Republican Party Reptile

Republican Party Reptile

P. J. O'Rourke

Fiction / Humor / Travel

"I think our agenda is clear. We are opposed to: government spending, Kennedy kids, seat-belt laws, busing our children anywhere other than Yale, trailer courts near our vacation homes, all tiny Third World countries that don't have banking secrecy laws, aerobics, the UN, taxation without tax loopholes, and jewelry on men. We are in favor of: guns, drugs, fast cars, free love (if our wives don't find out), a sound dollar, and a strong military with spiffy uniforms. There are thousands of people in America who feel this way, especially after three or four drinks. If all of us would unite and work together, we could give this country. . . well, a real bad hangover." "To say that P. J. O'Rourke is funny is like saying the Rocky Mountains are scenic-accurate but insufficient. At his best he's downright exhilarating . . . Republican Party Reptile is as rambunctiously entertaining as a greased pig catching contest. If you can find a funnier writer than P. J. O'Rourke, buy him a brandy,...
Read online
  • 131
Love by Degree

Love by Degree

Debbie Macomber

Fiction / Cooking, Food & Wine / Romance

Rediscover this sweet, fun classic romance by one of today's most popular storytellers, #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber, now available for the first time in ebook!Ellen Cunningham is happy to play housemother for three younger college boys–it's helping her keep the rent affordable while she's back at school herself. But then the house's owner shows up, and Reed Morgan is not impressed with the situation. Reed finds Ellen's presence particularly problematic... Maybe because he likes her so much.Originally published in 1987
Read online
  • 127
Ice Blues

Ice Blues

Richard Stevenson

Richard Stevenson

Someone's left a man's body in Donald Strachey's car -- the grandson of Albany's most connected political fixer. A letter from the deceased asks Strachey to dismantle his grandfather's party machine. Like a chess master, Strachey moves ten suitcases, an army of colorful pawns (all of whom think they're king), and $2.5 million across the continent and around Albany. One of the funniest in the series.From Publishers WeeklyDon Strachey is the gay private eye who scored a hit in Stevenson's thriller, On the Other Hand, Death. A case of murder keeps Strachey and his lover, Timmy Callahan, at home in Albany during a fierce winter because the victim was planted in the detective's car. The dead man, Jack Lenihan, had left a letter in which he asked Strachey to deliver 2.5 million in laundered money to the city's reform political party. But the money has vanished, sending Strachey on a dangerous errand to recover it from merciless killers. Suspecting that Lenihan had stolen the fortune from the drug dealers who were his former associates, Strachey flies to Los Angeles to question Lenihan's mother and friends, a mission with stunning results. Back in Albany, the detective hijacks the millions but the thieves kidnap and hold Timmy for ransom, a situation Strachey resolves in an act daring to the point of foolhardiness. This scene, as well as the disposition of Lenihan's legacy, form the climax of an entirely unpredictable, witty and raunchy adventure. Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. Review"With steady action, a nicely uncurling plot, and a vivid supporting cast, THIS IS LIVELY, ATMOSPHERIC ENTERTAINMENT. -- Kirkus Reviews
Read online
  • 123
Marriage Is Murder

Marriage Is Murder

Nancy Pickard

Mystery & Thrillers / Crime

Jenny Cain and police detective Geof Bushfield already had pre-nuptial jitters. Then a sudden wave of domestic violence rocked placid Port Frederick - in just two weeks, the husbands of three battered wives were shot dead. Homicide was all too familiar to Geof, but this was enough to make him want to quit the force. Except that none of the wives confessed - and none of the guns were found. As Geof searched for clues, Jenny uncovered a dangerous secret - a murderous obsession that threatened to tear Port Frederick apart!
Read online
  • 100
The Secret Heart of the Clock

The Secret Heart of the Clock

Elias Canetti

Fiction / Memoir / Nonfiction

From one of the preeminent intellectual figures of the twentieth century, a highly personal testimonial of what Canetti himself chooses to term "notations," bits and pieces: notes, aphorisms, fragments. Taken together, they present an awesomely tender, guiltily gloomy meditation on death and aging." A mosaical portrait of an old body's mind determined to do its exercises and not lose a step—and fascinating for that." - Kirkus Reviews
Read online
  • 98
Berserker Attack

Berserker Attack

Fred Saberhagen

Fred Saberhagen

Our wars were behind us. Earth had a unified government and for the first time mankind was moving out from the planet of its birth. New worlds were settled and with the wealth of the galaxy at hand, poverty was eliminated. Then out of a clear summer sky came the first Berserker attack.
Read online
  • 94
Generous Death

Generous Death

Nancy Pickard

Mystery & Thrillers / Crime

As director of the Port Frederick Civic Foundation, Jenny Cain is privy to the charitable intentions of the town's wealthiest citizens. There's eccentric old Arnie Culverson, who's promised millions to the local art museum. Who's found there one bright winter morning, neatly tucked into a priceless antique Chinese bed. With pillow and blanket. Dead. Then another dearly beloved donor dies in the night. And the killer leaves behind a nasty rhyme suggesting rich and beautiful Jenny will be next!
Read online
  • 86
A Conflict of Visions: Ideological Origins of Political Struggles

A Conflict of Visions: Ideological Origins of Political Struggles

Thomas Sowell

Nonfiction / Social Sciences / History

In this classic work, Thomas Sowell analyzes the two competing visions that shape our debates about the nature of reason, justice, equality, and power: the “constrained” vision, which sees human nature as unchanging and selfish, and the “unconstrained” vision, in which human nature is malleable and perfectible. He describes how these two radically opposed views have manifested themselves in the political controversies of the past two centuries, including such contemporary issues as welfare reform, social justice, and crime. Updated to include sweeping political changes since its first publication in 1987, this revised edition of A Conflict of Visions offers a convincing case that ethical and policy disputes circle around the disparity between both outlooks.From Publishers WeeklySowell, an economist and author (The Economics and Politics of Race, etc.), presents a provocative analysis of the conflicting visions of human nature that have shaped the moral, legal and economic life of recent times. For the past 200 years, he writes, two visions ofor "gut feelings" abouthow the world works, have dominated: the constrained vision, which views man as unchanged, limited and dependent on evolved social processes (market economies, constitutional law, etc.); and the unconstrained vision, which argues for man's potential and perfectability, and the possibility of rational planning for social solutions. Examining the views of thinkers who reflect these constrained (Adam Smith) and unconstrained (William Godwin) visions, Sowell shows how these powerful and subjective visions give rise to carefully constructed social theories. His discussion of how these conflicting attitudes ultimately produce clashes over equality, social justice and other issues is instructive. Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Library JournalThis latest work by Sowell examines two competing visions which shape our debates about the nature of reason, justice, equality, and power. These visions are the "constrained" vision, which sees human nature as unchanging and selfish, and the "unconstrained" vision, in which human nature is malleable and perfectible. The book builds a convincing case that ethical and policy disputes are ultimately based on the differences in these visions. It covers a wide variety of political, philosophical, and economic thought. Although occasionally abstract, this volume is an important contribution to our understanding of current social issues. Recommended for large public and all college and university libraries. Richard C. Schiming, Economics Dept., Mankato State Univ., Minn.Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Read online
  • 86
Espedair Street

Espedair Street

Iain M. Banks

Science Fiction

Daniel Weir used to be a famous - not to say infamous - rock star. Maybe still is. At thirty-one he has been both a brilliant failure and a dull success. He's made a lot of mistakes that have paid off and a lot of smart moves he'll regret forever (however long that turns out to be). Daniel Weir has gone from rags to riches and back, and managed to hold onto them both, though not much else. His friends all seem to be dead, fed up with him or just disgusted - and who can blame them? And now Daniel Weir is all alone. As he contemplates his life, Daniel realises he only has two problems: the past and the future. He knows how bad the past has been. But the future - well, the future is something else.
Read online
  • 85
183