Interviews Books

This collection of original ads and the subsequent exercise done by at least 4 different design firms is a very interesting approach to an art book. I enjoyed the accompanying "interview" with each designer so you could align the feeling you got from the rework with their explanation of the approach.

I work as a designer myself in an advertising agency and have only had this book for a short time, but really enjoy looking and reading through it. It has givien me inspiration and motivation in my own work. Also it has been a good way of seeing how other designers and artist percieve the same idea or concept. This book is great for anyone who wants to see or learn how other designers work, it's a good motivational tool.

Right when I opened this book I already knew that I would be hooked. The idea that certain design work would be redesigned by other designers helps me to see that there is never one way to solving a problem. If you want a new perspective on a project you are on, perhaps this book will help!

I highly recommend this book for your library. As a graphic design student, it helps me prepare myself for what my competition will be. I love how it shows the original piece and re:designs from other designers. The interviews are so captivating it is hard for me to look at just the piece alone without reading the interview. It will help you become a stronger designer, and as a student, it will help you become less intimidated. Great book!!!

Quizás lo que aprendí en este libro es que cuando estamos trancados en un diseño, es mejor empezar desde cero, como si nunca hubieramos trabajado alguna idea sobre el mismo desde el comienzo.

What an amazing book. Marvelously written, highly informative, i was shocked and entertained, page after page.

A compassionate, humorous, meticulous and nothing short of brilliant piece of writing.

One most definitely does NOT have to be transgendered as am i, to marvel at what is in this book. As a matter of fact, since we already know what we are going through, it should be required reading for the part of humanity that needs to know, that is not transgendered.

Bravo Deborah, bravo.

Jamie Antonia Symonanis - author of 'You're Lost Little Girl'

I was most impressed with the information that was included in the book relative to my own identity problems (?). It gave me some insight into the emotional battles that have brewed within my self over the years. I wish that I had this information many years ago. We are really not male or female, rather, we are a blend of human nature.

Thank you,

Herb

This is the best Gender-related book I've read thus far. It delves far beyond the woman-in-man's body metaphor to cover historical and current theories about gender and why, like any other human phenomenon, gender is represented best by a biological diversity not necessarily aligned with one's natal genitalia. It also delves with style into recent history offering a chilling echo from Nazi Germany into what intolerance holds towards gender variance. This is a book that everyone over age of 18 ought to read. The personal accounts were also very telling. Great book.

For the past couple years, I have been devouring every book I can get my hands on about gender variance, and I have read some really good ones. The one I just finished is among the very best yet. It's a recent offering (published 2005) by Deborah Rudacille. It's called The Riddle of Gender: Science, Activism, and Transgender Rights.

It is refreshing in that it has no axes to grind, and it is written by someone who is sensitive to the subject matter (she began the research when I friend chose to transition); knowledgeable of the general body humanistic thought that comes from feminism, postmodernist philosophy, gender studies and queer studies; and who knows reaearch and science (she's a science writer working at Johns Hopkins). What's more, she is uniquely knoweldgeable about the special area of environmental estrogens and endocrine disrupting chemicals like DES. Rudacille is a powerful advocate, and I believe her so proficiently bringing together the science, the history, and the voices of transpeople will have a profound effect.

As a science writer, she is, first and foremost, a talented writer. The book is especially valuable for presenting lots of different perspectives and distinctive forms of information and thought without recourse to jargon or the conventions of speech typical of academic publications.

Each chapter includes an extended interview with a trans person. Most of these subjects are successful professionals and/or activist advocates. They are articulate and experienced voices that manage to say, in their totality and unity, "We are not mentally ill. We are not moral degenerates. We are products of biochemistry, and we are interesting human beings worth getting to know."

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I learned a lot I didn't know!

Dan Mouer, Ph.D.

As somebody in the midst of transition myself I have devoured many of the "must read" books on this subject and more besides. At this point I have started to be cautious about my selections since similar information is often duplicated, especially in the non-biographical works.

What a joy then to read this book, which introduced me to so much new information without ever feeling like hard going!

If you think this is purely looking through research for why we (TG's) exist you are grossly underestimating the author. True, she examines that research, but puts it in the context of politics, public opinion, and ethics of the time. She also asks some tough questions that made me re-consider my position on several issues.

Whether you identify as transgendered or are interested in understanding you have to add this to your compulsory reading list!

This item was purchased for someone else, but she LOVED it. The book was in excellent condition.

The stars of top New York City ballet companies have been selected by dance photography Roy Round for profile in Round About The Ballet, a visual treat and an effort to capture the movements and artistry of ballet in photo book format. But Round About The Ballet isn't just visuals alone: interviews with the dancers probe their achievements, lives, and dancing challenges alike, covering such diverse topics as how ballet competitions have changed their lives, how associations with particular companies have influenced their dancing styles, and both physical and psychological dancing challenges. A 'must' for any serious dancer, especially for fans of ballet.

I've always been a fan of Roy Round's pictures. I never imagined text could rival their command of my attention, but these interviews are fabulous.

If you can't find out what you want to know about these dancers by chatting with them over lunch, reading these interviews is almost as good.

I have been going to the ballet seriously for 35 years. Nothing gets into the heart and soul of dancers the way this book does. And the photographs of the fifteen individual dancers simply take the breath away -- especially the one on the cover.

This book is easily one of my favorite books. For the true Balletomane, this book is a MUST! And for the rest of the world I also highly reccommend it.
The Photographs by Roy Round are MAGNIFICENT! The grain, (clarity), is something seldom seen in the world of ballet photography where it is so diffucult to photograph the suject in a moving or semi-moving position or even in a "posed" photograph.
With all of his subjects, and he chooses several contemperary dancers including Nikolaj Hubbe, Julie Kent, Angel Corella, Wendy Whelan and my favorite in this book, Ethan Stiefel, the color saturation, (the natural look of color), is BEAUTIFUL!
My best advice to you, dear Reader, is run don't walk to Amazon to buy this GREAT book! The cover alone is worth the price of admission. And what follows between the boards will simply amaze you.
Gary R. Brown

I had the Runnin' Down A Dream DVD so when I purchased the book I was concerned that they would both have the same information. The book has different information and is not the same as the DVD at all. For all of you Tom Petty fans out there this is a must buy!

Book is great(I knew it would be), What amazed me was how quickly I got it!!!

Runnin' down a dream, 30 career years of one of the rock stars that have changed the american rock business compiled in a complete book full of photographs, history and many many personal tales. A must-have for any rock fan.

i really enjoyed this book. it's a great companion to the dvd set. i think it's a must have for any Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers fan. well worth it.

If you want to know more about Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, buy this book. Great pictures and JUST GREAT STUFF ABOUT HIM.

A bout with leukemia left me unable to read because of the drugs. A friend sent me the book and I decided to read it in spite of the fact that I had not been able to read more than a few words. Perserverance paid off and I read the book while confined to my bedroom for 2 months. I was blessed to have time to contemplate the "different type of relationship" the author had with Jesus. The author was bold, he was irreverant according to my "religious world" and yet he didn't seem to apologise for it. I found myself questioning if I had pushed into knowing Jesus as the author obviously had done. To date I have reread the book and absolutely recommend it to anyone who wants to know how to search out new ways to get to know Jesus. I'm sure Jesus loves the book!

George has written the interview we all dream of having. He asks the questions we all have, along with biblically sound answers. It is quite apparent that the Holy Spirit inspired George throughout this entire book! You, too, will find yourself asking questions and thoughts being evoked at a depth you may never thought you'd go. It's a quick read... or not, depending on how you ponder over the meat within not only the answers, but the questions as well. A very relevant book for such a time as this. I also HIGHLY recommend the accompanying study guide that Karen Pettingell wrote to enhance this interview. You just may find the interviewee will be interviewing YOU! Or, you may find yourself dancing...

Sit back and get ready for one of the greatest conversations ever, as if your sitting right there in the room with George and Jesus. The questions are relevant and the answers are in layman's language, modern and based on age-old Bible references. This presentation really brings to life the Bible stories. This is one of kind book written for the novice to the expert, it is one that you won't put down until the end and then it will open your mind and thoughts to a modern perspective about the Bible. I love this book, Thanks George.

I loved this book, it made me feel so good when I read it. It clearly reminded me of the book Joshua, that I have liked forever. It asks questions and gives answers that are easy to understand and helpful in keeping your faith. I would highly recomend this book to add to your library.

By Sofia Steryo-Bartmus, Author "Paws of Wisdom" Valuable Lessons We Can Learn From Our Pets

If you interviewed Jesus, what would you ask? And what would He answer?

George Pettingell has done a thorough job in introducing to us who Jesus is. He makes Jesus come alive as you turn each page, as if you were sitting there with him asking the questions. In this unique interviewing style Jesus give us answers from the easiest to the most uncomfortable questions. This book is great for believers in Christ, old and new, who still have many unanswered questions, as well as for non-believers; those who are seeking and those who are trying to disprove Christ.

Although the answers are mostly based on Scripture and Bible stories, they are written in a simple, current and easy to understand language. I enjoyed the book very much. I found it interesting, informative and thought provoking. What if Jesus is who he says he is? Then what? What are we to do next?

If you have never had a personal relationship with Jesus, you certainly will want to have one by the time you finish this book.

"Teach me Lord, to dance" is a timeless reference book for everyone's library (including the reference material in the back of the book for future study).

One reason I bought this book is because my Greatgrandmother was Alex's Aunt. I visited Alex as a child with my Parents and Grandmother. Alex was always sending my Grandmother items , such as walking canes. He made my mother a rolling pin, which she still has. Most of all the book gave me many names of my relatives that ive been searhing for.

This was of special interest to me since I live near the location of this book. I simply could not put it down until I read it cover to cover.

A fascinating look at our early pioneer families, the hardships they endured, and the genius of their innovations.

A great read.

This is an amazing book about Alex Stewart, an Appalachian survivor. It is told from an interview style where Alex explains how he learned to make different utilitarian items that his family and community needed to survive. He also tells stories of how he learned what plants healed people from illnesses, learned the skills to survive the harsh locations of the Appalachian mountains and loved life with every ounce of his body.
My Appalachian born grandparents read it cover to cover over and over and then had to travel to the Museum of Appalachia in Norris, Tenn to see the common items they remembered with Alex throughout the book. John Rice Irwin, the founder of the Museum of Appalachia is a gifted historian and this shines through in any of his books, written to remember the people of Appalachia. He also seeks to capture this throughout his living Appalachian village, the Museum of Appalachia. A MUST visit and A MUST read for any Appalachian native.

i recently read the book about alex stewart and i have to say that it was so good. i loved it. alex was so talented and as the book stated "he was a national treasure." i would liked to have met him. any craft the author asked him about, he responded that he could make it. what a unique human being. he was warm, endearing, and a very kind and gentle man. he told completely the life of the pioneer to john brice irwin and the book is so well written. it was a joy to read and told in detail of the hardships the people of that era had to indure. i felt by the end of the book the sadness of alex stewart's death and that i had gotten to know him well.

I bought this book at the Museum of Appalachia (also founded by the author) on my first visit to Tennessee. The book is almost entirely a transcript of a dialogue/interview between the author and Alex Stewart. At first, I thought this would be a strange format, but as I read on, I discovered that this would be the only way to authentically capture the mind and spirit of Alex on paper.

If you're not from the South, you might find Alex's dialect charminging unusual. A few times I had to read a passage over and over again to fully understand what words Alex was saying. Here is an example where it took me a while to realize that Alex meant "Lord" when kept saying "Law":

"They didn't have no men folks, but they had several children. Making liquor was the only way they had of making a living. Law, they had it hard."

The author cleverly asks questions to get Alex to reveal his pioneer wisdom. More than that, though, the author's selections and chapter arrangements helped to organize the sprawling encyclopedia of Alex's mind.

By the time I reached the end, I was sad to have the "conversation" over. I felt I had known Alex a bit personally, and I mourned at his passing. It was joyous reading while it lasted and my heart ached to know more of Alex.

This is a fabulous book I can't recommend enough. 10 STARS.

Tony Salin's collection of stories in "Baseball's Forgotten Heroes" is a reminder that baseball's charm is created by more than the superstars that the media cling to when trying to get the average fan's attention. As much as I enjoy reading about Williams or DiMaggio, Baseball's Forgotten Heroes is a fresh approach that I hope will set a standard for future volumes. Throughout history, baseball has presented many men with fascinating stories that have been otherwise overlooked. Fortunately, there is at least one author with the desire and perseverance to publish some of these unsung-heroes' stories. The style of this book would appeal to anyone regardless of his or her degree of passion for baseball or knowledge of the sport, but it is a "must-have" for any baseball enthusiast's library. I hope Salin is able to produce many sequels to this wonderful model of baseball literature. HOF!

Baseball is a game rich in history and stories abound about those who have played the game. Author Tony Salin has provided us with stories of players who are known to true fans such as Chuck Connors, Billy Jurges, Frenchy Bordagaray, and Larry Jansen. A number of stories of very obscure players who have interesting tales to tell as well is also in the book. I especially enjoyed the pronounciation of names in the back of the book. I had hoped to see the name Chris Van Cuyk listed, but, alas, that one will continue to mystify me. The book is a quick read and is worth your time.

This is a book written by someone with a lot of love for the game of baseball. It will mostly benefit others with the same love: Salin has found sufficiently obscure figures that I had only heard of half of them. Where feasible, he lets them tell their own stories, thus preserving their style of speech and bringing them to life (very important as most are very elderly or since deceased).

Salin must be a persuasive fellow and is certainly a persistent one; he wangled an interview with the very reclusive Pete Gray, who played major league baseball with only one arm (true story). He has gathered a collection of amusing and interesting stories that tell a lot about the times in which his subjects played.

And as if all that weren't enough, there's a great bonus at the end: a pronunciation guide to baseball people's names. How is someone like myself, born in the early 1960s, supposed to know how to pronounce a lot of the names of the past? What a superb inclusion, and the list is both long and phonetically clear. I couldn't believe my good fortune when I got to that part, having thought that the book was over, and was so pleasantly surprised. It was like a performer coming out for a superb encore.

Well worth the money and time for enthusiasts of baseball history. I'm going to keep my eye on this author, and I hope we get more.

Are you tired of reading the same stories about the same baseball players? Pick up this great little book for a different look at the game. Instead of rehashing old stories the author delves into the careers of some little known but colorful characters. The interviews, though somewhat rough around the edges, allow the author to give you the conversational type of history, as if you were sitting across the kitchen table from these baseball nomads. It's the kind of book you find yourself saying, "I could have written this book". But hey, the author followed through on his idea, and I look forward to seeing more of the same type material from him.

This book, like Andrew Torrez's critically acclaimed _Off Base_, appears to be part of a growing trend among baseball authors to encourage their readers to think "outside the box." Salin's ideas, like Torrez's, are provocative and entertaining.

Wonderfully insightful. Truman's own words give you an entry to this great writer's philosophy. It's a fast read.

Truman Capote was a great writer and self-promoter. Both characteristics come through in these interviews with Lawrence Grobel, an interviewer who has done his homework and only intrudes when he has something to add.

The book stands up well on its own merits, but will prove more enjoyable if you read some backgound material first, notably (in order of priority) "Music for Chameleons," Gerald Clarke's first-rate biography, and "In Cold Blood."

After you've read it, you may want to watch A & E's excellent documentary on Capote's life.

I own several books of conversations with authors. This is the first one I've wanted to read cover-to-cover without pausing for a breath. It's the first one I haven't been tempted to skim, looking for the best nuggets, because this one is FULL of nuggets. Capote isn't afraid to say, flat-out, what is on his mind. The chapter about his contemporaries is particularly interesting to me.

For instance, of Faulker he says: "Well, he was completely reckless. I'm not a great admirer of Faulkner. He never had the slightest influence on me at all. I like three or four short stories of his, 'That Evening Sun,' and I like one novel of his very much, called LIGHT IN AUGUST. But for the most part, he's a highly confusing, uncontrolled writer."

Which is all absolutely reasonable. Then Capote adds, "I knew Faulkner very well. He was a great friend of mine. Well, as much as you could be a friend of his, unless you were a fourteen-year-old nymphet. Then you could be a great friend!"

And Capote doesn't hold back about any of his other contemporaries, either, like Ken Kesey, Jack Kerouac, Norman Mailer, Gertrude Stein, and more. For instance, when the interviewer expresses his respect for Bellow's HENDERSON THE RAIN KING, Capote says, "Oh no. Dull, dull."

This book also has several photographs of Capote. The quality of the photos, at least in my softcover edition, are rather poor, unfortunately, but many of them I've never seen before, such as the one with Truman showing up to a court appearance on a drunk driving charge in shorts! The caption reads: "He [the judge] was very insulted...Actually, I looked quite smart. I had a very smart pair of shorts on and a very smart jacket and shirt and sandals."

In some ways, this is like reading a great comedy routine, yet there are definitely undercurrents of anger and sadness in this book. I highly recommend it.

This is the book that makes you sad at the prospect of Truman Capote dying before he could finish his last novel, but you suspect that he didn't have to finish it since you get a lot of it from these interviews. He was one of the most fascinating figures in literary history and his insights into art, literature and celebrity are amazing.

There's a running rivalry with Norman Mailer, a dismissal of the beats, discussion of Breakfast at Tiffany's. He talks about interviewing the killers for In Cold Blood and how that led to other interviews with convicted killers. He discusses Hemmingway and leaves the reader with one of the best lines ever - "I am the man that Hemingway pretended to be." which is even more interesting when you consider Hemingway's repressed homosexuality (or accusations thereof) in light of Capote's openly gay personae that he displayed when that could get you killed.

Be warned. Once you start reading this book, you won't be able to put it down. So set time aside so you can finish it in one sitting.

everything and perhaps a little more than you want to know about Truman Capote. A nice easy to read bok.

I'm so glad I found out about this book. Fortunately, there are plenty of second hand copies around the world so it wasn't too hard to come by. This book was prepared over a period when Roy Newquist got to know Crawford on a deeper level. She opened up herself almost completely, although would not let him use a tape recorder. So the book is based on his notes during the sessions. What I think readers will enjoy the most are her opinions on all her films. It's interesting to see that she dislikes the films that most of us do, and loves the films we all love. Also worth reading are her thoughts on her early childhood which was clearly a tough and difficult time for the young Lucille Le Seuer. I also enjoyed reading the section on her two oldest children. Although this book pre-dates "Mommie Dearest", it becomes apparent that Crawford had been criticised for her mothering of Christina and Christopher in the late 70's. Her thoughts on her behavious and the two children's behaviour is worth reading. Always advisable to recognise that there are two sides to every story.

This is a fascinating read, perhaps too short, but one thing is clear: all Crawford fans need a copy in their collection.

My only disappointment with this book is that it's too short! Very interesting and in Joan's own words. I think a life lesson is here as well from her. You do the best you can with the choices you've made.

Finally a complete book that you can read about Miss Crawford.
Not only can you read the excellent interview by Roy Newquist,who is very respectful in his tone,but still manages to get the questions answered,you also get the complete rundown of her extensive filmography until....Whatever happened to Baby Jane ?.(If you have seen the films after this one,you will not be too,too surprised!).
So in conclusion,this is a must-read book,and you wish to purchase it,get the Hardcover copy,because you will want to reread this book over and over again.Mark my word !

I feel like I've waited my entire life for this book... I don't know where to start! I am so excited to have found this book. For years, I have been searching for a "real" book about my idol, cinematic legend, Miss Joan Crawford. With the exception of a very few, every book about Joan was always the same: boring-boring-boring.

"Conversations With Joan," by Mr. Roy Newquist is really the very best book ever written about this fascinating and complex star! I absolutely could not put it down! The book is only 175 pages long, yet I felt like (for the first time, ever!) I got a clear and concise picture of Joan. Why is this the best book about Miss Crawford?

"Conversations With Joan" treads new waters as it lays down an original painting on a clean and unused canvas. This book is a collection of extremely intimate, in-depth and never-before-published interviews with Joan. It even includes her very last interviews just a couple of months before she passed on! Roy Newquist was also the only member of the media that Joan ever spoke to after 1974. She only spoke to him because she trusted him and she knew that he was an accomplished and honest writer. "Conversations With Joan" should really have Joan's name listed as one of the authors, because 90% of the text comes straight out of her mouth. The book is very interestingly written and put together, it is more like a long fan-article than a typical hum-drum celebrity (auto)biography. Mr. Newquist wasn't just a journalist who chose to write a book about Joan. Nope. He was a friend of Joan's. "Conversations With Joan Crawford" was actually written over a 15 year time-period; from the time Mr. Newquist first met her, up until right before Miss Crawford's death in 1977!

Joan is asked about and discusses everything! She talks about her childhood, her mother, her brother, her lovers, her father, her various step-fathers and she even answers many questions about her friends, as well. She is candid, funny and always forthcoming! The questions also get tough. Joan is questioned about her alleged alcohol abuse. She discusses her affair with Clark Gable. She discusses all of her divorces, and she even candidly details how it felt to become a widow at such a young age! Joan talks about her failures, too, in total description. We all know that Miss Crawford is a perfectionist. But the Joan in this book is also very vulnerable. She wishes she could change many aspects in both her private and professional lives. If this reviewer didn't know a modicum about Miss Crawford, I would learn that she had a heart an a soul.

The first portion (note: there really aren't clear-cut chapters in this book) of the book includes an informative section that includes commentary from Joan on all of her movies from the 20's up until What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (Two-Disc Special Edition). As you may know, Joan was the epitome of a star during the Golden Era of cinema, and made more than 80 classic pictures. She is rather proud of all her movies, especially her defining role in Mildred Pierce (Keepcase). Miss Crawford is especially delicate as she goes over the movie that garnered her an Academy Award for Best Actress. It almost goes without saying that she has nothing but gratitude for her crew and costars that helped make this movie such a success. Of course she talks about all of her other most well-known movies, such as Flamingo Road (1949), The Damned Don't Cry, Possessed, Humoresque, Harriet Craig, Sudden Fear, "Female on the Beach," Autumn Leaves and Queen Bee. But Joan especially relishes her reign as MGM's box-office queen as she elaborates on such representative films as, Our Dancing Daughters, "Letty Lynton," Grand Hotel (Snap case), Sadie Mckee, Forsaking All Others (1934), I Live My Life, Shining Hour, The Women (Keepcase), Strange Cargo (1940), Susan & God and Woman's Face. And it's also rather comical reading these passages, because the same movies that you or I hate ("The Ice Follies of 1939," Johnny Guitar, and the dreaded, Trog) are the same ones that Joan despised as well. Joan was the type of star who tended to base her opinions on her pictures based on what her fans thought. That may not be right, but that was just the way she was.

Joan discusses the movie business in brass accuracy. She remembers all of her costars and all of the crews that helped make her pictures the classics that they are today. Miss Crawford also gives her blunt opinion on the "New Hollywood." Although, in 2007 this hardly seems "new." I can only imagine what she would have said about today's "stars?" I'm sure she would have said a lot; none of it complimentary. Joan is even asked about Bette Davis, more than once. As I always thought, Miss Crawford didn't have any hatred towards Bette Davis. Of course the 2 were never friends (where is written that 2 actresses have to be friends?,) but she did appreciate Bette Davis' talent and showmanship.

For lack of a better word, this is really such a perfect book. I really do not understand why more fans do not know about it. I suppose, like me, they didn't look hard enough. Maybe good things come to those who wait? The book was first published 27 years ago in 1980, when I was just a baby. Wouldn't it be great if the publisher or author could put it back in print? But alas, that is probably never going to happen. I thought it was absolutely hilarious how Miss Crawford would say something like, "oh I just can't talk about that." Then she would lapse into a 3 page speech on the very topic she was being asked about! No matter what she says, I think Joan loved being a star and she loved putting on a show. Up until the very, very end, she was still always performing for her fans.

Known for her fashion-sense, classical beauty and the ability to constantly re-invent herself (decades before Madonna was a household name,) this book includes some of the most alluring pictures of Miss Crawford throughout her long and impressive film career. The pictures ran throughout the entire book and were often included next to text that was along the same topic. And the back cover even included a lovely shot of Joan, from the mid-thirties. I saw many pictures for the very first time, such as a stunning picture of Joan taken during the late 40's; probably around the time she was making "Daisy Kenyon." I also loved the shot of her taken in the 20's, used as an early MGM publicity photo.

Joan also opens up about her later years in life. Again, please remember that during the 70's she gave very few interviews and completely cut the press off starting in '74. So, this book acts as the first and only accurate picture of Miss Crawford's life during this time. She still sounds optimistic and always incredibly determined during these sections of the book and her life; which run concurrent! Because, maybe Miss Crawford knew that this would be her only chance to "set the record straight?" Through "Conversations With Joan," she did just that by letting her fans have an inside glimpse into her world!

It's very unfortunate that the vast majority of the public think of Joan as a violent monster. If only they read "Conversations With Joan Crawford," they would see for themselves that she was nothing like that (please keep in mind that this book was written over a 15 year time-period, it was not just thrown together at the last minute.) But, if that's what they have to believe to get through the night, more power to 'em. In this crazy world, I don't know what I believe in anymore. Although, I will never lose faith in Miss Crawford. I am certain that she was a first-rate star who worked her a-s-s off to get to where she was, and once she got there she never stopped working!

In spite of not being much of a fan of Joan Crawford, especially in her uptight Warner's years, this book is a fascinating insight into her persona, possibly the best available. The book is a compendium of interviews with Crawford over a 15 year period, all carefully re-arranged to provide continuity to the reader. The result is logical and easy to follow.

Crawford was not highly educated so she states that she often struggled with the interview process because she was unsure what to say. Certainly, in the few existing interviews available, she is not highly articulate in the same way as Katharine Hepburn or Bette Davis. This book has a big advantage because the conversations were private, when Crawford was clearly more relaxed and not "maintaining" her public image. Accordingly, her observations are direct with an honesty for which she was not often credited and we get a much greater feel for who she was. The pretension is stripped away and her comments on her own films are excellent. She agreed with many film critics that many of her films were formula laden junk.

There is not a lot about her children or her active sex life (dismissed with the comment that she was "highly sexed"), although she speaks openly of her relationship with Clark Gable. Many of her comments display a wit which might be unexpected. Certainly, her comments about the studio system in which she flourished are worthy of a text book on the subject.

The overwhelming impression is of a tough woman who by hard work and dedication achieved great professional success but was unable to do the same in her personal life due to an overwhelming inferiority complex. When you read between the lines on her upbringing, it is no wonder she was poorly equipped for stable and rewarding relationships. One of her most attractive traits though is that she does not really feel sorry for herself. Her self discipline ultimately overrules everything else.

This book has long been out of print but is worth tracking down.

The "auteur" moniker that seems to hang ominously like a dead albatross around David Cronenberg's directorial neck is an overly misapplied reputation which requires a bit of deconstruction.

Essentially, when you hear the term auteur, the suggestion that typically applies is that the director in question--in this case, David Cronenberg--is a snotty type who doesn't budge not even the width of an atom for his particular creative vision. Everything on-set by definition must be done to the letter of the man himself, an inflexible character. Auteur, in this highly pejorative sense, is the closest thing to a Mussolini-type dictatorship which one could experience on the film set. Horrors.

But I'd certainly have to disagree.

David Cronenberg, according to many of the players who have worked under him (not toiled, collaborated!), especially in the case of Maria Belo and Viggo Mortensen, lately of A History of Violence, have nothing but rave reviews for the man. Even former porn-star Marilyn Chambers in The Brood had fantastic things to say about the Toronto-based director.

Few so-called auteurs seem to be as democratic as Cronenberg. He places a great emphasis upon his actors' appearance on screen, and much is discussed of how he generally will permit heaps of retakes for various scenes if a given actor feels as though they didn't pull off a scene correctly, or with particular aplomb.

He's one of the smartest directors in Hollywood. He's extremely well read (evidenced by his fluidity of speech during interviews--I've watched them), he's maginificently outspoken, and he knows his material so very well, especially when he writes the scripts himself. What's more is that he's adamant about shooting his films in his native Canada. In a North American industry where most Canadian would-be talent darts south of the border faster than Scotty's teleporter might, Cronenberg has stuck it out in places like the old movie studios at Kleinberg, Ontario and in the provincial captial, Toronto to establish a solid reputation north of the 45th parallel.

If you've never had the chance to hear Cronenberg speak on screen, you're really missing out. See if you can pick up the film called Spider...which starts Rafe Fiennes and Gabriel Byrne, which also contains an excellent segment on the director speaking about his various travails in attempting to land 11th-hour financing for that picture (which nearly capsized because they couldn't land the cash). I'm not raving for nothing--he doesn't miss a beat, this Cronenberg guy. He knows his stuff cold, and so do the people who entitle him to do what he does. They know they're in good hands, and Cronenberg always seems to deliver the goodies.

In terms of the book itself, I've fallen head over heels in love with this "directors speaking about themselves" series. After having first read Cassavetes on Cassavetes in New Zealand, Kieslowski on Kieslowski in the Czech Republic, and now Cronenberg on Cronenberg here in Prague (with Herzog on Herzog waiting anxiously in the wings), you're going to be hardpressed to find better biographical data on these giants of indie cinema other than what you'll read here. Martin Scorsese has even been profiled in this series...from what I've heard, it's one of the thickest of them all. Oh poor bank account...

This book rocks (!!!) because you're getting an uncensored take on the author's views. The book is Cronenberg at his vintage best, cussing, intimately describing various details (especially the final insert on his film CRASH, the "real" CRASH, not the Oscar-winning impostor!) of the sex scenes between his actors Holly Hunter, James Spader, and Elias Koteas, and some keen insider details from the period of cinematic history in Canada back in the old "tax shelter" days, when finance was freely available. When guys like David Cronenberg were only looking for scripts to fit the bill, because they were swimming in Canadian dollars. Those were the days, and Cronenberg pays due homage to the era -- it's what made him who he is today, and without the access to the money back in those days, his destiny might've turned out slightly differently. It's what he describes as his transition from "filmmaker" to "movie maker," a la Hollywood, bigger budgets, bigger stars, and box-office coups.

See if you can also catch a special "director's series" DVD from the American Film Insitute (AFI). It's called "The Directors: David Cronenberg," and he's one of (I believe) several directors profiled, with clips from their various films (I've watched most of 'em). Catch some early clips of Canadian actor Michael Ironside, who is still stupendous, IMHO, even in his later years. That infamous "head exploding scene" from Scanners, still to this day, is something else. It's buried somewhere on that DVD I'm talking about.

So I think I've said enough about completely irrelevant things. If you're looking to be entertained, see if you can pick up a copy. It's not heavy lifting, reading-wise, and it's packed with factoids, anecdotes, and details.

--ADM in Prague

Dude, it's really hard to stop David Cronenberg from yapping about his films. this, though, is a good thing. The man is very well spoken ,even if he doesn't think shivers and videodrome aren't comedies. this book, my friend, make me feel good.

Or at least I did until I gave away the second edition as a gift but it meant a lot. The current edition is fourth and came out after The Crash. To the people who know only his films it will be surprising Cronenberg came from a literary background and how much his films are intellectual. The man also possesses mean dry wit which shows up when talking about his ex wife and personal enemies like censors or would be do-gooders (fellow Canadian writer Margaret Atwood). To those who do not know about the author as much as they should this is a great book. Those who love Cronenberg's films probably own this already. I am waiting for a new edition to come out, the one to include the making of Existenz and his new film Spider and I'm buying!

"Cronenberg on Cronenberg" is a great start for anyone who wants further insight on David's work, specially his early films. One musn't hesitate, this is the basic fan purchase.

A semi-autobiographical look into the world of David Cronenberg and how he came to make films of grotsque, yet, captivating life of media, biology and society. You will read about his influences in his early childhood life and then, eventually, virtually being the only Canadian film director with a promise. Cronenberg seems humble in his writing, yet, you get a sense of high intelligence. Definately reccomended! It is a good read, moves along nicely and you will be quite fascinated by his personal accounts of his world and what inspires him.