All the fun of cryptozoology without having to feel like a crackpot
352038
All the fun of cryptozoology without having to feel like a crackpot!  This would have ranked five stars, but I had to hold one back to differentiate it from his other book, All Yesterdays, which gets the coveted five. Darren Naish is my favorite author when it comes to making me think about zoology in ways I never had before. Plus he does a mean Yoda impression and has an excellent singing voice.
4018397
rapture ready made me laugh out loud, get a little uncomfortable, email paragraphs to friends, email parts to pastors, buy copies for friends, and just flat out have a good time while i was reading.

radosh brings out some amazing points about some of the cheesy and sometimes embarrassing parts of Christian culture, but i love that he isn't making blanket statements.  there's good and bad in everything - just like in this parallel universe - and some aspects are to be mocked, and others to be exalted.

it's a fun read. i highly recommend.
1275145
I never thought Id meet another woman who admitted to being bored at the Olympics of sexual gymnastics  a Ping-Pong sex show in Thailand. (I refer you to her hilarious chapter I Find My Husband Rappelling.) The genius of Cindy Chupack is that she makes you feel like shes your best and funniest friend. She takes you through the highs and lows of her early married life  the initial romance, the adventure travel, health scares, money issues and the aching pain of infertility (and the trying nature of trying).

But in the end, where I most want to be with my new authorial friend is accompanying her on her most mundane activities  walking her oversized dog around her neighborhood; sitting on her couch sipping pumpkin-infused vodkas; and binging on Reality TV. This is because her writing makes me feel that she can find the humor in anything. It doesnt matter where she finds it, I just want to be there when it happens. This to me, is a little like what the holy grail of seeing marriage as a long date is about. Because, as a long-term couple, if you cant make sitting on your couch feel as exciting as watching a ping-pong show in Thailand, then its not going to be a longest date for very long. If Cindys relationship with her husband is as fun, considered and artfully-crafted as her writing, then who doesnt want to go over to their house of sand and fur for dinner?

Her book itself is like a great date. Chupack presents her marriage in its best light (every chapter is impeccably humorous and spiffily written), while still making it seem totally heartfelt, honest and real. She addresses ordinary concerns that appeal to many people, yet infuses them with enough specificity that she feels at once entirely accessible (thus the desire to be her friend) and unique enough for you to marvel at her specialness (thus the desire to be her best friend.) The good news for Cindy is that now that her book is done, she can turn her attentions back to her husband. Unfortunately, for the rest of us, our date with Cindy and Ian lasts only the length of a fast-paced book. And, as after any great date, I am left reluctant for it to end and yearning for another.
2294198
Fascinating accounts by families who have Sasquatches living in the wilderness by their house and are getting visited by them.  It's much better than "Visits From The Forest People" (in my opinion), if you're looking to learn about interactions with these strange hominids.  The photos are small and worthless, but I didn't buy this book for photos.  I wanted to read about people's experiences.  It's a fun, easy, quick read and the perfect gift for someone who might have a Sasquatch in their back yard. This book doesn't have any accounts from the Pacific Northwest.  I'm hoping the author goes there next.
1970723
I was pleased to be asked to illustrate for this book by Bill Gibbons and Kent Hovind. As a wildlife artist I am fascinated by natural mysteries and I have loved the subject of cryptozoology since I was very young. While  growing up I had mostly read accounts only of Loch Ness and Bigfoot. When  first asked to participate in this book I made certain they would venture  far beyond the "run of the mill" accounts of Nessie and Bigfoot.  This little book enlightens the reader to a myriad of mysterious animals  sighted worldwide by reliable eyewitnesses. "Claws, Jaws &  Dinosaurs" is a first of its kind Creation Science book dedicated to  the subject of cryptozoology as evidence of a young earth. Whether of not  readers agree with the view of Creation Science, if they enjoy  cryptozoology, they will want this little book in their personal library.
4945660
Where Legends Roam by Lee Murphy is a quick and fun read chocked full of cryptozoological tidbits.  From the opening chapter's title, "Hong Kong, 1935" I knew it would be just a few hours before I was finished with the book.
I must admit to being a little put-off by Murphy's at times Hemingway-like descriptions, but as the book progressed they made things even more tangible.  The characters in the book are solid, from the stoic and righteous George Kodiak to the downright revolting Norm Cocke.
Real life folks are also mentioned, like the ISC and Peter Byrne.  However most of the characters associated with the search for Bigfoot in this first installment of the Kodiak Books are more akin to something out of Deliverance than they are to real Hairy Hominid researchers... well, for the most part.
Buy it.  You'll enjoy it. I did, and I'm looking forward to the next one.
1734503
As someone with decades of being "rewarded" for sitting still in thought-work - by parents, teachers, bosses, and the hypnotizing eyes of the TV and computer screens - Exuberant Animal helps wake me up from insidious trance of "my mind is separate from and more important than my body." Frank's essays are playfully sculpted snowballs thrown at my subconscious limiting beliefs.  In each, Frank lobs a first bracing splat of fresh perspective, then circles us with the latest thoughts from movement physiology, neuroscience, evolutionary biology, anthropology, and universal notions of spiritual quest.  Like one of his conditioning play games, I delight in catching more snowballs from all sides until I have to take a deep breath, laughing at how crazy-upside-down I've been living my life.  I'm left with inspiring insights about small and easy things I can do throughout the day that add up to a big difference.  I don't need to overhaul my lifestyle with the "discipline to achieve" fitness.  I simply need to have FUN tuning into the playful, moving, sentient animal I am meant to be.
423007
Disclaimer: I've known Dean Webb for mumble years, in an on the internet way of knowing. We've done email, though not so much in recent years.

Anyway, mumble years ago, quite early this century, I read some of Dean's fiction online. Most of what I recall reading at the time showed the clear influence of HP Lovecraft, which is the sort of thing that appeals to me, which is probably why I recall reading them. Well, that and a character by the name of Cthulhu Jones who popped up here and there...

So, when Dean announced he'd published a book of his short fiction on Amazon, I was more than happy to buy it, and indeed read it. There's a nice range of stuff here - some inspired by HP Lovecraft, but with a nice twist, some inspired by nothing more than Dean's own way of looking at things, which makes for interesting reading, and more than a few laughs.

I won't talk about every story in the book - but here are a few that particularly appealed to me:

On the Unanticipated Consequences of My Friendship with Nate - Time travel can get very awkward, especially if multiple timelines come into it. It can also be very funny, though not necessarily for the people involved. Nicely done.

The Frog's Promise - You know all those fairy stories which involve princesses kissing frogs? Dean takes that idea, runs with it, jumps up and down on it, twists it, and generally has a whole lot of fun with it. I don't want to tell you more, because that would spoil the fun, wouldn't it?

Smackdown - OK, this one works for me on several levels. It involves a sort of detective who just happens to be called Dean Webb, who has to deal with troublesome fictional characters while drinking far too many fizzy soft drinks. It also sees the return of one of Dean's phrases that I'll never forget: all over it like a donkey on a waffle (which makes as much sense as most of my encounters with Dean). And Cthulhu, so there's something for everyone. Great fun, and more of the same would be a Good Thing, so it's a good job that Ship of Fools is a sequel. Huge fun, and even more would be welcome.

Then there's the series of stories about the inventions of Dr Negron-Omikon, which tend to have unforeseen consequences, in the finest tradition of the kind of pulp sf I grew up on, and which hardly anyone writes these days. Good stuff.

And finally, I'll mention Laser Gun Training, Day One, a fine tale of paranoia and lunacy in a society that Big Brother could only have dreamed of creating.

There's more, of course - eighteen stories in all, mostly short and to the point, and pretty damn good. One or two didn't push my particular buttons, but they may well push those of people whose taste doesn't run to fictional characters causing trouble, not to mention Great Old Ones.
2116630
First off, I loved this book! I finished it in just a few days. It was that good.

"Paranormality" covers a lot of ground, but the author is very funny and I even caught myself laughing out loud. Each chapter deals with different realms of the supernatural, including psychics, ghosts, among other things. Wiseman does a great job explaining each set of claims with an example or two, then giving scientific explanations for each phenomena.

My favorite part of the book is that the author includes little activities that demonstrate the effect being described. One was placing an 'X' in a square box where we thought buried treasure would be found. I, along with three of my friends, chose the same location, which was where many others pointed as well (page 24). Wiseman also gives little lessons on how to amaze your friends with supposed "supernatural abilities."

Many of the things he covered I've been itching to get an answer to for a while. One was whether or not hypnosis is actually possible (read the book to find out).

As a skeptic, many of my friends tell stories of ghosts and going to psychics, and when I question it, they ask me to give my explanation of the phenomena. I've done fairly well, but with the help of this book and the insights from Wiseman, I have a completed arsenal to debunk supernatural claims.

Other books to pick up:
"The Demon-Haunted World" by Carl Sagan
"The Believing Brain" by Michael Shermer
3734174
The Elder Ice was great fun. The hero was believable and just plain fun. Harry Stubbs is someone I could easily see my self cheering for ringside or with Lovecraftian horrors in the room.
I especially loved the connections between Lovecraft's tales and historical myths. So much fun.
4773078
I agree with an earlier reviewer that there are a lot of books on the Appalachian Trail that contain  overused philosophies and transcendentalist epiphanies. This one breaks free of all that.

For both thru-hikers and anyone else that's heard about the AT, this is a laugh-out-loud book that captures all the things that are hardest to convey about hiking the AT in very humorous and insightful way. It's rich in all the small details that make thru-hiking culture interesting and fun. It's all there, from the dubbing of trail names to the dynamics that develop between people that come to the trail from different backgrounds with different expectations and varying levels of backpacking experience. All of this plays out among a very realistic cast of characters that could be found on the trail in any year. The author has a great writing style that settles into a friendly narrative, that like any good book lets you forget that you're even reading at all. It skillfully builds an awareness of the more meaningful aspects that come from spending 6 or so months in the woods, without the slightest hint of being preachy. I can't recommend it highly enough to anyone interested in AT, or in great writing. An instant AT classic. I can't wait for Book Two.
3044203
This collection of short tales provided a much-needed escape from reality while still allowing me to relate to the characters...no matter how strange some might be. What I love about the book is the author's creativity, simplicity, subtle messages (without coming across as preachy), and her ability to apply these stories to readers of all ages. In a time when so many stories lack true writing efficiency and focus more on excessive descriptive prose, Things from Other Worlds is a breath of fresh air for those of us who want fast-paced and compact storytelling. Additionally, it's difficult to take any one of these stories too seriously thanks to Johnson's humor, which only adds to the book's allure.
4940007
Please don't be put off, dear reader, by the first very weighty and psuedo intellectual  review to appear with this book. This reviewer must have thought his task was to critique a doctoral dissertation (perhaps the "Dr." Zorro name threw him off).  This is a delightful piece of fluff which is obviously intended to be, and succeeds uproariously as good solid entertainment.  Please do not look for life lessons or deep psychological insights to emerge from this work.  Put your problems on hold and enjoy a wild romp through a crazy, colorful, and decadent decade. I enjoyed every word, didn't want to finish it because I would have to put it down.  So, I did what I have done with every beloved book I have ever read ( I have
have a degree in literature, so have done a pile of reading). I picked it back up and immediately read it again.  Now, I just have one question for Dr. Zorro - when is the next installment?
2870629
This book is packed with great information and even-handed appraisal of cryptids and potential species of many types. Some of the information in this book is hard to find elsewhere. I would recommend this book to any person interested in Cryptozoology, it certainly made a great addition to my library.
1259546
To my intense surprise and delight, Cthulhu 2000 proved to be a pretty good collection of highly diverse tales, a fair number of them good-humored send-ups that I was almost embarrassed to admit I found myself laughing with - my favorite being "Love's Eldritch Ichor," a very funny piece about a descendant of the Old Ones and a book editor falling in love in a Lovecraftian mansion a la The Addams Family, which, believe it or not, is a lot better than it sounds.
But I was even more surprised at the collection of legitimate horror stories, some as genuinely creepy as anything Lovecraft ever penned himself. Not all the stories are strictly Lovecraftian by connection, but most are essentially true to his overriding theme of cosmic terror. Don't expect straight Lovecraft, and you might find yourself really loving this book. I did.
1608841
I read volume 2 before reading this book.  As much as I enjoyed the second book, I felt like something was missing.  Well of course the reason the the journey and the introduction of the characters was a minor miss.

Even as a work of fiction this is an enjoyable read.  If one has done any hiking at all it is no stretch of the imagination to see each of these individuals on the trail.  I literally laughed out loud as I could easily visualize the crazy things people bring to the trail, materially and emotionally.  This is a pleasant romp along the ancient footpath.
239334
Being morbid has never been this much fun. While not an over-gruesome book, this is just matter-of-fact enough to be interesting, which pairs well with the rather eyebrow-raising title. A few pages each are devoted to an array of wildly interesting deaths with the nitty-gritty details on what would become of your body. It's all very scientific as far as I can tell, but more importantly makes for a great read you can pick up and flip through at any time.