Book Description
In the life of Precious Ramotswe–a woman duly proud of her fine traditional build–there is rarely a dull moment, and in the latest installment in the universally beloved No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series there is much happening on Zebra Drive and Tlokweng Road. Mma Ramotswe is experiencing staffing difficulties. First Mr. J.L.B. Mate-koni asks to be put in charge of a case involving an errant husband. But can a man investigate such matters as successfully as the number one lady detective can? Then she has a minor falling-out with her assistant, Mma Makutsi, who decides to leave the agency, taking the 97 percent she received on her typing final from the Botswana Secretarial College with her.
Along the way, Mma Ramotswe is asked to investigate a couple of tricky cases. Will she be able to explain an unexpected series of deaths at the hospital in Mochudi? And what about the missing office supplies at a local printing company? These are the types of questions that she is uniquely well suited to answer.
In the end, whatever happens, Mma Ramotswe knows she can count on Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, who stands for all that is solid and true in a shifting world. And there is always her love for Botswana, a country of which she is justifiably proud.
Customer Reviews:
Another triumph for McCall Smith.......2007-09-28
I eagerly awaited this new installment in the series, and was not disappointed, although there were a few parts in this novel that moved slowly. The situations in this novel seemed real, the types of human relationship issues we all deal with on a daily basis. Things are not always lovely, people do disagree and doubt one another, and this novel revealed this underside of humanity. I hope this series will continue, as I am anxious to find out more about Mme Makutsi and her upcoming marriage, and also about the kids, who appeared only briefly in this novel. If you have not listened to the audio, run to your public library and check it out. Lisette Lecat's wonderful voice has gotten me through many long and tedious road trips.
The Best So Far!.......2007-09-20
My husband and I listened to this on our trips to my doctor and we really enjoyed this one. It has more than one subplot, and held our attention. As always, the narrator is wonderful. This series is like comfort food - always satisfying even if it doesn't have the most substance. No profanity, no real violence--just great entertainment.
Another charmer.......2007-08-28
What can I say? This is another charming installment in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. I wish Mma Ramotswe and Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni really existed so I could meet them. At any rate, this series makes me want to visit Botswana. If you liked the other books, you will definitely like this one. If you are starting out, read them in order from the beginning.
Earthy Wisdon.......2007-08-26
Close to the earth, close to what's real and true (if there is ever a 'true'). Very personal to me as I lived in Botswana some years ago for a few years. An authentic rendition of the ways of living and the general 'feeling' of Botswana. I have all 7 of the series and re-read the previous 6 before reading the newest one. I loved the immersion. Mma Ramotswe is wise. Her character is not unique to Botswana but Botswana offers a fine ambience for developing and displaying wisdom. Over the coming years I intend to re-read the series frequently.
Not the best in the series..........2007-08-24
This was a surprise eighth installment to a series that was supposed to end with seven. While I am a big fan of the series, I found this particular book to be disappointing for a number of reasons, most of them related to the plot.
As is his usual set-up, McCall Smith starts a series of mini-mysteries to be solved by the ever-resourceful Mma Ramotswe and/or her colorful assistant, Mma Makutsi. In this book, several characters get their own mystery to solve, some with more success than others. Some of the plot lines break down, only to be gathered up hastily with weak explanations. There is also a lack of continuity between some of the story lines.
While the subplots have some definite leaks, the author's painting of the characters continues to be what makes these books so good. The reader learns a bit more about Mr. JLB Matekoni, although the mystery behind his depression remains as such. Mma Makutsi continues to have enjoyable dialogues with her shoes as she prepares for the next phase in her life. The children, Motholeli and Puso, make only brief appearances, as does Phuti Radiphuti.
There are still a few open loops in the tale of Mma Ramotswe and cohorts, so the author might not be finished with the series. Should there be a next installment, however, I hope that McCall Smith finds a fresh supply of creative plot lines.
Book Description
In the newest addition to the universally beloved No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, the charming and ever-resourceful Precious Ramotswe finds herself overly beset by problems. She is already busier than usual at the detective agency when added to her concerns are a strange intruder in her house on Zebra Drive and the baffling appearance of a pumpkin. And then there is Mma Makutsi, who decides to treat herself to dance lessons, only to be partnered with a man who seems to have two left feet. Nor are things running quite as smoothly as they usually do at Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors. Mma Ramotswe’s husband, the estimable Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, is overburdened with work even before one of his apprentices runs off with a wealthy woman. But what finally rattles Mma Ramotswe’s normally unshakable composure is a visitor who forces her to confront a secret from her past. . . .
All this unfolds against the sunlit background of Mma Ramotswe’s beloved homeland, Botswana–a land of empty spaces, echoing skies, and an endless supply of soothing bush tea.
Customer Reviews:
Delight in Cheerful Ladies!.......2007-08-14
In the Company of Cheerful Ladies, the sixth book in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith continues to delight the reader, by allowing us to visit the enchanted world of Botswana through the eyes of the number one lady detective Precious Ramotswe. We peak into a foreign world which seems oddly familiar. It is a world we knew during days of Andy Griffith and Leave It to Beaver. This time however we see the world through African eyes.
Precious Ramotswe, is a Botswanan lady of traditional build and traditional values, even so she is modern enough to establish her own detective agency, something unheard of in Botswana. Precious is a shrewd woman with an innate sense of right and wrong . She holds to traditional Botswanan values, while solving any puzzle or predicament which her clients may present her.
She is not with out help and support. Precious is newly married to Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni who is a mechanic with strong values of service and care. Also in the cast of characters is Mma Makutsi, Precious' associate. Mma Makutsi is a more modern woman, but one who values hard work. Together they create a truly delightful mix of personalities.
When the personalities combine with the everyday details of Botswana, slices of each characters life and personal dilemmas and the puzzles which the clients present , the reader can delight in a true literary dish that is not to be missed.
A reader of In the Company of Cheerful Ladies cannot help but wish to travel to Botswana and meet Precious Ramotswe.
Mystery and Laugh Out Loud Funny.......2007-08-09
O Boy! Want some mystery? Good clean humor? No violence? Precious Ramotswe, a traditionally-built woman without apology, and her pals are here for us. She and her assistant, Grace (who gets advice from her colorful designer shoes), are very entertaining and many times, laugh-out-loud funny. I read the entire Ladies' Detective series in a couple of weeks. The books average about 200+ pages each. Set in modern Botswana and written by Alexander Mccall Smith, the reader may be encouraged to visit Botswana and Her people.
Excellent Author.......2007-07-05
Keeps your interest all the way through the book, in fact, throughout the whole series.
Pumpkins, green dancing shoes, and decrepit white vans..........2007-05-16
Alexander McCall Smith has outdone himself in this book! Even if you haven't read the entire Ladies Detective Agency series, you could dive in with this one and be totally satisfied. Don't be put off by a slow start...the beginning will slow you down to Botswana time, but unexpected things soon begin to happen and by the end of the book, several different plot threads are nicely tied up with bows (except for two, which remain unresolved...perhaps for the next book).
Precious Ramotswe and Grace Makutsi usually solve the problems of others, but in this book Mma Ramotswe has a terrible problem which at first seems insoluble. It threatens her marriage...but ultimately, with help from an unexpected source, it is resolved.
Grace decides to go to dancing school -- to dance, certainly, but also possibly to meet a cultivated man. She does meet someone. If you have ever done likewise, you will love the description of the first dance lesson, Grace's feelings at what transpires, her decision to be kind even though she gets stuck with someone who seems to have no dancing ability whatsoever. McCall Smith is unparalleled at setting up moral dilemmas full of the complexity and the humor of everyday life, and resolving them in ways that warm the heart and delight the brain.
The relationship between Grace and Precious (glimpses of their differences and their mutual judgments of each other, coexisting with their loyalty and devotion) takes on new depth in this book, as does the relationship between Precious and J.L.B. Matekoni, and between J.L.B. and Grace, who make a surprising discovery together (one of the two plot threads left unresolved).
Several lesser subplots twine around these stories like morning glory vines. At the end of the last chapter, Grace says to Precious, "We have never had so much happen all at the same time. It is better for things to happen separately." Precious agrees...but I think the reader may disagree! McCall Smith delights us with his plot juggling and I for one can't wait to see what comes next.
If this is your first time reading the series -- it's wonderful. Otherwise, repetitive & tedious........2007-04-28
The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency series is charming. This is the sixth installment I've read. Unfortunately, 60% of the content of this edition has been covered in the first three books, which I found frustrating.
If you have read other novels in the series, you may skip wholesale passages of this book -- literally turn over pages and just scan them. The plot is not advanced, and the book is cluttered by the repetition. I became frustrated with the lack of plot movement over entire chapters. What was sweet and tender in the first three books has become tepid and stagnant by the sixth.
However -- if this is your first time reading the series, you may become entranced and probably will want to read the rest as fast as possible. Read the first three books next.
Amazon.com
Penzler Pick, July 2001: Working in a mystery tradition that will cause genre aficionados to think of such classic sleuths as Melville Davisson Post's Uncle Abner or Robert van Gulik's Judge Dee, Alexander McCall Smith creates an African detective, Precious Ramotswe, who's their full-fledged heir.
It's the detective as folk hero, solving crimes through an innate, self-possessed wisdom that, combined with an understanding of human nature, invariably penetrates into the heart of a puzzle. If Miss Marple were fat and jolly and lived in Botswana--and decided to go against any conventional notion of what an unmarried woman should do, spending the money she got from selling her late father's cattle to set up a Ladies' Detective Agency--then you have an idea of how Precious sets herself up as her country's first female detective. Once the clients start showing up on her doorstep, Precious enjoys a pleasingly successful series of cases.
But the edge of the Kalahari is not St. Mary Mead, and the sign Precious orders, painted in brilliant colors, is anything but discreet. Pointing in the direction of the small building she had purchased to house her new business, it reads "THE NO. 1 LADIES DETECTIVE AGENCY. FOR ALL CONFIDENTIAL MATTERS AND ENQUIRIES. SATISFACTION GUARANTEED FOR ALL PARTIES. UNDER PERSONAL MANAGEMENT."
The solutions she comes up with, whether in the case of the clinic doctor with two quite different personalities (depending on the day of the week), or the man who had joined a Christian sect and seemingly vanished, or the kidnapped boy whose bones may or may not be those in a witch doctor's magic kit, are all sensible, logical, and satisfying. Smith's gently ironic tone is full of good humor towards his lively, intelligent heroine and towards her fellow Africans, who live their lives with dignity and with cautious acceptance of the confusions to which the world submits them. Precious Ramotswe is a remarkable creation, and The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency well deserves the praise it received from London's Times Literary Supplement. I look forward with great eagerness to the upcoming books featuring the memorable Miss Ramotswe, Tears of the Giraffe and Morality for Beautiful Girls, soon to be available in the U.S. --Otto Penzler
Book Description
This first novel in Alexander McCall Smith’s widely acclaimed The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series tells the story of the delightfully cunning and enormously engaging Precious Ramotswe, who is drawn to her profession to “help people with problems in their lives.” Immediately upon setting up shop in a small storefront in Gaborone, she is hired to track down a missing husband, uncover a con man, and follow a wayward daughter. But the case that tugs at her heart, and lands her in danger, is a missing eleven-year-old boy, who may have been snatched by witchdoctors.
The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency received two Booker Judges’ Special Recommendations and was voted one of the International Books of the Year and the Millennium by the Times Literary Supplement.
Download Description
This first novel in Alexander McCall Smith’s widely acclaimed The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series tells the story of the delightfully cunning and enormously engaging Precious Ramotswe, who is drawn to her profession to “help people with problems in their lives.” Immediately upon setting up shop in a small storefront in Gaborone, she is hired to track down a missing husband, uncover a con man, and follow a wayward daughter. But the case that tugs at her heart, and lands her in danger, is a missing eleven-year-old boy, who may have been snatched by witchdoctors.
The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency received two Booker Judges’ Special Recommendations and was voted one of the International Books of the Year and the Millennium by the Times Literary Supplement.
“The Miss Marple of Botswana.”
THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW
“The author’s prose has the merits of simplicity, euphony and precision. His descriptions leave one as if standing in the Botswana landscape. This is art that conceals art. I haven’t read anything with such unalloyed pleasure for a long time.”
ANTHONY DANIELS, THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
“The writing [is] very accessible, yet the prose so beautiful.... I choose books that give me pure joy, whose world I want to stay in for a long time.”
AMY TAN, FOR THE TODAY SHOW BOOK CLUB
“General audiences will welcome this little gem of a book just as much if not more than mystery readers.”
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
“Smart and sassy...Precious’s progress is charted in passages that have the power to amuse or shock or touch the heart, sometimes all at once.... Thoroughly engaging and entertaining.”
THE LOS ANGELES TIMES
“One of the best, most charming, honest, hilarious and life-affirming books to appear in years.”
THE PLAIN DEALER (CLEVELAND)
Customer Reviews:
A Kid's Review.......2007-10-08
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
By Alexander McCall Smith
If you're looking for an engaging, well written book with unpredictable plot twists, than The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is absolutely perfect for you. This mystery follows the ups and downs of the life of Precious Ramotswe, starting in the present and containing flashbacks to childhood and adolescent years in her country of pride and joy, Botswana. Each memory reveals a tad bit more about the independent and smart personality of Precious Ramotswe, the reason for which she eventually settles down and opens the first detective agency run solely by a woman in all of Botswana. Although slow at first, business catches, like a spark held to gasoline. Throughout unimaginable mini mysteries, including a confused crocodile, an unknown double-identity and a dangerous case involving witch doctors, Precious Ramotswe uses sharp intellect to figure out the absurdly impossible.
Out of five stars, I rate The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency a four. This is because though the plot drew you in and left you hanging at each chapter, I feel that even more descriptive words could have been selected at times. Something I can relate to in the book is the fact that Precious is constantly having to put up with the doubts from various men that she, a lady, can run a business. Although I have not encountered this in such an extreme form, the "Men are better than woman" idea is still relevant at times even in more modern countries such as the U.S. One reason I really enjoyed this book is because I encountered a style of writing which is new to me. I found it very interesting that the author conveyed Precious' past through snippets and small chapters interspersed throughout the book, instead of merely starting at the beginning of Precious' life. This way the past is revealed slowly as opposed to all at once. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is a flavorful book that should be added to your repertoire of reading today!
Blah.......2007-10-06
The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency is the first story in a series of mystery novels about Mme. Ramotswe and the detective agency that she opens with the money left to her by her dying father. The catch here, if you hadn't noticed from the title, is that she is a woman, and not only that, the first woman detective in all of Botswana. If you missed that intricate plot detail, never fear, the main character will remind you of it during the course of the story. Again, and again, and again....
I debated between one and two stars for this one. It wasn't a total waste. It had some charm to it... some. In the end I give it one star simply because I had much higher expectations for it, and it was a let down. Wow, and what a let down it was! I honestly really thought I would enjoy it. I was interested in the mystery aspect of it. I like a good mystery novel. I have a fascination with Africa, and being set in Africa, I was thinking "this looks like a winner."
One of the main problems I had with is was the way in which the dialog of the characters was written. Another reviewer described it as "baby talk", and really, I can't think of any better way to describe it. I keep trying to come up with reasons for why it was written in this manner, but none of them make any sense to me. It just makes the characters come across as stupid, as though African people are incapable of using any words longer than five letters long or expressing themselves with any sort of eloquence what-so-ever.
There's also the plot. Mme. Ramotswe solves several cases throughout the story with a certain finesse of Inspector Gadget. SPOILER ALERT! There is the case of the missing Christian husband, who Ramotswe is convinced has run away with another woman ("Men are stupid, LOLZ!!!1" is a major theme of the book). Turns out he was swallowed whole by a crocodile. Of course! There's the case of the 16 year old girl, who actually outsmarts Ramotswe. The girl is actually the only character in this book that I liked. There's the doctor with seemingly inconsistent talent. Like a plot twist straight out of a daytime soap opera, it turns out he has an identical twin brother who is getting to substitute for him in hospitals so he can hold down two jobs and earn twice the money. Wow! That makes so much sense... wouldn't he spend twice as much since he has to have two places to live? Other than that, I'm sure this is totally probable. And then there is the heart breaking case of a missing boy which challenges Ramotswe the most, and puts her in the most danger... or so says the back cover of the book. Allow me to paraphrase this climax of the book for you:
Ramotswe: Your husband murdered a boy for Muti!
Witchdoctor's Wife: Not he didn't. The boy is living on a cattle ranch.
Ramotswe: Show me.
Wife: Okay
(drives to ranch)
Ramotswe: Are you the boy who was kidnapped from the school teacher.
Boy: Yes
Ramotswe: Okay, I'm taking you home now.
(drives to the boys house and drops him off)
Seriously, if you blink, you might miss this climatic ending. I have watched episodes of Scooby Doo with more drama and suspense.
In conclusion. Don't read it. Really, just don't waste your time. The No. 1 Detective Agency furthers my belief that it is now possible for anyone to get a book published.
The End.
simple, fresh and enjoyable.........2007-09-18
Hats off to the author for attempting to deviate from the mainline sleuth stories (with protagonist being a gent that is tech savy or a martial art/sharp shooting expert chasing around in expensive cars in a story where atleast a dozen people end up dying).
This is quite very different, with a not so attractive single woman running a detective agency solving cases that are simple and almost realistic. The African setting without any of the typical 'gods have left Africa' theme makes it even more interesting. I will definitely be reading few more books in this series.
-Santhosh.
African Wisdom.......2007-09-12
Written by a man, The No1 Ladies' Detective Agency has enough of a feminist persepctive for me to feel I was reading something actually written for me, rather than feeling as I usually do when reading, that I am trying to take pleasure in literature created for an audience of which I am not a part. McCall Smith' s feminism is simple but fundamental : men should not beat their wives, the better fathers are those who encourage their daughters to be independent and realise their dreams, women have a right to happiness.
These beliefs are just part of the basic philosophy of the central character, Mma Precious Ramotswe, the first lady detective in Botswana, who imparts her basic moral philosophy at the same time - murder is worse than lying, relationships are more important than money, intuition is a kind of knowledge. While all of this philosophy may seem clichéd, as perhaps it is, it appears naturally in the book as part of the character and helps us to understand her approach to solving the cases brought to her.
Woven throughout all of this is a picture of Botswana, considered by Ramotswe, and presumably McCall Smith, as the best and most successful country in Africa. Independent from the British since 1966, there is enormous pride in her accomplishments, and only the ongoinging black magic practices of some of the country's witchdoctors cast a shadow on the shining accomplishments of Botswana's diamond-fueled progress.
Most powerfully of all, it is the love of the land that sings throughout the book. Botswana - stretching from the Kalahari desert to the Limpopo river, a country where « there is a place for me, and for everybody, to sit down on this earth and touch it and call it their own ». A country with its distinct riches - « that was what her country was so rich in - emptiness...those empty spaces, those wide grasslands that broke and broke the heart ». With its thorn trees that know how to survive in the searing heat and the birds and snakes of Mother Africa. Where nature is a family member and where the rising of the sun and its setting at the end of day are events to be savoured in the daily rhythm of life.
I read this book in a relaxed afternoon, and felt I had passed my time with a pleasant companion, who had painted pictures for me of a place I might otherwise never visit.
Simple, But Ever So Sweet.......2007-08-29
The problems Botswana's Lady Detective, Mma Ramotswe solves aren't solved in a masterful way, ala Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmses. Yet there is a sweetness to this story that pervades. The relationships amongst the people are deep, and dear.
Would that the protagonist had more complex problems to solve. Or that the one difficult problem wasn't abetted in a contrived situation. How interesting is it to read about someone being followed and a problem being solved just like that!
Nevertheless, the patois seems authentic. There is a lyrical quality to the dialog that is enchanting. It's also a relief to read about any African country without hearing stories of bloodshed and depravity.
I'm going to read some more books in this series.
Book Description
Beautifully illustrated, The Crystal Bible offers a comprehensive guide to crystals, their shapes, colors and applications. With informative descriptions and an easy-to-use format, it is an indispensable practical handbook for crystal lovers and users everywhere - both beginner and expert alike.
The book's directory format and beautiful, full-color photos ensure that the crystals are easily identifiable. Descriptions, which accompany each of the crystals, provide all the information on their appearance, worldwide distribution, attributes, actions and healing properties. All the major and less known stones currently available are contained inside, including those only recently discovered. A comprehensive index cross-referencing crystals to applications, aliments and conditions make this book a vital reference for all crystal users.
Judy Hall has been using her extensive collection of crystals in her healing and divination work for almost thirty years. She has written 18 books, including the best-selling Illustrated Guide to Crystals, The Crystal User's Handbook, The Illustrated Guide to Astrology, The Zodiac Pack and The Art of Psychic Protection. She lives in Edmondsham, England.
Customer Reviews:
Great little book!.......2007-09-28
I bought this book awhile back since I was taking a course to become a Crystal Therapist. Also I love stones and crystals in general, so I enjoy finding books I can use for reference. The size is definatly handy; if you were going to a crystal shop and wanted to try and look up what some tumbled stones are, this would be a great book. It is small and thick, complete with a few little blips about cleansing the stones, meditating with them, and selecting them.
I also liked the section farther in the back on crystal formations, descriptions on self healed, phantoms, elestials, and several others. I do have to say that I wish there had been more pictures of each formation. Some of the formations had illustations instead of an actual photo, which made it difficult for me to think of what it would look like in person.
In the back there is also a list of crystals for the zodiac, chakras, aura, and correspondences (such as brain, ear, eyes, etc.) Also a little information on making gem elixers and using grids or layouts.
Overall I am most pleased with this little book, tho there are a few things I wish it had. Such as more descriptions of other stones I have found out about, and also it would be nice if there were more pictures of the stones/crystals. Some of the pictures I did get a little confused on, I think if each stone/crystal had a natural formation and polished it might help.
Overall I am pleased I purchased this book, it has been a great little companion for me for many months. I would definatly recommend this book for someone who is just getting into stones/crystals and wanting to learn some of the more basic things that stones/crystals can do.
Excellent Reference Guide.......2007-08-26
I bought this as a gift and the person loved it. He thought the pictures were great and it was easy to look things up. I would recommend this for any rock hound that wants a quick and easy reference guide.
A very good guide to crystal essences users.......2007-08-12
As an author myself of two published books about the subject - Gem Elixirs Dharma - New Horizont of Inner Cure - Berenice de Lara - Pensamento Publishers, São Paulo, SP - and also as alternative therapist, I recommend J.Hall's book as a very good guide to crystal essences users. Berenice de Lara
Possibly the only Crystal guide you'll need........2007-08-05
I bought this book because I didn't know a thing about crystals and was interested in finding out what they were and how they work. This guide was very helpful in that it has great pictures and information. The pictures are so good that I was easily able to identify two crystals that I had.
Like other 'Bible' definitive guides, it's put together nicely. I noticed on the back of the book that the author Judy Hall has thirty years experience. Good to know that the person who wrote this is so well qualified.
The 'Quick Reference' in the back of the book is neat because it gives you information on crystals and the zodiac, the chakras, the aura, and correspondences which has to do with balancing body parts, and divinatory meanings.
This is a great reference guide. It gave me the information I needed to know, and more. I don't feel like I would need to buy any other Crystal guides unless I decided to further study them in depth.
One of the BEST!.......2007-08-04
Hall's guide is a must have for the tyro and the pro. You can always learn something new from Judy. The pictures, with a few exceptions, are well done and representative of the crystals you will see in the market. Easy to read and packed full of the information you need!
Product Description
By the early 90s, a raging bull market was delivering spectacular returns, causing some to believe that a market collapse and subsequent depression would soon appear. As a result of these fears, some exited the capital markets altogether. Thereafter, the Internet took off causing the market bubble to swell, many high-tech stocks with seemingly limitless valuations. Over the course of its 13-year stretch, the market appreciated by over 600 percent, with average annual returns in excess of 18 percent. And we all remember what happened at the start of the new millennium. Even after the deflation of the Internet bubble, cautious investors who pulled out of the market a decade earlier missed out on spectacular returns since then. Many investors who entered the market near its peak suffered devastating losses. But most who remained invested since the early 90s are still much better off today. While this correction revealed the most recent illusions embedded within the economy, it s only a small part of what will be a larger correction in the coming years. Despite the scandals in corporate America and Wall Street, many investors fail to recognize that the post-bubble period is quite different from the Bull Run in the 90s. But today, the capital markets have been realigned with authenticity, and economics now control the investment cycle rather than hype generated by Wall Street. Accordingly, Wall Street and the U.S. Government can only hide the realities of America s decline for so long. Unfortunately, America entered the free trade paradigm as a losing participant from the start. While America remains as the centerpiece for the global economy, it relies on record debt to maintain its status as the world s strongest consumer marketplace. But this cannot last much longer. America s vulnerable role in the new economy threatens to erode the strength of its empire. Already, America has witnessed a gradual disappearance of its core citizens; the middle class. As well, poverty continues to grow while America s wealthiest quintile increases their wealth. These trends have been masked by record levels of credit-based spending and manipulation of economic data. For over two decades, several nations have benefited at the expense of America s job base and living standards. This led to a long period of excessive consumption relative to productivity. When the economic boom from the post-war period began to lose steam in the 60s, consumption began to exceed productivity, as Americans refused to acknowledge a decline in living standards. Up until the 70s, America fueled this consumption-production disparity using the surplus wealth generated during the post-war boom. During the 80s, America s growing consumption was compounded by massive government spending and a devastating oil crisis. Shortly thereafter, the consumer credit industry grew to meet the demands of a nation experiencing large productivity deficits. And today, America is vastly different than the post-war period. Rather than increases in net wealth, America s growth over the past two decades has been fueled by credit spending which has created the illusion of impressive productivity, while serving to mask declining living standards. As a consequence of these changes, America s financial industry is now one of its biggest and most profitable. Today, America is more dependent on foreign nations than anytime in its history. Declining oil reserves and a foreign-funded credit bubble have positioned the fate of this nation in the hands of the world. Soon, America will face the economic burden of 76 million aging boomers. Beginning in 2011, mandatory expenditures for Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security will start to grow rapidly. By 2025, these expenses will have swelled to unthinkable levels.
Customer Reviews:
Riddled with inaccuracies.......2007-07-30
This book manages to cover all major problems faced by the United States in the next 20-30 years - trade deficit, healthcare crisis, education crisis, etc. - and it does so in a fairly comprehensive way, with large numbers of facts and graphs.
The reason why I can't give it more than 3 stars for this achievement is that the number of mistakes it contains (from misspellings to factual errors) is absolutely incredible. It seems that no one (other than the author) so much as read the book before it went to the printing press.
First of all, there are spelling errors. English is not my native language, yet I've been able to notice one spelling error every 20-30 pages. "Notices in-lue of gold" (p.2). "Right to bare arms" (p.25). "America will loose its technology edge" (p.61), and so on. There are factual errors as well. According to the author, Statue of Liberty was erected on Ellis Island (p.27), Berlin Wall fell "a few years" after 1991 (p.10), and Albert Einstein immigrated into the United States in 1940. He thinks that women who give birth after entering the United States illegally are guaranteed citizenship because their newborns become U.S. citizens (p.32) - but he either does not know or fails to mention that they have to wait for their child to turn 18 before they even have a shot at legalization. He frequently claims (or implies) that Chinese goods are cheaper because Chinese government and Chinese companies do not provide healthcare or retirement benefits to their workers (p.41), when in fact they do. All these problems make me wary of any other claims he makes in his book.
There are many interesting graphs and charts in the book, but at least some of them were "cooked up" by the author from third-party data, so they are not always reliable. One rather puzzling chart is located on p. 113. It is a pie-chart labelled "Factors Driving Rising Costs in Healthcare (2001-2002, in $ billions)". However, pieces of the pie are labelled with percentage values and clearly add up to 100% (e.g. "Increased Consumer Demand, 15%"). Author comments, "Someone explain to me the economics of increased consumer demand leading to a 15% increase in healthcare costs in one year". It's clear that he has no idea what's really shown on the chart.
The book is heavy on portrayal of various weaknesses in modern U.S. economy, but rather light on attempts to predict the future. There is almost no discussion about the impact of American crisis on the rest of the world. Author predicts major revaluation of the dollar, but does not provide any macroeconomic analysis of consequences of this revaluation. He seems to think that collapse will not occur at least until 2012, but he's not very clear why he thinks it won't be triggered by deflation of the real estate bubble.
Overall this is an interesting and comprehensive book that's worth reading for anyone who thinks that U.S. economy is doing well, but it's not scientific or reliable enough to be of real value for an investor.
I recommend "Dollar Crisis" as a complementary treatment of the U.S trade deficit / credit bubble problem.
A chilling but accurate expose of how we came to be in such economic peril as a capitalist nation.......2007-06-10
In writing "America's Financial Apocalypse: How To Profit From The Next Great Depression", the author draws upon his many years of experience and expertise as a business, financial, and investment consultant for two of Wall Street's largest investment firms and elsewhere in private financial markets. Strathis provides an impressively analytical explanation as to how the liberals on the left and the conservatives on the right are working in differing ways to destroy America's fiscal and economic well-being; how the federal government in Washington is dominated by corporations; how China has taken total advantage of America's trading policies to our nation's detriment. Readers will be shocked to learn how America is legally bankrupt; how today the 'American Dream' cannot be achieved by most American citizens; the truth concerning the future of Social Security; the inevitable and looming consequences of the present pension plan crisis; and why most Americans working today will not be able to retire as their parent were able to in the past. "America's Financial Apocalypse" also addresses just how the American government manipulates economic data; how the Bush administration is responsible for the worst economic recovery in American financial history; how the real estate bubble could cause the stock and bond markets to collapse; how America's political and economic fate is in the hands of foreign countries; why the American government is really allied to the Saudi Arabians despite the established identities of the 9/11 attack; the looming global oil crisis; Alan Greenspans dismal performance as a Fed Chairman; the plummeting value of the dollar in the international currency markets; and the continuing rise in value of precious metals and oil. After laying out all of these 'inconvenient truths' about America's economic future, Strathis also lays out how the wise and savvy investor can still profit from an inevitable depression that will collapse America's economy in the very near future. A chilling but accurate expose of how we came to be in such economic peril as a capitalist nation, "America's Financial Apocalypse" is especially recommended reading for its clear and methodical explanation of just how the individual investor can survive what will prove to be the 'Next Great Depression'.
This Book Has NO Comparable!.......2007-04-05
Finally, an insightful, detailed, and massive compilation of America's economy and investment markets. This book is HIGHY recommended.
The reviewer below is actually wrong in his simplistic assumption that deflation is the exact opposite of inflation. While deflation tends to cause a relative increase in buying power, this effect is only when deflation is modest and in the early stages. During a more prolonged period, deflation creates a decline in GDP and therefore purchasing power due to the relative effects on currency exchange rates.
I find it amazing that a person could give such a bad review over one statement that he thinks is wrong (when in fact it is not) despite all of the massive data and extensive coverage of material. If a reader chooses to cherry pick from within a massive resource such as this book, they will miss the forest from the trees.
Hold on there...........2007-04-05
After spending $55+ for this book, I started to leaf through it and promptly came across the following comment: "...rising gold prices usually result from a deflationary economy not an inflationary one, as investors seek to minimize the loss in buying power of their currency." So far as I know, a deflationary environment INCREASES the buying power of one's currency, as prices generally decrease during a deflationary episode. In other words, one can buy more loaves of bread per dollar in the bank. Gold is generally a hedge against inflation or fiat currency collapse, not deflation. Given what seems to me a basic error of this nature, I will be skeptical of other information in the book.
Well done!.......2007-04-02
I have read a dozen books that attempt to cover similar topics in a piecemeal fashion; this book is clearly more comprehensive. The author is very forward looking in his compelling explanation of the structural challenges that will soon face America as a nation. The vast majority of Americans are oblivious to the massive "tsunami" of political and economic challenges that will crash on the shores of our nation within the next 1-2 decades. Read this book and get informed; it will motivate you to reflect on your priorities.
Book Description
The dollar is in trouble. It has fallen against other currencies for the past three years, and now its orderly retreat could well become a rout. This spells potential disaster for the American economy—and potential riches for a few smart investors. In The Coming Collapse of the Dollar and How to Profit from It, financial gurus James Turk and John Rubino show how the dollar arrived at this precipice, why it will plunge, and how you can profit from the resulting financial crisis.
The U.S. today is the world’s biggest debtor nation, printing money with abandon to sustain the illusion of prosperity. The federal government owes $7 trillion and its debt is soaring. As a society, we owe more than $37 trillion, or about $500,000 per family of four. Our trade deficit with other countries is staggering, and to finance this mountain of debt we’re flooding the world with dollars. The inevitable result: The dollar will decline until it is displaced as the world’s dominant currency. Precious metals will soar in value, and gold will reclaim its monetary role at the center of the global financial system.
Traditionally a haven during times of uncertainty, gold has risen dramatically since 2001. By the fall of 2004 it was up by nearly 50
%, at over $400 an ounce. But this is just the beginning.
James Turk, a leading gold authority and the founder of GoldMoney.com, and veteran financial writer John Rubino, show readers how to capitalize on gold’s dramatic climb. In The Coming Collapse of the Dollar, Turk and Rubino reveal which stocks and bonds will falter as the dollar declines and why that decline is virtually inevitable. They offer strategies for using gold coins, gold stocks, gold-based digital currencies, and other hard assets to create a profitable portfolio. And they explain how to make the most of your gold and other precious metal holdings, identifying the opportunities and pitfalls of buying gold mining stocks and the mutual funds that invest in them.
America’s debt binge has put its economy at grave risk. The value of the dollar is falling; many stocks are once again wildly overvalued; and bonds, tied to an ever-diminishing dollar, are a disaster waiting to happen. By investing in gold and other hard assets, Turk and Rubino explain how you can protect yourself from these dangers.
The Coming Collapse of the Dollar and How to Profit from It is a must read for every investor, whatever the size of his or her portfolio.
For more information, visit
www.dollarcollapse.com.
Customer Reviews:
Ignore this book at your peril.......2007-01-11
Our financial survival and prosperity depend on properly structuring our investment portfolios. Can you afford to idly stand by and witness evaporation of the purchasing power of your dollar-denominated paper assets? It is still time to protect the remainder of your assets by converting much of it to the wealth of ages, gold. Gold is wealth in itself, independent of debt and empty promises. This is no idle speculation, this is a concrete actionable set of plans suitable for different individual situations. You could spend 20+ times more on a financial consultant and still not receive this vital advice. Do yourself a favor: buy, read and act upon this book. Then share the message with your loved ones.
Read it!.......2007-01-07
Another great practical book on economics and investing for the common man. I learned so much about how things are now in America from this book. I recommend it heartily to anyone who wants to know more about gold, fiat money, the mess this country is in, and the doom that awaits us.
Coming collapse of the $.......2007-01-06
awesome book...I read it right after "Hot Commodities" by Jim Rogers...awesome book as well...US has alot of problems with the greenback and its possible demise as the worlds reserve currency...Jim has been talking about this as well for some time and is certain that the US will lose this status as the govt. busily prints money at will....devaluing the $ and killing its value, creating the real inflation problem...the book is very comprehensive in its argument and insightful in its recommendations...fast read!
Good Introductory Text.......2006-11-11
Overall, the author presents the case for a dollar collapse in moderate detail. Using gold as a protection mechanism is also well laid out. For the novice in this field of investment, which seeks to understand major economically destructive change before it occurs, this book does lay out the potential dollar problems nicely. For the more advanced student, there is not much new information here.
Book review of the coming collapse of the Dollar..........2006-11-10
It was quite informative but since we are in late 2006 it was a little outdated as they are comparing Gold prices from 2 years prior. But it was right on the money because as of their writing this Gold did rocket up to $600/oz from $300/oz so they were correct in their analysis. Very good read. I recommend it.
Amazon.com
"The precious present has nothing to do with wishing. The richness of the precious present comes from its own source. The precious present is not something that someone gives you. It is something that you give to yourself." The parable of The Precious Present is a quiet one to muse upon and sit with, and finally to take into your heart. Spencer Johnson, coauthor of the bestselling business classic The One Minute Manager, has created a simple path for the reader to follow in the search for peace and clarity. While The Precious Present may read like a children's book for adults, its slow pace requires the mind to quiet down so that it can really register the meaning of Johnson's words. "The Present Is Simply Who I Am Just The Way I Am... Right Now. And It Is Precious." We may be familiar with this philosophy in theory, but the experience of reading The Precious Present is truly synchronous with its message. --Jodie Buller
Book Description
Discover the precious present and find yourself!
A simple story, engagingly told,
The Precious Present does more than capture the heart; it is a valuable gift for anyone seeking a deeper level of fulfillment and personal happiness.
Telling a story of vital significance in today's fast-paced, competitive environment,
The Precious Present will help you discover the joy in life we all seek--whether we go to Wall Street or around the world to find it.
Just as Spencer Johnson's bestseller
The One Minute Manager helped rehumanize the workplace around the world,
The Precious Present helps each reader rediscover his or her own humanity. This beautiful tale demonstrates the delicate art of balancing your spiritual and material needs, and shows how this goal can be maddeningly elusive--and gloriously attainable.
Customer Reviews:
Simply Gratifying.......2007-08-24
A dear friend first gave me this book, and it has had a profound impact on me over the years. As tempting as it might be to live in the past or plan too frenetically for the future, this book grounds you solidly in the here and now.
Juneau 2nd Grader.......2007-03-21
The Precious Present is about a boy and his next door neighbor. The next door neighbor is old but he tells the best of stories to the boy. One day the man tells the boy a story about the precious present.
The boy dreams about the present when the next door neighbor dies and when the boy grows up he searches for it. People who like mysteries would like this story.
Fluffy.......2006-11-11
We used this book at work to kick off a leadership development program. Some of the participants liked the book because it made them reflect on appreciating life in the moment versus looking back or looking to far into the future. Much of the feedback was that it lacked substance and the parable was baby-ish.
"Get" the precious present Chad.......2006-10-10
I completely disagree with Chad, I understand where you are coming from but I think you completely missed the point. I like this book because it tells you to move forward, to focus on what you are doing today because if you live today to the fullest then tomorrow when you look at your past you'll have no regrets. It says to enjoy the things that you have today rather than to ponder on the things that you do not have or may have had in the past. It also says not to live in the future because the future is not here yet, this should not be taken as a call to living on a whim but rather to live your today and take care of all that you need to today because that will make your tomorrow. Give it another try Chad, the person that spent 18.00 on it really cares about you.
Learn about the here and now.......2006-08-29
As a parent, I read this book to my children from grade school through high school. The Precious Present and Hope for the Flowers by Trina Paulus ranked highest in my rituals of reading what I thoght was important. The Precious Present states simply that which many seem to lose sight of in the midst of a time which is wrought with demands and distractions. As a consultant, I read or referenced this book to clients to aid them in understanding the importance of being where they are at instead of worrying about the future or regretting the past. The book was always received well. Albeit the range could be wide - from just stopping to ponder the idea to big aha's of getting how powerful the here and now can be and therefore making whatever the best decision with the resources available. It's all we have, this present moment.
Product Description
The Book of Stones is the most in-depth, definitive guide to the world of crystals, minerals, gemstones and their metaphysical energies that has yet been written. Encompassing over three hundred separate entries, each with vivid color photographs and essays by both authors, this book takes you deep into the world of stones and their uses for spiritual awakening and self-healing. The Book of Stones can teach you about each mineralâs scientific properties, history and lore, elemental energies, chakra correspondences, and which stones work best together. Also considered are the stonesâ effects on the spiritual, emotional and physical self. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced practitioner, The Book of Stones can give you clear, easy-to-understand information that will help you enjoy the beauty and benefits of the mineral realm. This pictorial metaphysical encyclopedia is what crystal lovers all over the world have been waiting for!
Customer Reviews:
Book of Stones.......2007-08-23
Excellent. This book will provide in depth detail of the power of crystals. It will not however give physical healing references. It has become a daily reference book in our home.
Absolutely the best.......2007-08-19
This the very first book I purchased when I got into crystals, and it remains my absolute favorite. I recommend this book to everyone, and definately think it's worth having on your bookshelf.
Nicely Done..........2007-07-25
This is a great resource book. The pictures are beautiful and it is well written and very informative. I use it daily.
An excellent addition to my library.......2007-07-19
This book is a wonderful reference on stones and crystals, especially when used in conjunction with Melody's "Love Is In The Earth". I gain a better understanding of all the facets of my various stones and crystals.
Good color photos, helpful for identification. If you like Melody's book, you will want "The Book of Stones: Who They Are and What They Teach" as well!
KNOWLEDGE&WISDOM.......2007-07-05
It's a book when you read it,you know and also feel that what's written down is knowledge and wisdom from another level,things you can't read in other books about stones and crystals,you feel the love the writers have for stones,so to them i say ; thank you for sharing.
Book Description
Here is the fifth novel in the internationally bestselling No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency hit series. Once again we are transported to Gaborone, capital city of Botswana, and into the world of Mma Ramotswe and her friends.
THE NO. 1 LADIES’ DETECTIVE AGENCY.
FOR ALL CONFIDENTIAL MATTERS AND ENQUIRIES. SATISFACTION GUARANTEED FOR ALL PARTIES.
UNDER PERSONAL MANAGEMENT.
Mma Ramotswe and Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni are still engaged, but with no immediate plans to get married. Mma Ramotswe wonders when a wedding date will be named, but she is anxious to avoid putting pressure on her fiancé. For indeed he has other things on his mind -- particularly a frightening request (involving a parachute jump) made by Mma Potokwani, the persuasive matron of the orphan farm.
Mma Ramotswe herself has weighty matters on her mind. She has been approached by a wealthy lady to check up on several suitors. Are these men interested in her or just her money? This may be difficult to find out, but it’s just the kind of case Mma Ramotswe likes and she is, as we know, a very intuitive lady.
Meanwhile, Mma Makutsi -- plucky assistant detective and deputy manager of the Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors garage -- is moving. Her entrepreneurial venture, the Kalahari Typing School for Men, is thriving and with this new income she has rented two rooms in a house. Her spare time is occupied with planning the move, the décor and her new life in a house with running water all to herself.
In the background of all this is Botswana, a country of empty spaces and echoing skies, a country so beautiful and entrancing that it breaks your heart. Mma Ramotswe has prepared the bush tea and is waiting for us to join her.
Download Description
Here is the fifth novel in the internationally bestselling No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency hit series. Once again we are transported to Gaborone, capital city of Botswana, and into the world of Mma Ramotswe and her friends.
THE NO. 1 LADIES’ DETECTIVE AGENCY.
FOR ALL CONFIDENTIAL MATTERS AND ENQUIRIES.
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED FOR ALL PARTIES.
UNDER PERSONAL MANAGEMENT.
Mma Ramotswe and Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni are still engaged, but with no immediate plans to get married. Mma Ramotswe wonders when a wedding date will be named, but she is anxious to avoid putting pressure on her fiancé. For indeed he has other things on his mind—particularly a frightening request (involving a parachute jump) made by Mma Potokwani, the persuasive matron of the orphan farm.
Mma Ramotswe herself has weighty matters on her mind. She has been approached by a wealthy lady to check up on several suitors. Are these men interested in her or just her money? This may be difficult to find out, but it’s just the kind of case Mma Ramotswe likes and she is, as we know, a very intuitive lady.
Meanwhile, Mma Makutsi—plucky assistant detective and deputy manager of the Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors garage—is moving. Her entrepreneurial venture, the Kalahari Typing School for Men, is thriving and with this new income she has rented two rooms in a house. Her spare time is occupied with planning the move, the décor and her new life in a house with running water all to herself.
In the background of all this is Botswana, a country of empty spaces and echoing skies, a country so beautiful and entrancing that it breaks your heart. Mma Ramotswe has prepared the bush tea and is waiting for us to join her.
Customer Reviews:
a pleasant journey with those who have now become old friends.......2007-08-26
When I read the previous book in the series (The Kalahari Typing School for Men), it was clearly the least mysterious of the books in this series to that point: it had the fewest detective cases, instead moving forward the personal lives of the major characters (especially Mma Kutsi). With this, the fifth installment, Smith lowers the mystery quotient even further. The book contains only one detective case (albeit a fun one: find out which of a rich woman's suitors will make the best husband!) and spends relatively little time even on it.
This time, the focus returns to Mma Ramotswe's and Mr JLB Matekoni's personal lives. Despite the lack of mystery, the book is a pleasant escape into one of Africa's best-governed and wealthiest countries, with characters you can enjoy and respect. And the book has a fine ending!
I made the mistake of reading this installment just a couple of months after the last one: it's better to leave a more time between books in this series, else Mma Ramotswe's musing on the marvels of Botswana (especially the OLD Botswana) can start to feel tired. But given a little rest, this is a relaxing ride back to Jaborone. I'll read the next book, just not right away.
If you're new to the series, don't start here: go back to The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. This isn't Agatha Christie: the detective's history actually matters here. And I always listen to the audiobook version (published by Recorded Books), narrated by Lisette Lecat. She is a pleasure to listen to.
Another lovely story.......2007-08-10
I think the thing I like most about this series (other than the consistently good writing) is that there is no straining to put the detectives in dangerous situations, no effort to up the body count or indeed to have a body count in each book. This detective does the things that most detectives do--evaluates character, looks for lost things and most importantly lives her life. It's the views into her life that keep me coming back. I had wondered how long the engagement would go on before Precious Ramotswe would ask when she would cease to be an engaged lady and become a wife. That's one of the focuses of this book and I'm not going to tell you what happens. I'm looking forward to reading the sixth book.
Getting a bit slow, but still fun.........2007-03-20
This is the fifth No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency novel, and by now author Smith has gotten the formula down pat. He has a series of things which never seem to change from book to book: the main character, Precious Ramotswe, and her sidekick Mma Makutsi. Mma and Rra are apparently Mrs. and Mr. in Botswana. The author adopts the conceit that there's no need for him to explain things like this to you; you should already know. This is similar to the late Patrick O'Brian, who never explained any of the terms, nautical or just obsolete, that he used in his Aubrey/Maturin novels. Usually, in each of these books, there's a problem, perhaps two or three, and the author follows the characters around as they deal with them.
In the current story, as much as there's a detective story here it's that Mma Ramotswe has been hired to investigate a series of suitors for the hand of a local, wealthy businesswoman. In a separate story-thread, there's the question of whether Mma Ramotswe's fiance, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni (he's always referred to that way) should jump out of an airplane with parachute attached for the purpose of raising money for the local orphanage, where he does chores for the woman who runs the place, fixing machinery and so forth. And lastly there's the question of the impending marriage between Mma Ramotswe and Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, and when that will occur (if ever).
Smith is rather practiced at this now, and this is a worthwhile entry in the series. It's not the most exciting book in the series, and the series isn't the most exciting one in the book world by any stretch of the imagination, but the books are fun, including this one.
gentle and Clever, a book of mysteries, but not as you would expect.......2007-03-02
Precious Ramotswe and her number one Ladies Detective Agency are back in this wonderful observation on life. As one would expect of a Ladies Detective Agency, much of the mystery to be discovered is gentle, who is the apprentice in J L B Matekoni's Tlokweng Rd Speedy Motors seeing? A Rich married lady it seems, but what is happening at Mr J L B Matekoni's old house, and why is her car going there? Who has broken into Mma Ramotswe's home, and where did the large pumpkin come from. Just what happened to Mma Ramotswe's wonderful van, and why is there someone from her life come back again, and what does he want.
This is lovely observation of life, and on lives well-lived. Some of the mysteries in this book are suble, and the outcomes equally so. It is never tacitly explained who broke into Mma Ramotswe's home, but it is fairly clear by the end if you read between the lines. There is also a very philosophical bent to these novels which is touched on at the beginning when Mma Ramotswe sees a burglary in progress. Sometimes things aren't as they seem, and while the thief gets away, she herself stands accused - this situation happens later in the novel, and Precious is able to transfer that feeling to the accused and assist him. Good deeds bring good things, generally.
The thing I love most about these books is the gentle way things are resolved. Sometimes through doing almost nothing things become clear. There are no gun fights, no car chases (as such anyway) and generally no horrible suspense, yet there are mysteries to be sloved, and issues to be resolve, and they are done in the traditaionl African way.
Lovely gentle humour - a really fun and satisfaying read. I would highly recommned this series!
delightful read for a summer day.......2007-02-24
I don't read much fiction -- and mysteries, not at all-- so I had ignored earlier volumes in this series about Lady Detective Mme Ramotswe. Then I found "The Full Cupboard of Life" on a half-price sale & decided, since it was set in Africa, to give the author a try.
I'm so glad I did! What a delightful read for a hot summer day under a tree in the back yard. It also brought back happy memories of my travels in Africa. Since the focus is more on character & setting than on plot or mystery, it was especially enjoyable to me.
Now that I have made the acquaintance of Mme Ramotswe so late in the game, I am determined to get her life story straight by getting all the other books in the series and reading them in the correct order.
So much one hears of Africa is doom and gloom, hopelessness, poverty & war; it is a nice change to read about its people having what we westerners would consider a normal life.
Book Description
In
Morality for Beautiful Girls, Precious Ramotswe, founder and owner of the only detective agency for the concerns of both ladies and others, investigates the alleged poisoning of the brother of an important “Government Man,” and the moral character of the four finalists of the Miss Beauty and Integrity Contest, the winner of which will almost certainly be a contestant for the title of Miss Botswana. Yet her business is having money problems, and when other difficulties arise at her fianc?’s Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, she discovers the reliable Mr J.L.B. Matekoni is more complicated then he seems.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Author.......2007-07-05
Keeps your interest all the way through the book, in fact, throughout the whole series.
Warm, loving and human.......2007-06-22
I just love the series of the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency. What has always impressed me about these books is how no person is simply a one-dimensional character. Maids, cooks, Important Government Men, fiancees, children and garage apprentices all have complex motives and emotions. How human.
Morality Is Not A Movable Feast.......2007-05-06
This is another wonderful slow amble through Botswana, but do not be deceived, badness is like a Mamba snake in the brush, waiting to catch you unawares. Pretty faces can hide bad thoughts and even worse morals. Or a total lack of morals. Even on the African plain where life should be serene it is not so, a brother is being poisoned and there is much unhappiness and suspicion in the household. A lost boy child smelling of lion turns up in the middle of a safari hunting party, so is given over to the orphan farm, where he will be coaxed back to health. With a little help from Mr.J.L.B. Matekoni, who also needs some nursing as he suffering from depression. So the two help each other.
Back in town beauty queens turn out to have feet of clay and to cap it all the fiance of Mma Ramotswe is turning his back on his beloved engines. Hence his rest cure out at the orphan farm. But the business cannot run itself, what if those useless boys take a hammer to an engine again? What would happen to the reputation of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors?
Action is required all round and the ladies of The No.1 Detective Agency don't fail us.
This is not the book to read if you like fast-paced thrillers, this is more Miss Marple but instead of Darjeeling she is sipping her cup of red bush tea on the veranda of Zebra Drive thinking about how the daddy, that fine judge of cattle would have solved these manifold problems.
I love each and everyone of these books and I commend them to you all for some much needed calm and peace in a bustling world. They are also written in the most beautiful english and are a joy to read.
Morality, mysteries and a bit of mayhem in Botswana.......2007-04-06
This series of books has been a favorite of mine since they were first published, long may they continue.
In this the third in the series of books about the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency we are drawn into several little mysteries, some more serious than others, like the important man who thinks his brother's wife is poisoning his family, the man who wants to make sure that all the girls in a beauty pageant he is holding have good morals and are not "bad girls".
Also there is the worrying mystery about Mr Matekoni's strange illness, is he sickening for something or does he have a strange illness called depression and if he does have depression, how can it be treated? And who is the strange little boy in the Orphan camp who can't speak, only growls and why do people think there are lions about when lions are only found in the Kalahari?
Add to this a smart secretary from the Botswana Secretarial school with a passion for shoes who got 97% in her exams, along with a plethora of delightful and understated characters, including the enigmatic and shrewd Mma Precious Ramotswe who knows what makes the human mind tick, and you have yet another wonderful book from the Master author Alexander McCall Smith.
Hooray Mma Makutsi!! .......2007-03-18
The adventures of Mma Ramotswe, the strong, feisty, proud but compassionate lady detective (the only in Botswana, maybe Africa) continue in MORALITY FOR BEAUTIFUL GIRLS, the third novel of the No.1 LADIES' DETECTIVE AGENCY series. Things are not going too well for Mma Ramotswe - the agency is facing money problems, and her fiance, the kind and up-till-now ever reliable Mr. JLB Matekoni starts behaving very strangely and looses all interest in everything, including his passion, being a mechanic at his business Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors.
While Mma Ramotswe is juggling these personal problems, she is yanked into solving the complex case of an Arrogant Government Man who fears that his greedy sister-in-law wants to poison his brother for money. How much can one lady detective handle?
Helping save the day is Mma Ramotswe's former personal secretary, now promoted to Assistant Detective, Mma Makutsi. Mma Makutsi, who is 'too dark,' has glasses that are 'too big', and whose hair just is never 'quite right' really comes into her own in this novel - she becomes 'Assistant Manager' of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, whipping it into shape with the force of her personality so that its in a much better condition than even when Mr. JLB Matekoni ran it.
She also continues her duties as Assistant Detective, ably proving herself as she handily solves a case of determining which finalist in 'the Beauty and Integrity contest' actually has integrity- and thereby receives big bucks which keep the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency afloat.
Like its predecessors, this book is not your typical "who dun it" detective story. As Mma Ramotswe flatly tells the Government Man, "We help people with the problems in their lives. We are not here to solve crimes."
Along with helping people with the problems in their lives, Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi continue in this book to have hilarious but often wise insights about gender, beauty, marriage, weight, criminology, treatment of elders and servants, cows, and a number of other topics, all highlighted by the ever-wise old Botswana Morality.
Books:
- The Kissing Hand
- The Little White Horse
- The Master Cleanser
- The Nanny Diaries: A Novel
- The Simplest Path to Personal and Planetary Awakening, Step One: FREE YOUR MIND: 10 Keys for Unlocking Your Personal Potential, Achieving Spiritual Awakening, ... of Humanity's Ultimate Cosmic Destiny
- The Soul of Baseball: A Road Trip Through Buck O'Neil's America
- The World Of Normal Boys: A Novel
- Theory of Modeling and Simulation
- Think and Grow Rich!: The Original Version, Restored and Revised
- True Enough
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
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- To Pleasure a Prince
- The Common Names of Wild Flowers in English and French
- CIMA Study Systems 2006: Management Accounting-Performance Evaluation
- The Great Reckoning: Protecting Yourself in the Coming Depression
- Private Equity: Transforming Public Stock Into Private Equity to Create Value
Women Sleuths
| Mystery
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
| Books
Blue Shoes and Happiness (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Book 7)
The Right Attitude to Rain (Isabel Dalhousie Mysteries)
In the Company of Cheerful Ladies (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)
A Thousand Splendid Suns
