Television Books

Perfect for any trivia fan, whether they've ever seen Mad About You or not (if they haven't, the answers are in the back, they can memorize them and then impress their friends with their staggering Mad About You knowledge). With six hundred and one questions, that gives you, at the rate of one a day, six hundred and one days worth of daily questions to quiz your friends, coworkers, children, spouse, lover, servants, or cab driver with. You'll be the talk of the town with your copy of "What's Your Mad About You IQ?"

I loved this book! I loved how the author focused on details that the average fan might miss, like what Jamie's middle name is or what Paul yelled at Lisa. (Note - this is a question in the book and the answer is "Chicken a La King) I will warn fans that this book focuses on miniscule details instead of the main ones. You answer questions and see what your I.Q is. The awards range from the "Murray Good Boy" award to the "Jamie Buchman award"
Good luck to all who buy this book

This book is really only for people who love Mad About You. But if you do love it, then it's awesome! I also have the Jamie Buchman Award! And also, in the book summary it says their last name is "Buckman", but it's "Buchman".

Great book for any Mad About You fan.

This book is a lot of fun. Especially if you love trivia and/or if you are MAD about Mad About You. I am a big fan of this show and I thought I knew a lot about the characters... when I read this book I found out I did not know as much as I thought. The questions in this book are very detail oriented and to get them correct you really do need to know a lot about the show! I now know a lot more than I did previously! This is surely a book for Mad About You lovers and probably would be borrowing for most anyone else. Personally, I found the book completely entertaining and a lot of fun! I am thrilled with my purchase.

The four authors were at the pivot point of American news delivery changing from morning and afternoon newspapers to live television. Forty years later they look back, using contemporaneous recordings and transcripts to describe the events they lived and to reflect on how it changed America and the news. Their insights about Oswald, Ruby and the officials involved bring back a flood of memories; they also enlighten us on how much the media have changed since those dark days and why.

There are so very few books that convey a sense of "being there" when it comes to the Kennedy assassination. This outstanding book takes the reader back to that fateful weekend of November 22nd 1963 in Dallas, Texas and does so in an open, honest and compelling manner.

"When the News Went Live" is written by four journalists who were in Dallas on that day covering the presidential visit. Bob Huffaker and the other three newsmen share many interesting stories that you will not find elsewhere and that have been untold for many years no doubt to all but their personal friends. This is why the book is such a valuable contribution to the historical record. Such first hand observation regarding not just those few seconds in Dealey Plaza, the murder of Officer Tippet and the shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald by Jack Ruby, but how in fact the entire story unfolded, makes fascinating reading.

As an aid to anyone interested in the assassination, this book is a must have. I would emphasize - rarely do you find first hand knowledge like this - much of what is written on this subject is written by people many steps removed from the event where fact and fiction merge into one. Not so here. A fabulous book which is refreshingly free of the conjecture and myth that is so common in the Himalayan pile of work on the Kennedy assassination and is highly recommended.

We have become accustomed (yea, verily, some would say desensitized)to horror unfolding before our eyes in our very own living rooms. Bob Huffaker's book brings us back to a time before the desensitization, when we could scarcely believe what our eyes were telling us. I recommend this book highly to those who were there, watching as I was, and even more so to those who were not there. The young, raised in an era of suicide bombers, need to understand that it was not always thus.

1963 nov 22 brought to life again but with more professionalism.some very interesting facts that confirmed my own thoughts .

"With three shots from a mail-order rifle, Lee Oswald set off a worldwide tragedy that developed too fast to print. .... Broadcast journalism came of age in that crisis of grief and uncertainty, and as it drew its mourning audience, it helped to hold the nation together." -- Bob Huffaker; From the Preface of "When The News Went Live: Dallas 1963"

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"When The News Went Live: Dallas 1963", published in 2004, paints a vivid word picture of many of the incredible events that surrounded President John F. Kennedy's assassination in November of 1963, as seen through the eyes of four journalists -- Bob Huffaker, Bill Mercer, George Phenix, and Wes Wise -- who covered those events as they happened for CBS affiliate KRLD-TV and Radio in Dallas.

President Kennedy's shocking and appalling assassination on November 22, 1963, was the very first really big "Watch It Unfold Live On TV" news event of the television era, with four full commercial-free days being devoted to nothing but exclusive assassination-related coverage by all three major TV networks (with KRLD's on-the-scene Dallas reporters frequently feeding CBS-TV headquarters in New York).

And the four reporters whose intriguing stories unfold within this 224-page hardcover volume were right smack in the thick of things during the rapidly-developing events -- from the initial sketchy bulletins that told of the President being shot in Dealey Plaza during a motorcade drive through the city of Dallas -- to the announcement of JFK's death at Parkland Hospital -- to the capture of the accused assassin (Lee Harvey Oswald) in a nearby movie theater -- to Oswald's very own murder on live TV (with Bob Huffaker reporting live from the basement of the Dallas Police Department, where the single gunshot from Jack Ruby's pistol added yet another hard-to-believe chapter to the weekend's nightmarish story).

It was a mesmerizing weekend in American (and television) history, to say the least. And those days are re-lived with clarity in this engaging book by way of the recollections of four men who lived through and reported on those events when they were occurring.

"When The News Went Live" contains several excellent black-and-white photographs, too (some of them I haven't seen published elsewhere).

On a personal level, I have had the pleasure of communicating (via e-mail) with Bob Huffaker several times. He has been very cordial and gracious whenever answering the questions that I had for him. His personal insights into the events revolving around JFK's death are fascinating glimpses into the past, and are insights that I have enjoyed reading immensely.

A sample e-mail excerpt from Mr. Huffaker:

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"David, you're right about the presidential visit and motorcade being the main attraction that all Dallas media were covering, of course. But all our stations had limited capabilities for doing mobile TV, which then demanded either cables or microwave dishes--as well as a receiving dish within line-of-sight beaming or bouncing.

Hence the pool TV arrangements, limited to three planned locations. The local TV stations did live TV from the FTW {Fort Worth} breakfast, Love Field, and the Trade Mart. But this was, indeed, the day the news went live on television, unplanned.

WBAP-TV in Fort Worth had a non-running TV van, which they had towed all the way from Cowtown to Dallas Police headquarters, and we sent both of our KRLD-TV vans into duty--the Bread Truck at DPD and the Blue Goose on the 24th to the county jail, etc.

This was the first time in TV history when on-the-spot news suddenly demanded to go live from the scene. Before that, radio news on-the-spot descriptions such as ours that day were common (like the Hindenburg broadcast--radio only), and live TV was usually reserved for major speeches, sports, etc.

Bob" -- E-mail to this writer; May 30, 2006

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Relating to the subject of "WHEN THE NEWS WENT LIVE", I'd like to offer up the following observations as an extension of this book review.....

To those JFK conspiracy theorists who seem to favor the Oliver Stone-like or Robert Groden-promoted assassination scenarios (that feature a minimum of three gunmen and anywhere from 6 to 10 gunshots being fired at President Kennedy in Dallas' Dealey Plaza on November 22, 1963) -- I always suggest to them that they ought to dig up some of the originally-aired "As It Is Happening" live TV or radio broadcasts from that dark Friday in American history.

After performing that exercise of watching a few hours of the November 22 television coverage of the assassination (in real time), or listening to some of the radio broadcasts in real time (which works just as well) -- I challenge anyone to then arrive at the same conclusion that was slapped up on the big theater screen in 1991 via Director Oliver Stone's blockbuster, conspiracy-laden motion picture "JFK".

Watching the day's events unfold "live" in front of you (or listening to them unfold on the radio as it was happening) should, in my opinion, provide everyone with a good general idea of how utterly impossible a task it would have been to have "faked" so much stuff that was being IMMEDIATELY reported to the world on live television and radio within minutes and hours of the President's assassination (and within a very short space of time following Police Officer J.D. Tippit's murder as well).

Via those original live TV/Radio broadcasts, you're not going to hear a SINGLE report that resembles anything close to the Oliver Stone/Jim Garrison-endorsed nonsense of:

"Three gunmen fired six shots at President Kennedy's motorcade today here in Dallas!!"

What you will hear, instead, is live coverage, as it happened, of a ONE-GUNMAN assassination taking place from where the majority of witnesses said it took place (the Texas School Book Depository Building), with no more than three shots having been fired by the SINGLE SHOOTER, which is a shot count that over 91% of the witnesses concur with -- including the small percentage of witnesses who heard only one or two shots, who are witnesses that certainly don't do Mr. Stone's "6-shot ambush" theory any favors.

Upon evaluating virtually all of the TV networks' live assassination footage from November 22nd, 1963, there is no possible way that a reasonable person could arrive at a conclusion that JFK was shot by three assassins, firing from both front and rear. Let alone arriving at an even more-cockeyed "8-to-10-shot" shooting scenario, as purported by Mr. Groden and some other CTers, which is an outlandish conspiracy-flavored scenario that has John Kennedy and John Connally being shot by way more than just the two Warren Commission-backed Mannlicher-Carcano bullets from Lee Harvey Oswald's rifle.*

* = And Mr. Groden's theory (that sports from 8 to 10 gunshots) also features an additional hunk of lunacy, in that Groden thinks it's very likely that NONE of these eight to ten shots came from the "Oswald window" in the Book Depository! (I'm not making this crazy stuff up here. I promise. Anyone who owns a copy of Robert Groden's 1993 book "The Killing Of A President" can check out Groden's preposterous theory for themselves, on pages 20-40.)

The bottom line is -- Very nearly all of the information being reported on TV and radio that November day favored a "Lone Assassin" shooting scenario (including the info concerning the Tippit murder in Oak Cliff), with very little evidence and information being broadcast that would support any type of a "conspiracy" whatsoever; and certainly no "conspiratorial" evidence that has ever panned out and "proved" that a multi-gun plot ended JFK's life in Dallas.

This is quite a telling "One Killer" fact. Because, in my view, if a vast conspiracy and subsequent "cover-up" had been in place on November 22nd (given the immense amount of TV and radio coverage, with reporters scrutinizing everything coming across their desks and digging hard for any type of case-solving clues during those first hours and days after JFK and J.D. Tippit were killed), I think that at least SOME pieces of the conspiracy would have leaked through to the sweeping television and radio coverage surrounding the two Dallas murders.

And I'm guessing that every reporter and newsman in the country (including Messrs. Huffaker, Mercer, Phenix, and Wise) would have loved to dig up some "conspiracy"-proving angle during that weekend in November of '63. Being the person who uncovered such a huge story would certainly be a feather in that reporter's cap, to be sure. But, as it turned out, nothing of that nature occurred....and has yet to occur all these many years later.

To think (as many theorists do) that these conspirators were so smart and so quick to have had the capabilities to immediately eliminate virtually every last scrap of information leading to a conspiracy plot of some kind, making sure that none of the "multi-gunmen shooting event" details seeped through to the media (multiplied by TWO separate murders as well, counting Tippit's!), is to think that any such evil-doers had powers similar to "Superman".

For example -- Almost every one of the initial reports concerning the number of gunshots heard by witnesses stated "3 shots". And while it's true that the very first report of the shooting from UPI's Merriman Smith (which was broadcast over all the television networks) stated "Three shots were fired...", it's also worth noting that Smith's initial bulletin was not the ONLY "three shots" account that was reported during those early hours just after the shooting.

For instance, Jay Watson of ABC affiliate WFAA-TV in Dallas (who happened to be in Dealey Plaza during the shooting and nervously reported the first bulletins to the unaware Dallas TV audience) is heard multiple times on November 22nd saying he heard "3 shots" fired.

Plus, several other members of the media are also on record stating their own PERSONAL beliefs that exactly three shots were fired by the assassin, including Robert MacNeil, Jack Bell, Bob Clark, Jerry Haynes, and Pierce Allman, among still others.

Some of the other "Three Shot" witnesses who were riding right in the Presidential motorcade itself include -- Photographers Tom Dillard, Robert Jackson, Mal Couch, and James Underwood. Plus, both John and Nellie Connally, who were riding in the same car with President Kennedy.

In addition, Presidential aides Ken O'Donnell and David Powers, who were both riding in the Secret Service follow-up car directly behind JFK's limousine, can also be added to the lengthy list of witnesses who heard precisely three gunshots.

And then there's also amateur filmmaker Abraham Zapruder, who took the most famous 26-second home movie in history when he captured the entire assassination with his 8mm Bell & Howell movie camera -- Zapruder showed up on live TV about 90 minutes after the President's murder took place and gave a graphic account of the horrifying event that had taken place in front of his very eyes.

Mr. Zapruder told the WFAA-TV viewing audience that he had heard two or three shots (but definitely no more than three), and he also demonstrated on live television where on the President's head he had seen the effects of the fatal gunshot. Zapruder puts his hand over the right-frontal portion of his own head to demonstrate where he saw the blood coming from JFK's head.

That's pretty amazing "LIVE" stuff from Mr. Zapruder's own lips (within approx. an hour-and-a-half of the assassination). And it's especially incredible and amazing if there had actually been many more than just two or three shots fired at the President, and if the fatal shot had actually (as many CTers believe) caused a huge hole in the BACK of John Kennedy's head, instead of the location where Zapruder placed it on live television -- i.e., the RIGHT SIDE AND FRONT portion of the head.

How could the so-called "conspirators" have possibly gotten THAT lucky with respect to Abraham Zapruder's live "on-the-air" WFAA-TV statements and head-wound "demonstration"? How?

And -- Could these ultra-clever conspirators have somehow managed to "manipulate" several reporters who were relaying the news live to the world immediately after the event, and have them ALL report on hearing just "three shots" (or, in a few cases, hearing only TWO shots, which is a number that certainly does not favor a "Multi-Shooter Conspiracy Plot")?

Or did the plotters just happen to get really, really LUCKY (again) when virtually all of the news reports favored the "Three Shots Fired" conclusion? With this 3-shot scenario matching the precise number of bullet shells that were found on the 6th Floor of the Book Depository after the shooting; and also perfectly matching the exact number of shots heard by TSBD witness Harold Norman, and also perfectly matching the precise number of bullet shells (3) that Norman heard hitting the plywood floor directly above his 5th-Floor location within the Depository.

Which, per Oliver Stone's movie, would mean that a full 50% of the ACTUAL number of gunshots were somehow inaudible to the enormous majority (91%+) of the earwitnesses! And, remember, Oliver has NONE of the shots within his movie's six-shot assassination ambush being "synchronized" in order to merge together with the sound of some of the other shots.

And yet, per Mr. Stone, we're supposed to actually believe that approximately 9 out of every 10 witnesses somehow missed hearing HALF of the gunshots fired that day! A reasonable thing to believe....or not? I ask you.

Were these so-called conspiratorial shooters so good that they could make 4 to 10 shots sound like only three to the vast majority of witnesses scattered all throughout Dealey Plaza? Highly doubtful, to say the least.

Again -- I'd advise all conspiracy theorists to sit down and watch the live TV footage....or listen to some of the surviving 11/22/63 radio tapes....and then try to find a "Multi-Gunmen Conspiracy" lurking within ANY of those original broadcasts. If anybody finds proof of a conspiracy via those means, please let me know. And let the world know too.

David Von Pein
December 2006
January 2007

I bought this book on a trip and thought it might pass some time on the airplane...

It truly surprised me! The quizzes are fun...lot's of great television shows included. There's no cheating...hard to determine which characters match the question choices...

AND...the end reults are surprisingly accurate! VERY fun and addicitng book...I want to find more like it.

This book is so much fun. It's great for groups or alone. When one quiz is finished everyone wants more!! It truly is hard to put this book down. The questions are quite clever and intriguing. In the end, these questions lead to quite accurate personality identifications. I love this book and highly recommend it. It makes a great gift.

This book is highly contagious and very fun. My friends and I were testing ourselves on shows that we weren't even all that familiar with. ;)

A great purchase for anyone who's ever wondered about their television persona. Are you a Carrie or a Miranda? Mary Ann or Ginger? This book gave mostly surprisingly accurate answers.

My only problem with it was that I noticed some of the quizzes were missing one or two characters that I personally felt should've been included. No Lisa on the Saved by the Bell quiz, or Andrea on Beverly Hills 90201. So I do have to wonder if that would've effected my results any.

Oh well, still a great find nonetheless. I hope Noah is planning on a part II.

So have fun and learn about yourself as well.

So much fun. The personality tests are funny and amazingly accurate at the same time. Great to do with your friends or to pass time on your own.
With so many shows there is something in here for everyone. Its a great gift for someone you love - or for that secret santa person you have no idea what to get for them. Definite crowd pleaser.

My boyfriend and I couldn't stop taking these quizzes. We even did one for a little girl on the train. When's the next one? Huh, Noah, WHEN?

A comprehensive guide to anyone aspiring to become a TV writer. This book provides detailed informatin and indepth insight in all areas of the genre - from episodic to children's TV. This should be required reading for indiviuals seriously considering TV writing as a career.

Martie Cook should be commended. She has crafted a sterling volume of informative anecdotes. I fully enjoyed her on the money look at the television industry from a writer's standpoint. I highly recommend this book to any one with interest in the television industry, or anyone who wants to see what it takes to succeed in any field of endeavor. I plan to mention this book to all my friend's and relatives in the hopes that they get as much satisfaction out of reading it as I did.

"This book takes a "real world" approach to TV writing. If you want to be a TV writer, but don't know where to begin, Cook's book will take you through the whole process, and make it seem amazingly easy. She covers practical things like how to choose a spec script that's right for you, how to find the right story for your spec, and formatting. Additionally, there is a whole section on what to do with your script once you have written it - things like how to get an agent or land your first job in the business even if you don't know anybody. Also, throughout the book there are interviews with current TV writers who also give tips on how to get your script noticed."

I have read scores of books on screenwriting, but this one really stands out. With up-to-date savvy and down-to-earth clarity, Cook's book thoroughly covers all of the essentials you'd expect in a TV writing book: story, character, plot development, narrative structure, dialogue and formatting. What makes this book refreshingly different from the rest is that there is a wealth of advice and insight from TV writers on hugely successful shows such as "Grey's Anatomy" and "Desperate Housewives." So, you get lots of different viewpoints from creative pros at the top of their game. I also found Cook's guidance for breaking into the business, getting an agent, persevering, and eventually landing that first staff job to be immensely helpful, practical and encouraging. If you have any ambitions of writing for TV and doing it well, then the first step is to get this book now! One of the best investments I've ever made to put my TV writing career on a truly promising path.

This is one of the best books on TV writing I've seen. Cook walks us through an easy to follow step-by-step process of writing a professional television script. She also gives all kinds of tips on how to get your script into the hands of a producer and/or agent. I also found the advice from industry insiders like Jay Leno, Paul Haggis and writers from shows like The Simpsons and Grey's Anatomy extremely interesting and useful. If you want to be a television writer, this is one book you definitely want to read.

Marilyn Cummings
Member Director's Guild of America

This book is excellent, it is well written, and fun. It is great as a complement to classroom instruction or by itself as a starter/refresher course. I highly recommend it!

If you're trying to break into news on the AM/FM dial, this is a book that you must read and follow. It helps you format the way most of Radio Broadcasting does it today.

Ten years ago, I had the privilege of taking introductory radio writing from Mr. Block while earning my master's degree in journalism at Columbia University. If memory serves, Mr. Block also revisited my spring semester radio news course as a guest editor and instructor. He was a tough and fair instructor -- one of the many highlights of my year at 116th and Broadway.

Mr. Block's book has been indispensible to me ever since. Every so often, I reread a chapter to keep my writing fresh, and to jolt me out of the workaday rut so many reporters and anchors inhabit. Television news works on two levels, the words and the pictures, and it is a challenge and an art to make the two levels work together!

Whether you're a journalism 101 student or a seasoned professional, it never hurts to have this book on your desk (and occasionally at home!). Your viewers, producers, photographers, and managers will thank you!

This is the bible of broadcast news writing. Well organized. I'm a 25 year veteran of broadcast news and I still find information in this book that improves my writing and reporting.

To paraphrase Mr. Block, "if newswriting is easy, then you're doing something wrong." This book is for the lover of action verbs and simple words. You're taught to think and to see the beauty of simple writing. And if you want to be GOOD, you must learn to TELL a story. After you read this book, the news will likely not sound the same.

This is a great book,Bernstein is not only a genius,but a really wise man,he explain things with an ease few could match.This is book is a treasure.

Young People's Concerts by composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein is an outstanding and much-appreciated reprint of the author's definitive description of his inspirational appreciation and joy for music. Presented in an expansive and highly descriptive context, Young People's Concerts offers an easy to understand perspective of all forms and categories of music, instilling a similar construct into the readers enjoyment of diverse musical traditions and presentations. Very strongly recommended as informed and informative read, Young People's Concerts is the perfect addition to every personal, academic, and community library music appreciation reference collection and reading list.

Young People's Concerts by composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein is an outstanding and much-appreciated reprint of the author's definitive description of his inspirational appreciation and joy for music. Presented in an expansive and highly descriptive context, Young People's Concerts offers an easy to understand perspective of all forms and categories of music, instilling a similar construct into the readers enjoyment of diverse musical traditions and presentations. Very strongly recommended as informed and informative read, Young People's Concerts is the perfect addition to every personal, academic, and community library music appreciation reference collection and reading list.

YOUNG PEOPLE'S CONCERTS by Bernstein was based on his televised lectures with the New York Philharmonic, written in response to the shows' popularity. This book gathers fifteen of the best of these fifty-three transcripts, providing lectures which capture the meaning and joy of music for young audiences. From identifying the basic elements which comprise classical music to showing how musicians slip humor into music and how folk music works in the concert hall, Bernstein's YOUNG PEOPLE'S CONCERTS is the next best thing to a college course - and the concerts come on DVD elsewhere if musical augmentation is required.

This is a well-researched book by Robbins Landon not only giving a detailed glimpse of Mozart in 1791 but also the ongoing intrigues associated with life in late 18th century Vienna. Discussed in detail are the three main compositions that he completed during this final year: those being, The Magic Flute, La Clemenza di Tito and his Requiem. There is an interesting section on Mozart's death and the myths and suspicions associated with his final illness. The last chapter is devoted to Constanze and her struggles to survive after Mozart's death.

The book has extensive reference notes, a detailed bibliography and an index that list people who were part of Mozart's life during this period. Also included are some interesting sketches of Mozart's apartment and an area map of Vienna where he and Constanze live in during his last year.

What I personally found of interest, resulted from the extra measures that Robbins Landon goes to give added details on some topics (in particular the 3 works mentioned above). Insights as to the sequencing of construction, participation of other people and outside distractions that influenced Mozart's ability to work on and complete these projects. For example: the fact that 5 different types of sheet paper were used by Mozart during the writing of "La Clemenza di Tito" gives clues not only as to the actual chronological order that some of the scenes were composed, but also an idea as to the geographic locales where different parts this opera was conceived. i.e. Prague or Vienna

It seems hard to believe that retrieving accurate material on Mozart's life and music would be difficult, given his fame. You'd just assume that every note (musical or otherwise) that he wrote would have been recorded for the sake of posterity: sadly, such is not the case. Although Mozart was regarded as a brilliant musician during his time he was only recognized for his true genius, posthumously. So, although a lot of the musical scores, letters, writings and conversation have survived, many were lost or went missing over the past 200 years. What a pity!

Well written and informative. This is certainly a book of special interest, but one that goes beyond the superficial discussions of Mozart's life. Recommended!

The author's affection and esteem for Mozart is apparent throughout, and his enthusiasm for his subject is infectious. This is obviously a work of careful scholarship, but the writing style is so fluid and the topic so engaging that this book can be appreciated by both serious musicians and Mozart-loving non-musicians alike. It addresses many of the subjects that the movie 'Amadeus' touched on--Salieri's jealousy, the writing of the Requiem, Mozart's final illness, etc. but, unlike the movie, it is content to let the unembellished facts tell the compelling story of the last year of the composer's life. A fascinating, well-written book.

This is a good book to read late at night, in the woods, alone. If you enjoy Mozart then...you might like this! This is my favorite book on Mozart I'd have to say. The last year of his life is an interesting subject and has become quite a little legend. This here book does a good job of taking apart that year and separating what probably isn't true from what probably is true. I'm trying to not use the saying, "separates fact from fiction," because I hate that saying. Really though, it does a good job of it. Well done research and all that. The mysterious flavor of the story of his last year is still kept in place. If you've never read a book on Mozart, don't fear. Everything leading up to his last year is included, making this a good book for the Mozart student and professor. I sure say a lot of smart things! So anyways, all that aside, this is a good read and even if you aren't exactly like me you will probably like it. There.

After reading "Mozart's Letters, Mozart's Life" by Robert Spaethling, this book was a nice transition. Both books are worth buying and reading. Mr. Robbins presented "Mozart's Last Year" logically and held my interest to the end.

The references to Haydn and his relationship with Mozart gave me some really new insight into how the two interacted and regarded the other. The research that was involved in this book lends credit to the contents, which were presented in a common sense way. Mr. Robbins has written a book that, I feel, is a "must read" for anyone interested to learn about Mozart's life and circumstance. A lot of rumors were put to rest. I learned a lot I did not know. I learned a lot about people who touched Mozart's life. I like the fact that he gave Constanze the respect she deserves as one who saved Mozart's works for us to enjoy! Great Job!

1791, Mozart's Last Year is a fairly short (199 pages plus appendices, notes, and index) book about the last year of the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the famous composer. Among the things discussed are the possibility of Mozart's receiving a good paying position in the Vienna cathedral, his involvement with the Masons, and the circumstances surrounding the composition of La Clemenza di Tito, Die Zauberfloete (The Magic Flute), and the Requiem. Chapters also provide more general background about life in Vienna at the time. One chapter is devoted to the facts about Mozart's last illness, and other explores various myths and theories about it. A final chapter refutes some criticisms of Mozart's wife Constanze. The book is very well written, and appears to be the product of considerable knowledge and research. Included are some photographs and illustrations.

This is a coffee-table book, gloriously illustrated and full of the familiar faces--living and dead, heroes and villains. If you want a more technical book--akin to the Star Trek: Star Fleet Technical Manual--the get 24: The Counter Terrorist Unit Handbook.

I have wrought my simple plan
If I give one hour of joy
To the boy who's half a man,
Or the man who's half a boy.The Lost World (Dover Thrift Editions)

This is a great collectors item for any fan of the show. First, the book is written as if it is a non-fictional guide to CTU. There are lots of details about all major characters and info about characters who didn't last or live long. This guide features everything from long recaps of all 6 days to detailed information about weapons and vehicles used. There were many times when I would stop and say "I forgot that happened on that day" or "I forgot that girl from Rosanne was in this". Michael Goldman gives us a well written and informative companion to the show that reminds us of why we got hooked in the first place. Well worth the purchase.

terrific companion to the show - answers alot of questions and gives many interesting tidbits as well as pictures!

"24: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE" es un excelnete libro que te guia sin mayor esfuerzo, a traves de las laberinticas tramas de las primeras seis temporadas de la ultrafamosa serie "24". Lleno de datos interesantes y resumenes bien redactados, acompañados de muchisimas fotos y diagramas a full color, encontraras aqui los momentos claves de cada "dia", ademas de los profiles de los perosnajes principales; la infame galeria de villanos y "topos"; los caidos en accion de CTU; las armas, tácticas y locaciones usados en la serie. Imprescindible para todos los fans de la serie, pero un serio peligro para los no iniciados, pues este libro es un gran y maravilloso SPOLIER para ellos. Bravo!!

I have the season companion guide "24: The Ultimate Guide" by Michael Goldman, $24.99 US, Hardcover, coffee table size (12" x 10"), which covers all 6 Days/Seasons.

I wanted to take this opportunity to say to all 24 fans considering this book: I love it!

I leave it on my living room table, and people check it out and it always makes them interested and starts conversations that branch into all sorts of things.

The quality of the pages and pictures is outstanding. The visual appeal of the book could not be better - there are high quality glossy photos that are just amazing. There are inset synopses called a "Fact File" for the major characters, Day/Season synopses of course, and the volume includes a plethora of inset character faces, sets, and scenes large and small.

The book relates some details that cannot be derived or inferred from the DVDs, such as details of field gear and other technologies, history trivia, and of course the Fact Files on many of the characters.

There is a brief enthusiastic "Welcome" to the book from Joel Surnow on page 6.

This book is a very appealing and satisfying presentation of the whole 24 experience, and well worth the money paid. I would recommend it just for the pictures, even if there was no text!

I am a huge fan of "24" and I collect 24 merchandise. This guide does a great job in breaking down each episode. It gives you all the major points you need to understand. When I ordered this book that's what I expected. However, I didn't expect all of the extra content. The first 28 pages are full of behind the scenes info about the shows conceptual design and how it was created. There are interviews with the shows producers and with Kiefer Sutherland himself. I highly recommend this to any fan of "24". It is a must-have.

This book is great with details and background of each character, and has the details from each hour, so is very helpful if you don't have two straight non sleeping days to catch up.

This book is full of great photos and a real treat for 24 fans. The entire book is mostly photos and arranged by season. There are photos from the show and off set. I loved it and think that all 24 fans would enjoy it.

Two pages of information per episode: timeframe with the key events, research files, additionel intel and photo's. The book also contains the profiles of the main characters of the first two seasons. A must have for the real 24 fans!

Mike and I over at 2GuysTalking:24 have been waiting for a book like this to come out for years now. Our only complaint is why so long? This is a gorgeous book to have in your collection and is chalk full of all kinds of 24 data, background info, interesting tidbits and if that's not all, tons of great photographs to supplement.

The look and feel of the book is something you really want to get your hands on and keep. Its got more of a "Tab Newspaper" style feel to it then your ordinary book. The pages are laid out nicely and each page represents one day in the life of Jack Bauer! Each day has its own timeline of events similar to our own "24 in 60" segment we do in our podcast. A great reference guide if you need to go back to look something up.

Each day featured on a page layout also has a section where they link interesting pieces of information that you might not already know about 24. For example, the $200,000 Mason was accused of skimming in the first season is linked to his son in the second season. Pieces like that really present a whole new perspective to the show that you may not catch when watching it.

Mega Kudos goes to Tara DiLullo for writing such a great book. You definitely want to get this in your collection. Mike and I were so impressed with the book we decided to have Tara on the show to ask her more about what went on behind the scenes and what to expect in the future. Check it out at [...].

Legendary money-burning KLF/JAMS/K-Foundation/Bunnymen main man reveals details of art terror tactics, a good old cow-hanging, Tenents Super distribution methods and his insane meanderings around the M25 with the Gimp. Proof that Drummond is a worthy link in the Magickal chain connecting straight back to Crowley...

Further book, film and music reviews, plus general shenanigans can be found at: www.mindcrash.co.uk and http://blog.myspace.com/mindcrash

Bill Drummond is a funny man. He is a gripping and vivid writer. If you have low boredom tolerance you will be satisfied.

Hope Bill Drummond writes more.

Bill Drummond is a funny man. He is a gripping and vivid writer. If you have low boredom tolerance you will be satisfied.

Hope Bill Drummond writes more.

Lovely insight of a real artist in this fake world. Contains sudden loud laughs, honest and cynic. A bit too much of a whining and selfconfession, however they fit the agenda. A must for all serious considerers of pop in its any manifestations and for the admirers of The Manual, and The KLF phenomenon.

As everyone already knows, Bill Drummond was in The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu/The Jams/The KLF/The K Foundation.

What most people probably don't know is that he's one of the most positive people they'd ever know, at least in writing. And with that positive energy comes inspiration.

Personally, it was this autobiographical text that got me back out of corporate america and behind the reigns of my own business once again. And I'm a happier person for it, even on the worst days.

Bill Drummond is an artist, first and foremost. He drips of creativity, and he's a genuinely funny man. Both show in his actions, see for instance "K foundation Burn a Million Quid," and his popularity gave him the resources to do more, but it never seemed to get to his head and in fact he seems to have thrown much of it away.

This book is never boring, and, really, don't be cynical - this text is very inspiring.