The Book of Lasts: The Stories Behind the Endings That Changed the World (Book Of... (Cassell Illustrated)) | 
| Authors: Ian Harrison, Gene Cernan
Publisher: Cassell
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
Buy New: $7.89
You Save: $7.06 (47%)
New (23) Used (8) from $5.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  2 reviews
Sales Rank: 867579
Media: Paperback
Edition: Reprint
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 288
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.6
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 6.5 x 0.9
ISBN: 184403514X
Dewey Decimal Number: 032.02
EAN: 9781844035144
ASIN: 184403514X
Publication Date: May 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: In stock - Sent fast from British booksellers.
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Product Description
Triumphant conclusions and tragic endings, things that finished with a bang and others that faded out with a whimper—this is a tribute to the moment when that final curtain closes. It’s a fitting follow-up to the popular Book of Firsts (60,000 copies sold), a richly illustrated and quirky peek into both recent and long-gone history. People, animals, events, and practices all receive their due, from those that changed the face of society to those we barely noticed. Back once again for a closing round of applause: the last Roman Emperor, the Beatles’ last number one hit, the last dodo ever to exist on earth. There are personal lasts, historical lasts, last journeys and last words, and last requests and bequests.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Unique Twist of an Idea but Doesn't Live Up to Usual Style Competitors May 9, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
There are tens of thousands of fact books out there covering the same topics as inside this one, so to be noticed by the buying public you've got to come up with a new angle to market what is basically the exact same thing as many of your competitors. This idea is brilliant, no doubt about it, the cover got my attention right away, I picked it up off the shelf and took it home. Unfortunately it doesn't live up to a lot of the traditionally laid out books of the same information.
Anyway this book starts off with an introduction by Gene Cernan, the last man to go to the moon. It then goes on to cover such topics as lines famous people said before they died, extinct animals, episodes of TV shows, makes of cars, September 11, events at the Olympics, planet discoveries, battles, victims, films, by actors or directors, wars and a heap of other topics.
A lot of times this book struggles to not present the facts in a normal manner and the last angle seems to have been cut and pasted into something previously written. An interesting read but much better and informative fact books out there to spend your money on.
 Strange lasts January 5, 2007
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
It seems firsts always get some ink but lasts not as much; I guess it was time for a good book on lasts. This is a book about lasts but from a different perspective where the why and who are brought to the forefront.The contents include the following chapters: Last of All, Historic Last Days, Personal Lasts, Last Requests and Bequeths, Last Past The Post, Last Journeys, Last words and the Last Post. The information in this book tends to more on the trivial side of life but it is so odd that it is interesting. I think teenages would like this book very much. There is some information that is of historical importance but much of it is geared to be just plain strange occurences. The Last Bequeths are pretty interesting, as are famous peoples last words; as I said before, this book tends to be more weird than anything else. The choice of material is very strange. Most everything will eventually be a last so the subject matter is nearly limitless. Everything from Timothy Leary's last trip(hint: spacey but no acid) to the Last Supper are here for your entertainment and amusement. It is pretty wacky yet informative. This is a good book to read in sections as the interest arises. This book would be a worthwhile addition to the classrooom or library of a high school. Two or three pages are usually dedicated to each last with side trips into a timeline format or a did you know section? The book is entertaining enough to capture the imagination of students and adults alike. This is the last sentence for this review.
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