Rock The Books

Hi Everyone,I purchaced two of these by accident,but thats o.k..My son is who I purchaced it for and he said it was alright but no good without (TABS) I have no idea what that means,but thats what he said.~Peace Glenna~

There was nothing wrong with the book. I just believed that it would be part biography and part song book. I was wrong. But It did arrive in perfect condition and it arrived fast.

Always great to have the actual lyrics from one of the best song writers. Good for friends guitar playing. Stevie's songs are the best.

This marvellous book is written by Steve Lodder, who is a well established Jazz Pianist in the UK.

The book covers all aspects of Stevie Wonders career from child prodigy in the early 60's to the 21st century. However it primarily looks at the classic albums of the early to mid 70's.

Music of my Mind
Talking Book
Innervisions
Fulfillingness' First Finale
Songs in the Key of Life

These albums are analyized both musically and lyrically in great detail. In truth if you're not a musician some of this may be hard-going. Additionally separate tracks are given their place in various chapters such as Funk, Ballads etc.

Although Steve Lodder is a professional Jazz Pianist, its clear from the time and effort involved that this was a labour of love. His obvious enthusiasm for his subject, and his all round musical knowledge put this on a completely different level to the usual pop biography. So if thats what your after this is the wrong book.

If you've got the albums above already, you probably already know Stevie Wonder is much more talented than "I just called to say I love you" (for which Lodder has some harsh words). Get this book and you will understand why Lodder says at the end that "Stevie Wonder is just an extraordinary musician".

Stevie Wonder deserves to be treated as he is here, an important classic composer. His music from the 1970s will be listened to longer than most of the music that has been produced during our life times. Ignore the author's downplaying of Secret Life of Plants and even Songs in the Key of Life. I don't know what he was thinking there, especially because his insight on Where I'm Coming From through Innervisions is usually right on. I disagree with him, however, when he seems to imply that Stevie would not have made great albums without the production of Margouleff and Cecil. With those songs and his talent, he would have made great albums no matter what. The synthesizers just wouldn't have sounded as great.

Excellent book. It even accounts some of the music theory behind some of Stevie's sublime compositions (chord progession, etc.). Added bonus talks in detail about some of the keyboards (I'm admitted analog synth freak), and inspirations behind some of most ground-breaking, and funky music of all times!!!! A no brainer!!! Just get it!!!!

This book is fun for kids and grown ups. Is beautifly done. It makes a very good present.

Tracy's book, Stone Crazy, is a unique blend of artistic craft and written craft. She has created visual inspiration with her mystical dolls tucked within nature's stones. After reading her book I was hooked and now plan to collect the entire Little Crazy Series. Check out, Shell Crazy, Tree Crazy, Snow Crazy, Coffee Crazy and I am sure others yet to be created!!! Also take time to visit her website www.tracygallup.com where she displays her many dolls and illustrations. Such a fun read, gift and collectible.

Tracy Gallup is a talented and imaginative expert at creating unusual dolls that are quirky, fun, emotionally evocative, and connected to a stone. "Stone Crazy" is a compendium of full color photographic pictures that showcase her handmade figures, each of which is joined with an uncommonly distinctive stone and together - the figure and the rock - create a visual image that gives rise to a series of individualized stories. Each picture is provided a line or two of lyrical commentary that tells a story of that particular image. Also very highly recommended is Tracy Gallup's companion title "Shell Crazy" in which she uses the same figurine story telling process to create doll images joined to all manner of seashells.

John Taylor
Reviewer

Salt. Who would have thought something so simple, so seemingly common (to Americans) could control the world? Can it? Does it? Mark Kurlansky and S.D. Schindler reveal the significant and necessary role of salt in man's history in The Story of Salt, a condensed version of Salt: A World History, Kurlansky's best-seller for adults.

Speaking of canning, the duo show the discovery of canning with airtight, heated jars (p. 38). Just as with the discovery of salt as a preservative, then the next step in salt's progress was canning and frozen foods.

But back to the beginning. That is what the book does: It shows textually and pictorially how seeking sources of salt became essential to the growth of civilizations. As wanderers, men could eat the flesh of animals and get a necessary amount of salt. However, once people formed settlements, they had to go out to find salt sources. In nearly all cases, by-products were discovered: natural gas, secondary foods (cheese, sauerkraut, bacon), international trade, soy sauce, mummies, transporting without spoilage, salt fish, exploration, trade organizations, meatpacking, roads, new industries, independence, and oil drilling. This is a significant list. Each item is featured, illustrated, explained in a delightful manner from one block to a two-page spread of artwork and text.

For example, in Hallein, a Celtic settlement whose name means "saltwork," Celts used salt to preserve the thigh of hog to create ham. A block on the next page (23) shows a preserved Celt (known by their colorful clothing), who had been trapped in a collapsed salt mine around 400 B.C.

Other examples are the trade organizations formed by seacoast countries with cod fishing and inland countries with salt mines, e.g. the English and the Portuguese, the Germans and Italians. Prior to the War for Independence, the colonists traded their Virginia hams for Liverpool's salt. The war forced colonists to find their own salt source, which they did to became independent in more ways than one.

A highly informative text loaded with illustrations, this book could well serve teachers and librarians in web research projects: salt in the middle with all the peripheral products and events spoking outward, with each one assigned to a team or group to research further, then create a powerpoint or other software presentation. Think of the multiple intelligences generated, much as salt generates other things. And certainly not common!

A highly fascinating and recommended book!

A fascinating story accompanied by gorgeous illustrations, author and illustrator manage to convey some very complex and far reaching events in a way that is completely understandable. Lots for anyone to learn and the illustrations are very fine.

A deceptively easy and entertaining read, this book is filled with fascinating information, such as:

Whoever controls the world's salt supply is the superpower (right now it's the US!)

Salt is necessary to the functioning of our bodies--which is part of why early humans ate meat (and why we still crave salty pretzels).

Roads in many places in America wind so much because of the meanderings of animals in search of salt.

The research seems thorough (not my area of expertise but it has the ring of truth to it) and the facts are well-presented. Nice illustrations, too.

I was initially put off by the title "The Story of Salt"--yikes, that sounded dull. And in the hands of someone else it might have been. This is such an enjoyable read I'll be looking for anything else by this author.

I loved this book! The author's writing style is evocative without being overwrought, and the story is engaging and accessible. It's not a long book, but a very satisfying read. Highly recommended!

This debut novel from Arthur Edwards, former bassist for the band The Refreshments, chronicles the dream of every future/never-to-be rock star: to escape suburbia and go on tour -- preferably in an over-sized, airbrushed bus.

Short but sweet, the pages flip quickly. Will Hote, Mr. Edwards' main character, escape Phoenix for Seattle, the land of his rock dreams? Or will he forever be stuck in the firing kiln of Phoenix, its concrete slabs extending as far as the eye can see?

Arthur Edwards does for music what Tom Clancey does for warfare; he writes an in depth technical novel about the inner workings of Phoenix's musical scene during the early '90's.
The main character, Hote, is the embodiment of the agnst and inner turmoil that was the hallmark of a young Generation X; following him for the three days he is stuck outside of Phoenix is as personal as rereading old journals from the same era. This book is so well-written I could hear Nirvana playing in the background and smell patchouli oil as I turned the pages.

After hearing a recent NPR interview with the author I ordered Taboo Tunes and have been totally charmed by it. Music censorship is an issue that has always interested me, and I've read and enjoyed a few others books about the topic -- including Eric Nuzum's good contribution from a few years back -- but there is just no doubt that Blecha's book shines. He brings to the table a distinct voice, an eye for meaningful detail, a background as a professional music historian and museum curator, but also a sense of fun. The author explicates the deep historical background of the music (and musicians) who have faced scorn for producing challenging music or lyrics, and he accomplishes this in a witty (if occasionally sarcastic) way that will attract even those who don't usually gravitate to history books. Because it was written with obvious commitment to rigorous scholarly standards (the Source and Reference citations run to 15 long pages) the book includes info about hundreds of controversial songs that, to my knowledge, haven't been documented in any one other place. The inclusion of many photographs of censored album covers and vintage sheet music spices up the book visually, but what keeps you reading is the "tongue in cheek" (and sometimes "laugh out loud") humor of the author. I'll view Taboo as a most unusual case of a masterful research effort that has resulted in a remarkably fun summer read.

...I would like to offer a review of "Taboo Tunes" and also weigh in on the impossibly contradictory reviews posted here by other reviewers. I have now had a chance to read this book and "Parental Advisory" (another book about music censorship, as referenced in those reviews). First of all: both books are worthwhile and have their own merits. However, some of the snarky attacks on "Taboo Tunes" by "A Reader" are downright untrue and ought to be addressed for the sake of Amazon.com customers. Let's examine the points raised: Yes, "Parental Advisory" was published first. And, it was a fine book that covered a lot of the topic's basics (though its format - narrative first, and then restating all that information a second time by presenting it in a chronological time-line form makes the book repetitive and exactly twice the length it needed to be). But the notion that "Taboo Tunes" used Nuzum's book as its "one source" of information, is flatly false. Blecha's book covers far more historical ground, a fact that puts the lie to the statement that "Parental Advisory" is "much more thorough and conprehensive" (sic). While Eric Nuzum devoted much more attention to the one historic incident of Tipper Gore's mid-1980s PMRC crusade, Peter Blecha covers that period as well and goes much further in documenting the deeper history of censorship over the centuries and around the globe. Regarding that undeniably superior breadth of story-telling, "A Reader" misleads again by posting the quip that "Taboo Tunes" includes "a few things" that Nuzum "missed or chose not to include." Well, that's putting it lightly: In fact, "Taboo Tunes" - which does share 4 out of 90 photo images with "Parental Advisory" - was published four full years later, and so it includes plenty of information that Nuzum was simply not in the position to cover in his book. "Taboo Tunes" digs deeper into the history, and also succeeds in bringing that history up to current times. "Parental Advisory" was a commendable introduction to the topic, but as a professional historian and writer, Blecha has the skills to frame the big picture in a form that is compelling and up to date. In sum, "A Reader's" review amounts to an unfair attack, an inaccurate analysis, and a bit of naked propaganda that does Amazon.com customers a disservice through its not-so-hidden agenda.

Taboo Tunes is not the first book ever published on music censorship, but FINALLY we get one written with skill, serious spunk, attitude, and flair. The author lays out the basics of what arts-censorship is, the deep history of the practice as a socio-political tool of the powerful, a brief survey of modern-day censorship in a global context, and then gets down to business: relating the story of censorship in America. Written in a humorous, fun, and wickedly wild style, Taboo Tunes' author sure knows what he's talking about. From the banning of early dance steps like the Waltz and Tango nearly a century ago, to radio bans on early jazz, rock `n' roll, and hip-hop, this book covers a lot of ground at a good lively clip. Nothing is over-looked: I almost died laughing while reading this telling of the FBI's silly investigation of the Kingsmen's "Louie Louie" -- and nearly wept reading how the Nazi's suppressed the German jazz and classical scenes - and how America's government harassed artists like Billie Holiday, paul Robeson, and Woody Guthrie. Tipper Gore gets no mercy for her role in the 1980's PMRC incidents just as Nixon is excoriated for letting the FBI harass John Lennon, Jim Morrison, and other musicians with a political bent. Taboo Tunes makes clear exactly what happened during the Ice-T "Cop Killer" scandal in the `90s, and distills into entertaining form all the uproars in recent years over record "Warning Labels," satanic "back-masking," radio payola, censored album jackets, banned MTV videos, and controversial artists like Madonna, Rage Against The Machine, and the Dixie Chicks. Speaking of which: perhaps the book's strongest point is the even-handed way it presents the history of political dissent (in song) and the amazing things that have happened to various bands who have spoken out against war since 9/11. Scary stuff! Just raced through the book and can't imagine a finer telling of all this history of sex, drugs, dissent, and, yes, Rock N Roll. I'm going to read it again. Right now. Highly Recommended!

Outstanding and most complete description of most important subjects in relation with the teaching of gynecological surgery, ideal for medical students and residents. Specially important, there is a chapter on ethics and gynecological surgery.

This book is very useful for my gynecologic surgery learning period and just like a friendly teacher on my hand !!!
Young-Chan Lee

There are at least two texts that are considered "the authority" for internal medicine. The same for Obstetrics.

For Gyn surgery there is only one, and this is it. Te Linde's is so far ahead of any competitors that all Gynecologists I know consider any other texts to be useful only as supplements to Te Linde's.

It is also written in an easy to follow style - not as dry as many medical texts, and it is exhaustively complete. It would be worth the price (for a Gyn Surgeon) if only for the portions dealing with hysterectomy and surgical treatment of cystocele and stress urinary incontinence.

An excellent book. Really top quality information regarding a band that keeps much to its own privacy. Must have taken a lot of research and time to produce. I reccomend to everyone!

Mr. Falkers book had me in stiches. Now I can impress my friends, the Side Hill Dutchmen, with my knowledge of Dead trivia. The cover art work was also impressive.

Mr. Falker has assembled a light hearted look at the life and times of the Grateful Dead. With an amusing intoduction+ and accurate concise and humerous text.reading for deadheads and Trivphreaks alikee. The book appears to have been finished and published just prioor to the Demise of the Bands Lead Guitarist+ and so it will always be a full hlife history of this most unusual Band. Congratulations for job well done Mr.Falker. Ogri ;)

This Book Was In Perfect Condition And Will Help Me A Great Deal Thank You Very Much!

I had never really heard much Tenacious D apart from Tribute on the radio. I went to see them when they came to Christchurch New Zealand and was blown away. This was actually a present for a fellow guitar player but of what I saw, it was very good.

This is all of their songs (not the skits) off their debut album, transcribed in full guitar tab with vocals. There is some very good guitar playing on this record so very highly recommended!!!

This book is awesome. I love Jack Black he's so damn funny. Tenacious D is no different. I've always loved their music and I just recently started playing guitar so I bought this book. It's pretty easy, but I still can't transition that fast so it's still a little difficult for me. Other than that this book rules.

This is a wonderful book, with a wealth of information, and very clearly written. I regret having overlooked it for several years. It also contains many worked examples, from a large variety of references.

Product came in great condition. Invaluable resource for the study of poromechanics or biphasic constitutive theories.

This book is one of the most useful I have come across in recent years. Poroelasticity is a challenging field, but rewarding to those who make the effort to study it. Wang does an excellent job, leading the reader from basic principles to a detailed understanding-with this book you can leapfrog dozens of more arcane works and get to grips with real problems. Yet, if you need the detail, a wide range of previous works are referenced, and put into historical perspective: a true work of synthesis. I hope this book will stimulate more Earth Scientists and Engineers to follow Wang's lead. Figures are as admirably clear as the writing. Only spoiled by the drab cover! This book covers quasi-static poroelasticity theory-consolidation and so on.
Now all we need is for someone brave to do the same job on dynamic poroelasticity!