Books Reviews - Page 2
By Aaron Santos, Ph.D.
Softcover, 175 pages ($14.95)
The author puts his doctorate degree in physics to entertaining use in this collection of procedures for mathematically finding—or, at least, realistically estimating—the answers to an array of fanciful questions. How many pennies would it take to fill up a wishing well? How long would it take to dig your way out of prison using a spoon? What's the total around-the-bases mileage logged by Hank Aaron in his 755 home runs? No matter how you feel about math, Santos' puzzle-solving prowess shows you just how much you can do when you put on your thinking cap.
—Neil Pond, American Profile
from Amazon.com
posted on: 10/4/2009
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By Michael Worek
Hardcover, 312 pages ($29.95)
Since its beginnings, America has looked to its presidents for words of action or assurance. This collection of speeches from 1933 to 2009 features the full text of the most inspirational and inspiring Chief of State addresses from FDR to Barack Obama. With 30 black-and-white photos illustrative of the times, it's a must for history buffs and a handy reminder for everyone of the power—and beauty—of words in times of crisis, celebration and change.
—Neil Pond, American Profile
from Amazon.com
posted on: 9/20/2009
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By Ronnie McDowell, Edie Hand and Joe Meador
Hardcover, 112 pages ($14.95)
Slim and trim (like young Elvis!), this catchy little tribute to the King is a fascinating roundup of first-hand recollections from people who knew him, rare fly-on-the-wall photos from Presley's early days of stardom and a selection of Elvis portraits by country singer Ronnie McDowell, whose musical career was built on a 1977 hit about the recently deceased superstar, "The King is Gone."
—Neil Pond, American Profile
from Amazon.com
posted on: 9/13/2009
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Hardcover ($29.98)
What football position is most represented in the Football Hall of Fame? Which NFL franchise dates back to the 19th century? Who was the first player to score four "Monday Night Football" touchdowns in the same game? If you think you know football—or even if you don't—you'll find hours of challenging fun with these 2,500 trivia questions, presented with a unique battery-operated interactive "scoring module" that lets you test yourself or play along with a partner.
—Neil Pond, American Profile
from Amazon.com
posted on: 9/6/2009
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Selected and edited by Art Spiegelman & Françoise Mouly
Hardcover, 352 pages ($40)
Kids of all ages—and grownups of just about any generation—will love this wonderful roundup of 60 full-length tales culled from comic books from the 1930s into the early 1960s. In addition getting re-acquainted with such classic characters as Dennis the Menace, Donald Duck, Little Lulu and Captain Marvel, you'll also enjoy discovering lesser-known gems like Egghead Doodle, Burp the Twerp and Patsy Pancake. A splendid introduction traces the ascension of humble "funny books," once regarded as junk, to eventual recognition atop the world of pop culture.
—Neil Pond, American Profile
from Amazon.com
posted on: 9/6/2009
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By Joe Drape
Hardcover, 265 pages ($25)
This chronicle of the high school football team in tiny Smith Center, Kan., is a rousing, feel-good tale of players, coaches and community that rallied together for a nail-biting 2008 championship season that seemed almost like the script for a Hollywood movie. If you're weary of all the "bad news" making headlines these days, immerse yourself in this uplifting portrait of a small town and its people, all pulling together to continue an amazing four-year victory streak—and teach their "boys" what it means to be winners both on and off the field.
—Neil Pond, American Profile
from Amazon.com
posted on: 8/30/2009
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By Marianne Taylor
Hardcover, 230 pages ($19.95)
It's a term we hear—and use—with casual abandon. But what is "Cool"? This hip and flip exploration of the ultimate expression of social acceptance covers the spectrum of people, fashions and fads past and present. With a mixture of pop psychology, pseudo-science, sociological dissection and just plain playfulness, it'll help you define it, understand it and, above all, avoid its dreaded flipside: uncool!
—Neil Pond, American Profile
from Amazon.com
posted on: 8/23/2009
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By Roy Rowan & Brooke Janis
Softcover, 163 pages ($9.95)
Ever so often, somebody thinks Washington's gone to the dogs. There's always been some truth to that, as this light and lively little book points out in its spotlight on the many canines that have called the White House home. From George Washington's foxhounds to Barrack Obama's Portuguese water dog, Bo, this fact-filled, "unleashed" look at presidential history also features drawings and paintings from early America and photos beginning with the first-ever of an Oval Office pooch, a glass-plate image of Abe Lincoln's yellow mongrel, Fido.
—Neil Pond, American Profile
from Amazon.com
posted on: 8/16/2009
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Signing Their Lives Away
By Denise Kiernan & Joseph D'Agnese
Hardcover, 256 pages ($19.95)
Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams. Almost everybody knows the "famous" signers of the Declaration of Independence. But what about all the other men who risked everything to put their names on America's birth certificate? This lively little volume shines the spotlight on all 56 statesmen, soldiers, slaveholders and scoundrels, with details about their often-surprising fates after the ink was dry. Plus, the book cover itself unfolds into a large reproduction of the historic document.
—Neil Pond, American Profile
from Amazon.com
posted on: 8/9/2009
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By Mike Darton
Hardcover, 96 pages ($14.95)
Dog lovers will enjoy "pawing" through the hundreds of factoids, stats, trivia and other tidbits about man's best friend in this handsome little volume. Do you know why poodles are trimmed like topiaries? How to make a dog biscuit? What it really means when Fido yawns? And you'll smile at the smattering of perceptive quotes about canine companions, like this one from humorist Dave Barry: "Dogs feel very strongly that they should always go with you in the car, in case the need should arise for them to bark violently at nothing, right in your ear."
—Neil Pond, American Profile
from Amazon.com
posted on: 8/2/2009
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