2 comments about Colossal Jumble.

1. Jumbles keep my mind active! I am so happy that these books are available from Amazon!



2. I do the Jumble puzzle in the morning paper EVERYDAY! Having this book means I can do them even more often! It is much more challenging than watching incipid programs on TV!
   
   I've had this book for 2wks. There are 513 puzzles and I have already done 399 of them! It is relaxing, fun, and makes you think!
   
   Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!

1 comments about Food for Today, Student Edition.

1. I found this to be a good introductory textbook for a middle/high school age food and nutrition class. The text covers a wide range of topics related to food. One finds chapters on healthy eating and lifestyle, being a vegitarian, how to design a kitchen, and food profiles from around the world. Other chapters even discuss eating etiquette, buying food, and careers in food. The text starts with the basics (this is a whisk...) for the kitchen and for food. One is given profiles of food, nutritional information, and cooking ideas. While it may seem too basic for students who have some knowledge of cooking, it does a good job of introducing it to those who have to knowledge of it at all.

   The writing is informative and easy to read. The text is well illustrated with bright drawings and photographs that expand on the written content. I enjoyed the recipes that were chosen for each chapter - they looked fun and doable. In all, this is a well balanced text that fulfills its purpose of presenting food for today.

5 comments about Scarne on Card Tricks.

1. John Scarne is today perhaps best remembered as a leading authority on gambling scams and card cheats. However, in his prime, he was one of the best magicians in America. In the late 40s, as stated in the Introduction, Scarne decided to gather for magicians a set of card tricks involving no sleight-of-hand. The result is "Scarne on Card Tricks". The 155 effects in the book range from quick tricks and puzzlers to more elaborate card demonstrations. All of the effects are attributed to either the originator of the effect or to a magician who used the effect frequently. The book clearly bears Scarne's unique genius not only in the selection and variety of effects, but in Scarne's improvements of the original effects. There is no doubt that anyone can put together a most entertaining routine with the material in this book. Two words of caution. First, the copyright of the book is 1950 and so some of the patter is clearly dated and needs to be revised for contemporary audiences. (Patter is the words or story that accompany the effect.) Second, because the effects are easy to do when practiced, there is a tendency to perform the effects before fully thought out. For every hour learning the basic effect itself, two hours should be spent on how to present it in an entertaining and interesting manner. The book itself, however, remains one of the very best in card magic. Scarne's work clearly stands the test of time. Frankly, the book is a steal at the published price. I bought two copies because I knew I'd wear one book out. I did. The book is that useful.



2. This is the definitive collection of non sleight-of-hand (you don't have to be quick with your hands) card tricks. I bought my first paperback copy in 1974 when I was still a schoolboy. Some of the tricks are easy but astounding, such that I've memorised two of them and have amazed my friends over the years until now. Since then, there hasn't been any other card trick manual that can beat this one, to the best of my knowledge.



3. Many magicians own the Classic book "Scarne on Card Tricks." But it is said if you want to keep a trick a secret, put it in print! Most of what's in Scarne on Card Tricks is no doubt a complete mystery to most laymen--and many magicians! Its a great book for the card beginner.

   On the other hand, there's a lot of boring and tedious count-down stuff in there as well.

   The book is BIG--over 300 pages of carefully detailed effects. It can be a little overwhelming to someone the first time he picks it up. How do you separate the wheat from the chaff?

   Best, in my view, are the tricks that can be done TOTALLY impromptu, with very little or no stacking, when a deck is shoved into your hands and somebody says "Do a trick!".

   Here are some of the effects that I have judged to be best, based on the above criteria:

   The Upside down Deck by Francis Carlyle
   Hit the Deck
   Scarne's Follow the Leader
   Cardini's Color Discernment
   Card on the Ceiling
   Card through the Handkerchief

   Of course, You Do as I Do is also a classic, though it is fairly well known among magicians.

   In short, a little work digging out the best tricks will make you a true card magician in most people's eyes, with enough practice and performing experience.




4. The book arrived fast & in great shape. My nephew loves it! He loves it so much that he had to have the Scarne book on magic.



5. I can only rate the service of the delivery and the accuracy of the description of the book. I haven't had a chance to read it yet.

5 comments about The Little Capoeira Book.

1. This book has been out for quite a while now and even now, in 2006 the book is still helpful. I'm new to the Capoeira lifestyle and reading this book has been extremely helpful in gaining more knowledge about the history as well as the many different movements involved with this awesome martial art.
   
   I definitely recommend this book to newbies and more seasoned capoeristas. I may be a little "slow" but while the illustrations are great, I got a little confused when trying to "flow" through the movements but by reading, you'll figure it out and they'll begin to feel right.
   
   Hope this helps...enjoy!



2. I grant I'm starting out but this book has amazing insight on the philosophy and moves. Reminding that creativity is as important as learning the moves that have come from those before us. He also gives exersies that can be done when a person can't get to the roda of his instructor/mestre. After this book I'm gonna have to read more books about capoeira as well as from Nestor cause he was able to explain more than I thought could be put in a book.



3. I found this book to be an entertaining and informative read which discusses the game of capoeira on many levels from the philosophy through to movements and drills. It's a well rounded book and I reccomend that you give it a read if you are interested in capoeira (and even in philosophy).



4. great read for people new to capoeira that want to have a more comprehensive review of the history, music, and game. also has an interesting review of a conference that discusses capoeira in US and Europe, which is very useful to read to learn about the different trends and mestres around. definitely recommend it!



5. I'll be perfectly honest. With my short attention span I have at times, I havn't done much in the way of practicing through the use of this book. But what I have practiced using it, I was able to figure out easily thanks to the diagrams and explanations in it. This book was also able to make me hold the interest I first had in Capoeria before finding it with the additional sections that talk about the styles history and the philosiphies behind the art.
   
   If you want a book on Capoeria that will hold your attention for a good long time, than you'll deffiantley want this one! Just don't assume that you'll be able to catch on to the style immediatley though, this book also proves that Capoeria isn't something you can pick up right away. ;D

4 comments about Ventrue: Lords Over the Damned (Vampire the Requiem).

1. I just got Ventrue: Lords Over the Damned in the mail. I haven't had time to read it yet, but I have flipped through it and the production values for the book are out of sight. It's very nice. I'm glad I pre-ordered the others in the series.



2. Maybe it's because it's a paperback that I thought this would be some cool text maybe a black and white drawing or two inside, but mostly just something interesting to have. I was totally blown away with the product. The premise is that's a journal of someone trying to put down some history of the Clan Venture. What they get is a lot of interviews from various vampires, including a very, very old one, very young ones, trailer park Ventrue and a dominatrix. Each has a different story to tell and all these stories end up painting a fascinating picture of the clan. And there's a murder mystery wove through the book to keep it feeling fresh, like you're reading something that is happening now. And I can't say enough about the artwork. All full color, beautiful paintings of old and young vampires. My only complaint is that it should be hard cover! I think I'll buy another one, so I use the heck out of this one and keep the other one pristine!



3. The White Wolf writers are fond of pointing out the characters haven't read the books. With this, that is no longer true. Apart from the appendix, this is written completely in-game. There is no prologue fiction. There is a brief introduction from the in-game author to the mysterious person who decided to compile it. The first chapter is on the origins of the Ventrue. On the one hand, it gives essentially one, clear explanation for the origin of the Clan, how it differed and separated from Rome and the Julii, and the origin of the name Ventrue. On the other hand, the origin is firmly encased in human mythology. It is an explanation the Ventrue can and do believe, teach their neonates, and use to explain various aspects of the Clan. But gamers that wanted an explanation that can stand without mythology don't get one.
   
   The second, much larger chapter is about the culture of the Clan, from a wide variety of angles and without exactly clear and concise descriptions. It is a collection of stories from Ventrue about the Clan, interviews with Ventrue that do, do not and really do not fit the stereotype of Lords. There are a couple of mad conspiracy theories and a contribution from a would-be saboteur dealing with Ventrue that drag the nickname Lord in the mud. There is an excellent essay on how the Ventrue manipulate the mortal world. The arrogance and madness of the Clan really comes through. They claim to have stood behind every successful ruler in Europe. It also explains Malkavia, which takes the idea of a sub-group of Ventrue that are mad but still operational and gives it a unique spin.
   
   The technical stuff is covered in a short appendix. It introduces a new Bloodline and provides rules for using the Discipline that Malkavia allows access to. There are also some new merits and Devotions that fit the Ventrue. You don't need any book besides Requiem to understand this, but reading Damnation City's Lexicon and description of the neo-feudal system do come close to being required. There are references to many other Vampire books. Outside Vampire, World of Darkness: Asylum is a great fit with this book. The final technical aspect is the artwork. A White Wolf staffer commented on their forum that the artwork is the same, just in colour. He's wrong. Colour allows things that cannot be done in black and white, and the artists have taken full advantage.
   
   From a Storyteller perspective, I think the contents are mostly for roleplaying and character providing. It should provide more depth no matter how well the Ventrue have been played. Also, there are stacks of in-game characters that the PCs now know by reputation. In fact, there are several systems explained in the book for Ventrue being known by various aliases, so the PCs may later learn that their allies or mentors are mentioned or even interviewed in it. Obviously, as an in-game document, there are no plot hook sidebars. Personally the information seems too vague to use as plot hooks without considerable development.
   
   It's the book itself, as an in-game artifact, that provides stacks of options for the improvising Storyteller. After a player mentions it at the table, have his character dragged before some notable city figure. "This was distributed exclusively for Ventrue elders, how did YOU get it?" This book really emphasises the paranoid nature of vampires and specifically Ventrue, and what better way to bring in that theme than by the in-game reactions to the book? The political firestorm in the city should be massive - and probably way out of proportion to whatever was said about or by a prominent city figure in the book.



4. I find myself wondering where I should start the review for this product. Do I talk about the amazing art and the sudden change to color or do I discuss the mechanics or lack thereof? The book has great qualities but they seem to be obfuscated by an alarming number of bad qualities.
   
   The art is simply beautiful. Many of the pictures really bring to life the imagery of what is being discussed in the text. I found myself looking at the art like it was a coffee table book.
   
   Like older white-wolf clan books, nothing in this book is in stone. The book is masterfully put together to create an illusion that the book you are reading is a compilation of a vampires years of investigative work. If this is the design that white -wolf was going for, it worked. The book does feel like a collection of works from a historian. Even the art and page layout gives the impression of a work is progress.
   
   The writing is top notch and completely consistent throughout the paperback tome (an odd change from the normal hardcover) however the story seems to suffer from a major problem; it's unnecessarily contradictory to other white-wolf products and is in many places simply pedantic. Rather than having a clear cut story or an easy to understand account, we are given a rather boring ancient text that suggests that divine forces did not like a king and cursed him. After you get through page after page of this, you begin to wonder why you just did not make up your own history.
   
   If you have read Requiem for Rome, you most likely had questions on the Julii. After all they looked just like the Ventrue, minus the flaw. Are they Ventrue? Are they a new clan? Where did they come from? The Ventrue books slaps together some short hypothesis on the issue but does little more than what your gaming group could come up with in fifteen minutes. Yet another mystery unsolved.
   
   One of the new things added to this book is the Malkavians of the old game. Are they a new clan? No. Why? I don't know. Instead, they feel more like a "D&D template" that you apply to your vampire. It's a disease that can be spread and it is causing fear throughout the vampire community. I'm not going to lie, the Malkavians seem interesting and they have many plot devices, however, they would have been much more appealing as a bloodline or (heaven forbid) a new clan. Having them be a "D&D Template" that you apply to your vampire seemed a little forced, even in the text. (More on their Discipline later)
   
   If you have been wondering why the Ventrue are considered the lords of men and Vampires and why they have not been consistently overthrown by the Daeva, then unfortunately (to my great surprise) this book does not help. This leads me to Game Mechanics. I was hoping that after all these years; we would see some interesting Bloodlines and devotions for the Ventrue who consistently get little of both in all of white-wolfs books. This does not happen here.
   
   The first thing we are introduced to in the "crunch" section is the new bloodline called the Adrestio. They are without a doubt the most uninteresting bloodline I have ever read. With over 2000 years of the Ventrue history, we get a 20 year old bloodline that is an unprofessional (sex, drugs and rock n'roll) Ventrue that gets protean. At the very least, they could have tossed in a few other Ventrue bloodlines from the different ages. Very disappointing.
   
   Next we get Merits. The merits are both interesting and seem to add flavor to the Lords. Rather than going through all the different Merits that are here, I will say this. The merits are the best additions to this book. Not only are they easy to implement into your game, they also add many role play opportunities.
   
   The Devotions are fascinating but nothing that you would write home about. By the time you're done reading them you are not sure if you like them or you don't. The Devotions are not bad, but they seem like an afterthought. I can see using any of them but not necessarily going out of my way to put them on my character sheet.
   
   The new Discipline is for the Malkavians. If you played the old game then you know what this power is. Dementation, is a mixture of Nightmare and Dominate with a unique flare to it. If your PC's aren't crazy yet, they will be.
   
   Summery:
   Is the book bad? No. Ventrue Lords over the Damned does what it set out to do. It has unknown history mixed with fun vampire interviews with eccentric elders and unique individuals. The problem with the book is that really there isn't much more there. Where amazing opportunities could have been grasped by the writer in describing the Ventrue, I continuously wondered why other vampire did not simply wipe the Ventrue out. They were weak and really have not proved that they are Lords of anything.
   
   Then when we get to the "crunch" section, I find nothing but cobwebs and an "IOU". I understand that this book is supposed to be an information supplement but...really? Nothing at all to distinguish the Ventrue from other clans? Wow.
   
   In closing, I will say this. If you like the Venture you may be disappointed in this book. It just doesn't have the kick that was really needed for them. If on the other hand, you are indifferent about the Ventrue, you may like this book. There is a lot of usable material that can be placed in your game right now. I for one am going to use very little from this book.

5 comments about Win with the London System.

1. I have to admit, that I have never played the London system before buying this book. This is the book I don't want my opponents to read. This book consists of two sections. The first one contains 30 games where white is using the London system. I can see that some claims that it is illogical that in all of the 30 games, white is winning. My friends, this is not a repertoire book written for black side, but for the white side. Each game is ended with a summary lesson. It simply describes what is best for white. The second part of the book is the analytic section. The analysis of each variation is described easy, clear and not to deep. That's why I think it is brilliant to split the analytic section and the games section. I would like to se more repertoire books like this one. "Win with the London system" should be a part of every players white repertoire, especially for the "1.d4 player".



2. I must agree with other fellow reviewers on this one. The book about London is truly excellent book. Young Sverre Johnsen is gifted explainator and, I could say very good narrator of whites discussed strategies, and GM Kovacevic had been a guarantee of line viability and profound knowlege of the opening as its greatist practisioner in last 4 decades of playing it. I myself had been an avid spectator at Solin 2001 tournament (I live in Split which is 6 km apart) where he played a game Kovacevic-Kozul (Kozul is current european chess champion for 2006) and he crushed Zdenko Kozul with 2.Lf4 in under 30 moves (i think).
   I reccomend warmly this book, and it may especially be good to black french players because of its familiar pawn structures.
   P.S. If u dont know the caliber of Vlado (Vlatko) Kovacevic, just watch his game vs Bobby Fischer at Zagreb 1971, where he beats Bobby with french defence. It was a shocker that year.



3. My criteria for recommending or not recommending a books is rather simple. I ask myself would I replace this book if I should lose it. The answer to this book is a definite yes. I currently own 3 books on the London System and find this one to be the most informative. In their book the authors treat the London much like the Colle except white has the problem of his queens bishop solved. The second player really has nothing to fear from this system unless he allows white to completely dominate the diagonal from f4 to b7 uncontested. Once black has eliminated the troublesome bishop blacks game is pretty much straight forward. Whites game plan usually involves getting a quick kingside attack going before black can counter on the queenside. Its a good opening for white but does incur the risk of leaving the queenside vulnerable. I recommend this book highly, mostly for the class c player.



4. I have added the London System to my opening repertoire because I want to use it as a surprise weapon. If I know my opponent plays a nice line vs my other white opening system, (the English). I can play this as a change of pace.
   
   Even if you are an 1.e4 player, you can take up the London as a change of pace. There are some basic positional plans in the London and this book covers them. It is not the strongest opening for white, otherwise you would have Super GMs playing it all the time. But it is not as bad as it's reputation. So if you want to play the London this is the book to get!



5. I've been playing the London as a complete repertoire for White for almost 2 years now. The is perhaps the only book a tournament player needs on the London and I haven't been this excited about a chess book in quite some time. Most opening books (in my view) contain WAY too many variations, annoying sidelines, and simply do a poor job of explaining concepts in a digestible fashion. This book is different. It starts out with a brief but clear explanation of the opening. Then it has 30 annotated London games where White won. This is the section I'm reading now and it's outstanding. There's plenty of clear prose to explain the ideas and pretty much all of Black's replies are covered. Furthermore, most of the games are from non-GMs, giving realistic positions that you will see in actual tournament play. That's a crucial point in my view.
   
   The second part of the book is the "analytical section." Here, there are lots of variations and sidelines that I typically find laborious, but it doesn't matter. After skimming this section, I feel you can play over the main lines, and just look at the variations as needed. Looking at the 30 annotated games alone should help tremendously. I'm halfway through them and my copy is already highlighted and dogeared a great deal! If you play the London, this book is worth it's weight in gold.

5 comments about THE BEST and Worst of Thoroughbred Racing.

1. I have a very large collection of books on thoroughbred racing. They cover the gamut from owners to breeders to trainers to jockeys to players. I thought I knew pretty much all there was to know about this sport and its athletes. This books was a pleasant surprise in that in the first twenty pages I found new information on horses I had read what I thought were complete biographies about. I would recommend this book to anyone new or old to this sport. It will give you an "inside" view of what these beautiful creatures go through on their journey to become champions.



2. I read Steve Davidowitz's "Professionals Guide" a few years ago and it ranks as one of my all-time favorite handicapping books. His latest release, "The Best and Worst", once again hits the mark as an excellent and informative read.
   
   "The Best and Worst" isn't a handicapping book but instead is more of a history lesson of thoroughbred horse racing as seen through the eyes of one of the sports best players. Davidowitz covers a vairety of topics such as "The Best Jockeys", "The Greatest Upsets", "The Worst Disqualifications", and many, many more. For the most part, Davidowitz examines each of these topics from his own vast experiences within the game and as a result he brings life to the discussion of each topic. Davidowitz doesn't give a stale account but many times is able to weave a fascinating personal story about an individual or an event.
   
   Davidowitz has a very friendly and easy-going writing style that allows the reader to immediately become immersed in the book. In "The Best and Worst", Davidowtiz doesn't claim that his rankings are the final authority on the subject of best jockeys, trainers, etc. Although to a reader with the knowledge of his considerable experience within the game, it is hard not to come to that conclusion.
   
   If you are a die-hard horse racing fan and want to relive some of the great moments of the sport, you will enjoy this book. If you are a causal fan of the game, you will enjoy this book. And if you know nothing about horse racing at all but are interested in learning more about the sports history, I think you will enjoy this book.
   
   In the end, "The Best and Worst" is a wonderful account of many of the important events in horse racing history, most of which were experienced first hand by the author. Davidowitz has once again written a book that will stand alone on the book case of any horse racing fan.



3. As the writer will admit himself, this book is designed to get people thinking and starting their own debates. It's a great place to start in that respect. There is much here that leaves you nodding in agreement or shaking your head in disagreement, but either way racing fans will enjoy reading Davidowitz's opinions and stories behind them, then making your own judgements on the topics he opens. The book is a good read that will keep you jumping from chapter to chapter.



4. Author does a good job of relating to all the best and worst horses, owners, trainers and jockeys. Probably could have done a little more on the "worst" but all in all very well done. A good read!



5. another great read for anyone who is a horse racing fan and would like to know about the sport...

4 comments about Geometric Puzzle Design.

1. Coffin does it again, with the quintessential wooden puzzle builder's guide. If you're fortunate enough to have previous works by Stewart, keep in mind that this is an updated version, so a lot will be repetitive. Then again, if you have the previous version, you're probably a Puzzle Junkie, in which case the updates alone are probably worth it.
   If I were going to be stuck on a desert island...and there were trees, and I had a knife and a sharpening stone...then this would be the One Book I'd want.



2. Written by veteran woodworker and expert wood puzzle designer Stewart Coffin, Geometric Puzzle Design is a one-of-a-kind guide to creating intriguing, three-dimensional wooden puzzles. Special techniques for creating oddly shaped small puzzle pieces accurately and safely, recommendations for drafting one's own original designs, mathematical concepts that can be applied as engineering tools, and much more fill this original craftsman's manual. A "must-have" for intermediate to advanced woodworkers seeking to create truly brain-teasing gifts.



3. This book covers a large number of puzzle designs, most due to the author. Most of these puzzles have become sought-after classics. The puzzles are mostly 3D interlocking burrs, but there also included are 2D designs, sliding block puzzles, and non-interlocking 3D puzzles. The author also talks about how to build puzzles, characteristics of wood, etc.
   
   I am not a puzzle builder, but enjoyed the book immesely. The author is an excellent writer and his musings about symmetry and general design considerations I found fascinating. Solutions in general are lacking and much is left to the ingenuity of the reader to keep the mystery of solving these puzzles fresh.
   
   Although you can download a pdf copy of this book for free, I enjoy the physical copy for perusal. Highly recommended.



4. as a long time collector and producer of wooden puzzles is this new puzzlebook an absolute Must for every puzzle interested people; although I have all Coffin`s former editions this new review about his designs is usefull for collectors as well as for producers of puzzles;

5 comments about Sims 2 Pets (Prima Official Game Guide).

1. The Prima Guides for Sims 1 were packed with information that wasn't easy to find in-game. I consider those guides almost essential -- and fun, too!
   
   The writing style of the Sims 2 Prima Guides is completely different. It is too "chatty and chummy" and meanders around before actually getting to a point. And it doesn't actually seem to make many gaming points! They seem to want to talk about the game, and be cool, rather than actually assist players.
   
   I find the writing and formatting styles so distracting that I can't actually read this guide without my mind wandering off. It is difficult to locate information I need. And it doesn't really tell me much that I can't easily find on my own while playing.
   
   I have the Pets guide, the Nightlife guide, and the basic Sims2 guide. I bought them all at the same time. Otherwise, if I'd gotten one, then others, I wouldn't have gotten others!



2. Helpful with cheats for the new add on but also has some info about the basics.



3. This really doesn't have enough information on game cheats and strategy in my opinion for the money. I think they should just give these away with the purchase of the game.
   
   Also, this book has no index. Which really makes it difficult to find specific information. This was the first guide I've bought for my Sims 2 games and will be the last.



4. This has been a long waited chapter in the saga of the Sims and it certainly is not disappointing. The only thing is that there are some glitches in purchasing clothes downtown but whether or not that is in the game itself or my memory getting full I can not say but for entertainment value The Sims 2: Seasons can not be beat



5. I read the guide to pets, it was some help, it gave the basics of the pets expansion pack. I was expecting a little more.

5 comments about World of Warcraft Official Strategy Guide.

1. It has everything you need to understand how to start a new character and get around the world of Azeroth. There were lots of good pointers on how to play the different races, the different classes and what servers would be best for your gameplaying style.



2. The guide is a good start for someone who has no idea about WOW. It gives details about what you should do as a beginner.
   
   For those who are already familiar with the basic stuff, this is still good as you can take this as a reference guide and use it whenver you need it.



3. For first time players you should invest in this book. It was a world of help to me. Have fun!



4. If you're very new to World of Warcraft, and have no access (or awareness) of the multiple websites that provide a lot of info and other guides to playing the game, this book would be useful for you. There are maps of most of the original WoW (not expansion) areas, as well as names, level info, and quest info. There's also some information on each class and race (again, not expansion).
   
   Again, there are websites that has every bit of info that this book has, and in a more updated state, but this book still is a good adjunct to that.
   
   Of course, if you haven't bought anything yet, I strongly recommend buying the battlechestWorld of Warcraft Battlechest, since you get this book, as well as 2 games, and the expansion guide with it. Just realize that I don't care for the expansion guide, but since anyone buying this guide is likely new to WoW, by the time they get to the expansion, they won't need the expansion guide anyway.



5. This is a great book for telling you who is in what village and that besties there are in what area. But that is where it ends. It does give information on the races, classes, and professions, but it is nothing that you couldn't get for free on the many websites out there for WoW.