Hugh Laurie: The Biography Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)WARNING: This review only applies if you are already a Hugh Laurie fan. If you know next to nothing about the man, you might find it an interesting read.
The above sentence says it all. I bought this book looking for information that I couldn't find at IMDb, or in reading reviews of his work and the odd interview that he's managed to give over the years. It actually has LESS information than you can find at IMDb ... and seems to have been written by someone whose only contact with Hugh is READING those reviews and interviews he's given over the years.
I was looking for information about his early life, but by page 17 we're already at Eton and we get to Cambridge on page 21. I was looking for information about Hugh's family, but the author covers his marriage in two paragraphs, mentions his oldest son twice and the other two children only in passing. His brother is mentioned once and his two sisters not at all - not even their names!
I know Hugh isn't one to talk a lot about his family, but it's plain from even a cursory reading that the author of this book didn't personally interview anyone, much less anyone who actually KNOWS the man.
Save your money and buy Hugh's movies. At least those will make you laugh.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Hugh Laurie: The Biography

A biography of the Golden Globe-winning actor behind Dr. Gregory House From Blackadder to A Bit of Fry and Laurie, Jeeves and Wooster to House, Hugh Laurie has entertained millions in a career spanning three decades, and here is his story. This biography covers his early years-born in Oxford, where his father, WGRM "Ran" Laurie, was a doctor who won a gold medal in the coxless pairs at the 1948 Olympics. Hugh followed in his father's footsteps as a rower at Cambridge, but when he was forced to hang up his oars he joined the famous Cambridge Footlights and there began a career in comedy. The book covers his years at university when he met Stephen Fry, and the pair forged a hilarious partnership that continued through the 1980s and 1990s. It also discusses his great success on the big screen; starring in Sense and Sensibility, 101 Dalmatians, Monsters vs Aliens, and the three Stuart Little films. It also discusses the character of irascible doctor Gregory House in the drama House-the role that has brought global fame, two Golden Globes, a prestigious Emmy nomination in 2005, and critical acclaim.

Click here for more information about Hugh Laurie: The Biography

Read More...

The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids 2011 (Unofficial Guides) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I enjoyed the details in this book. I would suggest buying The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2011 first before buying The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids 2011. I think this one goes into great detail about traveling with kids, but you seem to miss some of the bigger details about Disney World that you would get in the larger edition. It is a great book that would be even better is purchased together with the original.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids 2011 (Unofficial Guides)

The Top 6 Ways The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids Can Help You Have the Perfect Trip:
Comments and tips on Walt Disney World from surveys of more than 12,500 families
Advice on how to prepare mentally, physically, and logistically for your ideal Walt Disney World vacation
Information on which attractions frighten kids and why
When to go, where to stay, and how to beat the crowds
Field tested touring plans that can save you up to four hours of waiting in line.
How to keep your family happy on vacation and how to return home rested and relaxed

Click here for more information about The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids 2011 (Unofficial Guides)

Read More...

Time Out London (Time Out Guides) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Time Out knows the pulse of the city like very few do, and it shows - they update their London guide every year. You get all the tried and true favorites - Parliament, the Abbey, St. Paul's - but also tons of places you might not find covered anywhere else. That said, the tone can get a bit cheeky, and sometimes you wish they wouldn't use British slang. But all in all, Time Out loves its mother-city, and they want you to fly back home feeling the same way!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Time Out London (Time Out Guides)

The 19th edition of Time Out London will help visitors to navigate the 2,000-year-old city from the handful of musts, then lead you to search out some of the eccentricities and particularities that give London its real flavor. The sheer size of London can make it a daunting place to exlore, making Time Out London even more valuable to help with the navigation. Whether your stay is brief or lengthy, Time Out will help you make the most of your time, not only in the sightseeing arena, but eating and drinking.

Click here for more information about Time Out London (Time Out Guides)

Read More...

We'll Be Here For the Rest of Our Lives: A Swingin' Showbiz Saga Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is the thoroughly entertaining and engrossing life story of Paul Shaffer who is known to all as Dave Letterman's sidekick and band leader. Paul tracks his days from the time he attended an Orthodox Jewish synagogue in his hometown of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada to his present day star status. There is one constant throughout Paul's engaging tale... and that is his unbridled love of music. Paul was always looking for new challenges from the time he was competing with his childhood rival Marvin Slobotsky for the musical hearts of his local congregation... and pulled out all stops by learning to play "EXODUS" by "ear" after watching it performed during the Shaffer's Sunday night Father-And-Son-Ritual watching the Ed Sullivan Show... to the storied times in the future when Paul breathlessly describes meeting and trying to win the respect of all his youthful idols such as Ray Charles... James Brown... Bob Dylan... Phil Spector... Mick Jagger... Miles Davis... and untold others. What makes Paul's story so blissful... is that unlike other high profile life stories... which attempt to become "shocking-tell-all's"... Paul's is strictly told from his musical heart. There is not one stop along the musical fantasy that became the author's life... that the reader doesn't feel the boyish... bubbly... enthusiasm... that emanates from every pore in Paul's body. He always loved rock and roll and the blues... and wow!... pinch me!... I can't believe I'm playing with these "cats"... is what Paul radiates from start to finish. Any "busting-of-chops" of any of the musical luminaries is done in a humorous and gentle manner. Such as when he meets and plays with Bob Dylan... and while Paul is in awe and oh-so-eager to please... all Dylan cares about is meeting Larry "Bud" Melman "a lovable nerd" who was a running character on The Letterman Show. Shaffer does point out though... Dylan's seemingly constant changing of religious beliefs. When Paul gets to play with his idols Ray Charles and James Brown the reverence he shows to their talents and persona would be akin to the treatment that a religious Catholic would show to the Pope.
Regarding James Brown Paul writes: "THIS MAN WAS JAMES BROWN. AND HIS PERFORMANCE IN THIS MOVIE MADE TIME GRIND TO A HALT, AND THE WORLD STOP TURNING ON ITS AXIS. DOGS STOPPED CHASING CATS. CATS STOPPED CHASING BIRDS. LIONS LAY DOWN WITH LAMBS. BABIES CEASED CRYING. WOMEN STOPPED WEEPING. AND JAMES BROWN, IN SINGING "OUT OF SIGHT", CONQUERED THE KNOWN WORLD. FROM THERE HE WENT INTO "TRY ME" AND "PRISONER OF LOVE." "BUT IT WAS "PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE" THAT TORE THE ROOF OFF AND BROUGHT DOWN THE HEAVENS. AT THE END OF THE SONG, A CAPE WAS PLACED ON JAMES'S BACK. I SAT IN WONDER."
The early days of "Saturday Night Live" are covered from an insider's perspective including his relationship with all the early stars, Belushi, Aykroyd, Chase, Murray, and others... including his beloved Gilda Radner. How he was selected for the Letterman "gig"... along with his ups and downs with "The Blues Brothers". Most readers will be surprised when they learn about Shaffer's fascination with Jerry Lewis and his telethon and his almost photographic recall of famous *HOLLYWOOD-SCHMALTZ*.
Did you know that Little Richard is an Orthodox Jew? Do you know who the character Elwood Blues was named after? Did you know that Paul Shaffer could have been George Costanza... if only he returned a call? You'll learn all this and more simply by treating yourself to the pleasure of reading this book. And throughout this musical maestro's melodious story he is very proud of the fact that... "I MYSELF HAVE REMAINED CONSISTENT. I'M JEWISH, I'M HAPPY. I LOVE THE TRADITION. LIKE MY FAVORITE BALL PLAYER, SANDY KOUFAX, I DON'T PLAY ON YOM KIPPUR, THE HOLIEST TIME OF THE JEWISH YEAR, THE SACRED DAY OF ATONEMENT." *Amen!*


Click Here to see more reviews about: We'll Be Here For the Rest of Our Lives: A Swingin' Showbiz Saga

Click here for more information about We'll Be Here For the Rest of Our Lives: A Swingin' Showbiz Saga

Read More...

Top 10 Los Angeles (Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I took this guide book with me on my first visit to LA recently. I was interested in doing all of the typical tourist things. This book was indispensable. I also bought Frommer's guide book and I never opened it.
I rented a car and traveled through LA. I was driving alone and the maps in this book were a huge help. They are very detailed and held up through being thrown in the car and in and out of bags. The pictures are great. The decriptions are short and to the point. I also loved the size of this book. It is small enough to easily carry in a larger purse or backpack.
I didn't use the Top 10 book to plan my trip - only what to do and where to go when I got there. A more detailed book might serve you better if you need help decided where to stay and what hotels to use.
You can't go wrong with this guide book - it is really the only guidebook you need for LA.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Top 10 Los Angeles (Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides)

Drawing on the same standards of accuracy as the acclaimed DK Eyewitness Travel Guides, each book in DK's Top 10 series uses evocative color photography, excellent cartography, and up-to-date travel content to create a reliable and useful pocket-sized travel guide. Dozens of Top 10 lists provide vital information on each destination, as well as insider tips, from uncovering a city's most memorable sights to finding the best restaurants and hotels in each neighborhood. And to save you time and money, there's even a Top 10 list of Things to Avoid. Each Top 10 contains a pull-out map and guide that includes fold-out maps of city metro systems, useful phone numbers, and 60 great ideas on how to spend your day.

Click here for more information about Top 10 Los Angeles (Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides)

Read More...

The Unofficial Guide to Washington, D.C. (Unofficial Guides) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The Unofficial Guide to Washington, DC offers comprehensive information in a clear, concise style. There is plenty of basic information about how to get around in the city using the Metro, what time of year to go, how to stay safe, etc. In addition, you will find hotel ratings and detailed entries on all major attractions inside the city. The hotel section is probably the weak point of the guide. It offers a numerical rating system but only a few basic items of information on the hotel. There is no written description with the pros and cons of each hotel spelled out for you.
The section on attractions is where this guide makes up for the lack of hotel info. It covers all the museums, memorials, monuments, government buildings, etc. Each entry is highly detailed with full contact information, nearest Metro stop, tips on when to go, full descriptions, touring tips, and other things to do nearby. It is literally everything you want to know when considering a visit to one of the many tourist attractions in the city.
While planning my trip to Washington, DC I bought three guidebooks to the area. This is the only one that I used in the latter stages of planning and also the only one I used when I got to the city. It was easily the most comprehensive and useful of the lot once I had booked my hotel. If you're planning a trip to the capitol and can only buy one guide, get this one.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Unofficial Guide to Washington, D.C. (Unofficial Guides)


Washington D.C. welcomes approximately 15 million domestic visitors each year, and 1.5 million are international visitors. (Washington D.C. Tourism Board)
There are more than 100 restaurants in the downtown Washington DC area alone with Travel & Leisure calling it "one of the most exciting restaurant cities of the East Coast."
The Washington Nationals Ball Park is the first green-certified ballpark in the United States. DC is also the first major city to require developers to adhere to guidelines established by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Click here for more information about The Unofficial Guide to Washington, D.C. (Unofficial Guides)

Read More...

No Laughing Matter Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Bridget, Frank and Nick fly from England to Montreal to cover the Just for Laughs Festival for different newspapers. While Nick is tied up in a yoga position, he sees a young woman flash past his hotel room window. He concludes she is a jumper who he later learns was Cissy Parker, a movie starlet. The police rule it an accidental death due to drugs, but Nick has doubts when Frank mentions he heard a man screaming at a woman on the eighteenth floor.
A reporter Julie informs Nick that she took pictures at a celebrity bash that Cissy attended. The starlet offered her a lot of money to buy the negatives, but Julie refused. One of the photos shows Cissy with an unidentified man. When Nick learns the victim was pregnant he concludes she was pushed. Not realizing the danger he causes to himself, his friends and others associated with Cissy on both sides of the ocean, Nick keeps digging as more homicides occurs.
In between murder, beatings, chases, air travel, NO LAUGHING MATTER contains amusing comical scenes, but the prime story line is the protagonist is drawn into a homicide investigation that he prefers to avoid. Once he begins making inquiries, he continues to the bitter end, which he realizes could be his death, in an effort too learn the identity of the mastermind behind the killings and the beatings he suffered. Talented Peter Guttridge provides a journalistic investigative mystery that stars a fine cast worthy of sequels.
Harriet Klausner



Click Here to see more reviews about: No Laughing Matter


"This sparkling debut fires volleys of one-liners . . . Romping good stuff."—Daily Mail

"An original and highly readable debut for journalist-turned-gumshoe, Nick Madrid. But a word of warning: never let this man house-sit if you value your pets."—Lynne Truss

"Made me laugh out loud and wince in sympathy at both the violence and the humiliation meted out to the narrator . . . enormous fun."—Val McDermid

Tom Sharpe meets Raymond Chandler in No Laughing Matter, a humorous and brilliant debut that will keep readers on a knife's edge of suspense until the bittersweet end.

When a naked woman flashes past Nick Madrid's hotel window, it's quite a surprise. For Nick's room is on the 14th floor, and the hotel doesn't have an outside elevator. The management is horrified when Cissie Parker lands in the swimming pool—not only is she killed, but she makes a real mess of the shallow end.

In Montreal for the Just For Laughs festival, Nick, a journalist who prefers practicing yoga to interviewing the stars, turns gumshoe to answer the question: did she fall or was she pushed? The trail leads first to the mean streets of Edinburgh and then to Los Angeles, where the truth lurks among the dark secrets of Hollywood.

Peter Guttridge is the Royal Literary Fund writing fellow at Southampton University and teaches creative writing. Between 1998 and 2002, he was the director of the Brighton Literature Festival. Since 1998, he has been the mystery reviewer for The Observer, one of Britain's most prestigious Sunday newspapers. He lives in Sussex on the edge of the South Downs National Park.

Click here for more information about No Laughing Matter

Read More...

Best of the Britcoms: From Fawlty Towers to The Office Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Some time ago after a meeting of some sort, I happened to call out, "You've all done very well!" and every person there laughed. If someone else ever uses the word "bucket," all you have to do is say "Pronounced bouquet" and very few will not get the reference. Or a simple "Nudge, nudge" might get knowing chuckles. Now for the very few of you who are wondering what that was all about, you have obviously never seen (in order) "Are YouBeing Served?" "Keeping Up Appearances," or even "Monty Python's Flying Circus." Although those three and many other exports from England are so familiar, very few of us over here know anything of their backgrounds. Well, the solution is now available from Taylor Publishing Company. Garry Berman's has just been issued.At $18.95 it is a goldmine of information about three sorts of British comedies: (1) those you know and love, (2) those you have known and loved but are not shown any more, and (3) those very popular over there but never shown over here. Of the over 30 programs discussed in the all too few 140 pages (I only wish it was longer) of this book, several are still around on the PBS stations other than the three mentioned above: "Red Dwarf," "'Allo! 'Allo!," "One Foot in the Grave," "Waiting for God," "The Vicar of Dibley," and more. ("Absolutely Fabulous" was a bit too much for Public TV and can be seen on the Comedy Channel with lots of commercials.) From the golden past we have "The Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin," "Butterflies," "Yes, Minister [and] Yes, Prime Minister," "To the Manor Born," "The Black Adder," the fairly recent "Thin Blue Line," and others. As for those never seen in the Colonies, why don't you just look for yourself? You will see a lot of familiar faces, mind you, who went on to do things you have seen.Each entry gives us the years it was shown in Great Britain, and how many episodes were shown in all. You are then given the writers, directors and producers; told if any of the episodes are available on tape; and then you get the basic casts. What follows is the heart of the matter: anywhere from a half page to four pages of the history of the series (which is used in two senses in this book), comments from the critics, and personal reminiscences from members of the casts. For example, we learn that the basic idea of the maniacally rude Basil Fawlty (John Cleese) was based on an actual hotel owner at whose establishment the Monty Python group once stayed. And that the very first "Are You Being Served?" episode was hurriedly put on the air in 1972 when a telecast of the Olympics was suddenly canceled because of the massacre of the Israeli contestants. And things like that.The book starts with a general overview of British sitcoms and ends with some thoughts about American spin-offs. (You did know, of course, that "All in the Family" was based on the British series "Till Death Do Us Part"? Dear me, then you must read this book.)So give it a try and let me know what you think at our next candlelight supper.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Best of the Britcoms: From Fawlty Towers to The Office

With crisp dialog, outrageous characters, and an absurd sense of humor, it's no wonder British sitcoms are so well-loved! Best of the Britcoms covers the most noteworthy situation comedies ever to cross the pond. Each entry combines a show summary with descriptions of standout episodes and behind-the-scenes details, plus gives you production data and full cast listings. And now, the revised edition of this Britcom classic contains seven new chapters on programs that have aired in the U.S. since the original edition was published, such as The Office, Extras, and My Family. Fans of old-school Britcoms won't be disappointed either, as the revised edition also includes the later developments of older series' storylines and detailed information on specials and cast reunions that have occurred in the intervening years. Pick up this book, kick back, and get to know a Britcom!

Click here for more information about Best of the Britcoms: From Fawlty Towers to The Office

Read More...

Walt Disney World Hidden History: Remnants of Former Attractions and Other Tributes Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)So you're a Disney fan. You spend way too much time on various Disney sites and blogs and you've got a vast knowledge of all things WDW. Your friends think you're a little nuts, but not too nuts to solicit advice from regarding their upcoming trip. You know all the details, right? The Nautilus carved on Pooh's tree, Mr. Toad handing over the deed; that stuff is just the beginning. No matter how many times you've been to WDW and how many secrets you know, you are guaranteed to learn something from this book. The simplest of details are not left to chance. Every date on a seemingly random box has a meaning and even the names of merchandise carts or food stands tells a story.
The book is presented in an encyclopedia like format with a pretty comprehensive index. Does the name Bwana Bob's have any sort of meaning? Check it out in the index and find your answer. However, the book is actually readable too. Beginning at the TTC ticket booth the details flow like you are 'reading up Main St.' and then around the Magic Kingdom. The same applies to the other parks as well. As you read you'll be making a mental note of hidden details to check out on your next visit.
This is a nice book for any Disney fan. You're guaranteed to learn something. Casual fans will be amazed to know just how much effort is put into detailed theming while Disney veterans who thought they knew it all will be surprised at just how deep Disney goes to honor the past and ensure nothing is left to chance.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Walt Disney World Hidden History: Remnants of Former Attractions and Other Tributes

Everyone can list their favorite former attractions at Walt Disney World. What if you could still have a glimpse of those treasured rides even today? This book will expose the remnants of previous rides and attractions still visible at Walt Disney World, including many elements that were folded into the shows and rides that replaced them. There are also numerous intentional reproductions of parts of former rides, planted as a kind of ultimate inside joke. That's not all. Interwoven with these remnants is a rich tapestry of homages throughout the Walt Disney World parks, there to pay respect to the designers, artists, and engineers who built these magical realms. These references are often hidden in plain sight, and many are given without explanation. This book will uncover so many tributes and homages, you'll forever see the Disney parks in a whole new light.

Click here for more information about Walt Disney World Hidden History: Remnants of Former Attractions and Other Tributes

Read More...

YouTube and Video Marketing: An Hour a Day Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)When I received YouTube and Video Marketing: An Hour a Day I dove straight into it. I'm a technical person and have been working with Marketers all my life either to build systems or help in presales engagements. As Marketing has is becoming an online experience more and more, it makes sense to arm oneself with knowledge of the various media options. YupTube, like Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook are become forces to deal with in the online world.
Initially I expected a Step by Step, how-to guide. However as I dug through the book I kept asking myself when I was going to get to the first step. It isn't until halfway in that I started to find some technical aspects of how-to. But even these were not the "here's how" I expected. After completing the book, I initially felt I had not really gotten what I had hoped for.
However, I then reread the book. This time with a marketer's perspective. It reads more like a novel than an procedures manual and has one linger and investigate how others are engaging community and creating effective followings through YouTube Marketing. My opinion changed from a (2) to (4) stars after that insight. If you are looking for a technical step by step of loading videos, skip this book. If however, you want to get a flavor of how ours are being successful marketing with you tube and the elements to build your own campaigns. This is worth the investment and a second reading.


Click Here to see more reviews about: YouTube and Video Marketing: An Hour a Day

A complete, task-based guide to developing, implementing, and tracking a video marketing strategy
Online video marketing is crucial in today's marketplace. This guide teaches you proven, practical guidelines for developing and implementing video marketing for your organization.

If you're a marketer, advertising professional, consultant, or small business owner, here's a relevant guide to understanding video marketing tactics, developing a strategy, implementing the campaign, and then measuring results. You'll find extensive coverage of keyword strategies and video optimization, distribution and promotion strategies to other sites and blogs, YouTube advertising opportunities, and crucial metrics and analysis.

Written in the popular "Hour a Day" format, which breaks intimidating topics down to easily approachable tasks
Covers previously undocumented optimization strategies, distribution techniques, community promotion tactics, and more
Explores the crucial keyword development phase and best practices for creating and maintaining a presence on YouTube via brand channel development and customization
Examines effective promotional tactics, how to optimize video for YouTube and search engine visibility, and metrics and analytics
Includes case studies, additional resources, a glossary, information about creating and editing video, step-by-step guides, and valuable tutorials

YouTube and Video Marketing: An Hour A Day gives you the tools to give your clients or your organization a visible, vital marketing presence online

Click here for more information about YouTube and Video Marketing: An Hour a Day

Read More...

Black Comedians on Black Comedy: How African-Americans Taught Us to Laugh Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This book goes through the history of how black comedy became what we know it as today. Eddie Murphy, Sinbad, Cedric the Entertainer, Chris Rock, Damon Wayans...these are all successful black comedians that are common names around US households today. This book tells the stories of those that came before them. This book has wonderful quotes as well as short biographies of various comedians. It's a great read and I highly suggest this book to anyone who finds many of todays African-American comedians funny!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Black Comedians on Black Comedy: How African-Americans Taught Us to Laugh

Click here for more information about Black Comedians on Black Comedy: How African-Americans Taught Us to Laugh

Read More...

Frommer's Buenos Aires (Frommer's Complete Guides) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I actually liked this guide book best of all of them. We also purchased Lonely Planet and I thought it was awful! This one was the most complete and the most accurate. We found it extremely helpful. Also, the restaurant suggestions were right on! This is the guidebook to have!
Lisa
Texas

Click Here to see more reviews about: Frommer's Buenos Aires (Frommer's Complete Guides)

Known as the Paris of Latin America, Argentina's capital is full of chic shops, restaurants and a vibrant nightlife. Visit the diverse neighbourhoods, enjoy Argentine food and explore the markets.
Frommer's Buenos Aires 4e features:

Opinionated write-ups.
Exact prices listed for every establishment and activity
User-friendly features including star ratings and special icons to point readers to great finds, excellent values, insider tips, best bets for kids, special moments, and overrated experiences.

Click here for more information about Frommer's Buenos Aires (Frommer's Complete Guides)

Read More...

My Booky Wook: A Memoir of Sex, Drugs, and Stand-Up Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I found *My Booky Wook* laugh-out-loud funny, but not for the faint of heart. Brand's honesty is almost child-like at times, except that he's dealing with very adult topics like depression, sex addiction, and drug use.
That honesty was precisely what made the read so compelling for me. Brand has a unique gift for non-pompous self-reflection, and refuses to bowdlerize his life just because it might offend some. His description of what it's like to take heroin deserves a place right up there with The Velvet Underground's song. It's loving and funny and unapologetic, while still acknowledging the horrific damage that addiction brings.
Brand's prose, like his personality, is deliberately flamboyant. I found myself feeling that, by all logical reasoning, I should be put off by his deliberately Dickensian flourishes. But self-knowledge saves all, and Brand combines his rococo prose with colloquial diction, self-mockery, and traces of his real, non-elite accent. In this regard, I kept thinking that Brand's style was akin to that of a very dirty P.G. Wodehouse.
The result was (dare I say it) addictive. I couldn't put the damned book down, and after finishing it I had to immediately lend it out so I wouldn't re-read it a million times.
Like all great comedians, Russell Brand turns his personal pain into comedy. Given the variety of individual senses of humor, it's impossible to guarantee that you'll find this book funny. But if you're not easily offended, you'll probably be laughing. Even if you are easily offended, you can treat this as a very honest memoir of sex and drug addiction, and be shocked that Brand tells it as a funny story.
[...] -- a site about humor and society

Click Here to see more reviews about: My Booky Wook: A Memoir of Sex, Drugs, and Stand-Up


Russell Brand learned early on to make a joke of fear and failure. From a troubled childhood in industrial Essex, England, to his descent into addictions to alcohol, drugs, and sex in the seamy underbelly of London, Brand has seen his share of both and miraculously lived to tell the tale. In My Booky Wook he leads readers on a rollicking journey through his disastrous school career, his infamous antics on MTV, and his multifarious sexual adventures. But this irreverent memoir is a story not simply of struggle but also of redemption, a testament to the difficulty of discovering what you want from life and the remarkable power of a bloody-minded determination to get it. My Booky Wook is a giddy trip through the brilliant mind of one of Britain's most valuable exports.

Click here for more information about My Booky Wook: A Memoir of Sex, Drugs, and Stand-Up

Read More...

Frommer's Montreal and Quebec City 2011 (Frommer's Montreal & Quebec City) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Very Good. All one needs to plan a one-week vacation to Montreal. Strolls appear especially well thought out. Restaurants? Suggest supplementing this Book with on-line reference to Trip Advisor which is more comprehensive.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Frommer's Montreal and Quebec City 2011 (Frommer's Montreal & Quebec City)


Completely updated every year, Frommer's Montréal & Québec City features gorgeous color photos of the sights and experiences that await you.
Our author hits all the highlights, from Vieux-Montréal to Quebéc's fascinating Musée de la Civilisation. She's checked out all the best hotels and restaurants in person, and offers authoritative, candid reviews that will help you find the choices that suit your tastes and budget.
You'll also get up-to-the-minute coverage of shopping and nightlife; detailed walking tours; accurate neighborhood maps; advice on planning a successful family vacation; and side trips to the Laurentians, Cantons-de-l'Est, Ile d'Orléans, Montmorency Falls, Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré, Parc Mont Ste-Anne, and Central & Upper Charlevoix.
Frommer's Montréal & Québec City also includes a color fold-out map.

Click here for more information about Frommer's Montreal and Quebec City 2011 (Frommer's Montreal & Quebec City)

Read More...

Frommer's Washington, D.C. 2011 (Frommer's Complete Guides) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This book has great color pictures, and great information including how many days (or months) in advance that you need to order tickets for various tours like the White House and the Capitol. It's an incredibly valuable tool for planning a trip to Washington DC. Each place to visit includes a website and telephone number as contact information and what Metro lines to take. The accomodation and dining sections are great too.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Frommer's Washington, D.C. 2011 (Frommer's Complete Guides)


Hundreds of color photos
Free pocket map inside,plus easy-to-read maps throughout
Exact prices, directions, opening hours,and other practical information
Candid reviews of hotels and restaurants,plus sights, shopping, and nightlife
Itineraries, walking tours, and trip-planning ideas
Insider tips from local expert authors

Click here for more information about Frommer's Washington, D.C. 2011 (Frommer's Complete Guides)

Read More...

Will Rogers: A Biography Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is probably the best biography of Will Rogers currently available. It is comprehensive, insightful, well researched, and balanced. My only complaint with it is that it ends somewhat abruptly. Yagoda touches briefly on the legacy of Will Rogers after his death, but he could have said a great deal more. Rogers's death evoked profound mourning across the US and the rest of the world, and it would have been nice if he had focused a bit more on that. His analysis, however, of why Rogers gradually ceased to be what he was in his own time--arguably the most popular American who ever lived--is very helpful. I had always found his comparative demise to be quite perplexing, and Yagoda does a superb job of explaining this phenomenon.
One of the greatest virtues of the book is that it does not, like many books on Rogers, engage in hagiography. Will Rogers was a very good, compassionate, honest man. Any book on his will show that. He had his faults, but as presented by Yagoda, they do not diminish the man, whatever it may do to the myth. For instance, Yagoda insightfully points out that while Rogers was rightfully lauded for his wisdom and insight, his thought was marred by an inability to comprehend genuine evil. One is left wondering what Rogers's response to Hitler's behavior in the years just after Rogers's death, and what he would have been able to say about the moral complexities of the Second World War. On the other hand, I would very much have welcomed Rogers as a voice of reason during the days of the Communist Witch Hunts.
Anyone interested in Rogers is strongly encouraged to read this book. I would also like to recommend the first chapter in Lary May's THE BIG TOMORROW. This book is a study of the social dimensions of American cinema from the thirties through the fifties. The first and best chapter is about Will Rogers, and remains the best thing that I have read about Will Rogers. I strongly recommend both books.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Will Rogers: A Biography

Click here for more information about Will Rogers: A Biography

Read More...

Lonely Planet Singapore (City Travel Guide) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)We are planning a short trip to Singapore and I found this book to be very good at pointing out things that were a must-do and what was a waste of time. Also had very good lists of things such as indeginous foods (and what was in them), language barriers (very amusing section), things to watch out for etc. Also had a great overview on food, where to eat and what was not worth it. It was good at listing things that were a one-day trip must do and a 3-4 day trip must do.
I definately liked this book over some of the other travel books I have read. It has a very personal touch (some amusing anicdotes) and a good perspective on things.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Lonely Planet Singapore (City Travel Guide)

Lonely Planet SingaporeTake in the scent of spices as you trawl through the five-foot-ways of Little IndiaRide the MRT out to little-visited Singapore surprisesDiscover why locals leave food out on the streets during the Hungry Ghost FestivalWok-fry your own way to food nirvanaIn This Guide:Two authors (including a resident), over 900 hours of in-city research, 47 durians consumedExpanded coverage of neighborhoods including two new walking tours and three new excursionsCultural insights and local secrets from a comedian, a curator, a theater director, a writer and a scholarContent updated daily - visit lonelyplanet.com for up-to-the-minute reviews, updates and traveler insights

Click here for more information about Lonely Planet Singapore (City Travel Guide)

Read More...