- Table View
- List View
The Art of the Handwritten Note: A Guide to Reclaiming Civilized Communication
by Margaret ShepherdThose burdened with the task of writing a thank-you note and unable to think of the proper phrase will find many suggestions in Shepherd's guide. She gives straightforward reasons why writing a note is easy and quick, and includes many recommendations and tips on writing, pens, papers, and content. Annotation c. Book News, Inc. , Portland, OR (booknews. com)
The 267 Stupidest Things Democrats/Republicans Ever Said
by Ted RueterA hilarious bipartisan collection of rants, malapropisms, doublespeak, and just plain idiocy from lifelong politicians and Washington wannabes. Whether it's a Republican mayor on crime -- "The streets are safe in Philadelphia. It's only the people who make them unsafe (Frank Rizzo) -- or his Democratic counterpart on the same subject -- "Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country" (Marion Barry) -- political discourse is often off-course, not to mention unintentionally hilarious.Wickedly funny when read from either direction, this book presents both Republican stupidity ("Approximately 80 percent of our air pollution stems from vegetation"-- Ronald Reagan) and matching head-slappers from Democrats ("For those who died [in the San Francisco earthquake], their lives will never be the same again" -- Barbara Boxer).The 267 Stupidest Things . . is the perfect antidote to election-year bombast.
The Book of Lost Books: An Incomplete History of All the Great Books You'll Never Read
by Stuart KellyIn an age when deleted scenes from Adam Sandler movies are saved, it's sobering to realize that some of the world's greatest prose and poetry has gone missing. This witty, wry, and unique new book rectifies that wrong. Part detective story, part history lesson, part exposé, The Book of Lost Books is the first guide to literature's what-ifs and never-weres. In compulsively readable fashion, Stuart Kelly reveals details about tantalizing vanished works by the famous, the acclaimed, and the influential, from the time of cave drawings to the late twentieth century. Here are the true stories behind stories, poems, and plays that now exist only in imagination: ·Aristophanes' Heracles, the Stage Manager was one of the playwright's several spoofs that disappeared. ·Love's Labours Won may have been a sequel to Shakespeare's Love's Labours Lost-or was it just an alternative title for The Taming of the Shrew? ·Jane Austen's incomplete novel Sanditon, was a critique of hypochondriacs and cures started when the author was fatally ill. ·Nikolai Gogol burned the second half of Dead Souls after a religious conversion convinced him that literature was paganism. ·Some of the thousand pages of William Burroughs's original Naked Lunch were stolen and sold on the street by Algerian street boys. ·Sylvia Plath's widower, Ted Hughes, claimed that the 130 pages of her second novel, perhaps based on their marriage, were lost after her death. Whether destroyed (Socrates' versions of Aesop's Fables), misplaced (Malcolm Lowry's Ultramarine was pinched from his publisher's car), interrupted by the author's death (Robert Louis Stevenson's Weir of Hermiston), or simply never begun (Vladimir Nabokov's Speak, America, a second volume of his memoirs), these missing links create a history of literature for a parallel world. Civilized and satirical, erudite yet accessible, The Book of Lost Books is itself a find.
The Vitamin Book: The Complete Guide to Vitamins, Minerals, and the Most Effective Herbal Remedies and Dietary Supplements
by Harold M. Silverman Joseph Romano Gary ElmerAmerica's Most Reliable Vitamin Guide...Completely Updated!We've all heard about the miraculous curative and preventive powers of vitamins, minerals, and herbal remedies. Now the new, revised The Vitamin Book, compiled by pharmacological experts, cuts through the confusion so you learn what to take and why.Here is authoritative and up-to-date scientific information on exactly what vitamins, minerals, and herbal remedies can do for you. You'll find: Detailed descriptions of vitamins, minerals, trace elements, and electrolytes, including daily requirements, dosages, therapeutic uses, and more The latest research on St. John's wort, echinacea, CoQ10, DHEA, and other popular herbal and dietary supplements An essential guide to brand-name multivitamins found in your supermarket or health food store Specific recommendations for children, athletes, seniors, and pregnant or postmenopausal women Guidelines for safe supplement use, including megadosing and critical drug interactions The nutrient content of hundreds of common foods, including popular fast foods How computer programs can monitor your vitamin and mineral intake And much, much more
The Pen Commandments
by Steven FrankSteven Frank has a new approach to writing: fun first, rules to follow, success for all. InThe Pen Commandments, his offbeat and entertaining guide, he's given us a book that all writers can turn to for help and a good laugh. With outrageous anecdotes (how a kid's oral surgery led to the ultimate writing assignment) and irreverent advice (Thou Shalt Not Kill Thy Sentences), Frank shows how to conquer writer's block, make friends with punctuation, and live forever in words. If you want to inspire your kids of just want to brush up on your own skills,The Pen Commandmentswill change-and enliven-the way you write forever.
The New York Times Second Book of Science Questions and Answers
by C. Claiborne RayWhat would kill you if you fell into a black hole? Once people finally get to Mars, how will they get back? What makes the holes in Swiss cheese? Are there any carnivorous plants that are harmful to humans? Are there really caterpillars that scream to protect themselves? How do birds have sexual intercourse? Why don't woodpeckers damage their brains? What is the function of ear wax? Why don't you sneeze when you're asleep? Do germs have germs? What is considered evidence for extra-terrestial intelligence?Every week, C. Claiborne Ray answers questions like these from the readers of the New York Times Science section who, as this delightful second volume demonstrates, never seem to run out of things to ask about. Here, Ray gives us 225 of the most interesting answers she has gleaned from scientists in every discipline, satisfying our desire to understand some of the strangest, most curious mysteries of the natural world. Victoria Roberts's charmingly wacky drawings add to the fun.From the Trade Paperback edition.
The Fact Checker's Bible: A Guide to Getting It Right
by Sarah Harrison SmithThe first book of its kind,The Fact Checker’s Bibleis the essential guide to the important but often neglected task of checking facts, whatever their source. Today, everyone is overwhelmed with information that claims to be factual. But even the most punctilious researcher, writer, student or journalist--not to mention the lazy or deliberately mendacious ones--can sometimes get it wrong. So checking facts has become a more pressing task. But how to go about it? The Fact Checker’s Biblecovers: *Reading for accuracy *Determining what to check *Researching the facts *Assessing sources: people, newspapers and magazines, books, the Internet, etc. *Checking quotations *Understanding the legal liabilities of getting it wrong *Looking out for and avoiding the dangers of plagiarism For everyone from students to editors to journalists, the methods and practices outlined inThe Fact Checker’s Bibleprovides both a standard and a working manual for how to get the facts right. From the Trade Paperback edition.
Study Away
by Mariah Balaban Jennifer ShieldsNow you can go to the college of your dreams and see the world—without compromising on your education (or your parent's budget). This for students by students guide gives you the inside scoop on colleges and programs around the world, with detailed profiles of the best international schools and independent reporting on what life on campus is really like. And since it covers many full undergraduate degree programs, you can decide for yourself if you’d like to complete your degree abroad or simply go for a semester or two. With this frank and accessible book you'll soon be on your way to studying art history in Paris, public health in Kinshasa, or international business in Hong Kong—whatever your major, the experience of living in a foreign country is increasingly desirable in our globalized world. Includes: -68 schools around the world that teach in English and offer American-style degrees -A description of each campus and its academic reputation -Tuition rates and financial aid information -Housing options, extracuricular activities, and support services -Contact information and directions on how to apply -Advice on staying healthy and staying safe From the Trade Paperback edition.
Remembrances and Celebrations: A Book of Eulogies, Elegies, Letters, and Epitaphs
by Jill Werman HarrisThis is a collection of powerful and inspirational responses to loss and to the age-old impulse to honor and memorialize the uniqueness of each human being. For the bereaved, the ritual of delivering a eulogy can seem insurmountably difficult. Remembrances and Celebrations provides gentle guidance in this profoundly important task, with a wide range of examples of memorial tributes and expressions of bereavement drawn from both the famous and the obscure, from ancient times to the present. Here are the words of famous lovers: Henry Miller's homage to Anais Nin, Lillian Hellman's eulogy for Dashiell Hammett. Here are fallen heroes commemorated, in the heartfelt words of Yitzhak Rabin's granddaughter at his funeral, in Ossie Davis's farewell to Malcolm X, in Earl Spencer's tribute to the Princess of Wales. Here, too, are moving letters: Charles Dickens to his wife on the death of their daughter, Abigail Adams to Thomas Jefferson on his daughter's death, an anonymous Royal Air Force pilot to his mother on the eve of his final battle. Auden's "Funeral Blues" is here, along with the Cavafy poem recited by Maurice Tempelsman at Jacqueline Onassis' service. And there is room for humor as well, as in Hilaire Belloc's famous epitaph, "When I am dead, I hope it may be said, 'His sins were scarlet, but his books were read.'" Remembrances and Celebrations is a comforting and affecting anthology of the literature of mourning, and a welcome aid in times of our own bereavement.
Dictionary of Psychology
by J. P. ChaplinWritten in clear, precise, jargon-free language, this complete, up-to-date dictionary includes definitions of psychology terms and those from related disciplines including psychoanlysis, psychiatry and biology as well as parapsychology.From the Paperback edition.
When Life Becomes Precious
by Elise BabcockWhen you hear that someone you love has cancer...You want to be as supportive as possible. But how? Elise NeeDell Babcock has devoted her life to answering this question and now puts her twenty-three years of experience as a counselor into this immensely useful guide. When Life Becomes Precious contains hundreds of tips for helping patients, primary caregivers, co-workers, and family members, including: What to say (and not to say) to someone when you first find out they have cancer* How to be supportive without being intrusive* How to build a winning health-care team* How to handle holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries* How to explain the disease to children* Which gifts and gestures can do the most good From techniques for handling anger and anxiety, to uplifting success stories, to a comprehensive resource section, here is the information and inspiration you need to help those you love and to make each day--each moment--more precious.When Life Becomes Precious will be the first book to: * Offer tips on ways to help patients, caregivers and co-workers* Provide a long and diverse list of gifts that are appropriate to give to families that are living with cancer* Offers reasons why fear makes people shy away from discussing cancer and techniques on how to overcome that fear* Present the things that families do that doctors like and dislikeWhen Life Becomes Precious will teach readers to assess and put into perspective, their own feelings about the disease so that they can truly help those who are afflicted with it. The use of cartoons, anecdotes and personal stories will set an upbeat and positive tone. Readers will come away fully prepared to deal with the realities of cancer.From the Trade Paperback edition.
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life (Sparknotes Literature Guide Series)
by Anne LamottNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • An essential volume for generations of writers young and old. The twenty-fifth anniversary edition of this modern classic will continue to spark creative minds for years to come. Anne Lamott is "a warm, generous, and hilarious guide through the writer&’s world and its treacherous swamps" (Los Angeles Times). &“Superb writing advice…. Hilarious, helpful, and provocative.&” —The New York Times Book ReviewFor a quarter century, more than a million readers—scribes and scribblers of all ages and abilities—have been inspired by Anne Lamott&’s hilarious, big-hearted, homespun advice. Advice that begins with the simple words of wisdom passed down from Anne&’s father—also a writer—in the iconic passage that gives the book its title:&“Thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that he&’d had three months to write. It was due the next day. We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books on birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him, put his arm around my brother&’s shoulder, and said, &‘Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.&’&”
The Beliefnet Guide to Islam
by Hesham A. Hassaballa Kabir HelminskiThis concise introduction to Islam offers a sophisticated and informative exploration of the history, beliefs, tenets, and practices of the second-largest religion in the world. There are 1. 3 billion Muslims in the world today, yet Islam remains a misunderstood faith. In this day and age, when issues related to Islam are dominating current affairs,The Beliefnet® Guide to Islamtakes readers into the heart of this global religion, describing its origins, its links to Judaism and Christianity, and its place and practices in the modern world. In clear, unbiased language, the authors outline the core beliefs that shape the daily lives of practicing Muslims: faith, prayer, charity, fasting and self-purification (during the period of Ramadan), and the Hajj (the annual pilgrimage to Mecca). They clarify the differences between the Sunni and the Shia, the two main branches of Islam, shedding light on a topic that has garnered attention during the current crises in Iraq and other parts of the Muslim world. Hassaballa and Helminski also look at the many misinterpretations of basic terms and beliefs that have had a serious impact on the relationship between Muslims and those who practice other religions, explaining such essentials as the meaning ofjihad,Islamic teachings on the role of women in society, and much more. From the premier source of information on religion and spirituality, the Beliefnet® Guides introduce you to the major traditions, leaders, and issues of faith in the world today.
The Beliefnet Guide to Gnosticism and Other Vanished Christianities
by Richard ValantasisThis authoritative, fully accessible guide to early Christian movements sheds light on the hidden histories and intriguing mysteries that fueled the extraordinary success of books ranging from Dan Brown's blockbuster The Da Vinci Code to Elaine Pagels's critically acclaimed Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas. From its earliest days, Christianity has been marked by a rich diversity of beliefs and practices. Different interpretations of Jesus' life and mission, as well as conflicting views about worship and rituals, gave rise to numerous sects in the first centuries C. E. Condemned as heretical by the official Church, these early movements were lost to history until the twentieth century, when the discovery of ancient documents opened a new perspective on the evolution of Christianity. The Beliefnet® Guide to Gnosticism and Other Vanished Christianities is a fascinating look at the diverse strands of the early Christian church. It examines the alternative Christian ideas propagated by the Gnostics, Sethians, Valentinians, Marcionites, Encratites, and Montanists, illuminating the philosophical sources and religious traditions that fostered them. Special attention is given to sects that presented the greatest challenges to the developing orthodoxy: the Hermeticists, the Manicheans, and the Neoplatonists. There are also thought-provoking discussions about the secret Gospel of Mark and the Gospels of Mary and Thomas, and the newly discovered Gospel of the Savior. From the premier source of information on religion and spirituality, the Beliefnet Guides introduce you to the major traditions, leaders, and issues of faith in the world today.
Screenplay, Revised Edition: The Foundations of Screenwriting
by Syd FieldA generation of screenwriters has used Syd Field's bestselling books to ignite successful careers in film. Now the celebrated producer, lecturer, teacher, and bestselling author has updated his classic guide for a new generation of filmmakers, offering a fresh insider's perspective on the film industry today. From concept to character, from opening scene to finished script, here are easily understood guidelines to help aspiring screenwriters--from novices to practiced writers--hone their craft. <P><P> Filled with updated material--including all-new personal anecdotes and insights, guidelines on marketing and collaboration, plus analyses of recent films, from American Beauty to Lord of the Rings--Screenplay presents a step-by-step, comprehensive technique for writing the screenplay that will succeed in Hollywood. Discover: <P> * Why the first ten pages of your script are crucially important <P> * How to visually "grab" the reader from page one, word one <P> * Why structure and character are the essential foundation of your screenplay <P> * How to adapt a novel, a play, or an article into a screenplay <P> * Tips on protecting your work--three legal ways to claim ownership of your screenplay <P> * The essentials of writing great dialogue, creating character, building a story line, overcoming writer's block, getting an agent, and much more. <P> With this newly updated edition of his bestselling classic, Syd Field proves yet again why he is revered as the master of the screenplay--and why his celebrated guide has become the industry's gold standard for successful screenwriting.
When Words Matter Most
by Robyn Freedman SpizmanThis book explores the art of finding the right words and actions at the right time--an invaluable handbook for expressing compassion, kindness, caring, and congratulations to friends and family, neighbors and colleagues, and anyone else who touches your life. Spizman focuses on how to use words wisely and well in both difficult and joyful times, allaying the common fear people have of appearing foolish or inadequate when they want their words to make a difference.
The Pill Book (14th Edition)
by Harold M. SilvermanTHE CONSUMER'S GUIDE TO PILLS--COMPLETELY REVISED 14th EDITION FOR 2010 WITH MORE THAN 20 IMPORTANT NEW DRUGS AND DOZENS OF NEW BRAND NAMES For more than three decades, millions of consumers have trusted The Pill Book to provide official, FDA-approved information on more than 1,800 of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States with guidelines from leading pharmacists. Each drug is profiled in a concise, readable, easy-to-understand entry, making The Pill Book the perfect reference when you have questions about the medications your doctor prescribes. Inside you'll discover * generic and brand-name listings that can help you save money* What each drug is for, and how it works* usual dosages, and what to do if a dose is skipped* side effects and possible adverse reactions, highlighted for quick reference* interactions with other drugs and food* overdose and addiction potential* alcohol-free and sugar-free medications* the most popular self-injected medications and their safe handling* information for seniors, pregnant and breast-feeding women, children, and others with special needs* cautions and warnings, and when to call your doctor* 32 pages of actual-size color photographs of prescription pills* No home should be without this book!*Not all ereading devices will show the images in color and at the exact size.
The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill: A Love Story . . . with Wings
by Mark BittnerThe Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill is the inspiring story of how one man found his life's work--and true love--among a gang of wild parrots roosting in one of America's most picturesque urban settings. Mark Bittner was down on his luck. He'd gone to San Francisco at the age of twenty-one to take a stab at a music career, but he hadn't had much success. After many years as an odd-jobber in the area, he accepted work as a housekeeper for an elderly woman. The gig came with a rent-free studio apartment on the city's famed Telegraph Hill, which had somehow become home to a flock of brilliantly colored wild parrots. In this unforgettable story, Bittner recounts how he became fascinated by the birds and made up his mind to get to know them and gain their trust. He succeeds to such a degree that he becomes the local wild parrot expert and a tourist attraction. People can't help gawking at the man who, during daily feedings, stands with parrots perched along both arms and atop his head. When a documentary filmmaker comes along to capture the phenomenon on film, the story takes a surprising turn, and Bittner's life truly takes flight.From the Hardcover edition.
The Nature of Animal Healing: The Definitive Holistic Medicine Guide to Caring for Your Dog and Cat
by Martin GoldsteinGoldstein (D. V. M. , Cornell U. College of Veterinary Medicine) espouses a holistic approach to pet care and argues that conventional methods can cause or complicate ill health in pets. Writing primarily for the concerned pet owner, he offers alternatives to commercial pet foods and presents examples of various symptoms he's successfully treated with holistic methods. The book includes an extensive annotated resource guide that comprises listings of product manufacturers as well as excerpts from Helen McKinnon's book citing printed materials, web sites, associations, and veterinarians sympathetic to the cause. Annotation c. Book News, Inc. , Portland, OR (booknews. com)
The Gentleman's Guide to Life: What Every Guy Should Know About Living Large, Loving Well, Feeling Strong, and Looking Good
by Steve FriedmanWhether you're a sensitive, bookish type or a beer-guzzling Cyber-jock--or just an average guy--The Gentleman's Guide to Life is a perfect and indispensable primer on looking, living, and feeling good, answering all your questions about clothes, career, fitness, love, and lust. How do I move up without selling out? How do I help my friends (and crush my enemies)? How do I feed and care for my boss? What kind of suit should I wear? What kind of shoes do I wear with the suit? Socks? Do I really need to take my vitamins? Is this impotence or lack of interest? How much sleep do I need? How can I bluff my way through a wine list? What is Cubism? How much should I tip? What CDs should I have to relax? To seduce? Do I like her? Do I really, really like her? What does she mean I don't listen? How do I propose (or ask for the ring back)? Am I the best man I can possibly be?
Strike the Baby and Kill the Blonde: An Insider's Guide to Film Slang
by Dave KnoxEverything You Need to Know to Become a Film-Industry Insider. Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a gaffer and a grip? Or what makes the best boy so great? In Strike the Baby and Kill the Blonde, Dave Knox, a top camera operator and longtime veteran of the film industry, gives you the inside story on the lingo and slang heard on the set. This is an A-to-Z guide to making a movie: the equipment, the crew, and the sometimes hilarious terminology--everything you need to know to sound like a seasoned pro.
Shakespeare's Insults: Educating Your Wit
by Wayne F. Hill Cynthia J. ÖttchenThe sharpest stings ever to snap from the tip of an English-speaking tongue are here at hand, ready to be directed at the knaves, villains, and coxcombs of the reader's choice. Culled from 38 plays, here are the best 5,000 examples of Shakespeare's glorious invective, arranged by play, in order of appearance, with helpful act and line numbers for easy reference, along with an index of topical scorn appropriate to particular characters and occasions.
Shakespeare and the Art of Verbal Seduction
by Wayne F. Hill Cynthia J. ÖttchenDo you long to be seductive? Have a desire to be seduced? Then "let lips do what hands do" and put into practice the most enticing baubles of seduction ever written. Shakespeare and the Art of Verbal Seduction contains the Bard's best seducing lines to cajole, charm, and even proposition the object of your desire. Shakespeare is the master of persuasion. He induces the hardest of hearts to give up mind, body, and soul with a brilliant flash of words. Here they're collected for you, his little miracles of language, arranged in ten strategies for every stage of a love affair, from first encounter to the full throes of passion. Never again let your desire flounder in bad come-ons. Learn the art of seduction from the greatest seducer of all time, and get what you want. From the Trade Paperback edition.
Just a Note to Say . . .
by Florence IsaacsA fully revised edition of Florence Isaacs’s bestselling classic,Just a Note to Say . . . offers over 150 new sample notes and ideas to help you write warm, meaningful messages that let people know how much they matter. For a decade,Just a Note to Say . . . has been an unparalleled resource for choosing the perfect words to express sentiments on any occasion. Brief yet meaningful notes at times of celebration, transition, and sadness are more appreciated than ever. Now, etiquette expert Florence Isaacs updates this bestselling classic with more than 150 new ideas, inspirations, and sample notes to help you stay in touch with friends and family. This fully revised edition confirms that you needn’t write a lot to say a lot, offering practical advice to help you articulate your thoughts and let people know how much they matter. Isaacs explores the significance of occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, and weddings to help you recognize the recipient’s personal connection to an event. A cornucopia of holidays and rites of passage such as First Communion, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, La Quinceañera, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Ramadan are also featured, along with tips to inspire warm notes for these occasions. Isaacs also offers new, thoughtful suggestions for writing during sensitive times such as illness, the death of a loved one, and divorce. Plus, a brand-new chapter on the etiquette of using e-mail tells you when it’s appropriate to share your good wishes electronically. Whether you’re writing an encouraging get-well message or a congratulatory e-mail on a promotion, a sympathy card or an eloquent thank-you note,Just a Note to Say . . . helps you speak from the heart.
Get a Freelance Life
by Margit Feury Ragland Laurel ToubyWrite Your Own Check. Considering a career in freelance writing? Already a freelancer but seeking practical, solid advice on the basics of the business? Get a Freelance Life is the complete guide to all aspects of a freelance writing career, straight from the creators of mediabistro.com--the nation's most connected, authoritative source for media professionals. Learn how to:* Write compelling pitch letters * Network with the best in the magazine and newspaper industry* Understand the freelance market and detect its changes* Self-edit and rewrite your work* Manage tight deadlines* Negotiate contracts* Survive the financial ups and downs of the freelance lifeWith plenty of insider advice and tips from the most successful freelance writers and editors in the country, Get a Freelance Life is a must-have resource for turning your freelance gigs into a full-fledged writing career. From the Trade Paperback edition.