In the middle of the night, I woke to a loud rattling sound. A rat, perhaps? But no. As soon as I opened the cupboard door, out popped the skull-landing near my feet and bouncing away right across the drawing room. Ghosts and spirits, prets and jinns abound in this collection of stories. From the skull that refused to be given away to the spirits of long dead hill-station residents and from the mysterious man you meet on a dark road to the malevolent presence at the bottom of a pond-these are some of Ruskin Bond's best stories about the supernatural. Dive under the covers, leave the lights on and lose yourself in these scary, funny and adventurous tales.
Can Charlie Bumpers face his fear of horror movies, come up with a genius costume, and enjoy Halloween? Fourth graders Charlie and Tommy have big plans for Halloween. They're going to trick-or-treat and sleep over at Alex's house. But when Charlie finds out that the entertainment at the party will be the "Scariest Horror Movies Ever," he is struck by panic. Charlie loves candy, he loves sleepovers with his friends, but he absolutely hates horror movies. There is yet another wrinkle in Charlie's Halloween plans. He is determined to win the big prize (ten movie tickets) that will be awarded for the best costume, but when he finally comes up with a genius prize-winning idea, he runs into an unexpected obstacle. How will Charlie be able to enjoy Halloween this year? Black and white illustrations throughout.
Mr. Elives’s magic shop is back, and this time it is on the other side of Tucker’s Swamp. And Tucker’s Swamp is where Charlie Eggleston heads to escape a beating-for lying. Charlie can’t seem to keep from lying, though sometimes his lies are for a good cause. When Charlie stumbles into Mr. Elives’s magic shop, his eyes light upon The Skull. Charlie steals The Skull and it puts him under some sort of spell-he can only tell the truth. Trouble is, now no one believes him. . . .
How Do You Make a Skeleton Laugh is a hilarious concoction of jokes, riddles, and rhymes compiled by the master of the witty verse, John Foster. Warning! Contains pirates, Vikings, ghosts, vampires, and flesh-eating zombies!
Plague of Pythons is a science fiction novel by American writer Frederik Pohl. It was originally published in 1965, and an updated version was published in 1984 under the title Demon in the Skull. The title derives from the words "Domina Pythonis" used as part of an exorcism ritual performed in the first chapter to scare away the "demons" that seem to possess people in the novel.
Dr. Brian King is a psychologist and stand-up comedian whose humor therapy seminars are attended by more than ten thousand people each year. In The Laughing Cure, King combines wit with medical research to reveal the benefits of laughter and humor on physical and emotional health. King’s language is humorous and uplifting, and his advice is backed in science. The Laughing Cure features clinical studies and interviews with some of the nation’s top doctors that prove that laughter lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, increases muscle flexion, boosts immune systems, and triggers endorphins. It’s been shown to relieve depression, to produce a general sense of wellbeing, even to make us more productive, loving, and kind. The Laughing Cure presents step-by-step guidance and proven techniques to embrace laughter as both medicine for current conditions and preventative medicine. This highly unique and enjoyable read explains why much-talked about, but little understood methods of therapy like those embraced by acclaimed humor doctor Patch Adams—played by Robyn Williams in a 1998 film—and laughter yoga actually work. Growing up, King wanted to be a stand-up comic; his PhD. was his backup plan. Little did he know, the impact his unique situation would put him in, the way it would allow him to help others. Very few doctors have the ability to heal the way that King does; his method is cheap, easy, chemical-free—even fun. With The Laughing Cure, readers will learn how—and why—laughter saves lives.
It is the summer of 1883 and Professor Langdon St. Ives - brilliant but eccentric scientist and explorer - is at home in Aylesford with his family. However, a few miles to the north a steam launch has been taken by pirates above Egypt Bay; the crew murdered and pitched overboard. In Aylesford itself a grave is opened and possibly robbed of the skull. The suspected grave robber, the infamous Dr. Ignacio Narbondo, is an old nemesis of Langdon St. Ives. When Dr. Narbondo returns to kidnap his four-year-old son Eddie and then vanishes into the night, St. Ives and his factotum Hasbro race to London in pursuit... The first new steampunk novel in over twenty years from one of the genre's founding fathers!
"Humor increases persuasion's effectiveness." - Dr. Jim Lyttle I am comedian/author/dudeman Marshall Chiles and I will show you step-by-step proven methodologies to help add humor to your business presentations in order to increase your persuasion, maximize your impact, and be one of the cool kids. "I used your recommendations and absolutely crushed my sales presentation at the conference. Was told I was a stand out speaker and was really able to get the crowd engaged with some humor. You the man!" - Ryan Hughes, 360 Rick Partners After 16 years as a comedian and comedy entrepreneur, I have taken my knowledge of comedy and business to write this book. YPIJ initially was as an introductory course for new comedians, then I adapted it for business presenters as a speech. Over the last three years, I have been able to fine-tune the lessons that easily help people be funnier on stage. What really reenforced my belief in what I have to offer happened in 2015 when the presentation form of YPIJ won an award from YPO (Young Presidents' Organization www.ypo.org). YPO is one of the most elite executive groups on the planet, and they not only hired me, but honored Your Presentation is a Joke as award worthy which helped me finally feel acceptance. If you have a business presentation, then you want to stand out, make people pay more attention and give you their money. I submit humor is the way to reach those goals. In this book you will learn proven techniques from adding funny images, to finding the funny in (almost) any subject, to writing self-deprecating jokes, and more. So whether you're a seasoned public speaker, a new speaker, or you just think I'm pretty and want to give me money, you should get Your Presentation is a Joke.
