William Goldman Books

This is a wonderful coming of age tale, and full of wise and wimisical insights into life that still hold true today.
I originally bought a copy this time for my grandson, but as I began to think of the novel, I knew I just had to get a copy for myself too, so ordered another copy from Amazon and had such a lovely read. Ana Jae

One of my all-time favorite books (Rates #2 right after "One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest") and William Goldman's best. I discovered it when I was 15 and have read it a number of times since then, maybe even as many as ten, and I never tire of it. I quote it often: "What we are is either because of or in spite of our families, which amounts to the same in the end."

I believe this book should never go out of print. It should be shelved right next to Golding's "Lord of the Flies" (where you always find Goldman on the bookshelf) in the Classics section. Hemingway, Faulkner, Fitzgerald, and my man William Goldman.

I've read this book a couple of times - first when I was a senior in high school, again a couple of years into college, and then most recently as a first year grad student - and every time I've loved it. There are a lot of reasons(it's wry, sincere, frighented, hopefull, and terribly honest... not to mention beautifully written), but I think one of them is that as Goldman works his way through the complex weave of friendship, hope, love, fear, confusion, etc with which he fills this novel, amist it all he somehow manages to capture that rhythm by which life just goes on and on and up and down and you learn some lessons and other things leave you scarred but either way things just keep moving. It's a really difficult thing to accomplish in such a personal and straigtforward novel such as this, but when it is accomplished, it's wonderful.

That's just one stab at explaining one of many reasons that I loved this book, though. I recomend it wholeheartedly.

This book was required reading at my friend's all boys high school many years ago. He recommended it to me and it became one of four or five books from my teenage years that have stayed with me. Many people have compared it to Catcher in the Rye. I can see the resemblance, but this book is so much better. It may not be, technically, better than Catcher but it has great heart and if you ask me, it's just a much better story. I have heard William Goldman say terrible things about this book; maybe because it was his first book he sees all kinds of errors or things he would write differently now, but boy, I just love love love it.
I reread it this week for the first time in 10 years or so, and it was just as funny and fresh as it was the first time. I have teenage boys who are not readers and am going to start reading this to them at the dinner table. I think they might pick it up on their own after a few pages.

This book is brazenly a Catcher in the Rye Knock-off, with a few endearing quirks of its own. Even so, 30 pages into it I stopped reading and went and got Catcher in the Rye off the shelf and spent the rest of my Saturday afternoon reading all of it. Not to say this is a bad book, just a tad superfluous. I mean, I'm sure someone could redo Huckleberry Finn and it would be OK, but what's the point? If you want a first person narrative of the angst of a young man, read Catcher. Of course, this book is not a complete..., and it has its moments, but the whole is not as good as the sum of its parts, as is often the case for a first time novelist (Goldman was 26 at the time). There is plenty of room for original variations on the Catcher theme, which was revolutionary at the time, but this book does not fill the bill. I read it, I may read it again sometime, but it is not particularly fantastic, in my opinion. I know others are enamored with it, and I see some strong points, but don't expect too much. Other stuff by Goldman is better, most notably The Princess Bride.

I liked this book, and I think you should get it - but watch out - there's a big surprise waiting!

Finding Jesus, Discovering Self is a buffet table sort of a book, a collection of Bible stories about Jesus, first person stories from the authors, poems and quotes from writers famous and otherwise, and directions to help the reader reflect, react and respond to the ideas presented in the stories. Ok so far, the bible stories are familiar, the personal reflections engaging and interesting, the poems and quotes enlightening and easy to read. It's like a long dinner table conversation with those smart, compassionate, well read friends you always wished you could spend more time with. There's a magic bookshelf that pops out the perfect quote, the poem, the literary example at just the right time.

As the evening goes on, though, something a little disturbing starts to happen. The talk turns to you (me!) and the friends start to tell their stories in a more intimate way, revealing not just the easy morals or the funny parts, but how they fell short, were disappointed, didn't act right, learned a hard lesson the hard way. Something about the way they tell their story makes it impossible for you to stay silent, and you find yourself talking, thinking, feeling in ways you hadn't expected. It gets tougher - the friends use challenging words like "imagine it differently...", "ask yourself what the other person is feeling.." or "name your unfinished business."

Caren Goldman is a friend, and in the interest of full disclosure, when I read this book I could imagine her at our dinner table, telling these stories, running to the bookshelf for the Rilke poem that put the idea just right, fixing me with that look when I'm less than honest with myself.

Bill Dols I've never met, but I know things about him from these stories, and I've let him sit at my dinner table, too. Both Caren and Bill present Jesus in a new way, too - not the Gospel of Certainty but the Gospel of Questions - love embodied in the unanswered far more than the answers. These old, familiar stories that Jesus told or that were told about Jesus are presented like a familiar stone, or a picture we've seen forever. They ask us to turn it a little, hold it in a different light, look from closer in. I read the Good Samaritan story, then they asked me to imagine that I was the priest who walked on by, or the robbers who stripped and beat him! Their questions for reflection take the story all the way home... "look around you", "Who do you pass by every day". They quote the Talmud, Milan Kundera and poet Derek Wolcott.

I get up from the banquet, the dinner conversation, the engagement that this book invites a little tired. It's not an easy self-help affirmation, this book. It's hard. The Jesus I thought I knew is different from the one I meet in this book. So is the "self." This book asks us to look at the beauty, the ease, the love - but also the anger, the selfishness, the disappointment. Smell the flowers, of course, but smell the funk too, acknowledge the rest of the picture, live with the tough questions.

It's not easy - I stopped a couple of times. I thought, "I don't really need this," and "I don't really have time, and " I'm not sure what they believe and if they believe the way I do". In the end, I found it immensely helpful, a powerful experience. Living the questions raised in this way - the questions about Jesus, the questions about myself - is a better way to live. It's like the way I feel getting up from that dinner table - challenged, alive, full, energized - and ready for more!

Caren says that it's her hope that "the questions...will ...remain a welcome signpost on your journey to healing and wholeness." Bill says it's "exchanging the insatiable search for meaning in the Bible for the opportunity to read sacred narratives as life's drama around and within me." Around the middle of the book there's a little TS Eliot poem that summarizes the genius of this book for me.

"We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time."

The authors have provided me "food for the journey."This outstanding book is most helpful for a fifteen minute quiet time in the middle of a busy day, as well as for a contemplative read to begin or end the day. Bill Dols is creator and Editor of Bible Workbench and Caren Goldman is an Associate Editor of this 52 week program that is a valuable resource that provides a life-changing process for us to engage scripturre in the same way the authors have done in this book: Scripture, Questions, Stories, and Poetry that reflect the relevancy of the Biblical text to our lives today.

Finding Jesus, Discovering Self by Caren Goldman and William Dols is a book about passages to healing and wholeness, using passages about Jesus's life from the Bible as meditations and illustrations for handling daily problems. The book is written by the unlikely team of Goldman, a Jewish journalist, and Dols, and Episcopal priest. They are excellent writers and bring two different perspectives to each scripture and add guided meditations and questions to answer about your perspective and insights gained. The book is an excellent study, no matter what stage your spiritual development is.

Caron Goldman and Bill Dols invite us to explore the Jesus story and our personal stories from fresh, new, sometimes challenging perspectives. To help us, they generously share their own stories, struggles, joys and questions in "Reflections." They invite us to go deeper with more questions and creative imaginings in "Wonderings and Wanderings." Then they hold up "Mirrors" for us to catch another glimpse of the Jesus story and our own with poetry and prose from many sources. In the process of "living" the questions about Jesus and his story, as well as our own stories, one discovers universal life connections and truths. This book is one all seekers will want to own and keep close for guidance on the path. The more I found about Jesus the more I discovered about self and life.

This remarkable book gave me that rare gift, an inventively presented opportunity to see old ideas in new ways; to turn off the philosophical autopilot and reconsider long-held values and operating principles; to realize yet again that I don't necessarily know what I think I know. I took advantage of the authors' permission to skip the exercises this time through, because I'm getting ready to move and don't have time to engage at that level. In some future peaceful season I'll be back, to consider their questions. Great quotes from a lineup that includes a range of talent from Oscar Wilde to the Thomas of that other gospel, combined with the authors' personal experiences that relate to the stories of the life of a wise Jewish man from Nazareth, provoked enough thought this time through.

I read this book first in the 1980s, while I was actually working in the theater (and I had met a few of the people talked about in the book). What I like about it so much is that Goldman expresses his opinions, especially about the fare on Broadway at the time (not so good), the deficiencies of some of the actors and actresses and his sweeping view of the whole milieu. I don't always agree with him, but he's so incisive that you gain enormous respect for him, particularly when he's writing about Judy Garland, Sandy Dennis and Tom Stoppard. Students of theater history should turn to this book to find out what a bygone era (before huge corporations and nonprofits took over Broadway) was all about.

This book is it. It's just it. If you have any inclination at all to work in the theatre in any capacity, this book is required reading. Do not move to New York without it. I did, and I barely barely survived the few days it took me to find a copy. Order it now while you still have time! I'm serious!

William Goldman is not only a great screenwriter, but a wonderful writer of prose/criticism, as evidenced by "The Season," probaby the smartest, if not funniest, book ever written about the (sorry) state of Broadway. Here he tells you all you would want to know about the making of a Broadway show--all the compromises, betrayals, fits of ego, and under-the-table deals that keep the "fabulous invalid" (a phrase, by the way, that makes Mr. Goldman want to vomit) alive for another season. As a lover of theater, you may become depressed at the cynical machinations that go on to get what is, after all, usually pretty mediocre material to the stage; however, Mr. Goldman's prose is so crisp and entertaining that your spirit is ultimately lifted by his keen analysis. Although the patient is very sick, here's a doctor who has a prescription to offer. And all through the book, he does offer suggestions on how Broadway can better serves us, the theatergoers. Alas, the advice wasn't followed then (the late 60s), and it's not being followed today.

This is an extraordinary book. It is written by an author with a first class mind and genuine curiosity about his subject. Whilst one may not agree with all of it, the writing is a delight and he does not shirk dealing with controversial issues such as the influence of homosexuality on the stage and the corrupt financial practices in relation to theatre tickets, etc. Even though it was written for the 1967-1968 season, it still resonates and viewed in retrospect, it provides crucial evidence relative to the aetiology of the culture wars.

William Goldman's groundbreaking book The Season is all it's cracked up to be and more. Though a number of the people he deals with are no longer with us, many of the shows have been forgotten, and the ticket prices are quite a bit higher, it's astonishing how much the Broadway of the late 1960s resembles the Broadway of today. The same problems, the same headaches, the same disappointments, and the same triumphs are all still a part of the Great White Way. No Broadway enthusiast should be without this book; The Season is a stunning history--and current events--lesson on Broadway theatre.

A long time fan of spider's this is the book i turn to for that point in time when somrthing new is too much and callahan's too punny.

Find and buy a copy of this book, if you think of yourself as human: it is one of the few places to find a copy of "The Man Who Traveled in Elephants" AND "Our Lady's Juggler" - both essential reading, even if they're the only fantasy you ever read. The former tale is the story Heinlein was proudest of, and the latter is his choice as the best least-reprinted story - and no other English translation of Anatole France's little gem is worth the paper it's printed on. Find this book and buy a copy. The other stories in it are fine, but the last two are worth the price of admission all by themselves.

BEST OF ALL POSSIBLE WORLDS (Ace Books, Science Fiction, 1980) by Spider Robinson.

Here is why this book is so exceptional.

Spider Robinson picked his favorite short stories from each of his favorite authors - not the most popular or the ones with the most awards, just the best according to him, the ones he really loved.

He then wrote an introduction for each one of these stories, explaining, in his refreshing style, who the writer is, why he picked this particular story and how did the author reacted to his choice. Yes - and that's how this book develops a parallel anthology - he also contacted each of the authors and asked each one of them to pick one of their favorite stories by someone else and write an introduction for it.

When asked to handle this project by Jim Baen, Ace's science fiction editor, Spider Robinson recalls, in the foreword, how he "was drooling" at the idea and said "My favorite stories plus my favorite writers' favorite stories ? Christ, that sounds like the best of all possible worlds." "Yeah," (said Baen) "that's my working title."

This book is a gem. It starts with Larry Niven's "Inconstant Moon" and follows with Niven's choice "Spud and Cochise" by Oliver La Farge - an unforgettable "western that blooms into fantasy, compelling awe, laughter and belief."

The next one is "Need" by Theodore Sturgeon - my own favorite - and Sturgeon then picked "Hop-Friend" by Terry Carr. Following that, we have The Duel Scene from William Goldman's "The Princess Bride" and Goldman picked Robert Sheckley's "Seventh Victim". The next one is Dean Ing's "Portions Of This Program..." who then chose "They Bite" by Anthony Boucher.

Spider Robinson's last pick is an exquisitely touching story by Robert A. Heinlein (his introduction is a wonderful read in itself), "The Man Who Traveled in Elephants" which recreates magically a Fellini-like atmosphere combined with the All American, mid century charm of Capra's "It's A Wonderful Life". Not only is this story surprisingly unHeinlein but Heinlein's own pick is another surprise, a sweetly naive and religious story by Anatole France "Our Lady's Juggler" very aptly translated by Spider Robinson himself (who was turned off by the two translations which were available at the time).

This anthology is not really an anthology as we know it. Spider Robinson's world - past and present - is revealed throughout and we also get a glimpse into the worlds of his favorite writers as they candidly recall their reactions to their favorite stories. It is, in the best sense of the word, a Collection, one which touches the heart and caresses the mind. In that sense and so many others, it is Unique.

This book is amazing in that every story in it is exceptional. During the 10 or so years that I have been collecting Spider, I have only seen one copy of this book. People who read this one tend to hold tightly to it and only loan it to close friends. One of the most amazing items about this book, is that all of the stories could have been written by Spider. This book holds gems that may not have seen the light of day for quite some time. Among these stories are the very best Heinlein and Sturgeon stories in print. All in all, I cannot recommend this collection highly enough.

The essence of this collection is that Spider Robinson picked his favorite short story, actually an excerpt from his favorite book (the swordfight on the Cliffs of Insanity from "The Princess Bride") and then contacted the author of that piece - William Goldman - and asked him what his favorite story was. Spider then contacted that author... and so on. The result is a unique collection of stories that provide insight into what affects these authors.

The book was published quite a few years back and I do not have a copy so I cannot list all the stories but I can say that no other collection has ever had the impact on me that this one did. If you ever wondered what Authors read and remember, find a copy and hang onto it - I've been trying to find a replacement copy for 12 years.

Well, I've always enjoyed reading screenplays. In addition, I've loved The Princess Bride since I first saw it. I also loved Misery. However, I hadn't seen Butch Cassidy yet. Reading the screenplay made it mandatory.

Goldman's comments about the movies are a wonderful addition to the screenplays. I highly recommend this book.

An enthusiastic 'thumbs-up' to William Goldman for including four essays to accompany his wonderful screenplays.

If you wonder why the author chose the idea of using the grandfather as the storyteller in the "Princess Bride" or how beloved Andre the Giant was on the set of the film then this book is a must-read.

Want to know which major scene with Kathy Bates in "Misery" was changed over the objections of the screenwriter? It's all here, colorfully annotated by the author in his essays that preface each screenplay.

The most entertaining book I've read so far this year (1998). If you've enjoyed these movies then, by all means, read this book!

Most people have seen these four films. Far fewer have read the screenplays. Because of the diversity of the material and the quality of the writing, this book is truly essential to all writers, especially those who want to write for the screen. Goldman's screenplays are unique. In effect, he has invented his own screen language. He's that rare beast, a screenwriter who cares about style.
Prepare to be thrilled and inspired.

I couldn't put this book down! It presents so plausible a scenario of global warming that it's frightening. The outlook for the future is bleek in light of the sinister and cynical ways out of the dilemmas. The book is well-written. As I was reading I kept picturing it in film version with Tom Cruise in the lead role! I would especially recommend this book to anyone involved with issues of water policy and the environment, but it's also just a good read for anyone who likes a suspenseful story.

This book is extremely well written and incredibly insightful to what really going is on in the world in terms of the political agenda of the US and battle for world supremacy.
Two complex subjects (global warming and US/Chinese relationships)are handled with a unique clarifying simplicity and an intricate, spell-binding political perspective that allows the reader to understand and visualize the tough issues.
The book just seems to flow and keeps one captivated. It's hard to put down. Be prepared to spend an hour in the read, and afterwards, to wonder about what our leaders are really up to.
This book is an experience that one will never forget.

The section on Barrett esophagus is the best among several GI pathology books that I have read.
The authors' guidance on how to report pathological findings clearly indicate their familiarity with clinical management.

it's excellent textbook of GI pathology, for pathologists, and even gastroenterologists, endoscopists.

As a Medical Transcriptionist I find this book to be an invaluable tool. I use this book not only to find the correct spelling of the drugs but also to find drug usages, doseages, generics, and brand names. I especially like the indication/therapeutic category index. Many times it is difficult to determine exactly what a physician is dictating. I can go to the back, find the illness being treated, and most of the time locate the drug that the doctor has dictated. This book is very comprehensive, up-to-date, and very easy to use. It is the book that I refer to most.

As a Medical Transcriptionist this book is an invaluable resource. I have used it not only to look up the correct spelling of drugs but also to cross reference doseages, generics, and usages. I especially like the indication/therapeutic category index. Many times it is difficult to understand what the physicians dictate, it is helpful to be able to go to the back to see if the drug I think that they have said matches the diagnosis. I highly recommend this book.

I titled this review such becuse Goldman creates a story with a wonderful setting, fantastic characters and no structured plot. Sienfeld's idea was not unique, Goldman carries it off brilantly. You will laugh out loud, and you'll fall in love with Eustis Clay and Maxwell Slaughter. I am genuenly sad that I had to say good bye to my friends Eustis and Maxwell at the end of this book, and I can't help but wonder what ever became of ole Eustis anyhow? You'll wonder to, like a old friend who you've gotten out of touch with but remember fondly. Hey Goldman, write the screenplay so I can see my friends again!

...they would be Eustis and Maxwell. Soldier was written about 25 years before Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid was released, set on a then present-day Army base in the south. It's both a "buddy" and "coming of age" story about two apparently opposite sergeants united against the larger world, and their eventual coming to grips with it. Terrific characterizations: imagine if they made a movie of this way back when, starring, say, Steve McQueen and Jackie Gleason - both in their primes - in the starring roles; it would make Butch Cassidy seem like a Disney flick in comparison. Thanks, Billy Goldman; you always knew what would entertain us and make us look at ourselves. We just needed the time to get ready to do so.

As a longtime William Goldman fan, I went into this book expecting to like it. I loved it. Tinsel details the making of a movie; like most of Goldman's books, it's not the story he tells (although it's a fabulous plot) but the way he tells it. In his inimitable way, Goldman rips Hollywood apart and exposes it for everything it is, everything it wishes it was, and everything it can't help being.

William Goldman's "Tinsel" is a story of Hollywood and the curious and often vulnerable personalities involved in the movie business. Its framing device is the casting of a new movie about the life and death of a sex symbol, loosely based on Marilyn Monroe. We meet the money and creative people behind the movie and the various starlets hoping for a shot at the incredibly juicy role. As usual with a William Goldman novel, we are privy to the thoughts of the various characters and, as usual, there are surprises along the way. But the best thing about the novel is the feeling of Hollywood that it manages to convey, the blend of sordidness and glamour, the money and egos involved in each film, and the terrible attraction that a starmaking role has for actors and actresses. Many authors have tried to bring Hollywood to life in their novels, but few have succeeded as well as Goldman has with "Tinsel."