I've been using dehumidifiers in my house for five years because of condensation problems. There are basically two types: desiccant dehumidifiers and compressor dehumidifiers. The compressor type uses less energy but is quite weak, so it's only really suitable for use in rooms where you can leave it running 24/7, such as an attic or a cellar. The noise it makes means it would be too annoying to run constantly in a room that you spend a lot of time in. If, like me, you have to solve a condensation problem in a living room, you'll need a desiccant dehumidifier. They're more expensive to run, and (in my experience) noisier, but they're far more powerful, so you can run them overnight… Read more
Dorothy Rowe divides the human race into introverts and extraverts and all her theories follow from that. There are some interesting stories here, and some useful insights into personality types, but ultimately her theory is too simplistic to convince me. After 280 pages I still wasn't sure whether I was an introvert or an extravert. Maybe people are just too complex for her pigeonholes.
She's prone to make sweeping generalisations without backing them up with evidence. I really lost my faith in her after her claim, a third of the way into the book, that all marriages, with no exceptions, are made up of one introvert and one extravert. I can just about swallow the idea that we… Read more
This is one of the most enjoyable books I've ever read. Dickie has the priceless combination of academic insight and genuine literary talent. Cosa Nostra is eye-opening, inpirational, tragic, clever and unforgettable. I've read many dozens of books about Italy, and this is up there with Barzini's 'The Italians' as one of the very best.
