Directors Books

Well written book that is easy to understand. Practical information that can be easily applied.

This book was incredibly helpful. Even thought most of the information references were from Canada I still found it really helpful. It was part of one of my grad classes on board governance. It helped to lay out simple action steps one could take.

Mel's research and experience has led him to conclude that "the essentials of good governance are generally not well understood and that what is understood is not well communicated to the millions of volunteers who serve as directors on boards". Mel performed extensive research on 20 non-profit and public sector organizations, diversified in causes from a small rural service club with no operating budget to health boards with million dollar budgets. The median budget size was approx. $3 million. He studied the finances and governance practices of these organizations over a 20 year period. Among other things, he utilized a Governance Self-Assessment Checklist as a research tool.

Things I like about the book:

* Numerous real-life examples which brought the concepts to life
* Good description of the organizational functions: work, management and governance; and fact that all board members required to do governance and some may also need to "change hats" and do work and or management of their organization
* Description of some early warning signals in areas of human resources (eg. CEO turnover); performance (unplanned deficits, rapid depletion of reserve funds); ineffective board meetings; board culture; "rubber-stamping" of CEO recommendations without effective debate
* Solid research on governance models leading to a typology of 9 board types based on primary board focus
* List of 7 primary areas of responsibility that cut across all models:
o establishing/safeguarding mission and planning for the future
o financial stewardship
o human resources stewardship
o performance monitoring and accountability to key stakeholders
o community representation, education and advocacy
o risk management
o managing critical events or transitional phases
* Excellent assessment tools, one I personally utilized with great success
. Strong sections highlighting the board development, management and decision-making processes

Just a few areas which could be enhanced for the 2nd edition: some legal interpretations and information on directors' liabilities (although I know this book is not meant as a primary resource for these topics); and more about the board's role in fundraising and sustainability.

Overall, I think this is truly a great Canadian comprehensive resource on voluntary sector governance, written to be understood by most board members with excellent governance tips and tools. I carry it with me whenever I am delivering governance training workshops! Thanks, Mel!

For many years I have been making recommendations to municipal and regional authorities related to funding not-for-profit organizations. This new guidebook will be invaluable to organizations that realize the importance of being able to demonstrate good governance practices. The book is structured to provide easy access to the essential elements of effective governance. I especially appreciate the inclusion of well-researched case studies, practical quick tips, and relevant samples of policies and checklists. The last chapter provides numerous tools that board members and managers can readily use to improve governance.

This is a "must have" reference, not only for board members and senior executives, but also for consultants and for foundations and government bodies funding not-for-profits - and particularly for students taking governance courses in colleges and universities.

As a governance and board development consultant I will be using Mr. Gill's very readable book to assist my clients in strengthening their organizations. This guidebook covers the seven primary areas of board responsibility and is replete with highly applicable "Case Illustrations" and "Quick Tips". Its final section provides numerous "tools" - such as samples of, and templates for, key policies, financial monitoring, and performance evaluation.

A supplementary CD-ROM is available and I highly recommend acquiring this too. Users should also consider accessing Mr. Gill's online "Governance Self-Assessment Checklist (GSAC) service, available through the author's website.

I don't know of any other resource that "covers all the bases" of good governance - certainly none could be better in providing truly useful and practical guidance for boards in trouble or for boards that are striving to improve their performance.

as one of the students of D Skeel's basic corporation's class, this book is one of our reading assignments. Generally speaking, I hate reading assignment but I do like this book.

as a foreign LLM, I always find those JD peers "know" more than me about those names like "Jay Cookie", "Masha Steward","Enron case" or "Milken and takeover". Iracus actually helps me to catch up a little bit. It at least is a great book concerning the Amercian Corporate history. I perfer it to be a light reading before going to bed b/c it is short, easy to read for a foreigner and D S tends to amuze his readers rather than torture them.

As for the scandal part, I think the three prong conclusion is a great idea b/c it does fit the history lesson neatly.

I think it is a great book for both legal and non legal ppl who are interested in this book. Anyway, as DS says in his book, "nowadays, Corporation is us."

This book is a minor masterpiece of legal/business history. In slightly more than 200 pages, David Skeel tells the story of CEOs who took huge gambles with corporate assets in order to boost profits and share prices. Although the media and public idolize larger-than-life CEOs, Skeel shows how throwing the dice can often result in ruin for corporations and their employees and shareholders. His book ranges from 19th century railroad bankruptcies to the rise and fall of Enron, tying together economic history, financial theory, business law, and the politics of regulation. It's sophisticated but breezily written. I'd give it six stars if I could.

America loves risk-taking CEOs, but when such behavior crosses over to boardrooms it could have massive consequences because of the growing scale of businesses and society's greater dependence on equity markets. Icarus in the Boardroom: The Fundamental Flaws in Corporate America and Where They Came From, by David Skeel draws on Greek mythology to present a candid warning aimed at corporate directors and anyone concerned with our economic future.

Trapped in a labyrinth of his on construction, Dedalus made wings for himself and his son Icarus. He warned Icarus not to fly to close to the sun but Icarus got carried away, failed to heed the warning, and plunged to his death after the sun melted the wax that held his wings together. Similarly, the corporation is a powerful human innovation, but is dangerous if not used properly.

But this book isn't about businesses being "socially responsible," in the normal sense of health, peace, or global warming. Instead, Skeel is concerned with the impact that corporate failures can have on the economy as a whole. From that standpoint, Icarus in the Boardroom offers excellent advice on creating a sustainable business climate, getting to the source of problems instead of the symptoms.

He attributes several recessions and the Great Depressions to an "Icarus Effect," brought on by three factors:

Excessive and sometimes fraudulent risks
Competition (or, rather, tendencies toward monopoly)
Increasing size and complexity

The bulk of the book is devoted to a short history of the corporation followed by an excellent treatment of these three thematic factors and corporate failures though US history. He explains how government has responded to Icarus effects and how corporations have worked to first adapt, then often to circumvent or unravel government's attempt to save us from corporate excesses.

In general, "the lobbying might of corporate managers, and the power of their political contributions, is too great for even relatively minor reform to succeed," he notes. However, the wake of financial scandals provides an opportunity to "change the political calculus." We witnessed such changes after the 1929 crash when reforms like creating the Securities and Exchange Commission stopped short of federalizing corporate law.

More recently we enacted Sarbanes-Oxley to address the scandals of Enron, WorldCom and Tyco. Where did we stop short this time? Skeel advises that we partially addressed fraudulent risk but left the other Icarun factors largely untouched. Among Skeel's many recommendations:

Conflicts of interest. Having auditors selected by a committee made up of "independent" board members does little; they'll still be reluctant to choose an auditor who will rock the boat. Stock exchanges should assign and police auditors.
Securities analysts. "If exchanges were required to assign a securities analyst to every listed company - and pay the analysts from companies' listing fees - investors would know that there was at least one (unbiased) analyst covering every listed company."

SEC's proxy access proposal, which wasn't dead when Skeel wrote the book. Skeel favors it but warns that shareholder activism "often won't curb problematic behavior if the behavior in question is profitable to the corporation." As an example, he cites the fact that Tyco shareholders overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to move its domicile back to the US from Bermuda. Shareholders wanted to keep saving on taxes regardless of the negative impact on the larger society.

Special purpose entities (SPEs). Instead of treating them under "enterprise liability," as advocated by Adolph Berle in the post-New Deal era, Skeel takes a middle approach. Auditors and regulators should "focus on whether the spirit of the SPE status is being violated. SPEs that are not truly separate from the overall company should be denied separate treatment for accounting purposed."

"Ordinary Americans no longer see corporations as 'other,'" because more than half now own stock (directly or indirectly). As defined benefit plans dwindle and 401(k) participation increases, Americans have come to see their own stakes, however small, as tied to those of corporations. Skeel cites an important study by Dallas Federal Reserve Economists John Duca and Jason Saving that found "a direct correlation between stock ownership and the Republican vote in recent Congressional elections. As stock ownership goes up, so does the Republicans' share of the Congressional vote." It's no wonder President Bush keep pushing privatization of Social Security.

"The increasing identification between ordinary Americans and corporate America is perfectly understandable, but beneath it lurks a terrible irony: at the same time as our passion for real reform has declined, the risks have radically increased," writes Skeel. In the past, investing in stocks was an activity largely limited to the rich who could afford to speculate. Now stocks have become the investment of choice for "life" savings and retirement.

With so many of us now dependent on corporate performance, let's hope it doesn't take another Great Depression before American's wake up to the need for reforms of the type outlined by David Skeel.

This ambitious book takes on the "big picture" questions about the recent wave of corporate scandals: the increase in risk taking, the complexity of the modern corporation, and the limitations on shareholder governance. It offers intelligent advice for regulators, and warns average investors about the most extraordinary risks.

In my judgment, this book is a must read for anyone who followed the recent scandals. Unlike many of the books written about the markets during the past few years, "Icarus" offers a fresh perspective on what happened and why. To mix a metaphor, I hope it catches fire.

Specifically, the book recounts how technological and financial innovation made it so much easier for the 1990s corporate manager to take greater risks and manipulate how investors understood the corporation's business. The book's description of the split between perception and reality will be jarring to any investor.

Professor Skeel's writing is accessible and pithy. He lucidly explicates the "Gordian knot of conflicts" in the modern financial enterprise, and even devotes important pages to derivatives and structured finance.

But the strongest part of the book is its historical perspective. Today's reportage on the markets frequently ignores important eras, products, or schemes, and rarely understands how financial history repeats itself, or morphs in new and interesting ways. In contrast, this book ties together nearly every financial scandal during the past several centuries: the South Sea Bubble, Cooke, Gould, the Money Trusts, the S&L scandals, Milken, and so on. Of particular interest is Samuel Insull - readers who are not familiar with his schemes will find the material on the "House of Insull" unforgetable.

"Icarus" is an important intellectual history, and a riveting read. If only every book on the markets could be this good.

University of Pennsylvania law professor David Skeel's Icarus in the Boardroom: The Fundamental Flaws in Corporate America and Where They Came From presents an analysis of corporate scandals and catastrophic failures from the rise of the modern corporation through the present day.

Skeel begins by analyzing the underlying causes of what he terms "Icarus Effect" failures, named for the mythological Greek Icarus whose hubris in flying too close to the sun caused his downfall.

In Skeel's analysis, Icarus Effect failures occur as a result of three factors -- corporate executives willing to take excessive or fraudulent risks, the pressures of corporate competition, and the increasing size and complexity of the corporation. While not all corporate failures fit this definition, Skeel finds that the Icarus Effect underlies many of the most catastrophic and damaging failures in American business history.

Skeel's investigation of corporate malfeasance and business failure covers a wide historical scope, from the birth of the corporation during the 17th century voyages of trade through the exploits of recent figures such as Ken Lay, Bernie Ebbers, and Dennis Kozlowski. Along the way, we meet a number colorful historical characters such as Jay Cooke -- the Philadelphia banker whose scheme for selling government debt helped to finance the Civil War and the growth of the U.S. railroads until his increasing risk-taking caused the collapse of this financial empire in 1873 -- and Samuel Insull -- who established a utilities empire with a complex web of corporate ownership until his overextended, debt-laden empire was brought down during the Depression.

The most fascinating aspects of Skeel's historical analysis are the frequent parallels between the catastrophic failures of the past and those in recent headlines. Jay Cooke's dinners with President Grant are reminiscent of the friendly relationship between Present Bush and Enron's Ken Lay. And Samuel Insull's elaborate corporate structuring of his utilities holdings in the first decades of the 20th century are eerily echoed in the complex "off balance sheet" holdings of Enron in the final decade of the century.

In the closing sections of Icarus in the Boardroom, Skeel provides a critique of recent attempts to curb corporate misbehavior such as Sarbannes-Oxley, and finds little that he believes is likely to retard the ongoing cat-and-mouse game between legal curbs on corporate behavior and clever techniques for evading them. In the final chapter, Skeel offers a number of his own recommendations for how America can strengthen oversight of corporate behavior.

Icarus in the Boardroom is fascinating for both its historical perspective on corporate malfeasance and its analysis of recent headline events.

Into The Boardroom is a first-class primer for individuals aspiring to board service. With current emphasis for independent directors whose disciplines may be outside of the corporate arena, Into The Boardroom offers valuable guidance. Its practical advice and insights are top flight.

Jack Arthur Kirby, Founder and Owner, Kirby Law Office

This book contains in-depth information about what to expect in the boardroom. Learn from the real life experiences of dozens of board members. A must have book for present & future board members.

Rarely do I spend the time to do a review but, I think that this book more than deserves it. If your curious about getting on a board and dont know where to start then this is the book for you.
BTW-I have no affiliation with the authors or make any money off the book. I just find it a great book.

Whether you are a seasoned Board veteran or looking for your first seat on a Corporate Board, this book is full of insightful information. I found it to be a great executive read - full of practical hands-on information and experiential antidotes from CEO's and Directors from America's most respected corporations. Recently, the dangers of the "good old boy" corporate board have made top headlines and contributed to the downfall of major Fortune 100 corporations. "Into the Boardroom" is packed with inside tips and sound advice that serves as a blueprint to guide the new generation of corporate boards to a higher level of success.

Into the Boardroom is a quick, easy read with lots of practical advice. For example, my charitable contributions were always random and small, but the advice of picking one organization and making a difference is great. I will also study their annual reports to check out the board members before I send the check. I borrowed this book from a friend and found it so empowering that I ordered my own copy...There are so many good ideas in the book I know I'll re-read it many times.

This easy-to-read guide is a must for anyone looking to break into the entertainment industry. It's chock full of advice and anecdotes that highlights the authors knowledge of the field. With Maniscalco-Blasi's insider advice it seems almost possible to navigate and succeed as an actor.

An inside look at the casting process to help aspiring actors know what to expect, and give non-aspiring actors a chance to experience life behind the scenes in the acting industry. Anna Maniscalco-Blasi does an excellent job in exposing valuable insider casting tips, while bringing you behind the scenes of some major motion pictures and the HBO series, the Sopranos. Her experience as a casting director in New York City makes this a "must read" for newcomers trying to break into the industry. An enjoyable read for anyone.

This book was entertaining,informative & easy to read. If you are looking to get into acting,it zeros in on where to go & what to do.I would highly recomend "Lighs,Camera,Action".

Anna Maniscalco-Blasi does a tremendous job in inspiring a novice actor giving him/her a down to earth look into what it takes to be a successful actor. Her knowledge is from experience, and it is my opinion that it is an amazing resource and has opened my eyes to a lot of valuable information.

I highly recommend this to anyone who has a list of unanswered questions and no clue where to begin. This book really has every aspect of getting yourself out there covered. Very impressive.

I enjoyed this book, it has witty stories about the author's experences in the industry, and it gave me some great insight about launching my acting career! A must have for an aspiring actor !

As a Christian business person and long-time fan of Phil Vischer, I had high hopes for this book. It did not disappoint. Part business book, part autobiography, and part spiritual reflection, this book has helped me to better articulate a philosophy of a God-driven business. Some of Vischer's thoughts have influenced the direction of our company, by pointing us toward the Henry Blackaby approach of waiting for God and joining Him in the work He's already doing.

This was a quick read, and very inspiring. I highly recommend it.

This was a fascinating read. The story of the building and collapse of a Christian business giant was intriguing, but I think what was more important was what Mr. Vischer learned about his own walk with God, and what he's attempting to share with others.

As a Veggie fan since the inception of VeggieTales, I found this book riveting. The story of the spectacular rise of the Veggie kingdom and the lessons Phil V. learned along the way was interesting because I knew only parts of the whole story. The leadership lessons at the end were something I can apply to my specific situation. When some authors attempt to pass on wisdom they have gleaned, the book gets dry and boring. That didn't happen with this book, it was well-written all the way to the end. I can't wait to see what Phil Vischer comes up with next!

I just got finished reading this and was totally blown away. I really appreciated his honesty and openness about what happened to Big Idea and this reaffirmed my feelings about the other so-called business books out there: it's easy to look like a genius when you study successful companies and draw contrasts, but the same methods don't work for every company.

Phil is a great storyteller, and I'm pleased to have been let into his world for a few hours.

I was handed this book to read as I have made many people aware of my long train ride and constant need for new things to read. I love veggie tales but had no understanding of the company or its history, other than my sister taking a tour after winning a contest years ago. So I didn't know what to expect or why it would be worth publishing.

What a pleasant surprise!!! This has become one of my favorite books and I have since purchased many copies for gifts and lent my own copy out multiple times. Phil's writing style is easy to read and he is fantastically funny no matter how good/bad/normal/technical the content is.

There are many lessons to be learned through the roller coaster ride that the author and his company, Big Idea, went on. This is a must-read for anyone considering joining or starting a full time ministry, or for anyone about to embark in a leadership role of any kind. For the rest of us who grew up mesmerized by CGI, its a great and funny book.

The late writer-director Edward Bernds has become a familiar name to movie comedy fans, through his association with The Three Stooges, The Bowery Boys, the Blondie series, and a host of other comedy stars. But Mr. Bernds made his reputation as a recording engineer during the early-talkie years, and was the number-one sound man at Columbia Pictures until he took on more creative duties.

This book chronicles Bernds's early years, from his first radio jobs through his successful association with director Frank Capra. Bernds was a stickler for accuracy, and drew upon his old diaries to confirm his excellent memory for facts and faces. He was just as careful to spell things out for the reader, explaining a technical process or a business practice to amplify the point he was making. Bernds's attention to detail makes for good, solid reading.

This writer was disappointed that the book stops when the author stopped working as a soundman. But it's understandable because Bernds, in his thoroughness, would have written a mammoth volume if his entire career were to be discussed. Joseph McBride recognizes the "missing" material by appending a more general interview with Bernds, conducted by McBride and Leonard Maltin.

Film buffs and historians will enjoy "Mr. Bernds." For those who want Bernds's observations and recollections of his Three Stooges years, read "The Columbia Comedy Shorts" by Ted Okuda and Edward Watz.

Edward Bernd's autobiography is a wonderful insight into the life and career of a Hollywood talent whose career lay behind the camera.

The book only covers the first half of his life, from his childhood in Chicago to his career as a top sound engineer at Columbia Studios. Bernds' engineering career encompassed the films of Frank Capra (Capra always requested Ed for his team), the many classics of Moe, Larry and Curly, and many major Columbia feature productions through 1945.

The reader is left wanting more, particularly the details of Bernds' new post-1945 career of writer and director for the Three Stooges, the Blondie series, the Bowery Boys and Elvis Presley. But, that's another book. Right, Ed?

Have you ever dreamed you could make it big in Hollywood? Countless dreams have been shattered in this town, but one young man made it, and this is his story. Rarely will one encounter a more modest telling of a life's story. Yet Ed's tale rings so true and so right that you can't help but be drawn in. From making a crystal radio set as a teen, to snaring the top sound position with Frank Capra, Mr. Bernds entertains, informs, and delights us in the telling.

One of the reasons why this book is so fresh is that its author works not just from memory, but from detailed diaries. The tale of his trip west to Hollywood in a broken down jalopy fairly crackles. Genuinely good story telling accents this lively account of the early talkie era. Recommended to anyone who would enjoy a stroll through the inside of Hollywood, spoken by a real movie sound pioneer.

Have you ever dreamed you could make it big in Hollywood? Countless dreams have been shattered in this town, but one young man made it, and this is his story. Rarely will one encounter a more modest telling of a life's story. Yet Ed's tale rings so true and so right that you can't help but be drawn in. From making a crystal radio set as a teen, to snaring the top sound position with Frank Capra, Mr. Bernds entertains, informs, and delights us in the telling.

One of the reasons why this book is so fresh is that its author works not just from memory, but from detailed diaries. The tale of his trip west to Hollywood in a broken down jalopy fairly crackles. Genuinely good story telling accents this lively account of the early talkie era. Recommended to anyone who would enjoy a stroll through the inside of Hollywood, spoken by a real movie sound pioneer.

When Hollywood first started to shine golden, Ed Bernds was there. He knew and worked with the stars, the directors and the writers, and contributed no little himself to Hollywood's Golden Age. In "Mr. Bernds Goes To Hollywood," Ed tells -- with near total recall -- of his journey to the movie capital in the earliest days of sound (which was his speciality) and of his career at Columbia Studios, the King of "Poverty Row," with the likes of Frank Capra, Clark Gable and the feared studio head Harry Cohn. In telling his story, Bernds invokes a bygone era of Hollywood glamor with an inside knowledge that few today possess. Necessary books on Hollywood are few and far between, but "Mr. Bernds Goes To Hollywood" fills the bill.

I bought this book originally in the early 1980s right after it was printed and I have re-read it every year and a half or so since and find new things every time. The writing is just fantastic; each episode in his life is constructed like a story. I have read where people think it is a whitewash, but actually he touches on everything discreetly and without rancor or salaciousness. When I first read it as a young film student he cataloged a string of movies I had barely heard of, mostly because they weren't easily available until now. A conscientious watching of the films he mentions makes for great companions to the book. From our vantage point in time, this book is also a window into a vanished world where the late 19th century was reluctantly becoming the 20th century, and Huston always was searching to find his place in it. Few people live lives now similar to his life then because we don't have the times from which great lives spring like they did back then. Those decades gave rise to Bogart and Hemingway and Picasso and Roosevelt and the countless others because there were no other choices. Dynamic times make dynamic people! Huston constantly improvised, both in life and art, using his unique background and fine literary sensibilities to surf the constantly changing tides of war and economic depression and modernism, and at the same time constantly indulging himself in every way he could possibly conceive. His movies emerged from this mix, at times wise, at others mischievous; some daring, others fantastic. They were always a little ahead of their time or form, and they never consciously talked down nor pandered to their audience. His innovations developed organically. His breakthrough preference for remote location shooting stemmed from his experiences making documentaries in the battlefield during WWII. His arrangements of characters and objects in the frame came from his love of painting and still composition. His unusual choices for stories grew from his voluminous reading habits. Huston's natural curiosity and striving for perfection filled-in the spaces left between.

Some of Huston's films, like "The Maltese Falcon", are models of perfection, while others are like Michelangelo's scores of unfinished sculptures, almost as if he were saying, "Well, you get the idea!" before moving on to the next object of his fascination. "We Were Strangers" is a good example of this, rendering almost hypnotically the feelings of oppressive paranoia living in a fascist state, while at the same time servicing a story that is a B+ at best.

The real story of Huston's life and films has yet to be written though. There is just too much!

I can't remember when I enjoyed reading a book so much. I wished that I could read it anew all over again. I've read half dozen Hollywood bios and autos the last 6 months or so and this was hands down the most enjoyable!

I'm really quite surprised to see only two reviews before this one. Afterall, in my mind Huston ranks up there with the very best of American directors and screen writers. His history in the film business dates back to the ''golden era'' of Hollywood. And he knew all the top heads of the studios as well as many of the most talented people in the their related fields.

He is of course my overall favorite director, based on the quality and sheer number of films on his side of the scale. High Sierra [Scrnply], Maltese Falcon, the Big Sleep, Treasure of Sierra Madre, Key Largo just to mention a few of the early ones. And of course his writing of screenplays of the late thirties that anyone will recognize as some of the best of the classics. And his continued writing of movies; with and without directing, far to many to start listing here!

His relating of his life stories as told here is so captivating and so 'dog gone' interesting and funny, that I felt I was listening to a grandfather tell his life story from the front porch of a family home on a Sunday afternoon!

Anyone that likes to read of a Hollywood long gone and about the people in the industry in those days would do just fine in getting a copy of this wonderfully entertaining book, told by one of Hollywoods finest raconteurs! If not the finest!

John Huston's autobiography 'An Open Book' was written while the author - a film director whose life spanned the period from the earliest days of Hollywood to his eventual death in 1987 - was living, in old age, as something of a recluse in Mexico.

From this quiet, remote, idyllic spot he tells - as he sees it - the story of his own life and the many experiences and fotuitous friendships and relationships which he believes had been important in making him the way he was.

It goes back as far as he can go into his own ancestry and the origin of his own name - Huston. It goes deep into the impressions of his own family that he formed as a child and refined as he grew up.

He shares with us his many mistakes, as well as the background to some of his greatest successes - which nominally, are his many great films.

But somehow more important than this is the way he approaches his life and how he tells his own story. At one point he is discussing what actually constitutes the 'style' of a writer and what makes it distinctive. He concludes that what is called a writer's style is straightforwardly a unique artefact of how that person thinks and feels about their life and experience.

This book is full of a polished but intimate candour that illuminates and compliments his long and successful career in film

Not only has he been one of my favorite directors over the years, he did some great acting spots, particularly in Chinatown. Then to have this book to read is truely a window into his life. He gives one bit of advice. Has to do with smoking, I won't spoil it for you. Witty guy. I think we tend to forget that films are visual/written/audio stories that several people have put together. A piece of art, typically. And the director is the eye of the hurricane, piecing it all together, in his (her) vision. This book gives us a look into both his private life, one which the citizen today likely has little idea about, as well as numerous stories about various Hollywood people he worked with over the decades. I could barely put this book down. He's got a writing style that's so comfortable, so enjoyable to read, well, maybe it was more fun for me because, in my mind I heard his resonate speaking voice reading the whole book like one on tape by the author. There's never been a director like him that I'm aware of, someone who did not have his own style so much as cull the story right out of the block of stone so to speak. Each of the great films he did has their own vision, their own look. A great accomplishment for a real director who mastered his craft. I think of him as a man's man and this book keeps that sense alive. Sure am glad he took the time to write it because it's a lot of fun to explore his life with him. Unique places, people and times in American cinematic history, and he was there, right in the midst of it all. chrisbct@hotmail.com

Here are some great annecdotes (Bogart, Hepburn, Lorrie, Connery, et al.) by one of Hollywood's greatest directors. Huston's private life rivals any script that he ever shot, and his skill and training as a scriptwriter makes this an interesting, articulate volume.

Having served on several community and non-profit boards, I thought everyone always worked in harmony on these boards. But, I recently found out that's just not the case. After a couple of our board members did not see a vote go their way, they then went out of their way to "stir the pot" and not support the board decision. I needed help ... and found it in "The Perfect Board". The three pages dealing with respect and unity were woth the price of the book alone! This book should be required reading for any board member or potential board member. This primer is loaded with great wisdom!

Clemon's new volume is a wonderful tool for individuals who are about to enter a challenging and sometimes unknown world - the world of Board service. I have served on a number of Boards in my nearly 35 years of professional life, including 8 years service as an elective office holder, perhaps the most difficult of all Boards of serve on. How I wish that I had Clemon's insights during that time. Buy the book- its a gem.

The Perfect Board is a great resource and provides a list of requirements for my (future) Board Members, the legal necessities related to meetings, and decision making in groups. Most importantly, the writing style makes for a very easy and interesting read. Instead of a textbook and academic approach that typically puts me to sleep, the writing style is straightforward and practical, and this combines to keep it compelling.

"The Perfect Board," is a book written for those who want to become an effective member of any Board of Directors. In essence it is a self-help book chock full of essential guidelines to be an effective leader.
However, this work is written in a cleaver way, as it is told in story form when a young woman named Rebecca is about to be promoted and is unsure how to proceed. In her quest to do the best job she can, she seeks out help and is lead to a man, EJ Cummings, who shares with her a book which he is about to release. In this book he shares the principals that he has learned through years of dealing with this facet of business. This information gives Rebecca the knowledge and confidence she needs to perform the task before her.
In giving this work a storyline with characters that are about to embark on this journey, author Calvin Clemons puts this self-help book many notches about any other. The personal touch it brings allows the reader to absorb more of the information in the work, allowing a relaxed read instead of feeling you must obtain every morsel, great move on author Calvin Clemons part.
I believe this book will help many and is definitely packed full of some great principals that definitely should be followed.

This book expertly and effortlessly summarizes the attributes of winning boards and board members. It's an appealing and comprehensive work-yet the book manages to be bite-sized, which is exactly what busy readers want these days. Its content applies to both the non-profit and for-profit worlds. Just about everyone serves on a Board of one kind or another, so just about everyone should read this book!

Despite performing in professional productions from the age of 11, despite a great high school theatre experience (thanks, JMO!), and despite a university degree in theatre, I suddenly realized how much I needed to know (but didn't!) when faced with my first high school directing job! I learned the director's craft and art from hard experience, from consultations with my own high school director (JMO again), and from reading everything I could get my hands on. This book would have saved me YEARS of trouble had it been available 'way back in the late 1970s!

David Grote knows his stuff. He has worked with actors of all ages and appreciates the special problems confronting the high school theatre director. His advice is solid, practical, and workable. He is, in short, eminently qualified to write on this subject.

If you can buy only one book on directing, buy this one. It's great--and a heck of a lot better than the textbook we used in my university-level directing course!

I bought this book the minute I read "The 7 Myths about Musicals. Myth #1: Musicals are fun." (He goes on the qualify that they are fun to watch and be in, but hard hard hard to direct.) I knew then I had found a kindred spirit, someone who loved theater with all his soul but wasn't sugar-coating all of the pettyness and brouhaha that accompany running a program in a high school. This guy is straight forward, no nonsense, and he believes that high school theater directors are real directors and should behave and be treated as such. His advice is smart, sharp, and on the mark. He includes very useful chapters on how to run and maintain a theater program and how to select plays. It is above and beyond better than any other "how to direct a high school play" book. Buy it, then tell all the theater teachers you know to buy it. This is the real thing.

A terrific work that "lays it on the line." I especially liked the sections about dealing with censorship in the high schools and the role of the high school musical in a drama program. An excellent work, worthy of being read by novices and experts alike.

I recently student produced the play Little Women at my high school for my senior project, and I wish that I had read this book before I put on the play. In it there are great suggestions for choosing a play, analyzing the script, prepairing for production, blocking, casting, rehearsal, acting and student actors, recurrent problems, directing the musical, and building a theater program. Everything Grote said I could identify with, and I nearly always agreed. In one section he gives great specific ideas for helping students understand how to portray their part, and I found this section particularly helpful. The only negative thing that I could say about the book is that in the chapter on "recurrent problems" he didn't metion the number one recurrent problem: personality conflicts between cast members! Which anyone ever involved in a drama program would know is nearly always a problem. Overall, however, this book was insiteful, and quite useful. I recommend it for anyone who will be directing a play in a school situation.

I read this book to get some new and different ideas for upgrading the Drama Dept in the HS where I teach, and it did not disappoint. While obviously not every suggestion will work in every school situation, the author's years of experience naturally lend themselves to some excellent advice. Of particular help to me where the chapters on how to run auditions, and how to select a play to perform. I highly recommend this book to all teachers and staff in the school setting who are responsible for theatrical productions.

Quinlan has a unique way of portraying a movie start: a few enlightining words about his/her looks and performing capacities. And that goes for his "film stars" book as well as his "film directors" (where he has more room to go into details).
When I went to Britain last week, i looked for a new edition of his "film stars", as the last one I got (and the last one known here in Portugal) was from 5 years ago, the 2000 edition; unfortunately I was told that no new edition had been released.
The "film stars" is a complete and excellent work, though one can always come up with some name that is not included (the one that comes always to my mind is the talented late american actor J.T. Walsh)

David Quinlan has an uncanny knack for describing actors and actresses in four or five perfectly chosen words, or less. If you love movies, you need this book.

I watched the Oscars with this next to me, and it made them so much more fun! Look up fun, strange and important facts about your favorite stars and see some of the quirkiest, yet best descriptions of the actors you'll ever read!. The author describes everyone by their physical attributes - but it's like reading the cartoon page. This one is guaranteed to make you laugh!

If you want to know every movie that your favorite actor has made, this is the book for you!!! It is well organized, incredibly detailed and up to date!!! Keep a copy next to your TV!!!

This book has been an invaluable resource for quenching my film knowledge thirst since I got my hands on my father's 1st edition copy around '82 or so. Due to publisher's restraints, author Quinlan gradually, and unfortunately, weeded out entries for lesser known, or no longer relevant, stars over the years. But fret no more! This edition appears to include every entry he's ever created.
Whether you're looking for the complete filmography of the world's most well-known actors (Eastwood), the birthdate of you're favorite cult star (Marie Windsor anyone?), or the names of those long lost Lon Chaney titles, you'll find yourself immersed in this bible of film history.
Quinlan's research is thorough (and I do mean thorough! Before IMDB came around, I'd never seen anything like it), well-spoken, and virtually flawless in its accuracy. This edition is fairly up-to-date (through 2001 I think) & packs many surprises about the status of actors actors you might have already assumed dead, retired or out-of-work. Superb!