Product Description
A Master Pick-Up Artist reveals the new Secrets of Seduction

Are you tired of going to bars and clubs to meet women and ending up sitting alone?Do you see attractive women you want to meet, but talk yourself out of approaching?Do you get nervous and forget what to say or say stupid things when you meet women?

Imagine being the kind of guy that women are drawn to, who make them smile and laugh with ease.Imagine building rapport with a group of women so you can easily walk away with one of their friends.Imagine creating enough comfort and trust with a woman to get her phone number, make out, and take her home, all in the same night.

In Secrets of The “A” Game, you’ll learn that every shy, self-conscious, or heartbroken guy can meet and attract beautiful women, no matter what you look like or how much money you make. The “A” Game provides you with all of the tools you need to make it happen.If you want to learn the secrets of sexual persuasion so you can approach anyone, build rapport and create instant attraction, The “A” Game was written for you.

The A Game will…

• Explode the myths that hold you back from meeting beautiful women.
  
• Reveal the fundamental secrets behind what women find irresistible.
  
• Teach you how to use your body language and voice to create powerful attraction.
  
• Show you how to easily start conversations with women – without using pickup lines.
  
• Keep you motivated so you can achieve a greater level of success than you ever thought possible!
  

The book’s first half provides all of the foundations to develop yourself into the kind of guy women find irresistible.

• The Rules and Myths that every guy should know about attracting women.
  
• Adjusting your attitude so your confidence is sky high.
  
• Style and grooming advice so you’re always looking your best.
  
• Reading and influencing the female psyche to create attraction and lust
  
• Finding the most attractive women… in places you’ve never even thought of.
  

The book’s second half is pure technique – a five-step approach to meeting and attracting women anywhere, anyplace, anytime.

• Open – Work the room, use indirect openers, playfully tease women and take control of the interaction.
  
• Hook – Demonstrate social value, have playful conversations, and emotionally stimulate everyone around you.
  
• Attract – Flirt like a natural, break the touch barrier, test her interest in you and plan for the Close.
  
• Connect – Build rapport, learn her buy strategy, capture her imagination and accelerate her attraction.
  
• Close – Get her number, get the first kiss, and get her home.
  

Logan guides you step-by-step, no matter where you’re at in life, and teaches you the Art of Sexual Persuasion. With the right attitude and the right set of pickup tips and techniques, you can transform yourself.Be the guy who always knows what you want and most importantly, how to get it. Take your game to the next level.

Customer Reviews (72)

the big book of pickup info
More than I needed, but recommended to any guy who wants to meet more women, up the success rate in the pickup arena.I had to skim some parts because they seemed meant for guys with no social skills at all and topics like hygene and clothing, but the second half was all technique and pair with Art of the Approach, which really was more immdieately helpful, they both work together to up the game.I didn't follow everything in the book, but it helps give the bigger picture really of how and why women are attracted to men and changing my approach to fit that.no bragging or deep techincal jargon about phases, four 1/2 star.

very big book with a lot of fluff talk
this is really a big book with 2 parts. The first part focus on some general information about women (myths and mistakes men do) and the second part is about some information based on the mystery method (attract-comfort...) Its just ok because i have already read information like this and because i didn't feel that i was <> despite the details of the book. A much better book isHow to Become an Alpha Male: Attract Women and Become Successful at Seduction

Two stars, SO FAR.
I'm about 25 percent through this book & so far, disappointed. I have yet to read something that I already didn't know. I bought a book to be told that I should make sure to shower before I go out into public & have clean fingernails? A breakdown of "archtypes" of different women? Why? The advice about working out & fashion is so banal & generalized it is useless. "Wear what looks good on you" C'mon! People who are capable of that don't need to be told it.

I also felt like some of his personal stories (like the one about his rich friend who put too much into expensive clothes to attract women, but lost his luggage) are purely fictional anecdotes to fill pages.

Hopefully when I get more into the "meat" of the book & past all these chapters of (obvious) basic stuff I can come back & post a better review, or I'd have wasted 20 hard earned dollars on a close friend's recommendation to buy this book. A slimmed down "advanced" edition that leaves out the obvious would have been nice. For guys like me who, you know, know to take showers.

an A for the A Game
Very well written and informative. The first part of the book is a bit slow and talks mostly about what most all of us guys already know; we need to improve our 'game'. Once the book gets going in the steps to take in attracting, meeting, dating and sexing the ladies, it is hard to put down.
Recommended for all virile males no matter how old.
Get the book!

A decent book
I'm not a pickup artist, but I do fine with the ladies. This book is kind of long but goes over some good material. First third of the book is about grooming, fashion, understanding a girl and changing your attitude toward women. The pickup lines they give are weak and possibly counter prudctive. He does a good job of saying where to meet women. There is less bragging than other pickup books (like Mystery method), but its not the best book out there. ... Read more

Product Description
** SAME BOOK - LOWER PRICE **

The world's most celebrated "success" book and guide on how to "WIN" in life through positive attitudes and affirmations.


First published in 1925, this book has inspired thousands of people around the world to find a sense of purpose and belonging. It asserts that life is not a battle but a game of giving and receiving, and that whatever we send out into the world will eventually be returned to us. This little book will help you discover how your mind and its imaging faculties play leading roles in the game of life.

With her classic book, THE GAME OF LIFE AND HOW TO PLAY IT, Florence Scovel Shinn established herself as one of the most down-to-earth, practical, and helpful prosperity writers of her era. With a timeless message and the ability to explain success principles and how they work in an entertaining style, her writings are still considered the leaders in prosperity literature today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (127)

Very Satisfied
The book is a very good read, and is very helpful in dealing with situations of everyday life.I received the book in 3 days and in excellent condition as promised; would use the seller again.

Great book
I boughtthe book for only 1 cent. It came in very good conditions and I am enjoying reading it....

The Game of Life
This is an amazing book and to realize when Ms. Shinn wrote it makes it even more facinating.I love what Hayhouse has done with editing it for women.Thanks to the magnificence of Louise Hay!!!

just bad
A book on wishful thinking,offering no real advice but to have faith (mostly in Gods plan) . Being an atheist myself, I can't believe it is so praised, since all it does is advise positive thinking and references lucky coincidences of questionable validity.

The Game of Life and How to Play It
Over the years I have purchased a few hundred copies of this book. I give them to friends to help them deal with crossroads, challenges, anger, despair etc. I will keep on giving this easy-to-read book to friends and relatives. Many friends have benefited greatly from reading this book. The book is the "teacher that appears when the student is ready."

... Read more

Product Description
The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Language Arts ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Interesting bit of Halloween-ana from 1912
It's free, so what can one really complain about in the end?

I'm only giving it 3 stars so as not to mislead modern readers, but I liked it more than that purely for it's historical significance.

It's quite interesting from a historical or anthropological/cultural perspective; there are a lot of game ideas - mostly being of the "general" type - that is, not specifically geared towards Halloween. But there are some seasonal games of fortune-telling/divining and some chaste "kissing games."I find all these games fascinating, and I'm sure that most of them are largely lost from our collective societal memory, so it's nice to have them here as a record.There are also decorating, food, party invitation ideas, etc., and it does contain a section with some cute, and probably also mostly forgotten jokes (more like puzzlers), which are worth a gander.They are not the silly jokes kids tell today, but much more serious or "straight". Example: Why is a watch like a river? --Because it doesn't run long without winding.What is the difference between a schoolmaster and an engine-driver? --One minds the train and the other trains the mind.

So, if you're looking for a real hands-on practical guide for Halloween ideas to use now, this is not it.The suggestions here, in terms of what 21st century Halloween aficionados would expect, are very primitive and are what modern folks would consider the basic minimum, no brain-er type of decorating and party food ideas. Honestly, today's Halloween masters (Martha Stewart, for one) have got Halloween DOWN.If you want creative ideas that are unique and truly give spirit to the holiday, then that's your source.This is available at Amazon or at your grocery store, and I think it's marvelous:Martha Stewart Halloween Handbook Special Collectors Edition 2010

I will explore the text more thoroughly soon and post an update, if necessary, but I think you get the idea. ... Read more

Product Description
This report focuses on the civic aspects of video game play among youth. According to a 2006 survey, 58 percent of young people aged 15 to 25 were civically "disengaged," meaning that they participated in fewer than two types of either electoral activities (defined as voting, campaigning, etc.) or civic activities (for example, volunteering). Kahne and his coauthors are interested in what role video games may or may not play in this disengagement.

Until now, most research in the field has considered how video games relate to children's aggression and to academic learning. Digital media scholars suggest, however, that other social outcomes also deserve attention. For example, as games become more social, some scholars argue that they can be important spheres in which to foster civic development. Others disagree, suggesting that games, along with other forms of Internet involvement, may in fact take time away from civic and political engagement.

Drawing on data from the 2006 survey, the authors examine the relationship between video game play and civic development. They call for further research on teen gaming experiences so that we can understand and promote civic engagement through video games. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good Start, Though Some Questions Remain
Kahane, Middaugh, and Evans point out that the bulk of America's discussion about the public consequences of video game play have been mainly moralistic, not rational.Scare-mongers warn of isolated, maladjusted youth failing to engage with our public sphere, while digital media boosters extol technology's equalizing traits, but "the relationship of [video game play] to adolescent development has not been fully explored."These authors purpose to remedy this oversight.

Our authors point out that certain video games, like "SimCity" and "Quest Atlantis," have been used productively in school environments to teach public interest and engage youth in civic engagement and public discourse.By engaging students in intricate simulations of democratic institutions, these games teach youth to care about living issues and real-world concerns.From this, the authors extrapolate that other games which rely on complex relationships with other humans and with technology, like running a guild in World of Warcraft, may teach engagement with democratic institutions.As they say, "the same kinds of experiences that foster civic outcomes in well-controlled classroom studies may achieve similar results in gaming environments."

On the one hand, I have no trouble believing this.My grade school teachers used this same basic claim in explaining why I should play "Oregon Trail" on the Apple IIe.And I can see where guild organization can teach youth to love the social contract just as my generation learned from Student Council elections.On the other hand, our authors haven't yet proven to my satisfaction that, just because kids could possibly learn civic responsibility from games, a sufficient mass of them actually do.

Still, I'm willing to suspend judgment and hear these authors out for two reasons.First, they acknowledge the important role teachers play.Unlike tech cheerleaders who claim the web renders classrooms obsolete, these authors admit that teaching through games requires the concerted involvement of teachers, parents, and game designers.They even spend time on questions of reconciling technology to the classroom, and on teaching parents and teachers what we need to know.

Second, the authors admit the limitations of their own study.Rather than elevating themselves and their conclusions as other studies in this series have done, our authors concede that they have proven correlation without proving cause; that in some cases they have been unable to prove aything statistically significant; and that their biggest discovery is how much research still remains to do.Even if I can't completely get behind all their conclusions, I can appreciate their honesty and admire their rigor.And that more warmly inclines me toward these authors' conclusons.

Perhaps we can best regard this white paper as a prolegomena to future research in a developing field.The authors' last big section discusses several domains still open to new discovery.I look forward to seeing how (and if!) games really do help students' civic education, and how I might incorporate such new discoveries into my own classroom.

An Interesting Insight into the Potential Value of Video Games
Video Games are one of the most widespread and enjoyed forms of entertainment amongst the young people today. In recent years the video game industry has been quietly outpacing the movie industry in terms of total number of titles and the revenue. Video games have, for better or worse, become a part of mainstream. And just like any other form of entertainment in the past that was disruptive enough to change the whole way that we spend our leisure time, the ascendance of the video games has been greeted with its own share of controversy. Many societal ills have been purportedly traced to the increased play of video games, and several high-profile crimes involved individuals who had were known to have spent many hours playing very violent games. And yet, it is far from clear that the effect of video games on the society is exclusively, or even primarily, a negative one. In this short book the authors are drawing on their own research in order to show some very positive effects that video games have on the civic engagement of youth. It is a fascinating work that will hopefully challenge some misconceptions and provide a more positive and balanced outlook on this topic.

For some games it is intuitively plausible that they may have a positive impact on the civic engagement. The most obvious example is SimCity, where the player assumes the role of a mayor and tries to develop the city in the most optimal way. However, the research presented in this book shows that even playing certain games like Halo has a significant correlation with the civic engagement.

The authors of this book distinguish between social and civic behavior. They show that the vast majority of kids play games with others at least some of the time, but this does not necessarily translate into a civic engagement. In order to measure the actual civic engagement several measures are employed and described.

The single biggest finding that is presented here is that kids who are very frequent players of video games are actually slightly more likely to be civically engaged. The authors are careful to point out that this is only a correlation, and leave the possible connection between the two for some other study. Even so, this finding is very important as it challenges the preconceived notion that gaming and civic engagement are antithetical to each other.

The book ends with a few suggestions for parents, teachers, youth and the game developers. Based on the findings presented here and a few sensible principles the authors make recommendations on how to make the gaming experience more useful and relevant for the civic engagement of the young people.

Even though this book is written from a very strong social-science perspective, it is very accessible and should appeal to the general audience. In fact, I hope that a lot of people do read it as it will certainly contribute to the public discussion of the role that video games play in the society. ... Read more

Product Description
We think we’re relating to other people–but actually we’re all playing games.

Forty years ago, Games People Play revolutionized our understanding of what really goes on during our most basic social interactions. More than five million copies later, Dr. Eric Berne’s classic is as astonishing–and revealing–as it was on the day it was first published. This anniversary edition features a new introduction by Dr. James R. Allen, president of the International Transactional Analysis Association, and Kurt Vonnegut’s brilliant Life magazine review from 1965.
We play games all the time–sexual games, marital games, power games with our bosses, and competitive games with our friends. Detailing status contests like “Martini” (I know a better way), to lethal couples combat like “If It Weren’t For You” and “Uproar,” to flirtation favorites like “The Stocking Game” and “Let’s You and Him Fight,” Dr. Berne exposes the secret ploys and unconscious maneuvers that rule our intimate lives.
Explosive when it first appeared, Games People Play is now widely recognized as the most original and influential popular psychology book of our time. It’s as powerful and eye-opening as ever. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (63)

Like reading math equations
This book seems to have some good content. I was disappointed to find the writing style less than engaging. I admit I couldn't make it more than one chapter without falling out of my chair fast asleep. When I woke-up I skimmed a few more chapters and fell back to sleep. Maybe the book has a big exciting ending??? I don't know, but I'll leave that for someone else to find out. I'd give it less stars, but I'm sure pontificating professors will find it a page turner. Good luck.

interesting but slightly dated
The description of typical games that people play still holds relevance.I recognizedmyself and my friends in at least 8 of the games mentioned.However, the games sound a bit dated, as though the modern versions have evolved and mutated somewhat from the ones he describes from 50 years ago.I'd like to see a new version with more and expanded games.Possibly a website or wiki where people can record them as they are discovered.Life Tropes?Relationship Tropes?Like television tropes only for real life.

An eye opener
This book sheds light over the human relationships. If you are looking for answers on how and why people behave, as well as the motivations behind it, Games People Play will help you. Although a little bit technical, the featured "games" are well explained and meaningful.

Good read for everyone, not just therapists
The Secrets of Modern Medicine Revealed
"Games people play" is a classic and timeless piece of work. It is as relevant today as it was decades ago. The most important thing about this book is that you do not need any background in psychology, mental health or psychotherapy to understand the concepts. The book provides very clever and accurate description of social encounters or "exchanges" that people engage in everyday life. It makes you a better observer and helps you notice "the games" you yourself and others in your life inevitably play in your everyday life. This book tells you that these "games" are not something that are necessary bad or sinister as they sound. But the games can also be the way of civilized social encounters where you do not necessarily say what you intend to say.
This book gives you a very interesting analysis of human behavior in a structured and social context. It is interesting to note that our society has evolved in many different ways since the first writing of this book but the way humans interact with each other has remained basically the same. Only the medium, place and context have changed but basic human nature and social interactions have not.

Excellent description, product and deliver
Seller was spot-on with all the pertinent information to make this a better than expected purchase. ... Read more

Product Description

The Game On! Diet is not a diet. It's a bold new approach to fitness that turns the latest, smartest, most successful health science into a fun, fierce, and exhilarating game. Developed by Az Ferguson, to help Grey's Anatomy writer Krista Vernoff shed forty pounds of postpregnancy weight, it is the ideal program for busy people who should be working out but have a thousand good excuses not to.

Customer Reviews (49)

Fun
This book is fun and easy to read. Some of the language in this book is pretty nasty so it is definitely not a book for kids. It does have lots of good information in it and it is a blast to play.If you are looking for a way to lose weight while having a good time doing it this book is for you. I gave it only four stars because I thought the book didn't need the nasty words to get the point across.

Funny book and great lifestyle diet
I bought this book and have been following this healthy "diet" off and on since mid-February 2010.I have lost 40 pounds so far and have recruited 15 others to join me in the game.We do not compete against each other, rather support each other as one team.If you follow the rules, you will succeed. I am never hungry and have improved my health and well being.Buy this book!It is well worth it.

Making Weight Loss Fun
Who ever thought losing weight and making lifestyle changes could be so much fun ?Utilizing the tools in this "game" does just that.
The writing itself can be a bit "salty" at times but it is an entertaining and quick read that offers a solid and safe program for
positive over all health changes.Your team members and opponents
will have a great time motivating each other !

It works!
This is a book full of healthy eating tips--and a lot of humor!It cuts to the chase on telling you how to eat from the different food groups, and even gives you 100 calories every day of anything you want!Plus you GET a day off and one meal off a week--just try to beat that, it's actually allowed and you lose weight!I don't play against other people point wise, just try to do better myself each week.I've been eating healthy for three weeks now and have noticed a big difference in my energy level, I also sleep better at night.It is sometimes hard to space the meals 2-4 hours apart-it definately takes some planning, but it is worth it as I never feel hungry and my blood sugar stays even.I'm very happy with the book--the only reason I gave it four stars vs. five is due to some of the language was uncalled for--I feel the author could have gotten the same point across w/o being so raw at times.

Great idea, bad language
I just finished a round of the Game On! diet with 9 other people where I work and we all had alot of fun.We razzed each other and encouraged each other and learned to live a little better.I would highly recommend this book if it were not for the seriously foul language. If you can overlook the f-word which is quite liberaly used throughout, and you want a way to have fun losing weight while you kick your opponent's butt, then get it - it's a blast. ... Read more

Product Description
Anyone can master the fundamentals of game design - no technological expertise is necessary. The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses shows that the same basic principles of psychology that work for board games, card games and athletic games also are the keys to making top-quality videogames. Good game design happens when you view your game from many different perspectives, or lenses. While touring through the unusual territory that is game design, this book gives the reader one hundred of these lenses - one hundred sets of insightful questions to ask yourself that will help make your game better. These lenses are gathered from fields as diverse as psychology, architecture, music, visual design, film, software engineering, theme park design, mathematics, writing, puzzle design, and anthropology. Anyone who reads this book will be inspired to become a better game designer - and will understand how to do it.

* Jesse Schell is a highly recognizable name within the game industry - he is the former chair of the International Game Developer's Association, and has designed many successful games, including Disney's award-winning Toontown Online.

* The book's design methodology was developed at Carnegie Mellon University's Entertainment Technology Center, co-founded by Dr. Randy Pausch of "Last Lecture" fame.

* 100 'lenses' are scattered throughout the book. These are boxed sets of questions, each a different way of seeing a game that will inspire the creative process.

* 500 pages of detailed, practical instruction on creating world-class games that will be played again and again.

* Winner of Game Developer's 2008 Front Line Award in the book category ... Read more

Customer Reviews (36)

An eye opener
Well, it's difficult to add anything to the praise that this title has got already but let me say that only a foolish game designer, whether experienced or "wannabe", would skip over it and ignore its teachings and insights.
This book really changes our way of thinking and how to "see" through a game idea under the proper perspective to identify early any problem that may become apparent at a later stage of development and seriously hurt the whole game.
Get it and study it now!

A Milestone in Game Design Texts
"The Art of Game Design" is one of the only game design textbooks that uses clear, plain English to teach the fundamentals of game design. It is packed with wisdom and inspiration. If you are an aspiring game designer, or even a working professional, Jesse's book will push you to see your game concept from several new perspectives.

Fun to read, insightful and inspirational
This is the must-have book for anyone in game design. For me personally, the book highlighted many fundamental aspects of game design I didn't realize I didn't know, even though I consider myself a fairly experienced game designer.

The book is fun to read. The author has a very engaging writing style, and interesting and relevant examples makes the subject matter of each chapter very easy to relate to.

The book is well designed to bring even a novice very quickly up to speed, yet it's also a fantastic resource for experienced game designers, covering just about everything that matters in modern game design.

The idea of lenses as game design tools really resonated with me. The book contains 100 lenses that are different angles or aspects of how you can view your game, posing poignant questions that help to easily cut to the essence of the decisions you've made or will be making in designing your game.

If you ever buy a book on game design, make it this one. You won't regret it.

Exactly what I was looking for and cheap!
This book is the new standard for game design! Jesse knows his stuff. Outside of this book, any of the Ernest Adams books will give you a great intro to this subject.

Great Book
It really opened my eyes to a lot of the different variables that go into successful game design. ... Read more

Product Description

Are you ready?

Customer Reviews (24)

Great
The book was in just what my son needed for school thanks for the speedy delivery.

A Real Winner!
As a mother who screens everything her 11-year-old daughter reads, I had been really upset at the concluding books of two of the most exciting series, namely "Harry Potter" and "The Hunger Games." Both of those series started off as incredibly original and well-written children's books, great for tweens - but as the series went on, they just lost steam and started to read like disdainful reactions towards their fan base. Books like those by Wendy Mass and Jody Feldman, then, are most refreshing by comparison, in that they are neither serialised nor do they read as though they are written by authors tired of the fame and obligations that come with success. I totally enjoyed "The Gollywhopper Games", which brought to my mind "The Hunger Games - Book 1", "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", "The Mysterious Benedict Society" series (!) and Andrew Clements' new series "Benjamin Pratt & the Keepers of the School" (previously reviewed). While I still appreciate a good series in reading, I truly hope that stand-alone books will increase in popularity, especially when they are as clever and well-thought-out as this book. Said daughter is similarly taken with "The Gollywhopper Games":

"The book, 'The Gollywhopper Games' by Jody Feldman is a fantastic book about one boy against 4,499 other kids, all of whom are either rich, geniuses or incredibly lucky in the Golly-Whopper Games.

"Gil Goodson's future happiness depends on winning the Golly Toy & Game Company's ultimate competition. And if Gil wins, his Dad will move them out of town where Gil's dad was framed and almost went to prison for 'stealing 5 million dollars.' However, Gil overcomes the numerous obstacles placed in front of him and, in the end, of course, gets his deepest and most wanted wish come true.

"My favorite part was when Gil's whole neighborhood came to his house and congratulated him even when they didn't know whether he had lost or won the Games because, to me, that is how a real neighborhood should act.

"I would give the book five big Gollywhopper stars: one for Gil, one for his competition, two for the cover that reminded me of Lisa Yee's 'Millicent Min, Girls Genius' covers (Lisa Yee is another one of my favorite authors), and the biggest brightest star for the problems and solutions that Feldman gave her characters that had even my mom stumped at times."

The Gollywhopper Games
When my reading teacher recommended this book to me I did not think it would be something I would enjoy. I thought it would be a book my 6 year old sister would love to hear me read to her (which she probably would) but it is so much more than that! With twists and turns you will never see coming, The Gollywhopper Games is a MUST-READ!
The Gollywhopper Games is about a boy named Gil Goodson who enters a competition called the Gollywhopper Games, which is hosted by the Golly Toy & Game Company. He enters because he wants to get away from all the pain he is facing because of "The Incident". Along the way he meets Bianca, who sticks with him through thick and thin during the games, even if that means giving up her victory, but she doesn't care because she got to be on TV.

In the first round of the games all of the competitors (about 20,000) have to answer multiple choice questions by running to the designated area in a stadium for the answer. In the second round the 10 finalists get divided into two teams, Red and Green. Gil gets paired with Bianca, Rocky, Thorn, and Liviana on the red team. After the red team defeats the green team (you never see the green team), all of the members of the red team face each other in a battle for ultimate victory.

All of the characters in this book were dynamic and wonderful. My only complaint is that I wish we saw more of Liviana and Thorn.

Gil- The lonely kid who is shunned by his "friends" after rumors start flying. He will do whatever it takes to win the games and get out of this town.

Bianca- She doesn't care if she wins or loses, as long as it's on TV! She will do anything it takes to become famous.

Rocky- The bully. Cheating through the games (with the help of his criminal father), Rocky will take down anyone who gets in his way of winning the games.

Thorn- The rich kid who made his dad pay thousands of dollars in toys, just so he could find an instant win ticket to compete in the games.

Liviana- The smart one. Her mom pushes her to be smart and strategic. She travels the world with her mother trying to win scholarship competitions.

This book was very well written. Some sentences were choppy, but the book went by so quickly because nothing was ever confusing (except maybe the puzzles the competitors had to figure out)!

The Gollywhopper Games was a definite 5 stars for me!

must read
This book is very good! It's funny and exciting and makes you use your imagination! this book is a must read.

My Favorite Book!
The Gollywhopper Games is my favorite book ever!I liked everything about it- Bianca and Gil were awesome.The descriptions were amazing, the puzzles original and all you can say at the end is- I wish I could do that! ... Read more

Product Description
With yet another successful assignment behind them, the ladies of the Sisterhood have enjoyed a relaxing break together and celebrated the wedding of Myra and Charles on Big Pine Mountain. But as soon as the newlyweds return from their shortened honeymoon, they are hit with some exciting yet unsettling news. It seems their dear ally Lizzie Fox, recently ensconced as Chief White House Counsel, is rumoured to be near the top of the short list for a soon to be vacated seat on the Supreme Court. While the Sisters are thrilled for Lizzie, they are concerned about her being ripped to shreds in the approval process, partly due to her connections with the Sisterhood. It will take a masterful plan, and loyal friends aiding them at every turn, for the Sisters to succeed in protecting Lizzie while securing their own freedom at last. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Michigan Cathy

I ordered this book through Amazon.com. It was a good experience. I love Fern Michaels the Author. I have read all the Sisterhood Books so far and anxiously await more books in the future.

Great addition to the Sisterhood Series
Fern Michaels did a great job with the next book in the Sisterhood series.Definitely a must read!

game over fern michaels
this, as usual is a great book of fern michaels. she keeps on keeping on!

Game Over
I love the Sisterhood Series and have read all of them in order. They are a light read and interesting. Something that will take your mind off of your everyday problems.

jean
Another great book by Fern Michaels and I love the sisterhood series and hope to see many more. ... Read more

Product Description
The Most Dangerous Game is the popular short story originally published in 1924 which was written by Richard Connell. This is the story of a big game hunter who is trapped on an island with a fellow hunter, who is uninterested in hunting stereotypical prey, and instead decides that the only prey worthy of his skills is other humans. This title is often required reading in middle schools, and has been since adapted into movies and extended versions. This title is the original version by the author, and is considered one of the greatest short stories ever written. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (81)

Colorized for today's kids!!!
I have been showing this movie for years to my freshmen classes to work with the short story of the same name.Up until now its been the black and white version.While the colors a bit on the pastel side it is an improvement that the kids really enjoy.For what ever reason they hate B/W films.In any event the color version is very watchable and it makes it a pleasure to show to the class.

A futuristic film!


In certain way, The most dangerous game was one the pioneer films, together to Scarface, M, I am a fugitive from Chain Gang, Fury and Little Caesar of course, which anticipated the genre of the Noir films 13 years after.

But its curious and innovative plot was challenging. The rivalry between two hunters who must fight as beasts for the love of woman, was for those ages and still on, an audacious and enervating movie that influenced and inspired a bunch of films to come.

One of my personal cult movies (into my reduced two hundred ones) ever. Don't miss it.

Great Story, Sub-Par Editing
This is an incredible story, which is the basis for so many other movies/stories.Very quick read, and highly recommended.If you like suspense this is the story for you.The only drawback is this particular edition, there are several typos that make the read a bit distracting.

I would give the story 5 stars and the edition 1 star.I'm not particularly picky about things like the editing, but if I'm paying for the book I expect it to be edited better.

It's Creepy and it's Kooky, it's Altogether Ooky
A ship full of mysterious characters is interring a harbor that is either misscharted or mislight. We are introduced to them and in two minutes and they are old friends.

A conversation is struck up on the subject of hunting. Bob Rainsford (Joel McCrea) is asked if it is really fare hunt with superior file power and asked if he would change places with the tiger.He philosophically replies, "That is something I will never have to decide... This world is decided into two kinds of people. The hunter and the hunted. I am a hunter and nothing can ever change that."

I will not give you a detailed review of the movie as that is what you will buy it. However after watching once be sure to listen to the Criterion version voice over by xxx and then watch the movie again.

You can tell right off that this is a David O. Selznick picture as he has his name plastered over the credits.
Screen play by James Ashmore Creelman. From a story by Richard Connell.

I found it interesting that many of the actors and the sets will show up in the 1933 version of King Kong.
I also pretty much guesses the story ahead of time. Not because I saw it or read the book. But I saw most of the remakes and know the formula.Believe me this will not distract from this film.

DVD never arrived
The DVD never arrived.Even after communicating with the seller (who never responded), there has been no progress about getting the DVD to me. ... Read more

Product Description
Staying in is the new going out. Media like The New York Times and ABC News report a return to old-fashioned, low-cost game night, and retailers have seen sales of games rise 20 percent in the last year. Now comes The Ultimate Gamebook for Grown-ups, an extraordinary collection of more than 300 games for friends and family. Here are games for two and games for a group. Parlor games and party games. Indoor games and outdoor games. Quick games to break the ice and afternoon-long games for a whole family reunion. Guessing games, card games, trivia games, strategy games. Games for math geeks and games for word freaks, games for left-brainers and games for right-brainers, and silly games where it’s best to shut off the brain altogether.

Leigh Anderson, a writer who grew up playing Kick the Can and SPUD and spent years playing and mastering hundreds of games and out-Hoyling Hoyle to become one of the world’s leading game experts, has written the book that belongs in every home, apartment, vacation house, summer cottage, dorm room, and community center. The Ultimate Gamebook for Grown-ups is a jam-packed, 448-page cornucopia of games, all organized by type.

It’s time to have fun again with this celebration of play and essential 21st century game book. All the classics are here—Botticelli, Exquisite Corpse, Marco Polo, Mafia, Charades (in fact, not just Charades, but 8 variations including Charades Fortune Cookie, Charades One Word, Charades iPod)—plus newer favorites—Japanese Snow-Ball Fight, Six-Word Memoir, Iron Chef—and, from contributors like Will Shortz and 14 other game experts, 15 brand-new games, created for the book. Each of the 300 plus entries includes number of players, how to play (with rules), gear if needed, time, strategies, and game plans.


... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Too much fun!
This book is fantastic and I haven't even made it past the Icebreakers yet! Leigh does such a great job of clearly stating the rules and giving you examples that I have been curled up in a chair reading The Games Bible like a novel; and I've chuckled more than once at the scenes played out in my head! My teen sisters stole the book from me and are using some of the games at their upcoming lock-in with our church's youth group. They also *ahem* tackled our pastor on Sunday when he was the last one to touch his ear, of course, they didn't tell him that they were playing "Get Down, Mr. President"!

Leigh also does a fantastic job of detailing how to host a game night in your home with family and friends; and I'm totally going to have one! This is definitely one book that will not be gathering dust on my bookshelf!

Thanks to Planned Television Arts for offering me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (115)

Freindship
This a heart warmer for not only the sportsmen but the every day Joe. There friendship is one to envy.

Great Book
I'm a big Larry Bird fan (Celtics Fan) and I always enjoyed watching Bird and Magic compete against one another this is such a great book from both sides really get into their minds about basketball during the greatest time in the NBA (80's)

Enjoyable retrospective
I started to follow the NBA in the mid 80s, just as Bird and Magic were at the top, but about to surrender their place to the Bad Boys and eventually Jordan. MacMullan does a good job of recreating the careers and rivalries of Bird and Magic. There were lot of interesting anecdotes, my favorite being the time a black Bostonian walked up to Magic and told him we was rooting for him all the way because the Celtics were too white. (On the subject of race, Bird was no racist, Dennis Rodman notwithstanding). When The Game Was Ours is a well-written,enjoyable look back at a different and unique time in NBA history.

Fun trip down memory lane
If you read this book, you should really expect little more than nostalgia, stuff you basically already knew. You shouldn't expect that anything but the brief letters at the start of the book were actually written by Larry or Magic - the meat of the book is clearly all Jackie MacMullan's work. She does base much of it on interviews with Bird, Magic as well as most of their notable teammates and a few other key figures from during and just after the time when the game was theirs, especially informative were the quotes from NBA commissioner David Stern and Michael Jordan. But the extensive interviews would have to be a highlight of the book, providing fresh content even for people who are deeply familiar with Bird and Johnson's careers.

However, the book stops well short of providing any real depth. As it's officially written by Johnson and Bird that's largely to be expected - it breezes over the children both of them had out of marriage, for example. But there are some areas where MacMullan could have provided some more insight without offending the "authors", such as some serious insight into how their rivalry helped secure the NBA as a major sports league in America. She has some good analysis early on when describing the precarious situation of the league prior to their arrival, but precious few numbers ever arrive to show what they really did to help the league, we're just told that it happened. And while it's largely true, it's not a good sign when an author's just asking you to take their word for it.

The book lapses pretty badly into fandom in places, constantly referring to Michael Jordan as "his airness" for example. This isn't hard-hitting journalism, it's a fluff piece, an ode to a time when basketball players weren't covered in tattoos and spoke proper English. Not that there's anything wrong with nostalgia, but don't expect much insight out of this book.

Little lacking, but still good
This is a book you want to pick up if you are interested in the non-game stuff (there are enough game-related anecdotes as well) and about how the two thought of each other and interacted with each other, and especially how they felt once they saw that their dominance was fading.I think that's the part where it's most intriguing - a lot of it is left unwritten, but you get enough of a glimpse of their thoughts as they deal with their respective injuries and ailments and watch Jordan catapult into something that was only made possible because they revived (or rather, re-created) the league.

... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (28)

A highly suggested series that asks a lot of questions!
This series arrived still in original plastic and 4 days before estimated! It is by far on of my favorite purchases, and Ender's Game is my all-time favorite book. Card is a brilliant writer that can envelope you within his stories. The farther into the series you get the better it gets, and the more you have to wonder about what it truly would be like.

The Ender Quartet Box Set
Children have fewer inhibitions and are more open to learning than are we adults. Ender's Game is an excelent example of this concept, but... 3000 years have passed before 'Xenocide' takes place. Did I miss the party last Saturday? What happened during that 3000 years? I haven't read all the Ender books yet and hope there is just a wee bit more insight to Ender's life. That ought to be some very interesting reading, somehting I am looking forward to with great relish.

Great!!
I bought this for my girlfriend as a birthday gift. She was so happy that the entire series was literally at her fingertips. Once she got done reading one of them, she would quickly start the next. This is a great item for people who are fans of the series.

In terms of the transaction, the company sent the item well packaged and on time. They're great!!!

Awesome
My favorite fiction book/series of all time!!! I don't even know how many times I have read these.

Great book for new and old Sci-fi fans
Easy ready (1 weekend should be enough) and great story. If you want to try a new Sci-Fi author, this will convince you to research Orson Scott Card ... Read more

Product Description
He's copying famous serial killers and the game has just begun.

A woman is found murdered in the woods. It seems like a simple case but it soon escalates into a terrible nightmare. Someone is replicating the killing styles of the most infamous murderers of all time. No one knows this criminal's motives...or who will die next.

Two ex-Secret Service agents, Sean King and Michelle Maxwell, have been hired to defend a man's innocence in a burglary involving an aristocratic, dysfunctional family. Then a series of secrets leads the partners right into the frantic hunt that is confounding even the FBI. Now King and Maxwell are playing the Hour Game, uncovering one horrifying revelation after another and putting their lives in danger. For the closer they get to the truth, the closer they get to the most shocking surprise of all.Amazon.com Review
Two disgraced former Secret Service officers team up to solve a seriesof copy-cat crimes in this exciting new thriller by a master of thegame. Sean King was momentarily distracted when a presidentialcandidate he'd been guarding was assassinated a few feet from where hestood, and Michelle Maxwell left the Service under a similar cloudwhen she lost a "protectee" to an ingenious kidnapping scheme, eventstold in Baldacci's typical terse, fast-paced style in Split Second. Nowpartners in a private investigation firm in a small Virginia town,they're hired to investigate a burglary at the home of a wealthy localfamily. But even before the chief suspect in the break-in meets hisdeath in a gruesome slaying reminiscent of a serial killer long sincecaught and punished, King and Maxwell get caught up in a string ofother murders, each of which copies the techniques of another madman,from San Francisco's Zodiac Killer to Chicago's infamous John WayneGacy. While the two protagonists aren't especially complex orwell-developed, the action never stops, and Baldacci's trademarkpacing keeps the reader turning pages until the denouement, whichunfortunately isn't quite as satisfying as the rest of thenovel. --Jane Adams

Amazon.com Exclusive Content

Why Hour Game: An Exclusive Essay by David Baldacci

It's hard not to notice that the majority of fictional serial killers are cut from the same mold. When David Baldacci wrote Hour Game, he went out of his way to create a murderous original. Read this Amazon.com exclusive essay to learn how and why he did it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (200)

GREAT BOOK!`
This is the first Baldacci book I had read and I con't understand how anyone could rate it under 4 Stars!It's a "Can't put it down" type of book... Totally engrossing and every step of the way is another unknown!Loved it!Often Buy it as gifts for friends/family!

I don't understand ....
how this author appears on the best seller list so often, that is unless his other books are leaps and bounds above this "work".I am an avid reader and I must say that I have never (ever, ever) read a book with a plot so convoluted, so full of such insipid dialog nor so self-serving in it's solutions to the events that take place to be, well, laughable.

My recommendation:To avoid insult to your sensibilities as a reader avoid this tripe, and move cautiously into any of the other mulitude of books written by Mr. Baldacci.

Avid Non Avatar

A standard setter
This book sets my standard for one of the worst that I've ever listened to. A friend bought the set of CD's and based on the Baldacci name, I made the error of uploading the CDs into my computer - at least I didn't compound my error by spending my own money. I then completed my error by listening to this "book" and actually finishing it. The plot is trite and full of holes, the characters are not even two dimensional, and the writing is sophomoric. I previously read one Baldacci book. I won't read another after this junk.

Typical Baldacci, Outstanding
Former secret service agents Sean King and Michelle Maxwell are back again. In this story they deal with a serial killer. The first body is found in the woods in Virginia. Her watch is missing and clues found lead the police along a trail to a famous serial killer from the past. Meanwhile Sean and Michele are investigating the burglary of a wealthy couple in the area. More bodies pile up, more clues are left which make the murders look like the work of someone copying famous serial killers and it looks like the case our erstwhile ex-secret service agents are working on is connected. Like all David Baldacci books, you won't be able to put this one down, not till you're finished. Then you just might want to start over. It's that good.

Time Stops For Some, But Not When Navigating This One. :(
This book is a so-so book. It just is not quite what you would expect from this very capable and entertaining author. I have come to expect much from Baldacci, but this book just does not quite measure up to my expectations. Why? well, it is not because the writing is bad. It is not. It is not because the book is slow. It is not that either. Where the problem rests is in the fact that there are too many subplots to allow you to focus on the main plot of the book. It just gets entirely too busy, which detracts from the overall quality of the work. Anyway, get it and (maybe) enjoy a so-so work from a great author. ... Read more

Product Description
John Corey and Asad Khalil have both lived hard-knock lives. As revealed in Nelson DeMille's monster bestseller Plum Island, the gruff, wisecracking NYPD homicide cop Corey stopped a hail of bullets--but he couldn't stop his wife from walking out on him. Asad, raised under Muammar Qaddafi's eye after his dad's murder, lost his surviving family in the 1986 bombing of Libya. He's heard the nasty rumors about his mom and the colonel, but he aims his rage at the infidels. The boy's got such a gift for terrorism he's earned the nickname "the Lion," and Boris, his vodka-sozzled, sex-addicted +¬migr+¬ mentor, knows precisely how to conduct a murder tour of America one step ahead of the police, the FBI, the CIA, and the ATTF (Anti-Terrorist Task Force), which combines members of all three. A pity Boris must die, but hey, he's an infidel too.Asad pretends to defect, handcuffed to agents aboard a 747 bound for JFK, and he proves to be a worse seatmate than a siding salesman. Corey and his ATTF colleagues (most conspicuously the FBI's sexy Kate Mayfield, Corey's match in badinage and bad-guy busting) strive to halt Asad's methodical yet unpredictable bloodbath. Skillfully, DeMille alternates chapters told from Asad's and Corey's points of view. DeMille did his authenticity homework: when we're not savoring his gift for wiseacre dialogue in the Corey-Kate chapters, we're sweating alongside Asad on his ghastly, ingenious jihad. The New York Times put DeMille's social satire on a par with Edith Wharton's, and he's great on the colliding folkways of the feuding, mutually doublecrossing crimebuster institutions. Naturally, he's on the side of the regular-guy flatfoots. "Cops sit on their asses and flip through their folders," he writes. "Feds sit on their derrieres and peruse their dossiers." And the CIA gets it in the shorts, satirically speaking. One deplores the mass murderers, but the book's real bad guys wear the priciest suits.DeMille reportedly has a $25 million book contract. With fast, funny, absorbing thrillers like The Lion's Game, he's earned it. --Tim AppeloAmazon.com Review
John Corey and Asad Khalil have both lived hard-knocklives. As revealed in Nelson DeMille's monster bestseller Plum Island, thegruff, wisecracking NYPD homicide cop Corey stopped a hail ofbullets--but he couldn't stop his wife from walking out on him. Asad,raised under Muammar Qaddafi's eye after his dad's murder, lost hissurviving family in the 1986 bombing of Libya. He's heard the nastyrumors about his mom and the colonel, but he aims his rage at theinfidels. The boy's got such a gift for terrorism he's earned thenickname "the Lion," and Boris, his vodka-sozzled, sex-addictedémigré mentor, knows precisely how to conduct a murdertour of America one step ahead of the police, the FBI, the CIA, andthe ATTF (Anti-Terrorist Task Force), which combines members of allthree. A pity Boris must die, but hey, he's an infidel too.

Asad pretends to defect, handcuffed to agents aboard a 747 bound forJFK, and he proves to be a worse seatmate than a sidingsalesman. Corey and his ATTF colleagues (most conspicuously the FBI'ssexy Kate Mayfield, Corey's match in badinage and bad-guy busting)strive to halt Asad's methodical yet unpredictablebloodbath. Skillfully, DeMille alternates chapters told from Asad'sand Corey's points of view. DeMille did his authenticity homework:when we're not savoring his gift for wiseacre dialogue in theCorey-Kate chapters, we're sweating alongside Asad on his ghastly,ingenious jihad.

The New York Times put DeMille's social satire on a par withEdith Wharton's, and he's great on the colliding folkways of thefeuding, mutually doublecrossing crimebuster institutions. Naturally,he's on the side of the regular-guy flatfoots. "Cops sit on theirasses and flip through their folders," he writes. "Feds sit on theirderrieres and peruse their dossiers." And the CIA gets it in theshorts, satirically speaking. One deplores the mass murderers, but thebook's real bad guys wear the priciest suits.

DeMille reportedly has a $25 million book contract. Withfast, funny, absorbing thrillers like The Lion's Game, he'searned it. --Tim Appelo ... Read more

Customer Reviews (505)

I Just Can't Get Enough of John Corey
Asad Khalil, a terrorist known as the Lion because he is so good at what he does, had his family killed when Regan bombed Libya and for years he's wanted to get even. So he concocts a most diabolical plan. He gives himself up to the United States, boards a flight and heads Stateside for questioning.

In America, Wisecracking John Corey, back from PLUM ISLAND fame is waiting for the plane to land along with FBI agent Kate Mayfield (Corey's romantic interest in this story) and other members of ATTF, the Anti Terrorist Task Force. However, when the plane lands all the passengers and crew are dead and Khalil is not aboard.

The opening scene is so riveting that it just dares you to put the book down. I didn't. I started LION'S GAME on a Saturday Morning, right after finishing PLUM ISLAND on a Friday night and it's a good thing I didn't have anything to do on the weekend, because there are just one heck of a lot of pages in this book, which I didn't finish till Sunday night. Wow! That's all I have to say. Some people say Nelson deMille is for men, but I have to say, that's bunk. John Corey is about as cool a character as they come. It's Monday morning and tonight I'm going to start NIGHT FALL. Like I said, I just can't get enough of John Corey.

$9.99 or else
Why would anyone pay more than $9.99 for a kindle book when the paperback sells for less.Give me a break!I am a voracious reader but will go to the library rather than be ripped off and I hope everyone else does the same.

Amazing read!
The type of international thriller you can't put down. Read in one day. Amazing read!

Entertaining!!!!!!!!
I read the 900 or so page version (PPB) but let me tell you, this story was worth every page. I very much enjoy Demille's funny side, which always features John Corey. Although The Charm school was my favorite book by Demille this one is DEF worth the time and money.

I Hemmed, I Hawed, I Bought,...I Liked
For months this has whizzed along a ribbon of suggested reads on my screen.I'd pause, read the description, utter a, "meh," and buy something else.Weeks later, I read reviews, uttered another, "hmmmm...meh."Eventually it sneaked into my WISH LIST, a month later I looked it over and thought, "another machismo chump, wise-assed, rebellious womanizer, terrorist bad guy, blah, blah, blah...so overdone....blah, blah, publisher should outlaw this stuff...blah." I started in, "Here we go AGAIN..." To cut to the chase; about 30 min. in, I started to like this guy!I went from "what a disgusting pig!" to "incorrigible, but kinda witty!"No, this isn't a new story, nor is it an inventive new character, nor is there a clever new bad-guy to challenge him, but there is something that DeMille does with the same-ol's that make them kind of fun; and this bad guy is a clever, cunning, nemesis that is as worthy an adversary (apart from of those really complex psycho ones)as has graced any pages.While main character Corey may tilt over that precicpice that rims the slippery slope of cliche ex-cops, DeMille knows where to stop and how to include just enough redemption in Corey to keep him from joining the macho-clone pile.The Lion's back-story helps explain his misogynistic, anti-America compulsion, and a secret that just possibly may chink away at this lethal foe. I could complain about the perfect younger babe that falls into the sheets with Corey, or the high cheese factor with a portion of the ending, but I won't.(Plus, I think I might want to be her some day.) You know what this is up front; what you need to also know, and therefore consider, is that this one is truly entertaining and well written, with some good characters and an exceptionally lively pace.It is understandable why DeMille has a dedicated follwing.Will I buy the sequel, The Lion?Meh, probably not. But I just learned there is a prequel to Lion's Game (Plum Island) and I may possibly pick that one up.
This may be the book for you IF:
1. You like this genre, regardless of how many times you've read similar books.
2. A fast paced book, especially one that isn't lost in pages and pages of minutiae, is what you are looking for.
3. You still chuckle at witty comments, even if they are spoken by a a machismo chump, or because they ARE spoken by a m.c.
4. If Columbo would have been a tall, good looking, heroic stud--you would have been a fan.
5. Sure, you can deal with the F-bomb (gritty books call for gritty language)--but you sure appreciate when it isn't used as a gratuitous replacement for every other verb, adverb, adjective, pro-noun, etc. ... Read more

Product Description
New York Times bestselling author Brian Haig returns with a riveting new thriller about a man caught between the politics of big government and the corruption of big business.

The Capitol Game

It was the deal of the decade, if not the century.A small, insignificant company on the edge of bankruptcy had discovered an alchemist's dream; a miraculous polymer, that when coated on any vehicle, was the equivalent of 30 inches of steel.With bloody conflicts surging in Iraq and Afghanistan, the polymer promises to save thousands of lives and change the course of both wars.

Jack Wiley, a successful Wall Street banker, believes he has a found a dream come true when he mysteriously learns of this miraculous polymer. His plan: enlist the help of the Capitol Group, one of the country's largest and most powerful corporations in a quick, bloodless takeover of the small company that developed the polymer.It seems like a partnership made in heaven...until the Pentagon's investigative service begins nosing around, and the deal turns into a nightmare. Now, Jack's back is up against the wall and he and the Capitol Group find themselves embroiled in the greatest scandal the government and corporate America have ever seen... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Brian Haig has created a great story, free of vulgarity and gratuitous smut
The collision between political corruption and corporate greed makes for newsworthy headlines, but is even more riveting as the background for Brian Haig's latest thriller, THE CAPITOL GAME. In his eighth novel, the author draws on his considerable military and business experience to create an engrossing tale that has all the makings of a bestseller.

After 22 years in the Army, including four years as Special Assistant to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Haig worked in the private sector as a corporate executive. In 2001, he published his first novel, SECRET SANCTION, and has been writing a bestseller every year since. With his rich and varied background, his knack for crisp and witty dialogue, and his talent for creating memorable characters, THE CAPITOL GAME is sure to follow that winning pattern.

When it is believed that a little known company has developed a polymer capable of rendering whatever it covers with an impervious armor shield, there seems to be a golden opportunity for a smart financier to make a bundle. Add to that the fact that the company is having money problems, and it becomes the perfect target for a takeover by one of the giant holding companies. Described as relentless, ambitious and ruthless, these leveraged buyout boys live to find a company in trouble so they can give it a death blow and then take it over. Enter Jack Wiley, who is prepared to bring them an offer that they can't refuse.

He walks into the den of vipers confident, smart and fearless. The LBOs never lose, so they take him and his proposal very lightly. But Jack is a larger-than-life character. Think Jack Reacher, Joe Pike and Hawk. Yet he's not a private detective or a stoic cop. He's a Wall Street banker. And throughout this fascinating novel, he does not disappoint. His background is impeccable, his rise to partner at an established investment firm is enviable, and his plan to make a billion dollars is brilliant. Even when the author leads him into some murky waters, the reader will refuse to believe that Jack is anything but a hero. And he is always one step ahead of the bad boys.

The Capitol Group, on the other hand, consists of some stereotypical corporate types that Haig nails with gusto. From the sleazy CEO who bugs his own boardroom to the toadying sycophants who are at his beck and call, we look forward to the day that they get their comeuppance. How Jack baits the hook and reels these characters in makes for a challenging, mind-boggling story. While there is plenty of inside looks into the world of corporate takeovers and government cover-ups, there's not a bit of unnecessary or dry detail. Everything moves the story along.

Rounding out the cast of characters are government functionaries and VIPs who include members of the President's inner circle. The clandestine deals and intricate plots that are often insinuated during political campaigns come to life in THE CAPITOL GAME. And, as in real life, the inevitable denials and disclaimers only serve to make the guilty appear more guilty. In addition to giving us an informative look into the world of big business, and introducing us to some characters who we hope to run into again, Brian Haig has created a great story, free of vulgarity and gratuitous smut. I look forward to reading some of his earlier works.

--- Reviewed by Maggie Harding, a substance abuse counselor in Phoenix, AZ who wanted to be Brenda Starr before life intervened.

What a waste of time and money
I stopped punishing myself with this piece of trash on page 44.I was hoping it would get better, but it got worse.This gentleman is a master of misstated/mismanaged metaphors, naming his characters with sophmoric and wornoutidentities from works by other authors or cinimatic efforts from days of yore. Whoever edited this piece of trash ought to be given an award of incompetence, be there such a thing.

The Capitol Game
Where have I been? I am an avid reader and author of two manuscripts (thrillers), yet to be published. My wife bought me The Capitol Game by Brian Haig. Who is he? Well, by page ten I felt like I was riding on top of a bullet screaming through the Hindu Kush! I couldn't breath until I finished the book! Fantastic read and one hell of a ride. I will be reading every one of his novels because Brian Haig is now my new best friend. Thank you Mr. Haig, thank you very much! pettitsc@gmail.com

Accountability
Brian Haig's latest novel, The Capitol Game, tells a story of financial shenanigans that kept me engaged for all four hundred pages, despite some distracting ways in which Haig doesn't understand business. What he does well is keep the plot moving, as his protagonist, Jack Wiley, lives true to his name as he carefully skirts the boundaries of illegal activity. Greed leads certain characters to fall into Wiley's traps and the whole idea of accountability for behavior becomes a theme of the novel.Any reader looking for an action thriller will find excitement in the world of government contracting and private equity that Haig presents here.

Rating: Three-star (Recommended)

Satisfying Financial Thriller
See book summaries above.
With his background and writing skills, Brian Haig writes thrillers that are both satisfying and knowledgeable.
This latest novel is no exception. Character development and action/suspense is Haig's forte and he does a
fine job with both.
... Read more

Product Description
FROM THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF THE BOURNE FILMS COMES THE MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING SEAN PENN AND NAOMI WATTS

Based on Fair Game, Valerie Plame Wilson’s historic and unvarnished account of the personal and international consequences of speaking truth to power.Amazon.com Review
On July 6, 2003, four months after the United States invaded Iraq, former ambassador Joseph Wilson's now historic op-ed, "What I Didn't Find in Africa," appeared in The New York Times. A week later, conservative pundit Robert Novak revealed in his newspaper column that Ambassador Wilson's wife, Valerie Plame Wilson, was a CIA operative. The public disclosure of that secret information spurred a federal investigation and led to the trial and conviction of Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, Scooter Libby, and the Wilsons' civil suit against top officials of the Bush administration. Much has been written about the "Valerie Plame" story, but Valerie herself has been silent, until now. Some of what has been reported about her has been frighteningly accurate, serving as a pungent reminder to the Wilsons that their lives are no longer private. And some has been completely false--distorted characterizations of Valerie and her husband and their shared integrity.

Valerie Wilson retired from the CIA in January 2006, and now, not only as a citizen but as a wife and mother, the daughter of an Air Force colonel, and the sister of a U.S. marine, she sets the record straight, providing an extraordinary account of her training and experiences, and answers many questions that have been asked about her covert status, her responsibilities, and her life. As readers will see, the CIA still deems much of the detail of Valerie's story to be classified. As a service to readers, an afterword by national security reporter Laura Rozen provides a context for Valerie's own story.

Fair Game is the historic and unvarnished account of the personal and international consequences of speaking truth to power.

Customer Reviews (86)

Seemed rushed, more like a resume than a book.
Bush, Cheney and Libby should go to jail for what they did. Plame-Wilson should go to jail for writing such a crappy book.

Honestly, way too much about their socialite activities and not enough about the people involved in this scandal. I'm sure the good parts were redacted for political reasons, but there really isn't much to this book. I expected more.

This is an autobiography by someone who was just itching for a long time to brag about herself. Not a book that dealt seriously with a major act of treason by the Bush administration and the actors involved.

Our Enemy-The Government
Although this book is basically a rehash of the known criminal acts committed by high level slime balls of our government. It does furnish an insider victim's take on the petty revenge acts that were committed by a not to bright president and his close advisors. Acts which bordered on endangering the security of our country, not to mention the covert agent, her family, and a large number of her associates. A good read that sometimes is a little dry.

Worth a Read
This book is worth a read. Of course it is self-aggrandizing and exaggerates facts. No question someone belonged in jail time doing hard time for compromising Ms. Plame. She is a doll and it took a while just to stop looking at the book cover. I do wish our intel people wold stop writing books about their exploits. Intel people are supposed to keep quiet. This gives you a little clue as to the type of borderline personnel hired by the CIA these days (for politically correct reasons).

...hello, Mr. Cheney?
This is a well written book to read about an important event in recent American history that wasn't well written about in the press.I'd keep this one on your book shelf.

Fair Game by Valerie Plame Wilson
This is a very well-written book.It can be difficult to ready at times due to all the censored lines that were left in. ... Read more

Product Description
This classic 1968 Newbery Honor Book, The Egypt Game, is available in a brand new paperback edition! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (212)

Murthy
The quality of the book is very good,I like to shop more the prices are good

Worst book ever
This book is horrible I had to read it for school and I was always skipping pages trying to find way to get it over with It has no problem the people aren't interesting. If it's the last book trade it with someone else

Fabulous MUST-READ novel
This novel is fabulous!!!! I haven't taught sixht grade in years.However, I am back at this grade level, and I canNOT wait to read (and teach) this wonderful book. For the past 15 years, I have wholeheartedly recommended THE EGYPT GAME to every sixth grader(and his/her parent)I have met. It's great...

derivative story with feverish plot
A detail-rich story about children who become deeply involved in a role-playing game. April, the main character, is almost an orphan. Her father is dead and her mother, a Hollywood actress, has parked her indefinitely with Grandma. April dislikes living with her grandmother and believes her mother will soon retrieve her. She does not fit in at her new school because she puts on airs and brags about her Hollywood connections. Things get better when she meets neighbor Melanie, who shares her love of "imagining games." They decide to research ancient Egypt, and soon create a "temple" in the cluttered yard of a junk shop. Other kids become involved; they invent Egyptian names for themselves and create their own hieroglyphs. Like teenagers who play Dungeons & Dragons, they become immersed in their harmless fantasy world. However, the children are secretly watched each day by the Professor, the mysterious owner of the shop.

Then, tragedy strikes the neighborhood when a child is abducted and killed. Everything changes overnight. Kids are not allowed out unsupervised, and the Professor is suspected. The kids bring their game indoors, making costumes and developing complicated rituals for later use at the temple. During this time, April slowly becomes aware that her mother has abandoned her. One night, April makes a quick visit to the junkyard to retrieve a lost book. Suddenly, she is seized by the murderer. But someone comes to her aid... it is the Professor! April is saved!

Pre-teen girls, especially the nerdy kind, would probably like this book, but I found it tedious. The endless details about Egyptian culture filtered through a novel just didn't work for me. Also, the plot seems derivative. In Rumer Godden's An Episode of Sparrows from 1956, the main character is left by her actress mother with a family friend. She develops a fantasy world with neighborhood kids, theirs centering on a garden rather than a junkyard. The character of the Professor strongly recalls Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird. Like the Professor, Boo sits inside a house and watches neighborhood children play. When two of them are attacked one dark night, it is Boo who foils the murder attempt. And finally, the idea of an orphan as the main character of a book is extremely common in children's literature: David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, David Balfour (from Kidnapped), Anne Shirley (i.e. Anne of Green Gables), and Pippi Longstocking all preceded April, and many others followed (Harry Potter anyone?). The effect here, because the plot is not original, is to make one think, "Not again."

The book was published in 1967 and won a Newbery Honor, but for the reprinted edition 20 years later, the author changed some terminology. Melanie is now described as "African American," but the term was not invented until the 1980s, so in the original version she was probably described as "Negro" or "colored." I am opposed to such tinkering when fiction is reprinted, especially when, as in this case, it is not acknowledged, but the changes here do not diminish the story.

The illustrations by Alton Raible complement the text well; the best one shows the invented Egyptian names ("Aida" is one) and corresponding hieroglyphs.

Egypt Thematic Unit
I use this novel with my fifth grade class as we study ancient Egypt.It is complicated for some of the students to understand so we discuss a lot.The students always enjoy the fact that the book was "modern" when it was written and all of the phrases and slang are real.We get into a lot of discussions about the 1960s when we read this, also.I have to say that it is a valuable literature tool, but usually only the girls really enjoy reading it. The feedback I get is that it is because the main characters are three girls and a preschool aged boy.Girls often go on to read the sequel, which is far inferior to this novel. ... Read more

Product Description
From England to Ireland to America, an explosive wave of violence sweeps CIA analyst Jack Ryan and his family into the deadliest game of our time: international terrorism. An ultra-left-wing faction of the IRA has targeted Ryan for his act of salvation in an assassination attempt. Now Ryan must pay--with his life. HC: G.P. Putnam.Amazon.com Review
The bestselling author of Red Storm Risingand The Sum of All Fearsbrings Jack Ryan back in his to fight his deadliest battle yet.

From England to Ireland to America, an explosive wave of violencesweeps a CIA analyst and his family into the deadliest game of ourtime: international terrorism. An ultra-left-wing faction fo the IRAhas targeted the CIA man for his act of salvation in an assasinationattempt. And now he must pay ... with his life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (181)

Book
While the book was as advertised, hard bound, I wasn't aware of exactly what a turtle back was. Whne th book showed up, it was indeed hardbound, but the size of a paperback. I can't fault the vendor for my ignorance though. The service was prompt and the product was in the condition advertised

A Fantastic Thriller
Like many people, my first exposure to Tom Clancy came by way of the film version of The Hunt For Red October, still one of my favorite submarine movies of all time and still a top contender for Best Hairpiece Used By A Scot Playing A Russian. Many years and repeated viewings later I read a few opinions that compared the pace of the book very favorably to the film, o I bought the book and was floored by how great it was. In the meantime I had also seen Patriot Games, and again loved the film.

For this reason, and based on the great reviews the book has, I decided to again read the book that the film was based on and again I have come away impressed. In terms of chronology, this book actually takes place before Red October as Jack Ryan is struggling to decide whether to work officially for the CIA. While on a research trip to the UK, he is inadvertently caught up in an assassination attempt on the Prince of Wales and his family. In foiling the attempt, Ryan becomes a target for a radical cell within the PIRA that sees his intervention as a personal insult. If you've seen the movie, you know the basic framework. If not, I'll try not to spoil anything further for you.

First let address concerns raised by other reviewers for this book. Yes, Jack Ryan does come through as an almost perfect man, and the dialogue between he and his wife does get syrupy and nearly laughable. The moral deliberations on the Irish issues with the UK apparently rankled some who were more familiar with what went on, but for me it didn't make a difference. Chalk that up to my American lack of knowledge on what exactly went on, so if you have strong opinions on that conflict you may find yourself annoyed at the stance Clancy takes, which I will agree is strongly pro-Britain. Even so, outside the boundaries of the political arguments I found myself sharing his disdain (through Ryan) at the tactics of terrorists who would kill innocent children.

Outside of those failings, however, I found a expertly paced thriller that captured the breakneck action of the best spy films right there on the page. Some were less than pleased about the hospital section, but I was impressed that rather than just skip over the recoveries of the injured we got a taste of the aftermath of violence. Too often a person gets shot and is jumping the hoods of cars a week later, here we see the deliberating effects of a single bullet. Outside of that, the sections that dealt with gunplay and combat were deftly handled, with a careful sense of location and tension. In what seems to be a realistic fashion, life and death often results from mistakes made rather than a plan working perfectly. After years of James Bond and Jason Bourne, there is a welcome feel to trained men still falling prey to fate, and a turn of the weather making the difference in success or failure.

In the end, if you're looking for a taut thriller that feels more realistic than the scenarios we often see on the screen, you'll probably find a lot here to like. If you enjoyed the movie, the book will appeal as well. A great read.

KINDLE SPECIFIC COMMENTS: As other reviewers have said, there are some embarrassing errors in the Kindle version. `If' gets substituted for `It', `comer' for `corner', etc. Not a deal breaker by any means, but it is occasionally distracting.

Great book - not so great Kindle edition
I've been a Clancy fan for years and love this series.However, the Kindle edition has some obvious flaws apparent right from the beginning.The initial quotes in Patriot Games from Edmund Burke and William Webster are simply not in the Kindle edition.Also, I believe the publisher used some form of OCR (optical character recognition) to input this book.Words like 'corners' in the hard-copy edition come across in Kindle as comers.Not a big deal, but jarring nevertheless.While I love the convenience of carrying around the whole series without the need for a backpack, this kind of sloppy, lazy data transfer gives e-books a bad name.

Clancy's psuedo-politics continue
The character of 'Jack Ryan' looks good on the big screen, and ideal for cheap entertainment--but on paper our morally virtuous, ever-correct protagonist is simply unbearable. I mean, how many scenes of corny dialog between Ryan and his wife do we need to tread through to know that our esteemed Uber-patriot is a faithful family man?Clancy is just so stuck up with his fascist outlook he fabricates a faultless, working-class Irish American just for purposes of lambasting the IRA (Provisional IRA wing)--now, I am not a IRA apologist; but Clancy's story at times made me wonder if it was written by some ignorant Anglophile! Clancy's view on the Troubles--projected through the 'conscientious' Jack Ryan--is all too ignorant and disturbing; instead he wastes paragraphs lionizing the Royal Family (he even has the cajones to state that the media reports on the rocky marriage of the Prince and Princess Wales--based on Charles and Diana--are fabrications, which we all know was NOT). Not to mention that Clancy's military fetish and obsession with the Royal Navy and SAS and whatnot borders on smarmy ingratiation. The sad thing is, there's actually a good story behind this fascist facade; the procedurals and joint agency activities of the CIA, FBI and Customs make for interesting reading...only to be ruined now and then by the protagonists's (the author's) shameless ruminations of military fascism.

Spy novel
THis is a quality spy novel.It got me dreaming.I wish I could be like the hero Jack Ryan.A good escape, and that is what I like. ... Read more

Product Description
The Culture - a human/machine symbiotic society - has thrown up many great Game Players, and one of the greatest is Gurgeh. Jernau Morat Gurgeh. The Player of Games. Master of every board, computer and strategy. Bored with success, Gurgeh travels to the Empire of Azad, cruel and incredibly wealthy, to try their fabulous game...a game so complex, so like life itself, that the winner becomes emperor. Mocked, blackmailed, almost murdered, Gurgeh accepts the game, and with it the challenge of his life - and very possibly his death.

Praise for Iain M. Banks:

"Poetic, humorous, baffling, terrifying, sexy -- the books of Iain M. Banks are all these things and more" -- NME

"An exquisitely riotous tour de force of the imagination which writes its own rules simply for the pleasure of breaking them." -- Time OutAmazon.com Review
In The Player of Games, Iain M. Banks presents a distant future thatcould almost be called the end of history. Humanity has filled the galaxy,and thanks to ultra-high technology everyone has everything they want, noone gets sick, and no one dies. It's a playground society of sports,stellar cruises, parties, and festivals. Jernau Gurgeh, a famed master gameplayer, is looking for something more and finds it when he's invited to agame tournament at a small alien empire. Abruptly Banks veers intodifferent territory. The Empire of Azad is exotic, sensual, andvibrant. It has space battle cruisers, a glowing court--all the stuff ofgood old science fiction--which appears old-fashioned in contrast toGurgeh's home. At first it's a relief, but further exploration reveals theempire to be depraved and terrifically unjust. Its defects are grossexaggerations of our own, yet they indict us all the same. Clearly Banksis interested in the idea of a future where everyone can be mature andhappy. Yet it's interesting to note that in order to give us thiscompelling adventure story, he has to return to a more traditional setting. Thoughtful science fiction readers will appreciate the culturalcomparisons, and fans of big ideas and action will also be rewarded.--Brooks Peck ... Read more

Customer Reviews (88)

One of my favorites
I first read "The Player of Games" many years ago, and since then have read it at least three times.It is brilliant science fiction in a class I think can best be characterized as "utopian science fiction."Utopian in that the book takes place in a future where all ones' worldly needs are taken care of.In this case, civilization (the "Culture") spans some large volume of stars, star ships are sentient, indeed small robots are sentient, and much of the technology is so advanced it is effectively magic (although clearly scientifically and technically based).Which means it is up to the individual to fill time.The main character of this book (Gurgeh) is an individual who is particularly good at games, and who derives his self value from that skill.

The story emerges from encounters of the Culture with other species and star-faring civilization.Some members of the Culture have to deal with the sometimes unpleasant business of interacting with those civilizations.Furthermore, the Culture includes machine intelligences that are far smarter than humans, and while presumably favorably disposed to us, they do not always deal in a straightforward fashion.This book is the story of an individual who becomes enmeshed with one of those encounters (against his will).

I think part of why I enjoy Banks so much is that he writes about a type of individual who are needed, and who often make great sacrifices.Yet at the same time these individuals live on the boundaries of their society, are flawed, often manipulated, and in many cases are misfits.The latter not really the case for the main character in Player of Games, by the way, but is very must true for some of my more favorite side characters in the book.

A great read - I've recommended this book to many friends, and they have all ended up becoming Banks fans.

The Last Starfighter Grows up!
One of my favorite movies as a kid was "The Last Starfighter", a movie about a pre-teen video game junkie who defeats a space shoot-em up video game only to discover that the game was actually a test to find the Last Starfighter, the hero who could save an intergalactic civilization from being destroyed."The Player of Games" is the adult, philosophical, critical, "I got some critiques about our civilization I got to air and this is the way I am going to air them" equivalent.
The main character is an avid gamesmen- the best in the universe, hands down- who is offered the opportunity to play a different sort of game in another civilization in which the outcome of the game could determine whether or not that civiization, and others, continue to exist.Playing the game requires complete immersion into this world, the risks are high, the probability of success is not high, and the intrigue- a new kind game with elevated stakes- is too much to resist.The offer is accepted and the Player of Games finds himself playing for his life with rules he doesn't know and a purpose he really isn't sure about.
On the surface, this is a great thriller of a book and well worth the read.Being true science fiction, however, the undercurrents are critical, highlighting aspects of our own world that our problematic, and troublesome, and could possibly lead to devastating results.Fortunately, Banks allows the reader to either read for pleasure- ignoring the social and political commentary and just enjoying a good action filled drama- or to concentrate on those more philospophical points and engage in some deep thinking introspection.It is not an easy line to walk and many a good science fiction idea has been ruined by a heavy handed approach.Such is not the approach Banks takes, and the result is a quality science fiction novel that works on many levels.

Player of Games
I would not have thought that a book about a guy who plays games could be so intoxicating but, that's just how I felt while I was reading it. The story has a lot in common with what is going on with humankind on many levels (a bit to close to home). The story struck me more as reality disguised as Sci-Fi, I found it both ugly and beautiful at the same time. Of course I still feel a little intoxicated (as you maybe able to tell from this review) with no signs of becoming sober anytime soon.

Iain M. Banks is by far one of the best Sci-Fi writers, that I have come across. I highly recommend him to everyone.

Banks has created another fan!
Gurgeh, a human in the Culture is widely known as one of the greatest game players of all time. Gurgeh is persuaded (blackmailed) to travel to an empire many light years away called Azad so he can take part in a series of games. Azad is unique in that their whole society and government surround a very complex game. Gurgeh goes on a five year journey to take part in these games. He only has a couple years (during his flight) to learn how to play this game while the people of Azad have dedicated their whole lives to it. What are the motives behind all this? What are the repercussions if Gurgeh wins? Or loses?

Player of Games is my first Iain Banks book, so it's also my first Culture book. Many Culture enthusiasts recommend starting with this book and as a person who did such I also recommend starting here. I do recommend new Culture readers to check out Wikipedia and read up on the whole idea behind the mega-utopian Culture society, just so more of the book makes sense. It's not impossible to read without this insight, but it certainly does help.

I found the characters in this book to be fleshed out nicely, actually some of the best characterization I've read recently. Banks throws his characters into some interesting situations. Banks is a skillful author. This is one of those books that when I look back I visualize the scenery very vividly. His prose is very accessible and clean.

I definitely look forward to reading more Banks! I highly recommend this book.

Another solid entry in the opus
I never thought I was a fan of space opera until I read Iain Banks. I bought my first Banks' novel by accident (thought it was something else) and was appalled when I saw it was 600+ pages and full of really strange names. 50 pages in I was hooked, 300 pages in I was still up, and then when it was 3:00 a.m. and I couldn't keep my eyes open any more to follow along I finally fell into a coma and dreamt about drones and AI and the Culture. Banks is actually a much better writer than he gets credit for, and he doesn't get enough credit for his inventiveness and ability to string a plot together and keep it together for 600 pages. ... Read more