My $100 one I bought in Egypt many years ago will serve me just fine, but no doubt that one is beautiful. I bet John Farrier knows a thing or two about smoking one of these!
I liked it because it did a couple of things well. It described with some detail some of the naval engagements from the war of 1812, and even though I don't know nautical terminology, I found it good story-telling. Secondly, it sets the political context well for the development of the American navy - the challenges of funding it, even the challenges of persuading congress, and some presidents, that having a standing navy was a good idea. Thirdly, it does present some perspective from the British side of things regarding the War of 1812, something lacking in much of the reading I had done previously.
The only downside for me was my own personal shortcoming - lacking vocabulary to really understand some of the more technical descriptions of the battles. However, I don't think the author was overly technical, and it didn't really interfere when he was was narrative mode.
Here in Indiana, several smaller public libraries around the state have formed a network called Evergreen. Patrons can request books from any of the participating libraries (or get them in person), and generally receive them within about 10 days. The libraries won't send DVDs or CDs, but I think if you happen to be at another participating library, you can check out the DVD/CD/BlueRay and then return it to your home library. Anyways, its wonderful! I assume other states have something similar, but maybe not. It probably works well in Indiana partly because Indiana is such a small state geographically.
The only downside for me was my own personal shortcoming - lacking vocabulary to really understand some of the more technical descriptions of the battles. However, I don't think the author was overly technical, and it didn't really interfere when he was was narrative mode.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that can't stop Talking by Susan Cain
"The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt" and "Theodore Rex" by Edmund Morris
When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America by Barbara Ehrenreich
A Tree Grows in Brookyln by Betty Smith
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Perilous Fight: America's Intrepid War with Britain on the High Seas, 1812 - 1815 by Stephen Budiansky
Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789 - 1815 by Gordon S Wood
A Universe from Nothing: Why There is Something Rather than Nothing by Lawrence M. Krauss
What the Dog Saw and other Adventures by Malcolm Gladwell