I bought this book with the intention of reading one or two stories a day. I couldn't put it down. I was laughing out loud and my children begged me to read them what was so funny. I would read them some and they enjoyed it as much as I did. What started out as a month or so of giggles turned into an afternoon of belly-laughs.

Dr. Milton H. Erickson often worked his "magic" by telling metaphorical stories to his patients. The construction of such effective metaphors has sometimes been difficult for Ericksonian hypnotherapists. Burns addresses this issue by affording the reader a collection of 101 therapeutic metaphors. For each story, the problems addressed, resources developed, and outcomes offered are listed.

Equally important is Burns' explanation of how to use these stories. Reading a story verbatim from this book is less likely to be effective than telling a modified version of a story so that it is isomorphic with the client's experience. Burns provides a list of do/don't reminders that are almost essential in enabling the reader to utilize therapeutic metaphors successfully.

If you enjoyed Tales of Enchantment, you will also love this excellent reference and instructional guide.

George Burns is a funny man! This book deserves to be in print. It chronicles his and many other famous comedian's lives, like Al Jolson and Jack Benny. Al in all a great read.

It was not all that long ago that radio was king. Turn back the clock and re-kindle your imagination as George Burns and Gracie Allen and special guest Jack Benny guide you through this magical time.

In this classic episode of the Burns and Allen radio show, the Burnes meet Jack Benny for lunch at the Brown Derby. Notoriously stingy, Jack dodges paying the check, but this event reminds the couple that there was a time when Jack was not so cheap! Laugh along as they try to re-awaken the spirit of their old friend, "Generous Jack"!

Collectors and fans of Burns and Allen, Jack Benny and classic radio comedies will be tickled to have this gem in their collection.

This is another of George Burns' greats. All the answers are funny and some have a bit of wisdom to them!

Accessible, well-written, and utterly compelling history is loaded with facts and dates, but more than that, this book places each president in the context of his times. Therefore, we come to understand the era itself; with the policies, debates, and legal questions fully explored.

A friend gave me this book as a gift, knowing I enjoy George Burns humor. The 138-page hardcover was a quick and enjoyable read. Fagen's narrative wove together a collection of what Burns said, creating an insightful glimpse into a celebrity's life. As I read the book, I was only mildly aware of Fagen--he was practically transparent--as I read the biography. Fagen does tell the story in the third person, but brings out the character of his subject so strongly that I lost myself in Burns.

I purchased a lot of books to develop my stand-up act. I thought I was losing my natural sense of humor that I developed much earlier in my life. Steve Allen's book had me throwing out one liners three hours into it. Following his examples, I found it easy to reverse thoughts, change meanings and come up with new ideas. Although Steve's book starts out slow with a long definition of what is funny, once you get past Steve's ramblings, the book picks up momentum and puts your brain on receptive. I reccommend this book highly for anyone who wants a beginning book to help develop their sense of humor.

A must read for any fan of comedy; chronicalling the inner-workings,headaches,near-disasters,unexpected plesures,etc. of one of the major comedy festivals in the world; written by the man in charge. Great stories about some of the most beloved & well-known comedy acts in the world as well as some you have never heard of. The book boasts "Guaranteed to make you laugh or your money back." They can keep my money. I will keep the book and laugh again sometime in the future. (So what if the other people on the plane think I'm a lunatic)!

I admit it: I am a sucker for time travel stories. They don't even have to be any good. I'll still read them, and probably like them.

This book, however, is quite good. It takes the time-slip convention and turns it into a scientific "fact" by giving it a fancy sounding name: dechronization. Just the fact that it uses a pseudo-term like that would make it a favorite with me even if it was written in gibberish, but I have a thing about neology. Since reading this book, I have started slipping the word "dechronization" and all its variants into conversation whenever possible. It is my hope that one day this word will be common koine.

The other notable point of this book the reaction of Magruder to the dechronization. Since he is a chronologist, he knows that the chances of his being re-dechronized are beyond impossible. So he has absolutely no chance of seeing another person. Ever. But he doesn't give in to the hopelessness that I know I would feel. He continues to live. He takes a lesson from Robinson Crusoe, and makes a good life there in the middle of nowhere (or in this case nowhen).

All in all, I think this is a must-read for wannabe time travelers like myself. Or maybe just anyone who likes the linguistic oddities inherent in time travel.

In the year 2162, the eminent chronologist Sam Magruder mysteriously disappeared while running an experiment. Some years later, while arguing about the possibility of being totally alone, the evidence is produced that Sam Magruder did not die in 2162, but was transported back in time some 80 million years! Engraved upon sandstone slabs, found in a bed of shale, is found the story of Sam Magruder's existence in the late Cretaceous period. Alone, with no hope of ever seeing another human being again, Sam survived, and this is his story.

The famous paleontologist George Gaylord Simpson penned this short story, apparently for his own amusement, but it is a masterpiece. Considering Dr. Simpson's field, I would have assumed that this story would be entirely about what Sam found in the Cretaceous, but that's only part of the story. As the opening chapter tells, this is the story of a modern (OK, future) man's coming to grips with his situation, one containing only danger and isolation.

I am sure that my words do not do justice to this story. This work is complex and fascinating beyond some lengthy works produced by noted authors. I recommend it to everyone.

The Dechronization of Sam Magruder is an intriguing story of science and adventure. It is about a scientist who constructs a time machine, is accidentally transported to the dinosaur age and is, as you may have guessed, unable to return. The story is an account of this journey through his eyes and the eyes of the future...