'You Can't Kill the Rooster' is a portrait of his brother, who talks incessant hip-hop slang to his bewildered father. And no one hones a finer fury in response to such modern annoyances as restaurant meals presented in ludicrous towers of food and cashiers with six-inch fingernails. Hilarious, sharply perceptive and surpassing all national boundaries of humour, ME TALK PRETTY ONE DAY is a compelling introduction or a very welcome return to David Sedaris - compared by The New Yorker to Twain and Hawthorne - who has taken America and Europe by storm.』 『David Sedaris became a star autobiographer on public radio, onstage in New York, and on bestseller lists, mostly on the strength of "SantaLand Diaries," a scathing, hilarious account of his stint as a Christmas elf at Macy's. (It's in two separate collections, both worth owning,Barrel Feverand the Christmas-themedHolidays on Ice.) Sedaris's caustic gift has not deserted him in his fourth book, which mines poignant comedy from his peculiar childhood in North Carolina, his bizarre career path, and his move with his lover to France. Though his anarchic inclination to digress is his glory, Sedaris does have a theme in these reminiscences: the inability of humans to communicate. The title is his rendition in transliterated English of how he and his fellow students of French in Paris mangle the Gallic language. In the essay "Jesus Shaves," he and his classmates from many nations try to convey the concept of Easter to a Moroccan Muslim. "It is a party for the little boy of God," says one. "Then he be die one day on two... morsels of... lumber," says another. Sedaris muses on the disputes between his Protestant mother and his father, a Greek Orthodox guy whose Easter fell on a different day. Other essays explicate his deep kinship with his eccentric mom and absurd alienation from his IBM-exec dad: "To me, the greatest mystery of science continues to be that a man could father six children who shared absolutely none of his interests."
Every glimpse we get of Sedaris's family and acquaintances delivers laughs and insights. He thwarts his North Carolina speech therapist ("for whom the wordpenhad two syllables") by cleverly avoiding all words withssounds, which reveal the lisp she sought to correct. His midget guitar teacher, Mister Mancini, is unaware that Sedaris doesn't share his obsession with breasts, and sings "Light My Fire" all wrong--"as if he were a Webelo scout demanding a match." As a remarkably unqualified teacher at the Art Institute of Chicago, Sedaris had his class watch soap operas and assign "guessays" on what would happen in the next day's episode.
It all adds up to the most distinctively skewed autobiography since Spalding Gray'sSwimming to Cambodia. The only possible reason not to read this book is if you'd rather hear the author's intrinsically funny speaking voice narrating his story. In that case, getMe Talk Pretty One Dayon audio.--Tim Appelo』
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Question:Born to Runexplores the life and running habits of the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico’s Copper Canyon, arguably the greatest distance runners in the world. What are some of the secrets you learned from them?
