The Little Black Book of San Francisco (Travel Guide) (Little Black Books (Peter Pauper Hardcover)) Review

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(More customer reviews)San Francisco is a great place to explore - it is compact, photogenic and well-served by public transportation. Seeing the famous sites is fine but the true San Francisco experience is found in strolling the streets and nosing around the stores of its eclectic neighborhoods. The Little Black Book of SF is a handy guide for just such an SF adventure. The book is small enough to fit into most pockets while the spiral bound construction inside a sturdy cover and thick pages insure that it is going to stand up to the rigors of your SF adventure. This book is not a thorough discussion of all things SF but rather a heads up of what to look for once you find yourself in Cow Hollow or Bernal Heights or any of the City's other districts. There are 10 handy little maps at the start of each district chapter followed by recommendations of what to see, where to shop, where to eat,drink and dance as well as what might be interesting to the kids. If you are a person that likes to travel light while in search of the genuine culture, this book is for you.

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With user-friendly fold-out maps and insider tips, this hip little guide to the Golden Gate City walks you through the best San Francisco has to offer. From Fishermans Wharf and Alcatraz to Chinatown, Haight-Ashbury, the Castro, and beyond, heres all you need to know about what to see and do, and where to eat, drink, shop, and stay in the gem of a city known for natural beauty and cosmopolitan flair. 226 pages, plus 10 foldout maps.

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Frommer's Montreal & Quebec City 2006 (Frommer's Complete) Review

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(More customer reviews)I was quite disappointed by this Frommer's, I have used their series on numerous trips abroad and have found them quite informative. Being from Montreal, I found the initial section on Quebec history and culture very inaccurate and biased against the French-speaking majority. Now I question the accuracy of all the cultural information I read in the other books I bought. I give it 4 stars for the section on what "to do" and 1 star on the section aiming at educating readers on the culture and history of the place they are going to visit. The books recommended will probably give the reader an even more negative view of the French majority, none of which are written by the latter.

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Completely updated every year, Frommer's Montreal & Quebec City is the only guide you'll need to discover these two gems of French Canada. You'll choose from a wide selection of accommodations, from grand hotels to charming guesthouses. Our author, a renowned food writer, has found the very best French cafes and bistros, from the classics to the cutting-edge, and his pull-no-punches reviews will help you find the perfect spot to suit your taste and budget. Frommer's Montreal & Quebec City also includes up-to-the-minute coverage of shopping and nightlife; detailed walking tours; accurate neighborhood maps; and side trips to the scenic Laurentian mountains.

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Fodor's See It New York City, 1st Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)Bottom line, I bought three books for my trip to NYC. In the end, this was the only book I needed during the trip. It has great summaries of all the major areas of the city, very nice detailed street and site location maps, subway maps, etc. If you want an easy to read quick review/guide book to have during your trip to NYC, this is the one I would recommend.

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Fodor's see it New York City is perfect for travelers who want to understand local history and culture before they arrive, and experience the city like a native New Yorker while they're there. Overflowing with brilliant color photography, this is the ONLY illustrated guide that provides the practical information that you need while traveling–complete restaurant and hotel reviews with exact prices for lodging and dining (not ranges), plus time-saving tips and how to avoid crowds, exact admission prices to key sights, great photo stops, and special notes on "kid-friendly" attractions throughout.Hotels Our detailed reviews represent the best accommodations in the Big Apple, in all price ranges. From five-star luxury hotels to bed and breakfast accomodations, we'll tell you what to expect in terms of price and quality through extensive coverage of hotels and their surrounding neighborhoods, exact prices of double-occupancy rooms (including breakfast), plus pictures of hotel facilities and guestrooms. RestaurantsIf you want to experience the best that New York has to offer, pay particular attention to our outstanding restaurant coverage that will help you choose from the thousands of local eateries that cater to every budget and dining experience. From Katz's Deli on the Lower East Side to a romantic dinner at Tavern on the Green in Central Park–whatever your budget or taste, you'll find it in see it New York City. Each review covers house signature dishes, ambiance, actual prices for a two-course lunch and a three-course dinner (for two people), hours of operation, and what transportation will get you there. The SightsWhether you start your day a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, a trip to the Guggenheim Museum, or a panoramic view of the city from the Empire State Building, see it New York City will take you there. Accessibly written to help you navigate throughout the city without missing a thing, each attraction includes exact admission prices, what galleries and museums not to miss, and where to stop for quick bites and refreshing drinks along the way. Sights are also rated for their "value", "walkability", "historic and cultural interest", plus we suggest fantastic "photo stops" and entertaining and age-appropriate "kid-friendly" attractions throughout the book. What to Do?Our shopping walks will lead you to cutting-edge fashions to fit all budgets, from hip streetwear to expensive fashions for your feet. But, New York has much more to offer than just sight-seeing and shopping. Fodor's see it New York provides insider information on classical, theatrical, and cinematic performances (including how to find cheap tickets to Broadway shows), New York's music scene (live jazz to underground youth centres), nightlife, spectator and activity sports, health and beauty spas, festivals and events, and a special section on "Children's Paris".Atlas and Maps Detailed neighborhood maps are incorporated throughout the book to help you navigate on historic walks, shopping tours, or to find a restaurant. Plus, a 16-page atlas details each road and path with highlights of important landmarks, parks, metro stations, and car parking areas. Fodor's see it™A brand-new series that shows you before you go, guides you while you're there, and makes the perfect keepsake on your return.

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Night+Day San Francisco (Pulse Guides Cool Cities Series) Review

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(More customer reviews)This has been the best travel resource for our family. Guests arrive at our bay area home and are given this book before they even sit down. It is easy to use and doesn't require that you already have a knowledge of the area. The information is presented clearly and accurately and has made some of the more difficult decisions (due to time restraints) easier to make. In a city where everything is constantly changing, it is surprising how current the information is. We are sending copies to friends who are in the process of making plans to visit from Europe. We are confident that this resource will insure a great trip!

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Famous for its steep, scenic hills and its freewheeling West Coast spirit, San Francisco is a city of vibrant neighborhoods, world-class cuisine, dance-til-dawn nightclubs, and breath-taking views. Today's savvy travelers rely on NIGHT+DAY San Francisco - with its opinionated listings, insightful descriptions, and witty, intelligent writing - to get the sophisticated edge in travel. From the trendiest tables, hippest hotels, top shops and galleries to the hottest nightspots and coolest attractions, NIGHT+DAY San Francisco is packed with expert recommendations and insider tips. For discerning travelers, it's the details that make the difference. Night+Day signature sections include the "99 Best" of the city, three unique "Perfect Plan" itineraries, a "Cheat Sheet" of city essentials, a concise "Black Book" index, maps, and more.

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Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 Through 1960 Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a book many old-time radio enthusiasts have been looking for: a book that covers the stars of old-time radio, gives their biographies and their radio credits! From what I've seen, this is the most detailed and accurate book there is. Having said that, I must point out that there are a few problems with the book. I wish the information was better documented for one thing. For another, sometimes the years of birth the author gives for the stars makes me wonder, "Where did he find that?" For example, almost all books on Abbott and Costello state that Bud was born in 1895 and Lou in 1906. However, this book puts their years of birth in 1900 and 1908 respectively. There are many other dates in the book that cause me to wonder, "Where did he come up with that?" With that nit-picking out of the way, I must close by saying that overall it's a great reference guide to old-time radio. There should be more books that are this well written.

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From the time Westinghouse started commercial broadcasting in 1920 through the end of the radio soap operas in the early 1960s, hundreds of men and women performed on radio. Day after day, week after week, these performers (e.g., Jack Benny, Bing Crosby, Kate Smith, Lowell Thomas, Kay Kyser, and Bob Hope) became familiar voices and welcomed guests in the homes of millions of Americans. Actors, comedians, singers, commentators, announcers, emcees, newscasters, preachers and various other artists all gave voice to radio and 953 of them are covered in this unique reference work. Performers Fran Allison, Les Paul, Johnny Desmond, Alec Templeton, Don Wilson, Jerry Colonna and soap opera favorites Virginia Payne, Betty Garde, Macdonald Carey, David Gothard, Page Gilman, and Jan Miner are included herein, as well as Ezra Stone, Groucho Marx, Will Rogers, and Frank Sinatra and hundreds more. For each, there is a listing of their radio programs, birth and death dates (where appropriate) and a biography that focuses on their work in radio. Heavily illustrated.

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Long-Form Improvisation & The Art Of Zen: A Manual For Advanced Performers Review

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(More customer reviews)As a teacher of theatre and improv myself (and someone who has read well over 20 books devoted to improv short and long form) I really like the approach this author has taken to long-form improv. Instead of over complicating it, he distills it into essentially 4 "Prime Directives" and then explains how to apply these to long form. He also applies some of the concepts of Zen and martial arts to the art form in a surprisingly convincing way. In addition he gives advice to those people who might fill the role of coach or director for an improv team/cast and how to approach that role. This book is only 55 pages long and is a really quick read, but it is also packed with great ideas and is well written. Well worth the $10 he is charging for the book.

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If you're already an improviser, even if you're just starting out, this is the book for you. This book merges basic improvisation techniques with Zen philosophy in order to create a new way of performing scenes and shows. Based on decades of work with the art form, Jason R. Chin strips away pretense and creates a simple, yet elegant method of improvising longer, more rich scenes and characters. A powerful tool for the advanced improviser and a wonderful book for the beginner, Zen and the Art of Long-form Improvisation is a welcome addition to your improv library.

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What Can Chief Executives Learn From Stand-up Comedians?: Fifty essential skills top performers perfect and you can learn Review

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(More customer reviews)Every person in business has to be able to get across their message effectively and quickly - you only get one chance to make a first impression as they say. This book is a very useful guide to self-reflection on how you communicate; not a "how-to" manual with specific techniques that can grow stilted and which immediately come across as learned and fake, but a thought-provoker and idea-generator that will allow you to enhance your own style and develop your own script. Indispensable addition to your portable library.
Colin Evans - President CEO Dossia -[...]

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Roger Edward Jones, one of Europe's foremost leadership experts, theorized that business executives could glean more than humor from the best stand-up comics. What better way to test this premise than to give it a try? And so he did, at one of London's comedy clubs, and came away with his ego intact and the platform for What Can Chief Executives Learn From Stand-up Comedians?-a straightforward and highly practical approach to optimum management performance. In a book that juxtaposes a comic's tools-of-the-trade manifesto with the qualities needed to be a highly effective and goals-oriented leader and communicator, Jones covers such diverse objectives as preparation, brevity, originality, the use of personal vignettes, and the importance of candor. And, of course, the key to comedy and top management, which is timing. Praise includes: "Shareholders' meeting or first night audience? Roger Edward Jones identifies ways to make an instant impact when the spotlight falls on your business." Richard Donkin, Financial Times columnist and author of Blood, Sweat and Tears, The Evolution of Work'An imaginative and insightful approach to become a more effective leader." Jim Henderson,President and CEO, Apriso'A book that will only take you a short time to read but will pay dividends throughout your career."Dean Frew, President and CEO of Xterprise'A highly creative approach to leadership development.A must read book for any aspiring CEO."Amar Singh, President and CEO of Amitive Inc

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Fodor's New York City 2005 (Fodor's Gold Guides) Review

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(More customer reviews)If you can only buy one travel guide and tangible information is what you are looking for your money will be well spent on Fodor's 05 New York City book. It clearly lays out Manhattan, as well as the different boroughs, and details what each has to offer. It is also filled with lots of maps. It describes and rates shops, restaurants, nighttime entertainment, performing arts, etc. for each area. This book was a great prep book to plan our trip and it was a great reference book while in New York. As a matter of fact, I carried only a few things in my backpack everyday. They included a subway map, camera, extra film, and this book.

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Try New York City's best coal-oven pizza or indulge in steamed dumplings and dim sum.Ponder hundreds of masterpieces under one roof, give your regards to Broadway or sip cocktails inside one of Manhattan's most opulent rooms —Fodor's New York City 2005 offers all these experiences and more!From the Upper West Side to Battery Park, our local writers have explored the Big Apple, to find the best hotels, restaurants, attractions and activities to prepare you for a journey of stunning variety. Before you leave for the city that never sleeps, be sure to pack your Fodor's guide to ensure you don't miss a thing.The San Francisco Chronicle sums it up best —"Fodor's guides are saturated with information."-New compact trim size make these guides even more portable-Two-color interior design makes it easier to find the information you need-Fodor's Choice Ratings flag must-see sights and hidden treasures-Hotel and restaurant reviews cover all budgets-Plus multi-day itineraries to help you build the right trip for you and/or your family

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Birnbaum's Walt Disney World Without Kids 2009 (Birnbaum's Walt Disney World Without Kids: The Official Guide for Fun-Loving Adults) Review

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(More customer reviews)Birnbaum's Walt Disney World Without Kids is meant to be a companion to the Birnbaum's Walt Disney World 2009. For a book like this to be useful, it needs to provide extensive information on things that would be of use to adults yet not was deemed unworthy of inclusion in the main guide. After all, if it's in the main guide already why do we need this book? The guide also needs genuine critiques of restaurants and hotels that would be most suitable for romantic (or at least quiet) outings. Detailed reviews of dinner shows would also be a plus. These are just a few examples that single adults and couples might find useful. The key is that readers need good details and honest evaluations for a book of this type to have any value. The only other guide of this type that I have read was The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World for Grown-Ups (Unofficial Guides) and it failed to offer enough of value to justify its purchase. Did Birnbaum's fare better?
One undeniable strength is that this book retains the high production values of the Birnbaum's series. It's loaded with very nice photos. The writing is clear and concise making for a quick, easy read. In other words, the form is wonderful. But the substance, that's where we stumble. There are no real critiques or comparisons offered. The coverage is too shallow to allow you to truly discrimiate which places would be best suited to your needs. There is also too little material that isn't available in the standard guidebooks for the area. In the final analysis, there just isn't enough substance here to make it worth buying.
If you're looking for a guide to Orlando primarily composed of photos and basic coverage of the area, then the Birnbaum's Walt Disney World 2009 is by far the better choice. If you want a more substantial book that is packed with detailed information then the The Unofficial Guide Walt Disney World 2009 (Unofficial Guides) is your best bet. If you really want the full picture, buy both of them. But whatever approach you choose, save your money and skip this one.


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In Birnbaum's Walt Disney World Without Kids, the most respected and well-known name in travel guides takes adult readers through the world's most popular tourist attraction. Because our guide is the only guide that's official, this book includes the most accurate information on prices and attractions. None of the other guides have access to the information that our authors do. This book focuses on the resorts, attractions, restaurants, and special places that adults will most enjoy and probably never realized existed.This year's edition is packed with information on new attractions and tips and insights especially tailored for the young at heart, plus expanded coverage of Walt Disney World's quartet of spas, the lowdown on Downtown Disney Pleasure Island's ongoing transformation, and News for Night Owls: a listing of spots for those who, unlike Cinderella, can stay out past midnight. Other features includethe scoop on the 20th anniversary happenings at Disney's Hollywood Studios (formerly Disney-MGM Studios), details on the World's newestrestaurants, and new insider tips on how to save time and money at Walt Disney World

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Put it in Your Act Review

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(More customer reviews)From page 1, Larry quickly draws you into his dysfunctionally funny world of bathroom emergencies, (many starring his boyhood buddies), Catskill capers (picking up chicks, 80's style), and endless do-it-yourself schemes (Flowbee anyone?) that seem to test the nerves of his unflappable, (but good natured), wife and unsuspecting neighbors and friends. Larry's knack for quirky slice-of-life story telling reminded me of Pulitzer Prize humor columnist, Dave Barry. Yes, Larry is that funny. Can a professional stand-up gig be far behind?

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A wacky autobiographical comedy about a stand-up comedian wanna-be.Perfect for 14 year old boys and immature people of all ages.Larry writes about his family, career and general observations culminating with his dream of a 2 minute stand-up comedy act.

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Anything But Ordinary Review

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(More customer reviews)Winifred and Bernie have been best friends, and yes, in love, since middle school. Both were a little different and found fitting in difficult. Their friendship began with Winifred's creation of the Green Hat Club, and then it blossomed.
High school brought an even closer relationship. Winifred and Bernie were excellent students and hoped to place first and second in their graduating class. They studied together, lunched together, and basically spent every waking moment together. Romance became part of the friendship when they shared a first kiss, then a second, a third, etc. Although the physical side of their relationship advanced, both agreed that they would wait until marriage for the final act.
During senior year the hunt for colleges began. They agreed to find a place that would suit them both. Bernie's father worked in a tire shop which made money an obstacle. Winifred searched for a school that would recognize Bernie's academic achievement with a scholarship. All was going as planned until Bernie's mother returned one day from the doctor's with the news that she had ovarian cancer. She was gone in just a few months.
Life for Bernie and Winifred began to change. Winifred set off for California, and Bernie stayed in New Jersey. Headed in different directions for the first time, could their love and friendship remain strong?
ANYTHING BUT ORDINARY is the story of whether or not relationships can endure when faced with individual growth and change. Valerie Hobbs presents Winifred and Bernie in her simple, straight-forward prose. They are regular people living regular lives, but as the title suggests -"anything but ordinary." Readers hear the story from both perspectives and will come to know and care for both Winifred and Bernie.
Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

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Landmark Vistors Cayman Islands (Landmark Visitors Guide Cayman Islands) Review

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(More customer reviews)One of the best travel book series, with attention to detail, plus numerous color photographs and fine maps. Lots of instructions regarding practical travel matters. (Travel Books
Review)

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One of many titles in the Landmark Visitors Guide series, a revamp and update of the highly respectedVisitors Guides, acknowledged as among the most reliable and useful guides for sightseers. With fullcolor maps and photos throughout, the new Landmark Visitors Guides are highly detailed, giving youthe information you need to get the most from your trip. They serve as a useful reference tool before youleave home, and are the perfect travel companion while on the road. Area-by-area tours highlight in-town sights and attractions, including art galleries, museums, historicbuildings and churches. They also lead you out into the countryside, with recommended stops en route.Colorful call-out boxes reveal tidbits of the area's local culture, interesting sidelights on how thelandscape has been shaped and other details sorely lacking in competing guidebooks. Thecomprehensive "Fact File" in back provides opening times, fees and contact information for all placesmentioned in the text. Index.

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Frommer's Montreal & Quebec City 2005 (Frommer's Complete) Review

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(More customer reviews)In preparing for a trip to Montreal and Quebec, I was pleasantly surprised to find a book that covered both cities. It was easy to read and find specific information. The different maps were very helpful while walking around both cities -- although I used actual road maps for driving directions. Keeping in mind that having two cities means less information about each -- I found the information was the right amount to help us make important decisions or ask the right questions when we made reservations. It certainly will help you find the "must see" spots as it provides recommendations for a one-, two- or three-day visit. I often read the short description of a site aloud before we visited. We changed our hotel reservations based on the book. As a result, we saved $10 per night (which more than paid for the book) and got free meals for the children -- a huge savings over three days. Bottomline -- a good, easy-to-use book with valuable information -- especially for first or second time visitors.

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Completely updated every year, Frommer's Montreal & Quebec City is the only guide you'll need to discover these two gems of French Canada. You'll choose from a wide selection of accommodations, from grand hotels to charming guesthouses. Our author, a renowned food writer, has found the very best French cafes and bistros, from the classics to the cutting-edge, and his pull-no-punches reviews will help you find the perfect spot to suit your taste and budget. Frommer's Montreal & Quebec City also includes up-to-the-minute coverage of shopping and nightlife; detailed walking tours; accurate neighborhood maps; and side trips to the scenic Laurentian mountains.

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Paris (Eyewitness Travel Guides) Review

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(More customer reviews)There are two kinds of travel books: those you use to help you plan a trip and those you want to have in your pocket when you make it. This exceptional book falls into the latter. Although it features some information on hotels and travel, these aspects of a prospective trip to Paris will be handled much more thoroughly by other volumes. Where this book excels is in its comprehensive coverage of things that any traveler will want to know, primarily the question: Where am I, and what do I want to see while in this section of Paris? Some travel books contain more information, but many of these fail to filter that which is likely to be of interest and that which is not. What is amazing about this one is the usability and pertinacity of the information presented.
The book begins with a brief history of Paris, and then provides an overview of the city as a whole. Much of the remainder of the volume consists of introductions to specific areas of Paris, letting any traveler know what the immediate highlights in any area are. The presentation of the information is as attractive as one can imagine, with beautiful graphics, beautiful photographs, and marvelous summations of the various highpoints in the city. The book ends with a useful index and a collection of high quality maps. Best of all, the book is amazingly compact and durable given the sheer mass of information it packages. Unlike its competitors, it will never be an encumbrance because of its size.
I have not looked at any of the other DK Eyewitness Travel Guides, but this one is so gorgeous that it is definitely the series that I would look at first in any trip that I was contemplating making. It is such a marvelous book that one could consult it with profit merely as a way of getting to know a city, even if one is not planning to travel there.

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The Eyewitness Travel Guide helps you to get the most out of your trip with minimum difficulties.The opening section Introducing Paris locates the city geographically, sets modern Parisian its historical context and explains how Parisian life changes through the years.Paris At a Glance is an overview of the city's specialties.The main sightseeing section of the book is Paris Area by Area.It describes all the main sights with maps, photographs and detailed illustrations.Get to know Paris with The Eyewitness Travel Guide.

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Frommer's Los Angeles 2005 (Frommer's Complete) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've read several tour books for Los Angeles, and I find the Frommer's to be quite up-to-date and informative, with a clear layout. This book breaks Los Angeles down into its essential neighborhoods/areas, and then proceeds with a litany of "just the facts" - very helpful for a first-time visit.
This guide also comes with a free full-size map! It also includes information on day or weekend trips to all areas of interest within about 150 miles of LA (including Santa Barbara). Enjoy this informative gem!
June update: Just got back from 9 days in L.A. (my first-ever visit) and this guide served me well. Most of its information was spot-on and useful. A drive along Mulholland Drive is not to be missed! One minor quibble, though, is that the guide says Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade was the most over-rated tourist trap. I found this just the opposite - we enjoyed this area very much - lots of free entertainment, good shops and restaurants - and all outdoors just a few blocks from the ocean. Loved it! I will say that the Eyewitness "Top 10 Los Angeles" was just as helpful and was much smaller (i.e., pocket-sized).

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You'll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer's. It's like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. Our expert authors have already gone everywhere you might go—they've done the legwork for you, and they're not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money. No other series offers candid reviews of so many hotels and restaurants in all price ranges. Every Frommer's Travel Guide is up-to-date, with exact prices for everything, dozens of color maps, and exciting coverage of sports, shopping, and nightlife. You'd be lost without us!
Completely updated every year (unlike most of the competition), Frommer's Los Angeles features gorgeous full-color photos of the sights and experiences that await you in the City of Angels. Frommer's hits all the highlights, from Hollywood to Malibu, and is on top of the latest developments in this ever-changing city. Our guide is simply much more complete and authoritative than its major competitor.
Our author, a lifelong resident, has checked out all the city's best hotels and restaurants in person, and offers honest opinions 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; fun features on everything from celebrity spotting to becoming a TV game-show contestant; in-depth coverage of all the best beaches; excellent maps; and side trips to Disneyland, Santa Barbara, and Palm Springs. Exploring L.A. has never been this fun! Frommer's Los Angeles also includes a color fold-out map and an online directory that makes trip-planning a snap.

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1,000 Things to Love About America: Celebrating the Reasons We're Proud to Call the U.S.A. Home Review

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(More customer reviews)An endlessly entertaining trip through America and its culture. It is surprising in its choices and range of subjects, an eclectic approach that pays off for the reader. This reader learned a lot while laughing a lot along the way.

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From jazz to the Gettysburg Address to baseball to the White Castle hamburger-here are the 1,000 greatest things about America!

The Pilgrims called their new nation "a shining city upon a hill." Abraham Lincoln praised it as "the last, best hope of mankind." In times of boom or bust, this remarkable land we know as America has been a beacon of hope illuminating the world. Now the authors of 1,000 Years, 1,000 People: Ranking the Men and Women Who Shaped the Millennium have teamed up once again to pay unabashed tribute to the greatness of our country-in a fascinating, fun, and informative celebration of the concepts, inventions, institutions, icons, history, social trends, geographical wonders, and consumer products that have made the U.S.A. such an awesomely amazing place!

The Constitution • Mount Rushmore • Backyard Decks • Monopoly Internet Shopping • Duct Tape • Yogi Berra • The Super Bowl Ultimate Frisbee • The Fifth Amendment • The PTA • The Indy 500 Freedom of the Press • Hollywood • Sesame Street • ChapStick Poker • The Wizard of Oz • Fast Food • The Cleveland Orchestra

The Barn Owl • Glacier National Park • Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 Patchwork Quilts • Soap Operas • Joy of Cooking • West Point A Streetcar Named Desire • The Florida Keys • The Red Cross Wikipedia • Deodorant • The Hubble Space Telescope • Grizzly Bears The Beach Boys • The White House • Recycling • Meat Loaf

. . . and many, many more Things to Love About America!

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The Wizards of Spin: America's Favorite News Stars Review

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(More customer reviews)John Ruane is a masterful story teller and observer of broadcast media. The thinly disguised characters of this entertaining and insightful collection of stories will have you laughing out loud as you imagine the media personalities all too realistically going through the plot points. Better not to describe any of them here because seeing these characters in the circumstances Ruane sets around them is half the fun.
The point of the book, though, is to demonstrate how genuinely silly some of these media stars are when pushed by the writer's imagination a bit further than network rules -- are there really any left? -- permit. It also offers a compelling realization that the line between newsmaker and news reporter has virtually disappeared! For anyone who has ever wondered from what planet these interpreters of our news originate, this is a book worth savoring. Then having read it, you can shake your head and wonder what's next -- but getting to this realization will have been a lot of fun.

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Over the past 20 years as cable television has grown to compete directly with the major networks, America has experienced a major change in news and talk broadcasting.This has resulted in a shift in journalistic practices, a departure away from the 'just the facts" reporting of the Walter Cronkite generation. Today, our airwaves are filled with a plethora of media stars, who can't just read the news any more. No, they must have a point of view, and that viewpoint will determine which network they spin their side of the story; their perspective on the news of the day. With so much interest in news and talk shows, author John Ruane has researched and written stories to inform the reader about these celebrity news stars, many of whom are inciting Americans and creating a greater divide in this country. They are the new generation of media, filling our airwaves with around-the-clock commentary, purely to draw ratings. But has this resulted in the start of a new civil war where Americans can't be civil to each other any longer? Are they drawing a line in the sand and telling each of us to step on one side or the other?Don't these broadcasters have a responsibility to be responsible? The author exposes the truth of these Wizards of Spin through satire.

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