"Radical Man" has had more impact on my life than any other secular work. It taught me the value of nonconformity in a nation of sheep. Certain situations call for an independant act to counter the dictatorship of tradition or personal influence, power or popularity. Did you ever feel disappointed in yourself after letting a bully or a blowhard run roughshod over others? "Radical Man" authorized me to object, question, stand up, reject. Independance, I learned, is more than merely a democratic abstraction. The book taught me the importance of reaching out to others outside of my sphere of influence, of taking chances, of the value of vulnerability and how these experiences can teach me more about myself and others. I initially read this book as part of a class assignment in college. Since then I've tried to re-read it every decade or so and have bought extra copies to pass on to people of sufficient depth. That may sound elitest but it's not a simple read. Several graphs, no pictures and it's not easy to dance to. The message is:we can stand up when creepiness seems to be carrying the day. or

A silly book about a clam that finds his mom. Readf it to youur 90 year old and save on resthome costs. Never ever eat this book, it causes indigestion. Or turtles,don't eat turtles.

This book is about a decent citizen's struggle against a liberal government in South Central Detroit to secure livable housing for the city's poor. The hero, Chuck Costa, had to fight at virtually every turn to keep his apartments and his good tenants because not only did the criminal element gang up on him, but the do-gooder left-winged government ganged up on him too, causing him to lose a lifetime of hard work. But this tough man was not done in, to the chagrin of the dumb and dirty politicians. With his enthusiasm, love for people, and ingenuity, Costa learned a way around the new restrictive laws and was able to gain his fortune back.

This book grabs the reader from the very first page when it talks about blood stained sidewalks. With humor, action, and a common sense stance on landlording, this book should be read by everyone to open their eyes to how hard it is being a landlord. The landlord is the most abused type of person there is and many give in, but those that develop thick skins like Costa's can become successful enough to look beyond the hardships. The only bad part about the book is that it ends. It is a true story and I have often wondered what Costa has done since the time the book was written. I researched on the Internet and found that he ran for mayor three times and lost against the leftwing establishment, and he still is living in Detroit helping the poor. Really helping them, not pretending to like the government does. As a landlord I have had my share of problems, but after reading this book, I learned I have no room to complain!

Now that I have seen the movie of "The Stingiest Man in Town", I would like to own this book. It would be great to preform this at school. I reccomend this as well as the movie to all fans of "A Christmas Carol".

Regan Smith has told the story of his life before and after diagnosis of OCD. He tells of his successes and failures from childhood into adulthood. His case does not require him to constantly wash his hands, which is one symptom most people usually associate with OCD. However, he does cope with other symptoms. For example, he has had a bad time with the colors orange and green; the colors for the book jacket have significance to him. Proper medication and understanding have proven to Mr. Smith that he is not crazy. He believes that many people have undiagnosed OCD. This book is easy to read and understand. It should be read by those who experience symptoms of OCD and their loved ones.

deadpan often depressing and brutallyhonest collection of short stories. never a feel good story in this collection. know that when you start reading it

This is essential a collection of works Bukowski wrote for a column. As such it reads like a collection of short stories. It's a good book to keep beside the crapper, especially if you are expecting a visit from your in-laws. Very frank writing of the dark side of life: sex, drugs, alcohol - the good stuff! I love Bukowski's style. If you are easily offended by dirty words and candid talk of sexual deviancy I highly recommend you read this book (or just about anything else Bukowski has written) and get over your hang-ups. It's just a book!

Some consider Charles Bukowski overrated... some think of him as an unhearalded genius. This collection falls somewhere in the middle. Initially I read this book ravenously, and fell in love with about half of the stories. Since then I have revisited it with a bit more care, and I continue to fine amazing beauty in the way Buk Takes jagged, rusty words and puts them together with duct tape to create these urban scenes. The greats could never have done this, None of them knew LA. This book seems to do the imposible. At once it honors the city of angels with an incredibly accurate rendering of what LA is, and it makes you hate the city all the more for the same reason. This is a great place to start reading Bukowski.

The first 13 chapters or so are absolutely fantastic, super-poetic, naturalistic writing; as good as most of Hemingway (king of the overrated writers) and post-Death-on-the-Installment-Plan Celine. The deep hatred that's the flipside of love is here in its most brutally tragic and truthful form in the scenes between Camilla and Bandini. Some people don't respond to these scenes because they've never bothered to examine these feelings in themselves (though they've definitely had them), they've just ignored and repressed them. Not Fante. No way! Fante's out to force readers to face these feelings in themselves, and it's so annoying, it hurts! But that's what good naturalistic writing is supposed to do: HURT. If you can't deal with it go read some moralistic, 'sympathetic,' nonsense; there are thousands of books of that type to choose from.

It should be obvious after reading the first chapter why Bukowski liked this book so much. Without Fante there would definitely never have been a Bukowski (whose stuff is distinctly original in subject matter, but much more commonplace in its writing style than this particular book by Fante anyway).

The smell and feel of Los Angeles in the '30s is damn near palpable. Things come alive in concise, economically crafted sentences, on an an almost "Day of the Locust" level.

Starting with the earthquake chapter things run out of steam for a while before picking up again towards the end.

For a simple 'little' book written in 1939 to still continue to affect readers in 2000 is no mean feat. "Ask the Dust" is like a cross between Nathaniel West, William Saroyan, and, yes, good old Bukowski (without the scatology, of course). And though I wouldn't put it on the same level as Hemingway's "Green Hills of Africa," or Celine's "Journey to the End of the Night," it's definitely one for the 'ages' (whatever the hell that means).

I read Ask the Dust years ago, when I was in college and in my tortured, Bukowski, Artaud, Rimbaud phase. I still smile when I think about those times, ridiculous though they may have been.

Fante really isn't for everybody, his writing is pretty crazy, but most should enjoy it. Aspiring young writers will most likely adore it. And Ask the Dust is a perfect place to start.

The best way to describe Fante (and this book) is with one word: URGENCY! It feels like you're reading something that was ripped right from the typewriter. It's all passion, all nuttiness, all fun intensity.

He's like Bukowski in many ways, but without the occassional creepiness. Fante is zesty. He's all life. His words are big and fat and each one matters. You won't find yourself digging through pages of exposition or superflous descriptions. It's all right there in front of your eyes.

Lot of fun. Very, very humorous. Fante had a wonderful, joking manner. He was able to laugh at himself (a great quality, rare among writers), but he was also able to see the sadness in life.

The ending made me cry.

Twelve years ago I read an article in the Los Angeles Times in which America's most successful fiction writers were asked to name their top-ten favorite works of 20th Century American fiction. John Fante's "Ask the Dust" was the only title to appear on every author's top-ten list in that article. Since then, I've read "Ask the Dust" twice, as well as every other book by Mr. Fante. Ironically, "Ask the Dust" was published six years before J.D. Salinger's "Catcher in the Rye" and the similarities between Holden Caulfield and Arturo Bandini are uncanny. The difference is that Arturo is even more impulsive than Holden, if that's possible, and wholly American. You'll want to console Arturo and slap him silly at the same time! Unfortunately, John Fante didn't live to see the latest revival of his work, but Black Sparrow Press has made him a literary star. You will laugh outloud and embrace this book! I promise.

I have just tried searching for this book (which I bought and read in 1990) on the UK Amazon site, with no success. What does that tell us about us Brits I wonder? Perhaps we don't value our creative talents enough? In my view, this is a book whose time has come, but do not be deceived by it. It reads amazingly easily and I came away with a feeling of empowerment. However, the key to producing results is still hard work, albeit on a pychological and psychic level. I have always dreamt of being a £ millionaire, but I have not yet achieved it. In fact, my reason for re-reading the book now is that I need to boost my income and achieve financial independence. I still believe I will succeed, and I believe that the Dyna/Psyc techniques described by Joe in this book are the key. The book is a tough training course in itself. It demands self-analysis, self-discipline and honesty, particularly in the section concerning self-image. I believe we owe Joe a great deal of gratitude, and if others are interested in joining me on my journey to wealth and financial independence through the applicaiton of these principles, I would love to hear from you. Christopher Simon-Evans, England.

I read Joe Karbo's The Lazy man's way to riches whilst still living in New Zealand in 1983. Joe's philosophy impressed me a great deal and not long after that I left NZ for a new life in Australia. In 1984 I began implementing the strategies and techniques from Joes' book in my own life and met with a great deal of success. Since 1989 I have been working as a personal growth and development consultant with unemployed people throughout Australia, using many of these strategies, alongside those of Anthony Robbins, Norman Vincent Peale, Robert Kiyosaki, Steven Covey and Edward de Bono in my presentations and training. Over all the results have been amazing, and my heart bursts with love and pride when I witness the changes that occur in peoples lives when they take on and apply the things Joe Karbo wrote about.Joe's book became my bible and I lost count of the number of times I lent it out and/or had to tape it back together again because it was falling apart. Eventually in 1995 it disappeared and I have been searching for it ever since. So it is with much joy that I order a new copy from amazon.com. The primary reason for this is that in my life I have been blessed with meeting so many incredible people, one of whom was Robert Kiyosaki who wrote a wonderful book called, "If you want to be rich and happy don't go to school". I have been fortunate enough to have worked with Robert for short time on one of his sojourns to Australia and he gave me some advice which I have never forgotten. That is, that no matter how many times you may read, try, do or see something, there is always some new thing to learn or some new distinction to make. This has been so true in the work I have done using Joe Karbo's The lazy man's way to riches. Dyna /psych is simple and powerful and does make a difference if you apply it with persistence, discipline and determination. The rewards, both material and spiritual are immense. Life is beautiful. Thank you Joe.

I've read about 75 of the best known self-help books, and TheLazy Man's Way to Riches is the most unusual one, and it actuallyworks! If you want to actually accomplish things, get it - but get the ORIGINAL, 1973 edition, which AMAZON.COM has in paperback and hardcover. Avoid the re-issue or the "Roadmap" workbook, both written 13 years after Joe Karbo's death. They are loaded with extraneous writing that sometimes contradicts the original text within.

Being intombed on a disabled submarine, with your air slowly becoming more and more poisonous with each breath you exhale, has to be one of the most frighting ways to die imaginable. Recent events aboard the Russian sub Kursk have brought to life a largely forgotten similar story of the USS Squalus in May of 1939. The story of the Squalus which has a somewhat a happier ending is detaled in this stunnig and compelling book by Peter Maas."The Terrble hours" is a detailed account of Charles Memsen a dedicated submariner who could only stand by helplessly when a sub was disabled years earlier codeming all aboard to a slow death. Memsen, moved by the experience devised plans as well as the equipment to rescue submariners trapped under water all the while having to also fight the navy buracracy."The Terrible Hours" is a well written true story how one brave individual can make a difference. This story could also make a great movie. Some pictures and or drawings to help the reader understand the layout of the Squalus as well as the equipment used in the rescue would have been helpful but otherwise this is an excellent book highly recomended

If you followed the Russian submarine incident with interest, you must read Peter Maas' book "Terrible Hours". In the year 2000, Russian submariners perished while the whole world watched and waited. In the year 1939, an American submarine, disabled and sitting on the bottom in 250 feet of water, was located and its crew rescued, thanks to the determination and guts of one Swede Momsen.

Maas does an excellent job bringing to light the early days of American submarine warfare and his portrayal of the pioneer days of underwater rescue is fascinating.

The US Navy wasn't very kind to Momsen in his day. Maas notes that Momsen's efforts to develop and test rescue techniques and equipment were actually frowned upon by the brass. Momsen's accomplishments were achieved mainly on the sly and at great personal and professional risk.

"Terrible Hours" is truly a must read, not only for those interested in submarines and submarine history, but for anyone moved by the gripping human drama of crewmen trapped on the ocean floor, waiting, waiting for that tap on the hull.

If I did not know that this was a true story, I would have believed that Peter Maas wrote a great fiction submarine novel. What the men of the Squalus endured on that submarine, coupled with the genius of Momsen's rescue inventions and the efforts of the Falcon crew, made a gripping true story tale.

Peter Maas summed it up best when he referenced to Momsen as a modern era hero. The battles that he fought to overcome the status quo of the Navy with respect to submarine warfare; both in his rescue operations and his WWII or post-WWII efforts, truly render him such.

Peter Maas' retelling of the story of the Squalus is a short read, but well worth it. If you enjoyed Hunt for Red October, you will love this book. And this one is real.

Gai Eaton takes the reader on his own spiritual journey. From an atheist through the Eastern religions, through Christianity, we as the reader see why Islam is the only logical conclusion, and completion of all the Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity). Although his objective is for western minds to understand the fastest growing religion, in this day when there are millions of Muslims in the west, I highly recommend it to those raised Muslim,and converts alike.It is such a complete understanding of Islam from the basics to the whole existance of man.Anyone searching for true meaning in their life, and for anyone who has EVER asked WHY AM I HERE?, read this book, carefully, and with an open heart.

This book is a must read for those interested in finding out what is the fundamental difference between Islam and other monotheistic religions. His mastery over the language brings out some of the subtle elements of Islam with delightful clarity. Some portions of this book are a gem and have to be read again and again.
Eaton explains why submission to one Authority is the only solution to the problems of the mankind. Eaton explains the complex relationship between truth and mercy in a clear and unique way. This book is a must read for both muslims and non-muslims.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know the true Islam. Charles le Gai Eaton has written an excellent guide to Islam that will leave the intellectual reader full of thought-provoking questions about their spirituality, their concept of God, and the meaning of life. I was a church-going Christian when I read this book, quite uninterested in changing my religion, and certainly never to become the unthinkable: a Muslim. When I first read this 5 years ago, I heard that thousands of people had embraced Islam after reading his book. The author's depth of conviction and his miraculous change of heart from anti-religion and serious student of philosophy, to becoming Muslim, is beyond what most Americans/Europeans would expect. I praise God that I found this book to help lead me to true freedom, the path of Islam.