Who would have thought that a book about English would be so entertaining? Bill Bryson--a zealot--is the right man for the job. It is his unflagging enthusiasm, seeping from between every sentence, that carries the book.
Bryson displays an encyclopedic knowledge of his topic, and this inevitably encourages a light tone; the more you know about a subject, the more absurd it becomes. No jokes are necessary, the facts do well enough by themselves, and Bryson supplies tens per page. Not only does this give a laugh (one word: Welsh), and always shed considerable light, it also makes the reader feel fortunate to speak English.

This book is about America, about consumerism, hypocracy, politics, culture and everything else in between, such as motels and boring interstate highways and the condition of AT&T service these days. Why should all this be so interesting? Because Bill Bryson's voice shines throughout, dissecting normally more complex subjects into bite-sized articles which are eminently readable to the extent that it is at times impossible to stop. Of course, his trademark humour is present too. If you read this in public, there is the risk of embarrassment by your involuntary snorts of laughter.

Like many of his generation, Bill Bryson backpacked across Europe in the early '70s - in search of enlightenment, beer, and women. Over 20 years later, the acclaimed author of Notes from a Small Island, The Mother Tongue, and A Walk in the Woods decided to retrace the journey he undertook in the halcyon days of his youth, carrying with him a bag of maps, old clothes, and a stinging wit honed to razor sharpness by 2 decades of adult experience. The result is this affectionate, blisteringly insightful, and riotously funny pilgrimage from the frozen wastes of Scandinavia to the chaotic tumult of Istanbul, with stops along the way in Europe's most diverting and historic locales.

"The Amulet of Samarkand", "The Golem's Eye", "Ptolemy's Gate",

Billy Halleck commits vehicular homicide when his lack of attention to driving results in the death of an old lady on the street. Overweight Halleck is a lawyer with connections, though, and gets off with a slap on the wrist. After his trial, a gypsy curses him with a single word, "Thinner." Halleck begins to lose weight uncontrollably and must pursue the band of gypsies who are responsible for his dwindling condition.

“Somewheres on the jungle world of Jumala, there was a man in hiding—a man whose mind had been reconditioned with another’s brain pattern and for whom there was a fabulous reward. Star Hunter is a thrill-packed account of that other-worldly game of hide-and-seek between a man who did not know all his own powers and an interstellar safari that sought something no man had a right to find….” (summary from gutenberg etext)

In a not-too-distant future, the United States of America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war, to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. Each year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts, the televised games are broadcasted throughout Panem as the 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as the mining district's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart, Peeta, the son of the town baker who seems to have all the fighting skills of a lump of bread dough, will be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives. Collins's characters are completely realistic and sympathetic as they form alliances and friendships in the face of overwhelming odds; the plot is tense, dramatic, and engrossing.

The newest title in the popular 100 Words series is an informative and entertaining resource that can help anyone be right on the money when looking for words that will make a point, seal the deal, or just keep folks listening.

Donald Trump and his hand-picked team of wealth creation experts teach you the secrets to building wealth and achieving massive financial success. Learn how to get rich from the "wealth master" himself. Donald Trump, a self-made multi-billionaire, joins his world-class team of specialists to lead you to the life you desire. They show you, step-by-step, how to make your financial goals attainable. This blockbuster home study program is packed end-to-end with proven, results-driven content. When you buy it and follow its 90-day program of Action Steps, you cannot fail to transform your future. There has never, ever been a program so rich in information and so carefully designed to make you succeed. Of course, you have to do your part. What makes The Wealth Builder's Blueprint unique is that its creators know what it takes to get you in action for the goals you set. They will lead you through 60 detailed, carefully designed Action Steps that will deliver a whole new world to your bottom line.

After tales from the USA and Britain, Bill Bryson turns his roving eye to Australia, the only island that is also a continent and the only continent that is also a country. It is the driest, flattest, most desiccated, infertile and climatically aggressive of all the inhabited continents. It has more things that can kill you in a very nasty way that anywhere else. Yet when Bill Bryson travelled to Australia he promptly fell in love with the country. And who can blame him? The people are cheerful, the cities safe and clean, the food is excellent, the beer is cold and the sun nearly always shines. He tries to find out why Aussies are so excited, digging up a past that reveals convicts, explorers, gold diggers and outlaws.

When first confronted by John Shooter, famous novelist Mort Rainey sees him as nothing more than an avid, albeit slightly eccentric, fan. However, Shooter's accusation of plagiarism and his overbearing attitude of malevolence send Rainey scattering to prove his innocence. As Rainey's evidence disappears, his sanity and safety go along with it, and soon he is approaching a reckoning with the determined Shooter. Besides a few audible page turns, James Woods offers a compelling reading, eliciting the stress and anxiety building up in Rainey as he comes unraveled. There's a slightly whiny pitch to Woods's voice that also makes him a good match for Rainey. This 1991 recording (of a novella taken from King's Four Past Midnight) is making its belated debut on CD after 17 years, and throughout it has the recognizable light background hiss of an older recording.

Charlie McGee, an innocent little 7 year old, has a terrible secret. In the flick of an eye, she can start fires, and she is oftentimes unable to stop them. Because of Charlie's inhuman abilities, The Shop(an elite branch of the CIA), constantly pursues Charlie and her father Andy to be able to study Charlie for militairy use. As Charlie and Andy travel all over the eastern coast, from New York to Maine, The Shop is always one step behind, giving meaning to the phrase, "you can run, but you can't hide." Although they may be at a disadvantage, Charlie and Andy are constantly trying to find a way to tell the world their sad story, and end the persecution of themselves. Can they do it? You'll have to find out...

"Fancy pants", "Lady be good".

The beloved classic in a fresh new translation. A pilot stranded in the desert awakes one morning to see, standing before him, the most extraordinary little fellow. Please, asks the stranger, draw me a sheep. And the pilot realizes that when life's events are too difficult to understand, there is no choice but to succumb to their mysteries. He pulls out pencil and paper...And thus begins this wise and enchanting fable that, in teaching the secret of what is really important in life, has changed the world forever for its readers. Few books have been as universally cherished by children and adults alike as The Little Prince.

Set in Junction City, Iowa, The Library Policeman is the story of Sam Peebles, a middle-aged businessman who happens to have some overdue books. It seems a minor offense—but not to Junction City’s malevolent monster of a librarian. What follows is spine-tingling suspense as only Stephen King can deliver it.