Best Antique & Collectible Firearms & Weapons
144 new pages for a grand total of 528 pages of pure Smith & Wesson 14 new revolver models added since last edition Dozens of new variations of the M&P pistol New S&W rifles and shotguns, including many new M&P 15 rifles Hundreds of detailed, full-color photos Smith & Wesson gun values and collector information. Jim Supica is Director of NRA Museums.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I bought this as a first time reference book for dating Smith and Wesson revolvers. It helps estimate date of manufacture but not a pin point like a Letter from Smith."
"It was a little thin on information on a particular model I was curious about (a 4505) and looked to have taken the info on that gun right out of the blue book."
"Christmas 2013 I received another gift card, purchased this one, the third edition."
"This book is a must for people who love and or collect Smith & Wesson firearms, even has guns that the blue book of gun values doesn't have with great information and details!"
"Prices, history, collectibility, production numbers, etc..."
"These two authors did a fantastic job at putting this history together from 1852 forward.."
"THE INFORMATION IN THIS BOOK IS BEYOND ANYTHING YOU HAVE EVER READ ON SMITH & WESSON."
"My primary interest in purchaseing theis book was to verify the dates of manufacture, and or shipping dates of my firearms."
With more than 775 models of Smith & Wesson guns and variations, including many models not found in other firearm-pricing guides, this is the book for any Smith & Wesson gun-toting fan.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I bought this as a first time reference book for dating Smith and Wesson revolvers. It helps estimate date of manufacture but not a pin point like a Letter from Smith."
"It was a little thin on information on a particular model I was curious about (a 4505) and looked to have taken the info on that gun right out of the blue book."
"Christmas 2013 I received another gift card, purchased this one, the third edition."
"This book is a must for people who love and or collect Smith & Wesson firearms, even has guns that the blue book of gun values doesn't have with great information and details!"
"Prices, history, collectibility, production numbers, etc..."
"These two authors did a fantastic job at putting this history together from 1852 forward.."
"THE INFORMATION IN THIS BOOK IS BEYOND ANYTHING YOU HAVE EVER READ ON SMITH & WESSON."
"My primary interest in purchaseing theis book was to verify the dates of manufacture, and or shipping dates of my firearms."
When it comes to the gun control debate, there are two kinds of data: data that's accurate, and data that left-wing billionaires, politicians, and media want you to believe is accurate. In The War on Guns, his latest contribution to the gun debate, he takes aim at a wide range of anti-gun shibboleths and exposes the fraudulence of each one. —TED CRUZ, U.S. senator, Texas. "Amidst threats of terrorism, the need for John Lott's The War on Guns and a rational debate on guns has never been greater. "John Lott is the nation's preeminent expert on guns, and in The War on Guns he has done it again. If there is to be any intelligent, honest, and objective discussion of gun policy in the United States, then The War on Guns ought to be required reading." "We should all thank and admire John Lott for single-handedly changing the debate on guns from ill-informed rhetoric attacking gun ownership to hard-headed empirical analysis that shows the benefits of allowing law abiding citizens to carry concealed weapons. The War on Guns continues this debate by showing that the anti-gun lobby has spent millions of dollars making false and misleading claims about guns. "John Lott is more responsible than anyone else for arguments that gun ownership in the U.S. increases safety and reduces crime. In this book, John carefully analyzes many of the arguments made against gun ownership—for example, there are more gun homicides and mass shootings in the U.S. than elsewhere, background checks reduce gun harms, "Stand Your Ground" laws harm African Americans and increase crime—and shows using both statistical and anecdotal evidence that they are incorrect. He also shows that wealthy opponents of gun ownership (such as Michael Bloomberg) finance much fallacious "public health" research on the effects of guns. Anyone interested in the gun debate should read this book, and opponents of gun ownership have an intellectual obligation to confront the arguments." "John Lott's new book, The War on Guns: Arming Yourself Against Gun Control Lies, does just that. "John Lott's new book, The War on Guns: Arming Yourself Against Gun Control Lies, is an indispensable source of facts, insights, and cogent argument. And it comes from John R. Lott Jr., Ph.D., bestselling author of the debate-changing More Guns, Less Crime. In The War on Guns, you’ll learn: Why gun licenses and background checks don’t stop crime. How gun-free” zones actually attract mass shooters. Why Stand Your Ground laws are some of the best crime deterrents we have. Why having background checks on private gun transfers is a bad idea. How big-money liberal foundations and the federal government are pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into public health” studies, the sole purpose of which is to manufacture false data against guns. How media bias and ignorance skew the gun debateand why it will get worse. How anti-gun activists have targeted not just the Second Amendment, but the First Amendmentall in an effort to shut down pro-gun arguments. Concerned about your gun rights? And John R. Lott Jr.’s The War on Guns is the essential book for defending your Second Amendment Rightsbefore they are taken away forever.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"That book detailed his research that found that, despite what people are often told, violent crime rates actually tend to go down when states pass “shall-issue” concealed-carry laws. As soon as More Guns, Less Crime was published a lot of academics made it their mission to prove Lott to be the fraud they were sure he must be. For example, a study by Carlisle E. Moody and Thomas B. Marvell that was published in Econ Journal Watch in January 2009 looked into Lott’s findings and determined: “Many articles have been published finding that shall-issue laws reduce crime. We show, using their own estimates, that if they had extended their analysis by one more year, they would have concluded that these laws reduce crime.”. More recently, to continue his detailed search for the truth about guns in America Lott founded the Crime Prevention Research Center. While doing the investigative reporting for my book The Future of the Gun I spent a lot of time with police officers, gun-rights lobbyists, inner-city gang members, public-health experts, engineers at firearms manufacturers, victims of criminals with guns, heroes who’d stopped a bad guy with a gun … but though I tried and tried the anti-gun groups wouldn’t even answer emails."
"Let me emphasize: while very detailed and full of useful data, it is a lively read unlike many scholarly works that others have published."
"Superbly researched and written!"
"Any attempt to provide an open and level discussion about these topics between both sides have been thwarted at every opportunity by the GC proponents and is quite infantile in its approach."
"A cogent, readable and well reasoned book."
"How about firearms "free" zones? Oh, and the answers are, not effective at all for anything except limiting a Civil Right (Self Defense), and: Almost every one of the mass shootings occurring since gun "free" zones were invented by the anti-gun faction have been in areas where firearms were prohibited to the public."
"Particularly impressive is Lott's debunking of the claim that the United States is the only developed country in the world where mass public shootings frequently occur."
Best Antique & Collectible Coins & Medals
Colonial and early American coins · Federal coins · Commemoratives Proof and Mint sets · Die varieties and errors · Civil War tokens · Territorial gold · State and territorial quarters · National Park quarters · Presidential dollars · Puerto Rican, Philippine, and Hawaiian coins · Error coins · Bullion. --Jeff Garrett, President, American Numismatic Association. When coin collectors, friends, and family ask for the single best guide book on American coins, my answer is simple: The Official Red Book . Expanded sections and new features in the second edition include: an overview price-guide of foreign coins that circulated as cash in the British American colonies; coverage of the U.S. Mint's 19801984 American Arts gold medallions; an 18-page illustrated history and price guide of So-Called Dollars; insight from Q. David Bowers on determining coin prices and values; advice on collecting and investing in modern gold and silver bullion coins; a state-by-state listings of American Numismatic Association clubs; more than 2,400 updated or new coin photos; a look at the Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the USA and coin collecting; interviews with U.S. Mint coin designers; and more.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Very informative Book, I haven't looked through my coin books and loose ones in several years."
"All ways purchase these books, helps keep up with much needed info for my coin collection !!"
"My first Redbook."
"If you have an interest in your coin's value, this book is a MUST."
"I couldn't ask for a better reference book!"
"Perfect for the collector in my family."
"Very thorough and just what I needed."
"Not enough detail for me to see in the book or detailed in what to look for on the coin."
Best Antique & Collectible Clocks & Watches
Whether you’re a watch enthusiast, watch salesperson, aspiring watchmaker, or just looking to get into the watch industry, this book is for you. [The book] offers a perspective that is almost impossible to find when most modern horological literature focuses on history and brand identity rather than substantial facts... Anthony balances his knowledge base with a humor and candor that is rare in the conservative Swiss watch industry." (Talk about having a childhood...) I apprenticed under a master watchmaker at the time and boy did I hate it. If you expected to read a story about a young kid who loved horology and devoted his whole life to it, look elsewhere. I went to school for physical therapy and paid for my own tuition every step of the way by working as a watchmaker on the side. I contribute my unbiased views (I hope) to the fact that I actually hated watchmaking at one point in my life.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The "No BS Watch Tips" book is a compilation of uncommon common sense on how to interact with and what to expect from the trade with respect to your watches."
"The watch industry is complex on many levels and this book breaks it down for you in a way that any reader, watch enthusiast or not, can read and enjoy."
"The book is written in short and educational sections which makes bouncing around to what you like very easy."
"My ignorance of this topic caused me to destroy my first digital watch while swimming in a pool."
"This book will do nothing but make you better at caring, understanding, and monitoring your own watch collection."
"Interesting book with a lot of valuable information."
"This book is almost entirely on matchmaking with a few non-watching making tips; e.g Do you need a winder?"
"The book is an easy read with some good information and tips although some of the information seemed rather simple and obvious.Overall,I recommend it."
Best Antique & Collectible Stamps
Learning to read other people gives you a definite edge in terms of predicting behavior, modeling your actions to build a favorable rapport with people, forging more fulfilling personal relationships and excelling at building professional relationships. If you are a philosopher or someone who seeks to find principles of better ways of living, Stoicism is an interesting philosophy that guides one into a life that is full of fulfillment and happiness. Don’t get me wrong, it is not simple, philosophy is complex, but many people try to pick bits and pieces of it to make it work for them in some circumstances. In chapter two, we will cover the challenges and defenses of the average empath, and throughout the rest of the book, you will get tips on how to deal with this. Tools for a Healthy Life: Did you know that the chakra system is closely related to emotional health and that meditation can transform the way you deal with being an empath?
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The book respects the perusers to research some of these different procedures for understanding people remembering the ultimate objective to look more distant than where we ordinarily put our consideration regarding access extraordinary instinctive bits of knowledge."
"I envy him a lot and I also wanted to know how it works and he said to me that if you learn how to read people, it would be easier for you to know his attitude, values and mood."
"The book respects the perusers to examine some of these differing methods for understanding people remembering the true objective to look more remote than where we regularly put our thoughtfulness regarding access extraordinary natural bits of knowledge."
"The book welcomes the readers to investigate some of these diverse techniques for understanding individuals keeping in mind the end goal to look further than where we normally put our attention to access life-changing intuitive insights."
"An excellent book on how to analyze people, here you will find 3 books on one cover."
"Useful book."
"This is one great book which will teach you how to analyze people and understand them better."
"What an extraordinary book on analyzing people."
Best Antique & Collectible Buttons
Intermittent fasting offers various health benefits that even go beyond weight loss. ●The basics of intermittent fasting, ●Benefits of following this diet, ●Different variations of intermittent fasting, ●Tips for following the diet, ●Various supplements you can use, ●What to eat and not to eat while fasting, ●Steps for getting started with this diet, and much more! By making use of the information provided in this book and by incorporating the straightforward dieting protocols, you can achieve your health and weight loss goals within no time.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Lifestyle, eating habits, focus; we've read about them all before but Green brings the adjustment and realiziation of really how to tone your food habits in such a calm and reasonable way."
"I have been a fan of intermittent fasting as a lifestyle and it has been SUCH a motivation reading this book and following their Instagram account. If you've been lacking the motivation to keep fasting a habit like I have, READ THIS BOOK AND FOLLOW THEIR INSTAGRAM(included in book)."
"I'm over halfway through this book and I love it."
"This is a fantastic guide for a beginner like me."
"Book is well structured, information is well given, and easy to read."
"It covers the different varieties of IF and I love the freedom from counting calories or managing portions when eating. To still enjoy large meals with friends and family and eat the foods I love while managing my weight and health sounds good to me."
"I had no idea about the health benefits of fasting, all of which are clearly defined in this book from heart health to weight loss, increased production of growth hormone, and lower metabolism to name a few."
"He outlines many ways that it can be done and which ways will be most applicable for which goals (lifestyle, weight loss or muscle gain, schedules etc)."
Best Antique & Collectible Furniture
Rounding out this comprehensive guide is care and maintenance information, including how to properly clean leather, polish hardware, fix a broken leg, and replace felt pads, as well as recipes to make your own wax, shellac, varnish, stain, and more. Pourny’s practical advice on all things antique is coupled with historical notes.” —Time “A comprehensive but accessible guide to restoration that lays out everything you need to know about making over wooden furniture.” —Martha Stewart Living. “Authority wafts from [Pourny’s] handsome how-to book like the sweet smell of lemon oil.” — New York Times “A practical, visual guide for anyone who wants to restore a cherished heirloom or simply correct a water stain.” —San Francisco Chronicle. This guide will find a wide audience among those who simply want to learn about and appreciate good furniture, as well as those who are more hands-on.” — Publishers Weekly , starred review. Descended from a long line of artisans, he was reared in his father’s atelier in the South of France and apprenticed at his uncle Pierre Madel’s legendary antiques shop on rue Jacob in Paris.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This book answers many questions about furniture, but not as complete as I need."
"This book has everything I need to refinish furniture...supplies, instructions, pictures."
"Rarely do I find a book I feel like I have to own; I read "The Life-Changing Method of Tidying up" and I follow it...I don't own things I don't love and have gotten rid of most of my books."
"Very well written book by a man that knows furniture!"
"top notch book for us beginners."
"bought this as a gift for someone just in case!"
Best Antique & Collectible Toys
Tired of searching for special toys that weren't mass-produced, former Lucasfilm animator Jackie Huang created the beloved Woolbuddy, a collection of all-natural stuffed animals that reflect his unique imaginative vision. -Library Journal Jackie Huang is the creator of Woolbuddy, a collection of premium, handcrafted stuffed animals with more than 300 characters.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Love these fast and easy to make felted cuties."
"I used to make these from pictures in internet, but book provide some useful tips (especially useful for beginners), and book is more comfortable in usage comparing with screen, and more details are visible."
"Totally cute projects with easy to follow instructions."
"Also a great book to read to inspire you to create your own designs!"
"this was a gift."
"Great, easy instructions. Projects that are graded for learning successfully. Super cute animals, fabulous photos that inspire. Brilliant for older children ready to sit and create gifts and playthings. Amazing!"
"Great little book with lots of cute & do-able needle felting projects!"
Best Antique & Collectible Art
In recent years, several of America’s leading art museums have voluntarily given up their finest pieces of classical art to the governments of Italy and Greece. In an authoritative account, two reporters who led a Los Angeles Times investigation, reveal the details of the Getty Museum's illicit purchases, from smugglers and fences, of looted Greek and Roman antiquities. In 2005, the Italians indicted former Getty curator Marion True for trafficking in looted antiquities, and by 2007, after protracted negotiations, the Getty agreed to return 40 of 46 artifacts demanded by the Italian government; Italy in turn agreed to loan the Getty comparable objects. One of the major pieces lost by the Getty was an Aphrodite statue purchased by True to put the Getty on the map. But still eluding the Italians is the Getty Bronze, a statue of an athlete hauled out of international waters in 1964 by Italian fishermen; it was the prized acquisition of the Getty's first antiquities curator, Jiri Frel, who brought thousands more looted antiquities into the museum through a tax-fraud scheme. The authors offer an excellent recap of the museum's misdeeds, brimming with tasty details of the scandal that motivated several of America's leading art museums to voluntarily return to Italy and Greece some 100 classical antiquities worth more than half a billion dollars.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Fascinating blow by blow of the misadventures at the Getty Museum, its poor management & how one curator ultimately took a dive for the affair."
"In the "old days" if someone dug up ancient artifacts, they could take keep it, but Italy, Greece, and other ancient birthplaces of culture eventually came to the conclusion that foreigners were stealing their heritage."
"The authors describe the once accepted view that it was better for antiques to be kept in atmosphere controlled galleries/museums rather than be allowed to deteriorate in the places where they were foud, or kept in the country where they were discovered."
"As far as the Getty and the Italian prosecutions, much has been written, but this book has a fascinating insight into the corporate board mentality that gives a sense of entitlement to wealthy individuals and institutions."
"This book is well-written and well researched."
"I work as a docent at the Getty Villa and I hear only the sanitized version of events and never the sordid and all too human details."
"People conflicts, greed, moral dilemmas, sex and corporate governance all come into play."
Best Antique & Collectible Textiles & Costume
Fans of Jo Morton's fabric designs will love this curated collection of her favorite timeless patterns Go small with 13 classic quilts (most under 36" square) that you can stitch in no time Delightful photos of quilts in beautiful settings bring each exquisite detail into focus. A fascinating book of thirteen small classic quilts made with reproduction fabric, easy to begin and easier to complete. She determined early on that if she ever hoped to make all the quilts she wanted to make, they would have to be small, a size that works perfectly in her compact 1929 bungalow. Her quilts have appeared in numerous magazines, and she's made several television appearances: HGTV's Simply Quilts episode 603; PBS's Love of Quilting episodes 1408 and 1805; and The Quilt Show episode 808, which airs on the Internet via subscription.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Love all of the patterns, colors, and fabric choices used in this book."
"One of her best, I've already made two little quilts from this book and will be making more."
"Like the directions."
"This book of little quilts is a little gem."
"I preordered this book a couple of months in advance....and it did not disappoint!"
"Haven't created anything from this book yet, but it has many that are of interest."
"As usual, well written........pattern easy to follow, beautiful color pictures.........loved it."
"An excellent addition to my Jo Morton library!!"
Best Antique & Collectible Dolls
The message was clutched in the fist of a destitute former doll collector found dead at the bottom of a cliff with a valuable French doll’s parasol in her pocket. "A trio of smart, independent women...the peek into this world is fascinating" ~ Romantic Times.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I enjoyed reading this book, and the author kept me guessing through to the very end as to who did the murder, but I must admit I found the sheer number of characters involved a little difficult to keep straight in my head."
"This is the first book in the Gretchen Birch mysteries by Deb Baker, and sees Gretchen return to Phoenix after her Aunt Nina calls her and advises that her mom is missing."
"Dolled Up for Murder offers an engrossing puzzle, a clever and balanced use of the world of doll collection to create the plot, parallel action juxtaposed between Gretchen Birch and her mother - all set in the extreme heat and monsoons of Arizona."
"She once had a extensive and highly valuable collection, but, due to her inability to stop buying more and more expensive pieces, she got in trouble with the bank and lost her home, her collection and ultimately became an alcoholic vagrant living on the streets with other people down on their luck. In spite of the story being quite suspenseful and there being several possible suspects, it lost a lot of ground with me because of the numerous spelling and grammar mistakes throughout."
Best Antique & Collectible Books
Here is the complete text (the Kindle edition was expanded & revised in February 2012) of the most popular book about online bookselling of all time: The Home-Based Bookstore: Start Your Own Business Selling Used Books on Amazon, eBay or Your Own Web Site. ~ Why Online Bookselling? Title Z. NovelRank. Adjusting prices. Clearing deadwood. ~ Focus on Service. Feedback. Prompt shipping. Working with the USPS. International shipping. Request negative feedback removal. Problem customers. Feedback on other venues. Delivery mistakes. Designing your SKU system. Shipping. Tracking customers. ~ Appendix 4 Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). Use FBA ‘Basic Fulfillment’. Competing with FBA. Drawbacks of Fulfillment by Amazon. Lost or damaged FBA items. Fulfillment by Amazon facts. Long-term storage fees for FBA. Best practices. Here is the complete text (the Kindle edition was expanded & revised in February 2012) of the most popular book about online bookselling of all time: The Home-Based Bookstore: Start Your Own Business Selling Used Books on Amazon, eBay or Your Own Web SiteLearn how to start your business part-time, then work as little or as much as you want. ~ Appendix 2 New Book Wholesalers. CONTENTS: ~ Why Online Bookselling?~ Where to Find Books Library salesEstate salesThrift shopsUsed bookstoresRemainder distributorsPostal Service auctionsTreasury Department auctionsBook fairsBargain tablesClassified adsLocal auctionsLower priority sources ~ What Books to Buy Learn to find unusual booksThe trouble with fiction.Textbooks.Textbooks to avoid.Nonfiction to avoid.Other books to avoidRomance novelsBooks by comedians.PaperbacksKnow what buyers wantHow much to pay. ~ Grading and Pricing Books ConditionAssigning condition.New:Like New:Very Good:Good:Acceptable:As new:Fine:Very good:Good:Fair:Poor:Ex-library:Book club:Binding copyPricing booksAmazon Sales Rank.Title ZNovelRankAdjusting pricesClearing deadwood.Keep working. ~ Appendix 2 New Book Wholesalers. ~ Appendix 3 Shipping Supply Vendors~ Appendix 4 Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) Use FBA 'Basic Fulfillment'Competing with FBADrawbacks of Fulfillment by AmazonLost or damaged FBA itemsFulfillment by Amazon factsLong-term storage fees for FBABest practicesSmart FBA shippingAmazon EasySellUse Amazon as a drop-shipperImports and exportsExport items ~ Appendix 5 More Resources~ Glossary~ Index.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Excellent book!"
"I hate to say this, but you simply can't shake people from buying just about everything (and yes, book) off of Amazon."
"Come back in a few months and see what I think then."
"He's also quite good on the mechanics of running an online business, though I focused mainly on his general suggestions about tracking inventory, pricing and customer service. He goes a bit overboard when suggesting websites and software worth looking at to manage some of these tasks. It doesn't matter whether you are someone who already owns a store and wants to get your inventory online or someone starting from scratch, there is valuable advice here."
"We used to need a map to go around unknown places, thanks to this book, new sellers can count on a kind of GPS to go around AMAZON'S busyness."
"His approach is to use lots of examples, screen shots, and useful URL's, templates and suggestions on all elements of the business - from start through inventory acquisition, customer service and completing the feedback loop."
"Hard to understand and the processes described were not clear."
Best Antique & Collectible Posters
Here are 100 ready-to-frame political campaign posters from the annals of American history! The writers and editors in its publishing office collaborate with curators, reference librarians, and subject specialists to produce books and other materials that open its ever-growing collections and activities to the nation and the world.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"At 11x14 it's the perfect size for a poster related book."
"For a American History teacher who wants their student to feel the styles of the various periods with rotating images this would be an excellent investment."
"It is a perfect gift for anyone who loves Presidential politics like my brother, who is bouncing off the walls with excitement years before the next Presidential election & currently is avidly following the talk about 2016 (here's looking at you Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Christie)."
"GREAT BOOK - BOUGHT FOR A HISTORY TEACHER WHO HAS MANY POSTERS HANGING IN HIS CLASSROOM."
"This book makes a great coffee table book."
"This book is an awesome coffee table piece for those interested in politics or design."
"I bought this book as a reference for my graphic design classes and was not disappointed."
Best Antique & Collectible Rugs
When you download Investing Guide: for beginners: understanding futures, options, stocks, bonds, bitcoins ,!You will discover all the basic simple methods of investing. Download Investing Guide: for beginners: understanding futures, options, stocks, bonds, bitcoins now, and start using every dollar investing on your future!
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I figured a beginner's guide would probably be a good start."
"This book is more like an introduction sorta thing; you’d get in the beginning of a big complex chapter in a science book."
"This is a great book for people who desire to find greener pastures and achieve the best for their lives in the future."
"This book really helped me to understand the value of investing and it provides helpful guides on how to start."
"An Interesting read about the Investment and real time strategy to make the money ready for retirement.many time people do mistake while investing money and they normally loose the hard earning money.Through this book one can learn about investment ideas and the real time plan to invest in stock market and other useful other investment ideas through which one can secured his or her money at the same time can get maximize return from the invested money.I would highly recommend this book to any newbies."
"Okay, when I started reading this book, I sighed "Oh no, another fluff book with no substance.""
"It explains all the basics involving traditional markets like Forex, Stocks, Real Estate stretching all the way up to more recent assets like Cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoins."
"This reading gave me some valuable tips about risks and rewards balance, and definitely made me financial smarter."
Best Antique & Collectible Americana
Beautifully designed and illustrated with color photographs throughout, The Smithsonian's History of America in 101 Objects is a rich and fascinating journey through America's collective memory, and a beautiful object in its own right. This humanistic approach to storytelling makes for immersive, addictive reading.” Kirkus Reviews : “Smithsonian Undersecretary Kurin’s tales are abundant, so much so that it seems almost a shame to stop at a mere 101 items....A well-conceived and well-illustrated pleasure to read, combining narrative history and keepsake volume.”. He is the author of several books, including Hope Diamond: The Legendary History of a Cursed Gem , and his scholarship and museological work have been recognized by the International Council of Museums, UNESCO, and Harvard's Peabody Museum.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"You can gaze at each object in detail, consider the respective narrative, and what comes through is a value base--i.e., what is held dearly-- which is distinctly American."
"Kurin has written a very interesting series of articles about these 101 objects and how they relate to the history of America."
"I bought this book as a gift, but from my sneak peak I think this will be an interesting as well as an entertaining book to read."
"What is not to love about anything Smithsonian?"
"I've had this book for about a week now and I've read just read about 2 objects."
"The book is filled with an immense amount of information which is presented in a fascinating, readable way."
"I am moving to the USA soon and thought it would be interesting to get to know some of the history of my next home country and this book is a really great source for that."
"An excellent book: One of the best put out by The Smithsonian."
Best Antique & Collectible Care & Restoration
Wayne Goddard's $50 Knife Shop is a find companion volume to Goddard's book The Wonder of Knifemaking and provides all the details you need to start making knives on a budget.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"While you might not be able to pull off a knife shop for $50, the book does give plenty of ideas on how to build your own equipment at a fraction of the cost of new, factory-built equipment."
"Owned this book before, but it got lost in the moving shuffle."
"Very Nice Product."
"Great book for starters and for some more experienced blade smiths as well."
"excellent instructive book."
"If i like knives and want to make them , this is a must have."
"Great book for someone (Like me!)."
Best Antique & Collectible Glass & Glassware
This comprehensive guide delivers double the photos as previous editions, as the most specific identification process of any guide on the market today.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The book has a great introduction, a color time line, a really good shape guide and thumbnail identification guide to help narrow the areas of research."
"She's started collecting them and was thrilled to receive the book."
"Does have some pages that aren't exact, such as the American Pattern at the beginning of the book - it shows a bowl, under the picture of the bowl it has "bowl $75" printed, but does not show the measurements and is not listed along with the multiple other pieces."
"I decided to begin collecting depression glass for my summer home in the Midwest."
"Item arrived on time and was as advertised."
"The book is in great shape and is a good start for collectors."
"Are utilized one click and thought I was purchasing a book and not a Kindle version."
Best Antique & Collectible Records
It’s bursting with the latest facts and stats on your favorite games from the futuristic soccer action of Rocket League to the psychedelic paint battles of Splatoon . Fourteen categories encompass a wide array of games—the rapidly growing e-sports and professional video game players, the classic arcade-style fun of Mario, fighting games, and the "user generated content" of Minecraft. The internationally renowned brand is also available across a number of platforms; GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS global television shows are watched by over 750 million viewers annually, over half a million subscribe to the GWR YouTube channel, the global website receives 14 million viewers annually and the brand has over 4 million fans on Facebook.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"A 28 year old step-grandson who is a whiz computer person, and his 16 year old brother,also a whiz with computers, both remarked about this book in a very favorable manner."
"This book has a lot of trivia in it. If anyone still gives a trivia party this book would put you leaps on everyone else."
"I think it's a fun book to browse and although he is almost 14 now, during the years when he was between the ages 8-12 he excitedly went into hiding every year and read them cover to cover."
"has a thick hardback cover in a shiny yellow metallic that makes it look like a rockstar is gonna pop out when you open it up."
"It is a thick book and what I love is that every possible space on each page is filled with facts and stories."
"There is a lot of good information and tips in the book."
"Great book."
"I get the new one for my son every Christmas, this has kept my son who is 12 and my daughter who is 9 enthralled with reading for countless hours."
Best Antique & Collectible Pottery & Ceramics
A Christmas party for the upper crust of the small Texas town of Maycroft turns tragic when the hostess ends up dead. "Sharpe Edge was a great combination of friendship, romance, and a good mystery to solve." They are the perfect cozy mysteries - light, funny, well written, with a good story line, and interesting characters. "Deena is a bumbling Columbo, meddling, lovable, caring, getting herself into situations with no thoughts of the consequences. Lisa B. Thomas is a former high school Journalism and English teacher who writes fiction and creative non-fiction.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Thomas also has a strong narrative sense and there are passages in this book that are wonderfully lyrical: The opening paragraph of one chapter describing how people feel at a funeral is but one example of how beautifully she can write. That said, I think what I liked best about this book and the previous one in her Cozy Suburbs Mystery Series - "Sharpe Shooter" - is her portrayal of female characters. Deena is 50-something, comfortably married to a man she loves, and a kind of guardian angel to her older brother Russell, an Army veteran suffering from PTSD."
"The clues were nicely spread out, giving the reader a chance to work on solving the mystery: who, if anyone, pushed the rich invalid in her wheelchair down the steps in the middle of a Christmas party?"
"This is an appealing cozy mystery with likeable characters, good details, and ever-growing suspense."
"Deanna Sharpe, a 50 something former journalism teacher and now newspaper reporter in the small town of Maycroft, Texas, is an unlikely heroine, which makes it easy to identify with her. Deanna's brother Russell has recently started dating the daughter of the victim who thinks it was not an accident but murder."
"Since the daughter is dating Deena's brother, Russell."
Best Antique & Collectible Sports Cards
When award-winning journalist Dave Jamieson’s parents sold his childhood home a few years ago, he rediscovered a prized boyhood possession: his baseball card collection. In Mint Condition, his fascinating, eye-opening, endlessly entertaining book, Jamieson finds the answer by tracing the complete story of this beloved piece of American childhood. It's a form of megalomania, of course, one famous card collector once said of his hobby—and, as Jamieson explains, there are plenty of people willing to cash in on collectors' obsessions; the secondary market for baseball cards may be as much as a half-billion dollars annually. *Starred Review* Every time a rare baseball card brings a million-dollar price at auction, thousands of aging former collectors wistfully recall shoeboxes full of rookie cards and wonder if they lost a fortune when Mom cleaned out their rooms. Jamieson doesn’t supply lists of valuable cards (there are collectors’ journals for that); rather, he chronicles the history of collectible cards, profiles a few unique collectors, and tracks the development of the hobby and ponders its future. In tracing the history of collectible cards, Jamieson shows the extraordinary lengths to which the early cigarette and card companies went to separate young boys from their money, a penny and then a nickel at a time.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Wow - if you want to be schooled in the history of baseball/trading cards from their inception: tobacco cards, Cracker Jack cards, bubble gum cards, etc., this book will have you mesmerized!"
"The chapter on a contemporary baseball card dealer who warns buyers about doctored cards, can be read in a new light, since he recently admitted to trimming the sides of the world's most famous and valuable baseball card."
"I, like the author, jumped into the card-collecting craze in the 80s and 90s (the junk wax era of cards)."
"For me the most interesting thing was, that Mr. Boris Korbel is mentioned there as an entrepreneur in Upper Deck company, his father Josef came from the Czech Republic, where he managed Salvation Army activities until the communist coup in 1948."
"Nostalgic glory days of bubble gum card fifties."
"It was a great walk down memory lane of my youth collecting cards."
"I delayed purchasing it because while I loved collecting baseball cards as a kid I figured there was no way an entire book about baseball cards could be enjoyable. He does so by displaying the historical import of certain card sets (arguing, for example, that cigarettes owe their American success to baseball cards), interviewing those who played key roles in the creative and business growth of baseball cards, and giving us an up-close look at the most eccentric collectors and dealers."
"What a shock it was to see what happened to baseball card collecting when I came back to it in my late 20's."
Best Antique & Collectible Reference
144 new pages for a grand total of 528 pages of pure Smith & Wesson 14 new revolver models added since last edition Dozens of new variations of the M&P pistol New S&W rifles and shotguns, including many new M&P 15 rifles Hundreds of detailed, full-color photos Smith & Wesson gun values and collector information. Jim Supica is Director of NRA Museums.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It was a little thin on information on a particular model I was curious about (a 4505) and looked to have taken the info on that gun right out of the blue book."
"Christmas 2013 I received another gift card, purchased this one, the third edition."
"This book is a must for people who love and or collect Smith & Wesson firearms, even has guns that the blue book of gun values doesn't have with great information and details!"
"Prices, history, collectibility, production numbers, etc..."
"These two authors did a fantastic job at putting this history together from 1852 forward.."
"THE INFORMATION IN THIS BOOK IS BEYOND ANYTHING YOU HAVE EVER READ ON SMITH & WESSON."
"VERY happy with this book."
"A great compendium of knowledge for the S&W enthusiast and collector."
Best Antique & Collectible Autographs
CHAPTER 3: Autograph Collecting Supplies. CHAPTER 4: Finding Your Niche. CHAPTER 5: Finding Celebrity Addresses. CHAPTER 6: Through The Mail (TTM) Collecting. CHAPTER 7: Real or Fake? CHAPTER 8: In-Person (IP) Collecting. CHAPTER 9: Comic-Cons and Private Signings. CHAPTER 10: Buying Autographs. CHAPTER 11: Storage & Display. CHAPTER 12: Social Sharing. CHAPTER 13: Selling Your Collection. CHAPTER 14: The Future of Autograph Collecting. Appendix A: NFL Football Addresses. Appendix B: Major League Baseball Addresses. Appendix C: AAA Baseball Addresses. Appendix D: Movie and TV Studio Addresses. Appendix E: International TTM Postage Guide. He is active on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and other social networking sites where he shares his love and knowledge of the hobby with thousands of fans and followers.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Troy gives great practical experience - everything from how to mail the item, how to find addresses to mail to (websites, free or paid address listings) as well as how to spot autopoen (fakes)... before this book, I didn't even know what autopen was!"
"The book is pitched at the beginner, going into all sorts of important details on how to begin a collection, how to mail people so you'll get a good response, and how to display a collection. If I were to have one nitpick, it would be that I wish the book addressed the question of collecting the signatures of authors in books, as that tends to be the bulk of my collection."
"Whether one is a seasoned collector, or a beginner like myself, Autograph Collecting Secrets is well written and detailed enough to get one started, yet it is also open enough that one can customize what and how one collects to one's own tastes."
"Even if your interest is something outside of that, you'll learn important things like how to store your collection, how to display your treasured pieces without damaging them, and why quality matters over quantity. For collecting through the mail (TTM), you'll discover sources for addresses, as well as guidance on letter-writing, the best kinds of things to send, and ways to tell if your response is a preprint, autopen, or human-signed. I'd never heard of a "hot pack" yet when I checked a popular auction site, there were hundreds listed."
"I really learned a lot about collecting autographs from this book."
Best Antique & Collectible Porcelain & China
With over 630 striking color photos and illustrations, this Chinese art guide focuses on the rich tapestry of symbolism which makes up the basis of traditional Chinese art. "An ideal keepsake for collectors and art lovers, Chinese Art explores meanings behind the plethora of common motifs and symbols found in all sorts of Chinese art. A perfect reference for collectors, museum-goers, docents, students of Chinese art, and anyone else with a serious interest in the culture and history of China, the book includes both Chinese and Pinyin text, over 630 illustrations (including references to on-line collections), an extensive index in both Chinese and English, a bibliography, and a list of recommended museums and other places to visit with interesting collections of Chinese art.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"And again here this book has been a source of new information to me, I have learned so much in the meanings of Chinese symbols Thank you Patricia Bjaaland Welch."
"Very useful for understanding Chinese art objects, Illustrations are very good."
"Very useful in understanding Chinese symbolism."
"Sections are clearly divided into subject matter, colors, media."
"The book is excellent."
"Excellent book for learning and studying The Chinese Symbols, motifs and colours."
"This book is phenomenal ..I hope to use it to get a full appreciation of Chinese Art in my future visit to Southern China."
Best Antique & Collectible Bottles
Light-Up Fairy Jar. Barbecue Rub. Hot Fudge Topping. Snowglobe Scenes. Vanilla Citrus Sugar Hand Scrub. Citronella Oil Lamp. Bird Feeder. And more! Complete with tips for decorating jars, suggestions for gift tags, and inspiring full-color photographs, Gifts in Jars is here to make your holiday gift list a whole lot more fun. Natalie Wise is a Dartmouth-educated poet, author, and style expert known as Professional Sunshine.” She is all about pink lipstick, big sunglasses, her trademark #caffeinecrazy when she drinks coffee, and creating happy things for happy people.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Not only are there endless ideas for gifts in jars literally, but actual usable information that goes beyond just filling jars!"
"Good book."
"This book is so fun and creative!"
"Loved the recipes I used these as gifts and everyone loved them!"
"Excellent gift for anyone into crafting!"
"Thought I would get ideas to make gifts in a jar,"
"So many wonderful ideas here beyond the usual chocolate chip cookie mix!"
"A beautiful and fun book full of great ideas!"
Best Antique & Collectible Jewelry
Masterfully weaving together pop science and history, Stoned breaks history into three categories—Want, Take, and Have—and explains what the diamond on your finger has to do with the GI Bill, why green-tinted jewelry has been exalted by so many cultures, why the glass beads that bought Manhattan for the Dutch were initially considered a fair trade, and how the French Revolution started over a coveted necklace. “Raden’s commentary on the often ugly side of human desire through the ages is consistently captivating, and her witty delivery makes the material shine.” (Publishers Weekly). What makes a stone a jewel? In this brilliant account of how eight jewels shaped the course of history, jeweler and scientist Aja Raden tells an original and often startling story about our unshakeable addiction to beauty and the darker side of human desire. With sharp wit and a light touch, Raden weaves together history, science, and economics to explore our enduring love affair with beautiful things, and shows us that just like their glittering surfaces, jewels have a singular power to reflect our desires back to us and show us who we really are.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I picked up Aja Raden's Stoned expecting a history of jewelry and was pleasantly surprised to find an in-depth social history of how human perceptions of value, desire and innovation have shaped the modern world. She starts with the beads that bought Manhattan (and in doing so makes a compelling case that it might not have been quite the con we think of it today) and ends with the wristwatch and its role in making modern warfare, aviation, navigation and personal private time possible."
"Personally, I rarely read non fiction books for the simple fact that they aren’t usually very captivating."
"I am still reading the book."
"Many of the stories Ms. Arden tells were familiar to me but to read them from from her perspective and with her research gave the stories new meaning and proved to be a delightful read."
"For a non-history person I found myself instantly pulled into history, following the tortuous paths of some of the world's most elegant stones."
"This book has a lot more general world history than I expected."
"This book started off snarky but interesting and ended up being educational and funny and I enjoyed it a lot."
"Not as informative as I had hoped."
Best Antique & Collectible Military
Having earned the respect of the Allied forces who fought against it during World War II, this work will inform current readers of the full record of Fallschirmjäger Regiment 6, and why the Allied advance into German-held Europe was so painstaking to achieve. ”…a compelling history… Recommended for soldiers (particularly paratroopers), historians, and students of World War II ad airborne operations.” ( Les Grau, PhD, Foreign Military Studies Office ). It is said that it is the victors who write the histories of the wars, so it is especially revealing to discover a book that was written from the viewpoint of those on the losing side. “…wonderfully documented book…Within each chapter are numerous detailed and insightful personal accounts of combat, troop movements and war experiences… provides an excellent account of what it was like fighting in WWII from the German soldier’s perspective. “prose is simple and efficient...cleverly synchronizes the memories and fragments of past events with his own academic narrative of military history… On the surface the work can simply be enjoyed as a resource book of the regiment or as a lively but academic history… I read it as a contemplative book which explores the human cost of war.'.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It is a real pity that essentially good books are spoiled by such sloppy translation and editing work. That complaint aside, I commend the author on his research and on bringing to light the battles of one of the Third Reich's most effective combat units."
"You find great personal accounts of the one paratrooper who wanted to get married, but who was found to not be of pure "Aryan" bloodline, but had fought faithfully for Germany and FJR6; the encounter of paratroopers of FJR6 with a train with boxcars loaded Jews headed for a concentration camp and the ensuing confrontation with the SS guards; read the encounter of some of FJR6 and some American soldiers at a farmstead at Christmas time in 1944, as well as other great stories."
"In fact I think they were certainly outclassed( general opinion and movie) by soldiers with far greater combat experience and certainly far fewer people and little resources."
"American airborne units are part of the Army, but German Fallschirmjäger (parachute) units were part of the Luftwaffe (Air Force). Fallschirmjäger Regiment 6, which became known as "The Lions of Carentan," was an elite unit that fought in Italy, Russia, France, Holland, Belgium, and Germany."
"There are few books dealing with actual German tactical combat operations from the German point of view published in English."
Best Antique & Collectible Postcards
Wilkes-Barre, located along the Susquehanna River in the Wyoming Valley, is the county seat of Luzerne County. Elena Castrignano is the author of Wilkes-Barre in Arcadia Publishing’s Postcard History Series.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Interesting book on an interesting city."
"Bought this as a Christmas stocking stuffer for a family member."
"I bought this as a birthday gift for my 90 year old neighbor."
"A wonderful way to remember or discover views of the turn of the century in Wilkes-Barre."
"My husband, who was born in Wilkes-Barre, absolutely loved this and is still pouring over it."
"Nice book full of old time information."
"One day, a few summers ago while visiting my hometown we drove to all my favorite childhood places. While enjoying homemade ice cream straight from the farm there, my Dad noticed one of these books on display from his hometown Wilkes-Barre PA."
Best Antique & Collectible Toy Animals
In the annals of consumer crazes, nothing compares to Beanie Babies. "A fresh and darkly comic look at how the rise of internet commerce went hand-in-hand with soccer moms and "irrational exuberance" to transform a cheap children's toy into a national mania and one of the greatest speculative bubbles in American history.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Remember Beanie Babies?"
"This was a thorough exploration of Ty, Beanie Baby mania, and what happened when the mania ended."
"Ty Warner may seem weird but you have to give him credit as a businessman, he knew his product and industry completely."
"The book is less dry than an economics book, or reading about the history of something like Tulip mania, and much more personal since the history is so recent."
"The book explains some non-obvious things about how the "collectible" idea was goosed by Ty Warner's incessant tinkering to make the best product."
"This was a fascinating story of genuis, marketing and greed."
"What an amazing book."
"Even if you didn't get caught up in the Beanie Baby phenomenon don't miss this books larger point - this isn't only about cuddly little animals."
Best Antique & Collectible Precious Metals
I wish I had this book when I was just starting the hobby of metal detecting!” - Josh in Florida “I have been metal detecting for over 5 years and this great metal detecting guide book taught me plenty of new tips and tricks.” - Mike in Texas. From choosing the right machine to identifying your valuable treasure, Mark Smith covers these subjects and everything in between in an easy to understand way. Learn how to find more treasure by: understanding common metal detecting terminology, understanding which metal detectors work the best and where, understanding how and why a metal detector works, other equipment you will need, proper etiquette, what you can expect to find, why you should never throw anything away, how to identify your finds, how to identify jewelry, how to tell if it is real gold, how to metal detect with children, which recovery tools work the best, how to recover treasure, how to metal detect private property, how to identify unknown metal detecting finds, metal detecting creeks, rivers and lakes, pinpointing, making weak targets stronger, cleaning your finds, the best places to use your metal detector, selling your finds and more! Find out how you can maximize your treasure with this informative metal detecting book today.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I purchased this as a retirement gift for a co-worker who mentioned metal detecting would be a hobby they would like to pursue post retirement."
"Covers everything you need to get started,or expand on what you already know."
"Book looked awesome by cover pretty basic inside good but not awesome big print good for old guys a book anybody with a little experience could have written will not order any other books by this writer."
"Mark hits it solid in that detecting info he has accumulated."
"Me and my 10 year old grandson loved this book, we bought a second hand metal detector at the local pawn shop for $36 and have been having a blast finding relics, coins, just exploring, I highly recommend this book if you are a beginner."
"I really enjoyed this book."
"Excellent introduction."
"Mark explains to the novice the basics of metal detecting."
Best Antique & Collectible Transportation
Covering 1989-2008, Hot Wheels Variations - The Ultimate Guide, 4th Edition is the largest and most comprehensive identification and price guide to variations with more than 5,500 cars listed. Michael Zarnock has been collecting Hot Wheels since their inception in 1968.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"great book at a great price."
"Wonderful product and service."
"have sold, and picked up quite a few hot wheels and the correct prices with this book, Thanks."
"It was a awesome good deal on Amazon compared to other book stores."
"My mom loves this book it shure helped her for what I bought this book for n it's cheaper then getting it in a book store Amazon is a great n cheap place I shure would recommend them to other people n there products."
"An essential Tool for the serious and not so serious Hot Wheels Collector."
"Great reference and resource."
Best Antique & Collectible Kitchenware
Using various techniques such as braising, stewing, roasting, baking, stovetop, and frying, Le French Oven will teach how to create appetizers, soups, main courses, desserts, and more. It includes information about the major French made cocotte brands, and how to use them to create fabulous recipes such as Warm Mushroom Custards with Garlic Toast, French Carrot Rice Soup, Basque-Style Paella, Two-Hands Praying Rack of Lamb Roast, Lemony Braised Chicken with Green Olives, and Beef Pot-au-Feu. "Le French Oven is an original approach to a flavorful French-inspired cuisine that can easily be made in any American kitchen. Le French Oven will become an essential part of your home, and if it doesn’t fall apart from loving use, you’ll gladly pass it down to your children." Using various techniques such as braising, stewing, roasting, baking, stovetop, and frying, Le French Oven will teach how to create appetizers, soups, main courses, desserts, and more." "Le French Oven is an original approach to a flavorful French-inspired cuisine that can easily be made in any American kitchen. Le French Oven will become an essential part of your home, and if it doesn’t fall apart from loving use, you’ll gladly pass it down to your children." She is a long time food columnist and restaurant critic for New Hampshire Magazine and her work has been featured in the Boston Globe, French Entree, Connecticut Home Living, Hartford Magazine, Tastes of New England, CelebrationNH, ParisLuxe.com, Bonjour Paris, and other regional, national, and international publications.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I've made 3 recipes from this cook book and they have all been amazing."
"Really enjoying the recipes in this book."
"My daughter loved it for Christmas."
"I love this cookbook."
"Made several recipes from this fantastic cookbook and they were delicious!"
"I received a French oven as a gift and this book perfect to get me started with some great recipes."
"Le French Oven is a Fantastic cookbook!"