The Prince: The Secret Story of the World's Most Intriguing Royal, Prince Bandar bin Sultan

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Do note that Prince Bandar "cooperated" with his friend, the author, William Simpson.

The Prince: The Secret Story of the World's Most Intriguing Royal, Prince Bandar bin Sultan

FASCINATING

A recommended pick for a wide range of collections, from college to general-interest public libraries.

Public Myths, Private Realities

The Prince: The Secret Story of the World's Most Intriguing Royal, Prince Bandar bin Sultan
William Simpson
Manufacturer: William Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0060899867
Release Date: 2006-10-17

Book Description

A riveting portrait of one of the most enigmatic yet influential powerbrokers in America–Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al–Saud, the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United States from 1983–2005.

At a time when understanding our friends is as important as understanding our enemies, Prince Bandar bin Sultan remains one America's most enigmatic powerbrokers. As the illegitimate son of a Saudi prince and a servant girl, Prince Bandar overcame his unrecognized beginnings to rise as one of Saudi Arabia's brightest diplomatic stars, ultimately becoming the Ambassador to the United States–and one of the most influential men in Washington.

As Ambassador, Prince Bandar worked with CIA Director Bill Casey to fund covert CIA operations with Saudi petrodollars. He played a key role in the Iran–Contra affair; consulted with President Gorbachev to secure Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan; negotiated an end to the Iran–Iraq war; and, with Nelson Mandela, resolved the Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Affair. He served under four different American presidencies and was called "Washington's indispensible operator" by the New Yorker.

Yet Prince Bandar was more than this. His entre into Washington society and the Oval Office was unmatched. George H.W. Bush took the Prince and his family on fishing vacations; First Lady Reagan used him to convey messages to her husband's Cabinet; Colin Powell would drop by his house to play racquetball.

Customer Reviews:

Do note that Prince Bandar "cooperated" with his friend, the author, William Simpson........2007-06-09

Do not waste your money. This is an obvious PR effort and none of the recent news regarding the Prince shows up here - for obvious reasons.

The Prince: The Secret Story of the World's Most Intriguing Royal, Prince Bandar bin Sultan.......2007-04-13

Not that intriguing a character. The author is a very goooooooood friend of the subject and is obviously very bias.

FASCINATING.......2007-02-14

Definitely worth reading, I find it very interesting to read about a Saudi prince. Most people have no idea what a Saudi prince is all about and this is a way to find out.

A recommended pick for a wide range of collections, from college to general-interest public libraries........2007-02-08

THE PRINCE: THE SECRET STORY OF THE WORLD'S MOST INTRIGUING ROYAL PRINCE BANDAR BIN SULTAN might at first glance seem to be a special interest title - but it's actually much more. Any reader interested in Middle East issues should read THE PRINCE, as it surveys the life, political rise and richness of the Saudi Arabian prince who today is Ambassador to the U.S. His life reflects social and political changes in the country and his work has led him to play pivotal roles in emerging politics of the entire region, making THE PRINCE a recommended pick for a wide range of collections, from college to general-interest public libraries.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Public Myths, Private Realities.......2006-10-18

I have met Prince Bandar bin Sultan a number of times in the United States in my capacity as a money manager for extremely wealthy international families, and as a financial advisor to governments. I also lean towards political conservatism, although I am deeply disappointed at the extent to which corruption has become common in our government in the last decade or so. It use to under the table, now it's in our face.

William Simpson's book on Prince Bandar is requisite reading if Americans are to begin to understand Saudi Arabia. This is the critical country in the Middle East, and the world's dominant oil producer. Understand that Simpson the author is a personal friend of long-standing with Bandar, having attended together the Royal Air Force College in Cranwell, England many years ago. The Prince has publicly blessed this book. This tells you that this is an authorized biography, which means Bandar has edited every page. He's managing his image, and I must say quite well after reading it.

The problem I have with the book, but it must still be read, is that it is completely self-serving, and the author is in the Prince's pocket. This is not surprising; just about everyone in Washington was in the Prince's pocket. When you have a billion dollar personal fortune at your disposal plus the full financial backing of the world's most liquid country (both oil and greenbacks), who wouldn't want to be Prince Bandar. He's also got political access, and diplomatic immunity to boot.

The real question which is not answered by this book is to what extent did Bandar while the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United States from 1983 to 2005, use his money and his power to achieve the goals of his country to the detriment of ours. For the most part Bandar was exempt from the normal laws, and procedures that our own citizens must adhere to.

This man became close personal friends with several Presidents including the current President Bush. You may not remember this, but in the aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy, scores of Osama Bin Laden's relatives were still living in the United States. Many of them were students at different universities. Bandar arranged with President Bush for FBI controlled aircraft to pick up these family members, and whisk them immediately outside the United States to Saudi Arabia where they would be protected from our laws.

How startling is this when you think about it. This was the greatest loss of human life via an attack in our country's history, instigated by one man, Bin Laden, a Saudi by the way. The rest of us were stuck at airports throughout the United States for a week. The only non-military planes allowed to fly throughout the United States were planes being sent to pick up family members of the mass murderer so they could be flown out of the country. This shows you Prince Bandar's power, and he used that power for 22 years as he saw fit, for those he saw fit.

Bandar's money and fingerprints were all over the Iran-Contra scandal that could have conceivably brought down Ronald Reagan's Administration. It certainly tarnished Reagan's government, and ruined the last 2 years of his Presidency. You need to know about these events, and Bandar's connection to them. As citizens of the most important democracy in history, we need to know, and keep an eye on what our government is doing. Our founding fathers did not trust governments. Only an informed citizenry can guard our freedoms.

It has been said that POWER CORRUPTS, AND ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTEY. I believe this is true, and history demonstrates its veracity. Bandar is a man that has moved in very powerful circles. He was the ultimate power player displaying a persona based on public myth while the whole time operating under different private realities. There were only two people in the world that had power over this man who was the illegitimate son of Prince Sultan and a servant. The book talks about these two men in detail.

Bandar's father was the Saudi Arabian Defense Minister during the early 1960's. It was his grandmother who was the widow of King Abdulaziz that recognized the boy's talent. Bandar had a fabulous personality, truly charismatic. When he is in the room, you know someone special is around. It was this charisma that endeared him to King Fahd who controlled Saudi Arabia with an iron fist for decades.

King Fahd was his mentor, and Bandar wielded enormous influence over the King. After all, it was Bandar that lived overseas all those years doing the King's bidding, and in return influencing what that bidding might be by the advice he rendered to the King. There is no question I am told by people in a position to know that Bandar would use his influence on the King to say that he knew what each of our Presidents would do under certain situations. In return, Bandar would tell the President of our country, several Presidents in fact, that he knew what King Fahd would do. He was the ULTIMATE MIDDLEMAN.

This is why you must read this book. Even though it is self-serving, you can't help but get a feel as to who and what Bandar is. You also get a feel for Saudi Arabia, and the power game they play. Even though the Prince tries to limit the reader as to what he wants you to know about himself, and the game he played, the truth still comes out between the lines. This is why you have to spend the time to understand the Prince, and the culture he comes from. Saudi Arabia is a lifeline for us. Without their oil, the oxygen would be sucked right out of our economy.

You might be wondering how influential Bandar was through the years. Look at it this way. More than a generation ago, when Richard Nixon was trying to cover up the Watergate scandal, his aides told him it would take money. The President asked how much? He was told a million dollars in cash, the equivalent of $20 million today. Nixon replied on the tapes, "I know where I can get it." This was before the Saudi connection that is now firmly entrenched.

There are times when every President needs access to large sums of cash. Sometimes it is to bypass the necessity of reporting to Congress. Other times, it is convenience. Bandar always had that access. We will never know in the darkness of the night to what extent he used that access, and what we had to do in return. You have merely to judge the relationship of the United States to Saudi Arabia to figure it out for yourself.

Let me illustrate. A couple of years ago, I was in South Africa working on a project. I usually stay at a certain hotel, because it is secure. They know me, I am private, and we take care of each other. The entire hotel had been taken over by the Saudi entourage for a diplomatic celebration. I saw dozens of Saudis. Here is what was strange. They were wearing business suits, which as you know usually have an outside pocket on the left side of the jacket where some men would wear a handkerchief. Instead of the handkerchief, each of these dozens of Saudis had plastic envelopes, each one containing $10,000 in hundred dollar bills. Some of these people were walking around with five, six envelopes. Other individuals had suitcases full of plastic envelopes.

My associates at the hotel said they had brought tens of millions of dollars in American cash with them. I don't drink, but I do have meetings in bars, and restaurants. I prefer public locations for security reasons, especially in foreign countries. While in the bar, I ran into a group of 9, 10 Saudis celebrating. They started to take bottles of Cristal Champagne, shake them up and shoot them at one another at $350 per bottle. The bill 2 hours later was $40,000 without the tip. When you have that kind of cash, you can buy influence, and that is our problem in this country. The food in the bar was terrific by the way.

Bandar also wielded tremendous political influence. I was doing a study on North Korea years ago in reference to a geopolitical project I was involved in. President Bush announced the potential drawdown of our troop deployment in South Korea, which is 30,000 plus military personnel. All of our soldiers are within artillery range of North Korean armaments just across the border.

I could not understand how President Bush would have made such an announcement without exacting North Korean concessions in return. It then came to my attention that Bandar had talked Bush into it. How is it that the Saudi Arabian Prince could influence American foreign policy on the Korean Peninsula? It did not make sense, until an associate informed me of Bandar's logic. He told Bush the North Koreans were so unreliable politically that he could envision them launching an artillery attack.

If they did, we would have 15,000 dead Americans in hours. Wouldn't it be better Bandar told the President to reduce the American presence, so that if the North Koreans were foolish, you would have a local, regional conflict on your hands, and not a major war? Bush went for it; Bandar has INFLUENCE.

Read the book. It's a great read about a man of many faces. Word is that Bandar is now out of favor with the Saudi leadership, and that is why he is no longer Ambassador to the United States. The publicly stated reason for the change in ambassadorship was Bandar's health. Sure, do you think the Saudi weather is more conducive to his health than American sunshine? As time goes on, the truth will get out. It is also strange how oil prices have come down strongly off their previous peaks, coincident with a critical Congressional election in November. If I believed in co incidents, we could call this the SAUDI VOTE. The question is does it have Bandar's fingerprints on it?

Richard Stoyeck

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Simple techniques forgotten in modern war fighting
Really the first Postmodernist philosopher
Machiavelli's The Prince book
It still is hold true over 400 years
Machiavelli's The Prince

Machiavelli's The Prince
Niccolo Machiavelli , and William J. Connell
Manufacturer: Bedford/St. Martin's
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0312149786

Customer Reviews:

Simple techniques forgotten in modern war fighting.......2007-08-29

The philosophies and applications to leadership given in this book are timeless truths with application in war, politics, business, and personal endeavors. The scope and complexity of Machiavelli's ideas are complimented by their basic simplicities. It can lead one to wonder that is today's leaders took more time to review the ideas laid out almost 500 years ago if the course of modern wars may have been different. Machiavelli's understanding of the difference between occupying and conquering a foreign land or enemy are sadly over looked in today's international politics.

"The wish to acquire is in truth very natural and common, and men always do so when they can, but when they cannot do so, yet wish to do so by any means, then there is folly and blame." Without out making this post about US Foreign Policy I will simply state that the truths of this book are vastly ignored buy those who try to lead today. This book encompasses thousands of years of practical application of leadership all of which has value today.

One of my favorite books and an annual read for anyone in a leadership position.

Really the first Postmodernist philosopher.......2006-12-16

So, this idea of progress of being able all of a sudden to come into possession of perceptions that had not been accessible to us before, meant that now the self could now possibly be seen in ways that it had not previously been seen, and this was the hallmark of Renaissance humanists. When one looks at texts such as Niccolo Machiavelli's, (1469-1527) "The Prince," 1513, it becomes obvious that there is a different kind of emphasis that started to take shape around the notion of the self. This becomes particularly evident when you begin to compare Machiavelli and the Prince to works such as Sophocles and the Antigone. So, Machiavelli's theories of self aware role playing is essentially what he espouses, you have to be a self aware actor and performer. He is really the first; post modernism is always accredited with this notion that identity is performance. There is no such thing as identity it does not have a palpable existence, identity is merely the sum total of things you do, and the things you do are inconsistent. So this thing we call identity can only be the result of this kind of illusory coherent series of actions and representations consequently, the self itself is very questionable and very unstable and people always talk about this as one of the hallmarks of postmodern thinking. What I think is interesting is to read Machiavelli and think of him as the first postmodernist, as kind of a pre modern postmodernist. He has ideas about the self and about identity that come right out of postmodern thinking. He is so much about performing and role-playing, the self-made self, that whatever result you want you make it and you make it by the way you act, and the way you perform. Artful manipulation this is a challenge to the kinds of traditional definitions of the self as inspired by Divinity. In Machiavelli, of course, the Devine has no matter at all it has no place. Only what he talks about Fortuna, luck and not the Devine is what plays the ultimate role in determining the kind of life you are going to have. She quotes him "Fortune is the arbiter of ½ the things we do the other ½ to be controlled by ourselves." Therefore, there you have it, ½ luck, ½ our determination and your will so, that is about all you have to go on. So, where does that leave you, the luck part you can't do much about. Therefore, you have to focus on the ½ that you can do something about the ½ that you control. That is what his book the "Prince" is about that ½ and the rest of it you will never be able to control. "The prince need not necessarily have good qualities, but you should certainly appear to have them, you should appear to be compassionate faithful to his word, kind guiles and devout, and indeed you should be so, but his disposition should be such that if he needs to be opposite he knows how. You must realize this that a prince, especially a new prince cannot observe all the things that give men a reputation for virtue, because in order to maintain his state he is often forced to act in defiance of good faith, of charity and kindness or religion. He should know how to do evil if that is necessary." Therefore, at this point you can find this theme of the human agent who can invent himself. Therefore, the person can decide to invent himself. This kind of thinking, I think this is still how we think about ourselves, I think that this is still how we think about identities. This is a very modern idea, and it ties into this very modern idea about taking responsibility for one's self, which we adhere to. It has been just as debatable and just as contestable back then as it has been now. Even in the secular literature of the Renaissance there is always evidence of this kind of deep rooted skepticism about to which the extent we can be fully controllable or fully controlled agents.

Recommended reading for anyone interested in history, psychology, philosophy, and literature.

Machiavelli's The Prince book.......2005-08-13

I was very pleased with the product and recommend it to those who are interested.

It still is hold true over 400 years.......2005-07-21

If you read this book you will probadly never look at the world the same way as you do now. Mr. M strips away the PR , Spin and gives the true way to manage the affairs of man in a successful manner.

Machiavelli's The Prince.......2005-05-02

The work contains some important practical lessons for dealing with conflict in traditional settings. It was written in the 1500s. This period was years before the classic theories on organizational conflict matured. An important theme of the work is to change with the times in order to have good fortune. This is a critical lesson because it requires us to be accommodative or suffer the consequences of obsolescence-planned or otherwise. Another pertinent maxim is that it is rare for a republic to be fully organized from the beginning of a conquest or reformation. Therefore, it will be necessary to recognize and incorporate
old institutions into the newly contemplated governmental
apparati.

Nowhere is this principle truer than in Iraq.
The model government which evolves in Iraq may have elements of
old institutions , as well as newly organized structures,
institutions and organizational designs. The details of the
final outcome may allude historians now; however, the process
toward an acceptable organizational apparati will unfold over
the next years. Whatever the outcome in Iraq, the principles
set forth by The Prince will apply. The optimal government organization will flow from the general acceptability
by the various subgroups in the region.

The author states that the conquered must develop a natural affection for the new governing class; otherwise, the territory will be difficult or impossible to hold or cultivate. Conquests in France taught us that it was important to win over the Barrons as a condition precedent to a smooth transition of power.

Machiavelli's work still has some value today, although there are new organizational techniques and technologies to refine the governmental structures and ensure continuity. In some areas, Machiavelli generalizes too much without supporting data to attest to the conclusions reached. Despite some of the more obvious weaknesses noted, the volume contains many common sense approaches aimed at maintaining order in the aftermath of territorial disputes. The work may be enjoyed by a wide
constituency of readers; such as, students, teachers, historians,
psychologists, leaders in government and the general public.

Secret Formulas of the Wizard of Ads: Turning Paupers into Princes and Lead into Gold

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Roy H. Williams where are the Secret Formulas to the Wizard of Ads?
A light in the darkness
Broadcast Media isn't always the best advertising medium.
Huh! No Secrets Here
Wonderful words from the Wizard!

Secret Formulas of the Wizard of Ads: Turning Paupers into Princes and Lead into Gold
Roy H. Williams
Manufacturer: Bard Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Communications | Skills | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1885167393

Book Description

People love this straight-talking ad-man from Texas and his powerful stories that shed light on advertising, marketing and success.

Customer Reviews:

Roy H. Williams where are the Secret Formulas to the Wizard of Ads?.......2007-01-29

Hey Roy Williams, where are the "Secret Formulas" to the Wizard of Ads? After reading the first book by Roy H. Williams (The Wizard of Ads) I needed to know more and my mind was asking more questions than ever.

Take me in depth Roy. Show me the behind the scenes things and reveal to me "how Broca works", show me how to "See my customer Real" and help me to explore how "Second-Hand Knowledge" works.

If you're into Sales, Marketing, Advertising or Business you want to know more than the details of how to run a business but more importantly you need to know how to inspire a customer to stay with you. As one great thinker said the only reason why we are in business is to keep or maintain a customer.

So do words have energy? And if they do how do I use them in an ethical way that helps my customers appreciate my sincere disire to take good care of them? Roy H. Williams shows us how to do this through 100 new stories that show you more in-depth SECRETS. The real Formulas for how things work psychologically, physiologically, emotionalogically and spiritualogically. The last two words I created after much meditation on Roys overall methodology.

The Secret Path to miraculous Ads is included in this follow-up where Roy reveals the styles of writing that limit reaching the emotional state of the customer. He breaks it down into three writing styles...Journalism, Creative Writing, and Poetry/lyricism. The last having the most powerful effect by far on your customers most unique way to receive new information.

Whatever you're looking to gain from a benefical stand point is here. This book is a great follow-up book to The Wizard of Ads. I'm still using Secret Formulas...re-reading it and practicing the Secret Formulas.

Is there anything else I can do for you?

Your Servant,

Deremiah, *CPE

A light in the darkness.......2007-01-18

You can tell that Roy Williams has served time in the real life trenches of the ad game. There are nuggets of gold nestled within the stories he shares in this book.

This is not a "step by step" color by numbers kind of book. It's one that shares the lessons learned by the telling of parables. If you have a solid background in marketing and advertising, then this is great read. If you're looking for a marketing primer, then this is not the book for you.

Broadcast Media isn't always the best advertising medium........2006-03-01

A very insightful book on advertising. However, I am surprised that Mr. Williams bothered to put it in print since he apparently believes the only way to advertise is through broadcast or intrusive media (radio and television). Intrusive media is just that. That is why consumers often turn the station on their radio and televisions when the programming they are listening to or watching is interupted by advertising. Print advertising is non-intrusive and therefore looked upon by choice by the consumer. An effective advertising campaign can be accomplished by many different mediums and most often with a mix of more than one.

Huh! No Secrets Here.......2005-09-25

I have read many books relating to ads & advertising and found this one to contain no value, no guidance, no tips and NO SECRETS.
Many old tales and short quotes that offered no insight to modern day marketing and advertising.
There are many good books out there, unfortunately for me and my pocketbook this is not one of them.

Wonderful words from the Wizard!.......2003-01-08

Roy Williams and his series of books were introduced to me by a radio station that I advertize with. The information contained within these pages have been nothing less that inspirational! I have never been in a better position to assist my dealers in making marketing decisions and develop local ads. I can't wait for the day that I can afford to visit the Wizard Acadamy and learn as much as I can!

Puffin Graphics: Macbeth (Puffin Graphics (Graphic Novels))

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my review
my review
The Luck of Macbeth Made Evident
Dialogue butchered like Macduff's family

Puffin Graphics: Macbeth (Puffin Graphics (Graphic Novels))
William Shakespeare
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0142404098

Book Description

Shakespeare's classic play of deception and murder is reinvented in the Japanese manga style and set on a vast ringworld encircling a sun. Artist Tony Tamai's unique vision and style breathe new life into a captivating classic.

Customer Reviews:

my review.......2007-05-19

"Macbeth the Graphic Novel"

I like the book to some extent, like the plot and graphics, but the rest of the book was rather boring. It's boring due to the fact that it's been written hundreds of times before. There was nothing new except the comics used to illustrate the actions of the characters.

It was nicely drawn out but three quarters of the way through, the graphics became all sloppy and seemed to have been poorly drawn. It has many large words and old English dialogue, so it may be complicated to some readers. I was able to comprehend most of the language, but most of it I just faded in and out.

The idea is clever to set it in the Star Date 1040, and to add pictures to appeal to younger readers, but they should just leave Shakespearean literature alone and keep it the way it was intended.

Overall I considered the book wordy and poorly thought out. But I give it an A+ for creativity and use of graphics and the blend of suspense, comedy, and tragedy. Although I don't recommend the book, due to its many flaws and poor graphics.

my review.......2007-05-19

The Luck of Macbeth Made Evident.......2007-02-25

Being the shortest of Shakespearian tragedies, Macbeth would be the logical choice of play to receive the graphic novel treatment. This book, retelling a somewhat truncated version of "the Scottish play," is one of the more recent attempts which capitalizes on the metaphysical elements, while transposing a unique futuristic setting (the opening caption puts the tale in "Stardate: 1040," the King's men ride dragons, and even the Weird Sisters appear as androids).

However, there is a definite sense that the finished product does not live up to the initial aspirations. Though the text is wholly comprised of critical lines gleaned from the original text (including a few superfluous but wholly memorable ones, such as Macbeth's "We have scorched the snake, not killed it" and the witty dialogue between MacDuff's wife and child), the story does not retain the proper flow of the original play. In adapting the story, too much has been lost for the sake of brevity, and thus are the characterizations fatally flawed. One feels little sympathy (much less empathy) with the tragic hero because his transformation from nobility to barbarism is almost immediate, allowing no opportunity to be drawn into his formerly held virtue. In fact, the only portrayal whose death I felt was that of Banquo (and Shakespeare's Macbeth is rife with such unjust murder and assassination)!

Likewise, Mr. Tamai's artwork is competant at best, if inconsistent. The lush style of illustration remains intact for all of 55 pages before degenerating into a completely different one, as if the pages were incomplete at the time of publication. The expressive eyes and astute detail return some twenty pages later, but soon dissipate back to the "new" style. It could be argued that this sharp shift in drawing style is a microcosm representative of Scotland's descent into madness, though for such a purpose it is sadly ineffective.

Together, both the text and the illustration occasionally work against each other, providing not so much complimentary story-telling techniques, but distraction. This is, unfortunately, especially prominent in the first few pages of the book, where the witches deliver their opening lines and the King's fighting men speak poetically during a complex, heavily detailed battle. The beauty of Shakespeare's words are combined with Mr. Tamai's fantastic rendering of a futuristic skirmish, yet the two provide such a juxtaposition as to render a steep mount of confusion.

Helpful would be some form of "spacing," or the use of separations signifying the breaks in the play's Acts (the short book's "chapters," if you will). Also, a brief description of the cast of characters would aid the reader in discerning who's who (since the book does run shorter than the play upon which it is based, thereby creating a minuscule window of opportunity into which the uninitiated reader may enter). Finally, a well-versed knowledge of the original play would assist the reader in getting through the entire book, as the book by itself neither involves nor moves the reader.

It is a lofty aspiration for Penguin Graphics to attempt such an adaptation, so it is especially disappointing that such a valiant effort should fall so short.

Dialogue butchered like Macduff's family.......2006-05-03

What Arthur Byron Cover has tried to do here is to "stage" Macbeth in a science-fantasy setting, with dragons and planets instead of horses and countries. My personal view - and I know that many people disagree - is that staging Shakespeare out of period seldom works (I say "seldom" because I have seen it done effectively). It particularly doesn't work, though, when the visuals and the dialogue are at odds - for example, when two characters are discussing how remarkable and unnatural it was that King Duncan's horses ate each other and the visual is of two dragons.
This, though, could have almost worked, or at least not been too appalling, if the dialogue itself had not been hacked about in such a way as to make quite a lot of it into nonsense. It's difficult for modern readers to follow Shakespeare's dialog anyway; it's impossible if someone arbitrarily cuts out the middles of sentences, or inserts full stops at the end of speech bubbles despite the fact that the sentence carries on in the next panel, or drops entire, critical lines from key speeches. Worst example of this: Macbeth is meeting the three witches (who appear to be cyborgs or something). The third "all hail" is missing - the line where the witch says "all hail Macbeth, who shall be King hereafter" is completely absent. And this, of course, makes complete incomprehensible nonsense out of the rest of the scene and, indeed, the rest of the play, since this is one of the most significant lines in the entire work as far as plot is concerned.
I'm not sure who's to blame for this - ultimately Penguin, since their editors apparently didn't pick it up or correct it, or the many other lesser dialogue glitches. But it makes what might otherwise have been an adequate adaptation into a complete travesty. One star (for the illustrations, which are competent).

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A wonderful legal thriller!
Gripping Legal Drama Makes Great Reading
Highly detailed, but misspells a couple of Alaskan places

Cleaning Up
David Lebedoff
Manufacturer: Free Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0684837064

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The day before Good Friday 1989, Captain Joseph Hazelwood and the crew of the Exxon Valdez pulled out of the northernmost ice-free port in Alaska, bound for Long Beach, California. Just hours after weighing anchor, though, the mammoth supertanker ran aground on Bligh Reef, spilling millions of gallons of oil into Prince William Sound. Cleanup workers labored for months rinsing rocky beaches and swabbing sea otters, but Cleaning Up is about when things really got sticky, as waves of slick plaintiff's lawyers washed ashore along with a flotsam of allegations and a jetsam of subpoenas.

Directing the controversial and complex civil action was an ambitious environmental lawyer from Minneapolis, Brian Boru O'Neill. From the beginning, his strategy was to stage a morality play pitting thousands of ordinary Alaskans whose lives and livelihoods depended on Prince William Sound's vast natural resources against a colossal multinational corporation reckless enough to leave 53 million gallons of toxic crude oil in the hands of an alcoholic. But, as Lebedoff writes, no case is that clear-cut; Exxon is no evil empire, and O'Neill foreclosed on small farms before he became a populist crusader. Cleaning Up meticulously reconstructs how one of the worst environmental disasters in history led to the biggest drunk-driving case of all time, but Lebedoff takes the nonfiction legal thriller one step further, personalizing the enormous impersonal devastation, adding flesh and faces to the skeletal frame provided by headlines. --Tim Hogan

Customer Reviews:

A wonderful legal thriller!.......2006-11-07

I picked this book up recently, and was surprised by how quickly and totally I was absorbed by it's tale. Everyone knows about the Exxon Valdez oil spill, but this book stands out because it delves into the court case, and the lives of the lawyers, in a clear, personal way. You feel like you know all these people, both their good and bad sides. Lebedoff is also very skilled at explaining the legal aspects in an interesting and clear way.

Gripping Legal Drama Makes Great Reading.......1999-03-02

David Lebedoff is an excellent author. He goes to great lengths to portray factually and fairly the complicated story of the Exxon Valdez oil spill and ensuing trial. Despite the complex legal issues involved, Lebedoff skillfully makes the book read as though it were a novel. I would reccomend this book to anyone in need of a good read.

Highly detailed, but misspells a couple of Alaskan places.......1998-08-27

On March 24, 1989, the 987 foot oil tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground on Bligh Reef, spilling 11 million gallons of North Slope crude oil into the once pristine waters of Prince William Sound, creating the largest oil spill in U.S. history. David Lebedoff offers a detailed account of the spill and the legal wranglings surrounding the record $5 billion judgment against Exxon, a judgment that is still under appeal. Lebedoff attempts to provide an even-handed look at the spill and the development of the legal case that grew out of it, but is hampered by the fact that Exxon refused to provide comment. This is not the author's fault, but readers should be advised that this book gives more insight into the perspectives of the victims and their attorneys than it does into public relations strategies that Exxon may have employed and so on.

_Cleaning Up_ is thorough and interesting. I have only two concerns about the book. First, while the author indicates that he gleaned information from thousands of pages of court documents, trial transcripts, and so on, these works are not cited in the text. As someone who is interested in research about the spill, I found the lack of a bibliography a bit frustrating. Second, as someone who resides in Alaska, I was put off by the misspelling of at least two locations in Alaska. The Robinson firm credited with providing the client base for the case should correctly be identified as located in Soldotna, Alaska, not "Soldatna." Moreover, the jurors identified as residing in the "Mar-Su Valley" should correctly be identified as living in the Mat-Su Valley, an abbreviation for Matanuska-Susitna, an area about an hour north of Anchorage. Whether the fault of the author or the editorial staff, these misspellings reflected a lack of attention to detail.

Book Description

Philip Edwards deals succinctly with the exhaustive commentary and controversy which Hamlet has provoked in the manifestation of its tragic energy. Robert Hapgood has contributed a new section on prevailing critical and performance approaches to the play in this updated edition. He discusses recent film and stage performances and actors of the Hamlet role as well as directors of the play. His account of new scholarship stresses the role of memory in the play and the impact of feminist and performance studies upon it. First Edition Hb (1985): 0-521-22151-X First Edition Pb (1985): 0-521-29366-9

Customer Reviews:

You will be absorbed into the story.......2006-09-17

This really is "The Tragical History of Hamlet Prince of Denmark" and not only the Prince but his family. Not only his family but his friends. Not only his friends but all though that came before him and is told to those that came after him.

You can take time to scrutinize and pick apart many underlying themes or may of the phrases that now challenge Bible sayings in today's sound bites. But the real fun is in just reading the story and you will find that it is not as foreign as you may have thought.

A quick synopsis is that Old Hamlet conquered Old Fortinbras seizing his land. Now that Old Hamlet is dead, Young Fortinbras wants his land back and is willing to take it by force. Meanwhile back in Dänemark Young Hamlet who is excessively grieving for the loss of his father, gets a now insight from his fathers ghost. Looks like he was a victim of a "murder most foul"; it looks like his mother and uncle were in cahoots on the murder.

The story is about what each person felt and acted or did not act upon the situation.

You will find many movies and perverted imitations of the story but nothing will replace the original scripts that were intended to be watched.

Sound Truth & Corporate Myth$: The Legacy of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

Average customer rating:

An Environmental Must Read!
Great book for college courses
A good read!
Urgent action required
Alaska Resident Says Book Rocks

Sound Truth & Corporate Myth$: The Legacy of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
Riki Ott
Manufacturer: Dragonfly Sisters Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0964522667
Release Date: 2005-01-01

Book Description

Dr. Riki Ott exposes the profound legacy of the Exxon Valdez oil spill and how readers can help reshape our global energy future.

The author chronicles the long-lasting environmental harm to Prince William Sound, Alaska, and investigates the health problems suffered by many cleanup workers. Exxon's spill provided a portal to understanding a startling truth: oil is much more toxic than we previously thought. Sound Truth and Corporate Myth$ frames the larger story of discovery of the truly toxic nature of oil.

This book shows how one particular fraction of crude oil, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PAHs, may well be the new DDT of the 21st century. In 1999, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency listed 22 PAHs in crude oil as "persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) pollutants." Sharing this list of extreme human health hazards are the more commonly known pollutants--mercury, lead, dioxin, PCBs, and DDT. The latter are all highly regulated chemicals and some, such as DDT and PCBs, have been banned in the United States.

Sound Truth and Corporate Myth$ traces 15 years of lingering harm to humans and wildlife from the Exxon Valdez oil spill. It reveals how corporate greed, government short-sightedness, and manipulation of the truth and the media have kept the public from learning the deadly nature of PAHs. The author provides relevant information and practical recommendations for people and policy-makers at this critical juncture in the history of civilization. This book will inspire people to reduce their own consumption of fossil fuels and, in so doing, help permanently shift society to a clean energy future.

Customer Reviews:

An Environmental Must Read!.......2005-11-19

Dr. Riki Ott has devoted her life to uncovering the truth about the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill. She has a Ph.D. in Marine Toxicology and has worked as a commercial fisherwoman off the shores of Alaska. She was one of the first people to witness the devastation caused by the oil spill. She knew this was the big one and she asked herself the question, "I know enough to make a difference, but do I care enough for the Sound to commit my life to this?" Clearly Dr. Ott does care enough as she has worked tirelessly to educate people about the truth about what really happened and about the toxicity of oil.

This is the story of people who care and people who don't. Most people have heard a bit about the spill, but most people have not heard about the health damage done to workers involved with the clean up. Many people stepped up to help the minute they heard about the spill, putting their lives on hold to do what they could to clean up the spill not realizing the devastating effects it would have on their own health. Many people suffer with symptoms of a mysterious illness due to the toxicity of the oil they were inhaling along with the powerful and toxic cleaning agents. Imagine being on an oil-covered beach surrounded by dead and decaying animals "engulfed in clouds of oil mist and saltwater steam." (89) It is hard to imagine enduring even one minute of this let alone weeks on end without proper safety equipment. Dr. Ott tells the stories of the people who unknowingly sacrificed themselves to a greater good and the people who lied and covered up the truth about the damaging health effects from oil exposure.

This is also the story of the non-human inhabitants affected by the oil spill. It is the story of the birds, mammals, fish, plankton and other life in Prince William Sound. How many were lost due to oiling? Are populations recovering? What are the long-lasting effects? Dr. Ott has put all the studies together to give a broad overview on the subject. There are 64 pages of references to this book! Dr. Ott has interviewed people and read all she could find to compile what is known at this point. This book provides a comprehensive look at pre-spill studies, early oil spill studies, ecosystem studies, and the status of the Sound.

This is not an easy book to read because it exposes such awful truths, not just about Exxon's oil spill, but about our own contribution, from fossil fuel use, to damaging our health and our environment. However, this book leaves readers feeling hopeful as Dr. Ott takes the third part of the book to discuss her recommendations to reduce risk of oil spills and oil pollution, inspiring people everywhere to take action by supporting responsible companies and doing what they can to reduce consumption of fossil fuels.

It is hard for me to find the words to adequately express what a tremendous contribution this book makes to the world. It should be in every library in the country and instructors should include it in the readings for courses in ethics, environmental sciences, business, and others. I highly recommend this book to everyone because this is a story that needs to be told lest we continue on our same path making the same mistakes.

C.J. Wong, M.S.(Biology), M.S. (Lib. Info. Sci.)
Editor, Organic Family Magazine

Great book for college courses.......2005-05-16

Dr. Ott's book will serve as an excellent supplement to course syllabi around the country. The book's interdisciplinary approach makes it a perfect educational tool for a variety of departments - public health, environmental studies, ecology, and sociology to name a few. Ott's ability to combine rigourous science with an accessbile writing style offers an engaging expose of oil's effects on humans and nature. Perhaps just as important, the book also presents students and teachers with an inspiring model of how one scientist's passion and determination can uncover truths of global importance.

Highly recommended for teachers and students.

A good read!.......2005-03-01

Dr. Ott , like the lone pedestrian facing a tank about to run him over, faces the giant Exxon. In Sound Truth and Corporate Myth$, Ott reveals the far reaching effects of the Valdez oil spill on human health, wildlife populations, and the environment. Worker safety and environmental laws based on antiquated science need to be revamped, the industry needs to be held fully accountable and finally we need to take a look at ourselves and the role we can play in reducing the toxicity of our environment. This journey with Dr. Ott, through the initial devastation and lingering after effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, tells the incredible magnitude of the disaster. Through her first hand account we are transported to Prince William Sound, and hear the silencing of the birds, see the slick lapping the shore and smell the inescapable fumes. We also learn that drilling is no longer necessary when looking for oil in Alaska, just scrap away some rocks and a little sand and there on the beaches you'll find it.

Urgent action required.......2005-02-18

Dr. Ott's book is not only an exceptionally good read but her message must reach our Senators and Representatives now and action must be taken. Dependence on oil is NOT the way of the future. It is highly toxic not only to the environment but to human health as well. We need to start now, to conserve our oil reserves and develop alternative energy sources or the chances are, that our retirement years will be the setting for a major economic shift toward the worst.

If President Bush would like to enter the history books as a man of incredible foresight, he'd better pick up this banner and start leading us in that direction now.

Alaska Resident Says Book Rocks.......2005-01-04

As a lifelong resident of the area affected by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, I was ecstatic when this crusader, Dr. Ott, accurately portrayed the spill. Not only does Dr. Ott expose Exxon's myths and public deceptions, but she does justice to the thousands of residents affected by the spill.

This book personalizes the disaster by adding a human dimension without compromising fact. If you believe that Prince William Sound has recovered from the effects of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, Dr. Ott's book will show you how Exxon has deceived us all.

Overall, a groundbreaking worthwhile read!!

I, Prince Tudor, Wrote Shakespeare: An Autobiography from His Two Ciphers in Poetry and Prose

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I, Prince Tudor, Wrote Shakespeare: An Autobiography from His Two Ciphers in Poetry and Prose
Margaret Barsi-Greene , and Margaret Greene
Manufacturer: Branden Pub Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0828313512

William's Princess: The Love Story that will Change the Royal Family Forever

Average customer rating:

Guess he should have waited
Too Soon
A satisfying exclusive account of how it happened.
Intriguing
Not a book about William's Princess

William's Princess: The Love Story that will Change the Royal Family Forever
Robert Jobson
Manufacturer: John Blake
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1844543153

Book Description

Having courted throughout his time at St. Andrews University, Kate Middleton and Prince William are now a permanent item. Having managed to maintain a rather low profile so far, Kate has recently been issued with her own security force, similar to that of Camilla, Prince Charles’s consort. This move has been widely interpreted as the beginning of getting Kate accustomed to the media spotlight into which she will step by marrying Prince William. From an upper-middle class background, she is seen as a much-needed breath of fresh air by the monarchy, and her grooming has already begun in earnest—and crucially, with Her Majesty’s approval.

Customer Reviews:

Guess he should have waited.......2007-04-20

Prince William and Kate Middleton had dated for many years and actually lived together for a while also, but considering the track record of the royal men up till now I think that the author should have waited to see if this relationship would lead to marriage (which it oviously did not) before writing a book with this title.

Too Soon.......2007-04-01

I didn't think it was necessary to write this book until - and if - William and Kate are married. I enjoy reading about Diana, William and Harry, but it just wasn't as interesting as I expected.

A satisfying exclusive account of how it happened........2007-02-03

WILLIAM'S PRINCESS: THE TRUE STORY OF THE ROMANCE THAT WILL CHANGE THE MONARCHY is a pick for any who love the British Royal Family and want to know the latest. Such an audience may already be aware of Prince William's love life; but WILLIAM'S PRINCESS delves deeper into the romance and what it will mean for the monarchy overall, and is a satisfying exclusive account of how it happened. Public libraries will find it a popular leisure lend.

Intriguing.......2007-01-17

As an American living in London, I am treated to Robert Jobson's Royal coverage in the Evening Standard. Now, after reading his book, I am really looking forward to his articles covering the surely soon to be royal marriage of William and Kate. I hope before long he will share with us his speculations on her engagement ring. Will it be an heirloom or a new design? The intrigue of a Royal Wedding!

Not a book about William's Princess.......2006-12-12

At the time of writing this book, the author was taking a punt on an impending marriage between the subjects, Prince William and Kate Middleton. Seasoned royal watchers would know that a book of this kind is unusual in that there has been no engagement announcement. Regardless, the title is a misnomer since only around 10% of the books 250 odd pages relate to the relationship! The rest is a rehash of old ground. The author tops and tails each chapter with a Kate and William sum-up and then proceeds to write about Charles and Camilla or Charles and Diana. There are a few snippets in the book about the W & K relationship, but not enough to sustain a whole book. Only for the real British royal fanatics. Wait until there is a marriage before writing another book, Mr Jobson and then you may have some material to work with.

Manga Shakespeare: Hamlet (Manga Shakespeare)

Average customer rating:

Mystery, Murder, Romance, and Action
Amazingly good!

Manga Shakespeare: Hamlet (Manga Shakespeare)
William Shakespeare , Richard Appignanesi , and Emma Vieceli
Manufacturer: Abrams Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0810993244

Book Description

Now presenting Manga Shakespeare—the Bard's greatest plays in an accessible, lively format for a new generation of readers

Hamlet is one of Shakespeare's most well-known plays, and this exciting new retelling provides young readers an innovative introduction to “the melancholy Dane.” Hamlet is your typical angst-ridden teen—he doesn't know how to deal with his responsibilities, how to treat his girlfriend, or how to react to his father's death. He has no one to trust, and he even acts crazy so adults will leave him alone. Manga fans—and kids who find Shakespeare intimidating—will be drawn to the style and action of the Manga Shakespeare series, learning that required reading doesn't have to be boring.

Customer Reviews:

Mystery, Murder, Romance, and Action.......2007-10-02

Reviewed by Jessica Clark (age 17) for Reader Views (9/07)

This story starts off with the King's death and Hamlet's mother married to the King's brother. Then it is discovered that the King was murdered by his own brother for his wife. Hamlet now has gone mad with revenge and wants nothing more then to seek revenge for his father's untimely death. Hamlet undergoes many changes and pushes away his love, Ophelia, and sets to work on presenting a play similar to his father's death to see his uncle's reaction. As the story unfolds there are certainly more deaths and the return of loved ones to seek justice for those that were slain, and a brutal end for all those involved.

Although I have not read the original Hamlet, I decided to read this, and I am glad that I did.

This uses original writings from Shakespeare paired with beautiful illustrations. I enjoyed reading this very much. I found it quite easy to follow and it was paired nicely with the correct drawings. I found this book to have everything storyline-wise. There was mystery, murder, romance, and action. I believe it did Shakespeare justice. I am going to have to read the actual book now to see how it compares, but I believe that it will be very close. I highly recommend that everyone read "Hamlet: Manga Shakespeare," whether they have read the actual book or not. For those that didn't follow on certain things, there is also a plot summary at the back of the book, along with a brief summary of Shakespeare's life.

Amazingly good!.......2007-06-09

It is difficult to adequately express how amazing this was. It's all the spoken parts of Hamlet as Shakespeare wrote them, spoken by characters in a comic book. It is set in the future, in space, where Denmark is it's own planet or something. This doesn't change the story, since characters are positioned the same to one another. Personalities and stories aren't time specific like clothes are.

It has pretty good art. The style shifts to different levels of detail based on what's appropriate for that scene. Transitions between scenes and how characters are introduced are done well. So, just as a comic book this flows well.

Shakepeare as a comic makes far more sense than does reading a play. Hamlet is a play. Hamlet was meant to be watched. A comic combines the language with a linear visual. This might even be better than a play; at least, for me it was much more gripping than Shakespeare as a play. In a play, the visual is there, but due to language barriers, I haven't gotten nuances and all from the language that I probably would have picked up on had I learned English in the 1600s. However, in comic book form I could reread lines, or read more slowly or quickly and I had the visual there on the page with the lines mixed into it. The book was really gripping. I got so much more out of this than any other exposure to Shakespeare. I'm all about getting more manga Shakespeare.

I highly recommend this as a way of accessing Hamlet. Libraries and school libraries should consider getting a copy, since this is required reading for classes often enough that it will get wear, and, as I've said, is a very good way of really understanding Shakespeare's nuances. Also, it's just a good read in general as a comic and reasonably priced.

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