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The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: or the Murder at Road Hill House: Or the Murder at Road Hill House

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Cultural History
by: Kate Summerscale

July 26, 2008
This book exists of three interwoven strands: a recounting of a murder, a social history of the period that the murder occured, and discussions of contemporary crime fiction.

The first strand worked fine, and I appreciate the necessity of the second, but the detours into the contemporary crime fiction completely ruined the rhythm of the book for me. Where I had been hooked, I found my mind wandering, hoping the book would get back on track in as short a time as possible.

The prose was also, at times, rather too flowery for my liking.

I would have enjoyed the book more if it were a straight account of the murder which, it must be said, the author has researched very well.

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Wall and Piece

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Cultural History
by: "Banksy"

November 09, 2006
Banksy's Wall and Piece is simply an amazing collection of his graffiti art all across the UK and the world. His unique style has won him international acclaim to fame. His artwork is not just vandalism but sends out a political statement which is bold and isn't afraid to mention things we would otherwise keep quiet. I first heard Banksy on a news website when he created another piece of work and then visited his website banksy.com, and since then fallen in love with his work. The other day I came across the book in a store and really enjoyed his collection of work. This is a must have book for any of those interested not just in art, but also those who have been shaped by the news in recent years.

To be honest, I am not a massive ... Read More:

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Photography: A Critical Introduction

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Cultural History
from: Routledge

April 01, 2004
I purchased this book as I am hoping to start a degree in photography in September 2005 and wanted to start "reading around" my subject. Although I haven't read this entire book, it is all ready proving its worth as the chapters' reference many other critical and theoretical works on photography that I have now started reading to widen my knowledge. It seems then that this book is ideal for dipping in and out of every now and then in order to push intriguing minds into other areas of the subject of photography. Therefore I'm sure it will prove a valuable addition to my bookshelf for my remaining years as a photography student.

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The Toyota Way: 14 Management Principles from the World's Greatest Manufacturer

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Cultural History
by: Jeffrey Liker

January 01, 2004
I read this book when it was first published in 2004 and recently re-read it, curious to know how well Jeffrey Liker's explanation of Toyota's management principles and lean production values have held up. My conclusion? Very well.

No good purpose would be served by merely listing the 14 management principles, out of context. Liker devotes a separate chapter to each, carefully explaining not only what it is but also how it guides and informs everyone at all levels and in all areas of the Toyota organization. What Liker also accomplishes, and what cannot be adequately summarized in a review such as this, is to explain how all 12 principles are interdependent. Together, they serve as the company's DNA. In the Preface, he recalls asking ... Read More:

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On Brick Lane

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Cultural History
by: Rachel Lichtenstein

August 28, 2008
I read this book when it was first published in 2004 and recently re-read it, curious to know how well Jeffrey Liker's explanation of Toyota's management principles and lean production values have held up. My conclusion? Very well.

No good purpose would be served by merely listing the 14 management principles, out of context. Liker devotes a separate chapter to each, carefully explaining not only what it is but also how it guides and informs everyone at all levels and in all areas of the Toyota organization. What Liker also accomplishes, and what cannot be adequately summarized in a review such as this, is to explain how all 12 principles are interdependent. Together, they serve as the company's DNA. In the Preface, he recalls asking ... Read More:

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The London Encyclopedia

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Cultural History
by: Christopher Hibbert, Ben Weinreb, John Keay, Julia Keay

August 15, 2008
The old 'Weinreb' was the best single-volume reference book on London, despite a few minor but still niggling errors. Happily most of these have been pulled out, the book's been expanded with more entries and even better illustration, and I had no hesitation whatever in grabbing a copy as soon as it went on sale. There's nothing to touch it, frankly: magnificent, endlessly fascinating, and outstanding value even before the discount. My 'Desert Island Discs' read, as indeed it's been for the last 25 years.

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The Islamist: Why I Joined Radical Islam in Britain, What I Saw Inside and Why I Left

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Cultural History
by: Ed Husain

May 03, 2007
An adolescent flirtation with extreme political ideas followed by the realisation that he was a bit less than educated.

All power to his rallying call for moderate muslims to have a public voice.

Tends to lend a bit of credence tothe Sam Harris theory that without moderate religion we wouldn't have extremist religion; after all, had Ed been brought up as an atheist he wouldn't have flirted with Islamism.

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The Fall:the Insanity of the Ego in Human History and the Dawning of a New Era: The Insanity of the Ego in Human History and the Dawning of a New Era

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Cultural History
by: Steve Taylor

October 13, 2005
Truly eye opening stuff, if the genesis in the bible deals with the "why" (as is the case with religion) then this is the history behind it. An all encompassing history of the world that'll make you see things in a new light, how sad and messed up humans have become, and what needs to happen to save our race. Very compelling read, though sometimes it dips a little too much into the spiritual side of things and may come across as biased rather than pure research. They should make this compulsory reading at schools instead of nonsense such as creation theory.

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Orientalism: Western Conceptions of the Orient (Penguin Modern Classics)

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Cultural History
by: Edward W. Said

August 28, 2003
I do not know how Americans view Islam but as an Englishman/European it seems to me that Said's views are so much poppycock.To make a couple of points in a limited space.

Of course we have a stereotypical view of Islam just as Islam has a stereotypical view of us - and these views are largely hostile .So what? For century after century Islam was an enormous threat to what might loosely be called Christendom. It shaped every aspect of European history and was directly responsible for Europes colonial empires. Up till around 1750 they were a dangerous direct competitor to our interests.Gibbon writing in the 1780s was the first to think that the danger had passed .On a local scale the threat lasted even longer - Barbary pirates ravaged the coast of ... Read More:

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The Subterranean Railway: How the London Underground Was Built and How It Changed the City Forever

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Cultural History
by: Christian Wolmar

September 15, 2005
Christian Wolmar is a journalist who happens to have an interest in trains and this is one of many books he has written on the subject over the last 10 years.
Subterranean Railway focuses on the London Underground and how it grew to what we travel on today in our millions year on year.
Now personally I can just about tolerate the Underground in off peak times but when it comes to the peak hours it has to been one of the worse traveling experiences known to man or woman.
So with that in mind this book made me sit up and take notice of what a great feat on engineering the London Underground really is and still remains, the photo of Piccadilly Circus in chapter thirteen illustrates this point very well indeed.
In Chapters 1 to 13 Christian takes you ... Read More: