David

This book is really a hidden gem for history buffs. It did a lot to paint a portrait of the lives of the common folks of London, and by extension, other major cities of the mid-19th century. I found its insights into developments in public sanitation and its impact on modern cities very interesting. It also does a good job of showing how early scientists struggled to win support for ideas that we now view as obvious. Also, the book is great for illustrating how seemingly average people can have a big impact on their communities and the world. Finally, one thing it does is make me happy that I don't have to clean any cess-pits. Enjoy.

Yes, it has some thought provoking themes and the narration is excellent.

I've only seen him in films. I didn't realize that he was such an excellent storyteller.

Yes.

This is my mother's favorite book. I had never read it, and so didn't fully understand the attraction. I'm a speculative fiction fan, but the story didn't sound very exciting at first glance. I have to say, that this book is enthralling. It also causes you to ask yourself many questions, some of which include: What qualities are important in a person? What skills do I really have? Could I survive? Also, Will Patton's storytelling ability is first rate.

I like animals, I like animal stories, I like Jacques Cousteau, but I DON'T like this book. The narration stinks and the pseudo-French accent the narrator employs often, is annoying. The book is boring and is a hero-worship of Jacques Cousteau and not much about animals. This is one of the few times I only made it half way though a book. I gave up and decided not to throw any more good time after bad money.

I found this book to be a very interesting overview of the origins of "black" culture in America. The author also delves into the origins of some of the prejudice against blacks and "middle-men minorities", such as Jews. The focus of the book is debunking the idea that modern "black" culture in America is "black" or African in origin. Blacks picked it up from essentially backwoods scots-irish in the south, and then migrated to northern cities later. He also points out that clinging to this failed culture (that is promoted by the "White Liberals" of the title) is destructive and perpetuates a lie about what it means to be black.

If you're looking for some detailed insight into the inner workings of oil companies...this is not it. What this book does discuss is some reasonable, common sense solutions to our energy problems. One reviewer stated that the author blames politicians and then looks to them for the solution. That is not quite accurate. The author does blame politicians (both Democrat and Republican) in a sense and seeks a solution that takes the daily management of energy policy out of their hands. He does make a strong argument for a gradual transition from fossil fuels to hydrogen fuel cells and batteries (for cars) and nuclear energy (for electricity). This book helps educate you about energy and energy policy without becoming overly tedious, and offers up one possible solution for our energy problems.