no hype. i couldn't stop laughing as i was reading this. and i mean laughing out loud. in a cafe. with everyone staring at me. but i didn't care. and i couldn't help it if i did. it's just too hilarious.

There is at least one author who may remind you of Stephen Leacock, namely Garrison Keillor of Lake Wobegon fame, but Leacock should be recognized as the ultimate master of quaint, bucolic humor. Leacock, who died in 1944, became arguably the most prominent Canadian humorist of his day (and probably of all time). What is ironic about that claim is that Leacock worked for most of his life as a professor of economics. We do not usually equate economics with humor, preferring to think of that profession as one of bow ties and supply and demand charts. Throw that presumption out the window and pick up a copy of "Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town," Leacock's best known work available through the New Canadian Library series.

For me, one of the funniest sections of the book was the introduction written by Leacock, where he gives you some background about himself and his profession. This short piece of writing quickly gives you an idea of the type of humor you will find in the actual sketches: a very sly, very quiet and clever type of humor that often takes a while to sink in. Leacock does not rely on rim shot jokes or manic posturing in his writings. Instead, he creates the fictional Canadian town of Mariposa and populates it with small town archetypes that are wonders to behold.

All of the characters are hilarious in their own way: Mr. Smith, the proprietor of the local hotel and bar, full of schemes to earn money while trying to get his liquor license back. Then there is Jefferson Thorpe, the barber involved in financial schemes that may put him on the level of the Morgans and the Rockefellers. The Reverend Mr. Drone presides over the local Church of England in Mariposa, a man who reads Greek as easy as can be but laments his lack of knowledge about logarithms and balancing the financial books of the church. Peter Pupkin, the teller at the local bank, has a secret he wants no one to know about, but which eventually comes out while he is courting the daughter of the town judge. All of these characters, and several others, interact throughout the sketches.

Leacock has the ability to turn a story, to make it take a crazy, unexpected twist even when you are looking for such a maneuver. That he accomplishes this in stories that rarely run longer than twenty pages is certainly a sign of great talent. By the time you reach the end of the book, you know these people as though you lived in the town yourself, and you know what makes them tick.

Despite all of the crazy antics in Mariposa, Leacock never lets the reader lose sight of the fact that these are basically good people living good lives. There seems to be a lot of feeling for the citizens of Mariposa on the part of Leacock, which comes to a head in the final sketch in the collection, "L'Envoi. The Train to Mariposa," where he recounts traveling back to the town after being away for years, with all of the attendant emotions that brings as recognizable landmarks come into view and the traveler realizes that his little town is the same as when he left it years before.

I suspect there is a historical importance to "Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town." These writings first appeared in 1912, a time when many people living in the bigger Canadian cities still remembered life in a small town. In addition to the humorous aspects of the book, the author includes many descriptive passages concerning the atmosphere and layout of Mariposa, something instantly recognizable to anyone who grew up in such a place. Nostalgia for the simpler life of the small town probably played a significant role in the book's success.

I look forward to reading more Stephen Leacock. While much of the humor in the book is not belly laugh funny, it does provide one with a deep satisfaction of reading clever humor from an author who knows how to tickle the funny bone. You do not need to be Canadian to enjoy this wonderful book.

Perhaps the finest comment about Stephen Leacock in the last half century is that "he is a
Will Rogers for the 90's."

Rogers, of course, is one of the most beloved of American humorists -- he was killed in
1935 when his plane crashed near Point Barrow, Alaska. Leacock died on March 28, 1944.
Like Rogers, he had been Canada's favorite humorist for decades.

Sunshine Sketches is about Orillia, Ontario, Canada, where Leacock had his summer home
on Brewery Bay (he once wrote, "I have known that name, the old Brewery Bay, to make
people feel thirsty by correspondence as far away as Nevada.") His home is now maintained
as a historic site by the town of Orillia. I lived there for almost 30 years, and the people of Orillia are still much the same as Leacock portrayed them in 1912.

These stories about various personalities in town were printed in the local newspaper in the
1910 - 1912 era, before being compiled into this book which established Leacock's literary
fame. The people portrayed really lived, though some are composites; the events are of a
kindly humorist looking at the foibles of small town life. Once they came out in book form
and soared to national popularity, everyone in town figured the rest of the country was
laughing at them because of Leacock's book and he was royally hated in Orillia to the end
of his life.

Gradually, and this took decades, Orillians came to recognize that genius had walked
amongst them for several decades. (It's hard to recognize genius when your own ego is so
inflated.) Orillia now awards the annual "Leacock Medal for Humor" -- Canada's top literary
prize for the best book of humour for the preceding year.

Leacock died when I was six, but I did know his son, who still lived in town. I delivered
papers to the editor of the "Newspacket," Leacock's name for the Orillia Packet and Times
(where I worked) and the rival Newsletter. The Packet had the same editor in the 1940's as
when Leacock wrote about him in 1910.

But the book is more than Orillia; it is a wonderfully kind and humorous description of life in
many small towns. The American artist Norman Rockwell painted the same kinds of scenes;
it is the type of idyllic urban life so many of us keep longing to find again in our hectic
urban world.

Leacock realized the book was universal in its description of small towns, and in the preface
he wrote "Mariposa is not a real town. On the contrary, it is about seventy or eighty of
them. You may find them all the way from Lake Superior to the sea, with the same square
streets and the same maple trees and the same churches and hotels, and everywhere the
sunshine of the land of hope."

True enough, which gives this book continuing appeal nearly a century after it was written.
All great writing is about topics you know, and as a longtime resident Leacock knew Orillia
well. As for Leacock himself, he wrote, "I was born at Swanmoor, Hants., England, on Dec.
30, 1869. I am not aware that there was any particular conjunction of the planets at the
time, but should think it extremely likely."

He says of his education, "I survived until I took the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in
1903. The meaning of this degree is that the recipient of instruction is examined for the last
time in his life, and is pronounced completely full. After this, no new ideas can be imparted
to him."

In reviewing Charles Dickens' works in 1934, Leacock wrote what could well be his own
epitaph: "Transitory popularity is not proof of genius. But permanent popularity is." The fact
his writings are still current illustrates the nature of his writing.

In contrast to the sometimes sardonic humor of modern times, Sunshine Sketches reflects
Leacock's idea that "the essence of humor is human kindness." Or, in the same vein, "Humor
may be defined as the kindly contemplation of the incongruities of life, and the artistic
expression thereof."

Granted, this book is not what he recognized to have widespread appeal to modern readers.
In his own words, "There are only two subjects that appeal nowadays to the general public,
murder and sex; and, for people of culture, sex-murder." Yet, anyone reading this will
remember scenes from it for much longer than anything from a murder mystery.

In today's world, where newspapers almost daily track Prime Minister Tony Blair's dash to
the political right, Leacock wrote, "Socialism won't work except in Heaven where they don't
need it and in Hell where they already have it."

He described his own home as follows, "I have a large country house -- a sort of farm
which I carry on as a hobby . . . . Ten years ago the deficit on my farm was about a
hundred dollars; but by well-designed capital expenditure and by greater attention to
details, I have got it into the thousands." Sounds familiar to today's farm policies ?

It's what I mean by this being a timeless work.

Leacock himself noted, when talking about good literature, "Personally, I would sooner have
written 'Alice in Wonderland' than the whole of the 'Encyclopedia Britannica'." This is his
'Alice' and it well deserves to be favorably compared to Lewis Carroll's work.

By all measures, it is still the finest Canadian book ever written.

A popular holistic health author and radio personality, Weil has assembled a single comprehensive compendium of vital information on natural remedies, vitamins and minerals, women's health issues, common illnesses, and healthy living.

I first heard of Dr. Weil while watching a show on TV. His calming voice and interesting breathing techniques got my attention. I was interested in Yoga and could relate to the calming effects of a peaceful lifestyle. This book is a complement to all the great work Dr. Weil has done. I also recently purchased his CD called Sound Body,Sound Mind and play it often to recieve the benefits of deep relaxation, not to mention the healing effects. I used to drink Decaf coffee but still felt that it affeted my sleep. Dr. Weil had the answer! I started drinking a relaxing tea for improved sleep. I also take my vitamin C, cook with lots of garlic and take echinacea as advised. While no one could have all the ailments discussed - you will feel like an expert when a friend asks you for a solution to their problem. If you find even one solution to a need in your life - I think this book would be worth purchasing.

As the title implies, this book is a great reference for someone who is looking for a guide to the syntax and usage of MPI. The book does not teach "parallel programming" and doesn't discuss other parallel programming tools which means that the nuts and bolts of MPI are all the more clearly presented and accessible. Furthermore, there are still plenty of examples which demonstrate the usage of the many MPI functions.

Another very valuable (and appreciated) aspect of the book is that *both* the C and FORTRAN prototypes are given when new MPI functions are presented (the C and FORTRAN implementations have slightly different forms).

Set up more as a reference than a tutorial, this book allows users with a very basic understanding of MPI to really take off up the learning curve

Profusely illustrated (albeit in B&W) and quite detailed without being overwhelming. Though it could use another editing pass, overall it's indispensable for anyone with an interest in modern tank design and development. Some of the variants in this book haven't been heard of in the West, even by the well-informed.

Simply put, this book is a must-have resource for anyone interested in the subject of Soviet/Russian armor and artillery. It is the most up-to-date and comprehensive reference book of its type published to-date; definately required reading.

This is an excellent, accessible collection of well-written essays on the intersection of sport, celebrity, and culture. In particular, the essays on "Gretzky Nation," "Global Hingis," and Michael Jordan were thought-provoking and did more than just glamourise the world of celebrity athletes. Highly recommended to anyone interested in seeing the cultural relavance of sporting figures in everyday global culture.

Great book. Complete, and thought provoking. I especially enjoyed the chapter on "Global Hingis"!

Library Journal's review of this guide: "Combining encyclopedic coverage of destinations with loads of practical information and atlas-type maps, the series illuminates the wonders of nature but emphasizes the peculiarity of a place's people and their folklore."

Owning a double status as a medical practicer, especially an anesthesiologist, and a chief in the Union of Kaohusiung Medical University Medical Industry, I was often confused between the general practice of health care for patients and helping my medical team or members in union strike with our administers for improving our working conditions. Where is the appropriate answer or reference for me to explore the health care system or industry filled with confliction and hope. The diversity of notion from Albrecht GL and those specialist in social studies in health and medicine, tell me how to converge wisdom from our ancestor and courage from union members to fight with the inequable and conservative medicine society. Medical quality, which both health care workers and people have looked for long long ago, has just become a vague term under efficiency of management but for make money. Patients lost their autonomy of body and health care workers sacrifice with their mind and physical vigor to accomplish the so-called medical science. This book is good for those who want to comprehend the changing medical society and health care system, and advantageous for me to precipitate the experiences as a anesthesiologist and the union cadre when I was fired by the engagement committee of Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital in 2001.6.8.

Dr. Weil has assisted me in connecting all aspects of my life to my health and well being... It simply can't be escaped at any age... with thought and reflection we as women can replace poor choices with better ones to encourage harmony with in our lives and our bodies... it is up to us to take charge and make a difference and this book is one ticket to the express of better living for all woman.

Put yourself in the shoes of the victims of slavery. Allow yourself to really, really feel what it would be like to have every aspect of your culture, values, language stripped from you. Imagine having to sit by while someone rapes your wife, mother, 11 year old daughter. Imagine having to eat an animal which you have been taught is poison. Imagine not having freedom to marry and having to watch your baby being driven away in a wagon, never being seen again, because one man has taken it upon himself the right to sell another. Sit there, close your eyes and then you will be brought into a deeper understanding of the people of the Amistad.

Just like his film on it, Steven Spielberg's work on this book, "Amistad: 'Give Us Free'", was well-executed. It reminds one of Alex Haley's "Roots". Both stir emotions. Every bit of the story shows how cruel a man can be to his fellow man. And, I disagree with all those who term this true story "a story of illegally enslaved Africans", (Mr Spielberg didn't). We are shying away from the truth, which is that no African, (not even one), was a legal slave. There is nothing that made one slave legal, and the other illegal. There is no legality in slavery. Absolutely! That treacherous and heartless people overpowered, kidnapped, and transported, (in the most inhumane manner), their fellow human beings to America and other places does not, in any way, make those victims of inhumanity "legal slaves". Regardless of all the face-saving tales that those who defiled our lands with the innocent blood, tears, and sweat of millions of Africans will like us to believe, the truth is that not even a single African volunteered to become a slave in any circumstance. They were all forced into it: with no option but death. Those who ripped and enjoyed the bloodied fruits of slavery merely sought cheap excuses in order to justify what they did. But we know that there is nothing legal in kidnapping and subjecting human beings to such a horrible condition.
'La Amistad' tells a soul-eroding story. Cinque and his cohorts are true heroes. They are heroes of freedom, heroes of justice, and heroes of human rights. Songs have been composed about them. Books have been written about them. Films have been made about them. And, history will forever appreciate their gallantry.

The intercut of the church & prison was strange yet wonderful. The abolitionists gave Yomba an illustrated Bible and he gave his heart to Jesus[alternate version]. Cinque was the man who subsequently gave his life for his clan...Yomba was the informer who died beside Cinque in remorse. Cinque did what he did because he had to.

The book How babies are Made, was an interesting book by the way it displayed many different animals with the use of clever illustrations. The topic of Child Birth can be a difficult topic to teach young children, so I do not find it supprising that the author used simple animals and illustrations to try to make it easier for the parents to relate the animals to the children. I did find some of the illustrations a bit confusing, and that is coming from a college student taking a child developement class. Overall for the level of difficulty associated with the topic of child birth, I believe that the book does make a sufficient point to illustrate the nature of child birth, yet some of the illustrations can be confusing so keep that in mind. That is my personal oppinnion and I am a Psychology Major at Cal State Northridge.

the illustrations makes a lot of sense. It starts from flowers, to chickens, to dogs and then finally humans. It gives a quick sequence of the making of baby animals and human babies. It is not technical and very direct. Most children would understand this because it is pictures and visual.

This is an absolutely fantastic book! It was first published in 1968 and was in part greatly responsible for public and private acceptance of the teaching of sex education to youngsters. The book was great when it first came out, and remains the standard bearer today, some 35 years later (this in spite of many books on the subject which have been publihed since that time.)
How Babies Are Made does not "overteach." It is an excellent starter book for 4 to 8 year olds, which deals with subject matter appropriate for a child that age. The text is perfect, the illustrations magnificent, and the format puts it all together just right. It makes dealing with more complex sex education matters with your children at a later age much easier.
Parents who now are ready to dip their toe into the sex education area, as well as those who will have to do so shortly, need How Babies Are Made and the wonders it contains - I did, and so did all my friends.