Television Books

Back when there was little else written about Star Trek, before David Gerrold's great "World of Star Trek" analysis or Franz Joseph's blueprints, "The Making of Star Trek" was the ultimate. I devoured it as a boy in the early '70s. To this day I don't think anyone can consider themselves a true original series die-hard without having read this book. It really does take you inside the making of the show, but keeps it on a professional level, without salaciousness. That's because the book wasn't written as something for the few Star Trek fans that were known of then, but as a book about how to write for TV, as older printings stated on the cover. That does leave some things out, but those details have been covered since by other books and memoirs.

Since this was written while the series was in production, it's a good view into how people felt then, even refreshing because Trek had yet to become a pop culture colossus, so the book doesn't have any of that built-in reverence. They were making a good TV show that aspired to be something better than most everything else on then, but in the end it was considered just another TV job, certainly not anything that would become legendary.

For instance, "The Defenders," one of the highest praised, most thoughtful and well-written dramas of the '60s, is scarecely remembered by anyone not old enough to have seen it. Part of the issue with that series had to do with rerun-rights issues, but another part had to do with the times then, when TV was still rather young, and shows were thought of as rather disposable, coming and going without much of an afterlife except for "Lucy" and "Honeymooners" reruns. When you think of it in that context, it's easy to see why Gene Roddenberry bailed on Star Trek after it became clear NBC was out to kill it, even though the letter campaign forced them to bring it back for a third year.

The pics and blueprints within the book are cool but may not be as impressive today. At least the blueprints, while not "accurate" by today's standards, were drawn by Matt Jefferies himself. Remember, though, for a long time this was all the reference stuff available. However, if you want what is still a good insider's look into the making of the show, plus Gene Roddenberry's take before even he got sucked into the myth, this is a must-read.

hey Spouk

the capitalization of quotes from Roddenberry (aka the Great Bird of the Galazy) give one "the bizarre impression that he is a god" because for the series, he was :-)

i have a copy of the original publication, read it then and howled, still think it is a great read.

BTW Terry Pratchett uses the same literary device of all caps for Death, in the Discworld series.

Harlan Ellison's memories of the show are fascinating reading as well. As are David Gerrold's.

I read this in the Seventies and thoroughly enjoyed it. Now I've bought it again and enjoyed it all over again. Fascinating behind-the-scenes look at TOS. You have to read this book to understand what a groundbreaking series Star Trek was. You also learn how grueling a TV series is to work on. This book is fascinating, and sometimes hilarious!

This is a classic. It is the first book of its kind, and probably the first book about Star Trek at all. But The Making of Star Trek is much more than any of the later books with similar names. This book doesn't idealize or simplify the making of the series. It doesn't enthusiastically praise everything and everyone involved in its production. It is an authentic and meticulous report on how TOS in particular and a TV series in general comes to life. It shows that it is a process of try and error, that aspects have to be taken into account the viewers wouldn't think of, and that the responsible persons don't always know exactly what they want ("I need some device that does something...").

The story how Stephen E. Whitfield (aka Stephen E. Poe) asked Gene Roddenberry if he could write a book about the series sounds like a fairy tale, but is true. The Great Bird was very forthcoming, and Whitfield was granted access to everything behind the scenes of the still running show, seemingly without any restriction. The book shows production schedules, budgets, private notes, script drafts, production sketches, all things that are usually kept secret or simplified for a larger public. I don't think that something like this would be still possible today. Compared to The Making of Star Trek, Whitfield's last book (he passed away in 2000) on Voyager seems rather superficial.

The Making of Star Trek may be over 30 years old, but it is of more than only historical value. It demonstrates that TV is a business that sometimes doesn't allow technical or artistic perfection. It also shows how many things we may take for granted and that are essential parts of the Star Trek Universe today have taken a rather surprising course change. Who would like Vulcans with names like "Spook, Spork, Splak, ..." as frequently suggested in the early days, or who would think that one race was originally described with the words, "Honor is a despicable trait.", namely the Klingons?

There are probably loads of 'Making of Star Trek' books out there, but this is particularly interesting as it was written in 1968, between the second and third series, before the show had become a phenomenon. Which is odd at first - everything is in the present tense, and there's nothing about the cultural impact of the show because that was all in the future. Doubly odd is the fact that all of the many quotes from Gene Roddenberry are reported IN BLOCK CAPITALS, giving the bizarre impression that he is not a television producer, but God Himself.

It's extremely detailed, and is as much about the making of any TV late-60s series as it is 'Star Trek'. There are bits from shooting scripts, set plans, photographs of noted theatre actor William Shatner in old-age makeup (looking nothing like he looks in genuine old age), profiles of production staff, and programme budgets which, translated dollar-for-dollar, would just about cover the catering bill on 'Star Trek : The Next Generation'. It's worth it for the stream of memos about Vulcan names alone.

Mark Kistler's books are wonderful, entertaining books that canteach anyone (of any age) how to draw! I bought his books for my sons,and I quickly became a devoted fan and an avid drawing maniac myself! The book is packed with pages of fun drawings, as well as 'story starters' in which kids are asked to complete the story. Mark's enthusiasm for drawing and story-telling just bubbles up out of the pages of this book. As a mom, I appreciate his encouragement for kids to watch less tv, say NO to violent video games and drugs, and to expand their brain power by getting involved in art. This book is a 'must have' for all teachers and parents who would like to see their kids motivated to express their creativity and feel good about their drawing ability.

While aimed at kids, this is a great place to start at any age. If you have been looking at other drawing books, and the books you have seen before only make it harder, your search is over. Mark makes it easy for anyone at any age to get basic drawing skills, the building blocks you need to get started. He teaches the skills that other books make seem complex, without the stress or making it go over your head. His way of teaching is simply the easiest method a person can have to start drawing. And if the books are good, his old show on PBS and his videos are even better. Mark makes drawing so fun kids beg to use the book again and again. He does not start by intimidating you with the completed project, in fact you don't always know what you are drawing until you are done. He takes you one line, circle, or square at a time and before you know it you have a fun drawing. I also reccommend you try the books from Ed Emberly, or check my lists on Amazon for kids that want to learn to draw, or be a cartoonist or animator.

If you think you stink at drawing, think again! Mark Kistler shows you how, step by step, to draw pictures that really look like something and tell a story besides!

I bought this book to relearn how to draw properly. While the book is directed at a young audience, adults-at-heart like me will benefit from the drawing principles such as foreshortening, placement, size, overlapping, shading and shadowing, contour and horizon (plus 1 and 2 point perspectives). My disappointments were that a few later lessons repeat previous lessons and that it uses blank pages after each lesson for you to practice on. I suggest you use a separate sheet of paper to do this so you can pass this book to your kids and their kids and so on and so forth. Despite these, I still rate it 5 stars.

I can now draw simple everyday objects both as cartoons and as realistically as I can. They're not professional quality yet, the book recommends daily practice until they are and that's exactly what I'm doing.

This isn't the only book you should buy though if you want to draw artistically. In my case, I'd like to draw comics-style characters and objects so I can move on to animating them later. I got Tom Alvarez's "How to Create Action, Fantasy and Adventure Comics" (separately reviewed) which is also an excellent how-to book.

Mark Kistler's books are EXCELLENT for anyone who want to learn to draw. The layout of the book is fun easy to follow. Although it is geared toward children it is appropriate for a beginner adult. It starts with simple concepts and gradually builds on what you've already learned. Anyone at any age will be impressed by what you will be drawing in a short amount of time. I bought this book for my children and was so impressed , I started drawing myself. My children love this book and so do I.

I have been saying this for a few months: "Memento" is my favorite movie. As soon as I found out that you could buy the screenplay for the movie, I knew that I had to have it. Normally, I wouldn't care to see the screenplay for many movies, but this was a very big exception. I loved the movie so much that I wanted to see how it looked on paper.

A little warning: The script is NOT word for word to the movie. Some parts are different in many ways. The order of events are a little different and a lot of good lines that were in the movie were not included in the screenplay. Is this a bad thing? OF COURSE NOT! In fact, it was a great surprise. This was what the movie was going to eventually lead up to looking like. It was a rough layout of what could happen in what order. Of course, things change when you're filming the movie. Certain scenes are changed or cut out, lines are either trimmed or dramatically changed, and so on. The story in no way is changed and the resolution is still very much the same as the movie. The point is that it's fascinating to see how the script developed into the finished product, which is a masterpiece of a film that should go down as one of the greatest films in history. I loved reading the screenplay, and it makes me admire how the film turned out in the end even more.

Another movie that is included in this wonderful book, a movie you might have never even heard of, is "Following." This script was a little more similar to the movie in most parts than "Memento" was. I also enjoyed reading that part of the book. I have seen the movie before hand, so I kind of knew what I was in for. Again, this screenplay is filled with sharp and witty dialogue and life-shattering consequences that won't appear visible until the shocking conclusion.

Another cool feature of this book is that it includes an interview with Christopher Nolan and one of the stars from "Following." It also includes some photos from both movies and how the idea for "Memento" came about.

Christopher Nolan has a talent when it comes to forcing characters to face severe consequences and ugly truths, as well as coming up with great dialogue that can only be created by a pro. He can also manipulate time and make it confusing for us as well as for his characters. If you have seen the movie or movies, get this book as soon as you can. I recommend that you see them first, then read the book. All in all, this was a terrific read and I look forward into reading it again and again.

I haven't read the "Following" half of this two-screenplays-in-one book yet--that'll have to wait until I manage to find the movie itself--but it's well worth the price just for the "Memento" half, assuming you're a fan of said movie. The slight differences between this screenplay and the finished movie provide one with both a clearer understanding of Nolan's intentions, and an appreciation of what fortuitous circumstances had to come together to result in such a perfect end-product: this brilliant screenplay (which I can sit and read and imagine being performed by utterly unsuitable actors, dream who'd have been the most ill-chosen director), ideal actors and director, fantastically fitting sets and cinematography, music, and so on.

I picked up this book after seeing Memento and while waiting for it to be released on DVD. All I can say is that I enjoyed it just as much as watching the movie. Don't skip over Following to get to it though. It is just as engaging as Memento and you can catch a preview of it on the Memento DVD. Also, don't let the fact that these are screenplays deter you from making this purchase. If you are a true Christopher Nolan fan, this is the book for you.

I thought MEMENTO was good, not great, and pretty much forgot about it right after seeing it. Someone bought me this book a while back and I just got around to reading it.

I have to say, I have a new found respect for Christopher Nolan and will another look at MEMENTO. These are two excellent screenplays that go well beyond experimentation in narrative structure to tell two solid (almost old-school film noir) stories.

I'll start with FOLLOWING, which I've never seen. It's a twisty little number about a would-be writer who likes to follow people. The writer makes the mistake of following a cat burglar one day and gets sucked into his world. The timeline is fractured, but it's a compelling read all the way through, and a great example of no-fat, pure-story screenwriting.

MEMENTO, for anyone who doesn't know, is a story told backwards to mimic the disability of the central protagonist, who is incapable of making new memories. It's a mystery told in reverse, not unlike the structure of OEDIPUS REX (think about it) albeit without patricide or incest. Ultimately what I got out of it by reading it not seeing it is the fun of trying to figure out the story, of using clues to work backwards to causes. Without the extraneous visual information of a film, the naked story on the page seemed to accumulate greater dramatic force. Since it was a while since I saw the movie, I found myself wondering what was going to happen next (i.e. before) -- it was the gripping mystery experience many people had who first acclaimed the film.

Even though the stories aren't told in a linear fashion, for aspiring writers this book is worth looking at for more than structure. This is quality writing. The stories are lean and full of metaphysical implications (in the least pretentious sense). Good stories, well told.

The book also includes an interesting interview about the making of FOLLOWING and a less interesting "piece" about MEMENTO's conception, which is just two juxtaposed paragraphs of Chris and his brother Jonah's conflicting memories (get it?). They are icing on the cake of what has to be one of my favorite recent Faber screenplay releases. 5/5 stars

In a conversation with a friend of mine a while back, he told me he didn't understand why people liked "Memento" so much, he said all the film had was a "gimmick."

To which I replied, "it may be a gimmick, but YOU try writing a script with a gimmick like that."

The "gimmick" is the non-linear progression of the story that Christopher Nolan uses in both of the scripts in this book, "Memento" and "Following." It's an experimental style of storytelling, to be certain, but it's a successful experiment. Both scripts, "Memento" in particular, show events not in the order they happen, but in the order of importance, and it's a brilliant way to tell the story. Nolan's a magnificent screenwriter -- can't wait for his next one.

The book is great.It gives really all the information about Michael Jackson for his fans.This book should be in every Michael Jackson fans' home to look back for his story.

i really dug this book on The KIng Of Pop.Adrian Grant has done great stuff on MIchael.this book gives dates of his Writting&Production and ALbums released.also Concerts.very well in depth Profile on THE Man.getting this book helped me get songs that he did for others oe sung on.MICHAEL JACKSON is STILL THE BADDEST ARTIST ALIVE TODAY.nobody can count MJ out.

I thought this book was absolutely wonderful. I have loved Michael Jackson all my life and this book helps people like me know more about what he went through. I thought the book was great and also I think MJ is the greatest.

This is the best book that was ever published about Michael Jackson. It is informative, accurate, well written and gives the world a very wonderful insight into Michael and his achievements. Adrian Grant has done it again!

I have just had the book 2day , Its great , its really worthy , If you like the man , you have hundreads of pictures inside , they are all great , the book tells the story of MJ day by day , from the day he was born till 1997 , everything you wanna know about michael , you will have it here...

I think that this is one of the better Sabrina novels. It is fairly long, which makes for a thrilling page-by-page story. After a short introduction (roughly 20 pages) you get to the different sections. What happens is that The Great Clock of the Other Realm is wearing out and it will stop at midnight! If that happens, then magic will cease to exist. While the Witches Council tries to repair the clock, Sabrina knows that she must build a new one. And so, with the help of Salem, she travels through time to the 12 most important events in history. She meets many people like Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth. The reasons for this rating is because of how Nancy Holder puts a time limit on Sabrina's quest which make the story more exciting and for it's great plot and suspenseful mini-stories through out the book. Overall, this is a great book that should be bought by everyone!

I think that this book was exellent to have 12 short stories about Sabrina and Salem going back in time trying to find the magical moments in them. While all the other witches are fretting and trying to fix it, Sabrina builds a new one! Oh So Tottally Cool!

i loved this book! The excitment about if Sabrina will get to make the new clack was intense! The twlve short stories were different, so they were really fun to read. I think even the beginning is already totally interesting, so you are automatically pulled right into the plot. GREAT BOOK!

This was actually quite good for a Sabrina novel. I enjoy them long, and this one was long enough. It starts out when Sabrina discovers that the Great Clock in the Other Realm is going haywire and that if it breaks down at midnight on New Years Eve, witchs all around could loose their powers for good. Frantically, the witch's council tries to fix it, but Sabrina decides to build a new one instead. To do that, she has to travel to 12 magical times in history. I won't mention them all, but I really liked the part where she went back into colonial times and when she met Queen Elizabeth, even though it only lasted a page. Buy this book. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Millennium Madness was one of the best. The twelve short stories were a really good idea. The things that she collected to build a new clock was cool to. You should definitely read this book!

DJ's and Chowder's life was simple. They woke up, had breakfast, went to school, came home, ate dinner and did homework. But DJ had better things to do than homework. Across the street from him was a shattered, non-painted old house. And in it was an old man know as Mr. Nebbercraker. One day DJ and Chowder where spying on Mr. Nebbercraker when a girl named Jenny came into the scene. She was about their age and was pulling a red wagon full of cookie boxes. She was probably selling them as a fundraiser for her school. She walked up to Mr. Nebbercraker's door and was about to ring the doorbell when DJ and Chowder came running down after her screaming not to. As she rang the doorbell a low echoing sound that seemed to go miles into the center of the earth boomed and the two large parallel windows above her turn bright red and turned into a pair of evil red glowing eyes. The door swung open and razor sharp shards of wood came out of the top and bottom of it, and then the rug leading to the back of the house turned into a tongue and soon it looked much like a face. All of the sudden the walkway to Mr.Nebbercraker's front door turned into an inclined plane and then Jenny started to almost roll down right to the razor sharp teeth. Just as she was about to be devoured by this "monster house" DJ and Chowder caught her and ran back across the street and back to their room. Of course Jenny was stunned and knew they had to stop this evil house. Ever since that day DJ watches Mr. Nebbercraker's house to get some proof that this house is... ALIVE! But Halloween was coming up and all of the people that trick-or-treated Mr.Nebbercraker's house will be eaten. So begins a battle of three kids and a living house nightmare!





Opinion
Monster House was a fun and entertaining book about three kids and a living nightmare. I recommend Monster House for people who like suspenseful, action scenes. It was a very good book, and every night I was tempted to read more and more of it. It was just like I was watching the movie right in my bed!

DJ's and Chowder's life was simple. They woke up, had breakfast, went to school, came home, ate dinner and did homework. But DJ had better things to do than homework. Across the street from him was a shattered, non-painted old house. And in it was an old man know as Mr. Nebbercraker. One day DJ and Chowder where spying on Mr. Nebbercraker when a girl named Jenny came into the scene. She was about their age and was pulling a red wagon full of cookie boxes. She was probably selling them as a fundraiser for her school. She walked up to Mr. Nebbercraker's door and was about to ring the doorbell when DJ and Chowder came running down after her screaming not to. As she rang the doorbell a low echoing sound that seemed to go miles into the center of the earth boomed and the two large parallel windows above her turn bright red and turned into a pair of evil red glowing eyes. The door swung open and razor sharp shards of wood came out of the top and bottom of it, and then the rug leading to the back of the house turned into a tongue and soon it looked much like a face. All of the sudden the walkway to Mr.Nebbercraker's front door turned into an inclined plane and then Jenny started to almost roll down right to the razor sharp teeth. Just as she was about to be devoured by this "monster house" DJ and Chowder caught her and ran back across the street and back to their room. Of course Jenny was stunned and knew they had to stop this evil house. Ever since that day DJ watches Mr. Nebbercraker's house to get some proof that this house is... ALIVE! But Halloween was coming up and all of the people that trick-or-treated Mr.Nebbercraker's house will be eaten. So begins a battle of three kids and a living house nightmare!





Opinion
Monster House was a fun and entertaining book about three kids and a living nightmare. I recommend Monster House for people who like suspenseful, action scenes. It was a very good book, and every night I was tempted to read more and more of it. It was just like I was watching the movie right in my bed!

I read the book "Monster House", adapted by Tom Hughes. This story takes place in a neighborhood in the town of Mayville. A kid named DJ knew something was wrong with the house across the street. The house was alive and would eat anything or anyone that stepped on its lawn. When the house came alive, the front door was its mouth, the porch was its teeth, the foyer rug was its tounge, the upstairs windows were its eyes, and the trees on the side of the house were its arms. The biggest problem was DJ and his friends were the only ones that could see the house alive. DJ and his friends, Chowder and Jenny, were going to spy on the house and find out what was going on with it. They also wanted to find out why the house became alive after its owner, Mr. Nebbercracker disappeared. After spying on the house with their telescope, the 3 friends realized that the house was really alive and the furnace was the heart and soul of the house that kept it alive. The friends made a plan to get inside the house and put out the fire in its furnace.
The three friends went onto the lawn and up to the house. When the house "woke up" it stared to chase them. DJ, Chowder, and Jenny ran down the street and the house chased after them. They led the house to the back of the neighborhood to a construction sight they called "The Danger Zone". While the house chased the kids, Mr. Nebbercracker showed up. He had been sick and was at the hospital. Mr. Nebbercracker was trying to calm the house down. DJ finally climbed to the top of a crane and dropped dynamite into the house's chimney. The house exploded and destroyed the furnace. While the house was burning, the kids and Mr. Nebbercracker saw a spirit floating up from the ashes. It was Mr. Nebbercracker's wife, Constance, who had died years before. Her spirit was trapped in the house and when Mr. Nebbercracker went to the hospital, she thought that he had died and left her alone. She was released when the kids destroyed the house. Mr. and Mrs. Nebbercracker were able to say good-bye and Mrs. Nebbercracker's spirit was finally free.
I loved this book because its details. The description of the house was great. I could actually envision the house in my mind. I also loved the suspense.

I read the book "Monster House", adapted by Tom Hughes. This story takes place in a neighborhood in the town of Mayville. A kid named DJ knew something was wrong with the house across the street. The house was alive and would eat anything or anyone that stepped on its lawn. When the house came alive, the front door was its mouth, the porch was its teeth, the foyer rug was its tounge, the upstairs windows were its eyes, and the trees on the side of the house were its arms. The biggest problem was DJ and his friends were the only ones that could see the house alive. DJ and his friends, Chowder and Jenny, were going to spy on the house and find out what was going on with it. They also wanted to find out why the house became alive after its owner, Mr. Nebbercracker disappeared. After spying on the house with their telescope, the 3 friends realized that the house was really alive and the furnace was the heart and soul of the house that kept it alive. The friends made a plan to get inside the house and put out the fire in its furnace.
The three friends went onto the lawn and up to the house. When the house "woke up" it stared to chase them. DJ, Chowder, and Jenny ran down the street and the house chased after them. They led the house to the back of the neighborhood to a construction sight they called "The Danger Zone". While the house chased the kids, Mr. Nebbercracker showed up. He had been sick and was at the hospital. Mr. Nebbercracker was trying to calm the house down. DJ finally climbed to the top of a crane and dropped dynamite into the house's chimney. The house exploded and destroyed the furnace. While the house was burning, the kids and Mr. Nebbercracker saw a spirit floating up from the ashes. It was Mr. Nebbercracker's wife, Constance, who had died years before. Her spirit was trapped in the house and when Mr. Nebbercracker went to the hospital, she thought that he had died and left her alone. She was released when the kids destroyed the house. Mr. and Mrs. Nebbercracker were able to say good-bye and Mrs. Nebbercracker's spirit was finally free.
I loved this book because its details. The description of the house was great. I could actually envision the house in my mind. I also loved the suspense.

The book Monster House is really cool, it's all about these three children spy on the house next door. The house is alive and lots of things happen to the kids, if you want to know you could read the book. There are three main characters, they are DJ, Chawder, and Jenny. If you like action books you will like this. The book is not really scary. The auther is Simon Spotlight. Good work Simon! I hope you like it.

To begin with, several adjectives to describe this wonderful book: 1.) candid, 2.) inspiring, 3.) poetic, 4.) instructional, 5.) spiritual, 6.) humanitarian, 7.) humorous, 8.) compassionate, 9.) courageous. From what I gather, it took Capra approximately three years to write this book, and what book it is. To be honest, this book is perhaps one of the best pieces of work we might ever have about the legendary director, the course of the twentieth century, and the people who have helped shape the film industry. This book demystifies the often deified directors, actors, moguls that ruled Hollywood during the golden age, reminding us of the universal bonds of humanity that link us all to each other. In many ways, it reads like a Frank Capra movie -- life-affirming to the end. For the younger generation (X'ers and Y'ers) who might question the values of their fathers' generation, this book is a must read. Underline this fact several times because when Capra takes you into his fold and shares his world, it is an experience you won't likely forget. Most history books seem to be written with a detached sense of objectivity from an supposedly impartial historian. The results of such labor is often an uninspiring book that keeps the reader at arm's length from the fascinating history, often boring the reader to no end. No so with Capra's autobiography. Capra reminds the reader that people are still simply people, no matter what generation, no matter which occupation. There are always going to be saints, martyrs, bullies, intellectuals, clowns, idiots in every walk of life. Such an example can be seen when Capra served in World War II and was privy to a touching moment with the great Admiral Nimitz. The old war hero had just come back from seeing three thousand men he had sent off to war -- some of them now without limbs, others without faces, yet all of them saluting him and thanking him from the bottom of their hearts. Nimitz broke down and wept, his shoulders so burdened by the sadness of his men's suffering. Hitting his desk over and over again the Admiral cursed the war with ever fiber in his being. After a brief moment to recompose himself Nimitz thanked Capra for being in the same room... allowing one tortured soul to connect and draw strength from another. Personally, it is easy to find yourself laughing when he laughs and crying when he cries. Like all classic works of literature, this book is so fresh in content, that it inspires the reader to look into his/her own heart and find the beating pulse of humanity and to take pride in the fact that one such as Capra was able to do so much through his films. I look forward to reading this book again and again. And perhaps, others will agree and do likewise.

Frank Capra's superb autobiography provides loads of fascinating information about the film industry during a thriving period, when he was one of filmdom's most popular and successful figures, as well as about the mindset of this intriguing man of accomplishment. What is refreshing, along with his basic candor, is that despite his enormous success he retains a humble and highly humane touch.

Some of the most humorous anecdotes of "Name Above the Title" involve madcap, always colorful Columbia boss Harry Cohn, who took his Gower Street studio from the ranks of "Poverty Row" to the that of a giant. Capra helped significantly with box office smashes such as "It Happened One Night", "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington","Lost Horizon" and "Meet John Doe." It took awhile, but the Capra film which has soared to top spot in the hearts and minds of the public was the 1946 release starring Jimmy Stewart, "It's a Wonderful Life." The star was so enthused about the story that he pitched it personally to Capra after driving over to his house. Capra relates the time that he begged Cohn not to drop a struggling young cartoonist from the Columbia payroll, predicting that he would be sorry. Capra was right as the cartoonist was a young, meek Iowa farm boy named Walt Disney.

One of Capra's great contributions was directing and producing the excellent World War Two documentary series "Why We Fight." He tells about being called into the office of Army Chief of Staff, General George C. Marshall, who asked him to undertake the project. "But I've never done a documentary!" a surprised Capra replied. Marshall pointed out that he had never run an army before either, and that the American way during the critical war period was for citizens to learn jobs with which they were previously unfamiliar. Capra saw Marshall's logic and the rest is history.

This autobiography is fascinating enough for the interesting information about Capra's life. What makes it even better is that you are reading the revelations of a good man who did his best to instill positive values into his films, and to help in his distinctive way to make America a better country.

I have read many, many books on Hollywood and auto/biographies in general and this book ranks as one of the best ever. It is a very entertaining book that doubles as a great history of Hollywood through its golden age. Capra interacted with Hollywood's legends and reports in a funny, candid and emotional way his dealings with the likes of Harry Cohn, Sinatra, Disney, Monroe and many more stars of the thirties and forties. Do not think the book is dated: yes, some of the names are meaningless to us today but the perspetive and lessons contained in every single page are timeless. this book tells you better than any others how movies are made or should be made...

I cannot figure out which is more amazing and inspiring: the man, his films, his life or his autobiography.
Every autobiography will pale in comparison after you read this one. Frank's book should come with a
warning that he will open your mind, transform your relationship with films, and ultimatley find a place of permanent endearing love in your heart! Friends don't let friends go into the Light, without reading this book,
as I am sure, it is required reading in Heaven!

Frank's biggest fan, Vaishali, author of "You Are What You Love."

From the opening chapter which describes the incredible saga of how this man (as a young child) and his poor Sicilian family managed to come to America, to the end of his inspiring life and his brilliant career when he suffered cluster headaches so severe he could barely function, but kept his head up, this book captivated me. Capra exemplifies the American Dream, where a poor immigrant can become anything he sets his mind to be. Especially significant is his pure and honest soul. This book is SO inspiring.

It tells alittle bit about the history of Nirvana but its mostly about the making of Nevermind and about the songs. Its pretty good.

This book gives an excellent account of what led to the great CD we now know as Nevermind. It briefly describes Nirvana's rise to stardom and gives a glimpse into the personalities of the members, but is at its best in describing how the actual production of the album went. Using numerous sources, the author lets us listen to Nevermind in a completely different way. The only downside is that it is a relatively short work, and I left wanting more

This is an excellent book on Nirvana, and it is too sad that it is out-of-print. It contains important interviews and write-ups from several pop culture mags of that era on the band--on performances--on their overall views...

Does this signal that Kurt was right: Grunge is dead?

Well, perhaps dead but not yet interred into the earth.

Yeah, yeah, it's really lame to buy a book about them and all, but this isn't just another stupid ripoff fan book- this is really good stuff. It's funny. It's sad. It gives Courtney a chance to look less evil- I changed my mind about her because of this book. And it's not just about Kurt like most Nirvana books are- there's a good amount of stuff on Krist and the various drummers as well. Serious Nirvana fans really need to read this.

There are a lot of crappy books out there about Nirvana, but this isn't one of them. Contains some of the most revelent articles and nirvana related material. Very interesting and a must have if you are a Nirana nut like me. :)

What an entertainer! You just never get sick of this book. The basic concept is finding mistakes (or "nits") in the Star Trek: The Next Generation TV series. It includes episode reviews, trivia questions & tote boards. He spots things that you'd never think of seeing: before this i could go through an entire episode without seeing anything wrong, but he'd find 2 pages of nits on that episode. Another plus-point is the size of the book, great value for all ages. All in all, a MUST for all TRUE Next Gen fans!

A brilliant, post-post-modern book that compiles an episode guide and list of mistakes for a television program. For maximum irony the world really needs a 'nitpicker's guide to nitpicker's guides'.

More specifically, there are two volumes of 'Next Generation' guides (the first goes up to the end of series 6, the second has additional mistakes, condensed episode guides, and 'Generations'). It works brilliantly just as an episode guide, and the mistakes are well-chosen and quite perceptive. There's also a fantastic 'Original Series' guide, a 'Deep Space Nine' guide (which is very large and dull, a bit like the series itself), and an 'X-Files' guide. Nothing on 'Voyager' yet.

Or is it u-post-modern?

I've always enjoyed watching movies and TV shows for one big reason- I'm always searching for those little things that give away the illusion. I'm always checking the reflections in mirrors, windows, paint finishes on cars, etc. for a glimpse of the camera crew.

With both my neverending searches for TV & movie miscues, and being a NextGen geekoid, grabbing this book was a natural. It satisfies both my Trek fandom, and helps me search for those little things that makes its magic less potent. It also uncovers technical problems, plot inconsistencies, and just plain strangeness that you might have missed in your fanboy fervor. I try to keep this tome as well as the original Volume I on hand while I view the weeknightly NextGen reruns on the local indie channel.

Volume II covers flubs from the series' final season, as well as the 'Generations' movie. The author Phil Farrand also includes other inconsistencies submitted by fans from the first six seasons that he overlooked in Volume I. Even my favorite two parter (gasp!) "The Best of Both Worlds" gets its dues. The heartless swine (sob, choke)...

But I know what some of you are thinking... what you read in this paperback might make you less of a Trekkie than you are now. I don't know about anybody else, but in my case, it made the watching of NextGen reruns even MORE fun and enjoyable. Looking for the little details that cut the show down to size has helped add life to episodes I've seen many times over. If you can handle this kind of scrutiny, I strongly recommend this book, and all of the rest of the Nitpicker's guides.

'Late!

I have read this book hundreds of times. I love getting it out when I watch a Next Generation rerun, so that I can see the mistakes and it is hilarious! Phil Farrand has a unique sense of humor that only Trek lovers can understand. I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys watching Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Though not as outrageously funny as the Nitpicker's Guide to Classic Star Trek, this volume had me, a grown man, giggling like a naughty schoolgirl (and that's quite a confession). All the inconsistencies and plot oversights are handled by a very sarcastic and wry author (Phil Farrand) who knows how to make us laugh at a great but sometimes pretentious and pompous TV show in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

I've had this book for quite sometime and I still go back and read parts of it every now and again when I need a laugh.

This book is for the serious Trekker (or Trekkie) who can take a joke.

As a teacher, I would like to thank Dr. Weiner for writing such timely book for students. I have seen students get caught up in Sam's life from page one. What a wonderful treat to see students absorbed by reading. They all comment that the story and characters are so real to them. The book is also intriquing for adults because it shows us the world around young teens so clearly - through their senses and their perception of the world they live in. I am anxious to read the next story by Dr. Weiner. In the mean time, this story should be made into a movie are TV show ASAP!

Educators, parents and tweens alike will be glad Kimberly Weiner put her unique set of talents to work in this original and timely new book. The media floods young girls with images of rock stars and beauty queens but rarely presents role models with whom they can truly identify and connect. Sam fills the gap. With her independent spirit and her blatantly honest blog - which continues to grow at notmyreality.com - Sam taps into the cyber-reality of her generation and inspires today's kids - or rather, teens and tweens, to look at their own realities and aspire to make their dreams come true whatever they may be.

Now that was a fun read! A great contemporary story that leaves you wanting more. This book brings the imagination alive. Readers can put themselves in Sam's place and live a star-studed reality while dealing with real issues at the same time. I have given this book as a gift to two preteens who loved it! They want to know when the sequal is coming out.

As a teacher, I would like to thank Dr. Weiner for writing such timely book for students. I have seen students get caught up in Sam's life from page one. What a wonderful treat to see students absorbed by reading.

They all comment that the story and characters are so real to them. The book is intriquing for adults because it shows the world around young teens so clearly - through their senses and their perceptions!

I am anxious to read the next story by Dr. Weiner. In the mean time, this story should be made into a movie are TV show ASAP!

Even adults will enjoy this fast but very contemporary children's book. This book would translate easily and well to television. I hope that Dr. Weiner writes sequels because NOT MY REALITY leaves us wanting more. With the current overfocus on reality shows, this book provides the perspective on how not everyone enjoys them, especially being an involuntary character within one. It's fun; it's fast moving; and it's current!