Amazon.com
Change can be a blessing or a curse, depending on your perspective. The message of Who Moved My Cheese? is that all can come to see it as a blessing, if they understand the nature of cheese and the role it plays in their lives. Who Moved My Cheese? is a parable that takes place in a maze. Four beings live in that maze: Sniff and Scurry are mice--nonanalytical and nonjudgmental, they just want cheese and are willing to do whatever it takes to get it. Hem and Haw are "littlepeople," mouse-size humans who have an entirely different relationship with cheese. It's not just sustenance to them; it's their self-image. Their lives and belief systems are built around the cheese they've found. Most of us reading the story will see the cheese as something related to our livelihoods--our jobs, our career paths, the industries we work in--although it can stand for anything, from health to relationships. The point of the story is that we have to be alert to changes in the cheese, and be prepared to go running off in search of new sources of cheese when the cheese we have runs out.
Dr. Johnson, coauthor of The One Minute Manager and many other books, presents this parable to business, church groups, schools, military organizations--anyplace where you find people who may fear or resist change. And although more analytical and skeptical readers may find the tale a little too simplistic, its beauty is that it sums up all natural history in just 94 pages: Things change. They always have changed and always will change. And while there's no single way to deal with change, the consequence of pretending change won't happen is always the same: The cheese runs out. --Lou Schuler
Book Description
The Change Survival Kit is an A-Mazing Way to Deal with Changes in Your Work and in Your Life. It reminds you to use what you discovered in the "Cheese" story - and enjoy it!
The kit contains:
A copy of the #1 Hardcover Book
12 Animated Reminders
24 Screen Saver Prompts
12 Desktop Wallpapers
Photo-Top Mouse pad
FREE! Multi-Level Maze Game
Customer Reviews:
Simplified change.......2007-10-15
Got an hour to fill? That's how long it'll take to read. As many have stated, company heads and consultant groups hand this book out to employees when there are about to be changes in the company. Basically, this is a very simplified parable on four different takes on how to deal with change. Of course at the end you are supposed to decide which of the characters you currently are. Sniff - you actively move about seeking change. Scurry - you move about and quickly adapt to the change to make things happen. And then there's Hem and Haw. Both resist change and stick to the old expecting it to return to the promised treasures. Eventually Haw decides that staying in one place with no rewards is not progressing so opts to go seek change on his struggling legs. The Hem remains obstinant and refuses to change and his fate fades away. Of course no one wants to claim they are Hem but most people are. One of my favorite bits in the book is the statement along the lines of "If you can't change, you may become extinct."
Overall this is a very simple take on how people can adapt to change in their personal and professional lives. Seems quite similar on how to change your personal attitude and outlook that is presented in Benjamin Hoff's "Tao of Pooh". If you're in a company that is about to use outside consulting, expect to get 'homework' to read this book.
Great book.......2007-10-15
This is a fantastic book about reassessing your life and career. I've given it to friends after reading it myself.
It's an OK book.......2007-10-04
Just like most of the people, I got this book from my employer (I hope it's not a sign of restructuring :)).
I'm afraid that I do a too good job of reviewing the book one would no longer need to buy it anymore. In essence, the whole book can be summarized in about 10 statements. In all fairness though, these are insightful and worth meditating on statements.
So, like I said... An OK book.
Thought Provoking.......2007-10-03
The book is an easy and quick read but the story will put thoughts in your head that you will think about for years if not a lifetime. Life brings us all challenges so this book is for all of us... That is, unless your life is perfect.
Genuinely Insulting..........2007-09-29
Genuinely insulting to the independent thinker. Yeah I know, it's been said countless times but I felt the need to reinforce that notion. If you're someone that's more comfortable being a follower and having your life and work environment structured for you then you're more likely to enjoy this book and find something meaningful in it. If you're someone that uses logic and reason to guide your decisions then don't waste your time or money on this rehashed brainwashing manual. This is a book written for unquestioning, mindless followers, not a book for leaders. But a tool that leaders would use to try and control their subordinates.
Amazon.com
When doctor and author Rachel Naomi Remen (Kitchen Table Wisdom) was young, she was caught between two different views of life: that of her rabbi grandfather and that of her highly academic, research-oriented parents, who believed religion was the opiate of the masses. As Remen gravitated toward academics and serving the world as a medical doctor, her grandfather became an "island of mysticism in a vast sea of science." But over time, Remen discovered that two seemingly divergent paths could lead to the same destination, especially as she learned to blend her spiritual beliefs with her medical treatment.
Remen uses the heart-rending stories of her patients to teach readers how to follow in her example, that is, combining a life of service with a life of receiving and giving blessings (a combination that avoids common problems such as burnout, self-sacrifice, and navel gazing). Remen also includes personal stories of her grandfather, who showered the world with his mystical beliefs and wizened blessings. While this story-by-story structure is similar to the bestselling Kitchen Table Wisdom, it is still a tearful and satisfying formula. --Gail Hudson
Book Description
As a small child, Rachel Remen sat at the feet of her grandfather, an orthodox rabbi and scholar of the kabbalah, and learned the secret of life: that love and blessings given to others heals our loneliness, unhappiness, and in fact all our wounds. Remen uses her power as a master storyteller to bring to life the extraordinary blessings of ordinary existence. These exquisite pieces show us how we bless and serve each other most often without knowing it, how much life gives to us, and how many of our own blessings we have still yet to receive.
There is nothing more comforting than hearing Rachel's grandfather speak of love, life, and God to a small, lonely, and very spiritual child who was trying to find her way in an unspiritual world. These are stories for keeping at the bedside, for those dark nights when we go out in search of our souls.
Rachel's grandfather has blessed not only his beloved granddaughter but, through her, has blessed us all.
Customer Reviews:
A truly inspirational book!.......2007-10-11
I was deeply moved and inspired by this book. I bought 3 more copies and gave them to friends and family.
Beautiful.......2007-09-24
I love this book - it's absolutely beautiful. The stories can help you grow. I would recommend this treasure to anyone.
A Blessing to Read.......2007-09-14
Easy to Read, Much food for thought.....Life lessons for all of us to learn and use. Short chapters with a new theme in each. Can read short snippets at a time.
A Blessing In Itself.......2007-07-22
I feel bad. Apparently, I'm only the 6th person out of 47 people to give this book anything less than a 5-star rating. And there's only one reason I did that. As a writer myself, I feel that there are too many stories in this book. Some of these little narratives just aren't as powerful or focused as others. And I would have left them out. But please don't let that get in the way of your enjoyment of this wonderful work. It is every bit as inspiring, uplifting, and profound as most of the other reviewers say it is. I especially like the common theme I see running through most of the pieces presented here. And that's the idea that the wholeness of an individual not only includes his or her health, talents and accomplishments, but his or her pain, suffering, shortcomings, and illnesses, too. In life we are called to embrace it all, and resist nothing. And that is the key to a life that is truly fulfilling and rewarding.
Steven Lane Taylor, author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat: A Guide For Living Life In The Divine Flow
One not to be missed.......2007-05-19
I have found My Grandfather's Blessings to be among the most moving books I have ever read. Each brief story can stand on its own. The author relates a simple incident, as many of us have lived, but then goes on in a simple and succinct manner to reveal a deeper meaning within the experience. Ms. Remen does not talk down to the reader, but rather sweeps us up into the experience with her. Upon finishing this book, I immediately ordered five more and sent them out to friends.
Amazon.com
In this autobiography, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson says one of his prime business criteria is "fun." Fun made Branson a billionaire, and few business memoirs are one-billionth as fun as Branson's, nor as niftily written. Not only does it relate his side of near-death corporate experiences, it tells how the chairman literally cheated death by gun, shipwreck, and balloon crash.
Branson's empire--now encompassing interests in an airline, pop music, soda pop, e-commerce, and financial services--began when the dyslexic 16-year-old dropped out of school in 1968 to found the British magazine Student. His headmaster said, "I predict that you will either go to prison or become a millionaire." Briefly imprisoned for dodging customs selling records, Branson got his first million by releasing Tubular Bells, a maverick recording all the stuffy executives rejected. (1998's Tubular Bells III puts the series' sales over 20 million.)
Despite wild tales of Branson's wife-swapping and Keith Richards fleeing naked from Branson's studio at gunpoint with another man's woman, the most shocking parts of the memoir concern British Airways' James Bond-like "dirty tricks" campaign against Virgin Atlantic, resulting in the biggest award for damages in English history.
Though it's filled with famous names, witty quotes, and pulse-pounding accounts of lunatic balloon adventures, it is as a business thriller that the book really scores. His instinctive bet-the-ranch tactics could cost him all, or earn another billion. Either way, Branson will likely remain the most entertaining entrepreneur in Europe. --Tim Appelo
Book Description
"Oh, screw it, let's do it."
That's the philosophy that has allowed Richard Branson, in slightly more than twenty-five years, to spawn so many successful ventures. From the airline business (Virgin Atlantic Airways), to music (Virgin Records and V2), to cola (Virgin Cola), to retail (Virgin Megastores), and nearly a hundred others, ranging from financial services to bridal wear, Branson has a track record second to none.
Losing My Virginity is the unusual, frequently outrageous autobiography of one of the great business geniuses of our time. When Richard Branson started his first business, he and his friends decided that "since we're complete virgins at business, let's call it just that: Virgin." Since then, Branson has written his own "rules" for success, creating a group of companies with a global presence, but no central headquarters, no management hierarchy, and minimal bureaucracy.
Many of Richard Branson's companies--airlines, retailing, and cola are good examples--were started in the face of entrenched competition. The experts said, "Don't do it." But Branson found golden opportunities in markets in which customers have been ripped off or underserved, where confusion reigns, and the competition is complacent.
And in this stressed-out, overworked age, Richard Branson gives us a new model: a dynamic, hardworking, successful entrepreneur who lives life to the fullest. Family, friends, fun, and adventure are equally important as business in Branson's life. Losing My Virginity is a portrait of a productive, sane, balanced life, filled with rich and colorful stories:
Crash-landing his hot-air balloon in the Algerian desert, yet remaining determined to have another go at being the first to circle the globe
Signing the Sex Pistols, Janet Jackson, the Rolling Stones, Boy George, and Phil Collins
Fighting back when British Airways took on Virgin Atlantic and successfully suing this pillar of the British business establishment
Swimming two miles to safety during a violent storm off the coast of Mexico
Selling Virgin Records to save Virgin Atlantic
Staging a rescue flight into Baghdad before the start of the Gulf War . . .
And much more. Losing My Virginity is the ultimate tale of personal and business survival from a man who combines the business prowess of Bill Gates and the promotional instincts of P. T. Barnum.
Also available in the UK from Virgin Publishing, and in Canada from General Publishing,
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
I'd rather get the updated edition.......2007-10-18
There is an updated (614 page) version of this title available, but I can see that this first edition is still widely available. No matter where you go, they are trying to sell this at "full" price, taking advantage of Branson's popularity. Meanwhile, if you want more bang for your buck (and who doesn't), why not get the latest edition instead? Branson is in my opinion totally unique in his personality and drive (charisma, I don't know, I think some others have more of that) and I learn a lot from his experiences, so can you!
Excellent.......2007-10-01
I have read this book three times. Branson does business the way we should all aspire to do business. He has built businesses that he is passionate about. He enjoys his life and has been exceptionally successful. I find it to be an inspiring and enjoyable read. Probably why I have returned to it multiple times.
The best book I've read!.......2007-09-24
This is probably the best book I've ever read so far. Its not a business book, so read it as you would "literature" over a weekend... but its filled with great entertaining stories and helps you see how this guy's life has been. And you definitely learn some lessons.
If you are an entrepreneur, you MUST read Losing my Virginity!
Enjoyable read. Buy it!.......2007-09-14
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
I'm not big on reading autobiographies, but this one I really enjoyed, couldn't put it down!
Good Book, Easy Read.......2007-08-13
Very enjoyable read. He does not give you any great business insight, but it is an uplifting and encouraging story.
Amazon.com
Over time, in his cookbooks, and on his TV series, Jacques Pépin has taught people how to cook simple, fully flavored dishes--food that reflects his French training while embracing American informality. Jacques Pépin: Fast Food My Way takes this approach one step further by providing 100-plus recipes for a wide range of delicious, meant-to-be fast dishes. These include Stuffed Scallops on Mushroom Rice; Chicken Breasts on Mashed Cauliflower with Red Salsa; Pasta, Ham, and Vegetable Gratin; and Apple, Pecan, and Apricot Crumble. The "my way" of the title can mean the use of time-saving tools (Pépin uses pressure cookers to achieve easy stews like his beef short-rib, mushroom, and potato dish) and convenience foods (canned black bean soup or sweet potatoes for new soup versions). Generally, though, the Pépin approach emphasizes the use of foods that are themselves quickly cooked, like chicken breasts or beef fillet and that can be made flavorful with equally fast-to-fix accompaniments, like his salsa mayonnaise or his tomato-olive sauce.
Fast is, of course, a relative term, and readers will find more than a few dishes in the book that may require more time or attention than they're willing to spend on a daily basis. But overall, the book offers enough easily made recipes, and super-time-saving formulas, like Instant Vegetable Soup, to make it a true cooking resource. --Arthur Boehm
Book Description
In Jacques Ppin Fast Food My Way, the man who taught millions of Americans how to cook shares the techniques he honed in the most famous kitchens of the world to show you how to create simple, special meals in minutes. In this companion volume to his new series on public television, Jacques shows you how to create great-tasting dishes ranging from stunning salads such as Tomato and Mozzarella Fans to Suprme of Chicken with Balsamic Vinegar and Shallot Sauce to his breathtaking Almond Cake with Berries, all special enough for company, yet easy enough for those weekday evenings when you have no time. Fast food Jacques's way involves no compromises in taste but saves you hours in the kitchen. His Instant Beef Tenderloin Stew, for instance, not only is far faster to make than traditional versions, but tastes brighter and fresher. With concise, clear directions, Jacques shares the secrets of his kitchen. He teaches you how to season a salmon fillet perfectly and cook it in a low oven, right on the serving platter. You'll learn how to make a satisfying homemade vegetable soup in seconds, a baked potato in half the usual time, and a succulent roast that takes minutes, not hours, to prepare. He also shows you how to create elegant meals from convenience foods: a bean dip that will keep guests coming back for more, silky soups, and caramelized peaches made from canned peaches. With Jacques Ppin Fast Food My Way at your side, the best food is always the simplest.
Customer Reviews:
Makes You Look Fabulous.......2007-08-18
I am very far from being a great cook. I have, however, been able to impress so many guests in my home with these recipes which practically make themselves. All this due to the genius of M. Pepin. Highest possible recommendation. And it's fun, too!
Fast and Wonderful Food.......2007-05-12
Jacques Pepin uses cooking and food to love people, and it shows in this wonderful and usable book. The recipes consistently reflect simple but important techniques, such as grating the onions rather than chopping them in the "Fridge Soup," or "Instant Vegetable Soup." You can't get much simpler than "Grapefruit Gratinee," yet the flavors meld delightfully.
This book goes on the shelf beside my favorite 3-4 time-tested, proven, yet fun cookbooks. I appreciate Jacque Pepin's contributions to cooking, and so do my family!
Making delicious, home cooked meals couldn't be simpler........2007-05-07
This cookbook may not be the all encompassing tome that your grandmother may have used for her home cooking, but it provides the reader with various simple to make recipes nonetheless. The recipes found in this book require few steps from start to finish and use ingredients that you can find at your local market. You could plan a multiple course meal, from appetizer to dessert, and impress your friends and family with minimal effort. The underlying philosophy in this book is that fast food doesn't have to be empty calorie junk food.
Worked better (for me) in conjunction with the (5 star) PBS DVD series.......2007-02-26
I picked up this book because a friend recommended it, and because I knew of Pepin as a contemporary of Julia Child, so I figured I couldn't go too far wrong. However (as the editorial review so discerningly mentions) some of the recipe titles and ingredient lists didn't seem promising to a first year cook who was stuck in "reheat takeout/deli food in microwave" mode until recently. and the food photography didn't help in most cases, either - eveyrhing seemed to be taken at an odd angle with a fish-eye lens. So I put FFMW up on a shelf in the back room, figuring that I might someday find it more in line with what I was looking for in a cookbook.
Then I happened on a PBS cable channel rebroadcasting a FFMW episode late one and I tuned in to see Pepin in action. Well, it was a revelation. Pepin was a true class act, and just seeing him in action was a culinary education. He was interesting, informative, modest and witty, and he put a 4 course dinner effortlessly and without fuss. Plus, the dishes he prepared looked fantastic. I watched another episode the next week, and the same thing happened again.
So I went back to my bookshelf, pulled FFMW down, gave it a serious look, and realized (smack palm to forehead) that once I had actually seen Pepin cook (as most purchasers of the book would have), then every thing in it made sense and was quite useful and compelling. The value had always been there.But as a beginning cook (and an American unfamiliar with this style of cooking) I had needed Pepin's "voice" to make it work for me. That's probably my failing, not Pepin's or his editorial staff, but I have to review my experience with the book, not what *should* have been if I were more seasoned in the kitchen.
Since then I have made several dishes from the book (and twice put together an entire menu on my weekend) and I can attest that this is a great culinary resource for people who want to eat well - but who can't deal with MTV style celebrity chefs like Rachel and Giada. I've ordered the two DVDs and am looking forward to seeing more of Mr. Pepin in action.
good book.......2007-01-09
my wife likes this book very much, the title pretty much covers the contents: quick and nice-tasting recipes.
Book Description
Research indicates one out of 13 Americans suffers a drinking problem and four problem drinkers exist for every "hard core alcoholic". It is one of our country's most significant health issues and a pervasive secret epidemic. Those affected are desperate for help but do not fit the alcoholic profile. So instead of seeking help, they suffer in silence.
In My Way Out, Jewell describes her history as a highly functional alcoholic and her decades of research in battling her addiction. Written in collaboration with Dr. Linda Garcia, MD, the search ultimately led her to develop a program calling upon experts in multiple fields.
Jewell's therapy is based upon a 2002 double blind study published in The Lancet, a highly esteemed British medical journal, which reported results of a medication that ameliorated craving in drinkers. Having tried and failed a "simple pill" approach herself with another prescription drug, Jewell took it one step further, integrating a powerful self-hypnosis program, nutritional supplementation, and other essential elements, creating an incredibly effective, easy-to-follow system, the results of which have startled even the most conservative practitioners within the medical community.
In what may become the hottest recovery book to hit the market in years, My Way Out shows readers how their craving can be curbed immediately and easily in the privacy of their own homes; why a multi-faceted approach is extraordinarily more effective than a single-modality solution; that drinkers don't need to attend AA if they're not comfortable doing so; and that when appropriate, moderation (social drinking) is an acceptable strategy for problem drinkers if they are provided the proper tools and treatment.
Jewell broke all the rules when, as a lay person, she developed an effective program that finally offers hope to alcohol dependent individuals. And she did the same when writing My Way Out, a book that crosses genres as a self-help, autobiographical, research, and motivational read. Given the overwhelming success of those who underwent the program, she was surprised to learn that traditional book agents and reviewers wouldn't touch it. But if the email pouring in to the publisher from early test subjects whose lives have been transformed by this extraordinary program is any example, there's no question My Way Out will become a standard text on the shelves of people truly motivated for a life change, or of those who seek to help others affected by an addiction they have been powerless to control.
Customer Reviews:
A must read!!!.......2007-05-15
I have read every book I could find on alcohol recovery and addiction and I can honestly say that this book is the one that changed my life. I never considered myself to be an alcoholic but I knew I was a problem drinker, and the beauty of this program is that it allows for either abstinence or moderated drinking. It addresses the one issue that I found lacking in so many other recovery programs and that is feeding the brain the nutrients and amino acids that we have depleted from our bodies and brains from overdrinking. I found that once I fed myself what I was lacking the cravings for alcohol reduced dramatically. The other aspects of the program described in the book have also been so important in my journey for moderation including the hypnotherapy CDs and light exercise.
I cannot recommend this book enough if you are wanting to make a change in your drinking habits. Really great stuff!!
Very Easy to Read.......2007-05-12
I think this book is a great resource for people that are serious about severly limiting or abstaining from drinking completely. The drawback for me was taking yet another medication and supplements when I already have a complicated regimin due to other medical conditions. I rated it a 4 instead of a 5 for this reason but still seems like a great program.
My Way Out .......2006-09-15
This is a complete educational program with on line support. Several methods are described to become completely abstinent with alcohol or to moderate your drinking. Subtypes of alcoholics are identified. The use of the newest medications is discussed. There is a nutritional program and a hypnotherapy program. I have found the program to be successful in moderating my drinking. The hypnotherapy program is particularly helpful.
Thank You Roberta Jewell.......2006-09-01
Finally a light at the end of a very dark tunnel called alcoholism.
I was never going to AA and I knew it. While searching online for any possible alternative treatments for my addiction I came across the "My Way Out" website. I joined the community and bought the book. My life has been changed forever. Thank You Roberta Jewell!
A Fabulous Book.......2006-08-30
This book is a must read for anyone who has a problem with alcohol or who knows someone who is struggling with alcohol. It offers insight, hope and support. Roberta shares her personal struggle with alcohol and her desire to change her life. Her story is not only inspiring it is told in an honest way and offers real life advise on how to stand up to addiction. Of all the books I have read on the subject of addiction this one is the best.
Book Description
"When was the last time you felt this comfortable in a relationship?"
-- An ad for sneakers
"You can love it without getting your heart broken."
-- An ad for a car
"Until I find a real man, I'll settle for a real smoke."
-- A woman in a cigarette ad
Many advertisements these days make us feel as if we have an intimate, even passionate relationship with a product. But as Jean Kilbourne points out in this fascinating and shocking exposé, the dreamlike promise of advertising always leaves us hungry for more. We can never be satisfied, because the products we love cannot love us back.
Drawing upon her knowledge of psychology, media, and women's issues, Kilbourne offers nothing less than a new understanding of a ubiquitous phenomenon in our culture. The average American is exposed to over 3,000 advertisements a day and watches three years' worth of television ads over the course of a lifetime. Kilbourne paints a gripping portrait of how this barrage of advertising drastically affects young people, especially girls, by offering false promises of rebellion, connection, and control. She also offers a surprising analysis of the way advertising creates and then feeds an addictive mentality that often continues throughout adulthood.
Customer Reviews:
EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS BOOK.......2007-01-25
My title says it all. It's very informative and allows the reader to understand why she/he thinks about and responds to american culture in certain ways. Very eye opening.
Also see the DVD with Jean Kilbourne.......2006-08-07
This book's ideas need to reach more people. It seems we're inundated with stories of child molesters, drug pushers, and other threats to us and our children; but the 200 billion dollars spent by the junk food makers, pharmaceutical pushers, military recruiters and others to colonize the hearts and minds of our kids is often overlooked. Sadly, many of those who are learning to look critically at the commercial media are often more privileged economically. Maybe we can find ways to reach out to other sectors of our society through letters to editors, calls to talk radio, writing on message boards and so forth. Also, there are additional resources that we can use to share perspectives to help protect people (kids and adults) from the psychological warfare of Big Business. I'd recommend DVDs like "Deadly Persuasion" from the Media Education Foundation, which is an expose of tobacco and alcohol advertising presented by Jean Kilbourne. There is also the award-winning film called "The Corporation" available from Amazon. Subscriptions to "Adbusters" and "New Moon" are also very helpful outreach tools.
An Absolute Must Read!!.......2005-10-25
Can't Buy My Love is an extraordinary book, insightful, critical, and without a doubt, an eye-opener. This book should be required reading by all Americans! Personally, it has played a pivotal role in my life. I would say I'm your average American citizen. I grew up in New York, immersed in the typical American culture. I watched plenty of television and movies and thus was exposed to an endless array of advertisements. As most people, I didn't think that my thoughts and actions were influenced by these advertisements. But after reading this book, I clearly saw how the messages and images of the media had a huge impact in my life. Until I read this book, I was sort of unconscious of this influence. I just went shopping as though it was a ritual and followed the mainstream culture. I went out drinking and pretended to have a good time while engaged in superficial conversations in loud smoky bars. Essentially, this book brought me to many realizations and my mentality started to shift for the better. I started to see things for what they are. Jean Kilbourne does an excellent job of analyzing numerous ads and clearly demonstrates the manipulation and false promises imbedded within these cleverly designed ads. Corporations spend millions of dollars on advertising and psychological research. As the targets of these ads, we as citizens need to be critical thinkers and media literate. In this day and age, we need to have an understanding of how the media industry works and in particular, the advertising industry, which constantly bombards us with messages on how we should live our lives and what is considered "normal." I highly, highly recommend this book. It's clear, concise, understandable, and will definitely have a positive impact in your life. I especially recommend this book to teenagers, who unfortunately have become the victims of massive amounts of advertisements. Profit-driven corporations have taken advantage of young impressionable minds and for that reason, I urge you to pick up a copy of this book for yourself and someone you care about! This one book was able to jump start a transformation in my life. I promise you won't regret reading it!
A fantastic and important book.......2005-10-13
.
In our culture of product placements, "ambient" advertising (ie sticker ads on fruit peels, cars wrapped in company logos) and "tie ins" between just about every form of entertainment and commerce, this book does an amazing job of looking at how commercial forces shape definitions of 'normal', 'beautiful' etc.
I found Can't Buy My Love (which is written by Jean Kilbourne, NOT Mary Pipher) packed with interesting, relevant, easy-to-digest content that was both fascinating (companies spend over a half a million dollars to produce commercials aired during the Superbowl?!) and maddening (the real reason some companies seem suddenly to support a minority group, ie teens, the gay community etc, is that they seem them as an emerging market)--but I guess the maddening part is good because it lays bare how the media operate and how we're subjected to their sophisticated selling strategies whether we want to be or not .
I had no idea how much I *didn't* know about media and marketing until I read this book.... and having read some of the other titles mentioned by other reviewes, I think Kilbourne's book does a superior job explaining how the media (and manufacturers who hire them) affect nearly every aspect of our daily lives...and what we can do about it..
Unbelievably terrible: more of a rant than a true analysis.......2005-10-06
Mary Pipher has a great premise for "Can't Buy My Love": that corporations and the media use advertising to manipulate our emotions. And, throughout the book, she makes several insightful points about this phenomenon. However, Pipher's personal agenda, lack of self-awareness, humorless writing, and faulty interpretations quickly negate any good this book could do.
Pipher obviously has personal issues with cigarettes, alcohol, and sex/relationships. Unfortunately, she allows her subjectivity to color her writing, making "Can't Buy My Love" less thoughtful analysis and more personal diatribe. Pipher comes across as bitter, vindictive, and--most importantly in a book of this type--more full of opinions than of facts and research.
Many of Pipher's interpretations of various advertisements are faulty; she likes to "reach" with her interpretations, and in several cases, it's obvious that she has completely misread. Even more damaging to her case, Pipher rarely supports her own interpretations with any sources or even with any true commentary. Rather, she shows a picture of an ad and offers only a paragraph or two of her own interpretation before moving on. The book often feels unorganized and disconnected, especially when Pipher inserts a rant that is only vaguely related to the ads she's discussing--or even to advertising itself.
What really destroys the book, in my opinion, is Pipher's almost complete lack of humor. She doesn't recognize obvious humor or satire in certain advertisements, and she rarely lightens her vitriolic tone. She comes across as bitter, angry, and a little insane.
I would not recommend this book to anyone who wants an academic look at how advertising affects our emotions and behavior. Rather, you should read Stephen Kline's "Social Communication in Advertising: Persons, Products, and Images of Well-Being" or Judith Williamson's "Decoding Advertisements."
Amazon.com
Martin Torgoff came of age just about the same time as the drug boom, a circumstance that informs his overview of America's "Great Stoned Age." Chronicling the irrepressible onslaught of mind-altering substances from the end of World War II through the close of the century, Torgoff (whose previous publishing efforts have centered around rockers Elvis Presley and John Cougar Mellencamp) intersperses the personal with the historical. Laying the groundwork with his own recollections of indulgence beginning in the late 1960s, the author flashes back to the Beat era, which he asserts opened the door for all that followed. Interviews with the obscure and celebrated add color and detail to the chronicle. Here's Herbert Huncke, the unapologetic hustler and heroin addict who lurked on the periphery of '50s bohemian scene and turned up as a character in William Burroughs' pulp memoir Junkie. Into the 1960s, there's acid guru Timothy Leary, poet Allan Ginsburg, record producer Paul Rothchild, Woodstock MC Wavy Gravy, and others caught up in a wave of revolutionary experimentation and excess. The '70s leads to the cocaine craze (embodied here by party girl Suzie Ryan), which begets drug wars (with plenty of casualties on both sides), Just Say No, the crack epidemic, and rave culture. While Torgoff's tome is too capricious to serve as the final word on America's drug obsession, it's eminently readable and entertaining, thanks to its expansive, pop-culture-informed tone. There's an almost insane momentum to this tale, with dozens of astonishing twists and turns. Imagine Jimmy Carter's drug czar, Dr. Peter Bourne, snorting cocaine at a party thrown the by pot legalization group NORML. Then picture George H.W. Bush's point man on drugs, William Bennett, remarking in an interview that it would be "morally plausible" to behead drug dealers. So much for moderation. --Steven Stolder
Book Description
From the narcotic allure of the bebop and Beat generations to the psychedelic 1960s, Vietnam, the cocaine-fueled disco era, the crack epidemic, and the ecstasy-induced rave culture, illegal drugs have profoundly shaped America's cultural landscape. In Can't Find My Way Home, journalist and filmmaker Martin Torgoff chronicles what a long strange trip it's been as the American Century became the Great Stoned Age.
Weaving together first-person accounts and historical background, Can't Find My Way Home is a narrative vast in scope yet rich in intimate detail. Torgoff tells the stories of those whose lives became synonymous with the drug culture, from Charlie Parker, Allen Ginsberg, Timothy Leary, and John Belushi to ordinary people who felt their consciousness "expanded" or who plumbed the depths of addiction. He also examines the broader impact of drugs on society and politics, from the war on drugs to the recovery movement, and the continuing debate over drug policy. A vivid work of cultural history that neither demonizes nor romanticizes its subject, Can't Find My Way Home is a provocative and fascinating look at how drugs have entered the American mainstream.
Download Description
"Can't Find My Way Home is a history of illicit drug use in America in the second half of the twentieth century and a personal journey through the drug experience. It's the remarkable story of how America got high, the epic tale of how the American Century transformed into the Great Stoned Age.
Customer Reviews:
Can't Find My Way Home: America in the Great Stoned Age, 1945-2000.......2006-11-12
An excellent and very detailed history of drugs and its impact on our society. The book is thoroughly researched. It's entertaining and very readable. It's not only a review of the history of drugs in American society but also covers a number of individuals and the effect narcotics had on them. I found it fascinating and scary. Having lived through those turbulent times it brought back many memories.
Pictures and a summary of the cast of characters would have enhanced the book. All in all a good read.
So what is the answer?.......2005-05-29
If you have been there then you know the answer. The question is: Why did we travel there in the first place. Addictions are sneaky. Sometimes we write about them, other times we fight them. Addicted movie stars are just addicts. Hard drugs have no respect for who we are.
California Al.......2004-06-24
I wanted to be interested in this book, but it became pretty boring ater a while. There is an undercurrent of romanticism that pervades the authors purpose. He claims to be neutral, yet his descriptions and conversations with many of the people slant towards idol worship. Although the author claims to be in recovery, I did not get the sense of how drugs and alcohol can ruin peoples lives. I felt that his narrative was self serving, and glorifying the wonders of drugs and experimentation. There is a price to pay. What was good was hearing his father's take on the whole down side of watching his son grow up loaded. That was interesting. I'm getting weary of the proselytizing about how epochal the 1960's, 70's and 80's were. I didn't like his picture either.
GREAT BOOK FOR UNIVERSITY COURSES!!!.......2004-05-26
I'm reading this book a bit at a time. Each part is like a little history lesson - full of specific people, places and things that I've heard a lot of stories about - usually from folks who didn't have a great deal of clarity when they were either living through them OR speaking about them.
Torgoff has that clarity and there's humor in his prose that gives it a certain kind of bop. Yes, it's a long book. Most people who write long books these days write them as if they are "afraid of going to hell" for having done so - there's no ease, things get really claustrophobic in such books. Torgoff sails through this material not so much like a man who's afraid of going to hell...but as a man who's been there.
There's a kind of ease, a kind of compassion and a sense of spaciousness to Torgoff's style in this work. The length of the book doesn't seem that long. Maybe it would SEEM LONGER if Torgoff attempted to adapt his style to the demands of the market...some kind of a weekly reader version of the lifes, legends, loves (and drugs) of the times he's telling us about. Thank GOD he didn't cave into that.
Can't Find My Way Home makes me want to listen to a hell of a lot of music, see some movies again and read more books about the myriad folks who inhabit this book.
I see this book as a definite college text for classes focusing on the the history of jazz, rock and roll, film and literature in the last sixty years of American culture.
The fact that Torgoff weaves his own story into this piece communicates to me that he's not of those people who goes around chanting phrases like "If you remember the 60's you weren't there". Torgoff indicates to the reader that he was "there" and that he managed to extricate himself from the oblivion of those times through either the grace of God, or his own luck, karma or whatever.
Thus, Torgoff's writing in this book is infused with a kind of all pervasive sharpness, like the razor edge of a hatchet, that only comes from the words of those who have lived...and survived. I have a sense that Torgoff has been swinging this blade for some time...I suspect he's cut through a great deal of his own personal reference points in order to find the patience and perseverance to not only deliver this work...but to have the humility to title the work as he has.
Bravo!!
Bible for our generation.......2004-05-25
This is a fantastic book--the history of our time, the author's insights and synthesis. It's wildly affecting and entertaining, and it's bigger than what it seems to be about. Torgoff has a touch of Balzac in him, that's for sure. He gets the joke, but he also captures the loss and pathos. I especially liked his own story--he wove it into the narrative in a really detached way that made it all the more affecting. I stayed up all night reading.
Book Description
Annika Sorenstam is the world's greatest woman golfer—a dominant force in the game who has already captured a career Grand Slam and become the all-time LPGA money leader. Her rigorous mental and physical dedication has changed the face of her sport, and her fierce determination and unparalleled preparation have won her tournaments and fans the world over. In 2003, she made international headlines by becoming the first woman in more than fifty years to play against men in a professional event, bringing her trademark game and competitiveness to a whole new level.
Now for the first time Annika takes you inside her extraordinary success and shows every golfer how to play and win like a pro. She breaks down the fundamentals of her game and shares her winning course strategies in one complete, easy-to-follow instruction book.
Golf Annika's Way features:
• All you need to know about how to use every club in the bag, from fairway woods to short irons to the putter
• The secrets of the power behind her potent swing, from the essentials of grip and posture to her unconventional form on the follow-through
• Hundreds of full-color photos, including high-speed shots that capture the elements of Annika's powerful swing frame-by-frame in a foldout spread
• An insider look at the unique weight training and dietary regimen Annika has developed for building a stronger physique—and a longer drive
Filled with insights and stories from throughout her colorful career, Golf Annika's Way gives you priceless advice from a champion's perspective. It's a must-have for Annika's millions of fans—and men and women golfers of all ages and skill levels who want to lower their scores on the course and bring their game to the next level.
BACKCOVER: “She's the best. She's the epitome of integrity and class. She's truly great.” — Arnold Palmer
“She has dominated the world of women's golf. It's not often you can say you have seen the best, but in Annika, I think perhaps we have.” —Tiger Woods
“I've never seen a player with such focus and concentration. She's a real whiz.” —Louise Suggs
“She simply has that air, not of cockiness, but of knowing that you can do it—and just going out and doing it.” —Jack Nicklaus
“A human golf machine. Ahead of anyone in the game—male or female.” —Johnny Miller
Customer Reviews:
i cannot give a jugement on the book because i have not got it. you sent me the wrong one . thats what i told you . .......2006-11-11
i told you , sou did not sent me the book who's name is written on top of that page. You sent me the one which is called : GOLF ANNIKA'S WAY- . its
not :
HOW I ELEVATED MY GAME TO BE THE BEST -- AND HOW YOU CAN TOO. Please send me the correct one , and i will give you the one, you by error, sent me. Karine
roux
Golf Annika's Way.......2006-08-16
I'm a beginner golfer and this book has helped me know exactly how to hold the club, how different stances benefit my game and so much more. It's not complicated to read at all. Everything is explained very clearly. I've enjoyed this book so much.
Easy to understand.......2006-02-25
I found this instruction book easy to understand. I like the fact that Annika allows her head to move with the swing. I found the concept of "crossing the line", going from preshot thinking to execution, helpful.
This book makes the game seem simple, which can be helpful to anyone.
Golf Anniks's Way.......2005-06-08
I am a male that has worked hard mentally, physically and with a golf pro to reduce my high handicap by 10 strokes. The text and photography do a great job of instruction. The transition from the top and backswing as well as iniating the downswing translate into swing improvment. I also liked finding the balls of your feet for balance.
I work hard at physical fitness and her chapter Getting Fit was very helpful. Strong to the core on the fitness ball and the med ball twist was great. I am aware of my abs on practice swings for the first time. I recomend this book for a golfer at any level, and believe readers will be suprised at it's quality.
Excellent.......2005-01-06
Great book - very easy to understand and apply principals right away. I'll be saving this one as a reference to keep my game on track.
Book Description
From the wonderful discovery of her pregnancy to the miracle of her baby's birth, each page of this unique weekly wall calendar will inform, enrich and delight any mom-to-be with its helpful information and pictorial celebration of the joy of babies. A different adorable baby photo each week celebrating the innocence, beauty and wonder of babies; a customizable weekly calendar to tailor to her specific due date; a weekly description of how baby is developing; hundreds of baby name choices; fun stickers to keep track of milestones and appointments; a keepsake area for photos, and more! This high quality calendar is truly unique and makes a terrific gift for any mom-to-be!
Customer Reviews:
Loved it so much I used it twice.......2006-09-25
I used these calendars for two different pregnancies and really enjoyed it. The weekly information is interesting and helpful, the stickers are great and the baby name suggestions are wonderful too. They really crammed alot of useful stuff into this calendar, plus really cute pictures of babies. The only drawback is writing in all of the dates and days of the week, but you'll have that flaw with any pregnancy calendar.
Nice, but needs improvement.......2006-01-30
The calendar does have nice pictures and I like the tips and the names at the bottom. However, even though it is done week by week there is little room to write anything down. They have this huge quote that takes up 1/4 of the page. I think they could of reduced this and made the writing area larger.
Just what I was looking for..........2004-11-29
I seemed to have a harder time this pregnancy (my third) finding a "pregnancy calender". I was really excited to find this one. The pictures are very sweet and there was room to write in my thoughts, etc... It's a good buy if your into keepsakes and scrapping.
Horray, this is exactly what I wanted!.......2004-07-01
I just recieved this Calendar in the mail today and I love it! It has a page for each week with tips for each day of that week. The pictures are adorable too. I love that it has spots for pictures too. It also has suggested baby names A-Z on the bottom of each page. It's definitely worth the money. I just wish I got it sooner!
Hooray - Finally a Gift that Mommy can treasure for years!!!.......2002-12-24
The "Hooray! My Baby Is on the Way Calendar" was a wonderful way for me as a first time mom to become attuned to what was going on with my baby week by week. The calendar also displays adoreable pictures of babies for you to ahhhh over in anticipation of your new arrival. The stickers (first ultrasound, picked babies name, first heartbeat heard, wore maternity clothes, and etc.) are a nice way to reflect on the memories of pregnancy. The calendar also displays helpful hints that guide you on what can be expected. These hints also can be dropped to signifant others as a suttle way of saying "I need a back rub!" The calendar is a great gift to yourself or to those that are expecting around you!!!
Average customer rating:
- Every Shotokan Karate-ka ought to be given this when they 1st join their club
- a fine book, recommendable
- Funakoshi Sensei Life in Karate Guide
- Interesting biography
- Karate-do My Way of Life by Ginchin Funakoshi
|
Karate-Do: My Way of Life
Gichin Funakoshi
Manufacturer: Kodansha International
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ASIN: 0870114638 |
Book Description
Linking the time when karate was a strictly Okinawan art of self-defense shrouded in the deepest secrecy and the present day, when it has become a martial art practiced throughout the world, is Gichin Funakoshi, the "Father of Karate-do."
Out of modesty, he was reluctant to write this autobiography and did not do so until he was nearly ninety years of age. Trained in the Confucian classics, he was a schoolteacher early in life, but after decades of study under the foremost masters, he gave up his livelihood to devote the rest of his
life to the propagation of the Way of Karate. Under his guidance, techniques and nomenclature were refined and modernized, the spiritual essence was brought to the fore, and karate evolved into a true martial art.
Various forms of empty-hand techniques have been practiced in Okinawa for centuries, but due to the lack of historical records, fancy often masquerades as fact. In telling of his own famous teachers-and not only of their mastery of technique but of the way they acted in critical situations-the
author reveals what true karate is. The stories he tells about himself are no less instructive: his determination to continue the art, after having started it to improve his health; his perseverance in the face of difficulties, even of poverty; his strict observance of the way of life of the
samurai; and the spirit of self-reliance that he carried into an old age kept healthy by his practice of Karate-do.
Customer Reviews:
Every Shotokan Karate-ka ought to be given this when they 1st join their club.......2007-07-22
In his biographical masterpiece, Grand Master Funakoshi gives a very witty, intelligent & often funny account of his whole life, from his early days when he was forced to take up training for his poor health to when he was finally invited to Japan to give the first successful demonstration of his art - Shotokan Karate.
He was obviously a very clever man who really had a passion for his art. At an early age he developed a goal, a vision and a passion to learn all he could about karate from the then great masters of his time and present it to the world. He recounts several times in his life when he was confronted by would-be assailants and describes how he got out of the potentially lethal encounter, he does this in a very witty and often funny way.
Despite the book being very small and could be read by some perhaps in a day or so, it really is very interesting and worth reading several times, especially if you practice Karate. I think that it's the sort of book that should be given to new students on joining a Shotokan club.
It's just packed with gems of wisdom worth there weight in gold for successful living, even in today's manic society.
As in all the other positive reviews listed here already, Funakohi's book is full of wisdom, inspiration and hope.
Check out Clive Layton's "Training With Funakoshi" too, an excellent work from a different perspective not to mention Funakoshi's "Twenty Guiding Principles".
a fine book, recommendable.......2007-07-14
This book should enrich your knowledge of the martial arts, and is an enjoyable read.
Funakoshi Sensei Life in Karate Guide.......2007-04-07
Awesome read and instructional guide for those who may be considering embracing Karate as a way of living, not just for sport karate or to live like a karetaka, but actually internalizing the survival and philosophical applications of karate on our daily doings. A guide to discover the esoteric meaning of self control, loyalty, honor and etiquette encompassed in karate, beyond the mere exoteric physical functions of punching and kicking. Highly recommended for the martial way enthusiast. A great timeless window into the concept of interpratation of Karate by a true Karate Grand Master. Osu!
Adames Sensei,
Manila, Philippines
Interesting biography.......2007-02-22
This book gives an interesting look into the founder of modern karate, and some practical advice for living.
Karate-do My Way of Life by Ginchin Funakoshi.......2007-01-15
If you study "the arts" learning about one of the MOST influencial Sensei's of modern karate is a must read!
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