The Thames & Hudson series of which this book is a part has always been very successful at scooping up historical periods known best for one giant figure, and depositing that person neatly in the culture of their time. The Sun King is an splendid topic because he was involved in everything from Science to War. The late Dr Hatton produces one of those books that contains lots of judgements that propel one on to other books to read more while at the same time linking up what had previously been unconnected islands of knowledge. Admirably illustrated for its time, this book still has the strengths of text and illustration thoughtfully combined. This book will not tell you about Turenne's Rhine campaigns in detail or Colbert's trade measures, but it will integrate them into the wider world of Europe. There can be no better introduction to the era.

Fright Night is an excellent remake of an old horror-comedy classic. Despite a line of black humour the film sticks to its horror guns with plenty of creaking, gasping, hiding, running and screaming. The effects are excellent and the cast are having a great time; Colin Farrell being excellent as the Great White Vampire. David Tennant brings a nice addition to our star-crossed lovers and the mother. The supernatural appears seamlessly in the midst of the mundane. If only serious horror films could keep up this level.

This well-written book concerns itself with the frigate actions of the wars against Revolutionary and Napoleonic France (as well as America and even Malay pirates). Henderson knows his onions on naval matters so that fans of Hornblower, Bolitho, and Aubrey are in very good hands. The frigate captains combined excellent seamanship with a grip of events that seem quite astonishing today. To pick but one example, as the French fleet exited the difficult passage of Brest they used signal rockets and cannon shots to warn each other of the various shoals and rocks. Captain Pellew on HMS Indefatigable decided to sail in amongst them and start firing off his own rockets and guns, causing great confusion to such a degree that Seduisant (a French battleship) wrecked. not a bad day's work for a small frigate.

This well-written book concerns itself with the frigate actions of the wars against Revolutionary and Napoleonic France (as well as America and even Malay pirates). Henderson knows his onions on naval matters so that fans of Hornblower, Bolitho, and Aubrey are in very good hands. The frigate captains combined excellent seamanship with a grip of events that seem quite astonishing today. To pick but one example, as the French fleet exited the difficult passage of Brest they used signal rockets and cannon shots to warn each other of the various shoals and rocks. Captain Pellew on HMS Indefatigable decided to sail in amongst them and start firing off his own rockets and guns, causing great confusion to such a degree that Seduisant (a French battleship) wrecked. not a bad day's work for a small frigate.

This well-written book concerns itself with the frigate actions of the wars against Revolutionary and Napoleonic France (as well as America and even Malay pirates). Henderson knows his onions on naval matters so that fans of Hornblower, Bolitho, and Aubrey are in very good hands. The frigate captains combined excellent seamanship with a grip of events that seem quite astonishing today. To pick but one example, as the French fleet exited the difficult passage of Brest they used signal rockets and cannon shots to warn each other of the various shoals and rocks. Captain Pellew on HMS Indefatigable decided to sail in amongst them and start firing off his own rockets and guns, causing great confusion to such a degree that Seduisant (a French battleship) wrecked. not a bad day's work for a small frigate.

This well-written book concerns itself with the frigate actions of the wars against Revolutionary and Napoleonic France (as well as America and even Malay pirates). Henderson knows his onions on naval matters so that fans of Hornblower, Bolitho, and Aubrey are in very good hands. The frigate captains combined excellent seamanship with a grip of events that seem quite astonishing today. To pick but one example, as the French fleet exited the difficult passage of Brest they used signal rockets and cannon shots to warn each other of the various shoals and rocks. Captain Pellew on HMS Indefatigable decided to sail in amongst them and start firing off his own rockets and guns, causing great confusion to such a degree that Seduisant (a French battleship) wrecked. not a bad day's work for a small frigate.

The subjugation of Eastern Europe by a mixture of Stalinism (and other less impressive personality cults) anti-fascism and idealism is a very sad tale that cast a dark cloud over many lives. It was only after 30+ years that the impracticality of the state economic model became manifest, and it took as long for the fear of retribution by Soviet forces to be lifted. The mixture of communist theory, Russian imperialism, and anti-capitalist feelings combined to require the State to attempt to control the masses.

Anne Applebaum describes in each of the countries the parallel (and, in some cases, divergent) trends whereby the State was obliged by its construct to seize more and more control as it moved towards a totalitarian model. Yet at every stage those in control felt unable to divert this, even where they saw it as ineffective, the other alternatives being so much worse in their view. After a while the roll of lives blighted or ended, prison cells occupied, and wealth ruined or wasted becomes almost too much. But even in this the author does not forget the areas that did improve (though at a fearsome cost) like child care. This is a grim tale and the author tells it carefully and without great passion: it does not persuade with great oratory but by battering us chapter after chapter with each turn of the sorry tale.

This is the usual mix from Al Murray; a trot round the audience, a series of long monologues, sometimes with an element of shaggy dog story, and some very funny asides as his character's character (if I can put it that way) slips out. I did though miss the visuals as this is the CD rather than DVD, especially the beginning when he picks his marks, and the "packing a tent" scene at the end.

However, if you cannot watch as you listen - driving perhaps, this a good way to encounter the Master in full deranged flow.

For the average Brit the American style of self-help books has a number of things that grate: the need to name-drop, the appeal to authority, the need to portray oneself as wildly successful now but previously being close to defeat. This book has these in spades. It is also in parts rather disjointed and the author is fundamentally someone many of us would wish to avoid (always assuming we could get through his maze of limited access measures). Additionally, the methodology by which one hits this status of New Rich is simply not attainable by any but a very small part of a very small part of the readership.

However, there is also a lot of value here if you can make it through another tale of the author's life and career.

Firstly, his model as to how you should prioritise yourself and how you should execute your tasks is a strong one. It applies whether you are an International Man Of Mystery like the author, or a wage-slave contemplating a list of tasks at Amalgamated Consolidated. It is essentially the Brian Tracy approach but you will benefit from it if you follow it.

Secondly, his approach to business planning is strong, essentially because he lacks the limitation of a vocation. Ferriss is in the business of business, to him it is a means to an end , and he therefore sees things clearly and dispassionately. He is thus uniquely fitted to a model of selling goods anonymously. You may be a true believer in what you do, and you may be delivering a service, but you can still benefit from him.

This is the second game in the series started by Test of Fire (on the battle of First Bull Run). Instead of being with the more formal armies of the eastern theatre Clash of Wills takes us into the west and the close terrain around Pittsburgh Landing. The Union troops are asleep when hit by the assaulting Confederates. To deal with the scrappy terrain the map is very difficult to move over. The card deck that assists the dice-driven order system has been adjusted to include the early morning surprise, the possibility of sudden morale collapses and the arrivals of Generals Grant and Buell. With movement so difficult (there are limits on the number of units crossing movement area sides) careful planning and execution are very important. As Shiloh was a two day battle there are victory conditions that may end it after one day (usually because of heavy losses) and opportunities to reorganise before the second day starts. The surprise of the Union side is also reflected in lower activation dice numbers until Grant arrives and until day two, then the boot is on the other foot.

A fierce tustle Shiloh is probably more difficult for the new player than Test of Fire.