Morgan Books

I'm so glad this is out on DVD. The quality of the picture is excellent! Extras on the DVD are a nice added feature. This is a wonderful classic you must have! They don't call it the "Golden Age of Hollywood" for nothing! Simply the best! Highly recommend you also get Jean Arthur's films "You can't take it with you" and "The more the merrier".

A very simple story written for another time that will cause you to laugh, cry, and, if you're very lucky, remember the way it should be and the way it was. A romantic comedy starring greats from another generation, Gable and Colbert. Nothing else need be said.

I had seen the movie years ago, and after searching the internet to find a copy of it, I was so hapy to have found it off of Amazon.com. It was exactly how I remembered...fantastic! The quality was great and the story is funny yet romantic.

What's not to like with this classic, original screwball comedy? It still holds up after all this time, and Clark Gable is as sexy as ever with those pervasive dimples and ironic grin.

If you crave some real star quality, some Hollywood [as well as American] history, get this film now. The chemistry between Gable and Colbert makes this movie hum, and compared to the drek we get today both in our "stars" and the scripts, it is a stellar piece of art.

Heartily recommended!

Since ths reviewer seems to be on an "oldies" kick of late, certainly this film has to be included. The movie swept the Oscars for a production of 1934 vintage, and of all the movies made in this era, this one seems to stand up today as best. The opening credits are absolutely childish; one would swear that he or she were about to watch a silent film. End of swearing! Capra's direction flies at the viewer at a lightning pace. Spoiled rich girl Colbert seems as natural as any seasoned actress, and Gable's famed barking quickly turns to love, albeit none too tenderly. The plot is simplistic; no need to embellish a theme repeated hundreds of times. But, just imagine even one short sex scene in a 2008 remake completely ruining the movie.No, the chemistry between the budding lovers is just fine, thank you; even an idiot can tell where this duet is heading. One story, perhaps apochryphal, has Colbert showing up late for the Oscar ceremony, leaving a cabbie waiting outside the theater, running down the aisle, accepting the award , and running back outside jumping into the cab. As Gable had said in the movie: "All you dames are so darned dizzy".

I'm so glad this is out on DVD. The quality of the picture is excellent! Extras on the DVD are a nice added feature. This is a wonderful classic you must have! They don't call it the "Golden Age of Hollywood" for nothing! Simply the best! Highly recommend you also get Jean Arthur's films "You can't take it with you" and "The more the merrier".

A very simple story written for another time that will cause you to laugh, cry, and, if you're very lucky, remember the way it should be and the way it was. A romantic comedy starring greats from another generation, Gable and Colbert. Nothing else need be said.

I had seen the movie years ago, and after searching the internet to find a copy of it, I was so hapy to have found it off of Amazon.com. It was exactly how I remembered...fantastic! The quality was great and the story is funny yet romantic.

What's not to like with this classic, original screwball comedy? It still holds up after all this time, and Clark Gable is as sexy as ever with those pervasive dimples and ironic grin.

If you crave some real star quality, some Hollywood [as well as American] history, get this film now. The chemistry between Gable and Colbert makes this movie hum, and compared to the drek we get today both in our "stars" and the scripts, it is a stellar piece of art.

Heartily recommended!

Since ths reviewer seems to be on an "oldies" kick of late, certainly this film has to be included. The movie swept the Oscars for a production of 1934 vintage, and of all the movies made in this era, this one seems to stand up today as best. The opening credits are absolutely childish; one would swear that he or she were about to watch a silent film. End of swearing! Capra's direction flies at the viewer at a lightning pace. Spoiled rich girl Colbert seems as natural as any seasoned actress, and Gable's famed barking quickly turns to love, albeit none too tenderly. The plot is simplistic; no need to embellish a theme repeated hundreds of times. But, just imagine even one short sex scene in a 2008 remake completely ruining the movie.No, the chemistry between the budding lovers is just fine, thank you; even an idiot can tell where this duet is heading. One story, perhaps apochryphal, has Colbert showing up late for the Oscar ceremony, leaving a cabbie waiting outside the theater, running down the aisle, accepting the award , and running back outside jumping into the cab. As Gable had said in the movie: "All you dames are so darned dizzy".

SPOILER ALERT:
Astrid Lindgren lost her marbles when she wrote the last chapter. The story is beautiful and as a christian I have no problems reading it to my children as a fantasy rendition. The illustration of evil regimes and quest for freedom is very moving and uncanny in many ways. Worth reading for this alone, but the ending speaks a message that should never have been spoken. The older boy, the hero, would rather kill himself and his younger brother in a suicide attempt, rather than living a life as a cripple. SICK!

Way before Harry Potter and JK Rowling came along, European children book writers were taking children more seriously than most English and American writers. At the helm of this beautiful movement of children-centric literary world was Astrid Lindgren of Sweden and the wonderful Erich Kaestner of Germany, both well-known and widely read in non-English speaking Europe and most other places, but conviniently limited to a few of their works in UK and the USA (Pippi Longstocking for Lindgren and The Parent Trap for Kaestner).

Brothers Lionheart is Lindgren manifesting Kaestner's frustration at those childrens books authors who think that "children are made out of sweet pastries and cotton candy" (expressed at the beginning of the Flying Classroom, another master piece not known in the English speaking world). I read this book when I was 7 and have continued reading it, mainly in other languages, and had never seen it in English. The translation is good, although I do not like "Scotty" as a translation of Carl's nickname. The real one "Skorpan" (a sort of doughnut) is much nicer and homier.

Brothers Lionheart was very influential in my life. I learnt many lessons from it and enjoyed it very much, and I never felt that I was being preached to or was put down by the author. It is a novel that will appeal to children and even many adults (those who have not forgotten their childhood and thus their reason). I profoundly disagree with the person who is worried about the "negative" effects of the books darker issues (the after-life). It might surprise you that children are a lot more open-minded than their parents: they have not been spoiled by the prejudices we call "our heritage".

This book, I will claim, is one of the best books ever written, anywhere, in any language, and if it was me, I would have given it to all the 6 billion people in the world to read...

I read this book when I was a child and it was one of my favorite. Now I finished reading it to my sons and they love it too. It took me a while to read the first two chapters though, I just couldn't stop sobbing...although I knew the story. It didn't take us long to finish the book, we needed to find out what was happening next...Such a great book, we will buy some copies and give them to friends!!!

The Brother's Lionheart by Astrid Lindgren is a wonderful book that I would recommend to anyone. Although the end of the book may be a little sad, the rest of it is fantastic. First of all, the Lionheart brothers, Jonathan and Rusky, live with their single mother in an apartment. Rusky is very ill and is to die soon. Out of nowhere, a fire strikes their house. Jonathan, being the brave boy that he is, sacrifices his own life by carrying Rusky and jumps out of the window. While in the air, Jonathan turns his body so that his body will be a cushion for Rusky. Sadly, Jonathan's plan had worked. Rusky was unharmed, but Jonathan died. A couple nights later, Jonathan returned to Earth as a dove. He told Rusky not to worry, because Jonathan was waiting for him in Nangiyala. Rusky's illness caught up to him, and he died. When he arrived in Nangiyala, he met up with Jonathan down by a creek fishing. Everything was perfect, but as they soon find out,there is a traitor in Nangiyala!
Nangiyala is a place like Heaven. In my book, after Jonathan and Rusky die, they go to Nangiyala. It is pretty much like the Middle Ages. There are lots of trees, mountains and people. There three regions: Cherry Valley( where Jonathan and Rusky live), Wild Rose Valley, and Karmanyaka. Wild Rose Valley is the kind of place that has no hope. There are unpassable walls that surround the Valley. It is reigned by an evil tyrant named Tengil. Karmanyaka is a dark, evil place that is the home land of Tengil. Any ways, it is very beautiful. After you die in Nangiyala, Your next stop is in Nangilima.
I would definitely recommend The Brother's Lionheart to anyone who can read. It is by far one of the greatest books I've ever read!

A number of stories end with the death of their heroes; this the first one I can recall that BEGINS with the death of its heroes. In addition the sometimes charming, sometimes terrifying illustrations by Ilon Wikland nicely complement the story.

Everyone knew that 10-year-old Karl (Scotty) Lion was dying, what with his crooked legs, his constant coughing, and now being too sick to go to school anymore; everyone except Scotty that is. But now he knows, and he's terrified. His brave, handsome, and loving brother, 13-year-old Jonathan Lion, tries to comfort him by telling him that when he dies he will go to Nangiyala, where all sagas come from, where he will be strong and no longer sick and where Jonathan will eventually join him, and because time passes differently in Nangiyala, it will only seem like a couple of days to Scotty even if Jonathan lives to be 90. But poor Jonathan must live on Earth without his Scotty, maybe for 90 years.

Well, it doesn't quite work out like they thought, but a couple of deeply moving, heartrending chapters later, the boys are together again in Nangiyala, and the REAL story begins. Jonathan told Scotty that in Nangiyala you have adventures from morning to evening and at night, too, but he failed to mention (or more likely failed to grasp himself) that there are adventures that should not happen... but do. There's a cruel tyrant in Nangiyala who has imprisoned the people of Wild Rose Valley and intends to do the same to Cherry Valley where the Brothers Lionheart now live,...

and it is going to be up to them, especially little Scotty who still doesn't believe he is brave at all, to stop him.

Astrid Lindgren, of Pippi Longstalking and Mio, My Son fame, has written a powerful and deeply moving story here that I'll not soon forget if ever. So why only three stars? Because I've got a serious problem with her shocker of an ending.

With far too many sincere but ill informed parents panicking over the Harry Potter books (while Philip Pullman's openly, even proudly Satanic "His Dark Materials" trilogy oozes by under the RADAR), I don't want to hit this too hard, but parents need to be aware of what is IMHO a serious flaw in this book. It is NOT as you might expect with the neo-pagan afterworld her story takes place in; IMHO there is nothing here that anyone whose religious beliefs postulate a different sort of afterlife need fear to expose his children to. It is FICTION after all. The problem is the ending.

SPOILER ALERT

The Brothers Lionheart triumph in the end but at a heavy cost; many friends are dead, including their beloved and faithful horses. Worst of all Jonathan has been poisoned and will soon be paralyzed, but he has a solution. It seems that when you die in Nangiyala you go on to Nangilima, where it is still the time of the sagas but only happy ones and no more adventures that should not happen. So if Scotty will take Jonathan upon his back and jump off a high cliff, just like Jonathan took Scotty upon his back and jumped out of an upper floor window to save Scotty's life from the fire at the cost of his own back at the beginning of the book, they can go to Nangilima now, together.

So that is exactly what they do,...

and I'm sorry, but this is SICK!

Jonathan earns the name of Lionheart when he risks his life, loses it in fact, in order to save his soon-to-die little brother, but when HE faces some amount of life (but probably not all that much) as a paralytic, he talks that very same brother into killing him along with himself, in order to get into a BETTER afterlife a little bit sooner. What in God's name was Lindgren thinking? Oh, I'm not especially worried about children reading this and killing themselves in order to go to Nangiyala, but our children could do without Yet Another message that if you are crippled, you are better off dead. They get quite enough of that from too many so-called "Pro-Choicers" who apparently fear that if people get the idea that life is still worth living even for the severely handicapped, they might begin to wonder about the ethics of killing the healthy but merely too small to scream.

END OF SPOILER

If you disagree with my opinion and own an older edition, The Purple House reprint of The Brothers Lionheart is worth picking up because of the smooth new English translation by Jill Morgan (the publisher herself?).

Another excellent book by an excellent author, and I can't wait for the next one. Jim just can't write fast enough!

I would have given it a 5 star rating if I hadn't read "Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss.
The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, Day 1)

Overall: Captain's Fury is a very good book with some good character development, ties up many plot lines and introduces an intriguing premise for the next book -- fight the Vord in the Canim's homeland. Tavi is revealed as the grandson of Gaius, Octavian. The petty politics of Alera are clearly played out showing the stupidity of humans in the face of a very powerful and maelovent force. Also, the power of the first lord, Gaius, is finally demonstrated with quite a spectatular effect.

Characters: Tavi's development continues nicely including the development of his internal Furycrafting. He is not able to manifest an external Fury yet he clearly has some powerful and diverse Furycrafting befitting of an hier to the First Lord. The other characters are nicely updated to fillin the two year time gap from the last year. Also, the love interests are starting to resolve themselves with some satisfaction. The insane/psychopathic swordswoman / cutter is nicely done. Fidelius comes back to the side of the good but makes a nasty enemy in the process.

Plot: The plot was clearly laid out in the last book. This book is just the execution of how to resolve the key plots set up in the last book. The plot lines seemed fairly clear without many twists; it makes for a quick read without any confusion by the reader. The Canim are developed nicely for this story as well as preparatory background for the next book.

World development: There is some new development but most of it is in regard to the Canim. Also, the internal furycrafting of Tavi is an interesting twist on him developing his abilities into something truely amazing. By the next book, Tavi should be a serious force. The Canim are done well and consistently with elements of the last book. Tavi does a good job of showing the importance of understanding your enemies strength, weaknesses and social morays.

Prose: The prose is Jim Butcher in action -- nothing more, nothing less. The style is consistent with the other books. His writing does get a bit predictable (note: I have read all of the Codex Alera and the Dresden File books, so I should be fairly familiar with the style).

Action: The action is done well especially the sea combats and the description of the Leviathans. The combat elements of the legions vs. the Canim are crisp, well executed and not overly detailed.

Overall: 4 stars
Characters: 4 stars
Plot: 3.5 stars
World development: 3.5 stars
Prose: 3.5 stars
Action: 4 stars

This is a great book, filled with fantasy. Jim butcher is a great writter, if any one has read Terry Goodkind, Robert Jorden, I think they will a great book here. I reccommed this book for anyone who is into Fantasy.

Jim Butcher again did an excellent job in spellbinding me in this book. I couldn't put it down. It does wrap many loose ties nicely, and hints that there is even more to come. I look forward to reading book 5! :)

I am impressed, and I don't impress easily.

I had to take off the cover art so no one at my work knew I was reading a fantasy novel, but it was worth it.

Jim keeps improving.

Cheers,

Even people who aren't as avid about nature as I am have found this book to be simply spectacular. It was given to me as a Christmas present and promptly got passed around the room. People who only take a glance have bought their own copy! The large, professionally printed photographs will take your breath away, and the captions and stories are just as entertaining. This book is organized neatly into chapters, and its layout is stylish and modern.

Worth more than what you will pay, the images are pristinely clear, colorful, large, and just plain amazing. I am giving it to my 11 year old animal-loving son for Christmas, but I must confess, I want my own!

A perfect gift for that hard to shop for person on your list, or...the person who 'has everything!' This beautifully illustrated and timely piece of literature uses imagination, intoxicating photographic talent, and intreague creating this work of art, with everlasting beauty for all ages. The distinguished global vastness pulls the reader into its clutches and keeps them craving for the next page. The accompanying CD highlights the haunting sounds of the Rainforest and echos it's melodic and transcendent voice, escorting the listener to the very heart of the...Rainforest! A+++ Highly recommended.

When I purchased this book at the bookstore, I couldn't wait to get home to "devour" it! The photography is stunning, capturing the glistening water on the feet of a rainforest frog, a bug's terrifying view of a hairy tarantula, and the inquisitive look on a chimpanzee's face. Some photos focus on the details of a creature (like the patterns on a caterpillar) instead of the whole animal to provide a different, often-overlooked, perspective. In some areas there are series of photos to show the reader what is normally shown in video - leaf-cutter ants demolishing a leaf, cut-by-cut; the molting and emergence of a katydid from its old skeleton; the lazy-day movements of an orangutan in a tree.

Although the focus of the book is definitely the photography, the items are arranged under topics such as Diversity, Predators, Survival, and Cycles with accompanying educational articles. The reader definitely has an opportunity to learn and well as enjoy the wonderful photos.

The quality of the photography in this book is absolutely spectacular - Thomas Marent is tremendously talented. This photographic journal of his journey through the rainforest will truly fascinate and enchant the reader!

Without doubt, the best set of rainforest photographs I have ever seen. I live in the tropics (North Queensland, Australia) and am very interested in quality depiction of the subject of rainforest flora and fauna. This book sets a new standard of excellence, especially regarding insect life. This is an important part of the world's record of rainforests, and probably could never be duplicated due to global warming.

I found that Morgan's introduction brought me sufficiently into the story that I would like to find out, "What is the Rare Gift?" I do not usually read fiction; however, I am intrigued enough that I would buy this book to discover the answer to my question. Morgan's description of the goings on of a Southern funeral are "right on". She has great command of language and writes in a manner that invites the reader to become a part of the story.

Morgan's story has to be finished. I lived in Georgia for awhile and the detail and accuracy of the family gathering for a funeral was surreal. Since I now live in Denver, I was drawn to the character and I can't wait to see where the story goes and what happens. The use of language and the descriptions of the scenes and characters drew the reader into the story and fueled the imagination. It is only the best writers who engage my mind and imagination in such a way. Morgan's short story is a tasty morsel for a reader hungry for tightly written fiction with characters that are just as deep as they are broad. Giving historical depth always makes a character more interesting and believable, and Morgan clearly has an innate ability to create a believable character and communicate it in such a way that the reader feels like they know the character and likes them, in spite of and precisely because of their humanity, benevolent but flawed.

Denver teacher Stella loses her mother at a young age, but surrounded by a large and loving family, it appears that she will reconcile her grief. However, years later, she is brought immediately back to the loss when her student, Gracie, presents her with the news of a brother's death. While the writing moves competently forward, I was at times puzzled by sentence meaning and structure. "And mournfully, they concurred, though at least one perceptive woman pointed out that Stella's eyes were really more of a muddy hazel than green." There were several of these in the excerpt and I can only hope that they do not continue throughout the book. The police tape at Stella's home also confused me. It wasn't clear to me if the crime was a new one or if it had to do with the death of Gracie's brother. The excerpt ended before I could reason this out. All in all, I enjoyed the characters (although there were many named secondary ones that were difficult to track) and the story line. A good start to a good read. I look forward to more.

Wow, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the beginning of this book. For a moment, I was completely lost in the story. I would love to finish reading it!

A Rare Gift - Official ABNA Entrant

Kate Morgan's gift for metaphor, her vivid imagery, and her sensitive, nuanced characterizations combine to pull the reader into her narrative.
Her juxtaposition of the urban environment of Gracie and Malachi with that of the teacher, Stella, reflects a keen insight into the social landscape of America today. At the same time, she spins an engaging tale of suspense. In particular, as Morgan gives voice to the reticent Gracie, she provides a masterful portrayal of the power of mentor-tendered hope. A promising new writer and an irresistible read!

I found this book both informative and fun to read. The author took a unique approach to keep my interest. I'm looking forward to buying his "Starter Kit" too.

The name "Pizza Delivery Millionaire" intrigued me and, as I immersed myself in the book the title began to make perfect sense. One of the most amazing things (for me) was to go to a local booksigning and was able to meet characters from the book face-to-face - my conversation with Steve Glass, for example, made me feel like a young boy meeting one of his sports heroes for the first time. This book can be read in the time it takes for an average major league baseball game however, the lasting effects will stay with you much longer. The lesson I have learned is that it is never too late to get started in real estate and I intend to distribute this book to all my family, friends and relatives so that they don't miss out on all the hints and opportunities that can be found between the covers of the "Pizza Delivery Millionaire".

My whole family is reading this book! What an innovative way to teach the principles of real estate! A great story....keeps your attention...with embedded lessons that are factual and inspiring. I bought two copies and gave them as gifts and I know I will continue to purchase this book as a gift to others.
I will be giving not only a present but information that teaches many life changing ideas which create gifts that last a lifetime.
With Gratitude
S

Pizza Delivery Millionaire is an excellent book to get you started on the road to becoming financially free. I highly recommend it. It's easy to read format engages the reader in a story that many people can relate. I find the real estate market to be one that is not always easily understood. Each lesson is like a little gem, to be looked over, thought about, and looked over again. This is a MUST-read for anyone looking to invest especially those who maybe afraid to take the chance. Pizza Delivery Millionaire goes beyond the usual "how to" or "make your life easier" but rather truly integrates theory & practice and turns the novice into thinkers and researchers. This book is full of inspirations, questions and reflections of all kinds!

Thank you Mr. Vazquez for sharing your knowledge. We all can benefit from this much needed life changing book. Kudos to Mr. Vazquez!

Before purchasing this book, please read the "reviews" of the product. As of this writing (4-22-08), there were 27 reviews, ALL of them 5-star! What do you think the odds are that the first 27 reviewers of a book will give the book ALL 5-stars?!? Additionally, of those 27 reviewers, 25 were writing a review for the first time! Again, what are the odds? It is quite obvious that the author, or someone close to him, is writing these reviews. All are short, generally just a few sentences, and lack any semblance of details contained in the book.

Even if I'm not working in vfx, so I haven't a great experience, I think this book should be in every comps shelf: very simple, well written, it deals with the math under every (even the simplest) operation you can do in your compositing package (it's quite software-indipendent). It explains several wonderful tricks too.
Globally, very useful in my opinion.

Ron goes over the very concepts of compositing that are essential to know in the computer graphics feild. I have bought several copies of this book as the disappear from my desk (no longer kept in public view)

This book is exceptional and a must for anyone pursuing this area of interest. The only disappointment I had in purchasing this item is that it is supposed to come with a CD, and the CD was never shipped to me. What's up, Amazon?

That can I say about Mr Brinkman. Well he's one of the God's of compositing and VFX. Mad about the math behind Node based compositing software, which incidentally is a good thing. This is not meant to be a 'Shake' bible as it is supposed to be non software specific. However it uses 'Shake' language and node naming. This is not a criticism as 'Shake' is the meccano kit of compositing. Understand the mode and the math behind it and you can do anything. I would also assume that this will still be relevant when shake is 'reborn'.

This is also essential for other composing software where the math is hidden. If you've ever considered what happens inside that 'magic button' after you've clicked.

I also think that Steve Wright's 'Digital Compositing for Film and Video, Second Edition' is a must too. Another great book from a great man of VFX.

Having not been personally taught by Mr. Brinkman and Mr Wright these books prove to be the next best thing.

This book is a in depth study of the techniques and technologies involved in the art of compositing. Not sooo technical that no one will understand it, but technical enough that it even explains in detail the algorithms and math used for antialiasing, blurs, the transfer operators like multiply, screen overlay., etc... I am a professional cg artist and highly recommend this book.

This book is about breaking through into a world where you don't accept number two status but you focus every element of your business into being the best of your own category.

Don't accept that this book is just for marketing executives, it should be read by everyone in business to comprehend how crucial it is to change your way of thinking. The entire book is summed up on page 264, where there is a clear four stage process outlined visually. The book is full of stories to illuminate Morgan's theories and outlines 'think tank' processes in order for your business no matter how big or small to 'break with your immediate past' and forge a new way of doing things.

Brilliant book that changed the way I approached business and marketing. I'd not have the drive and success without it.

This book did great things for my understanding of a challenger brands greatest strengths and strategies. Not to turn this into a forum, I have a few questions though: Does anyone know more about Adam Morgan? Did he work for TBWA? Any other agencies? What was his discipline? Any info would help.

I own (oooooh) probably between 80 and 100 books on marketing, some are obligatory read for my masters in marketing, some are handpicked in stores and on amazon and I stand by the title of my review. What can you take out from this book: YOU CAN compete with big brands, there are attitudes and ways of running your business that can knock down the goliath in your industry, and this book explains how, giving numerous examples from various industries. Only negative, if I can call it that, is author's writing style, which was rather hard for me, but then again, I am croatian, so it could be my english, not mr Morgan's :). A MUST!! have.

I don't know how to explain the insightful ideas I have taken from this book.

I have read tens of books on branding and how to gain a competitive advantage, yet none were as ground breaking as "Eating the Big Fish".

While others will tell you "what" marketing approaches they used...this one explains the "why".

I got my copy almost free using a coupon from UnderTag.com

Author Adam Morgan went hunting for the second most successful brands. He sought commonalities among them to develop guidelines for those who are challenging the number one brands in their fields. In other words, if you are coming into the battle in the number two slot, here's your strategy for winning the marketing wars. Morgan is very adept at breaking things down into precise action steps. Witty and engaging, he offers a detailed analysis of the current consumer attitude about brands plus strategies you can use to market your second or third rank brand. We recommend this compilation of competitive ideas to those who want to boost their "Challenger" brands.

Sometimes it is so simple. And when it gets that simple, you can hardly believe that somebody got the IDEA to write a book for $13.95 on ideas alone! And in saying that, I can hardly believe I got talked into reading this, but I did. Were the adventures of Og, Ugh, Aargh, along with the rest of the council, ALONG with the BIG IDEA totally worthless? Not at all but, I wasn't that impressed either. Whether or not you have to had sold Kirby Vacuum Cleaners in another life, or are simply fixed on Business 101 to appreciate the concept of this book, I have no clue. But through Og and company, I took a look at Mitchell Lewis Ditkoff's GREAT IDEA.

Well, Og has an idea. A GREAT IDEA!!! As a Kirby Vacuum Cleaner salesman might constantly ask, "Isn't that amazing? Isn't that fantastic? Isn't that incredible? Isn't that outstanding? Isn't that simply WONDERFUL?" Um, no. But go ahead, Og, with your GREAT IDEA! Og (or Mitchell, I'd better not give Og too much credit just yet.) sounds like Tony, the Tiger simply trying to get Kellog's Frosted Flakes off the ground. So to try and get this GREAT IDEA rolling, he gets around to selling this GREAT IDEA at THE BIG MEATING! And at this meating, nobody is impressed. What did Og do that was so wrong. All he wanted to do was invent the wheel. He goes a step further. Upon the advice he receives, he actually puts his plan into action! GO OG!!! His plan works, he's invented the wheel, Og's the big man in town. And if that isn't enough, when story time ends, we go into the "What Have We Learned From Og?" section of the book. And that alone has more questions than the chapters of Og's story! But you can learn a thing or 2.

Now, I admit, I probably had a few laughs at the expense of Mr. Ditkoff, and I'll probably get some, "Let me ask you a question, Mr. Moffat" type of e-mail for my effort. But it simply wasn't something I was into, yet I did enjoy it for what it was worth. I hope that Mitchell Lewis Ditkoff has plenty of ideas, and I hope they all beat the pants off of people like me when they get wealthy. Writing a book like this isn't something I could do, but Ditkoff did. That was Ditkoff's GREAT IDEA, and he accomplished it.

This allegory succeeds on several levels; it is funny, truthful and uses characters and situations that remind you of modern situations. Og is a caveman with a great idea, the concept of the wheel. Clearly, it is one of those truly big ideas that will improve his society. He nurtures the idea for some time, while his family, in particular his wife Aargh, thinks he is ill. His thoughtfulness to the exclusion of the rest of his life has her worried for the future as he is no longer interested in the hunt. Others in his tribe, such as his best friend Ugh consider him to be "naramp poozka" which in caveman language means "rocks in his head."
Eventually, Og presents his idea to the tribal elders, but he does it poorly and it is rejected. The problem is that he only described his idea and had no prototype to show them. However, despite the rejection and belittlement, Og presses on and eventually demonstrates a working model which convinces everyone. This is done only after he also invents the axle and the cart, which are necessary to demonstrate the value of the wheel. By "thinking outside the cave" and being persistent, Og is hailed as a success and the doubts vanish.
Some of the best motivational and management books appear in the form of an allegory or parable and this is one of them. Ditkoff has done an outstanding job in putting forward all of the problems and pitfalls with the presentation of a powerful and original idea. The resistance and reluctance to change among the company "Neanderthals", the worries of the family about support and income and the need to properly present the idea to the decision makers are all covered in an amusing fashion.
I strongly recommend this book for anyone who has had an original idea, yet had it shot down or anyone who feels that their company work environment is stiff and restrictive. If nothing else, it will amuse and refresh you, and that by itself is a valuable thing. It would also be excellent reading material for a company sponsored "creativity jolt" session.

I love business lesson storybooks. If you like books like Who Moved My Cheese, or one of my favorites, Our Iceberg is Melting, then you'll love AWAKE AT THE WHEEL by Mitchell Ditkoff. It's told in the same, simple, easy to read fashion, but packs in some great lessons on innovation.

One thing that struck me while reading Og's story is how simple it would be for a motivated teacher to re-tell Og's story to a group. Let's face it, getting an entire team to read a book is often asking too much in today's world where mediocrity is an attribute.

Another thing I really liked is that Ditkoff laced the book with business quotes. Most I've seen before, but it's always good to be refreshed with wisdom.

Og's story of the wheel takes up roughly half the book. The last half of the just over 100-page booklet is a recap of what Og learned along the way, followed by 35 ways to get the wheels of innovation turning. This is a fun book and an easy read.

Mitch Ditkoff has done an exemplary job of producing a short and easy to read but extraordinarily powerful metaphorical representation of what it means to have and communicate a "Big Idea" and all of the trials and tribulations that come with it.

For those of you familiar with Joseph Campbell's work, this is a wonderful representation of the "Hero's Journey" from the call, the journey, and the return (which is by far the most difficult). This book can be easily read within 2-3 hours and comes with two appendices that summarize the major ideas of the book.

This book is for anyone who doesn't "get" the idea of a Big Idea, who would like to access the space in which to be illuminated with a Big Idea, and/or whoever has a Big Idea and is struggling for a way to express it and share it with others.

Carl Jung placed supreme importance on the development of the individual because it is only through the individual that quantum leaps of consciousness for the collective may occur.

I offer my sincere and profound thanks to the author--KUDOS to you!!

Mitchell Ditkoff's Awake At The Wheel: Getting your Great Ideas Rolling (in an Uphill World) is a book about the creative process and how you can use the creative process to develop your ideas and bring them to fruition. Ditkoff wrote this book to help "close the gap between thought and action", and I think this book accomplishes that goal.

This book is divided in two 3 sections. The first section is a fable about a Neanderthal name Og and his struggles with being consumed with a breakthrough idea and his struggles to make it a reality. I found the use of the fable a refreshing change makes for an easy read while doing a good job of communicating the authors ideas.

The second section of the book outlines 12 Best Practices for developing and manifesting your inspired ideas.

The third section of the book is a creative thinking "toolbox" that outlines 35 tools you can use to develop, nurture, and manifest your own breakthrough ideas.

I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend this book!