Rock The Books

A stunning book that sits on my coffee table. Friends and family who visit pick it up over conversation to flick through. It a conversation stopper! The conversation becomes about Elvis and they're converted immediately to FANS!!
This book is worth every penny - decorative and fantastic quality!

This is a big book. But well worth every dollar spent. I enjoyed seeing pictures of Elvis not only bigger but some I've never seen before. Wonderful additional information on Elvis. I loved reading and looking through this book and would highly recommend it to all who love Elvis like myself to buy this book.

I am an Elvis fan and especially enjoy collecting quirky odd items. This book, of the coffee-table genre, certainly falls into that category. From the "rhinestone" encrusted title on the cover to the size of this thing >>it screams "King Elvis" like no other book! Just be sure that you have a sturdy, large coffee table to display this monster. It's jam-packed with rare pics, Elvis history, odd-ball facts & just generally a FUN Elvis book (It's almost as if he helped in designing it...) If you're an Elvis fan, you'll love this book! If you just like unique coffee-table books, this is one for the "oddities" collector!

This is a super piece of Elvis memorabilia at an unbelievably great price. If you have a friend who is an Elvis fan he/she is bound to treasure this book. This is the perfect gift for an Elvis fan. Buy this treasure now before it sells out and beat the Christmas shopping rush!

That is all I can say about this book, buy it and you will see, but be prepare to have the table big enough to read this monster! The book deserves a special place to keep it because it's a museum!

While reading The Kingdom of Norne by Busta Scam, I couldn't help but see the story from a teacher's perspective, keeping in mind the changes that have occurred in the field over the past decade. With the seeming decay of ethics and morals in our society, and such horrific events like the Columbine massacre, more and more emphasis has been put on changing the social studies curriculum in schools across the nation. Rather than having students memorize dates and bold-faced words from dust-covered textbooks, more teachers and school districts have turned to social studies to help implant a social conscience into students. The task, as with any new method of teaching, is certainly daunting.

One of the reasons why it is difficult to teach social studies in this way, oddly, is because children's literature has not kept up with this new trend. Truly, books are the key to any good lesson in this subject. However, the books out there tend to maintain the old values, more-or-less giving a timeline of famous people's lives or the dates when major historical events occurred. Thankfully The Kingdom of Norne is not one of these types of books! Truly, at its core, is the mission to develop children with a social conscience.

The tale is about The Kingdom of Norne, a place that was built through the hard work and dedication of the Nornians, who were the smartest mice in the land and the best at what they did, be it engineers, pilots, or truck drivers. Because of this, The Kingdom grew and grew until it became one of the most powerful and wealthiest in the world. Then because King Yal and his advisors became too greedy and corrupt, the Kingdom fell apart and all the Nornians lost everything that they had worked for. Sadly, they all had to leave the Kingdom and find work elsewhere, starting their lives over with nothing but the shirts on their back.

Between the pictures and the overall message, it is clear that Busta Scam has developed a wonderful tale and illusion that allow a teacher or parent to discuss the corruption of such companies as Enron and Kmart. I kept thinking to myself as I read the book, what question would I ask my students after reading this page? The possibilities are absolutely endless.

For example, I think the first question to ask students is, "Do you think it's good to work hard?" Of course all those little heads would be nodding, "Yes." Then, imagine their dismay as the Nornians are essentially conned out of everything! "Do you think this made the Nornians happy?" All the little heads would shake, "No." It is after that when the real question would be asked: "What do you think King Yal should have done?"

It is questions like that one that bring a smile to every teacher's face because from it comes so many wonderful lessons. How would I use The Kingdom of Norne to develop a lesson? Well, after getting them to think about the above questions, I would send them back to their seats and tell them to make a different version of The Kingdom of Norne: one where the Nornians aren't swindled and where King Yal does the right thing.

That is the power of Busta Scam's book. Such a lesson, like the one illustrated above (used in conjunction with The Kingdom of Norne), is the first step to developing a new generation of children that, hopefully, won't make the same errors of judgment when they are running the companies of the future. With books like this, and with the kind and gentle guidance of teachers and parents, we could be looking at a brighter day where rats aren't ruling the world!

Thomas Bolme, Jr.
an Independent Professional Book Reviewer

This book has a bunch of Enron specific references throughout and teaches kids about greed. Get it if you worked there, invested or followed the trial but pass on it if you were one of the convicted felons in upper management.

Brian Durbin Enron Investor wrote and illustrated this book as Busta Scam. Busta Scam (Brian Durbin) is an Aggie Electrical Engineer who was motivated in 2002 to start writing this book after the collapse of one of the blue-chip holdings within his family's stock portfolio. He never sold the stock and it remains there, appearing in every statement as a reminder of this unfortunate event. A TONGUE-IN-CHEEK GUIDE FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS AS TO WHAT HAPPENED TO A SEEMINGLY MAGICAL FINANCIAL KINGDOM
His wife is a CPA who worked for this particular company for a very short time 2 years prior to the collapse. She left the company to raise their young children. Her short stint with the company was a factor in their investment and decision to hold onto the stock even as it fell in value. She gets credit for much moral support through the process of developing the book and she colored most of the illustrations.
Busta Scam lives in the Houston suburbs with his wife and children. He's had a lifelong interest in doodling and sketching. The Kingdom of Norne is his first children's book

It really explained what happened to enron in words I could understand. It also taught me a valuable lesson about greed and right and wrong. I really liked the pictures too!

Book Description:
The Kingdom of Norne tells the sad tale of the Enron collapse in a full-color, illustrated children's book. It begins, Once upon a time, in the land of glass and steel, there was a great kingdom called Norne. Actually, it was the seventh largest out of the kingdoms of the day. Norne was wildly prosperous because all of its subjects were the best mice in their field. They were highly regarded as smart and clever.

It is a story of morality, similar to Hans Christen Anderson's The Emperor's New Clothes. The plot involves an ever-growing pyramid of cheese, representative of the inflated wealth of the kingdom. The cheese is a metaphor for a pyramid scam in which the subjects and investors are the primary victims.

While children may need assistance with some of the words, they will be able to differentiate between the character's right and wrong behavior. Norne is Enron spelled backwards and the book includes other tie-ins to this current event such as the raptors, the whistle blower, and the trial.

The Kingdom of Norne may provide the most concise memento of one of the biggest corporate scandals in American history.

About the Author:
Busta Scam is an Electrical Engineer who was motivated in 2002 to write this book after the collapse of one of the blue-chip holdings within his family's stock portfolio. He never sold the stock and it remains there, appearing in every statement as a reminder of this unfortunate event.

His wife is a CPA who worked for Enron for a very short time two years prior to the collapse. She left the company not because of any inside knowledge or suspicions but simply to raise their young children. Her short stint with the company was a factor in their investment and determination to hold onto the stock even as it fell in value. Mrs. Scam gets credit for much moral support through the process of developing the book and she colored most of the illustrations.

Busta Scam lives in the Houston suburbs with his wife and children. He has had a lifelong interest in sketching. This is his first children's book.

Far more than a simple listing of where and what the Kinks played over the years, this book provides a detailed look at the lives of the Davies brothers in particular, as well as some of the other members of the band. Some of the songs have even more meaning when you learn of the stories and details behind them. And it's a tremendous benefit to have a US/UK discography so that there's no doubt what may be missing (if anything) from your Kinks kollection.

What leaps out at me from all of the details is a portrait of tremendously-talented songwriter Ray Davies as a reluctant rock star who may have been happier working in film or the musical theater, and a portrait of tremendously-talented guitar player Dave Davies as a man who wrestled with depression back in the days before anyone took that seriously. It's no wonder they fought a lot.

If you love the best of the British Invasion bands, buy this book. You will be glad you did.

This book is amazing. Trying to get the whereabouts together for a period of 35 years from one of the most erratic bands ever. It took 18 years of researching, collecting data in all corners of the world to get this book done. The Kinks did things on a spur of the moment, unlike The Beatles' or The Rolling Stones' management, who were better organized and as a result the information can be drawn from the source. Information on The Kinks had to be found in numerous archives, libraries and fans' scrapbooks. I think Doug Hinman would have thought twice before starting if you had told him this 20 years ago!
Hinman's book is flooding over with dates, facts and information about The Kinks for a period of 35 years. There are photos in this book that I had never seen before, and I've been through quite a few books on The Kinks.
The best Kinks book in 15 years. No question about it!

My favorite thing on earth is The Kinks....I've read all the other books....THIS RULES!!!!!trust me. MANCOW

this day by day historical look at the kinks' touring and recording dates is thoroughly researched to the best of the author's ability. the book provides interesting and fascinating glimpse into not only the music of the group but also the personalities and attitudes of its members, especially ray davies, one of the greatest lyricists in rock history. the kinks are probably the most underrated of the great british invasion bands, at least on american shores, and certainly one of the most interesting, and this work will give fans and readers hours of enjoyment, as well as inform them about quite a few facts that they didn't previously know.

This is a terrific account of the Kinks history from the early 1960's up to the later 90's. Instead of merely listing set lists from each tour, Doug Hinman researchs and documents exactly what was going on with the Kinks at each point in time. The most famous Ray and Dave Davies fights are included of course, but there is much more to the Kinks than just that. Each year lists the album, singles, how the commercial success or lack of affected the band, the management, the concert crowds, etc. It does not pull any punches in listing dissapointing crowds during many years or concerts that were cancelled for various reasons. Full accounts of interactions with The Beatles, The Who and other bands they've shared bills with are also included. A terrific read for the Kinks fan. I enjoyed it immensly.

Es un libro muy interesante ya que su nombre lo dice lA MANO QUE MECE LA CUNA, desde que nacen los puedes encaminar a ser unos hijos valientes para enfrentar el mundo en que vivimos y este libro le dará buenos consejos para instruir a nuestros hijos. SE LOS RECOMIENDO!

EXTRA CUIDADOSAS CON ESE FUTURO QUE TIENEN EN LA CUNA !
Lleno de tips excelentes y originales A FAVOR DEL BEBÉ !

even if you are not :
A mother
A woman
It's a complete "Owner's Manual "

THAT HELPS MOTHERS TO CARE FOR THEIR BABIES...
My wife is still in love with it and using it..
Yes, Ladies: You are the hand that rocks...the world !

de lo verdadero que es el título de este libro: Somos NOSOTRAS QUIENES REALMENTE EDUCAMOS Y FORMAMOS A LOS HIJOS...Y SERÁN ELLOS Y ELLAS QUIENES MUEVAN AL MUNDO DEL MAÑANA!
El dicho dice bien: "La mano que mece la cuna, MUEVE AL MUNDO ".Nuestros maridos pasan la mayor parte del tiempo fuera, y nuestra valiosísima misión es formar el criterio e infundis en nuestros niños los valores mjorales adecuados...adenmás de cuidar de su bienestar y de que sea una criatura MUY FELIZ...
Y ESTE LIBRO NOS DA ORIENTACIONES VALIOSÍSIMAS PARA CUMPLI CON NUESTRA TAREA COMO MADRES...
No te lo pierdas, amiga.
LO VAN A REDITUAR TUS HIJOS Y EL MUNDO EN GENERAL !

This book is an essential guide for any fan or collector of live Led Zeppelin material. It has lists of shows, set lists,photos and good text. A MUST!

I'm 15 and all I can say is this book is really, really cool/excellent/awesome etc...from pre-zeppelin days to post zeppelin solo projects and the reunions, it's totally comprehensive, I agree wholeheartedly with the other reviewers - it's cool if you have even one Zeppelin Bootleg, and it's also interesting to see what they have to say about the shows the newly released live material was taken from. My dad saw Zeppelin twice so it was cool for him to find his shows.

So if you saw Zeppelin live, have any live recordings whatsoever, or are just curious, I highly recommend this book. It'd be nice if they came out with a new version making note of the material that's come out since it's been released, but even if they don't, I still feel it's a totally complete edition.

For anyone who has a modist size Zeppelin collection of live recordings this book is a must, It has an incredible breakdown of hundreds of shows including track lists and commentary on the play quality as well as remarks on Robert Plants witty comentary between songs. I found myself going back and listening to many of my bootlegs to see how the author's opinion of concerts compared to mine. It was also nice because It helped straighten out some of the songs from the compelation discs I have, correcting the perpatraitors generally incorrect slipsheets and liner notes.

This book is a dream come true for any Zep fan. The set lists and descriptions of every Led Zeppelin performance are great. If you are not sure exactly when or where you saw that Zep concert, this book has the information you need. Loads of pictures of the band, venue posters, backstage passes and more. Looks great on the coffee table too.

Dave Lewis and Simon Pallett have provided readers with a treasure: a look at every known live performance of the world's greatest rock band, Led Zeppelin. The book is full of reports of what, where, and when the band played, how good the concert was, concert facts, and many samples of the wisdom of Robert Plant. They even recommend the best bootlegs, perfect for us die-hard Zepp fans. The authors also include innumerable concert photos, many of which don't appear in other books. Any Zeppelin collection is incomplete without this book.

This novel has so many good points...facinating history, an engrossing plotline, characters that completely draw you in...and a totally horrendous main character that you find yourself drawn to. I loved it!

Barbara Jameson, Houston

I was blown away with this novel and I kept thinking it would be such a great movie. The history and storyline keep you wrapped up in what is going on. I have always been interested in fiction based on fact but I couldn't put it down.
You will find yourself looking for the reasons for what happened and then see it all boil down to one thing.You gotta read this and find out for yourself.
Check it out. You won't be disapointed.

I like true crime and historical novels and this one has it all. It is a terrible story, makes your stomach turn over in places but it is because it is true. Texas is my home state and I have read a lot about it but this novel brings things in that I knew nothing about. The 1920s is also interesting to me and this happened in an area and among people whose lives I knew nothing about. I really, really liked it.

This is one of the best books I have read in a while. It begins with the discovery and details how this man became the killer. My favorite thing about it is you never feel too bad or too good about the man. You loathe what he did, but you can't quite bring yourself to hate him, which is the point of the book. If you like true crime, you'll love this.

This was an excellent novel!!! I am starting it again.
The time period was facinating, the story was excellent,the characters become real to you. Even though I am a voracious reader, it has been a very long time since a book has effected me this much. The fact that it was a true story made it all the more powerful.

I suppose I was always going to say that, having already been converted myself to Louie Louie as "the only rock and roll song you'll ever need" (collected 60+ versions to date). It's just a fascinating journey with so many unexpected twists and turns but the ever present "duh duh duh". And still amazingly relevant today. And funny!

A new preface by the author graces the pages of Louie Louie: The History & Mythology Of The World's Most Famous Rock N Roll Song. While it's hard to see how any song, however famous, could earn an entire book discussion, once you delve into Dave Marsh's Louie Louie, with its intrigue, high drama, and twists and turns, it's hard to see what took so long for the full tale to come to light - and yes, it earns its own book. This new edition provides a new preface by Marsh as it covers the complexities of a song which involved even the FBI.

Okay--truth be told, I bought this book as a joke. This book is no joke. Dave Marsh, an excellent writer, put together a real page-turner. (...)

By following the fate of one song Marsh gives us an excellent feel for how culture operates at a middle scale, somewhere between the micro-scale of individual performances and listenings and the macroscale of decades-long changes in musical styles. If you're interested in "memetics" but tired of empty bloviation about mind viruses and such, read this book and follow one musical meme on its tour of the memesphere.

Half way through this book I knew more about this rock song then I had ever wanted to know and then it kicked in to the history of Paul Revere and the Raiders. I keep on and she what other obscure trivia is to be revealed.

I love the Stones. They are, to me and you, as the comon man would like to say. Me and my lady freind, who like the stone as well, though that my good friend, Mary Lou Regan, who I know was inspried by page number 420 to 422 was a great story. Reading it back to myself brought a tear to eye and will never forget and also not even once would you know that the stories are true. Rock hard and Live Long Stones!!!!

Wonderful! Mrs. Regan captures the essence of The Rolling Stones in her book. Magical!

Marilou worked on this book for several years, and I think her patience, time, and Tender Loving Care shows in this wonderful piece of work. The book contains stories about the Rolling Stones written by fans from all over the world. To go with these interesting stories are photographs that have never published before, and pictures of memorabilia from some of the biggest Stones collectors in the world. From the Sixties to the present, this book is for every die-hard fan of the Rolling Stones. I cannot tell you how many times I have looked at this book. From what I was told, even the Rolling Stones themselves were impressed with this one. It's a must.

This is just a wonderful book. One that is unique in that it is written by the hard core fans of the Rolling Stones and not by some hired gun writing for the Rock Star of the year.

Have you ever sat around with a bunch of old friends reminiscing about the good ole days? Sure you have! This book is not unlike that. It's packed with one great story after another. Not to mention some killer pictures. If your a Stones Fan, or even just a fan of Rock n Roll you must have this book!

.....the graphics, pictorials, and mirage of color blend into one great reading experience. A standing ovation to the Editor, Designer, and all the fans who contributed their experience in words. "caution....do not attempt to read this book without listening to the stones"

Simple man would have been the greatest addition they could have made but as they allow us to try and emulate them - I'm not going to complain.
great book -bought easily for a good price.
thankyou.

I'm a begginner and this book helped me rock my way to the stage. The tab is perfect. Most correct tab i ever read. I started 2 monthes ago and now we started a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band. Our next show is on Jan, 1 at times square New York. See you there.

This is a great tab book. This tablature flows right through the pages into your guitar. Keep up the good work guys!!

This is a damn great guitar tab. Amazin' songs like Free bird and What's your name If you play rock you gotta have it!!

It is a very good book for the guitar beginners that love the Skynyrd music. If you're on the road for a long time, you always can learn something useful with these songs.

A collage and kalidescope of photographs of the one and only Madonna taken over the years. Many looks and messages from the world's biggest icon.

What do you do if you have tons of Madonna pictures?A photo book galore!!!This jewel encompasses her early years,from the wild lion mane,bracelet wearing,Boy Toy,Take it or Leave it era to a more sophisticated,cropped haired,blonde, True Blue til Who's that Girl? incarnations.Photographed in full color,this one's a Fan delight!!!

I bought this book when it first came out in the very early 90's. Madonna looks gorgeous in the photos. All of the photos are beautifully shot and Madonna looks fabulous! I was the biggest Madonna fan back then and loved this book to death. now, pushing 30, I am still in love with this book because the photos are so amazing!

You won't be disappointed! I think the best photo is the one where she's kissing the mirror. Great photographic techniques!

The photographs in this book capture the "glamour" Madonna perfectly. The pictures have a very crisp feel to them, at times verging on remote; Madonna's glamour shots, though largely reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe in this book, do not have the same "inviting" allure that Marilyn had. I suppose this is because it is unmistakable that Madonna is a powerful woman who must always be "in charge" and is in complete control of her career and her image, whereas Marilyn Monroe projected an air of vulnerability for which Madonna is probably without the capacity. But Madonna is still a beautiful and at times "exotic" creature.

Several pictures in this book had previously been published in magazines, the cover shot, for example, was once the cover for Life magazine. Many pictures from that same photo shoot are reproduced here, with the most touching being the "group hug" between Madonna and about seven siblings. A few out-takes from the "Like a Virgin" album cover photo shoot are included in this book as well.

The era of Madonna's career that is covered in this book is somewhat small, considering that she has now been in the public eye for nearly 20 years. All these pictures seem to be from the the years 1984 to 1987.

The book isn't very long and contains very few pages with actual words on it, but I didn't buy it for a story, I bought it for pictures of Madonna. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because it was made near the end of 1987, so it only has pictures and information on Madonna from 1982-87. In the back portion of the book it does however have a short year by year biography on her. The pictures are black and white or colored. Many of them are from her different concerts. The book also includes some information on the earlier movies Madonna starred in such as Who's That Girl? and Shanghi Surprise. There are alot better books on Madonna that you could get, but for the price this is a great book. The pictures are beautiful and it is a welcome addition to my Madonna collection.