The Australian flower paintings of Ferdinand Bauer

Book Description

You'll never feel intimidated and awkward about the customs and etiquette of another country again. With the insights provided in this CULTURE SHOCK! Guide, you'll learn to see beyond the stereotypes and misinformation that often precede a visit to a foreign land. Whether you plan to stay for a week or for a year, you'll benefit from such topics as understanding the rules of driving and monetary systems, religious practices and making friends. There are tips on political traditions, building business relationships, and the particular intricacies of setting up a home or office. Great for the business traveler, the foreign exchange student, or the tourist who makes a sincere attempt to cross the bridge into a new and exciting culture.

Customer Reviews:

Somewhat useful, but desperately needs an update.......2005-09-02

The Culture Shock series describes customs and courtesies for primarily a British readership. Usually the books are written by expatriates and/or tour guides, probably the best subject matter experts one could find. Unsurprisingly, Culture Shock Greece aims to give the tourist or potential expat an overview of Greek culture and society to better assimilate. Greek culture being almost 3000 years old, certainly some aspects will change slowly if at all; this makes the "currency" of the book less of issue than, say, a travel guide. Nonetheless, although I did in fact find some of the book useful, there are some serious limitations here.

First, although my copy says "New Expanded Edition" and a copyright date of 2001, without a doubt some of the material is at least ten years old. Euros are called "ecu's", nor mention of the move from drachmae to Euros, which totally changed the pricing of commodities (crucial information for someone who may be doing business, or planning to move to Greece). Athens information is painfully inadequate and basically useless for anything except the touchy-feely impressions of the author. More importantly, zero mention of resources available on the internet.

Second, is the snide tone the author takes with American influences (considering there's almost as many Greeks living in the US and Canada as Greece he shouldn't be surprised.) Frankly, I couldn't care less what the author's views of American language and culture are-even less in a book about GREEK culture. I believe part of this attitude is present as well regarding food and drink. My experiences in Greece/Crete were that wine is considered a special treat, and the beverage of choice for most meals is beer. The author insists that wine is a standard, and beer is "outre". I've encountered wine snobbery before, and this feels like it again. Well, again, maybe ten years ago that was true-not now. The worthwhile parts of the book are the societal insights, and if one takes the infrastructure information with a huge grain of salt-is worth reading.

A Gem!.......2003-08-14

Brief and yet informative and enjoyable!

Impressing.......2001-01-20

It is impressing that the author manages to write 283 pages without giving any relevant information.

A real view of how is to live in Greece.......1999-10-05

A true view of life in Greece. I am speaking from experience as I grew up there and planning to return to retire there also. Greece is a beautiful country that offers a great life to someone who wants to retire there and is tired of all the crime, dirty water, boring, robotic life, fake smiles etc. If LIFE is what you are looking for, then GREECE is the place, and this book gives you a lot of instructions on how to handle things there. Thank you.

Disappointing.......1999-06-04

I did not get a real sense about what Greece is like from reading this book. I thought this author had a very pessimistic/negative bent as well. He focused a lot on the ancient past and not much on the present. Never having been to Greece, I can't say whether this book is accurate or inaccurate but I would think the job of a guidebook is to make the reader excited about going somewhere and this book did not accomplish that.

Customer Reviews:

If you lie down with marketers..........2001-08-04

Mr. Hartnagle's book contains a lot of excellent information, but is beset by two flaws that call into question the validity of his advice. First, the author seems to have done little research, relying instead on his obviously extensive knowledge of the Aussie breed. In one example he mentions electronic collars designed to stop a dog from barking, but says "personally I have not had experience with them". While this might be acceptable for a potential client in the office, it is not for the author of a book. The reader expects that research and cross-referencing have been done in all areas pertaining to the subject matter.

Far more serious, however, is the author's blatant promotion of a particular brand of dog chew toys. The entire chapter on "Dental Care" seems to have been included as an advertisement for this one company. The problem goes right down to the little registered trademark "r"'s and glossie product shots, and unfortunately calls into question the validity of everything he has said in the book. Where, exactly, does the paid promotion end and the impartial advice begin?

These two shortcomings unfortunately undermine what might otherwise have been a very useful text on the Australian Shepherd breed. As it stands, the new owner is advised to consider other sources of material on their pup.

A New Owner's Guide to Australian Shepherds.......1998-10-20

Written by noted breed authority Joseph Hartnagle, A NEW OWNER'S GUIDE TO THE AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD covers all aspects of caring for this purebred animal, including history, characteristics, feeding, grooming, health care, and becoming active in the sport of purebred dogs. Features more than 130 full-color photos.

Book Description

A comprehensive survey of ceramic wares produced by the Trenton Potteries Company of Trenton, New Jersey, throughout its existence, from 1892 to 1950 is presented with particular attention to the artware lines of in the 1930s and 1940s. Over 290 vibrant color photographs illustrate these beautiful deco vases, lamps and wall pockets, and neo-classical centerpieces, candlesticks, and jardinieres. Also included are a brief history of the company, a review of its manufacturers marks, advice for collectors, a bibliography, and an index. Current market values are included in the captions.

Book Description

The third edition of this definitive handbook on orchid cultivation incorporates major revisions in taxonomy, text, and illustrations. An authoritative resource for professional and amateur orchid growers and botanists for more than a decade, this edition of The Manual of Cultivated Orchid Species adds 24 pages of color photographs of species - 144 new photographs plus 96 replacement shots - and 62 line drawings. The sections on taxonomy have been substantially expanded to include updated treatments of orchid biology, diversity, and classification, and new species of spectacular cultural merit are described.

Phillip Cribb is Curator of the Orchid Herbarium, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Edmund Launert, a former Principal Scientific Officer and orchid expert at Kew, is now retired and works as a freelance consultant. Helmut Bechtel is a professional photographer who specializes in natural history.

Customer Reviews:

Good reference and very useful for identifying the plants.......1999-07-22

My favorite book beside The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchids by Alec Pridgeon, I recommend it highly for anyone who loves orchid species.

If you grow orchid species, you must own this book........1998-12-10

As complete a reference as you can own in one cover, this book has it all. Cultural medium requirements, temperature, light - everything you need to know for the most species coverage. Most of the color plates are high quality, some not so good.

Book Description

Le systeme de l'Incanto des galees du marche a Venise offers the first complete analysis of the medieval Venetian system of auctioning (Incanto) the state-owned galleys for commercial use. The Incanti (auction records) reveal a pattern of progressive intervention by the state in sea-trading and the evolution of a corpus of statutes governing private navigation. The work traces the growth and interdependency of the 8 state shipping lines. By establishing the infrastructure necessary for international commerce, the state (or rather the patriciate) enabled the involvement in trade -- in roles ranging from sponsor to captain to arquebusier -- of a large number of nobles with only modest capitals. This study also examines the structures of such participation (patrician family associations) and shows how these defined the career patterns of nobles and guided the emergence of a noble merchant oligarchy in medieval Venice.

Average customer rating:

Dancing to the Ku-Ku Song

Laurel and Hardy Biography Beyond Double Talk

I'm a Laurel and Hardy fan, but....

"Hats Off"

Put on your hip boots

Stan and Ollie: The Roots of Comedy: The Double Life of Laurel and Hardy
Simon Louvish
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Actors & Actresses | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
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Lou's on First: The Tragic Life of Hollywood's Greatest Clown Warmly Recounted by his Youngest Child

W. C. Fields: A Biography

Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies

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ASIN: 0312325983
Release Date: 2005-06-23

Book Description

Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy have remained, from 1927 to the present day, the screen's most famous and popular comedy double act, celebrated by legions of fans. But despite many books about their films and individual lives, there has never been a fully researched, definitive narrative biography of the duo, from birth to death.

Louvish traces the early lives of Stanley Jefferson and Norvell Hardy and the surrounding minstrel and variety theatre, which influenced all of their later work. Louvish examines the rarely seen solo films of both our heroes, prior to their serendipitous pairing in 1927, in the long-lost short "Duck Soup." The inspired casting teamed them until their last days. Both often married, they found balancing their personal and professional lives a nearly impossible feat.

Between 1927 and 1938, they were able to successfully bridge the gap between silent and sound films, which tripped up most of their prominent colleagues. Their Hal Roach and MGM films were brilliant, but their move in 1941, to Twentieth Century Fox proved disastrous, with the nine films made there ranking as some of the most embarrassing moments of cinematic history.

In spite of this, Laurel and Hardy survived as exemplars of lasting genius, and their influence is seen to this day. The clowns were elusive behind their masks, but now Simon Louvish can finally reveal their full and complex humanity, and their passionate devotion to their art. In Stan and Ollie: The Roots of Comedy: The Double Life of Laurel and Hardy, Louvish has seamlessly woven tireless and thorough research into an authoritative biography of these two important and influential Hollywood pioneers.

Customer Reviews:

Dancing to the Ku-Ku Song.......2007-04-22

By the time I was old enough to appreciate adult comedies shown on TV, i.e. in the late 50's, Oliver "Babe" Hardy was already dead (1957) and Stan Laurel was on the final downslope of his life. Yet, it was Laurel & Hardy, along with Abbott & Costello, that tickled my embryonic sense of humor before "graduating" to Red Skelton, Bob Hope, and Jackie Gleason.

Here, in STAN AND OLLIE: THE ROOTS OF COMEDY, author Simon Louvish draws from even more compulsively detailed books on the duo to yield a satisfyingly comprehensive overview of The Boys' professional lives, both solo and paired. I never thought of Stan and Ollie as being anything other than a team. Yet, the first eighteen chapters of this 40-chapter volume reveal that each had a successful career before being eternally cemented together in the 1927 silent movie, "Duck Soup". Each began life separated by the Atlantic, Stan being born in the north of England in 1890, and Oliver in Georgia of the American South in 1892. Before their fateful pairing by Hal Roach in Hollywood in 1927, Laurel worked his way up through the ranks of U.K. and U.S. vaudeville and U.S. film, while Hardy appeared in 200+ silents on his own beginning with "Outwitting Dad" (1914), a release coming from the then-booming Florida film industry. For both, it was a long and tortuous road to Tinseltown and destiny.

I need to stress that STAN AND OLLIE focuses on their professional lives. If you're looking for a detailed inside peek at their personal existences, look elsewhere. OK, sure, the reader learns, as narrative asides, that Ollie bet on the horses and Stan had a weakness for Yorkshire pudding, chocolate candies, and ocean sport fishing. Both enjoyed golf. And, moreover, both had rocky domestic lives with multiple, mostly failed marriages - Hardy totaling three wives in as many marriages, and Laurel amassing four wives in five marriages, plus one common-law relationship. But, I finished the narrative not really having a feel for the men behind their famous on-screen personae. This skewed exposition is exemplified by the choice of photos included in the text; there are virtually none of Stan and/or Ollie outside of stills from their screen roles. Weren't there pesky paparazzi in those days? There was one photo taken of Hardy towards the end of his life that I particularly wanted to see out of morbid curiosity. As Louvish describes it:

"In 1956 ... (Ollie) reduced his weight by 150 lbs ... The last photograph of Stan and Babe together, in 1956, shows a recognizable smiling Stan, but beside him stands a stranger, relatively trim, with flabby flesh replacing his double chins, thin silvery hair and a rictus of a smile."

My distinct impression was that, throughout the composition of STAN AND OLLIE, the author worked overtime to protect the image and memory of his heroes. That's fine, but it results in a somewhat one-dimensional piece, albeit otherwise excellent as far as it goes.

One rarely sees any of the old Laurel and Hardy movies on TV anymore. Maybe it's just because I don't stay up into the wee hours. STAN AND OLLIE compels me to re-visit their screen appearances on DVD rentals to remind myself of the laughter of childhood memory.

Laurel and Hardy Biography Beyond Double Talk.......2007-04-07

The title of my review, "Laurel and Hardy Beyond Double Talk" makes as much sense as Mr. Louvish's title. With that stated, I must declare that for the most part, I found his book quite educational and enjoyable. Some other reviewers issued complaints about it being too ponderous, or hard to follow. I found no basis for such criticism. In fact, I found the book challenging from the standpoint that its thoroughness kept me motivated in wanting to keep absorbing more and more information and details about these two comic masters.

It was sad to learn that there was so much unhappiness in their domestic lives. I had heard that rumor before, but Mr. Louvish documents the apparently awful experiences in their numerous respective marriages. Still, I was more interested in what was said about the two men as artists. For example, it fascinated me to learn that both Laurel and especially Hardy had made dozens and dozens of films years before they even met. It was also revealing to learn what a perfectionist Stan Laurel was in creating gags, and striving to improve his art while appearing seemingly non-artistic in the process. With the great Chaplin, for example, one is laughing at his fine comedy, but constantly aware that he is showing you art!

I think the narrated details in Stanley Jefferson, aka Laurel's years as a stage comic in England was difficult to track at times in this book. In defense of the author, it was probably hard to reconstruct much of that portion of the man's career. Having not read any of the other previous biographes of L & H, I cannot say whether or not this is comparatively a greater biography or not. I only know that I walked away knowing more about the team after completing my reading of the book.

Yes, I recommend this "Stan and Ollie" the book to anyone today wanting to learn more about this comedy team. Laurel and Hardy have stood the test of time and in my opinion, are simply the greatest comedy on film. I say this knowing that I also love the Marx Brothers, Three Stooges,Abbott and Costello and Hope and Crosby. Comedy purists keep in mind I am not counting Laurel and Hardy's movies after after "Saps at Sea!"

This book spurs a clear interest in their work. Unfortunately, many of their films are simply not available to see. Why this is the case is beyond me. We have umpteen zillion copies of "Friends," Adam Sandler, and Jack Black staring back at us on the DVD shelves, but not many Laurel and Hardy films. I hope Mr. Louvish's book will help stir up more interest in the team, so that pressure increases from fans demanding the retailing of more L & H films on DVD. Everyone is so divided on this side, or that side today, that it would be refreshing for all of us to see comic films that appeal to humanity in general. Laurel and Hardy literally made the world laugh.

I'm a Laurel and Hardy fan, but...........2006-08-16

...whoosh, the style of this book is turgid and overstuffed with mixed metaphors (on the order of "They were the conduit for blossoms of comedy which were to explode in fiery mirth."), and there's far too much "Babe had terrible trouble, which will be explained in due course." I did like the subject, but the book was really irritating to read because of the style.

"Hats Off".......2006-05-21

How does one do justice to two of the greatest comedy legends to have ever have graced the screen? A daunting task, but one that Simon Louvish (biographer of W.C. Fields and the Marx Brothers) accomplishes with great aplomb and thoroughness. "Stan and Ollie" covers all bases as it explores the individual lives of the duo and the eventual pairing of two great screen comedians.

Louvish begins by examining the respective early life of Stanley Jefferson and Oliver Norvell Hardy. Born and raised in England, Stanley Jefferson was the son of a theatre owner and performer, whose children were destined for the stage. But his namesake would take his father's love of acting much farther than the stage and onto screen, a journey that took him half-way around the world to California at the dawn of the movie era. Meanwhile, in small town Georgia, Oliver Norvell Hardy was born, months after his father's death, raised by a mother who ran boarding houses, her perpetually chubby son a constant watcher of the guests. His love of movies hit its stride when he ran projections for the local movie house and decided to test his fortunes on the screen.

Each comic tried to make it on his own - Louvish devotes the first half of his biography to their early lives and the movies they made before they became a popular duo. Stanley's rise was perhaps a bit more difficult due to his theatre training (and his being pegged to impersonate his former roommate, Charlie Chaplin). "Babe" Hardy took easily to the ways of the screen, despite his bulk that haunted him his entire life, which was counteracted by a grace and ease that seemd contradictory to his size. These two very separate beginnings were inevitably paired up in Hollywood at the Hal Roach studio, where these vaudevillan trained actors somewhat reluctantly became Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, a disparate image of perfectly paired clowns.

Louvish traces the years and the films that Laurel and Hardy made together with Roach, intermingling the myriad marriage and divorce affairs that plagued each man, weaving in history of supporting players and screen moments as their story unfolds. He debunks some of the stories that have floated about these two, all the while recognizing that memory is not the strongest recorder of events years after the fact. The subtitle "The Double Life of Laurel and Hardy" refers not to any lurid details, but to the men behind the faces on the screen. Laurel and Hardy were screen personas, not the men who lived and breathed off-screen; while their real lives were sometimes mirrored by what they chose to enact, clowns cannot be funny all the time. Louvish does an admirable job of weaving the good with the bad, the tremendous success while at the pinnacle of their careers, and the sad, dwindling end that included forgettable movies and studio disputes.

"Stan and Ollie", while long and a sometimes wandering read, is a wonderful portrait of two men who were friends until the very end. It is amazing to consider their output of film, and to lament what has forever been lost of their early days and solo work. Louvish truly loves Laurel and Hardy but is able to paint them in an unbiased light, moles and all, revealing the minds behind two comedic geniuses who made it big for not being the brightest bulbs in the story. This book will make fans fall in love with Laurel and Hardy all over again.

Put on your hip boots.......2006-03-06

VERBOSITY, n. the employment of a superabundance of words; the use of more words than are necessary

This probably describes all this author's works. I had a terrible time wading through his bio on W.C. Fields and had to skip over most of it. I disposed of that book as soon as I was finished with it. When I got this book out of the library I had fogotten all about the author. But when I started reading "Stan and Ollie" I quickly looked at the cover and cried, "oh, no!." I made it through almost three chapters before giving up.

Yet, I am a person who loves to read how an author weaves words together. That is part of the pleasure of a book. But this author doesn't weave, he just pours! This book could be a third of its length and do its subjects far better justice

Stan And Ollie:The Roots Of Comedy: The Double Life of Laurel and Hardy

Average customer rating:

Stan And Ollie:The Roots Of Comedy: The Double Life of Laurel and Hardy
Simon Louvish
Manufacturer: Thomas Dunne Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTJZ8K

Average customer rating:

Okay but there is better

A Great Gift Book

Great book, great format, inspiring down-to-earth examples

Forbes Great Success Stories: Twelve Tales of Victory Wrested from Defeat
Alan Farnham
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0471383597

Book Description

Behind every success story worth telling there's a determined hero who overcame setbacks, disappointments, and even failures before emerging victorious-and rich. The remarkable stories in this book prove that success can be sweeter the second time around. The twelve extraordinary men and women you will meet had already achieved overwhelming success, only to be brought low by utter calamity-bankruptcy, disaster, illness, racial prejudice, even jail. To survive this kind of catastrophe is an achievement in itself, and each of these indomitable spirits not only survived, but also came back to triumph again.
You'll meet Ruth Handler, cofounder of Mattel and creator of Barbie®, who, after designing the most popular doll in history, lost her company to corporate infighting and her self-confidence to breast cancer. She battled back by starting a new company to manufacture breast prostheses. You'll come to admire the New England mill owner who led his company to immense prosperity while all of the businesses around him were dying and then had to rise from the ashes of calamity when his business was destroyed by fire.
This cast of incredible characters includes poor kids who made good and rich kids who got richer; famous names and people you've never heard of; the CEO of Oracle, the founder of Domino's Pizza, and more; and some who were victims of fate or malice and others who sowed the seeds of their own destruction. All share a passion for achievement, a dedication to their goals, and a fierce determination to succeed against all odds.
These entertaining and enlightening Great Success Stories go beyond mere "secrets of success" to reveal the remarkable strength of character and will that enabled these heroes to struggle back to the top and, in many cases, to become deeper, stronger, more caring people in the process. They offer inspiration to anyone who is struggling to realize a dream, overcome adversity, or achieve a seemingly unreachable goal.

Customer Reviews:

Okay but there is better .......2007-03-17

I had already read a couple of books where people had gone through really bad circumstances and turned their bad times into really good ones such as AUSSIE JOHN where he had built a business up only to lose it and ended up living in a motel - and I don't mean the HYATT - rebuilt it and bounced back far better than before.
This book certainly wasn't about people who had wrested victory from defeat, true they had some bad luck but were no where near the bottom of the barrel I don't think any of them even dropped to middle class - better reading would be AUSSIE JOHN or PUSHING THE LIMITS

A Great Gift Book.......2000-12-09

I gave this book to my father for his birthday--but it was one I had to peek at before I wrapped it. I ended up reading the whole thing. A quick read that inspired me-- it is great to know that successful people have had obstacles to overcome and the rise to the top is not an easy one. I found this a great gift to give to anyone who works in the business profession.

Great book, great format, inspiring down-to-earth examples.......2000-11-22

I enjoyed the 12 short stories in this book, each one highlighting a businessperson overcoming amazing challenges to become successful (or, if they were already successful when crisis hit, what they did to remain that way). The wide range of professionals presented also shows that the determination and vision of one person can truly make all the difference (albeit sometimes painfully) irrespective of service or industry.

Book Description

Provides a detailed history of the General Accounting Office from 1921-1966. Also traces the development of accounting and auditing in the United States from the American Revolution to 1921. Describes the passage of the Budget and Accounting Act in 1921.

Defender of the Public Interest: The General Accounting Office, 1921-1966 (Hardcover)

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Defender of the Public Interest: The General Accounting Office, 1921-1966 (Hardcover)
Roger R. Trask
Manufacturer: General Accounting Office
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OK8FCQ

Book Description

Volunteers-skilled, sensitive, and filled with integrity, sincerity, and perseverance-are often a vital component to the success of any thriving service organization. Their tasks are at the very heart of the organization and communities they serve, yet most volunteers receive little or no formal training before their first assignment. Training Volunteers for Community Service is a much-needed manual for leaders who are charged with the task of training, and preserving, their organization's most valuable asset . . . its volunteers.

Techniques presented in this manual are based on expertise gained over 25 years of training, managing, and retaining 12,000 volunteers at San Francisco's Shanti, an internationally recognized provider of volunteer training and direct services to those with chronic and life-threatening illness. Sixteen program modules enable volunteer managers to train their volunteers to provide high quality, compassionate service while increasing volunteer retention. Comprehensive and flexible, Training Volunteers for Community Service is a step-by-step guide for creating a training program that is sourced in an understanding of volunteers' primary motivations and offers trainees a uniquely rewarding training experience. The Trainer's Guide and Participant's Workbook provide methods for instructing volunteers in critical issues-such as listening and communication, psychosocial issues, the volunteer/client relationship, cultural diversity-and offers the tools and information agencies need to train, motivate, and retain volunteers.

Book Description

Pithy and witty, this is the fourth edition of this valuable book: * Not a do-it-yourself: Danger! Do not attempt estate planning without a competent attorney. * Not a comprehensive tax tome: It helps readers become active, informed partners with their attorneys Annually, ver 50,000 Americans who die leave behind estates large enough to be taxed. These taxpayers will learn to understand their situation and mitigate the draining effects of death taxes. Planning techniques are illustrated by the Dodger Family -- tax avoiders all. Their clever attorney helps plan their estates and keep Art from doing anything too stupid. The villan is Uncle Sam, who is after Art's hard-earned booty. In the course of the story, the Dodgers learn about gift and estate tax avoidance, probate avoidance, retirement planning, charitable giving and much more.

The Artful Dodger's Guide to Planning Your Estate, Revised Edition: The Only Book on Estate Planning Guaranteed to Keep You Entertained

Average customer rating:

Extremely Favorable
Candy coated estate planning
A Must Have
An essential read
Estate planning made lucid!

The Artful Dodger's Guide to Planning Your Estate, Revised Edition: The Only Book on Estate Planning Guaranteed to Keep You Entertained
Thomas Hart Hawley
Manufacturer: Linthicum Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Financial Planning | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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Retirement Planning | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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Estates & Trusts | Taxation | Law | Subjects | Books

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Book Description

With estate taxes as high as 55%, no one can afford to ignore the techniques available to all of us to reduce or eliminate death taxes. The Artful Dodger's Guide to Planning Your Estate gives practical, straightforward and, yes, even humorous advice crucial to anyone who has acquired even modest wealth. This is not a "do-it-yourself" book. Estate planning is tricky, and anyone preparing his own estate plan is likely to end up with a "pig's breakfast." Nor is this book an attempt to provide a comprehensive treatment of all the tax laws along with their exceptions and qualifications. Rather, it is short and written in clear, plain English. Along with the Artful Dodger and his family, you will learn the nuts and bolts of our U.S. gift and estate tax system and then move on to discover how not to waste your lifetime exemption, how to hold title to real property, save your children and grandchildren taxes, avoid probate, make charitable gifts work for you, preserve your wealth and plan for your retirement. The book is complete, with illustrated charts and sample forms, along with a checklist of important matters to discuss with your attorney. This national edition covers all states.

Customer Reviews:

Extremely Favorable.......2001-07-09

Excellent tool for learning about estate planning. A must read before meeting with a lawyer. Fun to read and very understandable.

Candy coated estate planning.......2000-10-15

Sitting down to read a book on estate planning ranks right up there with a root canal on my list of favorite pastimes. But this book is refreshingly different. It really is possible to get solid information on a serious legal topic and have fun at the same time! As an attorney specializing in the field, Hawley knows his stuff. He also knows how to write in an entertaining, humorous way. Maybe the IRS could enlist him for the next revision of the 1040 instructions. Highly recommended!

A Must Have.......2000-10-09

This is a delightful book on an otherwise complex and daunting subject. The author leads you step by step down the aisles of estate planning with humor and insight. The Artful Dodger's Guide to Planning Your Estate is a must have for anyone interested in learning how to run the rapids of the estate tax system.

An essential read.......2000-10-06

An essential read to maximize the time you spend with your estate planner. Well worth the money in what I saved in legal fees. The Artful Dodger and his family are not only entertaining, but take you step-by-step through otherwise complicated tax laws. Compared to other books on the market regarding estate planning, this book tells you exactly what you need to know to aid your attorney in making the best decision for you and your family.

Estate planning made lucid!.......2000-10-05

I was pleasantly surprised by this book on estate planning. Finally a guide that is not only laden with complicated material made easy, but also humorous and easy to navigate. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to gain an overview of the intricacies of estate planning while still maintaining their sanity (and sense of humor).

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