Added on 06/16/09

In a newsletter published from May 1990 to December 1996 as well as in three enormously successful books, (The Tightwad Gazette, The Tightwad Gazette II and The Tightwad Gazette III - Final Edition), Amy Dacyczyn established herself as the expert of... See more

In a newsletter published from May 1990 to December 1996 as well as in three enormously successful books, (The Tightwad Gazette, The Tightwad Gazette II and The Tightwad Gazette III - Final Edition), Amy Dacyczyn established herself as the expert of economy. Now The Complete Tightwad Gazette brings together all of her best ideas and thriftiest thinking into one volume, along with new articles never published before in book format. Dacyczyn describes this collection as "the book I wish I'd had when I began my adult life." Packed with humor, creativity, and insight, The Complete Tightwad Gazette includes hundreds of tips and topics, such as: * Travel for tightwads * How to transform old blue jeans into potholders and quilts * Ten painless ways to save $100 this year * Picture-framing for pennies * A comparison of painting versus re-siding your house * Halloween costumes from scrounged materials * Thrifty window treatments * Ways to dry up dry-cleaning costs * Inexpensive gifts * Creative... See less

Highlights: Three Books In One -- A $38.97 Value For Only $19.99!

Added on 01/15/09

In eight friendly sections, the brothers Gardner and writing partner Selena Maranjian demystify the stock market by describing and defining mutual funds, banking practices, IRAs, and drip investing. The authors also include numerous quotes from... See more

In eight friendly sections, the brothers Gardner and writing partner Selena Maranjian demystify the stock market by describing and defining mutual funds, banking practices, IRAs, and drip investing. The authors also include numerous quotes from money-savvy adolescents who detail some of their rookie market moves in an attempt to help their peers steer clear of similar mistakes. Parents will approve of the strongly worded sections on credit card debt and the costly financial and physical tolls a smoking habit takes on both wallet and health. In fact, parents would do well to pick up this investment primer for their own edification, if they find the stock market a confusing and chaotic business. Loaded with worksheets, helpful Web sites on a variety of financial subjects, a concise glossary, and a comprehensive index, this is one investment guide that both generations can and will turn to again and again. Traditionally, teens have been known for having a hard time seeing the proverbial... See less

Highlights: $10.17s

Added on 08/25/08

The Four Pillars of Investing gives investors the tools they need to construct top-returning portfolios­­--without the help of a financial adviser. In a relaxed, nonthreatening style, Dr. Bernstein provides a distinctive blend of market history,... See more

The Four Pillars of Investing gives investors the tools they need to construct top-returning portfolios­­--without the help of a financial adviser. In a relaxed, nonthreatening style, Dr. Bernstein provides a distinctive blend of market history, investing theory, and behavioral finance, one designed to help every investor become more self-sufficient and make better-informed investment decisions. The 4 Pillars of Investing explains how any investor can build a solid foundation for investing by focusing on four essential lessons, each building upon the other. Containing all of the tools needed to achieve investing success, without the help of a financial advisor, it presents: * Practical investing advice based on fascinating history lessons from the market * Exercises to determine risk tolerance as an investor * An easy-to-understand explanation of risk and reward in the capital markets See less

Highlights: $20.00

Added on 08/24/08

The book is divided into four large sections, of which the second and third are the most valuable. In Section II, the authors do an excellent job of describing the entire range of SRI activities: avoidance screening, affirmative screening,... See more

The book is divided into four large sections, of which the second and third are the most valuable. In Section II, the authors do an excellent job of describing the entire range of SRI activities: avoidance screening, affirmative screening, shareholder activism, and community investing. They lay out the strategies of each, explain the thinking behind them, and discuss issues readers should consider concerning them. For most people, SRI means little more than avoidance screening: refusing to own stocks in tobacco, alcohol, gambling, weapons or nuclear energy companies. The other approaches - all, if anything, more politically productive - have never, to my knowledge, been as fully and usefully presented as they are here. See less

Highlights: 58 used & new from $0.39

Added on 12/14/09

500 Places to See Before They Disappear enables passionate travelers and the eco-conscious to learn about and plan a visit to see rare cultural, historic, and natural places before they are irrevocably altered or even gone forever. Here are... See more

500 Places to See Before They Disappear enables passionate travelers and the eco-conscious to learn about and plan a visit to see rare cultural, historic, and natural places before they are irrevocably altered or even gone forever. Here are one-of-a-kind landscapes, fragile ecosystems, rare bird habitats, places to see the last remaining species of big game in the wild, cityscapes in peril, vanishing cultural kitsch, petroglyphs, and more—500 thoughtfully-chosen treasures that will inspire and enlighten travelers of all ages. Each entry explains why it’s been included, gives its history, the nature of the threat against it, brief practical information on how to visit, and what visitors can to do protect it. A Geographical Index allows travelers to locate attractions across the world. Photos throughout the book help bring destinations to life. See less

Highlights: $13.59

Added on 12/09/09

This neat little book gives you enough practical knowledge of European art history to make your trip to the great museums and churches a lot more enjoyable. It connects yesterday's Europe with today's sights -- art, museums, buildings, and people. An... See more

This neat little book gives you enough practical knowledge of European art history to make your trip to the great museums and churches a lot more enjoyable. It connects yesterday's Europe with today's sights -- art, museums, buildings, and people. An essential tool for any traveler's backpack or suitcase. See less

Highlights: $16.47

Added on 12/09/09

Wouldn't you like to sleep better when camping? Then Hammock Camping is for you!

Wouldn't you like to sleep better when camping? Then Hammock Camping is for you! See less

Highlights: $19.95

Added on 05/11/09

Here's what John Muir brought on his 1,000-mile trek from Indiana to the Gulf of Mexico: a comb, a brush, a towel, soap, a change of underclothing, five books, a plant press and a map. "Only by going alone in silence, without baggage, can one truly... See more

Here's what John Muir brought on his 1,000-mile trek from Indiana to the Gulf of Mexico: a comb, a brush, a towel, soap, a change of underclothing, five books, a plant press and a map. "Only by going alone in silence, without baggage, can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness," he wrote. In Philip Harnden's quirky, reflective book Journeys of Simplicity: Traveling Light with Thomas Merton, Basho, Edward Abbey, Annie Dillard & Others, Harnden gives us the lists of objects that famous pilgrims took with them on their travels. Bilbo Baggins wouldn't have strayed from the Shire without his pipe and tobacco (though we learn that he forgot other necessities such as money, a hat and a walking stick). Most entertaining is the substantial list of items Henry David Thoreau brought with him on a 12-day canoe trip in Maine; ironically enough, the man who told others to "simplify, simplify" toted along 166 pounds of stuff. Harnden notes that the book's title is something of a double... See less

Highlights: $10.39

Added on 07/11/07

A complete how-to manual on riding the rails, the last red-blooded adventure in North America! How to beat the system in every way, travel safely on a shoestring and ...

A complete how-to manual on riding the rails, the last red-blooded adventure in North America! How to beat the system in every way, travel safely on a shoestring and ... See less

Highlights: $15.00

Added on 11/13/07

Armed with the "Globe Trekker's World", you'll move your trip from mundane to memorable, whether joining in colorful native celebrations at the Goroka Show in Papua New Guinea in September, hiking through awesome scenery during the fall in New... See more

Armed with the "Globe Trekker's World", you'll move your trip from mundane to memorable, whether joining in colorful native celebrations at the Goroka Show in Papua New Guinea in September, hiking through awesome scenery during the fall in New England, luxuriating in solitude on a pristine beach in the Philippines in December, or traveling to London in May for the best events, deals, and least crowds. But this book doesn't just list places to see before leaving this lifetime - it conveys why. Abundant photographs accompany the descriptive text, giving an entertaining introduction to the region. It also offers background history as well as practical information on the event or activity, what to bring, what weather to expect, and other things to do nearby. Additional extensive listings of other great beaches, outdoor activities, and festivals cover every safely traversable country on earth, from Austria and Azerbaijan to the United States and Zambia. As an added bonus, a free,... See less

Highlights: $14.96

Added on 04/09/09

"From her founding of the hilariously named SPOGG (Society for the Protection of Good Grammar) to her diligently penned correction letters, Martha Brockenbrough delights grammar mavens while inducing giggles. She's a tidal wave of grammar... See more

"From her founding of the hilariously named SPOGG (Society for the Protection of Good Grammar) to her diligently penned correction letters, Martha Brockenbrough delights grammar mavens while inducing giggles. She's a tidal wave of grammar fun."--Mignon Fogarty, author of Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing See less

Highlights: $13.57

Added on 09/14/08

In this popular science volume, Mortenson clarifies nature's most confusing pairs or groups of words. To this end he has looked at 243 designations that refer to a form of plant or animal life and attempts to explain how they are related or not... See more

In this popular science volume, Mortenson clarifies nature's most confusing pairs or groups of words. To this end he has looked at 243 designations that refer to a form of plant or animal life and attempts to explain how they are related or not related to life forms thought to be similar, like the butterfly and the moth or the turtle and the tortoise. Although Mortenson has done exhaustive research and is knowledgeable about his subject, he does not transform specialist information into accessible prose for the layperson. His introductory discussion of nomenclature and taxonomy is difficult to understand for those not familiar with many of the Latin and technical designations used. For readers who persevere, the text does yield interesting nuggets about words often misused interchangeably. A sweet potato, for example, is a delicious root vegetable, while a yam is actually a bitter-tasting tuber. Rabbits and hares are definitely not rodents, even though their dental structure resembles... See less

Highlights: $18.00

Added on 11/13/07

The Language and Sexuality Reader is the first collection to bring together historical and contemporary writings from a range of academic disciplines to explore the connections between sex as a domain of human experience and the language we use to... See more

The Language and Sexuality Reader is the first collection to bring together historical and contemporary writings from a range of academic disciplines to explore the connections between sex as a domain of human experience and the language we use to speak and write about it. The topics addressed by contributors include gay slang and gay speech styles; the language of drag performances, personal ads, Nepali love letters and Japanese schoolgirl fiction; what counts as 'having sex' and whether 'marriage' has to be heterosexual by definition; the communication of sexual desire, consent and refusal; and how heterosexuals reveal themselves in ordinary conversation.Bringing together material from fields including anthropology, communication studies, linguistics, medicine and psychology, the text begins by guiding students through early work in the field, which focused on homosexual language-use and its difference from the heterosexual mainstream. The second part of the reader widens the focus:... See less

Added on 11/13/07

Let the squeamish beware!Watch Your F*cking Language takes a no-holds-barred approach to taboo words and expressions. It shows you how to use them to your advantage -- and have fun doing so. Building on the lessons learned in English as a Second... See more

Let the squeamish beware!Watch Your F*cking Language takes a no-holds-barred approach to taboo words and expressions. It shows you how to use them to your advantage -- and have fun doing so. Building on the lessons learned in English as a Second F*cking Language, this book emphasizes traditional English swears as well as powerful (and hidden) expressions from other cultures and languages.Through numerous examples, it puts the real language of real people into context:FLOYD: I just heard a Dan Quayle speech. It was really f*cking confusing.RUBY: I just got back from a Mongolian cluster f*ck. It was really confusing f*cking.The name of the game is communication, and Watch Your F*cking Language shows readers how to hammer home their messages with confidence and gusto.Among its features:*Numerous examples of proper (and so-called improper) usage*An Idioms section that emphasizes the niceties of swearing*A "Need to Know, "Nice to Know," and "Forget It" system for identifying swear words*A... See less

Added on 11/13/07

See less

Added on 11/13/07

The MP3 and iPod revolution have changed forever how people listen to music, but choosing what to listen to next remains the dilemma of music lovers everywhere. As music director of KCRW in Santa Monica, CA, and DJ of the influential “Morning Becomes... See more

The MP3 and iPod revolution have changed forever how people listen to music, but choosing what to listen to next remains the dilemma of music lovers everywhere. As music director of KCRW in Santa Monica, CA, and DJ of the influential “Morning Becomes Eclectic” show, Harcourt uncovers the best in new and overlooked music for over half a million listeners every day. In Music Lust, Harcourt does what Nancy Pearl did for books in her national bestseller Book Lust. With more than 80 unique and unusual thematic lists, Harcourt offers a wide-ranging guide to the best in recorded music, from Frank Sinatra to Frank Zappa, Billie Holiday to Billy Bragg, bebop to hip-hop, The White Album to Back in Black, and much, much more. Known as an international tastemaker, Harcourt lends his discerning ear in recommended listening lists such as “Queens of Punk,” “Great Road Music,” and “My Desert Island Discs.” Within each list, key bands and performers are introduced and discussed, and pivotal albums and... See less

Added on 11/13/07

The 500 "Rough Guide Book of Playlists" are recommendations of ten songs (sometimes a couple more, sometimes a couple less), covering artists (Rufus Wainwright to Thelonius Monk, Al Green to Manu Chao, Glenn Gould to Julie Andrews), genres (Bebop... See more

The 500 "Rough Guide Book of Playlists" are recommendations of ten songs (sometimes a couple more, sometimes a couple less), covering artists (Rufus Wainwright to Thelonius Monk, Al Green to Manu Chao, Glenn Gould to Julie Andrews), genres (Bebop Classics to Reggae Toasters to Punk Originals to Hot Club jazz), songs (10 best Dylan covers; 8 classic versions of "Summertime"; 10 love songs that don't cloy), quirks and silliness (Songs about Chickens and Insects; "Who let the frogs out?"; Big Pizza Pie crooners; "Take this Job and Shove it!"). There's even a literary edge with playlists like '10 songs raved about in Murakami novels'. Each of the Playlists has a nugget about the song (why you want it on your iPod), and a listings of where it's from (remember CDs?). See less

Added on 12/06/07

Radical and Wise, April 17, 2001 Lost count of the number of copies of this book I have bought, but I love giving it as a gift, and have used it myself actually when helping friends build plain pine burial boxes and oak burial boxes for loved ones.... See more

Radical and Wise, April 17, 2001 Lost count of the number of copies of this book I have bought, but I love giving it as a gift, and have used it myself actually when helping friends build plain pine burial boxes and oak burial boxes for loved ones. It is a subject that needs to be discussed more, since so many people assume that ONLY a funeral home that charges thru the nose in prices, can legally handle a body or a funeral and burial. Fact is nothing could be further from the truth. The book discusses each states laws, along with what family and loved ones need to know about getting tansport permits to get the body of a loved one either home from the hospital, and prepared for a service and burial or to a local cemetary or cremation facility for handling. Fact is my Grandma Katy who grew up in rural Montana knew all about washing and dressing family members and the whole life to death process and that death and burial need NOT be a scary and uneasy thing to take part in. The author... See less

Highlights: 22 used & new from $3.50

Added on 11/13/07

The Art of War is the Swiss army knife of military theory--pop out a different tool for any situation. Folded into this small package are compact views on resourcefulness, momentum, cunning, the profit motive, flexibility, integrity, secrecy, speed,... See more

The Art of War is the Swiss army knife of military theory--pop out a different tool for any situation. Folded into this small package are compact views on resourcefulness, momentum, cunning, the profit motive, flexibility, integrity, secrecy, speed, positioning, surprise, deception, manipulation, responsibility, and practicality. Thomas Cleary's translation keeps the package tight, with crisp language and short sections. Commentaries from the Chinese tradition trail Sun-tzu's words, elaborating and picking up on puzzling lines. Take the solitary passage: "Do not eat food for their soldiers." Elsewhere, Sun-tzu has told us to plunder the enemy's stores, but now we're not supposed to eat the food? The Tang dynasty commentator Du Mu solves the puzzle nicely, "If the enemy suddenly abandons their food supplies, they should be tested first before eating, lest they be poisoned." Most passages, however, are the pinnacle of succinct clarity: "Lure them in with the prospect of gain, take... See less

Added on 11/13/07

Paine was the impassioned democratic voice of the Age of Revolution, and this volume brings together his best-known works--"Common Sense," "The American Crisis," "Rights of Man," "The Age of Reason," along with a selection of letters, articles and... See more

Paine was the impassioned democratic voice of the Age of Revolution, and this volume brings together his best-known works--"Common Sense," "The American Crisis," "Rights of Man," "The Age of Reason," along with a selection of letters, articles and pamphlets that emphasizes Paine's American years. See less

Added on 01/29/09

See less

Highlights: $15.56

Added on 11/13/07

In the spirit of Ben Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanack, Eric Utne, founder of Utne magazine, presents "an almanac for residents of the blue states," to help you awaken your connection to nature wherever you live and to celebrate every day of the... See more

In the spirit of Ben Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanack, Eric Utne, founder of Utne magazine, presents "an almanac for residents of the blue states," to help you awaken your connection to nature wherever you live and to celebrate every day of the year. The almanac includes an Ephemeris of the motions of the Sun and Moon, and where to look for each of the planets; plus, Doc Weather's Pretty Good Weather Predictions. We'll bet Doc's more accurate than any of the other long-range prognosticators out there. A month-by-month Field Guide to Urban Flora and Fauna where you live - what's budding, blooming or fruiting, mating, birthing or hibernating now, in your neighborhood? Learn the scientific facts and legendary lore of common urban critters, like pigeons, rats, coyotes, and more…Tune your soul to the rhythms of nature. Calendar of the Soul. We offer meditations and practices from western and eastern contemplative traditions. Every week of the year includes medita! tions you can use to... See less

Added on 01/29/08

Many people—and not just kids—dream about having their own treehouse. With this very practical and personal guide, it can come true. Not only is this an attractive record of author Maurice Barkley’s appealing creations, but it delves into every... See more

Many people—and not just kids—dream about having their own treehouse. With this very practical and personal guide, it can come true. Not only is this an attractive record of author Maurice Barkley’s appealing creations, but it delves into every aspect of planning and construction so others can build them too. In a friendly, conversational tone, Barkley offers time-tested advice on safety for both builder and user, and meticulously outlines each step, from raising a ground-built platform into the tree to bolting and anchoring the structure. Dozens of sidebars, how-to illustrations, and photos accompany detailed plans, and the amount of information conveyed is amazing: tools and materials; tree basics; house designs, including ones hung between two trees and others with self-supporting platforms; maintenance; and even costs. See less

Highlights: $10.17

Added on 01/29/08

Every adult can recall the serene kind of safety they felt in their childhood "special place"-a platform in a backyard tree, a secret corner of a garden, or a well-hidden fort in the woods. Hideaways demonstrates how adults recreate those hidden... See more

Every adult can recall the serene kind of safety they felt in their childhood "special place"-a platform in a backyard tree, a secret corner of a garden, or a well-hidden fort in the woods. Hideaways demonstrates how adults recreate those hidden retreats in the form of fishing cabins, garden huts, weekend studios, and other intimately-designed spaces where the owners are often more "at home" than they are at home. Sometimes completely spontaneous, sometimes planned to a purpose, these personal architectures offer a fantastic range of building styles - but each is clearly driven by the urge to create a place where one can be utterly relaxed. Sonya Faure presents over 200 fabulous, fanciful, and freeform models - as well as more practical, but never quite conventional designs, each meant to inspire: from a place where Huck Finn would hide out to highly designed small houses by Le Corbusier. There are vacation retreats in exotic locations on three continents, and backyard kingdoms to be... See less

Highlights: $10.38

Added on 01/28/08

From Hadrian's Villa to Palladio's Villa Rotunda and Le Corbusier's Villa Savoye through to the contemporary houses of Richard Rogers and Frank Gehry, it features the widest range of both architect-designed and traditional dwellings.Following the... See more

From Hadrian's Villa to Palladio's Villa Rotunda and Le Corbusier's Villa Savoye through to the contemporary houses of Richard Rogers and Frank Gehry, it features the widest range of both architect-designed and traditional dwellings.Following the format of The Art Book, it presents 500 architects in A-Z order, offering an easily accessible and informative sourcebook for experts as well as readers coming to an architectural survey for the first time.Some of the houses are acknowledged for their role in architectural history, others will be iconic for the individual features or structure, but all are seminal forms of dwelling. The selection ranges from the palaces of kings to the individual huts of the Hutu, but the book illustrates that the essential qualities of the house or dwelling remain greatly unchanged over the centuries.Each architect or designer is represented by a full page reproduction mostly in colour of their most significant house and accompanying text that describes the... See less

Highlights: $18.21

Added on 11/13/07

Lloyd Kahn has managed to pull together a stunning catalog of the phenomenon of human shelter through history, across cultures and climates from around the world. Yurts and huts and tree houses and cathedrals of stone. This is an eye-opener for... See more

Lloyd Kahn has managed to pull together a stunning catalog of the phenomenon of human shelter through history, across cultures and climates from around the world. Yurts and huts and tree houses and cathedrals of stone. This is an eye-opener for anyone considering building their own home, or anyone just interested in human inventiveness and creativity. With over 1000 photos and drawings of cave houses, communal huts, wooden shacks, tents, domes, towers and holes in the ground, you'll be amazed at all the different ways people have tried to keep the rain off their heads and the wolves outside! See less

Added on 11/13/07

New edition of a guide that provides A-Z listings of more than 700 "intentional" communities such as ashrams, kibbutzim, cohousing groups, ecovillages, student co-ops, artists collectives, and more around the world.

New edition of a guide that provides A-Z listings of more than 700 "intentional" communities such as ashrams, kibbutzim, cohousing groups, ecovillages, student co-ops, artists collectives, and more around the world. See less

Highlights: 24 used & new available from $5.65

Added on 11/13/07

If you love chandeliers, flowing draperies, and bric-a-brac--if you believe you were a Roman senator, a Gothic queen, or Madame de Pompadour in an earlier life or have fantasies of La Belle Époque or the Golden Age of Hollywood--The Paris Apartment... See more

If you love chandeliers, flowing draperies, and bric-a-brac--if you believe you were a Roman senator, a Gothic queen, or Madame de Pompadour in an earlier life or have fantasies of La Belle Époque or the Golden Age of Hollywood--The Paris Apartment is the decorating book for you. Claudia Strasser includes before-and-after pictures of real people's apartments, transformed from dark cracker boxes to intriguing showplaces. She gives shopping tips on finding the best furniture, how-to instructions on distressing and painting your flea-market finds, and ideas for choosing the period and colors that best suit your personality. Best of all, Strasser estimates the average cost of a no-holds-barred transformation to be $1,800 for an entire apartment, including furniture--less if you already have the furniture, are clever with your hands, are somewhat restrained in your taste, or live near the best flea markets. The Paris Apartment is the perfect combination of inspiration and instruction for... See less