The Compleat Cockroach: A Comprehensive Guide to the Most Despised (And Least Understood) Creature on Earth

Rating:
Summary: Conquer your Blattariaphobia
Review: "The Complete Cockroach," by biologist David George Gordon, is an exceptional reference on cockroaches: from etomology to popular culture. Two pages are devoted to "Kafka on Cockroaches" (129-30); students found this information useful when writing on "The Metamorphosis."

Rating:
Summary: Terrific for Research as well as Light Reading
Review: "The Complete Cockroach," by biologist David George Gordon, is an exceptional reference on cockroaches: from etomology to popular culture. Two pages are devoted to "Kafka on Cockroaches" (129-30); students found this information useful when writing on "The Metamorphosis."

Rating:
Summary: Conquer your Blattariaphobia
Review: "The Complete Cockroach," by biologist David George Gordon, is an exceptional reference on cockroaches: from etomology to popular culture. Two pages are devoted to "Kafka on Cockroaches" (129-30); students found this information useful when writing on "The Metamorphosis."

Rating:
Summary: Very informative
Review: A lot of interesting facts. It will open your eyes to the how and why of cockroaches, such as why they appear slimy and stink, why we can't ever seem to hit them, and so forth. A lot of good humor relating to roaches too. I found it easy reading for a science book.

Rating:
Summary: PSOCID CORNER
Review: Greetings and salutations once again , before I get to this issue's review I just wanted to say thanks to those of you who have sent in comments or suggestions. At first I was going to review "The Roaches Have No King " by Daniel Evan Weiss A good book but definitely not for children of all ages. It tells the story from the roaches perspective and in fact is narrated by two roaches Numbers and Bismarck. Other roaches are named Ajax , Argo and Julia Childs , which gives you an idea of the wit. Although the book gets your attention if you are terminally proper or sans an open sense of humor you might want to skip it. Ergo I have decided to send you to a book which is kind of like a web site for "roachabilia" it's also how I learned of the a fore mentioned novel. The book is "The Compleat Cockroach" by David George Gordon. I originally met Dave Gordon at a NY Entomological Society meeting back in 1997. At the time he was on a book tour and following his presentation I picked up a copy or four. The book opens with a well presented biology lesson of the insects 340 million year presence. While we have for the most part developed a negative view of roaches we are reminded of some of the other roles they play , such as the removal and recycling of dead plant and animal life in forests. Their vital niche in the food chain as well as their role as pollinators in rain forests and desert areas. With this information in mind we begin to understand how roaches enter the field as key cultural entomological figures. With a presence so varied and international their interactions and escapades easily enter human culture. Several quick references would be, "Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka ( yes I know it's probably a beetle but everyone else thinks it a roach) , Don Marquis's famous "Archy" circa 1920 and of course the Mexican revolution song entitled "La Cucaracha". Several years ago a friend of mine had this song played at my birthday party in a Mexican restaurant by a miriachi band , boy did I get some weird looks but everyone knew the words even the little guys under the table. Most recently the MTV movie "Joe's Apartment" demonstrated that roaches out sing and dance Disney's cricket. In addition Mr. Gordon tackles the topics of observation and control dating back to ancient Egypt to some modern methods or fiasco you may recall with the use of fungi (Bio-Path). This book is fascinating with tid bits and references galore. I urge you to pick up a copy , you probably won't put it down. You will also find yourself repeating the phrase " I didn't know that" several times. Well with a good book to read let me take the opportunity to wish you all A Happy and Healthy Holiday season and oh yeah enjoy the roach nog.

Rating:
Summary: PSOCID CORNER
Review: Greetings and salutations once again , before I get to this issue's review I just wanted to say thanks to those of you who have sent in comments or suggestions. At first I was going to review "The Roaches Have No King " by Daniel Evan Weiss A good book but definitely not for children of all ages. It tells the story from the roaches perspective and in fact is narrated by two roaches Numbers and Bismarck. Other roaches are named Ajax , Argo and Julia Childs , which gives you an idea of the wit. Although the book gets your attention if you are terminally proper or sans an open sense of humor you might want to skip it. Ergo I have decided to send you to a book which is kind of like a web site for "roachabilia" it's also how I learned of the a fore mentioned novel. The book is "The Compleat Cockroach" by David George Gordon. I originally met Dave Gordon at a NY Entomological Society meeting back in 1997. At the time he was on a book tour and following his presentation I picked up a copy or four. The book opens with a well presented biology lesson of the insects 340 million year presence. While we have for the most part developed a negative view of roaches we are reminded of some of the other roles they play , such as the removal and recycling of dead plant and animal life in forests. Their vital niche in the food chain as well as their role as pollinators in rain forests and desert areas. With this information in mind we begin to understand how roaches enter the field as key cultural entomological figures. With a presence so varied and international their interactions and escapades easily enter human culture. Several quick references would be, "Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka ( yes I know it's probably a beetle but everyone else thinks it a roach) , Don Marquis's famous "Archy" circa 1920 and of course the Mexican revolution song entitled "La Cucaracha". Several years ago a friend of mine had this song played at my birthday party in a Mexican restaurant by a miriachi band , boy did I get some weird looks but everyone knew the words even the little guys under the table. Most recently the MTV movie "Joe's Apartment" demonstrated that roaches out sing and dance Disney's cricket. In addition Mr. Gordon tackles the topics of observation and control dating back to ancient Egypt to some modern methods or fiasco you may recall with the use of fungi (Bio-Path). This book is fascinating with tid bits and references galore. I urge you to pick up a copy , you probably won't put it down. You will also find yourself repeating the phrase " I didn't know that" several times. Well with a good book to read let me take the opportunity to wish you all A Happy and Healthy Holiday season and oh yeah enjoy the roach nog.

Rating:
Summary: PSOCID CORNER
Review: Greetings and salutations once again , before I get to this issue's review I just wanted to say thanks to those of you who have sent in comments or suggestions. At first I was going to review "The Roaches Have No King " by Daniel Evan Weiss A good book but definitely not for children of all ages. It tells the story from the roaches perspective and in fact is narrated by two roaches Numbers and Bismarck. Other roaches are named Ajax , Argo and Julia Childs , which gives you an idea of the wit. Although the book gets your attention if you are terminally proper or sans an open sense of humor you might want to skip it. Ergo I have decided to send you to a book which is kind of like a web site for "roachabilia" it's also how I learned of the a fore mentioned novel. The book is "The Compleat Cockroach" by David George Gordon. I originally met Dave Gordon at a NY Entomological Society meeting back in 1997. At the time he was on a book tour and following his presentation I picked up a copy or four. The book opens with a well presented biology lesson of the insects 340 million year presence. While we have for the most part developed a negative view of roaches we are reminded of some of the other roles they play , such as the removal and recycling of dead plant and animal life in forests. Their vital niche in the food chain as well as their role as pollinators in rain forests and desert areas. With this information in mind we begin to understand how roaches enter the field as key cultural entomological figures. With a presence so varied and international their interactions and escapades easily enter human culture. Several quick references would be, "Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka ( yes I know it's probably a beetle but everyone else thinks it a roach) , Don Marquis's famous "Archy" circa 1920 and of course the Mexican revolution song entitled "La Cucaracha". Several years ago a friend of mine had this song played at my birthday party in a Mexican restaurant by a miriachi band , boy did I get some weird looks but everyone knew the words even the little guys under the table. Most recently the MTV movie "Joe's Apartment" demonstrated that roaches out sing and dance Disney's cricket. In addition Mr. Gordon tackles the topics of observation and control dating back to ancient Egypt to some modern methods or fiasco you may recall with the use of fungi (Bio-Path). This book is fascinating with tid bits and references galore. I urge you to pick up a copy , you probably won't put it down. You will also find yourself repeating the phrase " I didn't know that" several times. Well with a good book to read let me take the opportunity to wish you all A Happy and Healthy Holiday season and oh yeah enjoy the roach nog.

Rating:
Summary: Useful but too sympathetic
Review: Having just moved to SC from MN (where I NEVER saw a cockroach) I was desperate for a book to help me deal with the cockroaches down here. This book was full of useful facts on control, anatomy, identification, and lifestyles of roaches, but the author's basic liking and fascination with cockroaches crept out from time to time. Sorry, you'll never make me like or even accept them. And I must diagree with a statement in the book, (wherein the author pondered "why do people dislike roaches so much?"), that we dislike new things (roaches, spiders, whatever) because our mothers taught us to. My immediate, intense revulsion at the first cockroach I saw had nothing to do with my mother, who probably never saw one. If you skip the chapter on eating them, and focus on the chapters on controlling them, you may learn some useful things about cockroaches and how to live with or WITHOUT them. And for you Southerners, calling them "Palmetto bugs" doesn't fool anyone, OK? They're cockroaches and they're gross.

Rating:
Summary: Terrific for Research as well as Light Reading
Review: I thought this book was TERRIFIC! It was alot of fun to read. The style was casule and informative. Read it, you'll learn all you ever need to know about cockroaches. Funny, fast paced, great for a report.

Rating:
Summary: Terrific for Research as well as Light Reading
Review: I thought this book was TERRIFIC! It was alot of fun to read. The style was casule and informative. Read it, you'll learn all you ever need to know about cockroaches. Not only does it give you the basics on anatomy, behavior and reproduction of these creatures. The book provides a more complete picture of these 340 million year old pests and their role in human art, culture, society, and (alas) cuisine. Funny, fast paced, great for a report.