Interviews Books

In a world where everyone is thinking about knowing the most hidden secrets of the life, Borges, when is asked to give some advice to the younger generation, only says:

I don't think I can give advice to other people. I've hardly been able to manage my own life. pp 75.

what a man.

He lived in Literature and Literature lived in him. Books were for him his truest friends and the secret intimates of his soul. When he spoke to another he spoke always to himself and to the books within him. But because he knew books so well and loved them so much all his speaking too became a book .And in the end even his final words there were books talking to books and talking to more books.
So for those of us who also love books , his particular love of books taught us so so much - but only in books.

Borges is great in in his writings, and almost as good in conversation. Witty, urbane, stylish, Borges shows that conversation can be as exciting as literature. Buy now!

This offers a series of interviews in chronlogical order (from 1966 until shortly before his death in '85) While he is good humored and self effacing he never lets you know more than he wants you to. There are also certain repetitons of ideas that occur, but anyone that has read Borges before will be used to that. To some extent it happans with most of the better writers in varying degrees anyways. Even with the repetitions it never comes across like he is doing memorized routines (which sometimes happans with William burroughs interviews)all in all important insight into the mind of an important writer.

One might think that our governors come from an elitist, "born with a silver spoon in their mouth" pedigree, but that presumption is nothing further from the truth. Based on one-on-one interviews with the governors, the authors explore the backgrounds, values and beliefs of 50 governors. Oddly, despite coming from all walks of life and political philosophies running the left-right gamut, most of the men and women have similar virtues.

Hard-learned lessons early in life and their hands-on practicality in dealing with problems helps to explain why most Presidents come from the governor ranks rather than the Senate or House (where pedigree counts for a lot).

Teens should enjoy the personal stories, some quite wrenching, and hopefully learn that their futures are more in their control than they realize.

One might think that our governors come from an elitist, "born with a silver spoon in their mouth" pedigree, but that presumption is nothing further from the truth. Based on one-on-one interviews with the governors, the authors explore the backgrounds, values and beliefs of 50 governors. Oddly, despite coming from all walks of life and political philosophies running the left-right gamut, most of the men and women have similar virtues.

Hard-learned lessons early in life and their hands-on practicality in dealing with problems helps to explain why most Presidents come from the governor ranks rather than the Senate or House (where pedigree counts for a lot).

Teens should enjoy the personal stories, some quite wrenching, and hopefully learn that their futures are more in their control than they realize.

What a lot of work went into this volume, not only the individual interviews, but also compiling the data for meaningful generalizations about these people. And the individual stories are truly fascinating. Anyone who wants to know what it takes to be a successful person should read about these 50 governors.

How did they do it? Have you ever tried to get a one on one with a governor? What determination and excellent interviewing techniques! Fun "government" reading.

Life Photographers: What They Saw

If you like photography, you will find this book very interesting as it shares a behind-the-scenes perspective on the great photographers of Life Magazine. For me personally, I was drawn to it because of one photographer inparticular, Loomis Dean (page 276.) - he was my uncle whom I never met but wish I could have. Now I can understand a little better where my love for photography comes from.

This fascinating book is a compendium of 44 separate interviews, edited down to an easily readable length. All the interviews were taken in the early 1990's, and with two or three exceptions, long after the photographers left Life magazine. I cannot even call myself an amateur photographer; I could not identify any of the people interviewed; yet the interviews were immensely interesting for me.

Mr. Loengard starts with a handful of stock questions and from this beginning, each interview takes its own direction. Putting all the interviews one after the other allows the reader to compare and contrast the different people, and at the same time each person retains a solid individual identity. What makes this book so fascinating is how the vivid details build into a story greater than the sum of their details. From the stock questions about their style, their thoughts on photography as art, how they got into photography, and their strengths, passions, & challenges, and who they disliked, were friends with, or inspired by and why, each interview then delves into each photographer's unique perspective and opinions. The interviews go much beyond photography, the Life photographers talk about their lives, and what went on behind the pictures.

This is definitely not a picture book! I estimate that 25% of the book is pictures and the rest is the text of the interviews. The questions are short (Mr. Loengard is not grand-standing here) and the answers are long. It is clear that each interviewee has wide latitude to go where they think it is most interesting, this is what ensures that each photographer maintains their own unique identity. When we stumble across something valuable, a short question asks for more. The only major detraction for me was that sometimes an important photograph that they are discussing is not reproduced. There was never any reason given for this, leaving me to guess if the original was lost, they didn't have the rights, or for some reason not clear, it just wasn't important enough.

Wonderfully written and illustrated. These interviews provide personal narratives from the photographers who brought us the images recording our history. While the photograph is a moment in time, these interviews tell the stories that preceeded the camera click. The one-on-one relationship between the photographer and subject can be very intimate -- abstract historical figures become real when described in these pages.

***** This is a splendid book. John Loengard, himself a distinguished photo-essayist and picture editor , has presented in their own words the stories of many of the men and women who had served on the photographic staff during the years of publication of the influential. LIFE magazine. In the early nineties Loengard interviewed 44 of the total 88 staff members who had defined the profession of photo-journalist. And just in time! Since the video-taped conversations, one third of the subjects have followed their pioneering fellows in death. Most of the very earliest group are included in this sad roster, including Alfred Eisenstadt, Peter Stackpole, Hansel Mieth, and Horace Bristol. In this handsomely produced volume these noted photographers, along with many of their less well-known colleagues, recount their experiences in the momentous years since LIFE¹s first issue in October 1936. The book is well illustrated with photographs of and by these talented people. It will be especially appreciated by readers with an interest in photography but will also fascinate ordinary observers of the exciting times of our century, as they were recorded by this very perceptive group.

Rex Hardy

I purchased this for dad, who at 89 , gets so excited when he hears that "Main Streets and Back Roads" is the next show on Chronicle. As a New Englander, I find it offers a fresh look at known, and unknown treasures in my own back yard, and often, an amusing look at us Yankees.
You'll find quaint dining, day trips, and breath taking views.
This book would also be a good start to your first trip to New England. 7:30pm on WCVB / Boston is an institution here. If you're in town, tune in after your busy day.

I have been a fan of the show "Chronicle" for almost 15 years. Throughout those years, "Chronicle" has never let me down. It continues to be a wonderful inside look at different places all over New England. And now, there's a book! "Main Streets and Back Roads" showcases some of the stories with pictures and descriptions. Although nothing is as dear to my heart as "Chronicle," the book is a pretty good second. Anyone interested in quirky characters and unusual stories should pick this one up and try the show itself, channel 5 (New England) at 7:30 weeknights.

I'm so excited about the new Chronicle book. Try it, it's a great way to learn more about main streets and back roads. Plus, it will be a great holiday gift.

"Main Streets and Back Roads" is a collection of stories of New England towns from the award-winning TV show Chronicle, which is on Monday thru Friday, Boston's channel 5, 7:30 PM. It summarizes each 'Main Street and Back Roads' show on Chronicle, complete with pictures of the towns. This is a great book for fans of the show Chronicle or people who like to learn about new places. I recommend this book to anyone, especially as a holiday gift in the approaching months. Try it!

We moved to Maryland from California about 4 years ago. Eugene Meyer's book was helpful for us to understand how our new state evolved and how its people and its culture changed through the years. Its amazing how true the statement is about Maryland - its America in a small package. You have the big city (Baltimore), the mountains, the Southern ways, the nation's capital, the suburbs (affluent and rural), you have the Chesapeake Bay, you have the historic Annapolis, the port town of Baltimore (old and historic, new and changing), you have Tobacco and gambling, you have the snooty Eastern Shore (both the gentrified few and the struggling fishermen)...its pretty amazing all the stories and the ways of life in such a little state...and here we thought California had all the stories...Maryland is such a beautiful little state and the whole family loves it...

Eugene Meyer captured the warm folksy feeling only a resident can feel. It would have been nice if he had added more tales from around Montgomery County (Rockville, Germantown, Gaithersburg), but I guess Poolesville is close enough. Great work and very recommended reading.

Eugene Meyer's book on Maryland is a fascinating look at various parts of the state, with an emphasis on the human interest stories that bring it to life. I moved to Maryland a year ago and reading this book brings me much closer to feeling like I've been here for awhile. One criticism: where's the map? Maryland is a geographically complicated state and a map would have provided a great service to understanding where Mr. Meyer's was writing from and off to next.

Maryland is a geographical diverse state that offers mountains, magnificent waters, and communities that range from small, intimate villages to large, thriving cities. In Maryland Lost And Found...Again, Eugene Meyer provides the armchair traveler with a guided tour of the state and explores the people and places that made Maryland special both in the past and the present. His essays touch upon Maryland's relationships and features including megalopolis, Appalachia, the Chesapeake Bay, the Deep South, the industrial North, rich farmland, a major port, the nation's capital, as well as the primary car and rail routes carrying East Coast interstate traffic. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in Maryland's "The Free State" history, geography and demographics, Meyer's engaging, informative, and "reader friendly" text is enhanced with black-and-white photographs.

I have lived in Maryland my entire life (with the exception of a few years between 1985 and 1994), and through the years I've done a lot of travel writing. This is an absolutely fabulous book: a must-read for anyone interested in the fascinating quirks and hidden stories in Maryland's geography and history. I think I'm familiar with just about every history/travel book that's been written on "The Free State," and this is certainly one of the best, and perhaps the best ever. Utterly fascinating and delightful reading.

Fasinating stuff. During some of the time covered in this book, I was a Mississippi lawyer, and I gotta say that this is a well researched piece of work. And it is reader friendly too. A helluva of job. A+ in my opinion.

Fabulous and balanced walk through the political scenery of Mississippi. Nash and Taggart should give lessons to current politicos on how to have different perspectives and still get something done!

Nash and Taggart are two insiders from opposing sides, and so it follows that their story of Mississippi politics records the men, mostly, who fought one another for the benefits of power in the state of magnolia, and also that they do it without creating one dimensional characters. Here is the clash of races and of regions and the clanging of gavels and of gaming houses.

Looking at the state through a left and a right lens Nash and Taggart tell a story too about local power structures broken and dissolved and reconstituted amid the larger national movements.

In the lives and deaths of some of the actors this binocular vision reveals an unexpected pathos - in the stories of Jon Hinson and Aaron Henry and, of all people, James Eastland.

For my money, having lived here through those same 30 years, there were plenty of pure scoundrels, so I acknowledge and recommend their superior version.

The authors have exhaustively mined existing non-book sources (oral histories, theses and dissertations, inter alia) as well as conducted their own interviews to present, in very readable form, this 30 year report of Mississippi politics. I highly recommend it.

John Quincy Adams
Emeritus Professor of Political Science
Millsaps College
Jackson, Mississippi

As the author of a recent book on the job market, I was drawn to Monster Careers because of Monster.com's...well, monster reputation in the world of job market resources. The book was a pleasant surprise. Not only did it offer the spectrum of standard interview-conquering exercises and tips one would expect, but it also tackled some of the "softer" issues that can make or break an interviewee: maintaining your confidence level, selling yourself without sounding boastful, establishing a comfortable rapport with the interviewer. This is a great all-around read, and especially helpful for those who need a refresher course on the ins and outs of interviewing.

A very insightful book filled with great advice on inteviewing methods. A must read for any candidate - Executives to Engineers who wants to increase their chances of a successful interview and ultimately recieve a job offer.
A Must Read !


-Gary Perman
Sr. Partner
Perman Willits Langone
permanwillits.com

This book will help. As industries and career opportunities change, most of us will be in the job market. Sooner or later, you will need this book. Current, informative, a how-to guide of the interview process.

Suggestion: Read this with a hi-liter or page stickers. You WILL be returning to what you have read.

I recently acquired this book and found the information to be very valuable. I am graduating early from college this December and having never worked in the corporate world before I found the words of this book to be very encouraging and a great tool. I have definitely utilized this book to its fullest extent in my career search and have recently passed it on to many of my friends. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is inexperienced at interviewing or anyone who is looking to brush up on or learn a couple of new skills.

If you are familiar with Cage's art, you will love this account of Cages views on art and life. Joan Retallack's compilation of interviews and thoughts are precious and informative, to those of us who are fond of Cage's work and thinking. Great writing. If you are not familiar with John Cage, where have you been?... Well, it is not late to start. Excellent book.

I know nothing about music, but I loved this book! Cage's conversations brim with humor, wisdom, and amazing insights into every subject under the sun. It's an enormous pleasure to spend a few hours "in his company" by reading this book.

Joan Retallack is immensely gifted. If you're familiar with John Cage, you'll like this book. If you're not too familiar with John Cage, well, I have someone I'd like you to meet.

This is entertaining, compelling, thought-provoking stuff. I can think of few other people who are so mindful of WORD USAGE, or in this case, I guess, WORD "USCAGE." Many insights in this book. I recommend it highly.

Joan Retallack, a long-time friend and colleague of John Cage, has done us the favor of publishing this series of conversations between the two of them. These conversations (for they lack any conventional formality that might render them 'interviews'), which took place not long before Cage's death in 1992, run the gamut of topics. Through their amiable banter, one gets a great sense of what was going on in the oft-misunderstood artist's mind--especially as regards his fixation on chance operations and the I Ching. The talks also give ample insight into Cage's writing and visual art, practices for which he is lesser known. When not provoking thought about Cage himself, the two (and I mean both of them equally; Retallack has a meticulously rich and compelling mind, and expresses many enlightening points-of-view herself) have revealing conversations about everything from Duchamp to Joyce, Buckminster Fuller to the Koran.

Perhaps the most interesting and rare aspect of the book is the pervasive inclusion of the environmental and more mundane details of the conversations. She is careful to note the frequent occasions when Cage laughed, what he might have been cooking that day, interactions with an artist who stopped by to fix a bookshelf as a favor to Cage and to Merce Cunningham. Especially valuable is the penultimate conversation, when we are made privy to the beginning of Cage's composition process, as he begins to write a new piece on the spot with cellist Michael Bach. These insights into Cage's daily domestic life are perhaps the most revealing aspects of the book into his personality and philosophies.

For those familiar with Cage, this is a must-read. If you are skeptical or confused about his work, these talks will clarify a lot for you. If you have yet to be exposed to Cage, I recommend this book highly as an accurate and exhaustive portrait.

No Wave: Post-Punk. Underground. New York. 1976-1980.Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) and music critic Byron Cooley have created the definitive chronicle of the late '70s New York art-rock scene. Together they skillfully depict the culture, politics, and environment that formed the still-obscure and quietly influential bands of that era. The details are vast and at times daunting; all the who-dated-whoms, whens, wheres, and whys are included with factual reference points, oral histories, and extensive quotes and photography. The scene, created largely by emerging artists, was rich in photographers and creative writers, and a lot of the never-before-seen source material in No Wave is worthy of a book alone. No Wave fans, especially the art-school-leaning types, will appreciate the reproductions of Lydia Lunch fashion calendars, black-and-white behind-the-scenes photography, record covers, and concert flyers.

-from AlarmPress.com
http://www.alarmpress.com/4089/book-reviews/no-wave-post-punk-underground-new-york-1976-1980/

Its by Sonic Youth, enough said. The photographs are awesome and the documentation of a whole other part of New York music is fresh. These kinds of books are great because we're getting the story straight from the people that lived it.

Best described as a mish mash of art and punk rock, the No Wave movement of the late 1970s was something bizarre to behold. "No Wave: Post Punk. Underground. New York. 1976-1980." is a look at the brief movement and those who were behind it, including James Chance and Lydia Lunch among others. Collected from oral history and interviews conducted by the authors, and enhanced with dozens of black and white photographs, "No Wave: Post Punk. Underground. New York. 1976-1980." is highly recommended for community library music collections.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

1970's New York, a time of polemic filth and fury with displaced art kids crashing head first into the detritus to form bands without which we would have no Rapture, Yeah Yeah Yeahs or (insert a hundred names here). Framed around this incredible gathering of black & whites are interviews (conducted by the Thurston Moore and writer/editor/et cetera Byron Coley) with artists deep in the thick of said scene (i.e. James Chance, Glen Branca, Ikue Mori, Robert Quine and the ever-verbose Lydia Lunch), club owners, iconic groupies and passers-by, including Brian Eno who gives his perspective on the immortal Eno "produced" No New York compilation. Having been active participants during this era, the authors do a spectacular job of detailing the tenuous camaraderie, insular tension and the seeds of No Wave's demise. Not simply for those who know the difference between "No Wave" and "New Wave", the eye candy and history lessons make for an illuminating, universally appealing document.

With all due respect to hard-working surf journalists everywhere, author Bruce Jenkins contributes an overdue dose of world-class penmanship to one of the world's most profound human challenges-- Big Wave Surfing. As a professional sportswriter, Jenkins has covered events such as the Stanley Cup, PGA, Superbowl, and World Series. But his true love of surfing shines forth here. He captures the attitudes, lifestyles, and mystique of the world's legendary watermen, in their rightful environment: the North Shore of Oahu. I grew up surfing on Oahu, and I can attest that, for a sane person, North Shore surfing is first and foremost about conquering horrendous personal fear. Although beautiful, the waves there are huge, thick, fast, churning, and unforgiving. One must endure deathly wipeouts and end-of-the-world-type situations, and cultivate Herculean stamina to survive the hellish ocean conditions. Each surfer chronicled here has somehow overcome these odds to make it to the elite inner circle. They represent vastly different personalities, backgrounds, physical builds, but all possess one thing in common: Big Brass Ones, and the respect of the entire surf community. I especially enjoyed the interview with big-wave rider Tom Nellis and his opinions of the scene. Nellis is entertaining and forthright as he pays respectful homage to his legendary surf peers Michael Ho, Clyde Aikau, and Gerry Lopez. All in all, Jenkins does a marvelous job capturing the "Wild West" feel of the North Shore lifestyle. He's right: talk and posturing matter very little there-- in the end, it is ultimately about who has "sack" and who doesn't. The North Shore is truly a macho frontier, and in this book you'll understand why. You'll enjoy all the profiles-- Jenkins' selection of featured surfers is very well-balanced, deep, and lasting. Even if you've never surfed, get this book. You will be intrigued. And if you suspect that these wonderful tales seem somehow exaggerated or too mythic, try paddling out to a routine, Hawaiian-sized 10-foot (i.e., two-story-high) day at Sunset Beach. If by chance you live through it, thank the Lord and remember that these guys handle waves and ocean conditions SEVERAL TIMES that heavy. Hats off to Bruce Jenkins-- and I hope he writes another one!

Bruce Jenkins explores the heart and soul of the North Shore; The monster waves that ravage it and the amazing men that ride the beasts.

great stories and great pictures! it gives a wonderful insight ito the most fearless men's lives, a must read!

north shore chronicals is a mind boggling book that will make you take a secound look at surfing in hawaii. With all the stories being true you will have a deep understanding for how the true hawaiian watermen live there lives.