Television Books

In this book, the hypochondriac genius of movies, radio, television, and the concert stage delivers all the neurotic humor expected. But the author, a talented writer as well as one of the great pianists of the 20th century, also succeeds at conveying the ambience of the artistic world of the 1920s through 1950s. His insights about his contemporaries, including celebrated conductors, musicians, composers, and actors, are fascinating.

Luckily found this among my mother's books, the title caught my eye. When asked about it, my mother laughed softly. I thought, if it can make her laugh it must be funny; well it's the best humor, and I turned to a page and busted out laughing. It's more than that. I read the one I bought from time to time, and there is always a point of feeling I'm in the belly of a beast. Such integrity I'd never known, and never felt I could fit in this world 'til reading "Memoirs of an Amnesiac".

My son had to explain (to my wife) the joke behind the title. An amnesiac can't remember and a memoir is a written record of memories. Hence, a contradiction, but still a great title and an emblematic preview of what's to come when you read this book. And you do want to read this book because Oscar Levant is unique, funny, honest, interesting, and weird. He is the kind of person that you want to read about because he seemed to know everyone who was anyone in American music or in American film and of course he has the inside scoop on those people including Harpo Marx, Louis Mayer, Irving Berlin, Fanny Brice, Aaron Copland, Arnold Schoenberg, Dorothy Parker, Paul Whiteman, Judy Garland, Arturo Toscanini, and Harry Truman. Oscar Levant, as SN Behrman said, is the kind of person that if he had not existed, could not be imagined. Yes, he's that bad. Because he is brutally honest about his life, his loves, his obsessions and compulsions, his drug addictions and his music and friends, we have here a real-life true quill biography that takes no prisoners and lacks the usual apology or gloss or pastiche so common these days. Brutal honesty - that's the ticket. Oscar has to tap eight times to get water from the faucet. He has to tap eight times to shut the water off. He needs to name each street his limo passes and if he misses the name, his driver has to circle back to get the name. He will throw away a pack of cigarettes if someone talks while he is opening the pack. His wife, June, (her title should be Saint June) who picked up the pieces after each nervous breakdown, still must have a separate waste paper pail in each room so that she doesn't contaminate the waste paper in his pail. When Oscar had his heart attack, he had to go through all his night time rituals before he could get into bed for the doctor to check him. In short - a real nut case. And yet, and yet, a world-class pianist, composer, television and film personality who led a life well lived. You wouldn't want him in your home for dinner unless, of course, he kept his mouth shut and just played his marvelous interpretations of George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, which, incidentally, I am listening to right now. Ah, genius, - it has its problems and it has its pleasures.

This has always been one of my favorite books. I recall reading it for the first time as a pre-teen, and chuckling at his OUTRAGEOUS stories. I'm probably among the last generation that remembers this brilliant man, which is a shame. In the days of the great "talk shows", like Jack Paar, etc.., Oscar Levant was always one of the most coveted, and controversial, guests. I remember seeing him on t.v., as a kid, & being fascinated by this odd looking man who, though I quite honestly didn't get 90% of what he was saying, was obviously someone truly unique. This book has all his irreverent humor, the humor even evident in his telling of his long battle with mental illness, and his extreme, then un-named "obsessive-compulsive" disorder. His brutal honesty about his ordeal was unheard of at that time, and was long before the trend of todays celebrities, who do everything but hawk their x-rays on informercials. There's many names in this book that you will recognize, and his telling of his encounters with various celebrities is not always in their favor, and will have you rolling on the floor. He was literally thrown off the air in the 1950's, for a remark he made on a live talk show, pertaining to Marilyn Monroe and her conversion to Judaism, which is recounted in this book, but can't be repeated here. But at the time, the staid 1950's, it must have had the audience awestruck in utter shock at his outrageous (and incredibly humorous) statement. This is just a fabulous book about one of the greatest wits of this century, the man who started out as an incredibly accomplished and respected pianist, he was most known for his rendition of good friend Gershwins "Rhapsody In Blue", and became something more than just a clown. Totally touching, hysterical, and honest, this book will have you falling in love with dear, lost, brilliant Oscar. In todays, for the most part, [dissapointing] "celebrity" climate, we sure could use the likes of him again.

This book was a disappointment although it covers the scope of Oscar Levant's life from Tin Pan Alley to Carnegie Hall to Hollywood to mental hospitals.

A major problem with the writing is that it consists of endless name dropping without context. If you aren't familiar with the names (which I wasn't for the most part) then a good deal of the story is lost.

Another feature of the writing is a constant stream of one-liners from Oscar and others. These were undoubtably funny when they were first said, but in the book they seem forced. For example, "I once said cynically of a politician, "He'll double-cross that bridge when he comes to it."" If you enjoy one-liners then this book showcases them throughout.

As a fan of Oscar Levant from movies like Rhythm on the River and An American In Paris, I was pleased that he was up front about many aspects of his life. However, the famous line, "Beneath this flabby exterior is an enormous lack of character" had a lot more truth to it than I had assumed. Oscar really does exhibit rude behavior, selfishness, cheating and drug addiction. And of course neurosis. He is honest to his faults.

A better (but far briefer) description of Oscar Levant is in Harpo Marx's book "Harpo Speaks". That book also has a lot of name dropping, but the literary style is rich so that it's fascinating even if you are not familiar with the Algonquin Round Table.

With Oscar's book, I was satisfied about the scope of the writing, but disappointed in the terse style although it's an easy read.

I did not think I would like this book when I started it. but as I got into it I found it to be very interesting. I loved the story about the twins and just how easy going life was back then it is a shame it is not still like that! this book will take you back to a very simple time when andy was growing up. you will learn a lot about Mt Airy. which is very very much like mayberry. any mayberry fan would like this book.

I recently moved to Mount Airy, the fabled Mayberry, and wanted a resource to help me learn a little bit about the "lore" behind this community. This was an excellent resource and a fun read at that. For me, it helped bring to life not only the ties of my new hometown to the TV show, but also to learn a little bit of history about this community.

My wife just purchased this book for me and it was very interesting, especially being in the first person from Jewell. Brings back so many memories from my wife's family. I will be sending it to my 92 year old mother-in-law to read and I know she will enjoy it. Thanks, Jewell, good talking with you. Bill Tarpley

Hardly anyone who has been exposed to television over the last forty years has not come in contact with the good people of Mayberry. Walk up to most people on the street and ask them to name three justices of the U.S. Supreme Court and you just might get a blank stare. Ask the same person to name three residents of Mayberry, North Carolina and very few people will have a problem. Andy, Barney, Opie, Aunt Bea, Otis, Goober and Floyd have become so much a part of American culture that to most of us they are just like family. Mayberry is as real to most people as Chicago or Los Angeles and almost everybody knows that you have to go to Mount Pilot to get Chinese food.

Mayberry of course is not a real place but is instead a product of Andy Griffith's mind. Griffith's mind was however heavily influenced by his hometown and Mount Airy, North Carolina has become to most people, the real Mayberry. Jewell Kutzer grew up in Mount Airy and is just a few years younger than Andy. This book therefore, depicts on a very personal level the Mount Airy that has become America's most famous small town.

Many of the stories that are related in this book had a very obvious influence on the happenings in Mayberry. One story involves a young man who went on a small crime spree that included throwing rocks through most of the windows at the school. The authorities kept catching the young man but he would escape from jail almost as quickly as they locked him up. It all sounds a lot like Earnest T. Bass to me. If you remember Barney's very off key rendition of, "Welcome Sweet Springtime" you will not be surprised to learn that this song was a favorite of Andy's grammar school music teacher. Over and over, as one reads this book, they will be reminded of some happening in Mayberry.

There are many stories in this book that do not relate to Mayberry at all but are personal reminiscences of the author. At first I felt like these stories should not have been included since I bought this book to learn about Mayberry. As I read however, I changed my mind for these stories add greatly to the reader's ability to relate to life in a small southern town. Thank you Mrs. Kutzer for giving us all the chance to feel like we grew up in Mayberry just like you and Andy.

Thousands and thousands of us faithfully watched the television classic, The Andy Griffith Show and its sequel, Mayberry RFD. We followed Sheriff Taylor, Barney, Aunt Bea, and the rest through 249 episodes from 1960 through 1968. From 1968 through 1971, we were treated to 78 episodes of Mayberry RFD. Watching these shows today is a heartwarming nostalgic experience. Why, there's even an active The Andy Griffith Show Rerun Watchers Club!

Mayberry has its roots firmly and deeply planted in Mt. Airy, North Carolina, a small town nestled in the mountains between Winston-Salem and the Virginia state line. Andy Griffith is celebrated there, along with all the traditions of hometown America, during community festivals and other events.

Jewell Kutzer grew up in Mayberry, just a couple of years behind Andy Griffith. She shares many of the memories that inspired Griffith to create Mayberry and the character of the popular television show. In Memories of Mayberry, she shares her experiences growing up in this now-famous small town. It's a pleasant, comfortable book to read, like having a conversation with a friend. Mt. Airy was a microcosm of life in a changing country, in a changing world. Lives were interwoven with the lives of others in the community. People were real, they were caring neighbors, they led simpler lives in the 1940s and 1950s. This book takes the reader back to those uncomplicated times.

Did I say uncomplicated? Well, compared to today's complex lifestyles. But for Jewell, growing up in a small town, life brought one adventure after another. Her tales of yesteryear are referenced to episodes in The Andy Griffith Show that relate to the memories. Readers will gain a deeper appreciation of how Griffith made the show so real in the earlier days of television.

Want a trip back to our roots? To the values on which our country was built? Pick up a copy of Memories of Mayberry to open your mind and heart to our wonderful past, not just in Mt. Airy, but in hundreds of other small towns across the land. Definitely designed for readers over 40 (we were there), but offers valuable insights for younger readers, too.

this book is basicaly a bunch of facts on the star with itntrevew tranacriptions and some nice pictures thown in although the way the book is set up is a little odd and the typing errors in the first few chapters lead me to belive that it was rushed to prir This book iss not a bio it was a book put togther by a big fan that becaily said michael jackson is cool and heres why after quickly going over his personal life (and not in much detail) it basicaly breaks down what hes done with somerarelly seen at least in some areas of the word intervieews printed

I purchased this book for my sister for her birthday because is is a Die-Hard MJ fan and she just loves everything about this book!!, The pictures, The Interviews she says that it even has MJ opinion about how he felt about the his earlier hits. So I say this is a very excellent book to purchase for yourself if you too are a die-hard fan of MJ'S or even if you know someonre who is they won't be disappointed.

P.S. It even has his lyrics to certain songs. So how can you go wrong? this book was worth every cent I sent to it knowing how happy it made my sister.

This is a beautiful book from the front cover to the back. It's a down-to-earth, no-non sense read on the entertainer. It's a keepsake for the bookself.

this Book is very Detailed&the world Owes Michael Jackson as does the Media a Big saying they are Sorry.He is One o fthe Greatest Musicians Ever. He has Broken down many barriers.Michael Jackson is a Civil Rights leader&Strogn Pressence that will never be denied.almost 40 year career.He is the King of Pop&this Book goes into many areas acknowledging His Genius&timeless Musical Qualitys.

This 300 page book is not just another book on Michael Jackson! This book is unique and a mile from the rest! It's packed with detailed information on the life and career of the entertainer. It's a well-written book that can be housed in any public library or on any high school bookshelf. Yet, I have noticed that this clean book on Michael Jackson doesn't appear to be selling as well as all the other books that are on the market about him. What a pity! This book is more of a literary work on the Superstar life and career than any of the others that I have read. But it's missing one main ingredient - Trash! It doesn't really get into throwing stones and pulling what-ifs opinions out of the wind.
But that's the world we're living in. Give the people what they want, and what they want is dirty laundry over good writing! Decent works like this one get left behind!

It was delightful to read and look at. Since I also enjoy reading movie scripts- it's even better to SEE what's going on in the movie at that time. Plus, there's a load of deleted scenes, and fantastic movie pictures as well. This is a MUST for all MirrorMask fans.

First of all, i must say that i'm a big fan of fantasy, horror, and sci-fi book's, film's and graphic novel's.
As a painter, short stories writer, and graphic novella's author i may say that the Mirrormask is a great ''drive trough'' the world of magic, fantasy, and imagination of today's acclaimed writer Neil Gaiman, and my favorite painter, photographer, and one of a kind artist Dave McKean.
I'll make this short.
All of you that are interested in a way of making a good scenario, and a great storyboard, you SHOULD have this amazing book!
It helped me to see and to realise how to think, and how to make my own ideas come true!
Dave McKean is one of my favorite artists, and trust me, you'll like this book!
Also, i want to recommend you his earlier work, such as Violent Cases, Black Orchid, and Batman - Arkham Asylum.
So much about this now, and be well my friends!
Greetings from wounded city of magic: Sarajevo!

...in black...

If I had to sum up MirrorMask in one sentence, I would describe it as 'an allegory about Individuation'. This was Jung's term for the process by which we integrate or align the personal with the universal consciousness and ultimately become whole.

If Neil's script seems lacking in emotional fluidity at times, it is probably a deliberate mechanism to convey the varying degrees of emotional shutdown that people experience when transitioning between developmental states.

Just as with Alice In Wonderland, Snow White, Peter Pan and The Wizard Of Oz, the story involves a young female's transition to womanhood and all of the pantheon of archetypal combatants that invokes.

While Dorothy needed the mechanism of the ruby slippers (the moonblood of the Sacred Feminine) to get back 'Home' and restore order - the sacrificed Feminine - it is the magic of the MirrorMask itself that enables the healing of spiritual wounds (identity/alienation) in Neil and Dave's visually striking masterpiece.

The bottom line? Oz is Kansas.

Lord knows when I'll get to see the film, but having read this stunning 'guide', I can't wait, damn it. Ten stars.

There's a light, over at the Gaiman place...

Writer Neil Gaiman has crafted dozens of dark fantasy books and graphic novels over the years; the only thing to expect from him is stuff that is a bit twisted and bizarre. In a good way, that is.

But in 2001, he embarked on a different kind of creative journey: Penning "Mirrormask," a Carroll-ian fantasy movie, directed by book illustrator (and Gaiman collaborator) Dave McKean. While the movie isn't yet out, the screenplay is a lavish affair with concept art, photos and background information.

Helena is a bored young girl in the circus, wanting a taste of real life. But then real life strikes: During a performance, her mother falls seriously ill and is hospitalized. Unhappy and directionless, Helena falls into another world -- a bizarre place full of masked people, griffins, orbiting giants and malevolent shadows.

She is soon told by the Prime Minister that an evil princess (who resembles her) has stolen a magical charm, sending the Queen of that city into a coma -- and her city into chaos. With the comically mercenary Valentine at her side, Helena finds herself sent on a dangerous quest to find the charm -- the mysterious Mirrormask.

Half of "Mirrormask"'s appeal is the eerie presentation, along with an archetypical heroine and opposing light/dark kingdoms. And it's a credit to both McKean and Gaiman that their screenplay is a good read on its own, letting eager fans know what to expect when the film finally sees the light of day.

What sets "Mirrormask: The Illustrated Film Script" apart from most screenplays? The fact that Gaiman and McKean included storyboard pictures with the dialogue. It's not easy to visualize what's happening in a movie just by reading the script, and so the storyboard images let the readers follow the dialogue more easily.

And of course: the photographs -- weird ones, usually patched together with surreal CGI, computer animation and wild makeup. Valentine's masklike face in particular is odd, but strangely convincing. There are even some behind-the-scenes photographs, including bluescreen shots and faux-aged pictures of anti-Helena.

To add to the wealth of information, the correspondence between McKean and Gaiman about this film, abbreviations and grammatical errors intact. "Fantasy stories rely on cliche too much, fairy stories about fairies I think are pointless, fairy stories about the people who need to believe in fairies I think are fascinating," McKean writes in one letter.

"Mirrormask" seems to be what one would expect from a Gaiman creation: Weird, strange, and surreal, yet also funny and touching. And for anyone anticipating the film, "Mirrormask: the Illustrated Script" is a must-have.

This is a great book, not similar to illustrated graphic novel of McKean or a text book from Gaiman but this book has entire script and storyboards of the film. What a great share what a great book idea thanks. Very useful source for both cinema and design students or professionals beyond to get taste for makin of this magic film.

I used to read Ray Richmond's columns every day in the Los Angeles "Daily News" and now see him writing a television column in that show business necessity "Daily Variety"-- so I was not disappointed to find the same sort of insightful reportage and great sense of humor displayed in his new book: My Greatest Day in Show Business: Screen Legends Share Their Fondest Memories. Hey, I confess to wanting to know about these celebrities, and Richmond is a fellow who's been around them for a long time, and knows his business, and it shows in this book. A satisfying read.

"Entertaining, Candid, Sincere,and Unique" is how I describe this book. The stories in "My Greatest Day in Showbusiness" are remarkable. The "information" one reads in gossip columns (or books sold for shock value) doesn't even come close to giving a glimpse of who famous people really are. This did. Here we have integrity and entertaining reading at once. Refreshing.

Great stories about the famous! Fun reading! It's great to know genuine truth about who we "invite into our living-rooms" instead of superficial publicity hype. We hope Ray Richmond introduces us around Hollywood again, soon. Well written!

"My Greatest Day in Show Business" gave me a feeling of really understanding the seventy-five stars that were interviewed. Their frank answers made them "knowable" and "real". Also, this book gave me an understanding of the kind of work, thought and care they pour into their careers. I've never really understood Hollywood before, but now I'm really starting to appreciate the show-biz work environment. I was inspired, delighted, taken aback, touched, and moved, as these celebrities revealed personal thoughts, opinions and stories. The stars have come down to Earth. I'll never look at them the same, again. A very good book!

I was at a seriously stuffy dinner party last week, and most of us did not know one another. It seemed no one could break the ice. Someone mentioned Jerry Springer for some reason, and after "normal opinions" were voiced, I related some of the highlights of his interview that are in this book. What a conversation we had because of what I'd read! Everyone ended up talking (sometimes over one another) and we forgot we were strangers. I just had to say thank you. I'm very glad I had read this book. It was most enlightening to be audience to legends we know by face and name, baring their souls about who they really are, and what has shaped them

I find this to be an amazing story of a remarkable musician. He tells of his life, the life of his teacher, the process that young Indian musicians used to learn their instruments-the teacher/mentor to student relationship that is so badly missing from today's music students ( in most cases.) On top of that there is much discourse on the forms of Indian music which, while technical and erudite, gives insight to what an deep and formidable system Karnatic and Hindustani music is.

Now 86 years of age, Ravi Shankar continues to be revered world-wide for his proficiency and performances of the classical music of India. Originally published forty years ago, this new and updated edition of Ravi's autobiography "My Music My Life" is enhanced with an informative Foreword by Philip Glass and an Introduction by Yehundi Menuhin. Of special note is the new final chapter by Ravi that details his hope for the preservation of Indian classical music as embodied in his unique approach to his craft. Enhanced with the inclusion of never before published photographs, "My Music My Life" is a compelling memoir and an enthusiastically recommended for both academic and community library collections -- as well as mandatory reading for his legions of fans throughout the country.

A GITA ON MUSIC, November 5, 1999
Reviewer: Herman Anderson (handerso@cybersmart.co.za) (KwaZulu Natal, South Africa)
A beautiful offering! It is not just the world of music which is the richer for this account. Music, a system - or - music, a way of life. Devotion, dedication, service, and the universality of this music is Vedanta, lived and written of by Ravi Shankar. This lucid presentation of an exceptional culture is a way open for appreciation and more.

having read Raga Mala, the autobiography of/by Ravi Shankar first published by Genesis Publications, i expected with this volume titled "My Music, My Life" to be somewhat thicker (that's why only 4 stars applied). on the other side it's a very interesting manual on the actual structure and playing of the indian music on the sitar. at first hearing, the indian music appears disharmonic to our western harmonic music trained ears, however, over the years i fell in love with indian music and this volume allows a closer look inside the making of the disharmonic to make us understand it better and love it even more so.

JohPWilbrand

I own the first edition of this book. It is probably one of the more accessible introductions to Indian music, the Guru/Shishya relationship, and the sitar itself that you will find. Other books cover each of these areas in more detail, but this one is enough unless you really want to invest a LOT of time...in which case, you'd probably do better to find a guru of your own. The last of the four sections of the book is a pretty thorough introduction to the sitar and its technique, as well a very rudimentary introduction to several ragas. It will take you a long way along the path to mastery if you dedicate yourself to completely assimilating the material provided..but again, a teacher would still do a better job in the same amount of time. So...definitely get this book, in either edition, and begin a relationship with this remarkable man and his even more remarkable music.

the book was great...it showed just how close each member was to each other. The book shows how they each live their every day lives and their personality.

nsync is the number one band and they have the awards to prove it justin alone has won 3 and the group to many to count and if i gave the awards away they would get everyone of them even though i only met joey and only joey he was really cool about taking his personal time to come and sign autographs well go nsync and buy every book out there everyone.

I love all the new pictures in it. My man JC looks really good. All the guys are so awesome, and soon, N Sync will conquer the world and leave BSB in their dust!

the book was great...it showed just how close each member was to each other. The book shows how they each live their every day lives and their personality.

I think NSYNC is really cool. I've met them before they were famous which was really wicked and they're sooo down to earth. I mean BSB is well kinda..conceited if you ask me. That lifelong amount of fame has gotten to their heads but NSYNC is really nice and everything to their fans. I'm not "obsessed" or anything. I'm not really a fan but Lance is pretty cool. My special nickname for him is "Blonde Boy" and JC "Dude in the White Shirt" lol this was WAY before anyone knew who they were but like I totally support them in anything they do. They're nice guys.

Nirvana was an iconic album of the alternative rock genre. "Classic Rock Albums: Nevermind Nirvana" is just short of the music CD itself in fully understanding the album that made the grunge movement of the early nineties so memorable. Taking a look at the early days of Nirvana's career complete with black and white photographs of the band's early days, information on recording sessions, and information on each track of the million selling album. "Classic Rock Albums: Nevermind Nirvana" is an absolute must have for any Nirvana fan who can't get enough of trivia for the group.

It tells alittle bit about the history of Nirvana but its mostly about the making of Nevermind and about the songs. Its pretty good.

This book gives an excellent account of what led to the great CD we now know as Nevermind. It briefly describes Nirvana's rise to stardom and gives a glimpse into the personalities of the members, but is at its best in describing how the actual production of the album went. Using numerous sources, the author lets us listen to Nevermind in a completely different way. The only downside is that it is a relatively short work, and I left wanting more

This is an excellent book on Nirvana, and it is too sad that it is out-of-print. It contains important interviews and write-ups from several pop culture mags of that era on the band--on performances--on their overall views...

Does this signal that Kurt was right: Grunge is dead?

Well, perhaps dead but not yet interred into the earth.

Yeah, yeah, it's really lame to buy a book about them and all, but this isn't just another stupid ripoff fan book- this is really good stuff. It's funny. It's sad. It gives Courtney a chance to look less evil- I changed my mind about her because of this book. And it's not just about Kurt like most Nirvana books are- there's a good amount of stuff on Krist and the various drummers as well. Serious Nirvana fans really need to read this.

what can go on behind the scenes of historical events, give this book a read.

I met Bill Gibson before his book hit the shelves. I found him to be a reserved man, with an underlying sense of humor; only mentioning to me, he had a book coming out about his career as a professional photagrapher in the Navy. I asked him if he liked it on the Merrimac; oddly, he hardly speaks to me lately.

All jest aside, I'm not giving Bill's book five stars in order to be on speaking terms again, or for the rebate promised on my copy. Bill Gibson's "No Film In My Camera", will entertain all generations, and surely enlighten the younger; although parental guidance is suggested.

Bill brings us his personal perspective to major events and eminent icons of our history, with humor and dashing flair. Particularly dashing, when caught sunbathing on Enyu island.(One of the reasons for the PG rating.)

As I read, I couldn't help but envy his life, and imagine myself a member of his crew, partaking in the adventure.

Now that I've read the book, I find Bill to be a reserved man, with an underlying obsession for insane risk, and his humor a little less subtle, especially when I can talk him into a martini. BUY THIS BOOK, YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!

what can go on behind the scenes of historical events, give this book a read.

I met Bill Gibson before his book hit the shelves. I found him to be a reserved man, with an underlying sense of humor. Only mentioning to me, he had a book coming out about his career as a professional photagrapher in the Navy. I asked him if he liked it on the Merrimac; oddly, he hardly speaks to me lately.

All jest aside, I'm not giving Bill's book five stars in order to be on speaking terms again, or for the rebate promised on my copy. Bill Gibson's "No Film In My Camera", will entertain all generations, and surely enlighten the younger; although parental guidance is suggested.

Bill brings us his personal perspective to major events and eminent icons of our history, with humor and dashing flair. Particularly dashing, when caught sunbathing on Enyu island.(One of the reasons for the PG rating.)

As I read, I couldn't help but envy his life, and imagine myself a member of his crew, partaking in the adventure.

Now that I've read the book, I find Bill to be a reserved man, with an underlying obsession for insane risk, and his humor a little less subtle, especially when I can talk him into a martini. BUY THIS BOOK, YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!

As the wife of a career Navy photographer for many years, I was often asked, "What does a *photographer* do in the service?" Certainly, they are unsung heroes whose stories should be told. And now they have a master story-teller to do it: Bill Gibson. This book is sheer delight for all of us who were there, and many who will wish *they* had been when they read about it! Only the Twentieth Century could have produced Bill Gibson -- there will never be another. He not only lived history in many areas, but helped make it as well. "No Film" is such a good read that, although I tried to ration it to myself and make it last, I could not let it alone until I had read it all, and still go back to savor certain episodes again. I placed it on the shelf next to Tom Brokaw's two books about my generation, and I am hoping this remarkable person is at work on another.

Gibson is a supremely multi-talented author. His skill as a cameraman is met - and perhaps exceeded - as a gifted raconteur. He takes you along for a fascinating trip through history: World War 11, Africa, Viet Nam, Hollywood!, NASA and other adventures he was lucky to survive! From hanging off helicopters to crouching tigers - you can't get enough! This is a true page turner that proves again - great non-fiction has no equal. Gibson is a true Renaissance man....I hope he is writing a sequel. This is a book you will want to keep in your permanent library.

NO FILM IN MY CAMERA is an action-packed adventure from page one! Mr. Gibson's book is an eye-opening ride that took me to some of the most turbulent and exciting times in our nation's history. His accounts of daring assignments, and sometimes crazy adventures as a cameraman, are retold with passion and humor. After many years of telling stories with his camera, he now tells his own story with as much creativity and attention to detail. From being on the USS Hornet as she was attacked, to being a part of the early days of the Space Program, to encounters with world leaders and Hollywood celebrities, NO FILM IN MY CAMERA gives an eye-opening look at the never-dull life of an inventive, courageous, world-class cameraman.

After teaching English for several years, Judy Muller worked her way from small-town radio up to network television.

Her short, readable memoir is by turns poignant, moving, and hysterically funny. The copy that I checked out of the library had many dog-eared pages and I quickly grew to expect laughter -- that is, to hear myself laughing out loud -- when I reached one of these frequent waystations.

I knew that Judy Muller teaches a graduate course in broadcast journalism and I checked this book out of the library because I thought it might provide some good insights into the specifics of delivering the news. Beyond learning that radio reporters actually write their stories (but many TV reporters don't), which for some reason I found surprising -- you mean they don't just wing it? -- I learned very little about the mechanics of broadcast reporting, yet "Now This" is so accessible, and so funny, that I read the whole book anyway.

The editorial reviewers (above) have pretty much covered the topic areas of the book, so let me mention something other reviewers have not emphasized.

In anecdote after knee-slapping anecdote, Muller really captures a prevailing disjunction, a gap between the way the Big Media Powers that Be (back in New York) see the world, and the way the rest of us see it out here on the other side of William Penn's woods.

Judy Muller must have zillions of these stories under her belt by now, and now that she's gotten her memoir out of the way, it would be great to sit back and enjoy hearing her recount some episodes from her travels through small-town USA.

I look forward to a sequel, especially if it as as funny as the original ... Now This!

Judy Muller's unique combination of sharp wit, keen perception, brutal honesty, and personal courage gives us a glimpse into radio and TV journalism we can't get from just listening or watching. The book is a triumph, fleshing out the real people behind the talking heads. Her frank description of personal alcoholism is heart-wrenching, and her tale of the prices paid, and the gains made, in her profession should be required reading for anyone seriously considering a career in journalism. A fine read on several levels. Thanks for sharing, Judy!

This is easily one of the best written, most thoroughly delightful books I've read in many years. If you are a parent you will love it! If you're interested in radio you'll love it! If you're interested in TV you'll love it! One of the few books I've read in recent years where I truly hated to see the last few pages coming up.

Now, this is why Judy Muller is one of the very best correspondants on television--she's obviously a superb storyteller on the air, and when she's got some real time, boy can she ever write 'em down. Ms. Muller says up-front in her book that she comes from a whole family of storytellers. The lady's got great genes.

Judy Muller's wonderful book is a treat for anyone interested in an inside look at the whacky world of television news. Ms. Muller has a terrific sense of humor which keeps the reader doubled over throughout. I read the book cover-to-cover in one sitting, then gave it to a friend who also found it impossible to put down. We both had a good laugh together afterward comparing notes on our favorite stories from the book.

Ms. Muller also infuses her book with fascinating tales from her vantage point on history and poignant moments about dealing with life's problems. Her story is told honestly and from the heart. This is easily the best book by a television newswoman since Linda Ellerbee's "And So it Goes."