Arts Books

I read this book not because I am a wrestling fan, but because I wanted to hear about Eddie's life and how he ending up becoming a born again Christian.

It turns out that Eddie was from a Christian family but did not live the life very well until the last years of his life. Just before this I read the autobiography of Brian 'Head' Welch, the guitarist from Korn and how he found God. Several people in reviewing that book were offended by the many swear words used, but compared to Guerrero's book, Welch is a lightweight. And I thought for someone who was raised a Christian, how could Guerrero use so much swearing in his book.

I think he did a very good job of sharing his family life, his professional wrestling career and so forth, and while I don't think the book was supposed to be for religious encouragement-he did not do a good job presenting himself as a Christian. He was a very bad example as a matter of fact. I say this because he KNEW better. And chose to drink, and swear and EVEN have a child out of wedlock and live with a woman. This all troubled me.

But I realized that much of my younger life was lived similar. Therefore, all I can say is "isn't God's grace wonderful!!". He loves us despite our turning away from Him, and has a plan for everyone's life. He is always ready to forgive us and I am glad Eddie rediscovered this and died at peace with His Savior. No God, no peace....Know God, know peace.

I just re-read this book. I absolutely loved it and put it up there with the best wrestling books out there. You feel connected to Eddie just like you did when you saw him on tv or dvd or in person. His charisma showed through the ups and downs of this book.

I was left wondering what caused a lot of his demons though. He didn't fully explain the things that haunted him. Like his problems with his wife Vickie, he didn't really go into detail which left me wondering what she did wrong. Cheating? Their fights? Also I got the feeling there was more to his demons than he let on. It just left me curious. I'd like to see a book written by Vickie that might shed some light on things left unanswered in this book.

Eddie was honest. Brutally honest. He didn't back off from saying who he liked and disliked. He was very upfront about his drinking, drugs (though never mentioned steriods whether he used or didn't use them), and his problems. He never acted like a saint, but obviously wanted to be a good person. Thankfully he beat the addictions and enjoyed some time with his loved ones before he passed on tragically.

This book brought me to tears even in the second reading. It made me realize that life is a fragile thing and we got to respect and love people and show it while we can. Given Eddie's many brushes with death he was fortunate to be sober and drug-free for 4 years before his untimely death. Unfortunately, he paid the price for his past mistakes, but he got to patch things up with his wife and daughters, and reach new heights with his fans and ultimately becoming the World Champ!

Highest recommendation possible,(right up there with Mick Foley's Have A Nice Day!) buy this book and quit reading this review!

This is a book that my fours sons have all read recently, and they were all moved to tears. My 18yo has wanted to read this book for some time now, but we had trouble finding it for sale, as it sold out quickly.
I got this for him for Christmas. A book to keep. A great gift for any wrestling fan

from the begining to the end this book is so well written and told,its just awesome. No words can describe how GREAT this book is. Eddie lived a wild and rough life and you get to read alll about it in this tell all book. From his start to the end. There are some eerie things he writes about that kinda creep you out because the man has passed but none the less THE BEST BOOK WWE or any other WRESTLER have put out.
READ IT AND YOU WONT BE ABLE TO DROP THE BOOK.
From his wild drunken stories with the nasty boys to his tag team woith the great Art Barr and to his family life and struggles with his wife to THe end where he finds peace makes everything awesome in his life its truly an astonishing story.
After you read this book you will see Eddie in a whole diffrent lighht and appreciate the man that he was and still IS.

R.I.P my man.

Wrestling has always been a guilty pleasure for me. I grew up watching the likes of Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan and the Bruiser with my dad. Now I watch with my son. There's nothing I enjoy more than watching grown men make complete fools of themselves. I like the pranksters best--guys like DegenerationX (Triple H and Shawn Michaels), John Cena and, of course, Eddie Guerrero. He brought a lot of laughter into our living room every week. But more than that, Eddie was--and is--an inspiration. He had a lot to overcome, and he did--and this tough guy wasn't afraid to proudly proclaim his faith in God and Jesus Christ. He gave credit where it was due, always. Viva la Raza, Eddie! You still live in Heaven--and through those of us who love and respect you!

Having taken 2 semesters of ASL, I must admit that I was disappointed to see a vocabulary list that I knew 95% of...but this book is definitely an excellent source for those with no or very little prior ASL knowledge. NOTE: THIS IS NOT ASL. The book is Pidgin Signed English (now called Contact Signing) which is easier to learn if your first language is English. That is, the grammar of ASL is absent in the presence of English word order. But the way the book is laid out, it's easy to learn! There's little bits of cultural information, how to engage and end a conversation, "do"s and "don't"s, and more! I like the little anecdotes, too.

Pros: Easy to follow, comes with a DVD to reinforce and clarify signs, decent amount of information for a beginner

Cons: NOT ASL (ASL "words" but not the grammar) and not terribly helpful for those with moderate exposure to sign language


Overall, it's a handy cultural tool that helps you learn a little language :)

We have a program in the Las Vegas mail processing center where we find solutions for better communication with all employees. To our hearing impaired employees, we had training held in our facility by a certified interpreter who taught both craft and management employees to finger spell words and phrases. We were going to order another sign language book to be given by our plant manager to those who completed the training sessions as his appreciation to them, but there were those who read the reviews on this "Idiot's" book, hence, this is what I ordered. They use it as a refresher, it's well illustrated and easy. Everybody was happy with the book. For the next training group, I'll be ordering some more of this book.

I am taking sign language classes and they gave us a book. The class didnt like the book that they gave us it didnt help us at all. So we all bought this book and its a great book with a cd and its easy learning.

I only just received this today and immediately opened the book and thumbed through the chapters, I also browsed the introduction and watched the intro on the DVD and reviewed a few other signs. That said I have not had time to get into the meat of it BUT what I have seen so far has been praise-worthy. A very good intro and some good info about different sign language 'languages' I learnt a few things thT I did not previously know (not signs other related info) which was quite interesting. Good explanation on what is conversational sign language and how it differs from say 'signed english language'. The DVD has a visual for the signs from the book (important to know), you are taught by both a deaf and hearing person (mother and daughter)which I also found good.More than 600 signs... Let's face it most people buying this are 'hearing' people who have an interest in communicating with the 'hearing impaired'. From what I have seen this book will help with basic communication and those seeking further vocab now have a base to build on.Also information on common misconceptions, interesting facts and also special tips on improving your signing. I will update the review as I explore the package more. But so far 'two thumbs up' (or 5 stars).

My wife works at a doctors office where they have a couple of deaf patients. She has always wanted to learn sign. She couldn't put the book down. After two days she was signing non-stop. Originally she only wanted to buy the DVD instruction but I encouraged her to use this book too. Now it is the other way around. She goes to this book first and uses the DVDs as a backup. I also got her some ASL flash cards that work well for practice.

Complete Metalsmith, Student Edition is an excellent resource. As someone completely new to metalsmithing I was hearing terms that I could not figure out and this book has them all. It is well written and seems very complete. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a reference book meant for the years. The construction is well thought out with a firm but flexible cover and wire binding. It is a convenient size to have on your work table at all times.

This is a handy little book to keep by your bench for a quick reference. You'll find basic information of what something is - not always how its used. I'm still learning metalsmithing and this little book complements my jewelry project books. I found it helpful and informative in this regard.

This is a wonderful book for a metal working student just starting out. It contains technical information in an easy to follow format, as well as lots of illustrations and clear directions. The coil on the spine makes the book easy to follow while working on a project. The student edition is a great place to start in learning this new craft

This is easy to follow with step by step instructions. If you are interested in learning metal smithing, I highly recommend this book. It is a great resource book for future use as well.

this book is very good and explains in plain english the how to's for this subject.

This is a sweet little book that will appeal to the engineers and scientists among us. You, too, can change! Or, Love conquers all! The illustrations are fun, and the writing intelligent and clever.

Enjoy!

I was given this book as a teenager, and never forgot it. I used to ask other people if they knew about it, but few seemed to have ever heard of it. I am an artist, and in spite of the use of 'math' in the title, thought this book was about art.
I missed ALL the math info and puns. (It was interesting reading the reviews of the math and science readers.) I can only tell you that the cleaver drawings tell stories that are universal. They work as well for art and life as they seem to work for math.
I have now given this book to many people. Every one of them has thanked me.
This is my favorite gift to give away for Valentine's day.

I purchased this book as a companion to the same named academy award winning animated short (1966?) by Chuck Jones. It was out of print until now. The short was recently released as a bonus feature on the DVD release of the Glass bottom boat. Bought the DVD, never have even looked at the main movie. It's enjoyable to watch a clever book come to life and be even more unforgetable then the written word.

I was given this book in 1980 by a college friend when it was in print in a smaller format. I am so pleased to see it again. If I could only own 100 books, this would be one of them.

Norton Juster wove more than puns and visual gags into this short book. Not to take an ounce away from those fantastic double entendres ("drawn and on edge").

There are references to social commentary "they all look the same anyhow," "freedom is not a license for anarchy," "why don't you find a nice line and settle down." There is amazing (for kids) vocabulary: quintessence, vector, potent, paralleliped. If you want to go there, there is also out of date vocabulary "Oh, what a head!" This book is rich.

Most of my high school math classes read "The Dot and the Line" at some point during the year, often as a read-aloud before a holiday. We find the puns, I explain the jokes, we discuss (briefly the social commentary), someone looks up the hard words, and they read a little boy-girl love story. It's the best kind of learning, the kind that happens when they think they are having fun!

I was given this book for Christmas and - being a huge nostalgia fan - I LOVE it! So many great photos and interesting stories. This is a must for anyone who loves show business success stories.

This is one of the most entertaining reads I've ever had...WOW! What a surprise! Highly recommended!!!

This book is full of wonderful information on the subject of ventriloquism and is a great history book as well, about a bygone era that was once a vital part of American TV entertainment. It's a must read for any trivia buff!!

Oh My gosh, this is THE BEST BOOK I've EVER read! This awesome book is garenteed to educate you on 4 of the best ventriloquists in american history! This is an awesome book, filled with lots of photos and fun stories. WELL WORTH YOUR TIME AND MONEY!

Okay, I admit it: I grew up watching Paul Winchell on TV. And my best friend carved his own dummy, and practiced ventriloquism, while I acted as "audience". So, dummies and ventriliquists formed my warped view of life, later leading to Monte Python and Firesign Theater. What makes ventriliquists fascinating is their combination of surrealism, fantasy and real-life issues, projected into their own, small theater. By "suspending disbelief", these performed create real persons and real stories. If you love imagination and those who create imaginary worlds, you'll enjoy this book.

I listen to this CD everyday. It has changed my life. Earl Nightingale is my new hero. Everyone should listen and own a copy of this CD.

This is a must have for anyone needing direction. I've put these principles to use many times over the years. This recording reinforces the idea that "WE BECOME, WHAT WE THINK ABOUT!"

I have the CD and have been listening to it several times already. It's such a simple message, but so profound at the same time. Moreso, it's spoken in a very calming and supportive voice that comes across as extremely inspiring. You become what you set out to be and what you think about. It is a recording about setting a goal and working towards that goal. Thinking positively constantly, and remaining keen on hitting your goal. I've found it insprirational, and it's a CD I'll continue to listen to so that I can keep the message fresh in my mind. Highly recommended if you are someone who is trying to find motivation to and inspiration to make change in your life,l but struggling with getting in motion.

Light years before The Secret (which I happen to LOVE), Earl Nightingale was already preaching the gospel according to the Law of Attraction.

What a great message in a short CD. His voice is very 50's sounding, but so easy to listen to. You'll hear all the same messages as you do in The Secret, but remember that this was recorded decades before.

Thanks to Jeffrey Gitomer for turning me on to this CD.
Little Red Book of Selling: 12.5 Principles of Sales Greatness

The most amazing characteristic of this message is its clarity. I have read hundreds of motivational books, and this might be the shortest and clearest text on the topic of setting goals and living mindfully. A true classic! No wonder that the original LP received a Golden Record award, indicating that over 1 million copies were sold. I highly recommend listening to the CD at least once every month!

Best photography book about we human beings covering pictures about love, marriage,birth,childhood, growing up, work, getting along, war, and old age.
It is truly well done and my favourite for myself and to give as a gift to someone you care about, who is interested in humanity.

Great book! I grew up with it, and rediscovered it just now. Wonderful!!

This is my favorite book. I purchased it when I was 18, and loved black and white photography. I am now 65, and still see the same basic beauty in the photographs. It's not about the 1950's, or showing American culture. It shows how universal and similiar all people of all races and cultures are. It shows young children playing, people falling in love, weddings, births, hard work, wars, death, grieving, and even hope from various people and countries from our planet Earth. One family. One people. This is a collection of love, not about a specific time, or place, or our differences. This is a book that shows our skin colors, clothes, and countries may change; but we are all the same.

I am so glad Family of Man is still available. I would also suggest that in conjunction with this book, you offer Family of Women, and Family of Children.

I first found this book at Foyle's in London, about 35 years ago, and it struck me. Since then, I bought five copies of the Family of Man, but no one remained in my home, because ever I felt the need to give this book to someone I loved or trusted.
What is making this book so precious to me?
First the idea itself of collecting pictures from the whole world (remember, when Steichen launched his project, the Cold War and the related hysteria was at its peak). This to demonstrate that all the human beings have to pass through the same events in their life: birth, growth, education, emotions, work, love, children, reflection, death. This apparently trivial concept leads to a conclusion by far less trivial: we all do belong to one family, our species, the humans (by the way, this thinking had not so great success in the past, nor the present seems to be more benevolent).
The Family of Man is exactly the visual demonstration of such a concept, by comparing the same events as viewed from different geographic and cultural perspectives, by means of photos from renowned or unknown photographers (of course, the pictures from the US are prevailing in numbers for logistics and statistical reasons: it was by far more simple for an US photographer to even simply receive the news of the Steichen project than for a photographer in Rwanda or in the USSR).
Steichen and his assistants made an impressive selection, shortlisting 503 pictures from the over 2 million they received. By the way, Steichen was a photographer, and his selection also considered the aesthetic side of the question: most of the pictures selected simply are wonderful.
The result is this book. I think no one on this planet can miss it, because The Family of Man is representative of a large part of our culture and on our very nature.
To give an example, in my opinion this book is at the same emotional and rational level as Homer's Odyssey, Dante's Divine Comedy, Melville's Moby Dick, primo Levi's If this is a Man, or the ancient Greek lyrics, to quote some comparisons.
I hope it will continue to be published; we, the humans, desperately need it.

One of the most enlightening books I have ever read. It delivers, in spades, a strategy for gaining positive publicity. On the way, it provides extremely interesting and thought provoking insight into how the media (and media professionals) operates.

The book is logically structured, with each chapter building on the previous. The result is a memorable system, as opposed to a jumble of rules.

Each chapter provides valuable insights into the how's and why's of gaining access to media. The insight that had the most impact on me was that you have a client relationship with reporters. The only thing is, the reporter is the client. That insight alone was worth the price of the book.

This is a great read, and a must-have on your short list if you're interested in Media Relations. Mark breaks down his book into easy to digest chapters, with real world examples of how each media rule works. By the time you get done with this book, you'll have it highlighted, with notes and ideas written in the margins, eager to try them out for your cause. Then you'll read it again to see what you missed the first time!

I'm getting ready to return to college and get my degree in Communications/PR. After seeing Mark give a presentation at a luncheon, getting the chance to read his book and taking the opportunity to talk with him, I was convinced more than ever to stay on track. I'm hoping to use the ideas in his book to stun my professors. Thanks Mark!

I don't think anyone can read Feeding the Media Beast and not be entertained. Better yet they will learn valuable insights about dealing with the media. There has always been a mystique about the media, that somehow they are greater beings than mere mortals. Mathis easily puts that to rest through his personal stories and often humorous examples. Mathis knows the media and is generous in his willingness to share.

Once anyone with a product to sell or something to promote figures out that the media need US they will be halfway to meeting their goal. Knowing how the game is played, and how important we are to them, is what Mathis does an excellent job of teaching.

Prepare. That is the key principle that Mathis shares and that we need to remember over and over. The media can be intimidating and daunting if we allow it, but with the information in Feeding the Media Beast it doesn't have to be. The media should be our best friend and after reading this book you'll feel much more confident and remember that they need us.

If you have any interest in working with the media successfully, read this book. Before you write a press release, before you call a journalist, and definitely before you accept an interview, listen to what Mark Mathis has to say about the nature of the media industry. His experience and his insights are invaluable. Initially I had thought that the cartoon on the front and the constant reference to the media as a "Beast" seemed infantile, and then I realized that this is in keeping with the message. The media IS infantile. Modern media is hardly a mature form of communication--it's more like a three-year-old throwing a tantrum. Why it's that way is a subject for sociologists and philosophers. All I'm concerned with is how to work with this three-year-old, and this book shows me the way.

Mathis' book is *excellent*, but government communicators should also see a book written by a Washington pro, see Media Relations Handbook for Agencies, Associations, Nonprofits and Congress. The Handbook is written by Brad Fitch, who has more than a decade of Washington PR experience, with a Foreword by Mike McCurry.

What others have said about Fitch's book (about which you can see more at MediaRelationsHandbook.com ):

"Great advice for beginners and experienced media hands. If you are a media relations professional--either beginner or seasoned veteran--this is the book for you. Brad Fitch, who spent many years fielding reporters' tough questions on Capitol Hill, has written a timely, practical guide to handling media relations that is filled with solid professional advice. What goes into a press release? How do you develop a strategic message? You've got a digital camera and a fax machine, but what else does your office need to effectively handle the media? Before you start talking to a reporter, do you know the difference between 'on the record,' 'off the record,' and 'background'? When there's an immediate crisis in your organization, what are the eight mistakes that you absolutely must avoid? How do you handle your paranoid boss when he or she has to confront the press? You'll find the answers to these and many other everyday problems in this book. Fitch also gives valuable advice on how to set up an effective website and how to use e-mail for optimum communications. Excellent book for professionals who work in federal or state agencies, trade associations, non-profits, state legislatures or Congress. It's the only handbook you'll ever need."
-- Dennis W. Johnson, college professor and former Capitol Hill senior staffer

"Provides valuable advice for those who flack for a living."
-- Roll Call

"A superb blend of theory and practice, written by someone who uses words like Gallup uses polls."
-- Steve O'Keefe, author "Complete Guide to Internet Publicity" and Adjunct Faculty, Tulane University College

"Uncertain how to interest the press in your pressing issue? Having difficulty preparing your media-unfriendly boss for a tough interview? Worried about the next communications crisis and how to handle it? Brad Fitch answers those questions and many more in this crisp, clear and completely useful book."
-- Tucker Carlson, Co-Host CNN Crossfire, author

"A seminar from TheCapitol.Net is one of the best ways to learn from the experts about how Washington really works. Now all that insight and information has been packed into this invaluable volume. I suggest you read it, and become your own expert."
-- Steven V. Roberts, syndicated columnist, TV and radio analyst, college professor

"Brad Fitch has performed an admirable public service by giving public relations students and professionals alike an indispensable tool. His book provides a road map on both the practicalities and principles of PR, and he shows that honest PR is not an oxymoron. Now it's up to all of us in the media and spin industries to keep our end of the bargain."
-- Ed Henry, Congressional Correspondent, CNN (formerly Senior Editor of Roll Call)

"This volume is an invaluable road map to the mean streets of a city where information is power and power is everything. Brad Fitch has written a rich 'how-to' lesson for pros and for novices who must negotiate the competitive landscape of America's new media."
-- Ann Compton, White House Correspondent, ABC News

"Media Relations Handbook is to political campaigns what The Art of War is to military campaigns: an essential strategic reference that winners should never be without."
-- James Carville, Co-Host CNN Crossfire, author

If you're a government communicator, you should get both Feeding the Media BeastAgain and Fitch's book, MediaRelationsHandbook.com , or search Amazon using the ISBN: 1587330032

Keep this book in your backpack, duffel bag, or purse, and bring it with you on your filmmaking adventures! Filmmaking For Teens is an essential manual for people just starting their film career or seasoned professionals. Let this book save you from the headaches of production so you can focus on producing your film!

Leah Warshawski, Executive Producer, "Film Festival: Rwanda", [...]

The book really help me as I started an after school group with students making their own films. I gives easy instructions for things that seemed so difficult. It is a must read, for teen or adults that want to make their own videos.

I bought this for my 13-year-old step son and he loves it! I read through it and discovered that it is very inspiring to young filmmakers. There are some great references in the back.
I bought him a small digital all-in-one video camera and he has done some very clever things with it after reading through the book. His best one was a little stop motion video about two rocks that had a fight with each other. One winner. One loser. Pretty funny.
I appreciate authors like Troy Lanier who can hold a teenage attention span for a couple hundred pages.

Young filmmakers will relish the opportunity to turn their dreams into reality - the reality of a finished short film - using the tips and insights of FILMMAKING FOR TEENS: PULLING OFF YOUR SHORTS. Chapter packed with insights on everything from brainstorming a solid, workable plot and setting to producing a first film, scheduling, shooting, and then marketing the finished results. Teens - and many a post-teen - will find all the passion of the new filmmaker translated into a series of practical chapters covering all aspects of one's first film endeavor - and should make this book a 'bible' of introductory steps to turning such a dream into reality.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

This would have been a great book entitled something like "Moving Beyond Home Video", but under its current title I found it oddly unbalanced. It opens with some good advice directed toward someone who has never written a screenplay, but then goes on to discuss assembling a crew including not only cast, but also an assistant producer and assitant director; the necessity of filming using manual focus; and mics with XLR connectors. If you have never tried to write a screenplay or finished a short film, you are not going to make your first foray into film with a large crew and a 3 chip camera, learning manual focus and lighting over your (recommended) 3 day shoot. On the other hand, if you are comfortable with trying out this kind of equipment, you have most likely tried your hand at screenplay writing before.

I would not recommend this book for a teen or anyone else trying to make their first attempt at filming a story of their own writing. It is, however, a fine book for those who have made a few home films with a sub $500 consumer camera and are looking to take the next step into a more sophisticated shoot with prosumer level equipment. In that light, it has very good overview material of the possiblities of equipment and accessories and has good advice on rehersals and crew.

I would welcome a recommendation from anyone who knows of a good book that is really aimed toward teens who really have never written or filmed anything and who are looking to try to put something together with a few friends with consumer level home equipment.

Highly Recommended! This is an excellent book for any one who is in the Music Industry or wants to understand how the Music Industry works. I purchased this book as part of the reading for Berklee Music Online course - "Inside the Record Industry". It helped me a lot with my course work and also in understanding how the Music Industry works. Thank you George !
Paulom

This book will take you step by step through all of the motions of getting yourself signed to a label. From press kits to the qualities that make a good manager, this book will hold your hand through the dark abyss that is the music industry. I would consider this a must read for anyone who would like to perform as a career. I personally have passed this on to all my bandmates, and many many friends. Do yourself a favor, and pick this up!

This is the book I needed when I was 15 years old, and grasping at any information to help move forward with a music career. Define where you are in your development as an artist, define where you would like to go, and more importantly why you want to go there. Then take action with the knowledge and confidence to realize your dreams and goals. Learn what labels look for in bands and artists, and how to position yourself to negotiate a win/win deal for yourself. Learn all the perspectives of the business of music from artist, label, distributor, publicity, and promotion, to management, and booking agents. Basically everything you need to understand to be successful, written in an understandable and accessible style, with a sense of humor. I loved it and learned so much I could write my own book with the research it inspired me to undertake. Don't just dream big, learn what it takes to do the work to become successful.

George Howard knows the music biz inside and out - reading this book is like having a top A&R guy as your personal coach. For everyone out there who wants to start a label or get a deal, the author dispels a lot of myths and helps you to focus systematically on the jobs you could and should be doing yourself. A very enjoyable read, this book is broken down into manageable chapters that give you the information and tools to help you reach your goals.

I am a folk singer/songwriter in Maine, and I purchased this book for use in a Berklee School of Music on-line course (taught by the author!)

This book answered all of my most pressing questions about record labels, their business processes, and what it takes to get their attention.

The information is anchored securely in the real world, and focuses on practical, down-to-earth details about how labels work, what you need to do to get noticed, and the preparation that you need to do in order to be successful in getting signed. Demo prodcution, promo package development, gigging, assembling your professional team, publicity and promotion, contract terms, it's all here.

The book also tells you how to find your own way as a label/artist, and what you need to do that will help you perform all the services for yourself that a lable would do for you.

I totally recommend this book; George Howard is an experienced music industry and record label pro, and knows what he's talking about. The book is fun, too - George has a sense of humor and knows how to use it to keep the reading interesting and engaging.

Definitely buy the book.