Interviews Books

My problem with this book is that it contains so much. Joseph Campbell would occasionally begin a talk with"The greatest truths cannot be spoken, the lesser are always misunderstood." Before you read on, listen to the Casals recordings of Bach Suites, and if possible place yourself in the hands of a teacher of Alexander's work. In her quest for the art of "Playing Naturally" Vivien was guided by one remarkable teacher and the spirit of another. Alexander had died by the time her three years with Casals were over. Casals metaphors were drawn from Nature, Alexander found the natural "use of the self" in his search for the skill to give expression to the genius of Shakespeare.
Vivien's lesson by lesson account of her relationship with Casals is unique in biographical writings on Casals. Accounts of lessons with Alexander are available from a variety of distinguished sources. This is the first time two such important influences have been united in the sympathetic environment of a conversation between friends. It is a valuable contribution to available writing on the Alexander Work and Music.

For most of us, Pablo Casals exists only through recordings. It's wonderful to encounter him alive through the living voice of Vivien Mackie--to imagine her in a high window-ledge in Prades as he made his magnificent recording of the Schumann Cello Concerto, to hear him regretfully but kindly telling this brilliant new student, "You do not know what you are doing," to learn how she learns his great lesson: "Do only what is necessary." Often, she found, "doing what was necessary meant doing a great deal more than I had ever done before," but sometimes it meant doing a great deal less. Her conversations with Joe Armstrong show us that "doing more" must include a patient but insistently revealing discipline that can allow the musician to "see all the colours and shades" of the music, "and all the texture, where it tightens, where it loosens and where the turning moments are,...to take time to examine it and bring it all into being." "Doing less" means "getting rid of clutter"--not just "questionable intonation,...and inadequate articulation, and any sort of doubt" in the playing, but also, and chiefly, any habitual clutter of mind and body that might prevent a release of "life and energy." The lesson applies beyond music.

I've been with the Alexander Technique with over a year now and during this period I have read many books and articles on the subject along with specific approaches on how to apply it to music playing. This book goes beyond the Technique and has very little *direct* mention of it (which I personally loved). It is based more on Vivien Mackie's experience with reconnecting herself to her instrument and a deepened, if not different, approach in HOW she learned, play and interpret music.

Some of the principles she learned from Casals *resonate* with some principles of the Alexander Technique. But as Nelly Ben-Or, pianist and AT teacher, says "in music making so many different elements have to come together and an improved, consciously directed use is but one of them". I have a DVD with a Vivien Mackie masterclass and she goes on by saying that "Through intelligent training of something other than the head and neck you can actually achieve the use, I believe". This is clearly exposed in this book. How Casals brought life back to her fingers without the head-neck-back experience of the Alexander Technique. The Technique is about removing unwanted habits that can help music playing but these bad habits usually show up because of poor music technique itself. So removing the "clutter", as Mackie puts it, does not solve technical limitations as AT teachers are not trained to give music technique. One of the things I learned from this book is the importance of how the player relates to the instrument and how much understanding of this relationship is necessary to overcome plateaus in the learning curve.

Also, one of the things I loved about the book is that it doesn't have a patronising "I am the panacea" attitude like some other AT books I have read. The ideas presented in the book were real experiences and therefore very practical and not just another theoretical "apply the AT principles contained in this book and the right thing will do itself". Some elements here have reinforced certain ideas that I read from Nelly Ben-Or in that music making goes beyond simple mechanical execution and beyond the Alexander Technique. In fact, I don't consider this book an AT book at all because it is written with very little direct mentioning of the Technique and in a language anyone can understand. This is truly a life experience in print.

These compilations of interviews are the accomplishments of Jose Fraguas, who has gone through the effort of extracting and editing many of these interviews from their original sources (often magazines inaccessible to the rest of us due to date of publication or what-have-you). What a treat to read the thoughts of Morio Higaonna (pg 97) and Teruo Hayashi of Goju Ryu, Masatoshi Nakayama (pg 225) and Turuyuki Okazaki(285) of Shotokan, Kenei Mabuni (pg 165), Kenzo Mabuni (pg 177) and Minobu Miki(235) or Shorin ryu, European Karate Pioneer Henri Plee(303), South African Shotokan Pioneer Stan Schmidt(321), and American Karate Pioneer Ray Dalke(29)! Not to mention Elite Historian Harry Cook(1) of the UK, and The USA's own William Domitrich(pg 71) of the Chito-Ryu...so many names, such little space for me to name them all! Yet what a wonderful combination from a variety of respected schools.

Suffice it to say, if you are a martial arts history buff, you will have a tough time putting this volume down. You will enjoy Higaonna's truths about his sensei Anichi Miyagi as much as Ray Dalke's story of his break with Nakayama Sensei. Honest, eye-opening, and honestly, enjoyable! I often felt as if I was in the same room as these men, afforded the opportunity to learn from their experiences.

A terrific opportunity at an unheard of price. My only fault with the series is that the name of the original interviewer and the publication it first appeared in is left off. A bibliography at least would have been nice. Nonetheless, who could miss the personal histories of Fumio Demora (55), Tak Kubota (153), Dan Ivan (111), Kanazawa (127) and more? Absolutely worth it!

For those who are interested on martial arts, and specifically karate, this is a must have book. Great interviews with great masters. Makes you understand the essence of practicing karate.

A very readable and enjoyable collection of interviews with famous masters and exponents in the karate world. Alas, some of my favorites, such as Mabune and Nakayama, have passed away since this book was published, but Fraguas has done us the service of immortalizing their thoughts on karate in this great little volume. You'll find dozens of famous masters here, and it includes interviews with well known American and European experts (such as Dan Ivan, Chuck Merriman, and Ray Dalke in the U.S., and H. D. Plee in France) as well as Okinawan and Japanese masters. At the time of these interviews, many of these masters were already in their 50s, 60s, or 70s, and it was interesting to hear their thoughts on the evolution of karate during their lifetimes, as well as how their understanding of karate had changed or deepened with age. There were some surprises too, when I learned that Kanazawa had been studying Yang style tai chi since 1957 and was rated a master in it (he mentions there are 7 levels to Yang tai chi and he holds the highest level). He feels that tai chi has helped his karate, which was interesting, since I study tai chi and have found it useful to me also in many ways. Overall, a very fine book of fascinating and informative interviews with many of the most famous names in karate of our time.

Jean Marie Christenson's mastery of documentary journalism shines through in this compelling collection of interviews, from the world behind prison bars, a world that the large majority of Americans do their best to deny, ignore and wish away. The great conundrums of the topic are portrayed, including: (1) the "prison industry", which employs tens of thousands of Americans to keep caged millions of other Americans, at huge financial expense to American society; (2)human tales: 1st-person interviews of a Governor, prison heads, prison guards, and, most of all, prisoners. Reading the book refreshes one's respect for the enormity of the topic. American governments, particularly our local governments, must devote immense, ever-growing sums of money to keep law-breakers separated from polite society... so much money (taxes) that insufficient tax resources are left for the many positive functions of local government: eduction, public health, social services... so much money (taxes) is required to cage people (consistent with all the criminal laws which we insist our lawmakers pass), the weight of the resulting tax burdens lead to tax revolts, in which society cuts off its nose to spite its face. Christenson's book comes from her heart and her own life-experiences... and that is obvious in reading her work. A passionate work of documentary journalism, about vital issues facing society which are manifestly unsolved, and cry out for solution.

READ THIS BOOK, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN! FASINATING! INFORMATION THAT IS NO OTHER PLACE.

THIS IS A MUST READ IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT GOES ON ON THE "INSIDE". A very interesting book. Many insights. You won't be able to put it down!

This wonderful, timely book consists of interviews with the country's top legal researchers. I can't think of a better way to learn about legal research than from experts like Sabrina Pacifici, Cindy Chick, Diana Botluk, Genie Tyburski, Leigh Webber and the others profiled.

If legal research is part of your professional life, do yourself a favor: Buy This Book.

Jerry Lawson, Author of The Complete Internet Handbook for Lawyers (ABA 1999).

This book should appeal to: 1) software developers and usability testers, to learn from experiences with well-established proprietary and newer web-based interfaces to highly structured databases (billions, literally, of pages in Lexis and WestLaw); 2) content developers, web trainers and educators in all fields who wrestle with quality issues of web content; 3) observers of how professional communities use the web, as organized associations and for bottom-up information sharing; 4) amateur and semi-pro searchers who want to get tips from real pros trained in library and information science, as well as specific legal contents and methods.

Warning to workplace cynics: this is a no-Dilbert zone.

Example interview topics include: (software/usability) how are browser bookmarks used? are any web utilities widely adopted? (content/training) when is the web a trustworthy source of information? which comes first, in what circumstances: the web or fee-based services?

(community organizers) how do websites evolve to so well serve diverse professionals using cooperative and volunteer labor? (amateurs/semi-pros) how do people who search for a living in a rapid turn-around environment organize their work? (cynics) are there really people who still have long-lasting careers and love their work? how do they survive the nutty managers, mindless meetings, and constant change of fads?

Expanding the series and theme of "super searcher" books, this set of interviews goes more deeply into the technical aspects of legal research without losing the non-legal reader in either the terms of the field or the names of the content providers. My only complaint was the frequent reference to "stock techniques taught in legal research" which might have been better defined or compared, but I loved the phrase "build a search".

The online secrets of top legal researchers are covered in an important guide which uses interviews with experts to focus on legal research topics. From web site listings and commercial services to databases and professional journals, this is packed with practical references to legal research processes.

This AudioCD with Michael Dell, Jack Welch, Jack Greenberg and Quincy Jones is worth a lot more than it's weight in gold. The listener is given the rare opportunity to view the business landscape from the perspective of great leaders who captain some of the biggest and best run companies on the planet. Success in business is about vision, innovation, customers, branding, team building and execution. The candid interviews on this CD bring these points home very clearly. If Tom Peters ever decides to write In Search of Excellence - the millennium edtion, he would do well to begin with the leaders featured on CD #1. Job well done by Mark Thompson and Richard Wilson.

Forget all the theory and nonsense you hear from the gurus and academics about what they 'imagine' a leader should or could do! This is the real thing. Real CEOs talk about their best ideas and worst mishaps. Finally we hear what works and what doesn't in plain English from people who actually have done it! No secret sauce. No bull. I listened to Leaders of the New Century during my commute this week and I'm requiring my senior management team to listen to the whole set.

This audio CD was a refreshing change from the usual audiobook on leadership. Instead of the typical announcer reading from a script - or author reading from a script - this had the interviewees speaking off the cuff about their experiences as leaders.

I particularly enjoyed the interview with Michael Dell. As a business owner, I could take and apply much of what he discussed to my business.

Overall, a very well done CD, with some fascinating guests, discussing what it takes to lead. I look forward to hearing the rest of the series.

The controversial radio show host takes a stab at mystery writing and does it up Kinky Friedman style, with himself as the protagonist and a cast of characters that include his associates on his syndicated and televised talk forum. The mystery involves the death of Hank the angry, drunken dwarf who is found stomped to death outside a NY Peepshow.

This is by far the most detailed description of his radio show, including Gary Dellabata's dental records! I must for any fan of junior high humor, or Stuttering John fans.

this book has nothing to do with the dj howard stern as the previous reviews would have you believe. this is a book about the art of howard s. stern and his life events.

Dr. Maruna shines the bright lights of objectivity, intellectual courage, and scientific inquiry, into a dimly understood subject, one which too many people would rather ignore: Specifically, why is criminal recidivism so commonplace, what are the social policies and practices that discourage rehabilitation, what beliefs about criminal behavior do we need to re-examine, how do some offenders manage to reconstruct their lives in spite of all the barriers, and what should we be learning from them. He doesn't preach, he doesn't harangue, he just presents the facts in a convincing and very readable manner, and enlivens the text with a variety of case histories and interviews. Sure to be appreciated by the general public as well as behavioral scientists and correctional experts, "Making Good..." is destined to be a classic in its field.

Winner of a 2001 American Society of Criminology Award for Most Outstanding Contribution To Criminology, this meticulously researched book describes the process through which hard-core criminal recidivists desist from crime to lead productive lives.

As the pendulum begins to turn from a crazed rush to incarcerate, there is more and more interest in the topic of prisoner re-entry. What can help criminals turn their lives around and become productive citizens? This book is a great starting point for answering this complex question.

One of my goals in life is to help inmates make there lives positives ones. This is my first book I've read on criminal reform and I am absolutely in love with it (and very lucky to find it). It has also been a learning experience for my life (a desisting one). `Shadd Maruna has written a classic in my library. Looking forward to any follow-ups!

If you read this Dr. Maruna, thank you for your book. It will help me when I get out of college.

Along with this I currently just picked up "Inside Rikers" by Jen Wynn (sp?). For all others interested in other titles.

Gail O'Donnell and Michele Travolta have captured what it takes to Make It In Hollywood, with some of the BIGGEST names in the business. Enjoyable reading.

A very insightful book since the words come
from the very people who have made careers in
Hollywood. They tell you what they did, where to
go, what to do, and who you should know.
It's all here.

Reading this well organized book has informed me about many of the do's and don't that will assist those aspiring to be a part of the film industry.Whether you wish to be an actor, director, producer, or screenwriter; this IS the book to help you in your quest!!!

James Mottram's "Making of Memento" is an interesting and intriguing look into the making of the modern day classic Memento. Offered up are excerpts from conversations with director/screen writer Christopher Nolan and actors Guy Pearce, Carrie Anne-Moss, and Joe Pantoliano, while offering a few different interpertations on the film itself. Mottram's style is crisp and clear and he never seems to go too far from his source material while offering up some interesting little known facts (the fact that Brad Pitt strongly considered and wanted to do the role of Lenny came as a shock and I have more respect for him now than I ever did before) that keep the reader interested for most of the time. Also included is the original short story by Jonathan Nolan (brother to Christopher) that inspired the film. All in all, consider this an essential companion piece if your a fan of the film or are trying to tie up some loose ends.

Mottram's book offers a fascinating account of how Memento came into being, the trials its creators went through to get it distributed, and offers several interpretations of the film's meaning. It's also filled with interesting vignettes from movie set. The book roughly parallels the movie in that its chapters work backwards toward the source material, Nolan's brother's shortstory Memento Mori. However, its primary focus is on the construction of the movie itself, and how the disparate elements (acting, direction, writing, sound, music) came together to form the first truly great film of the 21st century. Mottram's writing style is clean, focused, and never overwraught. He doesn't make the mistake of overintellectualizing or overinterpreting the the film. This is a must have for Memento fans and offers keen insight as to how independent movies are made.

Want to delve deeper into mystery that is Memento? Then look no further as James Mottram does an excellent job of steering us back through the labyrinth of the film (with it's myriad of possible meanings) and it's production. Christopher Nolan is interviewed (along with key cast members and crew) to help shed further light on this fascinating film. With 11 pages of pictures, 3 pages of drawings (concerning Leonard's tattoos), and even Jonathan Nolan's short story (Memento Mori), Mottram seems to have covered all the bases. He wrote it down so that you (and Leonard) wouldn't have to.

While there is no question that medical science has dramatically improved over the last two centuries, the medical community is still an extremely conservative group. The social environment has also changed; socialized medicine and governmental management now means that even relatively slight changes can have a billion-dollar price tag. The massive pharmaceutical companies pull in billions of dollars in revenues, which they will do a great deal to protect.
However, despite all the massive machines and the broad spectrum of medicinal chemicals, medicine is still largely an art. There is also a great deal about the workings of the human body that is not known, in fact most of the knowledge in some areas is little more than informed speculation.
In this book, Brown interviews several people that are very knowledgeable, but operate on what would be called the fringes of medicine. Their feelings are diverse, yet none is what you would describe as beyond the bounds into quackery. Each person truly believes in what they claim, and nearly all of them practice their beliefs on themselves. Most of their claims involve holistic or a form of natural medicine.
What makes this book different from many others is that the interviewees are very knowledgeable in what would be called hard science. They cite scientific findings, biological processes and historical precedent. If you do not have a fairly solid background in science, specifically biology, then you will have a difficult time following many of the interviews.
It is certain that not all of the claims made in this book will ultimately prove to be valid. However, if it were possible to look ahead one hundred years, there is no question in my mind that at least one of these visionary proposals will be part of the medical mainstream. The key question is of course, "Which one(s)?"

David Jay Brown has chosen a remarkable set of scientists and other personalities in the medical arena to interview for this book. I am privileged to be among them. Whatever your speciality (if any) or your areas of biomedical interest, most if not all of these interviews will be highly informative and enjoyable. Highly recommended.

This is a major piece of work. A must read for those of us
that don't have the time to sift through all the medical and science journals but are nevertheless interested in science and our own
bodies. If you want to know something always go to the top person in
the field and that is exactly what David Brown did. Thanks David, just reading the book was good medicine and perhaps adding a few years to my life.