If Elmore wrote it, don't hesitate, just buy it!
599619
I own everything Mr. Leonard has ever written, he was a writing genius.  I was very sorry to hear he passed away recently, I'll miss his books something fierce.
1678475
Tim Elmore has hit a homerun with his newest book "Generation iY:  Our last chance to Save Their Future".  As an educator for 22 years, I have read numerous books on educating young people and this one rises to the top.  In a clear and easy to read manner, Elmore defines the challenge and provides us all with the solutions to meet those challenges and move together into a bright future.  This is a must read for teachers, coaches, youth workers, parents, mentors, grandparents, administrators, employers, and anyone else who works young people.  Elmore uses his own advice, capturing your interest early, showing you why this should be important to you, providing well researched data, challenging you to be a person of influence, and then providing step by step "mentorship" to get you started.  Clearly, our future lies in the hands of the iY generation.  This book has given me a fresh perspective on the needs of the iY generation and a call to action.  I plan to use this information to help me be more relevant and effective in my work with youth and at the same time to call other educators to action.  We don't have the luxury of waiting to see what the future holds, we need to act now to shape the future through the next generation of leaders.  I am energized to stand in the gap with Tim Elmore and Growing Leaders to help this generation of students find their "sweet spot".  Elmore is certainly operating in his "sweet spot" and paving the way for us to follow.  He has done the heavy lifting, now it is our turn to stand with him in this battle.  This is not a battle we can afford to lose.  This book will be a classic and as we look back from the future, we will see this time as a turning point in the shaping of the iY generation.  If you only read one book this year, make it "Generation iY:  Our Last Chance to Save Their Future", you will be refreshed, renewed and made ready.
734916
The book is short stories, first person third person, second person, etc.  Elmore Leonard's writing is always great!
2444326
If you like Elmore Lenard, you will love the book. What a story teller!  Whether he is taking you to Detroit, L A or South Florida, he is always fun to read.
724031
There's so much in this slim volume that I'm not sure where to start.  Here's the TLDR version:  it's an utter delight, and you should buy it immediately.

Our hero is a graphic designer with some meager programming skills who is left jobless by the recession.  He finds new work as a bookstore clerk, and soon discovers that the store is much more than it seems.  His quest to uncover its secrets leads only to mysteries, eventually sending him not only across the country but (figuratively) back in time to when the technology to make books widely accessible first became available.

The "I love the smell of glue" crowd is represented, as are the "print is already dead" folks.  Neither are wrong, because the book as object *and* the book as text are important in different ways.  The vast power of the Internet is harnessed, often to great effect, but human handcraft is also vital.

That would be plenty, but there's so much more.  For instance, consider the idea -- so casually tossed off -- that the world is simply filled with secret societies, the only hitch being that most of them don't realize that they're secret.  Or ponder how the standard adventuring party from role-playing games, when the roles are translated into modern terms, actually is a fine combination of human resources for accomplishing a goal quickly.  Or think on how movable-type presses were, in their day, the equivalent of a young Internet -- a new technology with limitless and thrilling potential to open vistas theretofore undreamed-of.

It's missing a few things, most notably combat and sex.  I didn't miss them.  I didn't even really notice their lack until I sat down to write this review.  There's no need for faux excitement when there's so much genuine excitement.  The book is so full of *story,* not to mention ideas, that the pages very nearly turn of their own accord.

Buy it.  Read it.  Rethink parts of your world.
2685911
Mr. Elmore has done it again. This book is so simple and straightforward that it transcends mere self-defense strategy and provides the reader with a fully realized self-defense philosophy.

Like all philosophies, flashlight fighting is easy to understand but difficult to master. You could dedicate a lifetime to practicing the techniques outlined in this book, such as shining your flashlight in your opponent's eyes, but a lifetime would not be enough time to perfect the art.

To add a footnote to Elmore's otherwise comprehensive opus on flashlight fighting, I have found that these techniques are just as effective with a Fleshlight. It doesn't matter whether you use a "kojo" length Fleshlight or prefer the heavier "Brunhilde's Lotus," Elmore's advice still applies. Plus, it's a lot more fun to practice submission holds with a Fleshlight than a maglite. You can do it while watching TV.

All in all, it's a great way to get in shape.
3022913
You should buy this. You should buy anything Lois McMaster Bujold has written except the SHARING KNIFE books. But you should only buy this one after you've already read all the others.
You should buy the book because it's Bujold, and Bujold is always informative, entertaining and insightful. War as agriculture? War as preventable accident? Science-fiction fandom and bookstore and publishing systems in Finland and Croatia? The changing definitions of space opera and what constitutes true science fiction? All here, and well told. It's several quiet evenings with a well-informed, highly-intelligent friend.
You should buy it last because of the organization--or rather the absence of same. The publishers rightly note that it's a collection of unpublished or uncollected--well, everything: speeches, introductions to books, travel stories, notes to accompany award nominations and long essay-like blog entries. As a result, there are odd gaps and numerous repetitions. There was relatively little on the later Vorkosiverse novels, but I lost count of how many times I was told of the writing of SHARDS OF HONOR and BARRAYAR, and of the sale of her first three novels. Her mother and brother are barely sketched in, but her father is never long off-stage. If she were telling a single long story, she'd probably fix that. But this isn't a long story, but dozens--scores!--of two or three-page stories, and like all of us, she repeats her favorites.
I'm glad I bought it. But I'm also glad I didn't put off buying a Bujold novel or short story collection to afford it.
4919506
I've been a reader of Brian Switek's Laelaps blog for years, and so I've known Written in Stone was coming.  For years, I waited.  At last, 'tis here!  And I have only one thing to say to the author:

Brian, this had better be the start of a long and prolific career, because one's not enough, buddy.

This book constantly surprised me - not because it was good (it's Brian Switek, so obviously it's good!), but because of the number of times it made me say, "I didn't know that!"  It's populated with bajillions of scientists I've read a lot about, people like Charles Darwin and Nicolaus Steno and Richard Owen, some of whom have been so extensively babbled about in the pop sci books that it seemed nothing new and interesting remained to reveal - but Brian almost always managed to find a little something awesome that hasn't made it into the 42,000 other books about them.  And lest you think this is merely a history of paleontology, keep in mind that Brian fleshes out that history with the newest of the new discoveries.  I'm amazed by how much territory he managed to cover without seeming to skimp.  It's not that big a book!

It wasn't just things about people I didn't know, but how and why certain traits evolved.  Brian's filled gaps in my knowledge I didn't even realize I had.  That chapter on horse evolution: definitely worth the wait.  Got me thinking in whole new directions, that did, and that kind of thinking is like solid gold to an SF writer.

He set out to prove that the fossil record, despite some arguments to the contrary, is essential to understanding evolution, and I do believe he succeeded.  It certainly seems like we wouldn't have discovered as much as we did without the evidence those big, extinct critters showed us.  I love the way he lays things out, like a poker player spreading out a particularly fine royal flush.

I love this book not just because it's Brian's and it's wonderful, but because it's unflinching.  Evolution is fact, paleontology's got the evidence, no quarter given.  And when the time comes in the human evolution chapter to talk about Piltdown Man, he dispatches that with such alacrity you don't quite realize he just shot it through the heart.  It's this simple: there was a hoax, some people fell for it, scientists figured it out and exposed the hoax, done.  I love that.  And the whole book is like that: one long demonstration that while science is sometimes messy, it gets the job done in the end.  Scientists aren't perfect, but they don't need to be in order to advance our knowledge.  And again and again, Brian takes down the evolution-as-linear-progress myth.  If you're not left with the idea that evolution's a big brushy, branchy tree rather than one great chain of being leading to inevitable us, then you weren't reading this book.  Either that, or you're ineducable.

There's also quite a few shout-outs to geologists in here, which is much appreciated!

A lot of people need this book: people interested in science; the history of science; paleontology; evolution; people thinking about becoming scientists; anyone who's ever loved dinosaurs, birds, fish, mammoths, mammals, whales, horses or humans; people ignorant of science; those creationist relatives who love to yammer about "gaps in the fossil record"; people who don't know what a fossil record is....  Look, basically, everyone needs this book.

This is just a layman's review, but if you Google "Written in Stone," you'll find a great many reviews by actual scientists and science writers, such as Chris Rowan and Anne Jefferson, Maryn McKenna, Ed Yong, Deborah Blum, and many more.  It's not often you can feel utterly confident in a purchase.  This is one of those times.
4628150
Elminster, the name resounds with familiarity to millions.  He is all but synonymous with the Forgotten Realms.  Ed Greenwood, likewise, the grandfather of all things Fearunian brings to life the lands of old, and  while he's at it he tells the tale of a young sheppard boy, who would  someday be both beloved and despised by millions of people, both real, and  imaginary.  Greenwood, who has a tendency to through in nudity for no other  sake than its own, strikes gold with El:MotM.  Recounting his tale from his  humble youth through the culmination of years of vengeful longing.  We  witness as Elminster Aumar tackles the arts of combat, thievery, and  priestcraft.  We see the elves of Toril, and get introduced to the  Maulagrym, a fearsome foe detailed in "The Shadows of the Avatar  trilogy". We meet a living Shoon, the mighty Mystra, Lady of Magic,  and several small time thieves who add a touch of comic relief with that  trademark Greenwood wit.  This first of three books detailing the life of a  young Elminster, is a true winner.  For any realms fan it's a must, for  anyone who wants to love El, or wants to Hate him, this is a must.  Read  this book.
3472038
I enjoyed this collection of Elmore Leonard short stories. I also enjoyed the book some years back when it was released as "When the Women Come Out to Dance." Since I'd forgotten many of the details (Raylan was nearing 50 and had two half-grown sons?), this was a good refresher course.

It is hard not to be a bit cynical, though.  Why release the book again under another name except to fool unwary readers like me? And why else change the title from a world-class entry to a lesser story?

Leonard fans who haven't read the book under either title are in for a treat. His style works particularly well in short story format. Each entry, whether set in the Old West or among the modern day criminal element, is a gem and feels like a scene from a movie or an episode of a television series, leaving readers wanting to see the characters again.
187632
It seems redundant to echo all the good reviews previously posted, but I'll do it anyway. This book is a winner all the way. I ordered a sample, read it, and immediately bought it. Didn't even know how much it cost at that point.  Edward is an endearing character who will stay with you a long time.

Bravo, Craig Lancaster!
4455862
Not since Bruce Spizer's fantastic books were released have I been this excited about a new publication. I've reviewed many books over the years, and this offering is among the top releases to be published in a good long time. Hard to believe this is Jeff Marcus' first offering as it truly has all the flavor and quality that are usually found only in the work of veteran authors. Kudo's for this one Jeff!
First off, ...The cover. It really is the nicest looking cover I've ever seen for any record or music book (my own included.) It appears to be plugged into some outlet somewhere to give such powerfully strong and bright emission. And the interior information and sheer entertainment certainly lives up to the cover every inch. For sure we've worn out the "you can't put it down" phrase over the years, but it fits so aptly here that I'm forced to use it again. This book is not simply an evaluation guide for the miriad of interesting hit releases (and oftentimes very interesting NON hit releases!), it's also an incredibly interesting read covering the cultural impact of each release along with numerous facts and items you probably didn't know. As well, each entry is accompanied with beautiful full color high resolution images that are like having a collection of these great old artifacts in a beautifully illustrated binder! I highly recommend this book to any music fan or collector. It will no doubt, be a proud addition to any music library. This book and it's accompanying and equally incredible 2nd volume may be Jeff's first offerings, but they will hopefully not be his last.
271406
So much comedy from such a deep and basically religious subject. And a minister to boot! His writing is superb, his timing perfect. Elmo is a jewel! I loved these books, they gave me a "real life" look at maybe what our churches go through and the solemnity of those who run the "good ones". I want to think that most men of God are like Elmo...
539982
This book is fantastic! The story is well written and great for anyone expecting a second child. Love Elmore Green!
4877481
Title says it all. If you're reading these reviews in the first place, then you're interested. Just go buy it! You won't be disappointed, I promise.
4470989
I'm not going to make this a long review since there are 99 others (at this point) and I would most likely just be repeating.

What I will say is that I read this book just over a month ago.  Actually I've read it twice straight through and it remains within an arm reach away when I'm in my office.  Some days, when I'm struggling with something I just open it up anywhere are read a page or two.  It doesn't necessarily answer my question at hand but it does spark the creativity I needed to answer it myself.

You're insane if you don't buy it.  If you can't afford to buy it head to your library!
3016751
Leven Thumps fans!
You must have this.
This little book is not only well-done, not only hilarious, and not only originally executed, but it also fills in and colors much of the backgrounds and past of more than one minor character from that series.
I highly recommend it.
The book takes the very unique form of a textbook assigned to Clover, Leven Thumps's humorous sidekick, but is full of extensive notes allegedly written by Clover himself, and also includes a handful of notes from author Obert Skye (who claims to have bought the book on E-bay from Leven's sinister guardian).  The voice of the pretentious teacher who wrote the textbook is hilariously pompous, Clover's notes offer real insight and depth to that character, and the whole thing has given Obert Skye a welcome chance to be even funnier and more random than he's been in the first two volumes of the series.
The book looks great, feels great, and is loaded with notes and pictures and even hidden messages.
If you are a fan of the Leven Thumps series, do not consider this an optional read.  You need this.  It even tells how Leven got that white spot in his hair!
Buy it now!