2 comments about Perelman's Pocket Cyclopedia of Cigars 2008 edition.

1. This guide has plenty of info on Cigars but it would be better if there were pictures of each brand. I bought this book as a gift for a "beginner" Cigar lover and although he uses the book often, we have found other sources more helpfull in learing about and trying new and different types of Cigars.



2. This book has proved somewhat helpful. Especially when looking for specifics. Would buy again.

5 comments about Anna in the Tropics.

1. Winner of the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Anna in the Tropics recreates the Cuban-American community in Ybor City, Florida, in 1929,with its color, its cockfights, its close relationships, and its love of romance. Santiago and his wife Ofelia own a cigar factory, where the sometimes illiterate workers roll cigars and, to keep from becoming bored, hire a "lector" to read to them. Romantic stories spice up their lives, and since they have finished Wuthering Heights, they now look forward to a new novel, Anna Karenina, read by a new lector, Juan Julian.
   
   Conchita, one of the workers whose marriage with Palomo has grown stale, soon finds herself reenacting Anna Karenina, as she has a passionate affair with Juan Julian, and then tells Palomo about it. Marela, daughter of Santiago and Ofelia, also fantasizes about Juan Julian. Reality intrudes on romance, however, when Santiago's gambling on cockfights results in partial ownership of the factory going to Cheche, his half-brother, who now wants to introduce machines to speed up production. He also wants to eliminate the lector, to the workers' further dismay.
   
   In language that is often lyrical and sometimes fanciful, the action unfolds, with discussions evolving about the nature and importance of literature, the enduring values of their culture, the importance of love, and the possible effects of "progress" on traditional values. The characters, though not fully drawn and sometimes too obviously following plot lines of Anna Karenina, are, nevertheless, interesting and unusual as they try to do the best they can during trying times. To celebrate their happiness with the story of Anna Karenina, they decide to create a new cigar in her honor, and to have Marela serve as the model for the cigar box, but their happiness is as fragile and temporary as the idea of a "family" of workers making cigars without machines.
   
   When disaster strikes, it affects the entire factory, and the characters must decide to what extent it is possible to remain in a fantasy world when reality has reared its ugly head, and to what extent it is possible to hold on to the past when the survival of the factory may depend on progress. The obvious themes, their rather thin development, and the plot lines which parallel Anna Karenina show playwright Nilo Cruz's desire to give significance to this tragedy, though the characters do not develop fully on their own. Unique and unusual in its approach, however, the play beautifully captures a time and place in history. Mary Whipple



2. I haven't seen a production of this play, so I'm judging only by the quality of the text on the page. As stated by a few other reviewers here, the play is just very predictable. Characters are narrowly drawn and perform like puppets used by the playwright to make a point about how the world is about to change from one that is warm and vital to one that is harsh and mechanized. Not exactly breaking new ground here, so it's odd the play earned a Pulitzer Prize. Maybe the production adds nuances that the written text just doesn't have (a good director can make even modest material come alive.) This play felt contrived and agenda-driven, not in a hugely in-your-face way, but more in a piece-of-fluff way. I can't imagine it surprised the author as he was writing it - which isn't good - and it probably won't surprise anyone reading it. It's old news and a bit tired.



3. Living near McCarter Theater in Princeton my AP English class got to go see a production of this play while it was still being work-shopped for Broadway.
   Afterwards, my teacher asked what we all thought, of course first stating that she loved it so that all of the "favorite" students knew which opinion to take.
   They all raised their hands and said they loved it to, however, no one could say why. Why not? Because everyone hated it.
   I was the first to open the flood gate.
   "I thought it was ridiculous. It has no real substance to the plot."
   "That's because the language is the point"
   "Well the language is the worst part. Why would poor factory workers speak in absurdly flowery metaphors? Especially ones that stupid ('Does the bicicle miss the boy?')?"
   My teacher flipped out at this.
   "You don't understand! That's what literature is all about! Metaphors!"
   The woman, asides from being a gigantic b**ch, was merely blinded by what reviews had told her to think and by her crush on Jimmy Smitts.
   A month later, the New York Times, reviewed the play after its Broadway premiere. They said pretty much exactly what I thought. I was going to bring the review into class, but why bother? The woman already hated me.
   
   PS. One earlier reviewer discussed how it was impossible to determine from the production the the daughter was raped. During a Q&A afterwards, Emily Mann stated that they were having problems deciding how to show this. I agree with the reviewer that they clearly didn't come to a good solution.



4. I saw a university perform it and it blew me away! I saw the reviews and pictures for the broadway production and I feel that the more professional version is not doing the play justice as UTEP did. I still think that it is a beautiful well, written play.



5. Given that most plays should be seen and not read, this play is, for contemporary drama, refreshingly ambitious. It takes on the question of the transformative nature of art in life. Art gives dignity: These people, after all, roll cigars. But in a world of dignified work, they dress to come to work, take pride in their craft, and spend their days listening to performances (like those attending the play, right?), analyzing characters and plot and performers. To be displaced by a machine is not only to lose the craft of their work--the hand-rolled fine cigar displaced by the MacStoagie--but to lose, in the din of tending the machine, the opportunity to listen to performance. Is the bottom line more important than art? The symbolism may be heavy-handed, but the dramatist, after all, must work quickly to make his point. Shakespeare it ain't, but I found it refreshing to read a play with aspirations to lofty content.

5 comments about Cigars, Whiskey and Winning: Leadership Lessons from General Ulysses S. Grant.

1. Very good read for anyone in management.
   Uses the Civil War memoires of U.S. Grant to illustrate management skills and practices.
   Very interesting. Excellent gift for men.



2. Kaltman has done the research for you and put it all in a great lesson by lesson format. Any leader can refer to this book for day to day operations.



3. Grant may have been a poor President, but he was a great General. This book expounds the leadership principles of his war years. Grant was not only decisive, but he could also admit to mistakes. His treatment of his fellow officers shows he was a born leader. In three years, he rose from being a store clerk to a four star general. He did this using his courage, common sense, and good decision making. Lincoln may have saved the Union through his political leadership, but U.S. Grant saved it militarily with his good leadership.
   
   This is a easy to read book. The book is in excess of three hundred pages, but most of the pages are not full. Some two hundred and fifty principles are detailed in the leadership of U.S. Grant. Too bad Grant did not use some of these principles in his Presidency.



4. I've never been a fan of "lessons" books and here is yet another. There are some interesting and informative quotes of/from Grant, but the lessons are, at best, better than average for such a book. -- Louis J Sheehan



5. This book is a quick read. I particularly enjoyed the author's focus on Grant's ability to react, adjust and adapt. Staying away from Grant's presidency was a good idea until the end. Even then, the author contrasts Grant's leadership style as a General to President and why he failed (at least historically) as a politician. What I didn't like about the book was the lack of reference to God. I understand that not everyone is firmly rooted in "the Word", but its absence leads to more questions...at least for me. Overall, thought provoking, mildly insightful and interesting. I heartily recommend Lee's Leadership Lessons. It is the best book of this style I have ever read.

5 comments about Cigar Companion (Connoisseur's Guides).

1. It's a nice read for anyone starting in Cigars, or even if you started a while back but want to know more about the lore and the background of big cigar companies. It's a real basic fast read of cigar information, history and making (nothing special, just the basics). It tries hard to cover all of the basis, that's why it got a 3 and not a 2.
   
   But as reported earlier, it need more advance or detailed information. They could of put some of their Cigar 101, like info on the beetle, and how to deal with it; The counterfeit gallery etc... But instead, a lot of the book sounds like a sales pitch, saying cigar's are good, these popular peoples smoke cigars etc... (actually that list of Hollywood peoples smoking is repeated twice, and we got a photo gallery of them, so they are listed 3 times).
   
   1st, I never started smoking cigars because it's cool or a Hollywood star is smoking, I DON'T CARE!
   2nd, They try to hard at some point, it feel like a propaganda book, and when they give you facts, one is cautious of the Bias of these so called "facts".
   
   All in all, a nice quick propaganda book with some basic cigar information.



2. Excellent book for beginners and people who wants to know more of the world of cigars



3. I bought this thinking it would be a good reference and tell me something about all the different brands of cigars, but I don't find any value in it whatsoever. I feel like the author wanted a quick buck so he cut and pasted alot of crap from back issues of his magazine into this book so he could sell the same opinions twice. In addition to that, the brands discussed are very limited and only a few examples from each are featured. Take my advice: I realized that it is dumb to buy any book that claims to lists different types /brands/shapes of cigars because the information is always changing - look on the internet at cigar sellers' websites and cigar makers' websites, where you will find everything you need.



4. Great book with loads of info. Great for the beginner just getting into cigars for the first time. Very helpful backround info on the brands as well as tips on storing, buying, and lighting. A great book all around.



5. I bought this book to replace one by the same title and was dissapointed that it bears no resemblance to the 3rd edition that I had lost. While it is a handsome book, I was ultimately disappointed. What was a clear and concise review of many cigars widely available has become a very limited survey of a few cigars many of which are not easily obtainable. Most frustratingly, the reviewers will describe a certain stick as "the best of this manufacturer" and then go on to review a different offering from the same company without further reference to the cigar they deemed the most desireable. While the section on rare cigars makes for an interesting read, this seems more like a book for cigar admirers rather than one for buyers and smokers. I had hoped to find a book to help me make informed buying decisions. I plan to buy the 3rd edition-used!

5 comments about Vietnam Zippos: American Soldiers' Engravings and Stories (1965-1973).

1. My hippie Dad loved it! He is a history buff and had not heard of this practice!



2. It is a shame and a pity that such an impressive book should reflect such a travesty in crediting. What does Ms. Buchanan have to do with the Vietnam Zippo? There is ample evidnce that it was the focus of Mr. Edwards' attention for many years. Yet he is relegated to a minor participant in the book itself! Anyone who closely examines the book can see the truth - it is self-evident. Apparently, Ms. Buchanan's massive ego overshadowed her sense of justice - she, as the publisher in fact, decided to not even share the authorship with Mr. Edwards. Othewise, it a near perfect book - striking graphic design - highest quality photographs - excellent essays and thorough research. Life can be unfair.



3. A touching compilation of soldiers who served in Vietnam and the history of Zippos in the Army. Full of color pictures: numerous Zippos dipictaing pictures, unit slogans, witty banter, and more. A must read for anyone who wants to connect with history.



4. The Vietnam War had many facets for those who served in that theatre of military combat from 1965 to 1973. One of the unique memorabilia associated with the conflict were the Zippo brand cigarette lighters that were ubiquitous among the American troops. Drawing from the collection of Bradford Edwards, Sherry Buchanan (an independent scholar, author, and expert on both Asian and Vietnamese contemporary art, history and culture) has created "Vietnam Zippos", a volume of images of Zippo brand lighters used and personalized by members of the American armed forces. Zippos lighters were visible associated with the burning of grass huts as part of search-and-destroy missions, they were used as engraved symbols of social protest, and often became a kind of talisman for American GIs during their hazardous tours of duty in that increasingly unpopular conflict. Beginning with a Timeline that begins in 1965 and ends in 1990 (when Vietnam Zippos were sold to tourists at Saigon Street Stalls), "Vietnam Zippos" is a fascinating and specialized military cultural history that is a unique and recommended contribution to the growing library of Vietnam War histories, biographies, and scholarly studies.



5. While reading this extraordinary and unique book it is obvious that Edwards put the time and effort into this project and Buchanan packaged it. Yet Buchanan seems to want all the credit. She alone is listed as the author, but what did she actually do? She wrote a distant and dry essay - well written no doubt, but what exactly is her relationship to this fascinating object called the Vietnam Zippo?
   
   Judging from the lively discussion below on this page, Buchanan was, in fact, the publisher with the power to manipulate the crediting. It appears that Edwards' role was greatly diminished and he was relegated to the person who just provided the collection. Apparently another sad example of an artist being taken advantage of - there must be a back story here and it probably isn't pretty. What a shame this situation is considering what a finely crafted book it is.

No comments about Havana Before Castro: When Cuba was a Tropical Playground.

5 comments about Cigars of the Pharoah (The Adventures of Tintin).

1. This fourth installment in the Adventures of Tintin stories has a lot going for it. Besides possessing the perfunctory Tintin suspense and drama, this story marks the debut of the Thompson twins (les Duponts in the original French) and the nefarious Rastapopoulos, billionaire, movie tycoon, and ... well, y'know, general evildoer guy.
   
   Unique to this adventure is Dr. Sophocles Sarcophagus, the somewhat sanity-deficient Egyptologist whom Tintin encounters on a ship at the beginning of this story. This character is a textbook example of Herge's wonderful background characters, who proliferate in nearly every Tintin tale (the most notable exception being Tintin in Tibet, but I digress). A wonderfully memorable scene in Cigars of the Pharaoh is that in which Tintin learns to converse with elephants. The ending is something of a cliffhanger, causing the suitably hooked reader to experience an almost maniacal need to get his/her hands on The Blue Lotus!
   
   A final comment: it is interesting to note that in redoing this story long after the completion of its original version, Herge has included a reference on page 1 to Marlinspike (Captain Haddock's family estate; Haddock and the house did not appear in the series until the later adventures The Crab With The Golden Claws and Red Rackham's Treasure). It's unlikely that Herge neglected to realize the continuity problem, but is this simply an indication of his having a bit of fun? Who knows? It's curious, anyway!



2. Cigars of the Pharaoh is an early volume in a series of graphic novel adventures starring the fictional international reporter Tintin, a young man who ends up solving mysteries rather than reporting news.
   
   In this installment Tintin and his talking dog Snowy are taking a quiet holiday cruise where they meet an absent-minded scholar, a movie producer, and the twin Thompson brothers detectives. Arrested by the Thompsons because someone planted heroin in his room Tintin jumps ship in Port Said and bumps into the professor.
   
   He agrees to help the professor seek out a hidden Egyptian tomb. When they find the tomb, it is full of mummified archaeologists and cases of curiously labeled cigars. Then they are drugged and captured and put on a ship.
   
   A series of escapes and captures keeps the story exciting as Tintin keeps running into the professor, the Thompsons, and the movie producer, while running from an international gang of smugglers and making his way from Egypt to India.
   
   Eventually, he solves the mystery of the Cigars of the Pharaoh, while portraying the various populations of this part of the world without patronizing them. An exciting adventure that continues in a second volume called The Blue Lotus.
   
   This series is great at portraying the world between the two great wars in a way that is simple yet respectful. The adventures are well crafted and the color illustrations are sumptuous in detail.



3. Herge, The Cigars of the Pharaoh (Methuen, 1934)
   
   The Cigars of the Pharaoh was the beginning of Tintin's adventures leaving, at least for the big picture, the realm of the episodic and getting into big story arcs with returning characters (this is the book that introduces Thomson and Thompson, who would become two of the series' most beloved characters). The adventure itself still has much of the episodic feel one tends to find with things that are serialized, with lots of mini-cliffhangers and miraculous escapes, but this is where Herge really started to find his feet; it's still early work, and reads like early work, but it's good early work. ***



4. This adventure of Tintin's is a fair bit of fun as he arrives in Port Said and runs around with Doctor Sarcophagus as he looks for the tomb of a particular pharaoh.
   
   Finding it, there are a few more recent mummies contained therein.
   
   Throw in a film crew, some nogoodniks, and a firing squad for Tintin. Snowy is set to be sacrificed to Siva, as well, for some reason.



5. First published in Le Petit Vingtième between 8/12 1932 and 8/2 1934. The book appeared in 1934 . Redrawn in 1955. It was first published in English in 1971.
   
   
   A colourful and detailed adventure , Tintin and his dog Snowy meet up with an eccentric Egyptologist on a cruise , taking Tintin on a danger-filled adventure from Egypt to Arabia to India , in a hunt for whoever is behind the mystery of the Cigars of the Pharaoh , he is framed for heroin possesion , caught up in an Arabian war and sentenced to be executed , lost in the desert , locked up in a mental assylum in India , before being led to an international ring of drug trafficers. It is amazing the amount of detail Herge worked into these adventure comics.
   
   Many of us grew up on them and love them for the nostalgia value.
   I loved the animation in the underground Pharaoh's tomb, and the incredible dream sequence there.

5 comments about The Complete Idiot's Guide to Cigars, 2nd Edition (Complete Idiot's Guide to).

1. Very good book. The cigar newbie to novice can really benefit from reading it as it covers all the basics. Even some long time aficionados may learn a thing or two.
   I especially enjoyed the detailed information on the art of making a cigar. I didn't know just how much work goes into each cigar. It goes through an arduous journey from being a tiny seed to the finished product. It takes many years before the final product is ready for you to enjoy. A cigar is truly a work of art. An excellent book for all cigar lovers.



2. Book which wide open new cigar world for those who just start. Every aspects, like buying storing, ethic of smoking, history of making. EVERYTHING! Must have!



3. If I was an idiot this book would be usefull. I did learn a little from it and it is well written.



4. I would like to thank all the folks who have bought my book since 1997 and have placed my book as the top-selling cigar book on Amazon, and have made put me in the top 1/10th of 1 percent of all Amazon book sellers, in any category! I think this makes a statement about the enjoyment of cigars.
   
   The Celtics won the NBA title in 2008 and yes, you saw the players hoisting the trophy and puffing cigars. Just like Michael Jordan enjoyed a big stogie when the Bulls won back in the 1990s. The ultimate celebration is a cigar. No denying it. Readers: your reviews and comments reflect exactly what I had hoped from my readers -- a great primer for beginners, but enough content for more experienced cigar smokers who would like to know more about why they enjoy the cigars they enjoy. I couldn't ask any more than the reader who said the book offered a limited amount of information to him (he was a more experienced cigar lover) but that it was well written. If nothing else, I want it to be a fun and interesting read for you.
   
   Thanks to the greatest and largest publisher in the world, Pearson and Penguin, for wanting to re-up and come out with a second edition. I never would have imagined, but could only have hoped that despite all the negativity about smoking, the cigar, like the peace pipe of old, represents friendship and relaxation. Thanks, and happy puffing. - Tad Gage



5. This book provides an understanding of cigar tobacco production methods from planting to curing, the differences in cigar products, and why prices vary. The author provides a cigar rating system that is a must for those who try many types of cigars, and he is clear as to his own preferences and uses. You'll find everything you need to know about caring for and smoking cigars, and the accessories needed. And it's a quick read; though packed with information, the book can be read in a day.

5 comments about The Adventures of Tintin: Tintin in America / Cigars of the Pharaoh / The Blue Lotus (3 Complete Adventures in One Volume, Vol. 1).

1. Since I was a little boy I liked to read TINTIN's adventures. Years later, that habbit hasn't changed at all.



2. Many of us grew up on Tintin and love them for their great nostalgia value, and reminisces of childhood, as well as the brave values of a simpler, more clarified world of yesteryear.
   This volume brings together three of the best loved Tintin classics in one handy volume- and for not much more than the price of one.
   They are:
   Tintin in America
   1931 , and gangsters rule the streets of Chicago. It is up to intrepid European journalist Tintin and his dog Snowy to tackle Al Capone , Mr Smiles and other gangsters, taking him from Chicago to the Wild West where he dodges Indians and Cowboys , and back again.
   
   Cigars of the Pharoah
   
   First published in Le Petit Vingtième between 8/12 1932 and 8/2 1934. The book appeared in 1934 . Redrawn in 1955. It was first published in English in 1971.
   
   
   A colourful and detailed adventure , Tintin and his dog Snowy meet up with an eccentric Egyptologist on a cruise , taking Tintin on a danger-filled adventure from Egypt to Arabia to India , in a hunt for whoever is behind the mystery of the Cigars of the Pharaoh , he is framed for heroin possesion , caught up in an Arabian war and sentenced to be executed , lost in the desert , locked up in a mental assylum in India , before being led to an international ring of drug trafficers. It is amazing the amount of detail Herge worked into these adventure comics.
   
   Many of us grew up on them and love them for the nostalgia value.
   I loved the animation in the underground Pharaoh's tomb.
   Written in 1936 , The Blue Lotus is the sequel to the colourful Cigars of the Pharaoh. In the Cigars of the Pharaoh , Tintin has almost succeeded in smashing an international gang of drug traffickers , managing to capture all of them except the leader who mysteriously crashes over a ravine.
   His further investigations lead him to China , then under threat from Japanese agression.
   Tintin comes up against a madman infected with a dart that sends the recipient insane , enraged British colonists out for revenge after having been humiliated by Tintin and the Japanese army , with the chief villain of the piece being Japanese businessman Mitsuhirato.
   This album drew protest form the Japanese government of the time , and was praised by Chiang Kai Shek , President of the Republic of China.
   However, it was banned by China's Communist regime until 1984 , due to some of their own insane Maoist reasoning-and even then was still chopped up and heavily edited.
   Other albums having been banned by the Communist dictatorship in China where Tintin in Tibet (for recognizing Tibetan culture) , Tintin in the Land of the Soviets (for exposing Communism)and Tintin in the Congo ('Colonialist').



3. I have purchased these Tin Tin Volumes the last few years for both of my sons (12 and 8) for Christmas. I read them when I was younger, but their appeal is timeless. They read their own, swap and read their brother's, and around July, read them again. Great for quiet car rides or getting your kids off the computer and reading.



4. This is the main problem with all foreign comics: translation. In the original language you get all the word plays and jokes that don't really translate into any other language. Reading it in English doesn't transmit even half of the fun.



5. Brilliant! Bought the whole set of 7 books for the kids (aged 8 & 10) and they loved them. The format is smaller than I remembered from my childhood but the kids didn't care. They read them over and over again. They also loved the Calvin and Hobbs books.

5 comments about Zero Limits: The Secret Hawaiian System for Wealth, Health, Peace, and More.

1. Wow this was heavy. I have listened to the Secret Audio also. Positive affirmations are what I want in my life there is way too much negativity out there I'm tired of absorbing everYone else's stuff you learn to say I LOVE YOU.....................................
   Something you must listen to over and over again to absorb.



2. The day I received this book, I completed reading it--highlighter in hand. The content made sense to me. It fit into the larger picture or view I have of life, how we're all connected because, ultimately, we are only separated by our perceptions. As I did my morning walk the next day, I used the four statements about everyone and everything I saw. I touched and held the feeling that everything is a miracle. It was quite a walk. This is quite a book. The part about Inspiration and Intention is, alone, worth "the price of admission." And Joe Vitale . . . Thank you--for this and all the other remarkable things you share.
   
   Joyce Shafer, Author and Freelance Writing Services
   http://www.freewebs.com/editmybookandmore



3. I have read some of Joe Vitale's books and listened to many podcasts and interviews, which have some really excellent information in them. So when I ordered this book I was very excited, and excited to learn about anything spiritual and Hawaiian (I'm an ex-resident).
   
   This book at one point completely contradicted anything Joe mentioned in his Attractor Factor and The Key books. AT that point, he lost almost all credibility with me. I found some small red flags in the two previous books I just mentioned but this book just screamed that he will write or record anything to make money and doesn't care to get honest information out there to help anyone but himself. Truly disappointing. I felt like a "sucker" after reading this one.
   
   I don't know a lot about Ho'oponopono, but I honestly dont think that what was written in this book is the way of Ho'oponopono. If I were Joe I would be very embarrassed. There was the usual barrage of advertising his books and website throughout the book, as well as more websites and books to buy from other authors. I feel like I bought a book that was basically a bunch of advertisements for things I do not want, and information that is not correct. It made the red flags that popped up in his other books (and I do believe in the Law of Attraction and a lot of what he teaches in The attractor factor and the Key because I've studied other authors and practiced it myself for years) turn into giant alarms. Sadly, I think Joe is in it for himself to make money and to help his friends become rich also. Between buying his books and James Arthur Ray's books and products, I don't know who is the bigger con artist. I'm done with both of them. If you read either of their books, you will see that there are so many with the exact wordings that it makes you wonder who is copying whom?



4. I just couldn't put it down! I got the book last summer (2007) and I did not fines it, and I started reading it 3 day's ago and I just can't stop reading and now I'm reading it all over again.
   
   My first book from Joe was the Attractor Factor and next on was Life's Missing Instruction Manual and I really love that book! and now the Zero limits is blowing my mind with new things and life!
   
   thank you Joe



5. I like very much the experience of the doctor Ihaleakala Hew Len. This book gave me a real way to improve myself. I know about Ho'opono and it is differernt but I am looking forward tips to go further in my improvement