Born to Win: A Lifelong Struggle to Capture the America's Cup

Customer Reviews:

Hold-your-breath reading.......2006-09-17

There's a saying in sailboat racing: nothing makes you look smarter than a fast boat. Yet John Bertrand and the crew of Australia II, despite having the demonstrably superior yacht, nearly failed to win the 1983 regatta that ended the longest winning streak in the history of sport.
Bertrand begins at the low point. Down three races to one in the best of seven series, Australia II is on her way out for the fifth race. One more loss and it's over.
What follows makes blow by blow, hold-your-breath reading. Bertrand opens with a major blunder. Australia II is over early - on the course before the starting signal - and has to go back and start correctly, thus handing the Americans and Dennis Conner a one minute advantage.
In match racing, such an error is almost always fatal. Once again, however, when you have the fast boat, mistakes tend not to be as costly. Eventually, Australia II makes up the lost time and sails to a wide margin of victory to remain alive in the series.
So, if they had the faster boat, how did Bertrand and crew manage to lose those three races? From the reading, I see two answers; in the "slow" boat, the American team sailed a series of unsurpassed magnificence, and the Australian team committed mistake after mistake. Race one - steering failure; race two - mainsail headboard broke; race five the major blunder described above. Fact is, from Bertrand's telling the charismatic Aussies were poorly organized in general. To complicate matters, syndicate owner Alan Bond's hatchet man Warren Jones seemed to enjoy putting the screws to Bertrand at every opportunity. Given these pressures, it's a miracle Bertrand could function on the water at all.
Born to Win stands out for its wonderful race descriptions and inside knowledge but sags when the author delves into the underlying personal issues - where maybe he sounds a little too self-serving. But what would you expect, it is his side of things he's telling.
Art Tirrell - author of The Secret Ever Keeps, Spring 2007 ISBN 978-1-60164-004-8.

You feel like you were there.......1999-12-03

This book is fabulous! For sailors, the story alone is worth the read, but it is much more than just a story about sailing. Bertrand's description of the final race against "the red boat" (Dennis Connor) is so powerful that I felt what he and his crew felt, even before I had read what they felt! Any reader interested in the nature of sport and competition will find this book valuable.

A must for anyone who plans to win anything.......1999-06-08

Fantastic book. It is an instructive lesson in how to prepare for what you overwhelmingly want to achieve. Being set in the context of one of the most famous sporting events in history, the attempt to wrest the America's Cup from the US after 132 years, makes it that much more exciting. Sailors will love it, but anyone interested in the psychology of winning will gain from this book.

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Average customer rating:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers
Pants on fire?
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
Very Interesting
History as Science Fiction

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Average customer rating:

Good travel guide
NZ Tour Guide
More than complete!
Perfect for the budget traveller
Essential travel book

Lonely Planet New Zealand
Carolyn Bain , and George Dunford
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1741045355

Book Description

The sun shows up here first for a reason. Come for bracing light or caverns underground, glacial valleys or black volcanic sand. Tour every landscape on earth, all rolled into one country. Dig for pipis on the beach, or sample oysters on a platter. Savour solitude with a view, or city culture. Things are never just black and white in New Zealand. STICK OUT YOUR TONGUE - taste the freshest seafood, world-class wines, or the best lamb roast there is ROLL YOUR EYES - yet another magnificent view of mystical mountains, braided river plains or calming coastlines SLAP YOUR THIGHS - a good time's easy to find, from happening Auckland to waterfront Wellington STAND UP PROUD - and experience Maori culture firsthand: take part in a powhiri, or fill your puku at a hangi RUN AT IT SHOUTING - bungy jump, sea kayak, surf, trek and hit the white water with the best of them

Customer Reviews:

Good travel guide.......2007-05-18

So far what I've read the book has a wealth of travel info.

NZ Tour Guide.......2007-05-13

NZ definition of luxury is different from USA definition. Stayed in Victorian Hotel in Rotorua that got rave review in this book, the room we had was very ordinary and the bathroom was very old and run down. Very disappointing. Even though the hotel is about 100 yrs old, it does not have to look rundown.
Stayed in Boutique hotel in Hamilton, very nice but not up to US Boutique standards. Best hotel on the trip was in Auckland by the sailing harbor, room modern but parking situation is pathetic. Only have room for 10 cars or so, for a large hotel. Except for the first night, had to park several blocks away in a municipal parking garage (car park), at the same price as at the hotel. Very inconvenient, we were there in summer, would be a miserable walk in the winter.
Great information about things to do in each city.

More than complete!.......2007-02-12

Great book, the information is accurate, complete and extremely useful at the time of choosing NZ as a travelling destination. plus, its ad free. just excellent.

Perfect for the budget traveller.......2007-01-10

This is the must have book for anyone doing NZ on the cheap, although NZ aint that cheap.

If you're doing a driving tour with your 78 year old Mum, you might want to look at something a little more middle of the road, but it worked for Mum & me.

Lot's of detail, but activities seems a bit more geared to the adrenaline junkie, then again, with 2 weeks to TRY and see both islands, I didn't have a lot of time to read the book.

Plan at least a month if you want to see both islands and not wipe yourself out.

Lonely Planet guides are my first choice. South America on a shoestring got me around the whole place, no worries...

Big and heavy. If you're backpacking with a friend, rip it in half and share the load. Just make sure you rip between chapters, not half way through!

Essential travel book.......2007-01-09

This latest edition of New Zealand is a very good read. Typically LP, it is really essential when travelling as a backpacker. Because besides all the recommended highlights it has plenty of city maps and the very usefull section getting there and around. But what is absolutely perfect about this guide book is the sense of humour in the texts. It let's you read and travel always with a smile on :-)

The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific

Average customer rating:

A great escape
Not so good
Drifting through life
Hilarious and Poignant
Fantastic and incredibly realistic

The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific
J. Maarten Troost
Manufacturer: Broadway
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0767915305
Release Date: 2004-06-08

Book Description

At the age of twenty-six, Maarten Troost—who had been pushing the snooze button on the alarm clock of life by racking up useless graduate degrees and muddling through a series of temp jobs—decided to pack up his flip-flops and move to Tarawa, a remote South Pacific island in the Republic of Kiribati. He was restless and lacked direction, and the idea of dropping everything and moving to the ends of the earth was irresistibly romantic. He should have known better.

The Sex Lives of Cannibals tells the hilarious story of what happens when Troost discovers that Tarawa is not the island paradise he dreamed of. Falling into one amusing misadventure after another, Troost struggles through relentless, stifling heat, a variety of deadly bacteria, polluted seas, toxic fish—all in a country where the only music to be heard for miles around is “La Macarena.” He and his stalwart girlfriend Sylvia spend the next two years battling incompetent government officials, alarmingly large critters, erratic electricity, and a paucity of food options (including the Great Beer Crisis); and contending with a bizarre cast of local characters, including “Half-Dead Fred” and the self-proclaimed Poet Laureate of Tarawa (a British drunkard who’s never written a poem in his life).

With The Sex Lives of Cannibals, Maarten Troost has delivered one of the most original, rip-roaringly funny travelogues in years—one that will leave you thankful for staples of American civilization such as coffee, regular showers, and tabloid news, and that will provide the ultimate vicarious adventure.

Customer Reviews:

A great escape.......2007-10-02

I am well known among my friends as someone who is bored with any book that is not, often painfully so, educational about the world around me. I don't read to fall asleep, I read and then cannot sleep. This is one of the first books in ages that not only kept my attention without stabbing pains of guilt and dispair but literally had me laughing out loud. It was a nice break from my books of Rwanda, Burma, the U.S. Economy etc etc...

Not so good.......2007-09-17

I thought the book was boring and didn't even finish it. Something was lacking there to draw the reader along through the story.

Drifting through life.......2007-09-15

I read this book on two separate levels: a travelogue by someone for whom life in this part of the world was a complete culture shock, and as a sad reminder of the legacy of colonialism in the Pacific. I enjoyed much of the writing: Mr Troost combines good observational skills with an ability to see humour in much of what he observed. Importantly, Mr Troost can laugh at himself and this is what saves this book from being a self-indulgent memoir.

There are some wonderful anecdotes of life in Kiribati, from the perspective of an American visitor, and some poignant reminders of life and culture prior to colonial exploitation.

The book is worth reading - especially by those who entertain romantic notions about life in the Pacific. For those who seek to understand the people or the politics of the region, other sources will be needed.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Hilarious and Poignant.......2007-08-31

Maarten Troost's The Sex Lives of Cannibals is many things: educational, poignant, unbelievable at times, and always hilarious. Troost tells his tale of moving to a very remote island in the Pacific when his girlfriend accepts an aid job on Kiribati; to say they didn't precisely know what they were getting into is a bit of an understatement. Maarten goes along, planning on writing the world's greatest novel and instead finding out how the twentieth century has dumped on this beautiful atoll, leaving its citizens trying to make lives out of very little and making the incredible the norm. Along the way he experiences pigs on runways, sharks, sailing between islands amid 25 foot swells, native dancing, an abundance of dogs, World War 2 relics, fish to eat everyday, body surfing, and the Macarena.

Troost has a wonderful way with words, and he pulls you in immediately. His style makes you feel as though you're sitting in the room with him as he recounts stories sometimes so fantastic you find yourself not believing them. He intersperses the book with chapters of actual facts about Kiribati, an area of the world that apparently I'm not alone in knowing almost nothing about. I found myself laughing out loud so often at his descriptions that I know I was bothering my husband as he tried to sleep.

This is a relatively short, fun book that is way more than just a memoir or a piece of non-fiction. While it is indeed hilarious, it's also packed with situations that are just unbelievable for the twentieth and twenty first centuries. In the last few chapters, Troost and his girlfriend move back to the States and have trouble readjusting to the fast-paced life, and I'm afraid I'm going to have trouble readjusting to my narrower view of the world since Troost has introduced me to the gorgeous culture of an isolated Pacific island. Give yourself a treat and indulge in this one. Highly recommended!

Fantastic and incredibly realistic.......2007-07-24

I grew up on Tarawa in the 1970's when it was still a British Colony and my parents were working out there. This book brought back so many wonderful and horrible memories and is so very true to life. My family still operate a 'bubuti' system amongst ourselves!

I am incredibly saddened that such a beautiful place has become so squalid and rundown. As a child the island was so safe we were allowed to run wild. Crime was so low that theft of a bottle of my father's whisky was the main item on the news for 2 days - and there was no Macarena...

Troost captures the warmth, kindness and humour of the I-Kiribati perfectly. His descriptions of the deprivations - water, electricity and the incredible heat (and no air conditioning) and lack of food are perfect. My mother remembers taking my [...]sister to an UK supermarket on a visit home and her announcing loudly "Look mummy, the ship has come in" at the sight of full shelves!

Best book I've read in ages - hilariously funny and a real eyeopener to anyone who believes that Blue Lagoon is the reality of life on a pacific island.

Average customer rating:

Total Fantasy - not based in fact.
Total disrespect for another's cultural beliefs
Interesting But.....A Fairy Tale/Hoax
Mutant Message
Take It For What It Is: Fiction. Period.

Mutant Message Down Under
Marlo Morgan
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060723513
Release Date: 2004-05-25

Book Description

Mutant Message Down Under is the fictional account of an American woman's spiritual odyssey through outback Australia. An underground bestseller in its original self-published edition, Marlo Morgan's powerful tale of challenge and endurance has a message for us all.

Summoned by a remote tribe of nomadic Aborigines to accompany them on walkabout, the woman makes a four-month-long journey and learns how they thrive in natural harmony with the plants and animals that exist in the rugged lands of Australia's bush. From the first day of her adventure, Morgan is challenged by the physical requirements of the journey—she faces daily tests of her endurance, challenges that ultimately contribute to her personal transformation.

By traveling with this extraordinary community, Morgan becomes a witness to their essential way of being in a world based on the ancient wisdom and philosophy of a culture that is more than 50,000 years old.

Download Description

Experience the spiritual odyssey story of an American woman in Australia and discover the wisdom of an ancient culture through its compelling, powerful, life-enhancing message for all humankind -- a message that can save our world from destruction and fill our lives with a great sense of purpose.

Customer Reviews:

Total Fantasy - not based in fact........2007-10-04

Please, if you read this book (and I recommend that you DO NOT) consider it complete fantasy. Yes, it has been labled as "fiction", but the author claims it is based on her actual experience. Google her name, or the book title, and read the controversy surrounding this book.

Aside from the controversy, it is poorly written, and the author's racist language is offensive. Don't buy it, and don't read it.

Total disrespect for another's cultural beliefs.......2007-08-02

I read this book a few years ago, with utter disbelief. As the review above states, there is no way this woman knew anything about Australia, apart from what she may have garnered off the internet. I rate this book 1 star only because there wasn't a zero star option.

It is a fact across all Aboriginal peoples (and there are more than 1) that a man would NEVER reveal any tribal secrets to a woman and vice versa. This one fact alone tells me the book is utter rubbish. I'm only sorry the Aborigines of Australia could not take a class action against this woman. Don't buy the book. Come to Australia and see for yourself.

Interesting But.....A Fairy Tale/Hoax.......2007-07-09

My wife, a Holistic Healer, is totally enamoured with this book and it's "lessons" of life, living and healing.
After reading it, I looked for more info about the author. Wow, the whole book is apparently a fabricatation to make money and/or advance the ideals of New Age spirituality.
If I had known it was untrue from the beginning, I probably would have enjoyed it for what it was, a story about living in the desert and native ideas of living, one with the earth. However, I feel I wasted a lot of emotion believing her adventures were mostly true experiences. I had doubts numerous times about the truthfulness of experiences she described. She covers for that possibility by claiming in her Forward that the book was a "fictionalized" account to protect the tribe,it's members and their location.
I give it 2 stars because it was an interesting read about living in the outback, and about spiritual beliefs even if her story has turned out to be totally untrue.

Mutant Message.......2007-06-21

Good easy read. A look into your inner self and how you look at the world.

Take It For What It Is: Fiction. Period........2007-06-12

I read this book in my 20s, and then again 2 years ago. It is charming and weaves in many of the indigenous traditions that we'd all like to incorporate into our lives. However, this book is a work of fiction and has very little to do with authentic aboriginal culture. This taints the credibility of the author and her book. So, let it inspire you to seek out authentic indigenous lifeways. But be sure to take this book for what it is: fiction.

Florence Broadhurst: Her Secret & Extraordinary Lives

Average customer rating:

Fascinating designer!
The Queen of Wallpaper!
beautiful collection of designs

Florence Broadhurst: Her Secret & Extraordinary Lives
Helen O'Neill
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0811859371

Book Description

In a volume as captivating as its subject, Florence Broadhurst paints an unforgettable portrait of a woman ahead of her time. To this day, mystery shrouds her myriad personae starlet, couturier, painter as well as her unsolved murder. One thing, however, is certain: Broadhurst's place in the history of interior d cor. Recognized worldwide for her groundbreaking wallpaper patterns, this enigmatic Australian left behind a trove of exquisite work, brilliantly displayed here in the first-ever authorized biography of the design icon. Broadhurst's wallpapers out of circulation for nearly 20 years are just now being restored and sold globally to much fanfare. This amazing package showcases more than 100 never-before-published patterns and popular prints such as those owned by Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney, and Carly Simon alongside a fascinating murder mystery.

Customer Reviews:

Fascinating designer!.......2007-09-01

I had heard of Florence Broadhurst but didn't know a lot about her. I read this book cover to cover (granted, it is not that thick) without putting it down, it was so interesting! I never realised the amount of scandal involved in one of Australia's greatest designers of the time. I found her life fascinating and her wallpaper designs so beautiful. I did feel that the book could have shown more designs but it was excellent as an introduction to Florence Broadhurst and her more popular wallpapers.

The Queen of Wallpaper!.......2007-06-27

This book is perfect for the design fanatic- especially prints and home decor. The cover is made of a sweet fabric and seems precious. The inside features amazing color images of Florence Broadhurst's one of a kind work. There are many great wallpapers and prints that span the art deco style to modern geometrics. As a painter I found the patterns fascinating. Makes for a great gift.

beautiful collection of designs.......2007-05-06

All in all I really enjoyed the book. I thought that the title built up the story to be more than it was, I could have used a lot more text (Keep all the photos though). There wasn't as much detail into Florences life as I would have liked. But the book introduced me to another great designer and all her (or someone elses) great work. A wonderful reference for designers

Average customer rating:

Gotta love a a place where everything wants to kill you.
a great read
Everything will kill you
Masterful.
Funny and Informative

In a Sunburned Country
Bill Bryson
Manufacturer: Broadway
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0767903862
Release Date: 2001-05-15

Amazon.com

Bill Bryson follows his Appalachian amble, A Walk in the Woods, with the story of his exploits in Australia, where A-bombs go off unnoticed, prime ministers disappear into the surf, and cheery citizens coexist with the world's deadliest creatures: toxic caterpillars, aggressive seashells, crocodiles, sharks, snakes, and the deadliest of them all, the dreaded box jellyfish. And that's just the beginning, as Bryson treks through sunbaked deserts and up endless coastlines, crisscrossing the "under-discovered" Down Under in search of all things interesting.

Bryson, who could make a pile of dirt compelling--and yes, Australia is mostly dirt--finds no shortage of curiosities. When he isn't dodging Portuguese man-of-wars or considering the virtues of the remarkable platypus, he visits southwest Gippsland, home of the world's largest earthworms (up to 12 feet in length). He discovers that Australia, which began nationhood as a prison, contains the longest straight stretch of railroad track in the world (297 miles), as well as the world's largest monolith (the majestic Uluru) and largest living thing (the Great Barrier Reef). He finds ridiculous place names: "Mullumbimby Ewylamartup, Jiggalong, and the supremely satisfying Tittybong," and manages to catch a cricket game on the radio, which is like

listening to two men sitting in a rowboat on a large, placid lake on a day when the fish aren't biting; it's like having a nap without losing consciousness. It actually helps not to know quite what's going on. In such a rarefied world of contentment and inactivity, comprehension would become a distraction.

"You see," Bryson observes, "Australia is an interesting place. It truly is. And that really is all I'm saying." Of course, Bryson--who is as much a travel writer here as a humorist, naturalist, and historian--says much more, and does so with generous amounts of wit and hilarity. Australia may be "mostly empty and a long way away," but it's a little closer now. --Rob McDonald

Book Description

Every time Bill Bryson walks out the door, memorable travel literature threatens to break out. His previous excursion along the Appalachian Trail resulted in the sublime national bestseller A Walk in the Woods. In A Sunburned Country is his report on what he found in an entirely different place: Australia, the country that doubles as a continent, and a place with the friendliest inhabitants, the hottest, driest weather, and the most peculiar and lethal wildlife to be found on the planet. The result is a deliciously funny, fact-filled, and adventurous performance by a writer who combines humor, wonder, and unflagging curiousity.

Despite the fact that Australia harbors more things that can kill you in extremely nasty ways than anywhere else, including sharks, crocodiles, snakes, even riptides and deserts, Bill Bryson adores the place, and he takes his readers on a rollicking ride far beyond that beaten tourist path. Wherever he goes he finds Australians who are cheerful, extroverted, and unfailingly obliging, and these beaming products of land with clean, safe cities, cold beer, and constant sunshine fill the pages of this wonderful book. Australia is an immense and fortunate land, and it has found in Bill Bryson its perfect guide.

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Compared to his Australian excursions, Bill Bryson had it easy on the Appalachian Trail. Nonetheless, Bryson has on several occasions embarked on seemingly endless flights bound for a land where Little Debbies are scarce but insects are abundant (up to 220,000 species of them), not to mention the crocodiles.

Taking readers on a rollicking ride far beyond packaged-tour routes, In a Sunburned Country introduces a place where interesting things happen all the time, from a Prime Minister who was lost at sea while swimming at a Victoria beach to Japanese cult members who managed to set off an atomic bomb unnoticed on their 500,000-acre property. Leaving no Vegemite unsavored readers will accompany Bryson as he dodges jellyfish while learning to surf at Bondi Beach, discovers a fish that can climb trees, dehydrates in deserts where the temperatures leap to 140degreeF, and tells the true story of the rejected Danish architect who designed the Sydney Opera House.

Published just in time for the Olympics, In a Sunburned Country provides a singularly intriguing, wonderfully wacky take on a glorious, adventure-filled locale.

Customer Reviews:

Gotta love a a place where everything wants to kill you........2007-10-09

It's obvious in reading this book that Bryson fell head over heels for the land down under. What makes him such a great travel writer is that, in love or not, he never resorts to gushing. He maintains the dry wit and eye for oddities that are his trademarks. I particularly liked the recurring bits about sharks and other potential agents of death. Bryson shows us a country full of interesting, likable and hardworking people; a harsh country not without problems, but a gosh-darned interesting place. You'll laugh a lot reading this, but without laughing at anyone. That's a difficult thing to pull off, and Bryson does it. His affection for the place is palpable. This is a great armchair travel book.

a great read.......2007-09-22

This is a great book, in my opinion. Bryson makes this tale both informative and funny. I had at least a few laugh-out-loud moments with this book. After I finished, I felt almost as if I had just taken a trip to Australia (never been there yet)- def the sign of a good writer. If you've never read Bill Bryson before, take a chance on this one - you won't regret it.

Everything will kill you.......2007-09-20

This should be required reading for anybody heading to Australia. He is an astute observer of human behavior, and relates his findings in the most humorous way. His description of the game of cricket is the most accurate and hilarious I've ever read, and his constant reminders of how everything in Australia will kill you provides nice continuity throughout the book.

Masterful........2007-09-06

What stands out about this book for me is that it stays with me. I often find myself referring back to it, telling people stories I read in it, chuckling about something in it. It helps that I appreciate Bryson's humor, his hypochondria and morbidity and his delight in the ridiculous. And since it is a travel book, its only fair to say that since I read his book, I went to see some of the things he saw, and I mean to see more of them.

Funny and Informative .......2007-08-07

I didn't know much about Bill Bryson except that he had written A Short History of Nearly Everything (which had nearly bored me to tears, the first time I tried to read it), but I gave this book a chance and I am so glad I did.
I think Bill Bryson is just about the funniest man alive. I was laughing so hard I was in tears more than a few times. I also really enjoy the history he gave about Australia.
Bill Bryson is one of my very favorite authors because of this book.

Average customer rating:

Mistress of Scandal
Mistress of No-No
Mistress of Scandal
If you like to roll your eyes over and over... (D- Grade)
Lacked the Zip and Wit ...

Mistress of Scandal
Sara Bennett
Manufacturer: Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0060796499
Release Date: 2007-03-27

Book Description

Proper, reserved Francesca detests chaotic London and one of its most infamous inhabitants: her birth mother, the notorious courtesan Madame Aphrodite. Lovingly raised by the devoted Lady Greentree, she's content to remain in Yorkshire, far from the scandalous parent whose life and profession shock . . . yet intrigue her. But a dark, dangerous stranger she rescues on the moors is awakening a most improper desire—causing Francesca to question whether she is more her mother's daughter than she ever wished to be.

When Sebastian Thorne agrees to protect Aphrodite's estranged daughter from a dire threat emerging from her past, the fallen lord is unexpectedly seduced by Francesca's beauty. But a vigilante living on the shadowy edge of society has little hope to own such a prize—and unless he reclaims his abandoned title and lost honor, Sebastian will never get close enough to the bewitching lady to save her life . . . or win her passion.

Customer Reviews:

Mistress of Scandal.......2007-08-13

Francesca Greentree had enjoyed her quiet life and content to live the rest of her days on the moors of Yorkshire. She detests the loud and chaotic life of London and is determined to stay away from one of its most famous inhabitants, her birth mother, the notorious courtesan Madame Aphrodite. Francesca's most dreaded fear is that one day her most base desires will surface and she will become like her mother, which is something that Francesca is determined will never happen. Until the day she meets Sebastian Thorne, and now her life will never be the same.

Accepting an assignment by Madame Aphrodite, Sebastian Thorne sets out for Yorkshire, where he is to meet with someone to gather information. And hopefully find the person who kidnapped Aphrodite's daughters twenty-four years ago. The meeting place was to be along the moors, but his guide has tricked him and now he is sinking, slowly into the mired muck. Only a miracle will save him.

Sebastian's miracle comes in the form of Francesca Greentree, the daughter of Aphrodite herself. Pulling Sebastian from the moors, Francesca discovers that she is her mother's daughter after all when he stirs feelings in her that she had long suppressed. What does he want? Why is he out on the moors to begin with?

Mistress of Scandal is the third book in the eagerly awaited Greentree Sisters trilogy. Sara Bennett brings her readers a story of love found in the most unexpected place and a twenty-four year old mystery that will keep readers turning the pages from beginning to end. Sara Bennett is one of today's most gifted romance writers. She writes with passion and truly gets into the `heads' of her characters making them come to life for all of us to enjoy. Beautifully written and characters to fall in love with, Ms. Bennett delivers on all counts.

Debbie reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Mistress of No-No.......2007-05-13

I will not give a summary, because most of these reviews do that. This novel was so extremely ho-hum. I didn't feel any chemistry or passion between the leads, I felt like there was just sex (and that wasn't very hot). It was also kind of hard to understand Aphrodite hiring someone to solve a crime when she was already positive of who the criminal was. Not to mention her refusing to disclose any information, how odd.

Mistress of Scandal.......2007-05-09

I just finished reading this book and I'm inclined to disagree with the first two reviewers. I really did enjoy the story. Sure, I guessed who the mastermind behind the Greentree sister's kidnapping was right from the first book, but it was quite nice having all the pieces finally drawn together and answer all the why's and also, finally allowing closure for all three sisters and their "two" mothers.
Of course, it had a happy ending with the youngest of the sisters finally letting go of all her insecurities and allowing herself to accept love and being loved without being afraid of losing her heart to her hero Sebastian.

If you like to roll your eyes over and over... (D- Grade).......2007-04-21

The third and final book in this trilogy of sisters who were kidnapped as babies from their courtesan mother is such a disappointment. And this is coming from an author who has years of experience writing enjoyable historical romances. When you have constant eye rolling by the third chapter and throughout the book you know this was written on auto pilot.
The premise looks to be interesting as mother "Madame Aphrodite" pays our hero Sebastian to try and find the evil ones responsible for stealing her children years before. Sebastian is your typical angst filled man who lives on the dark side for some wrong he has done in the past. The horror! The total cliché!
Sebastian happily takes on the case and in the process almost dies by being left to drown in some bog. (They actually have marshy bogs in England that will kill you!) He is found and saved by the youngest daughter Francesca as she walks with her dog through the moors even though she is suppose to be some respectful young woman. What a coincidence this makes. Sebastian is over come by lust the minute he sees her! And Francesca, even though she doesn't want to act out any traits of her trashy mother, tries not to think these lust filled thoughts.
Even though by page 100 she and Sebastian have fallen in bed together.
Zany turmoil and constant villains surround these two over and over. And along the way they are overcome with passion and ecstasy while always in danger.
If only there were not clichés' and over the top actions by the villains and the two main characters, then maybe this book could have been redeemable. For a good chuckle, and not in good way perhaps this book is for you. Otherwise check out Bennett's earlier works for more substance and no eye rolling.

Katiebabs

Rules of Passion
Lessons in Seduction

Lacked the Zip and Wit ..........2007-04-20

...of the first two books in the series. It felt in "Mistress of Scandal" that Sara Bennett was forcing chemistry, forcing tension, and forcing the narrative along. While the book was not completely lacking, it really was a hohum text that offers no real wit or sparks. A blah book all around.

AC/DC: Maximum Rock & Roll: The Ultimate Story of the World's Greatest Rock-and-Roll Band

Average customer rating:

Shoot to Thrill!
Rockingest band ever
Show business
Bored to Tears
By Far The Best Book Available On AC/DC

AC/DC: Maximum Rock & Roll: The Ultimate Story of the World's Greatest Rock-and-Roll Band
Murray Engleheart , and Arnaud Durieux
Manufacturer: HarperEntertainment
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0061133914
Release Date: 2007-01-02

Book Description

Over three decades and more than 150 million albums, AC/DC has established itself as much more than just a great rock band. For millions of fans spanning several generations across the world, they are an ear-bleedingly loud, sweat-soaked religion, courtesy of such classic albums as Highway to Hell and Back in Black.

Now, in a book of astonishing breadth and scope, comes, for the very first time, the complete story of AC/DC. Everything you ever wanted to know and plenty more you never dreamt of is all here, the ultimate balls-out adventure, laced with sex, drunken escapades and brawls. It's a journey that started in the suburban Sydney, Australia, bedrooms of brothers Malcolm and Angus Young, boys who could wreak havoc with their guitars. Over their power chords were the lyrics and voice of Bon Scott, who would lead them higher and higher—until his tragic death in 1980. The bittersweet irony after his death was that not only did the Youngs manage to hold together without him, but the band's fortunes and status skyrocketed with his replacement, Brian Johnson, and the album Back in Black.

Five long years in the making, AC/DC: Maximum Rock & Roll is sourced from more than 1,300 interviews the band has given over the past thirty years combined with in excess of 75 of the authors' own interviews with those who worked with AC/DC both in the studio and on the road—many of whom have never spoken about the band publicly. It's topped off with stunning, never-before-seen photos to create the ultimate portrait of the ultimate rock band.

Customer Reviews:

Shoot to Thrill!.......2007-07-06

A great look into the AC/DC story. Learned quite a bit about the band and this well written and compelling without suffering the usual rock bio cliches.

Rockingest band ever.......2007-06-05

Interesting book about the band. Found references to early shows and bands and looked them up on YouTube.

Show business.......2007-05-15

It's a good book but not a GREAT one. I'm missing more detailed info about the recording sessions, making of the LPs etc. I'm sure a lot of research has gone into making the book but somehow it's lacking in depth and structure. Sorry to say but I was expecting a little bit more effort, as the book was so much hyped.

However, this book is a must for any big AC/DC fan (like myself)and I recommend it.

P.S. If you are a Who fan read "Dear boy, life of Keith Moon". That is absolutely the best rock'n'roll book I have ever read.

Bored to Tears.......2007-03-26

For decades now I've been a huge AC/DC fan and eagerly bought this book to validate many of the myths surrounding them. It was definitely full of facts but very repetetive. . ."Despite the bands small stature they were very street tough." Seems to be on every page of the book. From paragraph to paragraph the subject changes making it a hard-to-follow read. There's no story line, and I found myself bored to death. The author could have learned a few things from the writers of "The Dirt".

By Far The Best Book Available On AC/DC.......2007-03-22

Without the shadow of a doubt this is the best book available on AC/DC. From the members pre AC/DC early years, through to the bands Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame induction and beyond, it's all here.

Whether you're a die hard fan, or just have a passing interest in the group, this book has been painfully researched by Murray Engleheart & Arnaud Durieux to provide an accurate account of the bands formation, devolpment, determination and eventual success.

The highs & lows are all covered, from the bands early success, to Bon Scott's tragic death, to the triumph that was "Back In Black". Find out what made this band tick.

Frommer's Australia 2007 (Frommer's Complete)

Average customer rating:

Good but could be improved

Frommer's Australia 2007 (Frommer's Complete)
Marc Llewellyn , and Lee Mylne
Manufacturer: Frommer's
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0470040769

Book Description

Frommer's. The best trips start here.

Experience a place the way the locals do. Enjoy the best it has to offer.

From Adelaide to the Melbourne Zoo, our authors show you Australia in all its amazing diversity.
Outspoken opinions on what's worth your time and what's not.
Exact prices, so you can plan the perfect trip whatever your budget.
Off-the-beaten-path experiences and undiscovered gems, plus new takes on top attractions.

Find great deals and book your trip at Frommers.com and download a free companion podcast about Australia!

Customer Reviews:

Good but could be improved.......2007-09-24

I purchased book a week before my trip and read on flight to Sydney. Soon determined there were a number of inaccuracies in the attraction pricing and other minor specifics (e.g., per Frommer there were 30 Explorer bus stops in Blue Mountain...there were actually 27, which Lonely Planet had right). The organization layout could be more simplistic (i.e., one attraction was discussed in various areas of the same section - used labeled flags to facilitate use). The book is bulky to carry around in backpack - editions should be available for specific regions (e.g., Sydney and surrounding). Worship service times and places could be added. Sydney is home to one of the most popular, largest non-denominational churches (Hillsong) and there was no mention of this (or other churches, other than the architecturally impressive cathedrals). Lastly, it would be great if Frommers would add local sites and activities. For instance, there is mention of the Sydney fish market but I found out through a local that cooking classes are offered. That would have been a fun "local" activity to have known about. I will buy the competitor book on my next trip and will then place my loyalty on one.

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