Form-4 Books

Shirripa's book is a humorous and light read. You won't even notice how quickly pages are turned reading it.

The book features some details about Steven's personal ife and career, but mostly focuses on the explanation of a mystic personality - 'goomba'. Although is is a fairly stereotypic depiction of Italian-Americans, some points are exaggerated.

But, relax, sit on a limp sofa and read it.

A Brief "Goomba 101..."

What are goomba Italian-Americans?
The terms goomba (also can be seen spelled goombah or goumbah) and guido are both synonymous terms used to describe a certain very ethnic Italian-American which usually resides in small New Jersey and New York neighborhoods known as "GuidoLands." When you take all of the children and grandchildren of Italian immigrants from all the different regions and throw them together, you have your Little Italy neighborhoods in America, and the goomba subculture emerges. Things get translated and changed and past onto the next generation, but the Italian root is still there. The GuidoLand residents are special types of Italian-Americans who usually fit a lot of the Hollywood stereotypes, because they are pretty entertaining characters. Goombas do things to the extreme when it comes to showing off the love for this particular East Coast subculture. Goombas have certain speech patterns, ways of dress, attitudes and ideas, but they truly love family and things that derive from Italy. Goombas don't wanna walk on the moon, they wanna walk to the corner Italian deli. Goombas don't try to discover a cure for Cancer, they'd rather go to the local Church and pray for it. Goombas like food, family, music, movies, sports, and just hanging out. They may not have the best jobs or homes but they still have that "numero uno" attitude. The goomba originated anywhere from thirty to forty to fifty years ago and will be around forever. The stereotypes may alter a little and new guido-isms may be created, but the goomba attitude-which is the main thing-will never die. If you haven't realized it by now, not all Italians are goombas. It's a special distinction made to certain guys who like Italian things over meddigan (white bread WASP) things.

Why do some take offense to the word goomba?
Usually it's because they think you are characterizing them with being gangsters or low-class. The goomba is neither. Some "holier than thou" Italian-Americans think the whole goomba thing is a "bas-tardization" of the culture because of the use of slang terms as opposed to formal standard Italian or because they are content with their living conditions and lifestyle and aren't out protesting some cause. It's a sad fact for one Italian-American to look down on another, considering the goomba's love for all things Italian, past and present, is always extreme and evident. That's why the goomba wears the Fila suits, and wraps himself in the Italian flag. And that's why most goombas like shows like The Sopranos and movies like Goodfellas, because they can relate to the goomba image. It's not that the goomba is relating to the gangster part, which is the part that is doing the crimes. Italian-American mafia characters are usually portrayed as very ethnic and distinct about their wardrobe choices and meals and a lot of other things they do. And that's the cool part about them that the goomba gets a kick out of, the Italian love, it's not all about seeing them chopping off other people's heads. A goomba can call out a fellow goomba like a black guy can call a friend the "n" word. It's a term of affection, not like greaseball or guinea which usually are offensive.

What is the goomba dialect?
Come stai, molto benne, buon giorno, arrivederci. Every Italian from Italy knows these words and every Italian-American should. But what about the goomba speech pattern? Those words and phrases that are a little Italian, a little American and a little slang. The goomba says ciao when he arrives or leaves. He says Madonna Mia anytime emotion is needed in any given situation. Mannagge, meengya, oofah and of course, va fungool can also be used. Capeesh? He uses a mopeen to wipe his hands in the cucina, gets agita from the gravy and will shceeve meatballs unless they are homemade from the famiglia. Always foonah your bread in the pot of gravy or you will be a mottie or a goo-goots. Mezza-fanooks and mulignans are usually always mamalukes and the girl from the neighborhood with the reputation is a facia-bruta puttana or a schifosa hewa (who-re). If you are called cattivo, garbbadosht, sfatcheem, stupido, or strunz you are usually a pain in the you know what. A crazy diavlo can give you the maloikya (evil eye), but that red horn will protect you if you use it right. Always say per favore and grazie and prego. Piacere is always said if you meet someone you like. If you are feeling mooshadd or stunad or mezza-morta always head to Nonna's and she will fix you with a little homemade manicott,' gavadell' or calamod' or some ricott' cheesecake. Mangia on some zeppoles, canollis, torrone, struffoli, shfooyadell', pignoli cookies, or a little nutella on pannetone. Delizioso! I think I will fix myself a sengweech of gabagol' with some proshoot and mozzarell' or maybe just a hot slice a peetz. Pasta fazool, mussels ma-dinara, clams oregenata, eggplant parmigian' and calzones are more traditional comfort food. Chiaccherones talk too much and if you say perche I don't know why. Just tell them to stattazeet. So salud' if you have any Italian blood in you and if you understood anything I wrote here. If so, you are numero uno and the professore of the goombas. Aspett' a minuto I have another thing to say, domani is another day! If you don't get any of this then fa Napola with the whole thing and you are a disgraziato. Scuzi, me dispiachay, I didn't mean that. Just fugheddaboutit.

I am a big Sopranos fan, but I am a little fed up withe stereotypes represented in the reviews. EVEN THE SOPRANOS has more depth when speaking about Italian culture than whoever is writing here, and I am loathe to believe they could be Italian-American.

As T would say this book is #1.
Bada a bing!

One of the best friends I ever had was a guy from "the neighborhood" (actually Long Island) who was so obviously Italian-American (and a fair slice Colombian too, if the truth be telt) that he seemed to be a parody of his own lifestyle.

Little did I know, he wasn't a self-parody...he was simply A WORLD-CLASS GOOMBA.

I had grown up understanding this to be an insult...and under some circumstances, it is...but the truth is that those guys who live The Good Life as gangsters on TV and the movies aren't just the embodiment of some preppy screenwriter's fantasy; they are in fact living arguably the best possible life there is.

This book tells you, in some ways more certain than others, just how to live that same life, even if you've no more any Italian blood within your veins than Elvis Presley (solidly honorary Goomba status) or Genghis Khan.

It's a fascinating introduction to anyone who's ever been captivated by the lifestyle portrayed onscreen by uber-actors Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, Paul Sorvino, and yes, James Gandolphini and the cast of "The Sopranos", yet was understandably hesitant about embracing the lifestyle most often showcased in their most widely-regarded films or TV shows.

In other words, you don't have to be a gangster to be a big shot. You DO have to THINK you're a big shot whether or not you actually ARE before anyone else inside the know will believe that you are or not.

My father once told me that ever since the Jazz Age, young black males have been the one group that most young white males most sought to emulate. I don't dispute that, but reading this book should certainly give most impressionable young men cause to pause; the Goomba understands life in a fashion that most anyone else will never completely grasp without serious intervention.

Ladies and gentlemen of all ethnicities, I offer "A Goomba's Guide To Life" as the best non-Biblical way to find your way through existance since the Von Hoffman Brothers' "Big Damn Book of Sheer Manliness". You never quite understand completely if the intentions are pure or parodoxic, but they are regardless entertaining; sterotypes are not embraced, but they are certainly not cast aside without all due reverance. A great read, makes me wish even more that I was from "the neighborhood".

Never judge a book by it's cover, but in this case the inside stands up to the expection of the artwork. This is a book you can dip into time and again. The stories feel like they have been choosen with care and as well as being some of the best stories from different cultures they are accompanied and added to by wonderful illustrations of Michael Hague. With the odd poem and extracts from C.S Lewis and Tolkien it is well a rounded treasure. If you like dragon stories this is a book for you and any children you know.

This is a wonderful book. My 6 year old grandson is old enough to understand the stories and the brilliant Hague illustrations will delight but not terrify him. No more "monsters under the bed and in the closet episodes." I appreciate the classic selection of writers chosen by Hague and the gentle editing aimed at introducing the younger child to fantasy literature before they are ready to take on Tolkien,C S Lewis and all the other beasties there be a wandering out there in this magic world.

This book is only some dragon stories selected from different books and myths( like The Hobbit and The Voyge of the Dawn Treader),but is still a pretty well done book, you will probably enjoy it if you REALLY like dragons.

I liked all the different stories. There were some stories from books that I had read before like one about Smog the dragon from The Hobbit. There were also some pretty funny dragon stories. Overall there was a nice mix of dragon stories. I highly recommend this book to kids from about age 8 and up.

I've read a few of the stories so far and I'm looking forward to reading more. So far I've read "The Dragon Tamers", "Perseus and Andromeda", "The Flower Queen's Daughter," "Bilbo Baggins and Smaug", "The Devil and his Grandmother", and "The Good Sword." All of the stories really held my attention and I couldn't put the book down. The only better Dragon book I've read is "Eldest." - by Louis, age 11

The jack of all trades, Fulghum, says its a continuation of "All I really need to know I learned in kindergarten". With his live and let live, universalist world view he shares his observations and opinions of every day life. Each chapter is a short story with a special meaning, and usually brings a chuckle. Many are personal; subjects include: scientific uncertainties, parents, blood, public affection, marriage, religion, lemonade, travel, customs, blessings in disguise, and even yucky stuff----thanks mothers. The book is a good release for every day tension. He is still pondering, "what is my occupation?"

Wish you well
Scott

I started reading this book on an airplane...and in some ways I wish I hadn't. I was laughing and laughing at the sheer unexpectedness of this book, shaking the entire row with my convulsions. I think some were trying to figure out if I were laughing or crying, as I had tears running down my cheeks. The stories were a total surprise to me, for I didn't buy this book for the humor. I actually bought it because a friend had told me one extremely meaningful story out of the book, regarding the meaning of life. In essence, this story-ette is about a priest and his meaning of life, and a small mirror...he believes the meaning of life is to bring light to dark places, a game he used to play when he was a kid with sunlight and a mirror. That game has become a metaphor for his life. So I bought the book for that reason, for a few little pages. But now 1/2 way through the book, it has entertained me way more than expected.

The book is written in article form, with each story-ette lasting 3 to 7 pages, so it makes for excellent bedtime reading. FYI, this book and the writing remind me of Bill Bryson, and his writing style.

Buy it, excellent life lessons. I f you cannot find a 2-5 page essay in this book you like or can relate to your younger than 15.

Stories about real life that make you laugh out loud and put a smile on your face about how good life can be if you look at things the right way. lot's of quick little stories that are snapshots of goodness.

I must confess that, when I heard that this was a bestselling collection of inspirational anecdotes and essays by a minister, I was prepared to be skeptical. I was expecting oversimplifications, sentimentality and proselytizing.
In fact I found myself moved to laughter and sadness.
It is indeed written in simple language, but it is the simplicity of the clever writer. Fulghum quotes from Horace in Latin and from the Septuagint in Greek, and describes attending a talk on chaos theory at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, but makes it all sound plain and easy.
He mentions "Apocalypse Now" but not the Book of Revelations. He is a long way from original sin and Calvinism. I think the central message is that there is much good in people and you can bring it out by being patient and being nice to them. I was almost convinced.

A marvellous book, the four stories of Yeowe & Werel intertwined subtly and beautifully.

The issues of slavery and female subjugation, so central to any moral history of real humankind on real planet earth, are treated with Ursula's characteristic compassion and humanity, in the context of an imaginary planet and its colony-satellite.

The characters of these stories, their acts of bravery cowardice revolt submission, are so familiar from earth's own history of colonizations and exploitations! As always I marvel at how LeGuin, White American and presumably priviledged, knows so well the hearts of the enslaved and the colonized.

How familiar to see the lives of slaves who go on century after century without thinking to revolt!

How familiar to see the slave who, at the moment of choice, remains on the side of the master and sticks to the familiar, instead of striding into the unknown world of freedom!

And how familiar to see oppression and war and famine continuing, in different form, after freedom from the external oppressors.

(Former colonies of the European oppressors will remember sorely how brown/black bosses promptly took over the former_roles of the white masters after liberation.)

And how familiar to see, the lonely and driven activist, the former slave who wants all enslavements to end, the few moral beings in an often immoral world.

The cry of slave peoples on Werel -- "Oh, Oh, Ye-o-we" -- so mournful, so similar to the bittersad poetry of colonized peoples everywhere.

Actually, the four ways have now become five ways, as LeGuin has written one more story set in Werel, in the collection "The Birthday of the World".

A marvellous book, the four stories of Yeowe & Werel intertwined subtly and beautifully.

The issues of slavery and female subjugation, so central to any moral history of real humankind on real planet earth, are treated with Ursula's characteristic compassion and humanity, in the context of an imaginary planet and its colony-satellite.

The characters of these stories, their acts of bravery cowardice revolt submission, are so familiar from earth's own history of colonizations and exploitations! As always I marvel at how LeGuin, White American and presumably priviledged, knows so well the hearts of the enslaved and the colonized.

How familiar to see the lives of slaves who go on century after century without thinking to revolt!

How familiar to see the slave who, at the moment of choice, remains on the side of the master and sticks to the familiar, instead of striding into the unknown world of freedom!

And how familiar to see oppression and war and famine continuing, in different form, after freedom from the external oppressors.

(Former colonies of the European oppressors will remember sorely how brown/black bosses promptly took over the former_roles of the white masters after liberation.)

And how familiar to see, the lonely and driven activist, the former slave who wants all enslavements to end, the few moral beings in an often immoral world.

The cry of slave peoples on Werel -- "Oh, Oh, Ye-o-we" -- so mournful, so similar to the bittersad poetry of colonized peoples everywhere.

Actually, the four ways have now become five ways, as LeGuin has written one more story set in Werel, in the collection "The Birthday of the World".

Fine SF explores the nature of the human condition under special circumstances--with observations of lasting import. LeGuin does that in her works. While this one, a collection of 4 interrelated novellas, is not her best work (see The Left Hand of Darkness or The Dispossessed), it is very fine work nonetheless. I like it much better than her short story collections (e.g. Orsinian Tales). This book is about the relationships between politics and people. It also speaks of the differences and similarities between the internal and the external such that changing external circumstances may not have much lasting effect if the internal circumstances (within the people) don't change. There is an interrelationship here too. There are several pithy quotes for my collection in it as well:

Love of God and country is like fire, a wonderful friend, a terrible enemy; only children play with fire. p.57

To live simply is most complicated. p. 90

The right use of knowledge is fulfillment. p.117

Loquacity is half of diplomacy ... The other half is silence. p.127

Ignorance defends itself savagely. p.197

Four Ways to Forgiveness is what sf writer LeGuin calls a "story suite"--four interconnected short stories, one of which takes up nearly half the book. All four stories are set on the planet Werel and its colony of Yeowe, where a dominant black-skinned race holds a primarily white-skinned population in slavery. Werel and Yeowe have both been contacted by the Ekumen, the interplanetary federation of LeGuin's future history, but neither can join until the problems of slavery and gender imbalance have been solved. In "Betrayals", two old people find tenderness together after long and difficult lives; in "Forgiveness Day", the brash young Envoy of the Ekumen is kidnapped, together with the stiff-necked bodyguard she despises, and falls in love with him. "A Man of the People" is the story of Havzhiva, born to the pueblo culture of Hain, the parent world of all human races and cultures. Feeling out of place, he goes off to become a historian and winds up as the Envoy to Yeowe, the colony world where the slaves have successfully revolted and become free. It is mirrored by "A Woman's Liberation," the memoir of Rakam, born a slave, used sexually by her mistress as a child, used by men at another plantation in her adolescence, who escapes to Yeowe with the help of another Hainish envoy, the mysterious Esdardon Aya (whose name means Old Music) and becomes a teacher and, eventually, the lover of Havzhiva.

I love this book and have read it repeatedly. While I don't like all of LeGuin's work equally well, some of her books I have re-read many times and been deeply influenced by--the Earthsea books, The Dispossessed, this one, and A Fisherman of the Inland Sea, which I am now reading yet again. LeGuin writes science fiction based on sociology, anthropology, biology; she's not interested in shiny spaceships or the technology that runs them, and if she writes about conquering colonists, it's usually from the viewpoint of the conquered. Plus, she can do so much with her rich, spare language. If you like unconventional sf, try LeGuin.

Readable, but that's about it -- this book lacks the energy and complexity of previous brilliant LeGuin works. It is mostly a much less rigorous reworking of the extraordinary novel "The Dispossessed", with an inadequte attempt to address the issue of Ekumen superiority vs."native" wisdom -- the question which formed the center of the astonishingly brilliant "Left Hand of Darkness." All the conflicts here drift away, not only unresolved but unfaced in the rigorous way I expect from LeGuin. Never gets to the main issues, either those between the twin planets or regarding their relations with the Ekumen. Derivative and disappointing -- read "Left Hand," or LeGuin's neglected masterpiece "Malafrena" for sustained thought, not vagaries.

Before Garfield and Friends, before the milestone anniversaries, before...yes...the Internet, the fine folks at Paws Inc. decided to get creative.

This 1984 work is a series of unusual short stories chronicling Garfield's past (and present and one future) lives. All of them are dramatically different from the mundane 3-panel comic or even the early TV specials. Supposedly the point is to illustrate how the present Garfield's personality came to be, but a lot of it looks all the world like it's just for fun or what someone on the Paws staff thought was a cool idea.

Except for Babes and Bullets, the stories are very simple, if not perfunctory (I got through The Exterminators in less than 2 minutes the first time). What really makes this great is the sheer variety of the tales and the artwork that goes with them. The artwork deserves special mention, as it's vastly more elaborate and detailed (and pretty!) than anything else I've ever seen under the Garfield banner.

Ultimately, as Jim Davis himself says in the introduction, the whole point of the book is that Garfield is supposed to entertain. There's nothing here that I'd consider even remotely "canon", and in fact completely lacks anything even remotely resembling a consistent timeline (which is why I don't have any problem with the TV version being so different).

It's the most fascinating, weird, wonderful, offbeat, and unbelievable Garfield has ever been. That alone makes this a must-have.

Some details on the individual stories:
In The Beginning (prologue) - We're given a glimpse into the creation of the chubby orange icon. The setting is a computer-aided design and development center, headed by an ornery boss ("Cat Man", for lack of a better name) and staffed by a disgruntled crew of technicians. Airbrushed color graphics. (It's uncertain whether this is supposed to represent Paws Inc.; the techs are presented as generic workers, and no names are given.)

1. Cave Cat - This is one of three stories (the others being The Vikings and The Exterminators) to use "comic book" style artwork. A short, silly tale about a prehistoric Garfield emerging from the sea, chasing after a female cat, and being mercilessly domesticated by early man. Odie's prehistoric origin is also given.

2. The Vikings - A small clan of Vikings and their pet, Garfield The Orange, find themselves in modern-day Minnesota and struggle to fit in. As weird as it sounds. This is the most "adult" of all the stories (although still a far cry from South Park and the like), and also has the dubious distinction of having the only instance of The Word That Means The Same Thing As "Donkey" in the Garfield universe (and I was as surprised as anyone when I discovered it). The transformation into ordinary Americans alone is a bundle of laughs.

3. Babes And Bullets - The longest and wordiest of the stories, and one I always found a little cumbersome; it seems like it should be a whole book by itself (which it eventually did become). If you have a little patience, however, it's an entertaining tale, and even today I'm impressed that writer Ron Tuthill was able to pull it off. The characters are black-and-white anthromorphs, which I found simultaneously fascinating and a bit disturbing.

4. The Exterminators - Pure, unbridled, shameless, mindless slapstick, and a direct, er, tribute to The Three Stooges. If anything, it's too short; those nitwits should've really had the chance to wreak total havoc.

5. Lab Animal - One of the two "dark" stories. Garfield is a captive in a federal research facility and makes a desperate dash for freedom after having an unspeakable experiment performed on him. Minimal dialogue; it's pretty much pure action. There's a tiny bit of violence, but no blood (thankfully). This supposedly explains Garfield's fear of medicine, although what happens to him here is far more extreme than anything Liz ever subjected him to.

6. The Garden - By far the most visually impressive story; surrealistic landscapes with a dizzying array of colors. This is sort of a riff on the Garden of Eden story, but it also encapsulates the whole Garfield ethos: fun, happiness, friendship, love. Somewhat predictable ending (maybe), but a beautiful tale nonetheless.

7. Primal Self - The other dark story, and the most...well, difficult to explain. Virtually no dialogue; it's just a short montage of vaguely creepy scenes where what's "really" going on is left to our imaginations. Despite what you may have heard, there's no violence, but this is by far the most unsettling Garfield-related tale ever. Personally, I loved it. :-D

8. Garfield - An utterly non-canon telling of Garfield and Odie's origins. This is the only story that's done in the same style as the actual comic.

9. Space Cat - And to round it off, a "graphic novel"-esque saga of a futuristic Garfield's ill-fated foray into outer space. Lots of great snappy dialogue, some nice in-jokes, and a suitable nemesis. And the twist ending is PERFECT. I won't spoil it; suffice to say that this story isn't as far in the future as you might expect...

I used to be a big fan of Garfield when I grew up in the 70s and 80s. I've always maintained an interest in comics as a medium, but as I ascended into adolescence Garfield was rapidly replaced by new mature favourites such as the graphic novels of people like Alan Moore, Will Eisner and Neil Gaiman. The Garfield concept is, after all, very limited and rather monotonous, focused as it is on standard themes such as Garfield's gluttony, Jon's social ineptitude etc.

A couple of years ago I was walking past a second hand comic store and happened to see "Garfield: His 9 Lives" displayed in the window. It was obvious from the cover design that this was an attempt at a new take on the comic, and it sparked my curiosity. What I found was something very different from the Garfield I had known as a child - deep, introspective and in parts even dark and disturbing. It most certainly gave me a new found respect for Jim Davis - I would imagine that it takes both courage and creativity beyond the capabilities of most average unprovocative syndicated cartoonists to experiment with their characters to such an extent, and to do a good job of it.

I can certainly see how some of the stories in this book would be frightening to some children, so I'd say that a bit of caution would be required on the part of any parents who buy this book for their kids. I wouldn't consider it unsuitable, but a bit of parental guidance may be called for in the case of young children who are easily frightened (but then again, the same can be said for much of what is routinely considered "harmless children's entertainment" these days). For myself, as an adult ex-Garfield fan, the reading of this book was however an entirely positive experience.

All cats have 9 lives, right? So what about Garfield? What were *his* other lives like?

This thought led to not only this book, but an hour-long television special, each with lives in common (Cave Cat, The Garden, Lab Animal 19-GB, Garfield, and Space Cat) and different (The Vikings and Primal Self being the most different). Also, while the TV special features a cameo by Krazy Kat and two musical lives (the cracked Court Musician and the touching Diana's Piano), the book relies on visuals for its character.

It should be noted that this book is nowhere near as child-friendly as its animated counterpart. In The Beginning is a lot less oblique in its portrayal of God, and portrays Heaven as an office building (patterned after the one used at the time by PAWS, no doubt), and the network-friendly ending is nowhere to be found. The Vikings spoofs comic books in a manner not unlike Mad magazine, with all the entendres one would expect. Babes And Bullets, which was later adapted into its own special, reads like an old detective novel (and, unlike the special, involves priests instead of professors). Lab Animal 19-GB is a darker, more politically aware Garfield tale than is the norm, and Primal Self is bone-chillingly frightening (particularly the final splash page).

These caveats aside, Garfield: His 9 Lives is a great read and, more often than not, extremely funny. The Exterminators, for example, which was likely eliminated from the special for time constraints, is especially funny if you enjoy The Three Stooges (and who doesn't?). And even with the altered ending, Space Cat is still a grand farce of Shatnerian proportions (though some of the funnier sequences were concocted for animation, instead of this book). If you like Garfield, you'll certainly enjoy this flight of fancy and its animated cousin.

First off I am not a kid; I am 16. I remember reading this book VERY often in my elementary school library with my friends; it was very popular. Interestingly enough, I also remember the somewhat more adult parts of the book, despite the fact that I was too young to be shocked by any of it! Anyway, it's a darn shame that for the past five years or so the Garfield comic has been just completely unfunny, and for me this is a reminder of the good old days when I considered Garfield hilarious(we had a lot of the old collections in our elementary school). Highly reccomended.

With an introduction to each by the feline himself, the book details the nine adventures that befell the incarnations of Garfield in their respective lives. The stories are, for the most part, written by creator/artist Jim Davis, while the illustrations are provided by others, adding their spin on the "look" of the cat.

It's the "mixed bag" feel that causes some concern for this reviewer. While the majority of the "tails" have the whimsy and lovable sarcasm that makes the cat popular among comic strip readers, there are a few that take too many liberties and portray a more "pulp fiction-type" scenario.

Two of the latter are "Lab Animal" in which a lab cat escapes and is pursued by searchers and dogs and "Primal Self" with its disturbing final scene. Both of these are not for children.

"Babes and Bullet," homage to Sam Spade, is a bit too sexually suggestive in its text, written in the form of a Raymond Chandler novel.

"The Vikings" is a nice farce but may be over the head of younger readers.

Only does "Cave Cat," "The Exterminators," "The Garden," "Garfield," and "Space Cat" capture the essence of the beloved cat.

A marginal recommendation can be given for this collection, being unsuitable for ALL members of the family.

For the most part, it's for young teens and adults ONLY.

I read this collection of life stories and events with an admitedly negative attitude toward it because of my dislike of the first book of this collection. Nevertheless, I thought that this volume was even worse than it's predicessor. I don't believe that this book has any literary value to it at all. It most certainly didn't make me feel better about my life. Personally I believe that these events are things that happen to everyone in their lifetime. Merely reading about them AGAIN had even less appeal to me than it did the first time.

I read this collection of life stories and events with an admitedly negative attitude toward it because of my dislike of the first book of this collection. Nevertheless, I thought that this volume was even worse than it's predicessor. I don't believe that this book has any literary value to it at all. It most certainly didn't make me feel better about my life. Personally I believe that these events are things that happen to everyone in their lifetime. Merely reading about them AGAIN had even less appeal to me than it did the first time.

Jack Canfields is a genius. I may not be the smartiest person in the world, but I know heart when I see it and this guy, he has it. I can only compare Canfields to Bil Keane as an inspiration in my life. Delightful. If I could only give it 11 stars...

I wrote a story for this book called, "A Strawberry Malt and Three Squeezes, Please!" to honor the memory of my mother who died of Alzheimer's Disease. I hope it touches your heart. She was a very special woman!

This book will make the most depressed people to walk the earth's spirit rise to hapiness. The stories in this book touched my heart and will yours. At first I thought it was just another popular book, but when I read these stories, I fell in love with this books. Each story and each section of the book has a signifigance.I say again, these stories touched my heart, and will yours.

I learned about Erma Bombeck from my dad, who told me if I wanted a book that showed an authors personality so perfectly, to pick up an Erma Bombeck book. And he was right. Just pages into the book, I felt like she was my grandmother telling me stories, because you get feeling of her personality so well, it's as though you've known her your entire life.

considering this book was written in 1985....it is still very much up to date when it comes to some of the questioning about life Bombeck asks....it is a good read...i recommend the book

Lovely to catch up with one of Erma Bombeck's books. Loved her when I lived in America and it is sad she had to check out so early. She always brings a smile to my face and the afternoon flies by when I have my nose in one of her books.

The book arrived in a timely manner and was in excellent condition. I gave the book as a gift to a sick cousin.

Don't get on a bus, train or plane and read this book because you will laugh out loud and people will want you to explain your laughter.I love this book I had it in the 70s it was funny then and it is funnier now.

This book is fun! It repeats the rhyming word three times so it encourages every child to join in. This book is great to memorize and repeat whenever you feel like having fun. I highly recommend this book.

My mother used to sing the rhyme to me, and now I sing the book to my 17 month old daughter. We read it over and over and over. She loves the bright pictures and the repetition of the words. She can't quite say all the sounds, but she asks for "Mary MackMackMack" again and again.

My daughter can not get enough of this book! She loves all of the repetiton and pictures!

My 2 1/2 year old daughter is in love with this hillarous illustrated book. We checked it out from the library and it has become her favorite. We read it two times before nap and again two times before bed. I even catch her reading to herself!I also like it because at the end of the book there are questions and ideas that focus on different areas such as rhyming. I know we will be purchasing this book before we have to take it back to the library.

I wanted to like this one. I really did. My son loves hand clap games and board books so it seemed like a natural fit. He just seemed to hate the repetition in this one. The sounds/words/rhythm are the same page in and page out and by page 5, he was acting like he does when I try to read a book to him a second time to avoid getting up to get another. (He's seen it before and he knows it.)

I'm not one to watch shows like 60 Minutes, but the one thing I will always watch is Andy Rooney's musings on various and sundry topics at the end of the show. For a good look at the more mundane everyday things that we so often take for granted or wonder if others are thinking this too, here is the fun of it. He thinks on many a topic and always finds the funny side of it. An excellent read! Also makes a great gift.

I just love Andy Rooney's thought process and breaking down the simple things. He talks about subjects just long enough to get the message and then moves on. Highly recommend for this book for amusing reading that makes you smile.

Product arrived in a timely manner.
Book is halarious and easy to read.
Thanks to the format you can read a couple of sections and come back to it when time allows.

This is one for Rooneyphiles - more of the same old shtick. The author has made a name for himself by being cranky and he does it again. The enduring trouble with Rooney's pointy opinions is that, in the end, he doesn't really take a stand on anything of note, so you reach the end of his thoughts feeling deflated. Nothing here to trouble the advertisers, which, come to think of it, describes his job on CBS to a tee.

I have been a faithful viewer of CBS' "60 Minutes" since it's inception. It is a basic part of my Sunday evening. For many years now - no, not from the beginning - the final piece has been Andy Rooney talking about - well, whatever Andy Rooney feels like talking about. Generally taking between 1 1/2 and 3 minutes (tops, I think), in a casually curmudgeonly way, comments on just about everything from politics, to economics - history to science - magic to silverware - marriage to dogs (no suggestion of direct correlation intended.) I haven't thought that every one of his pieces was wonderful or even worth listening to - but I have been consistently amazed at his ability to earn a VERY good living literally chattering about anything he likes for a couple of minutes a week. Astounding!

His success and notoriety on TV is paralleled by his many books of collections of these 'commentaries.' I believe that there are, as of now, at least ten of them. This review is of the most recent, "Out Of My Mind." The title is not about his concerns that he is crazy - it is rather a literal statement about where the material in the book came from!

The book is organized into ten parts, each of which contains a plethora of examples of Andy's verbal meanderings about matters large and small - about things of consequence and about what might generously be dubbed as trivia. Andy does both pretty well. Every once in a while, his wry humor is punctuated with comments that jolt the reader back to recalling that Rooney began his career in journalism as a reporter for the Stars and Stripes - the newspaper written for our servicemen while they were fighting their way through World War II. Even when he is being silly, we can feel the force of real life experience, pain and humanity under it all.

The Parts of this book are:
1. Daily Life
2. Feeling Philosophical
3. On Food and Drink
4. At Work and in The Newsroom
5. The Nation At War
6. On Politics
7. My Life
8. On Money
9. The English Language, and finally,
10.The Sports Fan.

A good deal of this collection of brief pieces, reflect his general concerns about the gradual 'dumbing down' of our society and institutions and about the deceptions created by our fellow human and then foisted onto the rest of us - at times all too easily. Whatever he speaks about has an earnest quality to it. If he's putting you on, you know it.

I think the essence of this book, which can be picked up and opened to just about any page randomly to read something brief and possible entertaining (it is a GREAT bathroom reader) is best characterized by Rooney himself when he says, in the Preface,

" One thing I know is, you can make an essay out of anything. There are times when I've written about subjects about which I know very little. A writer can do that. He has the advantage of being able to look things up, to ask questions of people more knowledgeable than he. He can sit back and think before writing anything down on paper. This puts the
writer one up on readers and often make him sound smarter than he is. I try to do that. It doesn't seem dishonest. I comb my hair and try to wear decent clothes so I'll look better than I would naked, so why shouldn't I write in a style that makes me sound smarter and more interesting than I really am?"

Like him or not, agree with him or disagree - his honesty is genuinely refreshing. He doesn't take himself too seriously - but there are some subjects - like war - that he definitely does. You can easily tell which is which.

For those of you who are Andy Rooney fans, this book will not surprise nor disappoint you. For those of you who have never seen his work in print before, it is a good volume to give him a try.

When we found out we were expecting our 3rd baby boy in 4 years, family & friends immediately starting referring to our home as the House of Boys. Naturally for Mother's Day this year, I received a copy of this book. After a special homemade breakfast (compliments of my sweet boys), I wiped the left over syrup off my jammies, put the dinosaurs & race cars on the night table that our youngest son brought in to help me "eat" with, and picked up "House of Testosterone". A couple hours later after many laughs and even some tears, I had finished the book and was calling all my Mommie friends telling them about this book. My copy of "House of Testosterone" is now on rotation through my family & friends with boys or girls...Mommie's with girls can read it and appreciate it just as much as we Mommie's blessed with boys! :)
It would make a great gift for a baby shower, birthday, next Mother's Day, or even for yourself! :)

I, too, am the mother of three boys and thought that this book would be right up my alley. Not so. It was boring. I mean BORING. I kept it in the bathroom to read in bits and pieces only on principal that I bought it. I was totally bummed. :(

Absolutely hilarious! I found myself laughing so hard, my husband had to come and check on me. Her expression of daily life in a house of boys shares the humor, exhaustion, isolation, and love that are part of every moms' existence. It's a fun, quick read that left me feeling like I am not the lone woman trapped in a world of poop humor.

My hubby bought me this on vacation as a joke. From the very first page I laughed and laughed. My hubby and all 3 of my sons looked at me as if I was from another planet. I stayed up all night and read right through the whole book. It is great to know that I am not alone. Feeling left out and out of place in a home full of men. Like the author I am the mother of 3 boys (4) if you include my dear hubby. We also have a male dog and cat. This book was very entertaining and helped with the mom guilt of not understanding the men of my household.

I stumbled upon House of Testosterone at the grocery store a couple of months ago, and couldn't pass it up! I am also the mom of three sons (no girls), and laughed my way through to the last page (where I cried). I have a photo of my oldest son at about age 4, dressed in his "Rainbow Man" outfit, very similar to the little guy on the book cover. My son had a red hand-me-down shirt with an appliqueed cloud and rainbow, and we just happened to have a pair of tube socks with red, blue and yellow stripes; and Rainbow Man was born. Every boy wants to be a superhero.

As soon as I finished the book (now that my boys are grown and out of the house, I can finish a book quickly), I gave it to my younger sister, who is the mom of four boys, no girls, knowing that she would also enjoy it.