Shirts Books

For someone like myself coming from a traditional Arts background and with a 25 year career in the Human Services where the word "quantum " anything is a foreign language, I am used to being on the outside looking in when it comes to the mysterious ( but compelling ) world of science. Not any longer. Reading Universe on a T shirt was nothing short of an epiphany for me. The author's well thought out presentation and friendly conversational language , complete with a well placed dose of subtle humour just when you thought things were getting a bit dry, made this book user friendly at minimum and warmly engaging at its best.

Being an amateur star gazer with a life long interest in Astronomy, I was drawn to this book because of its relevance to various theories in Astronomy and Space exploration, most of which escaped my very limited knowledge of Science of any kind. Perhaps it was the quirky title and interesting cover image that captured my attention and lead me to take a chance on what I hoped wouldn't be just another science book that I couldn;t understand. I was pleasantly surprised and thrilled to read a comprehensive but not overly detailed history of all the "great s" of Science and their discoveries as well as an overview of all the major theories. When I realized, with some degree of what I can only describe as shock, that I actually understood at a very basic level, Mr. Falk's presentation of Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity( the wonderful illustration of Alice and Bernice on a moving train and the accompanying explanation really clinched it for me )I began to harbour wild eyed thoughts that maybe my guidance counsellors were wrong all those years ago when they told me that I was a "people person" destined for a career in the Humanities and Human Services exclusively. This book actually made me believe,well for a brief moment anyway, that perhaps a potential scientist has been laying dormant inside of me all this time , waiting for just the right moment to be awakened..

Especially insightful and satisfying was Mr. Falk's final chapter, "what does it all mean? Science, God and the limits of understanding" and how he brings it all together for a brief but provocative contemplation of philsophy and spirituality and how they integrate with scientific thought...or do they?

This book will be a permanent fixture in my library for reference as well as inspiration and I eagerly look forward to the author's next book.

This book is really a history of the scientific search for the structure of the universe since Greek times. It does not stray from a its direct path to the latest thinking about string theory. Thus, though quantum theory is often at the center of the discussion, the double slit experiment is not mentioned, since the author apparently feels it is not necessary for his main point that quantum theory is "weird". I agree with the author's approach on this point. There is also essentially no math in the book. The only formula is Einstein's famous E = M times c-squared, and there is a numerical example to illustrate the inverse square concept, and that's it for math. I've done a lot of reading about quantum theory over the last few years and am a math professor by trade, but still found this one of the best books I have read. I especially enjoyed how the author handled the history. It is true the last chapter on the meaning of it all could have been omitted, but I feel the book is stronger for including this philosopical material. Highly recommended.

This book is a very easy read for even those who are non-scientists but are interested in the history of science. This book focuses mostly on cosmology and particle physics and the attempts made by scientists to unite the two areas with one theory ... the Theory of Everything.

Right now the two biggest theories in physics are Einstein's Theory of General Relativity, which deals with gravity and big things (i.e: galaxies and stars), and the Quantum Theory, which deals with small things (i.e: atoms and quarks). The poblem is that the two of them don't mesh, they don't play well together.

Falk's book is an overview of the history leading to these two discoveries, and the search for a theory that will explain these two theories in one framework.

Very easy read, very informative, highly recommended.

"So what, exactly, do we mean by a `Theory of Everything'?," Falk asks (eventually) in his very last chapter (p 212). We mean, he says in his very first chapter, "the universe explained" in a form so "concise, simple and elegant" that it'd fit on a T-shirt. (p 2)

And THAT he says, is the aim of all science!

There are only THREE problems with this claim.

FIRST: most current scientists would deny that that's what they're seeking. And Falk belatedly admits as much at the very end of his book. "I may have given the impression," he writes, disingenuously, "that every physicist is obsessed with finding the Holy Grail -- the Theory of Everything. Most are not." In fact, he agrees, most, like the late great Richard Feynman, are "just looking to find out more about the world." (p 214)

SECOND: there's really very little evidence that scientists in the past sought a Theory of Everything either. This will be abundantly clear to anyone who reads this book from cover to cover -- because it is in large measure a pop history of physics from the Pre-Socratics in Ancient Greece to the strung-out, p-brane theorists of today. (Pun!)

Falk uses the "Universe on a T-shirt" idea as his organizing principle, and it enables him to write a short, snappy and engaging story. But he provides no evidence (`cos there is none) that, say, Copernicus, Galileo, Galvani, Oersted, Faraday, Maxwell, or any one of a host of other Greats was actually seeking a `Theory of Everything.' A case might be made for Newton and/or Einstein, but even they were more reserved and self-effacing, more hesitant in their claims than some of today's self-appointed Spokesmen for Science.

THIRD: If what we're really seeking is a theory that will "explain" everything but be concise enough to fit on a T-shirt, then we've already succeeded. Assuming we use the ENTIRE T-shirt.

But, that's not what Falk has in mind. What he envisions is less an "explanation" than a slogan; an equation that'll reduce all knowledge to a sound bite.

But, what'd be the point? No matter what equation "we" came up with, it'd still not be self-evident. It'd only "explain" the Universe to those who'd been educated to the point where they could understand the equation ... and so wouldn't need the T-shirt!

And, as for the Homer Simpsons among us, the T-shirt'd be about as useful and edifying as an advertising slogan!
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Though these points may undermine Falk's organizing principle they won't affect your enjoyment of this book. After all, it's not a Doctoral Dissertation; it's a pop history.

Readers with a good grounding in science will be pleasantly surprised by Falk's ability to convey the Big Ideas, though most'll probably be disappointed by his decision to eschew the math. (Incidentally, non-physicists should be warned -- Chemistry and Biology are at best only bit players in Falk's story).

Readers with a good grounding in History will be pleased to find that the story is NOT reduced to a childish morality play in which the Big Bad Church tries wrong-headedly to suppress the Courageous, Individualistic Scientists who are engaged in the disinterested pursuit of Truth! In this regard, Falk's treatment of Copernicus and Galileo should serve as a model for all future popularizers. On the other hand, the knowledgeable reader will be disappointed that the Pre-Socratics get an entire chapter while the Arabs get little more than a page. As if incohate mumblings about "atoms" could measure up to the Hindu-Arabic number system, or algebra, or trigonometry, or ...

But, these are really quite minor quibbles!

Honestly!

You'll enjoy this book! It's well-written and engaging, and is a remarkably easy read considering the subject matter.

If you read nothing else in this book, read "What Does It All Mean?" - a chapter on "Science, God and the Limits of Understanding." It's excellent!

Dan Falk's Universe on a T-Shirt is an informative and entertaining tour of mainstream science-from Democritus to string theory-guided by a single, reining principle: that science is the pursuit of an aesthetic of simplicity, and that the culmination of this pursuit, the theory of everything, will be simple enough to grace a t-shirt.

Written in clear, clever, friendly prose, the book is easy to understand yet thorough; it serves as an excellent introduction for novices in the topics of physics and cosmology, but is full of fun facts, amusing anecdotes, and intriguing insights for the more knowledgeable reader. History is brought to life through brief biographical portraits of each scientist and thinker who has played a key role in the ongoing search for the ultimate theory, and the reader emerges from Falk's journey with an exciting sense of not only what is going on in science, but of what science itself is all about.

Speckled with illuminating quotes from physicists working in the field, Universe on a T-shirt dares to ask not only where physics is headed, but whether or not it is headed down the right path. Should notions like beauty and simplicity necessarily pave the road to truth, Falk asks. And will the ultimate theory mark the end of physics? Falk doesn't cower from the philosophy that lurks at the heart of physics. Instead, he embraces it, and allows the reader to delve into some of the most fundamental questions about the nature of reality. The author sympathetically writes of the layman's sense of cosmic alienation-perhaps this book can help those afflicted feel at home in the universe, and a part of the inspiring quest to truly understand it.

Chloe is desperately looking for a way to get away from her friends and the pressure of fitting in for the summer. She asks her mother and stepfather what to do, and her stepfather decides that she should spend the summer in Florida with his older sister, Bernadette. Chloe isn't thrilled about the idea, but it seems as though it is her only choice. She boards a plane and sets off from New Jersey to live with her aunt for a few weeks.

Bernadette is a very strange woman, but Chloe promised her stepfather she would give the woman a chance, so she does. Soon she is used to the routine--getting up early every morning to help Bernadette load up and then sell food from a lunch wagon, then off to the beach where Bernadette is teaching her to swim before dinner in the evenings. Things seem to be going really well.

Then two of the women who drive lunch wagons start wearing t-back bathing suits--thongs--to work. Suddenly they are getting all of the business and Bernadette doesn't have as many customers anymore. Soon everyone except Bernadette is wearing a t-back to work, and their story is getting coverage on the news. A local religious group is doing its best to stop what they see as a moral crisis. Bernadette is refusing to get involved on either side. She won't wear a t-back but she also won't sign a petition against them. As things heat up in town, though, it's beginning to look like Bernadette may be forced to choose a side.

I liked Bernadette's character and how she didn't change her life or herself to accommodate Chloe. I also liked seeing how the escalation of the t-back war changed things in town. I thought Tyler's character was really annoying and I couldn't figure out why Chloe would even go to the trouble of harassing him when she should have just stayed out of his way.

people may say this book is too "hippy" but i think it is a fun and enjoyable book about basicly not judging a book by it's cover. Yes i confess that i chose this book because of it's cover but i am glad i did. it jumps right in to the plot of the story and never drags on.

Cloe's stepfather sends her to FL to visit his sister. Cloe thinks that this will be boring. Cloe has always had to compete with the in and outs of styles if it is fashion or boys you have to know when to like it or hate it. She soon finds out that in some cases you need to not care if your hair is frizzy or if you are sweating like a pig but as long as you are enjoying being with the people you are with. READ THIS BOOK PLEASE!!!!

Hippies, witches and religious fundamentalists - E.L. Konigsburg brings them all together in T-Backs, T-Shirts, Coat and Suit. Twelve-year-old Chlo? does not like conformity. In order to escape the peer pressure of trying to be just like her friends, she wants to go away from her New Jersey home for the summer. She agrees with her adoptive father to go stay with his sister Bernadette in Florida and help her out when she needs it.

Bernadette is much different than people Chlo? is used to and does things in her own way. She works selling food from a van and is successful. However, that changes when other sellers begin wearing t-backs (thongs) and take away her business. Bernadette refuses to follow along, but refuses to disclose why.

Controversy erupts, as the religious fundamentalists from the Church of the Endless Horizon protest the lack of morality. They try to enlist Bernadette, but she refuses.

Meanwhile, Chlo? meets the thirteen-year-old Tyler, who is very sure of himself. In order to get the better of him, she manages to convince him that Bernadette is a witch, which later leads to disaster.

Throughout the book, characters talk about history in short anecdotes that give some of the reasons for what they did. Some of the anecdotes were from the characters' lives (this is where the hippies come in). Like some of Konigsburg's other stories, the lives of the characters are connected together in a variety of ways. Other stories included famous historical figures like Galileo, enabling the reader to learn something. All of this information shows how the past affects the present.

In this book, Konigsburg crafted another compelling story. The characters are strong and stand up for themselves, and provide good role models for standing up to peer pressure. In conclusion, the book is amusing and should appeal to a variety of readers.

I love and admire Bernadette, Chloë's aunt. She is really brave and great. I wanna be a handsome woman like Bernadette.

I loved it. I will treasure this book forever!
I really know what Chloe thinks, feels, and realizes.
E.L. Konigsburg is the greatest author in the world.

I had a bet with my friend. If this one as good as Harvey's first bestseller, I'll give you my shirt. Well, I lost it. Another book that I am willing to bet my shirt on is Eightstorm. You can't be a corporate leader without that book.

I'm amazed books like this aren't part of a college pack of books to read prior to graduation. I learned maybe 1/3 of what's in this book from my parents, and experience- and was fascinated with the rest. THis is a book I give to relatives starting out in the work world. All of MacKay's books are good. No it doesn't cover everything, but it's useful

Harvey Mackay suggests basic details in this book, like being aware of how respectfully you address a someone else's secretary, but as simple as these suggestions are, they are critical. I read this book while I was on the public relations/sales team for the Marine Corps recruiting station in Kansas City. As a result of his principles of respect for people, care in personal committments and follow-through on obligations, I earned a quarter million dollars in documented free advertising per quarter for my firm. Needless to say, I won numerous awards and ample recognition from my superiors.
Mackey's brand of professionalism -- of delivering what you promise -- is as effective and productive as it is simple. He does keep it simple, but this book is not short on value. After completing the Xerox School of Sales, I was assigned to work with the J.Walter Thompson advertising firm. This company adheres to Mackey's basic concepts. Later, I worked for a Japanese firm in Tokyo; again, they adhered to Mackey's concepts of sound business practices. Currently, I'm living in Cairo, Egypt, and I find that too few Egyptian companies adhere to Mackey's ideas of committment to customer service. They could definitely learn how to improve sales, keep old customers and earn new ones if everyone from the top executives to the clerks and receptionists read this book.

This book, like all of Mr. Mackay's books, is absolutely wonderful. The information it contains is timeless. Do yourself - or a friend! - a favor and read this book!

this is the terrefic book i had read after the swim with the sharks, it is easy to read , have alot of advice you could not find in any book. if you want to take an advice you can take it from someone like Harvey. have fun and engoy your self

Yesterday I sent my husband to the library to borrow Marci Tilton's Easy Guide to Sewing Tops & T-Shirts. Ten minutes after I started reading it, I logged onto Amazon and ordered a used copy for my sewing library. I'm a solid, experienced, intermediate level sewer who loves to sew tee shirts, and I found a great deal of helpful information, some of which was new to me. So I completely disagree with the reviewer who thought experienced sewers wouldn't learn anything new from it.

The clearly written and well illustrated section on altering patterns to assure a perfect fit was especially valuable for me. I only wish I'd read this chapter earlier this year when I made half a dozen muslins to fine tune the fit of my basic tee shirt pattern. I eventually got it exactly right, but having this book would have saved me a good deal of time and effort.

I understand Threads is republishing this book in January as part of a combined set. It's a true classic.

If you want to improve your results, this is the book to buy.
Easy to understand and will be a good reference.
I'm glad I bought it.

The author has a clear writing style, provides clear and helpful illustrations and not only summarizes critical procedures, but gives some fine-tuned tips and tricks on established techniques that are necessary to produce quality, professional-looking results. Avoid the Heidi Klume "it looks home sewn" assessment, and apply the techniques learned from this book to any kind of top, blouse, or project. It's not just for t-shirts.

Shortly before this book was published, the author appeared on Sandra Betzina's "Sew Perfect" show (former show on HGTV) to discuss how to create bias-cut garments, pattern layout issues, and fabric recommendations (like a forgiving linen). Many of those tips are in this book.

I am enjoying this book very much. The author is a well known sewing teacher and fitter. She explains every step in choosing the fabric, fitting
the pattern, cutting & finishing the garment. Also, ways to change the
top with decorative stitching etc. Very well presented and full of color
photos. I would recommend this to anyone who makes & wears T-shirts and tops.

I was expecting a valuable guide to making tees and other tops when I bought this, but it doesn't contain much that isn't in other sewing books. It provides instruction on such things as how to select a pattern and using clear elastic ensure a close-fitting neckline, which are things an experienced sewer would already know. The illustrations are good, but otherwise it's pretty unhelpful. It might be a good reference for a beginning sewer, but I find myself rarely reaching for it for guidance in constructing tops.

I am the mother of two children and I found Wolke's book to be a great book, with the information presented in systematic, but clearly understandable way. It is filled with practical ideas to on how to implement long term dietary habits for the whole family.

I really like the fact that Wolke discusses a healthy eating plan and is able to explain her reasoning from a professional point of view as well via personal reflections and anecdotes.

Her comments on the eating habits of school camps, children's sports and school food alone are worth the read.

This books educates the parent and explains how to convey knowledge to children in ways they will grasp, which is ultimately what we want as parents. We hope that children will understand and value healthy eating, so they no longer have to swing from one extreme to the other.

The seven steps tie everything together in a concrete way and Wolke keeps her style warm, encouraging, yet uncompromising all the way through.

This is no fad to follow, it is a flexible, professionally crafted plan that will encourage and empower parents to implement life long healthy eating, exercising and communication around these issues. If all families could follow a basic plan such as FitKid7 from the start, they would be taking positive steps in navigating such issues as eat

If you are new to the world of nutrition/lifestyle and you seriously want to get your kids' health issues straightened out, then Fitkid7 is a good place to start. Sirkka Wolke offers information and advice on nutrition in combination with lifestyle suggestions specifically aimed and kids and families. Wolke combines her knowledge and enthusiasm in a conversational writing style which will most appeal to those who find textbook approaches to nutrition daunting.

Personally, while reading the book I felt encouraged to tidy up my own eating habits. Inevitably my kids benefitted from my choice to change my diet! However, though Wolke is passionate about her subject, I found the overuse of exclamation marks irritating. I also found myself wishing Wolke had sited more research when making claims. In any case, if you are fervently searching for help in getting your kids to make better diet and fitness choices, Fitkid7 might be for you.

Let me preface this review by stating that I do not have children. However, I was one (weren't we all?), and I did babysit for many, many years. Take my opinion about "FitKid7: 7 Simple Steps for a Fit & Healthy Child" as you will with this knowledge. A how-to book of any sort requires two basic things. First, it must be written so that the reader, any reader, can understand it. Second, it must have clear directions and advice to follow. Given these criteria, does Sirkka Wolke's book qualify as a great investment of your money?

The book is divided into three basic parts. The first part lays out the steps to take. The 7 basic steps are easy to understand, because Wolke writes in an approachable, conversational tone. Frankly, her advice isn't all that new. The only truly new thing I saw was the idea that you should not keep anything that isn't healthy in your house. The rest, ranging from water as your primary liquid to a positive attitude, is very common in discussions of good health.

My biggest complaint in this first part is that there are a lot of how-to directions and advice that seem missing. I think many of these steps would be easy to put into place at the beginning of your family from the moment you get married or paired up or buy a house, and certainly before you have children. However, I can see many people buying this book who have older kids or teenagers, and I think much more practical advice is called for, such as how you convince your spouse or partner to get on board and how you deal with the stronger peer pressures and school access at the junior high and high school level.

In the second part of the book, Wolke looks at several factors that contribute to unhealthy behavior and eating patterns. Much of this is social, from the role of business to the pressure to succeed and passive entertainment. Again, there are several factors that are not deeply enough addressed, such as the American idea that dinner or supper should be the biggest meal of the day. Outside of the social factors, Wolke only pays brief attention to biology, and I'm not talking genes that make you fat. What about the fact that fats and sugars taste good to us? She mentions repeatedly the idea that our bodies can easily think we are starving, but how do you counter that long-standing biology in a world where we do not need to move as much and food production is incredible?

Of course, there are no easy answers for these issues, but I remember that my old private nutritionist looked at my ethnic background when she came up with a food plan for me. She considered not just my environment but my genetic background, and in her wise words she doubted I'd ever look like a supermodel because I came from "strong peasant stock," where big, strong women were a plus. Wolke focuses on health, not weight, though she does raise the weight issue a few times. I was very happy that she did not promote those height/weight/age charts that are generic. I also was very glad that she emphasized that stress and mental health are just as important or more important than the shape and size of your body.

The third part of Wolke's book looks at the various measures you can take to make these changes. Again, I think more could be said here, and the general advice consists of things I've heard and read repeatedly. She does list a few references for her advice, but more would also please the scholar in me. Of course, you can learn all you want but you have to make the actions match the information. As a person who has slowly added more fiber and leaner meats to her adult family's diet, let me tell you that it can be emotionally draining to stay the course in the face of opposition. Yes, even adults can be picky eaters, and I'm no exception.

The book ends with several sections that offer further information, such as an ideal shopping list, recipes, meal ideas, and resources you can use. I think the resources and bibliography need to be much longer. I also want to know where Wolke received her degrees in nutrition and whom/how she consults? I think knowing that would add more authority to her words.

"FitKid7" is a simple, fast read with good steps to take to help your children become more health-conscious and active people. It is really too short, though, at just over 100 pages, to give a lot of strong practical suggestions. Perhaps Wolke hopes you will consult with your own health care professional, but I would have liked more ideas for making this all work. The book is a good first step, but it won't answer all your questions.

Sirkka Wolke, drawing on her extensive expertise, addresses a growing health crisis in the world concerning our children in a forthright way that underscores the importance of raising healthy, fit kids and outlines how to execute this easily. Although many adults attempt to get fit themselves, they tend to ignore their kids. This book accomplishes what the author set out to do--to make us take notice of what we are feeding our children for the sake of their future. This should be a standard read for all parents and those who work with children.

...Teacher, mother of 2....

No, plus my kids enjoyed the many ways on eating healthy from this book. We all want our children to be fit and healthy, but the current invasion of fast food, sugary snacks, and oversize portions are creating an epidemic of overweight, inactive, and unhealthy kids. The powerful influences of the fast-food industry, omnipresent junk food advertising, and the vicious cycle of TV, computer games, and Internet addictions only make our children more susceptible to a sedentary lifestyle and a lifetime of bad habits and obesity. Dedicated mom and Nutritional Consultant Sirkka Wolke says it's time to say good-bye to sugarcoated cereals, artificially colored cheese puffs, oceans of sugary soft drinks, nutritionally deficient school lunches, and fast-food super meals!

This book is not a diet which will make the transition even better for not only for yourself but for your child. In "FitKid 7" she shows you how to create a healthy, balanced lifestyle for your kids and how to make the transition from dairy-, fat-, sugar-, and chemical-laden foods to the vibrant, natural, nourishing foods we were all meant to eat.

You'll find general dietary guidelines for healthy eating for active kids, as well as tips on pre- and post-exercise nutrition, staying hydrated while exercising, and healthy snacks. This book offers a proven plan to help parents and kids alike learn to eat healthier and feel better, it features:

The Fitkid 7 Steps
Why is it happening?
The Tools We need
Harmful Foo Additives List
Great Ideas for Meals and Snacks
List of Extra Tips

Fit and Healthy foods does equal Healthy Children. "FitKid 7" provides the essential information on creating a lifetime of nutritional eating habits for your children. Highly recommended to those who care.

This book was very enjoyable to read. It was entertaining and had a good message. I would recommend it.

I love it when I read a book that makes me laugh ... think ... cry ... smile ... wonder ... reflect ... imagine ... believe. And isn't the Christmas season the perfect time to do that?

Someone gave this to me and what a delightful early Christmas gift it was!

The Wise Man in the Checkered Shirt is a touching story of one man's journey down his road to change. This book is very easy to read and enjoyable for the entire family. It seems each person can find someone in this short book that he/she can relate to.
Jerome (the main character) is so believable and reminds us how easily we can become focused on the things in life which really don't matter. It is definitely something that I plan to read with my family every Christmas. It is important to me to read something that reminds me of the importance of reaching out to others of every "walk of life". This is a fantastic book and every person should take the time to read it. After reading this book, I realized how many people at every season of the year have far greater challenges than I have. I guess it was a good reminder to "count my blessings."

The Wise Man in the Checkered Shirt is a touching story of one man's journey down his road to change. This book is very easy to read and enjoyable for the entire family. It seems each person can find someone in this short book that he/she can relate to.
Jerome (the main character) is so believable and reminds us how easily we can become focused on the things in life which really don't matter. It is definitely something that I plan to read with my family every Christmas. It is important to me to read something that reminds me of the importance of reaching out to others of every "walk of life". This is a fantastic book and every person should take the time to read it. After reading this book, I realized how many people at every season of the year have far greater challenges than I have. I guess it was a good reminder to "count my blessings."

"The Wise Man in the Checkered Shirt" was sent to me in June as a gift, after I had been discharged from the hospital, and a Christmas book was not exactly my idea of a good read. I picked it up because it was short, and was almost immediately captivated my the unlikely tale of a department store Santa who falls under the spell of two seemingly homeless girls.
Jerome may look the part of Santa, he has been the premire Santa at the Mall for years, and he takes great pride in his looks and abilities. Pride is the keyword, Jerome is proud of his perfect life, to the point of self centeredness, obnoxiousness and shutting out those closest to him. He has no need for people unless they can benefit him, and finds the neighborhood residents and church particularly annoying. His need to be the center of attention, to know and control everything takes him on a rollercoaster ride when he crosses paths with sisters Harley and Boo. He spies the oldest sister, Harley stealing coins from the mall fountain and is determined to find out where they live. The two girls live with their father who is recovering from an accident and have their own ideas of what they need to get done before Christmas. Extremely protective of her young sister Boo (Marci), Harley is also a caregiver of sorts for her disabled father as well. Though their living quarters would never meet with Jerome's approval they have an abundance of love and belief in the goodness of their neighbors. As they go about their days, the people they come in contact with are also captivated by their bright spirits and their open hearts, and even help them in some of their pursuits, such as divesting the fountain of its coins. Each day is filled with anticipation of the approaching holidays, until an unseen accident threatens their well-being. The harder Jerome tries to find out about the girls the more elusive they become and the more out of control his well ordered life becomes, leaving him to question the very things he had once valued, and to turn to a new source of strength, the neighborhood church and the people the before seemed to just annoy and clutter his well ordered life. He finds himself doing things he never would have done before, with some very unpredictable and hilarious results. A very different Christmas story with a timeless message of hope and acceptance, and a tender twist at the end that really caught me by surprise, bringing tears to my eyes. This story captures the essense of forgiveness and the hope we all have at Christmas, that we can mend fences and that we can find our way home. A wonderful, wonderful Christmas story. A wonderful read any time of the year.

This author is great! I have read all her books except Whistle & I just bought it. Her dipiction of the south is the best. Her characters are very believeable. I would love to know them. Please Ms Daugharty more books with the same theme as your previous books.

I agree with the other reviews - this is a superb book. My husband is from that area of Georgia so I know firsthand that Ms. Daugharty truly writes what she knows [including the dialect]. The summary on the back makes it sound like it would be dark and depressing, but on the contrary. I finished it feeling very positive and glad I had read it.

EARL definitely deserves five stars, if for nothing but the cover. Hey, you never know! It could be another OH BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU! (?) Author, Janice Daugharty

Increadible novel! This book is an amazing work of southern fiction. Daugharty accurately reveals the life of the south in rural Georgia. Her writing style is fresh and truthful. This novel was one I found difficult to put down.

The last reviewer doesn't know what he or she is talking about! This is a rich novel of an American South at once contemporary and timeless, and its many virtues include ear-perfect dialog -- plus a great deal more. What I like best is the character's struggle with the burden of the local morality, a struggle that results in heavy losses, but also a quirky, stirring triumph. Janice Daugharty is Dixie's latest recording angel, a true heir to the legacy of Flannery O'Connor.

it was okay, i had hoped a bit more in depth to the periods but as a vauge overall view it was very nice- i was dissapointed my first queen concert shirt was not listed.I had purchased it as a gift for a customer but i don't think it is cool enough to give them , sigh

My boyfriend plays in a rock band, so I got the book as a surprise for him. We love looking through it and reading up on the stories of the how, why, where, and what of each particular shirt. Call us Rock Geeks if you want, but I think this book is "Chicken Soup for the Rocker's Soul."

If you are interested in band or rock tees- this is THE book. You can tell the authors are true music fans who really care about this subject. It is well presented with great photos on really nice paper. Almost every page is a photo- so it serves as a great catalogue of "the best of" band shirts. Interesting details on each shirt keep you turning the pages. They really did a lot of research. Good range of tees (not just rock). If you are interested in music, fashion, or art- you'll like this book.

This is a great mini coffee table book with heaps of great band t shirts for almost every genre of music. Would make a great gift.

Or I guess I had that one. It is great to be able to see so many shirts that I had or always wanted. I miss my RUN DMC shirt, and now can at least look at a photo of it. The photos are high quality, the selection is varied and impressive, and great stories about how some of the shirts/logos came about, that you don't usually get to hear.

Come and listen to my story about a man named Harp... Trying to stay on the wagon, Ice sculpting and angry republicans, The Elbow Boys, anteaters, twelve foot tall angels, Raylou...

I assure you, it all makes sense in the end!

Reviewed by Janelle Martin

"If you can't make sense of life, you can at least scratch your head and laugh at it." -Michael Ray Taylor on how southern writers approach literature, Nashville Scene

Harp Spillman has spent lost count of the years spent living in the bottle. He's ruined his reputation as a metal sculptor, joked himself out of a lucrative career as a freelance ice sculptor and is now living off the good graces of his wife Raylou. When a commission of twelve-foot-high metal angels made out of hex nuts for Birmingham, Alabama gets approved (although he can't remember applying), Harp realizes it's time to hang up the bottle and return to the mig-welder. Fate decides he needs some moral support and sends him the Elbow Boys, although Harp wonders if isn't just another of Raylou's schemes.

Confused? Don't be surprised. George Singleton's writing epitomizes Michael Ray Taylor's quote from Nashville Scene, this is Gonzo fiction at its finest. In Work Shirts for Madmen, Singleton paints with words using wide brush strokes. Readers may not always know what is going on, but there will be a vivid picture running in your head while you try to figure it out.

With novels and short stories chock full of unfathomable characters and surreal situations, Singleton's forte is his uncanny ability to keep readers laughing even while their hearts are breaking. Many of Singleton's characters seem to have just stepped off a film set-I wouldn't be at all surprised to see the Elbow Boys showing up in Tarantino's next movie. And Harp's ice sculpture creations melting at the Republican convention begs to be captured on film.

Even though there is such a strong cinematic quality to Work Shirts for Madmen, beneath all the laughs and eccentricities at its heart this is a novel about making sense of life after hitting rock bottom. Whether you're attracted by the title or fiction featuring anteaters, make sure to grab this one for a day when you need a dose of surreal. You'll be awfully glad you did.

Armchair Interviews agrees!

Work Shirts, like all of George Singleton's books and stories, is a riot--be prepared to explain to your significant other why you're howling with laughter. The book makes fun of a lot of things, like the cult of AA, Arts Councils, the Republican Party, but never at the expense of its characters, and Work Shirts is filled with great characters. I loved Harp, the sarcastic protagonist who's being manipulated into sobriety by his sweet wife Raylou. I loved the foul-mouthed mom who got a correspondence degree in directing, with a minor in best boy. I loved the crew of eccentrics who try to keep Harp on the straight and narrow.

All the subplots and side stories all come together in the end like a great 30s screwball comedy. This is a really fun book.

Oh how I love Ember Glow. Harp is simply perfectly tuned in this novel, funny and heart wrenching, maddening too because we root for the guy to get it right all along the way. Absolutely flawed, furious and filled with talent, Harp's heart is bigger than his ability to think things through straight. Because of this, Singleton has wrought a character that will live on in Ember Glow and American Literature.

If you've ever wanted someone to break the chains of their colossal imperfection (like the patient Raylou) this is the book for all seasons. It doesn't get any better than this folks. Buy it. Read it. Talk about it. Work Shirts for Madmen is crazy, satisfying and truly the truth of what Colbert termed, truthiness.

Finally, nowhere can there be found the humor and heartbreak in the work shirts of hard men trying to find a reason not to bite a bullet. Singleton gives them more than plain hope; he provides them (and us) with the real reason we're here: to laugh and remember. It's all cool.

Told in an offbeat and colloquial style, artist Harp Stillman's account of his attempts to give up drinking and return to a more productive life is by turns a satiric, absurd, and wildly comic romp through contemporary American life. Associating with wacky characters who lead even wackier lives than his own, Harp, always full of self-mockery, tries to overcome some of his disastrous public mistakes and free himself from the control of alcohol so that he can fulfill his commissions to create large public sculptures in a variety of cities throughout the country.

It was Harp's calamitous foray into ice sculptures for a $5000 per plate Republican fund-raiser in Columbia, SC, which turned him into a pariah. Commissioned to create busts in ice for all the most famous southern politicians--Strom Thurmond, Newt Gingrich, and the three Presidents (Reagan, Bush, and Bush), among others--the wildly creative Harp produced sculptures within sculptures. On the outside, the busts looked exactly like the men they represented, but as the sculptures melted under the lights, their inner sculptures were revealed. Strom Thurmond melted into Mussolini, the three Presidents became Curly, Moe, and Larry, and Newt Gingrich became Koko the gorilla. And that was just for starters.

In rehab, Harp discovers that all the in-patients are wearing work shirts, and since he has just won a large commission for the city of Birmingham, Alabama, to build twelve huge angels in metal, he is delighted to see that one of the participants wears a shirt bearing the logo of a welding company. He quickly hires him, only to discover that all the work shirts are used and that his new employee has never touched a welding torch.

Harp's attempts to complete these twelve sculptures and stay sober form the body of the novel, and the characters he meets are some of the most bizarre characters in modern fiction--three characters whose elbows will not bend (the "Elbow Brethren"), a character who gives himself a tracheotomy, a man who lives with four giant anteaters, Harp's own father (who runs a unique scam) and mother (now a film director), a Kampgrounds of America director who is a Native American with a PhD, and even a potential assassin.

In keeping with the frenetic activity and crazy characters, author George Singleton keeps his style simple, allowing the sometimes bizarre action to drive the novel. Down-home images add to the sense of place and provide local color, and the voice of Harp Spillman rings true, providing a larger than life, and sometimes satiric, picture of rehab, southern country living, the art world, and the extremes to which a man may be willing to go to in an effort to accomplish his goals. n Mary Whipple

The Half-Mammals of Dixie
These People Are Us: Stories
Novel
Drowning in Gruel

This book of poetry has a real quality, a sort of grittiness so you know it's true.

The poems tie together present miseries with the history of Indian wars. But of course it's not the version of Indian wars we got through the movies; rather it is the untold part, of suffering of native people defending their way of life.

I am new to Sherman Alexie and new to American Indian literature; I came upon him through his movie "Smoke Signals." It's very good reading!

His writing contains heavy themes, but is light and graceful and has a healing quality. "Shirts" and "Skins" are the team names in pickup baasketball games; "'skins" is how Indians call themselves. I dont know what a "shirt" is - a white guy, probably -- that would fit. There is humor, word play and joy here holding up a world of sadness.

For a long time I heard little bits and pieces about a poet named Sherman Alexie. I would see his name appear here and there, or a few words speak of him, and then I would lose track. After Smoke Signals came out, I vowed that I would remember Sherman Alexie and read more of what he had to say.

Years passed, to my shame. As a writer I was probably afraid on some level to begin reading his work because I had heard of his amazing success at a young age, but more important, his amazing output.

I finally decided to get a book, and I chose to buy Old Shirts & New Skins. I absolutely love it. The poems and the stories wonderfully compliment each other and tell a story of identity and pride. I really enjoyed the biting humor. it rang so completely true, I sometimes could not contain myself.

Based upon what I have read in this book, I will definately keep reading and buying his books.

This book seems simpler than Alexie's later works, though by no means do I mean that in a literal way. Later works reveal a deep and complex style and voice. This book, an early piece, shows what is to come. Alexie's voice is strong and powerful, with very pointed pieces arranged in creative and innovative ways. This is a stepping-stone book into his heavier works, such as Summer of Black Widows and One Stick Song. You can definitly see where Alexie is going in this book...up.