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Grumpy Old Rockstar: and Other Wonderous Stories: And Other Wonderous Stories

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Biography
by: Rick Wakeman

August 21, 2008
I'm not a great reader of biography, but I was looking forward to this book as I admire Rick Wakeman both as an amazing musician and as a quirky character. This book is OK, and has a number of of interesting and amusing recollections from Rick Wakeman's career but it is rather rambling and self indulgent. Whilst it gives a sense of some of the bizarre and whacky things that have happened to him in the course of his musical career I was hoping for something a bit more interesting than in depth details of his drinking habits which seemed to feature on every other page... Having said that some of the recollections were so funny that I did laugh out loud and have to read them to my husband. So, if you're a complete Rick Wakeman fan you may enjoy ... Read More:

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The Mitfords: Letters Between Six Sisters

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Biography
from: HarperPerennial

May 05, 2008
I knew nothing about the Mitfords before borrowing this book from my mum. I found it highly compelling, especially all the references to the many influential and varied people of the 20th century. It is also very sad at times, especially the harsh realities of the passage of time. This collection of letters has been carefully chosen to tell the reader the Mitfords' story but in the words of the girls themselves.

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What They Teach You at Harvard Business School: My Two Years Inside the Cauldron of Capitalism

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Biography
by: Philip Delves Broughton

August 07, 2008
Having just finished an MBA myself from London Business School, I saw this book at Heathrow on my way out of the UK and bought it with curiosity. I wanted to see whether my experience at London Business School would have been significantly different from that at a top American school; Harvard, of course, as far as MBA brands go, being number one in my opinion regardless of what competitors or any rankings say.

This book can be recommended to those interested in applying to Harvard or a comparable top MBA program to see if they have the right expectations of an MBA program; as well as to graduates of other programs to see how the experience at their schools compare against the holy grail of MBAs. It really goes inside what the MBA culture is ... Read More:

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Dreams From My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Biography
by: Barack Obama

June 05, 2008
What a great read this is.

It is amazing to have such an insight into the man who may soon be President of the USA, arguably still the most powerful position in the world. This book was written even before he became a Senator, I'm sure a lot of what he has written would be edited out if it was published today!

What is so incredible, and I think what makes him seem so personable, is that he comes across as just another ordinary guy. He doesn't come from a famous or affluent background. He talks so openly about the difficulties of growing up as a black man, confused about his origins and what they mean. He grew up in Indonesia and Hawaii... and then worked for very little money as a community organiser. And now he's running for President! ... Read More:

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Call The Midwife: A True Story Of The East End In The 1950s: A True Story of the East End in the 1950s

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Biography
by: Jennifer Worth

March 06, 2008
This is a brilliant book that at times made me cry, and at others, laugh out loud. My own mother was a Cockney, born in the East End in 1920, and reading this book brought back bitter sweet memories of the way that she was, and the wonderful stories that she used to tell. It has helped me to appreciate her humour much more and understand where some of my own ways have come from. I particularly enjoyed the stories of Sister Evangelina and her escapades across the Thames, jumping from barge to barge and the obsession with bodily functions, and also Sister Monica Joan with her knitting needles. As for the ordinary women, what happened to Mary once she left prison, how did Mrs Jenkins' children die, and how many more children did Conchita have. One of my aunts had 22 of ... Read More:

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The Rules of the Game

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Biography
by: Neil Strauss

July 03, 2008
I read, and absolutely loved, 'The Game' by the same author, Neil Strauss so I was looking forward to reading his second book, The Rules of The Game. Overall I would say that I enjoyed the book, and would recomend it, however there were some flaws, and it definitely wasn't as good as The Game.

Strauss attempts to deliver a one size fits all dating remedy for men across the world and the result is quite hit and miss. Some of the 'missions' that the book adivises one to attempt are pretty pointless, and will not be relevant for a lot of people. I also agree with some of the other reviews which mention the comic book style stories at the back of the book. These are quite fun to read but are nothing amazing, and they certainly don't offer much in the way of instruction ... Read More:

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Seven Troop

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Biography
by: Andy McNab

September 12, 2008
I read, and absolutely loved, 'The Game' by the same author, Neil Strauss so I was looking forward to reading his second book, The Rules of The Game. Overall I would say that I enjoyed the book, and would recomend it, however there were some flaws, and it definitely wasn't as good as The Game.

Strauss attempts to deliver a one size fits all dating remedy for men across the world and the result is quite hit and miss. Some of the 'missions' that the book adivises one to attempt are pretty pointless, and will not be relevant for a lot of people. I also agree with some of the other reviews which mention the comic book style stories at the back of the book. These are quite fun to read but are nothing amazing, and they certainly don't offer much in the way of instruction ... Read More:

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The Diving-bell and the Butterfly

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Biography
by: Jean-Dominique Bauby

May 07, 2008
This is possibly the worst situation anyone could ever be in yet, Bauby tried his hardest to remain positive and showed heroic humour throughout the entire book. Whilst an unbelievably sad situation, the book is not depressing.

You can read the whole book quite quickly. Even those who don't read often can enjoy this reasonably short story with a huge positive impact.

For me, this book has reunited myself with the life we are supposed to be living. Appreciating whatever little we might have, whether it be the ability of complete or limited physical movement, or material possessions, we are unable to enjoy them if we don't appreciate them.

We must stop and smell the flowers more, or watch a butterfly in action when we have the opportunity. ... Read More:

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Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Biography
by: Amanda Foreman

June 07, 1999
Although 'Georgiana' is competently written and well-researched, I am frankly amazed that it has achieved such massive success and popularity since its first publication ten years ago. As other reviewers have pointed out, it perhaps fulfills a useful purpose in putting women back in the 'front-line' of the eighteenth-century political scene but, speaking for myself, I found the exhaustive discussion of the ups-and-downs of the Whigs and Tories tedious in the extreme and an almost total turn-off. This was doubly disappointing, since the rave reviews had led me to expect so much more.

Strangely enough, the most engaging part of the book was the introduction, in which the author writes with real verve and enthusiasm of how she was first 'introduced' to the duchess and how ... Read More:

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It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Biography
by: Lance Armstrong

May 03, 2001
One of the best true stories you are ever likely to read. If you want to be inspired whether it be in cycling,sports,work or your overall life then this book will do it for you. Get a good new copy as you will read it again and again.