This book is part of a fabulous series that puts ancient history in an entirely different perspective -- it is written like a modern newspaper, only presented as though it is written during the time of ancient Greece (or Rome, Egypt, etc.)

Though the humor is lively and intelligent (great inside jokes for serious history students), the humor is never at the expense of historical accuracy -- these books are actually good background material for the study of ancient cultures. If you are fond of Ancient Greece, you MUST read this book.

I bought mine and a school book fair,(The price here is much better) It tells of all sorts of things that happened in Greece years back, I also recomend the rest in the series, including The Roman Record, and The Egyptian Echo.

This is going to be a "must have" book for any kid, teacher, or parent who is interested in Ancient Greece. Whether you have a little background or have studied the subject extensively, you will find something to interest you--or at least to tickle your funny bone. (The inside jokes are hysterical.) Though too short to be a definitive source book, this will be a great supplement for anyone looking to study Greek history.

An educational and very funny read. The facts are all true, but have been presented in a consistely funny and readable tabloid style. Maps, pictures, and fact boxes (and some very funny ads) support the text. Highly recommended.

Very wry, very funny, and very educational, this tabloid newspaper-style book follows the story of early man from the missing link to about 3,000 B.C. Great fun for adults as well as children. Highly recommended.

Andrew T. Fleming's "Backing Down the Ladder" offers at once a humerous and serious approach to life's most difficult issues: careers, relationships, and community. His poetic voice is not only strong, but also unique. Moreover, his careful attention to diction, rhythm, and imagery creates both an accessible and entertaining style. Furthermore, Fleming's main theme of "backing down the(corporate)ladder" truly challenges his reader's notions of their satisfaction with their own careers. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone struggling with a career decision or anyone that merely enjoys poetry. I would also highly recommend reading "vegetable Love"...it's one of the best poems in the book!

If the cover attracted you to this book, you are not alone.

Pictured are a chocolate donut with a bite from it, a jelly filled donut awaiting its fate and a deputy sheriff badge #507 with the name Paul St. John Fleming inscribed at the bottom of the shield.

"Ahh, copper stories," we might think. We all know the symbols, the jokes. Trouble is, we still wouldn't have a clear idea of what the book contains. These "copper stories" are unexpected. They have heart. They might cause a reader to laugh and cry. They will certainly cause a reader to reassess his view of what a cop does-besides eat donuts.

There is a heart warming story about an English constable who influenced the author to become a cop. One, called "A Cold Day in Hell, " is about the day author Paul St. John Fleming's duty it was to guard a plane that had crashed in a city street; the corpses of two children were in it. Another is a humorous piece about a pie-eyed Santa who Fleming encountered one Christmas eve when he was given a choice to "work Christmas night or work Christmas night." These are mostly vignettes, mostly reprints from columns Fleming wrote for the Salt Lake Tribune, and many are set in Salt Lake City. There are 50 in all.

A little like donuts, these tiny tales are addictive. You probably won't be able to read just one.

Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of "This is the Place"

Conservatism, especially since World War II, has meant a lot of different things to a lot of different people: economic libertarianism, traditionalism, anti-communism and American nationalism, for example. Different combinations of "conservative" values and reasoning might lead one to different conclusions on key issues -- for example, certain "conservative" values (economic libertarianism, traditionalism) point toward isolationism, while others (anti-communism, American nationalism) point toward military interventionism. In another twist, the Cold War made it possible for a person to support the welfare state but still be accepted as a conservative if he was a staunch anti-communist. Gottfried's book explains the different strains of American "conservatism" since WWII (not just one "conservative movement" but many of them), and why different groups of people who call themselves "conservatives" actually agree on very little, pretty much despise each other, and do not acknowledge each other as true conservatives.

Although "The Conservative Movement" is a scholarly and well documented political history book, in a way it's also an insider's guide to some bitter struggles within the American "Right." The faction that Gottfried sympathizes with has done poorly in elections and has no voice in, for example, the "conservative" Bush administration. It is noteworthy that Gottfried never goes out of his way to defend the views of his own faction, but instead offers insightful criticisms of that faction's failed political strategies. If you're interested in modern American politics, "The Conservative Movement" (as well as Gottfried's "After Liberalism") will make your brain happy.

I've read this book. It is a small book that is like a large encyclopedia, it contains humor, facts, 800 phone numbers, URL's, and even more. My cat has an annoying habit, from the book I learn that this behavior is just instinctive behavior. If someone were looking for a useful and fun gift for people that are cat-lovers...
I strongly recommend this book. I'll be using it as Xmas presents this year for some of my friends here.

This book was just awarded the BEST CAT BOOK award for 1998 in the category of "other books" by the Cat Writers Association. So obviously they thought it was great. Here is what some reviewers have said about this book:

"Spirited look at Fluffy packs a breezy, unassuming charm while veering smoothly between serious and charismatic...should prove a...big hit with feline fanatics. Seattle Times (& Knight Ridder News Service)

An informative, unique book about cats ...In easy-to-read segments guaranteed to enlighten cat owners. Pet Age

"Filled with information about all aspects of cat ownership -from behavior to nutrition to additional resources. "277 Secrets Your Cat Wants You To Know" is a useful guide that provides answers to cat owners' most common questions. Cat Fancy

"Pounce on "277 Secrets...for a whisker-tickling, fact-filed compendium of fascinating feline information....a lot of fun and made for browsing or sharing with another cat lover for a good laugh together. Cats

(refers to this & "277 Secrets Your Dog Wants You To Know" by the same authors) Two Great books for animal owners....filled with funny, practical and unique information you won't find anywhere else. Naples Daily News

"Packed, too, with useful and sometimes merely fascinating information on feline health, behavior, discipline, and feeding." Dallas Morning News.

Full of fun trivial about man's best friends...enjoyable pick-up reading. Dayton Ohio News

(online) This book is fun but loaded with helpful information....This is the book your cat would pick if he let loose in a bookstore. (Dr. Mike Richards, D.V.M., Tiercom.)

(online) The authors...bring readers a purrfectly bewitching "cat-alog" of unusual and useful information about cats. Freddie Street Cats

(online). This fascinating book answers many questions that most of us would never think to ask . . . If you want to consider yourself expert in all things cat, you MUST read this book. Happenings.

I have been owned by cats all of my life, currently by five of them. I thought I knew all there was to know about our furball friends, but Paulette Cooper and Paul Noble have managed to dig up many new things for me to ponder. The topic of "How to tell if your cat is hung over" is just one of the valuable pieces of information most people wouldn't think of, especially those who think it's cute to give their pets beer to slurp. Don't do it! If you don't believe me, read the book and find out why you might make your cat sick! I found something new and interesting on every page. The only problem I had reading the book was sharing the book with my husband who wanted to read it first. We both loved this book and will be giving it to our catty friends for Christmas, that's for sure!

My name is Maelle and I am in 4 th grade. This was a fun book and I really enjoyed it because it was presented in an easy way to learn and understand how some civilisations lived in the old old days, not the usual way of sometimes boring history books. This book make me want to learn more details about the Vikings.

An educational and very funny read. The facts are all true, but have been presented in a consistely funny and readable tabloid style. Maps, pictures, and fact boxes (and some very funny ads) support the text. Highly recommended.