Bookviews by Alan Caruba, March 1999

The books noted this month may be purchased via Amazon.com, but in some cases are only available direct from the publisher because they're self-published. This latter route has been forced upon many fine writers who cannot find a mainstream publisher due to the shift in priorities which is affecting both veteran writers and those new to the business. All Amazon.com purchases are totally secure and this is the recommended route.

Novels, Novels, Novels

In the spring come the new novels with which to begin the year. Top of the list has to be John Grisham’s The Testament ($39.95, Doubleday, ISBN 0-385-49380-0) which is his tenth novel. Most novelists would have written themselves out at this point, but Grisham is, without doubt, an unusual talent. Aside from the obvious fact that nearly $40 for a book is a mind-boggling amount of money, there is no denying that he has provided a different and compelling story that starts out powerfully and will keep you turning the pages. Moreover, it takes you into the jungle of Brazil, a location the author clearly knows well and why should we be surprised by that? Grisham delivers with this latest work.

Aaron Elkins’ novel, Loot, ($24, William Morrow, ISBN 0-688-15927-3) is a well-told tale about the search for stolen art treasures stashed by the Nazi’s in 1945. A half century later, when one of those treasures shows up in a Boston pawnshop, the story takes off and you will enjoy it. New Mexico is the setting for Rudolfo Anaya’s latest novel, Shaman Winter, ($24, Warner Books, ISBN 0-446-52374-7), the author’s third. He’s been called the godfather of Chicano literature, but you will enjoy it as a good mystery story with Anaya’s gumshoe, Sonny Baca.

Mysterious Press is an imprint of Warner Books and one that delivers on its name, providing a steady stream of good mystery stories. Among the latest are Like A Hole in the Head ($12, ISBN 0-446-675l7-2) by Jen Banbury. The twist is that the tough guy is a woman and the femme fatales are men. You guess it, this is a send up of most mystery novels and one you will find very amusing. Another female hitting her stride as a mystery writer is Maureen Tan. In Run Jane Run ($22, ISBN 0-89296-659-9) we meet her sexy super spy, Jane Nichols, again (introduced in "AKA Jane") who is now more or less retired, enjoying the good life in Savannah with her lover, the police chief. But she misses the action and jumps at the chance to lead a daring rescue mission against a group of terrorists. Regrettably, The Revenge of Kali-Ra by K.K. Beck ($22, ISBN 0-89296-670-X) just doesn’t quite work as intended. It’s a send-up of Hollywood and maybe my funny bone wasn’t working that well when I read it. In fact, this book might make an amusing movie. Your move on this one.

Good news from Quill, an imprint of William Morrow. They have issued two more very affordable editions of Elmore Leonard novels, Bandits and Killshot at $12.00 each. Leonard becomes an addiction once you’ve read him, so I am happy to report that these clever works are available in softcover, trade editions.

Occasionally I receive a book by a new novelist from a small publisher that deserves wider notice and that’s that case with John Gist’s CrowHeart ($29.95, MontFort Press, a division of Andmar Press, PO Box 217, Mills, WY 82644-0217, ISBN 0-916781-45-3) which isn’t officially due out until May. Set on the high plains of Wyoming, it explores all the great themes, but particularly people obsessed with individualism to the point of folly, when the descendents of pioneers who left the main trail to pursue lives away from the rest of the population have to accept that life in the 21st century will intrude on their solitary lives.

Useful Business Books

The big problem for businesses and individuals alike is the tax burden which now takes over 40% of every dollar anyone earns. That's why I heartily recommend Amity Shlaes' The Greedy Hand: How Taxes Drive Americans Crazy and What to do About it ($22.95, Random House, ISBN 0-375-50l32-0) Shlaes, a distinguished journalist for The Wall Street Journal, has written a guide to what is clearly the worst regulatory mess in the nation today. As Philip K. Howard, the author of The Death of Common Sense, says, "The tax system is so complex that we no longer have any link between what we pay for and what we get." Fred Goldberg, a former Internal Revenue Service Commissioner calls her book, "...a must read, whether you come from the left, right, and mushy middle" and calls the current system of taxation a "twisted political process."

Many years ago, Judith H. McQuown authored Inc. Yourself: How to Profit by Setting Up Your Own Corporation ($27.50, Broadway Books, ISBN 0-7679-0223-8). It became a bestseller and classic. It is now in its 9th edition, completely revised and updated. The fact that there's a quote from Bookviews on its back cover may suggest a bit of a bias and, well, it's true. This is probably the best book you will read on this topic, which is critical to entrepreneurs setting up a new business or engaged in one that has reached a point where incorporation is an option to explore.

E-Commerce is becoming the way many people will make purchasing decisions in the future and, this last Christmas season, accounted for billions of dollars in purchases. If you're thinking about creating a website to sell goods or redesigning an existing one for that purpose, you would do yourself a favor by first reading How To Succeed in Internet Business by Employing Real-World Strategies by Ron E. Gielgun ($19.95, Actium Publishing, Brooklyn), but you may have a problem securing a copy. Its Library of Congress Catalog Card Number is 98-71760, but I have no address beyond the Brooklyn citation. Another Internet related book that is well worth reading is Public Relations on the Net by Shel Holtz ($24.95, Amacom, an imprint of the American Management Association, ISBN 0-8144-7987-1) which is filled with excellent advice on how to use the Internet to reach out to the media, the investment community, the government, and the public. As a longtime public relations counselor, I can recommend this book because the Internet is increasingly influencing what shows up in newspapers, magazines, and on radio and television. Most media professionals now routinely provide their email address by way of securing leads to new stories.

Corporate managers are forever seeking the best route to success and there are tons of books published every year on the subject. Two recent titles demonstrate the vast difference in their approach. The Practical Manager by William H. Miehe, Jr. ($14.95, Management Services, 805 Highland Ave., Paramus, NJ 07652, ISBN 1-894l69-09-3) is self-published, so you better order direct from Miehe, but it has the advantage of being easily comprehended and filled with advice garnered from thirty years of management experience at major companies. As such. it provides a wealth of good advice for those who must manage a staff of subordinates. By contrast, there's The Complexity Advantage by Susanne Kelly and Mary Ann Allison, subtitled "How the Science of Complexity Can Help Your Business Achieve Peak Performance" ($24.95, BusinessWeek Books, McGraw-Hill, ISBN 0-07-001400-0) and it's not for the feint of heart as one is introduced to the "complexity theory" designed to enable business to achieve rapid change in order to achieve or sustain a leadership position. Kelly is vice president of Citibank's corporate technology office and Allison runs her own consulting company in New York. Let's face it, we do live in a complex world and, for business, that means trying to understand how to take full advantage of it to achieve success.

Books about successful businesses do well as examples of what to do. Pour Your Heart Into It by Howard Schultz ($14.95, Hyperion trade paperback, ISBN 0-7868-63l5-3) tells the story of how Schultz, the CEO of Starbucks built his company from a small Seattle retailer to the huge enterprise it is today. Discovered in 1982 by Schultz, he poured l5 years into the company, which has transformed how many Americans approach, that favorite libation. His story is well worth reading for the insights it provides. Then there's Michael MacCambridge's history of Sports Illustrated magazine in The Franchise ($14.95, Hyperion trade paperback, ISBN 0-7868-8357-X).

Sports writers and economists alike have acclaimed this book. The author tells the story of the birth of the magazine in l954, taking it into the 1990's, filling it with inside tales about the sport of magazine publishing and the players who built this "franchise." You'll enjoy it on many levels.

There are, of course, many books that want to tell you how to build a personal fortune and avoid various pitfalls along the way. However, before we get to them, Y2K has become the big scare this year and there are endless books based on the belief it will wreak havoc. One such title which has crossed my desk is Crash Course 2000: How to Prepare for and Prosper from the Y2K Computer Crash ($14.95, Gold Standard Press, 1475 Terminal Way, Suite E, Reno, NV 89502, ISBN 0-9654396-1-5) and he prognosticates on the Y2K impact on government, industry, communications, banking and finance, investments, and society in general, offering advice on what steps you must take to protect yourself while profiting from opportunities in the stock market, real estate, et cetera. Frankly, I have no idea if he's right or not, so it's strictly your move. He does appear to have researched the topic, so a reader may well benefit. Much more fun and just as informative is The Hippy Survival Guide to Y2K by Mike Oehler ($14.95, Keokee Publishing Inc., PO Box 722, Sandpoint, ID 83864, ISBN 1-879628-17-1). Oehler’s amusing and informative book is based on the notion that Hippies learned basic survival techniques living simple lives in wood-heated, solar-electrified homes, etc. The truth is, he’s done an excellent piece of research into the potential fall-out from Y2K in terms of all the things that can go wrong and offers some good advice on how to prepare for it. In the process he’s produced a very readable book that can be ordered from http://www.keokee.com.

A book of practical, useful advice is The Smart Money Guide to Buying a Home by Heather and Flip Kenyon ($l9.95, Palladian Publishing, PO Box 320445, Tampa, FL 33679, ISBN 1-892786-00-1). This softcover is, to this reader, a very good guide. Flip Kenyon is a licensed real estate broker and Heather is a realtor. Since buying a home is probably the biggest investment most people will undertake, a book like this one can prove to be invaluable.

Another interesting book is How to Start Building a Fortune, Even Though You're Still in School by Bruce S. Davis. ($14.95, Sun Publishing Co., 9 Indian Cove Way, South Easton, MA 02375, ISBN 0-9664527-0-4). Self-published by a business consultant, it encourages young adults of high school and college age to begin their own small businesses and, with this book in hand, it will prove a very big help to those who do. I personally know a number of young people who have gone this route quite successfully, so I'm inclined to think this may represent a new trend for the future.

It's never too soon to start planning for retirement, even if you're a young person, but for those of any age, Ellen Hoffman has written Bankroll Your Future: How to Get the Most from the Government for Your Retirement Years ($$24.95, Newmarket Press, ISBN 1-55704-355-8). The author address topics such as how to maximize your Social Security retirement benefits, knowing your Medicare rights, keeping a sharp eye on your pension, and lots of other very good advice that will pay off in the long run. I would strongly recommend this book and wish it had been around for me.

An important new book is Managed Care: How Corporate Medicine Jeopardizes Your Health by Dr. Michael E. Makeover, MD ($24.95, Prometheus Books, ISBN 1-57392-248-X). This is surely a hot topic these days and the author warns that HMOs threaten not only the quality of medical care, but also the essential bond between a doctor and his patient. He makes a compelling case for the way government and corporate intervention in medical care has turned medicine into big business where the patient is little more than a source of cash flow. This is an important expose which one can only hope reaches many readers and receives a lot of media attention.

Finally, there's an interesting book by Hilary Rosenberg called A Traitor to His Class ($29.95, John Wiley & Sons, ISBN 0-47l-17448-3). It's a biography of Robert A.G. Monks, a driving force behind today's shareholder activism movement. Monk spearheaded efforts to place new pressures on corporations to deliver value and improve accountability. While corporate responsibility is seen as a liberal cause, Monk himself came from a conservative upbringing and was labeled a traitor to his class for his pioneering efforts. George Soros, the famed investor, says this book will fascinate readers and so do I.

Politics, Politics, Politics!

We’ve all been through a grueling year of partisan politics and for those who want to learn more about the Clinton-Gore Administration, there are a number of books available.

Dick Morris gained fame as the consultant to William Jefferson Clinton who helped him win a second term and then, just before the election of 1996, was exposed for a dalliance with a prostitute. Recovering from that personal disaster, he wrote Behind the Oval Office: Getting Reelected Against All Odds. This book has since been reissued in softcover with more than 200 new pages which provide further insight into the Monicagate mess ($l6.95, Renaissance Books, ISBN 1-58063-053-7). This book, by the way, is also available as an audiobook for $l6.95 from the same publisher, narrated very well by the author. I recommend both, but the softcover is a powerful insight to what Morris calls "Sunday Morning Bill and Saturday Night Bill." It’s not a pretty picture and calls to mine the word sociopath. Clinton haters will love this book, but it is valuable to anyone who worries that you can tell when the President is lying when his lips are moving!

A less successful book, written specifically for Clinton haters, is Cover Up: The Art and Science of Political Deception by David M. Bresnahan ($?). It is self-published by the author (PO Box ll68, West Jordan, Utah 84084-7l68) and can be ordered from WorldNetDaily.com or by calling 1-800-952-5595. The problem with this book initially is that it is poorly written, frequently redundant, as the author strives to identify Clinton from his Arkansas days through his presidency as totally corrupt. I am no fan of the President and many others are disillusioned and disappointed, but Bresnahan’s book suffers from charges based mostly on claims that cannot be verified as they weave a story of a career in politics that involves deception and deceit. Still, it makes for compelling reading. The best place to purchase this book is from http://www.worldnetdaily.com, the website of the Western Journalism Center.

Coming in May is an excellent book, Gore: A Political Life by former ABC News correspondent, Bob Zelnick ($24.95, Regnery Publishing, ISBN 0-89526-3-326-2). I cannot recommend this book strongly enough. It is a balanced, fair, and frightening look at the life of Albert A. Gore, Jr., our Vice President, and the man most likely to be chosen as the candidate of the Democratic Party for the elections in 2000. What emerges from this carefully researched book is the story of a man with extraordinary certainty in his moral and intellectual superiority, yet, at the same time, a hypocrite of the worst kind, frequently re-writing his own personal history, and reversing himself on various issues in order to advance his political career. Worse still, is his obsession with the notion that global warming, a discredited and disputed theory that human activity is going to create a catastrophe, must be averted, even if it means destroying the economy of this nation and others. Gore’s antipathy toward modern "civilization" and fears of population growth color everything he says and does. To be that mistaken, that driven, and that indifferent to scientific facts, bodes ill if he were to become the next President. Must reading!

For Writers, Important New Books

A friend of mine, Sandra E. Lamb, has written a definitive book on the subject of writing anything anytime. How to Write It: A Complete Guide to Everything You’ll Ever Write ($19.95, Ten Speed Press, ISBN 1-58008-001-4) is a big softcover that lives up to its title providing advice on every conceivable type of writing requirement you will encounter, from invitations and condolence notes, to resumes, proposals and reports, inquiries and responses, sales writing, and even a big chapter on public relations. It just doesn’t get much better than this!

Winning a literary contest is a good way to break into writing and publishing. The Complete Guide to Literary Contests 1999 ($22.95, Prometheus Books, ISBN 1-57392-261-7) is just out. Compiled by the experts at Literary Fountain, it’s an invaluable resource for writers, providing tons of information about nonfiction, fiction, poetry and play contests in the US. In addition, the book provides information on copyright basics, finding a literary agent, and places where one can seek grants.

A longtime source of information for writers are the books published by Writer’s Digest. They have two 1999 guides out. 1999 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market ($22.99, ISBN 0-89879-876-0) and 1999 Guide to Literary Agents ($l9.95, ISBN 0-89879-878-7) For more information on either title, you can check out http://www.writersdigest.com.

Love & Sex

I should have mentioned this book in time for Valentine’s Day, but love is love anytime of the year, right? The Circle of Enduring Love: A Celebration of Romance and Affection ($l4.95, Andrews McMeel Publishing, ISBN 0-8362-6965-9) by Pat Ross is just a wonderful collection of more than 70 photographs from past times and the present, all of which demonstrate the timelessness of love between men and women. It would make a great gift anytime.

Love Lists: What Every Woman Wants…Her Man Can Know by Frank Candy and Lilian Casselberry ($14.95, Access Ability Publishing, Inc., PO Box 1, Casselberry, FL 32718-0157, 1-888-974-004) makes it easy for any man to get to know what the woman in his life really wants him to know about her. By the way, if her name is the same as the town in which she lives, it’s because her father founded the place. That said, it’s a book wherein a woman can fill in the blanks for the man in her life. A great idea and, not surprisingly, the authors are working on one for men.

One of the most interesting books to cross my desk of late is The Wandering Womb: A Cultural History of Outrageous Beliefs About Women by Lana Thompson ($l9.95, Prometheus Books, ISBN 1-57392-264-1). The author explores the mystery and misunderstandings surrounding the female anatomy over the centuries. She has provided a provocative, fascinating tour of the religious, medical, and social history of the many, often bizarre, notions that have been held about women. From the ancient Egyptians who thought the womb was separate and wandered the body to the myths about menstruation, and a world of general nonsense, you will find yourself quite thoroughly engrossed by this unusual book.

Let Me Count the Ways by Drs. Marty Klein, Ph.D. and Riki Robbins, Ph.D., is just out from Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam ($24.95, ISBN 0-87477-956-1) and takes a look at sexual dissatisfaction from the point of view of two marriage counselors who have seen it all and heard it all. Subtitled "Discovering Great Sex Without Intercourse", if offers options to those who think sex is strictly intercourse in a straight forward way that answers a lot of generally unasked questions until the problem is so big that it threatens a relationship. Good advice for grownups. You might think there’s no room left for a really good sex guide, but you’d be wrong. Great Sex Guide by Anne Hooper ($14.95, DK Publishing, Inc., ISBN 0-7894-4l83-7), a sex therapist reveals all the "secrets" of achieving orgasmic sex and does so in a little volume that is filled with full color photos that illustrate, without being salacious, what she’s talking about. Its size makes it ideal to hide from the kids or others. DK Publishing produces some of the best books on a whole range of topics.

Mostly, I think for scholars and other deep thinkers, Prostitution: On Whores, Hustlers, and Johns sounds like a "dirty book", but it’s actually a collection of studies on this topic and comes with an introduction by former Surgeon General, Jocelyn Elders who says, "We’ve got to make sure that we insure the rights of sex workers…We’ve got to make sure that we go out and support the rights of consenting adults to do what they feel they need to do." Now, consider this, America is probably the biggest producer of pornography worldwide. Sex is big business in America and this book takes a very serious look at the issues involved. Hey, we just let a President off the hook who had sex in the Oval Office with a girl half his age. It’s a little hard to make any claims that a Puritanical America isn’t willing to look the other way.

Who hasn’t loved and lost? For them, there’s The Handbook of Heartbreak, a collection of 101 poems selected by our nation’s 39th poet laureate, Robert Pinsky. It’s a wonderful piece of work ($l8, Rob Weisbach Books, an imprint of William Morrow & Company). If you just like poetry for any reason at all, you will enjoy this collection.

Finally, for the romantic in all of us, there’s A Match Made in Heaven by Susan Wales and Ann Paltz ($l0.99, Multnomah Publishers, PO Box 1720, Sisters, OR 97759, ISBN 1-57673-393-9). The authors have gathered together the true stories of ordinary people whose lives were transformed by extraordinary moments and by prayer for the one right person to fulfill those lives. This is a great inspirational gift.

Great Kid Stuff

Recently I received a whole bunch of stuff from Troll Communications (100 Corporate Drive, Mahwah, NJ 07430 – Tel: 201/529-4000). It was a package of books for young readers and some great educational items. Among the books were I Miss You, Stinky Face, Baby Whale Rescue, Teeny, Tiny Mouse: A Book About Colors, Chocolatina, and The Grumpy Easter Bunny. Troll has long had a reputation for publishing a wonderful line of children’s books for all ages and these come with my recommendation for any parent. And, of course, being a kid at heart, I just loved the new interactive kits designed to stimulate learning while providing a lot of entertainment.These kits include Making Your Own Time Capsule, Alien Chemistry, Sleepover Madness; a Party Pack, and Enter If You Dare, a kit that lets a youngster make their very own electronic door alarm! These kits are all moderately priced from $6.95 to $9.95, which makes them a great bargain, too.

From Peerless Publishing (PO Box 20466, Ferndale, MI 48220) comes What’s the Recipe for Friends? ($7.99, ISBN 0-9666076-0-0) by Greg Williamson. What makes this book special is that, in every schoolroom in America, there are countless children who have relocated to a new city or town and have to learn how to go about making new friends. The author, a veteran educator, has teamed with an illustrator,

What Would You Do? By Sandra McLeod Humphrey ($11.95, Prometheus Books) is a fun book that teaches youngsters about values by placing them in interesting situations. A lot of parents these days are worried about the messages being sent children as they watch the news on television about behavior which is deemed wrong by most standards, but seems to go unpunished. This book is the answer as it offers up challenging situations that emphasize the importance of personal integrity, compassion, loyalty, self-discipline and other qualities we all want children to acquire.Greg Abele, to create an innovative and entertaining story that teaches those important skills. This book, by the way, is, like others mentioned herein, available from Amazon.com. I can’t think of a parent with a youngster up to the age of seven or eight, who would not benefit from sharing this book with a child who has to start again on the path to friendship in a new place or who may need guidance if they are having trouble making friends in their neighborhood or at school.

Useful References

I love books that provide useful information. A fellow named Michael Bohdan, a pest management professional by trade, gained fame some time ago when he sponsored a contest to find the largest cockroach in Texas. He appeared on the Tonight Show, Good Morning America, and many others. Aside from the fact that he’s a genius for publicity, he’s also a very knowledgeable fellow when it comes to pest problems and he’s authored What’s Bugging You? ($12.95, Santa Monica Press, Box 1076, Santa Monica, CA 90406, ISBN 1-891661-01-9) You can even check it out on their website at http://www.santamonicapress.com . Bohdan covers all the common problems from bats to beetles, cockroaches to mosquitoes, and any other you can name. Also from the same publisher is Offbeat Museums by Saul Rubin ($17.95, ISBN 0-9639946-4-6) which is filled with photos and information about places like Bohdan’s Cockroach Hall of Fame, the Houdini Historical Center, and, in all, fifty fascinating places.

If you live in or intend to visit New York City, don’t miss out on the 1999 Bars, Clubs and Lounges guide to the city’s nightlife. Published by Gotham Guides, Inc., PO Box 2333, New York, NY 10017 (ISBN 0-96611-17-10), you can learn more by visiting their Internet site at http://www.gothamguides.com. This is as complete and up to date as you will find; a real treasure.

For the Elvis fan, there’s The Field Guide to Elvis Shrines by Bill Yenna ($15.95, Renaissance Books, ISBN 1-58063-050-2) which pretty much tells you where Elvis did anything including eating, sleeping, singing, acting, you name it. Strange? Well, not if you’re a devotee. The same can be said of Stephen King fans who, no doubt, will welcome Stephen King From A to Z by George Beahm, an encyclopedia of his life and work ($l4.95, Andrews McMeel Publishing, ISBN 0-8362-6914-4). It literally has hundreds of authoritative entries, making it a very good reference, indeed.

Be Your Own Detective by Greg Fallis and Ruth Greenerg ($16.95, M. Evans, ISBN 0-87131-872-5) combines the talents of a former private detective and criminal defense lawyer to explain how anyone can find out if lovers or spouses are being faithful, locate lost friends and children, track down people who owe you money, and find out almost anything about anybody. This kind of knowledge can save you a lot of grief.

The Buyer’s Guide to Fifty Years of TV on Video by Sam Frank ($22.95, Prometheus Books, ISBN 1-57392-226-9) is a huge volume of information that will tell you where you can purchase videos of your favorite shows from the early days of "Your Show of Shows" to more recent ones like "The X-Files." More than 50,000 TV shows on video from 1948 to the present are cataloged and described in what can only be described as an extraordinary reference.

Love to travel? Thinking of moving? Well, check out David Vokac’s The Great Towns of America ($18.95, West Press, PO Box 99717, San Diego, CA 92169, ISBN 0-930743-06-7). It’s a great resource for finding the best getaway destinations, written for both seasoned travelers and urban escapists. The author has covered 60,000 miles putting this remarkable book together. In a similar vein, there’s The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America by John Villani ($16.95, John Muir Publications, PO Box 613, Santa Fee, NM 87504, ISBN 1-5626l-405-3). This completely revised third edition provides information about places as diverse as Portland, Maine to Aspen, Colorado. The author is a travel and arts writer who really knows the turf and art lovers and collectors will really want to add this book to their library.

Eggheads among you, there’s the Dictionary of Philosophy by Mario Bunge ($59.95, Prometheus Books, ISBN 1-57392-257-9). You really have to like philosophy a lot to spend those kinds of bucks, but, trust me, this is one of the best books I’ve seen on the subject, defining everything from "good" to "anomalous monism", "truth" to "mereology." No, I don’t know what most of this stuff means. Like you, I’ll have to look it up in this dictionary!

Finally, I want to recommend a remarkable book. It’s Trees, A Browser’s Anthology, selected and edited by W.R. Martin and Warren U. Ober. Published by a Canadian firm, P.D. Meany Publishers, 4040 Creditview Road, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5C 3Y8) the book ($19.95 US, Canadian $29.95, ISBN 0-88835-005-8) it's a collection of poetry and prose about trees drawn from the literature of ancient times to the present. The authors note that we tend to take them for granted unless we live in a desert or somewhere they’re scarce, but after reading this wonderful collection you will never quite feel the same about them again.

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He may be reached via email by writing to acaruba@aol.com.