Television Books

If you're a fan of Heath Ledger(or have seen the TV series) you'll know basically what this book is all about. I've always believed that a movie can never capture the magic of a good book, and this is a good example of just that. Through reading this masterpice by Sean Kiernan, you become much more aquainted with the characters and their feelings,and are given much more information of the relationship between Conor and Claire(how they first met, etc). Well worth reading.

I have never seen the show ROAR, but the book was awesome! Sean Kiernan is now one of my favorite authors, and I can't wait to read the sequel. It was great literature, very descriptive. I couldn't put it down. It had a different sort of plot, but very interesting. I recommend it! Great book!

I've been a fan of the series since it first aired and was extremely disappointed when Fox cancelled it without airing the last 5 episodes. I then heard about the books coming out, but could not get my hands on them till now. I finished Roar yesterday and all I can is wow! I love that they included the story behind the story with Gar as a young man and Conor not even born yet. I also liked the allusions that were made about Catlin's father. Overall I thought this book ran true to form and I'm glad that nothing was cut out that was in the pilot episode.

the Roar book was great because it gives you all the background for the show in great detail. (even if it is a little late for that) i loved the show and was upset when it went off the air in '97. this book was like a breath of fresh air to my stifling passion for Roar. i thoroughly enjoyed it and will read it again and fully intend to read the sequel. A must for any Roarior!

I had watched the T.V. show befor I read this book ( and before the show was canceled) and had thought it was great. As soon as I read Roar I thought it was great. The characters in the book were a great match for each other. If you like fantsy and Scifi, you'll love this book. And the sequal is really, really good to. It is almost better! (Sorry if there is any spelling mistakes!)

I'm a big GH fan and have watched since I was a child with my babysitter. I was a teenager when Robin and Stone's story was playing out and I loved it so much I bought Robin's Diary to relive it whenever I wanted to. These days soaps are more about violence and shockers than love and it's great to take it out and remember how it used to be.

You don't need to watch General Hospital to read this book and it to make sense. It's a great tale of young love.

Although based on a storyline from the popular soap opera General Hospital, this is actually a Romeo and Juliet type story teens can relate to. I read this for the first time as a teenager and still love it as an adult. This story looks at how two people on the verge of adulthood have to learn to live when one is HIV + and how that affects everyone in this young man's life, most notably his girlfriend Robin. Robin's courage thoughout is an inspiration.

This is my favorite book. The story covers a major crush, first love, a first time and a tragic death. I am the biggest fan of Robin and Stone around, and each time I read this book I still cry at the end. Robin and Stone will always be in my heart.

This book has everything you love in a story: friendship, love, drama, vunerabilty, complexity. I could go on and on. This story was truely the best I have ever read. I watched Robin and Stone on t.v when I was younger, but now that I have the book I appriciate it even more. I cried and cried at the end. Love to Robin and Stone forever. Thank you for this wonderful story General Hospital.

i have read and enjoyed this book many many times. I am also a huge fan of both Stone and Robin. I just have one problem with it. (not the book) i can't seem to find anything on the actor who played Stone, and i am not able to find him real name either. If anyone can help me please let me know. My email is mrs_green_thumbs@yahoo.com.i will be looking forward to more books like these.

I have only lived in the US since 2001, and SNL rapidly became my favourite show. Hence I bought this book to have a peek behind the scenes of the Manhattan studio where it all takes place, and I was not disappointed. Some of the people in it I didn't recognise as they were before my time, but I recognised many faces. Even if I hadn't, it is great to see all the backstage shots. Particularly memorable are photos of a writer hunched over a laptop, with Norm McDonald smiling over his shoulder, and Chris Farley sitting at the head of the table in a crowded writers room. There are also lots of other great shots of people building sets, working on costumes, doing all the pre-show stills for the commercial break etc - all of this exactly what I was interested in.

What jumps off the page for me is the camraderie that obviously exists between everyone on the show - obviously there are rivalries and creative tensions, but you can tell there is a group mentality that connects everyone in the photos. There are some treasured memories in here for the lucky few that were there at the time.

This is the next best thing to actually being involved with the show yourself, and as such, I recommend it wholeheartedly. A flood of images! Lovely stuff to have on your coffee table or beside your bed.

A great book, really good if you only started watching SNL in the last few yaers and would like to know about the earlier years.

I'm sorry to say that this book was published a year too early. It went to press after the 1993-94 season which was SNL's 19th. Were the authors and publishers so anxious to get it out? I guess they were. Anyway,this book tells about the amazing history of Saturday Night Live. Every overall cast member,director,writer,producer and everyone else involved. We'll never forget October 11,1975,the day of its premiere. The premiere episode began with the late John Belushi and the late writer Michael O'Donoughue in a sketch called "The Wolverines". O'Donoughue played a psychiatrist and Belushi was the patient. At the end of that sketch and before the pre-taped opening montage played,Chevy Chase came out yelling "LIVE FROM NEW YORK,IT'S SATURDAY NIGHT!",which is said at the beginning of every show,even to this day. Chase didn't stay very long on the show. Before the end of 1976,Chase,the first Weekend Update anchorman,went to Hollywood. Jane Curtin,another original cast member succeeded Chase on Weekend Update. Shortly after Chase's departure,in came Bill Murray from Chicago. After 1978-79,Belushi and Dan Aykroyd left SNL to go Hollywood and concentrate on their Blues Brothers act,initiated on SNL. They filmed THE BLUES BROTHERS in '79,a year after Belushi's first starring film ANIMAL HOUSE. In 1979-80,Harry Shearer joined remaining original members Curtin,Garrett Morris,Laraine Newman and Gilda Radner. After that season,all five were gone. The 1980-81 season began unusually late due to the actors' strike and Presidential debate between Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan(the SNL studio was used for the debate). That season brought an entirely new cast,one of them being Joe Piscopo who stayed thru 1983-84. Eddie Murphy,then age 19,joined the show and departed with Piscopo. Another member was Gilbert Gottfried who was then not-so-famous. Jean Doumanian succeeded original producer Lorne Michaels,who had left with the remainder of the original cast. Gottfried was let go after 1980-81. In 1981-82,Piscopo and Murphy had new castmates,some of them Canadians. Robin Duke and Tim Kazurinsky are Canadian like original member Dan Aykroyd. Later(1984-85) came Billy Crystal who almost became an original member,and James Belushi,John's brother. Also joining in 1984-85 was Martin Short,who'd go Hollywood himself later. The following season,things finally settled down in studio 8H. Lorne Michaels returned,triumphantly(Doumanian was fired after 1980-81 and succeeded by Dick Ebersol) to serve as producer like he did for SNL's first 5 seasons. The new cast members were Nora Dunn,Dana Carvey,Kevin Nealon,Victoria Jackson and Dennis Miller who'd become the next Weekend Update anchorman. Mike Myers joined in 1989. Myers and Carvey became Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar,two hard-rocking and babe-loving buddies on the sketch Wayne's World,later inspiring two films. Chris Farley and David Spade later came and also went Hollywood. Another big SNL star is Adam Sandler,another film star. Sandler previously worked for NBC,guest-starring on a few episodes of The Cosby Show. Every show had a guest host and musical guest(some shows had more than one of each). We will never forget the Coneheads,Emily Litella,the Festrunk Brothers,Ed Grimley and Wayne's World(sorry if I forgot anything). We also won't forget John Belushi,who died in 1982 of a drug overdose and Gilda Radner who died at 42 of ovarian cancer. Farley fatally overdosed on drugs in 1997. O'Donoughue succumbed to lung cancer in '94. Oh, by the way,Bill's brother Brian Doyle Murray was an SNL member from 1981 to '84. This book should have been updated in 2000 for the show's 25th anniversary. After nearly 29 years on the air,Saturday Night Live continues to pull in tens of viewers from 11:30 PM to 1 AM,EST.

Since its television debut in 1995 few will argue the fact that Saturday Night Live was a cultural, comedic, and TV phenomenon.

Here in one volume is a collection of the sketches, characters, performers and phrases that first appeared on the show that kept many of us up late.

It's also a visual reminder of some of the great comedians who were first showcased there and the once shocking catch phrases that became a part of our collective vocabulary.

This book is an awesome book! you can learn about every castmember in the show up until 94'. You can learn about all the hosts, all the years, all the musical guests, all the backstage info, all the famous songs(including Adam Sandler's Songs), and much much more. Not only will it let you know your facts, but you will enjoy it! Trust me, buy it!!!!!!

A fun adventure, definitely worth the ride. Bob Smith gives us a central character (Nelson) that grabs our hand and says, "Hey, come with me. I've got a story to tell." Smith (and Nelson) guides us along a well crafted and page-turning plot that is funny, thought-provoking and unpredictable.
Thanks for a great trip, Bob.

I've always enjoyed Mr. Smith's comedy plus his previous autobiographies. This book continues in mostly the same vein, quirky, irreverent, self-deprecating, totally enjoyable. I do wish it could have been edited down a little, as he does tend to go on a bit in some of the scenes (much like a Saturday Night Live skit that goes on beyond the laughter) but still, this book is worth a whirl.

I have not finished the book yet, but so far it is great. I have never laughed so hard from reading a book before.

It didn't make me want to go fishing in Alaska but I sure am glad I read about it. Bob Smith combines Hollywood and Anchorage. Enjoy!

Much of Bob Smith's novel SELFISH & PERVERSE is set in and around Anchorage, Alaska, where there is no IKEA store, enough to make me want to move there. The narrator is Nelson Kunker, from Los Angeles, who is stalled on a novel he has been writing for far too long. He meets Roy Briggs, a fisherman/archeology student from Alaska. They ride off into the Alaskan sunset but not quite. A recently-sprung-from-prison actor named Dylan Fabizak gets in the way of this romance, particularly on the side of the narrator who is a sucker for good abs and the rest of the perfect male body. Actually all three main characters are hotter than a stove in the cold of Alaska, but this is a requirement for a good beach novel. In short, these men look like no one many of us will ever know. Muscles ripple and temptation is never far from the surface.

Mr. Smith lets his narrator say some extremely funny things, the best thing about this novel, as well as giving pungent opinions. Nelson on older men, which for him is anyone over 40: "Their beauty was like the sunshine in winter: I could see the light but didn't feel the heat and my appreciation remained dispassionate." His take on reading: "My reading tended to proceed like a row of falling dominoes, one book leading me to the next." Bittersweet chocolate tastes like "an adults only confection sold in the no-one-under-21-admitted backroom of a candy store." Nelson believes that normal men think about sex all the time but sex addicts have sex all the time. He describes modern Scandinavian furniture as "mission furniture designed by agnostics." Then there's Roy's hierarchial catalogue of body odors (page 311), a little too risque to be quoted here.

After all these witty and often insightful observations, near the end of the novel Nelson contemplates writing a sketch about Lucille Ball and Ethel Rosenberg that is in such bad taste and so not funny that you have to wonder what Mr. Green was thinking. Had he done his homework, he would have known that the authorities in June of 1953 had difficulty carrying out her execution. It took her a long time to die (think cruel and unusual punishment), and the executioner kept giving her more electrial jolts. Additionally while the case of the Rosenbergs still remains controversial, many scholars contend that Mrs. Rosenberg was innocent of the charge of conspiracy to commit espionage for which she was executed. Be that as it may, to attempt to make something funny abut such a horrific event in our history is totally inappropriate, at least to me. I suspect the Rosenberg children, Robert and Michael Meeropol, who have written eloquently about their parents and whom no relative would adopt, would agree with me.

This is a very good book on Walt Disney World. It is far superior to the 20th Anniversary Book "Walt Disney World 20 Magical Years". Although, many of the pictures are the same, there are alot more in Since the World Began.

In addition, this book provides much more information on the creation of the park. Still the best book on the creation of the Disney theme parks is "Disneyland: Inside Story" by Randy Bright. Since this is out of print, Walt Disney World 20 Magical Years is a good choice.

Walt Disney lives.

No, I'm not talking about the urban legend about him being cryogenically sealed and stashed below the Pirates of the Caribbean exhibition. Nor is this some soft New Ageism about spirits inhabiting the celestial plane.

He's alive down on a plot of land outside of Orlando, Florida, a boom city that was a dumpy little crossroad when Walt began buying what became a 30,000-acre spread there is the late 1960s.

Walt's gone, but his vision and energy lives on, and once you start dipping into "Since the World Began," you'll see that the scope of his vision is nothing short of awesome.

There are many faces of Disney, the producer of family-friendly and highly profitable movies, the creator of family-friendly theme parks, but also a visionary who thought that, as one associate put it, "bad information was responsible for all the evil in the world." Who tried to change people's attitudes within the confines of an amusement park, the man whose idealism spawned the Epcot center, and under Michael Eisner, the Disney Institute, where education and learning are on a par with entertainment.

What the book won't tell you -- this is published by Hyperion, Disney's publishing arm, and written by Jeff Kurtti, a longtime Disney employee -- is just what hell Walt went through to realize his vision. You won't hear of Disney's fundamentalist upbringing, his retreat into fantasy to escape a brutal father and life in poverty, his endless hard work to make animated movies, his multiple nervous breakdowns. His brother Roy is idealized as the business brain behind Walt's success, but you won't hear that Roy constantly opposed Disney's ideas as a waste of money. When Kurtti writes that Disney founded the design firm Walt Disney Imagineering in 1952 "because he realized that he wouldn't be able to create Disneyland within the boundaries of the studio system," he doesn't mention that it was also because Roy and the Disney board refused to advance Walt the money to design Disneyland, fearing that it would be a failure.

There was plenty of reason for Roy to be worried, too. Disney's ideas constantly threw the company perilously close to bankruptcy, generally on the order of every 18 months, until Disney's deal with ABC in 1955 made him very wealthy and put the company on a firm financial footing. Walt Disney was an idealist and a visionary, and if it wasn't for his tenacity, the company would not be the worldwide giant it is today.

Even while ignoring those shadings, there is still plenty of story left to make "Since the World Began" an awe-inspiring overview of Walt Disney World. It's probably the single largest and most complex construction project this side of the space shuttle. Its statistics are jaw-dropping: 55 miles of canals and levees were built to control the water levels, nine acres of underground corridors thread through the park, housing sewer lines, pipes and cables, and a pneumatic system for hauling trash, 60,000 plants and 800 varieties of trees acquired, moved and transplanted to build the park, 100,000 pounds of linen had to be washed every day.

As befitting its creator, the theme park was ahead of its time in its use of innovative technology. WDW was also the first area to implement 911 service in Florida, the first commercial venture to use fiber optic cables, the first telephone system using underground cable instead of overhead wires.

But the park was also a reflection of Walt Disney's vision of a global coming together of different peoples and cultures, learning about each other and attempting to find and enjoy peace as a result. It's globalization with a human face, to borrow someone else's phrase, and even if it seems outdated or even impossible in this post-9/11 world, Walt's beliefs is a hopeful and sustaining vision, and as American as the culture from which it sprang.

The author dives into the nuts and bolts of Disney history, including the formation of the Reedy Creek Improvement District and Disney's unique infrastructure. Yet the book isn't bogged down with technical, intricate details. Any Disney fan should enjoy reading about the Imagineering behind all four Florida parks' concepts, the hidden meanings of the names on Main Street's second floor windows, the transformation of Tomorrowland, ad infinitum. I received the book as a gift in 1996 and I've enjoyed reading through it several times.

Wow, wow, wow what a great book depicting the history of the number one vacation spot on the planet. I actually bought this book when it came out about 5 years ago. After reading it, I decided I'm going back to Dinsey World to celebrate its 25th birthday. Needless, to say it was a great trip. This is the book for all you wanting to know about Dinsey World History. For Dinseyland I would reccommend Disneyland: Inside Story, but getting on of those under... is a hard task.... What are you waiting for, buy this book! Get ready to experience the magic!

This is a very good book on Walt Disney World. It is far superior to the 20th Anniversary Book "Walt Disney World 20 Magical Years". Although, many of the pictures are the same, there are alot more in Since the World Began.

In addition, this book provides much more information on the creation of the park. Still the best book on the creation of the Disney theme parks is "Disneyland: Inside Story" by Randy Bright. Since this is out of print, Walt Disney World 20 Magical Years is a good choice.

I have collected and used books on sound system engineering for many years and this book has quickly become my favorite. Mine has been borrowed by other engineers so often that I have purchased a second copy. Don and Gene are among the most experienced in the field. They have also both tried to share thier knowledge with others throughout thier careers. This combination of knowledge and desire to share it has produced a book that explains complex ideas in a way that leaves the reader with few questions. It is clear and concise, and is supported by a great number of charts and diagrams. I can't imagine a better way to capture thier knowledge and share it with others. A great number of professionals are going to benefit from this book, and I expect it will be the industry standard for many years to come.

One of the better books in my collection, and I have many on acoustics and audio from the highly technical to hands-on.

I owned 1st version before and the 3rd revision is a more complete version and gives more information on digital processing aspect.

Sound System Engineering, 3rd Edition contains a wealth of information on the design, implementation and testing of sound reinforcement systems. Don Davis' section on audio and acoustic measurements is a must read for anyone serious about performing such tasks. The concepts he discusses about signal delay/synchronization and room acoustics will help the reader to understand what is at the very basis of these topics.

Similarly, Eugene Patronis' section on loudspeakers and arrays is not to be missed. It will have you going back again and again to find that piece of information you need about horns, direct radiators, crossovers and arrays. His presentation of signal processing starts with basic sampling and progresses through system theory and digital audio.

Two of the latter chapters on equalization and "putting it all together" are true gems. They yield practical information that you'll be using the next time you're faced with the issues covered.

Sound System Engineering, 3rd Edition takes all of the knowledge contained in the 2nd edition and augments it with up-to-date interface methods and advances in the field of audio and acoustics since its last publication. This text is equally suited for both the novice and the veteran audio practitioner. It is written in such a manner that each time you read a portion of it, something new will come to light.


Charlie Hughes
President
Excelsior Audio Design & Services

Congratulations to Don Davis and Eugene Patronis, Jr. for writing the most informative book on sound system engineering ever. The book contains all of the elements of theory, design and practical installation. The book is an excellent reference for the sound system engineer.

Sound System Engineering, Third Edition is the most complete technical book on sound system engineering I have ever read. It is a concentrated capsule of knowledge that gives the theory as well as instructions of how to implement the theory. Don has recorded for us how to do the installation process. Dr. Patronis has given us the physics back of the theory and he added the mathematics so one can reporduce the results. There are places that Doc uses the "It is intuitively obvious..." leap of knowledge that some might have trouble working through but it can be done.

Thank you for such a great work

Don Eger, Owner, Don Eger & Associates

I bought this book after discovering (from a google search) that George Tabb and I share many of the same life experiences - we both attended Leon High School in the late 70's, rode the same school bus (the "Nairobi Express" as George's brother called it), and were both "Rocky Horror" devotees @ the same theater on North Monroe st.

Like George, I also first saw the Ramones live when I was 16(in Atlanta) and later sat transfixed (and alone) through 5 screenings of "Rock and Roll High School" at the Tallahassee Mall and... we both attended the same Ramones show in Gainesville, FL in 1980.

I even wrecked my parents car at the same intersection as he did!

Surfing Armageddon contains so many untruths, distortions, and just plain hogwash that I have to go through them in a list.

1. I assume the sale price of his Fathers house in Greenwich, CT in 1977 was 1.4 million and not 14.1 as printed. 14.1 million for a single family house in Greenwich is high even by 2008's standards and would have been unheard of in 1977. Dunnellen Hall, which is now the most expensive property on the market in Greenwich @125 million (followed by Old Mill Farm @ 39.5), sold in 1976 for 3 million.

2. Tallahassee is within driving distance of, but not part of, the Redneck Riviera as Tabb frequently refers to it. This would be comparable to calling Yonkers "The Hamptons".

3. There were many Jewish students attending Leon High in 1978/79 including members of the football team. There were three synagogues in Tallahassee at that time and the idea that a Jewish kid would have caused such an uproar (or that a group of athletes chanting JEW JEW JEW would force him to pull his pants down to reveal the oddity of a circumcised penis) is preposterous.

And I can personally vouch for the fact that 99% of the boys in the locker room, whether Jewish or not, were circumcised. If anyone stood out it would be the one kid with foreskin!

4. The Killearn section of Tallahassee is a wealthy neighborhood populated by Doctors, Lawyers, Professors and high-ranking State Officials. Tabb's account of encountering barefoot, redneck children spouting off about niggers, jews, and jesus on the sidewalks of this manicured , country club enclave is highly improbable.

Tallahassee is very progressive politically and has voted Democratic in every national election since 1992. Tallahassee was also the first U.S. State Capitol to elect a Black Mayor - James Ford in 1972, 76, and 82 - who was followed by Penny Shaw-Herman (a JEWESS!)

5. Mad Dog contractors are a progressive, green oriented (since 1974), company of (basically) hippies who started a business as an outgrowth of their work with the Miccosukee Land Co-op and are now one of the leading contractors in Leon County. HIPPIES - NOT REDNECKS!

6. Tabb states that 11th grade in Tallahassee is like 6th grade any where else in the country. Because of the presence of three large universities in town, Tallahassee schools have always been top-rated. In fact, in 2006, Leon High was rated 109th in the U.S. by Newsweek Magazine's highly regarded "1000 Best Public High Schools in America" with Tallahassee's 3 other high schools coming in at 115, 153, and 157.

Maybe if he had left Greenwich High (which does not make Newsweek's List) a little earlier he would have learned the history of the Ku Klux Klan and where babies came from before starting college- (we had already covered those subjects in Middle School).

7. I was at Rocky Horror almost every weekend of it's first year's run on N. Monroe st. and never saw anyone who could be called the "Sal Piro" of Tallahassee.

8. I attended FSU so I can only say that his college dorm mate's being involved with the klan and keeping a klan robe in his dorm closet (as well as his racist remarks and violent behavior in the dorm) would have sparked a campus-wide protest and would have certainly resulted in his expulsion had it happened 100 miles away at the other large state university.

I'm just assuming that some of the characters in the book are composites of people Tabb COULD have met in Florida - but I doubt that this really was a student at U of F.

p.s. George - do some homework on the klan - who and what they were in 1980 in central FL. The Southern Law Poverty Center is a great starting place...

Finally, despite everything I've mentioned, and the fact that Tabb stoops to the use of a "Magical Negro" to free him from his conflicted family life in the last chapter of the book, by the end I had developed an affection for this lonely, searching , virgin and actually enjoyed the book.

Like all great writers, you don't have to have read GT's first book "Playing Right Field: A Jew Grows In Greenwich" to "get" his follow up of "Surfing Armageddon: A Memoir". You will, most likely, want to...but it ain't a requirement.

Taking up pretty much where the first book ended, "S.A." is the continued saga of noted punkrock writer/performer George Tabb...a view into the trials and tribulations that helped make him the man he is today. And the title is prophetic as well, as George continues with his personal showdown between good and evil to this very day...but that is a story for another blog.

This a book filled with sex (or the lack thereof), drugs and redemption thru Rock and Roll...those teenaged rites of passage that can either make you or break you.

A rollercoaster of a read, don't be surprised if you find tears of laughter rolling down your face one minute...and those of empathy the next...as GT takes you along for the ride on the inroads of his teen years. You'll meet his siblings...as well as his pals and his adversaries...an abusive father and wicked stepmother...his misaligned mother and stepfather...a brief but unforgetable image of his grandmother Rosie...and includes a roomie whose pater familia is Grand Wizard of the KKK...a cast of characters that you just couldn't make up if you tried.

Be that as it may...it's easy to identify with our young hero, George. Whether you were a geek or a freak...a rich kid or poor...boy OR grrl..."Surfing Armageddon" is a brutely honest mirror reflecting back all the pain and pleasure we hold back inside.

A GREAT read that leaves you wanting more...

but I don't think Amazon would allow me to use it in a review.

Surfing Armageddon: A Memoir is a, well, a memoir. It follows young Tabb from Connecticut confines to a re-envisioned Tara in Tallahassee, and ultimately toward salvation at the University of Florida. Sex & Drugs & Rock 'n Roll ensue. Also a job and a car and more than one obsession can be found along the way.

But let me back up a bit.

I've heard most of these stories over the years in some form or other, usually shorter. But it was nice to read them in chronological order, putting some sense to them. Well, maybe not sense but perspective at least...

This book reads more like a novel than his previous effort. I feel that with Surfing Armageddon, George has finally found his voice outside newspaper and magazine essays - and it is as funny and clever as ever.

Whether or not you know, or know of, George, this peek into his life will please most voyeurs.


Personally, I'm looking forward to the third installment, post-virginity to 9/11 and beyond.

Surfing Armageddon is easily George Tabb's best work so far,and if you've read his columns and last book,you know that's saying alot. It's got everything the reader expects from his stories and more. As George gets older, his style of writing somehow makes you feel like you're getting into your late teens along with him. The stories become more similar to your own experiences i.e. too much masturbating, only caring about losing your virginity, almost dying after smoking a joint laced with enough chemicals to give you the strangest hallucination imaginable, falling in love with the easter bunny at the mall, having a wanna be slave master father who you catch practing cracking the whip in a full white southern suit in the middle of the night, and so on. The book slowly becomes more dramatic towards the end that provides the most shocking and satisfying conclusion that one could ask for.

No one can tell a story like Mr. Tabb. If you've read his first book, Playing Right Field, or any of his MRR columns, you know that.

George's journey through first experiences with sex, drugs, punk rock and Rocky Horror are both hilarious and heart wrenching. The ups, the downs, the good, the bad - George makes it feel like you're experiencing it all right beside him. From his first leather jacket, to losing his virginity and back again... it is impossible to put down. The end leaves you with tears in your eyes, a smile on your face, and an intense curiosity about what happens next. This book, along with Playing Right Field, has skyrocketed to the top of my list of favorite reads, and I recommend it to anyone and everyone.

I am finding this book very useful for a rounded guide to technical theatre for those of us who are 'Jacks of all Trades'. I am a solo technician in a Performing arts college in the UK and find it a useful recourse as I have to don many hats and it makes a good refresher or guide for the less experienced.
It is well written and I find it honest and light and gives a good bit of detail about specific technicalities without the really mind boggling stuff that I guess 'non technical people' would get someone in for anyway.
Every director should have a copy, or anyone who has to work with technicians as it is a great overview of different roles and the work that different departments put in.
Have a go. It's worth the money in my humble opinion.

Campbell is a consummate technician, with experience in all areas of entertainment. He certainly knows his stuff and has made it accessible to anyone interested (even casually) in theater and how to make it happen. I interviewed Campbell for my own book, Careers in Technical Theater, and he is included in the chapter detailing technical directors, where he makes clear just how much there is to know about tech theater. Technical Theater for Nontechnical People helps bridge the gap between folks as experienced and knowledgeable as Campbell, and those just trying to put on a show who may lack even the basics. Highly recommended.

Very informative book, does what its says it will do, easy to understand.

I found this to be an excellent treatise on what it takes from a tecnical standpoint to mount a successful show. I've been involved with Community Theater for over 40 years and I learned a few new tricks of the trade.
The community theater company I'm involved with now has recently merged with a local art gallery to create a center for the arts. The paid staff has little to no theatrical experience yet has to interact with not only our local members but potential touring groups, local bands, etc. I am recommending to the executive director that the entire staff be required to read the book as part of their asscending the learning curve related to theatrical productions.

This is a wonderful book, but did you know there's a revised 2004 edition available? Click on "Paperback (2nd)" so you can get the most updated information on this subject.

"There is No Box" takes the reader through the entire sales process in step by step order. One would have to read and study multiple Sales and Motivational books to get what is contained in "There is No Box." This book is great for both new and experienced sellers. I carry "There is No Box" in my bag with me everyday for easy and quick reference.

My dad purchased There Is No Box for me and it helped me with my buisness class. I suggested this book to my friends and they LOVED it! I'm looking foward to getting and reading the updated version.

THERE IS NO BOX should be required reading for all college freshman. It is more than a sales and marketing text.

THERE IS NO BOX is a must read for minds that strive for ongoing personal growth.Optimism and mental toughness are overriding themes in the book which translates into long-term self improvement.

I found "There Is No Box" by accident while surfing for new management books on sales and marketing. (I didn't expect a book on sales to be titled; "There Is No Box".) But it was the title that actually got me interested. I have had excellent success for years in sales and marketing. Now as a manager, I wanted a reference book, a quick read reminder to keep me and my sales department fresh without long examples or boring material. This book did just that. Each subject is concise and easy enough to bring into a sales meeting and talk about for a few minutes. The techniques are proven and the author doesn't impose his way, but instead credits others that along the way have contributed successful selling ideas. I strongly recommend this book for those who want a reference to keep in their briefcase of on their desktop. If you're new to selling, this book will give you an excellent start by developing your personal skills as it leads you through the selling process. I also agree with another reviewer that this is excellent for students.

I have read a lot of sales books and have attended more than my share of sales seminars. Seldom is the content clearly written by sales managers, for sales people. In THERE IS NO BOX, the information is of "how to" rather than "one should" of real examples rather that philosophies about what should work and answers a lot of tough questions where others have failed to go.

This book is brill as it is all about helping each other. In this story the real teen van comes to MK and A's school.Ashley thinks she is going to win the fashion shoot they shot(so 1 pupil can have a chance to be in the mag! When Ashley goes to winners board she realises it is not herself who won but someone totally different!What is she going to do?

I liked this book because it shows that you should never thinkthat you (Ashley) can win. But even though Mary Kate got picked shewas nice and shared the spotlight with her sister.

In another 2 of a Kind book that reminds me of Sweet Valley Twins,a scout visits Mary-Kate and Ashley's school to choose a one-time model to appear in Real Teen magazine.Ashley couldn't be more excited!She starts turning up at school in sparkly dresses and high-heels.Mary-Kate thinks modelling is silly and playfully teases Ashley over her love of it.There is surprise in both girls when it is Mary-Kate who is chosen as the new Real Teen.Ashley begs Mary-Kate to swap places with her,but after MAry-Kate is conjoled into agreeing ,she starts to regret it.

I would give this book 6 *s(stars) if I could. It is entrancing and funny at the same time.

TWO OF A KIND My sister the super model Reviewed By: Brenda Adams from Tennessee

I give this book five stars because it's a great book about two paternal twin girls. The twins and their best friend, Jennifer Dealber where interested in modeling. The twins both had different opinions on why they wanted to tryout for the modeling contest. With the help of their father, they were able to proceed in the contest. They encountered a few problems but over came them. The reader, will find themselves caught up in the story. Readers of all ages will really enjoy this very cool book!