Product Description
The essential insider's guide to every major wine-growing region in the world, this book offers dozens of helpful Top 10 lists covering a broad range of topics, including Best-Value Producers, Greatest-Quality Wines, and Most Exciting or Unusual Finds. The book is a must for every wine serious enthusiast who wants to keep up with the constantly changing and ever-expanding world of wine.AUTHOR BIO: Tom Stevenson has been writing about wine for nearly thirty years and is the author of more than 20 books. He's been nominated Wine Writer of the Year on three occasions and received the coveted Wine Literary Award, America's lifetime achievement award for wine writing.Amazon.com Review
If you want to learn about wines of the world and advance yourcomprehension of wine production, grape varieties, appellations, andindividual wineries, understand the factors (such as location, soil,climate, and methods of viticulture) that affect the taste and nose,and visit your wine shop with a list of quality wines to explore, TomStevenson is the man to read. Author of 12 books (including Champagne and The Millennium Champagne &Sparkling Wine Guide), three-time winner of the Wine Writer ofthe Year award, and columnist for Wine magazine, Stevenson hasthe gift of taking vast quantities of knowledge and experience andtranslating them into lucid, sparkling prose, easily graspable by thenovice, yet still interesting and instructive to the connoisseur.

Arranged geographically, with nearly 100 maps, profiles on topproducers, and valuable Author's Choice charts for each region, theWine Encyclopedia covers the wines of Europe (from GreatBritain and Switzerland to Southeast Europe, Greece, and the Levant),as well as wines from North and South Africa, North and South America,Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. In addition, there's a guide to wineand food (pairing fois gras with a Champagne or Sauterne, forexample, and claret or Cabernet Sauvignon with beef), a guide to wineflavors (making sense of descriptors such as fig, gooseberry, violet,and hay), a list of good vintages, and a glossary of tasting andtechnical terms, distinguishing "cheesy" and "chewy" from "creamy" and"corked." Enhanced by beautiful pictures of vineyards, wine labels,and Stevenson himself demonstrating the art of wine tasting, fromexamining and nosing the wine to spitting it out, this a visuallybeautiful as well as an informative volume. As sumptuous as an elegantTuscan Barolo, as rewarding as a Sarget de Gruaud-Larose fromBordeaux, as pleasing as a Ferreira port, the Sotheby WineEncyclopedia is a remarkable tome of oenologicalerudition. --Stephanie Gold ... Read more

Customer Reviews (35)

good purchase
got this used for a course at school, it was just what i needed.Inexpensive and arrived in a timely manner and in good condition.

Great Book to Learn About Wine from All Over the World
I gave my husband this (very large) book as an Xmas gift so he could learn about wine since we have a great store nearby us that sells many international varieties.

My husband loves the book (and so do I!). It has great maps and pictures. It breaks down the information in easy to follow sections by country and region. It's very in-depth for someone who wants more nitty gritty details on wines of different regions.

This book is great. We can now look up most any wine we own or want to purchase and it is represented in this book.

It's more than just a great coffee table book. It is a great reference guide and will come in handy many years to come.

Excellent book!

Sweet!
Great book.very comprahensive.Came in a short time and in perfect condition.

Great Reference
This book has it all.A must for wine lovers whether you're a beginner or an expert.

Very informative
I purchased this book as a Christmas gift for my son who is a winemaker in Napa.He was thrilled with it and spent much of his time at home with us reading it.I was extremely happy with my purchase.Also, it was much less expensive than the bookshops I visited. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Wow!!
I am still amazed by this book! We are able to study so many things that we would never have covered using a traditional science curriculum. This book covers so many topics you can plan a 2-3 year school curriculum using it. The internet links are awesome! You can view animated lessons to go with topics, play games, take quizzes and more!! This has added so much to our homeschool!

Good book
My children are enjoying this book.They are eager to read more at the end of our lessons.

Comprehensive *and* Beautiful
After reviewing a half-dozen science curricula for my home-schooled elementary-age kids, I couldn't find one that I really liked.So I decided to design my own curriculum using this book for source material.

Key things that I like:
- the book is very comprehensive.It is divided into major themes (Materials, Mixtures & Compounds, Energy/Forces/Motion, Earth & Space, Light/Sound/Electricity, Plants, Animals, Human Body) that make it easy to design a curriculum around it.We have started with Plants, and love it so far (science is my kids' favorite subject);

- the quality of the content is very high;

- it has internet-linked images and sites so that I can easily make my own hand-outs, and expand on topics when I want to;

- it suggests simple experiments to support the learning objectives; and

- (as with all Usborne books) the pictures are beautiful!

The hard-cover binding is good, but I'm not sure how well it will hold up for the expected 2-3 years of frequent use that it will get.But for the price, I'm still very pleased.

Bottom line:Highly recommended both for homeschooling and for science-loving kids (roughly ages 6-10).

EXCELLENT QUALITY AND SHIPPING, BUT CONFUSING PAYMENT PROCESS

Dear Amazon.com

The book I ordered was with a reasonable pricehas and has been shipped really fast.

This quality of the book is also very good. But the payment process was a bit

confusing as the PAY function link is at the right hand side of the screen.

There were more than 2 links that can be clicked.

I just suggest that you can put the payment process part in the middle of the website.

Things will get easier.

Cheers

Great book!
We use it in our homeschooling regularly.Lovely book - simple to understand.Awesome illustrations.Great historical listing of scientific discoveries in the back. ... Read more

Product Description
Solve some more puzzling mysteries with super sleuth Encyclopedia Brown!

Leroy Brown is back in the Encyclopedia Brown series. As Idaville’s ten-year-old star detective, Encyclopedia has an uncanny knack for trivia. With his unconventional knowledge, he solves mysteries for the neighborhood kids through his own detective agency. But his dad also happens to be the chief of the Idaville police department, and every night around the dinner table, Encyclopedia helps him solve some of the most baffling crimes. With ten confounding mysteries, not only does Encyclopedia have a chance to solve them, but readers are given all the clues as well and can chime in with their own solutions. Interactive and fun—it’s classic Encyclopedia Brown! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

The cool 4 STAR
Encyclopedia Brown By Donald J. Sobol
This is a spectacular book about a ten year old kid that helps his Dad, a cop solves crimes and mystery's. He starts a mystery business and most of the crimes are done by Bugs Meany and his gang.This book has7 mysteries in a book. I would relate this book to Scobby Doo.I would recommend this book to whoever enjoys mystery's. So if you want a great book to read pick this one.

Report By
James

IF YOU LIKE MYSTERIES, GET THIS BOOK!
I like mysteries,and I couldn't find any. I tried this book and it is great! I think it was just the right book for me. It is very funny, and I think you will enjoy it.

A Very Good Book
Love the book.It was all about cases that Encyclopedia Brown was trying to solve.There were always bad and mean people in each case.

A very good book that builds brains
I liked this book because it made me a lot smarter, and sometimes it made me laugh, too.I would recommend it to anyone who loves mysterious storiesand solving puzzles.

If you like Encyclopedia Brown, this book won't let you down
Very enjoyable reading.The clues are never too easy or too hard.The only problem is the case of the missing tennis balls.It seems EB may have gone out on a limb in quckly passing judgement based solely on the suspect knowing that tennis balls come three to a pack after claiming earlier that he knew nothing of tennis. Is it not possible that the suspect noticed this while in the tennis pro shop? ... Read more

Product Description
Leroy Brown is back in the next six books in the Encyclopedia Brown series. As Idaville’s ten-year-old star detective, Encyclopedia has an uncanny knack for trivia. With his unconventional knowledge, he solves mysteries for the neighborhood kids through his own detective agency. But his dad also happens to be the chief of the Idaville police department, and every night around the dinner table, Encyclopedia helps him solve some of the most baffling crimes. With ten confounding mysteries in each book, not only does Encyclopedia have a chance to solve them, but readers are given all the clues as well and can chime in with their own solutions. Interactive and fun—it’s classic Encyclopedia Brown! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

great
I was very excited about introducing my daughter to Encyclopedia Brown.She enjoyed the books immensely.

This was a good book.
Encyclopedia Brown was a great detective.He solved lots of crimes with the help of his partner.His partner's name was Sally. After I read thefirst story about the missing telescope, I could not wait to finish therest of the book.I did not like Bugs Meany....because he really was a'meany'. This book shows that you should always tell the truth.If youlike mysteries, you have to read this book.

An interesting book
Encyclopedia Brown is a boy detective who solves cases. I think the books are very interesting and you have to use your mind and try to help him solve the cases. The author gives you lots of clues and at the end of thechapter it will ask you a question and it tells you the page number whereyou can find the solution. I just turned ten years old and I love to readEncyclopedia Brown. I encourage lots of children to read the book.

This book is fun and funny.
I liked being able to guess who the culprit was in each case. I think kidsof many ages would enjoy reading this book. Detective Brown and hispartner,Sally, were smart and interesting. Some of the characters in thecases were funny.There were ten different cases in this book. ... Read more

Product Description

The perfect combination of scholarship and accessible presentation for Christians who desire to know how to better understand and defend their faith.

Bestselling authors Ed Hindson and Ergun Caner have brought together a who’s who of apologetic experts—including Lee Strobel, Norm Geisler, Josh McDowell, and John Ankerberg—to produce a resource that’s both easy to understand and comprehensive in scope.

Every entry provides a biblical perspective and mentions the key essentials that believers need to know about a wide variety of apologetic concerns, including...

• issues concerning God, Christ, and the Bible
• scientific and historical controversies
• ethical matters (genetic engineering, homosexuality, ecology, feminism)
• a Christian response to world religions and cults
• a Christian response to the major worldviews and philosophies of our day

Included with each entry are practical applications for approaching or defending the issue at hand, along with recommendations for additional reading on the subject.

Customer Reviews (7)

Awesome
Ok. I got this book as a requirement for one of my college courses.Wow!What an awesome read!

Excellent Highly Recommend
Fantastic, Fast and Easy transaction Highly recommend to all buyers
Thankyou will shop again

It's decent. You'll come back to it for quick reference.
I think this work largely accomplished what it set out to do, be a quick reference to popular issues in apologetics. I don't know if I like this being called an encyclopedia though, this fits more into a category like "Holman's QuickSource Guides" (Doug Powell's is excellent by the way). One of it's strong points is it's breadth of subject matter. From Plantinga's Reformed Epistemology to the analogy of being to mentioning the UFO cult the Nuwaubians (it's about time!), this book has a taste of just about everything you wouldn't possibly think of. And don't let Ergun Caner's name disuade you; he may be highly unpopular but the rest of the Liberty University faculty that contributed to this work are pretty cool guys (I had them for professors). So if you're looking for something that gets to meat with out alot of bones on a wide range of subjects, this is your book.

Book in wonderful shape
Everything went well with my order. However, I still haven't figured out why it takes so long to ship. Other than that I received it before my class started. I am very pleased with the prices of the books I purchase. Thank you all.
Blessings,
Sharon

Compelling Comprehensive Apologetic Resource
This offering provides a wide-ranging new resource as a valuable tool for the mature pastor or for those with little background in apologetics. Some of the church's most gifted minds contribute to this laudable and persuasive volume. This includes bestselling author Josh McDowell, philosopher Norman Geisler, Baptist Seminary Academician Albert Mohler, David Noebel, Resurrection expert Gary Habermas, Dillon Burroughs, popular TV apologist John Ankerberg, and more. 150-plus entries make this a compelling source of some of the finest evidentialist scholarship available.

History, cultic groups, Church Fathers, epistemology, ethics (including modern genetic topics), Messianic prophecy, philosophy, atheism, and many other contemporary apologetic issues are discussed and the Christian position vividly defended.

The two drawbacks I found:
1. Considering that it is an encyclopedia, most of the subjects are not dealt with in depth (the great majority of the subjects are analyzed with painstaking precision, but space limits the length available. Additional books are suggested for further study on various topics).
2. Since the majority of the entries overlook epistemic issues, the reader is left with a highly probable apologetic. I prefer certainty that is found in undermining the non-believer's epistemic rights and privileges that are involved in pondering, discussing, examining, and debating all evidence, ideas, and asserted perspectives.
Those (both evidentialists and presuppositionalists) who place this comprehensive work on their bookshelf will appeal to it frequently. Notwithstanding my apologetic bias, I heartily recommend this hardback.
The Necessary Existence of God: The Proof of Christianity Through Presuppositional Apologetics ... Read more

Product Description

The world's biggest interlinked Medical Encyclopedia for mobile devices. Over 150,000 articles. Intuitive navigation.

Customer Reviews (5)

very poor performance
This is not a bad encyclopedia, it isn't an encyclopedia at all but a huge assembly of irrelevant items. And it doesn't really work on the kindle. Every now and then the kindle runs aground and has to be restarted. I recommend to take this item out of the shop.

disappointing
I am unable to navigate this book.It was very difficult to download, several attempts before I just gave up and downloaded through my computer and just skipped the whispernet.As a private duty home care nurse, I was really looking forward to having a very portable ready reference.Maybe I'm missing something, but this is unusable.

Easy Referrence Guide
Medical Encyclopedia - the World's Biggest Medical Encyclopedia for Mobile Devices. 150,000 Articles. (Mobi Medical)

My family has always relied on the old Medical Encyclopedia; this new electronic edition is terrific. It has more definitions and more practical information. It contains medical abbreviations and terminology, drugs and chemicals, anatomy illustrations, medical tests and nutrition, and much more... It has over 150,000 interlinked articles!
With all the questionable health information on the Web, it's good to have all the basics in an up-to-date guide from a source you can trust. It's a great way to look up symptoms, diseases, body parts, etc, without having to go online. I think every household should have one.

Great choice for a medical reference.
On a Kindle this is a great resource, no question.But on your computer the color images make this book visually very appealing and inviting to use. Even fun. I am most pleased!

Note from the Publisher
Dear Kindle Readers,

1. At this time (September, 2010) the encyclopedia is compatible with the Kindle Reading Device ONLY. It is NOT compatible with the Kindle for PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod, BlackBerry, and Android.
2. Please make sure you have at least 100MB of free memory before downloading the paid version to the Kindle Device.
3. To search for a word, just start typing the word. The alphabetical list of available articles is updated as you type.
4. Text-to-speech is disabled (text-to-speech Kindle function is not compatible with books in dictionary format at this time).

-MobileReference ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

Must buy
My roomate is a amatuer body builder who does contests and i went to school for personal training. He got the book first. I looked through one section and oredered it by the end of the week. I paid less online with shipping then he did at the store. This book is almost all you will need for weight training and a healthy lifestyle. Also check out "the worlds healthiest foods". Likely the only body building book i will ever need to buy.

Brilliant bodybuilding/lifting book!
This book is for anyone who wants to get into strength training and pack on some serious muscle. Robert Kennedy is one of the top bodybuilding experts in the world and has a unique approach to training that WORKS! I would recommend this book to anyone with any interest in strength training. It'll take you through the science of building muscle explained in laymans terms, give you insight on dietary needs, has over a hundred different types of exercises, and, has a year and a half of programs for the beginner, intermediate and advanced lifter. This book will meet all your muscle building needs!

Leroy Ford
Build Your Dream Body (Volume 1)

Not up to date
The book is published in 2008, but still some information is not up to date. For example the chapter on DOMS, the author seems to have completely missed the article "Re-evaluation of exercise-induced muscle soreness: an immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study" from 2003.

Get ripped!!
Good book with plenty of exercises and well based. The only problem is it's volume and weight, not convenient to carry to the gym.

Good information for reference, and informative of everything
I added this hardcover, and given a choice, I buy hardcover instead of softcover books, adding this excellent encyclopedia to my growing bodybuilding reference library, and I am glad I did buy it, since it has alot of informative sections on health and other issues, like the aging bodybuilder which is encouraging.Other areas are a must read, I believe information listed concerning what some have resorted to in order to build muscle, I guess for the allure of money winning contests(?), is absolutely astounding, I had no idea that there are some who would damage their health and/or risk death in minutes by "using" some commonly used prescription drugs other than sterioids, I had no idea of the scope of the extent to which some have gone, considering the deaths reported from such abuses.I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't read it and seen pictures of grotesque malformations caused by such abuses.
At first I was biased for big name books like the Bill Pearl books, Arnold books, among many I have, and almost passed on this sale price buy book and I am sure others may have as well, but I say to them just get this book and you will see it has a rather excellent glossary of defined terms, shocking sections on the aformentioned abuses, along with just plain ole good information even on how to lift weights.
As for myself, I am old school on "how to" books, and I would have preferred either diagrams or several pics of start to finish on how to do lifts, like in other books, but all is explained in detail in words and a simple picture pose of what is being talked about, like if talking about long bar barbell curls, then there is a pic of someone muscular doing that in one pic, unsure if there are some who need overly simple diagrams of simple step by step to do the particular action with like four pics each, which is why this book may actually cater to those who are really into weightlifting already even though there are beginning to advanced bodybuilding sections and meant to cater to all levels of lifting, though total beginners need this book especially, even if it is just for the references of what to avoid like dangerous actions and abuse that can cause injury of muscle or joints, or disfigure, or kill either immediately or in the short term, to long term.
I don't believe in the "if you only had to have one book, then such and such is it", since there is no such thing on any one subject, you need this book along with several or more other big ones to get the total picture, and you can even get a few used and underpriced like I did, though I bought this book on sale under $30 new, but knowing now what is inside I know it is worth the full price of $40 for sure if it were not on sale.
... Read more

Product Description
The bible of nutritional eating-now fully updated for the twenty- first-century kitchen

The average American's awareness of the relationship between diet and mental and physical well being has virtually exploded since The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia was first published in 1983. There has never been a greater selection of whole foods available at even a typical grocery store-but the choices can often be dizzying.

This new edition shows consumers how to select, prepare, store, and use more than 1,000 familiar and unusual foods to maintain optimum health and heal what ails them. Readers of Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser- as well as anyone concerned about the quality of the food they ingest- will make this the go-to resource on good nutrition.

This updated edition of The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia includes:

- More than two hundred new entries
- A new index featuring home remedies
- Line drawings illustrating unusual foods
- Resources for hard-to-find foods
- A fully cross-referenced format with sidebar recipes throughoutAmazon.com Review
If you eat natural foods, or want to learn more about them,reading The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia will be a treat. Thebook is an invitation to learn the lore, health properties, and use ofmore than a thousand familiar and unusual foods and herbs. Each entryconsists of a description, a little history or legend, the healthbenefits, and how to buy (or find) and use it. Author Rebecca Woodclearly delights in her subject--her writing is warm, like loveletters to these intriguing foods. "I don't know what I love mostabout asafetida--its knock-your-socks-off sulfurous aroma ... or... its pungent but pleasant and satisfying flavor," she writes of theherb also known as devil's dung. "I also love the way the word rollsoff my tongue." Not all the entries are complimentary, though--Woodtried to like banana squash, but ended up feeding it to herchickens. Dotting the food entries are sidebars of recipes,preparation suggestions, and weird information that doesn't fitanywhere else: how horses get sunburned, why young wives fed theirelderly husbands celery in the 1600s, tips for not crying over onions,and how to harvest natural chewing gum, for example. You may start bylooking up a particular food, but you'll linger, reading just for thepleasure of it. --Joan Price ... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

How has my kitchen been missing this book?
A wonderful resource for cooking, eating, or just entertainment.Literally a real food encyclopedia with splendid amounts of information including history, medical uses, tips on purchasing, etc.Invaluable asset to any kitchen; highly recommend!

Great reference book!
A must in the kitchen if you follow a healthy diet and want a guide in good eating habits. A real eye opened when it comes to finding out how some of the processed foods are made.

Fun and Educational
A favorite thing to do in with my kids is pull this book out at meal times to learn about the foods we are eating. Just last night, my five year old said "I'm eating broccoli cause it's good for my eyes." Without a doubt, understanding what our food does to our body makes it much more pleasurable for all of us and has done wonders for expanding my small children's palates. Walnuts,jicama, sea vegetables, persimmons and grapefruit have become some of their favorites as a result of the wonderful information in this book.

The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia
Since I already had a previous edition of this book that I have used extensively I felt confident that the new book could not possibly contain much additional information.Imagine my shock and surprise to find that the entire book has been added to and updated.This book already contained so much information that in the many years that I have owned and used it there was only one thing that it did not have available to me and that item is included in the new edition.The amount of info included in these books is incomprehensible.I have two additional food encyclopedias neither of which holds a candle to this book.If you find yourself with questions about the nutritional values or health benefits of individual foods rest assured that you will find your information here along with historical information and several interesting anecdotes and tidbits about the food.

The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia
My original copy of Rebecca's book 'The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia' is tattered and worn from so many years of use.I love it so much I use it constantly for research in writing a garden column for newspapers and magazines.Did not believe that it could ever be improved on but found exactly what I was looking for in the new addition.Thank you Rebecca and thank you amazon for the new, revised addition.I love it!Jo Anne Boudreau Mineral Wells, Texas ... Read more

Product Description
Do you work magic with herbs? Do you use them in spells, for talismans or simply use their innate powers? If you don't have Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, you need to get it right away. This book has become a classic in its field. Paul Beyerl, a respected author on herbs calls it "…an essential reference book by students of herbalism and magick alike … Scott's personable charm touches every page… I highly recommend this book." And Jeanne Rose, famous author of books on herbs and developer of an herbal course says "I love books like this … It is accessible, easy to read, and with its encompassing index (all too often neglected), simple to use as well." Over 200,000 people already have this book and use it frequently.
In this edition of the book (it's expanded and revised on the 15th anniversary of original publication) you will find the magical properties and folklore of over 400 herbs! You'll also find lists of herbs based on their magical powers, their genders, their planetary rulers, and more. Perhaps the most important list is the folk name cross-reference. With that information, when a recipe calls for "bramble, " you'll know it needs blackberry. Or if the magic calls for "enebro," you'll know you that is juniper.
The main part of this book is the listings of the herbs. Each one includes names, associations, and magical attributions. Violets can be used for protection, luck, love, and more. Primrose is for protection and love. Garlic is for protection, healing, exorcism, lust, and prevention of theft.
This book is considered a classic. It is probably consulted more than any other book on this subject. If you want to learn the secrets of magical herbs, this book is a must!


... Read more

Customer Reviews (157)

The perfect Wiccan Companion
This is a great reference and information guide on herbs and their usage. Every Wiccan should add this book to their collection.

Terrific
An excellent, gentle guide to including natural magic into one's life and obtaining and organizing herbs for use in natural magic.
This book and others have helped me to come to terms with the mystical side of every soul and the universe we live in - without eroding my more mainstream belief in the one G-d.

On my top 5 list for books on Magick
I am on my 3rd copy of this book.The other 2 were so well used and so often consulted that I wore them completely OUT.
I have read Agrippa and can vouch that Cunningham was drawing from this source in a very accurate manner.If you really appreciate this book, reading Agrippa's treatise on natural magic will deepen your understanding of this topic.

My family has collected occult books for 25+ years and we own hundreds of volumes.I'd put this one in my top 5.

Hint:When you buy this book, you might also want to buy some of the stick on tabs so you can mark your favorite entries.If you are like me, you will consult it often.

VERY GOOD!
It's hard to find a well-researched book on Stones or Herbs that is full of fluff or crap anymore. Cunningham's is a very good choice chock full of information to keep everyone happy. I really enjoyed looking through this book and ingesting the information he provides. A very good reference for any Pagan, Witch, or Herbalist.

Excellent Reference
This is an excellent reference book for when you need to look something up in a jiffy.It's not exceedingly detailed but it gives you enough information so you have an accurate starting point.Well worth having in any pagan library. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review
Book Description
For nearly 20 years, home crafters have turned to the pages of Martha Stewart Living for all kinds of crafts projects, each presented in the magazine’s inimitable style. Now, the best of those projects, including step-by-step instructions and full-color photographs, have been collected into a single encyclopedia.

Organized by topic from A to Z, Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Crafts contains complete instructions and brief histories for more than 30 techniques, detailed descriptions of the necessary tools and materials, and easy-to-copy templates. Martha and her team of crafts editors guide readers through each subject, from botanical pressing and decoupage to rubber stamping and wreaths, with characteristic clarity and unparalleled attention to detail.

Crafters of all skill and experience levels will appreciate the many variations presented for each technique. For example, candlemaking presents a comprehensive array of poured, rolled, and cutout candles, including instructions for making your own one-of-a-kind rubber candle molds, floating candles, sand candles, and more. Each craft in the book takes on charming new dimensions with innovations that could come only from the team behind Martha Stewart Living.

In addition, each entry in Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Crafts is chock-full of tips and advice. Handy glossaries in the entries--such as a comprehensive gem glossary, a glitter glossary, and a color glossary for making tinted wax--are valuable references that crafters will refer to again and again. What’s more, the Tools and Materials section outlines the best essential supplies that every crafter needs to have on hand, and the Sources pages clue readers in to the vendors and suppliers that the magazine’s crafts editors rely on most.

Filled with solid technical know-how, and presented with gorgeous color photographs, this handy guide can be read page by page and kept as a lasting reference by crafters and artisans alike.

Sample Project from Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts: Bottle Cap Frames

Metal bottle caps can frame small black-and-white pictures for novel thumbtacks or magnets. Clear resin is poured into the caps to seal the photos and give them an appealing glossy finish. Twist-off caps are better than conventional ones because they don’t bend when they’re removed. For appropriately small images, try cutting details from large photos. Or, if your software has a contact sheet mode, use it to reduce pictures drastically.

Project Supplies

• ink jet paper

• 1-inch (2.5cm) circular craft punch

• white craft glue

• metal twist-off bottle caps

• clear casting resin

• bonding cement

• small magnets or thumbtacks

How-To

Using the craft punch, cut out pictures. Using white craft glue, attach 1 picture to the inside of each bottle cap. Let it dry. Cover a work surface to protect it from spills, and lay caps on top of it. Following manufacturer’s instructions for clear casting resin, fill each bottle cap to the rim. Let them dry overnight. Using bonding cement, attach magnets or thumbtacks to the backs of the bottle caps. Let them dry overnight before using.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (58)

Glorious
Martha Stewart in all her crafty glory. She's genius. TONS of amazing ideas in this book. It's inspiring!! Well worth the price!

great ideas
Loved the creative ideas - great fun for all ages and events - very inspiring

Really Martha
Martha is a national treasure. She's led the parade for the average person to create beautiful things. The variety in this book is amazing. I've read it through and now I'm rolling up my sleeves.

Brilliant Ideas
No matter how you might feel about Martha, this book offers really great ideas for home crafts and decor. This is apparently the digest version of a multi-volume set of craft books by Stewart, so it's not really an "encyclopedia."
The layout is beautiful and the steps clearly described. Note that with many of the crafts, you need special tools which are easily found at art stores.

GRANDKIDSARE EXCITED TO MAKE A PROJECT THEY CAN READ EASILY
THE GREAT GRANDCHILDREN ARE EASILY BORED ON THEIR WEEKEND VISIT, AND SO WE GO THROUGH THE BOOK AND TAPES OF MARTHA'S SHOW AND PICK OUT PROJECTS THEY UNDERSTAND. THEY ARE 4YRS AND 6 YRS AND ENJOY CUTTING PAPERS AND GLUE AND GLITTERAND SO ITS A FUN THING FOR THEM AND THEIR NANA. ... Read more

Product Description
Solve some more puzzling mysteries with super sleuth Encyclopedia Brown!

Leroy Brown is back in the Encyclopedia Brown series. As Idaville’s ten-year-old star detective, Encyclopedia has an uncanny knack for trivia. With his unconventional knowledge, he solves mysteries for the neighborhood kids through his own detective agency. But his dad also happens to be the chief of the Idaville police department, and every night around the dinner table, Encyclopedia helps him solve some of the most baffling crimes. With ten confounding mysteries, not only does Encyclopedia have a chance to solve them, but readers are given all the clues as well and can chime in with their own solutions. Interactive and fun—it’s classic Encyclopedia Brown! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great series of children's books...
Our 7 yr old son loves this book series; we have bought MANY of them.This is each nights reading when we go to bed; we have to read at least 2 cases each evening, and figure out the clues. These books are fun reading, and actually challenge your kids to remember, comprehend and apply what they have read to figure out the answer to each case (and the solve for each case is found in the rear section of the book). Most boys would really enjoy these; I figure the girls would too, we just don't have any at our house to take a vote on that!!! ... Read more

Product Description
First Science Encyclopedia is the latest addition to DK s First Reference series, a collection of reference books for children to use at school or home. With spectacular close-up photography and full-color illustration, children can set out on a journey of discovery and take a truly comprehensive look at the forces and elements that make up our amazing world. Exciting features such as Weird or What boxes and Curiosity Quizzes let children have fun while they learn, and strengthen good research habits. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

great encyclopedia
This is a great science book. My 7 years old son loves it. Paragraphs are short, images are great. Everything is 5 stars...

Great space book for older child
I have all the DK First reference books and this one seems a bit more to be geared towards an older child. My 5 year old reads very well and loves her DK books. She will spend hours looking through them. Great pics. Space is a hard concept to grasp as it is. Good space book for an older child who can read very well.

Perfect for Budding Scientist!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I bought this for my 6th grader niece, she's interested in science & math. Her 6 year old sister enjoys it, but not as much. It clearly explains and I may buy one for my students.

great for a young scientist
My daughter LOVES these encylopedias.We've been acquiring the set little by little.My daughter who is now 5 has been devouring these for the past year.They've inspired her mind in so many ways, but most notably they've inspired her to become a really good reader.She could read a little bit before we got these, but now she tackles the big words with ease because she so wants to know what these encylopedias have to say.

They are great scientific explanations that young minds can understand.Plus they are filled with fun questions and facts.Great buy!

Fabulous Introduction to Science
We have added DK encyclopedias to enhance our homeschool curriculum, such as the First Dinosaur Encyclopedia and the First Space Encyclopedia, and this one is one of the best!

It covers space science, earth science, physical science and life science. The photographs and illustrations are the best I have ever seen in a children's encylopedia. I loved the science timeline which includes famous scientists, inventors, and some of the world's biggest discoveries in history (ex: x-rays, Vitmain C, and DNA). Everything from microbiology to geology, and then some.

I was really pleased when my 4 yr old recognized the periodic table of elements (very detailed). That section also discusses all the different ways we use the elements.

I also recommend Here Comes Science by They Might Be Giants.

P.S. The theory of evolution is not mentioned in this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Showing what's inside the human body and how things fit and work together, the Human Body Encyclopedia is packed with fascinating facts and spectacular close-up photographs that make the subject accessible and fun. Covering every part of the body‹from major body systems to individual cells‹in language accessible to young children, this book is an inspiring new edition to the First Reference series and a valuable teaching aid for parents and teachers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Our grandson loves it!
Our just-turned-six grandson loves this book, and so do we. I practically had to wrench it out of my husband's hands so that I could mail it to our grandson in time for his birthday. And when our grandson called to thank us, his mom said he'd been sitting at the dining table going through it page by page. It's full of just the sort of information inquisitive youngsters want to know, presented in a way that's both educational and entertaining. And, as a side benefit, it's a great introduction to the concept of using an index.

She loves it!
I bought this book for my six year-old niece.We have read the book cover-to-cover, and she absolutely loves it!This book is one that she brings to me and then crawls up into my lap to read through with me.She brings it with her in the car when we go places, and she looks through it in the back seat.

Her two year-old brother has also sat in my lap while we look at this book, and his "What's that?" questions show that the book can even engage his growing mind (for a short while).:-)

Very comprehensive
Gave this as a gift to the smartest niece in the world.She loves it.Would have given it 4 stars but a conservative Mom thinks the reproductive segment may be a bit premature.I think such is fine but be warned, there be ovaries in this book!

Great book for young people!
I purchased this book for my granddaughter's 5th birthday gift last month.What a nice book it is.As soon as she opened it she began looking through it....ignoring the other gifts!The pictures are great...and the descriptions of the body and all it's parts and functions are excellent.The age level recommended is 4 - 8, which is ideal.It intrigues children as young as 4, but I believe this book could appeal to children 11 or older.My granddaughter has been very interested in the human body for a few months now, and has several books related to it, but she's especially excited about this book.

Just what I was looking for!
This book is perfect!It has a lot of information that is easily understood by my 5 year old who is always asking questions!It has tons of pictures illustrating how the body systems work, plus lots of extra fun tidbits of information.Now when my daughter asks me questions we can get the book out and learn together, much more satisfying than me saying, "I don't know." ... Read more

Product Description
Leroy Brown, aka Encyclopedia Brown, is Idaville neighborhood’sten-year-old star detective. With an uncanny knack for trivia, hesolves mysteries for the neighborhood kids through his own detectiveagency. But his dad also happens to be the chief of theIdaville police department, and every night around the dinnertable, Encyclopedia helps him solve his most baffling crimes. Andwith ten confounding mysteries in each book, not only does Encyclopediahave a chance to solve them, but the reader is givenall the clues as well. Interactive and chock full of interesting bitsof information—it’s classic Encyclopedia Brown! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Fun Mysteries and Nostalgia
Some may wonder why I am devoting time at all to writing a review for a children's book. Sometimes, the best, and most satisfying, literary experience comes from reading an old childhood standby. While some may find that statement childish, and myself immature for making it, it is true nonetheless. As C. S. Lewis pointed out, the mark of true maturity is being able to enjoy good books regardless of what type or kind they may be.

Currently, I am in the process of collecting the entire set of *Encyclopedia Brown* books, and have made my way through three of them. Since the books are so similar in structure, the only difference being the sets of actual four to five page long "cases" in each book, I can basically review all of them by reviewing one of them.

The protagonist is a ten year old boy named Leroy Brown. Due to his near-perfect memory, and love of learning, everyone other than his parents and teachers call him "Encyclopedia". His father is the Chief of Police of their small, fictional town of Idaville. Joining Encyclopedia is his best friend, and bodyguard, Sally Kimball. Sally is described as pretty, tough, a great fighter, and almost as smart as Encyclopedia himself.

Whether helping his father with a case, or helping his friends for the fee of "25 cents per day, plus expenses", the boy detective goes about the solutions in the same way. He carefully looks for any inconsistency in the stories or mannerisms of potential antagonists, and exposes them when he notices them.

Often, the solutions that Encyclopedia and Sally give are solid, and the bad guy is soundly caught. Other times, the solutions are a bit more subjective, but the perpetrator confesses out of panic. What is neat about this aspect is the realism of it. I read a statistic a while back that the vast majority of criminal convictions are won on the basis of the criminal confessing to their crimes. This is not always because the criminal is caught red-handed, but because he was caught in a lie. He confesses when he realizes he can not get away with the crime.

The most enjoyable part of the series, other than the nostalgia factor of remembering my boyhood, is the way that the "end" of the story is placed in the back of the book. After Encyclopedia (or Sally) declares the answer to the problem, the author asks how they came to that conclusion. At the end of the book is a special section telling readers the solution and what happened in the story after the case was solved. It is a lot of fun to try to solve the cases myself.

These books, written by Donald J. Sobol, are enjoyable and engaging. They will never be considered classical literature, but sometimes it's neat to read something just for the fun of it. Recommended for those who want such a fun read.

Excellent short puzzles to sharpen the young mind
Short puzzle mysteries are one of the best ways to exercise and strengthen the intellectual equivalent of the biceps muscles. Leroy Brown has packed so much knowledge into his mind that everyone except the officials call him Encyclopedia. His hobby is solving simple mysteries and his base charge is twenty-five cents.
This book is a collection of short mysteries presented to Encyclopedia and of course he comes through on all of them. The mystery ranges from kidnapping to bank robbery to the petty crimes and misdemeanors committed by children and all are simple enough for children to solve. Solutions to the puzzles are included at the end.
Written at the level of the young child, this book is a delight for the young mind looking for challenges and intellectual stimulation.

Entertaining Mystery
The Encyclopedia Brown books are an entertaining read for child mystery lovers. Short stories with figuring out who-done-it at the end of each. The answers are in the back of the book, along with an explanation, to see if your guess is correct.

Fun Book
This is one of the better children's books my kids have read.Just right for my 7-year old who likes to read, but needs something great to get all the way through a book without being prodded.Very fun.

Encyclopedia is the Greatest!
I absolutely loved the Encyclopedia Brown Series growing up. I read and reread them so much people called me Encyclopedia Jones. Actually, I did get pretty good at helping people find things. Too bad I didn't charge 25 cents!
This book, like all of Donald J. Sobol's Encyclopedia Brown books, makes you think, and pay attention, but each case is lots of fun. Leroy Brown, son of the chief of police, is the only boy detective in Idaville. He is so good at solving problems, locating missing items, and investigating crimes, that he starts his own detective agency.
Each book in the series has about ten cases. All of the clues needed to solve the case are provided in the story. The answers are in the back of the book. But what fun is it to peak at the answers?
I hope that any one reading, the Case of the Secret Pitch, one of my favorites, is sure to enjoy it, even if, like me, you need a little helpfrom the answer pages. ... Read more

Product Description
With answers to thousands of intriguing questions about the animal kingdom, this A-Z encyclopedia offers children fascinating insight into the behaviors, biology, and environments of their favorite animals. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Fabulous pictures
I purchased this book for my sons 4th birthday because he loves animals.This book was such a hit that he preferred to look at the book over playing with his new toys and Grandma and Grandpa loved it too.My 6 year old daughter has been found going through the pages and reading about her favorite animals.The pictures are great and include interesting tidbits about each animal.I had purchased my copy at Barnes and Noble for $20 but saw that it was on Amazon for only $14 so I ordered another.I figure that this would be a good Xmas gift or a perfect birthday gift to have on hand.You will not be disappointed and neither will your child!

What an Incredible book
My son who's now seven has always been mad about animals since a baby has for the past 3 years not been able to put this book down once he starts reading it.

It is amazing value for money and the wealth of detail is astonishing.

Our son is always regaling us with "animal quizzes" e.g trying to make us guess the lifespan of a quetzel whatever that is.

Will improve your child's knowledge of animals much more that you can ever imagine. Only problem is it weighs a ton. Each page is packed with information though.

Makes a great gift
I gave this book as a birthday present to my five-year-old goddaughter and it was very well received.

Wonderful Book
We love this book. My 3 yo will sit for ages while we flip through and read as will my 6 yo. The pictures are stunning and the information is perfect for elementary-aged children.

Wonderful Book!
Every child should have this book!Its full of so many photos of all different kinds of animals and lots of great information as well.My three year old loves to page through this book and the information is concise enough that I can quickly read a page or paragraph and tell her about the animal, yet it has enough info that we both learn something new.We plan to use this as a resource for many years to come, but its great just for looking at pictures even now!I think it should come in hardcover, but I couldn't tell if the hardcover version was the same or if it was an older edition since it looks different.We have the soft cover and it looks like will hold up ok, but being such a big heavy book I'd rather it was hard cover.Oh well.I debated between this book and the "my first" version and chose this, I'm glad I did, the "my first" just didn't seem to have as much info or animals in it as this one.This one isn't overwhelming either, its great! ... Read more

Product Description
Discover a trove of herbal knowledge.

Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs is a virtually endless source of useful information and herbal know-how. Presented in an A-to-Z format, supplemented with easy-to-use charts and lists, beautifully illustrated with drawings and color photographs, it is the only book on herbs you ever need to buy.

More than 1 MILLION copies sold!
... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

Herb Pix
I was a bit disappointed in this book.It may have been that my expectations were too high, but I found it a little lacking.

Great buy
I paid .38 cents for this book.It was in perfect condition.Great purchase.

Really Great!
We received the Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs and found it to be in better than advertised condition.
This is a great, very useful book, packed with information and lovely illustration, both photo and drawings.

Thank you!!

Excellent book, vendor was ideal.
Book was as described. Delivered quickly and in excellent condition. I would gladly reorder again from this vendor.

Book by Rodale Press is detailed for a great number of herbs. It details their uses in medicine, the kitchen or as a health and beauty aid. It discusses how to grow the herb and what to watch for. Very useful.

One of My Favorite Herb books
There are so many things to love about this book.

The photographs are beautiful as well as helpful.
The organization is fantastic, first by keeping things alphabetical, but especially the divided sections about each herb.

Crafts, history, medical uses, chemical properties, and cautions, growing advice, etc.Since I am interested in all of these things, this quickly became a favorite book, and I have given it to many people over the years.It's great for gardeners, beginning herbalists, people who like to make crafts or gifts, and it's also fun to just read.

I especially like the section where they compare safe/dangerous ratings of several of the most commonly used herbs.

Love it.Great place to start, and a very pretty and useful gift.

One thing that could be a negative for some, it focuses on North American herbs and plants.For me, that was a plus, since I like to grow my own.Other people might want to read about my exotic herbs, and for them, this "local" focus could be disappointing. ... Read more

Product Description
Leroy Brown is back in the next six books in the Encyclopedia Brown series. As Idaville’s ten-year-old star detective, Encyclopedia has an uncanny knack for trivia. With his unconventional knowledge, he solves mysteries for the neighborhood kids through his own detective agency. But his dad also happens to be the chief of the Idaville police department, and every night around the dinner table, Encyclopedia helps him solve some of the most baffling crimes. With ten confounding mysteries in each book, not only does Encyclopedia have a chance to solve them, but readers are given all the clues as well and can chime in with their own solutions. Interactive and fun—it’s classic Encyclopedia Brown! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great Book
Encyclopedia Brown is a great character. I think the books are good for both boys and girls. I read them as a child and I loved them. They help to develop problem solving skills AND they are good stories.

An enjoyable book
The book was nice to read and the mysteries were kind of "always happening" like not so big mysteries, but some were tough to solve and I enjoyed reading this book. ... Read more

Product Description

From 'audet IX to Zytchin III, this book covers it all. This is the ultimate reference book for all Star Trek fans!

Added to this edition are 128 new pages. This addendum highlights the latest episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine®, Star Trek: Voyager® and the newest feature film, Star Trek: Insurrection™.

The thousands of photos and hundreds of illustrations place the Star Trek universe at your fingertips. Planets and stars, weapons and ships, people and places are just part of the meticulous research and countless cross-reference that fill this book.Amazon.com Review
This new version of the Star Trek Encyclopedia is a reissue of the 1997 edition, plus a 128-page supplement of additional material that updates Deep Space Nine to the end of its run and Voyager to midway through season five. It also covers the movie Star Trek: Insurrection. The supplement is as meticulously detailed as the rest of the volume, listing such fascinating trivia as chadre kab (Seven of Nine's first meal), 'Kahless and Lukara' (a Klingon opera), and voraxna (a Cardassian poison), as well as all the new characters and species. Appendices include illustrations of starships, cast and crew listings, a historical timeline, and a bibliography. All photographs and illustrations (except for a few historical shots) are in color. The encyclopedia was devised in part to help production staff on the various Star Trek TV series to keep up with the ever-increasing level of detail generated by over 30 years of creative effort. It is an excellent reference volume and, whether you want to settle an argument or write a novel, this book will answer your questions. But beware: the extensive cross-referencing leads to curious time-distortion effects, in which the unwary reader, dipping in to settle a single query, encounters an irresistible urge to browse further, during which hours of normal time can pass in the wink of an eye. --Elizabeth Sourbut ... Read more

Customer Reviews (102)

Trekopedia!
As i started to thumb through this Trekopedia i wondered how much time it must have taken to compile all this fictional information, it must have been a daunting task.I mean this bad boy covers a wide range of Trek-Lore, right down to the different plant life, drinks, planets etc. that were explored or even mentioned in Star Trek and it covers almost every iteration of star trek.From what i've read it doesn't completely cover Star Trek Voyager or the newer "Enterprise" show with the worst theme song ever conceived, but im ok with it.I thought voyager was merely okay, kinda of hit and miss and not really on par with the previous versions of the trek so im ok with some of that being omitted.So far i've really enjoyed this book, i wouldn't leave it on the coffee table for fear of being ridiculed, but it's a great restroom book if you catch what im throwing.I had to dock it one star because i felt like it could have had more pictures and diagrams, it is really wordy and im ok with that but man i sure love me some Trek visuals.This book is a must have if you are a Trekkie, but if you are more of a casual Trek fan you might want to skip this one.

it would have been a nice read
i ordered this book almost a month ago.there was no notice from the company that any book had been sent and the wrong book arrived at my address.the company then emailed me with a full refund stating that they could no longer find the book.

Fun to read but not concise and incomplete.
It gives vague references and does not cover the end of voyager era but all in all is great to have for referencing such as reading or even writing a star trek book.

Gamers reference
I bought this item for my son and he went nuts when he saw it.He said it will help him with the new Star Trek game coming out. I guess it's a great book for a gamers reference library.

Very thorough "historical" information
This book has very through, detailed, accurate content as pertains to the future "historical" time line and every proper noun that has ever come up in any series it covers (names of people, places, context, etc.).I was hoping for more technical details, like the difference between a class 4 and class 9 probe, floor plans of star ships, etc.Maybe that info isn't really available anywhere.

All in all a great reference for any Trek enthusiast.Let me repeat: VERY THOROUGH. ... Read more

Product Description
The most comprehensive guide to the botany, history, distribution, and cultivation of all known psychoactive plants.

• Examines 414 psychoactive plants and related substances.

• Explores how using psychoactive plants in a culturally sanctioned context can produce important insights into the nature of reality.

• Contains 800 color photographs and 670 black-and-white illustrations.

In the traditions of every culture, plants have been highly valued for their nourishing, healing, and transformative properties. The most powerful plants--those known to transport the human mind into other dimensions of consciousness--have traditionally been regarded as sacred. In The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants Christian Ratsch details the botany, history, distribution, cultivation, and preparation and dosage of more than 400 psychoactive plants. He discusses their ritual and medicinal usage, cultural artifacts made from these plants, and works of art that either represent or have been inspired by them. The author begins with 168 of the most well-known psychoactives--such as cannabis, datura, and papaver--then presents 133 lesser known substances as well as additional plants known as "legal highs," plants known only from mythological contexts and literature, and plant products that include substances such as ayahuasca, incense, and soma. The text is lavishly illustrated with 800 color photographs--many of which are from the author's extensive fieldwork around the world--showing the people, ceremonies, and art related to the ritual use of the world's sacred psychoactives. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

Psychoactive Plants
Great book for anyone looking to widen they're knowledge on any ethnobotanical plants or cacti. Provides in great detail, for many herbs, where they naturally grow, what rituals if any, they were used in, tips for cultivating them and Much Much More!

Great book!
This book is really wonderful and exhaustive in it's information! Definitely deserves the title "encyclopedia". Provides excellent references and historical as well as scientific information. Highly reccommended and worth every penny.

Outstanding Reference - Must Have
For the money this is then best single comprehensive volume that I have seen since the old High Times Encyclopedia of Recreational Drugs...the difference being that this volume is a scholarly work that is extremely well done, well referenced and quite complete in its breadth of coverage.I appreciate its orthogonal approach of covering the plants in one section then covering the psychoactive principles separately.This makes researching any particular plant or chemical entity quite straight-forward.It will hold a prized place on my library shelf.

god book but
i think that it is a very good book but it could use some better pics but i really like thet they say what source they got there informations from

100% satisfied!
I bought this book as a gift to my husband for his birthday last month and let me tell ya, he was absolutely stoked.This book is VERY informative for those who seek knowledge of the wonders of natural plants. This purchase was the best decision and well worth the money. I'd definitely recommend this book 100%!! ... Read more

Product Description
If you're looking for quotes from newspapers and magazines, NPR, book reviews, endorsements from thousands of readers and bloggers, google Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life and just see for yourself how people everywhere are responding to this book.


In Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life, Amy Krouse Rosenthal has ingeniously adapted the centuries-old format of the encyclopedia to convey the accumulated knowledge of her lifetime in a poignant, wise, often funny, fully realized memoir. Using mostly short entries organized from A to Z, many of which are cross-referenced, Rosenthal captures in wonderful and episodic detail the moments, observations, and emotions that comprise a contemporary life. Start anywhere—preferably at the beginning—and see how one young woman’s alphabetized existence can open up and define the world in new and unexpected ways.

An ordinary life, perhaps, but an extraordinary book.


Cross-section of ordinary life at this exact moment

A security guard is loosening his belt.

A couple is at a sushi restaurant with some old friends. They are reminiscing. In the back of their minds, they are thinking of being home.

A woman is trying to suck on a cherry Lifesaver but will end up biting it in six seconds.

A little boy is riding the train home with his dad after spending the day together at his office.

A man is running back into a grocery store to look for a scarf he dropped. He will leave with the phone number of a woman who will become his wife.

Words the author meant to use

Flair, Luxurious, Panoply, Churlish, Dainty, Folly

Wines that go nicely with this book

reds:Marcel Lapierre Morgon (France), Alario Dolcetto d’Alba Costa Fiore (Italy)

whites:King Estate Pinot Gris (Oregon), Landmark Chardonnay Overlook (California)



Book, standing in the bookstore holding a

If I am standing there with the book in my hand, one of three things has already happened: Friend recommended it. Read a good review. Cover caught my eye.

I can appreciate a cool cover. But it’s like the extra credit part of a test—it only enhances an already solid grade. Getting it right won’t help if most everything else is wrong.And getting it wrong won’t hurt if most everything else is right. (There are countless books I cherish whose covers I don’t like too much, or cannot even now recall.)The interior of the book—the terrain of its pages, where all those words took me, the tiny but very real spot it ultimately occupies in my mind—that becomes the book.

Next I go to the flaps. The front flap needs to intrigue/not bore me, and the bio needs to tell me just enough about the author.I’ll do my best to extract the author’s entire existence from their 2-X-2 inch photo.

Off to the back cover. I’ll be momentarily impressed when I see a blurb by a hot writer like ____, but I know that it is just as likely that I’ll like the book as hate it regardless of these quotes. I look at them in a more voyeuristic way, like a literary gaper’s delay: Wow, the author knows So and So. Bet they send each other clever text messages. Really the only thing I can gauge from the blurbs is my own pathetic jealousy level.

To get a true sense of the book, I have to spend a minute inside. I’ll glance at the first couple pages, then flip to the middle, see if the language matches me somehow. It’s like dating, only with sentences. Some sentences, no matter how well-dressed or nice, just don’t do it for me. Others I click with instantly. It could be something as simple yet weirdly potent as a single word choice (tangerine). We’re meant to be, that sentence and me. And when it happens, you just know.Amazon.com Review
"I have not survived against all odds. I have not lived to tell. I have not witnessed the extraordinary. This is my story."

Amy Krouse Rosenthal, one-time Might magazine columnist and self-confessed hater of the segue has written a snappy, random, remarkable memoir--the first of its kind to give readers an honest flaws-n-all perspective of what it's like to be...ordinary. Initially inspired by the "bizarre, haphazard arrangement" of The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon, Rosenthal has collected a lifetime of thoughts, observations, and decisions, and created an alphabetized personal encyclopedia, complete with cross-referenced entries and illustrations. Rosenthal reveals the minutiae of her life, from pumping gas ("Every. Single. Solitary. Time I go to get gas I have to lean out the window to see which side the tank is on"), to witnessing her son's accident ("I saw with front-row-seat clarity, just how quickly, randomly, and mercilessly your child can be taken away"), and in turns both playful and poignant, engages the reader in effortless and stimulating conversation.

Whether you are laughing aloud or nodding along, reading Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life is like being introduced to a new friend--one that you automatically connect with and feel compelled to share. Fans of Dave Eggers, David Sedaris, and shows like Arrested Development and Scrubs will appreciate Rosenthal's quirky, conversational humor and dead-on observations. Writers will see the book as a contemporary portrait of the fledgling artist, and should enjoy her aptly named, "Evolution of this Moment"--a timeline tracking her growth as a writer from her first word ("more") to publication of her fourth book.

Modesty prevents Rosenthal from acknowledging herself as anything other than ordinary--that, and the fact that she has not "survived against all odds"--but that certainly does not mean she has nothing to say, or to share. Her delightful memoir is a reminder that life is not always an adventure, but it can be full of sad, silly, and important moments that make it worth living. Witness the generosity of an author who is willing to reveal so much of herself, not just as a writer, but also as a person--share this delightfully quirky, utterly enjoyable book with family and friends with a note, "Here is someone I think you should meet." --Daphne Durham

Amazon.com Exclusive Content

The Lost and Found Project
Between January 25th and February 1st, hundreds of copies of Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life were intentionally left in random places (taxis, public bathrooms, laundromats) in Chicago, New York, and San Francisco. Each book was inscribed with a note from the author, and the finder was encouraged to report back to Rosenthal's website (www.encyclopediaofanordinarylife.com) when and where the book was discovered.

Watch the "Lost and Found" video directed by filmmaker Steve Delahoyde, documenting Rosenthal's test run and featuring her theme song, "This is My Story."
Listen to the theme song written by Tony Rogers.

Ordinary Life from A to Z
How do you interview a smart, creative, clever author like Amy Krouse Rosenthal? You agree to let her start with the questions, and hang on for the ride. Find out more about Amy and sneak a peek behind-the-scenes at Amazon.com with this decidedlyordinary email correspondence between Ms. Rosenthal and senior editor Daphne Durham.

Read our unusual interview with author Amy Krouse Rosenthal.

Extra Ordinary Excerpts
A

B

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... Read more

Customer Reviews (66)

charming, sweet, funny, and insightful- quick read
Like others have noted, this is an "Encyclopedia" into author Amy Krouse Rosenthal's life. Entries go from A-Z with everything in between (including an intermission).

I didn't know if I was really going to enjoy this book because I'm not a fan of short stories or "brief snippets" but this was great reading, Everything flowed and it's easy to sit down with the book and read for a few hours. I snickered at much of it, and shared a few entries with my husband (specifically "potato chip"). Some of the entires are funny, some are sweet, some are insightful, some are just plain bizarre.

This isn't a "c is for my children, t is for truth, f is for faith, g is for goals" kinda book. There's a lot of whimsical stuff dotted with the occasional "serious" entry.

This is a FUN read, ideal for when you are on breaks between "heavy" books and need a breather.

Loved it, and would recommend it to all.

Funny and Inspiring, A Reminder to Notice the World
This is, thus far, my favorite book of the year!Amy's moment by moment commentary on the inner workings of her life -- the small moments and the things that often so unnoticed -- is beyond clever.It's downright genious.Did I even notice these things about myself or the world I live in?Did I notice how I talk in my head as the plane is landing or how I feel when I realize that the secret I'm being told was already told to someone else?It is called an "encyclopedia" because it chronicles the small moments of her ordinary life in an alphabetical, short-entry structure.I laughed -- full-on belly laughs -- on almost every page.I was inspired to write like I haven't been inspired in a long, long time, and since reading it I can't seem to help composing mental mini-paragraphs about myself and my own little quirks. Thanks, Amy, for such a delightful read and a reminder of what makes us who we are.

I- Interesting, Surprisingly Quite
I came across one of the "purposefully left books" at a used bookstore in Chicago.I knew nothing of the book but (I have the hardcover), loved the cover and unique half-book-jacket, so tossed it into my basket.Quirky and surprisingly quite interesting, it was a great book to read in short spurts of time.Sometimes it's easy to think that ordinary life = boring.Amy proves otherwise- that great fun can be had with the seemingly mundane.Amy certainly celebrates it, and her creative take on the little things in her life makes for a memorable memoir and one I'll be passing on to friends.

Great book!
I saw an interview with the author somewhere, don't remember where, and she seemed so interesting and her description of the book was, too.So I ordered it, not knowing that in a few months I'll be taking a scrapbook class based loosely on her book!
It's almost stream of consciousness in alphabetical order.
I especially liked when she pointed you to another entry; it was fun to go there, read it out of order, and then return to where you left off reading!
She simply entered a few words, a few sentences, a few paragraphs about different ideas, situations, events:Wallet, Stolen, for instance...
It was fun to read and a quick read, too!

Best Encyclopedia I've Ever Read
Reading this book makes me want to meet Amy Rosenthal. I want to take her to lunch and discuss the restaurant's decor, menu offerings, table placement and cloth napkins vs. paper napkins, all in alphabetical order. She has changed the way I look at and categorize my own life, opinions, experiences and even emotions.

I can't wait to share this book with my fellow Bookworms! Thank you, Amy Rosenthal, for writing such an entertaining, witty, unique book. ... Read more