B Books

I read quite a bit. I would say about 2 to 3 books a week sometimes and they are all Christian. So suffice it to say that I am not easily impressed and very often I think that what I have read is a real "waste of paper". This book is not one of those. McNeal writes without compromise. Don't be fooled by the cover. This is not one of those "get big and better" books on the church. This is a very real and honest look at the way things are from a strategist who writes well and engages the reader. It is worth every penny.

This book is a must read for Christians who are not satisfied with their spiritual life and a MUST READ for those in churches considering major capital expenditures that will serve only the members. It will change the way you think about how you and your church can best serve Jesus.

For many years I have felt disenfrancised from the church, even though I have spent my entire life in it and even raised my family in it. Now that I am nearing fifty, I have found myself seeking ways to spread my faith that are real and substantive. This Present Future has given verbal affirmation to what I've felt all along, and to what I've always known to be true. But in Churchian circles, the only truth is the one they tell you, and to think outside the box is frowned upon. But now I understand why, and I understand what I must do to change and effect my world for Christ.

Thank you Reggie McNeal.
Lonnie Friesen
The Homeless Heart

Reggie McNeal writes a thought provoking book that will either excite and challenge you or anger you. Not everyone is ready for the truth that is laid out in his book. But it is the truth none the less. The American Church has lost the right to be heard and this book gives us some tough questions we need to ask ourselves in doing a self-evlaution and earning the right to share the important message of Jesus Christ and be heard by those who need to hear it. This book was a great confirmation for our church in who we are and why we don't seem to fit in with the other churches in our community. God is doing a new thing and this book has shown our church we are part of it. I am now taking our entire church leadershipo through the book. I highly recommend every Christian who is tired of "doing church" and maintaining the status qou read this book.

Fantastic book. Really makes you reflect on your ministry and the questions the book asks gives a structure for evaluating the overall focus of your church. I would highly recommened this book for someone seeking to bring about revitalization within their congregation and personal ministry.

Did not read like a Primer to me. Nowhere near as good as Dr Walsh's book.

This book is perhaps the best book of its genre in describing prostate cancer and the various forms of treatment for prostate cancer.

When a man is diagnosed with prostate cancer, he will be surprised to learn that there are a variety of treatment modalities. This book is excellent in that it lists all the available treatment modalities, lists the possible side-effects of each treatment, explains the diagnostic tests for prostate cancer, and writes extensively on which prostate cancers respond to which therapies the best.

The most confusing thing to a patient with prostate cancer is how to treat it. One needs to understand the type of cancer they have (the staging of the cancer tumor(s), how diagnostic tests are interpreted and what they mean, and then what treatment options are best for the specific cancer one has. This is where this book excels, as it thoroughly explains the entire process and informs the reader of all the various options that are available to treat prostate cancer.

Ultimately, knowledge is power in the issue of prostate cancer, so the informed patient is able to make the best decision to treat his cancer. This book will help you choose the best treatment. There are real and potentially serious life-altering side-effects to cancer therapy. One needs to know these adverse outcomes before making an informed decsion on treatment. I highly recommend this book as it does empower the man with prostate cancer to make these important decisons. After reading this book, you will have a sound knowledge of prostate cancer and the options for treatment. It is very reader-friendly and all medical terms and tests are explained in a manner that can be understood. It is required reading for anyone with prostate cancer.

Highly recommended.

Jim Koenig

Well organized and illustrated. Especially helpful for early stages of diagnosis and in meeting family member's concerns. I wish I'd had it sooner.

The book is really well written. It is chock full of information...figures, web links, and references. Great place to start to educate one's self if newly diagnosed.

Book Review
A Primer on Prostate Cancer: The Empowered Patient's Guide, 2nd Ed.
Stephen B. Strum, M.D. and Donna Pogliano
Hollywood, FL: Life Extension Foundation, 2005, 124 pp.
Ranked in the Top Ten of my Cancer Bibliography.
Ranked in the Top Five of my Prostate Cancer Bibliography.

I have surveyed or read so far over 100 cancer books in researching my own book. This ranked in the top 10% in both my categories primarily because of the excellence of its useful and professional content and presentation and the sophisticated level of the discussion. After my prostate cancer diagnosis, quickly learning I would not get enough time with my doctor, I dug deeply into many libraries and web sites. Public libraries are helpful, but severely incomplete and rarely up to date. With a background of two college degrees and Managing Director of a large research corporation, I knew how to do research and began to seek deeper information sources and understanding on cancer and medical websites. Here, also, there are problems: insufficient depth, too general, uncertain or dated reliability, suspect motives and dispersed value in millions of locations. Studies have shown that patients have a lot of trouble finding good material on the web, trying to find diamonds in the rubble. Then, I turned to Amazon and began to build my own library of the best available. This solved my problem.

Dr. Strum is a specialist in prostate cancer. This book is condensed and loaded on almost every page with color diagrams, charts, tables, photos, scans, Physician Notes and medical writing and details I would expect in a med school text. With my previous preparation, I was able to understand and apply almost all of it to my own situation, a great leap forward for a non-scientist. Not every prostate cancer patient will be ready for this, but buy it, refer to it as you do your homework elsewhere and your disease progresses, and it will soon become the core of your understanding and view of your future.

Along with the beautiful, colorful and clear presentations, I loved the several examples that were identical to my own journey, followed by the explanation of choices and exact treatment I have had: what a relief to study, decide and then get the same confirmation from my own doctors as we moved through several stages of diagnosis and treatment; what a thrill to study a photo of a problematic bone scan and compare it to my own favorable, cancer-free scan following treatment.

Your doctors are, of course, the final and up-to-date authority: be well-informed, so you can participate in the decision-making with the experts; but recognize that the busy medical community may not have the time or detailed knowledge of your situation to give it the attention you can. As you go, you will find a number of excellent books like this to guide you. It is important to have current information about the fast-moving science of medicine. That makes it a lot easier to get past the basics, ask good questions and accept or refine the doctor's judgment and recommendations. Seek out and devour books like this one, and you will be miles, perhaps even some time, ahead of most patients. With that confidence, your improved mental attitude will assist in your progress.
John Roberts (www.CanFighters.com)

A very bold book, with uncensored views. It had a story to tell. A story of African American life.

Upon reading this book for the first time, I thought it was very raw and somewhat negative and offensive. After reading it a second time, I realized how true it really is. I understood that the words didn't come from the author's mouth. But from a mother, a man, a teen, a gangster, etc. Then, I was able to relate and appreciate the work. The author of this book is very talented as she travels through the thoughts of various individuals, in various situations. She definitely doesn't beat around the bush. Her words jump right at you. You can't help but recognize them, respect them and open your eyes.

"Open Our Eyes" is a poetry book filled with truth and power. It offers poignant reflections on the African-American's place in today's society. The poems are intense and absorbing. Nanci's poetry goes beyond the superficial blanket that many people tend to hide behind. The depth of the poetry will strike a chord in the souls of many. Nanci is truly a gifted writer who is using her talent to leave a legacy of hope for African Americans everywhere.

I really enjoyed the poetry of Open Our Eyes. Everything in this book has crossed my mind before or I have discussed it with friends. The author is bold and courageous enough to write about it. This author is a powerful performer. I was able to see her in action in Houston. She is adorable, funny and personable. I felt as if I knew her all of my life. Buy a book for yourself and a friend.

I am not much of a reader. It can take me weeks to finish a book no matter how good it is. I live in a slow town, but I just don't have the time,even though I live in a boring town. But this book was diffrent. It is so good I could not put it down. The poems are excellent and make you want to finish the whole book.

This is one of my favorite Iyengar books. THe illustrations and descriptions of the poses are very clear and easy to follow. Good for any begginer or more seasoned person.

It also tells you how each Asana benefits asn stimulates different organs- I find this very helpful and I can find even greater motivation to practice.

Highly recommend. A must have in any yoga library.

This book is beautifully designed with full-color pictures
throughout and a lot of insightful commentary indicating the
areas of each pose where the most challenging and rewarding
"work" will be done.

Many yoga postures are beneficial even when performed with
poor alignment. The most important thing is to TRY. I remember
starting out - my alignment and flexibility were poor - but
I improved and refined my Yoga over time.

Iyengar's "Light on Yoga" covers more postures and in more
depth - but it is not a practice manual like this one - meant
to be laid out on the floor while you practice.

If you are a beginner this is excellent. If you are more
than a beginner this will help you learn and refine your
understanding of the Iyengar approach - which is highly
influential for very good reasons.

This book gives you easily digestable information of the Iyengar yoga. Very clear instructions and steps how to work into the posture. I have recommended this book to my students since it gives you a solid support for the home practise.

I can totally see why my yoga teacher trainer pick out this book to be required reading. It is very well assembled with great picture of well respected Yogi's. The form of the positions leave nothing to be desired. When reading other Yoga books it isn't uncommon for me to wish I could crawl into the page and help the posture of the people in the photos. In this book I just wanted to be as talented and perfect and the people in the pictures. The descriptions of the positions and the subtleties of what the pose requires was well written. It isn't unusual for me to use the same phrasing as they do in the book because some cues can't be better said. Perhaps I'll out grow this book, but as a beginning teacher, I learned a lot from it. I love the amount of detail that the book gives because there is always more that you can accomplish in any Yoga pose, and you must work at the level of the students you're teaching and remind them of things that may be automatic for you.

I've taken yoga classes for a few years but never remember the poses to repeat at home. This book lists most all the poses I've ever done, with pictures and what body parts they affect.

I have the 2nd edition of Bauer (the BAGD) and this 3rd Edition (the BDAG), and this is just excellent. The definitions help a relatively novice student such as myself to get a much better feel for what words mean than just simple one word definitions which cannot possibly present the accurate sense in most instances. For serious study of Biblical Greek issues, this is a wonderful tool.

The text is very readable. The cross references are thorough. The binding and paper quality excellent. The biggest problem is the size of the work as it is quite large. I would like to be able to purchase an electronic version to allow quicker look-ups, and potentially better cross referencing within the lexicon itself.

The BDAG is about the best lexicon out there in my opinion. Yes, it is expensive, but it's got the scholarship behind it, has MORE words than the Greek New Testament has in case you need to study extrabiblical literature, and also has expansive definitions.

Highly recommended.

It is the best lexicon of the Early Christian Literature (NT included) available, because its entries are characterized by excellent classification of the meanings, because it gives sound grammatical-syntactical information of the words, it gives plenty of examples with proposed renderings of specific passages, it discusses difficult cases, it refers briefly to the origin of the Early Christian Literature words and it adequately presents their contemporary extra-Biblical usage. Something else very important is the rich and updated bibliography that is provided.

In other words, it is a great improvement and expansion of the Grimm-Thayer lexical tradition, but, comparing to Grimm-Thayer, it gives lesser attention to the LXX usage and the Hebraic background of the NT words. Allow me to consider this an imperfection of the BDAG that forces the reader to buy also a LXX lexicon or a theological one (such as the TDNT abridged or the EDNT) in order to have a more spherical view of NT Greek, but I have to admit that nothing vital is missing. The second drawback is the price. Finally, a couple of times I have noticed mistakes in the etymology; but, of course, this is not an etymological dictionary, neither does it claim to be one.

This review willl cover four Greek New Testament lexicons: Bauer, Abbott-Smith, Thayer and Souter.

For many years, I had resisted purchasing a copy of Bauer, et al's mammoth (7 ¾" x 10 ¼" x 2 ¼") Lexicon of the Greek New Testament. Yes, it had a great deal of data. Yes, it shared insights from contemporary literature which shed light on word meaning for words used rarely in the New Testament. However, it was an absolute pain. The layout made it difficult to find what was needed, and it seemed quite easy to lose the forest for the trees in Bauer's 1st and 2nd English editions. Frankly, I preferred George Abbott-Smith's Manual Lexicon, and availed myself of Bauer at the seminary library only as needed. Now the available choices have changed, and for the better.

Bauer's 3rd English edition is a marvel. Everything the other reviewers write about its clear typeface, and intelligent use of bolding and spacing is true: it's a joy to use. A bit heavy, but it's worth it. The actual definitions as opposed to glosses are also a plus. All of this combined means that all of the data produced by scholarship is far more useable. Thank you, University of Chicago! I was willing to shell out the not insubstantial price for it, and have no remorse, it was money well spent.

Have I kicked Abbott-Smith to the curb? No. His Manual Lexicon is older (1937), but still makes use of the bulk of the papyri discoveries. He provides a quick reference for the Hebrew words underlying the Greek when that word is used in both the New Testament and the Septuagint (LXX) translation of the Hebrew Scriptures. He also provides numerous though not exhaustive Scripture references for each entry, making this lexicon reasonably functional as a concordance. With all this, I can still tote around Abbott-Smith (8 ¾" x 5 ¾" x 1 ¼") in my bag. It has yielded pride of place in my study, but for now at least, it's still a keeper.

Two others are worth mentioning. Thayer is old but still in common use because Hendrickson has put out a very cheaply made version which is keyed to Strong's concordance. Of course, if you're using Strong's as the basis for exegesis, you might want to wait on a large lexicon and invest in some Greek training. Thayer wrote prior to the papyrus finds that really altered our understanding of Koine Greek usage, and so is not as good a choice as the others reviewed here.

Finally, there is Souter's little gem of a pocket lexicon. He is post-papyri (1917), and offers pretty accurate glosses for the words listed. Hard not to like Souter, it's quality made from Oxford, red with gilt lettering, and is roughly the same size as the NA-27 Greek New Testament, meaning it fits in your pocket easily. While you don't want to use it for serious exegetical work, you also don't want to tote Bauer around with you everywhere. There is another small lexicon from the United Bible Societies which is nicely made, but not as worthwhile as Souter. As a Greek expert pointed out, it basically uses the RSV translation as the lexical definition.

Bauer, et al: 5 stars
Abbott-Smith: 4 stars
Thayer: 3 stars
Souter: 4 stars

I purchased the second edition of this volume when I was studying Greek at Denver Seminary, back in 1989 as it was highly recommend by my Greek professor. And I used it quite a bit during seminary and even after that in my personal Bible studies.

When I began work on my Analytical-Literal Translation of the New Testament: Third Edition (ALT), I got the BibleWorks 7 software program. That program has several lexicons that come standard with it, and it is a lot easier to use those lexicons than to look up words in this volume. But even with that program, with wanting to be exact as possible in my translations, I would still check Baur on occasion as it contains information that is not found in BibleWorks. Most especially, this volume indicates how words were used in extra-biblical literature. And this info can be a great help in getting an idea of how a particular word was used at the time the NT was written.

For instance, I depended on information in Baur to decide how to translate the plural of "adelphos." Most lexicons give definitions like "brother, fellow Christian, fellow believer" (Friberg on BibleWorks). But Baur's lexicon indicates "The plural can also mean brothers and sisters" (p.16). It then gives specific examples of this usage in extra-biblical literature.

This concurs with what I was taught at seminary that "adelphoi" was used to refer to a group of only men and to a group of both men and women. So I decided that the best way to render this word was to use "brothers [and sisters]." This rendering indicates the term definitely includes men but might also include women (e.g., Rom 1:13).

So this lexicon can be very helpful in pinning down the exact usage of words. But it is very expensive, and I see it is now available as an add-on for BibleWorks. Given the expense of the new third edition and of the BibleWorks add-on, since I already own the second edition, I won't be getting either of these. But if you don't own a previous version and intend to do in-depth Greek word studies, then either this hardcopy version or the BibleWorks add-on would be worthwhile.

Burt's writing is magical. Do you want to know more about the marketing of this book?

Here's what I wrote about Burt in my book, Book Marketing DeMystified: Enjoy Discovering the Optimal Way to Sell Your Self-Published Book, Practical advice from the inventor of print-on-demand (POD) publishing --

Burt S. levy, who wrote and self-published the acclaimed auto racing
novel The Last Open Road [isbn 096421072X], is another master at
event selling.

"My experience is that exhibitions are alternatives for book sales,"
says Burt. "Not so much instead of the traditional bookstore market,
but in addition to it. And once again, it comes down to identifying and
focusing in on your core market and figuring out where and how you
can access them. In our case, we did far better with gift shops and souvenir
stands at racetracks and museums, doing book
signings at major races, auctions and car nut events,
and getting featured in specialty catalogues that sold
everything from car polish to brake linings. In most
cases, we were the only book featured. or at least the
only novel. But it sold copies, spread the word, and
most importantly, made money for our retailers as well
as ourselves. That's key, because they're not going to want you around if
you're not ringing the old cash register."

The Last Open Road is now, 13 years after its launch, still finding
new readers worldwide and is heading into its 7th printing with over
40,000 copies sold. It has also evolved into a four novel series (plus a
short story anthology) with total sales in excess of $1 million.

Burt's books continue to sell well at racetracks. As he proclaims on
his [...] website, "Burt will be shamelessly hawking
and signing books at:" and then he lists upcoming racetrack events he'll
be attending. Burt delightfully admits to a passion for `mooching' rides in the fastest race cars. There is no doubt this author is having fun while
being very successful with his writing.

I have been a sports car enthusiast for almost 50 years. While my life doesn't parallel Buddy Polumbo's, I can relate to his coming of age in and around foreign sports cars. Although fiction, many of the locations that Buddy travels to are real tracks and small towns that I frequented in my youth. The same with the bars and restaurants. The variety of characters belonging to the SCCA (SCCM) and participating in these sports car events are people that I was able to relate to. Perhaps they were the very same individuals. The sports car community was a small group of colorful enthusiasts, all motivated to be involved for different reasons, but the sport was fueled by those with the money to support the racing habit. For those of us that can relate that past era, The Last Open Road is great read. I cannot wait to start Burt Levy's other books.

The Last Open Road
This story starts off with a young man that is called Buddy Palumbo. He has a friend that he trusts very well and no one else would listen to him the same way. Something vey bad happens to him and he got handed some of his responsibilities at the Sinclair. He never actually got hired when he started working there. They just started to pay him. His dad did not want him to grow up and be a grease monkey he told him to work with the Union. A very rich man that owns oil rigs all over the United States. He owns some of the very nicest cars that included Cadillac's and Jaguar. No one has ever seen or heard of them. Buddy got the opportunity to work on them and soon after he figured them out he was the only mechanic allowed to work on them.
I liked this book because I am interested in driving and racing cars. It was fun to read because it was so realistic and talks about real cars and real mechanical problems they have. I can relate to the people in this book because I race and I understand their family problems. You will figure out what I am talking about when you read this book.

mid-prairie teen

B.S. Levy's The Last Open Road is a great read for anyone who is interested in wrenching on cars, particularly classics. I'm college age and I can relate to Buddy Palumbo in a lot of cases. If you're familiar with older British cars, there's some unique humor there as well. Great read.

This is a well-written and enjoyable book that elicits images that are very familiar to folks who were teen-agers during the wonderful 1950's. It is almost as though I know the characters and can easily apply familiar names of real people in my past to them. Highly recommended reading, especially for car enthusiasts!

While I have never directly gone through caring for a patient with alzheimer's disease, as a nurse I have cared for many such patients and had contact with their families. This account by the daughter of writer Mary Durant strips bare not only what the disease can do to a vibrant, intelligent person, but the effect it has on the psche of all family involved in the care of the alzheimer's victim. The journey begins with selfless determination and bravery, and soon has the caregivers directly involved reduced in a crazy-making world of desperation and guilt.
While this book can be devastating in its honesty it is not without humor, and the writing is nothing short of wondrous. Very few books have me reduced to tears at last turning of the page; this one did. These people will live on in your heart long after reading Death in Slow Motion.

but unlike the passage from 1 Corinthians, Eleanor Cooney's perception and view of Alzheimer's disease is clear, unmuddied and unlike any that I've ever read. As the disease clouds the memory and behavior of her mother, the range of emotions that I felt as a reader and witness were sometimes too much to bear.

This is a book that I first read when a condensed version appeared in a Harper's magazine article in 2001. I purchased the book shortly thereafter since my own mother had been diagnosed with the disease a year earlier at the age of 58.

I still pick up Death, in Slow Motion every few weeks. I can't tell you what a comfort it has been to me as I journey through the dark and twisted tunnel of care for my own mother. Although our circumstances are different, and the case of every Alzheimer's patient is truly unique, I felt and still feel as if I have met someone who is willing to hold up that mirror and tell me what I am in store for - but in a comforting, compassionate and very honest manner.

Eleanor Cooney has written the most eye-opening and honest account of Alzheimer's that I have ever read! I was a caretaker to my Mother who also had Alzheimer's and much of this mirrored our experience. It felt like someone was finally telling my story: I'm broke, I'm exhausted, I can't take it, I'm abusing substances, I love her, I sometimes wish she'd die, I miss her....I hate myself!

I don't always find authors or experts that have her down to earth way of relaying the real nitty-gritty experience of caring for someone with Alzheimer's. She's an intellegent, strong woman who jumped head-first into the role of caretaker of her Mother, Mary who was beginning the long decline of Alzheimer's. This is a task many children take on and barely survive. Eleanor Cooney is definately a survivor and a brilliant, funny, brutally honest author.

But Eleanor Cooney is also a wonderful storyteller. I feel like I have been in these Connecticut neighborhoods and homes, and have met this cast of characters that tell the exciting story of Mary Durant's life. I especially feel like I've met someone special, Mary. It's hard to remember the person that's inside that Alzheimer's shell. Eleanor has done her Mother proud and left a loving memory of a very beautiful, creative and unusual person.

As the author remarks of Alzheimer's: "you will never be the same once it's paid you a visit." I have not been the same since I've read this book! Do yourself a favor and take this journey!

I bought this book because I had to for a Psycology class report. I read this in 1 day and was pulled in by the true, raw emotion described in this real story about the author and her mother. It is the kind of book you want to read about a subject you want to look away from. I recommend this for anyone who has a loved one suffering with Alzheimers, in the medical feild, or just someone who wants a gripping, powerful read.

p.s. I bought this book used.....wonderful condition...used is the way to go for any college student! low $$$$

This superbly interesting book reads like a story. She has done something major for anyone taking care of a person with Alzheimer's Disease. Her amazing honesty is like a breath of fresh air, and the book helped me more than any other book or support group.

I like this book; The Rommel Papers.
Finally I understand the concept of "Blitzkrieg" and how the German Army could penetrate the western front in 1940 so quickly.
The person Erwin Rommel also stands out in an impressive way.
The book is also very exciting to read.
I recommend the book.
Bjørn Braathen, Norway.

I have purchased and read lmost all one person can on Erwin Rommel and really feel ashamed that I never purchesed this book, it is excellent .
I encourage any one going into the armed forces ,espeicially a combined arms branch to read this book.

This is a fantastic book. The number of pages at first daunted me, but (after the first few which are kind of so-so), the book just takes off! He not only talks about the campaigns that he fought in, but he also breaks down what he learned and what should and should not have been in each one. What should have been done from those up above and how his enemy either defeated him (I agree fully on his conclusions about Montgomery's victories over him) or lost to him.

He goes on (around the end of certain chapters) to go on about what a commander should and SHOULD NOT be to his men and to himself--EXCELLENT stuff!.

What I found most interesting though, was that (unlike many other works I have read) Rommel really was ONE HELL OF A WRITER. His words are enticing and chapter after chapter I'm just compelled to go on.

I've read 'Panzer Leader', 'Lost Victories', 'Panzer Commander' and a host of other books from former Wehrmacht officers and none of them really NAIL it all like this one does (though, I HIGHLY recommend Erhard Raus' 'Panzer Operations' as it does for the Ostfront as this does for Africa and French theaters--'41 and '44).

If you want a great book on the tachtical methods of the German army in World War II--this is for you.
If you're a military man or buff who's looking for (what I believe) is a blueprint fror any 'commander' to follow--this is for you.
If you're just a regulatr Joe--or Jane--who's just looking for a great read about what it's like behind the lines, in the front with your men and all places in-between--then this is for you, too.

Like my review title says, I HIGHLY recommend this book. Get it! You won't be disappointed.

A well written book about Rommels experiences in WW2 taken from his notes made during his campaigns and from letters written to his wife with additional narration or corrections by the author. If you have read ATTACKS by Rommel you will like this book.

great book written from the surviving papers after his death there would have been more but a lot of his stuff was taken by the Nazis, and much more was lost to the US Army but his wife and son saved some and from this B.H. LIDDELL-HART was with the help of the wife and son to put his great skill as a battlefield commander in a new light A must read for any student of WWII also checkout ATTACKS by Rommel this book is about his time as a young lieutenant in WW I

Amazing insight into this legendary, largely unsung hero of the low end. Not only are there transcriptions of his bass lines but also recordings with the bass turned up way high in the mix.

Why miss a chance to have cheap bass lessons with one of the greatest (as well as having a great read into the bargain).

Very good book if you don't have the DVD. Fills in many details not in the film. A must have for Bass Players.

I'm one of those Bass Players who discovered James Jamerson late in my bass playing life. Any young (or old) aspiring bassist should have this book. The 2 cd's that come with it are worth the price alone. Some of the greatest bass players on earth (McCartney, Entwhistele, Pallidino,Bob Babbit,Chuck Rainey..) paying homage to Jamerson and playing some of his famous bass lines. The great thing about it is that when played through headphones you get the bass in one ear and the rest of the mix in the other. I have actually listened to just the bass mix multiple times and marvelled at the Bass Lines. A must for any young Bass Player.

The book has some great stories and pictures and compliments the CD greatly.

I've always been a fan of Motown but of the singers, now I'm starting to realize I shouldn't give the singers all the credit, it was the producers, songwriters, and musicians who made the artists become hits. If it wasn't for the unique, special Funk Brothers who knows if the Motown artists would have become as successful as they did. It doesn't matter how good of a singer a singer is, if the music ain't right, the singer ain't gonna sound good. Its that something special about the Motown Sound that sparks something in our minds, hearts, and souls, the music complimented the singers excellently. James Jamerson was just a handsome, wonderful, real, interesting, talented person. Its sad he had to get recognition after he passed on. It seems the only way to become a legend is to die first then people appreciate you more, well this book taught me to love and praise people while their alive that's what keeps them going. All James wanted in his last days was recognition and to know he did make a difference in the world of music. This book taught me to appreciate the musicians, songwriters, and producers, the people behind the scenes, who made it possible for the music to become timeless, sometimes we give the singers too much credit.

It was interesting for me to read most of the Funk Brothers didn't even like Rock N Roll or Soul music, they were really jazz fans and wanted to play jazz, so it shows how gifted they were to still play soul music effectively even though it wasn't their cup of tea. Another reason why Motown sound is so appealing and fresh is because the Funk Brothers laced different genres of music into the soul music and tried new things with the music creating the Motown Sound, a sound in its own class.

James Jamerson is one of the top bassist of all time and this book will give bassist some insight to his genius. I never learned to read music, but I was born with an exception ear! I remember a long time ago, going for a job in a pit orchestra. The musical director was not all that impressed with my playing on the first day, because I didn't read music and I kind of fumbled through the rehearsal. I went home that night and learned the entire show from a tape. On the next rehearsal, when we started to play the opening number, the conductor stopped in the middle of the song, looked at me and said...."Turn up the bass!" ..this made me very happy, as I always felt a little inferior not being able to read :-)

The book covers Jamerson's story and shows many of his classic bass lines for those of you who do read. It's no walk in the park, but it's time well spent and will take your playing to another level.

The book comes with 2 CDs full of Jamerson's bass lines and many top bassist playing their favorite Jamerson tunes. It's all very interesting for musicians and non musicians alike and well worth the price! I never knew how much this guy influenced my playing until I really sat down and listened to him! What a great talent!

This beautiful, honest biography is one of the most revealing explorations of recent history ever written. All the accolades are more than deserved. Heartbreakingly American depiction of idealism, courage, loyalty, consequences. Unforgettable.

An over-simplistic view to me is the only view anyone lacking the sensitivity to absorb this book correctly can have. Judging this person is irrelevant to the whole point of reading the book, it's not a textbook, of course there is more to the story, and of course anyone can be offended by anything. But, if your looking for a story of a young man who cheated death more then once during the Nam conflict, you will be hard press to find a better book. This is the most powerful book I have have ever read and you can choose to believe it or not, but these are the only type of books I read.

The name of General "Chesty" Puller brings a proud smile to the lips of every Marine. He is part of the pantheon of "the few and the proud." His son, Lewis Puller, Jr., has written a memoir that tells the story of growing up in the shadow of a legendary father, becoming a Marine officer in his own right, losing his legs in an explosion while serving in Vietnam, and struggling to build a life for himself in the aftermath. This thoughtful and thought-provoking book was awarded the Pulitzer Prize.

Lewis Puller, Jr. demonstrates a great deal of transparency in recounting his pilgrimage from the son of a war hero to a wounded warrior looking for his rightful place in the world. The New York Times called this book: "A haunting tribute to the names on the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial . . . An important contribution to the personal literature of war."

The fact that much of Puller's personal journey took place during the same time the nation was struggling with building the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial adds a special poignancy to this memoir. Several of my friends who have served recently in Iraq and Afghanistan commended this book to me as one that had helped them in their own process of reconciling their experiences in war with their return to the United States.

This is a story of great loss and of commensurate courage and determination. I think you will find it inspiring and well worth reading.

The book, a true account of a dissalussioned idealist - a trouble soul. A
lead in to my sad tale of woe. My fellow Americans/Vietnam veterans, do
not be fooled by the administration's rehtoric; read McNamara's "The Fog
of War" and please don't forget the book "A Bright Shining Lie"! If you
truly believe the lies of the "CHICKEN HAWKS", then I've got a bridge in
Utopia I'll sell you. You are listening to people who never served a day in their misrable lives in war and when most of them had their chance to fight for our country, during the Vietnam war,they chose to "Cut and Run"
(Guard duty and college deferments). There is only one way to end this
fisco in the middle east; reinstate the DRAFT with NO LOOP-HOLES! Every-
body goes when the 6x6 (military truck) rolls up (ages from 18 to 50),
city/state/federal legislators, the whole nine yards. I'm speaking truth
to power here today, people. Because when death becomes a shared sacri-
fice, people's whole prospective changes; it's different when everybody's butt is on the line. Believe me, I know because I served three tours in
"Nam (all voluntary) not in surrounding countryside (Thailand, Philippines, etc), but in country. I too believed in the government's
lies (Gulf of Tonkin incident) at the time, but after a lot of years since then, I've had time to reflect and my reflections are not pleasant.
So, if the country really wants to stop this current mistake, follow my
advice, THE DRAFT!

It is difficult to not be moved by the horrific series of incidents related by Puller here. As pointed out by other reviewers, the self-portrait he renders is of a person so unappealing that the reader must conclude that what he has written with an eye first to honest description, as well as he can render it.
That said, this book is not really worth reading as a book. The writing is stultifying flat and, for whatever reasons, the only thing Puller does here is whine, in an equally grating voice and with an equal intensity about whatever happens: the mortifying loss of his legs and much of both hands is treated with exactly the same weight as minor slights that occur in his run for office. Furthermore, a very great deal of the book is devoted to pointing out the obvious: for example, Puller insists on notifying the reader that his son learns to talk while his father (owing to a stroke) is losing the capability for speech. Should an editor have cut out this and the many similar needless explanations, the writing would have far greater impact than it does.
Should the story of Fuller have any lessons for us, those lessons will surely be better learned by reading a (much, much shorter) article about him rather than this tedious book.