This is a textbook, but it's a very readable one and quite interesting if you are curious about the subject, without the academic pretension or dryness that can drag works down. Chapters cover subjects such as food and drink, clothing, entertainment, politics, religion, education, race and class, family relationships, the economy, the state of science, and more. The second edition reorganizes the chapters and expands a few of them, as well as including more primary documents, but the short, clearly labeled chapters of the first edition are handy if you want to skip around and read it in bite-sized chunks.

A couple of fun facts: clocks with minute hands were a new thing in the 18th century (previously they only had hour hands), and non-poor people were mortally offended by poor people keeping dogs.

I wish I could find such cogent, detailed and accessible studies of other parts of the world during this time period, but if you're interested in England, Olsen has you covered.

A good self-help book which I could really have done with about 20 years ago when I started work. Now that i'm retired, it's less relevant but it contains a lot of very good advice about how to enjoy life more and put worries behind us. Recommended to all who feel that they're not getting the most out of life.

Here is a summary of what the book is about. In the hurly - burly of daily life, all too often, the Self happens to get lost. However, with its overall knowledge of our needs and strengths, it would by far be the best personal advisor we can have.

This collection of short stories and  poems  invites a journey of discovery. Diverse but amicable characters are experiencing the joy of rediscovering their Self in manifold situations of everyday life.

A pocket book for small breaks in- between: to explore, reflect, dream, chuckle and relax.

I enjoyed reading this book.

I found the short stories and poems to be uplifting and positive and relatable to everyday life.

I think it is a good reminder that life is to short and you should live it.

This is the type of book you can read on your lunch break or whenever you have free time.

I would recommend this book.

So what did you all do for Halloween?

I decided to do something different this year. This year I went on the Jack the ripper tour walk. With "Russell Edwards" it was really interesting. Before the tour we stopped in the "White Hart" pub for some cheeky halfs. The walk and tour, it's self fitted the weather perfect. Russell told us about the crimes and his theory of who Jack the ripper was. The end of the tour with last victim had a spooky feel and I was kind of happy to leave that court to be honest. We ended up in ten bells then went to brick lane for a cheeky ruby ((curry. for all the usa heads)) If your ever in london i Highly recommend Russell's tour. you can add him to twitter @rippertourldn

P.s Sorry about the picture's I was in a rush.