Arts Books

This is the original story by Annie Proulx as well as the movie script. Great for fans of the film as a collector item.

I had to purchase this book for a college course, otherwise I probably would never have read it. I found it boring and realized that it's probably better suited for either men who like cowboy stories, or people who are into studying how to create a screenplay from a move. The screenplay stays very true to the short story. The best part about this book is the essay in the back by Proulx. I suggest you read it before you read the short story as it answered my main question, which is why a straight woman in her 60s would write a story about rough cowboys who were having trouble accepting their sexual orientation.

This item took you through the entire life of the book to the screenplay to the movie. It was great reading what the writers said about the project and how it was a labor of love for everyone involved. It was wonderful reading how devoted everyone was to the project. Much how the two main characters were devoted to each other.

In an effort to check out my approach to writing a book adaption to screenplay, I thought it would be a good exercise to experience how others have done it. After reading the Brokeback Mountain short story, then reading the shooting script, then watching the film, I knew I was right on target. It is invigorating to experience and understand the progression from story to screenplay to film. The book also includes backround information from the short story writer, Annie Proulx and the two screenwriters, Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana, which tops off the value of this book. Reading it is a great process, and once you've read the book, you'll appreciate the film even more.
-Catherine Busch-Johnston-

This is an excellent addition to anyone's book collection - not only do you receive Annie Proulx's wonderful story, but you can experience Larry McMurtry's and Diana Ossana's sweet, lilting and poignant screenplay. Ennis and Jack jump off the page, fictional characters who have somehow become real, as we are transported with them through the most beautiful twenty years of their star-crossed lives. No, it is not a story about gay cowboys....it is a story about two young men who find love and happiness in an unlikely relationship, and simply don't know how to handle it. The part of this story that always grabs me is that through a simple twist of fate, the entire ending could have been different.

I suggest this book couple with the movie - seeing the screenplay come to life through Heath Ledger's and Jake Gyllenhaal's performances is spell bounding.

It was a fascinating read to see the short story move from Annie's simple prose to screenplay. And the chapters at the end which discuss the story and the filming of this heart-wrenching story is worth the price. I highly recommend it. Thanks for listening.

The Kremer 100 list, his multiple websits and products, the media list, pr advice, the information never stops! I dog-ear the corners, highlight, mark and sticky tab the entire book. I have gotten more information from John's book than my whole first two years in college. I now feel more than prepared to market my book series. Wow. He's one resource that has captured a niche.

Kimberley Clayton Blaine, MA, MFT
Licensed Child Therapist
Author, Mommy Confidence
founder, www.TheGoToMom.TV

Where to begin...

Oh, there's a good place. That is what you will ask yourself after you read this masterpiece. With all of this information "WHERE DO I BEGIN?"

This book is a monster. It is jam-packed with more (high-quality) information than any other book on the subject. There is absolutely no fluff in this book, which is a drag when you consider how much of it there is to read. Every aspect of book marketing is covered, and I like the fact that JK keep updating it, as the world of book marketing is changing every year. Just on the internet alone: first there were web pages, then myspace, friendster, facebook, blogs, plogs, vlogs, book teaser trailers, reviews, previews, ebooks, audiobooks, iTunes, ebay, and podcastalley! (I sound like Hedy Lamar!)

I have read a LOT of books on book marketing, book promotion, publishing, and self-publishing. This is at the top of my list, along with Jump Start Your Book Sales. There are other VERY good books (I will have to remember to make a listmania of them), but this is the one--the Bible if you will--the one above all others that you must read and own and reread. in fact, this book is the think and Grow Rich of book marketing.

I will leave the detailed analysis for other authors. The purpose of this review is to get you to "buy this book NOW!" because at $18.45 (current sale price on Amazon) this is one of the most important investments you will ever make on your career as an author (or a publicist). You can keep reading reviews, or you can buy this book (or even get a copy at the library--but you WILL end up wanting your own copy) and start making serious money.

This book will NOT give you a plan. it will not show you step-by-step how to do all of the things it recommends. That is why other books exist. Here's:

"How to use this book"

Read it. Mark the ideas that really inspire you. Then go through it a second (or third) time and on a SEPARATE piece of paper write down the page number of the idea you like, write a short headline (3-7 words) followed by a 3-5 sentence description of what the idea is--not why you like it. Do this for all of the ideas you like. the purpose of doing this is to f-o-c-u-s you on what you CAN and WILL do, so that you don't get OVERWHELMED. This book will overwhelm you, unless you are a zombie, which is just cool in its own right.

NEXT: Look ate all of the ideas you have headlined and described on paper. you should have a few pages of scribbles, maybe even up to a dozen or so. Now, with the book put aside, type THOSE ideas into your computer. I recommend any word processing software (like MS Word, WordPerfect, Open Office...) rather than a spreadsheet program. The point of this part of the exercise is to see which listings you will pause over an which ones you will delete. Also you should find yourself re-prioritizing ideas, even if you had set out to type everything in exact order. Do not have someone else do this for you or you will defeat the purpose of weeding out the "maybes" from the "must do"'s. This is your future (and fame, and money) we are talking about here. Don't cheat yourself.

Once you have that list entered and you are happy with it, save it and print out a copy. Look at it a few times over the next week. Some ideas will start to grow on you while others ill sound less fun. DO THE FUN ONES FIRST! do what you can afford to do now first! Don't eat your vegetables first, eat the candy! The point is to get started and make headway, not punish yourself by dutifully finishing boring tasks. Once you get some momentum built up and you can see progress you can measure--then start in on the more intensive stuff.

Thanks for reading

John Kremer's book has answered alot of questions that I had that I couldn't seem to get answered any where else. Now I have the ultimate tool to assist me in putting together a great marketing plan.

I recommend this book to anyone who really wants to make their book a success.

Susie McCray, poet & author
"See What I See"

Jam-packed with ideas to help you market your book. Writing amazon reviews is one of them!

Author, "Trust is Everything: Become the leader others will follow"

John Kremer's book is by far the best on how to effectively market your books. He gives idea after idea (many of them low cost and no cost) on how to get the word out.

Anyone who is in the know, knows that John Kremer's book is a must have.

You want your book to succeed? Get this book now!

Kathleen Gage
The Street Smarts Marketer
101 Ways to Get Your Foot in the Door: Success Strategies Guaranteed to Put You Miles Ahead of the Competition

I've read a lot of books on self publishing. I decided on self publishing for myself because I didn't want to take 18 months to get a book published, and I didn't want to share the profits if I had to do the marketing anyway.

The problem with these types of self publishing books is that they contain a lot of information on self publishing, but in the marketing chapters the marketing information is skimpy at best.

Another problem I had was that when I looked for information specifically on book marketing, I really couldn't find a whole lot that allowed me to take full advantage of the internet (i.e. getting the word out quickly and automating some of the work.)

What information that was available involved having to travel, or doing tasks that are really time consuming. Because of my schedule and lifestyle, I needed marketing techniques that were fairly easy to do, effective, and could be done at home.

Finding this book is like an answer to a prayer. It does everything I mentioned about and includes plenty of techniques on how to market your book online specifically using Amazon. Since Amazon is the number one bookstore online anyway, it's where you want to go because that's where your customers are.

Sampson includes all of the techniques and even rates them for you so you know which ones are the most effective. It is a fast read (will only take you a couple of hours), and you can begin marketing on Amazon immediately.

What separates the best sellers from those books that are never read is marketing. Although many writers may avoid marketing like the plague, for those of you who don't mind marketing (I don't), this book offers you a viable opportunity to connect with your readers, make more money, and spend less time doing it. Even if you hate marketing, this is a good book for you because it's a great marketing plan for introverts.

Once you've written that book, and you're ready to start promoting, start with this book. It will save you the days and weeks I spent researching to find the right marketing information.

This book will save you time, it will save you money, and it will end any stress you may have over trying to figure out how to market your books and make money from them. Highly recommended.

Jinger Jarrett, Author, Internet Marketing for Free: The GUIDE: Internet Marketing to GO!

Having gone through this book several times, I have gotten several great ideas about selling on Amazon. It was not necessarily something specific the book said, more like 'Oh, and I could do that!, or thats a great idea.'

You may have wondered, what benefit could I possibly get from doing a list or listmania. As a reviewer, I think 'what's the point?' tons of people look at these lists, but hardly anyone says they are helpful?

From an author's perspective though these lists are read by thousand of people, and if you tweak your presentation as the author suggests, that is thousands of potential customers for your book. In addition, if you do not already write reviews, this can also give you much exposure, and if you develop some skill as the author suggests, you can raise your profile.

The multiple book strategy, I found very useful, and the ebook strategy he mentioned is also valuable. If you don't already know about ISBN numbers, hello, then you need to get the book.

How can a new writer have a similar presence to a seasoned writer on an Amazon search?

What are the economics of an ebook versus a regular paperback? Very useful to know.

My personal recommendation to you is study how other authors market themselves, how you notice them as you peruse, and what they do to stand out. Some top reviewers on Amazon are also authors. Look at what they do on their profiles.

If you're like me, you,ll get some inspired ideas of how to use information and strategies in the book. I hope this is helpful to you.

If you were to find this helpful, please click yes.

This book is truly Amazing!
Amazon is some machine these days and this book will give you the tools to be its `Master' and not its `Monkey'.
All aspects of Marketing your book via Amazon (and in some cases beyond) are covered in this easy to read, easy to follow book.
Not only does it coach you through what paths are relevant for you, it also suggest how effective they may be.
A must read on self publishing along, with `Aiming at Amazon' and the legendary `Self Publishing Manual'

Introduced to writing by Chris Baty's NaNoWriMo, I spent three years writing my Airman's Trilogy, all the while trying to determine how to market my work the conventional way. You know, find an agent willing to take you on and shop your stuff at publishing houses. Then along came POD and the tools provided by Amazon.

Amazon introduced CreateSpace, freeing the newbie author of the "conventional way". Sampson's book provides a shining path through the maze of Amazon and picks up after publishing with CreateSpace to educate the author about the selling tools provided Amazon. It's step by step approach is refreshing to the newbie writer of this review.

Fast & Furious Book Promotion

I just finished reading Brent Sampson's Sell Your Book on Amazon and recommend it to any author looking to use Amazon more effectively. The book will help you navigate the sometimes clunky nature of Amazon, show you tactics you may not find on your own and set up the proper mindset. The proper mindset is what I found most useful. I kept thinking of JFK's inaugural speech when he said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." Amazon provides its tools and has set up its website to first and foremost sell more books. If an author understands and accepts this fact, then he or she will discover how to use Amazon to help promote their own books.

Here's an example: I'm taking Brent's advice and leaving a review for his book. On this review form, I can link to any Amazon product. Well, of course I'm linking to my book on book promotion. I'm helping Amazon but also helping myself. Now if I didn't have a book of my own, I might link to another author's book. This is the mindset we need to have to use Amazon to promote our books.

Wil Wheaton is the actor that played the character of Wesley Crusher on the extremely popular "Star Trek: The Next Generation" television show. His was a character that made him a teen idol to some and an object of derision to others. Like many of the other regular characters on a Star Trek series, Wheaton has mixed feelings about his success.
On the one hand, the show made him wealthy and famous, so he has the opportunity to bask in the glow of success. However, the body of Star Trek fandom is a diverse one, ranging from polite adoration to mental instability. Wheaton is a regular on the Star Trek convention circuit, so he was forced to deal with the entire spectrum of personalities.
This book is a collection of five short stories about Wheaton's experiences in life, some in the Star Trek universe, others describing his childhood and the loss of a beloved aunt. His writing is quite good; he puts down his emotions in an understated yet moving way. The stories give you an insight into his life, his experiences while making Star Trek and his world after leaving the making of the Star Trek universe. This is not a biography or a "tell-all" book about Star Trek; it is a simple collection of stories about the life of Wil Wheaton.

This book is great. Any fan of Wil's should check it out. Anyone who hates Wil should check it out to find out why Wil Wheaton ROCKS.

This was a great book. Its a few short stories of Wil's experiences. It really lets you know how he feels about critical moments in his life. After reading this book and went out and got his other one, Just a Geek.
The stories are especially good if you are a geek, gamer, browncoat, or trekkie.

...I got a little teary-eyed. This is an excellent book. It's funny and compelling and Wil shows what a great writer he is. I wanted more and I'm upset that I didn't buy "Just A Geek" first. I'll be remedying that as soon as I'm finished writing this review. If you just like a good story whether it be about Star Trek or just being a regualar everyday person, or if you want a good laugh, I recommed this book.

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Wheaton at a sci-fi convention in 2006. He was really nice and easy going. I picked up a smaller book that he had printed in limited numbers. I love how he spins his tales. It took me a while but I finally grabbed his book Dancing barefoot. His childhood storys and those of his current family are heartfelt and warm. His dealing with the memories of his Trek experience and coming to grips with his "Child Actor" status. If you are a trek fan or not doesn't matter the guy is a great writer and I can't wait for the next book.

Books this long need to be way more interesting or it turns into a slog, I don't care how fast you read. This one really bogged me down. I am not saying it was not a good story, it just needed to be way shorter and keep moving a lot faster.

As a high school student, I first encountered this character in a series made up of five books. At the time, each book was released weeks or even months apart. I was so enamored with the story that I finished each book before the next one was released. But I eagerly anticipated each installment. It was like being hooked on a daytime soap. But mind you, this is no soap opera. This is perhaps the most captivating story I have ever encountered. I am pleased to find this edition contains the whole set in one book. If you are a fan of sword fights that begin with but an intent in the mind of the combatant coming to an end in the deceptively tranquil plains of feudal Japan, look no further. This story reminds you that however perfect the sword is as a tool for killing, the deadliest weapon remains the swordsman and not the sword. Musashi is the ultimate swordsman and his story has all the elements of an engaging epic containing betrayal, honor, struggle, unrequited love, death and much more. The duels of the sword depicted here are like nothing I have ever read or seen or heard about before back then as a high school student and now as an adult. Printing quality and paper quality is excellent as befits a treasure of literature.

Great story!! Full of action and wonderful details so you really feel like you are part of the story. My son who does not like to read cannot help but enjoy this one. Just when he seems a little bored the author has something exciting. A great read for boys or men.

I read this books while I was in the senior high school, approximately twenty years ago, but until now the story is still clinging in my mind and it refused to forget it because this is a best novel I've ever know.Extremely worthy to own it. It seems that Eiji Yoshikawa did a great deal of works to perfecting it.

I read Musashi 15 years ago, and I remember it vividly. It's such a sweeping, wondrous novel, I'm surprised it's not more famous than it is. I became a bit of a Yoshikawa fan from this, and visited his home, preserved as a museum, outside Tokyo. A beautiful serene place. Musashi, in retrospect, was highly inspirational to me as a writer, in terms of pacing, character development, and raw storytelling. I recently bought a copy for a fellow writer, who has samurai themes in his works, and I'm sure I will continue to gift this novel to my friends. Enjoy!

I recently finished writing my first book in nearly 20 years and was looking for information about selling it online. I bought Plug Your Book! by Steve Weber and I'm glad I did. I really had no idea just how drastically the book publishing industry has changed since the 1980's.

One strategy that I started using as a result of reading this book is writing book reviews on Amazon.com (hence this one). I had never written a book review in my life until I read Weber's book. Now I write them all the time.

This is has been one of those rare buying experiences for me - the product I bought actually exceeded my expectations - by a long shot. This book is packed with useful information for authors and publishers. I really don't think you can get this kind of information anywhere else.

I highly recommend Plug Your Book!

Mitch Paioff, Author, Getting Started as an Independent Computer Consultant

I found that the book had some very important and valuable information, giving both pros and cons of different aspects of online marketing...in the rapidly changing field of book publishing, this book is a must read. If you don't use all of the book's suggestions, (I ended up using a totally different web host than those originally suggested in the book because it seemed much more user-friendly to my neophyte sensibilities), it will certainly get you pointed in the right direction. Thanks a bunch to author Steve Weber for laying it all out!!!

I didn't think any book could come with new stuff on this topic but it does. There is some old stuff but plenty of new tricks to get my teeth around in plugging my stuff online. I have been told by publishers that online sales account for 10% of sales - now I am beginning to wonder.

Plug Your Book was recommended to me at a writers' workshop. It is a step by step guide to marketing on line. This is useful information to me, even during the process of writing a book. I use each chapter like a cookbook, opening up a page, opening up a website, and exploring that website according to the principles Weber is explaining. I already knew how to purchase books on Amazon.com. But, through Weber's book, I have learned the process of peer review, how to participate in that process, and how to approach reviewers. All the chapters provide a foundation for me as I write a book. The chapter on author websites explains how an author website is not just an advertisement. There are specific recommendations for designing an author website, or design a website with a newsletter as preparation for publishing a book. I have given myself permission to take as many years as I need to publish my first book. Weber's book provides me, as well as other new authors, with multiple resources for the whole process of writing, publishing, and marketing our work.

I have read at least a dozen titles on book marketing and I believe this to be the most valuable book available for today's world of internet marketing. The great part about online marketing is that you can actually target specific markets and it's usually free.

This book will help you focus your online marketing strategies in several ways:
* Influencing and Understanding the Amazon sales Rank
* Setting up and Effective Website
* Creating an Online Press Kit
* How to Get More Amazon Reviews
* Effective Use of Blogs
* A Page for your Book on Sites like MySpace.com
* Leveraging Social Networking
* Leveraging Amazon.com

This is the only book I've read that doesn't just tell you what to do in terms of book marketing, but it tells you specifically how to do it. It's really the only resource you need for marketing your book.

Stacie Vander Pol, author of Top Self Publishing Firms

I love Camryn Mannheim and her book. I'd give this a 4.5 if I could, because since she wrote the book, she's lost quite a bit of weight and puts the reasoning for it on being a mother.

I hated it when Carnie Wilson went from being a NAAFA member and spokesperson for loving yourself at any size to being obsessed with being thin. She's admitted to lying about why she had WLS and has made a snootful of money pimping it to others. She has been a major factor in the deaths of hundreds of (mostly) women who didn't make it after the surgery and her recommendation of it.

And I am very saddened by Mannheim's abandonment of her principals of fat-acceptance and the people who have supported her and her book.

Isn't there anyone out there who will stay committed to the cause and not cave in when someone runs some cash under their noses or threatens their career if they don't lose weight?

Ack. Love the book. Disappointed in Mannheim today.

This was both an intertaining a introspective read. Camryn Manheim is funny, smart, human, and beautiful. This book made me look at the excuses I make for my failures and the things I allow to stand in the way of my success. I was able to relate to Camryn much more than I could relate to Oprah when I read her book. It is a book for all women, all mothers, and a book I would want my boyfriend to read. Thank you Camryn, I wish we could meet some day.

I just happened into a copy of the book when I had a little time to kill, then I could hardly put it down. I enjoyed the book and the many reviews that have been written here. I normally write reviews on obscure books where there are only a few, if any, reviews so this is different for me and I doubt if i have too much to add. Beyond the self acceptance theme that has been much reviewed (I have fat issues and support Camryn's views (mostly)), I liked the book on many other levels. Of course I liked the humor and human interest of growing up in America. The struggle for success story is good too. I especially liked the unconventional approach to the book itself. Frnakly, I did not much the Cammy--fat dialogs, but I liked many of the other, unusual things like asides and notes to herself and others throughout. There were other quirky approaches that I really liked too. I really like the book and recommend it highly.

Camryn Manheim is an sassy, award-winning actress and laugh-out-loud funny. This book is a personal account of her experiences of fat-ism and her journey to self-acceptance.

Manheim is a natural storyteller and, being overweight myself, there was a lot here to relate to, but although I enjoyed the book, there were no groundbreaking revelations for me here ... though it does make a pretty strong case against society's obsession with being thin, this book is in no way a "self-help" book (to be fair, it doesn't claim to be) and it didn't help me to "make peace" with my fat. It did however make me laugh a lot and that's reason enough to encourage others to read it!

Thank you Camryn, for speaking out for big women everywhere.

Camryn Manheim is a fat activist. Her experiences in a world where people are literally dying to be thin include getting in to the NYU Masters of Fine Arts program, gracing the cover of "fat" magazines such as Radiance and winning an Emmy for her performance on The Practice. She is a likeable, mature and attractive woman who has fought passionately for what she believes in. But does that make one a good author? In Manheim's case, it damn well does.

"Wake up, I'm fat," is a hilarious, bittersweet page-turner. This socially critical memoir mainly deals with one individual's struggles on growing up in our superficial world. Anyone who has ever felt like an outsider, be it because of their race, religion or looks, will immediately be able to relate to the amiable narrator.

Manheim manages to be honest about the ugly underbelly of today's beauty image and her struggles without sounding whiny. She uses dark humor and clever prose to describe how she got to where she is today.

Subjects such as erotic weight gain or personal ads are also dealt with in this book. They may make the reader feel slightly squeamish at first, but ultimately they just make this book a more interesting read. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about "the underdog being on top" or who simply likes a good story told well.

many books have been written about apollo
I have read more than forty
but in this one we feel the authors has been given the chance to hear directly the moonwalkers
for me it is one of the best first hand report on apollo

This book vividly paints the picture of the voyages and lives of the Apollo astronauts. It is exhaustively detailed; so much so that you often feel as if the astronauts are telling their own stories in real time. For true fans of the Apollo era this is the comprehensive story of the greatest adventure man has ever undertaken.

A Man on the Moon: The Voyages of the Apollo Astronauts

This is an outstanding lesson in history from the perspective of those who lived it. Having just attended Advanced Space Academy for Educators in Huntsville, Alabama and the Kennedy Space Center, Florida; this book brought the sites, history, and lessons to life.

It should be required reading for those who have forgotten what our American Spirit is all about.

This is a comprehensive book about the Apollo space program that does an exceptional job of capturing one of the most incredible times in human history. It was a time when the belief was that we could do just about anything we set our minds to.

Andrew Chaikin does an amazing job of capturing the courage, the commitment, the sacrifices, the driving motives and vision of the astronauts, supporting crews, wives and more. This 600+ page book hardly wastes a word. The book was so good it was turned into a mini series by HBO.

It is clear that Chaikin has a deep passion and respect for the space program and the people in it. He brings the truth to this writing without much dirty laundry being exposed.

This book deserves a place on any space buff's book shelf. It is also a great read for anyone interested in true life adventure of men who dared to sit on the top of rockets and go where no one had gone before. Highly recommended!

Here are a few other great books on the US space program:
Failure is not an Option - Gene Kranz
The Last Man on the Moon - Gene Cernan
The Unbroken Chain - Guenter Wendt

The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide to: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking

The Last Man on the Moon: Astronaut Eugene Cernan and America's Race in Space

Failure is not an Option: Mission Control from Mercury to Apollo 13 and Beyond

The Unbroken Chain: Apogee Books Space Series 20 (Apogee Books Space Series)

I recently took my four year old son to KSC to see the launch of Discovery on its STS-124 mission. While I have always been one to make sure I have the TV on during a launch, I never dove much deeper than the average newspaper coverage. However, after taking the tours at KSC, a fire was ignited.
This book was the perfect fit for me. It covers every apollo mission without losing interest in the later missions. Obviously more time is spent covering Apollo's 1, 11, & 13.
Chaikin introduces the readers to many of the astronauts that while are not as well known as Armstrong, contibuted just as much, if not more to the program.
As it states in the description, the series,From the Earth to the Moon closely follows the book, but puts a more personal touch on the program while still providing enough information for the book to be used as reference for high school papers or a college thesis. It is the perfect mix of technical and entertainment. A Great Read!!

I purchased this book simply to replace my original copy, which I loaned out and which was never returned. Reading this book has been a favorite part of my Christmas for many years. While I regret losing my old copy, I am thankful I will now be able to carry on this tradition.

It's a fun story about an untraditional Christmas play. It shows how good can come of seemingly negative changes and find some unexpected, meaningful outcomes.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

The worst kids in the neighborhood decide to be in the annual Christmas Pageant and turn the weeks leading up to the event into a very funny, read. I've read this book to many classrooms of children over the years and it's guaranteed to make them listen and laugh.

...

I like books and I don't know if this is my favorite book but it is excellent. We read it as a family every year at Christmas. It never fails to touch me. It is fun with a redeeming message.

I have read this book at least once a year for 15yrs and now I'm reading it to my kids. It's a quick read, I can't put it down.

Marcella Hazan's cookbooks are all great. This is the BEST. The characteristic that sets her book apart from all others is not the ingredients and not lucious looking pictures (there are no photos), but rather the important processes she describes in clear detail. I bought this as a gift for someone but have owned this version for five years and its earlier edition for 25 years and have never been disappointed. She is the best. Period. You'll never need another Italian cookbook.

I only received this book a couple weeks ago.
The 3 recipes I cooked were okay.
I had reservations about the two chicken breast filet recipes:
cooking times requested are very short and your filets can come out raw.
-She should've been more specific on to tell when its done by detailing the weight of the breast filets to use.

However, other recipes, especially the pasta ones, look really good!
Looking foward to using this book more.

This is a hefty book - lots of detail, lots of instruction and pretty strict about how things need to be done. As someone who hasn't ventured outside of my comfort zone for cooking, this structure can be very helpful - but it can also complicate things as I have to prepare everything in advance and rarely can pull off a recipe in this book with a low stocked pantry.

Still, I can't fault the book for my need to prepare - overall it's great and when I do have the time to make a special trip for all the right ingredients I know I'll have everything spelled out for me. The thing is huge so it's not easy to move around a kitchen counter with a couple of fingers in the middle of cooking, but like my title indicates, it's like a text book. There's more than just recipes, there's reference information, instruction on preparation and history. A very well rounded book.

...I've referred to this book over the years for technique and authenticity of Italian cooking...it is a wonderful book. I agree that it is on par with Julia Child's French cookbook. I've made many of the recipes and they are fabulous....the poached shrimp, easy and delicious...the grilled shrimp with flavored breadcrumbs is another favorite, the Lemon, garlic & parsley chicken cutlets is marvelous...her focaccia recipe is the best...fried tomatoes......I can go on and on. Ms. Hazan has given us a remarkable gift.

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, the depth of her knowledge of Italian cookery is amazing, on the other, the lack of specifics and inaccurate cooking times can be quite frustrating. This caveat should suffice: when making use of these recipes, make constant use of your tasting spoon!

I made Pasta e fagioli with fresh cranberry beans according to Ms. Hazan's recipe, and, because of Ms. Hazan's widely-acknowledged eminence, I followed her recipe precisely, something I rarely do, as I am an experienced cook. Her time for cooking the beans (45 minutes), left me with undercooked beans; they should have cooked for at least an hour and fifteen minutes, if not an hour and a half. No big deal, except I added the pasta at the point Ms. Hazan recommended.

I am sure that this book will be an invaluable resource to anyone who wants to learn Italian cooking, just make sure to test and modify these recipes as necessary ahead of time; following them as is can result in flubbed meals.