Joel Levy

Had this little tome on my shelf for some time - and needed to kill a couple of hours.

This easy to read book and separated into a collection of known conspiracy theories that cover off things like: politics, science fiction, assassination, murder, secret societies, moon landing, cover-ups. Each item is given about two to three pages that are broken down into: an introduction, the conspiracy theory, the official line, and the paranoia rating (ie: how paranoid should you be).

I bought it show more because the topic appealed to me - I love a good conspiracy theory. If you do, then this wont tax the brain nor disappoint. show less

Having just read the companion book about samurais, I knew what to expect with this little book on ninjas: a light but comprehensive overview about the history and and activities of the ninja figure in Japanese history accompanied by various illustrations. I certainly got that, but to be honest, I'm not sure exactly why I don't like this book as much as the samurai book. I think it's because ninja history is so scarce (because the best ninja is the one no one knows about) that any "history show more book" ends up being a compilation of facts and myths by necessity. In fact, the final chapter is all about controversies caused by the myths surrounding ninjas, including the school of thought that ninjas never even existed in the first place. The end result ends up feeling a little clunky while readers are left skeptical. Is what I just read true or not? It's anyone's guess.

My favorite part of the book is the historical overview of the rise and fall of the ninja, at least to our best guess. Personally, I feel like this grounds the ninja figure because it shows how those in this role operated in the larger socio-political climate of the time, as well as how they would have had to adapt in order to survive (allegedly, of course).

The sections about the training and habits of the ninja were certainly fascinating, and they go a long way from dispelling the mystique that the ninja is a glamorous, super human assassin. Their job is grueling, dangerous, and probably the least glamorous profession in Sengoku-era Japan, especially when compared to their counterparts, the samurai. Honestly, I would have loved a little more in-depth comparison between the two classes because they're set up in opposition to the other, and that dichotomy is just fascinating to me.

This book is not nearly as gory as the samurai book (and it's not that the samurai book was gory so much as it shed light on the gory details of the job). It's approachable, light, and an easy read to pass the weekend or after a long day of work. I recommend this book for anyone who's looking to learn a little more substance about ninjas that's not from a tv show capitalizing on their notoriety. show less

I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher (Chronicle Books) for promotional purposes.

What a delightful little book about dragons!

This book gives a short overview of dragons from around the world. It primarily focuses on dragon lore from ancient Mesopotamia, the Mediterranean, Europe, East Asia, and Southeast Asia. It also briefly addresses dragons from other regions like Africa and the Americas.

Since this is a “pocket book,” the information is limited but it does show more provide a good starting point for dragon history. The book includes a further reading section with a list of other books and websites to consult if you’re looking for more information.

The images throughout were beautiful. The selection of pictures was plentiful and of appropriate size. Some nonfiction books have small images, but this one made sure the pictures were large enough so you could actually see the details. It showcased a range of dragon imagery (there were some interesting depictions of dragons throughout history).

The writing style could have been better. The descriptions were short and often very dry to read. I wished it could have a little more engaging.

Lastly, the exterior of the book is gorgeous. It’s textured to look and feel like dragon scales which was such a fun touch.

Overall, this is a great little book for anyone who loves dragons. show less

While an interesting book about military history, it rapidly becomes mired in the details of specific makes or models of weapons and looses sight of the broader ideas and developments that make it such an interesting concept.