1 comments about That Might Be Useful: Exploring America's Secondhand Culture.

1. Leslie takes the reader on an enjoyable and instructive journey through the world of flea markets, tag sales, auctions, antique shops, and other outlets where used and antique items of all ages and price levels exchange hands. Not having much money as well as prompted by the desire to shirk the "rampant materialism" he found in large chain stores, malls, and mainstream retailing, Leslie made the decision to buy only secondhand goods when he needed something despite the extra time this often required, with no guarantee that he would ever find what he was looking for. But before long, these drawbacks were put out of mind as the author became ever more involved in, and fascinated and delighted by what he found in this supposedly marginal, but thriving and populous area of American society. "In the secondhand culture, I have discovered the joys of a genuine American market, unfettered buying and selling, which most first-level retailing has lost." Leslie has become friends with many dealers he has met. The author's ventures into all aspects of this secondhand culture from major international auction houses, regional and local auctions and flea markets, neighborhood tag sales, and also the world's largest and longest flea markets also serve as a guide for anyone wishing to become more involved in this market as either a buyer or seller. Leslie teaches at Siena College in upper New York, which also happens to be a prime area for the secondhand market he was drawn to and colorfully and fully recounts.

1 comments about Fabulous Fifties: Designs for Modern Living.

1. First off, while this isn't a "bad" book, it is by no means worth the full price (...). I'm a 50s collector and have about all the 50s books out there, and this was somewhat disappointing (fortunately I bought a cheaper used version).

   Here's what I don't like about this book: it's selfishly feminine. 2/3 of the book deals in textiles and women's clothing exclusively, with only a few token pages on men's gabardine jackets and shirts.

   Only the first 1/3 of the book deals with collectible items from the 50s and they are put together haphazardly, as if the book was thrown together or not done in conjunction with a designer. Collage pages of living rooms come across as tacky.

   The prices mentioned in this book are unrealestic. A quick look on Ebay will show nobody is paying $750.00 for gabardine jackets and nobody is paying $50 or more for an individual drinking glass with a cool design. They're so inflated that is just silly -- almost as if the author were trying to get people unrealistically excited about the value of the items.

   If you're female and into textiles, clothing, and poodles you might love this book (nothing wrong with that!). But for males or other folks into more into collectible items, or people into the more stylistic side of mid-century design, you'll be somewhat disappointed.

No comments about Always Your Friend (Coca-Cola).

2 comments about Saltbox and Cape Cod Houses.

1. Don't waste your money if you're looking for any written help on Saltboxes or Capes. The photos are adequate but the author's attitude toward architects and builders is malevolent.



2. A photographic chronical of Saltbox and Cape Cod houses from Colonial times to the present day. A good idea book for anyone intending to build either style house.

No comments about Tidioute: A Town With an Edge.

No comments about Opere varie italiane e francesi di Ennio Quirino Visconti: Raccolte e pubblicate per cura del dottor Giovanni Labus. Tomo 4.

No comments about Harper's Weekly Boxed Set (Nov 8, 1862-May 2, 1863).

No comments about Prices Realized on Rare Imprinted American Wooden Planes 1979-1992.

No comments about Antiquités d\'Herculanum, ou Les plus belles peintures antiques, et les marbres, bronzes, meubles, etc. etc. trouvés dans les excavations d\'Herculanum, ... et Pompéi: Gravées par F. A. David. Tome 1.

No comments about Description of the Egyptian Court Erected in the Crystal Palace: With an Historical Notice of the Monuments of Egypt by Samuel Sharpe.