General Books - Page 4

Our Dumb World

The Onion

Amazon Price: $12.23 List Price: $17.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Little, Brown and Company Amazon Marketplace: 48 new & used starting at $9.25

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 106 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Funny AND educational 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This paperback edition of the 2007 hardcover version of Our Dumb World contains "30% More Asia"! If only high school geography was this sarcastic and realistic, maybe Americans would know exactly where the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, or Jordan are, but as it is, geography is so dull that Our Dumb World brings a breath of fresh air and levity to our world. Laid out like a regular Atlas, you see the land mass, flag, facts and major contemporary details about each country.

Taking after their irreverent humor that their weekly newspaper elicits, with headlines that could read: "Florida fallen off Continental Shelf, orange juice production low, adult diapers high," this Atlas pokes jabs at every major country as you guffaw your way around the globe. Even the most uptight, humorless individual would read these pages and laugh. Everyone has heard of Palestine, but has it been thought of in the context of, "On 24-Hour Suicide-Bombing Watch"? Or Yemen & Oman, "Doing Terrorism's Grunt Work." These are all headliners that sum up a specific land mass pretty adequately with that snide Onion `we know you love reading us because we're such good writers of cynicism.' This book delivers a good belly laugh and perhaps even some education thrown in for good measure.

Armchair Interviews says: Beautiful layout, well written, and funny. A must have for your high school student; then you can borrow it.

Editorial Review:

OUR DUMB WORLD is the world's most comprehensive fake atlas: a repository of all known information about the planet Earth (except where covered by clouds).

In late 2007 the hardcover edition became one of the hottest books of the holiday season, entertaining and offending hundreds of thousands of readers around the globe. This new, easy-to-carry paperback edition is perfect for the intrepid traveler to any of the world's exotic locales--from Afghanistan, "Allah's Cat Box," to Ukraine, "the Bridebasket of Europe," to the USA's own Nevada, "Where Everyone's a Loser."

Packed with beautiful full-color maps and framed with inaccurate essays about all the world's peoples and places, OUR DUMB WORLD is a gut-busting send-up in which no nation escapes unscathed.

"Bottom line: laughed my head off." --Deirdre Donahue, USA Today

The Complete Calvin and Hobbes (Calvin & Hobbes)

Bill Watterson

Amazon Price: $94.50 List Price: $150.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Andrews McMeel Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 36 new & used starting at $94.50

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 332 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

NOT 1 DENT!!!! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I just received them today, I had to let you guys know that there was nothing wrong with product. No dents, scratch, etc... I didn't open the actually books, because it is a gift to someone else. I was so nervous that I would get them, and the package would be damage, but nothing!!!

Editorial Review:

New York Times best-seller!

Watterson's imaginative approach to his material and his inventive graphics have made Calvin and Hobbes one of the few universally admired by other cartoonists." --Charles Solomon, Los Angeles Times Book Review

Calvin and Hobbes is unquestionably one of the most popular comic strips of all time. The imaginative world of a boy and his real-only-to-him tiger was first syndicated in 1985 and appeared in more than 2,400 newspapers when Bill Watterson retired on January 1, 1996. The entire body of Calvin and Hobbes cartoons published in a truly noteworthy tribute to this singular cartoon in The Complete Calvin and Hobbes. Composed of three hardcover, four-color volumes in a sturdy slipcase, this edition includes all Calvin and Hobbes cartoons that ever appeared in syndication. This is the treasure that all Calvin and Hobbes fans seek.

The Complete Peanuts 1967-1970 Box Set

Charles M. Schulz

Amazon Price: $31.49 List Price: $49.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Fantagraphics Books Amazon Marketplace: 30 new & used starting at $28.64

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

The 60's come to a close in style with the Peanuts gang 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

'741.5 SCH'

That may be gibberish to some, but to me, it was the dewey-decimal system location of the Peanuts strips in my Elementary school library. I really gained my love of Peanuts from those library-bound books, but always remembered coming back to 'The Peanuts Jubilee,' which was (at the time) the only way to find insight into the earlier strips. With Fantagraphic Books, we've been able to see what many of those early years were like. With the latest volume, we've moved into familiar territory with some of the more familiar characters and stories.

In this volume, a number of revelations come about:

-Lucy goes to extreme measures and throws Schroeder's piano to the kite-eating tree.

-Snoopy befriends one of the many birds that hangs around his doghouse, and the friendship with Woodstock is born.

-The Little Red-Haired Girl moves out of the neighborhood.

-The Head-Beagle appears(in name only). Soon after his 'appearance,' Snoopy is promoted to the role...and finds out how hard a job it is.

-Snoopy becomes the first beagle on the moon.

Some of the comics in this collection have been seen in some previous collections, but most cut out some of the key bits. One example was a previous Peanuts collection that showed the aftermath of the Little Red-Haired Girl moving away, but not what came before.

One note to make is that there appear to be two different versions of this volume. If you purchase the volume as a single book, it includes a 3-panel strip that was not included in the previous volume. The version that comes in the 2-book set (The Complete Peanuts 1967-1970) does not have the missing strip.

Editorial Review:

With intros by John Waters and Mo Willems! The Complete Peanuts 1967-1968 is a particularly Snoopy-heavy collection. In addition to seeing the beagle adopt multiple personas, this volume also sees the appearance of what would be Schulz's most controversial major character: Franklin. In Charles Schulz's The Complete Peanuts 1969-1970, Woodstock makes his first appearance, Snoopy is left in the Van Pelt family's care as the Browns vacation... and the Little Red-Haired Girl moves away.

Uncle John's Unsinkable Bathroom Reader (Uncle John's Bathroom Reader)

Bathroom Readers' Institute

Amazon Price: $12.89 List Price: $18.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Portable Press Amazon Marketplace: 12 new & used starting at $12.89

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Great Reading!! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I am a reader and I sure love all of Uncle John's books. So much information can be gleaned from them. All of them are fascinating and filled with knowledge. Someone really has done a lot of research in writing these books. I highly recommend all of them. They're worth it!!

Great Book 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Uncle Joh's Unsinkable Bathroom is a fun book to add to your collection collection. Easy to read and full of a unique combination of information. Full of humor with a little bit of trivia and tips added, this is a great book for your winter reading. Definitely recommend.

Editorial Review:

Uncle John's Unsinkable Bathroom Reader is jam-packed with over 500 pages of humor, history, science, pop culture, and more. This all-new 21st edition in this popular series is divided into short, medium, and long sections that explore topics including: Breaking the Mayan Code, Cycads: The Most Ancient Plants on Earth, The History of the Library of Congress, Return to Chernobyl, An Untold Story of WWII: The Fighting 442, The Origin of Lasers, Japanese Scholar Rocks, The Heart of the Andes, The Luniverse, and The Truth About Jumping Beans. With Uncle John’s trademark trivia, obscure facts and figures, forgotten histories, and unknown origins, this book provides readers with hours of fun.

I Was Told There'd Be Cake

Sloane Crosley

Amazon Price: $11.20 List Price: $14.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Riverhead Trade Amazon Marketplace: 81 new & used starting at $7.00

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 82 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

laugh-out-loud humor that hits close to the heart 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful.

"I Was Told There'd Be Cake" is a collection of essays by Sloane Crosley. She touches on every subject from childhood obsessions with Oregon Trail to the horrendous experience of moving in Manhattan and just about everything (including the kitchen sink).
She can take the simplest of experiences and turn them into an experience that will leave you rolling on the ground, laughing until you cry. She discusses topics that most people are hesitant to confront and turns it into a situation you can laugh about. Her voice is sarcastic enough to make you chuckle but not sardonic enough to be considered cruel. Most importantly, she writes about things we can relate to.
As you read, you find yourself agreeing with the things Sloane says. We've all had some experiences similar to the ones she writes about. Maybe we don't all keep toy ponies from ex-boyfriends under our kitchen sinks, but we've all been locked out of our house or attempted to bake. When you can relate to things, then they're that much funnier and they really make themselves a place in your heart.
Sloane has a great voice; it's unique but not totally out there. She's quirky and almost poetic with her words and storytelling technique. It's like she's talking to you, and she just seems like one of those people you'd want to be friends with. This chumminess also tightens the bond between you and the author. Crosley delves deep in to the human emotion with the simple tales and tickles your funny bone while she's at it.
I highly recommend this book, and I guarantee you'll love it just as much, if not more than I did.

Editorial Review:

Wry, hilarious, and profoundly genuine, this debut collection of literary essays is a celebration of fallibility and haplessness in all their glory. From despoiling an exhibit at the Natural History Museum to provoking the ire of her first boss to siccing the cops on her mysterious neighbor, Crosley can do no right despite the best of intentions-or perhaps because of them. Together, these essays create a startlingly funny and revealing portrait of a complex and utterly recognizable character that's aiming for the stars but hits the ceiling, and the inimitable city that has helped shape who she is. I Was Told There'd Be Cake introduces a strikingly original voice, chronicling the struggles and unexpected beauty of modern urban life.

The Mental Floss History of the World: An Irreverent Romp through Civilization's Best Bits

Erik Sass, Steve Wiegand, Editors Of Mental Floss

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Subjects -> History -> Ancient -> Early Civilization

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 47 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Funny, intelligent romp through history. 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I haven't read a book on history that was this enjoyable. While I haven't finished it...I am enjoying every minute of the book and want to stretch it out as long as I can!!!!

Being a big fan of the "Mental Floss" magazine, I thought I would enjoy this one as much as I would the other books...but this is much, much more.

While being fully entertaining, this book will fill in those anjnoying gaps in your knowledge of history. But it certainly isn't boring.

Huh... I never knew that! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

...will be your exclamation every few pages with this book. Written with the trivia buff in mind, the book doesn't go into depth on its subjects. Rather, it gives you the information that will make you a hit at any cocktail party!

Great read! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great read! It was everything I expected and more. All junior high and high school students should read this book to get an interesting understanding of the stories behind the stories and the simple and straight forward way it presents the evolution of history.

Editorial Review:

With mental_floss's trademark smart-aleck approach, combined with hilarious (but true) trivia, world history has never been such a joyride.

The Complete Manual of Things That Might Kill You: A Guide to Self-Diagnosis for Hypochondriacs

Knock Knock

Amazon Price: $13.68 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 2 to 4 weeks By: Knock Knock Books Amazon Marketplace: 7 new & used starting at $13.68

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Greatest coffee table book EVER 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I had this book out when family was over and everyone was checking it out. Basically, you look up your symptom (headache, whatever) and the book tells you what terrible disease you're dying from. I don't understand the reviewer complaining about the medical advice -- um, hello, it's a HUMOR BOOK! And my two sisters are nurses and they thought everything was hilarious. It looks legit to me! (And I watch Grey's Anatomy and House, so I am clearly an expert.) Seriously, this book is probably used by the writers of those TV shows because just like on the show, the most innocent symptoms indicate the most horrible killer disease ever. Just don't give it to your hypochondriac elderly aunt or anything. Also beware: My kids use it as a way to get out of school..hey, maybe I should try it for work..."Oh, my ribs hurt, I have costochondritis!"

Editorial Review:

As a hypochondriac, you've had to satisfy your need for self-diagnosis with medical reference materials written for the masses until now. Dedicated entirely to your unique perspective on health, this revolutionary book outlines the world's worst maladies, conveniently organized according to your symptoms (real or imagined). You're going to die of something--why not choose an ailment that's rare and hard to pronounce?

The Office (based on the NBC sitcom): 2009 Day-to-Day Calendar

LLC Andrews McMeel Publishing

Amazon Price: $10.39 List Price: $12.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Andrews McMeel Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 18 new & used starting at $8.68

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Not self adhesive! 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I have no doubt that this will still be a great purchase simply because the show is hysterical. However - the description states that the pages are self adhesive - and they aren't!

Editorial Review:

Anyone who works in an office could use a little stress-reducing laughter. The Office: Jokes, Quotes and Anecdotes 2009 Calendar fills that need. With ample amounts of silly office terminology, humorous quotes, funny one-liners, plus resume "don'ts," this calendar is just what every office employee needs. Tear off each self-adhesive page you'd like to keep and stick it anywhere, or add a message and stick it in a coworker's office to add a little humor to the workday.

* This calendar is a perfect fit for any employee's desk and is guaranteed to provide hours of laughter.

* You Know You Are the Office Dork If . . . You wear the company logo attire on non-mandatory days.

* This calendar's adhesive-backed pages allow anyone to keep a joke or funny office quip simply by sticking the page to any surface.

He's Just Not That Into You: The No-Excuses Truth to Understanding Guys

Amazon Price: $10.19 List Price: $14.99 Not yet published By: Simon & Schuster Audio

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 830 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

A "Must-read" for Perplexed Single Women 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Ladies, have heart -- we DON'T need to put up with this confusing male behavior any longer!! This book, written with humor and wisdom, addresses our most common questions about "Why would he act like that?" In spite of the title, you will feel MUCH better about what you have to offer in a dating situation after reading this fun (yet very serious) book.

Editorial Review:

he's just not that into you.*

* the six little words that changed dating forever

For ages women have come together over coffee, cocktails, or late-night phone chats to analyze the puzzling behavior of men. Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo are here to say that -- despite good intentions -- you're wasting your time. Men are not complicated, although they'd like you to think they are. And there are no mixed messages.

The truth may be he's just not that into you.

Based on a popular episode of Sex and the City, He's Just Not That Into You educates otherwise smart women on how to tell when a guy just doesn't like them enough, so they can stop wasting time making excuses for a dead-end relationship.

The Wit and Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln: An A-Z Compendium of Quotes from the Most Eloquent of American Presidents (Meridian)

Amazon Price: $12.80 List Price: $16.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Plume Amazon Marketplace: 30 new & used starting at $7.43

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Great Book! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This was a Xmas gift to a Abe Lincoln fan. She was absolutely thrilled. Highly Recommend.

'Pocket Lincoln' 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

As a US History teacher, this small and inexpensive book brings personality and life to one of our most beloved Presidents. An excellent value and one that is more likely to be read and enjoyed than larger, more in depth works. Middle School kids get a kick out of the quotes.

Nice Work & Collection of Quotes 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

The book is divided nicely into categories and is a good book that doesn't need long periods of time for reading. You will enjoy many of the stories and quotations from Mr. Lincoln. A nice compilation.

Very Entertaining 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Reading this book gives insight as to the person Lincoln was. His wit and humor, his suffering and astute personality. You will get to know this great person simply by reading his own thoughts put forth in his own words.

Editorial Review:

In this fascinating compendium are the best, funniest and most profound sayings of this most quotable of Chief Executives. From his youth in pioneer Illinois to the embattled White House of the Civil War, Lincoln never lost his capacity for dry humor--or his extraordinary gift of eloquence.