Freakonomics [Revised and Expanded]: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Mind blowing
  • Dumbed Down Levitt
  • Spray-Painted Fruit
  • This book makes economics entertaining
  • Boring and pedantic to listen to on CD.
Freakonomics [Revised and Expanded]: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
Steven D. Levitt , and Stephen J. Dubner
Manufacturer: William Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

EconometricsEconometrics | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0061234001
Release Date: 2006-10-17

Amazon.com

Economics is not widely considered to be one of the sexier sciences. The annual Nobel Prize winner in that field never receives as much publicity as his or her compatriots in peace, literature, or physics. But if such slights are based on the notion that economics is dull, or that economists are concerned only with finance itself, Steven D. Levitt will change some minds. In Freakonomics (written with Stephen J. Dubner), Levitt argues that many apparent mysteries of everyday life don't need to be so mysterious: they could be illuminated and made even more fascinating by asking the right questions and drawing connections. For example, Levitt traces the drop in violent crime rates to a drop in violent criminals and, digging further, to the Roe v. Wade decision that preempted the existence of some people who would be born to poverty and hardship. Elsewhere, by analyzing data gathered from inner-city Chicago drug-dealing gangs, Levitt outlines a corporate structure much like McDonald's, where the top bosses make great money while scores of underlings make something below minimum wage. And in a section that may alarm or relieve worried parents, Levitt argues that parenting methods don't really matter much and that a backyard swimming pool is much more dangerous than a gun. These enlightening chapters are separated by effusive passages from Dubner's 2003 profile of Levitt in The New York Times Magazine, which led to the book being written. In a book filled with bold logic, such back-patting veers Freakonomics, however briefly, away from what Levitt actually has to say. Although maybe there's a good economic reason for that too, and we're just not getting it yet. --John Moe

Book Description

Which is more dangerous, a gun or a swimming pool? What do schoolteachers and sumo wrestlers have in common? Why do drug dealers still live with their moms? How much do parents really matter? How did the legalization of abortion affect the rate of violent crime?

These may not sound like typical questions for an econo-mist to ask. But Steven D. Levitt is not a typical economist. He is a much-heralded scholar who studies the riddles of everyday life—from cheating and crime to sports and child-rearing—and whose conclusions turn conventional wisdom on its head.

Freakonomics is a groundbreaking collaboration between Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, an award-winning author and journalist. They usually begin with a mountain of data and a simple question. Some of these questions concern life-and-death issues; others have an admittedly freakish quality. Thus the new field of study contained in this book: freakonomics.

Through forceful storytelling and wry insight, Levitt and Dubner show that economics is, at root, the study of incentives—how people get what they want, or need, especially when other people want or need the same thing. In Freakonomics, they explore the hidden side of . . . well, everything. The inner workings of a crack gang. The truth about real-estate agents. The myths of campaign finance. The telltale marks of a cheating schoolteacher. The secrets of the Klu Klux Klan.

What unites all these stories is a belief that the modern world, despite a great deal of complexity and downright deceit, is not impenetrable, is not unknowable, and—if the right questions are asked—is even more intriguing than we think. All it takes is a new way of looking.

Freakonomics establishes this unconventional premise: If morality represents how we would like the world to work, then economics represents how it actually does work. It is true that readers of this book will be armed with enough riddles and stories to last a thousand cocktail parties. But Freakonomics can provide more than that. It will literally redefine the way we view the modern world.

Download Description

"

Which is more dangerous, a gun or a swimming pool? What do schoolteachers and sumo wrestlers have in common? Why do drug dealers still live with their moms? How much do parents really matter? What kind of impact did Roe v. Wade have on violent crime?

These may not sound like typical questions for an economist to ask. But Steven D. Levitt is not a typical economist. He is a much heralded scholar who studies the stuff and riddles of everyday life -- from cheating and crime to sports and child rearing -- and whose conclusions regularly turn the conventional wisdom on its head. He usually begins with a mountain of data and a simple, unasked question. Some of these questions concern life-and-death issues; others have an admittedly freakish quality. Thus the new field of study contained in this book: freakonomics.

Through forceful storytelling and wry insight, Levitt and co-author Stephen J. Dubner show that economics is, at root, the study of incentives -- how people get what they want, or need, especially when other people want or need the same thing. In Freakonomics, they set out to explore the hidden side of ... well, everything. The inner workings of a crack gang. The truth about real-estate agents. The myths of campaign finance. The telltale marks of a cheating schoolteacher. The secrets of the Ku Klux Klan.

What unites all these stories is a belief that the modern world, despite a surfeit of obfuscation, complication, and downright deceit, is not impenetrable, is not unknowable, and -- if the right questions are asked -- is even more intriguing than we think. All it takes is a new way of looking. Steven Levitt, through devilishly clever and clear-eyed thinking, shows how to see through all the clutter.

Freakonomics establishes this unconventional premise: If morality represents how we would like the world to work, then economics represents how it actually does work. It is true that readers of this book will be armed with enough riddles and stories to last a thousand cocktail parties. But Freakonomics can provide more than that. It will literally redefine the way we view the modern world.

"

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Mind blowing .......2007-10-02

This book changed the way I think about economics, while being entertaining and fun. Highly recommended!

3 out of 5 stars Dumbed Down Levitt.......2007-09-27

I saw Steven Levitt (the economist) on CSPAN Book-TV. He was intelligent, incisive & insightfull and presented his information clearly with a wry sense of humor. I very much anticipated reading this book. What a disappointment! Clearly the book was written by Dubner, not Levitt, and it's origins as a Sunday magazine profile are too apparent. The sharp intelligence and clear ideas are made fuzzy by Dubner's generic, puffy non-fiction writing techniques. This is not to say this book is without merit. Levitt's ideas manage to shine throught the murk of Dubner's writing. But if you want to get a clearer picutre of Levitt and his thinking, go to the C-SPAN Book-TV archives and watch the show with Steven Levitt discussing the book.
I hope that next time Levitt and/or his publisher will have the confidence to have him write a popular, non-academic book on his own and won't feel the need to hire a "professional" to translate his ideas to a popular audience. His ideas need simple clarity, not fancy dressing up.

2 out of 5 stars Spray-Painted Fruit.......2007-09-25

"Freakonomics" has all the elements of great nonfiction. It approaches old subjects in new ways. It combines a "rogue" economist's out-of-the-box thinking with the concise work of a disciplined writer. A quick read, it also challenges Americans to think for themselves--now there's a real accomplishment!

Levitt and Dubner make some interesting points about our education system, medical and parental fears, and racial divides. They never claim to tie all these insights into a cohesive treatise, although they do meander back and forth over unifying themes of what motivates us as human beings and what causes us to buy into collective myths. For years, I've observed the lemming effect in our society, usually driven by the media, and by the average person's seeming inability to override knee-jerk fears with a small dollop of logic. Raising my own children, I heard the flip-flopping of the experts: "Babies should sleep on their backs...their bellies...their sides...in your bed...in their own bed..." ad nauseum.

"Freakonomics" has worthy goals. It reaches them on many levels. On the other hand, it is marketed toward those who already see through these societal deceits. It's not high-minded enough to satisfy those seeking true "rogue" economics, and it's not accessible enough for those nominative readers who might benefit from it the most. Also, on a number of occasions, it draws from a hodgepodge of statistics and extrapolates theories that, while very reasonable, are not proven here with any certainty. And yet we are expected to believe them, even while the same authors are telling us to stop believing such extrapolations from other "experts."

For a book that'll cause you to reconsider certain "established" norms" and to carry on lively discussions, "Freakonomics" is a wonderful coffee table addition. I was disappointed, though, in its overall lack of depth. Most of the subjects addressed are ones I, as a regular individual, have questioned on basic principles of logic in the first place. I didn't need a "rogue" economist for this, or a catchy title. I could've extracted the same tidbits from a decent magazine article by the same pair.

An apple is an apple is an orange. Yes, there are some nutrients in this tasty book, but the authors, like many grocers, have spray-painted the fruit to appear a bit more delectable than it actually is.

4 out of 5 stars This book makes economics entertaining.......2007-09-23

Think you won't be entertained by a book about economics? Think again. Reduced to its essence, economics is about people's response to incentives. This book abounds with examples that you probably aren't accustomed to thinking of as economics. The author excels at analyzing mounds of data and extracting nuggets of wisdom from it. He even steps you through a couple of them, though once he's sure you've got the idea he sticks to giving you the pertinent information. After reading this book I became aware of how economics permeates human interactions.

1 out of 5 stars Boring and pedantic to listen to on CD........2007-09-20

I couldn't make it past the second chapter even though the stories and ideas were engaging. As an audio product, the narrator repeats himself too many times and recaps and re-summarizes again and again. It's hard to listen to. If you're kind of slow, this CD may be just your speed. If you're sharp, you will be bored out of your skin. Perhaps an abridged version would be easier to sit through. It's too watered down and repetitive - at least as an audio version where you can't skim to avoid the redundancy.
The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Corn!
  • Brilliant
  • a college assignment
  • Just when you thought it was safe to eat...
  • entertaining vital info
The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals
Michael Pollan
Manufacturer: Penguin Press HC, The
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1594200823

Book Description

The bestselling author of The Botany of Desire explores the ecology of eating to unveil why we consume what we consume in the twenty-first century

"What should we have for dinner?" To one degree or another this simple question assails any creature faced with a wide choice of things to eat. Anthropologists call it the omnivore's dilemma. Choosing from among the countless potential foods nature offers, humans have had to learn what is safe, and what isn't-which mushrooms should be avoided, for example, and which berries we can enjoy. Today, as America confronts what can only be described as a national eating disorder, the omnivore's dilemma has returned with an atavistic vengeance. The cornucopia of the modern American supermarket and fast-food outlet has thrown us back on a bewildering landscape where we once again have to worry about which of those tasty-looking morsels might kill us. At the same time we're realizing that our food choices also have profound implications for the health of our environment. The Omnivore's Dilemma is bestselling author Michael Pollan's brilliant and eye-opening exploration of these little-known but vitally important dimensions of eating in America.

Pollan has divided The Omnivore's Dilemma into three parts, one for each of the food chains that sustain us: industrialized food, alternative or "organic" food, and food people obtain by dint of their own hunting, gathering, or gardening. Pollan follows each food chain literally from the ground up to the table, emphasizing our dynamic coevolutionary relationship with the species we depend on. He concludes each section by sitting down to a meal--at McDonald's, at home with his family sharing a dinner from Whole Foods, and in a revolutionary "beyond organic" farm in Virginia. For each meal he traces the provenance of everything consumed, revealing the hidden components we unwittingly ingest and explaining how our taste for particular foods reflects our environmental and biological inheritance.

We are indeed what we eat-and what we eat remakes the world. A society of voracious and increasingly confused omnivores, we are just beginning to recognize the profound consequences of the simplest everyday food choices, both for ourselves and for the natural world. The Omnivore's Dilemma is a long-overdue book and one that will become known for bringing a completely fresh perspective to a question as ordinary and yet momentous as What shall we have for dinner?

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Corn!.......2007-09-29

I have never read the word "corn" so many times in my life! But corn is, in fact, a rather large part of our lives and we did not realize it. This is a very good book and is quite informative. Thank you.

5 out of 5 stars Brilliant.......2007-09-29

This is one of the first thoughtful critiques of the culture of `big' Organic to appear. It was a decade in coming. Since the advent of stores such as Whole Foods, the ideology of `Organic' has come to revolutionize the way Americans eat. Organic is both an ideology, an ideal and a culture. This book seeks to examine four meals and where they came from. It looks a typical big agriculture diet, that uses pesticides and might be sold at McDonalds or Wallmart. It examines a meal purchased as Whole Foods. It also examines the ancient way of hunting food to survive and the development of agriculture. But its most insightful chapter is the examination of the origins of food purchased in the `big Organic' superstores, such as Whole Foods.

The author tracks the food back to its origins. From a supermarket label that claims the chickens are free range to the house where the chickens are kept in a massive barracks, barely able to move because there are so many. This book shows how the Organic industry is mostly a scam. Organic has outgrown its roots and because the Dept. of Agriculture and the government has not issues rules regarding what is `Organic' it was only a matter of time before most things labeled `organic' were far from it. The ideal of the `family farm' may be on the label of much `organic' food but it mostly comes from factories. A brilliant analysis of what happens when ideals meat the marketplace.

Seth J. Frantzman

5 out of 5 stars a college assignment.......2007-09-28

I bought The Omnivore's Dilemma for a college English course. I'm not sure what I expected, but the result was intriguing. The book offers a detailed look into what exactly we are eating, and I really enjoyed it.

This is a book that I am likely to share with others because it relates to just about everyone and makes you think about the choices our society has made.

4 out of 5 stars Just when you thought it was safe to eat..........2007-09-27

This book is very enlightening and informative. Over the last several months I have been reading lots of books about health and nutrition. This book stands apart from other, not for the quantity of scientific data that it presents, but for the unique perspective it offers to readers. I've always wondered where the myriad ingredients on industrial foods comes from. This book gives you a glimpse of their origins and evolution. This is one of the only books I've ever read that makes you aware that eating can be a moral and political act. It certainly changes the way I think about food. I would have to say that I am much better informed about the consequences of my eating decisions because of this book. Anyone with an inquisitive mind should find some or all of this book to be very valuable.

5 out of 5 stars entertaining vital info.......2007-09-26

I couldn't put this book down. Very entertaining and very enlightening. If you are interested in your health and the health of the planet, you will gain a lot from this book.
PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Totally engrossing
  • Great!
  • Secrets shared are a wonderful thing.
  • Amazing
  • Amazing book, amazing video trailer to go along with it
PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives
Frank Warren
Manufacturer: William Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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  5. A Lifetime of Secrets: A PostSecret Book A Lifetime of Secrets: A PostSecret Book

ASIN: 0060899190
Release Date: 2005-11-29

Book Description

The project that captured a nation's imagination.

The instructions were simple, but the results were extraordinary.

"You are invited to anonymously contribute a secret to a group art project. Your secret can be a regret, fear, betrayal, desire, confession, or childhood humiliation. Reveal anything -- as long as it is true and you have never shared it with anyone before. Be brief. Be legible. Be creative."

It all began with an idea Frank Warren had for a community art project. He began handing out postcards to strangers and leaving them in public places -- asking people to write down a secret they had never told anyone and mail it to him, anonymously.

The response was overwhelming. The secrets were both provocative and profound, and the cards themselves were works of art -- carefully and creatively constructed by hand. Addictively compelling, the cards reveal our deepest fears, desires, regrets, and obsessions. Frank calls them "graphic haiku," beautiful, elegant, and small in structure but powerfully emotional.

As Frank began posting the cards on his website, PostSecret took on a life of its own, becoming much more than a simple art project. It has grown into a global phenomenon, exposing our individual aspirations, fantasies, and frailties -- our common humanity.

Every day dozens of postcards still make their way to Frank, with postmarks from around the world, touching on every aspect of human experience. This extraordinary collection brings together the most powerful, personal, and beautifully intimate secrets Frank Warren has received -- and brilliantly illuminates that human emotions can be unique and universal at the same time.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Totally engrossing.......2007-09-26

I bought this as a gift for my twenty-something brother. I started to glance through it a little before wrapping it, and ended up sitting with my nose in it for an hour. Really cool coffee-table book.

5 out of 5 stars Great!.......2007-09-07

An amazing book! Read it page for page and it's so hard to put down, great buy.

4 out of 5 stars Secrets shared are a wonderful thing........2007-09-05

Big time fan fot he website and love this collection of books. The honesty makes me laugh, cry and feel totally connected to others. A birlliant project.

5 out of 5 stars Amazing.......2007-08-24

This book absolutely amazing and unique. Sure there are 3 books so far from him, all with the same postcard concept, but each book is direct and revealing. I found myself looking into my life and relationships and thinking that the post cards are saying and showing exactly what I felt/remember feeling. The pages are beautiful and colorful along with the words and writing that somehow display exactly what the writer was feeling. Even if you only read a few pages every once in a while, it will ground and humble you, pick you up, and make you want to be a better person. Truly amazing.

5 out of 5 stars Amazing book, amazing video trailer to go along with it.......2007-08-16

I have been a fan of the Postsecret phenomenon since the first book came out. They are moving, and make one feel that you are not alone. Everyone has baggage. quirks. Human beings have alot going on. You must see the Book Trailer just posted on Youtube, it is inspirational, a work of art and makes you want to buy the books! Go to Youtube and search for Postsecret, and watch!! Its extraordinary!
How Full Is Your Bucket? Positive Strategies for Work and Life
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Brand new - just like she said!
  • Great Book!
  • Real Positives for a Negative World...
  • How Full is Your Bucket?
  • Excellent
How Full Is Your Bucket? Positive Strategies for Work and Life
Tom Rath , and Donald O. Clifton
Manufacturer: Gallup Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1595620036

Book Description

How did you feel after your last interaction with another person? Did that person — your spouse, best friend, coworker, or even a stranger — "fill your bucket" by making you feel more positive? Or did that person "dip from your bucket," leaving you more negative than before? The number one New York Times and number one Business Week bestseller, How Full Is Your Bucket? reveals how even the briefest interactions affect your relationships, productivity, health, and longevity. Organized around a simple metaphor of a dipper and a bucket, and grounded in 50 years of research, this book will show you how to greatly increase the positive moments in your work and your life — while reducing the negative. Filled with discoveries, powerful strategies, and engaging stories, How Full Is Your Bucket? is sure to inspire lasting changes and has all the makings of a timeless classic.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Brand new - just like she said!.......2007-09-05

I ordered 25 books that were supposed to be in good condition. They were even better. They were just like new. They were missing one of the supplementary items as was clearly stated up front. I am completely satisfied.

5 out of 5 stars Great Book!.......2007-08-27

Another new bestseller which I recommend - The Exclusive Layguide: When Dating and Having Sex with Incredibly Hot Women is No Longer Mirage Even If You Don't Look Like a Model or Don't Make a Fortune

5 out of 5 stars Real Positives for a Negative World..........2007-08-03

I have probably referenced this book more in my training seminars and speaking engagements than any other book I have ever read. I just love it! (I gave everyone in my family a copy for Christmas) The author states that 99 out of 100 people report that they would like to be surrounded by more positive people. "And the church said; AMEN!" This short, interesting, and succinct read teaches the reader how to become one of those "more positive people." A must read about positive psychology for anyone who has to be around negative people in our negative world. I think that pretty much includes all of us, doesn't it?

SUCCESS: It Just Ain't That Hard Y'all! Three Things to STOP Doing and Three Things to START and KEEP Doing to Reach Your Greatest Potential

4 out of 5 stars How Full is Your Bucket?.......2007-07-29

The book assigns theoretic valuations to philosophic concepts.
For instance, a full bucket has a net positive outlook + Energy
from every drop of strength expended. Relentless negativity leads to
death. The North Koreans broke down peer cohesiveness by insisting
that captors confess their transgressions publicly.

The author believes that regular praise= increased productivity,
tenure, loyalty and satisfaction. People leave when they aren't
appreciated sufficiently. Bad bosses increase stroke risk.
Activiely disengaged employees cost employers upward of $50B a
year or more. A strength of the book is that the authors attempt
to quantify universal concepts within practical contexts of
everyday life. To a considerable extent, the authors succeed.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent.......2007-07-27

This was a great book that I handed out to my staff. Everyone found it valuable for life not just work.
The Secret Lives of Men and Women: A PostSecret Book
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • The secret lives of men and women
  • Filled with insights
  • Interesting look into other's minds.
  • Great!
  • People Have Secrets Both Dark and Light
The Secret Lives of Men and Women: A PostSecret Book
Frank Warren
Manufacturer: William Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0061198757
Release Date: 2007-01-09

Book Description

Postsecret.com founder Frank Warren is back with an irresistible addition to his bestselling PostSecret series. For The Secret Lives of Men and Women, Warren has selected a never-before-seen collection of postcards bearing the explosive confessions and captivating revelations of men and women everywhere. Created using photographs, collages, illustrations, and more, the handmade cards offer a compelling dialogue on some of today's most provocative topics—from marriage and infidelity, to parenting, office politics, repressed fantasies, and even abortion—daring us to consider how well we really know our friends, family, even ourselves.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars The secret lives of men and women.......2007-09-23

This is a fantastic book as are his others great insight to the human mind, plus makes you laugh cry and think.

4 out of 5 stars Filled with insights.......2007-09-05

As a fan of the cult show this is the book to read lots of theories about the symbolism and meaning of the show. A great read pack with insights.

5 out of 5 stars Interesting look into other's minds........2007-08-09

I think this project is amazing. After reading all of the books and getting the updates every Sunday from the website, I have come to realize that everyone has their own bag of crap to carry. It's a very interesting look into the minds of people and the secrets they carry around with them. Some funny, some sad. If you would like a book that is read in one sitting (everyone I have let see it has to look through the whole thing), this is the book for you.

5 out of 5 stars Great!.......2007-07-15

It's the reading equivalent to searching through someone's medicine cabinet. It'll make you cry and make you giggle. Ultimately, it will make you contemplate your own secrets!

5 out of 5 stars People Have Secrets Both Dark and Light.......2007-07-07

And secrets have power. It is a courageous and amazing thing to write down a secret and post it on a website. Some secrets are sweet, some are deep, and some are heartbreaking. But with each secret I read, I know that my secrets are not crazy. I'm just a normal person, like everyone else.
My Secret: A PostSecret Book (Postsecret)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • My Secret
  • It is nice to know others have secrets!
  • Inspiration
  • Love it; wish i could share it
  • Awesome Idea...tons of fun to read!
My Secret: A PostSecret Book (Postsecret)
Frank Warren
Manufacturer: William Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0061196681
Release Date: 2006-10-24

Amazon.com

At the beginning of 2005, Frank Warren launched a new blog called PostSecret as an experiment in community art, inviting strangers to mail him anonymous postcards that made art out of their innermost secrets and then posting a selection of the cards every week on his blog. Within a year, his blog was one of the five most popular in the world, and his first book, PostSecret, was one of the surprise bestsellers of 2005. My Secret is his second book, a collection of cards from teens and college students--none of which has been shown on the website--that carries the same emotional power and creativity that have made Warren's project a phenomenon.

We are featuring seven postcards from the book here: see two of them on this page, and click on the numbers below to see five more.

Click on the numbers below to see five more postcards from My Secret
[ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ]

Book Description

Postsecret.com founder Frank Warren is back with a fresh and compelling companion to his wildly popular Los Angeles Times bestseller, PostSecret. For My Secret, a collectible, paper-over-board book that includes a page of vibrant, decorative stickers, Warren has personally selected never-before-seen anonymous postcards created by teens and college students from across the country. Each card bears an intimate and powerful secret—at turns inspirational, shocking, hilarious, and poetic—that is told through original illustrations, photographs, collages, and other creative means. Sample messages include:

A unique and important book that will appeal to both young adults and their parents, My Secret offers a raw and revealing glimpse into the real lives of today's teens and twentysomethings. Choosing their own handmade postcards over email or text messages, teens and college students express their hopes, fears, and wildest confessions in a way that truly represents their diverse personalities and voices.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars My Secret.......2007-09-21

This book is classic, just like all of the other PostSecret Books. A must have for the PostSecret collector. You are not alone.

4 out of 5 stars It is nice to know others have secrets!.......2007-09-14

What a really cool way to express yourself! I know for a fact that letting go of a secret makes life a little easier sometimes...and to have the opportunity to see what others have let go of is pretty neat. I wish it were longer!

5 out of 5 stars Inspiration.......2007-08-23

This is an fascinating book filled with people's deepest secrets. It's beautiful to be able to open it, and feel as if hundreds of people have poured their hearts and creativity onto the pages. It's a thrill when you come across a secret and applies to you as well, makes you realize you aren't alone. Visually appealing, along with being the best kind of memoir, this book is a must have along with the other post secret books.

4 out of 5 stars Love it; wish i could share it.......2007-07-18

I've done it a million times, but I still love flipping through this book and reading the secrets. I only wish that it was all "school appropriate" so I could share it with my students. Power points will have to suffice until they come out with a PG edition. Sadly unlikely...

5 out of 5 stars Awesome Idea...tons of fun to read!.......2007-07-17

I love post secret and the person i gave the gift to also loves post secret! Its a great gift idea and tons of fun for everyone!
Ghettonation: A Journey Into the Land of Bling and Home of the Shameless
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • (RAW Rating: 4.5) - A Mindset
  • A great book even though some readers miss the point!
  • 'Should be on Oprah's Book Club list
  • Finally, someone who articulates the problem!
  • Long on Examples, Short on Analysis
Ghettonation: A Journey Into the Land of Bling and Home of the Shameless
Cora Daniels
Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0385516436
Release Date: 2007-03-20

Book Description

From the Introduction:

ghet-to
n. (Merriam-Webster dictionary) Italian, from Venetian dialect ghèto island where Jews were forced to live; literally, foundry (located on the island), from ghetàr, to cast; from Latin jactare to throw
1: a quarter of a city in which Jews were formerly required to live
2:
a quarter of a city in which members of a minority group live, especially because of social, legal, or economic pressure
3a:
an isolated group b: a situation that resembles a ghetto especially in conferring inferior status or limiting opportunity

ghet-to adj. (twenty-first-century everyday parlance)
1a: behavior that makes you want to say “Huh?” b: actions that seem to go against basic home training and common sense
2: used to describe something with inferior status or limited opportunity. Usually used with “so.” ;
3: a quarter of a city in which members of a minority group live, especially because of social, legal, or economic pressure.
4: common misusage: authentic, Black, keepin’ it real

As current and all-consuming as “ghetto” is in these days of gold teeth, weaves (blond and red), Pepsi-filled baby bottles, and babymamas, ghetto has a long history. The original ghetto was in the Jewish quarter of Venice, a Catholic city. Before it became the Jewish quarter, this area contained an iron foundry or ghèto, hence the name. These days, ghetto no longer refers to where you live, but to how you live. It is a mindset, and not limited to a class or a race. Some things are worth repeating: ghetto is not limited to a class or a race. Ghetto is found in the heart of the nation’s inner cities as well as the heart of the nation’s most cherished suburbs; among those too young to understand (we hope) and those old enough to know better; in little white houses, and all the way to the White House; in corporate corridors, Ivy League havens, and, of course, Hollywood. More devastating, ghetto is also packaged in the form of music, TV, books, and movies, and then sold around the world. Bottom line: ghetto is contagious, and no one is immune, no matter how much we like to suck our teeth and shake our heads at what we think is only happening someplace else…

From an award-winning journalist and cultural commentator comes a provocative examination of the impact of “ghetto” mores, attitudes, and lifestyles on urban communities and American culture in general.

Cora Daniels takes on one of the most explosive issues in our country today in this thoughtful critique of America’s embrace of a ghetto persona that demeans women, devalues education, celebrates the worst African American stereotypes, and contributes to the destruction of civil peace. Her investigation exposes the central role of corporate America in exploiting the idea of ghetto-ness as a hip cultural idiom, despite its disturbing ramifications, as a means of making money. She showcases Black rappers raised in privileged families who have taken on the ghetto persona and sold millions of albums, and non-Black celebrities, such as Paris Hilton, who have adopted ghetto attitudes and styles in pursuit of attention and notoriety. She explores, as well, her own relationship to the ghetto and the ways in which she is both part of and outside the Ghettonation.

Infused with humor and entertaining asides—including lists of events and people that the author nominates for the Ghetto Hall of Fame, and a short section written entirely in ghetto slang—Ghettonation is a timely and engrossing report on a controversial social phenomenon. Like Bill Cosby’s infamous, much-discussed comments about the problems within the Black community today, it is sure to trigger widespread interest and heated debate.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars (RAW Rating: 4.5) - A Mindset.......2007-09-29

Author Cora Daniels gives us her take on what she believes is ghetto. She states that ghetto is a mindset and no one is immune from it be it, inner city or suburban residents. While this is not a critical analysis of the ghetto phenomenon, Daniels does site some sociological ills and possible blame. That in itself is cause for debate.

Often portrayed with humor, the author interviews an array of people on what their take is of the term ghetto; what ghetto is to one may not be ghetto to another, be it children or adults. She speaks with boys hanging on street corners, boys and girls who are doing well academically and have college set in their minds and those who have done well financially, but chose to stay in the inner city, further demonstrating that ghetto is a mindset and running to suburbia does not eliminate the ghetto mentality, nor the chance you may see not ghetto. While GHETTONATION by Cora Daniels can cause a serious debate, it is also a reality check for many.

Reviewed by Dawn R. Reeves
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

5 out of 5 stars A great book even though some readers miss the point!.......2007-08-29

A Great book that will have a broad appeal to people of all ages! To those of you who feel like the book didn't offer you enough, I think that you miss the point that this book is written not just for the highly educated but its also written in a style that is of interest to the young men and women on the street corner. BrotherMan on the corner is not interested in black socialism or a book about black culturalism. This book is a wake up call to all people in the sense that it's asking you to think about what it is that you do and why you do those things that are considered to be ghetto. On that note, Mrs Daniels hit the mark. Pass it on to those that are ghetto fabulous and see if you have something worthwhile to talk about! Peace!

5 out of 5 stars 'Should be on Oprah's Book Club list.......2007-08-25

Some weeks ago I watched as a mainstream television newscaster referred to the police as the "po po's," a term that is, at this moment used by inner city youth. It's obvious that when such language becomes "accepted" by the mainstream, the words are on their way out...or are they?

Author Cora Daniels would probably say that such usage is further indication of the ghettonization of America and she's more than likely correct. In her amusing and thought-provoking book, the writer exposes all the aspects of American society that reflects how the ghetto mentality flourishes. She sites the entertainment industry, Madison Avenue, professional sports, as well as the everyday instances wherein that which we once thought was only a part of the inner city has become commonplace.

As entertaining as the book is, she hits hard when she challenges readers to consider her words and take action in order to stop or, at least, slow down the spread of "ghettoism" in this nation.

This is a definite "must read" for all Americans that want to understand what's going, not just with the young people, but among us all as we fall further and further into the rationale of the street.

5 out of 5 stars Finally, someone who articulates the problem!.......2007-08-21

Suffering for sometime from the notion that the end is nigh for American civilization, being assaulted daily by the sights, sounds and stories of angry babbymammas and the gangstas who did 'em wrong, mysogynistic rap, the objectification of the female figure everywhere; girls as young as ten wearing t-shirts that read "If you surf I'm available" and crusted with bling, picking visible thongs out of their exposed cracks; young folk with the crazed look of meth/crack/coke in their eyes; fearless pedophiles defiant both about their sickness and civil rights; celebrities crashing and burning; and wondering who and where were the new role models, and where were our real poets and music makers -- and please don't tell me its Fall Out Boy, The White Stripes, or Pussy Cat Dolls or Beyonce or Timblaland or Timberlake-- I wearily picked this book up at my local library and began to read, and continued, and couldn't stop. In fact, I read Ghettonation in two readings, stopping only to pick up my kids from school and make a (rather ghetto) meal of hotdogs and canned beans. I had to rush back to this book.

I've been wrestling with American notions of class, race, identity, the decline of Western civilization, economic disparities, greed and respect, what constitutes illegal immigrants, education, environmental devastation, pitbulls, drugs, babymammas, and rap and hip hop music for a decade and more. I see how lowering the bar, for all of us, has resulted in a free fall for relationships, in parenting, manners, basic common sense, civility, charity, and even basic human discourse. In Ghettonation, Ms. Daniels finally articulated my inchoate thoughts and theories.

When Gwenyth Paltrow called her baby Apple that was a ghetto move. What a concept! This patrician looking, some would say Aryan, blonde with blue eyes doing something other than the classy she generally projects, but it's an absolute spot-on observation. An ah-hah moment, and this book has no shortage of other such examples to remind us all that ghetto isn't a class thing, it's not a race thing, it's simply about not being the best of what we can and should be.

The section on ghetto literature is terrifying. Proceed with caution. I had no idea these books were B. available and B. popular. I also had no idea that high profile music industry figures, such as Snoop Dogg (and more recently Dave Navarro) were getting involved in porn and doing well with it. Yes, we've come a long way from Bob Dylan, the Beatles, and MoTown. Yes, we are much more morally bankrupt than we used to be, even compared to the anything goes 70s days of decadence.

This is an important book, it's a wake up call to all who care about the world and our human family, that we need to be smart, we need to be kinder, we need to take care of our children, our business, our schools, and our world. It's the only one we have.

Thanks, Ms. Daniels, for this eye opening and cogent analysis of the most urgent problem facing America today. You managed to walk the fine line without resorting to snobbery, elitism, and also without giving an inch.

Ghettonation is essential reading.

2 out of 5 stars Long on Examples, Short on Analysis.......2007-07-26

This book offers a blend of opinion, autobiography, and ethnography to ask why "ghetto" (and its adjectival uses, as in "That's sooo ghetto") has become an accepted "mind-set" in this country. Daniels does well to catalog the many ways in which ghetto culture is organized by "low expectations" and fosters carelessness, irresponsibility, and general unpleasantness. Her examples can be illuminating, including the website Gizoogle.com, which translates any webpage into "ghettospeak."

The problem with this book is its complete lack of organization and argumentative structure. I second one reviewer's claim that Daniels tends to substitute her own rambling musings for critical social analysis. Her back-and-forth rhetoric about "I'm ghetto, I'm not ghetto" typifies this problem: Daniels seems to think her examples are so self-evident that we should already know WHY she supposedly "is" or "isn't" ghetto. This sleight of hand is inexcusable for a book that means to delineate the properties of the "ghetto mind-set." We expect explanation here, not self-indulgent "you know it when you see it" joking.

The book also suffers from having an overly expansive definition of the ghetto mind-set. Daniels's examples are so wide-ranging and far-fetched (even referencing the heir to the throne of Monaco's philandering) that she loses sight of the specific (social, cultural, historical) reasons why "ghetto" has become fashionable among American youth. At times it seems Daniels interprets ghetto as signifying anything (or anyone) that thrives off "low expectations." Such an abstract definition means very little when applied to concrete examples.

In the end, I wanted more critical focus in this book. (A little less authorly self-indulgence would have helped.) The examples are sometimes illuminating, as I noted, but Daniels's basic theme is tackled more pointedly in black sociological criticism and black cultural studies.
The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Read this Anti-dote to the information age insanity
  • This one is a must-read
  • The Real Deal
  • A Great Book for Business Owners
  • Less is not always more
The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less
Barry Schwartz
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060005696
Release Date: 2005-01-18

Book Description

In the spirit of Alvin Toffler's Future Shock, a social critique of our obsession with choice, and how it contributes to anxiety, dissatisfaction and regret. This paperback includes a new P.S. section with author interviews, insights, features, suggested readings, and more.

Whether weᱥ buying a pair of jeans, ordering a cup of coffee, selecting a long–distance carrier, applying to college, choosing a doctor, or setting up a 401(k), everyday decisions––both big and small––have become increasingly complex due to the overwhelming abundance of choice with which we are presented.

We assume that more choice means better options and greater satisfaction. But beware of excessive choice: choice overload can make you question the decisions you make before you even make them, it can set you up for unrealistically high expectations, and it can make you blame yourself for any and all failures. In the long run, this can lead to decision–making paralysis, anxiety, and perpetual stress. And, in a culture that tells us that there is no excuse for falling short of perfection when your options are limitless, too much choice can lead to clinical depression.

In The Paradox of Choice, Barry Schwartz explains at what point choice––the hallmark of individual freedom and self–determination that we so cherish––becomes detrimental to our psychological and emotional well–being. In accessible, engaging, and anecdotal prose, Schwartz shows how the dramatic explosion in choice––from the mundane to the profound challenges of balancing career, family, and individual needs––has paradoxically become a problem instead of a solution. Schwartz also shows how our obsession with choice encourages us to seek that which makes us feel worse.

By synthesizing current research in the social sciences, Schwartz makes the counterintuitive case that eliminating choices can greatly reduce the stress, anxiety, and busyness of our lives. He offers eleven practical steps on how to limit choices to a manageable number, have the discipline to focus on the important ones and ignore the rest, and ultimately derive greater satisfaction from the choices you have to make.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Read this Anti-dote to the information age insanity.......2007-07-24

Oh, My, Goodness. We who are embedded in consumer culture so need this book. It will take some time to put the lessons into practice but will be worth it. Think of all the leisure time, satisfaction, and fun we will have!
This is a fun read with an important message. In the style of Blink, the author shares studies and experiences and theory that all converge on one thing: We are not satisfied because we have to many choices.
Then he provides the anti-dote to being overwhelmed by the information age: "Satisficing"
This book could save relationships, as well as personal well-being.
I am now on the path to recovery. I am a recovering optimizer and on the way to being a satisficer!

5 out of 5 stars This one is a must-read.......2007-07-02

Some parts get a little complicated for just a quick read. But, at 240 pages this is a a fun look at the societal and psychological issues we face.

The areas explored are summed up with the following:

"...our experience of choice as a burden rather than a privilege is not a simple phenomenon. Rather it is the result of a complex interaction among many psychological processes that permeate our culture, including rising expectations, awareness of opportunity costs, aversion to trade-offs, adaptation, regret, self-blame, the tendency to engage in social comparisons, and maximizing."

The last chapter goes on to highlight and explain how we can try to avoid these issues (regret leading to depression, leading to suicide; comparing to neighbors and having regret; post-decision regret). A lot of it has to do with accepting "good enough".

Again, I recommend the book because it may help you see your decisions a little differently. At the same time, it helps understand the psychology behind others' decisions.

5 out of 5 stars The Real Deal.......2007-06-09

The book may look on the outside like a social, economic, or political critique. But it's actually addressed mostly to individuals, and probably belongs mostly in the self-help category.

Most books of this kind - even some good ones - have only enough interesting ideas to justify a sizeable magazine article. The authors of such books also usually overstate their case drastically by claiming that everything in the world that they don't like can be explained by the one insight that forms the premise of their book.

This book is an exception. It's not long, but that's largely because there's no padding. Schwartz uses several examples to illustrate his point that our modern, economically productive society has provided us with an unprecedented range of choices in areas of our lives where formerly we didn't have to even think hard to make a decision.

For me, one of the most thought-provoking and enjoyable things in the book was the inclusion of many creative and revealing psychological experiments which produced unexpected insights concerning how we make decisions, and what the consequences of the decision-making process are.

Schwartz makes a good case for his thesis that "choice overload" can have a wide range of negative results. And instead of delivering a political diatribe or social critique, blaming politicians or greedy corporations for all of these problems, he addresses himself primarily to his readers, and tells us what he thinks WE as individuals can do to ease the undesirable consequences of having to make too many choices.

The only part of the book I found unconvincing was when Schwartz argues that (1) when people have to make individual choices in too many areas of life, they then have to take responsibility for the results of those choices, and (2) people who take responsibility for most of the things that happen in their lives tend to be unhappier. I'm condensing his argument here, but he definitely does give the impression that he believes that. And I'm here to say that even if people who take responsibility for the results of their actions **are** unhappier, that's just tough. The last thing we need in our society is fewer people who take responsibility for the results of their choices. Just about every failure and every criminal that I have ever met, or known anything about, has REFUSED to accept responsibility for his or her choices - and that's why they're failures and criminals. If taking responsibility increases your stress level, well isn't that just too bad.

But that one disagreement doesn't prevent me from giving the book 5 stars. The book makes so many important points, and explains them so lucidly, persuasively, and non-ideologically, that I think everyone should read it.

4 out of 5 stars A Great Book for Business Owners.......2007-05-15

I thought this book was most excellent. I took my time reading it but it still went fast. The opening about choosing jeans at the GAP really struck a chord with me. I have had the same dilemma and therefore I only buy two pairs of jeans every 2-3 years. It's confusing. On a business sense this has helped me with providing excellent customer care with AUDIN Web Design. The sense of past loss versus future loss/gains really helped me in my business. I am able to create a pricing model that is able to help my business as well make the customer feel comfortable., If you are a business owner, I suggest you take a look at this book. I've also used this book to evaluate my personal life. Have you been holding onto something because of some (ancient) intrinsic value? This book helped me realized that I have a lot of things that will cost me more in the long run than it would if I just tossed it out. That's the past loss.

4 out of 5 stars Less is not always more.......2007-05-04

Schwartz has interesting insight and the book is easy to read. Though some readers may find that Schwartz's ideas are somewhat old fashioned, this is coming from a reader that appreciates the choices available to him. But still I must urge people to read this book because you will begin to look at the choices you make more criticaly than prior to reading The Paradox of Choice. I will admit even though I do not agree with all of Schwartz's theories his knowledge on the psychological point of view of choices are invaluable.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • I know, I know...
  • A must read for anyone
  • Good stuff, but less important than his other work
  • Buy the ticket...take the ride
  • A wild and extraordinary ride down a lost highway ...
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream
Hunter S. Thompson
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0679785892
Release Date: 1998-05-12

Amazon.com Reviews

Heralded as the "best book on the dope decade" by the New York Times Book Review, Hunter S. Thompson's documented drug orgy through Las Vegas would no doubt leave Nancy Reagan blushing and D.A.R.E. founders rethinking their motto. Under the pseudonym of Raoul Duke, Thompson travels with his Samoan attorney, Dr. Gonzo, in a souped-up convertible dubbed the "Great Red Shark." In its trunk, they stow "two bags of grass, seventy-five pellets of mescaline, five sheets of high-powered blotter acid, a salt shaker half-full of cocaine and a whole galaxy of multicolored uppers, downers, screamers, laughers.... A quart of tequila, a quart of rum, a case of Budweiser, a pint of raw ether and two dozen amyls," which they manage to consume during their short tour.

On assignment from a sports magazine to cover "the fabulous Mint 400"--a free-for-all biker's race in the heart of the Nevada desert--the drug-a-delic duo stumbles through Vegas in hallucinatory hopes of finding the American dream (two truck-stop waitresses tell them it's nearby, but can't remember if it's on the right or the left). They of course never get the story, but they do commit the only sins in Vegas: "burning the locals, abusing the tourists, terrifying the help." For Thompson to remember and pen his experiences with such clarity and wit is nothing short of a miracle; an impressive feat no matter how one feels about the subject matter. A first-rate sensibility twinger, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a pop-culture classic, an icon of an era past, and a nugget of pure comedic genius. --Rebekah Warren

Book Description

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is the best chronicle of drug-soaked, addle-brained, rollicking good times ever committed to the printed page.  It is also the tale of a long weekend road trip that has gone down in the annals of American pop culture as one of the strangest journeys ever undertaken.

Now this cult classic of gonzo journalism is a major motion picture from Universal, directed by Terry Gilliam and starring Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro.  Opens everywhere on May 22, 1998.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars I know, I know..........2007-09-30

I know, it's THE Hunter S. Thompson book. It would be like having the gall to write a review for the Grapes of Wrath or Slaughterhouse Five and think you'd be doing anything other than blabbing just to see your own words on a computer screen.

That said, read this book this instant. Whatever good anyone's ever said about this book, it's twenty times better. I read it in two sittings and only stopped myself from reading it again because it was a library book and had to be returned.

The late HST's gift for gonzo, that strange mix of fiction and nonfiction, is ultimately realized in this book. Reality is seamlessly mixed with a bizarre fantasy world of sentient reptiles and split personality through the medium of hard drugs that serve to clarify (and sometimes amplify) a violent and twisted town in a strange time.

This book will have you laughing hysterically at parts, so don't read it around other people unless you're okay with passing it to them. This book will have you cringing at the brutality of human nature at points, so have your wits about you.

I really can't say anything else, other than that this book must be purchased and read this very instant if you haven't already done so.

5 out of 5 stars A must read for anyone.......2007-09-21

Thompson's book helps create a vivid picture of the drug fueled 60's and early 70's a way no one else has before.

4 out of 5 stars Good stuff, but less important than his other work.......2007-09-14

¨Fear and Loathing¨ is a great ride for sure. A drug-addled, hilarious, disturbing romp through Las Vegas in search of the American Dream. Thompson is definitely a skilled writer and an outlaw and this stuff comes through in this book. I don't want to shrug this work off by any means, but I definately prefer his other work, such as ¨The Great Shark Hunt,¨ because it truly brings out Thompson's outlook on the world, his hatred of wealth, power and greed, etc. This book is fun, but Thompson is definitely capable of more depth and thought. While this work might be what gave him his big break, he definitely went on to better things.

5 out of 5 stars Buy the ticket...take the ride.......2007-08-23

A bizzare journey to the heart of the American Dream, funny, witty and full of memorable episodes. The illustrations by Ralph Steadman are also superb. Raul Duke says it clearly : "buy the ticket...take the ride"

5 out of 5 stars A wild and extraordinary ride down a lost highway ..........2007-08-20

The lost highway of the American Dream.

I wasn't old enough to remember much from the late 60's early 70's let alone the political aspects of Nixon's presidency or the drug culture of the time, so this review won't have any profound social or political commentary, except that comparisons can well be made to the drug culture of today, and it is glaringly apparent that not much has changed.

Considering the climate of the time: Nixon's presidency, the war in Vietnam, and the country's young men succumbing to the draft, it was no wonder that an entire generation wanted something more, for this was not the American Dream they had been sold. And for some, the only way to drown out the hypocrisy gnawing at your brain is to give your brain an escape. Expand your mind, as that might be the only part of you that is truly free. Whatever it takes to get you directly out of your head -- the higher the better. This story chronicles a journey utterly devoid of restraint and reason as these two men, Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo, and their trunk full of felonies set themselves loose upon Las Vegas -- the last vestige of the American Dream. However, their idea of the American Dream is not how most of us would understand it, but somehow, through the fog of hallucinatory metaphor, we can actually see and feel what the main characters are searching for so desperately.

All that aside, even if the 60's culture is beyond your age group, Thompson's writing is worth the read -- Brilliant, sarcastic, and frighteningly funny: Bars seething with has-been lounge lizards, tearing the patrons to shreds, blood soaked tacky hotel rooms, police car chases, kidnapping, gambling, excess, and debauchery ... not to mention the Narcotics Convention. The dialog is brilliant. Harrowing experiences abound; it is amazing that the two main characters make it out of Vegas alive.

Definitely a wild ride for all.
Mugglenet.Com's What Will Happen in Harry Potter 7: Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Falls in Love and How Will the Adventure Finally End
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • The right and wrong answers
  • No point in buying it now
  • Must Read!!
  • very pratical
  • Well Researched Book
Mugglenet.Com's What Will Happen in Harry Potter 7: Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Falls in Love and How Will the Adventure Finally End
Ben Schoen , Emerson Spartz , Andy Gordon , Gretchen Stull , and Jamie Lawrence
Manufacturer: Ulysses Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1569755833

Book Description

As anticipation of the final Harry Potter book intensifies, a debate is raging among fans about what’s in store for Harry and the rest of the gang at Hogwart's. In this book, the experts at MuggleNet.com present a wide range of hard facts and bold predictions about the most popular storylines, favorite characters, and final outcome of the Harry Potter saga. Drawing on their intimate knowledge of the previous six books, as well as tips and suggestions made by millions of MuggleNet.com fans (not to mention a personal interview with J.K. Rowling), the authors offer answers to the burning questions of Harry Potter readers everywhere: Will Hogwart's School be open for Harry’s final year and will Harry even be in attendance? Will Harry’s quest for the remaining Horcruxes be rewarded? Where do Severus Snape’s true loyalties lie? And, most importantly, will Harry survive the final battle with Lord Voldemort?

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars The right and wrong answers.......2007-09-03

Though admittedly few people see much point in reading this book now that the final istalment of Harry Potter has already been read and is now safely tucked in our book-shelves, I beg to differ. I read Deathly Hallows before reading this book, and so knew all the answers to (most) questions, what drove me to buy the book was my uncontrollable curiosity. Being a fan of the website, I thought I'd help them out by buying the book, but what intrested me the most was the arguments. I don't care whether they guessed right or wrong, but how they came to those conclusions! 9/10 times the right answer doesn't matter, as long as you can back it up with sound reason and judgment, which is why I liked this book, and would still recommend it.

1 out of 5 stars No point in buying it now.......2007-08-30

Not only were the predictions incorrect, Now that book 7 is out who would want to read this?

5 out of 5 stars Must Read!!.......2007-08-27

After reading the final installment of Harry Potter I would def. say this a must read. First, it is a quick summary and primer of important info in the past six books. Plus, unless you are super obsessed or a literary genius there are bound to be a few things you learn in the book.

4 out of 5 stars very pratical.......2007-08-23

it really does help to understand some questions you could have or did not
remember why this is there. Good to have before reading Vol.7

4 out of 5 stars Well Researched Book.......2007-07-31

I bought this book just before Book 7 came out and really enjoyed it. While many of the assumptions in this book turned out to be false once I had read Book 7, it was nonetheless a well-researched book. The arguments for each stance they took - both pro and con - were plausible and quite believable and convincing. You could tell the authors had done their homework and really knew the world of Harry Potter. I think I may go back and read it again now that I know what really happens to see where they were spoton and where their ideas missed the mark. In any case, it is a great resource whether you have been a Harry Potter fan or are just discovering his world.

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