3 comments about Obssessed With... Hollywood: Test Your Knowledge of the Silver Screen (Obsessed With) (Obsessed With...).

1. Its a game, its a book, its just plan fun. YOu don't have to be obsessed with film, Hollywood or Brittany to enjoy this great find. More than a book, its a great parlor game. Any group- young or old will enjoy the multiple choice question and answer format of this clever book. Just open to any page- punch in the question and your answer selection from the A/B/C/D format. Now puch it into the handy elctronic gadget attached to the book. It will let you know if you are right or wrong and direct you to the next level question.
   Its most fun with a group- Maybe your lunch crowd. A great way to pass the time. Great conversation starter- leave it out on the coffee table for anytime fun.



2. Never mind Hollywood, you will be obsessed with this book. Be careful, because if you have a relatively advanced knowledge of movies and Hollywood lore, be ready to spend the afternoon flipping pages and answering questions. Very cool idea.



3. Obssessed With... Hollywood: Test Your Knowledge of the Silver Screen (Obsessed With) (Obsessed With...)
   
   I'm so glad I finally got this movie trivia book! I passed over this book a few times over the holidays, but now that I've finally gotten myself a copy and taken time to read it / play with it, I'm wishing I would have gotten this earlier. I definitely could have seen giving this as a gift to my fellow movie junkies. And I would have certainly enjoyed playing this myself some more if I would have gotten it earlier.
   
   This book is packed with very good film trivia questions, though not too difficult. Over my first couple of hours of playing I was at about %50. Definitely easy enough to keep my interest and challenging enough to joggle my memory.
   
   The lower right corner houses an electronic answer box that randomly gives you question numbers to flip to. You also use this box to answer questions, and it gives you instant feedback and tracks your accuracy.
   
   The book itself, while solid, could have been put together better. The bookstore had a few copies where the electronic answer box had broken free from the book. In addition, after playing for a while I've come to think the binding is too tight. A spiral binding would have made flipping through the questions easier.
   
   Regardless, the content is very good and this thing is surprisingly addictive. If you love movie trivia and want something fun to kill a few hours, this will do it.
   
   They've also got a similar book about Baseball which I also bought. Obsessed with...Baseball: Test Your Knowledge of America's Pastime (Obsessed With...) I would definitely look into this series for other topics. This may not be as cool for home use as some of the newer multimedia trivia games, like the various "Scene It" games Scene It? Movie Travel DVD Game. Still, this book is very portable and well designed with great content. At the price of around $16-$17, it's not a bad value.
   
   Definitely give this one a try.
   
   Enjoy!!!

5 comments about GURPS Basic Set: Characters, Fourth Edition.

1. 
   The "Gurps 4th Edition" just fixed all "Gurps 3rd Edition" weakness. The two books are so great. The color and hardcover look and feel are some big diference between the books and the the old versions.
   
   The bad comercial thing: are two books, and you need to have both if you want to be a Game Master.
   
   The "Characters Guide" have lots of resources to make a rich character and the "Campaigns Guide" have a good Game Master stuff.
   
   If you want to have some good RPG System, well, you need to buy "Gurps 4th Edition", but you need some time and practice, cause the game system is so rich, then the rules number is high.



2. An awesome upgrade to GURPS 3rd Edition. Full colored and illustrated book, some new rules added and some old rules banished, creating a better balanced and understandable system.
   Five stars again to SJG.



3. I have played GURPS since it first came out and I was shocked and horrified by this version. I can't believe people are raving about it. The new version barely addresses the problems of the previous one, is poorly laid out and hard to read, and many changes were made to parts of the game where there were no problems to address. There's none of the humor of Steve Jackson's original work. The book reads like a technical manual. Thank you, but I'll stick with the old version or switch to a different system.



4. Been a long time GURPS fan and I think the 4th edition is absolutely great.



5. Obviously, the person who one-starred this was just being an a-hole. There's no way one could look at this system and not consider it the best version of GURPS that has ever been released, but consider it one of the best, most realistic, and complete systems available today. Professional layout, excellent art, comprehensive rules, and overall polished game. The book and the rules are tight, and a lot of stuff is packed in its 300+ pages. From character creation (and the mind reels at all the possibilities) to actual play (subsystems, such as combat, are very realistic) GURPS 4th edition does not diappoint.
   
   If you want a "fun little game," then you might want to pick up the new version of D&D (my sympathy is with you) or the better d20 3.5 D&D. If you want a no-holds barred, shoot from the hip, do any genre (and do it well), realistic game system, then GURPS. You'll be glad you did.

5 comments about Bid Better Play Better: How to Think at the Bridge Table.

1. This book explains bridge in a simple manner and the information that my partner and I (she lives in Dallas and we play on Bridge Base Online) have utilized from this book has improved our game, and our understanding of it. It is in sync with the bridge lessons I have taken from my genious and excellent educator bridge teacher Bob Hinkle in Tucson Arizona.



2. Thank goodness Dorothy Hayden wrote this classic BEFORE " for Dummies" became the obvious title for any non-text book one might read to learn ANYTHING. Yet, that is really what this book is about. Reading (and practicing what you learn by reading) will indeed develop "card sense" where once there was very little (or none). After you have the basics of our amazing game in hand, this book can help you take another step toward mastery.
   
   If you're up on modern bidding methods, you'll feel a temptation to skip the "old" material on bidding. Don't do it. Unless you're expert enough to design a complete bidding system from earth, air, fire, and water; the presentation of the fundamentals herein will help you improve both your understanding of Standard American (or 2/1) biddng methods AND your grasp of the foundation of your own bidding methods (even if you bid differently). That foundation will help you intelligently incorporate (or reject) new methods as your personal biddng methods and style mature.



3. I was looking for a book without a lot of blather. This is it. It's straight forward and simple. I can sit down and read a particular section and get the idea quickly. No cute stories or long-range examples covering 50 years. I'm happy.



4. Dorothy Hayden Truscott's BID BETTER, PLAY BETTER has been in print for over twenty years, and no surprise. This is a generous and well-explained guide to correct evaluation of the hand, with an emphasis on "reading" what your partner and opponents are holding; Ms. Truscott excels in making us read the context of the bidding process. And this book offers sound strategies for the playing of the hand as well.
   
   This is not my very favorite book for rank beginners (in my opinion BRIDGE FOR DUMMIES by Eddie Kantar is actually quite good and more comprehensive), but it is really meant for developing players -- advanced beginners and intermediates. Those who would forego Ms. Truscott's no-nonsense prose style might instead consider S.J. Simon's WHY YOU LOSE AT BRIDGE. Like BID BETTER, PLAY BETTER, it deals with how not to form bad bridge habits or how to chuck them a-borning, but its take on bridge-playing is more social and Simon's prose style is appropriately quite droll.



5. Bid better play better is the most concise book to learn and understand the new bidding methods. Her original book was my guide to bridge playing and a teaching tool for many years. Now I use this edition as a bridge manual to bring intermediate players to the modern system. I only wish that there was a teaching manual to accompany this book.
   Marty Johnson, Suttons Bay Michigan

5 comments about Races of the Dragon (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying Supplement).

1. Remember how freakin' cool Lords of Madness was? The aboleth, the illithids, the FLESHWARPER? Even had "Innsmouth look"-style feats, so you could get your Call of Cthulu on with your 7th level druid what with the tentacles and the pseudonatural wild shape and all! MAN, it was COOL! Well, I felt great about finally getting Races of the Dragon, all hoping it would be half as awesome as Libris Mortis or Complete Adventurer and everything.... And... about half-way through this book I felt like I had just found a turd in my green salad.
   
   Everything magical is devoted to the Sword-of-Shanarra ripoff sorceror class, (and not a thing for wizards, HELLO???), the fleshgrafting rules contradict the rules in EVERY other book with Flesh grafting (Fiend Folio, Libris Mortis and Lords of Madness if you're counting), and the new races are just plain STUPID. And I do mean STUPID: "Hey, look at me, I'm a 'spellscale,' I LOOK like a freackin' purple elf with some painted junk on my face." But you know, for those of you who always wanted to play a kobold, now you get your shot, 'cause hey, they rack up in here, man, let me tell you. Oh yeah, and the art's not worth much, either. Don't even bother with the feats, they reek, too; MAYBE the spellcaster tactical feat that lets you do the really obvious "This time for sure!" spell-casting to hit a critter or overcome SR. It doesn't take a whole lotta brainpower to make the sorceror even dumber, and they did that much right.
   
   One good thing, an EXCELLENT thing, in fact: 7 new Power Word Spells. Of course, there are problems here, too. "Power Word: Pain" is, technically speaking, broken as hell: 1st level wizard spell that does 1d6 + 1d6 / round to one target; up to 4d4 rounds depending on current HP much like all Power Word spells. That's only first level if the damage is nonlethal, buddy; 2nd or 3rd at least.
   
   I'll let people take any of them, though, if they also spend spell slots on "Mighty Wallop" and "Greater Mighty Wallop", though -- I kid you not there are spells with those names in there. If you can cast either of them without laughing, you DESERVE "Power Word: Maladroit", too. I guess these guys wanted to make up for the purple painted elves by using a fancy word for "Clumsy." All in all, the weakest effort I've seen out of WotC so far, even worse than Weapons of Legacy. If you want to spend money on a D&D book, get Lords of Madness or Sandstorm, instead.



2. This is a great supplement on dragonic characters. While not too impressed with the spellscales and reborn dragon like creatures, I really enjoyed the handling of kobolds and their options. All in all, if you are an avid collector like me you will want this book for your collection. If you are not avid, then I would suggest hoarding your money :)



3. The highlight in this work is the nice elaboration of kobold culture. It helps show why the scaly, little munchkins are so interesting.
   
   The rest of the book is fairly lackluster.



4. What can I say, after reviewing this I gained a whole new respect for kobolds! Lots of good information about various dragon races and their psychology. Plus, I loved the new "Dragonborn" race.



5. First off, the Spellscales were a OK idea that went bellyup. The feats and spells almost completely geared towards sorcerers, and the Prestige Classes were uninspired. Slightly pricy, as well. All the book's faults would give it two stars - if I bought the book on these alone.
   
   But I didn't buy this book for the feats or the Prestige Classes. Fourth Edition is coming out, and all the rules in this book will be obsolete. So I bought it for the descriptions and depictions of the races.
   
   Specifically, I bought it for the Kobolds, and through them the book is redeemed. Their culture and psychology is explored and their propensity for evil examined. They aren't just Lawful Evil because they're monsters; they're Lawful Evil because they've decided to fight back against their oppressors - with trap and spear. The Kobold society, history and life are detailed here - who knew they shed? After reading it, I wanted to play as a Kobold. My only complaint with the section on them is that it is far too short - only 18 pages of Kobold delightfulness.
   
   There are a few other highlights as well - the Dragon-Descended are very interesting. In 3.5 a Draconic Kobold both negates a lot of his racial penalties and plays right into them being related to the Dragons. The Dragonborn are more interesting then other reviewers give them for, though they could use a little tweaking flavor-wise. For those who will still be playing 3.5 the Dracolexi and Dragon Devotee Prestige Classes are interesting.
   
   In short, if you don't love Kobolds or Half-Dragons, don't buy this book. You won't enjoy it at all. Buy something else. If you do love Kobolds and Half-Dragons, stop reading this review and BUY IT NOW!
   
   Long live the Dragon!

3 comments about The Brainiest Insaniest Ultimate Puzzle Book!.

1. Finally! A great puzzle book for kids that goes beyond word search and mazes! I've seen great logic and puzzle books for kids in Russian and was looking for something in English. I've asked every teacher and parent, I've search the web with every conceivable keyword - nothing. And then this book. My daughter (5.5 years) and I are spending many happy hours together. The right age, though, is probably 7+



2. This book was a big hit with my grandchildren. Lots of quick, fun puzzles that made us all think to get the answers.



3. My two 8-year-old girls enjoy this book but are not fascinated by it. The puzzles are a good level for kids of this age or a little older. Drawings are nice.

5 comments about Shibori: The Inventive Art of Japanese Shaped Resist Dyeing.

1. I knew this was "THE" book to have for shibori technique instructions. However, the very pleasant surprise was all the history of shibori! It would be fascinating even if I wasn't intending to learn the technique. The instructions are very clearly presented. I have already tried a couple of the techniques with very good results and I'm only a beginner!



2. Many detailed instructions on methods, very nice photos of works by some very talented artists both past and present. If you want to do shibori I would say this is a must have. If you are interested in the history of dyeing techniques this is a great text. I love it.



3. Excellent book!! If you study textile arts or just like tie-dyeing--I strongly recommend getting this book!



4. Fantastic. A though history of the art as well as detailed photos and explanations of techniques making it easy for you to review a technique and apply it to fabric.



5. I love this book! With the historical information, detailed illustrations and photographs this book is the perfect addition to my fiber library.

5 comments about Obsessed with...Baseball: Test Your Knowledge of America's Pastime (Obsessed With...).

1. Got this book for Christmas . . . was extremely excited . . . then I tried it . . . the multiple choice buttons didn't work . . . returned it to the store to discover they had no more copies . . . was anyone pleased with this item--anywhere?



2. Not happy with seller, it took over a week for them to let me know it was out of stock and would be a month until it was shipped.



3. Obsessed with...Baseball: Test Your Knowledge of America's Pastime (Obsessed With...)
   
   I have nothing but good things to report about this Baseball trivia book so far. I got this book after first getting and loving the one about Movie Trivia. Obssessed With... Hollywood: Test Your Knowledge of the Silver Screen (Obsessed With) (Obsessed With...) So far I have no complaints with either. I would only point out that the Baseball book has a lot tougher questions than the Hollywood book so it's a little harder to get into a groove with it. Also the stats here are only through the 2006 season or so, so just be aware they are not completely up to date for newer stats and players.
   
   This book is packed with very challenging baseball trivia questions, with a nice emphasis on the classic and modern eras. The electronic answer box worked just fine for me. The lower right corner houses the answer box that randomly gives you question numbers to flip to. You also use this box to answer multiple choice questions. It gives you instant feedback on correct and incorrect answers and tracks your accuracy.
   
   The book, while solid, could have been constructed better. This is pretty much the same impression I got from the Hollywood book. The electronic answer box can break away from the hardcover if you're not careful, and I spied a few in the bookstore with that issue. In addition, after playing for a while I've come to think the binding is too tight. A spiral binding would have made flipping through the questions easier.
   
   Regardless, the content is very good and this thing is surprisingly addictive. There is somewhat of a learning curve with this one, but if you love Baseball it's well worth the time.
   
   I would definitely look into this series for other topics. This may not be as cool for home use as some of the newer multimedia DVD trivia games, like the various "Scene It" games Scene It? Movie Travel DVD Game. Still, this book is very portable and well designed with great content. At the price of around $16-$17, it's not a bad value.
   
   Definitely give this one a try.
   
   Enjoy!!!



4. It hate it when people give something bad reviews due to price or availability like most of the early reviews did. That has nothing to do with the quality of the product people!!!!
   
   I love baseball trivia, and this seems like the perfect book. The little computer makes it more fun than having to page to the back many trivia books. With 2500 questions I hope it stays fresh for quite a while. It is great to use while on road trips as long as someone other than the driver is controlling the computer :-)



5. This book is a lot of fun for those of us who have been around a while. Educational for the young that love the history of baseball. Only wish there was one for Football.

2 comments about Immortal Fire: Field of Glory Greek, Persian and Macedonian Army List (Field Of GLory).

1. The Greek part of the Field of Glory series by Osprey. With their knowledge of the armies and the wonderful format that these come in, I highly recommend these. They are designed for 15mm to 28m miniatures and come with extras from the Elite series that Osprey publishes. Very well done and a good spend of money.



2. Field of Glory (FoG) is one of the most exciting historical wargames to come out in many years, bridging the gap between the older WRG-style games and Warhammer Ancients. Produced by Osprey Books, FoG features artwork from various Osprey titles and pictures of painted 15mm and 25mm miniatures, often in tabletop dioramas.
   
   IMMORTAL FIRE is a great addition to the FoG catalog, espceially given the recent rise in interest in the battle of Thermopylae and the campaigns of Alexander the Great, both spurred by quality motion pictures. All of the armies one would expect of this period are present: Hellenistic Greeks, Persians, Macedonians, Thracians, Scythians, Classic Indians, and other favorites. Each army has a full army list and most have simpler pre-built "starter" armies for those wanting to jump straight into action withoughspending too much money.
   
   My only complaint about this book, and the other army books, too, is the lack of historical background. Given that these books come from Osprey, I would expect a little more history, and this could be easily done without significantly increasing the size of the book. Not every historical wargamer has shelves of reference books or intimate familiarity with the period or its armies, and a little help for newer gamers would be well-advised.
   
   (The above complaint even extends into the fifth army book.)
   
   I would also like to see more pictures of full and painted armies formed into battle lines. That kind of stuff really catches a gamer's eye.

5 comments about The Ultimate Hidden Picture Puzzle Book (Take a Hidden Picture Challenge).

1. im sure the book is fine for those of us who can read. My 5 and 6 year old children(and myself) prefer the hidden picture books that show the pictures that need to be found, not in words, but actual pictures.
   
   thanks,
   amy



2. I bought this book for son. He was throughly pleased with it. He said it was the greatest!. The puzzles kept him entertained for hours with never any boredom.



3. This book is not for little kids-it is black and white no color at all, not what we expected at all. It is for children who like to color within the lines with thin markers and kids who are old enough to concentrate-likely 10 and over.



4. I have always loved to search for pictures since I was a small child. These books are fun for the entire family.



5. My son and I do one almost every night before bed and he loves it. The pictures are in black and white but that just means that he can color in what he finds.
   
   The only down side I see is that the book doesn't have many puzzles in it.

5 comments about The Last Guardian (Warcraft, Book 3).

1. This book takes place before, and during Warcraft: Orcs and Humans. It is the story of Medivh, told from the view of Khadgar, his newfound apprentice. It fully explains Medivh's actions in the games, though I don't want to spoil that. It also has a few characters people who played WC 1 and 2 may remember, such as Garona, King Llane, and Lothar. I feel that the book's description spoils too much for anyone not familiar with Medivh's story, it's like Star Wars: Reveng of the Sith in a way, if you're familiar with Star Wars you have a basic understanding of what Anikin will do, but you still want to see HOW and WHY it happened. Definiately better for people with basic Warcraft knowledge, though I think you could have never heard of it and still enjoy the book.



2. Helped me understand alot of the backstory of the game. The best was seeing Khadgar in Shatt after I had finished the book, awesome. I would reccomend this book to anyone who plays WOW, or anyone that just enjoys fantasy novels.



3. I read this book book as part of an attempt to understand the history of the warcraft world and it came through in stunning style. A highly enjoyable read.



4. As with most books, it took a chapter or two to really get into it. This book uses many familiar places within the Warcraft lore and was a most EXCELLENT read! The details and descriptions are just awesome.
   I had a hard time putting it down. Highly recommended if you love the Warcraft lore.



5. This book should have been book one to the series, as it covers the story from the first game. I'm surprised for such a good author how un surprising the book was. If anyone has read the story written in Warcraft 1 manual. It's basically an expanded edition. Ok read for fantasy/warcraft fans.