Whad'Ya Know?: Test Your Knowledge with the Ultimate Collection of Amazing Trivia, Quizzes, Stories, Fun Facts, and Everything Else You Never Knew You Wanted to Know Review

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(More customer reviews)I have been listening to Michael Feldman for years. If you are a fan, you will enjoy this book.

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A brand new bathroom reader collection, from the beloved trivia voice of public radio.

SO...DID YOU KNOW THAT:

53% of American workers feel they work "with a bunch of monkeys." (What the monkeys think, we don't know.)
During shaky economic times, lipstick sales go up.
The longest conflict in American history was fought over a pig.
Washington state has the best-dressed State Troopers.

AREN'T YOU GLAD YOU NOW KNOW THAT?!

If you'd love to quiz yourself about what you know, and then fill your brain with thousands of fascinating and highly useful facts like these, look no further. (And as an added bonus, you'll get jokes and stories too!) Every weekend, radio listeners across the nation delight in the facts and fun of the hit show Whad'Ya Know? with Michael Feldman. Now, for the first time, Michael collects the greatest trivia, quizzes, stories, and fun facts just for you.

Every weekend, thousands of public radio listeners across the nation delight in the facts and fun of the hit PRI show Whad'Ya Know? with Michael Feldman. Now, for the first time Michael collects the greatest trivia, quizzes, stories, and fun facts from the show in Whad'Ya Know?.

With features perfectly sized for spending a little time on the throne, Whad'Ya Know? contains sections that fans of the show will be sure to recognize, such as:

Things You Should Have Learned in School (Had You Been Paying Attention)
The Daily Briefing
Thanks for the Memos
The Best of the Best
And much more

If your answer to "Whad'Ya Know?" is "not much," get ready to become the smartest person on the block... or at least the one that knows the most stuff.

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The Undead and Philosophy: Chicken Soup for the Soulless (Popular Culture and Philosophy) Review

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(More customer reviews)With plenty of blood sucking, flesh eating, seduction, grunting and more gore, (and some philosophy), this is one of the more interesting "Popular Culture and Philosophy" instalments from Open Court. Nineteen essays and more zombies than you can smash with a baseball bat.
Although there is some overlap, the first part deals main with Zombies, drawing heavily from the Romero zombie films, along with some others. The second half of the book seems to focus more on the vampires, with particular focus on the novel "Dracula", (no surprises there), and also heavily from Anne Rice's "Interview with a Vampire", including the movie itself. I am not sure of this separation was intended, but it works well and there are some unique features to each of these groups.
I found the first couple of essays, mainly those dealing with the nature of personhood and continued existence, a bit tough to get my head around. They were mainly in connection with zombies. If one finds it the same, wade through and persist, as it soon calms down and the essays are not only accessible overall, but very interesting and though provoking. I mean, I had never even considered a vampire who was not intrinsically evil to be a possibility. Some aspects of the "philosophical zombie thought experiment" left me a bit puzzled, as well.
I did not agree with everything the contributors concluded, (such as the vegetarian essay), but I have to say that the essays were all well-written and presented. I enjoyed the wander through a genre I do not generally get into. The only zombie film I have ever seen is Shaun of the Dead.
The elements of philosophy range from existentialism, (big bits on Heidegger and Neitzsche), through phenomenology and epistemology and more. This is a very thorough and varied book.
For fans of the series and new readers alike, this is definitely a "must have". A great book on a great topic.

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Though Bram Stoker coined the term, the undead have stalked the human imagination for eons, appearing in the myths and legends of nearly all cultures. The concept of people, or unpeople, interacting with others while devoid of humanity provides a wealth of material for philosophical speculation. Encompassing George Romero's radiation-spawned Living Dead, the "infected" of 28 Days Later, as well as more traditional zombies and vampires, the essays in The Undead and Philosophy ponder questions such as: Is it cool to be undead, or does it totally suck? Is a zombie simply someone with a brain but without a mind? Are some of the people around us undead, and how could we tell? Can the undead be held responsible for what they do? Is it always morally OK to kill the undead? Served up in a witty, entertaining style, these and other provocative questions present philosophical arguments in terms accessible to all readers.

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How to Be a Canadian Review

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(More customer reviews)I first heard about "How To Be A Canadian" on CBC's "Basic Black," in which Arthur Black interviewed the Ferguson brothers (Will and Ian) and they read some of the best parts of the book out loud. What can I say...I was hooked and rushed out to buy a copy at Chapters (Amazon.ca didn't exist then...sorry guys, I'm now a loyal Amazon.ca customer!). "HTBAC" reads fairly quickly, but it is an immensely enjoyable read, and explosively funny in spots (don't read this at work if you don't want coworkers giving you looks of sympathy after your random hyena laughter).
"How To Be A Canadian" conveniently packages our national heroes, cuisine, regional differences, literary endeavours, phobias, and odd social customs into a laugh-out-loud tome that is the literary equivalent of Timbits: tasty, bite-sized chapters on "Who To Hate and Why," "How To Waste Time Like A Canadian," "Mating Rituals," "Art and Stuff," "Progressive Conservatives, Responsible Government and Other Oxymorons," and "Twelve Ways To Say You're Sorry," along with how to insult Canadians, the official Canadian haircut and dress code (mullet, plaid shirt, skidoo boots with fake buckles), provincial "fact sheets" (Ontario: "Gaze Upon our Humble Magnificence and Bow Down Before Us!" Formal name: The Centre of the Universe. Provincial motto: "Celebrating over 100 years of narcissistic self-absorption") and more. To top it off the Ferguson brothers have written a clever little quiz at the end to test your Canadian knowledge (If you hear the name "Elvis" and immediately think of figure skating, give yourself one point. If you still don't know what the capital of New Brunswick is, give yourself 10 points. If you can't remember if you curled or not, because of how drunk you were: 50 points) You get the idea. Nothing is sacred for Will and Ian, which is what makes the book so funny.
So, if you're American and want to learn more about those mysterious neighbo(u)rs of yours to the north, this is the book for you. If you're a Canadian who needs a quick reply to "What makes a Canadian" (other than *not* being an American), this book is for you. I have bought "How to Be A Canadian" for a number of friends with different tastes and it's been a success all around. A funny, thoughtful book that hits the mark on all the issues and is certainly entertaining in the process (that's PROcess, not prahcess, eh?) Have fun, and good luck to any Future Canadians out there!

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Being Canadian can be a chore, says Will Ferguson, but it can be a lot of fun, too. For this follow-up to his runaway bestseller Why I Hate Canadians, Ferguson, a Canuck himself, recruited his brother Ian to create this ultimate guide to the country's cultural quirks, from diet and sex to sports and politics. The result is a nonstop comic ride through such topics as "Canadian Cuisine-and How to Avoid It," "Regional Harmony (Who to Hate and Why)," and "How to Make Love Like a Canadian."

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A Killer Workout: A Fat City Mystery Review

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(More customer reviews)The second book in the Fat City Mystery series is another fun read. Kathryn Lilley spins a great story about Kate Gallagher's weight loss pursuit, weaving some characters from the previous book "Dying to be thin" into this tale. We learn more in this book about why Kate's father is so protective of her - her mother was killed in a armed robbery of a bakery -(can this lead to the next book?)


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Plus-sized reporter Kate Gallagher decides to report for duty at Body Blast, a boot camp-style fitness program. But then her roomie is discovered with a broken neck at the foot of the climbing wall. It's not the first suspicious accident at the camp—another woman recently fell to her death during a Wilderness Challenge. Kate knows that losing weight is hard, but now it looks like it's turning into mortal combat.

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Modern Manners: An Etiquette Book for Rude People Review

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(More customer reviews)If you enjoy the intelligent and biting humor of a Dennis Miller and the vocabulary of a George Will you will love this book. If your idea of a great satirical read is "Mad Magazine" you will enjoy this book. If you think the Als - Gore and Franken - are brilliant you will hate this book.

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The Pocket Guide to Mischief Review

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(More customer reviews)I think that Bart King is my favorite "author you never heard of". His latest book, The Pocket Guide to Mischief, is one of those entertaining tongue-in-cheek reads that you'll love as an adult, and then you'll hope your kid never finds it. If they do, you'll become their "nemesis" for sure...
Contents:
Introduction; Choosing Your Target or Nemesis; Mischief Quiz!; Harmless Trickery 101 - How to Defend Home and Self; Oldies but Goodies; Practical Jokes Inspired by Ancient Rome; Amusing Slights and Friendly Jibes; Spy Games; Mischief of the Rich and Famous; Inspired by the Oxford Dictionary; International Mischief; Mischievous Foods; Sporting Mischief; Duels; Bodily Mischief; Lessons from Stravinsky; Be True to Your School; Careers in Mischief; Acknowledgments; Bibliography
The book starts out with an explanation of "mischief" so that everyone's on the same page when it comes to crossing lines. Then there's the "warning pledge"... "I will be safe. I will not damage or destroy property. I will be sly. I will never hurt anyone with a prank. I will never prank anyone for money. Hail, Cheese Whiz!" I don't know whether I'm pleased or dismayed that this would play well in the crowds I run with. :) Anyway, each chapter is a mix of humor, history, and suggestions on tricks and pranks you can have fun with once you have picked your nemesis. Like perhaps taking a handful of paper from the copy machine or printer, write a humorous note on the bottom of the page (such as " is a genius!"), and then replace them back in the device. Make sure your nemesis is the next person to use the machine... Or see if you can plant one end of a two-way radio somewhere (or even on a pet if you can pull it off), and then "talk" to the people as they walk by. I also learned how to insult in the Scottish tradition, using such great words as bluntie, dandiprat, muppet, and "muffin top". I'm sure my Scottish friends will help expand that vocabulary, too.
Bart's writing reminds me in some ways of Dave Barry... off-beat, a little insane, but a lot of fun if you're willing to go with the flow. I read his Architectural Guide to Portland (where we both live), expecting something less than riveting. What I got was the funniest and most informative architecture book I've ever read (it was the first architecture book I ever read, too... but I digress). My offer to read and review this one came in an email titled "Bad News". He even dropped the copy off at my house with an inscription on the inside cover... "My apologies in advance". With that kind of interaction, how could I refuse?
Much fun to be had here, and depending on the types of friends you keep, plenty of material for "enhancing" that friendship.


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The greatest leaders and geniuses in history were mischief makers. Theywere the brave women who looked at how unfair the world was and said,"I can do better than that." They were the stalwart men who sawstupidity and asked, "Why do we have to do it that way?" And they werethe delightful children who ganged up on the neighborhood bully and hithim with wet noodles until he said, "Uncle!"Yes, history's mischief makers had the courage to point out that thingslike slavery, global warming, and turtleneck sweaters are bad. And theyalso pulled off some of the greatest hoaxes and practical jokes of alltime. Their achievements include the Boston Tea Party, the "War of theWorlds" radio broadcast of 1938, and the Cheese Whiz Disaster of 2008.In honor of them, we introduce The Pocket Guide to Mischief,theperfectadditiontoany prankster's collection, as well as afun-filled how-to for the budding troublemaker in all of us.Bart King, a self-proclaimed"dabbler," is interested in games, magic,current events, music, chess, history, literature, geography, travel,crime, science fiction, art, and almost everything else! The veteran ofmany water-balloon wars, he's twice won the prized "ArrestedDevelopment" award from the New York Society of Amateur Psychologists.He earned a master's degree in history from Sonoma State University andhas taught middle school for the past fifteen years.
Bart's work has been featured in TheOregonian, The PortlandTribune, Chicago Parent,Family Fun magazine and manyother publications. He has also appeared on dozens of television andradio programs including the widely syndicated "Bob and Tom Show."

Not only is Bart a wild and crazy boy, he's also the author of thebestselling BigBook of Boy Stuff. Bart subsequently co-authored TheBigBook of Girl Stuff with his five sisters and 50 former students.This title won widespread acclaim; if you are skeptical (and you shouldbe!) please see its product page.

Also, take a look at these fun links:

Bart's fabulously fun and entertaining blogs: Ultra-Gross! and Unexpectedly Bart
Bart's awesome Website: Bartking.net
Bart's: AmazonAuthorPage

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True Believers: The Tragic Inner Life of Sports Fans Review

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(More customer reviews)Joe Queenan has written the ultimate sports fan book. True Believers is dedicated to the real sports fan. Not fans of the Los Angeles Lakers or the New York Yankees, but the fans of downtrodden teams like the Phillies, the Blackhawks, and the Eagles. Fans who know what it's like to suffer through years of torment, wondering if your team was ever going to be good enough to win it all. Queenan grew up in Philadelphia, and he has a life-long commitment to all of his hometown teams. He says that fan support must be based either on where you grew up, or who your father rooted for. No other form of fandom is acceptable to him. Thus, he has had to live through the Phillies blowing a 6.5 game lead with 12 games to go in 1964, the Flyers blowing a 3-1 lead in the playoffs to the New Jersey Devils (with two of the last three games at home), and other heartbreaks. Loving Philadelphia teams is the epitome of heartbreak, the ultimate love-hate relationship.
Why should this matter to the rest of us? I will tell you right now that, if you have never followed any sports and think that to do so is the ultimate waste of time, then this book is not for you. First, you will not understand it. Secondly, what little you do understand will only reinforce your already formed beliefs. Unless you have experienced the common bond of watching your team blow the big game, or the big series, or just stink up the league in general, you will not get a lot out of this book. (Ok, maybe if you're a Yankee fan, you'll be able to laugh at these idiots he's talking about).
What does this book consist of? Queenan discusses the psychology behind rooting for a team of also-rans. He explores what makes the true sports fan tick. He does this among chapters discussing fair weather fans (those fans who only follow a team when they are good), sports movies (and how most of them are horrible and don't even come close to reflecting reality), sports announcers (both the good and the bad), and misbehaving fans (those idiots in the stands who do the stupidest things and generally annoy the people around them). Some of these chapters are universal, even to Yankees fans, and thus may be enjoyed by everybody. Some (like an entire chapter on the sorry-looking New York Jets) will only mean something to the fan who has been through something similar. All of these chapters, however, share Queenan's sarcastic wit and his extreme commentary. I love the language that Queenan uses and the way he writes, even if sometimes it seems he's using words just to see whether people understand them or not. At times he sounds pompous, but even then he's entertaining.
The fair-weather fan chapter is probably the best, as he itemizes all the different types of front-runners there are, from celebrities who must be seen at courtside of Lakers games, to the mainstream folk who just can't bear to suffer along with the true fan, and thus change their favourite team on the drop of a quarter. As he says, suffering is what makes success taste so sweet. If you haven't been through the dark times, then when they finally do win a championship, you can't truly appreciate it. He loathes front-runners with a passion, and he's not afraid to say it. He certainly takes no prisoners in this chapter, heaping scorn on every type of front-runner there is.
If there is any fault in the book, it is the fact that some of the references are very obscure (though as Queenan would say, if you don't know it, you're probably not a true fan). I love sports and follow a lot of them, but some of the references are so old that even I didn't get them. You could figure them out from the context, but I think some of the humour value is lost there. Sometimes he explains them, or at least gives a year that it happened, but other times he goes on like we should be able to keep up with him. I had no trouble skipping the reference, assuming that it was supposed to illustrate some point, and moving on. However, it is a strike against the book. One other thing I would like to know is what he thinks of fans like me. I grew up in Iowa, where there are no professional sports teams, and my father was not a huge fan of anything either. I have my allegiances that have never died since childhood, but they certainly don't seem to fit his criteria. What does that make me? Unfortunately, Queenan doesn't address that, so it feels like something's missing.
Even so, this book is definitely a winner. At times it's hilarious, at times it's touching (like when he talks about when his father's last days and how they affected Queenan's spectatorship). You may see yourself reflected in it. You may just find other fans to ridicule. Maybe you're not a sports fan but you're trying to understand a husband (or wife???) who is. If so, get this book. You will either laugh at or along with Queenan as he continues his odyssey. And you might even learn something along the way. Yes, even you Yankees fans.
David Roy

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Suck Your Stomach In and Put Some Color On: What Southern Mamas Tell Their Daughters that the Rest of Y'all Should Know Too Review

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(More customer reviews)In her newest book, Suck Your Stomach In and Put Some Color On!: What Southern Mamas Tell Their Daughters that the Rest of Y'all Should Know Too, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson has done it again! Her very funny instruction manual bares all!
FINALLY someone has revealed all the well-kept secrets of the Southern Mama Society (SMS). We men in the South have grown up fully convinced that there were some things going on around us that molded our existences without our knowledge. We also got the feeling that we were cooperators unawares. It seemed our behavior was somehow being manipulated by unknown forces beyond our control.
IT'S ALL TRUE! . . . and its far more developed, widespread, and networked than we could EVER have imagined. Who would have known . . . but only among the Southern boys and men, of course! Our women have known these things for generations!
Here is where Shellie really lets the cat out of the bag, "...I wasn't very old before I realized that Mama and her girlfriends were good at getting their husbands to do what they wanted, all the while letting the men think it was their own idea. Some people would call this manipulation. Southern women call it charm."
"Charm" does make manipulation SOUND better. All this time I thought charm was good when it was really SMS code for "get your way."
As Shellie says, "...our mamas believe in putting a shoulder to your dreams and feet to your prayers. If you want it, go after it. Things may not always work out the way you hope, but let it never be because you didn't try. Forgive me if that doesn't fit with your stereotypical idea of the fragile southern belle who spends her days resting on the couch and fanning herself between fainting spells, but I don't know that mythical breed. The southern female of my experience is more likely to gear up for battle than retreat to the sofa."
That's been my experience, as I'm sure most Southern men will agree.
Are we Southern men ever fortunate to have all these well-hidden secrets of the SMS revealed! It will revolutionize the way we view ourselves and those women around us. Now we know the shorthand and signals of the SMS. Knowledge is power!
MEN, be VERY CAREFUL how you use this knowledge. If you get a little heavy handed, you might have to go for burgers . . . or possibly worse. The members of the SMS can get even in ways most of us have not even imagined until Suck Your Stomach In and Put Some Color On! I suspect there are at least as many that Shellie Tomlinson has not yet revealed. I'll hide in the weeds (a Southern man saying) waiting for Book 2 on the subject.
DO NOT overlook the absolutely delicious recipes Shellie includes. Check this out: Pork Roast Barbecue Recipe--This is killin' goood! It'll make you want slap yore mama . . . as we say in the South. But as Shellie points out, it's only a fool who would think of tryin'!
And the recipes for all those dips and sauces! I can't wait to try them. They suggest many of the absolutely scrumptious flavors I've learned to love in Southern cooking.
MEN, get your copy quick! This stuff is too good to miss! Don't just read it: MEMORIZE IT!


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The host of All Things Southern shares the sass and strength of Southern mamas in this spunky guide to life. In this humorous handbook, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, host of All Things Southern, reveals the all-important lessons Southern Mamas teach their daughters. Readers will discover why blue eye shadow is trashy and learn to interpret regional dialect like the Southern Mama APB, a bulletin translated on Southern streets as: "Give your heart to Jesus, girl, because your butt is all mine!" Shellie carefully breaks down the teachings behind those famous manners and social graces through her firsthand observations and dry wit. Here's everything you need to know from how to cope with the unexpected, compete in the Mr. Right Game Show, and raise children—to how to keep that marriage knot tied tight over time. Woven with quotes from real Southern Mamas and sprinkled with recipes and other Southern secrets, this book's a bona-fide celebration of all things south of the Mason-Dixon Line.

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Comeback Season: How I Learned to Play the Game of Love Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a wonderful book that's fully of humor and humanity. It's a title I've recommended to my friends and family as a (true!) story that hits close to home for any intellegent person looking for their soul mate. The book has resulted in a lot discussions about relationships and the many dating moments that we've all experienced trying to find the right one. Cathy - don't give up!

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Everything I Never Wanted to Be: a memoir of alcoholism and addiction, faith and family, hope and humor Review

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(More customer reviews)Your book (your story) and your attitude are amazing. I could not put the book down. Riveting, heart breaking and funny all in one. Thank you, Dina! You are an extraordinary writer.
Everything I Never Wanted to Be: a memoir of alcoholism and addiction, faith and family, hope and humor

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Everything I Never Wanted to Be by Dina Kucera is the true story of a family's battle with alcoholism and drug addiction. Dina's grandparents were alcoholics, her father was an alcoholic, she is an alcoholic and pill addict, and all three of her daughters struggle with alcohol and drug addiction--including her youngest daughter, who started using heroin at age fourteen. Dina's household also includes her husband and his unemployed identical twin; a mother who has Parkinson's Disease; a grandson who has cerebral palsy; and other people who drift in and out of the household depending on their employment situation or rehab status. On top of all that, Dina is trying to make it as a stand-up comic and author so she can quit her crummy job as a grocery store clerk. Through it all, Dina does her best to hold her family together, keep her faith, and maintain her sense of humor. As you might imagine, a story filled with alcoholics and drug addicts includes a number of horrific events. But in the end, Everything I Never Wanted to Be is an uplifting story that contains valuable lessons for parents and teens alike, and a strong message about the need to address the epidemic of teen drug addiction in our nation. It's a book that can change behavior and save lives--and make you laugh along the way.

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The Story of Jackie Robinson: Bravest Man in Baseball (Famous Lives) Review

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(More customer reviews)The Story of Jackie Robinson: Bravest Man in Baseball is about the struggles of one black man who made a big difference. Jackie Robinson was a great athlete in college but was not let into the Major Leagues because his skin was black. Robinson played on the Brooklyn Dodgers in the "Noble Experiment" which was meant Jackie being the first black on a white team. His team looked down on him because of the color of his skin. When the fans yelled slurs at him and other teams yelled at him it overwhelmed the Dodgers. They finally stood up for Robinson. I recommend this wonderful book, Jackie Robinson: Bravest Man in Baseball because it has a lot of action and emotion.

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Examines the life of the talented black athlete who broke the color barrier in major league baseball by joining the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.

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Roadie: The Misunderstood World of a Bike Racer Review

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(More customer reviews)Obviously, from some of the reviews on here, some people don't understand that this book isn't written as an instruction manual for roadies. This is a book for people like me...friend of a roadie trying to understand the lifestyle. Before reading this book, I knew NOTHING about the cycling world. I found the book extremely informative and entertaining at the same time. There is a lot of good information in here and the wit and humor that the author and illustrator used kept me interested. After reading "Roadie" I HAD to see a race in person...perhaps to answer the question "Does this really happen?". Yep, it really happens. And now the world of bike racing has a new supporter. I'm hooked!

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In the world of cycling, there are enthusiasts and then there are "roadies" -- the cyclist whose passion for bike racing cannot be tamed. A confirmed roadie will go to any length to better his record -- from shaving his legs to dropping a fortune on a bike -- and the reactions to a roadie's determination can vary from disbelief to outright scorn. Jamie Smith is a confirmed roadie, and in this unique book, he sets out to explain the often-misunderstood world of roadies, delving into the groups many neuroses and lightheartedly illuminating just what it is that keeps these extreme cyclists coming back for more. Accompanied by amusing illustrations from a nationally syndicated cartoonist, this look into a bike racing subculture is sure to convert even the most hardened skeptics.

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A Whole Other Ball Game: Women's Literature on Women's Sport Review

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(More customer reviews)I recently selected this book for use in a new course I am teaching on sportswriting at the University of California, San Diego. When I went searching for a good example of sportswriting to counterbalance the many offerings by men, I was not encourage by the very small number of titles by women. This book astonished me in its variety and quality of contributions, AND it is fiction, which makes it all the more exiciting to read. Very personal, very gritty, very real. Read this book!

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God and Football: Faith and Fanaticism in the SEC Review

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(More customer reviews)This is an excellent book. Incredibly funny. Like the other reviewers said, I found myself actually laughing out loud several times, which is pretty rare for me. Even if you aren't the most religious person in the world, you will still love this book. It isn't really a "preachy" book at all. It just chronicles one (very funny) man's evaluation of his own faith and the balance he struggles to strike between his worldly passion (college football fandom) and his devotion to God. And he doesn't claim to have found that perfect balance at all. Quite the opposite, in fact.
Reading the title, I thought it might be like a devotional book where he evaluates bible verses in connection with games he's attended or something like that, but it's really just a narrative of his travels to all 12 SEC campuses in one year, coupled with his own humorous observations about fans, himself, and life. I'd really recommend this book to anyone just looking to have a break from the everyday grind. It's a really easy read; it's fairly cheap; and I guarantee you that you'll be smiling while you read it. Just a fun book.

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In 2008 over six million people attended an SEC football game. They spent thousands on season tickets, donated millions to athletic departments, and for three months a year ordered their entire lives around the schedule of their favorite team. As a Christian, Gibbs knows he cannot serve two masters, but at times his faith is overwhelmed by his fanaticism. He is not alone.Gibbs and his six million friends do not live in a spiritually void land where such borderline idol worship would normally be accepted. They live in the American South, where according to the 2008 American Religious Identification Survey, 84 percent identify themselves as Christians.This apparent contradiction that Gibbs sees in his own life, and in millions of others', has led him to journey to each of the twelve schools to spend time with rabid Christian fans of various ages and denominations. Through his journey, he learns how others are able to balance their passion for their team with their devotion to God.

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Women Who Win: Female Athletes on Being the Best Review

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(More customer reviews)
Women Who Win: Female Athletes on Being the Best is an anthology of portraits of champion ten female athletes. A black-and-white photograph of each woman introduces her section, peppered with snippets of interviews, tales of training regimens, and stories of the raw struggle required to become the best of the best. The women covered are big-wave surfer Jamilah Star, jockey Julie Krone, soccer player Julie Foudy, runner Deena Kastor, gymnast Wendy Hilliard, volleyball player Misty May-Treanor, swimmer Lynne Cox, basketball player Tamika Catchings, triathlete Karen Smyers, and rock climber Lynn Hill. An amazing true account of what it takes to reach the top of one's game, and an especially inspirational read for women of all ages.

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Whether it's surfer Jamilah Star riding an unprecedented fifty-foot wave, Olympic marathoner Deena Kastor winning the bronze in 2004, or top-ranked climber Lynn Hill facing down a tough climb at Joshua Tree, one thing is certain: these women have game.What's more, these amazing athletes capture our imagination. How do they do it? What motivates them to win and to become the best in their sport?In Women Who Win, adventure writer Lisa Taggart takes us behind the scenes, deep into the training regimens and the ultimate victories, to see what makes these women — and some of their fellow female athletes — tick. Whether their sport is soccer, cycling, mountain biking, or volleyball, these athletes will inspire you to pursue your dreams, whether it's running a marathon or catching your first wave.

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The Great Book of Seattle Sports Lists (Great Book of Sports Lists) Review

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(More customer reviews)A very quick and entertaining read that recaps some great memories from the Seattle sports scene. Some I'd heard before and enjoyed reading again - some were totally new. The guest authors also make this a fun way to see events from a different view.
I read and passed along to my brothers/Dad who also went through it quickly and enjoyed it. Thanks to the Tacoma News Tribune who mentioned this in one of their sports columns.


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With loyal fans supporting their major sports teams in the Seahawks (NFL), Mariners (MLB)-plus a rabid fan base for University of Washington jocks-Seattle is a great place for a sports debate. Local sports-radio talker Mike Gastineau teams up with longtime sportswriters Steve Rudman and Art Thiel to bring Seattle sports history to life with this provocative and enjoyable-not to mention debatable-book of lists. They also enlist list contributions by famous players, coaches, and Seattle celebrities including Mike Holmgren, Matt Hasselbeck, Ichiro Suzuki, George Karl, Pearl Jam, Kevin Calabro, Sir Mix-a-Lot, and more.

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Write More Good: An Absolutely Phony Guide Review

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(More customer reviews)As a writer, there are certain "rules" you're supposed to follow in terms of style. Even if you're not a writer, you're affected by these styles as they dictate what you read in media stories. A couple of guys decided to take some liberties with those guidelines and created a Twitter account named fakeapstylebook to parody the rules, and that led to this book... Write More Good: An Absolutely Phony Guide by The Bureau Chiefs. If you've ever had to write an article for some publication (and you have a sense of humor), this is a great parody that offers plenty of laughs and hits close to the truth on more than one occasion.
Contents:
News & Headline Writing & You & Journalism
Politics: When The Horse Race Lasts 30 Months
Entertainment: The Glitz, The Glamour, The Death of the Superego
Sex: Ew
Religion
Sports: The Sport of Kings
The Shiny Money Box, Or, Technology and the Death of All Paper
Science (and the Blinding By Thereof)
Pseudoscience and the Supernatural: Ya Rly
Weapons and the Military: Shoot First, Then Ask Questions About Shooting
Citation and Attribution: Do Not Hit the Snooze Button
Punctuation and Grammar: LOL
Media Law: You Are So Screwed
The Morgue: The Dead Live!
The Ghost of Basics Past
Glossary
Each chapter starts out with a few snide comments about the topic, slides into the "basics" along with related detail that spares nothing and no one, and then ends with a topic glossary that is far more interesting than any other glossary you've ever read. Do you want to be an entertainment writer? Learn how to become a blogging review quote machine so you'll get free tickets and videos! Sports writer? Get a nickname and a stance, and then market yourself shamelessly!
But there are always things to remember... For instance, if you're a sports writer, remember that professional bowlers should never be referred to as "heavy-set." It's assumed. If you're writing about soccer for North American audiences, remember to consider the fact that no one cares. And of course, any story on Brett Favre's retirement should end with the ;) emoticon.
What I found impressive about this book (and which was also pointed out by Roger Ebert in the forward) is that it's not a book composed solely of tweets from the authors. Too often a book based on a blog or Twitter account is just a compilation of the same material that's already been used. Fine if you don't follow them online, but a waste of money for regular readers. Write More Good borrows the attitude and style of the fakeapstylebook tweets, but that's where it ends. As such, this is an entertaining read regardless of how much you've read on Twitter.
One small caution... if you're easily offended when someone pokes fun or parodies something that is close to your heart, then you might want to stay away. Everything is fair game here... you have been warned. :)
Write More Good is one of the more entertaining books I've read of late, and I know plenty of writer colleagues who will enjoy it as much as I did. They just need to remember the warning on the cover... "If you use this, you will get FIRED!"
Disclosure:
Obtained From: Publicist
Payment: Free

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Still clinging to your dog-eared dictionary? So attached to The Elements of Style that you named your rabbits Strunk and White? Maybe you're a beleaguered reporter, or a type-A newspaper reader who unwinds by e-mailing the editor about whether "tweet" is a verb?It's time to face up to reality: Writing clearly, checking facts, and correcting typos are dying arts. Whether you're a jaded producer of media or a nitpicking consumer of it, this book will help you to embrace, not resist, the lowering of standards for the written word! Part dictionary, part journalism textbook, part grammar and writing manual, Write More Good is a "comprehensive" "guide" to today's "media," in all its ambulance-chasing, story-fabricating, money-hemorrhaging glory. (LEGAL DISCLAIMER: The authors are not responsible for consequences that may result from actually using this book as a dictionary, textbook, or grammar and writing manual.)Let The Bureau Chiefs, the ritin' and reportin' geniuses behind the Twitter phenomenon @FakeAPStylebook, teach you about:* Proper usage!"World War" should be used only for conflicts involving countries on at least three continents. For large-scale battles against clones, killer tomatoes, or a fifty-foot woman, use "attack" instead.* Entertainment Journalism!When writing about a celebrity for an online audience, save your readers time by linking directly to nude photos of him or her.* Science Reporting!When writing about those robots that seek out and consume houseflies for energy, the parenthetical aside "(OH GOD, WE'RE DOOMED!)" is implied and is therefore not necessary to include in your story.And much, much, more!

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