Media Books

AWESOME! Stories and illustrations are top rate! Even my Dad (a die hard fan) would approve.

If you've never read (or wanted to read) Uncle Scrooge stories, thinking they're just funny animal comics, take a look at this book. You'll be surprised. This is an epic. The detail Rosa puts into these stories and illustrations is incredible. I find myself going mad, staring at covers and splash pages, seeking out the cleverly hidden D.U.C.K.s. The stories are enhanced by Rosa's "director's notes" after each story. I've never read much Uncle Scrooge before, but I'm going to seek out as much Rosa (and Barks) as I can, now.

I was fasinated by the way Don Rosa treated Carl Barks' story and yet put his own stamp on both the Duck, the clientele and history, even details of geografy like in Dawson. So it may be excused that Mississippi and Ohio are mixed a bit. All in all, if you care for Scrooge McDuck, the book is a must. If you do not care about him, be careful not to read it, you just might become a follower.

My kids love this book! I love this book! The only reason I give it a 4 star rating instead of a 5 is because the binding is terrible. I bought 2 of these books and after a few times of handling the book, the binding pops off the cover and individual pages start falling out. Very frustrating.

(this review encompasses both The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck and the Life and Times Companion--I highly recommend reading the two in conjunction)

I know I'm not the only duck fan who refuses to read any non-Carl Barks stories--unless they're by Don Rosa. Rosa seems to be the only one who really understands and respects Barks' work; unlike the great mass of European duck writers, he builds upon it while not dragging it off in overly cartoonish, Disney-esque directions. His best stories rival those of the master--and the work under consideration can definitely be put in that category. That he was able to synthesize so many off-hand Barks references into a coherent narrative--let alone one that astounds and delights the way this does--is really pretty incredible.

The Life and Times has its flaws, as perhaps do ALL great literary works (yes! I said it). The fact that Rosa had to work within a fairly tight framework with a specific goal in mind means that some of the stories, especially the earlier ones, can feel a little forced. The final installment, although necessary, feels a little bit pat. And--although this may be just a matter of personal preference--I feel like Scrooge's initial encounter with Flintheart Glomgold in the African section gives ol' Flinty short shrift. In Barks' stories--the first two, at least--he's a more complex character than he's given credit for here.

That said, however, this does a LOT more right than it does wrong. Rosa has worked before to expand Scrooge's character (see the absolutely essential "Last Sled to Dawson," readily available in several collections), but here he really takes it to another level. The first half of this narrative is more or less straight adventure stories (rousing adventure stories!), but things become considerably more interesting in the latter half, for several reasons. Firstly, there are the Yukon stories with Scrooge's lost love Glittering Goldie. These are particularly popular with fans, and for good reason: I don't really imagine that Barks had any notion when he introduced the character that the two of them would have had so much history, but Rosa handles it beautifully. He's SUCH a hopeless romantic when it comes to the two of them. I love it. Furthermore! "Prisoner of White Agony Creek" features an implied sex scene! Much to everyone's delight! Barks couldn't have gotten away with something like that. And if you never imagined that a duck comic could break your heart, you haven't read "Hearts of the Yukon."

Secondly, Rosa doesn't shy away from showing the less appealing aspects of Scrooge's character. In the latter part of the series, we see him gradually losing his ability to take in natural beauty for anything other than its potential for exploitation for monetary gain; we also see him being increasingly vicious and inequitable in his business dealings. "The Sharpie of the Culebra Cut"* even touches on something you wouldn't necessarily have expected; namely, the vague unease that some fans (like me) feel at the fact that Barks' archeological expeditions always involve Scrooge profiting from ancient treasures while disregarding their historical and cultural value.

The climax of the second half of the narrative comes in part eleven, though. Scrooge's highly self-satisfied account of his exploitation of African natives in Barks' "Voodoo Hoodoo" is an uncomfortable moment for duck fans; Rosa, to his credit, does not disregard this incident but confronts it head-on and makes it emblematic of Scrooge's moral downfall (of course, the fact that in Barks' story--after his alleged repentance--he's still gleeful about it doesn't make much sense, but I don't suppose there was much that could be done about that). Scrooge's return to Duckburg and subsequent abandonment by his sisters at the end of the story is quite powerfully dark. I almost wish the story had ended there--but, of course, that wouldn't have been appropriate, given the universe in which Rosa is operating.

Rosa also provides commentary on each story, which is fascinating to read. His love of and respect for this material is always apparent. It's inconceivable to me that, tasked with chronicling Scrooge's life, any other writer could have done as well. The book wouldn't exist without Barks' classic comics as a foundation, of course, but I'm going to go out on a blasphemous limb (the worst kind of limb!) and say that The Life and Times surpasses any of Barks' work. I can't read regular Scrooge comics in quite the same way since finishing it.

*Since Rosa is such a stickler for getting historical details correct, I have to be obnoxious and point out that he made a pretty big mistake here: Scrooge claims to be able to read Mayan glyphs, which is pretty impressive, since they hadn't even been deciphered at the time of the story.

I love the message in this book, that even when Little Gorilla isn't little anymore, everybody still loves him.

I'm meh on the illustrations - they're not my favorite style, but that's rarely my priority anyway :) The color choices seem odd to me, but really, I don't pay that much attention myself.

On good days, I like that the book has a nice, calm pace. On other days, I'm frustrated that it takes so long to get *absolutely nowhere*. I know it's a board book, but it's a book about birthdays, not bedtimes - you'd expect a little more action in it.

And most of all, it doesn't really engage my nieces, and never has. When we read it, it's because I choose to read it for a change, they never do.

what is there to not love about this book? there aren't too many words & the pictures are so cute that there are plenty of things to have a conversation with my baby about. (You know, like, "Look at that butterfly! Is it pretty?" or "Do you see how much hippo loves gorila? She's taking him to the bananas. Do you see the bananas?") The story is warm & cute & it's a great birthday gift! Thanks to the person who gave it to us!

This was one our favorite childhood books. When I saw it on Amazon it brought back so many wonderful memories. My brother especially liked this book. My sister is having a baby and would really appreciate this book from our childhood. We're all in our thirties too!

My daughter loves this book. The illustrations are wonderful and the easy to follow text is great.

I bought Little Gorilla on a whim because my son loves gorillas and at the time it was the cheapest board book on the shelf. I had no idea that it would soon become one of his favorite books as well as one that he would soon commit to memory.

Little Gorilla is a delightful tale of a young gorilla who is loved by "just about everyone in the great green forest". When he suddenly begins to grow (and grow), he finds that everyone still loves him. This simple little tale may not seem like much at first, but as my son approached his second birthday I could tell that the book offered an additional measure of reassurance that even though he was becoming a big boy, his family and friends would still love him.

I worried briefly that the authors unusual artistic style might not appeal to my son (aside from the title character these animals aren't what you'd consider "cute"), but he took to it right away, and after repeated readings (too many to count) he was able to supply some of the words to the story if I left a line unfinished. At this point he can almost recite the whole thing. Fortunately so can I. Even when the book is nowhere close, reciting this story is all but guaranteed to soothe most tantrums and crying fits, and does wonders to calm him before bedtime.

Little Gorilla gets this parent's highest recommendation. It's perfect for children between 1 and 3, and is perfect for expecting parents as well.

This is the story that got it all started. If you haven't read this book then you are in for a treat, and before you finish this book make sure you have chances, lady boss, dangerous kiss on hand because you are going to need to know what happen next. I assure you.

Readers, please get all of Jackie Collins books, they are sensational. Get the book (Chances) first, then continue on to Lucky. The books will knock your socks off. All of Ms. Collins books are rated 5 stars as far as I'm concerned. Good reading material. You will like all of them.

Jackie Collins' Lucky, is a novel about power, love, lust, sex and crime. Daughter of a powerful man, Lucky Santangelo, an erotic and wild beauty, plans on continuing the family tradition with honor. Hungry for power, success and pleasure Lucky sets out seeking for her desires. Before she knows it, Lucky embarks herself on an adventure full of glory, passion, trouble, sex, vengeance and suspense. From Vegas to New York after her father's unexpected and undesirable wedding. Pregnant by the world's richest man, Dimitri Stanislopoulos, a passionate lover, Lucky lives her life between her East Hampton home in New York and her son's father's private Greek Islands. Off on business in Atlantic City, Lucky hits the road with power, money, glory and love. Her glory is cut short, when her dangerous past catches her back leading her to court.

This novel is extraordinary. This novel kept me reading, I couldn't take my eyes or mind off the book. Jackie Collins gets deep into descriptions making you feel the characters emotions and desires. As you read on and learn more about each one, you feel that you know these people. You can just imagine each scenario in your head, and feel that you are part of the scene but that no one can see you.

In an earlier review, I said Collins wrote trashy reads; I regret that now. "Trash" is sexist as it often only refers to light fiction written by women and there's LOTS of pop fiction by men that is hardly prize-worthy. I also think calling her work "trashy" was a way for me to act as though I was above it and just reading it ironically. The truth is, Collins is great at what she does and that's writing compelling, "can't put them down" novels that can make you turn off the phone so you won't be disturbed.

"Lucky" is Collins at her best. Don't worry if you haven't read "Chances": Collins summarizes the previous book in the opening chapters. Also, don't be turned off because there is a Mob element if that's not your thing because the Mob barely figures into this tale. What we get instead is a sprawling, multi-character tale full of coincidences, surprising developments (at least once a book, Collins springs something on me that I didn't see coming) and the usual doses of sex and money.

"Lucky" is an insanely fun read. Despite the fact that it was published in 1985, the novel is as enjoyable as ever and is my highest recommendation for a fun summer read of 2007.

What more can I say? All of the money in the world could not get me to pry my fingers off of this book. In Collins' sophomore release of the Santangelo saga we get reaquainted with the awe-inspiring, business savy and headstrong Lucky Santangelo, daughter of the notorious Gino "The Ram" Santagelo -- former mob boss.

Not one iota of what Collins' writes in this book comes off as being unrealistic, boring or repeptitive. Writing a book like this takes pure, unadulturated talent!! How she manages to come up with new and exciting characters, keep us thouroughly updated on old ones, intertwine all of their storylines FLAWLESSLY and leave her fans begging for more is harder to comprehend then learning Chinese Arithmatic in Latin!

Lucky comes back geared and ready for a whole new peril. I don't know if there is much I can say about this book without giving too much away... It's just all so JUICY and addictive! I will say that we are introduced to some new characters -- Lennie Golden being the main one. As well as reuniniting with some characters some of us may have thought wouldn't come back -- Olympia and Dimirti Stanislopolous ... These three characters will influenece Lucky's life in a MAJOR way... You will just have to read to find out. This is yet another 10 star read from Ms. Collins.

I've watched a lot of television in my 28 years. I've read newspaper articles, seen press conferences, and listened to radio interviews. But I never realized the deliberate steps those people were taking to get their message across.

I had no idea that there was a thought process behind how often to plug your new venture in a radio interview (as opposed to a newspaper interview). I didn't realize that you should address a T.V. reporter differently (and more often) than reporters in other media. And I certainly didn't think about the methods used to create those "talking points" we hear so much about these days.

I'm not sure this book prepared me to immediately jump in front of the cameras. But, it caused a definite shift in my thinking. This book is an important first step for anyone who is naive about the effort required to effectively communicate with the public (via the press). It's also vital for those who are cynical about preparing for interviews, or worried about "selling out" for the purpose of gaining attention.

This book could easily be subtitled "How To Respect Your Audience." Mr. Walker spends a fair amount of time explaining that when you don't properly prepare yourself and your message, you do a huge disservice to your audience. I recommend this book as a primer in dealing with the media. It gives lot of techniques with examples. But, most importantly, it explains the rationale for each tip. Because all the techniques, tips, and tricks in the world won't help you if you don't firmly understand and believe in the power of preparation.

I wasn't to excited as I started reading this book, but it got much better. I found quite a few great ideas and helpful information if you are going to be on television. TJ Walker really gives some good tips and advice on how to sit, what to wear, what to do with your hands, and common mistakes so that you can avoid them.
I have been researching analogies since I came up with my 3 message points and am trying to come up with my own.
I would recommend this book, it is a quick read and will give you some valuable information if you have to go "on the air".

T.J. Walker is a true genius when it comes to looking good in the media. His advice, based on decades of media exposure himself, paired with a solid foundation in media best practices, have yielded the #1 methodology for getting the right message across and looking good in all forms of media. His advice is sharp, insightful, accessible and immediately applicable. His books, CDs and his personal coaching have been invaluable to me and my business.

Media Training A-Z is the #1 book I've found on this topic and I recommend it highly to anyone who plans or hopes to be in any form of media spotlight - TV, radio, or print. The advice in this book is packaged concisely enough to be read the day before you're on air, but dense enough to prepare you thoroughly - and even teach the pros a new thing or two...

TJ Walker is a clear and concise in his Media Training A-Z book. this is a very user-friendly book that is a perfect handbook for anyone who needs or wants to work with the media.

When it comes to talking to the press, people are largely divided into two camps. The first doesn't think it's anything to worry about and the second is terrified of the prospect. Media Training A-Z from TJ Walker has a little something for both groups.

I've worked with a few people who fall into the first camp. The CEO who doesn't think he needs to "waste" any time preparing for the interview ends up having a rambling, hour-long conversation, during which no message is communicated. The reporter is left with little that's usable and often takes their pick from the dozens of messages they heard. Once the interview is published or aired, the CEO complains about being misquoted or "taken out of context."

To them, Walker communicates the importance of preparing for the interview. He advises that you not enter an interview "without knowing in advance precisely the exact quotes you want to see in tomorrow's newspaper or tonight's newscast." He includes examples from the political world of how communicating can make your career (think Ronald Reagan) or break it (Howard Dean).

For the novice about to face an interview, Walker dissects it into its various parts and lays out a systematic plan of attack. The book is also loaded with tips and tricks that Walker has drawn from more than 20 years of media training experience. From what to say, wear and even drink, Walker conveys it all.

The book is not flawless. Some people may find them helpful, but the acronyms Walker uses for memorization reminded me of high school and were so long that the acronym was almost as difficult to remember as the concept to which it was related. I also could have gone to Walker's web site to find his other products and thus have done without the 30 pages he devotes to them at the end of Media Training A-Z. But those minor detractions are more than made up for by the balance of the book.

A final note for leaders (of non-profits, companies, churches, etc.): speaking to the media will most likely be unavoidable at some point in your tenure. Because what you say to the media could eventually be seen/read/heard by thousands of people, you should do your best to make sure you say it well. Media Training A-Z made me a better communicator and helped me teach my clients to do the same. Whether you're a public relations pro or prepping for your first TV interview, this book is a valuable resource.

This book totally sucked me into a world I knew nothing about. So vividly written I was practically hung over after Jeremy Prescott's party. Real, gritty, and sweet.

This book showed me that changing is not always easy. Nick is a great character and i love that he's trying to leave his past and start a new life and especially with the girl he loves, Kris. And i was so happy wen he finally told her that he loved her and all. It gave me the point of view of a guy in love. I rarely read books like this one. Plus the title made me want to read it too by the way. So its a cool book and everyone will like it just like i do. I recommend others to read it cuz its a great book and ull love nick and rute for him.

This book is great for ppl of all ages. It gives you a look at what's underneath the preppy private-school world. It takes you to a place of parties, drugs, casual, sex, and gangs. Nick is trying to change his old habbits after a bad accident with one of his friends. Yet still in this crazy world he manages to fall for his best friend. And when her brother becomes a gang target he finds himself in the middle of it all. Jake Coburn creates a world full of lies, drama, danger, and suspense. Although it was short, it is a book that will leave you in thought. It Makes you think about the lives of the privileged while also creating a dramatic Manhatten theme.

This book is about a boy named Nick who was part of a former prep-school gang. Nick and his friend have every advantage: expensive clothes and beautiful apartments. But underneath the private-school education lies the chiling gang world filled with drinking, heavy drugs, and graffiti. Nick tries to put his past beind him and pay more attention to his best friend Kris whom he is secretly in love with. But when Kris's younger brother becomes a gang target, Nick decides to help him even if he had to risk his own life.

I really like this book because it really happens in life and the author witnessed New York's teenagers form some of the most vicious gangs in Manhattan. This book has some very vivid fights and it shows what goes on in a gang and i thougth that was kind of interesting.

I would recommend this book to anyone that likes realistic-fiction, some action, likes to know what really goes on in gangs and how gangs are started. If you decide to read it. I hope you like it.

This book is basically telling you that if you start getting in trouble there is alwasy someone out there that pulls you back on you feet. I guess their sort of like your guardian angel and that was what Kris was portyrayed as.

As a former prep-school kid myself I was compelled to read Coburn's novel to see if it lived up to the truth about the secret (or not so secret) lives of New York city teens--and it did. This book kept me reading, and reading until I was disappointed to have reached the end. I would recommend it too both teens and not teens anymore.

Good quality used book, required for my high school AP Psychology course. Took about 12 days to arrive, which is too long.

A very good book for general psych. It will will help to lay the ground work for all your future psych courses.

Exeptionally good study guide. Has helped raise my son's grade in his AP physcology class.

I love this book, I'm 16 and I have no trouble understanding it (though I am smarter than your average teen). It's quite interesting and explains a lot. It's the perfect introduction to psychology for someone like myself looking to pursue it as a career.

This is the best textbook I've ever used. It is interesting and engaging. The content is excellent, but the charts, photos, quotes, cartoons, etc. make studying even more enjoyable. If you want to learn the basics of pyschology, but this book!

RATING: 4 of 5

Life choices change for all of us over time. Priorities, and those things that provide satisfaction and comfort can also change many times over in each of our lives. How couples stay together or don't is at best a gamble. Paul and Joanna are just one example among many that looked on the outside like one that would last, and yet it was simply covered by a thin veneer of tolerance that finally gave way one day. So begins Joanna's search for what will satisfy her and what she wants for her life.

Ms. McFadden has taken parts of many marriages to weave this tale of two women of different generations that meet and share the trials of their married lives and individual dreams unfulfilled. I was pulled into their stories early and as their stories progressed, I started to read slower and slower as a means of making the story last longer. I played this game of trying to figure out which way each story would turn and yet right to the end I was held at bay. I commend Ms. McFadden on her first novel and look forward to reading more of her work.

Corporate wife Joanna Harrison is suffering from extreme loneliness at the start of Maryann McFadden's novel. Her successful husband has just been promoted, so they will have to move again and she doesn't want to pack up her empty nest and start again in a new city. So to clear her head, she just leaves and drives south from New Jersey to Pawleys Island, South Carolina.

Grace Finelli is dying of pancreatic cancer. She doesn't want to burden her family with a deathwatch, so she has moved to Pawleys Island and rented a beach house. She needs someone to stay with her for her last six months of life. Joanna answers her ad and agrees to stay for six months to help with errands and cooking in exchange for a room. She does not know that Grace is terminally ill.

McFadden has created two delightful women for this book and then has woven their stories in, out and around each other. The final bit of detail in this tapestry is Joanna's husband, Paul, who is downsized out of a job soon after Joanna leaves home. While she is learning independence, he is learning to live with himself and to find useful ways to occupy his lonely days.

These characters are all well drawn and interesting. There are also several secondary characters that add spice to the novel: Paul and Joanna's son and daughter, Grace's family, and the people on Pawleys Island that care for loggerhead turtle nests on the beach. The parts about the turtle hatchlings reminded me of a similar book, The Beach House by Mary Alice Monroe, that I read in the summer of 2002.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, originally self-published in 2006.

Armchair Interviews says: This is a great summer book-easy to get into and filled with warm-hearted emotions.

I enjoyed this, as I am especially fond of Pawleys Island. It is an easy read with a decent story - although the main character is not particularly likeable nor plausible.

But the author's comment about Amazon playing games with her (relative to the pink edition of her book) was rather irritating. After all, Amazon is making her book available to the masses - I wouldn't have found her book if not for Amazon.

How often do we feel trapped within our lives? Some, more than others. How often, instead of changing things, do we just continue on, with the attitude that this is our life and it is what it is? The Richest Season is the story of Joanna, a woman married for 25 years to Paul, a corporate head honcho, with his sights set on climbing that corporate ladder, all the way to the top. With this climb has come years of moving and loneliness for Joanna, especially now that their 2 children are grown and moving on with lives of their own. It is one fateful day, while Paul is away on yet another business trip, that Joanna decides to take matters into her own hands and change her life. Not having a clue to what her future may hold, she travels to Pawleys Island, South Carolina, a place she had fallen in love with many years ago. Once there, she soon finds a job caring for an elderly lady, Grace, in exchange for room and board.

Within a short time, Joanna finds herself getting to know the "locals", carving a niche for a new life and discovering things about herself, that bring her deep happiness. She and Grace develop a close bond and rely on one another for a deep emotional connectedness, that they are missing within their own lives. In the background, however, still lingers Paul and the life that Joanna once lived. With times of uncertainty and questions plaguing her, Joanna hangs onto her new found inner strength to guide her through to what the future holds in store.

The Richest Season reminds me of Tending Roses, by Lisa Wingate. The resemblance, to me, is the lesson that we all must make the most of our lives and not just let it pass us by. Maryann McFadden's novel is one that moved me both physically and emotionally and is not one that I will soon forget. Happiness, sadness, joy and every emotion in-between, are engulfed within this beautiful masterpiece of literature. The Richest Season is a definite not to be missed story and one that everyone should have the pleasure to read. The beautiful Pawleys Island is vividly brought to life, as is the everyday existence of Southern living. Joanna, Grace and all of the characters will find a place within your heart and become part of your life within the first few pages.
Do yourself a favor, grab a copy of The Richest Season, a nice cold drink and a wonderfully comfy spot to settle in - once you start reading, you won't want to stop!

Do not miss this novel! A true treat and one I'm going to share with all of my favorite readers! Maryann McFadden tells a detailed story which makes me want to head for Pawley's Island, SC this very moment! You will LOVE this book!!

Robin Kall
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I am having to buy this book a second time because we have lost our precious first copy and my 2 1/2 year old BEGS for it CONSTANTLY. He simply cannot get enough of this book. It's his absolute favorite. He loves the rollicking rhythm and rhyme. It really has a rock-n-roll reading beat to it, and my son loves repeat some of the musical words such as "Booma lacka, Booma lacka Whack! Whack! Whack!" He loves the illustrations of the dinosaurs, since he's big into dinosaurs at the moment. But even if your child is not into dinosaurs, he/she will love hearing this book or reading this book aloud. And I have to admit, because the book flows off the tongue with such entertaining, dancy rhythms, both my husband and I LOVE to read this book to our son. It's so important when you're a parent, to buy books you yourself can stand to read over and over and over to your child, and not get bored. "Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp" is one book I enjoy reading to my son EVERY TIME.

This is one of my son's favorite books. He's a huge dinosaur lover and I remember reading him this book all the time...still brings it out now and then. If you have a dinosaur lover, you'll love this book.

My 5 yr. old son bought this book with his allowance as one of the "recommendations" from Amazon. I love reading it to him as much as he loves having it read to him. He's a HUGE dinosaur fan and loves to rhyme so this book is right up his alley. We highly recommend it!!

A good picture book to read to a 9-month old who doesn't want to sit still is hard to find, but this book is fantastic. The book just reads so fluently like you can't keep up with turning the pages!! Both the words and the pictures are so lively, bright and fun ... it totally absorbs you into the dinosaur stomp:-)

We first found this book at the library and found ourselves checking it out time and time again. My daughter is two and a half, though she first fell in love with this book right around the time she turned two. After months of checking it out, I decided it was time to buy our own copy.

It's full of clever rhymes and ideas about dinosaurs and lots of dinosaur identification in a fun way. The pictures are great and the words are even better. Boys and girls alike would enjoy this. My daughter knows all the words to it now, but I still enjoy reading it to her frequently.

One of the most valuable lessons I learned from reading Sheeraz - the Muslim American Dream is that we can't stay in our comfort zones. A lot of us work hard and sometime down the road we make a success of our business. But success is a relative term. We might reach a point that we're making three- or four- or five-figure incomes and in the eyes of everyone else around us we have done well in whatever business we've taken on. So we get it in our minds that we can kick back and relax.

The problem with that is that we lose the ability to take risks. We took certain risks in the beginning, but once we've reached a certain income level, we feel entitled to either skate the rest of the way or rest on our laurels. All that does is make us lazy. And by becoming happy, fat and content in that comfort zone, we are really betraying ourselves.

Risks are what keep us sharp, and Hasan aptly demonstrates this in his book. He took a huge risk when he landed a contract for a television show when he had not one ounce of experience to back up his claims. So, in having to prove himself, he never lost sight of what was required of him. But once he got the television show off the ground, he didn't stop there. He could have made himself a perfectly good living for the rest of his life interviewing celebrities, but instead he took the concept to the next level and started [...]. God only knows what other ideas he has in mind for the future, but it is obvious he is not shying away from taking whatever risk comes along. He just keeps evolving, and maybe the rest of us should do the same.

Sheeraz Hasan has published an autobiography that tells you the secret of success that all the business schools and all the biographies written by the heads of corporations don't really tell you: that luck plays just as much an important role in everything we strive to do in our careers.

Luck has been defined by some people as "preparedness meets opportunity," and that may be true to some extent, but Sheeraz puts a completely different spin on it. His luck was not being in the right place at the right time, but rather he put himself into the position where he made the place he was in at the moment the absolutely right opportunity. I know that sounds a bit mystifying, but what he is trying to tell us is that every place and every opportunity is the right one. You just have to be there. And you can't be there unless you put yourself out there. So what Sheeraz means by luck is really serendipity. Just as much as you're looking for success, it is looking for you.

As he tells it, Sheeraz had all these chance encounters where some of the most powerful people in Hollywood were so impressed by him that they began introducing him to other powerful people in the industry. That's luck, no matter which way you cut it. But it's also the way he presented himself and the passion of what he believed in at that moment that took him to the next level in almost every circumstance, even if some of the meetings he had didn't pan out, which he freely admits. The point is, and what I think he's really trying to tell us, is that we're the ones who make our own luck.

When I read Sheeraz - the Muslim American Dream, I was particularly intrigued by a story he told in one of the early chapters. He had just taken over the small cafe after his father had died and didn't have a clue about how to make a go of it. So for inspiration, he turns to the Koran, reads a passage from it, and begins asking God to send him customers. Lo and behold, a busload of tourists turns up late at night and all of a sudden he's scrambling in the kitchen to fill all their orders. And he messes the whole thing up in the end simply because he lacks the kitchen skills he needs.

This is a classic example of the axiom that you should take care of what you wish for, because it might be granted in the end. But there's a deeper truth in this episode that Sheeraz is trying to make clear here in writing candidly about what it taught him: success is wholly dependent on our being prepared to meet the task at hand. It's not enough to want to be a success in this day and age. Everyone dreams about being a success, and because of the media, a lot of young people these days want their success right now. What Sheeraz makes clear in his book is that you can't be successful at whatever you're attempting to do unless you first have the skills and experience necessary in order to be able to attain it. He makes his mistakes, and some of them are whoppers, but he is astute enough to learn from them so that when the next opportunity comes along, he already knows what has to be done and what should be avoided. That's worth the price of the book.

What a blessing it was to read Sheeraz Hasan's book. I am a Libyan. I pray five times a day. I read the Koran. I have performed Haj. Imagine my surprise when I read in his book that Hasan performed Haj as a young man barely out of his teens!

That goes against the teachings of my generation and all the generations that have gone before us. He was right in saying that Haj is performed when we are nearing the ends of our lives. I read over and over the chapter about his performing Haj, and after thinking it over long and carefully, I think he has given a deep and genuine inspiration to our young people. He didn't simply write about an episode in his life. He took us on the journey with him. He didn't simply write about the sights and sounds of everything going on around him, he wrote about what was going on inside him at the same time.

As one who has been there, I know from personal experience that his descriptions of Mecca and Medina and all the rituals involved were totally accurate, and those who haven't performed Haj, the young and old alike, will benefit from his writing those passages about the deeper significance of this Pillar of Islam we must all observe as members of the faithful.

To tell the young people that they should perform Haj themselves was to me astounding at first. But I agree with him now. The young people should perform Haj in order that they may gain a greater spiritual and religious grounding in their lives and develop a deeper connection to God. If anything, Hasan has done a great and wonderful service for the future generations of young Muslims.

Sheeraz Hasan is a feminist. Seriously.

In reading his book, I thought it was wonderful in the way that he credits his wife Zarina with being such an influence on his life and his career. The way he writes about it, he fell in love with her because there was so much more to her outside of her beauty.

From the very beginning of their relationship, he writes how they talked all the time and more importantly that he listened to everything that she had to say. We all know that most relationships in the beginning are about going off and doing things together all the time because of little more than the physical attraction.

Hasan admits right from the start that Zarina opens his eyes to the far greater things going on in the world, both spiritually and politically. And he listens! When she gives him advice on what he should do in decorating the new restaurant, he listens! When she tells him that his television show idea should have a spiritual message, he listens!

Whenever he's about to make an important decision, he asks for her input, and he listens! They have what every couple should have--a true partnership. They are simply not a married couple, where the husband has his career and the wife has hers, and they meet up at the end of the day to discuss how their day went over dinner.

Hasan and Zarina are a team. They have common goals and common interests that dovetail into a common bond that holds them and keeps them together. So I am saying that Hasan is a feminist because he is a man who is not afraid to admit that he truly understands what having a strong woman means in his life and how it has made him a better man for it.

This is a good example of a start up and how much work is involved. By highlighting the ups and downs, it paints the real picture of a start-up, not just the glam.

If you wanted to read a definitive true story about pre dotcom, bubble and post bubble trials and tribulations, this is the one, sinc eat the end they built a solid profitable company. I chuckled at all the characters that McVickers met with the language that was used when reason left the industry to be totally replaced/driven by greed. . For those of us lucky enough to enjoy that whole wild ride, this book brings it all back. The start-up struggles and financing on debt. Placing bets on directions with your own well being/family. The people are all there, reluctant angels, greedy guys, lazy guys, arrogant amd humble types, disaster hires, reluctant hires wanting a big piece of the action, VCs, investment bankers, handlers, hold-up artists, PR pros, Barney deal makers, aggressive Competitive cos and their VCs, Take no prisoners sales guys/CEOs. This is all played out from the point of view of a fairly humble technical guy who just wanted to do something good. And the money stories, they all were happening. This is well written, easy to follow and a good pleasurable read. If you are in start-up and looking for something big, read this one!

This book covers many aspects of the entrepreneurial process. Written in a journal-style, the book takes on more the form of a dramatic novel, covering the growth of McVicker's company, Neoforma, from their beginnings as a poor internet start-up, all the way to their IPO. McVicker navigates through the convoluted process of starting this business, and provides a tremendous amount of insight into his experiences. The names in the book take on life as McVicker describes them interacting in the start-up process. Well written and packed with information, this is a good read for anyone interested in starting their own business.

Starting Something captures the rocket ride to IPO in a truly remarkable way that makes the reader feel he's riding co-pilot. I found the discussion about their venture investor, Venrock Associates, to be of particular interest because it appears that "Bret," the Venrock Partner, was given additional equity in Neoforma after Venrock's investment (pp. 308-310). The problem with this kind of thing is that Bret works for the limited and general partners of the firm, not himself, and he took equity right out of their pockets.

Is there any way to justify Bret's actions here? Please, tell me that I'm missing something here.

I fully admire the guts it took for Wayne to start a business, I fully admire the hard work he and his employees put in, and I fully admire his candor, since there was a lot in his book that deserved to be told, especially on the company-investor relationship side. But I couldn't help noticing that whenever he spoke glowingly of the company's progress and achievements, he measured them in terms of employee growth and fundraising stats, rather than REVENUE or PROFIT.

Here's why:

1999 - $1 million revenue, operating loss of $51 million
2000 - $10 million revenue, operating loss of $219 million
2001 - $3 million revenue, operating loss of $273 million
2002 - $4 million revenue, operating loss of $81 million
2003 - $11 million revenue, operating loss of $65 million
2004 - $13 million revenue, operating loss of $62 million
2005 - revenues finally started growing for real, because they bought some with their own stock, and then were acquired by another company end of 2005/beginning of 2006

Total for the six full years:

Revenue = $42 million
Losses = $751 million

That basically means the company spent $793 million in order to get $42 million of revenue. Think about those numbers for a second. If you're providing a service, and people are paying you 5 cents for every dollar you spend, well, maybe that's not such a great business to be in.

This book's an engaging and well-written chronicle of one of the shining examples of bubble era craziness. I'm not at all downplaying the truth or value in the general lessons, in the growing pains & emotional reversals of fortune Wayne goes through, and I'm not trying to pin the blame on him for all the missteps. I just hope that aspiring entrepreneurs who read this book balance it out with one on a business that worked, because there are a lot of those that make for interesting reading too, and luck isn't the only thing that distinguishes their trajectory from this one.