Form-4 Books

Ann and Brian Berchet's book is not only easy to read, but really speaks to the pain of an affair. If you are dealing with this in your life, I truely recommend reading this book. I was able to identify with ann all the way. It's great to know you are not alone. It is very helpful for the person who had the affair as well. It's not one sided and really speaks from the heart.

This book was great. It not only helped me with my feelings but it also gave me great perspective. Thanks a lot!

My husband had an affair with a married woman while I was pregnant with his twins. I'm not sure it gets worse that that. This book has really helped me understand the process of healing after infidelity through the eyes of a woman that was strong then devastated and has been there. When I am struggling with the pain I think of this book and I know its OK it will pass.

I saw Anne Bercht on Oprah. I thought the programme was extremely helpful so I bought the book. The show pointed out that a lot of affairs happen when a marriage seems extremely healthy. This was a big surprize to me.

Generally Anne and Brian had a very good marriage and nice children, you wouldn't have thought that anything would have damaged their marriage. But it happened to them.

The book was extremely gripping because you had the idea that everything would blow over and get sorted quickly, but it didn't, and a lot of drama happened before Brian decided his marriage was worth saving.

This was another surprize that a father could abandon his children and set up with a woman he didn't know that well, and incur huge expenses and pain, when there weren't any major problems like alcohol, drugs, violence or gambling, disability, with his wife or children.

It also showed the horrendous effect Brian's actions had on the entire family. Just when you thought it was unbearable, it became more unbearable.

No person who has not experienced a partner's unfaithfulness, can begin to understand the incredible pain, humiliation and loss of dignity this brings about. Even the person causing the pain cannot truly understand what his or her actions caused, until he/she reads "My husband's Affair became the best thing that ever happened to me". It is only through reading both Anne and Brian's account of their feelings and emotions that one can learn that each of us, no matter how different, will experience similar emotional pain and often react very similar under these circumstances. The persons causing the pain often have similar reasons for doing what they did.

This book is a must for everyone who goes through such a horrible experience. It helps one to know that our reactions are quite normal and not as the "guilty" party often tends to think, abnormal or over the top. Pain is pain and healing takes time. There is a lot to learn about oneself and one's partner in this book. Read it, ask your partner to read it and find a good councilor to talk to. You too can save your relationship.

Hats off to two courageous people who shared their pain with the rest of the world!

The Darwin Awards, as described by Wendy Northcutt at darwinawards.com, is a non-competition of sorts with specific rules for the "winners." This book explains the rules, the basis for "winning" and for those runner-ups who failed to complete the program rules to its fullest extent or whose tale of woe wasn't as "good" as the "winners."

Not to sugar-coat this explanation any further, the purpose (or non-purpose) of the Darwin Awards is to declare the person who killed or neutered themselved in the most absurdly ridiculous way is the "winner."

Still, in reading the book, there is a certain amount of entertainment: a moment or two or three of focusing on another goal has distracted someone from seeing a danger that a more detached viewer (us, for example) can see and avoid. It's the same kind of idea that would cause any of us, except those reading this review, of course, to climb up on a stool placed on a chair to change a lightbulb in a dark place. The danger factor comes into play when the amount of damage that one can do to oneself is added in.

Then there is the alcohol factor. There are plenty of stories in the book about the dangers of excessive drinking and then attempting to do something hazardous, and for this there is no explanation. Perhaps the "winners" were calm, contemplative people prior to imbibing too much, which gave them a false sense of indestructability, which was then exposed as a faulty myth. Most of us have drunk too much at some time or another; some probably have done something rather risky when drunk; fortunately, none of us are award "winners."

All in all, it is an entertaining book exposing the faults of thinking and acting by people at a particular time and place. After reading this book, perhaps we're all capable of doing ourselves terminal harm; perhaps the stories in here prove that most people reading the book aren't foolish enough to do something fatal. But maybe if we knew what kind of mistakes others are capable of, we can avoid the same situations.

Northcutt has continued in a series that looks at human nature and asks why we take silly chances that many times result in our own demise. At least that is how this series of books started. At this point (her 4th book) it feels like she has stopped asking why and is happy to just laugh at others misfortune. If this is your first read in the series then you will most likely enjoy it very much. If you have read all of the books, like I have, then you may end up feeling a bit dysphoric as I did after finishing this one. Maybe it's just me and the fact that I am getting older.

Northcutt wasn't the originator (pun intended) of the Darwin Awards idea (as she makes clear in the book), but she has certainly "evolved" the idea to her own pecuniary advantage. Her background in Molecular Biology is apparent in the short essays that introduce each section (some are by Northcutt and some by other authors). I find it unfortunate that Northcutt takes every opportunity to bash organized religion and the beliefs of Christians who think different from herself on the issues of Human Origins. It is this type of elitist egoism that drives a wedge between scientists and Christian fundamentalists and encourages both sides to ignore what the other is saying. Too bad.

She also has a nice website that can give you a daily dose of this type of humor. The review process for a story to make the book is a rigorous one indeed.

Some of those fools are out there everyday, driving cars, shooting guns, handling explosives, etc. The concept is that the fools will remove themselves from the gene pool and the human species will somehow improve and prosper. Unfortunately these goofy characters often take innocent souls with them to the looney bin or the morgue, and that what's scary for me when I'm on the freeway or out hiking/fishing/hunting. This book looks again at some of these off-base characters; and it is downright entertaining as long as you're not in their path of destruction. I liked this complilation as well as the others, because it is a fun, easy read, and even makes you realize that some of your relatives are not all that bad and not deserving of a Darwin Award. The editors might consider doing a whole book on the elected politicans in Washington, DC.

If you like to read about people doing stupid things, this is your book. It is pretty funny, though a few of the reports seem to have been embellished (and noted). It also has an essay at the front of each chapter on some oddball subject.

I got a couple extra copies as Christmas stocking stuffers.

The Darwin Awards are dedicated to those who "do a service to humanity by removing themselves from the gene pool," that is those who kill themselves (or at least try to) in a gloriously shining example of blatant stupidity. This is the fourth book produced in celebration of such stupidity. Now, I must say right off that I did not read the print edition of the book, but listened to the audiobook, so some of what I have to say may not apply to other editions of the book.

Overall, I found the stories to be interesting. I liked how the readers tried to accent their voices to go along with the stories - affecting an Australian accent when discussing an Australian winner, or a Romanian accent when discussing a Romanian winner, and so forth. The stories were nice and short, which made them great for car rides of any length.

What I didn't like was the chapter introductions which discussed subjects such as DNA, the aquatic ape theory, AIDS, and so forth. These sections were a mixed bag - some were interesting, and some boring - but, none of them had anything to do with the Darwin Awards. I would rather that the creators of this book had slipped in stories of famous deaths in history, or something having ANYTHING to do with the Darwin Awards. They were too long, too boring, and jarringly out of step with subject of the book.

So, while this is a good audiobook with some great Darwin Award stories, it is poorly constructed, damaging the listening experience. On the whole, I give this audiobook an extremely guarded recommendation.

Absolutely a great read full of laughs. I am of the age that I can relate to his experiences.

I grew up reading his books and am now ordering them as gifts for my kids. They shoot canoes don't they and a fine and pleasant misery are my favorites.

I bought the book for my father who luckily already had it and gave it to me. Makes you really remember what it was like being a kid playing outside...yes, I actually did laugh out loud - over and over! My 8 year old son wants me to read him the short story "The Two-Wheel ATV" repeatedly.

A fine and pleasant misery is a collection of twenty eight of Pat McManus's early humor articles, most or all of which were written when he was writing for Field and Stream. He now writes for Outdoor life and when I receive my monthly issue of this publication in the mail the first place I always turn is to "The Last Laugh," but I still feel that the best of his stories were these earlier ones.

Some of the tales contained in this book such as The Modified Stationary Panic and Shooting the Chick-a-nout Narrows I have read ten times and laughed aloud each time. The way McManus relates to outdoor situations in his exaggerated manner will touch the funny bone of anyone who has ever spent time outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping or simply recalling their misadventures in the ignorance of youth.

McManus is a master at turning frightening and potentially dangerous situations into some of the funniest and most timeless stories ever written. In my opinion Patrick F. McManus is the best outdoor humor writer since Corey Ford.

Even though this was McManus' first book of humor, it may have been his best. No they are all great, but "A Fine and Pleasant Misery" is close to the top. Stories about 'the modified stationary panic', 'Grogan's war surplus store', and 'shooting the chick-a-nout narrows will keep you rolling on the floor in uncontrollable laughter. McManus has a special way of leading you up to (what you think is the punch line), but then plunging deeper into an even funnier event of the story.

This is the start of the entire story, Garfield, John, Odie, Nermal and Liz are all introduced in this books.

It's amazing to see how far this silly orange cat has come in the 30 years he's been making us laugh.

here's hoping for another 30.

Being the book that contains the first comic strips of Garfield, this should be a must-have for all Garfield fans. The introduction to Garfield, Jon Arbuckle, Odie, and Lyman (who disappeared in the early 80's) are featured here, and in full color! And sure, the old Garfield design doesn't look as remotely memorable as the newer appearances (walking on two legs, larger eyes, etc.), but we get to see what really defines the fat orange cat and his dim-witted owner here in this book. This is surely one of the most iconic strips ever produced.

This is one big orange reason to not buy a cat. You are also in danger of never having much pasta in your diet again, as the big, fat, annoying cat eats all your food, sleeps all over the place and wrecks your furniture. He will also do nasty things to the postie and possibly to anyone you decided to bring over. Still, fairly amusing.

"Garfield at Large" is Garfield's first funnies (1978-1979). Lovely to see Jim Davis early ideas. (First strip with Odie, Pookie, first bad Monday...) Beautiful. Garfield's chubbier to begin with. Curious.

This book:

Well, Paws decided to colourize the weekday strips for these new compilations and they look nice. I would have preferred it if they simply left them in black and white and had the Sunday strips in colour, though. The Sunday strips are the same as you would have seen in the newspaper or the "Garfield Treasuries". Except, the colour scheme is modified slightly (not a big deal) and they added the title block (the title "GARFIELD" rising out of the background, with Garfield lying down in front of it) which didn't exist until the early 1980s!

The later collections:

The problem is with the later collections. I noticed that some of these new colour collections which come after "Garfield at Large" have the funny front pages and end pages from the original collections moved around or missing entirely. This may have been a printing mistake, though.

Here is the big problem. The original black and white collections up to and including the sixteenth were missing the title and drop block from the Sunday strips. That is, the title block and the very first block of the strip. This didn't matter for the first few years as these didn't exist. A few years later, the title block mentioned in my first paragraph was introduced and the drop block simply showcased the four major characters, Garfield, Odie, Jon and Lyman. A little later, unique title blocks and drop blocks related to the strip's story were created.

Unfortunately, the new colour collections have the drop block REMOVED in the later collections, yet the unique title block is included. So the strips aren't complete, if you want to read the complete strips, I guess you have to visit the Garfield website.

Still, for the price, it's a great value. The books are printed on high quality paper as usual. Even the new colour "Fat Cat 3-Packs" are printed in higher quality paper instead of that awful "mass market paperback" paper they used to use for the older ones.

If you are familiar with the Dilbert cartoon, then you know Scott Adams' ability to skewer modern business organizations. This book mostly consists of text organized in little easy-to-understand bits, just like a real business book. This satirical text is illustrated with Dilbert cartoons. Of course it's funny, and if you like Dilbert, you'll enjoy it.

What makes the book really work, though, is that it's actually loaded with good management advice. When the book came out, I was an object of management and enjoyed the book as making fun of the people above me in a large organization. Now I'm a low-level perpetrator of management and I find this to be a really good source of "what not to do." I still laugh but I also appreciate Adams' ability to find the humor - - and the inhumanity - - in even well-meaning management.

Dilbert is funny because of the underlining truth in all that is said. EVERYONE that I have bought this for loves it.

If you, like me, have only experienced management at the receiving end, it is obvious that - judging by what management looks like - this is the kind of thing they learn at those conferences. Scott Adams has just formulated the theory that must be there behind all that dysfunctional, destructive practice. I had a lot of fun!

While the classic comic strips included in this book (most dating from the early and mid-1990's) continue to be amusing, the rest of this book missed its target. Written as an over-the-top instructional guide for managers, it is takes itself so seriously that little of it remains amusing. Adams is clearly attempting to satirize bad management practices and abuses, but he might be trying too hard to be funny. While there are plenty of bad managers out there, I doubt that many of them are as intentionally bad as suggested here. This book was indeed a light read, and fans of the "Dilbert" comic strip should find familiar material here, but overall, "The Dilbert Principle" is a better book.

If you've ever been in the hi-tech rat race, you already know that the Dilbert comic strip is a documentary. You may also have started to wonder how all the pointy-hairs came to hold such similar sets of bizarre beliefs. Well, your worst fears have come true. There is a secret cabal of pointy-haired teaching, and this is its text.

About half of the book's volume is reprints of Dilbert comics showing the eerie illogic of the pointy-hairs. Those are interleaved with cynical advice to the would-be boss. Topics include motivating without actual reward, ignoring the conflicts between inane wishes and physical laws, and creating a workplace free from any risk of productivity.

Adams's cynicism is good for a few laughs, and certainly voices the nerd's-eye view of workplace foolishness. A lttle goes a long way, though, and his later books tend to drive the joke into the ground.

//wiredweird

An excellent book answering FAQs that you didn't know you had or if you did, you didn't know how to ask them. As I was crafting my own memoir, this book helped guide me on the path. I kept going back to it again and again as a reference, a reminder and as encouragement. Note that it has writing exercises to help you learn by doing.

During the past year, I've read half a dozen books similar to, but not as worthwhile as this one. Judith Barrington is a fine poet, and the poetry of her thoughts and language, both, strike something much deeper than a 'how to' on the subject of memoir. If you are a writer looking for a guide in spirit as much as in craft, buy the book.

For memoirists working alone or with a group, Barrington is an insightful and skillful guide. She gives excellent advice on how to maintain the delicate balance between the demands of accuracy and of engaging readers. And she offers solutions to the challenge of protecting yourself and others in your story from painful public exposure without compromising your tale.

Writing the Memoir is exactly that; a well written guide to would-be authors. Packed with thoughtful exercises after each brief chapter, this little book will get your creative juices flowing! Barrington shares her own personal experiences throughout and provides lots of excellent references.
If you are ready to get your fingers moving on the keypad and get some memoir writing done (as compared to just thinking about it) try this book. Barrington is clear to say it isn't easy crafting a great memoir, but she gives the reader lots of foundational material from which to start.
A good read! A better workbook!

"Writing a Memoir" by Judith Barrington is the text used for an on-line class I am currently taking. It is a practical guide for discerning the elements of the memoir. This book, coupled with an excellent teacher, is responsible for improving my writing as well as giving me a clear picture of the differences between a memoir, an essay, and a short story. I highly recommend this book for people interested in writing their life stories.

This book has some wonderful, beautiful gems in it. There were many poems and selections from books that I remember from my own childhood, but also some that I have never heard of. The book is mostly too old for my 2 1/2 year old daughters, but there are a few poems and selections that I can read to them and get their attention with. There aren't many pictures - I can't recall any, but think there might be a few small drawings. This is for children old enough to listen as you read aloud. I am thrilled to have this book on my shelf, where my children can read through and explore it when they get older. I appreciated that there was a mix of styles, from whimsical poems by Shel Silverstein to selections from Anne of Green Gables.

One of the greatest things about this book is that it calls one's attention to indispensable classics that parents may have forgotten, or never read before. I will be buying some of the books which selections were chosen from, and referring to this book as my children grow up to get ideas for stocking the family library.

I do have a few minor complaints. First, many selections are followed up by a 'moral' written in everyday language. I found this potentially trite and the points were overly belabored. Also, sometimes the switch in tone could be jarring after some of the selections. However, I think that these little notes will have the desired effect as long as I don't read them and just leave them for my children to discover when they are able to read for themselves. I'm hoping that they will come across as little treasures and surprises for my children to discover on their own.

Second, some of the selections came from novels and needed a lot of prefacing to explain their context, and even then seemed a bit disjointed. Most were fine, but occasionally I just felt like something was missing as I read the selection.

Well, I am not a fan of Rick Santorum or the religious right but don't be turned off by the fact that this is written by his wife. This book is excellent at teaching morals in a comprehensive and fun way. There is nothing preachy or what I would consider religious but just straightforward healthy morals taught through excellent stories. Don't give it a second thought and just buy it.

I bought this book because it was listed as a supplement to the preschool curriculum we're using (homeschool, Janet's Sonlight - Exploring God's World). When I first looked at it I thought this would bore my 3 year-old to bits but decided to to have a go anyways. We've only read the first dozen anecdotes but we both are in love with this book. I have had to bring some words down to his level and we skipped one that was over his head but overall he gets it. The hook here is the classic entertainment value of each little lesson morsel. My little guy laughed hysterically at the antics of the little boy who had to stand in the corner (I called it time-out), and he listened carefully as the blue fairy tried to get pinnochio to take his medicine and then as I read the importance of taking your medicine without complaining. GREAT stuff, and one of the reasons we homeschool. If the rest of the book holds the same level of value I'll read it through every year as its content and comprehension level is appropriate for any age child - and don't well all need reminding about how to be kind, polite people?

The real importance of this book is the concept behind it.

Children nowadays are not always taught basic manners and compassion and empathy for others. Mainstream news stories abound that there will be epidemic levels of upcoming generations that are narcissistic. During my childhood I learned moral lessons and empathy through series and books such as Pete and Penny, Little Visits with God, Keys for Kids, and Uncle Arthur. This type of entertaining-while-teaching text has all but been abandoned in the modern home, with Hollywood now acting as an unwitting moral compass.

Everyday Graces is not a book of etiquette a la Emily Post, but a book of entertaining stories and poetry that children and adults can read together and use to have open discussions about what is good and what is right. More books like this one are needed today. For that reason alone, and despite it containing some minor errors, it deserves five stars.

I love this compilation. The stories and poems are just the right length to share with your children at bedtime or anytime. Beautiful, too. Makes a great gift.

I have loved Tintin books since before I even knew how to read. Though I enjoy them all, there are a few that stand out above the rest for various reasons.

Tintin in Tibet is one of my five favorite Tintin adventures. I love the varied landscapes, the cultural references of the exotic region where the story is set, and the humor in the book. This book allows one to be taken to a far away land, one which most readers will probably never have the chance to visit in person in their lives. It also is different than most Tintin books in that there is no true villian to speak of. Instead, it turns out to be a story of hope and perseverance. In the end, it is a most satisfying adventure.

This is essentially Herge's spiritual soul searching 'hippie' book. If it had been done in the late 60s it would probably have been seen as being quite in tune with the popular culture of its time. Yet this was actually done ten years earlier in 1958, which makes it an almost visionary work. It was even orignally supposed to have had an all white cover, much like the beatles white album. All in all, one of the most enjoyable Tintin books, and also a timeless classic of 20th century popular culture.

Herge, Tintin in Tibet (Methuen, 1960)

Tintin in Tibet is a complete anomaly in the Tintin series, a diversion from Tintin's usual world of intrigue to follow a dream. Tintin finds out his old friend Chang (from The Blue Lotus) has been involved in a plane crash in Tibet, he and Haddock rush off to the crash site. Tintin is convinced Chang is still alive; everyone around him, including Haddock, tell him it's not possible. Tintin's quest to find out the truth of Chang's fate leads him into a monastery full of mystics and, ultimately, a search for the legendary yeti.

This is an amazing piece of work. It is, perhaps, the most universally lauded Tintin comic (Lofficier, in The Pocket Essential Tintin, says it's been voted the greatest French-language graphic novel of all time), and it is without doubt one of the best. ****

"Tintin in Tibet" is my first Tintin adventure. I am a librarian seeking new stories and saw this in a review. It looks like a story my older elementary students would like.

Others on the product page are long-time fans, beginning in childhood, with "Tintin in Tibet" as the favorite in the series of books written and illustrated by Herge. Not knowing anything about the back story, I will begin.

First, the book itself. It is 11 3/4 inches high and 8 3/4 inches wide with full-color illustrations on slick paper, making this a very nice looking graphic novel. The book is well worth its price. The covers of the other 24 adventures are shown on the back cover.

I'm not sure who Tintin is--maybe a teenager, or the Captain, definitely someone fond of Tintin and uncle-like, who watches out for Tintin, who in turn really doesn't need watching over. Tintin is on vacation when he learns of the plane crash of Chang, a Chinese friend his age, in the mountains of Nepal.

Tintin has a dream that Chang is alive and determines to go rescue him. Of course, the Captain goes along. Through hook and crook, they manage to put together a team to take them trekking through the mountains of Nepal to find the crash site and look for Chang. Tintin's dog Snowy also goes along. He makes me laugh with his stubborn and feisty comments. The funniest is at the beginning when he complains (in the cartoon bubbles) that his feet are going to be worn off with all this hiking on rocks. Tintin has no idea his dog has this attitude.

There are several episodes in which Tintin miraculously pulls through, along with the Captain and Snowy. Tintin is clearly a hero figure but so modest, his heroism is almost surprising. He is like a Boy Scout with courage, cleanliness, right living, and dedication to service to others. He is kind and compassionate and downright likeable. Although the Captain is a whiny complainer, he always ends up doing the right thing and thus makes himself likeable. I love his cranky faces! And Snowy! So adorable!

In addition to character positives, the book also promotes cultural exchanges in a positive light--and this back in the '60's! Geography is highlighted. This might be a graphic novel, but it contains many bubbles with words.

Teachers, librarians, parents: This is a series worth exploring, for all its positive values. Other reviewers don't recommend this as a first to buy. Please read Texas Swede's review for an excellent summary of all the Tintin books to make your decision. I will be adding several of the books to my school library, including this one!

This album was first published in 1960. It is my favorite Tintin. Tintin has a vivid dream in which his friend Tchang is in serious danger. They soon find out that his friend was on a plane that crashed in the Himalayas. There were no survivors reported, but Tintin is still convinced that Tchang is alive. Tintin and Captain Haddock flies to India and then they go to the Nepalese/Tibetan border. The adventure that follows is gripping and full of mystery and it has some great humor. The cold and harsh Himalayan Mountains provides nearly insurmountable challenges and both strange and dangerous things will happen.

Despite the hardships Tintin forges ahead against all odds and against all advice. This story is a little bit slower and more philosophical than most other Tintin adventures, and it includes some paranormal phenomena. However, it is still exciting and gripping, and the humor is superb. I always get a good laugh out of this book no matter how many times I re-read it. The story is very much about the human spirit, hope, and the power of compassion. One thing that stayed with me forever was the lonely cry of the Yeti.

This is my favorite Tintin adventure because it is more than just an adventure. It was also my favorite Tintin album when I was a kid. However, younger children may like "Blue Lotus" or the "The Crab with the Golden Claws" better. I would recommend this album for adults and mature children before any other Tintin album, with the slight reservation that it is an untypical Tintin album and that you may also want to read a couple of the other albums. I should say that I loved the Tintin books as a kid and I still like them, and so does my American kids (I am Swedish). In fact my American X-Box and Wii playing kids read them all the time and like them even more than I did.

Finally I would like to list all the Tintin albums in order from my favorite to the one I liked the least. I will make this list into a list mania list next but put it here for easy access.

Skip this list if you don't want to read it (I know it is very long).

(1) Tintin in Tibet (5 stars). It was published 1960. It is my favorite Tintin. Tintin's friend Tchang (from Blue Lotus) is lost in a plane crash in Tibet. Everyone thinks he is dead, but not Tintin, who sets out to find him against all odds. It contains adventure, humor, and mystery; however, it is also about the human spirit, and compassion. Therefore it is also a very inspiring and thought provoking adventure.

(2) Blue Lotus (5 stars). This is Herge's first master piece; it is one of my favorites. This Tintin adventure from 1934 takes place in 1931 but is still the second best Tintin (after Tintin in Tibet) as far as I am concerned. Tintin is fighting Opium gangs in China when Japan invades. This adventure is dark, scary, exciting and fun. It is also a history lesson to a certain extent.

(3) Flight 714 (5 stars). This book was published in 1968. Tintin and his friends are invited to fly in the private jet of the billionaire Lazlo Careidas. The private jet is hijacked and they are taken by their kidnappers to a very mysterious Island. This adventure is filled with surprises, humor, it is fast paced and exciting, and is therefore one of my favorites.

(4) The Crab with the Golden Claws (5 stars). This was the first Tintin I read as a kid (in Swedish). It was also the first Tintin movie I saw. This is the book where Tintin met Captain Haddock for the first time. Just like the other later works by Herge it is exciting, and well drawn, but this is one is also very funny. It will make you and your kids laugh out loud.

(5) The seven Crystal Balls (5 stars). This Tintin published 1948, is eerie, mysterious, and exciting. It is the first one of a series of two, the second being "Prisoners of the Sun". In this adventure the members of an expedition that investigated the tomb of Rascar Capac an Inca King, become sick with a strange horrible disease. The mummy taken from the tomb mysteriously vanishes (escapes?) during a fierce thunderstorm.

(6) Prisoners of the Sun (5 stars). This is the second book of a series of two. Tintin and company end up in Peru. They save a boy Zorrino from Peruvian racists. Zorrino guides them to the Inca Empire which still exists underground in the Jungle. Towards the end Tintin saves himself and his company by using his knowledge of a coming solar eclipse. It was later plagiarized by Mel Gibson in Apocalypto.

(7) The Castafiore Emerald (5 stars). This adventure was published 1963. It is absolutely the funniest of them all. It is filled with a lot of good humor. However, to get all the jokes you need to be familiar with Tintin and Captain Haddock already. So I would not recommend this as your first Tintin.

(8) The Red Sea Sharks (5 stars). This adventure was written in 1958. Tintin stumbles into an organization selling African slaves (slavery still existed in the Middle East and Africa in 1958). A lot of old crooks from other books show up here, including Captain Allan, Rastapopolous, Dr. Muller, etc. This book is intensely exciting and full of action and is therefore one of my favorites.

(9) Tintin and the Picaros (5 stars). This adventure published 1976 is full of fun and adventure. Castafiore is being held by General Tapioca innocently accused of plotting against him. Well if you know Castafiore you now feel sorry for the poor old dictator.

(10) Explorers of the Moon (5 stars). Written 1954 this is the second book in a series of two. This book is a lot more exciting and fun compared to the first (Destination moon). The movie is, however, better than the comic book (they are the same but this comic makes a good movie). However, reading this science fiction style comic book is a lot of fun.

(11) Land of the Black Gold (4 stars). This book was published in 1950 (original version 1948). It takes place in the middle east and is about oil, war, and the fight against criminals like Dr. Muller (German villains were no longer taboo). Prince Abdullah the son of the Emir of the Arab Emirate of Khemed is kidnapped and Tintin and company sets out to rescue him.

(12) Red Rackham's Treasure (4 stars). This is the second book in a series of two, the first one being "The secret of the Unicorn". In this adventure Tintin and Captain Haddock goes on an expedition to find the treasure of Sir Francis Haddock. It is in this book we meet Professor Calculus for the first time. His underwater machine turns out to be invaluable, even though Tintin and Captain Haddock at first reject it.

(13) The Secret of the Unicorn (4 stars). This adventure was published in French 1943. This is the first book in a series of two (the second being Red Rackhams treasure). In this adventure it is discovered that Captain Haddocks forefather was a feisty sea captain who fought pirates and left a treasure behind. It is not as fast paced as many other Tintin adventures and contains a considerable amount of detective work.

(14) The Calculus Affair (4 stars). In this adventure Professor Calculus is kidnapped in Geneva and Tintin and Captain Haddock set out to save him. It turns out that Professor calculus is working on a secret weapon that the fictional country of Borduria really wants to have. It is an exciting adventure but not as humor filled and exhilarating as some of the other adventures. It was written 1956.

(15) The Cigars of the Pharaoh (4 stars). The Cigars of the Pharaoh is the first of the better Tintin books. In this adventure Tintin is on a holiday cruise but ends up traveling to Egypt and India on a dangerous adventure. It is an exciting and mysterious adventure that is not objectionable (unlike the three first ones).

(16) The broken ear (4 stars). This story from 1937 takes place in South America. Tintin fights dangerous crooks, gets caught up in political turmoil, is nearly executed, travels through the rain forest, encounters piranhas, and lives among the Arumbaya Indians. This is where Tintin meets General Alcazar for the first time. Lots of action but it is still not a top quality Tintin.

(17) King Ottokar's Sceptre (4 stars). Published in 1939 this book is an allegory for fascist aggression. In this adventure Tintin visits the mythical Kingdom of Syldavia. The leaders of Borduria, a neighboring country, plot to unseat King Muskar. They attempt to seize the symbol of the Syldavian monarchy, which is "King Ottokar's Scepter". This adventure was exciting but still not a favorite of mine.

(18) The Black Island (4 stars). FOUR STARS: This one was written 1937. It takes place in England and Scotland. I saw the movie version, and read the book in several languages. In this adventure Tintin is hunting down a gang of forgers. The drawings have a higher quality than "The broken ear" and the story flows smoothly. However, I find the story to be somewhat tedious and too British for me, and this is not one my favorites.

(19) Destination Moon (4 stars). First published 1953, this is the first book in a series of two (the second being Explorers of the moon). It is a very good concept, a sort of Tintin science fiction. However, it is not fast paced and at times tedious.

(20) Tintin and the lake of the sharks (4 stars). Published 1974 and based on a film from 1972, it is a little different than the other Tintin adventures. It is not directly written by Herge, but Herge supervised the creation of the film. The drawings are not typical either; they look like still pictures from the movie. It is also a little shorter. However, it is still a good adventure and my kids like it, so I give it four stars.

(21) The shooting star (4 stars). In this adventure (from 1941) the world comes close to annihilation when earth almost collides with a star. Tintin and Captain Haddock sets out on an expedition together with a team of international scientists to find a piece that broke off and landed in the Ocean. Well, stars are not solid and pieces don't brake off stars, but there are a lot more oddities in this unlikely story.

(22) Tintin in America (3 stars). Tintin in America" portrays America with an old fashioned European prejudice that is unrealistic and unflattering. His portrayal of the Indians is borderline racist, and the plot is essentially "gangster tries to kill Tintin, Tintin miraculously escapes" repeated a couple of dozen times. Having said that, the book is still entertaining, in its own way.

(23) The adventures of Tintin in the land of the Soviets (3 stars). This is anti-communist propaganda, which I don't mind; however, it does not make a good comic book. The drawings are also not that good. However, this comic book shows that people knew about the Soviet horrors back in the 1920's.

(24) Tintin in the Congo (3 stars). It was an exciting adventure with some interesting and fun twists. However, the quality is very far from that of the more modern Tintin books, and it is borderline racists.

I bought this back in 2004 entering my final (fourth) year of college. I must say the observations are usually somewhat funny, but some were cringworthy (as were most of my college experiences.) I suggest giving this book to someone is high school before they pick a college, so they know what's up.

Don't waste your time or money reading this book. You know those text books you bought freshman year that you only took one important line off of for every 3 pages you read...well this book has one funny line for every 3 pages. If you truly want something that will make you bust up go get Karo's book, either of them.

i was SHOCKED to see that not only did people read and review this book, but that they actually seemed to enjoy it. i received "Student Body Shots" as a graduation present...socks or any number of normally unwanted gifts would have been preferable to this piece of crap. In short, there is nothing funny about stating the blatantly obvious. Steve, tell your friends to stop writing reviews. The only reason I am giving this book one star is because there was no "zero star" option.

OMG! This book is SO funny! I laughed so hard! You will laugh too! Unless you don't like to laugh! What kind of a monster are you?

Most college humorists crack jokes about such tired subjects as the bad cafeteria food, small living spaces, and big classes. Funny, sure, but reading it is a lot like having a stand-up comedian joke about bad airline food and how he or she can't program their VCR.

In contrast, Steve Hofstetter nailed the college experience to a tee. Everything from classes and parents to hook-ups and parties are discussed in a hilarious (and slightly sarcastic) manner, with unbelievable, undeniable accuracy. Student Body Shots is a must-read for college students and anyone else who fondly remembers the experience.

I first got a taste of Dave Barry after coming upon an essay of his online, which described his misadventures at one of those silly "self-improvement" seminars. Needless to say the cracks about Tony Robbins being an android & other stuff basically required a quick change of undies. So, I wanted to experience more of aching tummies & soggy panties, so I bought this book. Unfortunetely, the story wasn't in this one BUT I was treated to absolute hilarity such as Dave's trip to Bimini on his boat named "Buster".....and the embarrassment of being around guys with "more manly" names for boats like "Sea Biceps" & "Testosterone Torpedo" (guys are weird). Then there's his son, who makes poor Dave feel old with the former's earring & penchant for cutting-edge music such as the song "Detachable [...]" (this is a real song, by the way...or as Dave would say, "I'm not making this up". My sister used to hear all the time on the radio back in the 90's). So, if you want a blast, get this book. Oh.......and remember to visit the "Porcelain Throne", first.

In addition to following up 1992's "Dave Barry Talks Back" with a collection of his weekly humor columns from the Miami Herald through 1994, this book also includes several longer pieces Dave Barry wrote for other publications, including one about the "natural" birth of his son, an expose of a Western Florida UFO hoax, and a couple of travelogues (of a sort) about a trip to China on the eve of Britain's withdrawal from Hong Kong and a boating trip to Bimini Bay. Also included is a rather serious (for Barry) column about his son being hit by a car while riding his bike, which is actually quite touching.

But of course, the staple of any Dave Barry book is the zany humor, and it is plentiful here, including among many other classic columns the infamous "Bad Song Contest." If you are a Dave Barry fan, you will enjoy this book, and if you haven't discovered him yet, this would be a fine place to start.

A collection of amusing anecdotes from the American writer, humorist and columnist Dave Barry. He finds all sorts of weird, crazy, stupid and funny stuff that people do, say or come up with all across the United States of America, and puts them into print.

Dave doesn't mind a drop of the droll, Dave doesn't.

I have read nearly all of Dave's books, and it never ceases to amaze me that he can be hilarious on each and every occasion. He doesn't duplicate any annecdotes, he simply uses his comic genius to make up new ones.. you will never be bored with Dave's ability to make you rush to the toilet to save wetting the floor, or laughing so hard you feel sick, and the back of your head hurts. This book is my favourite. Every story is funny, clever, and even sometimes sentimental. Please buy this one, you won't regret it. He's on top form.

Sorry, my husband and I listened to this for quite a bit and did not find it funny at all and didn't even want to continue listening to it, it just seemed long and boring--I guess we have a different sense of humor than most of the other reviewers.