Zompoc:  How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse
by Michael G. Thomas and Nick S. Thomas

Believe it or not, there are several how-to books out there about dealing with zombies.  This one is the most helpful.  Trust us.  If a Zombie Apocalypse (Zompoc) does arrive, this is the book you’ll want in your arsenal.  It isn’t the funniest zombie survival book out there, but it is the most thorough.  Not only will you learn the different types of zombies, but you’ll learn how to fight them, and even how to deal once you win the fight against the zombies – because surely, after reading this book, you will win.

How to Be Pope:  What to Do and Where to Go Once You’re in the Vatican
by Piers Merchant

The author of this little gem is a travel writer who has written for Fodor’s among other notable organizations.  This book, which is hard to find, is designed to help you navigate the waters of the Catholic hierarchy as the newly appointed Pope.  While few of us (let’s be honest, probably none of us) will never BE Pope, this is a really fun read and it isn’t offensive or critical of the church at all.  It gives lots of information about what a Pope actually does, what it’s like to live in the Vatican, and how to do things a Pope does, like that neat little wave. If only it gave instructions on how to build your very only bubble car, because even if we can’t be Pope, we’d still like to have a bubble car.  Wouldn’t we?

How to Have a New Kid by Friday:  How to Change Your Child’s Attitude, Behavior & Character in 5 Days
by Dr. Kevin Leman

OK, so this is actually a legitimate how-to book on something you really know how to do.  Not that we’re completely denouccing the possibility of a Zombie Apocalypse, but having a rotten, out-of-control child is a lot more likely.  Look around your family and say that isn’t so.  It’s just the title that is amusing.  How to Have a New Kid – it smacks of trading kids with the neighbors, buying them off the black market, or posting an ad on Craigslist.  The reality about this book is that people rave about it.  They’ve employed Leman’s techniques and it has made a huge difference in their child’s behavior.  So, just so this list has a little bit of helpfulness to you (though that zombie thing MAY come in handy some day) in spite of it’s frothy exterior.

How to Defeat Your Own Clone:  And Other Tips for Surviving the Biotech Revolution
by Kyle Kurpinski and Terry D. Johnson

In the same vein of the zombie book, this tome prepares you in the face of a not-so-definite but oddly-frightening possible future.  Who is to say that zombies, evil clones, or gone-wrong biological experiments won’t be the end of the world as we know it.  Lucky for you, some real-life bioengineers offer some very handy and helpful tips on how to deal if, for instance, you get attacked by a clone of yourself.  Between the quips, pop culture references, and jokes, Kurpinski and Johnson have written a scientific book that contains a lot of useful information.

The Werewolf’s Guide to Life:  A Manual for the Newly Bitten
by Rich Duncan and Bob Powers

Adding to the list of “it probably won’t happen, but just in case it does we’re awfully glad someone wrote a book about it” how to books, we’re glad Rich Duncan and Bob Powers wrote this book on how to be the best werewolf you can be.  The fact that there would be a market for this is no big surprise, since TwilightMania has swept the countryside and everyone has decided to be either Team Edward or Team Jacob.  No doubt there are plenty of vampire survival manuals as well, but this werewolf book is so very amusing that it was the one to make the list.  So, if you just want a fun read, you can pick this book up.  If you’ve been bitten by a werewolf recently, you really should pick it up right away.

How to Start Your Own Country
by Erwin S. Strauss

Now here’s a helpful one.  Fed up with the country you live in?  Looking for a change?  Want to go to great, almost impossible lengths to establish your own country?  Then this book is for you.  It shows you five different strategies for creating a new country, gives you the information you need to make it happen, and even shares some case studies wherein people have started their own country and been successful.  The first edition of this scholarly work was published in 1979, with a new edition released in 1999, so the “new” technology and political strategies that Strauss refers to are not exactly current, but the ideas are still sound and although he does show a bit of a sense of humor, the book is mostly serious.  So, future kings, presidents, and dictators, buy yourself a copy and get started.

How to Fossilize Your Hamster:  And Other Amazing Experiments for the Armchair Scientist
by Mick O’Hare

Perhaps the most important thing to note here is that the hamster experiment is designed to take place AFTER your hamster dies a natural death.  The author does not (and neither do we) suggest you try to fossilize the poor little thing while it is still alive.  Now that your mind is at ease, you can enjoy this delightful book with a clear conscience.  O’Hare takes you through some truly fascinating at-home science experiments that are (mostly) safe and utilize regular household items like soap and vinegar.  So, the how-to book might not be as weird as it seems from the title, but it is a good read indeed.

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Fodor’s France 2009

By Fodor’s Gold Guides

Fodor is the top selling guide book on France (and many other countries too) in the US and North American market.  Every day in Paris, you can spot the American tourist not so much by their dress or accent but by the manipulation of the Fodor Guidebook!

Fodor is comprehensive but it suffers from a lack of detail and accuracy in the smaller things.  It is not uncommon to find simple errors of geography, especially once you are looking at places and points of interest beyond Paris.

So saying, it is well laid out, lots of good photographs and maps and there is even a basic French grammar and vocabulary though you will probably find a cheap language guide of more use. But that is your business.

Overpriced for what it is, but nevertheless you’re likely going to buy one just for the bookshelf when you return!

One Hundred & One Beautiful Small Towns in France

By Simonetta Greggio

While France celebrates its culture and history in cities such as Paris, Lyon and Toulouse it is only when you get out of the major urban areas and into the countryside that you begin to get a taste of the real France or la vie Francais!

France is primarily an agricultural country with a huge section of the population working and living on the land.  The small towns in France are where the true French way of life is to be found. Whether you are looking for the statue of Cyrano de Bergerac in Bergerac itself, megez in Arcachon, calvados in Caen or La Loup de Rocamadour (the Wolf of Rocamadour) in, where else but Rocamadour – then this is the book for you.

It is not coldly detailed as many guides are but tries to give you a taste of small towns and places to go visit and hopefully stay a while so you can truly enjoy the unique culture of France.

France (Country Guide) (Paperback)

By Nicola Williams and others

This is a collaborative work from seven different writers, each with their own views on France and covering different cities and rural areas.  As the work of constructing the guide has been split between so many different reviewers you are assured of two things – differing points of view on the same topics and reviews by people who truly know about the areas they are talking and writing about.

I also liked this book because it contrasts the views of French and foreign guide reviewers – you are sure to get an honest opinion from different perspectives using this volume which can make the difference between a great vacation and a wasted trip.

France (Eyewitness Travel Guide)

By Roger Williams & Robin Gauldie

This is a very comprehensive volume and you will not get lost for lack of something to see or do.  The attention to detail is pitched at the right level – guide books so often deteriorate into histories or a collection of personal anecdotes which defeat the object.

Informative without being overbearing and the writers hit the target when it comes to providing enough basic information to cover the mundane while providing more advice and tips when it comes to the more interesting.  For instance, points of interest such as museums or art galleries come complete with direct dial telephone numbers and email addresses, which is something you usually don’t find in other mainstream guides.

The photography and image reproduction are first-rate with cutaways and diagrams marking standing out and which are the signature of the Eyewitness series.

The Discovery of France: A Historical Geography

By Graham Robb

For many, Paris is France but too the cognoscenti, the real country is to be found in the provinces.  So to with the history of the country which though it may have Paris as the focus, once you have covered a fraction of this volume you will quickly see that Paris is overrated to the extent that it has eclipsed the role of the rest of this vibrant and interesting country.

Robb has taken the country in from the comfort of his bicycle (cycling is important in France – just ask Lance Armstrong) but while his original intention was to create a history of France, what he has come up with is a book which contains innumerable, intriguing places to visit and soak yourself in the culture and history of the area.

For instance, 100 years ago, only 20% of the population spoke French – the rest spoke Basque, Breton and 55 other dialects and languages – the story of France is not about the French, but about the numerous different cultures and people who today make up France.

Quiet Corners of Paris

By Jean-Cristophe Napias (Author), Christophe Lefebure (Photographer) & David Downie (Translator)

Think Paris and iconic sights come to mind – the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysses, Louvre, Sacre Cours, Notre Dame and at night, Moulin Rouge.

Except this is not Paris.  These are just some of the sights which are located in Paris but they are not what makes up the City of Light.  You find Paris in more than the central arondisements which are the focus of virtually every other guidebook – instead, the entire city is taken in and this is positive in itself because it draws you out of the iconic imagery of what Paris is and intrigues the reader enough to go visit the places and neighbourhoods where real Parisians hangout.

The Road from the Past: Traveling through History in France

By Ina Caro

Visit France and you are not travelling to a geographical location but to a repository of culture and custom going back a few thousand years.  Caro has written a book which takes in the historical and cultural significance for the visitor but one criticism I have of this book is that Ina tends to allow her personal prejudices and petty dislikes to influence her writing far too much.  While I like the tone and the snippets which are true gems, I simply don’t care about her waiter-fixation on someone who gave poor service and who I’m certainly unlikely to ever come across personally.

by Karl Hindle

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