Book Description
This enlightening and browsable guide features more than 500 profiles of the lives, deaths, and final resting places of our most influential figures from sports, music, film, television, literature, and politics.
This unparalleled compilation of profiles of the deceased--from Abbott & Costello to Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, from Arthur Ashe to Andy Warhol--offers all of the pertinent details on their lives, deaths, and grave sites, providing a pop-cultural road map for anyone fascinated by celebrity, history, and travel. Listings include Mark Twain, Sonny Bono, Dr. Seuss, Salvador Dali, Mickey Mantle, Marvin Gaye, Jimi Hendrix, Ingrid Bergman, William Shakespeare, Andy Kaufman, Bob Crane, Louis Armstrong, Walt Disney, Errol Flynn, Al Capone, Ella Fitzgerald, Mae West, Gertude Stein, and hundreds more.
Fifty photos and a number of informative sidebars (on such topics as how to find the grave of anyone you choose) round out this entertaining look at the permanent addresses of our most significant late citizens. And each listing offers concise directions to both the cemetery and the grave itself, an added benefit for tombstone travelers.
Customer Reviews:
Just as the book's title said..............2007-06-28
Just as the title of this book said, this is a book about where famous persons are buried and also how they died.
I'm having so much fun reading this book because it gives a nice background about the famous person that died. Also, I did not know how 80% of the famous people in this book died, so those facts are a nice addition to the book (a sort of BONUS) .
There are other books out there that describe where famous people are buried, but I like this book the best because of the added BONUS of telling the reader how the persons died and some nice information about them,while they were still alive.
Very informative.
Every thing you needed to know..........2007-04-16
Short descriptions on the deaths of famous people. I would have liked a little more detail regarding the circumstances of the deaths, and less about the location of the graves. Still a great read and would recommend it to anyone!
Interesting facts I Never Knew..........2007-03-19
I love how I read about each person's career and accomplishments of their lives. And myths about their deaths and the real reason for their death exposed. Also where they are buried or perhaps they had their ashes scattered. Very interesting.
The title says it all........2007-01-10
A great book for those of us who are fascinated by the "permanent addresses" of famous people who have passed on.
The book was extensively researched and has many photos of famous grave sites.
"Graveyards are full of indispensible men." Charles de Gaulle.......2006-10-17
Tod Benoit has put together a wonderful little book that would be interesting to anyone.He tells us what happened to 450 well known people in their final years,how they died ,where they are buried and how to locate their graves.He covers people from all walks of life and no matter who picks up this book they are sure to find someone who they often wondered "what ever became of them"...and now they'll know.
I have been fascinated with Graveyards ever since I was a kid.Yes ,they can be macabre places,if you let them be;but if you are the curious type,they can be very interesting.
Tod tells us a bit about these people ,but the real interesting thing would be to visit these sites.Since they are scattered all over the country,that would be a monumental task.However; a visit to any graveyard can be an experience.
When I was a teen in the Army Cadets and on convoys,the popular place to set up the field kitchen was in the parking lot of small country churches. It was quiet,nobody aound and generally an old graveyard nearby.After eating, I would take a stroll,read some of the stones,and invariably find something of interest. You will find things like a whole family being wiped out by things like the Spanisk Flu in 1917. The grave of a soldier who sacrificed his life in some far off war or in the Civil War.Maybe a stone of some old fellow who reached the grand old age of 95 years,who had 5 wives along the way,and they are laying there by his side.
There is just no end to what you can stumble across;and whenever I get a chance and have a little time to spare ;I am never disappointed in what I come across.
I spend a lot of time Birdwatching all over the country and one often end up in a graveyard .It is those little ones way off on the back roads that hold the surprises.
For instance,when I was in Galway,Ireland,a few years ago,I had a morning to myself. I decided to check out an old graveyard in the center of town.I met up with a very popular sports figure who was on the cemetary restoration board of directors . He gave me a tour of the graveyard and showed me a plaque as a memorial to 300 sailors from the Spanish Armada who scrambled ashore after their ships had wrecked on the Irish coast.They were captured and all murdered by the British. The site was originally a monestary, but the British destroyed it and all the monk's graves had been covered up by a garbage dump,but now had been restored. He also pointed out a huge Celtic Cross that was made for the World's Fair in Chicago.After the fair it was shipped back to Ireland and erected as a family monument. I noticed that there was an iron bar,hasp and lock on one of those crypts a little larger than a coffin sitting on the ground. When I asked why the locked opening;he explained that there was not a body inside the crypt.Actually, there was a crypt for 6 below grade and this was an opening to the stairs.You learn something every day.
With the age of Internet,a search of many well known personalities will give their final demise and gravesites.Also many large cemetaries have books written by them covering gravesites and information of famous persons interred there.
Overall, a great book and shows how interesting graveyards and gravesites can be.
Book Description
Lettie Teague knows wine. She has been the wine editor at Food & Wine magazine for almost a decade. The only question she is asked more than "Can you recommend a great wine for under $10?" -- great cheap white: Argiolas Costamolino Vermentino from Sardinia; great cheap red: Alamos Malbec from Argentina -- is "What is the best way to learn about wine?"
After many years of fielding these questions, Lettie was determined to debunk the myth that learning about wine is hard. She decided to find just one wine idiot and teach him a few fundamentals -- how to order off a restaurant wine list without fear, approach a wine merchant with confidence, and perhaps even score a few points off a wine snob.
Enter her neighbor, good friend and complete wine neophyte Peter Travers, Rolling Stone magazine's longtime film critic.
Peter Travers proved the perfect Eliza Doolittle to Lettie's Professor Higgins. As a film critic he made bold pronouncements ("This movie stinks," which could be readily translated to "This Cabernet tastes like Merlot") and exhibited a finely tuned visual sense ("The cinematography could be improved" could easily become "This wine is too white"). But, most important, Peter knew almost nothing about wine.
As Lettie begins their lessons, Peter puts down his ever-present glass of "fatty" Chardonnay and learns that there is a huge world out there full of all kinds of wine. He is taught to swirl his glass to release the wine's aromatic compounds -- or esters -- above the rim and vows, "I'm going to do that for Martin Scorsese next time I see him. I'll volatize my esters for him."
Thus Lettie enlightens her wine-challenged but film-savvy friend about the Facts of Wine: how to hold a glass; the vocabulary of wine; how wine is made; how to read labels; how to tell the difference between grape varieties; how to make sense of vintages; how to glean information about a wine simply by looking at the shape and color of the bottle; and an overview of the great wine regions of the Old World and the New.
Finally, after many fact-filled, hilarious lessons, Lettie takes Peter to the most famous American wine region of all, Napa Valley, where he hobnobs with wine and Hollywood royalty and finally puts his new skills to the test in the real world.
Part buddy movie, part serious wine tutorial, Educating Peter is as much a treat for oenophiles in on the joke as it is for beginners who think Chablis is a brand name of wine.
Customer Reviews:
Easy read, but not much there...........2007-07-03
I've read over a dozen books on wine, and this one is easily the least informative. It's a decent story and easy to read, but she only touches the surface and really doesn't provide much of a wine education at all. If you want a really good book to learn about wine, try either "Great Wine Made Simple" by Andrea Immer Robinson or "Windows on the World Complete Wine Course" by Kevin Zraly.
You'll want to take notes, so read it with a pen & paper handy!.......2007-05-07
I loved this book. I read it through voraciously, sometimes up to two hours at a sitting while I waited for the rest of the world (well, my world) to wake up. I felt as though I should have been taking notes. As I read it again, I plan to have a pen and paper handy.
The book is fun, although as a read a passage out loud to my friend, he said, "it sounds like someone ran it through a thesaurus and replaced all the normal words with longer words, so it sounds more impressive."
Anyway, yeah, it's a keeper, and very well worth the price of admission.
My only comment would be that i'd have liked to see her talk about how to actually drink wine before the very last chapter!
Fantastic orientation to world of wine.......2007-04-20
If you love wine but still feel overwhlemed by the choices in a wine store, look no further than Teague's book for a guide to explore and discover the wonderful wines that await you. This is the book I needed in order to begin to make intelligent selections for wine purchases. Teague describes the various wine making regions of the world in detail, with tips on where to find good value wines in each area.
I give a much longer review on my blog, titled Rookie Cookery at andreayaya (at) typepad (dot) com.
The book is informative and yet an easy, enjoyable read--no mean feat. Don't let the breezy title dissuade you from checking it out. Highly recommended!
Book Description
This book introduces you to an exciting approach to figure drawing. It was especially created by a group of America's most eminent artists who have demonstrated the methods they have used in their distinguished careers.You, too, will find that figure drawing is one of the areas of art that can bring you much fun and excitement. Not only will you gain rich satisfaction from drawing or painting, but you'll discover that people admire creative talent-- and you'll experience the pride of achievement that comes from developing a valuable skill that most others lack.Also, if you have sufficient desire and dedication, your talent in drawing could even lead you into an exciting and challenging career as a professional artist. But, whether or not you have the ambition to be a professional, you'll find that art will be a wonderfully satisfying pursuit.In this book you'll find fresh approaches to the following features:* THE HUMAN FORM* DRAWING MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES* MODELS-- WHERE TO FIND THEM* GESTURE DRAWING* DRAWING-- STEP-BY-STEP* THE BASIC FORM FIGURE* ARTISTIC ANATOMY* LIGHTING THE FIGURE* THE FIGURE IN MOTIONAnd don't forget-- as a buyer of this book you are entitled to receive a FREE ART LESSON from a professional artist/instructor of the Famous Artists School.
Customer Reviews:
NOT A BEGINNING.......2007-06-13
THIS IS A VERY GOOD BOOK BUT NOT ONE FOR THE "AVERAGE" BASIC BEGINNER. WAS HOPING FOR A STEP BY STEP.
Good Book for Figure Drawing.......2007-03-17
Lots of good excercises for those new to drawing the human figure.
One of the Top 5 figure drawing books in the Classical Tradition.......2004-04-27
When I review DRAWING books, the first question I ask is, "Is this for BEGINNERS?" Because I feel an obligation to the book buyer to provide good information, and also to prevent a beginning student from being discouraged, and feeling that they are defective, or ....just cannot get it.
It does not seem to occur to the buyer that many authors just cannot teach. Instinct seems to suggest that that if book gets published, it must contain credible instruction by someone who knows how to teach, and everyone seems to desire to cash in on the Big Bucks market of HOW-TO-DRAW. It may seem surprising that this is just not so. Perhaps as many as half of all drawing books are not very good for beginners. I know. I've gotten familiar with most of the books on the market, and I know what I'm looking for in good instruction.
I've purchased over 25 drawing books, and own the most popular titles of the HOW-TO-DRAW genre. I rate Famous Artists School's "How To Draw The Human Figure" as one of the top 5 books on figure drawing. At this price it's a bargain anyway. Using the classical method of representing the body as cylinders in basic outline, this book covers not just static models, but representation of the human figure in dynamic motion. I consider this a "must have" book that cuts through all nonsense with no wasted pages.
Why do I consider this book so successful, at only 98 pages, when I call other books of the same size or 20 pages larger a failure as a drawing book? Famous Artist's school focuses only on basic figure drawing, whereas most other drawing books move on to cover other material such as composition, perspective, color etc., which shortchanges the buyer on Basic Figure Drawing. By keeping focus, this book is very useful to any beginner. At this price, it's a bargain also!
Very usefull book for begginers.......2000-11-21
With easy, steb by step method, this book guide you through fascinating skills of drawing a human figure. It also contains basic anatomy, proportions... This book realy offers more value for your money.
Book Description
Our health as a nation is declining. In addition, it is becoming increasingly clear that allopathic medicine has come to a plateau in its efforts to stem the tide of degenerative disease. As a result, mind-body medicine is a very big topic for the 90s. You the Healer offers a guide that can help you and your loved ones to live a healthy, disease-free life.
Based on the most successful mind development program in the world today, You the Healer offers a complete course in Silva Method healing techniques in a do-it-yourself, forty-day format. By reading one chapter a day and doing the indicated exercises, you can be firmly on the path to wellness in just six weeks. In You the Healer Jose Silva and Robert B. Stone offer a proven method of attuning to the special mind frequency called alpha. In this alpha frequency, a healing state is activated. These lower-frequency alpha brain waves can be used to achieve maximum well-being; they can be applied to healing yourself as you work with your health-care professional; and they can be used to help you heal others. Included are inspirational stories of people who have successfully used this method to regain their health after illness or injury.
Customer Reviews:
Spiritual Kitsch.......2007-08-17
Go ahead and buy it if you must. Everyone should read a Silva book once in their lives. Do you pick up the supermarket tabloids now and then to laugh at their audaciousness and wonder exactly what sort of people actually take them seriously? If so, I know you'll enjoy this book.
Sleeping Again............2007-03-31
I have not had a good nights sleep in years.. I haven't had dreams in at least 2 years.... I started reading -You The Healer- at a friends suggestion a month ago... With in the first 2 weeks I noticed that I was sleeping all night and was having dreams that I could remember the next morning, nice dreams not bad ones.... I'm not even finished with the book...
Do I recommend it You bet I do.
Thank you... Pat
Mind & Energy Control.......2006-10-19
I am only maybe 1/5 of the way into this book, but can tell you already that I highly recommend it. As a Reiki practitioner, I understand the concepts of energy and hands-on-healing, so I was receptive to the book before I received it. I have also been interested in and a believer in using the mind constructively throughout my entire life. I am also heavily into positive affirmations and visualization, and have taught some of these techniques to others in classes. This is a great book which teaches you how you can actively participate in pursuing far better health than you have probably ever dreamed of. Most people do not seem to really understand how really effective we can be at creating or preventing our health problems. Isn't it worth approximately ten bucks to find out how you can be healthier and happier for the rest of your life? Read it, practice it, and BELIEVE. I no longer have colds/flu, even when exposed to people with them. I have eliminated several medical conditions. Is it because of exercise and weight loss alone? Some may tell you that. The power within your mind, and self talk is astounding! Many now realize that. Neuro-linguistic programming (positive self-talk)is a mega $$$ business for a reason. Know also that negative self-talk can also have a profound effect on you, one that you do NOT want, so be careful what you "say" to yourself and about yourself, even in jest. Take this seriously.
Read this book and also check out books/CDs by Wayne Dyer. Check out the Silva DVDs/Cassettes recorded by Silva's daughter to meditate with. The down side of the book is that you cannot read meditations and do them at the same time, but what you could do with this book is to get yourself an inexpensive voice recorder and read the meditations onto the recorder. Then you could practice the meditations easier. If you do not have a soft voice, find a friend to record them for you.
Update, August 2007: Just returned from a Silva class in Pittsburg. It was wonderful! Did lots of meditations, like those in the book. Lots of visualizations, and lots of psychic/intuitive practice. You can find Silva classes online.
By the way, an important note is that with Silva techniques, there is an expectation that they be used for the betterment of all. If your intent is other than that, they probably will NOT work for you. I hate to mention that, but sometimes people want to use psychic powers to rip other people off or for self-centered reasons. There was someone in class who, it appeared, wanted to use Silva techniques to become a millionaire. It don't exactly work that way, Hon. (The person seemed to have difficulty doing the exercises, too.)
We're all in this together, folks. The correct concept is peace and love. That is the ONLY way to move forward, in my opinion of course.
Fantastic - Unbelieveable - Truly a Miracle.......2001-08-19
This book is a must-have for the betterment of humanity. Not only does it explain how you can heal yourself, but how you can heal and help others at a distance through the proper use of mental imaging. It leads you step by step through an inspiring 40 day workout where it explains not only HOW you can accomplish these miracles, but more importantly, WHY it works, and it makes sense! You can begin using these techniques immediately and see impressive results. It allows you to discover your "true purpose in life" - to help your fellow man. Along with attempting to help others, anonymously, who are in need, I send this book to them anonymously, then sit back and watch the results. This is the most positive, uplifting book ever written. The author is a true inspirational genius. Could you imagine what a wonderful paradise we would all live in if everybody practiced these techniques.
healed broken wrist in 2 weeks.......2001-08-07
I had an accident with 150lbs of ice falling on me.My grandmother was looking for a book for me and this one fell out of the closet,"this must be the one, she thought."Prior to reading it I hadn't been able to move my wrist more than 1/4"and everytime the barometric pressure changed I felt alot of pain.Well,I read this book for 2 weeks with a meditation a day and by then my wrist had healed and I haven't had any pain 8 yrs since then.I recommend this book to anyone who can't afford the high price of hospitals.
Book Description
This may come as a shock, but brilliant writing and clever wordplay do not a published author make. True, you’ll actually have to write if you want to be a writer, but ultimately literary success is about much more than putting pen to paper (or fingers to keys). Before you snap your pencil in half with frustration, please consider the advice writer, teacher, and self-made lit star Ariel Gore offers in this useful guide to realizing your literary dreams.
If you find yourself writing when you should be sleeping and scribbling notes on odd pieces of paper at every stoplight, you might as well enjoy the fruits of your labor. How to Become a Famous Writer Before You’re Dead is an irreverent yet practical guide that combines solid writing advice with guerrilla marketing and promotion techniques guaranteed to launch you into print—and into the limelight. You’ll learn how to:
• Reimagine yourself as a buzz-worthy artist and entrepreneur
• Get your work and your name out in the world where other people can read it
• Be an anthology slut and a brazen self-promoter
• Apply real-world advice and experience from lit stars like Dave Barry, Susie Bright, and Dave Eggers to your own career
Cheaper than an M.F.A. but just as informative, How to Become a Famous Writer Before You’re Dead is your catapult to lit stardom. Just don’t forget to thank Ariel Gore for her inspiring, hands-on plan in the acknowledgments page of your first novel!
Customer Reviews:
My new favorite writing book.......2007-09-07
It's funny, it's true, it's irreverent, and it's one of the best new books on writing and publishing available. (Literary snobs won't agree, but who asked them?) I've got three shelves crammed with writing books, and while most are pretty good, they all offer the same safe advice. Gore stresses the importance of marketing and promoting yourself and getting your stuff OUT THERE -- even if it means self-publishing your poems on a copy machine or posting a humor column in the PTA newsletter. While Gore's clear, take-no-prisoners style will appeal mostly to the young and the hip, I'm recommending this book to everyone in my writing workshops, no matter how old (or un-hip) they are. -Cindy La Ferle
A warning and some advice.......2007-08-18
If obscenity bothers you, look elsewhere. Better yet, do yourself a favor and get over it - this book is outrageously good! It's like having coffee or a beer with the kind of friend who loves you enough to kick you out of the rut you've dragged yourself into. Ariel Gore writes with bold, active passion. If you take it to heart, How to Become a Famous Writer Before You're Dead will teach you to do the same.
Not your typical writers guide!.......2007-07-30
Ariel Gore's "How to Become a Famous Writer Before You're Dead" is not your typical writing handbook. Filled with funny antecdotes, sometimes subversive humor, and an overall supportive tone, Gore has managed to write a book that, should we follow her advice, can only lead to success in writing.
Even if you have no aspirations to writerly famedom, Gore's book is a must read. Gore's book includes a mix of straightforward advice with interviews of other writers and stories -- both funny and serious -- from her own writing life. She is at once witty and intelligent without being smug or "holier than thou."
I found Gore's book insipired and have taken much of her advice to heart and I encourage you to do the same. If nothing else, you'll have fun reading this book! The layout ranges from how-to chapters to interviews to advice columns. The only way you could possibly be bored reading this book is if you skip everything between the first and last pages, and even then, you'll still find something interesting! Read it...then go write Ariel Gore a thank you note for her hard work and her willingness to share her experiences with us all!
Another Ariel Gore Hit..........2007-07-29
I've loved Gore's work since the very first Hip Mama book, when I was pregnant with my first child. Gore's release of How to Become a Famous Writer dovetailed with the start of my freelance writing career (Hey, Ariel Gore - are you following me?).
This book is just like her other titles: irreverent, funny, and down-to-earth. But it's on a topic that's relevant to anyone with the writing bug, not just fans of her previous titles. She talks about the more unconventional ways of publishing, including chapbooks, zines, and self-published books. With this book, you'll be grabbing Fame by the horns and wrasslin' it into becoming your pet.
Of coure, we can't all write just like Ariel Gore, which is unfortunate. It would definitely increase our chances of famous writerhood.
If you want to be both informed AND entertained, check out How to Become a Famous Writer Before You're Dead.
This little book is a delight........2007-06-09
Got a postcard at school advertising a book on journalism. Before I tossed it (I'm retiring -- what do I need another book on journalism for?) I turned it over. There was a picture of Ariel Gore's book, with a brief blurb. I was intrigued and ordered it via amazon when I got home. What a gift to myself it turned out to be. I needed this boost. I've wanted to write for years, and resigned myself to the comments written on students' papers and my own online forum. After reading just the first couple of chapters, I know there are no excuses. I consider this book a godsend. Fun to read, beautifully written, wise and wonderful. Thank you, Ariel Gore!
Book Description
"Frames are mental structures that shape the way we see the world. . . . When you hear a word, its frame is activated in your brain. . . . In politics our frames shape our social policies. . . . Because language activates frames, new language is required for new frames."-George Lakoff
For decades, the powerful communications machine of the conservative movement has controlled our national political discourse. One of the biggest obstacles to progressive victory has been seeing what American political speech looks like when it is not "framed" by the Republican noise machine.
Framing the Debate: Famous Presidential Speeches and How Progressives Can Use Them to Change the Conversation (and Win Elections) is about unleashing the power of communication in contemporary progressive politics. The book presents fifteen key speeches by American presidents-George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and George Bush-in order to define the big ideas and images-the "frames"-that each speech evokes to show how those framing techniques can be applied to today's political debate in order promote a progressive perspective.
An essential book in today's political climate,
Framing the Debate will be instrumental in helping to reshape progressive political language and rhetoric.
An expert on speeches and messaging,
Jeffrey Feldman is the editor in chief of the influential political blog Frameshop (www.frameshopisopen.com). He also has a weekly segment on
The Thom Hartmann Show on Air America, and travels the country offering seminars on language and progressive politics.
Customer Reviews:
A bit wonky, a bit okay, preferred him on C-Span.......2007-09-25
Feldman can be vitroilic and say dumb things when he is not breaking his arm patting himself (and fellow "progressives'") on the back, but his book has a point and it makes it well. The point is that how you say something is as important, perhaps more, as what you say. Take the issue, change the focus, keep it on your turf, make your the issue work for you. For anyone interested in politics and in speaking pursuasively in groups, it's a fair exercise. But just fair. When Mr. Feldman applies it he can be very effective like when, on C-Span, he turned the discussion on the war on "what should be the constraints on the powers of the executive?" I thought it well played and articulated. Then he can get silly like in his written defense of the Move-On "Betray-Us" ad (it's a conspiracy, see, the conservatives just want you to believe that applying the word "betrayal" to a general implies treason because normal, fair-minded, people can't/won't make such a link on their own). But, those are asides. The book makes good points. Most people are less interested in HOW to make a point and more interested in what the point itself is. Me, I like the mechanics so I score it three stars but I think the audience will be limitted to wonky types.
Contrived and not worth the time.......2007-09-17
This book is a bit contrived, quite formulaic, and in the end neither useful or particularly interesting. I thought the premise was quite interesting, and the cited speeches were for the most part stirring. However, the subsequent analysis was contrived, with a strong feeling of trying to force history to conform to modern values. The recommendations weren't really apt or useful.
I'm a big fan of George Lakoff, and found his first book (Don't Think Of An Elephant!/ How Democrats And Progressives Can Win: Know Your Values And Frame The Debate: The Essential Guide For Progressives) intriguing, and his most recent book (Thinking Points: Communicating Our American Values and Vision) both empowering and useful. For someone who hasn't read Lakoff, this book may be interesting and useful, but I'd suggest your time would be better spent with Lakoff instead -- in particular, the most recent one is great reading.
Communicating Progressive Principles.......2007-06-13
Progressives have been less effective than consevatives in communicating political ideas. Progressives have focused on dryly presenting policies and programs without laying out the underlying values or principles with which voters could more readily identify. Feldman's book helps to remedy this shortcoming among progressives.
Feldman analyzes how 15 presidents have used frames in major speeches to convey big ideas. In so doing, he advises progressive politicians, activists and ordinary citizens how to use framing to persuasively communicate progressive principles. This book should be welcomed by progressives and all those interested in effective, genuine political communication.
Smart book, changes how you see things.......2007-04-29
Every once in a while, I find a book that changes how I see things completely--and this is one of those books. If you've ever watched a TV newscast or listened to a radio broadcast or read a newspaper--this book will suddenly open your eyes. By walking us through some amazingly cool speeches by U.S. Presidents, Feldman turns every reader into what he calls a "framer" of ideas--ordinary people who "drive the debate" by engaging what they hear and then speaking back. Easy to understand and easy to put to use. Everyone should read this.
A fresh perspective on a bit of history.......2007-04-28
This is a must have book. Jeffery Feldman offers new and creative insight into famous speeches of our country's Presidents. Even more than fascinating to read, it opens your eyes to what you hear on the TV and read in papers. Politics and Issues in general are looked at in a new way after reading just part of this book. Democrats and Republicans alike gain new insight into our Presidents.
Book Description
The amazing story of how America's best-selling game helped shape our aspirations and captivated the world
Over 200,000,000 copies of the Monopoly(r) game have been sold worldwide since Parker Brothers first popularized it in 1935, making it the world's most popular proprietary game. Countless special and national editions of the game are now published in over sixty countries. But while Monopoly has global appeal, it is distinctly American--a symbol of America's system of economic "opportunity."
In Monopoly: America's Game, Philip Orbanes, the leading expert on all things Monopoliana, tells the remarkable history of the game, from its predecessor's birth as a teaching tool for an economics class in the first decade of the twentieth century through its explosive growth in the postwar decades to it being a ubiquitous fixture in just about every American home today. Orbanes includes fascinating Monopoly personality portraits, little-known Monopoly legends and lore, and the extraordinary variety of advertising used throughout the twentieth century. This is the first and only book to cover comprehensively the origin, growth, and global impact of the game that has become a cultural icon.
This book is not endorsed by Hasbro Games
Customer Reviews:
Read the first 80 pages.......2007-10-04
This is an extremely informative book on the early history of monopoly, and how it went through its changes to become the cultural mainstay it is today, and likely will continue to be so. After the initial history, the author starts wandering off into his rather elementary perceptions of US history and how they affected the game. I seriously had to fight off the eye glazing effect for the rest of the book, though there are some parts of the author's firsthand accounts of Monopoly tournaments that are mildly interesting. For an Amazon bargain book, worth the money, otherwise no way.
Interesting and informative... within reason.......2007-05-30
If you're a casual player of Monopoly®, you may never have managed to see a game through to the finish. However, it won't take you much time at all to complete this breezy, informative survey of the tortuous development of the "real estate trading game" from a didactic method of teaching a 19th-century economic nostrum (Henry George's "single tax") to a pastime that is enjoyed around the world. Orbanes is in a position to know all about Monopoly®, having written the previous "The Monopoly® Companion", serving as a judge at Monopoly® tournaments, and being in touch with the many collectors and fans who have come to specialize in the game and its variants and spin-offs. He does commit a fairly egregious number of faux pas of a purely historical nature, however. The ending is weak, with entirely too much time being spent on a description of Monopoly® tournaments and various individuals who have an online Monopoly® presence. It might have been better had the book been an oversized hardback, with larger space being provided for the many illustrations of Monopoly® variants, precursors, and rip-offs. Even so, this book is worth reading by anyone who enjoys the game and the general history of American pop culture.
Monopoly Game and the history behind it.......2007-04-06
Very good book if you want to know how the board game got started...
The Business of the Business Game.......2007-03-01
"Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200" You probably know this phrase even if you aren't an enthusiast for the game Monopoly, because the game has so completely infiltrated into not only American but also worldwide culture. It doesn't have the history of chess or backgammon, but Monopoly is in its own way a classic. Since it was introduced in 1935, it has sold over a quarter of a billion copies all over the world, so the business game is an overwhelming business success. In _Monopoly: The World's Most Famous Game & How It Got That Way_ (Da Capo Press), Philip E. Orbanes shows how millions of players, racing around a board by throws of dice, building pretend houses and hotels, and extracting rents of phony money, have not only reflected the American economy, but have affected that economy and the economy of the world and its attitudes toward free enterprise. Orbanes is fitting as author for a book like this; he had done R & D for Parker Brothers, is a president of his own game company, and is a chief judge in national and international Monopoly championships.
The history of ancient classic games is often obscure, but Monopoly was invented; it had predecessors and was modified into its current form. It started off as "The Landlord's Game" which was patented by Lizzie Magie in 1904, not just as a game but as a way of showing the unfairness of rents and the benefits of a single tax. George Parker, of the game manufacturer Parker Brothers, himself tried it in 1909 and thought it was too complicated and pedantic. Economics professors and their students liked the game, but only after an unemployed plumbing repairman, Charles Darrow, was invited by friends to play their version, was Monopoly born. Darrow loved the game, and set about making his own version, typing Community Chest cards, buying play money from the dime store, and cutting houses and hotels from wood moldings. He made the familiar colors for the properties and made a board that looks almost the same as the current version. He sold it to department stores, and then to Parker Brothers in 1935; the firm has continued the the myth that the game sprung fully formed from Darrow's brain and hand, but Orbanes's history shows a more complicated origin. The game spread all over the world, with some pockets of resistance. The communists didn't like Monopoly, and resented that it had an underground following. When there was the American National Exhibition at the Moscow Trade Fair in 1959 (famous for the Nixon-Khrushchev kitchen debate), the model American home had a game in progress on a table in the living room. Russians wondered why they couldn't play it, too. Monopoly was officially published in Russia in 1987, and the Soviet system fell three years later.
In this day of computer and video games, people still sit down for an unelectrified Monopoly game, played the way their grandparents did seventy years ago. The game is cheap, and since retailers know they will be selling a steady supply, they often make it a loss leader, a bait to get shoppers in to buy more profitable items. People buy new games to replace those whose cardboard is wearing out. The basic game is still the one selling in the millions, but there have been eccentric versions, like the ones based on real estate in the Star Wars movies, or the luxury version from the Franklin Mint that cost over $600, and yet sold over 100,000 copies. A World Championship is held every four years, and although the game is largely based on chance, computer simulations have helped develop optimum strategies. Monopoly's history parallels that of the US in the twentieth century, so even readers who aren't players will find this a rich history of an important cultural icon.
A real disappointment.......2007-02-03
Love Monopoly and love pop culture history, so I was anxious to read this treatment of the history of America's favorite game. Unfortunately, the book does not live up to its promise.
Here's the core problem - the actual Monopoly content probably only fills about 75 pages. The rest of the text is the author's simplistic and superficial efforts at summarizing the American history that surrounded each decade of the game's life. So, instead of reading about Monopoly, I'm reading about FDR's New Deal and the author's thoughts on World War II.
He's no historian and his historical treatments are elementary-school level. By the 1960s, I was skimming over all his useless verbiage and trying (desperately) to find more on the game itself. The back cover teases with interesting Monopoly facts, but trivia of that ilk is given short shrift in the book.
Finally, he's just not a particularly good writer, using painful analogies and awkward prose. I'm not saying don't read it, especially if you have a high level of interest in the topic, but don't expect too much.
Book Description
Cocktails in Tahiti is a visually stunning, full color showpiece combining a playful yet sophisticated look at Tahiti's magnificent luxury resorts and their most delicious, flirtatious, and slightly decadent cocktails. Filled with unusual insights, folklore, and facts about Tahiti and her islands,
Cocktails in Tahiti has something to tempt and delight all tastes.
Over 50 sumptuous cocktail recipes blend exotic fruits, juices, and liquors providing a flavorful and vibrant palette from which to capture the fun and often elegant mood of these captivating islands. You'll learn the history of the legendary Mai Tai, Tahiti's most famous cocktail, and discover the secrets of the intriguing rums, vodkas, and distinctive liqueurs used in creating Tahiti's most celebrated libations.
A special section features the signature cocktail recipes from Tahiti's most outstanding luxury resorts along with spectacular photographs and overviews of these renowned hotels.
Whether served from a coconut or elegantly chilled in a martini glass of fine crystal, the flowering and colorful cocktails of Tahiti have an undeniable presence all their own. If you are dreaming of a future trip or reliving special memories from a past visit to these beautiful islands, this wonderful collection of delightful drink recipes, dazzling hotel photographs, and distinctive insights will put you in a tropical, tranquil mood as you sip your way to our magical paradise.
Al Keahi, Managing Director, Tahiti Tourism Bureau N.A:
A must have book of fun and facts for anyone who has visited or dreams of visiting Tahiti.
New Book Resources, October 2006:
We can't wait to try out the recipes and imagine that we are at one of the featured, dreamlike hotels.
Vincent Guerin, Director of Sales, Starwood Hotels & Resorts French Polynesia:
The finest collection of resort photographs and cocktail recipes from across Tahiti.
Customer Reviews:
What a fun and entertaining book!.......2007-08-05
Not only does this book have a wealth of information on a destination we long to travel to, but it offers a wide variety of fun and DELICIOUS drinks.
We love to entertain and it has been great having 'Cocktails in Tahiti' out at our parties...quite a conversation piece! Everyone loves the stunning photos of Tahiti, the scrumptious drinks, and the intriguing facts of the islands. Thank you!
Experience a whole new world of Cocktails!.......2007-04-28
Always looking for new and exciting cocktails to try, I purchased this book. Each page became more interesting, not only for the drinks presented but for the knowledge that Mr. Bondurant shares about Tahiti, it's culture, local accomodations, etc.
The photos are exceptional and each drink I have mixed has been better than the last. I have bought several as gifts for coworkers and friends. You won't be disappointed!
Cocktails from paradise at your fingertips.......2007-02-06
"Cocktails in Tahiti" is a must have for any lover of spirits with a tropical flair. The author has artfully put together a wonderful collection of cocktails, both old and new, from the scenic paradise of Tahiti. Colorful photographs and descriptions of each drink will have your mouth watering to imbibe several of these treats from the South Pacific. If you are looking for something new to bring some tropical flavor to your cocktail library, then you need this book!
This book will make you fall in love with Tahiti.......2006-12-18
I have always wanted to go to the Tahitian islands but have never had the opportunity. Now, after reading "Cocktails in Tahiti", I am planning a trip to Tahiti for next Summer. I originally thought "Cocktails in Tahiti" would give me some good ideas for entertaining, but soon found out it contained many intersting nuggets about the islands and their history. To sum it up, I am packed and ready to go to these beautiful islands.
If you've ever dreamed of a tropical vacation or just need to brighten up your winter, you should read this book.
Beautiful Book.......2006-12-09
I have never been to Tahiti, but after reading the fun, informative facts about Tahiti, seeing the beautiful pictures, and sampling some of the excellent cocktail recipes, I am ready to go!
Mr. Bondurant's love and knowledge of Tahiti come through clearly in the book, which is very well laid out. It provides enough information and explains things in such a way that an amateur can make delicious Tahitian cocktails as well as the most experienced bartender. The fun facts about Tahiti, along with summaries of the total hotels and the gorgeous pictures, makes this book a must have.
Until I can take my first trip to Tahiti, this book will help bring a little Tahiti to my home.
Book Description
2 WOMEN, 14 DAYS. THE GOAL? ACHIEVE BOLD FACE STATUS
SIGHTINGS: Spotted last night at a giant bash at Nobu: fashionista cuties Karen Robinovitz and Melissa De La Cruz. Karen was heard saying she’s “still exhausted” from her recent Bungalow 8 birthday party that would have made P. Diddy jealous. Apparently, she was wearing two million dollars’ worth of Harry Winston diamonds (including the 22-carat ring Whoopie Goldberg wore to the Oscars) and was constantly shadowed by a bodyguard named Lou who was straight out of a Scorsese film. Melissa, also fatigued from the fast track, just hosted an intimate dinner party at a swanky Upper East Side restaurant attended by trend-setting journos from New York magazine, The Observer, Allure, “Page Six” as well as the indefatigable Michael Musto–and as part of the gift bag giveaway, the whole crew is being flown to Miami to stay at a five-star resort favored by the likes of Will Smith.
Asked how they managed to go from barely-known freelance writers to A-list celebrities in just fourteen days, they coyly spilled the beans: Marie Claire called with the assignment, and they simply begged, clawed, cried, borrowed, cheated, lied, stole, and bribed their way to fame. Their how-to tips to stardom include “Pick an M&M color to hate, and stick to it.” And they’re writing a book, daaahlings, so whether you live in New York or Nebraska, you too can have the goods to claim your own fame and become legendary.
Customer Reviews:
You have to already have a start........2005-12-02
Although funny, this book does nothing for the "unknown" person trying to be "famous". Ms. DeLaCruz started this project of hers already being known. For the rest of us, I guess we need to become known for something before we can claim our 15 minutes.
Silly and shallow.......2005-08-26
This book is trying to sell itself as more than it is. This is not entertaining and useful hints and tips on what ordinary Americans can do to ckaim some fame. It is simply a description on how two over-the-hill journalists in their 30s used their old sources to get invited to celebrity parties -for two weeks. (going to these parties is basically in the job desciption for journalists anyway.) The book is fun at times, but on the whole it is repetitive and self absorbed. Not worth the buy.
they will make you popular.......2005-06-14
a very entertaining book on how to become famous. well at the very least popular. i cant say that all of their advice will prove useful, but there are some great ideas on how to get things you want and how to present your "product" which is you.
Keep what's good, don't read the bad........2005-04-11
I read through this book at the bookstore one rainy afternoon.At that point in my life, I was interviewing for an internship position for a movie in Canada, so I couldn't find a better read for my foray into filmmaking.
I quickly skipped the self-agrandizing and self-promotion parts as well as the annoying name-dropping bits and retained the practical information: get great biz cards,never be too available,know how to develop a unique style.This useful information is the one that is shaded in grey in the book. I didn't like the writing at all and thought it was better directed towards a teen audience, as a woman of substance, I could not care less about the life of these 2 women. Nevertheless, the information that is provided is very useful and can be applied to any field.People who make it in any competitive industry are the ones who are great at self-promotion.It's a great little book for people on their way to L.A or N.Y, or anyone interested in P.R.
True Confessions from a co-author.......2005-02-04
My true confession is that I have not read this book; however, I saw Melissa on television talking about it. She stated that one of the things she did was give the book an effusive review right here on Amazon. I appreciated her honesty. It confirmed my suspicions regarding a lot of the book and music reviews here.
An amusing lady. Look to the other reviewers for opinions on the book and be a little wary of five star reviews.
Book Description
Each chapter devoted to single type of problem with accompanying commentary and set of practice problems. Amateur puzzlists, students of mathematics and geometry will enjoy this rare opportunity to match wits with civilization’s great mathematicians and witness the invention of modern mathematics.
Customer Reviews:
Very Good for the interested reader.......2002-03-19
Although not reasonable for most high school students, this book does bring to light the background of modern geometry through its treatment of impossible and hard to solve problems.
Excellent background reading for a teacher!
Classic problems of geometry made simple.......2000-11-26
The principles of geometry are both elegant and timeless. One cannot help but understand why the Greeks considered it a pinnacle of intellectual achievement. This book sets down several of the classic problems, explaining them in such a clear way that it is easy to forget that it sometimes took centuries of work before the problem was resolved. Of course, those who first toiled on the problems did not have some of the additional machinery that we so take for granted today.
The problems covered are trisecting an angle, squaring the circle, constructing regular polygons and constructing a cube whose volume is twice that of a given cube. The background needed to understand the problems and solutions is nothing more than a solid grounding in basic algebra and trigonometry. Calculus is mentioned, but not used. Problem sets are included in all chapters and solutions to all are in the back of the book. They are well-posed, solidly reinforcing the points made in the text.
This is a book that covers several thousand years of progress in geometry in a little over one hundred pages. It is done well and it can be used as a supplement in any course in geometry, from high school to college.
Well done.........1999-07-22
Bold has a gem of a book here. It's only a little bit over a hundred pages, but it's packed full of the great geometry problems that occupied the minds of the world's greatest thinkers for the past 2000 years.
The title describes the book perfectly. These really are "Famous Problems from Geometry" and he does indeed explain how to solve them.
The book has four major sections/chapters. He discusses in detail the three problems from antiquity (one section each): squaring a circle, doubling a cube, and trisecting an angle. Furthermore, he spends significant time with constructions of regular polygons (the fourth section) - which ones can be constructed and why. He also discusses which ones cannot be constructed and why.
The reader will be expected to understand concepts from Modern Algebra, particularly the concept of a Field. While Bold does spend time explaining what a Field is, his definition is quick and is assumed to be more of a refresher for someone who has already learned about them. Bold also has a section on Complex Numbers where he derives one of the formulas used later in the book. Again - this section is assumed to be a refresher on Complex Numbers. High School Geometry or Algebra students would have significant trouble understanding his explanations and proofs.
Bold provides problems for the reader to work along the way. These are problems that logically lead to the proof of the problem being studied. The problems are good. As a third year college student majoring in mathematics, I found the explanations/solutions to be sometimes hard to follow. He assumes a great deal about the reader's level of proficiency in math and in geometry. As a result, he liberally skips steps in proofs that are assumed to be "obvious."
If you're expecting simple proofs to these problems, you're not going to find them. If they were simple, they wouldn't have taken 2000 years to solve. But they are explained clearly here in terms that anyone with a college degree should be able to understand.
Overall, a superb book. A must have for anyone interested in the famous problems from the history of Geometry.
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Books Index
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