Edward Asner Books

This collections gathers classic sketches from 1959-present, and they're mostly fabulous. This material has been created by some of our country's sharpest comedic minds (John Belushi, Bill Murray, Martin Short, Mike Myers, etc.) and are performed here by current troupe members. The satire still cuts. There's a reason these scenes have been kept around for so long - they're hilarious! Everything from women in the military to parent-child mind games come in for ribbing during the course of (4) cassettes. Look for Ed Asner, Marsha Mason, "Saturday Night Live"'s Tim Kazurinsky, "The Daily Show"'s Stephen Colbert, "Strangers With Candy"'s Amy Sedaris and Paul Dinello, "The Secret Lives Of Men"'s Mitch Rouse, "Mr. Show"'s Jill Talley, and "Whose Line Is It Anyway"'s Ron West.

The Second City has lasted for 40 years by offering up biting social satire performed by unknowns who usually go on to become huge comedy stars. Every member of the SCTV Network show and most of the original cast of "Saturday Night Live" are Second City alums. The material covered in these tapes ranges from newer scenes to bits that have recurred since the '60s! Here, they are performed by some lesser-known, but no less hysterical, Second City vets. Chief among them: Tim Kazurinsky (from "Saturday Night Live"), "Strangers With Candy" cast members/writers Stephen Colbert, Paul Dinello, Amy Sedaris, & Mitch Rouse, Ron West ("3rd Rock From the Sun"), and Jill Talley ("Mr. Show"). Every bit is strong (this is a greatest hits, after all) and none outstay their welcome. Many of the scenes were created & originally performed by such heavy hitters as Belushi, Farley, Murray, etc. An incredible sampler of some of the best comedy of the past 40 years. And, it's live, too!

Everyone has heard of this trial. However, until I heard this rendition of the trial and play I wasn't as interested. This play sheds new light on it and makes it so much more interesting and actually brought it to life for me.

Murder in the First was one of the best books that I have ever read. I read it in two days, because there was no way possible that I was able to put it down. It was a realistic showing of what really happened inside of Alcatraz and how the prisoners were treated!

My 7 year old (and of course mee too) loves all three of these. He'll actually sit still for hours and listen to them, and race to the CD player waiting for me to change discs. It was dissapointong to see these broadcasts get progressivly smaller with each movie. From 7 in the first, to 5 in the second, and the Return only three CD's long. The last is almost nothing but the movie, with very little additional material. It's still good, but after lstening to A New Hope, The Return of The Jedi feels very short. I would highly reccommend these. They're great for those cold or raining Saturday acfternoons.

Starring the incredible talents of Jason Alexander and Edward Asner, this 93 minute, one-cassette, audio theatre production of Bruce Friedman's Steambath also features the narrative talents of Mary Gross, Ruben Sierra, Arthur Hanket, Gerrit Graham, and Paul Mercier. Directed by Robert Robinson, Steambath is the metaphysical story of unique and unforgettable characters in the steam room of a bathhouse and their engaging discussions of their lives, dreams, and desires. Steambath is as entertaining as it is thought provoking, and with its excellent technical production values, a welcome addition to any personal or community library audiobook collection.

The movie was terrible, but this book is hands down my favorite still after 30 years of reading excellent books. Keeps you thinking all the way through.

Sunday, July 09, 2006
"Sphere" by Michael Crichton, ©1987
This is an interesting book. I started reading it because it seemed better than that J. A. Jance story I had brought with me.
It has the distinction of having a psychologist as its hero. There are not too many science fiction books that even have psychologists in them, much less, as the hero. The best part of the story is the end: it makes so much sense and it was so obvious to start with. Then there is the inevitable what happens now that we all feel after a good story.

This was the first Crichton book I read a really long time ago. The book is great. Way better than the movie that came out. The mood and characters were developed so well and just kept me reading.

Michael Crichton weaves an awesome tale in Sphere. It's a unique and mind-bending tale that spins from one catastrophe to another with nice fluidity. Your'e constantly reading to find out not only what the Sphere is but the history of the characters. Crichton explains some difficult concepts using simple grammar which will help any reader who didn't pass chemistry. The Sphere is a character in it's self and that help propels the story forward. It's very creepy and makes you realize how powerful free will is. I highly recommend it because of the action, characters and story.

The writing in this book was really good. The underwater scenes described and the dicovery of an unusual spaceship at the bottom of the ocean are rivetting. I love books that explore and discover something unknown! The ending however is really, really ...lame! Like he intellectually just ran out of gas and wanted to end the story right away. (It is very similar to the movie.)

I can't speak for the other two books - which I haven't read - but this one is a clunky pastiche of every spiritual and/or New Age idea of the past 2000 years.

There's a little bit of everything here ... from the truly valuable to real howlers. (E.T. makes an appearance. And how charming that "God" agrees with the author on free love -- in favor! -- and protecting old-growth forests. Worst is when the author presents his own New Age wedding vows as the model for what everyone's should be!)

Really disheartening were the in-your-face plugs on every 5th page for one of the author's other books and programs! Somehow, it is impossible to believe this is a tactic God would need!

I made the mistake of paying full-price at a bookstore, on the recommendation of a friend. If you're determined to give it a look, try to pick up an inexpensive used copy first!

This book, is extraordinary. While the title suggests Christianity or other religious entity, it is much more existential that it suggests. An unequivically poignant book, inspiration and a fine assist on one's spiritual journey. Hands down one of the best books I have ever read.

This book was published ten years ago; I came to it in 2008. Everything in divine timing, no doubt. Filled with wisdom, beautiful and uplifting.
-Robert Schwartz, author of Courageous Souls: Do We Plan Our Life Challenges Before Birth?

There is alot of good stuff in these books for you to think about and learn from. BUT, IT SAYS INCREDIBLY HORRIBLE THINGS THAT ARE SUPPOSEDLY OK WITH GOD, SUCH AS CHILD MOLESTATION for example. I was very excited about this collection but half way through book 1, I threw them all in the recycle bin. The movie however was excellent and extremely uplifting.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU RENT THE MOVIE AND FORGET ABOUT THESE BOOKS. The movie does not delve into the things that GOD is supposedly telling him that he writes in his books. DON`T WASTE YOURE MONEY ON THESE BOOKS !

Alex

My son and I had read books 1 and 2. He asked when I was going to get book 3. I ordered it to give to him at Christmas. The book was in excellent condition and arrived in a timely maner.
We have both read it and enjoyed it very much.

Must read for all truth seekers ... who are open minded. This book will take you to the next level of spiritual evolution. Recommend you read book #1 in the Conversations with God series before this one.

NOT suitable for the radicals, hard core, single minded, fundamentalist religious types.

Another hit by Neale. Beautiful down to earth (and maybe up to heaven) easy to read dialogue on forming a friendship with God..a real one not an airy fairy wishy washy type of thing.

I love ALL his books...and this one brings the other books in the trilogy into more perspective for me.

Wonderfully enticing and lovely as per usual...Neale makes me see God in a light of love and not fear!

Bravo Neale! Keep writing!

This was the very first of the CWG books that I read and was a very inspirational book for me. It was as if somebody had gotten into my head and found all the bits that held an opinion about how God would be if I could model such a thing and then written a book introducing me to the concept of that God and how creation and the world I lived in fitted into my model.
All the questions I ever had about suffering and pain were answered before I even knew that I was questioning them, everything started to make sense when viewed from the eyes of this God, a friendship with God was something that I had subconsciously dreamed about and now it seemed that I wasn't the only one with that vision.
I have seen time again in my healing practice that we all have to make peace with our vision of God or the Universe or whatever you call it in order to bring peace and purpose to our lives...even if that purpose is to just be happy...and this is a book that can help anyone to move out of the unconscious images of God that we have been fed since birth that don't always serve our highest good. No man can paint a picture of God for you, God is something you have to know for yourself and this book is a great starting point for anyone to begin exploring.

Much has been said about the "Conversations with God" series. But even if you haven't read any of those books, read this one!

Neale Donald Walsch retraces his steps from writer, disc jockey to author. His journey is a difficult one but it also makes life sweeter when you see how trusting in faith and believing in the bigger plan destiny has for you can change your life.

This book is highly recommended for anyone who wants to know there is much more to life than what you see.

Run, don't walk, to your local bookstore and pick up a copy!

This was the first book I read in the "Conversatons With God" series, and from here I became hooked on reading the others. I must admit that for the first few years after they came out, I was put off by the titles. They just sounded a little too traditional, a little too religious. I've always been more of a spiritual maverick and believed that spiritual experience was unique and personal for each individual.

I was pleasantly surprised and delighted to discover in "Friendship With God" that the material could only have been authored by one who also lived as a spiritual maverick. I immediately resonated with the content, and his stories of experiencing divorce, financial ruin, regret and homelessness made him all the more believable.

I was awed by the author's willingess to go so far out on a limb in his discussion of what it means to have a relationship with God. I particularly liked the way he connected our relationships to other people as mirrors of our relationship with the divine source. His anecdotes from his own life made this book more intimate and personal than the previous three in this series.

I read this book during a two-week stay at the home of my life partner's mother and father, while his father spent the last two weeks of his life in hospice care. It proved to be an uplifting source of comfort and insight that greatly enhanced my experience there, as well as my memory of it later.

This is a truly inspired book and a delight to read. In addition to the other books in the "Conversations With God" series, another life-changing book that inspires living from a more expanded aspect of consciousness is High Way from Hell: Using Emotion to Fan the Fire of Enlightment.

I read Palast's previous book "Best Democracy Money Can Buy" and was blown away by the information it contained. Palast's writing is based on current events, and he blasts government officials ON BOTH SIDES (dems and repubs). It's just that there's more dirt on Repubs, cause there's more in office. Palast is what I call an "equal opportunity hater" (not the racist kind, but the dig up dirt and say it, kind.) and pulls no punches.

I have to be honest about one thing tho... On a couple of Palast's stories in this book, Palast asks the reader to "trust him" and his sources. I say this because those few stories contain little to no evidence to support his claim (short of "a lil birdie told me"). I'm natually suspicious of someone who tells me what I want to hear, but won't tell me who said it. Additionally, this book does NOT have a bibliography, which is seriously disappointing.

On the flip side, the rest of the stories are easily traceable and the evidence easy to procure with a few clicks with google. I would strongly recommend reading the book a bit at a time, and not str8 thru. The reason being is that the stories are very upsetting, and you'll understand them better if u read them with a clear mind. This goes for both proponents of Palast and opponents.

Regardless as to if you think Palast is right or wrong (keep in mind, he used to be an investigator for the govt'), his arguments are possible. And that's what's really key in his writing, as you need to know what someone will do to trick you.

I truly believe that people on both sides of the political fence can take something positive out of Palasts books. Just try to forgive the rehetoric :D I often refer to Palast's books as theh cauldrons of light.

P.S. If you love this book, also check into "Blackwater" by Jeremy Scahill.

In "Armed Madhouse" the author examines many current political issues.

There is information on the two different plans for the Iraq War and where the plans originated. The consortium of petroleum, chemical, and banking industries all had a hand in one of the plans. That's not common knowledge. The State Department had a 3-day plan while the Pentagon/neo-cons had more of a corporate takeover approach.
"The plan makes it clear to me that, even if we didn't go into Iraq for the oil, we sure as hell weren't leaving without it."-Page 56.

Among some of the topics that I haven't seen adressed much before this book are the following;

Ahmad Chalabi and his close connections to high profile policy makers.

The history of Iraq, particularly the British rule of that country in the 1920's.

A lesson in economics and oil. OPEC membership and production quotas.
OPEC's arrangements with big American oil companies.

Neo-con think tanks and their connections to Big Oil. Exxon-Mobil and the James A. Baker III Institute is one example.

Saddam Hussein's "manipulation of the oil markets" as another motive for regime change.

The identities of some of the participants in Cheney's secret energy planning meetings.

The author reveals that before his career in journalism he was a "forensic economist". He investigated companies such as Enron and Exxon.

Another interesting angle on manufacturing jobs and why China wants them is addressed in "Armed Madhouse".
And nobody covers vote fraud as well as Greg Palast does.

Another memorable quote is found on page 303. "Hot wars abroad can assist class war at home."

The only topic I disagree with Mr. Palast on is suing gun manufacturers for the actions of gun-toting criminals. That's a copout for non-enforcement of existing gun laws.

I liked "Armed Madhouse" better than "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy."
Palast really hit on a lot of current issues and with his typical sarcastic style.

I've never read a book by such a witty investigative reporter. It would be nice if we had an objective, courageous mainstream media in this country to give us the kind of reporting Palast does. Since we don't, get your news from sources like "Democracy Now" and go get this book.

Palast looks at the conduct of the Iraqi war from 2003 through 2006,the reconstruction period after the war ended,the administration of Iraq,as well as other events in the Bush presidency,such as the slow and unorganized response to Hurricane Katrina that had destroyed the city of New Orleans in 2005.Palast is highly critical of the manner in which these events were handled,as well as criticising the individuals picked by the Bush Administration to administer the aftermath of the Katrina disaster,the recovery and reconstruction of Iraq ,etc.Palast emphasizes what he considers to be the Bush Administration's incompetence and managerial failures.He definirely has some grounds for his conclusions.

ARMED MADHOUSE is essential reading. Greg Palast is an investigative journalist with impeccable credentials. After you read ARMED MADHOUSE, expect to be righteously outraged.