Average customer rating:
- Nice man, wandering story...
- ****LOVED IT****
- MEASURE OF A MAN does not measure up
- SPIRITUAL "Of, Relating to, Consisting of, or Affecting the Spirit" MERRIAM-WEBSTER
- Books
|
The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography (Oprah's Book Club)
Sidney Poitier
Manufacturer: HarperSanFrancisco
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Actors & Actresses
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Entertainers
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
African-American & Black
| Ethnic & National
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Ethnic & National
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Memoirs
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Fiction Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
The Road (Oprah's Book Club)
-
The Secret
-
The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream
-
The Pursuit of Happyness
-
Middlesex: A Novel (Oprah's Book Club)
ASIN: 0061357901
Release Date: 2007-01-26 |
Book Description
"I have no wish to play the pontificating fool, pretending that I've suddenly come up with the answers to all life's questions. Quite that contrary, I began this book as an exploration, an exercise in self-questing. In other words, I wanted to find out, as I looked back at a long and complicated life, with many twists and turns, how well I've done at measuring up to the values I myself have set."
âSidney Poitier
In this luminous memoir, a true American icon looks back on his celebrated life and career. His body of work is arguably the most morally significant in cinematic history, and the power and influence of that work are indicative of the character of the man behind the many storied roles. Sidney Poitier here explores these elements of character and personal values to take his own measureâas a man, as a husband and a father, and as an actor.
Poitier credits his parents and his childhood on tiny Cat Island in the Bahamas for equipping him with the unflinching sense of right and wrong and of self-worth that he has never surrendered and that have dramatically shaped his world. "In the kind of place where I grew up," recalls Poitier, "what's coming at you is the sound of the sea and the smell of the wind and momma's voice and the voice of your dad and the craziness of your brothers and sisters...and that's it." Without television, radio, and material distractions to obscure what matters most, he could enjoy the simple things, endure the long commitments, and find true meaning in his life.
Poitier was uncompromising as he pursued a personal and public life that would honor his upbringing and the invaluable legacy of his parents. Just a few years after his introduction to indoor plumbing and the automobile, Poitier broke racial barrier after racial barrier to launch a pioneering acting career. Committed to the notion that what one does for a living articulates to who one is, Poitier played only forceful and affecting characters who said something positive, useful, and lasting about the human condition.
Here is Poitier's own introspective look at what has informed his performances and his life. Poitier explores the nature of sacrifice and commitment, price and humility, rage and forgiveness, and paying the price for artistic integrity. What emerges is a picture of a man in the face of limitsâhis own and the world's. A triumph of the spirit, The Measure of a Man captures the essential Poitier.
Customer Reviews:
Nice man, wandering story..........2007-10-04
I had to force myself to finish this book, simply because I didn't want to waste my money by leaving it when I was tempted to. It was interesting to realize that an actor whose work I had appreciated came from such a spare beginning, but by halfway through the book, the continuous wandering asides and disclaimers of the author so overwhelmed the narrative that I could barely tolerate it. It seems to me that the story could have been told to greater effect with half the words!
****LOVED IT****.......2007-09-24
Kept me interested...I really enjoyed this book...I couldn't put the book down until I finished reading it!!!!
MEASURE OF A MAN does not measure up.......2007-09-21
Wow, a book about Sidney Poitier. An outstanding actor with a book that just does not give him true justice. The reading tends to be dry and lacks substance. His life struggles could have been the story of any man or woman, black or white. The writing and editing are weak in some sections.
You should rent or buy one of Poitier's movies instead. His movie roles show his true skills.
SPIRITUAL "Of, Relating to, Consisting of, or Affecting the Spirit" MERRIAM-WEBSTER.......2007-08-30
I've always been smitten with Poitier's voice--his diction and control on film, the flow of his words as they travel in and around ideas during interviews--so I read THE MEASURE OF A MAN with an ear for his voice. I wondered, Is it translatable to print? It is, but that means allowing Poitier's thoughts to meander until they find their point, and that his thoughts are less formulated (or formal) and more "in his own words," than they might be if they were written by a biographer. (I read just enough "You know?"s "You hear me when I tell you?"s and "You follow?"s to feel like he was talking to me, but not too many to be annoyed.) I read to imagine what it might be like to have a conversation with Poitier. The book reinforced what I already knew--I'd be as intimidated as heck--but it also gave me the courage to think I'd be able to speak my mind.
As an editor, I read Poitier's book because I wanted to know how he defines a "spiritual" autobiography. Is it a I-Was-A-Sinner-But-I-Found-Jesus-And-Now-I'm-Saved chronology? Is it about how Christianity or another faith influenced his life? Neither. Poitier examines the people, events, circumstances, beliefs, and so on, which have related to, consisted of, or affected his "spirit," and, in doing so, he writes about childhood experiences in the Bahamas, his changing perceptions of his parents, how he adapts to living in the United States, his approach to acting and filmmaking, and his attitude toward fatherhood. He also shares a debate a friend and he had about the Basic Truth of Nature, a debate worth every second of reading it takes to get to.
Is THE MEASURE OF A MAN going to satisfy readers interested only in Poitier's film career? No, but I urge them to read it anyway, if for no other reason than to find out how his "spirit" influenced the films he starred in.
Books.......2007-08-21
I purchased this book for my daughter and she loved it!
She is a teacher and plans to teach this story in her English class fall 2007.
A great story with a great moral.
Book Description
In this raucous collection of true-life stories, actress and comedian Chelsea Handler recounts her time spent in the social trenches with that wild, strange, irresistible, and often gratifying beast: the one-night stand.
You've either done it or know someone who has: the one-night stand, the familiar outcome of a night spent at a bar, sometimes the sole payoff for your friend's irritating wedding, or the only relief from a disastrous vacation. Often embarrassing and uncomfortable, occasionally outlandish, but most times just a necessary and irresistible evil, the one-night stand is a social rite as old as sex itself and as common as a bar stool.
Enter Chelsea Handler. Gorgeous, sharp, and anything but shy, Chelsea loves men and lots of them. My Horizontal Life chronicles her romp through the different bedrooms of a variety of suitors, a no-holds-barred account of what can happen between a man and a sometimes very intoxicated, outgoing woman during one night of passion. From her short fling with a Vegas stripper to her even shorter dalliance with a well-endowed little person, from her uncomfortable tryst with a cruise ship performer to her misguided rebound with a man who likes to play leather dress-up, Chelsea recalls the highs and lows of her one-night stands with hilarious honesty. Encouraged by her motley collection of friends (aka: her partners in crime) but challenged by her family members (who at times find themselves a surprise part of the encounter), Chelsea hits bottom and bounces back, unafraid to share the gritty details. My Horizontal Life is one guilty pleasure you won't be ashamed to talk about in the morning.
Customer Reviews:
Just ok...not side splitting funny........2007-10-13
From reading most of the reviews, you would think that this was a drop dead hilarious book but, in my opinion it really isn't that funny. I thought it took awhile to get going and even then it had it's slow parts. But, I must admit the last three chapters do make up for the rest of the book!
If you are looking for a book you can spend a day reading curled up on the couch and be somewhat entertained then this is the book for you. Afrer all, it is a very quick read. If you are looking for a book with side splitting laughs, you might want to look somewhere else.
TOO FUNNY!!!.......2007-10-01
So I noticed a lot of people bashing this book for Chelsea being a pill-poppin tramp who only loves vodka and sex... and she WAS, but I found this book hilarious!!! I am in my late 20's and found this book to be extremely funny, witty and courageous (because Lord knows I wouldn't write about my past sex life for all my family and friends to read!)
I laughed nearly the entire book - especially about the S&M guy who wanted to be "smacked". HAHA!
Good job Chelsea! You continue to make me laugh and I'll def pick up another one of your books! See you on E!
Hilarious, fast read.......2007-09-20
One of the funniest, laugh out loud books ive ever read. It's become a favorite gift to give to my girlfriends!
The title really IS misleading.......2007-09-06
This book really is about Chelsea's "near misses". Instead of gloriously detailed sex-capades, her writings were more about her trying to weasel out of sex related situations. Reading it, I had a hard time believing that her character was even having sex at all. There was all this fluff concerning wild and crazy conversations/situations that would ultimately lead up to the 'come back to my room?' moment, which would then be quickly followed with her chickening out and having to find a less than tactful means of escape. I was left thinking that her character would be the type to walk around shouting 'I'm a slut! Come on boys!', when in reality all she would do is kiss. Not very promiscuous. The entire book was impersonal and, at times, had struggled to remain witty. It was surprising to find that by the last five or six pages, Chelsea actually began to write in a more biographical style where you began to feel some sort of raw emotion from her, which had been refreshing after two-hundred pages of emptiness. I don't regret having read it, I'm just a little sad with the money wasted purchasing it.
Let's here it for Chelsea Handler!.......2007-08-30
While I am a fan of Chelsea's stand up I found reading it and hearing it in the voice of hers I'm familiar with even more entertaining. Not all the jokes I've heard live on her show have the kind of punch that the material in this laugh out loud book does. It's a great book if you want to have a really good time and also have the freedom to put it down after each chapter/story. You can use this book as your light pick me up reading between deeper, darker, heavier reading.
Just so we're clear this book will teach you nothing about sex. It is in no way "erotic". Chelsea is merely offering up her sex life as comic material that is truly unique!
Book Description
Katy Hart is thrilled about her future with Hollywood’s Dayne Matthews. But as she plans a wedding and looks for a house on the shores of Lake Monroe, she receives tragic news. Now she and the members of the Baxter family must travel to Los Angeles and sort through their options. While paparazzi open fire on the Baxter family, Luke Baxter must wrestle with feelings that have troubled him for nearly a year. Ultimately, the Baxter family must pull together one last time in an act of service and love to help Katy and Dayne find what they’ve always been looking for--a chance at forever.
Customer Reviews:
Karen Kingsbury #1 Writer~.......2007-10-11
Anyone who has ever read any of Karens books knows that there is no other writer in this day and age that hits every emotion that we all go through in this life, in our own search for why we are here, who we are, and the battles that can and do happen in this life.
The number one moral is that Gods Love and our love for others is the strength to keep us all carrying on in this journey in life. There is hope in all of her books.
It is such a "blessing" to read a book, that everyone whether a believer or not in God who touches our lives in everyday situations with family and friends. There is not one of her books that I have ever been disappointed in. Once you read one of her books you will be "hooked" and can't wait to read the next one.
Seagull
<><
Las Vegas, NV
Can't put them down.......2007-10-10
A friend got me started on Karen's books. Now I have read almost all of her books. When I start one, I find it very hard to put it down - I just want to keep reading to the end. All the books in this series and her other series' are great. I can't wait to find out what will happen to the Baxter family next.
God's Faithfulness.......2007-08-02
The book is a wonderful nonfiction that displays God's awesome faithfulness and presence through the continued story of The Baxter Family. I was so taken that I could hardly put the book down and I'm eager to begin the Sunrise Series. These books are encouraging in my life as well, reminding me of God's promises and truths in my own life. Thank you for encouraging me in my walk with Christ!
INSPIRATIONAL LOVE STORY.......2007-07-19
This is one of Karen Kingsbury's best books, and certainly her best love story. An award winning book, it's also by far the best of the Firstborn series. She's crafted the characters in the Baxter family so well that you feel as though you are a member of this family. I highly recommend Forever! The Candidate: A Novel
Great read, and excellent marriage advice.......2007-07-18
I thought that this new part of the series was packed with excellent marriage advice that is both practical and Biblical. I love this series, and how Kingsbury portrays God's graciousness and mercy.
Book Description
- In his debut as an author, Denzel Washington shares his personal story of the mentors who helped guide his life.
- Washington pens the introduction for the stories of more than 70 of America's leading personalities in theatre, sports, business, and politics as they tell their life-changing stories of mentorship.
- Contributors include Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Antwone Fisher, Bonnie Raitt, Cal Ripken, Alex Rodriguez, Dick Vitale, Whoopie Goldberg and more.
- A portion of the book's proceeds benefit 4.5 million children currently involved in the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Customer Reviews:
A Push to a Certain Path at a Certain Time...to Reach Our Certain Purpose.......2007-07-22
In "A Hand to Guide Me," American film star and legend, Denzel Washington, sets out shine a light on the 100 year old Boy's & Girl's Clubs of America, an organization of 3,700 serving more than 4.4 million children in all 50 states. Washington's eventual success can be traced directly to the Boys Club in his home town, Mt. Vernon, New York. It was there, by necessity, that he learned purpose, consequences, and how to be a man.
"A Hand to Guide Me" is a collection of short stories by ordinary people from ordinary beginnings, accomplishing extraordinary things. Six dozen people from diverse backgrounds share their memories about role models, mentors and positive influences in their lives. Some are household names like coach John Wooden, director John Singleton, author Toni Morrison, General Wesley Clark and former President Jimmy Carter. Many are alumni of Girls and Boys Clubs of America, while others have taken on leadership roles in these clubs. And some were asked to contribute because there was something to learn from their voice. These are very readable stories ranging in length from two to four pages.
All of the contributors have outgrown a hardship or two to reach a significant level of success and can draw a line from their success to some rock solid foundational experience - sometimes it is a parent, a coach, a neighbor or the inspiration derived from a tragic event.
Washington's resonant message is that we are all extraordinary in our own way but we don't go it alone. There are people on whose shoulders we stand and we, in turn, can provide a shoulder for others.
The Boys and Girls Clubs of America are the center of everything for many kids today, providing a shoulder for millions of kids and making a vital contribution to the future of our society. They are a breeding ground for hope, purpose, and direction - where many have learned strength, confidence, and the freedom to dream...to think big.
Diverse Reflections of Role Models.......2007-06-15
Denzel Washington uses his star power to assemble personal recollections from assorted successful folks (primarily alumnae of the Boys and Girls Clubs Organizations) about the people who shaped THEIR lives as youngsters.
Some of the stories are more interesting and inspiring than others, and I couldn't help but wonder if this volume couldn't have benefitted from more cohesive editing. But the bottom line is that these are positive and uplifting pages that remind us "if you want to change history, start by changing the life of a child."
A wonderful and inspiring read.......2007-04-10
Denzel Washington has captured the most interesting and inspiring series of short stories and memories I have read in a long time. The people on these pages have very compelling stories and are well written.
Useful in and out of the classroom.......2007-04-06
I bought this book to use in the classroom. I teach high school students and I think its really important that students these days read about people who made it in life and have a good message to give to the students. In this book there are so many positive stories and very short stories that students will not get bored.
Washington really pulled it off by making the book and the stories in it the star. One can look at the cover of the book and think that maybe its all about Washington but its not. There are stories from Bill Clinton to Jimmy Carter. It's really a fantastic read and I think it has helped many of my young male students who have been searching for a role model.
My Son.......2007-03-10
I sent this book to my son who is an Army Officer in Iraq...
He recently lost a good man from his group due to an IED
He said ....
"He changed my life and will be with me always"
this book made me think of them ....
my son loves to read so it seemed as though this book would be a good match .....
Book Description
The only performer to earn 5 stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame--for film, recordings, TV, radio, and live performance--Gene Autry was the singing cowboy king of American entertainment. Now, in Public Cowboy No.1, Holly George-Warren offers the first serious biography of this singular individual, in a fascinating narrative that traces Autry's climb from small-town farm boy to multimillionaire. Here for the first time Autry the legend becomes a flesh-and-blood man--with all the passions, triumphs, and tragedies of a flawed icon. George-Warren recounts stories never before told, including revelations about Autry's impoverished boyhood, his adventures as an up-and-coming singer, and the impact his unbelievable success had on his personal life. She describes Autry's loving but doomed mother, who died on the brink of her son's success, and his ne'er-do-well father, who married five times and wandered the west. Autry battled his own demons but emerges here in a positive light, an immensely personable man, one of America's most charitable benefactors, known for his boundless generosity, and a patriot who enlisted during World War II. The book provides equally colorful details of Autry's lengthy radio and recording career, which included such classics as "Back in the Saddle Again" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"; his movie career, where he breathed new life into the Western genre; and his role in early television, being the first movie star to develop his own TV shows. And along the way, we see how he invested shrewdly in radio, real-estate, and television, becoming the owner of the California Angels and the only entertainer listed among 1990's Fortune 400. Based on exclusive access to Gene Autry's personal papers, as well as interviews with more than 100 relatives, employees, colleagues, and friends, this engaging biography brings to life a major Hollywood star--a man who, more than anyone else, put Western music and style on the American cultural map.
Customer Reviews:
All About Gene.......2007-09-25
This is a big book all about the career of Gene Autry, and not enough about his personal life, which is usually what I like to read. I don't need to know about every record he made and when and every performance, etc., etc., etc. And I don't need to know about all his business dealings. But I like to know about what stars did behind the scenes, etc., and surprisingly this seemed to involve a lot of drinking and womanizing which I didn't think Autry had done. Oh well. There just wasn't enough about him personally for my reading taste, but the guy had no children and had a solid marriage, so I guess there isn't much dirt on him.
Autry Fans - Buy It!.......2007-08-12
Anyone who was a fan of Gene Autry or who liked westerns during their golden years or who just enjoys good biography will find this a very compelling story. It tells the story of a very good, but a very complex man who grew up in poverty, endured a difficult childhood, and displayed very human flaws. This book is endorsed by the Gene Autry Corporation but doesn't coverup or sugarcoat the fact that, despite his image, Gene drank heavily after WW2, maybe to the point of alcholism, and was not always faithful to his wife. Yet he never failed to visit children's hospitals, give supergenerously to those in need, take care of family and non-family alike, and do much good for many people. This includes several generations of children to whom he was always the ideal role model.
Holly George-Warren did an admirable job and deserves to be congratulated. One criticism: I wish Ms George-Warren had gone into greater depth into the extraordinarily complicated relationship between Gene and his wife Ina.
Memories of one of my favorite cowboys.......2007-07-31
This book brought back many great memories of Saturday matinees at our
neighborhood theatre. Gene Autry was one of my favorite western movie
stars. My favorite western movie star was Charles Starrett as the Durango Kid.
Our local movie "show" was a Columbia theatre which showed Columbia
movies including Columbia serials, the Durango Kid and assorted Columbia
"B" movies susitable for the kids' matinees. I enjoyed the Gene Autry 30's
and early '40's westerns more then the later ones he made. This book will
certainly return one to the "days of yesteryear." Excellent book!
Gene Autry, An American Idol.......2007-05-31
Public Cowboy No.1: The Life And Times Of Gene Autry, by Holly George-Warren
A book review by Jerry Rojo, May, 2007
Gene Autry, An American Idol
Holly George-Warrne's biographic tome is a definitive must-read, not only for the worldwide legions of the American cowboy moviegoing public, young and old, but also, anyone interested in a prototypical American dreamer on a lifelong trek, as defined by the arts and entertainment industry's dream factories from Hollywood to Madison Avenue. George-Warren's impeccably researched Gene Autry story, interestingly, is somewhat reminiscent of Doris Kerns-Goodwin's recent Abraham Lincoln book, Team Of Rivals, that chronicles the president's rags-to-riches life in the political arena. Both authors masterfully use the biographic form to convey their respective visions, yet provide the reader scholarly researched stories to ponder any number of themes and ideas about their subject. Like Lincoln, Autry was dirt poor, grassroots, self-made and ambitious; carefully grooming his career with a lifelong, unrelenting, innate ability to charm colleagues, friends and the public at large. Lincoln, too, was a performer. He cherished the spoken/written word, and the theatre, to the chagrin of his aristocratic, snobbish cabinet. Ironically, he was assassinated by a Shakespearean actor. The Autry book, like Lincoln's, defines his respective context/time in America. The political-rodeo arena is a metaphor for our country's so-called "culture", epitomized by the American Idol phenomena, with its demigod-like celebrities from respective realms of, popular entertainment, sports, politics. religion and, now a days, big corporations, all of which defines the current American ethos.
My can't-put-down read of George-Warren was fueled not only by her writing, but by my own childhood spent idolizing Gene Autry while growing up in Illinois, and, my subsequent professional interest in dramatic arts adds to the attraction. A compelling aspect of the book traces Autry's genealogy from the Norman Conquest in 1066 to pre-great depression Texas/Oklahoma, where Autry's story begins. During that period, one is amazed by his personal and professional character development, growing up in a family of six in abject poverty, with an on-and-off absentee, hard-drinking father, and by contrast, a deeply religious and nurturing mother. Everyone knows Autry's interest in the great American pastime, baseball, but a telling tidbit reveals that he was a pretty good sandlot player, and was offered a chance to play for a minor league team, but, declined because he was making more money working on the railroad and needed to support his family. That anecdote helps define this complex man. His devotion and generosity to family, friends and associates throughout his long life was always balanced by his knack for good judgment when it came to decisions about human welfare and the business of life.
It was during the seven odd years in the late 20s early 30s, while in the Chicago/Midwest, that young Autry began his "singing cowboy" career. But there was no overnight success here, instead, an astonishing story of how to succeed in show business--a methodology that paved the way for popular entertainers ever since. With a modicum of musical talent Autry used love of performing, hard work, determination, his WASPish good looks and savvy business acumen to mold a career that would lead to five-star recognition at the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The book documents, in wonderful detail how he shrewdly evolved his signature persona-image, which, once established, never changed. At 91 he died with his boots on.
Before his Chicago days, Autry didn't start out as a cowboy singing around the campfire soothing a restless herd of cattle. He had his sights set on the popular music of the roaring 20s tin pan alley, which featured the likes of Gene Austin and Rudy Vallee (Autry's first name, Orvon, was substituted for Austin's). Ultimately, Gene Autry changed his musical style by literally imitating yodeling Jimmie Rodgers, the father of country/hillbilly music, who's great popularity appealed to blue-collar folks from the South and Midwest. After a brief trip to the Big Apple--before giving up his day job on the railroad--a failed audition with a record company sent Autry home to gain experience singing on local radio stations and other venues. He actually sang with a medicine show, a lesson learned, hawking products. Professional contacts and an established country-folk sound led him back to New York to make records. His recordings caught on, and with astute self-promotion Autry's popularity grew, garnering a spot on Chicago's popular WLS radio station's National Barn Dance program. There, his image was transformed to The Singing Cowboy.
With royalties from a national smash hit record, "That Silver Haired Daddy of Mine" in his hip pocket, a newly minted Martin guitar with his ivory signature on the frets, a new Hollywood-like-Tom Mix cowboy "look" and Buick automobile, he barnstormed the environs of Chicago, Illinois. There, he discovered a key player on the road to success, the highly talented musician, singer, song writer and naturally gifted comedic performer, Smiley Brunette. Autry always had a keen eye for talented associates, musical and otherwise. Back in Chicago on the airwaves, and on tour, they soon developed their signature hero/sidekick routine.
Unlike the multitude of American denizens, then and now, seeking instant success in golden California, Autry didn't go to Hollywood; Hollywood came to Autry. He was already a "star", self-made, and, at a time when the Great Depression was raging world wide. Now, only in his late 20s, part two of his odyssey begins at a B-Western studio factory that Autry would bale-out of near financial ruin, Republic Pictures. Here, Ms George-Warren really delivers the goods with a compendium of data-based facts of tinsel-town fiction that chronicles Autry's American idol success story.
It was 1934, but he didn't have an auspicious start in the movies. After an initial bit part in a Ken Maynard flick, studio executives had reservations--with good reason--about Autry's abilities. It seemed clear, he excelled at nothing cinematic: a marginal singer-guitarist, bad acting, awkward in the saddle and, most of all, he lacked gunslinger machismo, a staple at the time. But, no matter, the audience Autry already established, had a different opinion. He had something!! And it didn't take but a couple of years or so for the Studio and Autry, tinkering with the chemistry, to come up with THE original Gene Autry that would become a one-of-a-kind icon. By 1939 he was in the big leagues with Clark Gable/Gone With The Wind, if you consider audience appeal and box-office numbers. Now, cash-cow-boy Autry played to millions of adoring fans of, so called, sophisticated folks from the East, NYC to Boston, and, Great Britain, where he seduced hundreds of thousands from across the island empire, evidenced by massive turnouts on tour. It was 1942, a turning point in Gene Autry's fame if not fortune. Here again, he makes a watershed career decision. Much to the dismay of Republic Pictures/Hollywood, he joins the military to fight in World War II. George-Warren reveals insightful, detailed stories of the war years that further defines this remarkable man. For example, why, arguably, at the pinnacle of popularity and performance-form does he do it? Is he a consummate patriot, or as he says, protecting his image-based code of cowboy ethics? He survives air force missions, military boredom and keeps in tune doing a stint with the USO at the end of the war, meanwhile at home, movie reruns and other strategies kept him in the public mind's eye. After the war Autry picked up where he left off with his still adoring fans, donning his cowboy persona, producing and performing a mind-boggling schedule of entertainment engagements, including burgeoning TV (he was the first Hollywood star to do so); but, it WAS the beginning of the end and not the end of the beginning, as Churchill coined. Then, in the early to mid 60s the fame-flame goes out, but the fortune doesn't. Now, Gene Autry transitions to the business tycoon still wearing cowboy clothes, occasionally sporting an LA Angels baseball cap. Autry scrupulously designed and protected his public image that, except for in the military, never changed. As entertainer he performed the SELF and when he hung up the guitar in the early 60s he took on the role of CEO, Gene Autry Enterprises, but little else changed.
But what was at the heart of that masked man? It's all there in Holly George-Warren's biography that unearths the Man UNDER the persona, and as she perceives you don't need his purely business-life endgame story. You'd be hard pressed to find anyone, public or private that hated or disrespected Gene Autry, then or now. And he was no pushover while wheeling and dealing in either his business interests or performance career. That's evident by his tough, recalcitrant stance with the tightfisted studio honchos, which, by the way, help lead to Actors's Equity and the independent film makers of today. And yes, the book gets into the nitty-gritty of his postwar performing years of womanizing and binge drinking but that served to make him more human and strengthen his character. A shrink would have a field day, given young Autry's polarized parenting. As a 10y.o. boy I idolized that innovative kind of cowboy-man who was good and strong, and that seemed to portray the best of American values (My grandsons have his 10 Cowboy Commandments, framed.). Singing and playing the guitar as a real-life person his pictures were action-filled musical westerns, portraying the American mantra during that time: talk softly and carry a big stick; he toted a six shooter but never killing the bad guy. My growing up after the war, it was easy to see his weakness as an aging performer and ever more commercializing career strategy, but in the long run, that never led to diminishing the demigod I worshiped circa 1942.
Gene Autry represented as performer and citizen the "God and Country" ideology. The ancient Greek and Romans worshipped a pantheon of Gods who were half-God and half-Human. A recent book, The God Delusion, by Richard Dawkins offers a view on the subject of the human need for God/demigods: it's in the genes, a kind of inner quest for survival. The American mystique seems particularly wedded to the phenomena of super hero, professing a particular moral/ethical/ism standard, albeit augmented by commercialism. Some Heroes are good and others not so, Abraham Lincoln/Adolph Hitler obvious opposites, others, Brittany Spears, Babe Ruth, Jerry Falwell, and Bill Gates fall somewhere in between. Gene Autry was clearly one of the good guys/entertainers, among American's pantheon of God/demigods, further identified in the Epilogue, that points to the multimillions he gave to charity in his lifetime, contributing to schools, hospitals and building a world-class western art museum and institute for western studies. Holly George-Warren's book gives us the arc of this complex quintessential American, who was Gene Autry.
A VERY PUBLIC COWBOY by John Paddy Browne.......2007-05-10
Whatever Holly George-Warren says in her new biography of Gene Autry; however much detail she covers; however many previously unpublished facts she unearths, she is never going to please everyone. Even a monumental biography such as this one, packed to bursting as it is with dates and names and stories, will never record everything that we, the readers, will want to see.
The problem is not Ms George-Warren's. When she says she could have written a book twice this size, I believe her.
No, the problem was created by Autry himself. He lived to a mighty age, and into that great expanse of time he packed enough life experiences to fuel any number of books and magazines and newspaper articles. One glance at George-Warren's footnotes and bibliography shows how the world has been flooded with Autry newsprint throughout a career - no, several careers - that spanned 70 years. And that doesn't take account of his austere childhood (a story in itself that George-Warren tells in remarkable detail), or the vast amount of Autry material that has appeared since his death in 1998: the DVDs, the CDs, the books, the websites - even the belated victory of his Angels team in the World Series. Look at any of the online auction sites any day of the week and you will get an idea of just how much stuff Autry left behind: the supply seems endless, and endlessly varied, and all of this is merely an illusion of the man's actual working life.
Autry was a workaholic, driven, it seems, to be always doing something. When his contemporaries Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy and Tyrone Power finished their day's work at the studio, they went home and put their feet up. Not Autry. As George-Warren records in breathless detail, even while shooting a movie, Autry would be called to the phone to deal with some other business in which he was involved elsewhere: or he would receive commercial partners for discussions on set. There simply weren't enough hours in the day for him.
This handsome biography could never hope to cover everything in such an industrious life, and some of the material that is missing has been judiciously excised for purely logistical, editorial reasons. Quite rightly, the author almost completely eschews Autry's involvement in baseball (a blessed relief for those of us not interested in sports), and instead concentrates a good deal of time to his early radio and recording work. A fascinating account of Autry's notorious shoot-out with Herb Yates at Republic Studios, usng the evidence of surviving documents, brings that painful episode to vivid life. George-Warren skirts around the hackneyed stories, veracious or otherwise, that Autry told so many times that he eventually believed them himself. She neither confirms them or denies them, but puts them into a sort of context from which the reader may draw his or her own conclusions about their probability.
Not that any of this matters, except insofar as how it paints a picture of a man who was as much a media creation as a real-life figure, and possibly more so since he carried the cowboy image into his private life by wearing his Western-styled clothes - his uniform - in public and at home, away from the working environment of the studios. He put on this uniform in the same way that Superman or Santa Claus put on their uniforms, and became a figment of our collective imagination. It was how he made money.
And money is the one constant in Gene Autry's life. Whatever he did, and he did an inordinate number of different things, money was at the heart of it. "Working with figures is what I do best," he allegedly said. "What I do less well is act, sing and play the guitar." There is no hint whatever in the 400-plus pages of Holly George-Warren's book that Autry ever did anything for the love of it. He frequently spoke about how "proud" he was of certain of his achievements, and he had every reason to be proud of them - but that's not the same as "love". No-one ever got him to say that he sang certain songs because he loved them, in the way that, say, folk singers might sing songs for the love of them. Autry sang stuff that would make him money, and that was the criterion for performing and recording it.
His pursuit of money, indeed, seems to have been the one true love-affair of his life - and he has said as much. No-one will begrudge the man becoming one of the richest people in America when he worked so diligently and tirelessly to attain that pleasant state. Nobody gave him his wealth: he went out and worked for it. Ms George-Warren could easily have published a page from any one of Autry's touring schedules (and I've seen them) that would have shown him to be working in a different town or city every single day for months at a stretch. None of your two-days-on and four-days-off for him.
Along the way he gave the illusion of being a happy, carefree cowboy, bestowing a bounty of delight on his fans - fans who would carry their affection for him and loyalty to him into their old age. Autry's trick, if this does not sound too cynical, is that he made them feel that they all mattered to him when, in fact, everything he did, be it hospital visits to chat with sick children, merchandising his name relentlessly, [...] or claiming writing credits for someone else's work - and even his enlistment into the armed forces in World War 2 - all of it had a "money handle" - and he saw it all as a means of furthering his career.
Autry's publicity as high-flying business magnate, which so fascinated the Hollywood press, has done his artistic reputation no favors. Dismissed as "commercial" and superficial by many, it has been an uphill struggle for those of us trying to keep his memory alive, to justify his place at the top of so many lists of achievements in the arts. Indeed, the juxtaposition of the name "Autry" with the word "art" is almost an oxymoron - a contradiction. Yet the trail that Autry left behind him, that so many fledgling artists have followed to their benefit, speaks volumes for the influence he has had on the cultivation and development of the Country and popular music of America and other English-speaking countries. Academically, though, he was never recognised in his lifetime, nor was his work and contribution ever seriously analyzed or documented.
At the end of the day we, his fans, seem not to be troubled by any of this, and even Holly George-Warren's commendably open, impartial and well-written book, with its tales of risque songs, binge drinking, and amorous dalliances with his leading ladies (and some of his female Fan Club members) does nothing to lessen the man's stature. If anything, it reveals him to be more human than the singing cowboy of the screen ever was: the sort of man we are able to relate to: a flawed hero we can identify with.
And if this flies in the face of that famous remark made by the fictional editor of the Shinbone Star: "When the legend becomes fact, print the legend!" what it may do is make the legendary figure of Gene Autry a more approachable figure to a new generation of admirers. And in our hero, the Singing Cowboy, they will find a great deal to admire. Holly George-Warren has seen to that. --JOHN PADDY BROWNE
Book Description
“We just asked the movie stars how they did it. What did they use? How often? Where did they get it? How can we do it, too? And they told us. We couldn't believe it either.”
Kym Douglas, host of the upcoming Lifetime makeover show Queen and the image consultant on The View, and celebrity journalist Cindy Pearlman had always wanted to know how the A-list stars looked so, well, A-list. It turns out that even the most carefully guarded stars were more than happy to dish. Collected here, in their own words, celebrities and their beauty gurus reveal their tricks of the trade.
How do they reduce puffiness, lose five pounds in a week, put shine in their hair, buff their skin, and vacuum their pores without spending a fortune? Find out from Jennifer Aniston, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Lindsay Lohan, Beyoncé Knowles, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Hurley, Charlize Theron, and many, many more!
Kym Douglas is the creator and host of the upcoming Lifetime Television makeover show, Queen, airing in October and the image consultant on The View. She appears regularly on Soap Talk, Good Day Live, Before & After'noon, and Your Weekend with Jim Brickman.
Customer Reviews:
The Black Book of Hollywood Beauty Secrets.......2007-09-16
Not only was the book helpful with the beauty secrets, but I loved the sense of humour. I look forward to the next book by these authors.
Good for newbies to makeup/skincare/haircare.......2007-07-30
If you've ever read any beauty/fashion magazines on any type of a regular basis, spoken in friend circles about beauty tricks, or are over 13 and have been wearing makeup for a few years, etc. then you already know all of this. Puffy eyes: cucumber or potato slices, chilled spoons, tea bags Zits: dab of toothpaste or tea tree oil Shiny, build-up free hair: apple cider vinegar rinse
Unless you're a newbie to the beauty world or like the 40-something year old woman I met that had no idea that clear mascara can be used to groom brows and that the tanning beds were making her liver spots worse, then save your money.
no new information in my opinion.......2007-07-28
I thought this book would be entertaining with a lot of tips and tricks for making beauty fun and easy. I love makeup and going on the occassional splurge at Sephora. But I can also be happy wandering the makeup/skin care aisles of Target.
When this book is not spitting out designer labels left and right, they really don't have super secrets. Most is stuff you can find online about home treatments that you can mix together yourself. It also asked a lot of "professionals" and beauty gurus their "must haves" and what would they buy if they ONLY had 100 dollars. These people are spoiled brats in my opinion. 100 bucks could buy a heck of a lot of beauty stuff. One woman's answer when asked what she would do if she only had the 100 dollars was "first, I would cry...". This really just put the stamp of stupidity on this book. Don't waste your money!
very informative.......2007-07-08
very interesteing book, so many secrets and the ones i tried do really work-highly recommend!
Big on hype, long on snark, short on quality...save your $$.......2007-06-21
I made the mistake of actually purchasing this book. I would've taken it back if I hadn't already thrown away the receipt, that is how BAD this book is! True beauty has nothing to do with making uncharitable and jealous comments, and it seems like every sentence in this book is prefaced with "MEOW!" I do not like this current trend toward Us Magazine style cattiness and rudeness in Hollywood gossip circles, and it seems to have permeated this book something fierce. What good is attaining outer beauty if the seemingly beautiful person is unattractively rude and has caustic, mean-spirited and sarcastic stuff constantly running out of her mouth?
Another thing I found offensive about this book? The hypocrisy of one of the authors. If you look at the picture in the back of the book, you'll notice that Cindy Pearlman, is considerably fat...in fact, you could say she is OBESE...yet throughout the book she and her "new best friend" aka co-writer Kym Douglas make all sorts of hurtful cracks about large sized women. What's with all the self loathing Cindy? Still trying to fit in with the 'preps' 20 or more years after graduating high school? Still getting ready for that prom you apparently never attended? Sad...and pathetic. Get over it already.
As for the so-called beauty "secrets", do these authors think we were born yesterday? I don't buy most of that mess in this book for a New York minute! Do you honestly expect us to believe those actresses are too cheap to buy real beauty products? Please. Plus I am NOT interested in learning any of beauty secrets who women who are in the sex industry, either. Why are they glorifying strippers and pole dancers in this book? Disgusting.
As for their assessment that men are only interested in women who look like those on the "A" list...this is simply not so. How do I know? Well, I've been to Hollywood, Beverly Hills AND Malibu, so I can tell you by personal experience the STRAIGHT men there appreciate all sorts of beauty in women...and they are equally as likely to flirt with a woman with meat on her bones as he is the tall blonde size "0" waifs running around with scary Botox smiles! The true beauty "secret?" CONFIDENCE IN ONESELF...which doesn't cost one red cent!!!
Trust me, in the end, you're better off taking that money you would've spent on books of this ilk and putting it toward a fab vacation to California and really living it up, rather than living vicariously through this flimsy book with bogus beauty "secrets" you can find on any beauty website. I'm not even going to give this book to charity...it's just going directly into file 13.
Book Description
With nearly thirty movies, countless awards, and an unwavering commitment to UNICEF, Audrey Hepburn's life served as an example of both style and purpose. From her early dance performances for the Dutch resistance during World War II to her London cabaret days and her breakthrough roles in Gigi and Roman Holiday, audiences worldwide have long been enchanted by Audrey's charm and grace.
Now, in this lavishly illustrated biography -- created with the Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund -- Audrey's own words are given center stage to create a unique personal narrative. This special collection also includes approximately 200 black-and-white and color photographs selected by the Hepburn Estate, as well as reproduced mementos from Audrey's life. Thirty-four removable documents include an excerpt from her Breakfast at Tiffany's script with handwritten notes, a letter she sent to husband Mel Ferrer while preparing for The Nun's Story, and a birth certificate announcement marking the arrival of her first son.
A dazzling celebration of an extraordinary human being, The Audrey Hepburn Treasures offers fan an intimate and revealing portrait of the woman they admire and adore.
Customer Reviews:
A Generation's Treasure.......2007-10-12
Having grown up in the 50's/60's I wanted to be Audrey Hepburn. We all loved her...she was perfection in every way. From "War & Peace" to Breakfast At Tiffany's she held you spellbound. This book of treasures is indeed that. I received this as a gift from my husband and have now given a copy to my daughter...another generation enjoying our treasure.
Fabulous Book about a classic lady!.......2007-08-16
My mom loves Audrey Hepburn, and this book is just wonderful. It's like a personal scrapbook all about Audrey and Amazon has it $[...] cheaper than any store. It made for the perfect birthday present!
If your an Audrey Hepburn fan you will love this book.......2007-07-31
I was given this book as a birthday gift. I am a huge Audrey Hepburn fan. I think she is not only beautiful but she is an exceptional actress. She carries herself with a great deal of class. Looking through the book I felt as though I were looking through her own personal scrapbook. She went through so much in life but always came across as caring and graceful. The book is beautifuly written and I love the way it is put together with the snapshots and other wonderful surprises in the pages. This book gives you a wonderful glimpse into what her life was like. This is without a doubt one of the best Audrey Hepburn books I have ever read.
A must-have for Audrey fans!.......2007-04-06
The Audrey Hepbrun Treasures book is a treasure trove indeed, for it contains pictures and mementos from Audrey's amazing life. The book contains a foreword by Audrey's son, Sean Hepburn Ferrer, and is chronologically arranged, starting with Audrey's early childhood, her first role as a dancer, and goes on with her move to the silver screen, her marriages, her work with UNICEF, and finally her legacy. What makes this book truly unique is its format: it is presented in the form of a scrapbook, with reproductions of baby photos, family pictures, a wartime ID card, programs of Audrey's performances, and numerous other personal documents [birth certificate of her son, personal letters etc.]. These help to give us an insightful look into Audrey's amazing life, and help us to better understand this beautiful and graceful lady, who has inspired many by her beauty, her talent, and her convictions.
Love this book!.......2007-03-12
Not only is the book an excellent read about Audrey Hepburn, but the envelopes throughout the book that are filled with keepsakes and memoralbilia are wonderful! Great gift idea, also!
Average customer rating:
- Shakespeare & Co.
- Shakespeare and Co: Marlow, Thomas Dekker, Ben Jonson, Thomas Middleton, John Fletcher and the other Players in His Story
|
Shakespeare and Co.: Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Dekker, Ben Jonson, Thomas Middleton, John Fletcher and the Other Players in His Story
Stanley Wells
Manufacturer: Pantheon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
History
| Drama
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Classics
| British
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Shakespeare
| British
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| British
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Shakespeare, William
| ( S )
| Authors, A-Z
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
History & Criticism
| Theater
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Authors
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Fiction Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Shakespeare the Thinker
-
The Shakespeare Riots: Revenge, Drama, and Death in Nineteenth-Century America
-
William Shakespeare Complete Works (Modern Library)
-
This Wide and Universal Theater: Shakespeare in Performance, Then and Now
-
The Shakespeare Wars: Clashing Scholars, Public Fiascoes, Palace Coups
ASIN: 0375424946
Release Date: 2007-04-10 |
Book Description
From one of our most distinguished Shakespeare scholars, here is a fascinating, lively, anecdotal work of forensic biography that firmly places Shakespeare within the hectic, exhilarating world in which he lived and wrote.
Theater in Shakespeare's day was a burgeoning “growth industry." Everyone knew everyone else, and they all sought to learn, borrow or steal from one another. As Stanley Wells suggests: "To see Shakespeare as one among a great company is only to enhance our sense of what made him unique.”
Wells explores Elizabethan and Jacobean theater, both behind the scenes and in front of the curtain. He examines how the great actors of the time influenced Shakespeare's work. He writes about the lives and works of the other major writers of Shakespeare’s day and discusses Shakespeare’s relationships—sometimes collaborative—with each of them. And throughout, Wells shares his vast knowledge of the period, re-creating and celebrating the sheer richness and variety of Shakespeare's social and cultural milieus.
Shakespeare and Co. gives us a new understanding of how the Bard achieved unparalleled singularity as the greatest writer in the language.
Customer Reviews:
Shakespeare & Co........2007-07-16
Stanley Wells is one of the great Shakespeare scholars of this, or any other, generation. His work on the Oxford edition of the Complete Works, the Textual Companion, the Dictionary of Shakespeare and, if I can mention a personal favorite, Shakespeare for All Time, assure his enduring reputation. It was with keen anticipation I picked up this book, then, and I was not disappointed. The book is not groundbreaking, by any means, but is pleasant, erudite, and consistently interesting. It is the best introduction I know to placing Shakespeare in the theatrical currents of his time and tracing his interactions, such as they can be known, with his less famous, though greatly gifted, contemporaries Marlowe, Jonson, Dekker, Middleton, Fletcher, Webster and the rest.
In an age such as ours where otherwise serious people can become preoccupied with crank, dilettantish ideas like the Oxford wrote Shakespeare nonsense so much in circulation, how likely is it those same serious people have taken the time to read Shakespeare's less well known fellows? They have, perhaps, read Dr. Faustus in an English lit survey class, and know about Marlowe because, after all, HE might, just maybe, be the one who really wrote at least some of Shakespeare's plays, but certainly they have not read either part of Tamburlaine, or A Trick To Catch The Old One, or The Shoemakers Holiday. Need enough, then, that a thoroughgoing, popular introduction to the lives and masterpieces of some of Shakespeare's contemporaries deserves a home on our bulging Shakespeare bookshelves.
The first sentence of the Preface says "This book attempts to place Shakespeare in relation to the actors and other writers, mainly playwrights, of his time in an accessible and where possible entertaining manner" (ix). And so it does, with, speaking for myself, at least, emphasis on "entertaining." I found the book enormously likable. If you are familiar with the period and the authors being treated, you will find nothing new, but a non-specialists book surveying a rather broad field does not attempt to present novel interpretations, but rather can be relied on to deliver the state-of-the-art scholarly understanding of these authors and their works in a pleasant style. Wells's scholarly status guarantees the most dependable understanding of the times and writers, and his gifts as a writer makes reading a joy.
Shakespeare and Co: Marlow, Thomas Dekker, Ben Jonson, Thomas Middleton, John Fletcher and the other Players in His Story.......2007-05-24
A fun, fast read...If your looking for who wrote Shakespeare other the Shakespeare you will be disappointed...Prof. Wells though speculates on who may have collaborated with Shakespeare on some plays a little more freely the other academics might but don't look for a smoking gun...the best passage in the book in my opinion is Prof. Wells description of the death of Marlow, it is vivid and would make a great story for any High School Lit. teacher to use to spice up her/his Jr. Eng. Lit. class.
If you are into Shakespeare I think you will find "Shakespeare & Co.:..." a great read.
Book Description
Courtney B. Vance met Angela Bassett….
They ran for years as friends in the same small circles. They had some hits, but mostly misses with other partners, and they shared one spectacularly dreadful first date together. And then, Courtney and Angela connected.
Experience the up-close-and-personal, real-life love story of this inspirational African-American celebrity couple. Learn how they navigate the fickle tides of fame, while keeping their relationship fresh and true. See how they've carved a meaningful life together in spite of humble beginnings, family tragedy and the ups and downs of stardom with love, faith and determination.
Customer Reviews:
A Real Love Story.......2007-10-10
I could barely put this book down! I enjoyed reading the candid story about Courtney and Angela. I appreciate all the sound advice given throughout the book concerning relationships. If you can get past some of the expletives used by Angela, you will find this book enjoyable. I wanted to put my "stamp of approval" on such a well written, down to earth story about a man and women who meet and fall in love. God truly has joined these two together and may the love they share sustain this marriage.
Excellent Book!.......2007-10-02
Bravo Courtney for evolving into the man that you are. It took great strength and courage to defy the many evils of today. I hope many males read this book and imitate you and your union with Angela. Congratulations on a job well done.
Awesome love story .......2007-09-17
This book was well written think it was wonderful for Courtney/Angela to share their lives with readers. Points of interest: the lessons Angela/Courtney gives about being a God fearing wife and husband. This will help anyone who takes the time to read/apply it to your life. Please write another book soon.
WONDERFUL!.......2007-08-23
This book was such a joy to read. As a young single lady in my 40's, it was a joy to learn of the forces that lead Angela and Courtney to each other. If you believe there is someone waiting for you, then this is the book to read. I am so glad they made the decision to share their story with us. Thanks for sharing!
Just Wonderful.......2007-07-28
This Book was just Wonderful.
The first book in a long time that I couldn't put down!!
Average customer rating:
- Extremely Interesting
- I believe I've read this before
- New DC Bio Proves Talent Will Survive Forever!
- Must read for all fans
- David Cassidy is truly a legend
|
Could It Be Forever?: My Story
David Cassidy
Manufacturer: Headline Book Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Composers & Musicians
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Rock
| Composers & Musicians
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Entertainers
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Television Performers
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Rock
| Musical Genres
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
1950's & 1960's
| Shows
| Television
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Writing
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Reference Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
All Titles
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
ASIN: 0755315790 |
Book Description
In the early 1970s, when he was just 20 years old, David Cassidy achieved the sort of teen idol fame that is rarely seen. He was mobbed everywhere he went. His clothes were regularly ripped off by adoring fans. He sold records the world over. He was bigger than Elvis. And all thanks to a hit TV show called The Partridge Family. David Cassiday, in his own words, gives a brutally frank account of those mindblowing days of stardom in which being David Cassidy played second fiddle to being Keith Partridge. Including stories of sex, drugs, and rock'n'roll that explode the myth of Cassidy as squeaky clean, it is also the story of how to keep on living life and loving yourself when the fickle fans fall away. David Cassidy is also the author of C'mon, Get Happy: Fear and Loathing on the Partridge Family Bus.
Customer Reviews:
Extremely Interesting.......2007-10-18
I found this book to be very interesting and it provided me with something unexpected. I ordered it after catching the movie about David Cassidy on TV; it sparked my curiosity. I can't recall thinking about David since hearing about the tragic death of his father so many years ago. The book was on back order and ended up coming during the week of the first anniversary of my own father's death. I have been in a funk; and the book ended up starting a catharsis.
I started remembering things about my childhood. When I was 9 or 10 David Cassidy was my teen idol. Of modest means, I remember having a David Cassidy poster, album and a magazine or two. I watched the Partridge family to see David not Keith. Amongst my friends we would argue for our teen idol, some had Bobby Sherman. Of interest to me is that all these years later I can almost re-experience the feelings I had back then at 9 or 10. Memories, feelings seem all so connected.
From reading the book I realized just how many other fans there were. I really had no idea. Back then information was not so easy to come by and I grew up in a tiny town in NH. We mostly got our information from those Teen magazines or the occasional interview if we could catch it, remember no VCR's for recording....while reading the book I realized that I must have believed what I read in those magazines back then... Reading this book reminded me of the power of the media and its potential for abuse.
Now with the openness of the internet it is so much easier to tell your story. Back then the choices must have been very limited, making it easy for someone else to control your story. For example after reading the book I could just Google "David Cassidy" and find many quotes and autobiographical information written directly by him, information I would have had great difficulty finding in the 70's. Funny to imagine all those thousands and thousands of young girls who were passionate David Cassidy fans back in the 70's all my age now and may be rediscovering his talent like I am.
I am sure back then I thought David's life was so glamorous and exciting. Which of course in part it was, but in the book he so courageously and openly shares what it was really like, the good and the bad. I like it when the person writing their biography just tells the story like they are having a conversation with you, not like they are writing the greatest novel of all time. For me that it is a more true experience, like it is real and coming from their soul. I was especially appreciative of how he wrote about the difficulties with his Dad. I struggle with my own Dad issues and could really relate to some of his experiences. Something I wasn't expecting
I liked the part when his wife shared about how he gets knocked down and then he just gets back up and tries again. Inspiring me as I work on getting out of my funk.
I believe I've read this before.......2007-10-18
Sorry, but I think I'll skip this one. Didn't Cassidy cover much of the same territory--sex, drugs, rock and roll, and Susan Dey--in 1994's "C'mon Get Happy"? Most of us who adored him in his heyday--I was 9 years old--were heartbroken by his nearly-nude Rolling Stone pictorial. It was a huge and premature dashing of our innocence. We got the picture: he was no angel. And if we didn't get it then, 1994's book made sure we did. So why is he telling us again?
Moments of "Happy" were extremely moving--his feelings about his parents' divorce, his early eye disfigurement, the loneliness of the road, his descent into and recovery from addiction. But the rest of that book came off as gratuitous and narcissistic--way too much information about he got into bad shape. It seemed as much boasting as confession.
So Cassidy was no innocent. WE were innocent when we met him, and it would be kinda nice if, while telling his story honestly, as needed to set his demons free (if indeed that is his purpose), he didn't rub our noses--yet again!--in the more intimate details of his misadventures. I for one would like to enjoy his early music and those blissful feelings of innocence without hearing one more greasy reference to Barbara the Butter Queen. Couldn't the new book have stuck to his more inspiring thoughts without rehashing the old book's tiresome self-exploitation?
Please, David, allow yourself to rest in peace.
New DC Bio Proves Talent Will Survive Forever!.......2007-10-10
Could It Be Forever?: My Story
Despite much adversity in his life and being a labeled a "teen idol" David Cassidy tells his readers of his amazing journey and how true talent survives.
If you're already a fan that got the 1st autobiography, "C'mon Get Happy," let me tell you that I enjoyed this one MUCH MORE than that one! In the first book, I felt almost like all the sexual stuff came off like "bragging." I didn't feel that this time around as even though a lot of it was the same, it just seemed more "balanced."
I really enjoyed the comments put in by family members, friends, and other artists. It helped add a new detention to the book. Being able to see David through others eyes. Of course, being a HUGE fan of DC's RCA records, I was very happy to be able to read more about the making of those and getting to read comments by Gerry Beckley, Bruce Johnson, etc. I was pleased that DC acknowledged that had he toured the US these albums probably would have done at least fairly well here. So to me, it's rather sad he didn't. I think it would've given him more credibility if he'd been able to have at least one hit record that was his own right after the P.F. went off the air. It's cool that he mentioned many of his long time fans (like me) have commented on how much they enjoyed them. Also that they were the "real David" as he had real control over those LP's. Opposed to having to sing pop for a TV show that was very well-crafted but just wasn't what he was into at that time of his life.
It was also interesting reading about all the other POST-PF things that happened since the 1st book was written. I actually enjoyed the "environmental" and "anti-war" messages in "Time," even though I never got to see the whole play. I've heard it on cassette tapes and some of the songs were lovely too. So it's a shame DC didn't enjoy it very much. Although I agree with DC that "Blood Brothers" was by far the best vehicle in his career. It was just joyful to read about his becoming so close to Shaun & Petula, etc.
I never realized DC was in such pain with his foot while doing EFX. He hid it very well. I knew he's hurt it and his back but just never knew the extent of the damage. He really IS a real trouper! Of course, I knew that when I 1st met him in SD back in 1981 and he was carrying an ice pack for his broken foot so that he could still perform doing heavy tap dancing in "Little Johnny Jones."
Also fascinating was how David mentioned being separated from Sue for a while when in Vegas. It gave me a new perspective about some things from that time.
The trip DC took with his brothers was really fun to read. It's so nice they're all so close. Also the comments about Katie and how proud he is of her now.
I loved the ending message by Beau. It saw simply lovely - and DC's right that THAT is what life is really all about! As the Beatles sang, "In the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make."
Anyway, if you're a DC fan or even if you're not that big a fan, I think his latest autobiography is just a really fascinating and enjoyable read.
Must read for all fans.......2007-10-10
I have been a David Cassidy fan for over 30 years and this is a must read book. He opens his heart and his life for the world to see. The image we all saw on TV was truly just an image. He was truly acting in front of those cameras. His struggles were hidden from the public very well. It is amazing he is the man he is today after everything he went through. I am re-energized in my fandom for him. Fans of all ages will find this book fascinating. Get it today!!!!
David Cassidy is truly a legend.......2007-09-16
When this book came out I just had to have it! Like all young girls in the early 70's I was crazy about this guy! My sister and I would be glued to the tv to watch the Partridge Family and fight over which one of us would marry David when we grew up. While in my early teens I discovered David Bowie and have followed his career for over 30 years. In August of 2006 I re-discovered David Cassidy. His music makes you feel happy and your troubles seem to disappear. Since August of 2006 I have had the pleasure of meeting him backstage 3 times. What a thrill! I have so much respect for this man and the life that he has led. The second time I met him I told him he is my hero. He couldn't thank me enough and I could tell he meant it. I highly recommend this book. It is very well written and David's honesty shines thru. His story is truly amazing. He even mentions David Bowie in it!! lol When I started reading this book I honestly couldn't put it down and will re-read it again soon. For those of you who have never seen him live I highly recommend you catch one of shows. He is an incredible performer and sounds awesome. I was very pleasantly surprised the first time I saw him in 2006. You will walk away happy and very entertained. Now I just need to get back stage again so he can autograph my book! Read and enjoy! and yes...I still want to marry him! hehehe
Books:
- The Mercy Seat
- The Overspent American: Why We Want What We Don't Need
- The Powers of War and Peace: The Constitution and Foreign Affairs after 9/11
- The Reduced Shakespeare Co. presentsThe Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (abridged)
- The Stage Management Handbook
- The Ultimate Math Refresher for the GRE, GMAT, and SAT
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar board book
- The Yiddish Policemen's Union: A Novel
- Things Fall Apart: A Novel
- Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Wisdom of St. Patrick
- Kindling the Spark: Recognizing and Developing Musical Talent
- Crisis on Multiple Earths: The Team-Ups - Volume 1
- Eye of Terror
- Finding Sanctuary: Monastic Steps for Everyday Life
- Introduction to General, Organic and Biochemistry
- Messengers of the Lost Battalion: The Heroic 551st and the Turning of the Tide at the Battle of the
- Basic Perspective Drawing: A Visual Approach
- Dynamic Biochemistry of Animal Production
- The Advertising Red Books: International Advertisers & Agencies
