Retailers Books

REMEMBER THE GOOD OLD DAYS WHEN WE CALLED THOSE CORNY SCIENCE FICTION MOVIES "OUT OF THIS WORLD" BECAUSE OF THE PRIMITIVE PROPS & SILVER SCREEN TRICKS THAT SEEMED TO MAKE FANTASY REAL! WELL PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT & IF OUR CIVILIZATION WERE TO DISAPEAR & A LONE STAR WARS TAPE WERE TO BE FOUND IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED " THE WAY WE WERE " AS IT IS GOSH !JUST SO WELL DONE! THIS BOOK EXPLAINS THE TRUE GENIUS BEHIND THE BRILLANT GROUP EFFORTS OF SO SO MANY TO MAKE A SPACE FANTASY SCIENCE FICTION STORY MORE THAN JUST ENTERTAINING! THAT WAS STAR WARS & THIS BOOK IS AN ALL TOO COOL SCI-FI FOOL SHOW & DO TELL VIA ALL THAT WILD & CRAZY FUNTASTIC STAR WARS SPACE RAZZ A MA TAZZ JAZZ! GET THIS BOOK & THE AMAZON FORCE WILL BE WITH YOU SO PLEASE DO SMILE!

Fairy tales are usually about a young man who becomes a hero by battling the most dispicable enemies and achieving his heart's desire. In the end, despite great odds, monsters are vanquished, villainy is given the heave-ho, the princess' heart is won and great treasure is acquired far from the eyes of the Internal Revenue Service (which is how you can tell this is a fairy tale).

"The Making of Star Wars" is just such a fairy tale, but it's not about the one up on the screen. This big, beefy, bouncy delight tells in 360 eye-squinting pages of type and hundreds of photos the story of how George Lucas, armed at first with nothing more than a bare bones script and a reputation for interesting, if not money-making movies, devoted more than four years of his life, bet his precarious career, and came up with a movie that not just redefined Hollywood blockbusters, but reimagined heroism and other virtues that touched a generation made cynical by the upheavals of the `60s and `70s.

How he did it -- as described in this book -- should give all writers, artists and other dreamers pause to reflect on the value of preparation, hard work, a willingness to absorb ideas from others, and going into a project knowing that you have not only no idea how it will come out, but that bad luck will doom you no matter what you do.

It's amazing that "Star Wars" was made at all, when it becomes clear in the book that the executives in charge at 20th Century Fox were more interested in busting Lucas' chops instead of making a movie. As one of Lucas friends notes: "There was a lack of respect for George. The movie industry is a very vituperative and petty industry most of the time -- and part of the negotiations was just to see how much they could push George around because they felt like they could."After getting Lucas under contract cheap, before the success of "American Graffitti," Fox proceeded to fritter away their leverage by withholding the contract for "Star Wars." To keep the project going, Lucas was forced to invest his own money, and in the end, had to threaten to stop filming to get the contract. By that time, the project was so far along that Fox was faced with either agreeing to his demands, or letting the project go to another studio. Hence, was born the most lopsided contract in history, giving Lucas say over final cut, plus control over all sequels and merchandizing.

Considering that "The Making of Star Wars" was published nearly 30 years after the movie's stunning debut, going back and putting together this history is a major accomplishment. Fortunately, J.W. Rinzler had access to interviews conducted during the production of `Star Wars," when people were in the midst of the work and uninfluenced by its future success. This fills the book with episodes and incidents of such detail that it's possible to fall into the pages and imagine yourself, back in the mid-'70s, where hair was blow-dried, collars and pants were wide, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter were atop the political pyramid -- reflect on that when you look at Obama/Clinton/McCain!

For the two weeks, I was in film geek heaven, boring my wife at lunchtime with details about alternative casting (Christopher Walken as Luke! Jodie Foster as Leia!), alternative storylines (Luke was a girl at one point and named Starkiller; the robots were originally bureaucrats working for the Empire; Lucas toyed with filming it all in Japanese, with subtitles), sources for names (Han Solo? From a brand of paper cups) and those small incidents that acquire greater meaning (an out-of-work James Earl Jones spending a day in a studio to record Darth Vader's lines for $7,500). And don't get me started on the models and special effects; we'd be here all week.

But the heart of the story is George Lucas, and while I've always respected the man, my heart went out to him once I understood the impossible odds he worked again. "Star Wars" was made because he willed it into being; he was the Jedi who rescued his movie.

Lucas created a fairy tale for our times, but his story had a fairy tale twist as well. After laboring for years, fighting the studio executives and impossible deadlines, Lucas got his movie out. But he thought he had failed: "When I saw the first cut, my only opinion was that I did a terrible job, but it works. It doesn't work very well, but it works. ... And then when I finally saw it with an audience for the first time, I realized that no matter how far short I fell and how far short all the departments fell from what I wanted, the film did work for an audience. ... They all laughed at the right place and they believed it."

So the hero wins after all, but not in the way you'd expect. That's the hallmark of all good stories.

Having seen all 3 original trilogy movies over a hundred times a piece, (I paid theater admission for most of those viewings, no video back then), I was and still am interested in the behind the scenes events that took place during the making of the movies.
I have read all three of the "Making Of" books about the original trilogy. This book is definitely the most thorough and indepth with the technical aspects and day to day events on set. I enjoyed the interviews with George Lucas and the other people involved in the film. On the lighter side, (Being a huge Luke/Mark Hamill fan) I really enjoyed the candid photos of Mark Hamill and the other cast members on set.
The true Star Wars fan will enjoy the unlimited access to George Lucas' earliest thoughts about the trilogy and a detailed look into his film making style. This book is a must have for all who have ever dreamed of "a galaxy far, far away....

I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the making of Star Wars. The author covers all aspects of the movie and is chock full of paintings, photos, manuscript pages, and poster art. The story unfolds chronologically and after each chapter the author lists the new elements of each draft of the screenplay as it progresses toward the final version. Lots of great trivia and insight into the epic struggle to make Star Wars.

I got this for my 14 year old son and myself. I can't get over how cool this book is !! So much behind the scenes info. I worked at a theater for the initial release of Star Wars and this book gives me information about a movie that I thought I already knew everything about.
Buy it !!!

This is a great book especially when you started with Duck in the Truck. Very cute story and great illustrations. Lots of detail in the illustrations that are fun to pick out.

What a wonderful story this is....poor Fix-It-Duck only wants to help and he keeps making things worse and worse. A delightful bedtime story you will enjoy again and again.

It's okay, the story is fine. But compared to Duck in the Truck this one is just okay.

that we bought it and donated it to our local library to share with other kids. I have 3 children ranging in ages from 3 - 8 and we all LOVE DUCK!!

This is my 2 year old sons favourite book! He has the the entire book memorized and out of all of his books we read this one at least twice a day. It's a fun rhyming book that flows really well. The other books in the duck series are also great. I'm curious to see the new release of "hide and seek" featuring frog that is coming out in dec.

An early 87 that no fan of the series should miss. McBain had the touch from the very beginning.

The third book in the 87th Precinct series is a more standard entry into the police procedural genre. But at the same time, it manages to reach an emotional depth somewhat unusual for the time period.

The plot is pretty straight forward. A pair of patrolmen stumble upon a apparent junkie suicide. But sometimes things aren't as easy as they seem, and the suicide squeal quickly turns into a multiple homicide investigation that threatens to become blackmail when Lt. Byrnes son becomes linked to the drug scene. The bulls at the 87th are relegated mainly to the footwork, as most of the behind the scenes action involves Byrnes as he struggles with his son's involvement. Byrnes goes as far as to fill Carella in on the situation, a decision that almost proves to be fatal.

Apart from some of the dated aspects one would expect from a well-reserched police drama from the fifties, the bulk of the novel is your typical expose on the brutal world of the street level drug trade. But as usual, McBain delves into the emotional causes and ramifications of the Heroin users and dealers. The most revealing of these is the personal and professional termoil faced by Lt. Byrnes with the revelation that his son is a Heroin addict. Adding to the emotional doubt of where he has gone wrong with his son, and the constant battle between anger and compassion, is the dilemma of whether or not to cover up his son's possible involvement in a crime, especially when a mysterious third party with knowledge of his son's connection attempts to blackmail him for police protection.

McBain doesn't just focus on the 87th detectives. Glimpses into the lives of low key players in the drug scene shows the many facets of human frailty and desperation and prevents the broad generalizations that many crime dramas easily fall into. Even the closer look at Carella's relationship with stoolie Danny the Gimp is both touching and revealing. But to McBain's credit, none of this detailed attention to the human element detracts from the gritty realism that is typical of this series.

Another great book by Ed McBain. Have just started reading this series and have a long way to go, but I am really looking forward to it if they are all like this one. Steve Carella and Bert Kling are back. They make a great team. They are trying to find who killed a young man, then others are killed to cover up the first killing. I don't want to name names as would take away from the book. The ending is good. McBain can make you feel like you are there. You can nearly feel the the thoughts and actions as they take place. A fairly short book that is quick to read. A very good mystery.

Of McBain's 70 to 80 books, this is without a doubt his best. This is what storytelling is all about. Simple characters, doing simple things and making it impossible to put the book down . I'm curious to know whether Evan Hunter is still alive or just retired from writing.

Published in 1956, "Pusher" by Ed McBain, one of the author's famed 87th Precinct mysteries,
may be a bit dated, but the sheer power of writing and the abilitiy of the author makes this one a
worthy read. McBain's legions of fans (most of whom have, no doubt, already read this one)
certainly found this to be a choice selection.

This time we find Steve Carella and Lieutenant Peter Byrnes again up to their precinct necks in
crime. As the title suggests, they're investigating the death of a drug dealer. The autopsy had said
suicide, but Carella and Byrnes know better.

And with the speed of some sound writing style and
excellent plot development, Mc Bain carries his readers full tilt. There's no resting; the pace is
terrific! Aided by first-class dialogue development "Pusher" is quick and easy to read. One doesn't
have to be totally dedicated to McBain to enjoy this one. Remember: it's quick and easy. And good.
(Billyjhobbs@tyler.net)

Bought this one for a friend as I already have it and use it. Love the new silky cover.

This is the loveliest book on angel work that I have ever seen. Not to mention it is filled with wonderful ideas and examples of how to work with the angels. There are several different meditations in the book that are incredible! Angela McGerr has put together a masterpiece with A Harmony Of Angels. (She also has two different angel card decks, too. Absolutely lovely!)
I have shared several copies of books and cards with friends and they all love them. It is easy to fall in love with the book and in turn it is easy to love inviting angels in to your life. The book seems somehow, comforting just to have with me. The illustrations are nothing short of magnificent. Words just cannot describe this book. FIND ONE! Buy it!!
I would not hesitate to buy any of Angela's works and I look forward to her next project!!!

This breathtakingly beautiful book and card set bring you so many uses. You can learn about how to call upon your Guardian Angel; There is a section on "Achieving positive health and well-being;" "Angel healing with fragrances and oils;" "The place of rainbow meditations;" and has an A -Z of Angels, including a fantastic index of life situations where you can learn about which Angel to call upon who is ready to help with pure love and compassion.

As for the card deck, it accompanies a wonderful book with different spreads you can do when you are seeking guidance and clarification in your life. The whole package is simply stunning, and would make a great gift to anyone who wants to draw closer to the Angels. Personally, I keep the page open to the picture of Archangel Michael, who is my Guardian Angel, and it just brings me a feeing of inner peace when I look at it. This is a high quality set that you will love to have as a part of your collection. Highly Recommended! Barbara Rose, author of, `Individual Power' and `If God Was Like Man'

I have browsed through a number of T'ai Chi instructional books, but none compare to the quality of this one. Every movement of the T'ai Chi form is clearly demonstrated with numerous, full-body photographs and detailed written instructions. Correlations are also given between the form's movements and a section of "basic moves" which help train the basic movement patterns of T'ai Chi. I love that the "basic moves" section even includes written descriptions and pictures of common mistakes! In the book, the author also covers some basic warm-up techniques and other essential aspects of T'ai Chi such as breathing. It's amazing how much she packed in to 160 beautiful and inspirational pages.

Another thing I appreciate about the book is that it is a wonderful complement to Tricia Yu's T'ai Chi Fundamentals video that I already owned. Now I can use the video for practice or to experience the flow of the movements, but I can also reference the book for more "static" detail. Oh yeah - the video is beautiful and inspirational as well.

This is absolutely the clearest, most accessible and most beautiful tai chi book I've ever read... everyone on my Christmas list gets this-- from my niece in her teens to my grandmother.

I have looked at Tai Chi texts for over twenty years and this is simply the best text I've ever seen. The photographs, both inside the studio and outside, are lovely and practical. They have a side text and brief remarks in the photo identifying key
points in each posture. The written text is clear and straitforward without the usual overemphasis on philosophy, history, and martial arts. It's really the type of text that any beginner(and even more advanced student)will benefit from.

Over a decade ago I was in Las Vegas staying at the MGM Grand while they were doing major re-construction to change their entrance. The existing entrance was a Lion's head and Asians refused to enter the casino through the mouth of it perceiving that as bad luck. The casino was losing potential customers and had already started creating a new and separate entrance during my stay.

This got my attention. To go through all that trouble for something called Feng Shui. To spend millions of dollars just to change the entrance - well, there must be something there.

A friend gave me Linda Cahan's book as a present. I've been interested in Feng Shui since that time in Las Vegas and have now used it in conjunction with my stores and my home. Ms. Cahan did a bang up job delineating the info in a clear and decisive way. I also liked that she represents the opinions of many other Feng Shui experts so I feel I've gotten the best cross section of information possible.

I've played with some of the 'cures' mentioned in this book to correct problem feng shui I've identified, and have noticed perceptible improvements. The suggestions using mirrors have been very effective. That sold me! I'm a big fan of feng shui and an equally big fan of Ms. Cahans easy to use guide to making your life better through feng shui. I like her approach and recommend this book as an easy read with effective useful ideas for work or home.

Ever walk into a store and want to walk right out? Can't figure out what's wrong? Could be bad Feng Shui!

This eye-opening book shows retailers how to lure customers with an inviting atmosphere that makes them want to stay, shop, buy and enjoy the experience. Store owners are guided through a simple step-by-step process allowing them to transform a ho-hum store into a great feeling store.

I'm not alone in my praise of this insightful book. Martin Pegler, editor of Retail Design and Visual Presentation magazine recommends it "most heartily . . . Her advice is solid and on target for visual merchandisers and store designers since so much of what she offers is so logical and down-to-earth."

Darlene Quinn's colorful portrayal of the complex world of retail and its players is intriguing. Her characters come alive in this fast paced, provocative novel. You won't want to put this book down!

Webs of Power: A Novel
What is an inside story, based on fact, of a hostile take over of well established, up-scale, and revered American department stores, becomes much more complicated as the characters in the novel are introduced, along with their varied, realistic personalities, foibles, needs, greed, egoes and ethics. It's difficult to put the book down. I could identify with several of the characters, both the "good" and sadly the "bad".

Graham Hurley is a new find. His series (6 books to date) features DI Joe Farraday. The stories are complex, the characters are well-drawn, and the location, Portsmouth, is a bit different than the bucholic Yorkshire or gritty London, the scenes of many procedurals. Hurley's books can be favorably compared with those of Stuart Pawson, John Harvey, Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, Mark Billingham, and Peter Robinson. I read the series in order of publication, but I believe that they each stand well on their own.

In this age of tough competition and lowered margins, any retailer who can't keep their costs in line is destined to be a former retailer. One of the most basic costs to tackle, yet the most difficult to get a grasp on, is inventory loss. CUT YOUR LOSSES! is a must read for any retailer. Whether you have been in Loss Prevetnion for years, are just starting, or had better be starting soon, this book is an excellent resource. This book does not spend your valuable time giving you an in depth view of the psychology of a thief or how to estbalish a corporate Loss Prevention program. While that may be important, it won't solve your problems. CUT YOUR LOSSES! comes right out and tells you what is happening and what you can do to stop it. It is a quick and easy read that you can put into pactice as you go. If you were to only pick on book to get you going on Loss Prevention, this would be it

It looks great on my kindle! It is a full color book on Amazon.