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 Customer Reviews
Cheers!, 14 Oct 2008
Following the buzz around the release of the Sex In The City film, I bought a couple of copies of this book as birthday presents for girlfriends, to accompany designer cocktail glasses.
It's a thorough and informative compendium and you certainly wouldn't need to own another cocktail book if you had this one on your book shelves, but I - personally - like more photos (so I know what end look I'm aiming for!).
However, I AM looking forward to sampling many of the 1000 suggested concoctions around at my chums houses over the years to come... cheers!! hic!!! If you only buy one cocktail book..., 05 Oct 2008
...buy this one. There are no pretty pictures, but it offers a no-frills approach to mixing cocktails. Ingredients, method, glass, garnish and alcohol units are given for each recipe. The glossary of spirits is very good and the index is the best of any cocktail book I've come across. There are other books that offer more exotic fare, but this book covers all the basics and then some. It's OK ... but not all that, 18 Jul 2008
This book does exactly what it says on the cover and that is give you 1000 cocktail recipes.... but not a lot more than that. It is clearly laid out but dull. You need this book in your house hold in the same way as you need a drain un-blocker. It's very very useful but not very pretty. The perfect mix, 18 Jun 2004
If you want a no-frills guide to a huge range of cocktails, this book really delivers. As well as the basic terminology (types of glass, essential equipment etc) it provides brief descriptions of most spirits, gives an indication as to how "tasty" each coctail is, an indication of the alcohol content and a short summary of where it originated. The indexes are also really useful, listing cocktails by name or by main ingredient... Found a bottle of Creme De Cassis at the back of the cupboard? Just flick through the "index by ingredients" for some inspiration on how best to get rid of it! All-in-all one of the best general cocktail recipe books I've come across. My only change would be to print it on splash-proof paper!
who drank all the galliano..?, 19 Feb 2003
.
This is an excellent book which covers just about every cocktail on the go, allthough there are always going to be different 'home' recipes and 'house' recipes for a lot of bars and clubs you go to. This will not only give you recipes for drinks you want to make or have heard of before, but will also give you ideas of what to do with some of the bottles you've got lying round after Christmas and can't think what to do with them. Lots of the cocktails come with 'alcohol content' and sometimes a quick tale of where or when the particular drink was first made. An excellent all rounder which looks good on the shelf.
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Customer Reviews
Cheers!, 14 Oct 2008
Following the buzz around the release of the Sex In The City film, I bought a couple of copies of this book as birthday presents for girlfriends, to accompany designer cocktail glasses.
It's a thorough and informative compendium and you certainly wouldn't need to own another cocktail book if you had this one on your book shelves, but I - personally - like more photos (so I know what end look I'm aiming for!).
However, I AM looking forward to sampling many of the 1000 suggested concoctions around at my chums houses over the years to come... cheers!! hic!!! If you only buy one cocktail book..., 05 Oct 2008
...buy this one. There are no pretty pictures, but it offers a no-frills approach to mixing cocktails. Ingredients, method, glass, garnish and alcohol units are given for each recipe. The glossary of spirits is very good and the index is the best of any cocktail book I've come across. There are other books that offer more exotic fare, but this book covers all the basics and then some. It's OK ... but not all that, 18 Jul 2008
This book does exactly what it says on the cover and that is give you 1000 cocktail recipes.... but not a lot more than that. It is clearly laid out but dull. You need this book in your house hold in the same way as you need a drain un-blocker. It's very very useful but not very pretty. The perfect mix, 18 Jun 2004
If you want a no-frills guide to a huge range of cocktails, this book really delivers. As well as the basic terminology (types of glass, essential equipment etc) it provides brief descriptions of most spirits, gives an indication as to how "tasty" each coctail is, an indication of the alcohol content and a short summary of where it originated. The indexes are also really useful, listing cocktails by name or by main ingredient... Found a bottle of Creme De Cassis at the back of the cupboard? Just flick through the "index by ingredients" for some inspiration on how best to get rid of it! All-in-all one of the best general cocktail recipe books I've come across. My only change would be to print it on splash-proof paper!
who drank all the galliano..?, 19 Feb 2003
.
This is an excellent book which covers just about every cocktail on the go, allthough there are always going to be different 'home' recipes and 'house' recipes for a lot of bars and clubs you go to. This will not only give you recipes for drinks you want to make or have heard of before, but will also give you ideas of what to do with some of the bottles you've got lying round after Christmas and can't think what to do with them. Lots of the cocktails come with 'alcohol content' and sometimes a quick tale of where or when the particular drink was first made. An excellent all rounder which looks good on the shelf.
Funny, Innovative and Fun, 17 Sep 2008
I was really impressed with the Recipe book.
I love Innocent Smoothies, though thought they were very expensive, and like many others, bought this book as a cheaper option. To make smoothies that taste good and are cheap.
I was thouroughly satisfied. I have made a few of these smoothies (without a juicer I might add) and they have blessedly tasted the same as the ones I love.
I would recommend it to anyone.
The posh ones are particularly good :)
The book was funny and a joy to read, with jokes and fun facts and even exercises to do while you make your smoothie.
Very high quality. Very impressed.
I am a Smoothie convert!, 05 Apr 2008
I have never really liked smoothies, milkshakes etc but as part of a healthy eating plan, thought I would be better snacking on these than crisps! This book is great, it has a good selection of both smoothies and juices and also a good insight on which fruit to use and what they are good for etc. It is very well written and has some delicious recipes- yes delicious! One thing to mention is that you will need both a smoothie maker and a juicer if you want to make all the recipes.
Lovely little book!!, 24 Feb 2008
Really good book, fantastic for the real smoothie enthusiast, bit over the top for me, but has given me lts of ideas for more child friendly smoothies. Really is a fantastic book just a bit fancy if all you want is basic smoothie recipes for everday use. BARGAIN
Fantastic Book... a real investment!, 20 Jan 2008
A great book!! Just the right size and jam packed full of not just recipes but also great advice on the produce needed and equiptment etc.
I'm also going to directly disagree with the previous reviewer and say that I cannot believe that from the very first recipe I attempted it tasted as great (if not better!?) than the shop bought innocent faves!! Plus living in the country has not hindered me one bit in finding the ingredients, a mixture of supporting a local fruit 'n' veg traders shop and anything unavailable from there (i.e. out of season) can be found in all large-ish supermarkets all year round.
So so sooooo pleased with the book I want to pass it around to my friends, but at the same time don't want to be without it, so will be buying them for birthdays and christmas!!
Nice recipes, 21 Dec 2007
Theres lots of nice smoothies in this book, although im finding it hard to match the same niceness as what you can buy. Also some of the ingrediants tend to be hard to come by living in the country!
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Customer Reviews
Cheers!, 14 Oct 2008
Following the buzz around the release of the Sex In The City film, I bought a couple of copies of this book as birthday presents for girlfriends, to accompany designer cocktail glasses.
It's a thorough and informative compendium and you certainly wouldn't need to own another cocktail book if you had this one on your book shelves, but I - personally - like more photos (so I know what end look I'm aiming for!).
However, I AM looking forward to sampling many of the 1000 suggested concoctions around at my chums houses over the years to come... cheers!! hic!!! If you only buy one cocktail book..., 05 Oct 2008
...buy this one. There are no pretty pictures, but it offers a no-frills approach to mixing cocktails. Ingredients, method, glass, garnish and alcohol units are given for each recipe. The glossary of spirits is very good and the index is the best of any cocktail book I've come across. There are other books that offer more exotic fare, but this book covers all the basics and then some. It's OK ... but not all that, 18 Jul 2008
This book does exactly what it says on the cover and that is give you 1000 cocktail recipes.... but not a lot more than that. It is clearly laid out but dull. You need this book in your house hold in the same way as you need a drain un-blocker. It's very very useful but not very pretty. The perfect mix, 18 Jun 2004
If you want a no-frills guide to a huge range of cocktails, this book really delivers. As well as the basic terminology (types of glass, essential equipment etc) it provides brief descriptions of most spirits, gives an indication as to how "tasty" each coctail is, an indication of the alcohol content and a short summary of where it originated. The indexes are also really useful, listing cocktails by name or by main ingredient... Found a bottle of Creme De Cassis at the back of the cupboard? Just flick through the "index by ingredients" for some inspiration on how best to get rid of it! All-in-all one of the best general cocktail recipe books I've come across. My only change would be to print it on splash-proof paper!
who drank all the galliano..?, 19 Feb 2003
.
This is an excellent book which covers just about every cocktail on the go, allthough there are always going to be different 'home' recipes and 'house' recipes for a lot of bars and clubs you go to. This will not only give you recipes for drinks you want to make or have heard of before, but will also give you ideas of what to do with some of the bottles you've got lying round after Christmas and can't think what to do with them. Lots of the cocktails come with 'alcohol content' and sometimes a quick tale of where or when the particular drink was first made. An excellent all rounder which looks good on the shelf.
Funny, Innovative and Fun, 17 Sep 2008
I was really impressed with the Recipe book.
I love Innocent Smoothies, though thought they were very expensive, and like many others, bought this book as a cheaper option. To make smoothies that taste good and are cheap.
I was thouroughly satisfied. I have made a few of these smoothies (without a juicer I might add) and they have blessedly tasted the same as the ones I love.
I would recommend it to anyone.
The posh ones are particularly good :)
The book was funny and a joy to read, with jokes and fun facts and even exercises to do while you make your smoothie.
Very high quality. Very impressed.
I am a Smoothie convert!, 05 Apr 2008
I have never really liked smoothies, milkshakes etc but as part of a healthy eating plan, thought I would be better snacking on these than crisps! This book is great, it has a good selection of both smoothies and juices and also a good insight on which fruit to use and what they are good for etc. It is very well written and has some delicious recipes- yes delicious! One thing to mention is that you will need both a smoothie maker and a juicer if you want to make all the recipes.
Lovely little book!!, 24 Feb 2008
Really good book, fantastic for the real smoothie enthusiast, bit over the top for me, but has given me lts of ideas for more child friendly smoothies. Really is a fantastic book just a bit fancy if all you want is basic smoothie recipes for everday use. BARGAIN
Fantastic Book... a real investment!, 20 Jan 2008
A great book!! Just the right size and jam packed full of not just recipes but also great advice on the produce needed and equiptment etc.
I'm also going to directly disagree with the previous reviewer and say that I cannot believe that from the very first recipe I attempted it tasted as great (if not better!?) than the shop bought innocent faves!! Plus living in the country has not hindered me one bit in finding the ingredients, a mixture of supporting a local fruit 'n' veg traders shop and anything unavailable from there (i.e. out of season) can be found in all large-ish supermarkets all year round.
So so sooooo pleased with the book I want to pass it around to my friends, but at the same time don't want to be without it, so will be buying them for birthdays and christmas!!
Nice recipes, 21 Dec 2007
Theres lots of nice smoothies in this book, although im finding it hard to match the same niceness as what you can buy. Also some of the ingrediants tend to be hard to come by living in the country!
We need more men Like Mark Thomas, 16 Nov 2008
No one else seems to have the cohones of this man, I applaud him, for both his tenacity, but also for his humor in the face of so much global misery, having recently seen his live show as well I have even more admiration for him, buy this book and admire the man that dares to go up against big business and Governments.
An expose of globalisation, as much as a book about Coke, 04 Nov 2008
I've always liked Mark Thomas' brand of protest politics, investigative journalism and stand-up comedy, so I was interested to see he has taken on the mighty Coca Cola empire.
My first impressions of this particular book though, are two-fold: firstly, that's a terrible name. Secondly, it's a terrible cover. Still, it's the writing inside that counts, and all is well on that front.
`Belching out the devil' chronicles a series of journeys to various parts of the world to meet those who have experienced `the Coke side of life'. There are Indian farmers with empty wells, Colombian trade unionists with collections of death threats, hassled Mexican shopkeepers who committed the unforgivable sin of stocking rival brand `Big Cola' in their fridges. Thomas does a great job of portraying these characters, giving them faces and names and vividly describing their communities, interspersing their stories with his own amusing travel writing.
Coca Cola get the right to reply, and a pattern rapidly emerges: because Coca Cola operate a franchise system, their back is always covered. "The Coca Cola Company does not own or operate any bottling plants in Colombia" has always, famously, been their answer to accusations of union busting, even to the point where 7 union organisers were killed at one bottling plant. They are able to say the same of the bottlers in India who are lowering the water table, or the ones employing children in El Salvador.
As Thomas says, "no matter where the human rights abuses occurred, if it's your name on the label then you're responsible for sorting it out." Unfortunately this could be said of almost every major corporation, from oil companies to high street fashion houses. Brands should not be allowed to hide behind middle men.
In the end,`Belching out the devil' is really an expose of branding, of globalisation and its winners and losers, using Coca Cola as a case study. As such, despite the title and the cover, it's rather good.
Bad corporation, 02 Nov 2008
This is an educational and and enjoyable read even though the story is about the blighted lives of people on different continents at the hands of coke.
Mark exposes the staunch anti union attitudes of the company, the damage they cause to the environment and the lies they tell when fingers are pointed at them, not to mention the bully-boy tactics when their grasp on the market is threatened.
It's only sugary water after all.
Not all sweetness and sugar, 11 Oct 2008
Reading any of Mark Thomas's books, articles, or even watching an episode of the television series that preceeded them always leaves me feeling angry, depressed and with a real frustration that I am doing little to make the world a better place. So it was with some trepidation that I finally picked up Belching Out The Devil. I was also concerned that as a conscientious consumer who already avoids Coca-Cola that the book would merely be preaching to the converted (me).
Belching Out The Devil brings you on a journey around the world, tackling the many issues that blacken the Coca-Cola brand; the infringement on workers rights, the environmental impact and drought caused by the bottling plants and the pure disregard that The Coca-Cola Company has for the communities it inhabits. It is an easy read packed with hard hitting facts, humour and pop culture references which help you connect with the author, meaning that he becomes a character in his own book rather than assuming the role of preacher. It is well researched and leaves no hole for Coca-Cola to wiggle through. At all times Coca-Cola are asked to respond to Mark Thomas's allegations and at all times his questions are greeted with frustrating PR spiel, there is a hope that if Coca-Cola learn anything from this book it would be to stop making excuses and actually commit themselves fully to the corporate social responsibility they espouse.
There is no call to action in Belching Out The Devil but it does leave you with the sensation of needing to do something, weather it be a boycott or just awareness raising amongst those you know. Some of the stories contained within are reassuring proof that it is possible for one person to make a difference.
problems of sugary caramel water, 03 Oct 2008
Belching Out the Devil: Global Adventures with Coca-Cola
The author offers a honest and unbiased account of a journey across the globe to find the truth behind coca-cola. The writing style is warm and entertaining packed with interesting facts which bring you to really question what else you could have with your whisky. Belching out the devil offers a clear and concise account of the sociological, economical and political problems coca-cola brings to communities when it sets up business. I will never drink coca-cola ever again, and I hope you wont either.
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Customer Reviews
Cheers!, 14 Oct 2008
Following the buzz around the release of the Sex In The City film, I bought a couple of copies of this book as birthday presents for girlfriends, to accompany designer cocktail glasses.
It's a thorough and informative compendium and you certainly wouldn't need to own another cocktail book if you had this one on your book shelves, but I - personally - like more photos (so I know what end look I'm aiming for!).
However, I AM looking forward to sampling many of the 1000 suggested concoctions around at my chums houses over the years to come... cheers!! hic!!! If you only buy one cocktail book..., 05 Oct 2008
...buy this one. There are no pretty pictures, but it offers a no-frills approach to mixing cocktails. Ingredients, method, glass, garnish and alcohol units are given for each recipe. The glossary of spirits is very good and the index is the best of any cocktail book I've come across. There are other books that offer more exotic fare, but this book covers all the basics and then some. It's OK ... but not all that, 18 Jul 2008
This book does exactly what it says on the cover and that is give you 1000 cocktail recipes.... but not a lot more than that. It is clearly laid out but dull. You need this book in your house hold in the same way as you need a drain un-blocker. It's very very useful but not very pretty. The perfect mix, 18 Jun 2004
If you want a no-frills guide to a huge range of cocktails, this book really delivers. As well as the basic terminology (types of glass, essential equipment etc) it provides brief descriptions of most spirits, gives an indication as to how "tasty" each coctail is, an indication of the alcohol content and a short summary of where it originated. The indexes are also really useful, listing cocktails by name or by main ingredient... Found a bottle of Creme De Cassis at the back of the cupboard? Just flick through the "index by ingredients" for some inspiration on how best to get rid of it! All-in-all one of the best general cocktail recipe books I've come across. My only change would be to print it on splash-proof paper!
who drank all the galliano..?, 19 Feb 2003
.
This is an excellent book which covers just about every cocktail on the go, allthough there are always going to be different 'home' recipes and 'house' recipes for a lot of bars and clubs you go to. This will not only give you recipes for drinks you want to make or have heard of before, but will also give you ideas of what to do with some of the bottles you've got lying round after Christmas and can't think what to do with them. Lots of the cocktails come with 'alcohol content' and sometimes a quick tale of where or when the particular drink was first made. An excellent all rounder which looks good on the shelf.
Funny, Innovative and Fun, 17 Sep 2008
I was really impressed with the Recipe book.
I love Innocent Smoothies, though thought they were very expensive, and like many others, bought this book as a cheaper option. To make smoothies that taste good and are cheap.
I was thouroughly satisfied. I have made a few of these smoothies (without a juicer I might add) and they have blessedly tasted the same as the ones I love.
I would recommend it to anyone.
The posh ones are particularly good :)
The book was funny and a joy to read, with jokes and fun facts and even exercises to do while you make your smoothie.
Very high quality. Very impressed.
I am a Smoothie convert!, 05 Apr 2008
I have never really liked smoothies, milkshakes etc but as part of a healthy eating plan, thought I would be better snacking on these than crisps! This book is great, it has a good selection of both smoothies and juices and also a good insight on which fruit to use and what they are good for etc. It is very well written and has some delicious recipes- yes delicious! One thing to mention is that you will need both a smoothie maker and a juicer if you want to make all the recipes.
Lovely little book!!, 24 Feb 2008
Really good book, fantastic for the real smoothie enthusiast, bit over the top for me, but has given me lts of ideas for more child friendly smoothies. Really is a fantastic book just a bit fancy if all you want is basic smoothie recipes for everday use. BARGAIN
Fantastic Book... a real investment!, 20 Jan 2008
A great book!! Just the right size and jam packed full of not just recipes but also great advice on the produce needed and equiptment etc.
I'm also going to directly disagree with the previous reviewer and say that I cannot believe that from the very first recipe I attempted it tasted as great (if not better!?) than the shop bought innocent faves!! Plus living in the country has not hindered me one bit in finding the ingredients, a mixture of supporting a local fruit 'n' veg traders shop and anything unavailable from there (i.e. out of season) can be found in all large-ish supermarkets all year round.
So so sooooo pleased with the book I want to pass it around to my friends, but at the same time don't want to be without it, so will be buying them for birthdays and christmas!!
Nice recipes, 21 Dec 2007
Theres lots of nice smoothies in this book, although im finding it hard to match the same niceness as what you can buy. Also some of the ingrediants tend to be hard to come by living in the country!
We need more men Like Mark Thomas, 16 Nov 2008
No one else seems to have the cohones of this man, I applaud him, for both his tenacity, but also for his humor in the face of so much global misery, having recently seen his live show as well I have even more admiration for him, buy this book and admire the man that dares to go up against big business and Governments.
An expose of globalisation, as much as a book about Coke, 04 Nov 2008
I've always liked Mark Thomas' brand of protest politics, investigative journalism and stand-up comedy, so I was interested to see he has taken on the mighty Coca Cola empire.
My first impressions of this particular book though, are two-fold: firstly, that's a terrible name. Secondly, it's a terrible cover. Still, it's the writing inside that counts, and all is well on that front.
`Belching out the devil' chronicles a series of journeys to various parts of the world to meet those who have experienced `the Coke side of life'. There are Indian farmers with empty wells, Colombian trade unionists with collections of death threats, hassled Mexican shopkeepers who committed the unforgivable sin of stocking rival brand `Big Cola' in their fridges. Thomas does a great job of portraying these characters, giving them faces and names and vividly describing their communities, interspersing their stories with his own amusing travel writing.
Coca Cola get the right to reply, and a pattern rapidly emerges: because Coca Cola operate a franchise system, their back is always covered. "The Coca Cola Company does not own or operate any bottling plants in Colombia" has always, famously, been their answer to accusations of union busting, even to the point where 7 union organisers were killed at one bottling plant. They are able to say the same of the bottlers in India who are lowering the water table, or the ones employing children in El Salvador.
As Thomas says, "no matter where the human rights abuses occurred, if it's your name on the label then you're responsible for sorting it out." Unfortunately this could be said of almost every major corporation, from oil companies to high street fashion houses. Brands should not be allowed to hide behind middle men.
In the end,`Belching out the devil' is really an expose of branding, of globalisation and its winners and losers, using Coca Cola as a case study. As such, despite the title and the cover, it's rather good.
Bad corporation, 02 Nov 2008
This is an educational and and enjoyable read even though the story is about the blighted lives of people on different continents at the hands of coke.
Mark exposes the staunch anti union attitudes of the company, the damage they cause to the environment and the lies they tell when fingers are pointed at them, not to mention the bully-boy tactics when their grasp on the market is threatened.
It's only sugary water after all.
Not all sweetness and sugar, 11 Oct 2008
Reading any of Mark Thomas's books, articles, or even watching an episode of the television series that preceeded them always leaves me feeling angry, depressed and with a real frustration that I am doing little to make the world a better place. So it was with some trepidation that I finally picked up Belching Out The Devil. I was also concerned that as a conscientious consumer who already avoids Coca-Cola that the book would merely be preaching to the converted (me).
Belching Out The Devil brings you on a journey around the world, tackling the many issues that blacken the Coca-Cola brand; the infringement on workers rights, the environmental impact and drought caused by the bottling plants and the pure disregard that The Coca-Cola Company has for the communities it inhabits. It is an easy read packed with hard hitting facts, humour and pop culture references which help you connect with the author, meaning that he becomes a character in his own book rather than assuming the role of preacher. It is well researched and leaves no hole for Coca-Cola to wiggle through. At all times Coca-Cola are asked to respond to Mark Thomas's allegations and at all times his questions are greeted with frustrating PR spiel, there is a hope that if Coca-Cola learn anything from this book it would be to stop making excuses and actually commit themselves fully to the corporate social responsibility they espouse.
There is no call to action in Belching Out The Devil but it does leave you with the sensation of needing to do something, weather it be a boycott or just awareness raising amongst those you know. Some of the stories contained within are reassuring proof that it is possible for one person to make a difference.
problems of sugary caramel water, 03 Oct 2008
Belching Out the Devil: Global Adventures with Coca-Cola
The author offers a honest and unbiased account of a journey across the globe to find the truth behind coca-cola. The writing style is warm and entertaining packed with interesting facts which bring you to really question what else you could have with your whisky. Belching out the devil offers a clear and concise account of the sociological, economical and political problems coca-cola brings to communities when it sets up business. I will never drink coca-cola ever again, and I hope you wont either.
Sipping these Outpourings, 31 Oct 2008
The writers of this 'cabinet of bibelots' have given much thought to their collection of 'diversions' and heroically done their research, drained it to the dregs, I'd hazard a guess. Who says writers have it easy? Not me. I'd happily have offered to do some of their research for them, take the strain, smooth their path, lighten their load...sigh.
The reader can only settle down and sip this vintage blend. It seems intended, as surely its subject is, to be sipped at leisure, with pleasure and in generous measure. Like a tempting banquet it demands a discussion of the best accompaniment to its delights ... an amphora of famous Falernian? a cup of Hippocras? some dazzling comet? maybe a more accessible Californian cabernet? or simply a jug of vin du pays, a loaf of bread ... it's all there.
Being an enthusiast (of the hopeful type rather than than the writers' brand of erudite), I already knew some of the sippets herein enclosed, but it dips and dives into many more: some arcane (bee wine?), some mythical (Antipaxos wine?), some quirky (swizzle sticks anyone?), and all entertaining.
This book should slip easily into a Christmas stocking, as its contents slip easily and pleasurably into the mind, and its subject slips even more easily over the taste receptors and down the throat. Yum!
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The World Atlas of Wine
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Hugh JohnsonJancis Robinson;
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Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
*Best price found from Amazon Marketplace seller
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*Amazon: £19.94
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Customer Reviews
Cheers!, 14 Oct 2008
Following the buzz around the release of the Sex In The City film, I bought a couple of copies of this book as birthday presents for girlfriends, to accompany designer cocktail glasses.
It's a thorough and informative compendium and you certainly wouldn't need to own another cocktail book if you had this one on your book shelves, but I - personally - like more photos (so I know what end look I'm aiming for!).
However, I AM looking forward to sampling many of the 1000 suggested concoctions around at my chums houses over the years to come... cheers!! hic!!! If you only buy one cocktail book..., 05 Oct 2008
...buy this one. There are no pretty pictures, but it offers a no-frills approach to mixing cocktails. Ingredients, method, glass, garnish and alcohol units are given for each recipe. The glossary of spirits is very good and the index is the best of any cocktail book I've come across. There are other books that offer more exotic fare, but this book covers all the basics and then some. It's OK ... but not all that, 18 Jul 2008
This book does exactly what it says on the cover and that is give you 1000 cocktail recipes.... but not a lot more than that. It is clearly laid out but dull. You need this book in your house hold in the same way as you need a drain un-blocker. It's very very useful but not very pretty. The perfect mix, 18 Jun 2004
If you want a no-frills guide to a huge range of cocktails, this book really delivers. As well as the basic terminology (types of glass, essential equipment etc) it provides brief descriptions of most spirits, gives an indication as to how "tasty" each coctail is, an indication of the alcohol content and a short summary of where it originated. The indexes are also really useful, listing cocktails by name or by main ingredient... Found a bottle of Creme De Cassis at the back of the cupboard? Just flick through the "index by ingredients" for some inspiration on how best to get rid of it! All-in-all one of the best general cocktail recipe books I've come across. My only change would be to print it on splash-proof paper!
who drank all the galliano..?, 19 Feb 2003
.
This is an excellent book which covers just about every cocktail on the go, allthough there are always going to be different 'home' recipes and 'house' recipes for a lot of bars and clubs you go to. This will not only give you recipes for drinks you want to make or have heard of before, but will also give you ideas of what to do with some of the bottles you've got lying round after Christmas and can't think what to do with them. Lots of the cocktails come with 'alcohol content' and sometimes a quick tale of where or when the particular drink was first made. An excellent all rounder which looks good on the shelf.
Funny, Innovative and Fun, 17 Sep 2008
I was really impressed with the Recipe book.
I love Innocent Smoothies, though thought they were very expensive, and like many others, bought this book as a cheaper option. To make smoothies that taste good and are cheap.
I was thouroughly satisfied. I have made a few of these smoothies (without a juicer I might add) and they have blessedly tasted the same as the ones I love.
I would recommend it to anyone.
The posh ones are particularly good :)
The book was funny and a joy to read, with jokes and fun facts and even exercises to do while you make your smoothie.
Very high quality. Very impressed.
I am a Smoothie convert!, 05 Apr 2008
I have never really liked smoothies, milkshakes etc but as part of a healthy eating plan, thought I would be better snacking on these than crisps! This book is great, it has a good selection of both smoothies and juices and also a good insight on which fruit to use and what they are good for etc. It is very well written and has some delicious recipes- yes delicious! One thing to mention is that you will need both a smoothie maker and a juicer if you want to make all the recipes.
Lovely little book!!, 24 Feb 2008
Really good book, fantastic for the real smoothie enthusiast, bit over the top for me, but has given me lts of ideas for more child friendly smoothies. Really is a fantastic book just a bit fancy if all you want is basic smoothie recipes for everday use. BARGAIN
Fantastic Book... a real investment!, 20 Jan 2008
A great book!! Just the right size and jam packed full of not just recipes but also great advice on the produce needed and equiptment etc.
I'm also going to directly disagree with the previous reviewer and say that I cannot believe that from the very first recipe I attempted it tasted as great (if not better!?) than the shop bought innocent faves!! Plus living in the country has not hindered me one bit in finding the ingredients, a mixture of supporting a local fruit 'n' veg traders shop and anything unavailable from there (i.e. out of season) can be found in all large-ish supermarkets all year round.
So so sooooo pleased with the book I want to pass it around to my friends, but at the same time don't want to be without it, so will be buying them for birthdays and christmas!!
Nice recipes, 21 Dec 2007
Theres lots of nice smoothies in this book, although im finding it hard to match the same niceness as what you can buy. Also some of the ingrediants tend to be hard to come by living in the country!
We need more men Like Mark Thomas, 16 Nov 2008
No one else seems to have the cohones of this man, I applaud him, for both his tenacity, but also for his humor in the face of so much global misery, having recently seen his live show as well I have even more admiration for him, buy this book and admire the man that dares to go up against big business and Governments.
An expose of globalisation, as much as a book about Coke, 04 Nov 2008
I've always liked Mark Thomas' brand of protest politics, investigative journalism and stand-up comedy, so I was interested to see he has taken on the mighty Coca Cola empire.
My first impressions of this particular book though, are two-fold: firstly, that's a terrible name. Secondly, it's a terrible cover. Still, it's the writing inside that counts, and all is well on that front.
`Belching out the devil' chronicles a series of journeys to various parts of the world to meet those who have experienced `the Coke side of life'. There are Indian farmers with empty wells, Colombian trade unionists with collections of death threats, hassled Mexican shopkeepers who committed the unforgivable sin of stocking rival brand `Big Cola' in their fridges. Thomas does a great job of portraying these characters, giving them faces and names and vividly describing their communities, interspersing their stories with his own amusing travel writing.
Coca Cola get the right to reply, and a pattern rapidly emerges: because Coca Cola operate a franchise system, their back is always covered. "The Coca Cola Company does not own or operate any bottling plants in Colombia" has always, famously, been their answer to accusations of union busting, even to the point where 7 union organisers were killed at one bottling plant. They are able to say the same of the bottlers in India who are lowering the water table, or the ones employing children in El Salvador.
As Thomas says, "no matter where the human rights abuses occurred, if it's your name on the label then you're responsible for sorting it out." Unfortunately this could be said of almost every major corporation, from oil companies to high street fashion houses. Brands should not be allowed to hide behind middle men.
In the end,`Belching out the devil' is really an expose of branding, of globalisation and its winners and losers, using Coca Cola as a case study. As such, despite the title and the cover, it's rather good.
Bad corporation, 02 Nov 2008
This is an educational and and enjoyable read even though the story is about the blighted lives of people on different continents at the hands of coke.
Mark exposes the staunch anti union attitudes of the company, the damage they cause to the environment and the lies they tell when fingers are pointed at them, not to mention the bully-boy tactics when their grasp on the market is threatened.
It's only sugary water after all.
Not all sweetness and sugar, 11 Oct 2008
Reading any of Mark Thomas's books, articles, or even watching an episode of the television series that preceeded them always leaves me feeling angry, depressed and with a real frustration that I am doing little to make the world a better place. So it was with some trepidation that I finally picked up Belching Out The Devil. I was also concerned that as a conscientious consumer who already avoids Coca-Cola that the book would merely be preaching to the converted (me).
Belching Out The Devil brings you on a journey around the world, tackling the many issues that blacken the Coca-Cola brand; the infringement on workers rights, the environmental impact and drought caused by the bottling plants and the pure disregard that The Coca-Cola Company has for the communities it inhabits. It is an easy read packed with hard hitting facts, humour and pop culture references which help you connect with the author, meaning that he becomes a character in his own book rather than assuming the role of preacher. It is well researched and leaves no hole for Coca-Cola to wiggle through. At all times Coca-Cola are asked to respond to Mark Thomas's allegations and at all times his questions are greeted with frustrating PR spiel, there is a hope that if Coca-Cola learn anything from this book it would be to stop making excuses and actually commit themselves fully to the corporate social responsibility they espouse.
There is no call to action in Belching Out The Devil but it does leave you with the sensation of needing to do something, weather it be a boycott or just awareness raising amongst those you know. Some of the stories contained within are reassuring proof that it is possible for one person to make a difference.
problems of sugary caramel water, 03 Oct 2008
Belching Out the Devil: Global Adventures with Coca-Cola
The author offers a honest and unbiased account of a journey across the globe to find the truth behind coca-cola. The writing style is warm and entertaining packed with interesting facts which bring you to really question what else you could have with your whisky. Belching out the devil offers a clear and concise account of the sociological, economical and political problems coca-cola brings to communities when it sets up business. I will never drink coca-cola ever again, and I hope you wont either.
Sipping these Outpourings, 31 Oct 2008
The writers of this 'cabinet of bibelots' have given much thought to their collection of 'diversions' and heroically done their research, drained it to the dregs, I'd hazard a guess. Who says writers have it easy? Not me. I'd happily have offered to do some of their research for them, take the strain, smooth their path, lighten their load...sigh.
The reader can only settle down and sip this vintage blend. It seems intended, as surely its subject is, to be sipped at leisure, with pleasure and in generous measure. Like a tempting banquet it demands a discussion of the best accompaniment to its delights ... an amphora of famous Falernian? a cup of Hippocras? some dazzling comet? maybe a more accessible Californian cabernet? or simply a jug of vin du pays, a loaf of bread ... it's all there.
Being an enthusiast (of the hopeful type rather than than the writers' brand of erudite), I already knew some of the sippets herein enclosed, but it dips and dives into many more: some arcane (bee wine?), some mythical (Antipaxos wine?), some quirky (swizzle sticks anyone?), and all entertaining.
This book should slip easily into a Christmas stocking, as its contents slip easily and pleasurably into the mind, and its subject slips even more easily over the taste receptors and down the throat. Yum!
Excellent book for the right audience, 05 Jan 2008
The ever increasing size of this book reflects the increasing interest in wine, so it now lands with an impressive thump on your desktop. Though its content doesn't always reflect who that new market is.
The authors start with a, rather meandering, description of the history and production of wine and some basic notes on tasting, appreciation and handling of wine. Some of this is very useful, most of it is very basic for someone who already knows the subject and all of it could do with some editing to make the best of their material. Some of it punctures some of the myths about wine such as how long wines should be laid down and do you really need to let wine breath. Elsewhere they perpetuate some of those myths, for example they still seem to give the whole concept of 'terroir' an almost mystical reverence.
That introduction, however, is not really the point of this volume. This appears to be aimed at the new wine connoisseur or someone who wants to be a connoisseur. The real body of this is a fairly comprehensive atlas of vineyards and producers. The detail with which they cover their subject is variable but excusably so as it reflects the varying national interest in wine. So France is covered in incredible detail while England, however much it's wine industry may be growing, is given one brief page. Annoying when you had hoped for something comprehensive but understandable. As long as you stick to well established wine producing regions and buy from those regions this will have something to tell you.
Which, excellent as it is, is also a problem this book has. Ninety per cent of the wine buying public, whether they are buying something cheap and nasty from tescos or something better from a merchant will be buying a blend; a chardonnay or shiraz whose provenance can be narrowed down no more closely than southern Australia, South Africa or so on. Good as those wines are this book doesn't help in selecting them.
If you've moved from just buying a muscadet or whatever to buying 'something from the Loire Valley' then this is ideal for you. If you want to do so then this is ideal. If you like wine and maps then this is interesting if not useful. If you, like me, are happy buying muscadet and merlot but have no real desire to take your wine buying much further then this is probably not for you. So, interesting but impractical for most of us but excellent for the right audience.
The World According to Wine, 23 Dec 2007
At 400 pages, British wine experts Huge Johnson and Jancis Robinson have created their most exhaustive atlas yet, and a tremendous resource. The book is gorgeous - with a generous amount of color illustrations, photos, and maps, including 2 page spreads. All told there are 48 extra pages over the previous edition.
The 6th edition contains 200 maps, all revised and updates, including 20 new maps. The introduction contains essays on wine in the ancient world, vine types, grape varieties, weather, terroir, the wine growers calendar, how wine is made, etc. etc. Robinson has said this new edition took two years of concentrated effort. It was worth it!
Then the authors dive deep into wine regions organized by country. Each region or country covered has a colored map, an essay about the characteristics of the reason, vital statistics, and a few wine labels. France has the most with 55 regions featured, indeed, a quarter of the volume (100 pages) is on France. Italy features 18 regions. Spain 9. Portugal 6. Germany 12. United States 17. Australia 12. New Zealand 4. Other countries covered include: England and Wales, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Western Balkans, Bulgaria, Romania, Former Soviet Republics, Greece, Eastern Mediterranean, North Africa, South Africa, China, Japan, and the rest of Asia. I find the information scant on Chile and Argentina, which is odd given their increased market exposure and rising excellence of wines.
The authors have expanded New World coverage, in keeping with expanded exposure and quality of the wine produced in these regions, for Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, South America, and South Africa. These are additions, with nothing taken away from the previous fabulous coverage of Old & New World wine regions.
Since the first edition in 1971, the World Atlas of Wine has sold more than 4 million copies and I'm happy to add this new 6th edition to my library, especially at such a reasonable price. It's always a pleasure to look up some background information on tonight's glass of wine.
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Customer Reviews
Cheers!, 14 Oct 2008
Following the buzz around the release of the Sex In The City film, I bought a couple of copies of this book as birthday presents for girlfriends, to accompany designer cocktail glasses.
It's a thorough and informative compendium and you certainly wouldn't need to own another cocktail book if you had this one on your book shelves, but I - personally - like more photos (so I know what end look I'm aiming for!).
However, I AM looking forward to sampling many of the 1000 suggested concoctions around at my chums houses over the years to come... cheers!! hic!!! If you only buy one cocktail book..., 05 Oct 2008
...buy this one. There are no pretty pictures, but it offers a no-frills approach to mixing cocktails. Ingredients, method, glass, garnish and alcohol units are given for each recipe. The glossary of spirits is very good and the index is the best of any cocktail book I've come across. There are other books that offer more exotic fare, but this book covers all the basics and then some. It's OK ... but not all that, 18 Jul 2008
This book does exactly what it says on the cover and that is give you 1000 cocktail recipes.... but not a lot more than that. It is clearly laid out but dull. You need this book in your house hold in the same way as you need a drain un-blocker. It's very very useful but not very pretty. The perfect mix, 18 Jun 2004
If you want a no-frills guide to a huge range of cocktails, this book really delivers. As well as the basic terminology (types of glass, essential equipment etc) it provides brief descriptions of most spirits, gives an indication as to how "tasty" each coctail is, an indication of the alcohol content and a short summary of where it originated. The indexes are also really useful, listing cocktails by name or by main ingredient... Found a bottle of Creme De Cassis at the back of the cupboard? Just flick through the "index by ingredients" for some inspiration on how best to get rid of it! All-in-all one of the best general cocktail recipe books I've come across. My only change would be to print it on splash-proof paper!
who drank all the galliano..?, 19 Feb 2003
.
This is an excellent book which covers just about every cocktail on the go, allthough there are always going to be different 'home' recipes and 'house' recipes for a lot of bars and clubs you go to. This will not only give you recipes for drinks you want to make or have heard of before, but will also give you ideas of what to do with some of the bottles you've got lying round after Christmas and can't think what to do with them. Lots of the cocktails come with 'alcohol content' and sometimes a quick tale of where or when the particular drink was first made. An excellent all rounder which looks good on the shelf.
Funny, Innovative and Fun, 17 Sep 2008
I was really impressed with the Recipe book.
I love Innocent Smoothies, though thought they were very expensive, and like many others, bought this book as a cheaper option. To make smoothies that taste good and are cheap.
I was thouroughly satisfied. I have made a few of these smoothies (without a juicer I might add) and they have blessedly tasted the same as the ones I love.
I would recommend it to anyone.
The posh ones are particularly good :)
The book was funny and a joy to read, with jokes and fun facts and even exercises to do while you make your smoothie.
Very high quality. Very impressed.
I am a Smoothie convert!, 05 Apr 2008
I have never really liked smoothies, milkshakes etc but as part of a healthy eating plan, thought I would be better snacking on these than crisps! This book is great, it has a good selection of both smoothies and juices and also a good insight on which fruit to use and what they are good for etc. It is very well written and has some delicious recipes- yes delicious! One thing to mention is that you will need both a smoothie maker and a juicer if you want to make all the recipes.
Lovely little book!!, 24 Feb 2008
Really good book, fantastic for the real smoothie enthusiast, bit over the top for me, but has given me lts of ideas for more child friendly smoothies. Really is a fantastic book just a bit fancy if all you want is basic smoothie recipes for everday use. BARGAIN
Fantastic Book... a real investment!, 20 Jan 2008
A great book!! Just the right size and jam packed full of not just recipes but also great advice on the produce needed and equiptment etc.
I'm also going to directly disagree with the previous reviewer and say that I cannot believe that from the very first recipe I attempted it tasted as great (if not better!?) than the shop bought innocent faves!! Plus living in the country has not hindered me one bit in finding the ingredients, a mixture of supporting a local fruit 'n' veg traders shop and anything unavailable from there (i.e. out of season) can be found in all large-ish supermarkets all year round.
So so sooooo pleased with the book I want to pass it around to my friends, but at the same time don't want to be without it, so will be buying them for birthdays and christmas!!
Nice recipes, 21 Dec 2007
Theres lots of nice smoothies in this book, although im finding it hard to match the same niceness as what you can buy. Also some of the ingrediants tend to be hard to come by living in the country!
We need more men Like Mark Thomas, 16 Nov 2008
No one else seems to have the cohones of this man, I applaud him, for both his tenacity, but also for his humor in the face of so much global misery, having recently seen his live show as well I have even more admiration for him, buy this book and admire the man that dares to go up against big business and Governments.
An expose of globalisation, as much as a book about Coke, 04 Nov 2008
I've always liked Mark Thomas' brand of protest politics, investigative journalism and stand-up comedy, so I was interested to see he has taken on the mighty Coca Cola empire.
My first impressions of this particular book though, are two-fold: firstly, that's a terrible name. Secondly, it's a terrible cover. Still, it's the writing inside that counts, and all is well on that front.
`Belching out the devil' chronicles a series of journeys to various parts of the world to meet those who have experienced `the Coke side of life'. There are Indian farmers with empty wells, Colombian trade unionists with collections of death threats, hassled Mexican shopkeepers who committed the unforgivable sin of stocking rival brand `Big Cola' in their fridges. Thomas does a great job of portraying these characters, giving them faces and names and vividly describing their communities, interspersing their stories with his own amusing travel writing.
Coca Cola get the right to reply, and a pattern rapidly emerges: because Coca Cola operate a franchise system, their back is always covered. "The Coca Cola Company does not own or operate any bottling plants in Colombia" has always, famously, been their answer to accusations of union busting, even to the point where 7 union organisers were killed at one bottling plant. They are able to say the same of the bottlers in India who are lowering the water table, or the ones employing children in El Salvador.
As Thomas says, "no matter where the human rights abuses occurred, if it's your name on the label then you're responsible for sorting it out." Unfortunately this could be said of almost every major corporation, from oil companies to high street fashion houses. Brands should not be allowed to hide behind middle men.
In the end,`Belching out the devil' is really an expose of branding, of globalisation and its winners and losers, using Coca Cola as a case study. As such, despite the title and the cover, it's rather good.
Bad corporation, 02 Nov 2008
This is an educational and and enjoyable read even though the story is about the blighted lives of people on different continents at the hands of coke.
Mark exposes the staunch anti union attitudes of the company, the damage they cause to the environment and the lies they tell when fingers are pointed at them, not to mention the bully-boy tactics when their grasp on the market is threatened.
It's only sugary water after all.
Not all sweetness and sugar, 11 Oct 2008
Reading any of Mark Thomas's books, articles, or even watching an episode of the television series that preceeded them always leaves me feeling angry, depressed and with a real frustration that I am doing little to make the world a better place. So it was with some trepidation that I finally picked up Belching Out The Devil. I was also concerned that as a conscientious consumer who already avoids Coca-Cola that the book would merely be preaching to the converted (me).
Belching Out The Devil brings you on a journey around the world, tackling the many issues that blacken the Coca-Cola brand; the infringement on workers rights, the environmental impact and drought caused by the bottling plants and the pure disregard that The Coca-Cola Company has for the communities it inhabits. It is an easy read packed with hard hitting facts, humour and pop culture references which help you connect with the author, meaning that he becomes a character in his own book rather than assuming the role of preacher. It is well researched and leaves no hole for Coca-Cola to wiggle through. At all times Coca-Cola are asked to respond to Mark Thomas's allegations and at all times his questions are greeted with frustrating PR spiel, there is a hope that if Coca-Cola learn anything from this book it would be to stop making excuses and actually commit themselves fully to the corporate social responsibility they espouse.
There is no call to action in Belching Out The Devil but it does leave you with the sensation of needing to do something, weather it be a boycott or just awareness raising amongst those you know. Some of the stories contained within are reassuring proof that it is possible for one person to make a difference.
problems of sugary caramel water, 03 Oct 2008
Belching Out the Devil: Global Adventures with Coca-Cola
The author offers a honest and unbiased account of a journey across the globe to find the truth behind coca-cola. The writing style is warm and entertaining packed with interesting facts which bring you to really question what else you could have with your whisky. Belching out the devil offers a clear and concise account of the sociological, economical and political problems coca-cola brings to communities when it sets up business. I will never drink coca-cola ever again, and I hope you wont either.
Sipping these Outpourings, 31 Oct 2008
The writers of this 'cabinet of bibelots' have given much thought to their collection of 'diversions' and heroically done their research, drained it to the dregs, I'd hazard a guess. Who says writers have it easy? Not me. I'd happily have offered to do some of their research for them, take the strain, smooth their path, lighten their load...sigh.
The reader can only settle down and sip this vintage blend. It seems intended, as surely its subject is, to be sipped at leisure, with pleasure and in generous measure. Like a tempting banquet it demands a discussion of the best accompaniment to its delights ... an amphora of famous Falernian? a cup of Hippocras? some dazzling comet? maybe a more accessible Californian cabernet? or simply a jug of vin du pays, a loaf of bread ... it's all there.
Being an enthusiast (of the hopeful type rather than than the writers' brand of erudite), I already knew some of the sippets herein enclosed, but it dips and dives into many more: some arcane (bee wine?), some mythical (Antipaxos wine?), some quirky (swizzle sticks anyone?), and all entertaining.
This book should slip easily into a Christmas stocking, as its contents slip easily and pleasurably into the mind, and its subject slips even more easily over the taste receptors and down the throat. Yum!
Excellent book for the right audience, 05 Jan 2008
The ever increasing size of this book reflects the increasing interest in wine, so it now lands with an impressive thump on your desktop. Though its content doesn't always reflect who that new market is.
The authors start with a, rather meandering, description of the history and production of wine and some basic notes on tasting, appreciation and handling of wine. Some of this is very useful, most of it is very basic for someone who already knows the subject and all of it could do with some editing to make the best of their material. Some of it punctures some of the myths about wine such as how long wines should be laid down and do you really need to let wine breath. Elsewhere they perpetuate some of those myths, for example they still seem to give the whole concept of 'terroir' an almost mystical reverence.
That introduction, however, is not really the point of this volume. This appears to be aimed at the new wine connoisseur or someone who wants to be a connoisseur. The real body of this is a fairly comprehensive atlas of vineyards and producers. The detail with which they cover their subject is variable but excusably so as it reflects the varying national interest in wine. So France is covered in incredible detail while England, however much it's wine industry may be growing, is given one brief page. Annoying when you had hoped for something comprehensive but understandable. As long as you stick to well established wine producing regions and buy from those regions this will have something to tell you.
Which, excellent as it is, is also a problem this book has. Ninety per cent of the wine buying public, whether they are buying something cheap and nasty from tescos or something better from a merchant will be buying a blend; a chardonnay or shiraz whose provenance can be narrowed down no more closely than southern Australia, South Africa or so on. Good as those wines are this book doesn't help in selecting them.
If you've moved from just buying a muscadet or whatever to buying 'something from the Loire Valley' then this is ideal for you. If you want to do so then this is ideal. If you like wine and maps then this is interesting if not useful. If you, like me, are happy buying muscadet and merlot but have no real desire to take your wine buying much further then this is probably not for you. So, interesting but impractical for most of us but excellent for the right audience.
The World According to Wine, 23 Dec 2007
At 400 pages, British wine experts Huge Johnson and Jancis Robinson have created their most exhaustive atlas yet, and a tremendous resource. The book is gorgeous - with a generous amount of color illustrations, photos, and maps, including 2 page spreads. All told there are 48 extra pages over the previous edition.
The 6th edition contains 200 maps, all revised and updates, including 20 new maps. The introduction contains essays on wine in the ancient world, vine types, grape varieties, weather, terroir, the wine growers calendar, how wine is made, etc. etc. Robinson has said this new edition took two years of concentrated effort. It was worth it!
Then the authors dive deep into wine regions organized by country. Each region or country covered has a colored map, an essay about the characteristics of the reason, vital statistics, and a few wine labels. France has the most with 55 regions featured, indeed, a quarter of the volume (100 pages) is on France. Italy features 18 regions. Spain 9. Portugal 6. Germany 12. United States 17. Australia 12. New Zealand 4. Other countries covered include: England and Wales, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Western Balkans, Bulgaria, Romania, Former Soviet Republics, Greece, Eastern Mediterranean, North Africa, South Africa, China, Japan, and the rest of Asia. I find the information scant on Chile and Argentina, which is odd given their increased market exposure and rising excellence of wines.
The authors have expanded New World coverage, in keeping with expanded exposure and quality of the wine produced in these regions, for Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, South America, and South Africa. These are additions, with nothing taken away from the previous fabulous coverage of Old & New World wine regions.
Since the first edition in 1971, the World Atlas of Wine has sold more than 4 million copies and I'm happy to add this new 6th edition to my library, especially at such a reasonable price. It's always a pleasure to look up some background information on tonight's glass of wine.
A real kickstart to a healthy lifestyle, 15 Oct 2008
I followed it to the letter and lost 8lb in 7 days (I was 1.5st overweight, but otherwise fit). It required v little willpower. I didn't even crave chocolate (and I was a 2-3 bar per day girl before) and it has definately unhooked me from my unhealthy eating habits (sugar, salt, caffeine, comfort food) and given me the boost I needed.
The plan requires organisation and the ability to wash up lots (the juicer and blender) as you are making juices up to 5 times per day! Once you're in the swing of it, the juices are quick and will probably save you time compared to regular cooking.
I did feel hungry and light headed at times, despite the calorie intake, but then I am running around after 2 small children all day and rarely sit down. I also has loads of itchy "detox" spots (v unusual for me to even have 1!). The turbo plan that follows seems easier and I have felt my energy levels returning, the spots are going too.
If you are serious about doing this, then get the CD - it really helps if you get half way thro and want to give it all up (pretty normal on any plan!)
Effective but expensive endurance test, 08 Sep 2008
I really didn't like the style this book was written in. It's evangelical, repetitive and irritatingly patronising. I also hated everything being described as juicy all the time - I know it's a juice book but it got on my nerves after the tenth page. The author markets his other products in the book - the marketing is excellent and you have a huge range of products and media to choose from if you feel you need it. Personally the book was enough for me.
As for the diet it's expensive as you need a lot of fruit, supplements, a blender and a juicer but if you are planning to make a lifestyle change then it's an investment. I normally like juices but I didn't enjoy many of these recipes much, although I did get used to them. I had to cut down the supplements as they made me so nauseous and I didn't have any extra energy - quite the opposite - which was annoying as that's why I did this in the first place. Also I was hungry for most of the time, again contrary to the book. However I did lose more than 7lbs and so I think it is effective for weight loss. Note that you are instructed to weigh yourself the evening before you start and the morning after you finish the diet. As you always weigh less in the morning I think this is a bit of a trick to make you think you've lost more than you have. Also in order to maintain this weight loss you should then go on to the following regime in his next book......as I said, his marketing is excellent.
Awful !!, 09 Aug 2008
This diet is my idea of torture, I happily read the blurb and was even excited at the prospect of diet, and unfortunately this was short lived.
The first juice resembled a dark green colour, has the most awful smell, stagnant pond water is an apt description.
About half way through consuming this juice, I threw it up.
I did persevere, but most of the juices are disgusting.
Don't bother wasting your money on this book.
Easy, Simple, Healthy, 03 Jun 2008
I bought this book on a whim as I've only a small bit of weight to lose, but I travel quite a lot so I was interested in the detox aspect of it as well. Every body needs a tune up now and then and this is a great way to do it. If you're looking to shed a few pounds or give your system a boost, I highly recommend this book. I felt more energized, slept better, had healthier skin and was in higher spirits than usual after following this program, it's fantastic.
If you are planning to follow a juice program I very highly suggest you purchase the Phillips aluminum juicer, I love it and use it constantly. Combine a great juicer with some tasty recipes and you'll be hooked as well
effective, if expensive, 29 May 2008
Without doubt the most effective way to lose weight fast - in 10 days I have gone down a dress size; haven't once craved chocolate or tea/coffee. Radical - definitely sticking with it for a few more weeks. I didn't particularly like the writing style and lack of index makes it difficult to go back and quickly find the bit I wanted to re-read. Bought it with the Amanda Hamilton book Life Detox and found the combination of the two really helpful for making this a life change and not just a one off.
But these things do not detract from this being a good buy. My main gripe is the cost of all the powders and extras like Wheatgrass, Spirulina etc. Thought might be cheaper via their website but out of stock for the small sizes and still 50 quid, the set for this book is 80 quid. So be prepared.
Despite this highly recommended.
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Customer Reviews
Cheers!, 14 Oct 2008
Following the buzz around the release of the Sex In The City film, I bought a couple of copies of this book as birthday presents for girlfriends, to accompany designer cocktail glasses.
It's a thorough and informative compendium and you certainly wouldn't need to own another cocktail book if you had this one on your book shelves, but I - personally - like more photos (so I know what end look I'm aiming for!).
However, I AM looking forward to sampling many of the 1000 suggested concoctions around at my chums houses over the years to come... cheers!! hic!!! If you only buy one cocktail book..., 05 Oct 2008
...buy this one. There are no pretty pictures, but it offers a no-frills approach to mixing cocktails. Ingredients, method, glass, garnish and alcohol units are given for each recipe. The glossary of spirits is very good and the index is the best of any cocktail book I've come across. There are other books that offer more exotic fare, but this book covers all the basics and then some. It's OK ... but not all that, 18 Jul 2008
This book does exactly what it says on the cover and that is give you 1000 cocktail recipes.... but not a lot more than that. It is clearly laid out but dull. You need this book in your house hold in the same way as you need a drain un-blocker. It's very very useful but not very pretty. The perfect mix, 18 Jun 2004
If you want a no-frills guide to a huge range of cocktails, this book really delivers. As well as the basic terminology (types of glass, essential equipment etc) it provides brief descriptions of most spirits, gives an indication as to how "tasty" each coctail is, an indication of the alcohol content and a short summary of where it originated. The indexes are also really useful, listing cocktails by name or by main ingredient... Found a bottle of Creme De Cassis at the back of the cupboard? Just flick through the "index by ingredients" for some inspiration on how best to get rid of it! All-in-all one of the best general cocktail recipe books I've come across. My only change would be to print it on splash-proof paper!
who drank all the galliano..?, 19 Feb 2003
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This is an excellent book which covers just about every cocktail on the go, allthough there are always going to be different 'home' recipes and 'house' recipes for a lot of bars and clubs you go to. This will not only give you recipes for drinks you want to make or have heard of before, but will also give you ideas of what to do with some of the bottles you've got lying round after Christmas and can't think what to do with them. Lots of the cocktails come with 'alcohol content' and sometimes a quick tale of where or when the particular drink was first made. An excellent all rounder which looks good on the shelf.
Funny, Innovative and Fun, 17 Sep 2008
I was really impressed with the Recipe book.
I love Innocent Smoothies, though thought they were very expensive, and like many others, bought this book as a cheaper option. To make smoothies that taste good and are cheap.
I was thouroughly satisfied. I have made a few of these smoothies (without a juicer I might add) and they have blessedly tasted the same as the ones I love.
I would recommend it to anyone.
The posh ones are particularly good :)
The book was funny and a joy to read, with jokes and fun facts and even exercises to do while you make your smoothie.
Very high quality. Very impressed.
I am a Smoothie convert!, 05 Apr 2008
I have never really liked smoothies, milkshakes etc but as part of a healthy eating plan, thought I would be better snacking on these than crisps! This book is great, it has a good selection of both smoothies and juices and also a good insight on which fruit to use and what they are good for etc. It is very well written and has some delicious recipes- yes delicious! One thing to mention is that you will need both a smoothie maker and a juicer if you want to make all the recipes.
Lovely little book!!, 24 Feb 2008
Really good book, fantastic for the real smoothie enthusiast, bit over the top for me, but has given me lts of ideas for more child friendly smoothies. Really is a fantastic book just a bit fancy if all you want is basic smoothie recipes for everday use. BARGAIN
Fantastic Book... a real investment!, 20 Jan 2008
A great book!! Just the right size and jam packed full of not just recipes but also great advice on the produce needed and equiptment etc.
I'm also going to directly disagree with the previous reviewer and say that I cannot believe that from the very first recipe I attempted it tasted as great (if not better!?) than the shop bought innocent faves!! Plus living in the country has not hindered me one bit in finding the ingredients, a mixture of supporting a local fruit 'n' veg traders shop and anything unavailable from there (i.e. out of season) can be found in all large-ish supermarkets all year round.
So so sooooo pleased with the book I want to pass it around to my friends, but at the same time don't want to be without it, so will be buying them for birthdays and christmas!!
Nice recipes, 21 Dec 2007
Theres lots of nice smoothies in this book, although im finding it hard to match the same niceness as what you can buy. Also some of the ingrediants tend to be hard to come by living in the country!
We need more men Like Mark Thomas, 16 Nov 2008
No one else seems to have the cohones of this man, I applaud him, for both his tenacity, but also for his humor in the face of so much global misery, having recently seen his live show as well I have even more admiration for him, buy this book and admire the man that dares to go up against big business and Governments.
An expose of globalisation, as much as a book about Coke, 04 Nov 2008
I've always liked Mark Thomas' brand of protest politics, investigative journalism and stand-up comedy, so I was interested to see he has taken on the mighty Coca Cola empire.
My first impressions of this particular book though, are two-fold: firstly, that's a terrible name. Secondly, it's a terrible cover. Still, it's the writing inside that counts, and all is well on that front.
`Belching out the devil' chronicles a series of journeys to various parts of the world to meet those who have experienced `the Coke side of life'. There are Indian farmers with empty wells, Colombian trade unionists with collections of death threats, hassled Mexican shopkeepers who committed the unforgivable sin of stocking rival brand `Big Cola' in their fridges. Thomas does a great job of portraying these characters, giving them faces and names and vividly describing their communities, interspersing their stories with his own amusing travel writing.
Coca Cola get the right to reply, and a pattern rapidly emerges: because Coca Cola operate a franchise system, their back is always covered. "The Coca Cola Company does not own or operate any bottling plants in Colombia" has always, famously, been their answer to accusations of union busting, even to the point where 7 union organisers were killed at one bottling plant. They are able to say the same of the bottlers in India who are lowering the water table, or the ones employing children in El Salvador.
As Thomas says, "no matter where the human rights abuses occurred, if it's your name on the label then you're responsible for sorting it out." Unfortunately this could be said of almost every major corporation, from oil companies to high street fashion houses. Brands should not be allowed to hide behind middle men.
In the end,`Belching out the devil' is really an expose of branding, of globalisation and its winners and losers, using Coca Cola as a case study. As such, despite the title and the cover, it's rather good.
Bad corporation, 02 Nov 2008
This is an educational and and enjoyable read even though the story is about the blighted lives of people on different continents at the hands of coke.
Mark exposes the staunch anti union attitudes of the company, the damage they cause to the environment and the lies they tell when fingers are pointed at them, not to mention the bully-boy tactics when their grasp on the market is threatened.
It's only sugary water after all.
Not all sweetness and sugar, 11 Oct 2008
Reading any of Mark Thomas's books, articles, or even watching an episode of the television series that preceeded them always leaves me feeling angry, depressed and with a real frustration that I am doing little to make the world a better place. So it was with some trepidation that I finally picked up Belching Out The Devil. I was also concerned that as a conscientious consumer who already avoids Coca-Cola that the book would merely be preaching to the converted (me).
Belching Out The Devil brings you on a journey around the world, tackling the many issues that blacken the Coca-Cola brand; the infringement on workers rights, the environmental impact and drought caused by the bottling plants and the pure disregard that The Coca-Cola Company has for the communities it inhabits. It is an easy read packed with hard hitting facts, humour and pop culture references which help you connect with the author, meaning that he becomes a character in his own book rather than assuming the role of preacher. It is well researched and leaves no hole for Coca-Cola to wiggle through. At all times Coca-Cola are asked to respond to Mark Thomas's allegations and at all times his questions are greeted with frustrating PR spiel, there is a hope that if Coca-Cola learn anything from this book it would be to stop making excuses and actually commit themselves fully to the corporate social responsibility they espouse.
There is no call to action in Belching Out The Devil but it does leave you with the sensation of needing to do something, weather it be a boycott or just awareness raising amongst those you know. Some of the stories contained within are reassuring proof that it is possible for one person to make a difference.
problems of sugary caramel water, 03 Oct 2008
Belching Out the Devil: Global Adventures with Coca-Cola
The author offers a honest and unbiased account of a journey across the globe to find the truth behind coca-cola. The writing style is warm and entertaining packed with interesting facts which bring you to really question what else you could have with your whisky. Belching out the devil offers a clear and concise account of the sociological, economical and political problems coca-cola brings to communities when it sets up business. I will never drink coca-cola ever again, and I hope you wont either.
Sipping these Outpourings, 31 Oct 2008
The writers of this 'cabinet of bibelots' have given much thought to their collection of 'diversions' and heroically done their research, drained it to the dregs, I'd hazard a guess. Who says writers have it easy? Not me. I'd happily have offered to do some of their research for them, take the strain, smooth their path, lighten their load...sigh.
The reader can only settle down and sip this vintage blend. It seems intended, as surely its subject is, to be sipped at leisure, with pleasure and in generous measure. Like a tempting banquet it demands a discussion of the best accompaniment to its delights ... an amphora of famous Falernian? a cup of Hippocras? some dazzling comet? maybe a more accessible Californian cabernet? or simply a jug of vin du pays, a loaf of bread ... it's all there.
Being an enthusiast (of the hopeful type rather than than the writers' brand of erudite), I already knew some of the sippets herein enclosed, but it dips and dives into many more: some arcane (bee wine?), some mythical (Antipaxos wine?), some quirky (swizzle sticks anyone?), and all entertaining.
This book should slip easily into a Christmas stocking, as its contents slip easily and pleasurably into the mind, and its subject slips even more easily over the taste receptors and down the throat. Yum!
Excellent book for the right audience, 05 Jan 2008
The ever increasing size of this book reflects the increasing interest in wine, so it now lands with an impressive thump on your desktop. Though its content doesn't always reflect who that new market is.
The authors start with a, rather meandering, description of the history and production of wine and some basic notes on tasting, appreciation and handling of wine. Some of this is very useful, most of it is very basic for someone who already knows the subject and all of it could do with some editing to make the best of their material. Some of it punctures some of the myths about wine such as how long wines should be laid down and do you really need to let wine breath. Elsewhere they perpetuate some of those myths, for example they still seem to give the whole concept of 'terroir' an almost mystical reverence.
That introduction, however, is not really the point of this volume. This appears to be aimed at the new wine connoisseur or someone who wants to be a connoisseur. The real body of this is a fairly comprehensive atlas of vineyards and producers. The detail with which they cover their subject is variable but excusably so as it reflects the varying national interest in wine. So France is covered in incredible detail while England, however much it's wine industry may be growing, is given one brief page. Annoying when you had hoped for something comprehensive but understandable. As long as you stick to well established wine producing regions and buy from those regions this will have something to tell you.
Which, excellent as it is, is also a problem this book has. Ninety per cent of the wine buying public, whether they are buying something cheap and nasty from tescos or something better from a merchant will be buying a blend; a chardonnay or shiraz whose provenance can be narrowed down no more closely than southern Australia, South Africa or so on. Good as those wines are this book doesn't help in selecting them.
If you've moved from just buying a muscadet or whatever to buying 'something from the Loire Valley' then this is ideal for you. If you want to do so then this is ideal. If you like wine and maps then this is interesting if not useful. If you, like me, are happy buying muscadet and merlot but have no real desire to take your wine buying much further then this is probably not for you. So, interesting but impractical for most of us but excellent for the right audience.
The World According to Wine, 23 Dec 2007
At 400 pages, British wine experts Huge Johnson and Jancis Robinson have created their most exhaustive atlas yet, and a tremendous resource. The book is gorgeous - with a generous amount of color illustrations, photos, and maps, including 2 page spreads. All told there are 48 extra pages over the previous edition.
The 6th edition contains 200 maps, all revised and updates, including 20 new maps. The introduction contains essays on wine in the ancient world, vine types, grape varieties, weather, terroir, the wine growers calendar, how wine is made, etc. etc. Robinson has said this new edition took two years of concentrated effort. It was worth it!
Then the authors dive deep into wine regions organized by country. Each region or country covered has a colored map, an essay about the characteristics of the reason, vital statistics, and a few wine labels. France has the most with 55 regions featured, indeed, a quarter of the volume (100 pages) is on France. Italy features 18 regions. Spain 9. Portugal 6. Germany 12. United States 17. Australia 12. New Zealand 4. Other countries covered include: England and Wales, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Western Balkans, Bulgaria, Romania, Former Soviet Republics, Greece, Eastern Mediterranean, North Africa, South Africa, China, Japan, and the rest of Asia. I find the information scant on Chile and Argentina, which is odd given their increased market exposure and rising excellence of wines.
The authors have expanded New World coverage, in keeping with expanded exposure and quality of the wine produced in these regions, for Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, South America, and South Africa. These are additions, with nothing taken away from the previous fabulous coverage of Old & New World wine regions.
Since the first edition in 1971, the World Atlas of Wine has sold more than 4 million copies and I'm happy to add this new 6th edition to my library, especially at such a reasonable price. It's always a pleasure to look up some background information on tonight's glass of wine.
A real kickstart to a healthy lifestyle, 15 Oct 2008
I followed it to the letter and lost 8lb in 7 days (I was 1.5st overweight, but otherwise fit). It required v little willpower. I didn't even crave chocolate (and I was a 2-3 bar per day girl before) and it has definately unhooked me from my unhealthy eating habits (sugar, salt, caffeine, comfort food) and given me the boost I needed.
The plan requires organisation and the ability to wash up lots (the juicer and blender) as you are making juices up to 5 times per day! Once you're in the swing of it, the juices are quick and will probably save you time compared to regular cooking.
I did feel hungry and light headed at times, despite the calorie intake, but then I am running around after 2 small children all day and rarely sit down. I also has loads of itchy "detox" spots (v unusual for me to even have 1!). The turbo plan that follows seems easier and I have felt my energy levels returning, the spots are going too.
If you are serious about doing this, then get the CD - it really helps if you get half way thro and want to give it all up (pretty normal on any plan!)
Effective but expensive endurance test, 08 Sep 2008
I really didn't like the style this book was written in. It's evangelical, repetitive and irritatingly patronising. I also hated everything being described as juicy all the time - I know it's a juice book but it got on my nerves after the tenth page. The author markets his other products in the book - the marketing is excellent and you have a huge range of products and media to choose from if you feel you need it. Personally the book was enough for me.
As for the diet it's expensive as you need a lot of fruit, supplements, a blender and a juicer but if you are planning to make a lifestyle change then it's an investment. I normally like juices but I didn't enjoy many of these recipes much, although I did get used to them. I had to cut down the supplements as they made me so nauseous and I didn't have any extra energy - quite the opposite - which was annoying as that's why I did this in the first place. Also I was hungry for most of the time, again contrary to the book. However I did lose more than 7lbs and so I think it is effective for weight loss. Note that you are instructed to weigh yourself the evening before you start and the morning after you finish the diet. As you always weigh less in the morning I think this is a bit of a trick to make you think you've lost more than you have. Also in order to maintain this weight loss you should then go on to the following regime in his next book......as I said, his marketing is excellent.
Awful !!, 09 Aug 2008
This diet is my idea of torture, I happily read the blurb and was even excited at the prospect of diet, and unfortunately this was short lived.
The first juice resembled a dark green colour, has the most awful smell, stagnant pond water is an apt description.
About half way through consuming this juice, I threw it up.
I did persevere, but most of the juices are disgusting.
Don't bother wasting your money on this book.
Easy, Simple, Healthy, 03 Jun 2008
I bought this book on a whim as I've only a small bit of weight to lose, but I travel quite a lot so I was interested in the detox aspect of it as well. Every body needs a tune up now and then and this is a great way to do it. If you're looking to shed a few pounds or give your system a boost, I highly recommend this book. I felt more energized, slept better, had healthier skin and was in higher spirits than usual after following this program, it's fantastic.
If you are planning to follow a juice program I very highly suggest you purchase the Phillips aluminum juicer, I love it and use it constantly. Combine a great juicer with some tasty recipes and you'll be hooked as well
effective, if expensive, 29 May 2008
Without doubt the most effective way to lose weight fast - in 10 days I have gone down a dress size; haven't once craved chocolate or tea/coffee. Radical - definitely sticking with it for a few more weeks. I didn't particularly like the writing style and lack of index makes it difficult to go back and quickly find the bit I wanted to re-read. Bought it with the Amanda Hamilton book Life Detox and found the combination of the two really helpful for making this a life change and not just a one off.
But these things do not detract from this being a good buy. My main gripe is the cost of all the powders and extras like Wheatgrass, Spirulina etc. Thought might be cheaper via their website but out of stock for the small sizes and still 50 quid, the set for this book is 80 quid. So be prepared.
Despite this highly recommended.
A reasonable try, 02 Oct 2008
This is an inexpensive, easy-to-use guide which can help you sort the bargains from the mass-market trash. It can also give you more confidence to try unfamiliar grapes and wine styles. However, his scoring system reflects value for money rather than outright quality, and in 2008 I found many of his high-scoring recommendations rather idiosyncratic compared to 2007. His coverage of different supermarket chains seems dependent on what they offer him to sample. Most disappointingly, if you buy this book for Christmas and look for his main 2009 recommendations in January 2009, they may already have sold out, leaving you with the (usually disappointing) option of a more recent vintage.
DON'T BUY THIS BOOK!!!!, 23 Aug 2008
I paid £2.50 for this book and I wasted it!
The author must be getting commission from the Supermarkets for recommending their wines. I cannot believe that he rates so many of these wines as 9 out of 10. I have tried some of them and I'm no wine expert but they were like vinegar!
The author clearly does not know good wine at all.
I have put this book out for recycling!
VINO, 08 Jan 2008
Easy guide to use but regretably recomendations did not hit the mark.
Very limited choice from Supermarkets such as Tesco as he does not have a strong link.
Useful and interesting, 20 Dec 2007
A very useful book, small enough to carry around with you when out shopping. The information given is detailed enough to make it an interesting read in its own right, and of course the benefit of the book is clear in the title. An excellent idea.
So helpful!!, 10 Oct 2006
This book's an absolute treasure...I find it so confusing trying to pick out a wine in the supermarket but this gives you the best ones available. The price guide is really helpful too, especially when on a budget - makes sure you don't end up with a disgusting wine just because you can't afford the really expensive ones! I'd highly recommend this guide
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