Douglas Books

I have loved reading biographys for as long as I can remember, they were my first introduction to serious reading. I had heard of Douglas Fairbans Sr.since my childhood days but all I really knew about him was that he was a famous actor who got his start in silent films. A very dear friend of mine got me interested in silent movies several years ago and had some of Dougs' movies, most of them were silent movies but she also had some of his later sound movies. I bought this book mainly out of curiosity and I'm so glad I did because I enjoyed it from the very first page to the last, it was never boring and I was sorry when I reached the last page, I wanted it go on and on. I found it far more interesting than any biography or autobiography I have ever read . I was amazed at the versatility of the man, he was so much more than just a "movie actor". He loved writing as much as he did acting and started writing short stories while still in his teens. His love of writing continued right up until his death. and his stories were published in various popular magazines. Doug got his acting start on Broadway and after appearing in many flops finally became a star on Broadway. From there he went into movies and soon learned that he preferred making movies to performing on the stage because he could do more and reach a much larger audience with movies. He wasn't satisfied in merely starring in movies, he had to learn everything about the making of them, and later wrote most of his own scripts and formed a movie studio in partnership with his wife Mary Pickford, his good friend Charlie Chaplain, and the legendery D.W. Griffith, they named the studio United Artists. He was a great believer in physical fitness and wrote many articles on the subject for various publications. His atheletic prowess was unsurpassed by any other film actor, he could do things others would never even think of doing, he was truly a superb athelete. In spite of his healthy lifestyle Fairbanks had one bad habit that probably contributed to his early death from a heart attack. This was back in the days before the dangers of cigarette smoking was known by the general public, and Doug was a very heavy smoker, on the average of two to three packs a day. I could go on and on about the man and about this fascinating and unique book. It was brilliantly put together by the curator of the Douglas Fairbanks Museum in Austin, Texas, Keri Leigh. She and the museum staff obviously put many long hours into finding, selecting and compiling the very best of Fairbanks' written works, and I recommend it very highly to anyone who likes biography, or is just interested in movie history.

This is a beautiful and unique book which I'm sure would appeal not only to fans of silent screen legend, Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., but also to the general reader with various interests. Fairbanks himself had many interests, skills and talents reaching far beyond those of his acting and film-making career, and this charming book reveals some of these other facets of the Fairbanks personality. This book is, in fact, a collection of written works by Douglas Fairbanks which were first published in the period 1912 to the mid 1930s, ranging from a short story, magazine articles on various topics, interviews and even a few personal notes and letters; even lyrics for a song. All these items are from the Douglas Fairbanks Sr Museum in Austin, Texas, and the museum's curator, Keri Leigh, along with other dedicated Fairbanks fans who have volunteered their time and efforts, have put together this miscellany of Fairbanks' written work to show today's public that Fairbanks was far more than the action-adventure screen hero of the 1920s.

This book begins by revealing Fairbanks' interest in storytelling and writing, with his 1912 short story which is a light-hearted adventure-comedy not unlike many of the films he would star in just a few years later. But his popularity as a screen hero from 1915 onwards did not curb his passion for writing, as the remaining articles in this book reveal. Not only did he enjoy sharing with the public his behind-the-scenes adventures and ideas about the growing film industry in Hollywood, but he generously revealed his deeper thoughts and feelings, such as life style and personal development philosophies which have only become fashionable in recent years of our time. Reading his thoughts penned in the late 1910s and 1920s, it becomes obvious that Fairbanks was a pioneer and visionary, not only in his career as actor and film producer, but also in his personal life with an outlook and wisdom far beyond his time. Furthermore, his writing retains a certain old-fashioned elegance and tone, while also revealing his energetic, positive mentality and sense of humour, making each item - long or short - a pleasure to read and like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, they come together to make a more complete picture of the real Doug Fairbanks. The layout and presentation of "In His Own Words" are also a pleasure to behold, and rare photos and further information on Fairbanks and his work are also included. As an introduction and guide throughout the book, Museum Curator Keri Leigh has penned an excellent foreword which helps to appreciate the contents even more, and further in-depth information is available at the Douglas Fairbanks Sr Museum's website. As a complement to other Fairbanks-authored books still popular today (such as "Laugh and Live" 1917) or on its own as a special compilation, this book reveals Douglas Fairbanks better than any biography could, and is definitely a must-have for fans, as well as a worthwhile read for many others.

The guys depicted here are beautiful and enthralling. Douglas, whomever he was, did what many photographers of the male nude from this period did; he captured the full essence of the body instead of focusing obsessively on erotic areas the way modern phophotographers do. I would recommend this book to anyone who simply enjoys looking at beautiful young men in all their glory.

This is the fourth volume in a series devoted to the classical physique photographers of the mid 20th century. Douglas of Detroit may not have been as famous as Bruce of LA or Bob Mizer, however, he produced photographs that compare favorably with any of his contemporaries. The content is primarily black & white full-page photos ending with a few color shots. Most of the photos are staged indoors with emphasis on controlled lighting. There are a few outdoor shots. There is ample, tastefully presented and staged frontal nudity. The models appear to be comfortable and at ease. This comes across as artistic not pornographic. There are too few examples of a photographic technique that was unique to Douglas of Detroit. He produced some wonderful double exposures using the same model for both images. Many of these shots are quite evocative. If you are a fan of mid-century phsique photography then this is a definite must- have book. Highly recommended.

I agree wholeheartedly with Amazon.com's previous outstanding review of this book. As a mother of a Deaf youngster who, has seen first-hand Tilden's magnificent sculpture - along with the latter being accorded landmark status in the CA Bay area especially - it doesn't get any better than this. Also, Tilden's deafness issue becomes truly inconsequential insofar as his art. Like many gifted artists who are deaf, it is the masterpieces that speak for themselves - not what a cuture or society would deem a so-called disabiity as "abnormal." And, of course, as the superb author, lecturer, teacher, and business woman - Temple Grandin - might say (paraphrasing straight out of her wonderful book, "Thinking In Picutres"): Genius, after all, is in fact an abnormality because it is often outside the scope of what society usually considers "normal." This book is one of the most rare and collectible works of art ever released in this century. It has brought us more joy than we could ever describe in words.

This volume is beautifully illustrated, printed on thick smooth stock, and written in a brilliant style by the author. Her subject, Tilden, was indeed a master sculptor, and despite being deaf, and having a difficult personal life later in his career, Tilden managed to give the bay area some of it's greatest public works. He was also master of the male form and crafted his heroes in postures that accentuated their attitudes, as much as their physiques. Among his finest works is the "Mechanics Monument" which is a magnificent bronze at the corner of Bush and Market Streets in San Francisco. That work is 100 years old and still turns heads on the boulevard.

Being a captain on the md80 and looking for a book that explains the ins and outs of the aircraft I was totally amazed at the writtings inside. This is a great book.

I had high expectations for this book - as I would for any book that would damage my wallet by more than 40 dollars - and I must say that all of them were met.
This is the best book on the DC-9/MD-80/B717 series, period! From the background of DC and its legacy of successful (and not so sucessful) airliners to the decision and the development of the DC-9, from the discussion of the differences between the different series of the -9 to the development of the MD-80 series and the failure of the md-90 to the great comeback of MD-95 in the form of Boeing 717, the author presents the information in a well-written format that will be an enjoyable read to both industry professionals and aviation enthusiasts.
If you get excited at seeing the last of those old DC-9s still come to your local airport, you must have this book!

How many books have you read that changed your life? This is one. The philosophy of helping without reward has been with me since I was a teenager because of this book. The idea of helping and for a reward asking only that the favor be passed on was fascinating then and fascinating now when I'm into my -- well, I won't mention the decade. A beautiful read.

This is not exactly a sequel to the "Magnificient Obsession" by the same author (Lloyd C. Douglas) but is more of an extension in the sense that it very subtly provides the meaning of and for unfettered gifts. For those who were carried away by the mystique of the "Magnificient Obsession" it is a MUST read. Although I read it 30 years ago I can still vividly recall the contents since it makes as profound an impression as the "Magnificient Obsession".

Doug Anderson knows what he's doing with obscure dead authors. This is fantastic stuff. Takes you back, back, back and away from these oh-so-Republican times. Thanks, Doug. T.M. Wright

I'm very glad to have now belatedly acquainted myself with some of Kenneth Morris's fantasy fiction. The stories here are frequently based on traditional mythology and fairy tales, and Morris does quite well adapting them, reworking them, and retelling them in a suitably atmospheric manner. Fans of things like the Mabinogion will want to read these stories, as will those who like Lord Dunsany's work. It is also interesting to see how Morris, a Theosophist, expands upon and adapts Theosophy to his story-telling purposes, as well as uses the myths and stories as vehicles to teach Theosophical wisdom.

The inserted sections show 16 color fullpage photos with
144 pages of practical instruction on fun project examples.
Lots of black and white illustrations detail assembly steps.
Dimensions of basic furniture and required wood pieces are listed.
Examples are often outdoor furniture. The skill level is
basic.

Readers with a ready access to driftwood will find this an ideal crafts guide to using driftwood as a building material. Tables, benches, arbors and more can created easily through these step-by-step instructions, which include listings of tools and materials needed. An excellent furniture-maker's guide.

The authors of this book, respected widely as accounting professors and as cheese analysts, brilliantly combine the keener points of e-business accounting and cheese analysis.

Just finished reading, marking, dog-earing this book! This is an excellent sourcebook for anyone, particularly business professionals, who want perspective on e-Commerce and e-Business. In fact, I wonder if the book has been mis-titled somewhat. In this five-chapter book, only the last chapter or two is directed to helping accountants and other assurance-service professionals understand their position in the e-Business space. The first three chapters are worth the price of the book to anyone interested in a fast, but in-depth, overview of how e-Business has emerged, its basic technology, and where it is likely headed. I particularly enjoyed the authors' effort to incorporate a lot of specific examples of successful and not-so-successful companies. The footnotes and references to each chapter are also extraordinary! Like most of us in the human race, I don't often read the footnotes. However, with this book, I was marking and crosschecking references with abandon. We're all struggling to "keep up" with the e-Business race. As I read this book, I felt like I finally fully understood a number of key issues of e-Business-despite having been a CFO of a fast-moving e-Commerce startup! I certainly recommend this read to anyone who feels that they might be slipping a little in "the race."

I've been looking for resources on saints and/or Christians to contribute to our history this year. I am thrilled with this series and had to get all four volumes. The book contains stories of 15 saints in wonderful storybook form. Each section begins with basic info. on the saint then goes into the story. (They are not the dry, factual info. one usually finds.) They also include the dates to use with our timeline. Pictures are rich and beautiful. Each story ends with a think about it question or two and a brief prayer.

This book features 3 to 4 page vignettes of about a dozen saints, some well known, some not. Each vignette ends with a couple questions to discuss and a prayer. Very appropriate for the 6 to 10 yr old age group... a great gift to a godchild.

The anthropologist author's deep appreciation of and respect for indigenous people's knowledge shines through this entire account. In addition to providing numerous accounts of specific applications of plant, animal and mineral knowledge as embodied in traditional stories, she does not shrink from demonstrating how the attitudes embodied in them have wide application in trying to establish a sustainable human society worldwide. This book could easily be used in university courses on systems design as well as environmental studies and anthropology. Highly recommended!

Anyone who has ever read Dr Turner's work will realize how thorough she is. This book is a departure from her usual style, however. Rather than being a collection of plants and in-depth analysis of their uses by North America's First Nations, The Earth's Blanket casts a much wider net, interpreting her decades of travel and research, as they apply to the concept that "we are all one...". It is an extraordinary work of a great Canadian ecological thinker.