B Books


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B Books sorted by Average customer review: high to low .

B
March's Advanced Organic Chemistry: Reactions, Mechanisms, and Structure, 5th Edition
Published in Hardcover by Wiley-Interscience (2001-01-15)
Authors: Michael B. Smith and Jerry March
List price: $105.00
New price: $113.61
Used price: $35.97

Average review score:

The Green Bible of Organic Chemistry
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2004-08-15
March never leaves my desk. It covers everything. From functional group transformations to mechanisms to FMO theory - you name it it's there. Highly recommended for any advanced undergraduate, graduate or post-doctoral researcher. It's a bookshelf staple that any organic chemist should have available.

Nice book, for sure
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-11-06
I'm pretty sure that you _must_ have this book if you are studying advanced organic chemistry. Maybe it's not the best one to use as a study guide, but it's extremely helpful as a reference book both for undergrads and graduate students. However, one can argue that this edition is a bit out-of-date.

An investment that'll last you for years.
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2004-09-04
I bought a copy of this text (2nd Ed) after finishing my sophomore year of college, and it proved to be the best single investment I've ever made in chemistry. I used it so often, I had to duct-tape the book together.

I think the happiest moment of my career was when my name appeared in the index of a later edition. Anyway, buy it and treasure it.

The Best Reference for Organic Chemistry
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2005-10-09
This is by far the best text I have found. Although it is considered a text book, it is more handy as a reference tool. I have seen no other book that contains more information than March's. This book is actually worth the price.

1495 Page Bible Of General Reactions And Mechanisms
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2004-02-09
I paid more for my 4th ed. new, and find it to be worth even more. It is not a cookbook per se, but it is a very comprehensive textbook that details general reactions by functional group. It outlines every way known to remove, add to, or otherwise modify every functional group. There is as much commentary as is needed, if not more, and every pathway is mentioned regardless of how exotic or primitive and low-yielding. The corresponding OS synth refs for specific cpds. are given for each type of reaction, along with a total of 15,000 other refs in footnotes. This was cutting-edge in 92, with much updating of the 3rd ed. The index will take you to the section that shows how to make the manipulations you want - if it doesn't, it probably can't be done.

B
Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization, Third Edition
Published in Hardcover by W. W. Norton (2008-01-16)
Author: Lester R. Brown
List price: $29.95
New price: $17.50
Used price: $18.67

Average review score:

Saving Civilization Won't Be This Easy
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-05
Lester Brown gives us a solid plan to save civilization from the ravages of Peak Oil and Global Warming. But at $190 billion a year, it just sounds too easy.

In fact Peak Oil is now becoming Peak Everything (the title of Richard Heinberg's latest book), driving huge price increases in many key commodities. This means that the actual cost is likely to become twice Brown's estimate or more, the longer we delay, the higher the price. To keep costs down will take a global mobilization, with many agreements like the proposed Oil Depletion Protocol (subject of another Heinberg book) and massive rationing or taxation of non-essential consumption.

One way or another global economic decline is in the offing. This is a scary issue, especially for politicians, but it needs to be faced. This is because there is a huge difference in how this decline occurs. Business-as-usual decline (Plan A) will lead to collapse, possibly by mid-century. Decline imposed through mobilization (Plan B) will lead to survival, though with far less of many of today's luxuries.

Here's how decline will hit home, even with mobilization. Brown, along with the Apollo Alliance and many others, are now talking about a new economy of "green collar" jobs, with re-localization of much outsourced productive activity. What they don't tell you is that most of these jobs will pay far less in real purchasing power than most white and blue collar jobs in today's top industries.

But good people will take these Walmart-pay type jobs anyway because of layoffs that will skyrocket in the coming decades. That is, today's wealth is based primarily on cheap energy, so with many more people competing there will a lot less wealth to go around as we head down the Peak. Much of Plan B amounts to learning how to live with less. Many of those who've looked carefully at the numbers don't see the resources to build and maintain the renewable energy we'd need to replace all of today's fossil fuels.

This brings up the population issue. Brown says that we must stabilize at eight billion people. But will we really have the resources for 8 billion people to live sustainably and with at least basic middle class amenities (decent food, clothing, housing, health care, education, transportation, ...)? Some people are now saying that we need to think two billion or less.

Radical population reduction seems impossible without invoking the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. But it's actually very simple in concept: Women have only one child, on the average, and that child is born in the woman's mid thirties, again on the average. Mathematically this will reduce the population by a factor of 4 in 80 to 100 years. Sure, this would take a global cultural mobilization, but it is possible. As Brown points out, Iran cut its population growth rate in half in less than a decade, and Thailand did too. Perhaps we need Al Gore to show the world the kind of Apocalypse that happens when an exploding population uses up all its resources.

a good book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-07
This book does a good job of suggesting that the United States trims it's military budgets from the largest to a very slim one.

and demonstrates how necessary it is to move away from oil, thru the use of windmills and electric cars.

It does a good job of putting into laymans terms facts which most people do not consider in their daily grind, and how decisions made by super powers when it comes to (over)population levels, econimic models, and the environment must be addressed.

According to the book, every single member of the US Senate was given one copy hopefully they read it so they can grasp the issues discussed.

Plan B 3.0
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-31
The numbers don't lie. Lester Brown has presented a very informative synopsis of the most pressing issues facing our planet. The trends are all pointing in the wrong direction as far as the environment. He does offer an extremely innovative solution to get us back on a sustainable path. The scary thing is the narrow window of time in which we have to make some monumental changes in the way that we live. This is especially true for us Americans. We need to realize that there are another 6+billion people on the planet and that we all can not consume and waste as Americans collectively do. Great job Lester. I bought 8 copies of the book, which I never done before in my life to circulate to people to get the word out. Buy this book, you will not regret it.

exhaustive and detail oriented
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-08
This is a difficult book to get wrapped around. Which is good news, and then again it is bad news.

The good news is that this is an excellent and wide-sweeping run-up to the current health of our Earth.

Such topics as Our Socially Divided World, Eradicating Poverty, Designing Cities For People, and The Great Mobilization are spread over 287 pages of dense statistics and research, backed up by nearly another 100 pages of footnotes.

The bad news? There is far more content than is of interest to me - the motivated renewable energy reader. Some day I will wade through the less interesting parts, and then leave the remainder as a source reference.

The book cover heralds "REVISED AND EXPANDED". Actually, I would have preferred the less-is-more previous edition.

If you don't believe we are all in for some serious challenges...
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-07
Then you must read this book. It clearly lays how mankind is on the road to ruin if we don't change our ways and the U.S. is no ways immune. It is hopeful also to read about tangible plans on how we can change our ways and build a world for all of us to thrive in, maybe compramising just a little bit for the better well-being of all of us. The book is extremely well writting and the documentation of sources is impressive. My only complaint is that some of it is unessecarily redundant, but I don't blame the author for trying to hit home key points. Anyone with any concern for the future needs to read this book, and take some action, even if just a little.

B
Submerge: Living Deep in a Shallow World: Service, Justice and Contemplation Among the World's Poor
Published in Paperback by Regal Books (2006-12-06)
Author: John B. Hayes
List price: $14.99
New price: $7.76
Used price: $6.51

Average review score:

Inspiring - A call for action from the church
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-21
This book has been very inspiring and influential in my life. It's challenged me to take seriously the commands and teachings of scripture regarding the poor. I highly recommend this book for all Christian believers and exhort them to take seriously what it says.

Stories from the community of faith
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-28
We live in a culture of superstars, heroes, and saints - that one charismatic person that "changed everything". True to John Hayes' heart for communities of faith and compassion to "get down from their donkey's" to attend to the poor by the side of the road, Submerge is really a mosaic of stories, masterfully told, of Christians who've taken that step of faith to love the poor and marginalized.

challenging and encouraging
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-07-27
This book will rock your views on the poor and ministry to and among them. Do not take lightly! Be prepared to change your heart....if this is your heart, be encouraged that others have the same desires.

"Submerge:" a chance to look at yourself
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-05-07
Everyone who writes a check to a charity needs to read this. Everyone who lives an insulated middle class life needs to read this. And everyone who claims a faith in a supreme being needs to read this. All of us can reassess where we are, what we have, and what we want with the measure described in this work. As we sleepwalk through our privileged lives, we suffer our tragedies, and enjoy our triumphs, but they seem so insipid when we compare them to the experiences of the workers of InnerChange. This is not a finger-pointing call for self-hatred, but a impassioned plea to step outside our comfort zones.

A Must Read
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-17
This is not just a book for someone considering urban ministry, or ministry to the poor. It is a book for any and every Christian.

At a minimum this is a perspective book -- a mirror to hold up to your face and show the ease in which most of us in the west follow Jesus (and rarely have anything to say about how he has "shown up" in miraculous ways) and then just listen to what the Holy Spirit might say to you. This book will inspire and challenge you to examine how faith in Jesus is to be lived out by all whom He calls to follow Him.

I finished Sub-merge and immediately gave it to a woman I was talking to at the Starbucks where I was reading it. I am now ordering another copy to replace it.

B
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
Published in Paperback by Hill and Wang (1984-06-01)
Author: B. Traven
List price: $16.00
New price: $8.79
Used price: $3.79
Collectible price: $16.00

Average review score:

Excellent!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-19
I have been a big fan of the movie for years but had never read the book. Well, I have to say that the book is even better than the movie, and I still love the movie. If you have seen the movie It will be hard not to imagine Bogie and walter Huston in the main roles. And this is not just because they are already planted in your mind, I think director John Huston did an excellent job of casting the movie. Anyway, I highly recommend this book!

PACKS A WALLOP...
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-02-27
This book is the basis for John Huston's film of the same name. Both author and director share a love of Mexico and it's people. Having seen the movie many times it was interesting to come to many familiar parts of the story knowing what was going to happen and enjoy on the page verbatim bits of dialogue. The story takes awhile to get going as Traven sets up his characters but it builds to a powerful ending proving once and for all that man's greed destroys his soul. There are some who have criticized Traven's socialistic leanings but I don't think they get in the way of the story at all...in fact, I think they prove his point that unregulated capitalism is the bane of western civilization. But enough of that - this is a timeless story that meanders a bit so it won't appeal to casual readers. If your reading tastes lean to anything recent, this book will probably be too slow; in that case, watch the movie - you will get the same point in less than 2 hours. However, if you like Literature you will appreciate Traven's insights to human nature and his excellent story-telling method. I myself couldn't read this without putting the movie out of my mind...if someone tells you not to think of pink elephants...well, you get the idea. All in all, this novel is well written but could've been a bit shorter.

a very special piece of writing
Helpful Votes: 12 out of 13 total.
Review Date: 2005-02-04
If you have seen and enjoyed the John Huston film of the same name, and believe it to be one of the greatest films ever produced, then it is mandatory to procure and read this book.

This review is written from the perspective of someone who has seen the film at least a half dozen times before reading the novel for the first time. The film is mostly faithful to the novel, so no nasty surprises await those weaned on the film. While less dramatic in some ways, the book provides a better explanation for the motivations of the characters. This necessarily leads to significant, though not unpleasant, changes in some of their fates compared to the film (or perhaps, better said, vice-versa). Some of the more interesting scenes also are expanded, such as the encounter with the bandits at the camp, and more background is provided about the bandits themselves and the efficient and clever way that they are ultimately dealt with by the local people.

Though a little slow going at first, once accustomed to Traven's writing style and well into the meat of the story, the feeling of the realization that a very special experience is in store for you simply builds and builds and continues doing so until the satisfying conclusion of the book is reached. This is a masterpiece, a gourmet treat for the soul, a book to relish during a lazy morning spent in a soft bed, or sitting by a cozy fireplace.

As in many screen adaptations, seemingly ancillary elements were culled for the film. However, those elements, namely the description of the factors which led to the oppression of the native peoples of Mexico, provides a pervasive, unifying theme throughout the novel. This lends an enriching, interesting counterpoint to the story of the central characters.

There is a tiny bit of information given about the mysterious B. Traven, just enough to make you want to learn more. A speculative look at his identity is presented in the extras which are included with the newly-released reissue of the film on DVD.

A classic novel by a mystery man
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-29
The stirring and adventurous novel, "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" was penned by enigmatic author B. Traven. Traven a political anarchist active in the 20's and 30's was thought to be of German descent and was purported to be the illegitimate son of Kaiser Wilhelm II. Nonetheless he lived for many years in Mexico and as seen by his most celebrated work, had an excellent working knowledge of Mexican culture and society.

His novel which served as the framework for the John Huston classic film starring Bogey and Walter Huston, greatly embellished the story seen on the screen. His tale of adventure, hardship and greed was admixed with political commentary as Mexico was emerging from years of colonial rule and subsequent exploitation by big industry. The oil business was seen ruling the economics of the region described in the book.

Traven's ingenious blending of the gripping tale of his main characters, Dobbs, Curtin and Howard braving the wilds of unexplored jungle regions of Mexico in quest for gold with social commentary was very effective. He was thereby able to expose his points concerning the Mexican social and political climate. He also didactically pointed out that life's riches are not solely based on precious metals but also on the fellowship, relationships and respect among mankind.

I was so happy when I got to the badges part....
Helpful Votes: 7 out of 10 total.
Review Date: 2006-07-08
I bought the The Treasure of the Sierra Madre at a small used bookstore that was moving across town so that they marked all of their fiction half off (half off of used prices - awesome). So I left with about 20 books for about $20 - $25. I was grabbing things at random that looked at all interesting or at all slightly familiar. One of those books was The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.

I had seen parts of the movie years ago on TV, but not enough to remember any plot points. My dad had a tendency to habitually switch channels between five movies all at once so for the longest time I thought John Wayne and the scene where they blow up the bridge during "Bridge over the River Kwai" were scenes in EVERY movie.

The book was slow going at first. The characters are introduced and they take their time to finally get to the part where they're prospecting. As I read it I thought, "yes. There's lots of social inference in here." But then continued to read on taking it all at face value instead of trying to over analyze everything. It's more fun to think about it for a month later and think, "Man, that's so true. We'll all turn against each other in an instant if money is involved. tsk."

I enjoyed the characters, I felt frustrated for them as they fell into paranoia and insanity. I kept thinking, "Which one is Bogart? Is that Bogart?" And when the one guy **spoiler** gets his head cut off, I was like 'Whaa? For real? That's pretty intense." I've been reading a lot of Beat writers a lot lately, and the Mexico that Traven describes is a lot different from Kerouac's or Burroughs' Mexico - they tend to romanticize the poverty, where the guys in this book are actually living the miner hardships. Mexico's a lot better when you have a trust fund, huh, Burroughs?

And yes. I was so happy that the famous `badges' line is actually in the text. I pictured Micky Dolenz saying it from a skit in the Monkees TV show that I used to watch after school on Nickelodeon. I laughed and laughed.

B
Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs: Official Companion Book to the Exhibition sponsored by National Geographic
Published in Hardcover by National Geographic (2005-06-01)
Author: Zahi Hawass
List price: $35.00
New price: $14.91
Used price: $9.68
Collectible price: $84.00

Average review score:

Golen Age of the Pharaohs: offical Book of the Exhibition
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-09
Fantastic book; saved money by purchasing it through Amazon. Shows all the exibits. Very pleased with the book. A fine edition to anyones collection.

Very good book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-09
I bought the book before seeing the tour in Philly. The book is very well done, and very good representation of the tour. Beautiful photographs, plus good rich text around the history of the 18th dynasty.

Other reviews talk about the tour, which isn't really what the book is about. The tour was rather crowded, and I was somewhat disappointed that all the objects were small, and no Tut sarcophagus. Very little explanation of the layout, so my son was complaining about the lack of Tut objects; they included many from the 18th dynasty.

I recommend the official DVD, its great; bought it at the show.

yasangel
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-08-31
Beautiful book, great pictures. Great to have with you if you get to see exhibit.

Gollden Age of the Pharaohs
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-07-16
Purchased in anticipation of the opening of the exhibition in London in November, the book is a mine of information. Not only does Zahi Hawass describe the objects on display, but he places them in context and gives a vivid picture of life in Egypt at the time of Tutankhamun and before his accession to the throne. Not only a great read, a reference for future use and up to Dr Hawass usual enthusiastic and vivid style. A must-have book for anyone interested in Egypt.

absolutly stunning....a once in a life time chance....
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-07-04
First and formost DO NOT miss the King Tut tour.....the artifatcs are absoutely astounding and incredibly beautiful beyond words..It it truly extremely hard to wrap your mind around that every peice is wll over 3000 yers old. As for the book itself it is nithing short of amazing...caputring the exibit almost in its entirety....but NOTHING compares to seeing the absoultly stunnig tour live...a truly once in a life time experience...after the US tour concludes it it will never leave Cairo again...The book is worth its weight in gold...the awsome photography and articles by renowned archiloghits and her HRH the Queen of Egypt her self...THis tour the book by National Geographic and the Official DVD are some of the greatest gifts ever bestowed opon the world. A gift from the heart of Egypt to the world that will never be go on tour again...A humbling experience live and most interesting reading a msater work indeed...Bravo!!!

B
The Art of Leading Yourself: Tap the Power of Your Emotional Intelligence
Published in Paperback by Cypress House (2001-06)
Author: Randi B. Noyes
List price: $15.95
New price: $12.40
Used price: $6.13

Average review score:

A Refreshing Look at Our Resources
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2002-08-14
In our world of today, which is multi-cultural, fast-paced and global, what more makes sense than listening to the 'inner voice'? Randi convinces the reader to realise the importance of balancing preformance and emotion,which may come as an eye-opener. Many phrases and expressions in the book will strike a chord, which may have been buried in our sub-conscious. The book is full of real-life examples, making it readable and providing the feeling of sharing common experiences with individuals like ourselves.

A loving guide
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2002-08-27
Randi B. Noyes has written a beautiful book that will be your loving guide and companion if you are serious about leading yourself from the inside out. For those who are yet to define themselves as the "uncontested boss off their own life", the book will encourage a bigger and brighter dream of what their life can be.

This book is a practical and down to earth approach to navigating in your own life. Its focus on emotional intelligence teaches that if you want to live a whole life, you will have to use your whole self in your day to day living. Filled with living examples, the book is easy to read and enjoyable. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to know themselves better.

Useful tool for personal development
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2002-08-08
In "The art of leading yourself" Randi is taking full advantage of her natural talent and the vast experience she has gained from meeting with people in different contexts and her desire to understand their behaviour. She succeeds in conveying the highly complex topic of emotional intelligence in a simple way without banalising the art of managing yourself. Emotional intelligence is often presented in an academic way which means those in need to understand this topic often miss out. Therefore "The art of leading yourself" has the potential to capture a wide audience thence enabling more people to take an active role in developing and improving their situation and becoming managers of their own lives. Randi's book and seminars have definitely contributed to my personal development. I have found the strength to confront myself and as a result I have become a more complete person, both private and professional. Consequently, "The art of leading yourself" should not be regarded solely as a businessperson's guide as it is a very useful tool and guide for personal development...

Personal Application for EQ
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2002-07-15
This book is a conversational journey with extensive, vivid images. Noyes calls on extensive consulting and coaching to take the basic principles of self-awareness and self-management and personalize them. The imagery is memorable. The people and examples given make the material applicable and personal. Throughout, the work is easy to read and on point. It's strength is in experience rather than abstract principle. This serves as a great self-help work. The final sections provide easy to use exercises to make materials real, personal and practical. Fun and informative, this work serves to practically make life more fulfilling.

Blockbuster of soft skills
Helpful Votes: 7 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2002-08-31
Finally - an author has created a new paradigm of success and has produced a book that gets right to the heart of modern pursuits. One of the world's leading experts on emotional intelligence, Randi B. Noyes, argues that in today's world, emotions matter. In fact, they can matter twice as much as conventional intelligence and expertise put together in terms of accounting for business success.

"The Art of Leading Yourself" provides a balanced and practical approach to emotional intelligence. It indicates that proper understanding and use of emotions can be critical to helping us be more effective workers and better communicators. Comprehensive, convincing, and invaluable this engaging book is a 'must read' for anyone desiring to make a difference.

B
The Art of Writing Reasonable Organic Reaction Mechanisms
Published in Hardcover by Springer (2007-07-31)
Author: Robert B. Grossman
List price: $54.95
New price: $42.29
Used price: $37.99

Average review score:

Good book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-26
I haven't finished reading this book yet but it seems very good. It is very easy to read and it is very informative. I would recommend this book to anyone who has taken organic chemistry, is going to study organic chemistry n graduate school, or as a supplement to any mechanism class.

Great Book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-23
This is a great book. It is a "must have" for any organic chemist.

worth reading for senior undergraduate and 1st graduate student in chemistry
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-02
For people who love organic chemistry, this book provides a basic guide for people to learn some basic but fundamental details of organic chem mechanism.The fourth chapter is expecially worthy reading. Moreover, Chapter 6 provides people with a rough idea of what's going on in organometallics filed.

basics for organic chemist
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-05-10
This book is excellent for reaction mechanism. This book is helpful for the undergraduate's organic chem 2 and the grad school's reaction mechanism class. I learned how to move the electron in reasonable way. So in one word, this book is awesome book that I ever read for practicing reaction mechanism.

Excellent Book on Mechanisms
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-11-04
I bought this book to practice mechanisms because I'll be taking a physical organic class in the spring that uses them heavily. I used this book instead of sitting in on a sophomore organic class, because by job as a TA conflicted.

Anyway, this book is extraordinary. Dr. Grossman has taught me so many things about how to write a correct mechanism and how to recognize a bad mechanism when I see one. The book is written in a very clear and friendly manner and it's really quite hard to put down when you start reading it.

The book also has practice problems and the book's website has the answers, giving even more incentive to practice mechanisms.

B
Blues All around Me: The Autobiography of B. B. King
Published in Paperback by Harper Paperbacks (1999-12-01)
Authors: B. B. King and David Ritz
List price: $14.00
New price: $2.71
Used price: $2.49

Average review score:

BLUES ALL AROUND ME: THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF B.B.KING
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-03-20
THERE ARE MANY BLUES SINGERS FROM ROBERT JOHNSON TO THE PRESENT, BUT THERE IS ONLY ONE THEY CALLED "THE KING OF THE BLUES" THIS MAN IS A LEGEND HE IS CALLED B.B.KING. THIS POWERFUL BOOK GOES INTO THE HUMBLE BEGINNING OF RILEY B. KING AS A SHARECROPPER,THROUGH THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT,RACISM TO PERFECTING THE MUSIC THAT IS HIS FIRST LOVE "THE BLUES" .HERE IS A MAN WHO CAME FROM A SIMPLE HUMBLE BEGINNING TO PERFORMING BEFORE KINGS AND QUEENS AND PRESIDENTS AND EVEN THE POPE. IF YOU HAVE SEEN B.B.KING YOU KNOW WHY HE IS CALLED THE KING OF THE BLUES, IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN HIM YOU ARE MISSING OUT ON "THE MAN" HIMSELF ALL YOU CAN DO IS READ THIS POWERFUL BOOK

read the book several times
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2005-09-06
I've read BB's book several times, maybe 5 or 6. Every time I read it I still love it. I learn something new about him every time. If you even consider yourself a fan of BB or the blues, you have to read this book. David Ritz is an awesome co-writer, keeping BB's voice in the forefront, and he just gently guides BB. He did a hell of a job with Etta James' autobiography also.
An excellent book!!

A MAN AND HIS BLUES... the great BB KING...
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2004-11-03
His real name is Riley B. King, the B.B. stands for Blues Boy, and he is known as "America's ambassador of the blues". A recommended enjoyable, good read about growing up and into music, self-taught guitar, remarkable attitudes of a man who faced prejudice and hate with an even keel. A performer who went on stage even when he was suffering from a bad case of flu. B.B. King took his music to Israel, England, and Russia, and held up in stature through the lows and highs. And he loves his 'Lucille' (guitar)! David Ritz has co-authored with the King a wonderful synopsis of love, fortitude, belonging, and enthusiasm. Recommended for blues lovers or otherwise... please don't miss this splendid read. (Review based on hardcover 1996)
Reviewer also recommends: 'Between Each Line of Pain and Glory My Life Story' by Gladys Knight

To really get to know the Beale Street Blues Boy...
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2003-02-20
Wow, I just finished reading this biography and am truly satisfied with my reading. It's been a long time since I read a book this refreshing. Talk about honesty, passion and heart.
The last 3 chapters were especially entertaining, talking from the heart about issues generally left untouched. From page one, I couldn't put the book down.
This book really helps you understand B.B's live performances. For anyone who as seen B.B. King live sometimes gets the feeling that his performance is a routine that dates back 25 years (well, I now know it is!), but this fact doesn't bother my anymore, understanding where the man comes from, better understanding his way of doing things.
Recommended for blues fans and anyone interested in a very entertaining read.

A blues story
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 9 total.
Review Date: 2003-05-26
A blues story
B.B. King's life is presented here in a breezy, happy go lucky style. Ostensibly an autobiography, (although if you heard any of B.B.'s interviews about the book and his amazement at some of the details that were revealed, you know David Ritz did much more than help out.) this book deals with B.B.'s childhood of amazing poverty and his eventual rise to be the "King of the Blues." Conversational in style, but revealing in detail, BLUES ALL AROUND ME works as both a personal reminiscence and as a look at the life of a black man living in America during the 20th century. Tales of racism (in the military and elsewhere), the difficulties of dealing with a less than honest music industry, and the struggle for success against these odds are all expressed in a manner that shows no true anger, rather an acceptance that these were challenges to overcome. B.B.'s personal relationships with the many women in his life is not avoided, nor his opinions of many of his contemporaries. While the selected discography is extremely disappointing, this book should be required reading for any fan of the blues, and while any autobiography has to be taken with a grain of salt, this one definitely rings true.

B
C D B!
Published in Paperback by Prentice Hall (1988-03)
Authors: William Steiger and William Steig
List price: $3.50
Used price: $17.96

Average review score:

CDB
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-27
CDB! (Stories to Go!)

I was very excited to find this book for my grandbaby. We had great fun with it when her aunts were small. Who would have thought back then that William Stieg invented 'text speak'. I even stumped my youngest daughter with NQ!

Great book, but needs the answers
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-07-24
I ordered this since my sister received it and thought it was a great book. Unfortunately, this copy does not come with the answers. Look for the hard cover version, that has the answers in the back.

Your new BFF reading!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-06-21
This book is as intriguing and entertaining was it was 25+ years ago when I read it to my children. As an educator, I discovered this book to be a source of entertainment and challenge to my children as well as a wonderful tool to help my students as they struggle with reading skills. I recently purchased it again for my grandchildren since my copy was misplaced over the years...and they love it as their mother when she was their age.
Buy it and use...it will help dust off the gray matter and delay alzehemier. :)

I M N X-T-C!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2004-06-07
smart! adorable! unexpected! (the book, not my kids...)
This book really has us rolling in laughter. My sons (ages 4 and 6) and I have been playing with an electronic toy: push a letter and the thing says the letter's name. We had been using it to make word sounds -- pressing U R A Q T for "you are a cutie" and so forth. When I saw this book I just had to get it. It is amazingly clever -- and to think it was written in 1968. It's fresh, not at all dated. My sons are very good readers for their respective ages, but it is definitely appropriate for them. I had to explain a phrase or two (they didn't know the word "ecstacy" when they saw X-T-C) but otherwise it was totally on their level. I still crack up reading it, and I've read it at least ten times. The watercolor illustrations are perfect. Stieg conveys a lot of emotion and expression with just a few brush strokes. When a boy sees someone with a lollipop and tells him "I N-V U," you can see the envy.
I won't mind if my kids want to read this one again and again. I M N X-T-C 2!

taught me how to read
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2003-08-04
This book helped me learn to read when i was 3 years old. As long as you know the alphabet you can read this book, which makes it perfect for children who are learning to read.

B
Color Drawing: Design Drawing Skills and Techniques for Architects, Landscape Architects, and Interior Designers, 2nd Edition
Published in Hardcover by John Wiley & Sons (1999-06-16)
Author: Michael E. Doyle
List price: $54.95
New price: $44.69
Used price: $21.47

Average review score:

WONDERFUL book!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-04
I have a copy of the first edition of this book and am still mesmerized by it. When it first came out, everyone I knew at design school who bought it felt like the information and techniques had given them an out-of-body-experience and it quickly became THE book to own, learn from, and emulate. Anyone who buys this book and applies the material and techniques will become better at drawing, rendering, and creative presentation methods...it is a sure-fire way to achieve "star power" in your office and in front of your clients!

awesome resource
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-10-24
great book! Out of the dozens of hand rendering guides I looked at, this was by far the best and the easiest to learn from. It tells you what pencils, markers, and tools to buy to achieve certain effects, and gives you step-by-step rendering instructions for tons of different types of materials and lighting situations. I highly recommend this- in fact, it should be mandatory for interior design students!

Color Drawing: Design Drawing Skills and Techniques for Architects, Landscape Architects, and Interior Designers, 2nd Edition
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-01-06
This is an excellent resouce for the study of rendering. After detailing the elements of color and design, it describes, step-by-step, how to achieve many finishes both interior and exterior. It is both instructive and informative.

Outstanding book
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-06-05
It's really hard to say too many things about this book. Even older editions of Color Drawing are great, but this newest one goes above and beyond the call of duty. In an age when a lot of books get re-released as new editions with few substantive changes, Color Drawing breaks the mold by updating the techniques with current technology (i.e. Photoshop). It's great to see that the author and publisher realize that pure hand-drawing and rendering is quickly becoming a thing of the past and that the practitioners of today and tomorrow need to have excellent computer skills too. This book is full of very useful tips for combining Photoshop with hand drawings to create great effects. So even if you have an earlier edition, do yourself a favor and buy the new one anyway because you will learn a lot.

Outstanding Resource
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2007-01-03
This is the standard for rendering in architecture and interior design as far as I am concerned. It will most definitely become a required textbook for my classes in visual presentation in the years to come. Doyle takes you step-by-step into the process of rendering with marker, color pencil, and pastels. But he doesn't just spoon feed you the recipe for each material rendering, he presents the basis for a process that allows you to render virtually any material not found in the book.


Books-Under-Review-->Arts-->Celebrities-->B-->14
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