Reviews (5)

Recommended!
I'm only a casual fan of Peanuts but I saw these boxed sets and bought the first one quite cheaply to "test the water" as we Brits say... Fabulous. I've since bought this 55-58 set and will be buying the others. Can't recommend enough, although the lack of colour where there was colour before (the Sundays?) is a little disappointing now I know about it - not enough to put me off. The design of these books can't be bettered I don't think - Seth has done an AMAZING job in capturing the feel of the period and the cartoons within.

Complete 2-book Set : Identical as the books sold separately only cheaper!
The Complete Peanuts is definitely complete! It's a real collectors' item! Hats off to Fantagraphics Books for initiating such an ambitious project though their release schedule (releasing only two books every year - it will take twelve and a half years before the entire collection is published) leaves one frustrated.
Completely Awesome... Peanuts 1955-1958
This series is going to be a regular drain on my bank balance for the coming decade, as that is how long it is going to take Fantagraphics to finish publsihing this collection, if they stick to their published schedule.
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Subjects:  1. Comics & Cartoons    2. Form - Cartoons & Comics    3. Humor    4. Humor / Cartoons   

Reviews (54)

Can't stop reading this!
I read this through when I was pregnant with my 4 months old twins.And I thought it was cute and interesting.But once they got here I have become desperate for any advice on how to handle twins.I have re-read this book dozens of times!! Trying to figure out sleeping habits, what to do for schedules, and reassureance from other twin moms that at the 3 month old mark it will get better.The things that I giggled at the most have held the most truth for me.Like, 'you should never microwave formula'.....'But you will, we all do and its o.k.' If you are haveing twins you need a sense of humor and THIS BOOK!

Helpful hints
This book was not only very funny but also very helpful.It kept my attention the whole time I was reading it.I couldn't put it down. I did not know what to expect with twins.I already had a little girl (who is now 7) and even then when she was a baby I did not know how to handle her.Elizabeth (the author of this book) gives great tips and hints on how to deal with and cope with having 2 babies at one time!I would recommend this book to anyone who is expecting twins or more.I would even recommend this book for someone who is only expecting one child.The tips and hints she gives do aim more at a mother of twins (being a mother of twins herself), however, the tips she gives would work just as well with a single child.Please take the time to read the excerpt of this book.It will not only make you laugh, but it will make you want to read more.If you are an expecting mother (of any amount of babies) I would strongly recommend reading this book! I myself have already read it more then once!

Could have been better...
Home on bedrest and expecting twins in the fall, I have been doing a lot of reading this summer.I have a 3 year old and purchased this book to help me prepare for our new additions.As others have written, it's just not as good as it could be.There are certainly funny parts and useful suggestions.However, much of the book reads as a diary of the author's experiences rather than a summary of approaches and objective recommendations. Certainly, not as witty and well-written as the "Girlfriend's Guide" series.That said, it is a fast read with some useful information on twins that your generic "what to expect" pregnancy books won't have. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Family & Relationships    2. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    3. Family/Marriage    4. Parenting - General    5. Parenting - Motherhood    6. Parenting - Parent & Adult Child    7. Topic - Family    8. Humor   

Reviews (2)

For Fans of Air America
Not a bad book, but it's really NOT for those of a conservative bent. If you enjoy Air America, you WILL enjoy this book. I was a bit disappointed that the book has so much non original material. A few too many transscripts from the Air America shows, but still, over all a good, though lite, read.

Air America, R.I.P.
Whenever I'm in L.A., I like to find Air America and listen for pure entertainment value (Air America didn't last in Phoenix and lost its station to yet another Spanish channel a couple of years ago).I would listen to Randi Rhodes' nightly meltdown over some vote in Congress and seriously wonder who on earth could listen to these people without wanting to slit their own wrists after a few shows.
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Subjects:  1. Interviews    2. Liberalism    3. Political Ideologies - Conservatism & Liberalism    4. Political Science    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Politics/International Relations    7. Radio - General    8. Radio Journalism    9. Right and left (Political science)    10. Topic - Political    11. United States    12. Humor / General   

Reviews (45)

Unoriginal
I gave this book a low rating, not because it's "offensive," but because it's blah humor.
Great for the expecting dad
This book is very funny and my husband and I really enjoyed it.It brings up alot of questions your husband would think of and explains things in his terms.It helped my husband understand the whole pregnancy thing better.This is a great book for the expecting dad.

HORRIBLE,sexist and awful
I got this as a present for my fiance,thinking it would be a cute funny gift during our pregnancy.However,it got here and neither of us were amused.It's a HORRIBLE book! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American Satire And Humor    2. Childbirth    3. Fathers    4. Form - Parodies    5. Health/Fitness    6. Humor    7. Husbands    8. Pregnancy    9. Pregnancy & Childbirth    10. English    11. Humor / General    12. Humour    13. Pregnancy, birth & baby care    14. USA   

Editorial Review

It just isn’t fair: most of us would be lucky to be able to express ourselves in writing half as well as David Sedaris does in his new book, Read more

Reviews (274)

Love Sedaris!
I have now read all of Sedaris' books (just finished dress your family in Corduroy and Denim), and I have loved them all.They are great coming of age type of stories for any orientation and very funny.not just gay literature -- just funny literature.Not quite as funny as "Running with Scissors," but probably more poignant and identifiable to more of us.Running with Scissors is hilarious, but seems out of this world. Sedaris as 99% as funny, but much more identifiable to us and seems much more like a family member of ours gone awry in a funny, funny way.Plus, we all know that if our siblings were to rant about us, we'd be characters in a book like Sedaris' too!I highly recommend this.Quick read, and very, very good!

Defines Droll
I have long delighted in David Sedaris's pieces in The New Yorker and on "This American Life."His humor is edgy, but--and granted this will seem contradictory--there is something familiar and down-to-earth to it.Perhaps this is because it's like the aphorism popularized by Homer Simpson: "It's funny 'cause it's true."
David Sedaris
Another collection of essays from a brilliant wit who you know you love to read. It's like I've said in my reviews before. There's no need to review each book when I can just give the author a blanket endorsement and guarantee you'll love whatever you find by the guy. I love it when that happens. I may have annoyed Jan by laughing out loud too often. Sedaris is like that.
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Subjects:  1. American Satire And Humor    2. Form - Essays    3. General    4. Humor    5. Topic - Family    6. Humor / Essays   

Reviews (27)

a must read
I must say, we had a real laugh over this hilarious book. Davilman and Weiner have a wry wit, and it was not wasted on our household. We are still laughing about this book, and its funny sequel Yiddish with George and Laura.

Yiddish With Dick and Jane
This book was an absolute joy to read.Seeing the Yiddish words in print & used in the proper context brought back warm childhood memories of my grandparents.How cleverly it was done as I'm sure everyone remembers Dick & Jane and who would have ever thought to put a Yiddish twist on one of the oldest primary readers known to mankind?

Brilliant, painfully witty
Funny, great review of the Yiddish the new generations are forgetting, using classic Dick and Jane format (only those who heard Yiddish growing up may remember) to a modern day biting reality story ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American Satire And Humor    2. Form - Parodies    3. General    4. Humor    5. Readers (Primary)    6. Reading materials    7. Yiddish    8. Yiddish Language    9. Humor / Parodies    10. Language self-study & phrasebooks    11. USA   

Reviews (202)

This Book is "Frigg'n Sweet!!!"
If ever there was a humorous side to hyper-active, neglected and attention-deficient children, Robert Hamburger has found it! From cover to cover, "The REAL Ultimate Power" is chock full of childish hilarity counter-pointed by a very poignant under-belly displaying a fictional child's attempt to cope with being different and neglected. Yes, it's still HILARIOUS! Hamburger writes this essentially "for Dummies" spoof from the perspective of a learned 10-year-old kid who's inability to deal with his reality (parents he perceives as neglectful, friends who aren't his friends, etc.) leads him to be overly passionate (he calls it "pumped") about ninjas. I couldn't stop laughing! Not only are 99.9% of Robert's views on ninjas completely off-base and unrealistic (ah, childhood!), most times they're crude, disgusting, absurd and hilarious. Did you know that the defining characteristic of a ninja is the ability to "flip out and kill people" without the slightest provocation? Or that a BONER is the ninja's most prized weapon? Or that ninjas can fly? I, for one, was shocked to learn that Benjamin Franklin not only killed a man, but in the same night, laid in "feigned passion" with a sea turtle! These are just a few of Robert's skewed ideas, and they only get worse (or "better" if you're one to appreciate the humor!)
Brain bending awesomness
This book is great the way it's told. The "Genius" spotlight review hit my thoughts exactly. Many people might not get all the subtle hints in the text and footnotes that tell the real story of a boy. That would be a shame. But if you liked the website, you'll like the book either way.

Really funny
One of the funniest books I've ever read. Had me laughing out loud like a fool during my commute. This book was AWESOME.
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Subjects:  1. General    2. Humor    3. Ninjutsu    4. Topic - Sports    5. Humor / General    6. Oriental martial arts   

Features

• Abridged

Reviews (13)

Cute and VERY USEFUL
I haven't read a lot of books on men because I didn't think that I'd find one that I could actually USE. A friend recommended this one and I've been recommending it ever since. A lot of what I used to take as being "normal" I've realized is just weak behavior from men who don't really want me around for what I want to be around for! Good riddance to them!!!!! Half of a man or a piece of a man is NOT EVER acceptable, especially after reading and re-reading this book!

DATING MINIMUM REQUIRED READING
If you have already launched yourself into the outer world of dating without any navigation map, do not despair!This book and 2 others by the author, Greg Behrendt, will be all you need to reach your destination!You will laugh, you will cry, and you just may end up married after all!In any case, reading this may bring the clarity that has been so missing in your head & heart!This book is one of the greatest gifts that you can give yourself or to that really messed up best friend of yours!
Relationship less than ideal ?Break upand run !
I bought this book because I've been hearing the title tossed about.While stating the obvious dating wisdom, it's not clear for whom this book is for.Is it a "reinflate my ego after the breakup" or a break-up instigator ?Laced with the hackneyed "men are pigs" buzz phrases, this book presents a series of fake letters and "statistics" as real.Email is not an important form of communication ?Has this author never had a good IM or cell-phone message session?That's the modern form for love letters.Perhaps he's just too old to comment on the communication of those currently at breeding age.
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Subjects:  1. Attitudes    2. General    3. Humor    4. Interpersonal Relations    5. Love & Romance    6. Love / Sex / Marriage    7. Man-woman relationships    8. Men    9. Psychology    10. Self-Help    11. Sex Relations    12. Topic - Relationships    13. Self-Help / General   

Editorial Review

Who would have thought that a book about English would be so entertaining? Certainly not this grammar-allergic reviewer, but Read more

Reviews (110)

Imperfect perhaps, but a great read.
I disagree with several of the reviews here which cite several specific points of contention as making the book entirely worthless. I think it easily earns 4.5 - 5 stars. It IS over a decade old now, and I don't think it is intended as a source for scholars of English. But, for the amateur linguist and even the wannabe linguist it is a great read. I can't compete with some of the above reviewer's scholarly points, but I don't think replacing some of Bryson's dogma with their own is worthwhile. Mother Tongue is a great starting point and very educational. "Bryson's Dictionary of Troublesome Words" is also a great introduction and gets 5 stars from me.

Not as good as other Bryson
Like any Bill Bryson book, this is a fun read, but in some passages the author pretends to find some bit of usage more confusing than he really does, just to make a point. This happens often enough to become a little irritating, but it's still pretty enjoyable.

Brilliantly witty and utterly enjoyable.
This is a lighthearted look at the intricacies of the English language: its history and development as well as colloquialisms, modern slang, and general language-mangling by non-native speakers.
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Subjects:  1. English language    2. Form - Essays    3. History    4. Humor    5. Language    6. Language Arts & Disciplines    7. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    8. Linguistics    9. Language Arts & Disciplines / General   

Editorial Review

Hip radio comedy fans and theater folks who belong to the cult of Obie-winning playwright/performer David Sedaris must kill to get this book. These would be fans of the scaldingly snide Sedaris's hilariously described personal misadventures like Read more

Reviews (366)

Chuckle out loud humor!
"Naked" is a bizzare, yet humorous, glimpse into the life and times of David Sedaris, made even more bizzare when the fact sinks in that it's a memoir. Through his essays, Sedaris treats us to an insider's look at his warped childhood, and subsequent warped adulthood, touching upon subjects such as his golf-obsessed father, the relationship between his old-world-stalwart grandmother and his end-of-her-rope mother, and hichhiking days accompanied by a parapalegic. The essays are superbly written, perfect for reading out loud, enthralling, and endowed with a usually-hitting, self-depracating humor. Some jokes are hit or miss, but it averages out to a definitely amusing read. For anyone with a strange family, or a skewed view of the world, there's something in "Naked" to relate to.

Not too shabby
Sedaris' Naked is a quick, enjoyable read. The honesty and incisiveness he uses to portray his family members is excellent, although the accompanying cruelness from such honesty can be off-putting. Some of his essays, such as c.o.g., about his experiences as an apple-picker and then an Oregon-shaped clock maker's assistant who declares Sedaris to be a 'child of god' are both hilarious and incisive. However, other essays, while humorous, are largely forgettable. Looking back through the book I found essays that I barely remembered even though I had read them only days before. Sure, they were funny at the time, but a lot of them lack impact. However, when Sedaris is on, he is on, and some of his stories, such as his description of his grandmother, Ya-Ya, his attempt at being a childhood detective to clear his name, and his visit to a nudist colony, are both funny and memorable. It's these kind of essays that make the book really worth reading.

David Sedaris, laughter cover to cover
Brilliantly hilarious, carefully crafted, beautifully expressive! Thumbs up for David Sedaris' Naked.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Form - Essays    6. General    7. Humor    8. Humorists    9. Humorists, American    10. Sedaris, David    11. Biography & Autobiography / General    12. Humour    13. Other prose: from c 1900 -   

Reviews (30)

REALLY GOOD ROLE MODEL, CHALLENGES HISTORY, MAKES YOU RETHINK AND ANALYZE WHAT LEADERSHIP IS
Leadership is neither a good or bad moral obligation. It is an attitude and action. The Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius said that, if you flinch at the idea that you will hurt somebody, you yourself are already dead. Morality cannot sustain mortality, it inevitable that the idea of your own death, takes precedence over the emotion of war and murder.
Pillaging in the Board Room?
Of course, the title is meant to grab you. If nothing else, this book looks good on your coffee table or in your office bookshelf.
Excellent
This book is great, and to the point. Not a a bunch of drown out blah, blah, blah. Quick examples of lessons learned by Attila the Hun. Great to use when dealing with people. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Attila,    2. Business & Economics    3. Business / Economics / Finance    4. Business/Economics    5. Entrepreneurship    6. Leadership    7. Political Process - Leadership    8. d. 453    9. Business & Economics / Leadership    10. Humour   

Reviews (39)

FOUND... one of the greatest books - MUST HAVE!
This book is absolutely great! I find it amusing and sometimes quite moving. I work for the fire dept and I find myself almost unable to put it down when we get calls! Haha. It's such a creative idea. I can't wait to order the second one.
A suprise gem!
I bought this book without knowing anything about it, and fell in love with it. I loved the little glimpses into other people's lives, and some of the finds were so touching they were difficult to read. A great book to have on hand to pick up and spend a few minutes with (if you can resist the temptation to read it cover to cover like I did!)

Amazing!
This book will make you look at trash in a whole new way.It's a wildly addictive, creepy, cool, and fun read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Catalog    2. Catalogs    3. General    4. Humor    5. Lost and found possessions    6. Lost articles    7. Humor / General   

Subjects:  1. American Contemporary Fiction - Individual Authors +    2. Comics & Cartoons    3. Fables, American    4. Form - Essays    5. Humor    6. Comics & Graphic Novels / Comics & Cartoons   

Features

• Abridged
• Audiobook
• Unabridged

Reviews (25)

my first taste of him
I thought this man was SO funny, defently worth the money to get him.Just beware, people will think your crazy if you laugh alone.

Live Sedaris!
David Sedaris is the only man I LOVE to listen to ...that voice...the perfect pacing...the droll humor...His stories are a compelling listen with a large drop of "I need to see this man on a book tour" thrown in.The Carnegie Hall reading is another classic that even someone not familiar with him can fully enjoy. The audience is not as distracting as you would think and he plays to them well without a lot of big pauses for all the applause. I've given this as a gift with not a complaint!A Good Listen!

Even funnier than reading his books
If you're a fan of his books, you'll really enjoy this cd.I still listen to it after owning it for a couple of years, and it still makes me laugh out loud.His deadpan delivery makes the material even funnier than reading it.I had the pleasure of seeing him in person in Champaign, Illinois, and I can't tell you how much I enjoyed it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American wit and humor    2. Audio Adult: Books On Tape    3. Audiobooks    4. Form - Essays    5. General    6. Humor    7. Unabridged Audio - Humor    8. Humor / Essays    9. Humour collections & anthologies   

Subjects:  1. Calendar    2. Calendars & Diaries    3. Cats - General    4. Non-Classifiable    5. HUMOR / Topic / Animals    6. Pets / Cats / General    7. Stationery items   

Reviews (8)

Well worth the money
I especially like the section on Assertiveness which teaches assertiveness without fear and the section on Working with Difficult peers in the workplace. Very appropriate and hard hitting.

Humorous Training Games
These games are helpful but not as "quality" as most trainers seek.Good for a springboard but not enough meat.

The Big Book of Humorous Training Games
This is a good book in where the humor combined with the training technics help the consultant work many curriculums more easy and with more effectiveness. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Employee Training And Development    5. Employees    6. Human Resources & Personnel Management    7. Humor in business    8. Skills    9. Training    10. Training of    11. Business & Economics / Training    12. Personnel & human resources management   

Reviews (13)

This book is worth it.
Whether you like animatated novels or not this is one of the most facinating books concerning a country we have all heard about but don't know too much about.The animation is nicely done but the store of his time in North Korea is just amazing.

This Place is Ripe for Ridicule
Usually I am not a fan of graphic novels.But as I do have an interest in North Korea and its lunatic regime, I could not help but be intrigued by a cartoonist writing of his experience there.One cannot feel anything but sorrow for the poor people trapped in such a God-forsaken place.Yet humor has always been used to illuminate serious situations and few places are more ripe for or deserving of ridicule than North Korea.
Superficial and Distant
I was hoping for journalism in the same vein as "Palestine" or "The Fixer" by Joe Sacco. Unfortunately, this book doesn't probe below the surface of North Korea at all. It often reads like a sightseers guide to Pyongyang.
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Subjects:  1. 21st century    2. Comic books, strips, etc    3. Comics & Graphic Novels    4. Fiction - General    5. Fine Arts    6. General    7. Graphic Novels    8. Graphic Novels - General    9. Humor    10. Korea (North)    11. Literature: Classics    12. Politics and government    13. Social conditions   

Reviews (139)

An elegiac last call from the greatest American author
Kurt Vonnegut has his detractors, some of whom can be found reviewing this book, but thankfully he also has numerous fans -- and you can put me at the forefront of his supporters any day. In this work (which will most likely be the now eighty-four year old author's last) Vonnegut looks back at the life he has lived, the people he has met, those who have influenced him, the world he has inhabited, and reflects on where the human race seems to be headed. Surely there will be people who disagree with Vonnegut's politics, but what he is preaching (if anything) is the importance of kindness -- and, really, who could possibly find fault with that? He challenges his readers to stand up to the political machines, the corrupt corporations, et al and to hold on to their integrity in a world that no longer rewards honesty and hard work. Vonnegut certainly has no love for President Bush and the current administration -- which naturally provokes a knee-jerk defensive position from the conservatively inclined reader, but if you take the politics out of the equation you are left with what Vonnegut recommends to a man on page 107: "There's only one rule that I know of: Go****mn it, Joe, you've got to be kind!" Again, who could argue with that? Wouldn't the world be a better place -- and wouldn't life be a lot easier to live -- if we just made the modicum of effort that it takes to be nice to each other? Perhaps, being apolitical myself, it's easy for me to put aside my differences with Vonnegut and focus on what he is trying to say. There are also those who complain that Vonnegut is overly simplistic. Well, if I've learned anything it's that oftentimes the most obvious things are the hardest to see -- and if everyone already knew what Vonnegut is saying the world wouldn't need much fixing in the first place. Turkish author Orhan Pamuk just won the 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature, and I'm sure that he deserves it, but it just stupefies me that Vonnegut has never been honored with that prize during his long career. With a canon that includes "Mother Night" (my favorite Vonnegut book), "Slaughterhouse Five", "God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater", "Breakfast of Champions" and so much more he just seems like a great choice. And at eighty-four Vonnegut has lost none of his mental prowess and signature wit. If this elegiac work proves to be Vonnegut's last it would be a fitting, melancholy note to end his career on. I just can't help but selfishly hold onto the hope that he will be around a while longer to entertain us with his unique blend of comedy, tragedy, and poignant themes. God -- or whatever is out there -- bless you, Mr. Vonnegut.

A master writer but not at his best
I have long been a fan of Kurt Vonnegut.Yes, he is a socialist and, yes, his writing is not balanced.He is espousing a point of view.Nothing is masked.I accept that and appreciate the wit and originality for what it is.He has written masterpieces of American literature and this is written as the words of an aging great man.
ICONOCLASM TRUMPS TALENT
Not having read any of Vonnegut's work for 30 years, I opened A Man Without a Country and remembered why I'd SO assiduously avoided him. As a natural conservative I much enjoy the thrust and parry of lively political debate. But KV, like almost every socialist I've ever met, doesn't do debate, preferring mockery, innuendo, myth and wilfully distorted facts. It's the superior sneer of the self-styled intellectual who doesn't know what he's talking about. His unwavering belief in doctrinal socialism brings to mind a line from Emerson: "Foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds."
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Subjects:  1. 2001-    2. 20th century    3. American - General    4. Authors, American    5. Biography    6. Biography & Autobiography    7. Biography And Autobiography    8. Biography/Autobiography    9. Essays    10. Form - Essays    11. General    12. History - General History    13. Literature - Classics / Criticism    14. Personal Memoirs    15. Political Process - General    16. Politics and government    17. U.S. - Contemporary Politics    18. United States    19. United States - 20th Century    20. Vonnegut, Kurt    21. History / United States / 20th Century   

Editorial Review

Hunter S. Thompson, in his drunken, rambling introduction to this volume of paintings and illustrations, calls Ralph Steadman "the Albert Gore of twentieth century art." It's hard to imagine a less apt appellation: Steadman's drawings and paintings are the wild antithesis of the notoriously stiff V.P. His pop art is also the opposite of Warhol's clean lines and soulless imagery; it screams with pain and nightmare power. While Steadman is best known for his illustrations to Thompson's Read more

Reviews (14)

One of His Best!
I love his work, have since he did the cover art and animation for Pink Floyd The Wall. This book is worth grabbing if you respect the artistic value of total insanity and the furthering of freedom of expression.

Gonzo forever!
May the ghost of Hunter S. Thompson come down and become the next President of the United States - and may Ralph Steadman be his Art Director!

Plastered from the master.

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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Comics & Cartoons    4. Graphic Satire And Humor    5. Individual Artist    6. Steadman, Ralph    7. Humor / Cartoons   

Reviews (17)

A really great way to know and understanding the people around you.
This book is wonderful. I thought I knew all of my firends, until this book...WOW! We laugh, cry, even argue but it's all in good clean fun. I love this book and I think that this is a GREAT way to get to know someone. Enjoy!

Great book
I have used this book for a long distance relationship, and this books is perfect for such relationship. This book really has some great questions to spark interesting conversations and answers. This is a truly great book if you're looking a book of questions.

Perfect
I absolutely love this book.Here's some basics:
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Subjects:  1. Human Sexuality    2. Humor    3. Questions & Answers    4. Reference    5. Communication    6. Questions and answers