Indigo Slam: An Elvis Cole Novel

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Readers who complain that there's too much wisecracking and cute icon worship in Robert Crais's books about Los Angeles private eye Elvis Cole will be glad to find these traits downplayed (but not totally disappeared) in this story about Cole's search for a missing printer whose specialty is funny money. The book is centered by the presence of the printer's three children--especially the motherly 15-year-old Teri and the obnoxious 12-year-old Charles--who hire Elvis from the phone book. Cole, hoping to become the stepfather of the son of his own lady love, gets sucked in by the children's combination of need and family unity, and soon finds himself in the middle of a shooting war between Russian gangsters, Vietnamese patriots, and ambiguous Federal agents. Previous Elvis outings in paperback: Sunset Express, Free Fall, Lullaby Town, The Monkey's Raincoat, Stalking the Angel, Voodoo River.

Book Description

Life in the California sun suits Elvis Cole—until the day a fifteen-year-old girl and her two younger siblings walk into his office. Then everything changes.

Three years ago, a Seattle family ran for their lives in a hail of bullets. Hired by three kids to find their missing father, Elvis now must pick up the cold pieces of a drama that began that night. What he finds is a sordid tale of high crimes and illicit drugs. As clues to a man’s secret life emerge from the shadows, Elvis knows he’s not just up against ruthless mobsters and some very angry Feds. He’s facing a storm of desperation and conspiracy—bearing down on three children whose only crime was their survival. . . .

Customer Reviews:

Good read.......2007-08-24

This is my first Robert Crais book but it won't be my last. I especially enjoyed his (the author's and Elvis's) voice - casual, laid back, self-deprecating.

Crais gets a lot of meat in one descriptive paragraph and, as such, is a master of characterization. I especially liked what he did with the kids and the girlfriend.

The plot twist at the end might have been a tad too much, but it was forgivable given all that went on before.

Good read.

Loren Christensen - coauthor of On Combat and a bunch of others.

Good ,Light, Crime Novel.......2007-06-22

Elvis is involved in finding the father of three mother-less children. As you probaly will guess the story becomes more involved. Elvis is great. Lucy his girlfriend is interviewing for a television job.
Joe Pike protects the kids. And Russian mobsters show up in Los Angelos.
This is a relaxing read.

An excellent leisure choice for mystery fans........2007-03-06

Robert Crais' INDIGO SLAM provides an involving Elvis Cole novel which receives David Stuart's winning voice and tells of a teen who entices Elvis to search for her missing father. The case should be easy - but the father is involved in the criminal underworld and soon Elvis is in over his head in this fun, involving mystery. An excellent leisure choice for mystery fans.

Fast And Entertaining Detective Story.......2006-06-02

It starts out simple enough. A 15-year-old girl and her two younger siblings hire Elvis Cole to find their father who has been missing for eleven days. The situation becomes extremely complicated from there. If you were to plot this story on a graph, it might end up looking like a spider's web. But Crais makes it work. This book was originally published in 1997 and reissued in 2003. It's a fast and entertaining read.

A man keeps disappearing.......2006-05-16

3 1/2 to four stars - definitely not five. A counterfeiter who acted as a government witness against Russian gangsters in Seattle is put into a witness protection program in Salt Lake City by Federal Marshalls. He disappears, along with his three children. Three years later, his children appear in Elvis Cole's office wanting him to find there father. They had been living under a new name in Los Angeles, and he went out 11 days earlier and has not come back. His oldest daughter, fifteen-year-old Teresa, has a wad of cash. Events move on from there.

The story is generally well written as Elvis looks for the father, encounters bad guys, finds the father, loses him again, and eventually finds him again. Along the way, he discovers other people are looking for the man, including the Russian gangsters and the Federal Marshalls Service. The Secret Service is also interested, and the FBI becomes involved along with the local police. In a side plot, Elvis also has to deal with his girlfriend's ex-husband.

There were, perhaps, too many twists added to the end of the story, and it became a little unreal. Also, the author's description of Seattle settings seemed a little off. Has he ever visited the city? He also keeps referring to Los Angeles hills as mountains. Perhaps he has never seen a real mountain.

GRAND SLAM, THE: BOBBY JONES, AMERICA, AND THE STORY OF GOLF

Average customer rating:

Not as good as "Greatest Game," but still a worthwhile read
A good story of the life of Bobby Jones
A cherished read
Interesting insights on Jones
Not just a golf story an excellent Historical Narrative

GRAND SLAM, THE: BOBBY JONES, AMERICA, AND THE STORY OF GOLF
Mark Frost
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1401301088
Release Date: 2004-11-03

Book Description

From the bestselling author of the critically acclaimed The Greatest Game Ever Played comes The Grand Slam, a riveting, in-depth look at the life and times of golf icon Bobby Jones.In the wake of the stock market crash and the dawn of the Great Depression, a ray of light emerged from the world of sports in the summer of 1930. Bobby Jones, an amateur golfer who had already won nine of the seventeen major championships he'd entered during the last seven years, mounted his final campaign against the record books. In four months, he conquered the British Amateur Championship, the British Open, the United States Open, and finally the United States Amateur Championship, an achievement so extraordinary that writers dubbed it the Grand Slam.A natural, self-taught player, Jones made his debut at the U.S. Amateur Championship at the age of 14. But for the next seven years, Jones struggled in major championships, and not until he turned 21 in 1923 would he harness his immense talent.What the world didn't know was that throughout his playing career the intensely private Jones had longed to retreat from fame's glaring spotlight. While the press referred to him as "a golfing machine," the strain of competition exacted a ferocious toll on his physical and emotional well-being. During the season of the Slam he constantly battled exhaustion, nearly lost his life twice, and came perilously close to a total collapse. By the time he completed his unprecedented feat, Bobby Jones was the most famous man not only in golf, but in the history of American sports. Jones followed his crowning achievement with a shocking announcement: his retirement from the game at the age of 28. His abrupt disappearance from the public eye into a closely guarded private life helped create a mythological image of this hero from the Golden Age of sports that endures to this day.

Customer Reviews:

Not as good as "Greatest Game," but still a worthwhile read.......2007-07-22

Frost's follow-up effort to the outstanding "The Greatest Game Ever Played" - the movie adaptation of which will be released by Disney this fall - this meandering tale tracks the career of Bobby Jones, the greatest amateur golfer of all time, climaxing with his assault on the Grand Slam (back then, it was the US and British Open and Amateur titles) in 1930. After winning the Slam, Jones retired from tournament competition, at the age of 29. After reading Frost's harrowing account of his physical and mental anguish during the ordeal, you'll certain understand why.

Aesthetically, this book doesn't hold together nearly as well as "Greatest Game". Frost includes far too much "background" information (most of which is, quite honestly, common knowledge) about everything from the origins of World War I to the Scopes "Monkey Trial". The bits of early 20th-century lore than festooned the pages of "Greatest Game" were a welcome addition to the storyline, helping us to understand the time and place. Here, they are an annoying intrusion. Despite this unfortunate slip, Frost's prose is still enjoyable to read, and the story will be of interest to anyone who has an interest in the history of golf.

A good story of the life of Bobby Jones.......2007-05-14

Any golfer has heard about Bobby Jones, this book brings his life into focus for all of us. Bobby Jones played this game as an amateur and never was a professional golfer. He won many tournaments both here and in England as was able to afford this by the help of his father.

He was married and they lived with his parents as the many travels Bobby had to make playing golf, it made it handy for his family to be cared for. I was surprised that Bobby Jones had quite a temper and his language was not the best either. He tried to control this but he was such a prefectionist that whenever he made an error he let out his frustration this way.

This book covers all his winnings from a very young age until he won the Grand Slam with were all the big tournament in one year. A terrific feat that has not been done to this day. Until Tiger Woods did it but his was done covering from one year to the next.

If you love history and love golf, this book is worth the read.

Letta Meinen

A cherished read.......2006-09-10

By reading this book I began to admire Bobby Jones, not so much for his golf but for his character and his strength in making it to the end. It would have been a lot easier for him in a folklore sense if he had died young instead of being tortured with a crippling, painful disease that challenged him physically and was a test to him mentally and emotionally. I admire that he never hid himself away like so many famous people do that want to be remembered as they "were". I believe that this is the most admirable thing about him. That and his willingness to serve in WWII, landing on the same beach the day after D-Day. Not just a "for show" tour of duty. His devotion to his family, his country and his friends and his hometown are quite amazing. He is a role model in many ways that I don't even think of golf as one of them but for his tenaciousness, his intellect, his well roundedness and his extreme graciousness. He could have derailed many times but he never did in life. It's a loss that there isn't more to read about his life to know how he managed to adjust to everyday life and his illness, how he kept putting one foot in front of the other. The criticism seems unjust re: Chick Evans, Jones was very kind in all his correspondence to him which I have read in other books. Also, so much is made of his temper which he defends and explains in "Down the Fairway" by Jones, as not worse than any other player of the time and shortlived as a childish display that was never witnessed again at least publically for the rest of his life. Bobby Jones accomplished an amazing number of feats that most of us would feel proud to do even one of such as the many languages he spoke, the degrees, his many intellectual skills, a good family man and most of all his grace in a life.

Interesting insights on Jones.......2006-08-26

Most sports fans have heard that Jones won the Grand Slam, but few (including myself) realize the temper that Jones had or how the quest to win ate him up. Also the story of his later life was unknown to me as well.

Not just a golf story an excellent Historical Narrative .......2006-08-22

Historical Narrative in the spirit of Seabiscuit or Jeff or Michael Shaara's works. Excellent story interwoven with the characters, times, and actions that surrounded Bobby Jones.

Average customer rating:

GREAT BOOK !!!!!!
point and dunk
Obstacles
slam-dunk
Slam

Slam! (Point Signature (Scholastic))
Walter Dean Myers
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0590486683

Book Description

Seventeen-year-old Greg "Slam" Harris can do it all on the basketball court. He's seen ballplayers come and go, and he knows he could be one of the lucky ones. Maybe he'll make it to the top. Or maybe he'll stumble along the way. Slam's grades aren't that hot. And when his teachers jam his troubles in his face, he blows up. Slam never doubted himself on the court until he found himself going one-on-one with his own future, and he didn't have the ball.

Customer Reviews:

GREAT BOOK !!!!!!.......2007-09-04

I'll make it short and sweet if you love basketball you'll love this book Myers biggest hit

point and dunk.......2007-08-08

A very realistic coming of age year in a young basketballer's life. One of the most compelling plot tangents was the teenage angst and confusion that the central character experiences at home, at school, over his career path and with his friends and social life. Myers has again written a wonderful read for the young, and for those who wonder what is inside a teen's head today.

Obstacles.......2007-07-04

Greg is a great basketball player. He is tall and confident on the court and he has a wicked slam dunk. His nickname on his high school team was Slam, and he was a popular guy at school. Then he was asked to attend a magnet school for the arts. His new school is largely white; he is one of the few black students. The classes are much more difficult than the classes at his old school, and the basketball team isn't all that good.

Slam is willing to give the school a chance, but it seems like he is constantly getting lectured about his grades or his attitude. It seems that some of his teachers are out to get him, and he can't bring himself to ask for help in math, the subject he is having the most problem understanding.

Things should be okay on the basketball court, but the coach gets it into his mind that Slam has a chip on his shoulder. He gets even angrier when he challenges Slam to a one-on-one game and Slam wins. Slam makes the team but the coach doesn't start him and only puts him in when the team gets behind and he needs Slam to take back the lead.

It seems that everything is unfair--his classes, his basketball team, and then the fact that Slam's old best friend, Ice, is acting suspicious and Slam thinks he might be dealing drugs. Everything is getting more complex, and Slam feels control of his life slipping away.

I really liked Slam's descriptions of his neighborhood. He describes it from the point of view of one who lives there, and makes the inner city seem less scary. I liked the relationship between Slam and Ice and the fact that going to different schools didn't change them much. I also liked the assistant basketball coach and the way he was so kind to Slam, sort of balancing out the main coach.

Even though things weren't going well for Slam, I felt like he spent too much time blaming others, especially his teachers. It seemed like he thought everyone was out to get him, which I don't think was entirely true.

slam-dunk.......2007-06-01

Slam is a book written by Walter Dean Myers. It a book about this boy named Slam which is a ball and street name what they call him. Slam is a young black boy who in high school playing ball. They say Slam is one of their best players on his high school team. Slam has a best friend named Ice who is the total opposite of Slam! But no matter what they are still going to be the best friends even with the hard times they went through. Why do I think it is important to me,. because it show that as u get older things change, and u start doing mature things. I read this book because some of the thing that I am going through right now even with my teammates or very close friends.

Slam.......2007-03-13

Slam is written by Walter Dean Myers. It is a book about a young black boy whose name is Greg "slam" Harris who has dreams about making it to the NBA
(National Basketball Association) whit his childhood friend Ice. After moving to a different school Slam has academic problem. Slam makes the basketball team and wins every game except one game. He lives in Harlem in a neighborhood that has a gang and drug problem.

Slam is a great book if you like sport books. Slam keeps you on the edge of your seat at the end of mostly all the chapters. Slam won the Coretta Scott King award.

I chose to read slam because it's about a child who is very good at a sport but struggles in school, in which some children can relate to. It also teaches kids not to do things like get in gangs do drugs or struggle in school

The Sibling Slam Book: What It's Really Like To Have A Brother Or Sister With Special Needs

Average customer rating:

I loved it as sister AND parent
Great to see everyone else's point of view...
The Sib couldn't put it down
Brutally honest, and brilliant!

The Sibling Slam Book: What It's Really Like To Have A Brother Or Sister With Special Needs
David Gallagher
Manufacturer: Woodbine House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1890627526
Release Date: 2005-03-15

Product Description

(2006 Independent Publishers Book Awards: Finalist in Juvenile-Teen-Y/A Non-Fiction category) Give teenagers a chance to say what's on their minds, and you might be surprised by what you hear. That's exactly what Don Meyer, creator of Sibshops and author of VIEWS FROM OUR SHOES did when he invited together a group of 80 teenagers, from all over the United States and abroad, to talk about what it's like to have a brother or sister with special needs. Their unedited words are found in THE SIBLING SLAM BOOK, a brutally honest, non-PC look at the lives, experiences, and opinions of siblings without disabilities. Formatted like the slam books passed around in many junior high and high schools, this one poses a series of 50 personal questions along the lines of: What should we know about you? What do you tell your friends about your sib's disability? What's the weirdest question you have ever been asked about your sib? If you could change one thing about your sib (or your sib's disability) what would it be? What annoys you most about how people treat your sib? THE SIBLING SLAM BOOK doesn't slam in the traditional sense of the word. The tone and point-of-view of the answers are all over the map. Some answers are assuredly positive, a few are strikingly negative, but most reflect the complex and conflicted mix of emotions that come with the territory. Whether they read it cover to cover or sample it at random, teenagers will surely find common ground among these pages and reassurance that they are not alone. It is a book that parents, friends, and counselors can feel confident recommending to any teenager with a brother or sister with a disability.

Customer Reviews:

I loved it as sister AND parent.......2006-11-03

I grew up with a mentally retarded sister, but in the days when nobody talked about such things and I didn't know anybody else with a disabled sibling. How I wish I had a book such as this when I was young! Throughout the book are reflections of pretty much everything I felt, at all ages. And now, I have a son with Down Syndrome, and I notice his older teen brother picking it up from time to time. I highly recommend it.

Great to see everyone else's point of view..........2006-02-17

I am one of the 81 siblings who answered the questions in this book, and although it was nearly 3 years ago and I've changed a lot since I wrote my answers, it still feels good to go back through and know I'm not alone. That was really our intended goal behind this book, and it came off well. Seeing that others share the same joys and frustrations of being a sibling as I do will never cease to help me get through the difficult life that we, as siblings of special needs kids, will live forever.

The Sib couldn't put it down.......2005-10-14

My daughter, the twin sister of a boy with Down Syndrome, couldn't put the Sibling Slam down. She quickly got taken up into the many comments and it definitely stimulated a number of good, open conversations between us. A great and important read for a sibling, and a parent.

Brutally honest, and brilliant!.......2005-05-20

An insightful, contemplative, and often humorous read. Slam book editor Don Meyer asks 80 young people what it's really like to have a sibling with special needs. The answers are as varied as the contributors.

This book is a must-read for kids and teens who have a brother or sister with a disability, and is a valuable resource for health and social workers.

Read it and know that you're not the only one who gets scared or frustrated or embarassed. And learn how others work through tough times to become mature, independent and thoughtful young people.

Enemy Access Denied: Slam the Door on the Devil With One Simple Decision

Average customer rating:

Enemy Acess Denied
Suprisingly Powerful

Enemy Access Denied: Slam the Door on the Devil With One Simple Decision
John Bevere
Manufacturer: Charisma House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1591859603

Book Description

Previous sales of almost 100,000 copies of The Devil's Door indicate that Christians want to know how to walk free from sin and deny the enemy access. What is the key? In this revised and retitled best-selling book, John Bevere reveals how the greatest form of spiritual warfare for any Christian is the powerful force of an obedient life. Enemy Access Denied will:

• Give you a fresh revelation of how God supplies a security system in the Spirit. • Prompt your heart and mind to find hidden sins and identify rebellion. • Show how grace gives you the power not to be a slave to sin anymore. • Challenge you to be holy.

Customer Reviews:

Enemy Acess Denied.......2007-08-08

What an eye opener! I loved the book the Bait of Satan, but this one was even better. Very Biblically Based, constantly used scriptures to amplify the point that the Holy Spirit was using him to get through to the "Church of today." It's changed the way I pray, teach, preach!
Thanks again for selling such a great book!
Sincerely Rev. RCF

Suprisingly Powerful.......2007-04-15

Many Charismatic/Pentecostal books (at least those available at the local bookstore in Nowhere, WA) seem to be pretty light-weight. Not this one. John Bevere gives strong insights into why the Christian life sometimes seems empty and even pointless (hint: disobedience). It is a good read and will make a Christian man or woman consider why their lives are not what God meant them to be and think about whether or not they are just rationalizing away their sins (disobedience). This is not a "Health and Prosperity" or "Name It and Claim It" book. Even non-charismatics and cessationists will profit by reading it.

No Holds Barred Fighting: Takedowns: Throws, Trips, Drops and Slams for NHB Competition and Street Defense

Average customer rating:

Worth a look
Good basic book for boxers but weak for grapplers
More splendid work from Mark Hatmaker
Another excellent book in this series.
He's done it again!

No Holds Barred Fighting: Takedowns: Throws, Trips, Drops and Slams for NHB Competition and Street Defense
Mark Hatmaker
Manufacturer: Tracks Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1884654258

Book Description

This fourth No Holds Barred Fighting training manual contains all fighters need to know about the art of takedowns, or "shooting," and how to counter takedown tactics used by an opponent. Readers learn to see it from both sides with offensive and defensive stances, footwork, setups, and shooting techniques. Several variations of the most commonly employed shots are featured—double leg takedowns, single leg takedowns, snatch singles, and low singles—as well as counters for each. Hundreds of sequential photos illustrate the steps, grips, and angles of every move, and takedowns are included for use inside the inevitable clinch. Sections on drills and chains, as well as a list of resources for further practice, round out the text.

Customer Reviews:

Worth a look.......2006-06-10

Good writing style, good wit, good demonstration and explanation of technique. You can tell there is a ton of research and experience behind every book. The author has consistently given a solid quality product. Good for him!

Good basic book for boxers but weak for grapplers .......2006-03-23

I like Hatmaker and enjoy his easy writing style and ability to simplify fighting concepts. This book is a nice catalog of takedowns for someone who is used to stand up fights and wants to learn how to take his opponent to the mat. Boxer, kick boxers and karate grounded guys can see a wide range of techniques.
Wrestlers and soft martial arts guys, judo and jujitsu, may pick up a technique here and there, but most of the book really misses this group. The philosophy for a lot of the set ups for the takedown techniques seemed based on a sparring or jabbing model. The opponent's balance is disturbed by a sudden jab like push, pull or grab of some kind which is then abandoned so you can follow up with usually a double leg takedown -- though many other takedowns are considered later in the book. The problem I have with this model is that it won't work with "sticky" opponents.
Unlike boxers who spar, soft martial arts guys often welcome an opponent's push, pull or grab as an opportunity. They hold on to attacking hand/limb while they they yield to momentum of the attacker and then redirect his attack to their advantage. It feels like your hand hit glue on a swinging door. These set ups calling for a jabbing attack can end up being used to off balance the attacker. Of course, if you limit yourself to inexperienced opponents or boxer type opponents, this shouldn't be a problem.
This book would benefit from something like a strategy section. While the subject is briefly addressed in choosing a stance, vertical versus bent over and wide base versus normal base, it is not discussed in how to deal with varied opponents. The author states such a book is in the planning, and I look forward to reading it. But with this book, clearly one shoe does not fit all feet. Most soft martial arts guys are going to be more vertical than lean in boxers and wrestlers. In the same vein, different takedowns will work for wide based stances than normal shoulder width apart stances -- square versus staggered foot stances. Tailoring the takedowns to different opponents seems just as important as selecting your own stance.
Two specific weaknesses: Nothing was said about learning how to fall safely. A few pages would have gone a long way to insure guys without any background in landing on their backs from a standing position not get hurt. Most guys do something stupid like reaching back while falling and risk injuring the joints of their arms or cracking their necks (chin to chest when going down.) Second, some of the less used takedowns shown in the book are clearly not neck friendly and inexperienced guys should be very careful with them if they are going directly from the book to their backyad with a hapless buddy.
Good book for non grapplers who want to see what takedowns look like. But expect that quite a bit of fine tuning will be necessary for the techniques to actually work.

More splendid work from Mark Hatmaker.......2006-02-28

Very good book.

In it are covered some basic and advanced wrestling and submission takedown techniques. A lot of photos which make all techniques easy to understand, there is not a lot of text but photos do the job, that reader will undersatand what is going on.
Like all Hatmakers books this is not be missed. It makes great collection on MMA books.

Why not all 5 stars: because I wanted to see more takedowns in it, specialy from Greco Roman side of wrestling. But that's just my wish and author make his call what he will cover n there.

Another excellent book in this series........2006-01-13

Hatmaker writes some of the best MMA books out there. His explanations for movement are very good and the photos are extensive. His blend of "old school" wrestling technique and objective viewpoints on modern training techniques are exceptional.

As a note toward one of the other reviews: he clearly states that clinch-based takedowns will be covered in the next volume.

An overall excellent book, consistent with the standard set throughout this series.

He's done it again!.......2005-12-26

In his fourth book in the "No Holds Barred" series, Mark Hatmaker as tackled (pun intended) the subject of takedowns. He designs this book to introduce novices to takedowns and takedown counters, and also to fine-tune some principles for more experienced players.

The introduction covers the need for a strong takedown strategy in the NHB game, the principle of being a "sharpshooter", why certain techniques were chosen for this book, and the role of the clinch in relation to the shots that are shown.

Chapter one is on the proper distance from which a fighter can shoot, and ways to gage that distance specific to the NHB game. This chapter, most importantly, covers when and when not to go for a takedown. Chapter two covers the bare basics of takedowns: the stance (including a modified one for NHB players). He includes the centerline principle, and why one will be more efficient for "thinking like a sprinter" before moving on to chapter three. Three is on shooting footwork, and Mark beggins with the five essential rules for a shooter, after which he includes some drills for improving footwork from the basic stance. He also discusses and demonstrates the penetration step commonly seen in modern wrestling, as well as discussing how it contrasts with the leg dive, and which one he prefers. Chapter four demonstrates the old-school leg dive, which focuses on upper-body movement; included are examples of it's use and a drill that you can use to train your body for it. The next chapter is on various grips and handles, and why some should be avoided. After that is a chapter on various set-ups, which are normally ignored by most authors. This chapter alone has added to my understanding of the takedown game. He even shows how to combine various set-ups.

Chapter seven starts us on our takedowns; we start with the double-leg. Being the bread-and-butter takedown for most people, Mark only devotes three pages to the takedown itself, but much to my (pleased) surprise, takes up 50 PAGES with double-leg counters! Many of the counters end in a submission, which is great for both sub wrestling and MMA. Next, he goes a similar route with the single-leg, showing some very basic but essential variations of it before compiling a long list of counters, including several subs. Chapters 9 and 9.1 (low singles and counters) is a total of ten pages long, but nice, since the takedown isn't seen much in US MMA as opposed to Japan. In the last four chapters, we finish with tie ups, as Mark covers arm-drag takedowns and counters, and collar-and-elbow takedowns and counters.

This is a great book for those interested in non-gi submission wrestling or takedowns for MMA. Throughout the text, Mark offers concise advice on his takedowns, the underlying principles behind them, and how it all relates to the all-in fight game. I can't recomend this book enough, and I look forward to his book on the clinch.

Poetry Slam: The Competitive Art of Performance Poetry

Average customer rating:

Bells & whistles, but no bang!
Romanticizes While It Educates
Solid collection lacking a full historical perspective
JIGGA WHAT?! GIMME SOME MO'
A good breaking-in for first time readers

Poetry Slam: The Competitive Art of Performance Poetry

Manufacturer: Manic D Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0916397661

Book Description

Poetry slams-the Olympics of poetry-have become a cultural phenomenon. This groundbreaking anthology documents 10 years of poetry slams, with 100 poems from national slam champions and a dozen essays on how to run a slam, winning strategies, tips for memorizing poems, and more.

Customer Reviews:

Bells & whistles, but no bang!.......2003-06-05

OK, OK, poetry may be said to *start* on the page, but you'd never know it from this book. For the beginner, these pages will seem gobbledygook. You'll miss the point; like reading a menu instead of eating the meal. Lacking a CD, the book suffers - ergo, the poets & poetry suffers, too. These poems were meant to be *performed*, not read, & not even being read aloud helps. There's perhaps a too-subtle difference between poetry and the performance arts for most people, but it's there nonetheless. Poetry is based on the sounds it makes, and the rhythms, and yes, the shades of meaning and feeling, but that's like saying a script is a poem. Are these arguments for academics? Is this the kind of divisiveness that, for many, killed poetry in high school? You gte to decide. But if, after reading this book you're left with that achy old feeling of "Is that all there is?", then don't be surprised. It's like you asked a goose to honk like a truck; it's like you asked morning to break like glass; it's like you expected sweet romance & got the Pillsbury doughboy. You missed the (crucial) point. The book's mostly performance art, not necessarily poetry. Like describing chocolate. ("It's brown and tastes good." What else does that?) What's poetry? "If I read a book and it makes my whole body so cold no fire can ever warm me, I know *that* is poetry. If I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off, I know *that* is poetry." - Emily Dickinson. Very little in this book even moved me.

Romanticizes While It Educates.......2003-03-04

"Poetry Slam" by Gary Mex Glazner is part-anthology, part-history, part-description of slams, slam poets, and slam poetry. It romanticizes the image and description, but excels as a history. As an anthology, it has much room for improvement, but this could be a result of the limits of performance poetry.

Kerouac's ghost must wonder at how formulaic slam poetry has become. From the aggressive, ideological depth of Ginsberg and Burroughs, we now have the regurgitated flavors of Whitman-wannabes evoked pretentiously in the pop-soliloquys now barraging modern poetry readings. Yet, the slam has introduced thousands of young poets that poetry is worth their time. Glazner demonstrates this inconsistency, but not intentionally as we see the up and down quality of the poetry samples he provides.

An excellent part of the book is the description of poetry slam rules, distinguishing local and national rules, and how this form is meant as an oral art form, not a written one. This is the challenge faced by every slam poetry book: how to present it. Some poems here make the transition, and there a few gems worth a read. Marc Smith, founder of the slam, has "My Father's Coat." An interesting poem called "Ali" by Michael R. Brown. opens with the compelling "Five inches shorter than his fighting height" shows some fine imagery and intriguing approaches to poetry meeting culture.

For a deeper look at Beat literature, see the "Beat Reader," or for poetry only, "Beat Poets" edited by Carmela Ciuraru. "Poetry Slam" is a good start, but these books will provide better examples of the style and quality slam poets esteem to reach.

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com

Solid collection lacking a full historical perspective.......2000-12-12

3.5 stars, really. This anthology is a solid collection representing a wide range of voices STILL involved in the National Poetry Slam scene. Unfortunately, many voices are left out precisely because they are no longer involved in the scene which weakens the collection's importance as an historical document. Nevertheless, the poetry selected, along with the mixed bag of essays, makes this an invaluable supplement to ALOUD, still the king of "poetry slam" anthologies.

JIGGA WHAT?! GIMME SOME MO'.......2000-09-06

i like totally hated this book. it was so wack to the mostest. really, just lame-o spazmodica. and furthermore, i know 98 percent of the people in this book personally. they're real square wizzies. a big bunch if icky-poo momo's. their work is so fake. it's not even them. half of the people writing female poetry are men. half of the men writing female poetry are fat. half of the young people writing old poetry are dead. half of the dead people writing new poetry are zombies. like, real zombies. don't buy this. but i did love beau sia's stuff for some random reason. like love as in marriage. so do buy this. he gets tons of profits from it. but don't tell the other poets. cuz they don't. it's all top secret. like spies.

A good breaking-in for first time readers.......2000-08-18

One of the most accesible books around for anyone even remotely interested in poetry. If you've never been to an open mic or a slam, give this one a whirl...it'll make you want to go (and maybe even slip a poem in your pocket before you lock the door). If you've been to an open mic and wondered what else was out there that was like what you just saw, this book captures a great many of those elements for you.

Not just a book of poems, throughout the work are placed a great many essays written by long-time, well-known National slam poets (Taylor Mali, Danny Solis, etc.) about nearly every aspect of reading and performing one's work...a long-overdue codification of information for performing poets at ANY level.

Some of the poems contained within are national favorites, a few legend, but they ALL contain a lesson about performance poetry: that it starts on the page.

A MUST have for any poet who is (or is considering) performing their poetry before audiences in any capacity. A necessary bit of packing for any poet with national aspirations of slamming, touring or just reading.

Average customer rating:

Do you want to create "wow" to your customers?

Frank Delano's New Book "Brand Slam"

Thought provoking

Frank Delano's New Book "Brand Slam"

Brand Slam by Frank Delano

Brand Slam: An In-Depth Look at the Remarkable Concepts and Creative Teams Behind Some of the World's Most Ingenious Brand Recognition Campaigns
Frank Delano
Manufacturer: Lebhar-Friedman Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0867308478

Book Description

A wake-up call for CEOs and product managers alike, Delano debunks overwrought strategic planning and loads your bases for the chance at a brand slam hit out of the marketing ballpark. Case studies and personal experience round out this remarkable call to action.

Customer Reviews:

Do you want to create "wow" to your customers?.......2002-03-24

Brand is an important and valuable asset for every company, thus creating a unique image for your brand and differentiating from your competitors are important issues in brand management. This book illustrated with examples the criteria, requirements and tools to build a brand successfully.
This book is easy to read and with suitable examples to help you understand more about the concepts. I found the most useful part is the ¡§brand slam tools¡¨ in which tools and guidelines are introduced for building a brand successfully.
If you want to start to launch a brand, read this book before doing so, I believe that this book helps you a lot.

Frank Delano's New Book "Brand Slam".......2001-06-30

"You're in for a stimulating read!"

Thought provoking.......2001-06-28

This is a book that is very thought provoking but, like all good business books, simple in its message. It all comes down to a great idea, a brand slam. The author talks about marketing by committees, strategic plans and how they are frequently at the heart of brand development. The plan comes first and everything follows from there. He argues that this is totally the wrong approach and his reasoning certainly makes sense. What must come first is THE BIG IDEA. This could be a product idea, an advertising idea, a slogan idea and so on. This forms the core to be able to move forward. If a strategic plan is needed then it follows from the idea.

Brand Slam is divided into section that show how a brand slam can happen in different areas. For example, the slogans section show how the use of different words can contribute towards a brand slam slogan. The advertising section considers how brand slam ads are memorable and, ultimately, more effective than poor advertising. The sections are illustrated with a wealth of examples, some of which have their own dedicated section that goes into detail about how a brand slam business was built. One criticism is that the examples are primarily US brands or international brands in the US and the slogans and advertising may be unknown to an audience outside. However, this does not hide the lessons that are being communicated. The examples still work though.

Brand slam is inspirational and encourages the reader to think of other relevant examples and why they work. Each section concludes with a set of lessons to be learned. These can be applied to your own company or brand and help you towards your own brand slam.

Frank Delano's New Book "Brand Slam".......2001-06-07

"This volume could not be more timely!"

Brand Slam by Frank Delano.......2001-06-07

"A quick glance says it is great!"

Average customer rating:

Slam, April 2007 Issue
editors of Slam Magazine
Manufacturer: Primedia Magazines
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Single Issue Magazine

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ASIN: B000NJL9HG

Poetry in Motion (High School Musical Stories from East High)

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Poetry in Motion

Poetry in Motion (High School Musical Stories from East High)
Alice Alfonsi
Manufacturer: Disney Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 142310613X
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Customer Reviews:

Poetry in Motion.......2007-10-18

This book was great! I read it four times. The East High English teacher is making everyone write a poem of their own and recite it in front of the whole school. Chad, who usually likes to be the center of the spotlight is nervous about reciting a poem! Troy gets Gabriella to teach him and the guys a little about poetry.

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