Travis Books

This piece of work created by the editors of Vibe Magazine could easily be appropriately titled "Essence of Tupac." In this collection of previous interviews and vivrant photos you truely get the feeling that you are holding a conversation with The ledgendary Tupac Shakur. This is a must have for all Tupac fans and for anyone wishing to know more about Pac's Life. Good job by the folks at Vibe Magazine.

I my self am not a very big fan of rap music however i was intrigued to read this book after looking into some of the lyrics of 2pacs singles they seemed very in depth. After reading the lyrics i felt that his words had a lot of depth and soul attached to them which intrigued me to find out more about the rap star.

I myself have a genuine interest in politics, philisophy and poetry similarly to 2pac and i felt that i could relate to some of the lyrics he wrote. This book on tupac gives a deeper insight to the rap artist not only his music and talent but to his life it shed light on many differant topics from differant aspects and i found it very inspirational. What i particularly liked about this book was the way it presented both sides of the story (with the rape case) and i felt this ruled out any bias.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has a love for reading regardless of whether they have a genuine interest in rap this book not only looks at his career but looks at his inspiration, ambition, life and above all recognised him as more than a rap artist but as a human being and who he actually was!!!

When I discovered that my 3rd graders knew who Tupac was, even though he died the year they were born, I felt that I needed to know more about Tupac. This book is published by Vibe, the official scribes of hip hop. It is a collection on interviews and articles that appeared in Vibe and they document the rise and fall of Tupac.
Tupac had "Thug Life" tatooed on his stomach and he lived the life of a misogynist thug. He was disrespectful to everyone around him. Perhaps, as Quincy Jones suggests in the forward, Tupac could've changed into a positive force had he lived past 25. However, this book, and his own words, show him to be a negative influence on everyone he had contact with. It is very sad that he died at such a young age. It is even sadder that so many youngesters know who he was but cannot tell you about the lives of people who have accomplished great things with their lives. I have my work cut out for me next school year.
Mark Gast

As a massive fan of the late great Tupac Shakur, there are few publishings that capture as much information and insight into his life and career as this amazing book from the good people at Vibe Magazine. Consisting of every Vibe article and interview written on Shakur between 1994-97, this gives even the most casual of Pac's fans more information than they could ever dream of. With features on his early career, his signing to Death Row, and his infamous interview with Kevin Powell from inside Clinton Correctional Facility where he denounced "Thug Life", it's all here. This book also contains some of the most informative material on the feud between Death Row Records and Bad Boy. You'll get everyone's side of the story on the Can-Am Studio shooting. You'll hear what both Suge and Puffy had to say about the East vs. West saga. You will also get to hear Pac at his rawest and most candid. If you are even the least bit interested in the amazing story of Tupac Shakur, you should pick up this book.

2pac is a legacy of our generation..he is and will always be the best, not only was he an awesome rapper, but he was also a good actor and poet. This book is very well done and covers so much. When he was shot the first time 5 times..and leading up to his unjustly death..i recommend this book to anyone if they want to learn about 2pac, he wasnt a bad man or a gangsta like most assume, he was just at the wrong place at the wrong time..or he just got involved with the wrong ppl...and like he said live by the gun..die by the gun..and that is exactly what happened to this man...may he rest in peace

Very rarely does a chiller rise to literary genius as this book does...the descriptions of this threatened wife/actress are beautiful, the psychological nuances brilliant. I especially appreciate the portrait of the big city actress caught in small town family court. When that strange man comes to fix her vacuum, I got goosebumps. The scenes with her cleaning person were good too -- This touched nerve for me! My book club is debvouring it!

Every marriage is a mystery but Juliana (the heroine) has a more mysterious marriage than most -- She has played women in peril on film, and now in a Gaslight mode, her husband seems to terrorize her. Or is she too suggestive? Who will believe an actress in court? Especially when the scenes she describes are so close to her movie roles? This is a smart exciting book, and addresses the secrets of many husbands and wives, in a rich atmosphere of a gothic resort. My book club is reading and we have never been so on the edge!

Who doesn't dream of rescue? I identified whole heartedly with the miserably married actress Julianna, who is or is not being threatened by her husband. Filled with fascinating nuance, this book kept me up to the wee hours and ran chills up my spine, also elicited the wry laughs...Sheerest brilliance, and cinema verite re the secrets of a marriage.

WONDROUS ACCOUNT OF BATTERED BRIDE/MOVIE STAR WHO FIGHTS BACK. SMART AND CLEVERLY WRITTEN --ANY WOMAN WHO HAS EXPERIENCED THIS WILL RECOGNIZE THE ACCURACY OF THE MIND GAMES, THE DANGERS OF LOVING THE WRONG MAN, THE SUBTLETY OF REAL ABUSE. THE WEDDING CAKE FROZEN HOUSE & HISTORICAL SUB PLOT ARE ICINGS ON A DELICIOUS CAKE. I DEVOURED IT AND IT INCREASED MY SENSE OF SELF WORTH!

Laura Shaine Cunningham read at the West Side YMCA's Writer's Voice on May 14, 2004. This is from my introduction to the event.

Laura Shaine Cunningham's wonderful novel "Dreams of Rescue" is a fun-house mirror of a book: Is what we perceive accurate? Are our allies really on our side? Family, friends, lawyers, employees, strangers all revolve around Julianna, as she attempts to extricate herself from a marriage that has turned violent.

Laura Shaine Cunningham expertly explores the interior and exterior landscape of a "woman in jeopardy." A woman who knows she is telling the truth, but continually finds her version of events reflected back at her twisted. Juliana's wrenching attempts to somehow will herself through the difficult days between her husband's attack on a New Year's Eve, and the eventual resolution of her quest take the reader on a journey whose ending we never quite can suss. The very real pain of seeing the man who was her life turn against her provides a powerful emotional core in this taut, tense book The suspense, throughout, is what keeps the pages turning, and the reader rooting for Juliana to be able to have her life back.

Travis Hunter knows how to keep his readers engaged and interested in his books. I felt like I was right there with Jermaine as he walked out of his old life and created a new one. His issues with his father may not be the same as mine, but the fact that we had that in common gave me more reason to see how the end of the book would be. I would recommend this book to any young man who thinks he can't get out of the streets and live a respectable life. Travis showed America that not all thugs desire to be thugs they're whole life.

"Outstanding Read". My niece is 15 and enjoyed reading all of Travis Hunter's books. They are very realistic and extremely interesting--"page turners"!!! I've read A Family Sin and thoroughly enjoyed it myself!!!
Keep up the great work!!!

This book was excellent from the beginning to the end. It was easy to read and to understand. I felt like I was there with the characters. I could not put it down and would highly recommend purchasing his books.

Once I read the first chapter I was hooked. This story had a lot of real life issues and once I read the first few pages I had to see what was going to happen next. Jermaine was a good bad boy who saw the need to change and found a way to do just that. He made some good decisions and also found a way to forgive those who wronged him in the past. This book just made my heart swim with emotion and I can not wait until Travis Hunter writes his next story.

I really enjoyed looking into the lives and struggles of the hood and also of african american men. Jermaine is a dude that has never worked and always hustled to make ends meet. He has a son of his own and decides that he doesn't want to let his son down and be the type of father he had. Jermaine's father Calvin was never in his life besides sending money. So Jermaine was left for the streets to raise him. Everyone has to deal with the decisions they make in life. Mr. Hunter displays that alot. People having to deal with their life's decisions in the end rather good or bad. But this is a powerful story the tells stories on so many levels other than what I have written here. Read it, you won't be disappointed.

This was a very good book. Travis is an excellent writer and his books make you want to come back for more.

This is one of Travis' best...This one held me captivated from beginning to end. I love the way Travis works in the characters of his earlier novels. He keeps the drama flowing with realistic tales that we can all relate to.

Travis Hunter's "A One Woman Man" book is a page-turner. Once you start reading you won't want to put it down. It is so good that when you read it you feel as if you are a part of the story watching everything that goes on. It deals with some of the most important issues today. Fatherhood, love, scandal, memories, and revenge are some of the topics just to name a few. I applaud Travis Hunter on this book because its a book I can relate to all to well. I give this novel 5 stars, it is one of the best novels I've read in months

First I have to admit that I hated the cover of this book fo sho! I almost didn't buy it because of it but I'm glad I did. So I guess it's true that you really shouldn't judge a book by its cover. I appreciate stories about black men who are trying to do the right thing and that was what Dallas Dupree was in A ONE WOMAN MAN. Not necessarily an all together brother, but he was all man and he took care of his daughter and didn't mistreat the ladies. I enjoyed reading Dallas' story, but as minor as her character was compared to that of her brother's, my favorite character was probably Carmen, Dallas' sister. She reminded me very much of my sister-in-law. The way the author molded Priest, Dallas' brother, was genius. I was completely surprised by him and the ending of the book. Overall I give this one 4.5 stars.

I did not enjoy this book as much as previous works from this author. The title didn't really seem to fit the actual content of the book and the ending was abrupt and quirky. In the end there seemed to be no real lesson or meaning to it all; so this is the kind of book that you read to fend off boredom or on a long airplane ride to keep you occupied

I really enjoyed this book and thought that the message was powerful and easy to digest. I've also seen that a new version is coming out next month in bookstores and is completely updated with new stories and research.

The Quickbook is the only book on emotional intelligence that is compelling. I found the book easy to read and understand and had success introducing it in my company. I'm looking forward to obtaining the new edition in a few months when it is published by Simon and Schuster.

I bought the book to help with my diet because I've noticed that my emotions and what I do with them has a big effect upon when I eat and what I eat. Emotional intelligence was extremely helpful in understanding what to do with my feelings on the rough days, and is making the diet go much better. I thought the online emotional intelligence test that came with the book is neat.

I bought this book for four reasons: 1. Rave reviews here, 2. Intro by Patrick Lencioni, 3. Review by Dalai Lama, and 4. that the work is based on lots of research.

While I agree that the book is easy to read, I did not experience much substance in the book, and I think it only provided a very basic introduction to Emotional Intelligence. Given all the research the authors clamim to have done, there is not much analysis or explanation of what the research means. The 2nd star in this rating comes from the self-assessment.

There are many other books on EQ out there (Goleman for example) that provide much more substance and depth.

This is a brilliant condensed volume of information designed to inspire and inform the reader on the benefits of developing emotional intelligence. Emotional Intelligence is the basis of success, it allows you to cope constructively with no matter what ever life hands you. The online test also gives the reader greater insight into how their skills can be developed.
Well done. I would recomend this to my clients and readers as being a no nonsense resource. I have studdied and worked with developing resources arround Emotional Intelligence for years and this is good.
A great practical down to earth book which reinforces values "A wonderfuly practical book that will change your life." TRUITY Williams from Wanabelong, author of Workbook of Choices, Sweetest Revenge - a successful life and Feathers in the Mist.

This is hot. So drippy and sweaty with stink of the rawness of hot Southern Nights...You just want to eat it all up like a medium-rare Southern lamb shank...and I'm only on page 38 so far...I'll get back to you...

I understand the point of this "sting" manuscript. However, all the serious stuff to the side, this is the funniest thing I've ever tried to read. I could only take it a few pages at a time, otherwise I started laughing so hard, I couldn't focus on the page.

Anyone who has ever thought about writing or publishign a book should pick up a copy of Atlanta Nights.

While my copy is on the way, I have read enough excerpts to require extensive sedation. Yes, I'm a Believer friends, and I have hairs on my palms to prove it.

This is the book that those gutless, cyborg-like imbeciles Strunk and White would have written if they had possessed one iota of talent. In another life, boys. And your mother, too.

My eternal thanks to SF author and co-conspirator Victoria Strauss (The Burning Land etc.) - if that IS her real name - for pointing me at this meisterwerk par excellence. A day that will live in Infamy... (ellipsis = dot dot dot)

I would strongly suggest that asthmatics give this a miss, and that spouses of asthmatics who ignore this suggestion, should up their partner's Life insurance by a quantum factor. In fact, a lot.

Out, out, damned candle! Just waxing filo pastry, there.

This wonderfully wily worldly wizard wheeze is an artistically anachronistic antediluvian asymmetrical apocalyptica-addled abomination of almost anti-Aristotlean abhorrent alternative alliteration... already... aaaaaah that's better.

Okay, I'll Go Linear... The proceeds are going to a fine cause, and it's unbearably funny. Happy now?

I laughed. I cried.
I thought about the good times, the bad times.
This book offers poignant insights on the human spirit, the nexus existing between men and women, and the nature of computer-generated Chapter 34s.
I have not laughed this hard since I signed my bankruptcy filing 2 days before the new law took affect!
Read this book at once!! You will not regret it.

Atlanta Nights is a brilliant achievement. Only good writers could write something so bad. But this book is not merely bad. It's not bad in any ordinary sense of the word. No, it's a masterpiece of badness. Emphasis on the word masterpiece.

I'm reading this book with a highlighter to mark the parts I love the most, but I can't get the yellow marks to come out straight because I can't stop laughing. In fact, I haven't laughed this hard since some friends of mine and I put on sumo fat suits and knocked each other down in the park. And Atlanta nights is just as highbrow and meaningful an experience.

I plan to use parts of this book as a teaching tool. As they say on I Love Lucy, it'll head up the chapter entitled "Don't Let This Happen To You."

Buy several. Buy dozens. Give them to all your friends. They'll have a funny look on their face, but they'll thank you. I think.

To those who are either considering moving to Italy or just going for vacation, this is the book for you. It provides not only the basic information, but also answers questions that you would not normally consider or even think of. It also provides valuable information about embassies/consulates, education, and every day life. Even as a seasoned traveler, I found this book very useful, as I plan my relocation to Italy. It is an asset to any traveler's library.

This book is great because it gives you things from an American perspective. I've lived in Italy before on a study abroad program, so I was familiar with some things, but the lists of contact information alone are enough reason to buy this book. It covers everything from student visas to getting dual citizenship and from teaching ESL to starting your own business. A must read for anyone thinking about moving to Italy.

I moved to Italy to live, study and work, taking with me this book as the ultimate resource for an American looking to make a life there. Unfortunately, I did not find it to be the exhaustive guide I had hoped.
Not only did it brush the surface on important questions any American moving abroad would have (such as those addressing legal requirements, getting proper paperwork and visas to stay, finding work, etc.), I found it to actually contradict itself in the discussion of some important subjects.

I am afraid that whole-heartedly trusting this book to help you navigate through some of the legal implications of moving to Italy may result in much frustration. I also found the helpful lists (compilations of schools and universities, English-speaking organizations, etc.) to be less-than-comprehensive. These lists mainly focus on the big cities and American-draws (Rome, Florence and Milan).

This book is fine as a starter guide to help you to begin to plan, but it is not "everything you need to know."

This book arrived today, and I have read most of it already-- absolutely wonderful! It addresses answers to 98% of my questions, as well as issues I hadn't even thought about. There are also useful addresses and resources, as well as basic, but necessary tips, including how to convert measurements (for butter, sugar and clothing!), saints' days, and everyday etiquette (don't walk around your hosts' house barefoot!). How can someone who doesn't speak much Italian find a job? Which visa is actually right for you and what's the process? How do you prepare for your Italian job interview/write your resume? What's the garbage tax? What if you need emergency medical care? How do you get covered by Italy's public health care system? What is the proper way to go shopping in Italy? I've spent several months living/studying/traveling in Europe before, and I wish I had access to this book earlier. Full of tips, tricks, and tools to make you a successful individual in Italy (and beyond). Go eat some pasta and read up!

This book is literally a goldmine of useful information. I had no idea that the university system began at different times then the university system in the States... no wonder I didn't meet any cute Italian boys until two months into my stay! Hehe. But beyond that, I would recommend this book to anyone who, like myself, dreams of one day calling Italia home. I went through some of the avenues listed in the book (i.e., post-graduate study abroad, mingling with the locals, etc.) before even knowing this book existed, so the authors must be doing something right!

Tom Travis' book, "Doing Business Anywhere" is a "must read" for anyone involved in international trade, and certainly as a primer for any international graduate business student. He is spot-on with his comments about building relationships and doing business across borders.

Steven A. Jesseph, President & CEO, Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production(R) (WRAP)

Whether new to the international trade arena or a veteran, this book is a must read! Tom Travis is smart, articulate and entertaining. Sourcing products overseas can no longer be considered just a purchasing option. This book explains the complexities and risks associated with international sourcing, while providing tools on how to effectively manage the process. I bought this book for several clients and required my staff to read it.

Doing Business Anywhere is an excellent book. A great primer for the novice to the international arena, and a great reminder to us who have been around for a while. Tom Travis' six tenets are right on the money.
Gerry Rhoads
Managing Director of Smart Shirts Ltd. (Hong Kong)

This book should be required reading for any firm getting into importing or exporting. The inclusion of case studies made it hard to put down.

Clem Schrader
Vice President
The Hipage Company

Keep your ethical standards and security high are just two of the essential tips provided by this book on taking your business global.

I bought the book for my 3 sisters and me. I gave them to my sisters for Christmas and asked them to let me know when they read certain stories that reminded them of things they remember. I haven't heard from them yet, but I know I will, as all 4 of us are close at heart though miles apart. They all agreed it was a perfect gift.

I bought this book with the intention of giving it to my sister when I asked her to be my maid of honor at my wedding. I had forgotten that I already bought this book for her (I kept this copy for me). I marked a touching story in the book having to do with a wedding. She didn't get the meaning behind it, but it made her cry anyways and the best part is that she said yes!

I was bawling by the third story in the first chapter! This book is a real tear jerker.
Another great chicken soup book in the series.
A must to share between sisters and friends. There is a chapter dedicated to brothers as well. I would have to say this is probably the best chicken soup book i have read by far!!!

My First Chicken Soup book that I have read, and this was simply excellent. I laughed, cried, and it brought back all my childhood memories.

This book really touched me. It taught me to love my sisters whenever they are mean or do bad things. One of these stories was the most awesome story ever! I said that this one girl's sister had cancer and lost all of her hair. When she went to visit her sister she had a hat on that said "having a bad hair day," but when she took the hat off she was bald,she shaved all of the hair on her head off so her sister woulnd't feel bad about having no hair. That was the story that touched me the most.

Master "helper" Travis keeps coming up with frightened damsels. And thankfully, Meyer is frequently there to offer advice and consent.

Before reading The Long Lavender Look, I would have argued that Bright Orange for the Shroud was the best Travis McGee book. After careful consideration, I have to admit that The Long Lavender Look steals the crown, even though they both remain extremely entertaining. Since MacDonald sets a high standard for hard-boiled detection, this should tell you that I liked this book very much indeed.

McGee swerves to avoid a nearly naked girl running across the road, and ends up in a swamp of more than one kind. In order to clear his name, he has to find his way to the center of a secret at the heart of a small town Florida police department.

Smart. Fair. Entertaining. Easy to find at used book stores for a small bit of change. What's not to like?

While I still find "Flash of Green" to be my favorite John D. MacDonald book, there's something so appealing about the Travis McGee series that it keeps me coming back to them. And "The Long Lavender Look" is just another addition to the spectrum of colors that his novels get their titles from. Also "The Long Lavender Look" has such a gripping opening sequence of events, and such an array of fascinating characters, that you cannot put this mystery down.

And while I know that MacDonald enjoyed popularity in his time, it seems that his popularity is running out of gas. I hope I am wrong because he is horribly overlooked.

Travis McGee and his friend Meyer are driving home on an abandoned road when a nude young woman races in front of their car. McGee and Meyer end up going off the road and rolling the car, but that's just the beginning of their troubles. Before long, they're shot at by someone in a beat-up pickup truck. As a final welcome to the area, they're arrested for murder and accused of being involved in a robbery some years earlier. Needless to say, McGee digs in and tries to get to the bottom of things.

Travis is loved by a legion of fans and he's at his best here. The supporting cast is interesting as we meet characters like Betsy Kapp, a waitress turned part-time call girl. King Sturnevan is a former boxing contender who is now a sheriff's deputy and befriends Travis. And Lilo Perris is a psycho who mixes freakish strength, extreme sadism, and raw sexuality to keep McGee on his toes. These few and more form a rich stew for Travis to work with as he tries to unravel the mystery of robbery and murder.

The mystery is interesting, and certainly had me guessing for a good while. My only complaint is that it dragged on for a bit too long. There is a climactic scene 50 pages before the book ends where MacDonald could have easily wrapped up the story. Instead, he went for another twist and the actual ending felt a bit anti-climactic and stretched out. It's not like it completely ruined the book, but it does keep it from being as tight as it might have been.

The Long Lavender Look is a solid entry in the Travis McGee series. Long time fans will probably appreciate that the story is a bit of a change of pace from the norm since it doesn't involve McGee performing one of his standard "salvage" operations for a reward. It's not a bad choice for first time readers either. While I did think the ending was a bit sub par, the book is certainly an entertaining read overall.

John D. MacDonald's mysteries are as tasty as the hamburgers of the same name! I love all the Magee books!