Customer Reviews:
 A word of warning January 2, 2008
5 out of 7 found this review helpful
This is a very good book with a different approach the subjects covered are very varied. I bought this book for my 10yr old daughter who is very mature and a good reader, a word of warning, she found some of the content disturbing and had a few sleepless nights, in particular the "Lord Lucan" Murders,Jack the ripper, and Marilyn Monroe death. I did not look all through the book before christmas, but if I had I would probably have not bought the book, also human Spontaneous combustion was also a bit wierd for a 10yr old to take in. But most of the book was okay, I feel it should have a warning on the cover which would prapare the adult buying it.
 Brilliant December 15, 2007
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Spent half an hour reading this in Waterstones this afternoon while out Christmas shopping. Will greatly appeal to the subversive in children, the layout works well so that it can easily be dipped in and out of, but is still meaty enough to learn a little. It's going straight in my shopping basket for my 10 yr old boy.
Can't put it down! December 6, 2007
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
This is one of the best books I've ever opened, and that's the real reason for the title--once you open it, you won't be able to put it down. My review's going to come off as somewhat skewed because I'm upset by the other reviews. Rating a book without opening it renders the entire purpose of Amazon's rating system meaningless. I really, really liked it, and this is why:
1) The (true) subject matter is fun: unsolved mysteries, vanished heirs, lost tribes, ancient civilizations, hidden messages, buried treasure. The list goes on.
2) It's interactive: at the bottom of a page, similar topics and page numbers are suggested. The fun way to navigate is by following your interests. Some pages have hidden flaps and optical puzzles; later in the book there's a magic eye picture to decode.
3) It presents incomplete, controversial theories and you have to make your own guesses based on the evidence presented. If something seems really wrong or unusual, it's inspiring to do further research on your own to learn more. This journey of discovery is perfect for the 9-12 target range, but it works for me, and I'm an adult.
If everyone rated every book they haven't read on their personal bookshelves at three stars, imagine all the popular novels and classics that would dip for absolutely no reason. It's like marking down the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle because the cover art clashes with the carpeting. Do Not Open has been reviewed in Boing Boing and at Lastbroadcast, and it deserves all the good things being said about it. It's definitely a kid's book, but I've learned a lot, and it presents difficult subjects (like Fibonacci's Number and the Golden Ratio) in a way that's easy for everyone to understand. Ten stars, two thumbs up, and 100% freshness.
Innovative, but not for everyone! November 9, 2007
1 out of 27 found this review helpful
As a keen reader of instructional and advice publications, I've previously never come across a book quite so to-the-point as Dorling Kindersley's poignant "Do Not Open", so you can understand why I was somewhat sceptical about buying it at first. The front blurb describes the book as "An encyclopedia of the world's best-kept secrets", but thanks to the genius title of the book itself, it will certainly remain a timeless family favourite for generations.
At the time of writing I have owned this book for 2 weeks and have yet to open it. Thankfully, the hardback cover means I can prop it against a nearby windowledge or mantlepiece which means I don't have to constantly hold the book as I read it. Perhaps a bit of an involved read for those who have a full-time job, if you have regular time to devote yourself to reading then it's an indisputably great purchase.
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