Customer Reviews

The Notebooks of Lazarus Long (Future History)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book is merely an excerpt of two "interludes" from the novel *Time Enough For Love*. While I enjoy many of these quotes, there is not a single "new" one in here. They are *all* reprints from that novel.

Save yourself a few bucks and buy the novel, instead. You get all of the quotes contained within "Notebooks", plus an entire story to go with 'em!

I gave this three stars. Heinlein, in general, gets a higher rating from me than that, but this isn't a complete book .

The only reason this gets even 3 stars is because of Henlein's prose. The REAL "Notebooks of Lazarus Long" is a beautifully illuminated coffe-table book produced by D.F Vassalo, using Heinlein's prose and some truly beautiful marginal illustrations. It is currenly out-of-print, but I saw a first-edition one on ebay going for $1500. I count myself extremely fortunate to own a couple of copies of this - I scarfed up a dozen when it first came out. Original cover-price $7.95. I used to give them away to deserving individuals, but when I got down to 3 copies I stopped doing that. If you can find a 'real' copy at a price that doesn't break you, buy it. This, unfortunately, isn't it...

If you like to think and impress your friends with intelligent sounding quotes, this book is great. I realize that one does not normally associate a book of philosophical quotations with a fictitious character, however __The Notebooks of Lazarus Long__ is such a book. Robert A. Heinlein's character, Lazarus Long, has appeared in many of his books. Though unsuccessfully, as some of the books are out of print, I have tried to follow the "life" if this most extraordinary man.

Bluntly put Lazarus is the product of genetic engineering. He is the fortunate owner of a special set of chromosomes which, with copious amounts of advanced medical help, enable him, at last count, to live to be over three-thousand years old. (Some have even speculated that he is immortal, though I do not hold that opinion. He could die if he so chose but has not done so yet.) With so many years of life experience Lazarus Long accumulated notebooks of observations on the human character and general life-"You live and learn. Or you don't live long."

All of the material of The Notebooks of Lazarus Long was first found in his collection of memoirs, __Time Enough for Love__. With the help of Justin Foote the 45th, Chief Archivist, Howard Foundation, and the sentient super-computer, Minerva, Lazarus documented many of his exploits from his birth in 1916 to the time of the book about 4272. By sharing his stories with the eager audience of his descendents and Minerva, a story emerges. As with any aged grandfather recalling his past, Long frequently remembers advice to the young and stored these maxims in a special section of Minerva's memory-his notebooks.

Graciously illuminated by D.F. Vassallo some years later (or is it earlier? Time travel does confuse me so!) __The Notebooks of Lazarus Long__ are an enlightening testament to human nature and a thought provoking mix of laughter and philosophy. Lazarus shares some good advice.

"Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed of but do it in private and wash your hands afterwards."

But, I will leave that one up to the reader.<P

Robert A. Heinlein's prestigious list of literary accomplishments includes two publications that should be manditory reading while still in school, if not for membership in "civilized society"

"Stranger In A Strange Land" and " Time Enough for Love" still rate as some of the finest works ever created.

The main character in "Time Enough for Love" is Lazarus Long, the oldest living human ever. The stories he spins about his life are so engaging that anyone attempting to desribe them will fail without insisting that you "read the book" in order to understand.

Following this is "The Notebooks of Lazuras Long" which is a collection of quotes from Lazuras Long.

No other collection of quotes from those living or dead, much less a fictional character, will have as profound an impact on the reader. I personally have purchased dozens of copies of this book to give as gifts to friends and family.

This book is truly a great piece of work and a must have for anyones personal library.

After you have read it, I can assure you that it will become one of the books you will want to pass along.

I also give this book as a give on a regular basis as a gift, it is wonderful. Even if you have not read any Heinlein the quotes are fresh and insightful and fun to read. More than one of the illuminated pages has made it on to my desktop as a wallpaper.

I can perhaps best recommend this book by several "fair use" quotations from its pages:
Fair warning: Very little of what you will read below happens to be "politically correct"
-----------------------------------
Copulation is either spiritual in essence-or merely friendly exercise. On second thought, strike out "merely." Copulation is not "merely"-even when it is just a happy pastime for two strangers. But copulation at its spiritual best is so much more than physical coupling that it is different in kind as well as in degree.

The second most preposterous notion is that copulation is inherently sinful.

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently and die gallantly.
Specialization is for insects.

All societies are based on rules to protect pregnant women and young children. All else is surplusage, excrescence, adornment, luxury, or folly which can-and must-be dumped in emergency to preserve this prime function. As racial survival is the only universal morality, no other basis is possible. Attempts to formulate a "perfect society" on any foundation other than"Women and children first!" is not only witless, it is automatically genocidal. Nevertheless, starry-eyed idealists (all of them male) have tried endlessly-and no doubt will keep on trying.

Men are more sentimental than women, It blurs their thinking.

For Heinlein fans this is an excellent book. It contains the quotes from The Notebooks of Lazarus Long in Time Enough For Love. Thirty of the quotes are beautifully illluminated. This is a great coffe table book. Here's an example quote: "You live and you learn. Or you don't live long."

During one of the intervals that this book was out of print, I saw copies offered for $60 and offered one of mine for $80. It was gone in a week. It's not likely that it will ever be out of print again, with new publishing regime, so that's not the reason to stock up.

You'll want a copy for yourself and several on hand when you need a gift for a bright friend... one who has yet to discover Heinlein, or even one who has.

I agree with most of the reviews, both good and bad. This is a thin volume and a copy of "Time Enough For Love" etc. will warm you for a longer period. But sometimes, what you want is a quick thought to lift you. Here's a few favored samples:

"Be wary of strong drink. It can make you shoot at tax collectors - and miss."

"Your enemy is never a villain in his own eyes. Keep this in mind; it may offer a way to make him your friend. If not, you can kill him without hate--and quickly."

"One man's theology is another man's belly laugh."

"A zygote is a gamete's way of producing more gametes. This may be the purpose of the universe."

If you're going to cut these parts fron TEFL and add art work why not make something that can be put out or given as a gift like a coffee table book. After all there arew some great words to live by in here.

Robert A. Heinlein, long considered to be the Dean of science fiction writers, has a winner with "The Notebooks of Lazarus Long". The world's oldest man, he first appeared in earlier Heinlein novels and came to fruition in "Time Enough for Love".

With age comes wisdom, and this beautifully illustrated compilation of Lazarus Long's quotes are lifted intact from Heinlein's book "Time Enough for Love". There are quotes for handling virtually all life's encounters from succeeding in marriage to raising children, albeit with a twist of humor.

Whether or not the reader entirely agrees with all of his philosophical or political ideals is a matter of personal taste, but for any avid reader of Heinlein's books, this is a must have. While all the quotes are available in "Time Enough for Love", this book places them all within easy reach. The artwork by D. F. Vassallo is tastefully done without blurring or detracting from the content, and the pages would be suitable for framing if the reader wished to dismember the book.

I would highly recommend this book to any reader whether it be fiction or non-fiction. Wisdom knows no boundaries.