Book Description
Companies must innovate to grow, but they often forget to look beyond their own brands. Take Sony, for example. Its success with consumer innovations like the Walkman blinded it to obvious changes in how, when, and where people wanted their music. Apple capitalized on those changes in demand with the iPod, providing a new way of listening to music and of managing one’s entire music library.
This book explains how you can spot these opportunities that are hidden in plain sight. It introduces the demand-first innovation and growth model that will show you how to become an unbiased observer of people’s consumption and usage behaviors. Refining this skill helps companies generate organic growth through new products, services, solutions, and experiences that truly enhance peoples’ lives. Revealing the innovative processes of such organizations as BMW, Proctor and Gamble, GE Healthcare, and Frito-Lay, Hidden in Plain Sight offers you a new approach to identifying and executing your company’s growth strategy.
Customer Reviews:
The Formula for Innovation and Growth.......2007-07-14
Erich Joachimsthaler provides a systematic approach to make marketing accountable for innovation and growth of BtoC and BtoB companies. We have seen the innovative business concept of share of customer evolve and being executed over the last years. Hidden in Plain Sight pushes that practice further to the concept of customer advantage, which means consequently managing impact and relevance, products and services have on customers daily lifes - on customers share of the day.
Erich Joachimsthaler formulates an explicit model, the demand-first innovation and growth model (DIG-Model), that illuminates the advantages of creating the demand landscape and sets a plan for action to specify the necessary effort to capture the relevant parts of the ecosystem of customer demand, reframes the specific business opportunity space, aligns business processes across all functions and sets the foundation for sustainable innovations and predictable growth.
As one reads the carefully selected international cases (e.g. Procter & Gamble, BMW, Apple, Deutsche Telekom, Volkswagen, NetFlix, Starbucks, General Electric, Sony, Allianz) reference is made to all parts of the DIG model and how all pieces have to work together to execute in business practice. Based on his deep insight and understanding of many industries, Erich Joachimsthaler proves his approach carefully and outlines, how innovation and growth can be systematically and replicable managed. That is why this book is relevant for people from many business functions and a variety of industries.
Thanks for this outstanding business book.
Kevin Frantz
Excellent.......2007-06-28
This is an excellent book, an eye opener for any professional in marketing, particularly those fighting the dog war of private labels and commoditization.
A popular, inspirational pick........2007-06-17
Business managers and executives who want keys to locating the potential for a company's expansion will want to consult HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT: HOW TO FIND AND EXECUTE YOUR COMPANY'S NEXT BIG GROWTH STRATEGY. It pinpoints changing consumer needs and usage patterns and tells how to use the DIG model to help companies understand the hidden opportunities for innovation, using the author's 20+ years studying company connections to help pinpoint customer-driven ideas. Business libraries catering to executives will find it a popular, inspirational pick.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
The Invisibility of the Obvious.......2007-05-23
Erich Joachimsthaler offers what he claims is a "new model of strategic innovation for achieving profitable business growth" by abandoning "some of the tried and proven conventions of innovation, marketing, and strategy formulation" and by discarding "some of today's common assumptions and management practices and adopt a fresh way of planning an executing your strategies today and your innovation and growth strategies of tomorrow." The key word is "some" as he explains how.
After discussing "hidden opportunities to innovate and grow" in Part I, he focuses in Part II on several companies which exemplify a demand-first innovation and growth model (e.g. Frito-Lay, Allianz, GE Healthcare, and State Street) and then shifts his attention, in Part III, to various strategies by which to realize customer advantage.
As the title of this book suggests, Joachimsthaler asserts - and I agree - that many senior-level executives lack the ability to see - really see - "the opportunities presented by the changing consumption or usage behaviors of people [their organizations are] trying to serve. [They] cannot spot or recognize and pursue the abundant opportunities that exist in plain sight." Why? Joachimsthaler suggests several reasons which include routine but disparate processes which fragment a company's view of its customers, perpetuation of the status quo which limits a company's perspective on its competitive marketplace, a mistaken belief that "the key to growth lies in identifying customers' needs and wants [and/or] providing solutions for the tasks or jobs it knows customers must take on and get done," and an "inside-out" perspective which results in what Theodore Levitt once characterized as "marketing myopia."
Joachimsthaler suggests three lessons that can be learned from companies such as NetFlix, Sony, and Starbucks:
1. Position existing or new products or services at natural intersections of customers' consumption and use behaviors;
2. Change or enhance customers' daily routines and create transformative experiences around activities, projects, and tasks in new and welcome ways; and
3. Deliver on previously unleashed or unarticulated desires, dreams, fantasies, and urges in the social-cultural context of people's lives.
The demand-first innovation (DIG) model can be of substantial benefit to any organization (regardless of size or nature) but it would be a fool's errand to attempt to apply all of the ideas that Joachimsthaler presents. Rather, It would be a fool's errand for anyone who reads this book to attempt to apply all of the ideas that Joachimsthaler presents. Rather, he suggests that those who read this book clearly identify their organization's key demand-relevant assets and make full use of them, rigorously evaluate and develop their organization's distinctive capabilities deployed to manage those assets, choose only those major strategic initiatives that force the integration of all demand-facing processes, and "build the culture" with innovation initiatives at all levels and within all areas throughout what should be a demand-driven enterprise.
Joachimsthaler calls for nothing less than "the activation of demand-first growth platforms by whatever means [to] help customers absorb or assimilate an innovation, or retool old ways of doing things, into their daily life or work experiences." Only then can an organization find and execute its next big growth strategy.
Book Description
Even for the religious, life is full of questions: What is faith? Can my life be more satisfying? How can I deepen my walk with Christ? What does it mean to be happy? These bubble and boil underneath the surface of our everyday life. And though we ignore them, we know they point us to realms of wisdom or even mystery-to something more.
Author Mark Buchanan asked these same questions. "I want more, God," he prayed-and the answer was more than he was looking for. It was right there, hidden in plain sight among the syllables and syntax of a few words of advice from the apostle Peter. With time and experience, Buchanan learned to tease it out, this secret of more, and he wrote a book about it: Hidden in Plain Sight. The answer, he discovered, is an investigation of the cross. The answer is an excavation of the virtues. The answer urges us passionately to "make every effort." And, Buchanan tells us, the answer is worth it.
Customer Reviews:
As functional as it is enjoyable.......2007-08-01
As a thinking Christ-follower, I struggle with the delicate balance between faith and works. I understand and appreciate God's grace, but He must be impressed by my efforts at piety...mustn't He?
With his usual deftness, Mark Buchanan presents a flowing exegesis of 2 Peter 1:1-9 that actually gives me hope in my aforementioned struggle. Buchanan is my favorite Christian author. He is a gifted wordsmith with a winsome delivery, yet his work presents a functional practicality and I reference it often. "Hidden in Plain Sight" is different than anything Buchanan has done before and he seems to be maturing as a writer. I especially enjoyed "The Petrine Diaries," behind-the-scenes glimpses into Peter's soul which added insight and context to his exhortation. When I finished the last page, I found myself looking forward to Mark Buchanan's next offering. I am certain it will be another cherished gift to the church.
Seven Ways / One Path to a Better Life.......2007-07-26
The somewhat obscured virtues 2 Peter sets-forth, if adopted and practiced faithfully, assure you of a better life with Jesus.
Amen and amen........2007-06-06
The writer Diane Ackerman once wrote that for too many people, "Life is something that happens to them while they wait for death." In HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT, Mark Buchanan explores seven ancient virtues that are found in the writings of the apostle Peter. In doing so, Buchanan invites us to pay attention to our lives, to really live, not just exist.
The life we've always wanted, Buchanan reminds us, is already here. It's not later, like after the kids are grown, or we've gone to counseling, or gotten a degree. It's now. We have everything we need. And there are seven virtues that, according to the Apostle Peter, if we add to our lives will make us more fruitful and productive. But first we have to search out these virtues and apply them.
What are the virtues? We need knowledge, the key to efficiency and productivity, and for it to be detoxified by goodness, which renders knowledge beneficial and not impressive. Add self-control; learn to pray. Persevere. Become Godly (Godliness, he notes, is "beautiful when it is authentic, and revolting when it's pretense.") Be kind. Love each other. Virtue's "groundwork" is faith, he writes. Its lifeblood is the Spirit.
As in his previous books, such as THE REST OF GOD and THINGS UNSEEN, Buchanan crafts lovely prose and careful word choices to get his message across. "...the Spirit is a wind. I'm learning to run with his gentle pummeling on my back, keeping me from growing weary. Some days, I spread my arms like wings and catch that wind beneath them, and for moments I fly. I fly."
Buchanan's vulnerability, often poignant personal stories, careful incorporation of scripture, illustrations and quotes from such diverse writers as Annie Dillard, G.K. Chesterton, and Pat Conroy enrich and illuminate his message. Every page is a challenge if we take it to heart. And we can't be proud of these virtues; rather, each virtue must come with an underlying humility.
In one interesting passage of the book, Buchanan wrestles with a concept that I've always struggled with. When we know that whenever we make a decision, the fallout of it might have negative consequences, how do we move forward? For example, we send care packages with toothbrushes in them to impoverished children in Africa, and the local toothbrush vendor loses his business. Or the church decides to invest in new choir robes, and the local food pantry can't feed 30 families because they are short on funds. It can make you crazy! Buchanan's advice, riffing on Martin Luther's "sin boldly," is helpful: "Don't anguish over every little thing. Do what needs doing and leave the outcome to God."
Something different: Buchanan integrates "The Petrine Diaries," 11 entries drawn from the life of Peter plus three short fictional stories that are tagged onto each section of the book, which he includes to "stir up your imagination." Although his nonfiction is stronger than his fiction, these short stories help flesh out the person of Peter on which the book revolves.
This is a message that will go straight to your heart if you let it, make you ask yourself questions about the way you are living, if you are risking enough, if you really want enough of God. I love Buchanan's hope for his book: "May it disrupt us, turn us upside down in order to live right-side up.... May it help us live with such holy vigor that when we're gone, our epitaph will be, "They really lived." May we say, "God, I want more of you." Amen and amen.
--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby
4 1/2 Stars...Deceptively Light.......2007-05-28
With his fifth book, Buchanan proves to be one of the best Christian authors you've never heard of. He writes with humor and grace. He makes a lofty promise in "Hidden in Plain Sight," offering "the secret of more." More what? More rules to Christian living?
Buchanan states up front that this book is about practicing virtue. However, he quickly sidesteps Victorian stereotypes and invites us to explore dark, haunting, beautiful, and life-changing truths contained in a few verses from II Peter. He leads us through these precepts, connecting the dots of virtue, building one upon the other, until we have a clear picture of what it means to have godly love. Along the way, Buchanan gives us insights into this outspoken disciple. Peter is more human than we remember--and more godly than we might assume. Peter shows us an example of what to do and what not to do.
Buchanan uses this example to great effect. He offers hope for those who feel discouraged in their Christian progress, as well as correction for those who have lost their focus, or become spiritual workaholics. He raises questions. He deals honestly with life's difficulties. In a deceptively light 200 pages, he gives meaty bites of practical theology, bites that require thorough chewing to produce the most efficient nourishment. Don't rush through these pages. Mull them over. Enjoy each savory word picture. These concepts are ones to live by.
Hidden In Plain Sight.......2007-04-05
Mark Buchanan is a unique writer. He writes in a style that is "out of the box" thinking. He keeps me off balance in a good way. As a result I find myself actively engaged with the message he is seeking to convey.
Book Description
A thrilling tale of suspense, vengeance, and murder, featuring Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett. This one will break C. J. Box out to a larger audience.
J. W. Keeley is a man with a score to settle. He blames one man for the death of his brother: Joe Pickett. And now J. W. is going to make him suffer. Spring has finally come to Saddlestring, Wyoming, and game warden Joe Pickett is relieved the long, harsh winter is finally over. However, a cloud of trouble threatens to spoil the milder weather-local ranch owner and matriarch Opal Scarlett has vanished under suspicious circumstances. Two of her sons, Hank and Arlen, are battling for control of their mother's multi-million-dollar empire, and their bitter fight threatens to tear the whole town apart.
Everyone is so caught up in the brothers' battle that they seem to have forgotten that Opal is still missing. Joe is convinced, though, that one of the brothers killed their mother.
Determined to uncover the truth, he is attacked and nearly beaten to death by Hank Scarlett's new right-hand man on the ranch-a recently arrived stranger who looks eerily familiar.
A series of threatening messages and attempts to sabotage Joe's career follow. At first, he thinks the attacks are connected with his investigation of Opal's disappearance, but he soon learns that someone else is after him-someone with a very personal grudge who wants to make Joe pay . . . and pay dearly. Compelling and suspenseful, In Plain Sight is a crackling novel from one of today's best mystery writers.
Customer Reviews:
Love Wyoming.......2007-06-23
I bought the first book because it takes place in Wyoming (I have vacationed in the Montana/Wyoming areas many times) and love the way C.J.Box describes Joe Pickett's surroundings. That and the plots keep me buying the next book when it comes out. All have been excellent reading.
Typical C.J. Box Book, Which is Not a Complaint.......2007-06-20
Box's Joe Pickett stories are pretty much all the same -- clearly structured battles of good versus evil. Box has an ability to raise strong emotions in the reader, by painting the characters in unsubtle hues. When his characters come on screen, so to speak, you can almost hear the boos and hisses or, conversely, strong cheers. None of this is to take away from the sheer pleasure of reading a Box book. His descriptions of the Wyoming ranges in all their beauty, if not fury, alone make the books worth reading. The plots are fast-moving and the intensity is as furious as a spring Wyoming hail storm. You can count on Box to deliver a good read, and this one is no exception.
In Plain Sight.......2007-05-26
This book is a great read. I discovered C.J. Box novels and couldn't get enough. I didn't read them in order so I purchased the entire series and reread them in order and loved them the second time around even more. The characters are very real and engaging. The main character, Joe Pickett is an interesting person and the reader feels like the know him.
Very good, and fun.......2006-12-31
C.J.Box has been writing Joe Pickett novels for about a decade now, or close anyway. The character is an interesting mix of the Old West and modern life. He's a Montana State Game Warden, so he carries a Glock .40 caliber pistol, drives a pickup, and uses the computer and the telephone to communicate. But you get the impression that the character would rather be riding fences and rounding up strays on the plains, working as a cowboy in the 19th Century. The books are pretty clearly detective novels, but the main character has more than a bit of Wyatt Earp in him.
In this outing, Pickett's involved in a dispute between two brothers who are squabbling over the ranch they both grew up on, now that their mother's disappeared. Their mother raised them to hate one another, and so the ensuing feud quickly assumes epic proportions, with the whole town siding with the one of the other of them. Meanwhile, a stranger approaches town, bent on exacting revenge from Pickett for imagined wrongs he thinks were inflicted on him by Joe.
It takes a few chapters for this book to pick up, but when it does the pace is right where it should be. I wouldn't recommend this book to someone who hadn't read the previous Pickett novels: Nate Romanowski makes an appearance, and the above-mentioned stranger is part of a plot thread from a previous book. If you understand that this is part of a series and should be read as such, then I can tell you that this is a good entry in the series.
Pick it!.......2006-12-02
This is the sixth installment in Box's superb Joe Pickett (Wyoming Fish and Game Warden) series, and a dandy of a story! Once again, Joe Pickett, the lovable and underestimated Fish & Game Warden in Wyoming's Twelve Sleep County is caught in the crosshairs (literally and figuratively) of a local ranch family dispute and the grudge of an ex-con who has targeted Joe and his family for alleged wrongs in the past. Opal Scarlett, the revered and despised matriarch of a local ranch family, disappears after exchanging words with a local fishing guide, as well as Joe Pickett. Opal's disappearance is investigated by the local sheriff, whom Joe believes to be incompetent and politically motivated. An ex-con,
who believes that Joe instigated the murder of a villain in a previous
novel, leaves a deadly streak across the country before setting his sights
on Joe and his family. Thrown into the mix, because Joe is never
depicted as even close to perfect, is Joe's family; wife MaryBeth, who has begun her own time management consulting firm that is doing well financially but takes MaryBeth away from home; Joe and MaryBeth's teenage daughter, Sheridan, whose best friend is the granddaughter of the missing Opal Scarlet, and who draws Sheridan into the icky web of the Scarlett
family, and the presence of family friend (and falconer) Nate Romanowski, who may or may not have committed a gruesome murder to protect MaryBeth, with whom he has developed a strong attachment. A convoluted story, written in Box's lovely style, which lyrically describes the desolate beauty of Wyoming, and then, in the next breath, lays bare the unflinching violence of life on the high plains. Highly Recommended!
Book Description
For years Crusher Creel has terrorized the world with his ability to absorb the properties of anything he touches. Now, after being locked away in a secret underground prison, the Absorbing Man has gained the new ability to jump in and out of people's minds. But what happens when the mind he jumps into belongs to the 800-pound monster known as the Incredible Hulk?
Customer Reviews:
A Far Deadlier Absorbing Man Rears His Head.......2007-05-14
The Absorbing Man - Crusher Creel - is back, and more dangerous than ever. Giving Bruce Banner exactly what he Doesn't need as he continues life as a fugitive in the mega-arc started in Incredible Hulk # 34 (see the "Return Of The Monster" Trade Paperback), Creel - complete with new powers he's acquired during his incarceration in a state-of-the-art secret facility - crosses Banner's path in this collection that reprints Incredible Hulk (2nd series) #s 55-59.
As the volume begins, Creel is in his prison; while outside, something kills a woman who works at the facility. Inside, other workers begin acting extremely strangely. Everything's tied into the evolution of the Absorbing Man and his expanding abilities. In "Hide In Plain Sight", you realize that all along, the true extent of how dangerous Creel really is has been underestimated, partially because Creel has never been the brightest character and has lacked the imagination to really use his power. Now he's smarter, and has more power than ever to use. Here, the Absorbing Man is one of the greatest threats the Hulk has ever faced. The entrance of the Hulk into this chain of events at first seemed coincidental, but it's entirely possible Creel planned it.
The only real flaw is that in this volume, for the first time in Bruce Jones's run on the title, a slight sense of repetition in the way the arcs unfold is beginning to creep in. This sense proves to be short-lived (the very next arc, "Split Decisions", shakes things up again, and it really isn't enough to deduct a star.
Although I recommend starting with "Return Of The Monster" (Hulk 34-39) and working through in order, this volume differs from the rest of Bruce Jones's run in that it can be read without the rest of the extended arc first, if one wishes. It's still tied in to the whole Ricky Myers saga, but not as closely as the other volumes. This arc came out the summer the Hulk movie was released and I think Marvel wanted to give people a clean 'jumping-on' point, (# 55 was one of the 25-cent issues that gets brought out periodically to introduce new people to a title) but they accomplished it without abandoning the longer story they were in the middle of; they just let the focus shine off to the side for a couple days in the big green guy's life.
Another very exciting, very rewarding chapter in a truly awesome run for the Hulk.
Another solid chapter in Bruce Jones' Hulk saga.......2003-11-26
Collecting the five part storyarc, Hide in Plain Sight finds Carl Creel AKA The Absorbing Man with a new ability that allows him to jump in and out of peoples minds. This little technique proves handy considering he's trapped in an underground prison, and who just so happens to be in the middle of this? That's right, good 'ol Bruce Banner. Hide in Plain Sight ie yet another more than solid chapter scripted by Bruce Jones, undoubtadly the best writer of the Hulk since Peter David. The story is a bit of a sidebar to Jones' continuing conspiracy storyarc, but this is a welcome distraction. Leo Fernandez's art seems a bit cartoony for me, he doesn't give Hulk the gritty look that is done so superbly by Mike Deodato, but the art isn't bad by any means. All in all, Hide in Plain Sight is yet another more than solid chapter in Bruce Jones' excellent Hulk saga.
Average customer rating:
- I give up
- Stupefyingly Bad
- Reviews by Nan Kilar and Bobby Miller
- Cardboard Badly Cut Out
- no suspense, no romance, no zing
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Die in Plain Sight
Elizabeth Lowell
Manufacturer: Avon
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philosophy hope in a jar daily moisturizer
ASIN: 0060504110
Release Date: 2004-05-25 |
Book Description
Lacey Quinn is determined to prove that the striking landscapes she inherited, done by her late, much-loved grandfather, are as good as anything hanging in museums of California Impressionism today. But the paintings now in her possession are more than the works of a talented master; they are anguished voices from the grave ... crying murder!
Suddenly Lacey's investigation into the life and death of the enigmatic artist is leading her down an ever-darkening road paved with lies, blood, and devastating secrets. It also leads her to Ian Lapstrake, a security specialist employed by the appraisal house Rarities Unlimited, who has taken an interest in Lacey's inheritance ... and in her safety. Because someone wants to prevent Lacey Quinn from examining her grandfather's work too closely, by any means necessary. And clues to a series of horrific, unexplained killings may be hidden in the brushstrokes -- clues that have now indelibly marked Lacey and Ian for death.
Download Description
"E-book exclusive extra: Read the first five thrilling chapters of Heather Lowell's romance-suspense debut, When the Storm Breaks (and see how ingenious storytelling runs in families).
Rareties Unlimited (which also set the scene in Moving Target and Running Scared) is back in action. And this time Elizabeth Lowell's unique brand of romance-suspense pits two new Rareties characters, security specialist Ian Lapstrake and heiress Lacey Quinn, against an unseen enemy -- who does not want revealed the murderous secrets of a masterpiece of California Impressionism: even if it means spilling more blood.
New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Lowell creates another masterpiece of excitement and chills, passion and surprise
Die in Plain Sight
When Lacey Quinn inherits the striking landscapes done by her late, much-loved grandfather, she believes they are as good as anything hanging in museums. But the paintings now in her possession are more than the works of a talented master. They are anguished voices from the grave . . . crying murder!
Lacey begins researching her grandfather's past -- and is rocked almost immediately by a strange series of violent events. Someone wants to steal her inheritance, to reduce the paintings to unrecognizable ashes in a suspicious blaze. Someone wants to prevent Lacey from examining her grandfather's work too closely . . . by any means necessary.
Ian Lapstrake, a security specialist, has taken an interest in Lacey's inheritance . . . and in her. Troubled by what he sees, he becomes Lacey's shadow, as her search for answers leads them both down an ever-darkening road paved with lies, blood, and devastating secrets.
"
Customer Reviews:
I give up.......2007-07-27
I picked this up a few days ago. I just can't get into it. After reading other reviews I know I'm not alone. All of a sudden Lacey and Ian are flirting and kissing. This story is jumping around too quickly. It doesn't make sense. I lost interest too quickly, won't waste time on this.
Stupefyingly Bad.......2007-06-02
Before this I read Lowell's The Wrong Hostage and enjoyed it. This, however, was dreadful. Pointless, inert and populated with cardboard characters. The publisher had to know how putred this was, but I guess they wanted to make a buck and avoid pissing off a lucrative author.
Reviews by Nan Kilar and Bobby Miller.......2006-06-02
Lacey Quinn is an artist and co-owner of an artsy shop in Corona Del Mar, CA. Famous artist Susa Donovan is in town as a publicity thing for the Friends of Mercer County art auction. Ian Lapstrake is a PI for Rarities Unlimited hired to guard Susa while she's in town.
Lacey has many of her deceased grandfather's paintings which she thinks are just super. Susa has agreed to appraise any artwork people bring in, searching for new talent and unknown artists. She realizes the paintings Lacey shows her are the work of a by-gone artist. Then Lacey finds out from her father that grandpa just painted forgeries of Lewis Marten's works.
Throw in fires, a theft, a love story, a death threat, intrigue and various subplots with way too many characters and you've got a story that keeps you going to the end.
Cardboard Badly Cut Out.......2006-02-02
Cardboard characters, an improbable and poorly-developed plot, and a predictable ending mar what could have been an intriguing story of dirty deeds in the California art world. It's possible that Lowell knows something about art, or at least did a bit of research--the parts of the story that discussed art, and the art world along the California coast, were the most plausible and interesting.
Unfortunately, both plot and characters failed to live up to their setting. The plot depends greatly on the protagonist's concealing the truth about who painted the pictures that attract so much (sometimes unsavory) interest. The reasons given for that secrecy, however, are so far-fetched as to be ludicrous. Her dad is angling for a judgeship and doesn't want his father's bad art associated with his name? And she buys this reason? And when she discovers that the unsigned paintings are actually very good and appear to be painted by a well-known deceased artist (although she knows her grandfather painted them), she assumes that they're forgeries? As do the well-known artist Susa and her bodyguard? Sorry, but it's only a forgery if you try to pass it off as an original. There's nothing particularly shameful about paintings done in the style of somebody else.
The rest of the plot is almost equally improbable. Paintings that are "obviously" paintings of real murders? The paintings must have been a lot more realistic than this plot.
And did I mention the cardboard characters? Take one attractive, charming, mysteriously unappreciated young woman who thinks she's ugly because she has a bad haircut. Add a tough-but-tender man who's somehow failed with every woman until now, and it's lust at first sight. Throw in a famous artist who's actually a warm and loving family woman, and stir well with a host of greedy, scheming powerful people who for all their wealth have but one emotion each. Half bake in a 360 degree coastal panorama. Place on shelf to cool and go read an art book.
Why, you ask, if it's this bad, did I give this two stars instead of only one? Because I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and felt nostalgic at the descriptions of the coast. So I gave it an extra star for its setting. After all, it could have been worse. It could have been set in Lodi. ("Oh Lord, Stuck in Lodi Again")
no suspense, no romance, no zing.......2005-10-18
"Die in Plain Sight" was the second Elizabeth Lowell I read. The first, "The Color of Death" was very good, and I was hoping for more of the same.
What I got was a fluffy piece with no suspense, no real drama, and characters that were so incredibly superficial they were nearly transparent. The hero in particular is hard to believe, given he is flawless in strengths, smarts and looks it makes him not very interesting to read. Even if he had a scar or SOMETHING that made him a little more tangible, it would have helped.
The heroine, a zany new-ager painting prodigy, stumbles through life as a victim of happenstance. Her adventure is a jumble of hastily thrown together occurrences which happen to end with her being the protégé of a famous and beloved painter and engaged to the man of her dreams. Never did a character in a book have to work so little to achieve so much.
A disappointment for sure.
Book Description
Concerned with how to comfortably, discreetly and safely exercise the privileges granted by a CCW permit? This invaluable guide offers the latest advice on what to look for when choosing a CCW, how to dress for comfortable, effective concealed carry, traditional and more unconventional carry modes, accessory holsters, customized clothing and accessories, accessibility data based on draw-time comparisons and new holsters on the market. Includes 40 new manufacturer listings.
Customer Reviews:
Information rich book.......2006-02-25
The author of this book has provided comprehensive overview of all different types of gun concealment, explained the pros and cons of different holsters, other ways of concealment and provided useful draw time speeds tables for persons with different skills. Very useful book and worth the time and money.
HIdden in Plain Sight.......2005-08-21
GREAT book. As a new CHL holder, it helped a lot in choosing the proper equipment. Well written and easy to read.
HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT , just not worth the money........2001-05-06
Although this book is well written, it provides almost no new usable info that I could not have gotten from a good holster dealer. About the only worth while thing was the two pages covering speed of draw for the different holsters and the list of holster makers at the end of the book. I was very surprised to find this book to be of so little use after having read the shining reviews published on it. Sorry peaple, it just is not worth the money unless you are totally unaware of what is avaible in the way of concealed carry holsters.
This is an excellent book on Practical Conceal Carry!.......1999-05-04
This is an excellent collection of Conceal Carry options. It is an unbiased, straightforward evaluation of your options with a super listing of vendors in the back. Truly a valuable tool if you plan to carry.
Everything you ever wanted to know about holsters........1999-02-23
This book is a great source of information for the person who is contemplating carrying a concealed firearm. Almost every conceivable method is covered. A vast selection of holsters from an amazing number of manufacturers are pictured and dicussed. The author discusses the pros and the cons of the various products and methods of carry. The unique needs of women are not left out of this book. There is a section that discusses purses designed for carrying a firearm as well as on the body holsters made specifically for the female anatomy. Finally there is the most complete listing of holster manufacturers with their addresses and phone numbers that I have ever seen in one place. I recommend this book to all my students.
Average customer rating:
- Unique reference
- not as helpful as it seems
- Perfection - just what I was looking for...
- Extremely amusing, and a good read.
- Wonderful guide to offbeat Europe.
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Weird Europe: A Guide to Bizarre, Macabre, and Just Plain Weird Sights
Kristan Lawson , and
Anneli Rufus
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
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ASIN: 0312198736 |
Book Description
Welcome to Weird Europe....where truth is stranger than fiction.Thrill-seekers, students of the bizarre, travelers searching for relief from the usual tourist attractions-rejoice! At last, here is a guidebook to Europe's dark side. From strange natural wonders to the handiwork of mad scientists, dreamers, and zealots, Europe harbors hundreds of fascinating-and occasionally gruesome-suprises. In these pages, you'll discover:Two-headed animalsErotic museumsCreepy catacombsA cathedral made of saltA railroad operated by childrenThe Arnold Schwarzenegger MuseumAn all-ice hotelAncient pagan ritualsMinesSewer toursA museum of espionageUFO landing sitesPictures drawn by the dead A frog museumPancake racesOddball artUnderground citiesGiants, freaks, and Siamese twinsThe Temple of EchoesAnd more!Covering twenty-five countries, with complete directions, opening hours, and admission prices for nearly a thousand wild attractions, Weird Europe is an indispensable guide to a world that you never knew existed. Once you enter Weird Europe, there's no turning back.
Customer Reviews:
Unique reference.......2007-04-07
This is an interesting book to read by itself, listing various morbid museums and churches all over europe. Most of the "weird" museums are tourist traps (I had been to some of them before reading the book), though some are sort of "old science" rather than anything particularly weird. Some of the weird church stuff is a reference to 'weird' men's clubs like freemasonry, but most of it deals with catholic relics. Having been raised catholic, it isn't much of a big deal to see some saint's alleged finger or legbone in a fancy reliquary in a church, but some of the macabre stuff does really get beyond the pale. I suppose if you are catholic and on tour, you might go check out relics of your favorite saints.
There was a nifty section on the 16th century malarial ghost towns outside of Rome which was worth the price of the book. That's just ... weird. Nobody thinks of ghost towns in europe (though you see them around the veneto, those are more logical). Though with the demographics heading the way they are, there may be more of them in the future.
As a tourist book, it is a little hard to use. There are of course no maps to speak of to actually find these places. Some websites might be nice. Also, the index is pretty difficult to use. That said, it is pretty unique as a reference for europe.
not as helpful as it seems.......2001-08-26
I bought this book prior to my european trip thinking it would help a lot as far as finding the non touristy, weird , and bizarre places. it is helpful to an extent but it ends up just repeating info that more general guides such as Lonely Planet's Europe on a Shoestring and Let's Go Europe have. if you are planning to go for a lengthy period of time do not buy this book for it will only be extra weight. Lonely Planet's Europe has all the info you need. from hostels to bizarre places to go and see. overrall Weird Europe is not a bad guide, it just seems unnecessary if you already have one of the above guides. places are listed in a good order and the book even provides the directions how to get to most of those, such as metro stops, etc. a lot of guides repeat info. one is enough. i learned that one month into the trip when the weight of that backpack really starts digging into your shoulders.
Perfection - just what I was looking for..........2000-09-01
The countries are listed alphabetically, then the corresponding listings of offbeat experiences and sights to be checked out in each, arranged by city. Each listing has one or more icons next to it, for example, "cemeteries, ossuaries, and corpses", "strange towns", or "outrageous art". There are 21 categories in all. This much-needed book is fascinating, well-organized, and unique. I am currently planning a trip with this book as the primary guide. After reading it cover to cover I realized that there is no way that I won't have an unforgettable and unusual experience.
Extremely amusing, and a good read........2000-03-29
This is really a good compendium of oddities. I know parts of Europe really well, more than I thought these authors would. But I was surprised to find that they had eccentric locales listed that I knew nothing about. They have done a very good job. A book that is definitely worth buying.
Wonderful guide to offbeat Europe........1999-08-11
This gem is indispensible for any trip to Europe. The authors have compiled a remarkable directory of visitor spots not found in guide books, and they are fascinating and diverse.
Book Description
Hide in Plain Sight completes Buhle and Wagner's seminal trilogy on the Hollywood blacklist. When the blacklistees were hounded out of Hollywood, some left for television where many worked on children's shows like Rocky and Bullwinkle. A number wrote adult sitcoms such as The Donna Reed Show and M*A*S*H, while some of them ultimately returned to Hollywood and made great films like Norma Rae and Mid-night Cowboy. This is a thoughtful look at the aftermath of the horror that was the McCarthy period from two expert historians of the blacklist period.
Customer Reviews:
How Hollywood Survived Those Turbulent Years........2004-09-27
The movie studios RKO, MGM, Paramount, Warner Brothers, and Twentieth Century Fox (all familiar to the movie-goers of the Fab Fifties) struggled for survival by focusing on large-budget blockbusters. Later Universal, United Artists, Columbia Pictures and others found life different after the Cold War mania in which writers, producers and directors (some actors) were blacklisted by McCarthy as pro-Communism in this country.
McCarthy ruined reputations and stunted careers in Hollywood in a grand style, but at what a cost -- he was the one to die early. It's a proven fact that hurting others in any way (even by neglect) hurts the tormentor more, usually in physical health. "Tough things can kill. They kill the spirit, hopes, dreams, vision and even desire (to live). Excessive pressure can make you explode or make you learn new ways to constructively vent." (Mtn. Wings #4271)
The wild McCarthyrite charges of conspiracy were as common in the Fifties as they were devastating. Some of those blacklisted by 30's radicalism had been unfairly smeared and even damaged in the McCarthy Era. The Hollywood screenwriters were infiltrated by former Communists for the congressional investigators for the FBI. It is sad that producers testified against some of their best writers and best friends.
But they continued to work on films without credit for their work at lower wages than they deserved. In fact, they contributed immensely to the creation of the 1950's Golden Age of Television, to the dramas and sitcoms. Some moved to New York and were productive on the stage.
Technology in the form of CinemaScope, camera innovations such as the zoom lens, location shooting, and color film saved the industry. The Arbitron surveys killed off some special programs. I'd forgotten about those; as we were never chosen to keep track of what we watched. Today, they are used for radio also and I took one myself in 2001 -- gave Nick Clooney lots of play time in the early hours of each morning.
These historians explain all you'd ever want to know (also some better not known) about every movie you might have seen or just heard about. There is quite a listing throughout this volume.
Some brought back pleasant memories included were the Armstrong Circle Theater, Philco Television Playhouse, Studio One, Four Star Playhouse, NBC Television Theater, Alcoa Aluminum Hour, (also Alcoa/Goodyear Theater) and Ray Bradbury's Science Fiction Theater. The best drama series of this "Golden Age" was one of my favorites, TWILIGHT ZONE. Reruns are still on the tube today.
The cowboys listed were Hopalong Cassidy, Andy Devine, Roy Rogers, but not Lash LaRue (why not?) as he was great. One year he came to our Fair and silly me, just a wisp of a girl, volunteered to stand on stage while he tore a piece of paper out of my mouth with his whip. He was something!
Of course, the music shows to which I was partial and played a big part in my young life. Bing Crosby Productions used blacklisted talents in their shows, BREAKING POINT, HOGAN'S HEROES, and BEN CASEY later in 1959. The mini-studios brought out the detectives we all loved. And who could forget Loretto Young and her beautiful costumes or Dinah Shore and her downhome shows to show the world that we Southerners do know a thing or two.
This would make a good reference book for movie buffs.
Tracking Down the Artistic Contributions of the Blacklisted!.......2004-03-15
While many books, essays, television shows and movies have made us all more sensitive to the dangers of McCarthyism, most of us don't quite know what happened to those who were blacklisted after the HUAC meetings in the early 50s. Hide in Plain Sight filled that void for me, and expanded my understanding of both the event's consequences for society and of the artists involved.
The book uses a variety of methods for capturing the subsequent history of those who were blacklisted. Some chapters focus on particular forms of artistic expression, while other sections look at individual producers, directors, writers and actors. As a result, there's some redundancy . . . so the book often feels like a series of essays rather than one seamless nonfiction book. That quality, however, makes the book easier to use for those who just want to read about a single person or genre.
I was very surprised to learn that almost every adult television show that I liked during the 1950s and 1960s involved blacklisted writers. Perhaps it's just because my tastes run to history, underdogs, unusual approaches and conflict, but what was interesting about television then (and often isn't now) came from those with a strong ideological bent toward Marxist or antifascist thought. This book forms an important document in helping all Americans to understand how dialogue in our society needs to be maintained through providing free access to all media. Much great work would have been lost if these blacklisted writers, directors and performers had lost their artistic lives.
I found one aspect of the book to be tedious though. Every person was characterized by her or his political beliefs. In most cases, this was done with a simple label (antifascist, Marxist, liberal, etc.). That way of characterizing people seemed to me to make the book overly political. As a result, the book constantly displays a battle between left and right . . . and almost leaves the audience out in the process.
I did not know many of the films that were described, especially those that were done in Europe. I appreciated the care with which the films were described. In several cases, I learned important back stories about the meaning of metaphors that added to my understanding of the films.
A real strength of the book is showing how the careers of individual blacklisted people were affected. The analyses of how their subsequent works developed (especially those of Joseph Losey) were quite extensive and intriguing to think about.
The final paragraph is unusually eloquent:
"Hollywood was always about money. It still is. But at its best it was and eventually might once again be something a great deal more--a glimmering of a democratic art form returning the embrace of its vast audience with equality sncerity and the sense of a common fate."
As I finished the book, I was reminded of John Donne's famous poem. "Ask not for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for thee." As badly as individual lives were harmed by the blacklisting, our democracy and culture were harmed even more. In realizing the full depths of that loss, we are all the losers.
Gerald McBoing Boing and the radical movement!.......2003-10-24
"Hide in Plain Sight" is the latest book co-authored by Paul Buhle on the Hollywood blacklist and its impact. As is the case with the previous books, this is as much a celebration of what radicals in the entertainment accomplished as it is about the terrible loss when they were purged.
For people who came of age in the 1950s, the book is an exceptional treat. Who knew that many of our favorite television shows drew upon the talents of writers, directors and actors hounded out of the Hollywood film industry? Covering the period from 1950 to 2002, it proves dramatically that the radical politics of the 1930s never really disappeared but found ways to express itself through popular culture. The television shows and Hollywood movies of this period were just as important a link to the New Left as the folk music revival and leftwing beat poetry.
As is the case with every book in this series, the index can provide a kind of shortcut into the treats within its pages. For example, a reference to "You Are There" reveals that some of the 1953-1955 teleplays were written by Walter Bernstein, Arnold Manoff and Abraham Polonsky--3 blacklistees. Each show was pegged to a real historical event. The central drama of such shows involved heroic efforts by figures such as John Peter Zenger to stand up for democratic principles against a repressive government. Such messages were not lost on baby boomers, including myself.
While it is not too difficult in retrospect to detect the footprints of radicals in such a show, there were others that were more cleverly subversive at camouflaging their true intent. For example, the children's cartoon show "Gerald McBoing Boing" was a product of United Productions of America, which was launched by John Hubley, a New Deal era radical. Fellow UPA'er Dave Hilberman had been fingered by Walt Disney for the sin of having "spent considerable time at the Moscow Art Theater".
Not that Gerald McBoing Boing was about socialist tractors and the struggle against fascism. Instead it is about a child who speaks entirely in sound effects. The real inspiration for this cartoon was not Marxism, but the playful inventive spirit of the Hollywood left going back to Charlie Chaplin and a host of others open to surrealism.
Very highly recommended.
Book Description
* Explains exactly what steganography is-hiding a message inside an innocuous picture or music file-and how it has become a popular tool for secretly sending and receiving messages for both the good guys and the bad guys
* First book to describe international terrorists' cybersecurity tool of choice in an accessible language
* Author is a top security consultant for the CIA and provides gripping stories that show how steganography works
* Appendix provides tools to help people detect and counteract stenanography
Customer Reviews:
awesome book........2005-06-01
this is the best book on Steganography out there.
cole has a ton of great info.
Discover The Art of Hiding Data.......2005-02-10
Not knowing much other than the definition of steganography before opening this book I found it very easy to read and very informative.
Eric Cole has a background in working with hidden data and his experience is translated into a book that even users new to the concepts of covert communication can understand. The fictionalized stories of actual events help the reader to understand how these tools are used every day by both the good guys and the bad guys.
The book covers a basic history and background of cryptography and digital watermarking as well as steganography and then gets into more detail about the techniques and concepts of "stego". It does provide source code, but may not be "meaty" enough for steganography experts.
(...)
Good, but basic, and the editor should be fired........2004-12-24
The information is quite good, though not very in depth. The examples are good, as they explain, "See, this really *can* be used in 'real life'." There is also some programming information, so for some parts (nothing critical, just program design), a knowledge of C is useful. Personally, this is my first book on steganography, so the technicality of the information was at a good level (informative, but not buried in jargon or advanced math). I have no programming background, but skipping the program designs was not a detriment in any way.
However... I think the editor should be bludgeoned once or twice with something heavy. I have written some documentation, and the editor did things that I know never to do. First, there are a few grammatical errors, which cause serious problems if you are not paying attention. (In one example, it is said the user (I don't have the book in front of me) "attaches her private PGP key, encrypts it with [the other's] public PGP key, and sends the email". This is after saying many times "NEVER EVER SHARE YOUR PRIVATE PGP KEY!!!". Then, the example goes on to say the recipient "uses the public PGP key, which is attached...". (The first sentence should have read "public PGP key"). In addition to one or two other situations like this, there is also an issue with the inline images. They all appear only at the top and bottom of the page, while the author clearly intends for some to be in paragraphs. The author says things like "as seen in this image:", but the sentence continues, and "this image", the number of which is not given, is elsewhere on the page. Further, many images have the eight resize anchor points and thick border visible from screen shots; these should have been Photoshop'ed out (it's not that hard, I've done it with Paintbrush).
If you are looking for advanced work, skip this. For a basic work, I would give it five stars, but the editors errors are so bad....
Silly editing mistakes and empty information........2004-09-01
Call me silly for expecting more from this. This book rollercoasters from the wildly vague overview to the distractingly specific detail and back again. The author shows promise in writing style but the editing needs some work. Typos and silly mistakes like the majority of the second half of the book's images appear taken from a Word document (or similar) while selected (border, drag handles overlayed) and LOTS of white space.
And how useful is 80 pages of printed source code? The CD is included, just save the trees and my shelf space please.
The author is a seemingly public figure (TV show appearances, etc) so I guess you can only expect so much.
If you're looking for meat on the topic, don't bother. If you want a basic overview in a weekend read, go for it.
Not an in-depth study.......2004-06-09
I have to agree with a few of the other reviewers. This book only covers a very basic overview of stego. Anybody familiar with the topic will get bored fast. The 'example' stories littered through the text were interesting at first but get old quick. There's only so many ways an author can present the same information. This books reeks of an author stretching an old term paper into a book in order to make a few bucks.
Average customer rating:
- Thrilling Action & Hot Romance
- Hide from this book!
- Exceptional
- Good, but missing something
- Banal
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Hide in Plain Sight
Michele Albert
Manufacturer: Pocket
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ASIN: 0743485033 |
Book Description
APPEARANCES ARE DECEIVING
Fiona Kennedy can tell a forgery from the genuine article in a snap. Drop-dead-sexy Grif Laughton, however, is not so easy to read. He's clearly a masterpiece of the male variety -- and the attraction he sparks is definitely the real thing. But Grif is a man of secrets, and the potentially priceless manuscript he's asked her to appraise is just one of them.
PASSIONS ARE DEADLY
But someone is willing to kill for the manuscript, and Grif reveals that he's a mercenary, hired to protect Fiona. Is he really who he seems, or is he just using her as bait? On the run from an unknown enemy, Fiona gives in to her all-consuming need for the man who may be her one chance for survival -- or her final chapter.
Customer Reviews:
Thrilling Action & Hot Romance.......2006-07-23
Griffin is a mercenary. He is trying to capture von Lahr who has managed to escape custody several times now. Griffin is in possession of a manuscript containing a secret code that Fiona McMahon can spot. Griffin goes undercover to get Fiona to interpret the code and in the process drag von Lahr out of hiding.
Fiona owns an antique bookshop. Her husband died in a car accident five years before, but his body was never found and he has just been declared legally dead. Fiona is attempting to move on with her life now.
Griffin approaches Fiona in her shop about the manuscript. They quickly fall into an easy and flirtatious banter that leads them straight into Fiona's bed. Griffin needs to keep Fiona safe and seducing her is the most pleasurable way to get the job done.
A mysterious caller warns Fiona against helping Griffin and a mysterious visitor to her shop has Fiona wondering what is really going on. Von Lahr is keeping an eye on Fiona and it's possible that Fiona's supposedly deceased husband may be involved somehow as well.
The game is up for Griffin when Fiona is targeted and he has to reveal his true identity. Fiona, feeling used and betrayed, is taken somewhere safe to hide out for a while. She attempts to act civil towards Griffin but he has become a stranger to her now.
Fiona's safety is Griffin's top priority. While he attempts to keep her at arms length, Fiona discovers that there is much more to Griffin than what he portrays. Griffin finds himself wanting to do more than just to keep her safe and Fiona wonders about what could be, providing they can get out of this alive.
Hide In Plain Sight is terrific. The mystery kept me guessing, the action is thrilling and the romance is hot! Griffin's good looks, charming personality and the aura of danger that surrounds him, make him so desirable. Fiona is a beautiful and strong woman. She held her own no matter what was thrown at her. I really enjoyed how their relationship grew and changed. Hide In Plain Sight has an ending for Griffin and Fiona but with the villain still on the loose, I am eager to see what might happen next.
Nannette
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed
Hide from this book!.......2006-06-12
I enjoyed the first book in this series, but how did this book even get published? There was practically NO story and what remained was confusing... I was also disturbed by the coldness of the romance - first the romantic male lead sleeps with the heroine to "get the job done", only to kidnap her and hold her hostage, THEN she falls in love with him???
I agree with one of the previous reviewers - the cat was the only convincing character!
Exceptional.......2006-05-21
This book is wonderful,I just began reading this author and even though I apparently missed the first book I understood the plot with no problem. I love the fact that Fiona the female lead is strong and independent. She supports and incourages the heroe to stop blaming himself for past mistakes. But she also, goes toe to toe with him when she finds out he lied to her. This is a fabulous book by a wonderful author. I am a fan for life!!! I can't wait for the start of the new Avalon series!
Good, but missing something.......2006-05-09
I am a big fan of Michele Albert's books and I have always admired her character development. Though I liked both Fiona and Grif, they are not as fully realized (IMO) as I've come to expect from this author. I think perhaps this book suffers because it is a "transition" book. It closes out the (very) loosely connected trilogy of three friends introduced in GETTING HER MAN, continuing with ONE WAY OUT and now concluding with HIPS. It also serves to kick off a new series about a shadowy organization called Avalon which specializes in recovering stolen works of art, antiquities and busting forgers.
Five years prior, Griffith Laughton ran an op that went bad and several of his team were killed. Grif feels guilt over their deaths as well as a burning desire to finally put art and antiquities trafficker Rainert von Lahr (also seen in prior book OWO) behind bars where he belongs. He finally has another chance to catch his nemesis with a "lost" Christopher Marlowe manuscript. The bait must, unfortunately, also include an innocent civilian, Fiona Kennedy-MacMahon. She's an expert on Marlowe and Grif approaches her (in the guise of an attorney) with a proposition to appraise the manuscript for his client to determine if it is real or a forgery. Grif liberally pours on the charm to convince her, but then it's not so hard to flirt with this warm and very pretty redhead.
Prior to Grif entering her bookstore, Fiona had been in the process of planning a vacation in the Bahamas to kick-start her life. Her husband has just been declared legally dead (he disappeared years ago) and after five years in limbo, Fiona wants to finally live again. And now here's this gorgeous charmer offering her the opportunity to authenticate a possible Marlowe manuscript! He's the second gorgeous man to enter her shop (and flirt with her!) today what with that blond German gentleman who came in earlier. And now the charming Griffith Laughton has invited her to dinner. Perhaps her luck is changing?
Well perhaps not, for after spending a long, blissful night with Grif, Fiona learns the truth of what is going on. When they must go on the run from von Lahr and others, their forced time together allows them to get to know one another. Fiona discovers that Grif already knows pretty much everything about her while Grif reveals his growing disenchantment with the job and his desire for someplace to call home. Fiona's anger toward Grif for using her diminishes as she comes to understand and like Grif. Their mutual attraction was clear from the start, and now the question is, if they can stay alive long enough to get von Lahr, will she ever see him again?
While I enjoyed the story, I must agree with another reviewer that there were several things that were sort of left hanging and agree that perhaps there were things the reader is not meant to know? For all it's mention, in the end the manuscript did not seem to be very important. The person or persons that head up Avalon seemed to be important though I've no idea why. The revelation of what really happened to Fiona's husband was kind of anti-climatic. And the period of time that Fiona and Grif spend together is extremely short (like two or three days) so their attachment seemed a tad unrealistic. And I did wonder if Grif would be happy in the long run with the choice he made at the end.
Not her best, but still enjoyable. I look forward to her next book and to learning more about Avalon.
Banal.......2006-04-29
Michele Albert had a good idea for a plot and produced a dumb, badly written book. The only character that rang true was the cat!
Books:
- History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
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