Games and Activities Recommended Books and Bestsellers

1Exercises in Knitting

By Cornelia Mee

Mrs. Mee, her husband, and her sister ran a yarn and needlework import/warehouse business in Bath, England. Her books primarily contain practical everyday items that knit up quickly with the busy homemaker in mind. At this time, published knitting "receipts" did not contain abbreviations and were laborious to use. They were, however, rich in error! <br /><br />Later in her career, due to circumstances of war and the resulting social stress and poverty, many of her knitting books were printed for ladies' charitable societies, which used her knitting "receipts" to clothe the poor mill workers who were out of work due to the American Civil War and the embargo of cotton. <br /><br />In addition to recording the original patterns, LibriVox knitters have also knitted samples of these patterns, displayed at the <a href="http://www.knitting-and.com/wiki/category/exercises_in_knitting/">KnitWiki</a>, and have attempted to condense and clarify the patterns for the enjoyment of modern day knitters. (Summary by Brenda Price)

Great as is the debt of gratitude which the brewing industry owes to the labours of scientific men, it has been more than repaid by the immense services which that industry has indirectly rendered to the advancement of modern science. It may be said without exaggeration that in respect of the number of scientific investigations of the first order of importance to which it has given rise, the brewing industry stands easily preeminent among the industries of mankind, and that without the stimulus furnished by the desire to arrive at the meaning of some of the more important phenomena connected with the brewing of beer, both chemical and biological science would probably be the poorer today by some of their most valued intellectual achievements. . . . The brewing of beer is regarded by many as an operation of a simple and more or less mechanical description, which is not of sufficient importance to merit study or of sufficient interest to claim a share of their attention. It is in the hope of doing something, even though it be but little, to correct this widely spread impression, that I have most willingly accepted the invitation to contribute this little work to <i>The Cambridge Manuals of Science and Literature.</i> From the Preface.

In seiner 1880 erschienenen Anleitung zur Zimmer-Gärtnerei gibt Max Alfred Jubisch leicht verständliche Ratschläge zur richtigen Aufstellung, Pflege und Vermehrung von Zimmerpflanzen. Dabei geht er auch auf die zu dieser Zeit erst in Mode gekommenen Terrarien und Aquarien ein.<br> Wer nicht sofort zur Bekämpfung von Pflanzenkrankheiten die Chemiekeule schwingen will, wird hier sicherlich einige gute Tipps finden. Und wer einfach nur wissen will, wie es anno 1880 in Deutschen (Blumen)-Zimmern ausgesehen haben mag, wird hier sicherlich auch einen kleinen Einblick bekommen.<br><br> Auf den fünften Abschnitt der Druckausgabe wurde in diesem Hörbuch verzichtet, da es sich im Wesentlichen nur um eine Aufzählung lateinischer Blumennamen handelt. (Zusammenfassung von Wassermann)

<em>Der Korbmacher oder vollständige Anleitung alle Korbgattungen, sowohl grobe als feine, zu machen und die letzteren durch allerlei Verzierungen, durch Beizen und Lacke, zu verschönern.</em><br><br> Der Korbmacher ist der erste Teil des Buches Die Korb- und Strohflechtkunst und die Siebmacherei erscheinen 1843 in Weimar im Verlag B. Fried. Voigt. Die zugehörigen Abbildungen (Figuren) befinden sich auf dem CD-Cover (im Format für eine transparente DVD-Hülle). (Zusammenfassung von Carl Schmied und Wassermann)

5How to Appreciate Music

By Gustav Kobbé

Originally published in 1906, this book is essentially a how to guide on music appreciation. Includes sections on the pianoforte, orchestral, and vocal music. Good for anyone who wishes for a greater appreciation of the wonders of music. (Summary by prwells32)

Black Art Fully Exposed.<br /> A complete and practical guide to drawing-room and stage magic for professionals and amateurs, including a complete exposure of the black art. (Summary by Prof. Herrmann)

Mary Frances is a little girl whose Aunt Maria intends to teach her to knit and crochet, but she's very strict and demanding. It's a good thing the Knitting People are around to help Mary Frances out! This book includes real patterns which can be knit and crocheted for dolls and children. (Summary by wildemoose)

8Exploits and Triumphs, in Europe, of Paul Morphy, the Chess Champion

By Frederick Milnes Edge

Paul Morphy, born in New Orleans in 1837, was considered the greatest chess player of his era. He was a child prodigy who learned playing chess simply by watching family members play, and when he was only 9 years old, he was hailed as the best chess player in New Orleans. <br> This book describes Morphy's trip to Europe, i.e., England and France, where he wanted to play the European Champion Staunton, a match that never came about as the correspondence included in this book shows. He did play - and beat - virtually every other strong player in Europe though, and tales of these matches and people make up a large part of this book. After his triumphs in Europe, Paul Morphy was considered the unofficial World Chess Champion, as official championship tournaments were only held from 1886. <br> Morphy retired from chess in 1859 in order to devote himself to his law practice. He died from a stroke in 1884. (Summary by Availle)

This manual offers instructions on how to become a ventriloquist. Starting out from a general introduction of ventriloquism, it explains how sounds are formed in the human body and how the voice is used. It then provides exercises for the budding artist, and a number of dialogues for performances.

10Blottentots and How to Make Them

By John Prosper Carmel

This is very short, but it is a book with lots of pictures, and it will be even better if you can look at the pictures in the book at <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/44898">http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/44898</a> while you listen to the verses.<br /><br /> There are many short verses: the first verses tell you how to make a blottentot with a blot of ink on a piece of paper. You then fold the paper and press it gently to spread out the ink into peculiar shapes. The rest of the verses describe the funny creatures which you can make. I'm sure it could also be done with different colours using thin paint instead of ink, and it looks a lot of fun!<br /><br /> The author John Prosper Carmel is believed to be a pseudonym of Raymond Carter, who was the calligrapher, but of whom also nothing is known. (Summary by Ruth Golding)

1Little Wars

By H. G. Wells

A Game for Boys from twelve years of age to one hundred and fifty and for that more intelligent sort of girl who likes boys' games and books. With an Appendix on Kriegspiel<br /><br /> Miniature wargaming got its start with the publication in 1913 of this thoroughly entertaining little account of how H.G. Wells, with certain of his friends, took their childhood toys and turned play into acceptable middle-aged sport by subjecting the exercise to the civilizing influence of actual rules.<br /><br />While wargaming progressed far past these beginnings, Wells observes how "little wars" with even his elementary rules can suggest the wholesale crudity of the real thing.<br />"You have only to play at Little Wars three or four times to realise just what a blundering thing Great War must be. Great War is at present, I am convinced, not only the most expensive game in the universe, but it is a game out of all proportion. Not only are the masses of men and material and suffering and inconvenience too monstrously big for reason, but--the available heads we have for it, are too small. That, I think, is the most pacific realisation conceivable, and Little War brings you to it as nothing else but Great War can do."<br /><br />Wells leaves almost hanging the tantalizing concept that we might someday simulate war, as an instrument of international decision-making, rather than practice actual combat. But most of this book is just the fun of evicting the boys from the playroom and spending happy days there, away from the "skirt-swishers", developing the framework under which two gentlemen might meet and accumulate boastable victories! (Summary by Mark F. Smith)

2Floor Games

By H. G. Wells

H.G. Wells had so much fun playing with his children on the floor of their playroom, he decided to write a jovial little book to inspire other parents in their pursuit of quality time with the kids. While the raw materials available from hobby stores of his day were woefully short of the variety and quality of what can be bought easily now, he and his sons created their own worlds to rule. This short work describes two games of imagination played out upon the floor of his home - an archipelago of islands, and a thoroughly integrated city, conveniently organized with two mayoral positions for his sons “G.P.W.” and “F.R.W.” While the toy people appearing in their worlds were often of martial nature, Wells decided to leave description of military games to a later book: “Little Wars.”

Sprinkled with literary quotes and little jests, this is a history of and guide to playing Euchre, with a short portion on playing 5-card draw poker. Some of the major differences between the described game and modern Euchre include the following:<br><br>(1) Today, a game is generally played to 10 points, rather than 5 (and the 5 cards are used for scoring). This will also change the "playing to the Bridge" discussion in this work.<br> (2) Today, only the 9, 10, J (called "Knave" in this work), Q, K, and A cards are used (not the 7 and 8).<br> (3) Today, when a player announces they are playing alone, their partner cannot take the privilege of playing alone away from them.<br> (4) Often today, when a player orders up their partner (the dealer), the player must play alone. (I've been told, however, that in an evening of progressive euchre, a player can order up their partner without going alone.)<br> (5) Lap, Slam, Jambone, and Jamboree are not variations of the game that are common today.<br><br> Other minor differences also exist. However, it is still an informative work for those who are new to the game, as well as a look back to the card tables of the previous century. (Summary by TriciaG)

4Games for Hallow-e'en

By Mary E. Blain

This charming book starts with a brief history of Hallowe'en. There are sample invitations for a Halloween (or Hallowe'en) party, decorations, and then many party games. A number of them have to do with who your future mate might be, although there are games and activities for younger children as well. All games seem to utilize common household objects, like sewing needles, pencils and paper, apples, and pumpkins. There is also a long list of riddles! - Summary by Nan Dodge

5Baseball Ballads

By Grantland Rice

Grantland Rice, was a sports journalist with several newspapers, although his Sportlights column, in the New York Tribune was what brought him fame, and through it he helped popularize golf in the US, and to help the cause of American Professional Football. This book of poetry, is a tribute to baseball, the sport he played at Vanderbilt. - Summary by cavaet

Over one thousand Conundrums, which are a selection of Biblical, Poetical, on Flowers, Geo. Washington, Authors and General Conundrums. - Summary by Subtitle

Descriptive of the Customs, Ceremonies, Traditions, Superstitions, Fun, Feeling, and Festivities of the Christmas Season - Summary from the Subtitle