If you are a beginning gardener and don't know the difference between a shovel and a spade, or what to use them for, this book is immensely useful. It is certainly worth the price and the time it takes to browse through it to find and understand the exact tools you will need for your individual garden before you go out shopping. In addition to pages of full color pictures of each tool, it contains historic accounts regarding the tools and some nice quotes about gardening. After reading this book I felt like I understood garden tools, whereas prior to reading it, I just used tools in a haphazard way without understanding their purpose and how they could help me in the garden.

A piece of art, fits the coffee table and yet is packed with valuable information

Both TT: France and TT: Paris are perfect companions on a trip to France. They put you in the mood to experiment when you travel and provide an eager anticipation of French culture. I've read both and will probably take them on an upcoming trip to France as pleasant refreshers. They're good enough that I've written to James O'Reilly and asked for sequels to both books, hoping to deepen exposure to things French.

This book is truly eclectic -- stories about French waiters; demolition teams working on removing explosives from the two world wars; the Celtic stones in Brittany; the Wild West atmospher of l'Ardeche; and stories of invasion and Normandy. Just about all of the stories have been published in newspaper or magazine articles, but are very carefully selected to show a new dimension to France. You'll recognize a few of the authors (Jon Krakauer, 'Into Thin Air,' and Peter Mayle, 'A Year in Provence'). The margin notes are also a great addition to the flavor of the book.

We found this book very enjoyable in preparation to spending 2 months in France. Good cultural introduction. We read it out loud to our kids and found that it was a good jumping off point to other books and authors excerpted in the book. Best read before you go. Don't carry it with you.

I have read many books about San Francisco and this will give anybody incredible insight into the City. If you had one book to read about SF, this should be it.

Traveller's Tales San Francisco is a very unusual travel guide. It is more like a collection of short stories set in, and all about, the most beautiful city on the planet. Each story takes the reader on a journey through either a specific neighborhood, cultural enclave, outdoor activity or unique "only in San Francisco" setting in a way that no other travel guide does. I am a local and tremendously enjoyed reading this guide because it was like taking a tour of The City without leaving my reading room. The story of the "in-line midnight skaters" swooping up down our wonderful hills was quite a ride indeed. Also, the story of a Golden Gate Bridge Jumper, who survivded was quite moving. This book is a must for locals who think they know all that goes on in their City.

This is a great book, filled with many facts (even though everyone mentioned in it is gone from the team)

Even though three of the guys pictured on the cover aren't even on the Canucks anymore (Trevor Linden, Cliff Ronning, Kirk Mclean) and the other is probably on his way out (Pavel Bure) it is still worth the cost. It has tons of pictures and facts about the Canucks including coverage of their '82 and '94 Stanley Cup runs. If you're a Canucks fan, you'll absolutely LOVE this book. This book makes great reading or reminiscing.

This is the third and best book I have read on The Verve. It gives the reader a greater understanding of this unique and greatly talented group. They are one of the best things to happen in the '90s, but they are also very human and this book brings this point across in a very thoughtful and often humorous way. The writing style is excellent as is the author's insights into comments and events that have been the world of The Verve. The pictures are excellent and my only complaint is that there are not enough of them. A must for any Verve fan and a great introduction to one of this century's finest groups for those who are not so familiar with them.

if your a big fan of the verve, i recommend this book. it gives a full history of the band plus has some great pictures. a good read for any fan!

Perhaps outdated but offering ample food for thought is Sean Melvin's Y2K Business & Legal Survival Guide, which deals with handling the legal aspects of Y2K-related claims. The explanations of liability and computer law still apply.

Traffic Court is not about justice, it is about revenue. Books like this for the lay public are essential in protecting your rights. We listed this book on the sbrusa.com website as a recommended book for anyone who uses drivers in their business (such as vending companies).

The 100 Greatest Baseball Players Of The 20th Century Ranked is a superbly presented compendium of statistics and thumbnail biographies of the one hundred most important and influential baseball players to every play the American pastime. Here are to be found the stars of the Negro Leagues as well as the Major League teams most valued and record setting players. Illustrated with player photographs, The 100 Greatest Baseball Players Of The 20th Century Ranked is an invaluable and much appreciated addition to any personal, professional, or sports bar reference shelf!

i read this book and i love it it gives all you need helps you learn it one step at a time buy this book it is great!!!!

This book stars from the position that Science Fiction is a reflection and reinforcement of cultural and political assumptions:

"Cultural production is not a neutral sphere, just innocent entertainment. Moreover, the artefacts of cultural production are thoroughly ideological, bound up with political discourse, struggles, agendas and policies." (p.46)

I'm sure that many SF fans would be initially bewildered at the analysis of Deep Space Nine, Space: Above and Beyond and Independence Day amongst others contained in this work. Yet each is closely argued.

The examination of the Borg as an enemy is eye-opening:

"the Borg represent the opposite of the Thatcher principle. Where the prime minister thought there was no society, only individuals, to our eyes the Borg appear to have only society and no individuals. They/it are the embodiment of the Western fantasy of communism/socialism, as well as virtually all Asian cultures, especially Muslims in their current incarnation."
(p.77)

The writers are not afraid to draw attention to the similarities of the bad guys as aliens and the designated bad guys here on Planet Earth. Independence Day in particular is taken apart for the blatant propaganda it was. The purpose behind it is made clear:

"America is a consciously created artefact, as is its self-image. The manufacture of this self-image must be sustained through its cultural products to imprint itself on a heterogeneous population, to forge them into a choherent body by passing them through not just a social melting-pot but an ideological forge."
(p.36, quoting Ziauddin Sardar).

By looking at how the US dominated popular culture presents "aliens", "others" and "enemies" we can learn a lot about unspoken, assumed and underlying values. What this book shows is that "Western" society is neither as tolerant or sophisticated as some would like to imagine.

This novel was a nice surprise. When I heard the initial premise (a older man who is about to die is given a second chance at life, except that, this time, he must start old and grow progressively younger), I thought that it might be cute. I wasn't prepared, though, for the masterful storytelling, engaging characters, and a narrative that kept me wanting to read more. I highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates a story well told.