Celebrities Books

Thoughtful, insightful, funny and poignant -- that's the mark of a great book. Ann Liguori is a masterful interviewer. The book is fast paced and easy to read. Perfect book for riding a train or sitting on the beach. She interviewed a wide variety of celebrities for this book and it turned into a very pleasureable reading experience. From Cheryl Ladd to Alice Cooper from Dan Quayle to Joe Pesci from Charles Barkley to Dennis Franz -- the list goes on and on. I can't say enough about this book and I look forward to reading her sequel.

My sister (The Louise Collins Show) interviewed Ann and sent me a copy of the book. I was positively enthralled and almost read it at one sitting. My fasciination was with the profound philosophies expressed by the various celebrities Ann interviewed. Although the interviews with them were interesting, I would have gained almost as much from a book that concentrated on the philosophies alone. I do realize of course the book might not have sold as well. One question Ann, are you willing to share the swing tip or "secret" someone passed on to you and you mentioned in your book?

Ann Liguori's timely collection proves once again that golf crumbles barriers and helps people find common ground. There are many fascinating disclosures in "A Passion For Golf" from some of the most tight-lipped interview subjects of our time. Each chapter is a self-contained journal. The author asks the right questions and is rewarded with compelling answers. From Dan Quayle to Joe Pesci to Sugar Ray Leonard to Charles "Peanuts' Schulz, the reader is given insights into what drives these successful people -- along with what drives them crazy. A great gift for a golf-lover, a sports fan or a movie buff. The format lends itself to many more volumes in years to come, featuring new names and new revelations. Like a great golf shot, this book is long (on detail) and straight (from their hearts).

I found this book to be incredibly interesting because it shows some of the most successfulI people in the world humbled by this maddening game! I love golf and I derived great satisfaction in learning how this diverse group of people not only coped with failure on the golf course but used their talents to get better. Along the way though I felt I was seeing sides of these celebrities I had never seen before. I think Ms. Liguori has discovered a truly unique method and venue for interviewing : the golf course. I let my mother read the book she read all twenty-nine interviews and loved them and she doesnt even golf!

Ann Liguori has an astonishing technique for combining golf and a behind the scenes look into the world of sports,music,hollywood,business and politics. This wonderful compilation of interviews includes Yogi Berra, Sly Stallone, Kevin Costner,Alice Cooper and Dan Quayle. Ms Liguori has successfully gotten each of these personalities to disclose their passion for golf as well as the environment in which they exist. This is a cannot miss to those of us who love golf or who simply want to be entertained.

I read it over a period of two days and found it very hard to put down. The essays on each star were fairly short, but they gave an insight into their lives off the movie screen and out of the pages of the fan magazines. More of a "where are they now..." kind of book.

I have a touch of envy too. I would have loved to have done what David & Tom did - travelling to Hollywood in the summer to interview stars of the Hollywood golden age. I have a keen interest of what went on behind the scenes & afterwards, almost as much as the finished products themselves.

Reel To Real is an anthology of celebrity interviews featuring big names in entertainment from vaudeville to movies and TV. Various interviews take place in different years, spanning 25 years total. The Featured individuals include Harry Delmar, Fred Astaire, Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh, George Burns, William Shatner, Mel Blanc, Mel Brooks, and many more. Each interview has a down-to-earth tone and offers plain-terms insight into the business of bright lights and mass-media, from celebrities' reactions to government cutting of arts funding to the simple trials and tribulations of growing up and striving to make it big. An inset collection of black-and-white photographs of the interviewees rounds out this engaging slice of the stage and silver screen life.

Reel to Real is a history of 20th century entertainment. If you're a film buff and appreciate the "Golden Age" of Hollywood, the interviews in this book are for you. The Frank Capra chapter is funny and informative. Spencer Tracy's story about Hemingway is amazing. And Milton Berle talking about dressing in drag for the first time is a real hoot. I couldn't put this down!

The year was 1974 and "That's Entertainment," the compilation film of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio's most wondrous musical moments had just opened wide at theaters nationwide. For David Fantle and Tom Johnson, two St. Paul, Minnesota teenagers, it was a galvanizing experience.

When "That's Entertainment" opened, their interest in the movies and the stars that were in them was piqued. Not only did they become film buffs, but in 1978, just liberated from high school, they made their first trip to Los Angeles to interview Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly and George Burns. The celebrity floodgates opened.

The pair began publishing their interviews in the Minnesota Daily, the University of Minnesota newspaper and have interviewed more than 200 celebrities the past 25 years for publications throughout the world.

Reel to Real: 25 years of celebrity profiles from vaudeville to movies to TV represents the authors 60 "best" interviews with such legendary names as Astaire, Kelly, Burns, James Cagney, Lucille Ball, Gregory Peck, Bob Hope, Charlton Heston and Frank Capra.

The book also features forewords by Cyd Charisse and Shirley Jones and 24-pages of rare and candid celebrity shots, most taken by the authors.

For anyone who loves candid, facinating anecdotes about the way Hollywood used to be....from the stars and directors who were there and made history, this book puts it up front.

It contains tons of information that I have never heard about before. For instance, I never knew Frank Capra gave Irving Berlin the idea for the musical "Holiday Inn" staring Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby. I always thought that Berlin came up with the idea himself. The Lucille Ball interview was also very cool as were many others.

The pictures really rock. I especially loved the Milton Berle gag photo where he poses with a cigar sticking out like a bucktooth beaver......and what's with songwriter Sammy Cahn posing sans shirt? Bizarre!

The interviews are often very funny and sometimes border on the irreverent, so this isn't some kitchy Hollywood cream-puff book. Yet, though it all, you can tell that Fantle and Johnson have deep admiration and respect for the clasic stars they interview.

Well, this is definitely a page turner and a flip through and a go back and read again and share and tell people they just have to read it.

Imagine, so many wrote their last words poetically. Some wrote pages while others wrote short. "I demand a recount." "Mispronounced dead on arrival." And perhaps you'll guess who wrote one word "Imagine!"

My absolute favorite, laugh out loud epitath--

When my time on earth is done
And I have breathed my last
I want them to bury me upside down
So my critics can kiss my ass

This is definately one of the most entertaining reads all year.
The telling, moving, and sometimes hilarious reflections kept me turning the page. It was tough for me to put down! This book is a real treasure. Debbie Farmer, author of 'Don't Put Lipstick on the Cat'

This book is built on an interesting idea. Larry King asks three- hundred people, most of them American celebrities from the worlds of sports, entertainment, business, journalism, music, comedy, writing ,acting, politics, science and education what message they would leave behind and wish to be remembered by.
Some take this lightly and answer in a quick one- liner or even a word- some seem overly burdened by their own importance, but many hit ' right notes' and quite a few have a real humor.
This is the kind of work which one skims, jumps back and forth in, looking for something interesting. Most are misses, but some are scores, and it is the scores that make the book worthwhile.
A few examples follow which I found of some value.

" For years I've been claiming ,"I'm only human. I'm only human." Maybe now you'll believe me." SHELLY BERMAN

" I hope I see you later." MAUREEN STAPLETON

"He did his best when no one was watching." BOB COUSY

"Jim who?' JIM BOUTON

" I want to be remember as a good guy one who always helped others in need. JOE FRAZIER


" The best is yet to come." BEVERLY SILLS

" He was never boring. He said out loud what others whispered. He challenged authority; the higher the authority, the stronger the challenge. He made the legal system more acceptable to the public He taught thousands of students and educated even more readers and viewers.He listened best with his mouth open. He was fun to be with. He was never boring.All this without knowing how to use a computer. ALAN DERSHOWITZ

I was among the saddest to hear of Larry King's passing in 1987. I had long been a fan of his nonsensical ramblings in USA Today and knew that I might miss those columns unless they replaced it with something superior like a Jumble or a Suduko puzzle. Imagine my surprise to see him on CNN almost 20 years later. Alive ... well sort of alive. Was he cryogenically thawed out? Let this be a warning to all of you in frozen states ... it does NOT always work out.

And this book is just fabulous, a collection of self-serving, inane babblings by the assistants of famous people. Because famous people most certainly do not have the time to write such heartfelt and sincere passages ... they're just not capable of it. It's outside their skill set. So don't be angry with them, just accept them for who they are ... famous friends of Larry King, columnist, talk show host, suspenders-wearer.

When you pass on from this life, what would you want people to say about you? Larry King asked that question of over 300 celebrities, and the result is "Remember Me When I'm Gone," a fascinating compendium of epitaphs and obituaries penned by the still living about themselves. The celebrities include actors, authors, business people, journalists, artists, musicians, politicians, and scientists. The contributions run the gamut: funny, spiritual, laudatory, biographical, comforting, witty, and philosphical. Appropriately enough, there are some song lyrics from songwriters, cartoons from cartoonists, comic epitaphs from comedians, and poetry from writers. Fred Rogers composed his contribution before his death, when he knew he was seriously ill. Larry King provided his own epitaph as well. It was tough for me to select a few examples from so many interesting contributions, but here goes:

Joanna Barnes: At Last - A Parking Space!
Arnold Schwarzenegger: I had fun.
Ted Turner: I have nothing more to say.
Beverly Sills: The best is yet to come.
Robin Leach: Hi, this is Robin Leach standing outside the pearly gates!
Jim Davis: I would like to be remembered as someone who was extremely old.
Dr. Laura Schlessinger: How arrogant to write your own epitaph.

This book displays a lot of wit and wisdom on a sobering topic, and I recommend it as an entertaining and enlightening read.

Eileen Rieback

From LONDON FIELDS [1989] by Martin Amis: "Features include fool-the-eye dent-marks, a removable toupee of rust on the hood, and adhesive key-scratches all over the paintwork. An English strategy: envy-preemption."

From SHOW AND TELL [2001] by John Lahr: "In fact, [Wallace] Shawn, who admits he's actually 'a very arrogant and vain person', preempts envy by constantly spoiling any picture of his own distinction."

As a lifelong subscriber to The New Yorker, I have especially enjoyed reading Lahr's various "Profiles." Fifteen of his best are anthologized in this volume. The subjects are Woody Allen, David Mamet, Frank Sinatra, Arthur Miller, Liev Screiber, Roseanne, Irving Berlin, Wallace Shawn, Eddie Izzard, Neil Labute, Bob Hope, Ingmar Bergman, Mike Nichols, and the author's parents, Mildred and Bert Lahr. My personal favorites are those which discuss Sinatra, Miller, Roseanne, Hope, Bergman, and Nichols but I was pleased to re-read all of the others also. Lahr has a somewhat specialized form of genius for crafting what are indeed "profiles" rather than portraits, much less in-depth character analyses. Even when fondly discussing his own parents, he seems to have no limiting biases, "baggage" or predilections. It is high praise to note that the reader feels as if she or he is a "fly on the wall" during Lahr's conversations with his subjects...and at other times, as if the reader can hear him thinking aloud while alone and in reflection. Lahr's is a naturally casual style (so sophisticated that it seems effortless), perhaps most evident when discussing Bob Hope. According to Lahr, Hope's wife Dolores and the children were "extras" in his life. "It was hard for anyone in the family to get much of Bob Hope." Lahr shares this without judgment, suggesting implications without manipulating inferences.. With Hope as with each of the 14 others, Lahr's objective is to capture the essence of his subject, the esential qualities and characteristics which are revealed in "defining moments" of inimitable behavior or utterance. Lahr's reader (at least this one) is left to wonder what he would have to say about so many others such as Saul Bellow, Hillary Rodham-Clinton, Joe DiMaggio, Bob Fosse, Jackie Gleason, Sam Peckinpah, Jackson Pollock, Martha Stewart, and Oprah Winfrey.

In these days when performers are celebrated -- and demeaned -- for being famous, every little tidbit of information is up for grabs by the media. I say this as someone who was a journalist for nearly 20 years (and is now an entertainer). What's missing on the market: candid performers' profiles that still convey WHY great performers are GREAT performers and -- sometimes -- great people or great creeps. Show and Tell contains 15 of John Lahr's BEST New Yorker show biz profiles. The zest and verve of these creative folk and Lahr's excitement writing about them is all here. The subjects: Woody Allen, David Mamet, Frank Sinatra, Arthur Miller, Liev Schreiber, Roseanne, Irving Berlin, Wallace Shawn, Eddie Izzard, Neil Labute, Bob Hope, Ingmar Bergman, Mike Nichols, and his parents Bert and Mildred Lahr. You don't have to even know who these celebrities are (you'll enjoy this book if you're in your early 20s) to love these profiles: each chapter tells you how they got from point A (childhood) to point B (becoming great entertainers, playwrights etc) -- and about all the joys and obstacles along the way. Don't expect simplistic tabloid journalism but more detailed interviews. The Bob Hope profile was controversial when it was first published since it not only hinted at adultery but etched a portrait of a man who created a corporate comedy machine -- and even needed cue cards when performing at a private party. But there's tons of info amid these revelations. My other favorite profiles and tidbits include: Woody Allen (his casting method for movies sometimes boils down to him looking at someone for a few seconds), Bert Lahr (his frustration at not having made many movies, unlike some of his vaudeville colleagues), Roseanne (her rage-based comedy; how she wrested control of her t.v. show from what would have been sit-com mediocrity),Irving Berlin (the 20th century's most prolific and perhaps great composer adapting to all kinds of music from the century's beginning UNTIL rock...which finally did him in). There are many others but the point is: these are unlike any other profile's you'll read. They celebrate the joy, creative "juice" flow, toil, and heartbreak of show biz and performing arts creativity -- and you'll want to read them again and again.

Celebrities are fair game it seems for every hack, two bit journalist, and paparazzi. Their names are money and their pictures, weight loss, ageing, personal crises, and habits appear to be of endless fascination to the reading public or a fair proportion of it. What about Sinatra's links to the mob? What about Woody Allen's prediliction for young women? What about Mike Nichol's anger? What about Igmar Bergman's womanizing and tax evasion? Give me a break! There is much tosh, pap and babble written by those not fit enough to sharpen the pencils of the subjects of these profiles by Mr Lahr, but you will not find it in SHOW AND TELL. Mr Lahr is a writer worthy of these legends and that, dear reader, is indeed saying something. Revealing, interesting, incisive, entertaining and gripping, Mr Lahr and his editor at The New Yorker, have done a brilliant job. Perhaps the best short pieces I have ever read on the subjects contained therein. Brilliant.

The New Yorker is famous for its witty prose, "casuals," and most of all---its Profiles of famous and not-so-famous people. The New Yorker is also famous for unbelievably long pieces (sometimes taking up the entire magazine) and occasionally being so "in" that the readers are left "out."

John Lahr has all of the virtues: elegant, thoughtful writing, and he leaves you wishing for more. Mr. Lahr specializes in Entertainment Profiles, a difficult undertaking. He avoids the landmines of sound-bytes, scurrility, fawning and trivia. He delivers fifteen gleaming, sharp-edged Profiles on disparate personalities.

I feel the best are the ones that are not contemporaries and/or friends of the author with the exception of the lovely word portraits of his parents, father Bert, and mother Millie (who might or might not have had an affair with Joseph Cotton!) Mr. Lahr needs a certain amount of distance to do his best work. He is clearly an admirer of Woody Allen, and it shows. I felt we were seeing the brushed up and shiny side of this highly complex entertainer. Bob Hope is given the finest dispassionate treatment; Lahr steps back and allows Mr. Hope produce his own cause and effect. The reader can judge for himself. I was left thinking, as my grandmother would say, "this is NOT a very nice man." To me, Roseanne was frightening with her rage and skewed perspectives. It wasn't what Mr. Lahr said about her; it was Roseanne being herself. The Profile on Frank Sinatra left me with a emotion I would never, ever thought possible in conjunction with Ole Blue Eyes: pity.

I read this book straight through, almost at one sitting. I found it that fascinating. But it can be read at leisure. Just start anywhere; there's not a loser to be found!

Take away the celebrity chic aspect of this book, imagine that the drawings of flowers were rendered by a cross-section of not-so-famous people, and its power and pleasure remain undiluted. This is an enormously entertaining and wildly creative collection of words and pictures linked together by a dark and disturbing subtext. And that is something of a miracle, courtesy of the potent mind of the author. You get sneak peaks into the psyches of an amazing array of artists who, best of all, gradually coalesce to create a smartly subtle memoir of the charismatic character who conceived this book.

This book is absolutely great. Kids of all ages enjoy looking at the flowers that were drawn by the many famous stars that appear in it. I personally know Victoria and the work that she put into the book. There are stories in it that will make you cry, like the Alison Gertz story. It is very heartwarming. Thirty percent of the profits go to the Aid foundation known as Love heals which is absolutely great.

What a cool book! Who knew all these celebrities could also draw! I bought 2 copies. One for myself and one as a gift for Christmas.

This is a beautiful book to keep and to give. The drawings are very interesting and beautiful, some of them are very basic sketches, some are complex artistic works, but all of them have one thing in common: they were drawn with lots of love. And that shows. Thank you for this book Ms Leacock!

A very beautifully well put together book. Not only are the drawings interesting, the text that goes along with them as Ms. Leacock remembers the acquiring of the flowers will make you laugh and cry. The wide range of celebrities drawings of flowers is quite amazing (authors, directors, actors, etc.). That Ms. Leacock would share these very personal rememberances make it quite touching. Makes a wonderful gift for anyone and you will want to display it on your coffee table forever. The fact that a large percentage of the proceeds is going to AIDS charities is even more special.

What happens when a fan becomes obsessed with obtaining autographs of famous personalities? As a teen, author Michael Gross collected thousands of autographs by writing fan letters to politicians, actresses, and more. As an adult, he probes the world of celebrity admiration with a more researched eye in Starstruck: When A Fan Gets Close To Fame, examining everything from concerts and tabloid reporting to chasing stars for autographs. And Gross should know: he's one of the crowd. A fascinating, personal probe of what makes fandom.

Gross doesn't just write about pop culture and the sometimes bizarre interactions between fans and stars, but he also has the guts to talk openly about his own experiences as a fan in an intelligent, honest and self-deprecating way.

I was especially struck by his account of how Gross planned to tell Dolly Parton a sad story about his mother and one of Parton's songs, and how it took him some time to recognize that his initial angry reaction to the cancellation of the interview was because of the loss of the chance to achieve some brief, false intimacy with a star via this story. I just wish all fans and writers could be that self-aware.

Michael Gross has created one of the most compelling and entertaining books I've read in quite some time. He examines fame from multiple aspects. Starstruck: When a Fan Gets Close to Fame examines the attitudes and fantasies of the admirers of celebrities, the fans who move into the realm of exploiters by selling the autographs and memorabilia that they collect intended only for sale, the fanatics who seem to define their own lives through their imagined relationships with celebrities and much, much more.

The world of fame can be viewed from either side of the "red carpet." There are those who earn their living catering to the whims of the famous, seemingly fostering their sense of entitlement and need to feel set apart from the fans. These publicists, agents, assistants, sycophants, etc. also develop their own sense of entitlement, since their relationship with celebrities gives them their own fantasy of elevated status to be on the glory side of that "red carpet," and thereby earn their living. Interestingly, there can be a greater attitude of contempt toward the fans from these professional hangers-on.

The author describes in perfect detail the stars who show an arrogant contempt for their fans, forgetting that without them, they would no longer be stars! Most interestingly, he also detects another form of arrogance from celebrities who hug and greet fans with a great show of affection because they want them to think that they (the fans) are every bit as important as they are. Is that attitude actually sincere, or the act of yet another inflated ego who imagines that his persona can validate the status of another? At any rate, it is a relationship based on fantasy. Without the admirer, the admired would be a nobody, himself.

Starstruck: When a Fan Gets Close to Fame is a book that informs, entertains and explores the world of fame, brilliantly illuminating the very dark side of those bright lights. Don't miss it!

Expecting to read an earnest, sober treatise on the nature of celebrity and individuality, I was surprised by the depth of my emotional reaction to Starstruck. Gross introduces elements of his own life into the narrative almost from the beginning of the book -- at first tangentially, then deftly weaving his story with those of the fans and stars whom he interviews. The climactic "scene" works on so many levels, I found myself wishing for a movie studio to option the book. Even as pure gossip Starstruck is a juicy read: I'll never look at Katie Couric quite the same way again. While I would have appreciated more on the history and sociology of our culture's fascination with celebrities, the book serves as a powerful, resonant, and personal meditation on what it means to be a fan.

Michael Gross' book Starstruck is an extraordinary compendium of not only his own experiences as a fan, but serves as a unique and important analysis of the world of celebrity. At a time when we are saturated with entertainment culture, Gross manages to lift back the veil on this unique late 20th century phenomenon to explore both the personal and the political consequences of our collective obsession with fame. From poignant and hilarious stories of his own crazy desire to be near the famous - his boyhood letters to Ronald Reagan are priceless - to his adult understanding of those who have dedicated their lives to famous people - Dolly Parton fans in particular - Gross's authorial voice is both critical and sympathetic at the same time. This book is original, engaging, and utterly compelling. A great read for those of us who flip through grocery market tabloids and those of us interested in a more serious look at cultural politics. Five stars!

This book deals with the Sunwear and Hollywood Beauty of the 1930s to the 1950s. That happens to be the subtitle, so it's easy to explain. The book is full of pictures focused on the swimsuit models and pin ups of those years, with such greats as Maureen O'Sullivan, Penny Singleton, Jean Crawford, Betty Gable, Rita Hayworth, Veronica Lake, Marlene Dietrich, Dorothy Lamour, Barbara Stanwyck, Karen Randall and much, much more. You'll drool at how sexy the women are. So make sure to put plastic on the book.

Great photos, lots of them--my only wish is it went up to 1959 and included more of the 50's. Not many of these beauties look that tan so 'sun kissed' is a good term. If you're looking for a good resource for period bathing suits this is it.

This book is full of beautifully restored photo's and insightful commentary. A must have for anyone.

It's obvious that "Sunkissed" is a labor of love. A nostalgic look at the glamor that was once Hollywood, "Sunkissed" is a trip back in time. The author, Joshua Curtis, captures the essance of the golden age of motion pictures with brilliant color layouts, original photographs and accurate text. This is one of those rare books that should occupy a perminant spot on the shelf because it will never become dated or out of style. A pure joy for any fan of the 1930s and 40s.

This is a book that any classic movie fan will love. It is filled with gorgeous photos of movie stars modeling swimwear. Many of the photos are in color and I have never seen them published anywhere else. Paulette Goddard, Betty Grable, Carole Landis, Gene Tierney, Marie McDonald, and Marilyn Monroe are among the many actresses featured in this terrific book. There is also a nice forward written by Ann Rutherford.

This book is a love feast. Story after story of Bill and the "frens" who were fortunate enough to be a part of Bill's circle, including the regulars on the bus who were cheerfully greeted upon boarding, the day care children who had a happy transition from parents dropping them off for day care, the nice lady prostitutes who enjoyed his happy harmonica tunes when he was in Washington, DC to be honored for his achievements. Not only does the book make you glad to know about Bill's magnificent gift of loving, it gives hints about how to nurture that in life. The book is for everyone who celebrates the great diversity of gifts that make life wonderful

This uplifting story will appeal to anyone who is interested in how the human spirit overcomes great adversity. It is also of local interest to residents of Iowa City, as it recaps events that happened in this town and on this campus. A thoroughly enjoyable read that I would highly recommend.

Dr. Walz tells the life story of Bill Sackter's triumph over disability. The book is written from Bill's perspective and tells of his journey in a Minnesota mental institution to being named Iowa's Handicapped Person of the year. There is a wonderful Christmas story which makes this book particularly timely. I would recommend this book to readers of all ages.

The Unlikely Celebrity is a heart-warming and uplifting story. Bill Sackter was an amazing person who had nothing but love in his heart, despite many difficult years in the Faribault State Hospital. In this day and age of almost nothing but bad news and scandal, The Unlikely Celebrity is a refreshing change, and I recommend it to everybody.

The story of the life and times of William ("Bill for short") Sackter is as remarkable and inspiring as any in American history. Bill's story is re-told by his good friend Professor Thomas Walz (now retired from the social work department of the University of Iowa) in such sharp, believable detail as even to go so far as to write the majority of the book from Bill's point of view, using the sort of speech, broken perhaps but very gripping, as Bill had used; this aspect brings a great deal of accuracy to the book. The Bible says in I Thessalonians 5 to rejoice always and to give thanks in all circumstances. Bill Sackter took these principles to the extreme, and as a result, made everyone who knew him take a much closer look at themselves and the world around them. His life still has that effect on people today.

I'm not going to say here what all happened in Bill's life; the book will do a much better job of that than I. However, I will simply say that this book will open your eyes to an incredible sense of optimism little known in the world we live in today. I can't imagine someone reading this book and being disappointed.

One thing more: for those of you who have seen and loved the movies "Bill" and "Bill On His Own" (which have been out of print for who-knows-how-many-years), they are available from the very good people at Wild Bill's Coffee Shop at the University of Iowa.

i typically enjoy fiction but this book is so good that i stay up too late reading it each night because it's so interesting. it's a fascinating topic. would make a great holiday gift for pretty much anyone in the family.

Dr. Lerner's book grabbed my attention right from the first pages about Lou Gehrig and lasted till the very last chapter. This is definitely not a book that should have a limited audience. I am not in the medical profession and was completely taken by Dr. Lerner's accounts of the histories of these public figures and their respective and varied illnesses. Although the book is written by a doctor, Dr. Lerner presents the facts in a completely unbiased manner, calling into question the conduct of all of the players in these stores - the doctors, the patients, their families, the press, the public, and more. Credit and criticism are given out as appropriate. The book reads seamlessly providing the reader with an incredible insight into the evolution of modern medicine and increased public access to the lives of the famous over the decades. Dr. Lerner is a brilliant writer and I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in history, medicine, media, pop culture or sports. I read the book on vacation and my 12 year old son and 15 year old daughter took turns reading portions of the book as well.

Barron Lerner's book is fascinating and insightful. Lerner is a wonderful writer. I was hooked from the beginning as I read the Lou Gherig story, which I thought I knew , but I didn't.
Each story carries the reader along and provides insights into our culture that are important for us all to know.

In a culture where movie stars and politicians post their drug rehabilitation schedules online, we have almost completely forgotten that until a short while ago many diseases were not discussed in public, even by the most celebrated citizens. Barron Lerner's new book reminds us that the tell--all habits of the rich and famous are a recent development, and we learn how the process started to open up more than sixty-five years ago with baseball star Lou Gehrig. It took an announcement that the Gerhig had a rare disease to explain how his legendary streak of consecutive games was broken. Now many people who never went to a baseball game know "Lou Gerhig's disease" because of Yankee Iron Man's willingness to go public. Lerner is unusual, since he was trained as a both an historian and a physican, and that makes this book even more rare: an extremely readable piece of medical history written clearly enough to be of interest--not just to doctors and academics, but to just about anyone who has an interest in Lerner's cast of characters and the maladies they endured.

One of my favorites in the book is Jimmy Pearsall, another man who became a baseball legend, less for his athletic performances than his bizarre antics between plays and off the field. Lerner explains how bipolar disorder was Pearsall's demon. Another completely new story involves the experimental treatment for Parkinson's disease the famous photographer Margaret Bourke White pursued. Arthur Ashe's AIDS, Steve McQueen's cancer and Rita Hayworth's Alzheimers all take up chapters in this book, which is like all of Lerner's work, painstakingly researched and engagingly written. The celebrities in this book are fortunate to have someone of Lerner's skill and compassion tell the stories of their illness.

Barron Lerner uses 12 case histories to tell how public attitudes affected medicine. When Lou Gehrig developed the lethal ALS, his doctors "protected" him by never telling him the diagnosis or what was going to happen to him. 20 years later the renowned LIFE photographer was diagnosed with Parkinson disease but did not know for 2 years because the information was witheld from her. As the years went by, however, celebrity patients became advocates for research and patient care on behalf of other people with the disease. Some, like Gehrig and Bourke-White were already celebrities when they became ill. Other's became celebrities by virtue of the illness, including Lorenzo Odone (of the film "Lorenzo's Oil"). By pulicizing the long hours of hospital call for sleep-deprived doctors-in-training, the case of Libby Zion changed residency training throough the US. Lerner is a master story teller, and shows how the cases changed the public from subservience to independence and activism.

Beautiful photographs laid out well with a good mix of celebrity/socialite/political women who effect our lives. Very good value for money

Here is an AWESOME ROCKSTAR who knows how to express his sensitive side through his impressive work of fine arts. He was able to capture the essence and inner beauty of a woman through his black and white photography. His images present simplicity at the same time timeless.

American Women is an impressive collection of fabulous women photographed by an equally FABULOUS ROCKSTAR. That alone is worth adding to your collection. It will be the one of "THE BEST BOOK OF YOUR LIFE!" Cold Eyes

I love the book. Tina Turner is in it and I love Tina. I would suggest this book to anyone that is looking for a photography book.

Bryan Adams (Summer of 69, Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman) lost someone close to him to breast cancer and decided to become a force in raising money to combat the disease. Having already published two books on women in the UK and Canada, Adams turns his attention to the U.S and dedicates the profits of "American Women" to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. That effort alone earns it all the stars in the sky. This is a very talented artist who is more famous for his music than photography. You won't find any award winning photography between these pages but that wasn't the point. I believe the point was to focus on women, their strength, beauty and their value. Bryan Adams has accomplished that with a touch of class. "American Women" is worth every penny, especially if "You Ever Really Loved a Woman."