Book Filter: In the spirit of 'Verklemptness'... [more inside]
posted by Pippi Longstocking on Nov 25, 2009 - 25 answers

[Obscure book filter] Anyone remember a book about a grandfather hired to make a notebook to teach someone's daughter about the world, but he secretly makes two copies? [more inside]
posted by BusyBusyBusy on Nov 23, 2009 - 11 answers

What history / philosophy books should I ask for for Christmas? [more inside]
posted by crapples on Nov 21, 2009 - 8 answers

[Bookfinder filter] Trying to find a book I read at school, in the UK, in about 1987. It was a book for teenagers, with two interweaving stories across different times: one thread involved a teenage couple in modern times, and the other thread was about some Norse warriors, including a berserker, in ancient England. The two threads were tied together by an ancient axe head. The final section of the book was written in a cipher. [more inside]
posted by memebake on Nov 20, 2009 - 6 answers

BookFilter: I read a book about the coming-of-age of a boy who's father is a Privateer. I read it around 2000 and I can't remember the name. It painted pirates in a sympathetic light. Help. [more inside]
posted by TooFewShoes on Nov 16, 2009 - 4 answers

How can I replace embedded fonts in a PDF with "normal-looking" versions? I have a textbook I received from my professor for a class, and the text is incredibly hard to read. [more inside]
posted by lwf on Nov 16, 2009 - 8 answers

I was talking with a friend about the "graveyard of empires," b*tching about politics, and we both realized that we knew pretty much nothing about the British experience in Afghanistan in the 19th century. (I have a vague recollection about it being background for some Sherlock Holmes stories. She remembered some Kipling.) What books would you recommend for getting a good understanding of that period of history? Bonus points for an engaging writing style and for not being the length of an encyclopedia. Thanks!
posted by epersonae on Nov 13, 2009 - 16 answers

What's a good book for a med student? [more inside]
posted by kidsleepy on Nov 12, 2009 - 14 answers

Book Collectors: Is my new signed collector's edition book more or less valuable with a cutting machine error? [more inside]
posted by trixare4kids on Nov 11, 2009 - 3 answers

What are the great foundational essays about the web? Big picture essays that can help Normal Humans understand the profound impact that the web is having on community, commerce, communications and so many other parts of our lives. [more inside]
posted by dbarefoot on Nov 11, 2009 - 7 answers

Which books help me get into the psyche of war criminals, suicide bombers, etc? [more inside]
posted by hasna on Nov 3, 2009 - 21 answers

YAWTBF (Yet Another "What's That Book?" Filter): I'm trying to find a book that I loved as a child (early '80s). The book was written from the perspective of a garter snake as he slithered around a little chunk of wilderness bordered by a road. [more inside]
posted by 256 on Nov 2, 2009 - 2 answers

What was this children's book I had in the 1980s that contained large pictures of woodland animals engaged in battle scenes, using military equipment such as cannons that fired acorns? [more inside]
posted by EndsOfInvention on Nov 2, 2009 - 4 answers

Okay, fantasy novel ID two-fer. Book One: people live in villages that are suspended on the side of an enormous cliff and a girl is born who has wings. Book Two: set in a world made up of bits of earth suspended in a void, cape-fighters, a spider-god.... [more inside]
posted by otolith on Oct 28, 2009 - 7 answers

I loved the plot of Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. Any recommendations for similar books, shows, or movies? [more inside]
posted by reenum on Oct 28, 2009 - 10 answers

Committing the great library sin...which of these is a better way to get rid of some books? [more inside]
posted by aswego on Oct 28, 2009 - 18 answers

Need recommendations of quality chick lit books. [more inside]
posted by mikoroshi on Oct 27, 2009 - 19 answers

I'm struggling to remember the title of a book I read in the 1980s, which had a real-world twist: hidden within the narrative was the location of a spot in the USA where some sort of treasure or reward money was located. [more inside]
posted by squid patrol on Oct 26, 2009 - 9 answers

With NaNoWriMo looming ever nearer, I would like to hear your best tips, tricks, habits, and techniques for staying chained to the keyboard. [more inside]
posted by BitterOldPunk on Oct 22, 2009 - 26 answers

Good books about prehistoric life which are NOT about dinosaurs? [more inside]
posted by showbiz_liz on Oct 22, 2009 - 8 answers

What are good dedicated indexing applications for creating indexes for print books? [more inside]
posted by mc2000 on Oct 22, 2009 - 3 answers

Which author comes closest to Cormac McCarthy? [more inside]
posted by Bacillus on Oct 21, 2009 - 19 answers

BookClubfilter: I'm tasked with picking the next book. I have some ideas, but could use the Hive's help. [more inside]
posted by indiebass on Oct 19, 2009 - 41 answers

I want to give a book to a young friend but I can't remember the title and the librarian could not find it either. Book teaches about Gandhi in a cool way. [more inside]
posted by CollegeNelson on Oct 18, 2009 - 2 answers

Can you recommend a book about Catholicism? No, other than the Bible. [more inside]
posted by teragram on Oct 18, 2009 - 31 answers

I've recently begun work on a children's book. It is inspired by my granddaughter. I was wondering if anyone had any information on how to get a children's book published? Suggested Publishers? Also, any other information pertaining to this process, would be appreciated. ***I realize that children's books are a dime a dozen...but mine just might be spectacular ;)***
posted by gypseefire on Oct 17, 2009 - 4 answers

I'm looking for a computer program to keep track of the library books I have taken out. Difficulty level: Can't use Library Books. I've tried Library Elf and I hate it. [more inside]
posted by Lucinda on Oct 15, 2009 - 8 answers

Name this Children's book! I had this book as a child, and I would like to find it again both for myself and my own child's library. I only remember the vaguest details: 1) it focused on a band of characters traveling somewhere, 2) each character had a particular power or unique ability, 3) I think one of the guys had the ability to conjour bees or wasps (he may have even dressed as one), 4) the leader resembled Errol Flynn's Robin Hood, 5) at one point they went into a huge cave with lots of steps and paths, 6) one of the characters may have been able to shoot fire. That's all I remember. Any guesses?
posted by bjork24 on Oct 13, 2009 - 4 answers

I want to promote my Young Adult fantasy novel about Morgan le Fay on the web. The biggest audience should be young women and libraries; Wiccans, medieval re-enactors and King Arthur fans would dig it, too (I hope). How can I best promote the book myself? What sites and blogs should I contact? Are author's tours effective? What should I definitely put my efforts into and what's not worth my time? [more inside]
posted by musofire on Oct 11, 2009 - 12 answers

What well-known novels lack any character descriptions aside from names?
posted by odinsdream on Oct 9, 2009 - 17 answers

What Gore Vidal book would you recommend to start with / which of his books has been your favourite ? (Could apply to non-american readers). [more inside]
posted by Jireel on Oct 7, 2009 - 18 answers

I need a book recommendation for my girlfriend; her favourite book is Yann Martel's "Life of Pi". Any ideas? [more inside]
posted by mizike on Oct 7, 2009 - 28 answers

Looking for suggestions on non-fiction books about sexual biology and/or psychology. [more inside]
posted by hazyspring on Oct 5, 2009 - 9 answers

How can I sell books without much effort? [more inside]
posted by k8t on Oct 5, 2009 - 23 answers

Is this a real book? All I remember is that 1 or more characters could activate some kind of special powers or transformational abilities by imagining the shape of a particular object in their mouth. [more inside]
posted by vytae on Oct 3, 2009 - 4 answers

Woohoo, it's October! Lets get some Autumn/Halloween reading suggestions! [more inside]
posted by CZMR on Oct 1, 2009 - 18 answers

Please help me fuel my new-found obsession with comic books! What are some of your favorite recommended reads, as well as comic book resources, tips, and tricks? [more inside]
posted by joshrholloway on Sep 28, 2009 - 31 answers

Book festivals? National Book Festival? What to expect? [more inside]
posted by notcomputersavvy06 on Sep 25, 2009 - 4 answers

Photography-filter: Can you help me find an art history textbook that would help me improve my composition skills? [more inside]
posted by Hypnotic Chick on Sep 25, 2009 - 8 answers

Looking for a circa late 70's early 80's Children's Picture Book with faceless nuns. Hoping someone in the MeFi shared my same crazed childhood where aunts gave books for Christmas every.year [more inside]
posted by will wait 4 tanjents on Sep 22, 2009 - 4 answers

I would like to teach myself photography, ideally from a book (a good website would work too.) I'm at the point-and-shoot level, but my camera has so many neat settings I want to try... [more inside]
posted by showbiz_liz on Sep 22, 2009 - 13 answers

Name that book filter: guess this children's SF book from minimal clues. [more inside]
posted by penguinliz on Sep 21, 2009 - 1 answer

Hey all, Just a quick question, here. Currently I am trying to manage a number of blog-esque sites, i.e. MySpace, Face book, Word press, and of course Metafilter. I was wondering if anyone knew of programs to help maximize my productivity when updating these. For example, I often post new songs I have created. Is there any program that would allow me to post an update across all my pages from one central hub? How about managing my messages from these sites? Any way to manage those in my regular email, or is there a program that could unify these? Basically I'm wondering if there is some type of "command station" program to help manage multiple sites like this one. Thanks in advance for any help! Hope you all had a great weekend.
posted by Me, The Snake on Sep 20, 2009 - 10 answers

In Look to Windward by Iain M. Banks there is a part where one of the Estodiens say to Quilan, 'I hope you have the wit to realise you past two little tests there, Major, not one'. It appears that I do not have the wit. Possible spoilers inside. [more inside]
posted by Nufkin on Sep 20, 2009 - 5 answers

I'm trying to remember the title and author of a young adult sci-fi novel from the early '90s (or earlier) with a character named Alana (or Alanna) and a boy who gets taken to another world. Help! [more inside]
posted by ilana on Sep 17, 2009 - 1 answer

I'm a career advisor looking to expand my collection of resume, cover letter or interviewing books and am looking for suggestions. [more inside]
posted by mjcon on Sep 15, 2009 - 3 answers

My significant other went wild with a copy of this book at age six (with corrections at age 10). Help me find something like this for grownups (or not). [more inside]
posted by heyforfour on Sep 7, 2009 - 6 answers

This should be pretty easy... Does anyone remember which book of Richard Scarry's had an illustration of what I think was a pig holding a big sausage on a fork? We are going through old childhood books and the vision of that image is driving me nuts and I need to see it again.
posted by stefnet on Sep 6, 2009 - 49 answers

Please help me remember a book I read about a guy who saw ghosts! [more inside]
posted by internet!Hannah on Sep 6, 2009 - 3 answers

Looking for the perfect book to give people who adopt our foster kittens. Hoping for one which will lead to a fabulous relationship and rich life for both the people and the kittens. [more inside]
posted by amtho on Sep 4, 2009 - 6 answers