Average customer rating:
- entertaining book
- Very funny read
- I shouldn't Even be Doing This
- Okay read
- Disappointed
|
I SHOULDN'T EVEN BE DOING THIS!: AND OTHER THINGS THAT STRIKE ME AS FUNNY
Bob Newhart
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1401302467 |
Book Description
That stammer. Those basset-hound eyes. That bone-dry wit. There has never been another comedian like Bob Newhart. His comedy albums, movies, and two hit television series have made him a national treasure and placed him firmly in the pantheon of comedy legends. Who else has a drinking game named after him? And now, at last, Newhart puts his brilliant and hysterical world view on paper. Never a punch-line comic, always more of a storyteller, he tells anecdotes from throughout his life and career, including his beginnings as an accountant and the groundbreaking success of his comedy albums and The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart, which gave him fifteen years on primetime television. And he also gives his wry, comedic twist to a multitude of topics, including golf, drinking, and family holidays. Today, Newhart appears on Desperate Housewives, in hit movies such as Elf, and in theaters around the country. Reruns of his shows air constantly on Nick at Nite -- have recently been released with great success for the first time ever on DVD. With this book, Bob Newhart gives his millions of fans a first ever opportunity to sample his unique brand of humor -- including excerpts from some of his classic routines -- on the printed page.
Customer Reviews:
entertaining book.......2007-09-25
A quick read. Very entertaining. I had listened to the CD and wanted to read it. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Very funny read.......2007-09-23
This was a very funny read from Bob Newhart. He tells the story of his
life in short interludes which put together a picture of a man at peace with himself and the world. His humor has always made me laugh, some-
times loudly and this book did the same thing.
I shouldn't Even be Doing This.......2007-09-19
Not a rib splitter. But a good, relaxing read. Lots of fun stories about Newhart and his celebrety friends. If you like Newhart's sense of humor, you will like this book.
Okay read.......2007-07-05
I didn't read the ad carefully when I purchased this product. Even though we thought it was an album of Bob Newhart's comedy routines we enjoyed listening to the book. It was a 3 CD book and we enjoyed alternating this book with the other audiobooks we had purchased.
Disappointed.......2007-06-22
I like Bob Newhart, but this book was not as good as I was hoping for. It was not a quick read.
Book Description
The creator of Animal House at last tells the real story ofthe fraternity that inspired the iconic film--a story far more outrageous(and funny!) than any movie could ever capture.Animal House, the film adaptation of stories Chris Miller published inNational Lampoon about his experiences at a Dartmouth fraternity, is amongthe most beloved and successful comedies of all time. In fact, itsportrayal of college party life is still imitated on campuses across thecountry--toga party, anyone?Now, nearly 30 years after the movie hit theaters, there are no taboosleft, and Chris Miller can finally answer the fans who all want to know onething: Was it really like that? The answer: Yes--but much, much more out ofcontrol! Here, for the first time, are the real stories of Alpha Delta Phi.Like the one about the frat brother who entertained the house by lightinghis hair on fire--not the hair on his head, however. Or about the pledgewho trick-or-treated around campus in a very revealing jack-o-lanterncostume. Or about initiation night when a frozen hot dog became verypainful for two rushes.Wild and hilarious, THE REAL ANIMAL HOUSE is a must-read for any fan of thefilm and anyone who remembers their college days as a blur of great partiesand solid friendship.
Customer Reviews:
More Quaint Than Depraved.......2007-05-03
I discovered National Lampoon in 1987, at a time when the magazine was in decline and well on its way to becoming a brand tag for C-grade movies starring Paris Hilton. But there was enough residual genius left in the magazine to change my life. That year, at age 15, I read a story by Chris Miller with the ever-subtle title of "C--k Tales." It was so fabulously wrong that I sent in my subscription card that same day.
Connoisseurs of gleeful depravity might get a chuckle or two out of this book, but it doesn't pack the same punch as his early NatLamp material. Maybe it's a matter of context -- in the '70s and '80s, d-jokes and target vomiting weren't as overmined as they are today. But compared to South Park and the amazing first "Jackass" movie, Miller's stories appear more quaint than depraved.
More Pathetic than "Depraved".......2007-04-29
The very fact that "awesomely" appears in the subtitle as if it were an acceptable adjective of the English language should have been enough to dissuade me from picking up this book. I am somewhat ashamed to admit that I compounded that error by reading the entire book.
It was not that the book is in any way compelling, fascinating, or even humorously entertaining. I continued reading it far beyond my usual tolerance for a dull narrative and poorly developed characters, and despite the persistence of the author's infantile egocentrism which, unfortunately, pervades the entire book from beginning to end.
The book recounts Miller's supposedly "depraved" college fraternity experience. Far from being "awesomely depraved," the characters mostly stand around in the fraternity house basement... talking. Miller describes this standing around talking business as wildly entertaining, something that he finds so compelling he can't wait to get back to that basement so that he can, well, stand around talking again. And again.
This standing around talking plot goes on and on, literally ad nauseum, since he also tells us how important it is to copiously vomit on demand, and how proud he was to have mastered this dubious social skill.
Miller recounts for us the thrill of drinking beer to intoxication, as if getting drunk were a wildly perverse activity that he and his band of fraternity brothers alone-unlike all the rest of the obviously sober college students the world over- had discovered, tested, and perfected for the good of all mankind.
There is nothing "depraved" here, unless your idea of depravity includes the severly upset stomachs of fledgling alcoholic narcissists so sadly dysfunctional they wouldn't have a snowball's chance in hell of getting into a good school if they had to compete with the high school class of 2007.
I suppose I kept reading because I was waiting for the turning point in which the author would describe his transition from childish egocentric to integrated human being. That payoff is never delivered and I was left to assume that Chris Miller sincerly looks back on his happy days of drunken vomiting with wistful nostalgia.
This memoir lacks even the skimpiest scrap of insight. The author never offers us even the slightest wince of regret at having spent his entire college career in what he himself describes as an intoxicted obsession with booze and... more booze.
This memoir is neither "depraved" nor the slightest bit funny. It is wiltingly sad and pathetic.
Don't waste your time.
Jovial and Depraved.......2007-03-13
Well, I certainly laughed, but I was also disgusted. This is not a book for the faint of stomach. Miller uses composite characters and features many stories that sound exaggerated, begging the question - how much of this 'real' version of the animal house saga is actually r e a l? Ultimately, it does not necessarily matter, because the content is engaging and funny either way.
As a current member of a Dartmouth fraternity I was able to relate to the setting, and some of the plot-lines This actually accounted for much of my enjoyment of the work as a whole. I would therefor note that those not connected to Dartmouth and not interested in perverse college humor should stay away (Dartmouth was the draw for me, not the perversion).
Excellent Book!.......2007-03-08
I loved this book from front to back. It is truly an amazing read; I suggest it to anybody who's looking for a good read and laugh!
Really Funny, With Broad Appeal.......2007-02-20
I strongly recommend this funny and important book. Chris Miller parts the Big Green curtain to reveal a hitherto unknown world.
This possibly true memoir recounts the 1960-61 academic year at Dartmouth College, the only Ivy League school in the woods. Popular culture was taking a breather between the Beat Generation and the Hippie era. Undergrads were not yet politicized. Female students were over a decade away. As author Miller writes, "...there was nothing to do but get drunk and break things."
Actually, there was a lot more to do as the book reveals. This is a must read for fans of
* The iconic film, "Animal House." This is Holy Scripture to that film.
* White male college behavior. Miller is the Godfather of Frat Lit.
* The memoir genre. Think "Running with Beer."
* Screenplays. "The Real Story of Animal House" demonstrates source material that one can mine for that million-dollar screenplay. Cheaper than going to a Robert McKee seminar, too.
* Understanding why your man still behaves the way he does.
This Coming of Age novel sits on my bookshelf next to "Catcher in the Rye," Kafka's "Metamorphosis," Dylan Thomas' "Adventures in the Skin Trade" and Phillip Roth's "Civilization and Its Discontents." (This last novella was expanded by Roth and renamed "Portnoy's Complaint.")
Book Description
Part memoir, part monologue, with a dash of startling honesty, There’s Nothing in This Book That I Meant to Say features biographies of legendary historical figures from which Paula Poundstone can’t help digressing to tell her own story. Mining gold from the lives of Abraham Lincoln, Helen Keller, Joan of Arc, and Beethoven, among others, the eccentric and utterly inimitable mind of Paula Poundstone dissects, observes, and comments on the successes and failures of her own life with surprising candor and spot-on comedic timing in this unique laugh-out-loud book.
If you like Paula Poundstone’s ironic and blindingly intelligent humor, you’ll love this wryly observant, funny, and touching book.
Paula Poundstone on . . .
The sources of her self-esteem: “A couple of years ago I was reunited with a guy I knew in the fifth grade. He said, “All the other fifth-grade guys liked the pretty girls, but I liked you.” It’s hard to know if a guy is sincere when he lays it on that thick.
The battle between fatigue and informed citizenship: I play a videotape of The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer every night, but sometimes I only get as far as the theme song (da da-da-da da-ah) before I fall asleep. Sometimes as soon as Margaret Warner says whether or not Jim Lehrer is on vacation I drift right off. Somehow just knowing he’s well comforts me.
The occult: I need to know exactly what day I’m gonna die so that I don’t bother putting away leftovers the night before.
TV’s misplaced priorities: Someday in the midst of the State of the Union address they’ll break in with, “We interrupt this program to bring you a little clip from Bewitched.”
Travel: In London I went to the queen’s house. I went as a tourist—she didn’t invite me so she could pick my brain: “What do you think of my face on the pound? Too serious?”
Air-conditioning in Florida: If it were as cold outside in the winter as they make it inside in the summer, they’d put the heat on. It makes no sense.
The scandal: The judge said I was the best probationer he ever had. Talk about proud.
With a foreword by Mary Tyler Moore
Customer Reviews:
There's nothing in this book that I meant to say by Paula Poundstone.......2007-08-06
This is a funny book... I listened to it in my car on five CDs. Paula has been through a lot and yet she has not lost her sense of humor. If you ever get the chance to go see her live, don't miss it. She is one of the quickest and the best at adLib that I have ever seen.
Humor, History and Humility.......2007-07-29
What do Joan of Arc, Abraham Lincoln, Helen Keller, Beethoven, Charles Dickens,The Wright Brothers and Sitting Bull all have in common? Isn't it obvious? Paula Poundstone of course.
Ms. Poundstone makes both humorous and serious parallels with these historical figures as she goes back and forth between her life and theirs. We not only learn about her own history, we learn about her wry views on life, recovery from her addiction and her number one priority-her three children. As an added bonus we may even be motivated to read more about the people whose names are the titles of the seven chapters.
I especially appreciated her frank discussion of her alcoholism in terms of acceptance,taking responsibility as well as making amends to those whose lives were most affected, her children.
Well done Paula!
A pleasant, rambling read.......2007-07-26
This book feels a lot like listening to a Paula Poundstone comedy routine. She starts off on one topic and you never know where you will end up. I was pleasantly surprised by how personal she was willing to get when talking about her recent substance problems. She did so with much grace and self-deprecating humor. I just love her wit and found myself laughing out loud on several occasions.
There's Nothing in This Book That I Meant to Say.......2007-06-08
Great book. She writes with raw honesty and gentle humour. While reading the book, you feel like you're having a great heart to heart talk, with a good friend.
Nayslove.......2007-05-12
If you are a fan of Paula's, you will LOVE this book! If you aren't and are looking for a good read, you will enjoy the history lesson and fall in love with her. I laughed so hard I had tears rolling. It is both poignant and hysterically funny. She is brilliant as a comic, and now as an author.
Average customer rating:
- Not Bad
- Horse Tale
- Light reading
- Enjoyable but not much new here
- You will love this book
|
Riding Lessons: Everything That Matters in Life I Learned from Horses
Bo Derek
Manufacturer: HarperEntertainment
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0060394374
Release Date: 2002-02-05 |
Book Description
Bo Derek vaulted into the national spotlight in 1979 as the perfect fantasy woman in 10, Blake Edwards's sophisticated film comedy. Her otherworldly beauty and voluptuous figure captivated men everywhere, while her cornrow hairstyle launched a fashion trend among women. Bo has always remained intensely private about her personal life, especially with regards to her May-December marriage to director John Derek, creating an intriguing sense of mystery that has led to much speculation. Here, for the first time, she reveals the truth about the woman behind the glossy image.
Born Mary Cathleen Collins and known as Cathy, she grew up in southern California, the horse-crazy oldest daughter of four. Her father, a public relations executive for the boat manufacturer Hobie Cat, and her mother, a hairstylist and makeup artist for a number of Hollywood figures, separated permanently while Bo was in her teens. During this time her mother was working for Ann-Margret, and it was backstage at one of the entertainer's Las Vegas shows that a theatrical agent approached Bo about pursuing a movie career. At one of her very first auditions the sixteen-year-old Bo met John Derek, a man thirty years her senior, with whom she would spend the next twenty-five years of her life.
Theirs was a love affair of epic proportions, but it was one that was widely misunderstood by the press and public alike. John was dubbed a Svengali, and his influence over the young Bo was thought to be limitless. With great candor and an endearing humor, Bo comes clean on a relationship that has long intrigued provided fodder for American gossip mills, and the result is an account that is far from what we may haveimagined. Bo lays bare the intimate moments and madcap adventures that she and John shared, revealing in the process that she has never, even for a moment, relinquished control of her own destiny.
Given her unusual story, her only-in-Hollywood childhood, her friendships with Ursula Andress and Linda Evans (both of John's ex-wives), her time spent living in a trailer home, her rumored relationship with Ted Turner, and her exhaustive work for the Republican Party, it often seems as if Bo has lived nine lives rather than just one. Whether spurning Life magazine or passing on the opportunity to work with legendary filmmaker Dino De Laurentiis, Bo has gone with her gut regardless of the consequences. And that's only fitting for the woman who has chosen to live life with no safety nets--and no regrets.
But as Bo makes clear in Riding Lessons, it is her passion for John and her love of all things equine that have been the constants in her life. Sharing her hard-won lessons on life and love, she draws on her intuitive understanding of horses to offer surprising insights into the dynamics of intimate relationships.
In this compelling memoir, Bo Derek writes openly of her growing self-awareness and of the coping strategies she has learned, whether faced with sudden stardom, the crazy and competitive world of moviemaking, or the death of her beloved husband. With Riding Lessons, she transcends her legendary physical beauty to reveal an inner wisdom certain to enlighten and enthrall readers of all ages.
Customer Reviews:
Not Bad.......2002-07-15
This wasn't a bad book at all, and I admit to having been conditioned by my society to believe that Ms. Derek wasn't the smartest fish in the school. This, believe it or not, is a simple story, told simply. Although she has had fantastic encounters with the rich and famous and travelled widely the world over, Ms. Derek writes a story of a life spent just as enjoyably in a quiet world as in the fast lane variety. Her story is told honestly, with no baloney thrown in, and I was very impressed at how honestly she dealt with herself. She pulled no punches (which I liked) but didn't make herself out to be a saint either. John Derek comes across as an honest and complicated human being and not the glorified star that some people believed. All told, this was an enjoyable read.
Horse Tale.......2002-05-03
I was a little disappointed in the title after I had read the book...hoping it would be more about how horses affected her life. I was left with the sad impression that she is a little more shallow than I believed. The stories don't lead to any deep revelations...they leave you hanging. I hope she is more colorful than these stories portray her to be.
Light reading.......2002-04-21
It seems that this book was put together rather hastily, as there is not much depth here. You will be disappointed if you were expecting a nice celebrity biography (or just a biography). It seems that Bo wants the readers to believe that she is more than a 'bimbo' but there is not much evidence in the book. Often, she talks about how she didn't have an interest of her own but was content to follow her husband's passion. She admits that she doesn't read much at all. There are numerous 'admissions'like this mixed with incidents that do show her wiillful self: 1)refusing the life cover 2)being a producer for a porn film and other films that she starred in 3)supporting Bush campaign.
At the end, she states that she purposefully didn't try to portray John, her husband, because she didn't want to misportray him. However, the lack of his presence in the book is just too glaring. I wish there are more indepth discussion about how she felt about him , how she saw him, what about him that she loved, how she changed over the time, etc.
Even the episode that she describes about Jane Fonda trying to be a matchmaker for Ted Tuner and herself, comes off shallow in terms of her reaction. To normal people, it is strange for Jane to try to introduce her husband (they were by then separated) to Bo. However, Bo lived an unconventional life where she was friends with all ex-wives of her husband. Even here she comes off as little airhead.
Before reading this book, I always imagine Bo Derek as beautiful, mysterious, and spiritual with lots of inner strength. But this book convinced me otherwise. I am curious how John Derek, a man of many passion and interest who married exceptional women in terms of physical beauty as well as mental, dealt with Bo who were some what plain mentally. She admits that John patiently waited for Bo to grow up to be a fascinating persona of her own but it really didn't happen.
However, one thing seems to be true: she is an honest and nice girl. So that's lot better than most celebrity of our time!
Now, I am very curious about Ursula Andress as she seems to be a woman of great depth and intelligence- what a surprise!
Enjoyable but not much new here.......2002-03-19
Bo Derek has always fascinated the world even though it appears she could care less. One of the few celebrities that didn't care to have the spotlight on her to lead a quality life. And that's what comes through this book. But unfortunately, virtually all of this was already known so there is no new ground to cover.
Yes, Bo is beautiful and a part of American film legend. And the pictures in the book again demonstrate just how photogenic she is. But she politely attempts to dispel the "dumb blonde" myth without giving us much depth. She was raised in a slightly unconventional family which spent quite a bit of time with Ann Margaret and her family. She was discovered young without much formal education but traveled widely with her Svengali husband. Living with John Derek is an education in itself. She slightly attempts to debunk the theory that he led her life. While that may be true in form, in substance, his influence was so great it altered her behavior patterns similar to his.
Bo's career was really a "flash in the pan", 10, Tarzan and Bolero followed by long periods out of the industry. Bo seemed content to lead a quiet home life in love with her husband and her animals. Frankly, I was surprised the book was not a proclamation of her devotion to John. Rather, it was a testament to her love of her animals with John more of a sidelight.
Bo has survived and enjoyed her life while the same time mentally and emotionally growing. This is a very "soft", fast read to understand more about her. It is not a deep read but does give a glimpse of the life of a celebrity. There are no life's lessons to learn here. But if you followed her career, you will probably enjoy this book.
You will love this book.......2002-03-08
Bo Derek's approach to the ups&downs of life is quietly wise and very good natured. Her life story (so far!)and her relationships are fascinating. This book inspires us all to be like her: a woman of great inner beauty AND strength. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and getting to know Bo.
Book Description
In theatre, dance and film, Jerome Robbins had one of the most significant and sustained creative careers of the 20th century. His ability to convey emotion and drama through movement is unrivalled and his artistic breakthroughs in form and content in these media are now seen everywhere. This illustrated book of his life and work is a visual exploration and evocation of a creative journey.
As well as a chronology of his life, the book also explores the important threads running through Robbin's work: his influences, the joys and frustrations, his working methods, his fight for recognition, his collaboration with people such as Leonard Bernstein, fame and its effects. A sense of immediacy is conveyed by the use of Robbin's own words, which capture his tone and often irreverent wit.
The friendship between Robbins and Christine Conrad began in the mid-Sixties and lasted until his death.
He left behind a vast collection of material from his long career which he wanted to share with others and a wealth of photographs, art works, posters, personal drawings, and interviews [now in the New York Public Library], have been made available for the book, in addition to exclusive access to personal journals and private letters. The result is a book that is a delight to the mind, the eye and the soul.
Access to personal journals, previously unpublished
A unique celebration of Jerome Robbins and his contribution to 20th-century dance and theatre: pictorial, visceral and accessible to all
Customer Reviews:
A STUNNING PORTRAIT OF A GREAT ARTIST AT WORK.......2001-05-02
Jerome Robbins is brought to vivid life in this amazing and stunning pictorial biography. Using hundreds of rare, fascinating, never-before-seen photographs; Robbins' personal journals; Robbins' own words about work; combined with Conrad's insightful narrative, this book shines a light on the man behind the image and takes us inside his working process and his daily life. He was obviously a very private man who shielded his personal life, but Conrad takes us behind the austere public image. Because of her longstanding relationship with Robbins, Conrad was given access to previously unseen early childhood and early dance photographs and Robbins' own drawings and writings. Any creative person in any field will be grateful for the descriptions of his unique working methods. Conrad doesn't gloss over his disappointments or personal failures - the story behind his firing from the film of West Side Story is fascinating - but she chooses to concentrate on illuminating his artistic process and bringing the man to life, with all his quirks, his humor, his fierce dedication to work -- and the great personal sacrifices he made for that work. Don't miss out on a wonderful and original reading experience! I loved it... an absolute treasure.
A TRIBUTE.......2001-05-01
What an amazing tribute this book is -- not only to the genius of one of the greatest choreographer's in the history of dance and theater, but to the process of creativity as well. In this brilliant biography of Jerome Robbins, Christine Conrad has given us a work that can speak to every artist, working in every medium, about the passion and commitment it takes to create. Robbins is so eloquently captured on these pages, both in images, and in his own words, that I came away from the book feeling as if I had known him. And, feeling nothing but admiration for his courage, and his determination to excel. He truly was THAT BROADWAY MAN. It was so refreshing to read a biography about a famous person that focused on his work, and his success, instead of just dishing the dirt. I was not particularly interested in his failures; we all have them. I was interested in how he pushed through them and kept going...to give us a body of work so entertaining, and innovative, it literally takes your breath away. The book is absolutely fascinating. Cheers to Ms. Conrad for her intimate, insightful, and intuitive presentation of this extraordinary man.
INVALUABLE PHOTOGRAPHS, NOT TEXT.......2001-04-22
Sure, Jerome Robbins was one of the few genius innovators in theatre and ballet. But, perhaps, a book written by someone interested in the man's flaws as well as his accomplishments, his failures as well as his triumphs, might have been better reading. Cristine Conrad says in her author's note that she was Robbins' friend for more than 30 years. To my way of thinking, her friendship gets in the way of good reporting. I'm not necessarily looking for a hatchet job on Robbins, but a writer less interested in (what we used to call) brown-nosing, would, most likely, have written a richer book.
Why did I give it even four stars? The huge, varied collection of photographs in this book is fascinating and invaluable for anyone interested in Musical Theatre or 20th Century American Ballet.
The real, full version of Robbins' life is yet to be written/published.
A magical look at a genius at work.......2001-01-14
If a picture -- in that old cliché -- is worth a thousand words, this gorgeous book is worth any number of doorstop-sized biographies. Using hundreds of never-before-seen photographs of Jerome Robbins and his friends, family, and associates (Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, George Balanchine, Mary Martin, Irving Berlin, etc. etc), Christine Conrad has put together a stunning visual record of a great life in the theater, the first about Robbins ever to appear. Here are backstage and rehearsal pictures, family snapshots, rare clippings, production photographs, even reproduced pages from Robbins's own illustrated journals, with captions drawn from Robbins's published quotations; all are given context and coherence by Conrad's spare and perceptive text, which takes the form of introductions to the chronologically-arranged sections of the book. Her privileged, inside view of Robbins (she was, she tells us, a close friend of more than thirty years' standing) is never mawkish, cloying, or self-important; but in the end it is moving the way Robbins's own art, from "Dances at a Gathering" to "On the Town" to "West Side Story," is moving -- because it is funny, tender, and beautiful.
JEROME ROBBINS COMES TO LIFE.......2000-12-29
A lot has been written about Broadway legend Jerome Robbins, and much of whatbiographer Christine Conrad says has already been written. However, this book towers above any others in one respect. It is literally a pictorial biography of the theatre's greatest choreographer. From his birth to his death in 1998 the man is revealed in every aspect. Rare photos of the shows he has worked on and photographs reflecting his private life are throughout the book. Conrad does not go into excruciating detail on the problems some of his productions face: his well known temper; upbraiding actors in front of the cast; or the tantrum he had while "West Side Story" was trying out in Washington DC and Robbins, in a fit of pique, backed up and fell into the orchestra pit much to the delight of the actors. However, she does include all the highlights of his career and his early childhood. The book blew me away with the bevy of photographs. It is beautifully laid out and edited. A bit spendy but worth every penny. Any musical theatre fan will want this book on their shelves. Put your order in now
Book Description
The Beatles have profoundly touched the lives of millions. But have you ever wondered why? Why did they become the most powerful artists in history and one of the twentieth century's major symbols of cultural transformation? Meet the Beatles answers those questions and more as it examines the ways the lives of John, Paul, George, and Ringo were inextricably tied to the cultural revolutions their music helped inspire. From their long hair and interest in India to their drug use and admiration for strong women, the Beatles changed the way we look, the way we feel, and even the way we think. This is the book for those who have always been infatuated with the Beatles, as well as those who want to learn for the first time what it all really meant.
Customer Reviews:
Beat the Meetles........2007-03-15
This is yet another biography of the Beatles. This particular one tells the story of the Beatles while explaining the influences that shaped them, and also the ways that they helped to shape culture, especially the women's movement and the youth movement. The author does a particularly good job in discussing "the boys" childhoods, and how that influenced the men they became. It's true that John and Paul are mentioned much more than George and Ringo, but then again, they were the "leaders" of the group and thus of the most influence to society. Overall, I found the book to be quite interesting.
Meet the Beatles: A Cultural History of the Band .......2006-03-27
this book is good. It is not excellent, but it is good. It does touch on the background of the fab four and I would say that it is intrresting to read. I have tons and tons of books on the Beatles and I saw them on stage "live" twice back in 1966, the last year that they stopped touring on stage.
I would recomomend this book to anyone who wanted to know their background .
Overall, good, but not enough about Ringo & George.......2006-02-11
I literally couldn't put this book down once I started it. That hardly ever happens to me.
Having only been 4 when the Beatles exploded on the U.S. scene in '64, I have only vague memories of the early Beatles--I do remember skipping across the playground at Our Lady of Providence School, circa '66, and singing "She Loves You, yeah, yeah, yeah" with playmates. And I remember circulating the riddle du jour: "What did the boy octopus sing to the girl octopus? I wanna hold your hand, hand, hand, hand..."
If you're already a fan who knows every bit of minutiae about the Fab Four, this book probably isn't for you. But this is THE book to read if you're a new fan or if you were too young for the Beatles Experience when it was happening or especially if you question WHY the Beatles became a virtual religious experience when no other bands did.
My only complaint is that author Stark far too often overlooks my two fave Beatles -- George & Ringo. They receive precious little ink with regard to their own biographies. In that respect, the book should really be titled _Meet Paul & John_.
Not having read any other Beatles books, I've been recently informed that this is typical of books about the Beatles. That's really too bad. Perhaps it's because (as I learned in this book) George had the most normal and loving childhood of the four and was the only Beatle with a fully intact family in which a parent neither fled nor died. Maybe that's why Stark gave us so little info. about George. Perhaps George was too boring because of this--too few sensational stories.
(Do read the new, '06 biography of Harrison, _Here Comes the Sun_ if you long to know more about him.)
As for Ringo, God love him, the little that is in the book helps one understand his incredible "everyman" appeal and also why he's always seemed the most empathic of the four. It's because he was an only child who spent most of his childhood sick, in bed, at the doctor, and/or in hospital. But his mum was quite steadfast and loving (dad wasn't around), and little "Richie" seems to have coped by developing quite the sense of humor as well as a sensitivity to the downtrodden "little guy" which he both figuratively and literally was in the Beatles. (Though he got the most fan mail, much of it from children.)
Overall a great read. I just hope Stark writes another book that focuses on the two "economy class" Beatles (George Harrison's term, not mine.)
GREAT BOOK! HERE'S ANOTHER..........2005-11-07
After finishing this tome, be sure to pick up the book TURN ME ON, DEAD MAN by Andru J. Reeve. It's the true saga of the story behind the infamous "Paul-Is-Dead" hoax of 1969, when millions believed a persistent rumor that Beatle Paul McCartney was killed in a car crash, his death kept a secret while the Beatles replaced him with a lookalike and planted "clues" to his death on subsequent Beatles albums. It's an amazing story and Reeve explores the who-what-and-whys of the story, explaining how this hoax was perpetrated and who was behind it. One of the most talked-about books of the year -- and it's available right now, right here at Amazon.com !!!
"An Amazing Book! I couldn't put it down!" -- Dr. Heritage Smith, folklorist and urban legends historian
Doesn't Measure Up.......2005-09-23
While I do agree with some of the author's insights, the book for the most part doesn't live up to his own stated goals in the introduction: to tell the "why" of The Beatles phenomenon as opposed to the "what". Mr. Stark definitely wastes far more paper on the latter rather than the former.
After reading halfway through the book I am exhausted by the too many instances of over-indulgent and sloppy writing (Donovan's "Catch The Wind" a protest song?, "Anytime At All" is a dark and honest song?, "She's A Woman" displays rock's traditional attitude to women?, etc., etc.) and faulty fact-checking.
I've said it before in my other reviews and I will keep saying it: the book publishing industry desparately needs more editors.
Book Description
Both new and old incarnations of the explosive rock band Guns N' Roses are discussed in this compelling biography. Featuring exclusive interviews with key players on their personal and musical histories and supplemental color photographs, this is a comprehensive look at where the band started, the reasons behind their infamous split in 1994, and what the original members are doing now. This fully revised edition contains information on the highly anticipated Summer 2005 release of Chinese Democracy, Axl's first release in 10 years, as well as details of ex–lead guitarist Slash and ex–bass player Duff's hot new band, Velvet Revolver.
Customer Reviews:
The Book That Should Be Forgotten.......2007-01-11
This is possibly the worst book I've ever read. It reads like something a teenager would hand in for English class. There are many spelling mistakes, punctuation errors, duplication of sentences/quotes and places where Mr. Stenning just uses the wrong words. Mr. Stenning seems to think that asking questions is a writing style. Note to Mr. Stenning - That's the reason I'm reading the book, to find out the answers to the questions that you ask. I find it hard to believe that an editor even looked at this. The only solace is that there is some information in it for the hardcore fan, if you can endure the slop that Mr. Stenning passes for writing and sift through the "Axl can do no wrong" theme that pervades this book.
Good thing it was cheap.......2006-06-11
I am a huge fan of Guns n Roses and Velvet Revolver and thought this would make a great read. But right at the beginning I could tell that the author has no writing skills whatsoever. He really needed to fire his editor because there were quite a few mispellings and grammatical errors, but that wasn't the biggest flaw with the book. Most of the information is taken from magazine interviews and the rest seems to be complete hearsay. It would have been nice for the author to actually talk to the bandmembers in length before devoting a whole book to them. I feel that it was unfair, mostly to Slash, Izzy, Steve and Duff.
He made Axl out to be some god, which he is far from being. It was the other guys who had the drug problem, not Axl. YEAH RIGHT!
Either way, the book is poorly written so try to buy it used or borrow someone else's if you really want to read it.
Regurgitated facts; nothing new or original; too many typos!.......2006-06-10
I am a really big GNR fan and I have a large collection of biographies. When I heard about this one, naturally I had to buy a copy. I barely finished a fourth of this book due to the extremely large amount of typos and the fact that there is abosolutely nothing new in this material. I haven't read any other GNR book in at least two years, so I'm not a source of endless GNR trivia, but nearly every "fact" or "anecdote" in this book was something I remembered hearing from another source.
This book is extremely shoddily done; shame on the writer and the publisher! It was put out just to capitalize on the hype around Chinese Democracy (don't even get me started on the mud Axl is dragging the memory of GNR through), and the author/editor/publisher clearly had no concern for producing a high quality product.
Go read Mick Wall's book if you want unauthorized (but probably really true, just not that Axl wanted to hear it) material by an outstanding journalist.
What A Rip-Off.......2006-04-01
I wasn't exactly expecting greatness from this book, but I still could not believe how poorly written and incoherent this thing was. Paul Stenning should get himself to a basic English composition class immediately -- while there have been other reviewers who have mentioned typos, the problems are far worse than that. In paragraph after paragraph there were long, rambling sentences that made no sense and could have been written better by a stoned teenager. Even worse, when the prose does make sense, it's because a huge amount of this "unauthorized" material is blatantly plagiarised word-for-word from articles previously published in magazines like Rolling Stone, Spin, and others, with no credit given to the actual reporters who did the real work of finding such information. I don't think the lawyers who work for such magazines would look on this practice very kindly. Don't waste your money on this garbage; you can find better (and more coherent) information simply by surfing the web for a couple hours. The above rating is one star; that's only because Amazon doesn't allow you to select no stars at all.
guns n' roses the band time forgot.......2006-03-30
The band that time forgot is a bad name for this book. Guns n' Roses is a band that no one has forgotten about. How could you for get the band that had Riots rageing in St louis? How could you forget the band that wrote 'Coma' a song that is about drugs and overdoseing, then go and write 'November rain' which is about Axl's feelings for his girl friend that suddenly died! the answer is no way. this book tells the begining to the end of the guns'era. the mental and phisical abuse of Axl's stepfather in Lafayette IN. the drug problems of the hole band. and making the "perfict" album.
the strugles for axl to be the best was to his oun dismay. To read about this, and being a G'N'R' fan made it so relavent to see why the guns have gone there separet ways.
Book Description
"Galloping Gourmet" Graham Kerr and his wife Treena have spent the past twenty years embracing a Christ-like lifestyle they call outdulgence. Here, the Kerrs share the transforming details of such a truly good life that trades constant consumption and self-serving for creative simplicity and healthy self-denial to benefit others. A deep and delightful approach to what Jesus described when He said, "I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance."
Customer Reviews:
Sponsoring children through Compassion International. .......2007-06-06
For years --- way back in the 1970s --- Graham Kerr delighted and entertained audiences around the world with his witty, groundbreaking cooking show, "The Galloping Gourmet." But all that gourmet cooking, and eating, took a toll on his wife's health, so he and Treena did a turnaround with regard to their high-fat, high-calorie, high-expense indulgence in haute cuisine. Their next show, "Take Kerr" (their last name is pronounced "care"), reflected their culinary transformation. But as radical as that change was, nothing could compare to the transformation to come: they became followers of Jesus, sold nearly everything they had, started a retreat center that failed, became missionaries with YWAM (Youth With a Mission) and said "no" to a host of lucrative opportunities that resulted from their continued stature as celebrities.
Over the years, Graham, often with Treena as collaborator, has written a number of books mingling his changing philosophy on food with the couple's lifestyle of faith in Christ and fellowship with other believers. But in this book, food takes a backseat to lifestyle. Their RECIPE FOR LIFE transcends the principles of healthy eating and focuses on a principle they call "outdulgence." The idea behind outdulgence is to identify a harmful habit, give it up, determine how much the habit cost you (say, the per diem cost of a cigarette or latte or cable TV habit) and transfer that amount of money into a bank account to be used exclusively for sending donations to a charity of your choice --- or, put more succinctly, "converting habits that harm into resources that heal," the program's slogan.
In the Kerrs' case, that meant sponsoring children through Compassion International. Throughout the book, the Kerrs emphasize the highly personal nature of the outdulgence lifestyle; one person's harmful habit may not be the same as another person's, just as the chosen charity will vary from one person to another. Neither judgmentalism nor legalism has a place in an outdulgent lifestyle, they write.
The book itself is divided into two parts: the first a description of outdulgence and the second an autobiographical glimpse into the Kerrs' spiritual and lifestyle journey. Though at times the text is confusing and uneven, it is more often funny, revealing and touching. Most of all, it shows the couple's willingness to be vulnerable by exposing their --- actually, Graham's --- many relapses into a life dependent on their celebrity and the outward appearances that underscored their success. The book provides not only a testimonial to the power of God to radically change a life but also the resources that will help you enhance your changed life by becoming an "outdulgent" person.
An appendix lists non-governmental organizations (charities and non-profits) that provide assistance to eight specific categories of people in need: those who are hungry, thirsty, homeless (exposed to the elements), widowed, orphaned, sick, imprisoned and naked (in need of clothing).
The couple's many fans will almost certainly enjoy the book, while it also will appeal to those who have grown uneasy over the habits they know they need to change. For those of you in the latter category, the Kerrs offer a practical and proven way to shift your focus as you change your lifestyle.
--- Reviewed by Marcia Ford
Cooking up a great life.......2006-12-24
What Graham and Treena have cooked up in their new book is not new ideas for the table, but for living a life of meaning and purpose. I found their recipe for life to be thought-provoking and instructive, with enough transparency to give me hope that even one as incapable as I can shift the direction of my life into one of more purpose and eternal significance. Tender and poignant, there is much to be learned here of love and commitment, integrity and sacrifice, maturation and growth. Don't miss this gem.
Amazon.com
Clayton Moore was the actor who fixed a burning image in millions of baby boomer minds and whose TV character spawned uncountable little white suits, cowboy hats, and black masks on children all over the world. Moore portrayed "The Lone Ranger" in the original TV series between 1949 and 1957. He became a modern immortal with the signature tune of Rossini's "William Tell" overture and his catch line "Hi Yo Silver!" This biography, written with Frank Thompson, author of Lost Movies, details Moore's career before and after his years with Tonto (he began as a trapeze artist), sketches in his personal life (three marriages), and relates how his fans were outraged when, in 1979, Moore was legally forbidden to wear his famous mask in public appearances.
Book Description
Every baby boomer in America knows who that masked man was. He was mysterious and mythic at the same time, the epitome of the American hero: compassionate, honest, patriotic, inventive, an unswerving champion of justice and fair play.
Customer Reviews:
Ah the great memories........2007-03-09
I was a bigger fan of the Lone Ranger on radio than TV, but only because I was away in school most of the years it was on the tube and missed a great deal. That is something I am trying to make up as I collect DVDs and is why I bought this book. I have also known personally two who worked with Clayton Moore in the past, serial queen Kay Aldridge and former rodeo star Beverly McDermott. Everything they said about this man is echoed in the book. A very honest upright straight shooter. I am also impressed by his arguments as to why a star should set an example. So different in Hollyweird today. We need actors and actresses today who have the high moral standards this man has shown. May God bless him always, here and in Heaven.
Hi Yo Silver, away!.......2007-02-09
This man, Clayton Moore WAS the Lone Ranger. I can say no more.
must read.......2005-08-03
An in depth history of Clayton Moore. A very informative perpective of a bye-gone age in Hollywood. I really enjoyed this book. A must read for Lone Ranger and TV western fans.
Lifelong fan.......2005-08-03
Like most of the others here, I'm a lifelong fan of the Lone Ranger, and Clayton Moore was my favorite Lone Ranger. I have a signed lithograph hanging in my living room.
I am also a huge fan of Hollywood biographies.
My biases being clear, I have to say that like everyone else, I loved Clayton Moore's story. He's a genuine good guy, has nice things to say about everyone he worked with, and always tried to find the good in people. People responded to him in kind, even in the days of hippie rebellion.
Clayton Moore's relationship with the character of the Lone Ranger is unique. He was typecast, but wanted to be typecast. After playing the Lone Ranger, it's the only character he ever wanted to play. Even Jay Silverheels had no intention of being Tonto forever. Moore spent the rest of his life going to schools, shopping malls, etc., portraying either the Lone Ranger or portraying himself as the Lone Ranger. He spent the rest of his life trying to embody the Ranger Creed. No other actor was as closely tied to a character as was Moore. Even his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame says both Clayton Moore and the Lone Ranger.
Even the stories of being fired for Season 3 of the TV show, being called back for Season 4, and the legal wrangling over the use of the mask were downplayed in favor of discussing his relationship with his fans, some of whom he met at both 5 and 50 years of age. His comment? The adoration in their eyes for the Lone Ranger was the same at any age.
If you were ever a fan of the show, the photos alone are worth the price of the book.
Also, if you need large print books, the print in this edition is quite large. No need to look for a large print edition.
A wonderful and kind individual.......2005-03-07
Claytom Moore had to be one of the most gentle men that I have ever known. He believed in The Lone Ranger and he lived by the values, and the code that his image stood for. I am proud to say that I have one of the few copies of this book that was autographed by this wonderful man.
Author, Roger Dean Kiser
trampolineone@earthlink.net
Customer Reviews:
Well Written But A Sad Story.......2007-06-09
Growing up in the 50's, it seemed that there was a cold war that took place primarily on television: Lucy vs. Joan Davis.
Joan Davis' brand of comedy was wide and broad. She didn't as much hit the mark as she slapped it into oblivion. However, her physical comedy and razor sharp timing were marvels.
In reading Ohmart's well written novel, it comes as a bitter disappointment to find out that Joan Davis was nothing like her "I Married Joan"/ "Hold That Ghost" persona. In an uncompromising and bitter way, the author holds up the comedic icon to the strongest of light. Whereas pain should be the flip side of the comedy coin, HOLD THAT JOAN seems to paint Joan Davis as being a particularly nasty woman. This may be true but the author never manges to get around to letting the reader know why. You read the book and get a full dossier on Joan Davis' career and love life. What you don't get is any idea on what caused her to be (and as she grew older, it intensified) so mean.
The book is short, well written but you finish it and can't help but wonder when somebody will write a biography about the woman.
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- Japanese Ink Painting: Beginner's Guide to Sumi-E
- Knitting on the Edge: Ribs, Ruffles, Lace, Fringes, Floral, Points & Picots: The Essential Collection of 350 Decorative Borders
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- Layout Index: Brochure, Web Design, Poster, Flyer, Advertising, Page Layout, Newsletter, Stationery Index
- Learn Calligraphy: The Complete Book of Lettering and Design
- Learn Calligraphy: The Complete Book of Lettering and Design
- Learning Autodesk Maya 8|Foundation +DVD
- Life Doesn't Frighten Me
- Logo Font & Lettering Bible: A Comprehensive Guide to the Design, Construction and Usage of Alphabets and Symbols
- Logo Font & Lettering Bible: A Comprehensive Guide to the Design, Construction and Usage of Alphabets and Symbols
Books Index
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