Editors Books

Part of the Apple-certified training series, Final Cut Pro for Avid Editors is for film editors and professional video editors who already use Avid, but who want to move these skills to Final Cut Pro as quickly as possible. Chapters blend feature comparisons and conversion tips with charts, lesson goals and plans, chapter reviews, and more, making this an excellent guide for either classroom or self-study. It's a self-paced learning handbook highly recommended for any film pro involved in training and applications.

This book helps ease the monumental transition from Avid to FCP. It is definitely a must for anyone going through the change, but becomes less useful once you get the hang of FCP. Once you are through the transtion, then get the book Final Cut Pro 5 for Mac, which answers the rest.

This book I could only find used, it is not easy to come by...

If you are ever forced to quickly learn Final Cut pro for the odd job where Avid is not a viable option, or you want to start editing your on stuff on the cheap, buy this, read it and practise it for a week and you will be a Pro at Pro, knowing everything there is to know, at least, where to find it and whether it is doable or not. It is a book written by an Avid editor for Avid editors who have to go through the same learning curve. You can be very surprised going through it on how similar the two editing systems are and most of all, how quickly you can synthesise the information and make it second nature. I fervently recommend this book being so well written, going always to the point and covering everything properly.

As an Avid editor and now learning FCP, I can recommend this book for helping to understand where everthing is. This book is a must unless you want to tear your hair out. If you know how it feels going from Media Composer to DS, then you will understand why you need this book and I might add others.

We have been an Avid only edit house for years, but reciently purchased two Final Cut systems. Most of the transition was pretty easy, but trying to figure out how to do some of the things in FCP that we did in our sleep on the Avid slowed us down a bit. This book draws great parallels between the two systems.

Ugly cover design, but the inside is a delight. I gave it as a gift, and it was well received.

A very thorough book for those looking for a wide variety of branding and design solutions.

Makes a good companion to the first area book. Each ones shows off the best of the best in current design.

This is most certainly one of the best books Phaidon has published yet. Completely blows Area out of the water. Worth every penny.

Excellent overview of current state of design. Although the book is a bit too heavy, don't try reading this in bed or on a plane, it is worth every penny. Compared to Area (the non-numbered first issue) this book focuses not only on paper based graphic design and I really don't know how one can assess or put a value on such a broad field of possibilities. It is still brilliant. For anyone assuming an investment in graphic design be it a box, a shop, a book, stationery or whatever needs an outside with colours or patterns, this book is a must-have, must read.

Wow - what a book! An absolute "must read" for EVERYONE - not just law enforcement officers (but should be compulsory reading for them!!). A rare blend of excitement, humour, action, honesty and humility. One of the best books I have ever read (and I read a lot of books!!). I can't recommend it highly enough.

This book is the first book in a long while that I picked up and never put down until I read it from cover to cover. Jim's words and stories make you feel at home with the book. This is "the real stories of the highway patrol." I can't wait to get the rest of Jim's books

This book is simply the most endeared book in my vast "law enforcement"
collection. Jim Geeting is instantly your best friend. Reading his words
is like having him at your kitchen table, coffee in hand, with a very
warm, comfortable atmosphere!

Thank you, Trooper Geeting - you made me realize why I got into this profession - and why I need to stay. You also showed many of our "customers" a side that is rarely seen. Keep up the good work!

Cops are People, Too!
By John De Haven

Happily, it's still possible to find your way to a good book now and then. And once in a while you can get lucky, and a good book will just sort of find its way to you. That's what just happened to me!

We've all heard the jaded expression "You can't put it down." You know what I mean. You sometimes get that feeling of connection with the author or with the story (or both!) and adjust your posture, reload your beverage and maybe sink a little deeper into the couch with the welcome and soothing thought: "This is good. This just feels good. He's talking to me here, and I can tell I'm gonna like this." With some good books, it can happen early on. Sometimes, if it is to happen at all, it can take a little longer.

In Jim Geeting's new one, "The Badge - Thoughts from a State Trooper," (McKenna Publishing Group) it happened to me in the first few seconds. No, I don't mean somewhere in the first chapter; it happened earlier than that. I didn't get any farther than the dedication where the author acknowledges his beautiful wife and young sons before I had a tear in my eye and solid confidence in my certainty that Jim's book was going to be a pleasure.

Here, in the dedication, Geeting speaks to his sons, saying in part:

You took a cop's blackened soul
And taught it the joy of wrestling, giggles and unconditional love
Of camp outs, good jokes and the wonder in a bug or a rock.
Of the hero I could be - simply by being a good dad
I dreamed of you both, long before God sent you.

Oh, yeah? Please pass the Kleenex!

Author Geeting is a veteran cop, a trooper with the Wyoming Highway Patrol. For some time he has written a column, "The Badge," which appears regularly in largest circulation newspapers in Wyoming. Bearing the same title, his book is a digest of some of Jim's (and his publisher's, no doubt) favorites from among a couple years' worth of these columns. Whether sorting out broken cars and bodies at the scene of a wreck, lecturing those who might choose to drink and drive or fail to buckle up, or basking in the pleasures of the school spelling bee or in any of the many places and experiences in between, each savory nugget in the banquet of a cop's and a family man's life can be consumed in barely a minute or two. But like the best of Thanksgiving feasts, the pleasure derived has a way of lasting.

Trust me. The reading is the easy part. It's the pondering of the practical simplicity of this cop's ways and wisdom that brings the reward. Indeed, the digesting and enjoying of the nearly 75 columns included in his book (yes, I counted!) represent a much more touching and longer-lasting experience.

Early on, I had the good luck to recognize Geeting's anthology was, for me anyway, really something of a confession... a generous slice of the "stuff" of law enforcement we on the outside always want to know - not what happens in the legislature or in meetings when the brass get together but, rather, the stuff that unfolds or (on a bad day) explodes out there in the street. Easily, modestly, credibly and with a refreshing clarity, Geeting conveys his genuine love and respect -- both for his chosen profession and for his colleagues and brethren within it. Most often citing examples from his lengthy experience behind the badge, he invites us to see it from his side.

And there, on the inside, we are offered this good cop's view of many of the familiar and not-so-familiar facts, routines, surprises, fears and follies that conspire to make the on-duty life of a law enforcement officer so exciting, interesting, satisfying, humorous, rewarding, dangerous, at times sickening, heart breaking, misunderstood, under-appreciated, frustrating, occasionally frightening, and yet always so absolutely essential to our safety and the quality of life most of us enjoy every day.

Still, that's only part of why I'm lucky "The Badge - Thoughts from a State Trooper" found its way to me. Jim Geeting is much more than the stereotypical policeman. He is also the perfect blend of hard-hearted cop, all business and always steeled against publicly showing feelings or emotion, and the kind of family man that you and I wish we could be, adoring and adored by his wife and children. In one particularly memorable vignette, Geeting describes how his wife and (now teenage) sons are both his motivation and his satisfaction, in the end acknowledging: "They and our home are not the reason for my armor, they are my armor."

In fact, I'm not certain whether this new book is more about a humble and devoted and decent citizen, a family man who happens to be a cop or about a cop who is still married to his first wife and who views his role as a father and husband as the most important and satisfying in his or anybody's life. That's not to suggest it matters; it doesn't. Time and again, the insights into each are presented with a persuasive and almost irresistible clarity and candor.

I promise you... Jim Geeting will grab hold of your heart, too! Many of his commentaries, brief though they may be individually, favor readers with a look at this "other" side where he reveals his gentle nature, his appealing yet hair trigger sensitivity, his vulnerability and his extraordinary love of and desire to protect children. His recognition of and determination to preserve as best he can the innocence and ultimate worthiness of every child, is a subject visited several times in "The Badge's" 130 pages.

So get comfortable, be sure the Kleenex is nearby and pick up "The Badge - Thoughts from a State Trooper." You'll catch Jim Geeting's message all right. Or it'll catch you!

And when you're finished reading this one, don't take it to the book barrel at church. Put it on the shelf by your easy chair or atop the magazine pile in the pearl room. Keep it nearby. You'll want to read it again.

I did.

this book was made into a movie by stanley kubrick that won 4 academy awards. it relates the amazing adventures of the most dishonest man in history, redmond barry. it chronicles his unlikely rise to the top and subsequent comeuppance. he is fond of fighting, lying and ripping people off. despite his love of dishonesty and treachery, and his total lack of compassion for other people, he sees himself as a good person because he only hit his wife when he was drunk, at least for the first three years of their marriage.

Having seen the movie "Barry Lyndon" by Stanley Kubrick years ago, I was taken aback by this book which is so markedly different than the 1975 film. In the book, Lord Bullingdon is actually the hero, where Kubrick presented him merely as a cowardly cad. Redmond Barry (later as Barry Lyndon)deserves all the evils that befall him and his first person narrative is quite humorous especially when blaming everyone for his own shortcomings. Unfortunately, the ending leaves one a bit unsatisfied, quite like the dismal end of Mr. Lyndon himself. This novel is not on the level of Thackeray's "Vanity Fair", but fun to read nonetheless.

When one is about to take the big plunge and give oneself the trouble of making what is always -in our age of lighter reading, of course - the strenuous effort of reading a XIXth. Century novelist, one - at least me - must make the following question: What was this author's particular attitude, as a man (or woman) of the most bourgeois of all centuries, towards his/her preceding century, the most aristocratic and un-bourgeois XVIIIth. Century? If s/he scorns the XVIIIth. Century, or is indifferent to it, it's quite likely that the author in question is a bourgeois philistine regarding Victorian times as the undisputed acme of human civilization. If s/he is an admirer, than s/he is obviously starting out of a clear sense of alienation from his/her own society, and one should expect at least for this XIXth. Century _avis rara_, genuine sense of humor. Thackeray was one of such Victorians who realized the philisteism of his own society;Eça de Queiroz, his Portuguese disciple (who seems to have learned a lot from reading him) was another. Therefore: Read this book, QED.

Having seen the movie "Barry Lyndon" by Stanley Kubrick years ago, I was taken aback by this book which is so markedly different than the 1975 film. In the book, Lord Bullingdon is actually the hero, where Kubrick presented him merely as a cowardly cad. Redmond Barry (later as Barry Lyndon)deserves all the evils that befall him and his first person narrative is quite humorous especially when blaming everyone for his own shortcomings. Unfortunately, the ending leaves one a bit unsatisfied, quite like the dismal end of Mr. Lyndon himself. This novel is not on the level of Thackeray's "Vanity Fair", but fun to read nonetheless.

Here, in this relatively obscure work, Thackeray is at his ironic and satiric best. Modern critics lightly dismiss the book as a piece of journalistic hack work, but it is much more than that. Redmond Barry, later Barry Lyndon, chronicles in a fairly sophistocated and always lighthearted manner his rise from a poor Irish country boy to the astral heights of polite English society from 1750-1820. Mr. Barry is always Machievellian in his way, and is quick and efficient with his sword. He is Odysseus, Holden Caulfield, Don Juan, and Nabokov's Humbert Humbert merged. In a word, he is very, very entertaining and very, very good. The book's only glaring flaw is it's belabored and uninspired ending. But it is much worth reading to watch Redmond Barry when young

Baseball America 2006 Prospect Handbook breaks down the top 30 minor league players for each of the 30 Major League Baseball teams. The handbook takes testimony from scouts, front office personel as well as minor league coaches. Problems do seem to arise with biased opinions about players. Sometimes you will see players get unfairly compared to great players. For instance the book refers to Justin Upton as the next Ken Griffey Jr. At the time that this book was written upton was not yet 19, had not signed a contract, and had never played a single game above the high school level. The staff writers do try to temper expectations but even their eyes can be clouded with unrealistic espectations of certain players. Another issue that can't be ignored is the fact that Baseball America does ignore a lot of the statistical analysis that has been made over the last 20 or so years. A great example how underrated players like Travis Hafner have been in past handbooks. With all of its faults I must say that it is still the premeire source on baseball prospects that is available. The handbook gives insightful and indepth analysis on 900 players. There is usually useful information on injuries, work ethic, bat speed, pitch speed, pitch movement, glove skills, and athleticism. This information comes from watching many games and speaking with the people closest to these players. As well as giving a minor league depth chart, the handbook also tantilizes readers with a projected 2009 future lineup(excluding the possibilities of trades or free agency). Another strength of the handbook is that there are 13 writers and each cover different teams so each time you read a new team you are given an interesting and fresh perspective. Wether you are trying to get ahead in your fantasy league, looking to the future of your favorite team, or just love baseball; this book is for you.

I have been a fan of Baseball America for awhile now; I consider myself knowledgeable about baseball, more thanks to John Sickels and Bill James than Baseball America.

Baseball America takes you where you don't normally hear about, or follow as in depth, such as college, high school baseball and international baseball.

I truly enjoy their work in this "guide book". However, I wish they would explain how they rank their players in the Top 30 category more clearly.

For instance. The Brewers' minor league system number one prospect of 2006 was Prince Fielder (a firstbaseman, now major leaguer). By reading the stats, I can see why. RHP Mark Rogers was ranked number 2. I failed to see why. The stats don't reveal the truth behind his "skills" and "talent". [these are in quotes, because baseball skill and talent are two different things...]
In the preface, Baseball America explains the Scouts scales. Perhaps this could be used more in the book itself when explaining how prospects are rated. How is, for instance, Mark Rogers better than Yovani Gallardo? (a fellow Brewers' RHP ranked 4th despite having better stats.

Yes, I am well aware that baseball isn't all about stats. But, Baseball America could do a better job of explaining the ranks.

Other than that minor gripe, I am very pleased with their efforts.

Baseball America is, without a doubt, the most comprehensive, intelligent, and insightful source on the minors leagues, MLB teams' farm systems, and prospects. It also provides a lot of great insight and coverage of the best of college and high school teams and players, as well as some coverage from international prospects which could some day be in the majors. Simply put, Baseball America is an invaluable source of the more-than-casual baseball fan.

So it's no surprise that Baseball America's Prospect Handbook is *the* source of information on prospects. It gives you the top 30 prospects of every MLB team, as well as scouting reports on all of them. This is invaluable for the hardcore baseball fan - anyone can spout off any team's top 10 prospects. Most fans know of the big names in 2005 - Jeremy Hermida, Delmon Young, Brandon Wood, Justin Verlander, Chad Billingsley, Carlos Quentin, Joel Guzman, etc. But when you want to go beyond the Top 10, when you want to do more than scratch the surface on the collection of talent (or lack thereof, in the case of teams like the Nationals and Reds) then this book is a necessity. I'd go so far as to say that if you're reading these reviews, this book is probably for you. Considering the information and well-designed format and attractive design, it isn't very expensive at all, and if you can find a used copy for those of you who are looking for information, not a museum copy, all the better, you can usually find one for around $15. Not bad.

So, do you want to know who's rated higher in the Indians organization, Bear Bay or Nick Pesco? Who has the higher ceiling in the Cubs' organization, Billy Petrick or Sean Gallagher? Do you have any question about any minor league player? This is the book to go to.

Recommended for hardcore fans and those who enjoy keeping up with the younger talent on the horizon.

If you have any interest in following baseball beyond each team's 25-man roster, then this is an essential publication. Covering 30 prospects for each major league team (for a total of 900), this is about as comprehensive a look you're going to find at prospects.

Baseball America has a well-earned reputation as the best place to find minor league, college, and high school baseball information, and that expertise is evident in the book. Each team has their prospects graded, and a look at each team's most recent amateur draft is included. The list of the top 100 prospects is also enjoyable - or not, depending on how many players from your team are included on that list.

Unless you're a team that can afford to sign several high-priced free agents each year, player development is critical to future success. And if you're a fan who has a serious interest in your team, then it's an area to which you likely pay a great deal of attention. But while other publications touch occasionally or briefly on team's top minor-league prospects, no other mainstream publication does as good a job of giving a serious and deep look at your organization's prospects.

I'd recommend buying this one every year, as it's one of the best general looks at an organization's prospects. Along with John Sickels' prospects book (available on his website), this is a necessary purchase for serious fans.

This marks the fifth year in a row that I've purchased this book. It has become my bible for evaluating minor league talent. Its scouting reports are clear, well-written, and for the most part, on target. Whether you're a fantasy baseball owner or just a fan of the game, you'll enjoy this book.

The almanac is exactly what the title indicates: wit, wisdom, practical advice, useful tips and fascinating facts. It is a pleasant and interesting way to start each new day with a cup of tea.

Ben Franklin exemplifies one kind of American spirit. The historian Daniel Boorstin said that the greatness of America was in the small improvements it continually provided to everyday life, the spirit of invention. Ben Franklin built a lot of different kinds of better mousetraps, including bifocals, the postal service, and a whole way of thinking about improving the self day - by- day.
This Almanac is compiled in his spirit and contains many examples of his wisdom. It also is chocked full with practical advice for homemakers,and home- improvers.
Old Ben also had a sense of humor on occasion with his wisdom. "Fish and visitors smell after three days he told us" And when were in trouble we can always think of Ben's advice "Any port in a storm"
Some of the stuff here may seem corny , trite , boring . But different strokes for different folks as they say , and there is enough here for 'everyman' to get a little advice and a little
enjoyment of.
Happy Sunday, Monday ,Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday , Saturday.
And Gut Shabbos.

Excellent. Many practical suggestions and lots of sound advice.

This Book is great to read for anyone with an inspired mind, I love the fact that you can read one page, full of facts each day of the year. Highly recomended.

I'm surprised that no one has reviewed this book, since it's very useful and entertaining, easy to read, and inexpensive.

There's one page for each day of the year. On one side of each page are facts about that day (famous birthdays, events). At the top of the page is a quote from Benjamin Franklin on some principle (saving money, etc.) with some illustrative biographical information from Franklin's or somebody else's life. At the bottom is practical advice for the home and garden, from cooling the house to storing cheese (wrap in wax paper, not celophane, because the live cultures need to breath). It usually takes only a couple of minutes to read a page.

I've had the book on my kitchen table or in other place that you regularly visit for a few minutes every day. It's a well-edited and well-designed book and reasonably priced. I'm planning on giving copies as gifts because it's cheap and I can't imagine anybody not enjoying some aspect of it, either from the household hints, the principles, or the daily facts.

A cover blurb on Christine Brennan's new book uses the word "heartfelt." I'm very surprised that all of the reviewers didn't include "heart" somewhere in their comments. This is the most magical book. Not only for Brennan's wonderful relationship with her father. I was moved equally by the sense of Christine Brennan that emerges from her writing. This is a valuable book, a blessing for the world. It glows with the magic of the heart - for sports, child-raising, and life. In a world that perversely tries to discount the heart's feelings, her book provides overwhelming evidence of the need for love.

When I saw this book, I knew immediately that I'd be interested in it. I mean, Christine Brennan was the Washington Post beat writer for the Redskins in the mid-80s when I lived in DC as well, and as she jokingly puts it, being the Redskins beat writer was the second most important beat, after the White House beat, unless the Redskins played the Cowboys. So I remember well her byline in the Post Sports section from those days.

In "Best Seat in the House: A Father, A Daughter, A Journey through Sports" (283 pages), the author reflects back on how she got into sports writing, and not unsurprisingly, her dad played a major role in it. In fact, the initial third of the book, in which Brennan recounts her days growing up in Toledo, is the most intruiging and touching part of the book. Brennan's dad never pushed her into sports, but definitely supported and encouraged it, taking her to see their beloved Mud Hens AA basebal and the University of Toldedo football teams, and then later when Christine started playing high school sports (in the pre-Title IX days). The love and warmth for her dad shines throughout this book.

After graduating from Northwestern, Brennan went on to cover college football for the Miami Herald in the early 80s and then the Redskins. Brennan has plentyful of memorable anecdotes of what is was like to be a female sportsreporter in that male-dominated world. The latter part of the book drifts a bit, even though Brennan's love for the Olympics, her next big thing, comes through very clearly. But the book finishes on a high, recounting the hard times when first her mom, then her dad pass away, while providing a very moving tribute. If you like sports, and have a heart, this book will move you.

I was in tears at the first chapter, as my father too introduced me to sports. Much of what Ms. Brennan has written brings me back to the wonderful memories of my Dad and our love for the Detroit Tigers. I gave the book to my Dad for Fathers Day. I only wish I had the talent to have written such a wonderful memorial to my father. Thank you, Christine.

As Christine Brennan states in the book, writing the story was a "labor of love". She stated this in reference to her father and family. Of course, this comes through eloquently clear from such a talented writer. In reading the book, however, it's obvious she loves so much more in life. Sports, yes, but that's over-simplistic. How she ties sports into the context of history, into how our society has changed and not changed (for women, minorities, etc.) is truly insightful while, at the same time, beautiful. You can feel -- truly sense -- how Christine feels about these challenges, about the people confronting them, and about the leaders addressing them (or not). Her values show through. Many a writer, I think, would be all-too-shy about putting such personal points-of-view out there. I, for one, am very glad she did, for her values and points-of-view are truly admirable. They are all the more so because she, like her father, has acted upon and held true to them throughout her life while still making room to experience and learn.

Now, I don't know Christine. I met her once, yes. She was uncommonly attentive and made me feel like I was the gold medal winner being interviewed (not that it felt like an interview at all; although, after reading this book, I wouldn't be surprised if she packed away some notes somewhere, dated them, and spelled my name right...).

Why is this such an important book? In addition to what I've shared I'll add this: Moving forward my wife and I will document the events of our kids' childhood even more diligently. Not only will this benefit our family with more memorabilia, but it will hopefully serve as an example for our kids so they, too, will log the experiences of their lives. Doing so, I believe, will help sustain their peace of mind (respect for whence they came), build confidence, as well as provide skills that will help them academically, professionally, and personally. And, no, I don't expect to rear little Christine Brennans. I do hope, however, my kids have a similar love for their father, their family, and for life that Christine Brennan does. This book has made me even more excited about being a parent and it's also allowed me to travel back in time with my father. Christine, thank you!

In a world where male dominance in most sports is generally welcome and accepted, stories of women who defy the odds, dodge the criticism, and rise to success are indeed a rarity. The story of Christine Brennan is no exception. A successful writer for USA Today and The Washington Post, Brennan's ascension to a career in sports journalism and broadcasting, which was usually only reserved for men, serves as a role model for those who wish to follow their dreams despite the obstacles. However, the focal message in the book is a tribute to her father, the man who brought her up to love and cherish sports, and the man who continued to encourage her when things seemed impossible. Rather than the typical father-son journey through sports, the tide shifts, in essence, to reveal that daughters too can share that same passion.

Brennan's journey begins in Toledo, home to the Triple AAA Mud Hens and the University of Toledo. The stories of catching a ball game at the Lucas Country Rec Center (aka Ned Skeldon Stadium) or the occasional drive to Tiger Stadium were heart warming and a bit shocking as Brennan was probably the woman in the 1970's that knew how to fill out a scorecard. Baseball brings families together and nothing in the world beats a trip to the ball park to catch a game with your old man. But baseball is one of several sports that the Brennan family endures throughout Christine's childhood. Tennis, swimming, golf, football, and basketball consumed much of their daily lives and it appeared that the father, Jim, was merely along for the ride for it seemed that he was not the one doing the pushing.

On a personal note, Brennan's account of the University of Toledo's Chuck Ealey's thirty-five consecutive victories and Steve Mix's stellar basketball career were nearly tear-jerking. As a Toledo alum and fan, it was about time that both of these remarkable men receive some extra attention for their amazing feats as collegiate athletes. From a university which sees very few of their athletes go on to the professional level, the celebration of perhaps their best two athletes in a nationally acclaimed book puts the icing on the cake.

Brennan admits that the idea to be a sports journalist began at those Toledo football games where Ealey and his teammates rang up win after win. Indeed, watching Chuck Ealey on a weekly basis from 1969-1971 must have been a privilege, an honor, and certainly a launching point for a prospective sports writer. From there Brennan begins the formal training as a journalist at the campus of Northwestern University, and with the summer internships at the Toledo Blade. Northwestern's journalism program was one of the best in the country, and alums Peter McCleery, Brennan, and Michael Wilbon backed up that recognition.

But Brennan's story of becoming a sports journalist is just a fraction of the larger picture. Title IX, the law that essentially gave women an opportunity to play competitive sports, is mentioned throughout the book. However, Brennan's argument on Title IX is not necessarily a cry for women to take over these heavily male-influenced games. Rather, it is advocating for equal opportunity. As evident in her debates with the controversial Hootie Johnson of Augusta National, Brennan refuses to back down to the opposite sex, and chooses to stand up for women's rights. After all, to get to her position in her field, Brennan has always had to fight an uphill battle. Hopefully this serves as a message to young women seeking a career in sports that even though the trail may be bumpy along the way, the end result is certainly attainable.

This book arrived on time and was in excellent condition.

This is a great book. Mine is falling apart, That is how much I use it.

Betty Crocker cookbooks never fail to please and this one is a real winner! I have already tried two recipes from the book and found them both easy and tasty. One was Pepper Jack Bread and the other was Easy Roll Buttermilk Pie Dough. The former had a wonderful texture and flavor the latter was tender and flaky. There are may many other recipes I want to try from this book during my Sunday afternoon baking sessions. If you love to bake, and like classic recipes as well as new ones,then this book is for you!

I've been using Betty Crocker cookbooks since I got one as a shower gift before I got married 32 years ago, and I've never been disappointed with a single recipe. This cookbook is no exception. The recipes are clearly written, using ingredients that are readily available or already in a well-stocked kitchen. Great for beginners or experienced cooks alike.

Being a "Betty-phile"--a Betty Crocker fan from 'way back--I may be prejudiced, but I think BETTY CROCKER BAKING FOR TODAY is a must-have for any kitchen where any amount of baking is done. It's not only highly usable, with numerous classic recipes, but a BEAUTIFUL publication. Incidentally, regarding "Mary's Chocolate Chip Cookies" (p. 92) by Mary Bartz, "former director of the [Betty Crocker] kitchens and cookie expert," I happen to have it directly from Mary that she bakes these cookies at 350 rather than the 375 indicated.

I was staying at 60 Thompson and our concierge suggested the BlackBook guide. It was extremely useful in finding hot spots around the city. BlackBook guides also make great gifts for friends who are going to the city.

Often stuck in a rut when deciding where to go out at night, I picked up the BlackBook Guide to New York upon a recommendation from a buddy of mine. As a resident New Yorker, I must say, I was definitely impressed. This book truly captured the essence of my favorite local spots and helped to open my eyes to many other night-spots that I never would have known about otherwise. Ignoring the countless tired, old, been-there-done-that types of places, this book seems to include only those places that I actually would enjoy. It certainly makes Zagat's seem geriatric in comparison.

The BlackBook Guide to New York is better than any other I've read. What I especially like about it are the detailed maps that it provides, marking all of the spots that it reviews. Other excellent features include subway directions for each location, something that most other guide books don't provide.

The guide is organized in a very logical way. Tabs on the side divide it into larger regions, while it is further divided into neighborhoods within each region. All you have to do is choose the area you want to visit, and it lays out several excellent options for dining or partying.

Probably my favorite feature is its extensive listings for Brooklyn, which is a really hip and up and coming area that no other guide book is covering. The fact that the Brooklyn entries are almost as extensive as the Manhattan ones really shows that the people at BlackBook know what is happening right now in New York.

Really the only drawback I can find is that it is not terribly comprehensive. It has far fewer listings that most other books, but the reviews for the places it does list are really helpful in deciding where to visit. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to go out on the town in New York.

I love the BlackBook Guide series (used to be the BlackBook list), because the entries are pre-selected by the editors of BlackBook Magazine as the best restaurants, bars, and clubs in the city. Each entry gives you a really good idea of what type of food, service, decor, crowd the venue has, and the writers add humor to the reviews so that they are fun to read. Unlike Zagats, which lets customers rate, the BlackBook Guide is like always having that one cool friend around who always knows just where to go.

As someone determined to squeeze everything possible out of any trip, I can honestly say that BlackBook produces the best city guides I've encountered. I've lived in NYC for two years and I decided to check out BlackBook's guide to New York. As I expected, this guide is spot-on accurate. The reviews evoke the atmosphere of my favorite places in a few words: The Indian restaurant Banjara is "genial and dusky" while Café Gitane's "soothing pastel colors" make it comfortable lunch spot. Although the descriptions in this guide are short, they're right on the money. The editors call Café Gitane a "Europhile's wet dream" (true), and point out that while electronic/world music club Nublu has a "clever, mellow space and lush, jungly back garden," the lack of sign out front is the ultimate purveyor of the club's cool.

The observations in these books, along with the array of other necessary information that they provide makes these guides credible and useful. For restaurants, the guide includes the average price of a two-course meal and a drink at the end of each review, as well as symbols indicating which places are new, cash-only, really inexpensive, or editors' picks. They also factor noise level, elbow room, and the clientele into the reviews. I agree with the judgment in these guides: BlackBook definitely has a New Yorker's perspective, but the editors pull back and see each neighborhood in the larger context that most New Yorkers have forgotten about. They point out that while much of Nolita/Little Italy's has been gentrified, "a distinct Old World Charm lingers," and they recommend a night trip to Chinatown for "delectable, exotic and well-priced" meals, where the fun is enhanced by Chinatown's mysterious nightime aura. I also agree with BlackBook's naming of the Bowery Ballroom and Northsix as among the best places to hear live music. This is a selective list, so the guide doesn't include every bar, club, or restaurant that I like. I do wish this guidebook was a little more comprehensive, but I think they're trying to give you a review of noteworthy places. Although BlackBook's lists (like BlackBook Magazine) seem to be geared toward a cutting-edge readership, these guides are accessible. No matter who you are, I think you can gauge from the write-ups whether you'd like a place or not.



4.5 out of 5 stars

One of the most interesting parts of this book is Schwarz's examination of how Runyon created the special language of his 'Runyonese', of how he put together the language of vaudeville, of the radio, of the criminals slang, of New York City street talk, of Yiddish mamaloshen, to build an idiom all his own yet reflecting the energy and vibrancy of his special world of gamblers, sportspeople, Broadway characters , of all types.
Schwarz is also interested in examining how Runyon contributed to the shaping of our image of New York City, of urban life in general.
An outstanding study especially for those who know who Nicely- Nicely and Harry the Horse are.

"Broadway Boogie Woogie" is a fascinating read, both for anyone who finds New York City a fascinating city and for anyone with an interest in the origins of today's debate about how American journalism does and should shape the popular imagination. In "Broadway," Schwarz convincingly and vividly portrays an early-twentieth-century urban world of celebrity journalists and criminals, those who set the stage for that part of today's popular culture embodied in the celebrity cult phenomenon.
At the same time, he paints a true story of "the American dream," embodied in Damon Runyon, a self-made man who used words--through his newspaper articles to his short stories--to pull himself out of humble beginnings to attain wealth and fame. But while Runyon took full advantage of the elevated status he reached in early 20th century society--somewhat in the tradition of William Randolph Heart--he never forgot where he came from: his wrote about humble men and women with a great deal of sympathy, sometimes even glorifying the lifestyles of the shadowy and desperate. Anyone who ever loved "Guys and Dolls" and "West Side Story" should read this book.

"Broadway Boogie Woogie" is a fascinating read, both for anyone who finds New York City a fascinating city and for anyone with an interest in the origins of today's debate about how American journalism does and should shape the popular imagination. In "Broadway," Schwarz convincingly and vividly portrays an early-twentieth-century urban world of celebrity journalists and criminals, those who set the stage for that part of today's popular culture embodied in the celebrity cult phenomenon.
At the same time, he paints the true American Dream story of Damon Runyon, a man who used words--from his newspaper articles to his short stories--to pull himself out of humble beginnings to attain wealth and fame. But while Runyon took full advantage of the elevated status he reached in early 20th century society--somewhat in the tradition of William Randolph Heart--he never forgot where he came from: his highly entertaining stories about humble men and women were suffused with a great deal of sympathy and sometimes even glorified shadowy and desperate lives. Anyone who ever loved "Guys and Dolls" and "West Side Story" should read this book.

Schwarz has written a fine book that captures the energy and excitment of high life and low life in Manhattan in the first half of the twentieth century. He discusses Damon Runyon's many short stories--including those that were incorporated in the musical "Guys and Dolls"--setting them in their historical context and drawing our attention to Runyon's gift for conveying speech in writing. Schwarz also discusses Runyon's life and his work as a reporter who covered many of the major events of the day, especially showcase trials like the Lindberg trial. If you liked "Seabiscuit," you; will like this book: as with "Seabiscuit," you will come away from Schwarz's book feeling that you have vacationed in the twenties and thirties and have been enriched by the experience.

BROADWAY BOOGIE WOOGIE situates Runyon's stories and reportage in their New York, circa 1929-1946, context and tells us why Runyon's work still matters. The seriousness and skill that Schwarz used in earlier books to examine the writings of High Modernism (Conrad, Joyce, Woolf, Wallace Stevens) he uses here to illuminate the "wiseguy" world of BROADWAY BOOGIE WOOGIE. With insight and compassion Schwarz re-visits this world of gamblers, gangsters, swindlers, womanizers, and cheats and looks at America's ever present yearning to "take a walk on the wild side." The book should appeal to not only students and scholars in American Studies, 20th Century American History, Urban and Immigration History, Working-Class Studies, and American Literature, but also to anyone who simply loves New York.