Shows Books

I was expecting a lot more, I don't know why. I am a big fan of Opie & Anthony and got caught up in the hype. Jimmy is a funny comic on radio and at his shows, but not a writer. I will definitely not buy the new book.

I find the writing Of Mr James Norton quite inspiring. Since reading this masterpeice I've made at least 7 people puke by making them smell my belly button. Bravo *Himmmy* and Happy Birthday!!!

I confess I didn't even know who Jim Norton was when I bought this on referral. The self-loathing bit gets old, but his wit is unbelievably funny at times, the stories are told with great observation humor and descriptions of hilarious uncomfortable situations. Highly recommended.

I laughed while reading this book front to back. I had heard some of the stories during his appearances on The Opie and Anthony Show but still laughed ever single moment. A must read for anyone with a sick sense of humor.

Lil' Jimmys book doesn't disappoint. He's definitely one of the best comedians going today. Hopefully his next book isn't too far away.

Great book! I found it honest, to the point and there was no fooling around about the emotions and the reality of this war. I, for one, appreciate that.

Chasing Ghosts is an honest and powerful account of Reickhoff's experience in Iraq. While it's tough reading at points, I think it is good for us to recognize the reality of what we're asking the men and women of our armed forces to do for this country every day.

It took a lot of courage for Reickhoff to write this book and my hat goes off to him for doing it; and for the important work he's doing for veterans every day now.

Rieckhoff is a well-spoken and thoughtful individual who, in this memoir of his service as part of the occupying force in Iraq, takes the reader on his journey from intelligent inductee to Generation Kill to intelligent advocate for peace. It's a good terse read with very little fluff or filler, and is required text for anyone wanting a soldier's perspective on the invasion and occupation.

As someone who has read a large amount of literature concerning the current state of international affairs, specifically in the "War on Terror" and as a hopeful future officer in the United States Army, I found Paul Rieckhoff's account of his time as a platoon leader in Iraq to be not only well-written, but helpful and insightful. From the accounts of under-equipped Guard units, to the sometimes seemingly trivial nature of the Rules Of Engagement, the book paints a quite vivid, and scarily what I imagine to be accurate, picture of the face of America's first gander at twenty-first century warfare.
Though I found parts of the read to be erie in nature, and though the book provokes questions and doubts about our great nation's leadership and decision-makers, it in no way influenced me to give up joining the military. Rieckhoff has made it clear that the country's leadership is quite questionable, and in part of his writing acknowledges the fact that a new generation of veterans will soon be stepping into the political realm.

Chasing Ghosts deserves to be read.

This was a great book and an easy read as it kept you engaged and intrigued. Enjoy!

Harpo Speaks speaks of an amazing life with a voice filled with humor and humanity. This is a book to savor. I've now read it 3 times and am looking forward to #4! Just a joy!

i am too lazy, or too busy, or too impatient to sit down and rate books/movies, etc, etc. however, i had to take time out of my day to tell you all that this is one of the funniest books ever written. period. 'harpo speaks' is a page-turner that never gets boring, and will literally have you laughing outloud. page after page, i would say to myself, 'this is to funny/bizzare to be true', yet with each passing page you could see the pieces of harpo's life fitting together to make him the master comedien that he was. this book is an absolute joy. buy it. you won't be disappointed.

From his early days as a ragamuffin loner dropout on the streets of new york, to his years in the spotlight as one of history's greatest comedians, Harpo takes us on a whirlwind ride through his life, and every page is more engaging than the last. I love the Marx Bros, and reading the success story through the eyes of their silent (but not unheard) partner is a must of any fan, be they casual or hardcore. Thank you Harpo, for sharing your rich life experiences with us. I'm forever grateful.

"Harpo Speaks" is one of the few books I've ever read that left an lasting impression on me. I first read it in 1975 when I was a teenager. I had always loved the Marx Brothers movies, and Harpo was always my favorite. My mother loved celebrity biographies, and she knew I would love this book.

Now, some 35+ years later, I still am in love with this book. I have used many of the illustrations with my children over the years. I love the story after Harpo lost most of his money in the crash of 1929, and he came upon a couple who was being evicted from their flat. The landlord was selling their belongings, and Harpo bought a scrub brush for a nickel. If I remember correctly, he gave the scrub brush back to the couple.

Also, I remember how much he used humor when raising his children. Harpo shared throughout the book that if you keep your kids laughing, you will have them in the palm of your hand. That pearl of wisdom is so true, and I always remembered that with my children. They are grown now (well my youngest is 16), and they all have a great sense of humor.

I need to buy this book again. I lost it in a move around 20 years ago. I want each of my children to read this book, and get to know one of the most unique and down-to-earth men in our country's history. Harpo Marx was one of a kind, and we won't see anyone like him ever again. What a shame!

When speaking of the Algonquin Round Table of which he was a member for years - he claims his only contribution was to be a listener among all the great talkers. He lies. His storytelling, practical jokes and childlike sense of fun were an essential ingredient of that famed circle.

No other book, not even Groucho's own autobio, conveys the early 20th century world of Vaudeville in all its raunchy splendor as this book does. There was never so amazing a place as New York of that era. Its a fun read throughout.

Surprisingly, at the heart of the book is the unlikely pairing of best friends Alexander Wolcott and Harpo Marx. Wolcott, sexually neutered by a glandular condition or mumps as his story went, obese, ridiculous and brilliant, saw in Harpo the image of freedom he could never know. Harpo, a second grade drop-out who at fourteen was playing piano in a whorehouse, was perhaps the only human being who really understood his friend.

I recently moved to L.A. and bought a used, earlier edition of this wonderful book. When it arrived, the small print and heft of it was intimidating- I was reminded of another famous book, written thousands of years ago?... The paragraph on "positive" stories changed my mindset in meetings and two agents offered to sign me the day after I read it. I am convinced this comprehensive guide will shave years off my journey to success. Contacts galore, lists of resources and interviews with everyone you can imagine. I look forward to meeting the author so I can thank her in person.

I decided not to become an actor in Los Angeles, or aspire to. But I did buy and read this book. It's a great resource for the aspiring actor in Los Angeles. It explains, in detail, pretty much anything and everything you need to know about pursuing a career in acting. It can be overwhelming when you first move to LA. This book helps a lot. I can definitely recommend it if you are serious about becoming an actor.

"Thank You so much for your book. It is an essential tool that every actor in Los Angeles MUST HAVE. You have graciously offered all the information in one place that would take an actor years to figure it all out on their own. THANK YOU.

-Guy D. Wells"

I started reading this book thinking I could jot down a couple useful pieces of information and quickly advance to another book on acting. Boy was I wrong!

This book is overflowing with so many sources that you may as well toss out the Yellowpages. Judy Kerr did a flawless job of providing step-by-step instructions regarding the business-side of acting and how you can get started.

Sure, there are useful quotes from all kinds of big names and experienced veterans about the technique, but Judy was very wise to simply refer readers to all types of classes, coaches and workshops rather than attempt to write a book on how to act. Experience is the only way you truly learn, not by reading about others who experience it.

I'm currently saving up to take the 2-week trip to Los Angeles to research the city which is mentioned in the book with detailed stops to make.

If you're wondering whether or not this book should be on your bookshelf at home, buy it now. No, don't continue reading my review!! You're not listening and I feel disrespected. You could've been entering your shipping address and credit card info by now you lazy bum! Ya wanna act? Okay, your character is shopping for a book by Judy Kerr... ACTION!!!

There is no greater source book out there. For actors and other industry professionals, "Acting Is Everything" is a magnificent compendium of information covering all aspects of pursuing your acting career - from arriving in LA, to agents and managers, to your pictures - and it's wrapped up with motivational and inspiring advice. I have been recommending this book to not only actors but all entertainment professionals that I speak to including seminar attendees, my UCLA Extension students, and my own clients. Owning this book is like having a professional adviser at home with you 24/7.

It's simple: this is BY FAR the most constructive, step-by-step, easy to apply, and effective book I've read in regards to ACTUALLY WORKING as an actor. Bonnie has an ingeniously funny, yet professional, way of phrasing her sagacious advice for us. Thank you for putting it all into one little bound piece of gold!

If you are an actor, regardless of how many other 'how to' books you've got on your book shelf, this is a book that you NEED. It's well written, to the point, and Bonnie "gets" it. Follow Bonnie's tried and true advice, and you'll "get it", too! Bonnie's writing is upbeat, positive, supportive, and clever. Invest in this book ~ it's sure to become one of your favorites.

Being the parent of a young actor, this book is a priceless addition to my library. I can not say enough good things! If you are an actor, and if you only buy one book this year, make it this one!

This book literally changed my approach to my acting career. It is so chock full of great advice and insider information that you would be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't read it right now!

Self-Management is THE BEST book out there teaching you step-by-step the ins and outs of selling yourself as an actor. Bonnie Gillespie makes Hollywood (and other markets) accessible for not only newbie actors, but for veterans of the industry as well.

READ THIS BOOK, you can thank me (and Bonnie) later!

All of the reviews that have posted have given this book 5 stars. However, most of them do not provide any details as to why. In this review, I will detail why the opposite should be true, that this book deserves 1 star.

The main argument for the book is that it is useful. I beg to differ. I was part of an acting program at my university and a graduate program. I am now part of Actors Equity. Any thing of importance in the book, such as the sections on training(chapter 7), union memberships (chapter 11), headshots (chapter 13), and monologues (chapter 16) to name a few, any actor has gone over many times if they've taken a serious acting course.

Then the book is full of chapters that I would categorize as unimportant, which are almost all of the chapters in part 6. I don't think I can list excerpts in this review due to copyright and to keep this review from getting to long, so I'll recommend getting a hard copy and you'll see what I mean.

So this book could deserve more stars for anyone who has never acted and wanted to start, but definitely not 5 stars, because it just isn't for a serious actor. This book just didn't provide the additional insight I was looking for as a trained actor, so it deserving receives 1 star from me.

Riders is a definite guilty pleasure. I bought it because of the rave reviews and they are well deserved. Although a bit dated, this combination of horses, ugly duckling fairy tale and celebrity gossip/sleeze fest is irresistable. The characters are surprisingly well drawn. The ones you start out hating develop some redeeming qualities and the ones you start out loving reveal flaws. No cardboard cut outs here. And if you think that riders have nerves of steel as they jump those terrifying course,guess again.

Oh man! Let me just start by saying Jilly Cooper NAILED it with this one! Sure, it's kind of trashy. And yes, some of the characters will make you cringe and seethe and want to strangle them. But this book has EVERYTHING it takes to be a real page-turner! Between scandalous moments, raunchy scenes, totally heartless characters and incredibly well-written equestrian scenes, this book is worth every star it can get.
Sure, Cooper's writing is not necessarily for your granny, and yes, some pages will make you blush...but if you have the sense of humor required to read this book you will love every page!

I read Jilly Cooper's books backwards. I started with Wicked, then The man who made husbands jealous (not that great btw!), then score, then rivals, then riders, and now am reading polo.

I was in love with Rubert from the first time i read Wicked, but when i read about him in Riders I just couldn't believe his character, it was so inconsistent!! One moment he's so tender, and the next he's involved in a rape-like group sex with a very reluctant female!! eew!!! That scene was VERY disturbing!!

but what disturbed me even more was a the stereotypical way in which Mrs Cooper addresses animal treatment in the middle east!! I've been raised in a horse-loving family and we treat our horses right!! we love them as much as we love our family, if not more and Sheikhs don't sell their horses or beat them just because one of their kids can't cope with them.

It was so tiring reading about that in this novel and i kept telling myself that this was in the 80's and people didn't know much at that time, but in the end it really did ruin the novel for me. I just kept skipping pages to get done with it.

a fun read..the author researched her story well. The characters are well developed, as is the story. I've read this boook many times, enjoying it every time.

For years I began the summer by re-reading this book. It's a beach read, and a fun read. It comes the closest to any book to capturing the effort involved in showing horses on the international circuit. It's not all fun and glamour, but hard work and effort, with a few rich people thrown in for good measure. The characters are multi-dimensional and engaging. And it's more than just a little bit naughty. Hang on for a wild ride!

This has to be my favorite book of all time. Dr. Harra is such an amazing person, with such an inspirational story. If you want to learn about Karma, how Karma works, planetary Karma, familial Karma, and spirituality, this is the book.

Very well-written, very well thought out. I must have purchased 5 copies by now and given them to my friends and family. A must-have for anyone interested in spirituality. A must-have for anybody living on Planet Earth.

- Omar W. Rosales
Author "Elemental Shaman"

How inspired Mrs. Harra must have been when she wrote this book. If not inspired, then amazingly enlightened about Karma and how it affects each and every one of our lives. The book comprehensively teaches one the true meaning of Karma, how he/she could shape their future through Karma, and how one would use Karma to attain an absolute life. I honestly, highly recommend this book to anyone wishing to better any aspect of their life; You will not be disappointed by it.

Where there is longing to understand the deeper meaning of your journey and have more clarity about the roles of the people in your life...Carmen Harra's "Everyday Karma" inspires greater heartfelt confidence with life's challenges and offers more empowering choices to live a happier, more authentic life.

This was one of the best books I've ever read. It's very educating and I can almost guarentee that you will come out of it with an entirely new, more enlightened perspective on life. Anyone looking to better his or her life (or just in search of a good read) should definitely pick up a copy.

Everyday Karma was an enlightening and enjoyable read. The book was easy to follow and understand. Life is very complicated and full of difficulties for the average person but Everyday Karma simplifies it all. Dr. Carmen Harra explaines the depth and value of a person's actions and reactions. Even the most insignificant action can create karmic instability. She also stresses the importance of karmic resolution and has creates a system to do so. Every chapter of this book leaves the reader enlightened and pondering the importance of life. It makes one want to be a better person. Definately a worth while read and a good book to have around for re-reading during difficult times.

This is an excellent book for newcomers to the sport of pure bred dogs. I often give it to puppy owners so they can learn more about showing dogs since it does an excellent job of describing everything you need to know to get started showing. It is well written and has nice photographs. This is even a good start for youth who are interested in showing their dogs. I highly recommend it.

If you have never shown a dog before and don't know what you are getting yourself into this is the book to buy! It even provides a supply list so you know what to bring! If you want to start showing your dog(s) and need to know what to do and how to do it this is one book you MUST buy!

This is probably not the best showing how to book out there but it certainally teaches you a lot without encouraging you to be a snob that cares about nothing but winning at any cost. It covers a lot of material and though it doesn't teach you EVERYTHING you need to know this book combined to going with some other people to a show made me feel confident enough to start showing my own dogs. I have never forgotten some of the things she said in this book. As I go through the dog showing life events can cause her words to ring in my head and bring me peace such as when I meet the occasional meanie "...but keep in mind the meanest people are often the ones with the least going for them." Ain't that the truth!

D. Caroline Coile is a good author. She writes good breeding articles for Dog World all the time and her book Pit Bulls for Dumies, I think, is the most breed-informative of all the "for Dummies" books on dog breeds. I have or have had Labrador Retrievers for Dummies, Golden Retrievers for Dummies, Rottweilers for Dummies, Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies, and Boxers for Dummies, all by other authors, and, blah, I felt like I was reading a general dog care book with just a tiny amount of breed-specific information you could find ANYWHERE in ANY BOOK. I feel like Coile gets more into explaining the essence of the breed in her book.

I am brand new to showing. I just got my first golden retriever. This book was beyond helpful. I am attending conformation classes and this book helped me to understand what was taking place and keep up.
I highly recommend this book for anyone starting out.

This book is an excellent start for beginners. It answered almost every question I had and is very easy to read. I would highly recommend this book.

This book is a fun read and useful in a number of ways- personal growth, exercises to use alone or with others. i never realized how much life coaching uses improv exercises until i read this book. It is concise and packed with goodies.

This is a very insightful journey of transition from a person who planned everything down to the last detail into a person who learned that just showing up is more important.

John Crewdson
www.camptaichi.com

I loved this book. I bought it as an aid for designing training, but it's really a manifesto for living. It is indeed full of wisdom - read it, enjoy it and use it. And just show up.

Don't worry. If you've never: met a professional improviser, yourself taken any improv classes, attended an improv show, and/or didn't even realize that Improv was anything besides a word meaning, `movement that is created spontaneously,' this book will still be relevant to your life. 'Improv Wisdom' is much less about the art of improv than it is about the art of living.

The idea behind Improv Wisdom is simple: learn to listen to others (really listen) and to trust yourself (and your ideas). Yeah, sure, you've heard that before - but you haven't heard it in this simple, brilliant, and compelling way. Divided into 13 chapters, each driven by a `maxim' for doing good improv (read: for living a good life), Improv Wisdom provides a roadmap for finding the way to that ideal state of being, the one in which you can understand and appreciate people the right way and at the right times, live in the moment and love yourself, but in a completely understated and non-cheesy way. Each maxim is summarized, explained, and supported with examples - all score top marks for clarity and relevance. Patricia Madson's voice is warm, encouraging, and laced with humor. Reading the book, you begin to feel as though she, if you were perfect, would be the voice your subconscious mind, offering you help, direction and maternal support whenever you needed it most.

This is not a self-help book, but if you pay attention it will probably change you, and it will change you for the better. It was, for me, perhaps the most formative and developmentally important book that I read during my four years of undergraduate education. Senior year - when I was trying to figure out exactly who I was, what I believed in, where I was going, how I would make it through job interviews and indecision and the ambiguous future - I started reading it, and by the time I'd finished the first chapter, I knew that this book would provide some guidance. And it did. It taught me to listen to my subconscious and it gave me the direction, courage, and reason I needed to become - and to become happily - a better, stronger and more complete version of myself.

Read it.

How many self-help books have you read that leave you shaking your head saying - well, that was 3-4 hours of my life that I can't get back? (I have read many!) You won't find yourself saying that with this book. Patricia Ryan Madson offers up 13 strategies on how to lead an inspired and satisfying life by facing challenges in an unscripted manner. The book is beautifully written. It is filled with anecdotes and helpful techniques that will enhance your everyday life. Where was Ms. Madson when I needed her in college?

1) Say Yes
2) Don't Prepare
3) Just Show Up
4) Start Anywhere
5) Be Average
6) Pay Attention
7) Face the Facts
8) Stay on Course
9) Wake up to the Gifts
10) Make Mistakes, Please
11) Act Now
12) Take Care of Each Other
13) Enjoy the Ride

I come to the conclussion that The Man Who Laughs is the most descriptive, saddest, romantic and most beautifully written book that Victor Hugo has written. It is unfortunate that this book doesn't have the standing that Les Miserables or Our Lady of Notre Dame occupies. Also, it is a very hard to find book, specially in Spanish, which is my first language. The traduction is done extremely well (I have verified it with a Russian version I have). It is highly recommended.

This is a difficult and demanding read, but entirely worth it for those who want more from a novel. The story is of a confrontation of moral opposites set in England in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, as a deliberately disfigured outcast named Gwynplaine faces a powerful conflict between the simple life of a mountebank, with the love of a pure-hearted blind girl, and the power, glamor, and corruption of nobility, with the love of a depraved, self-loathing noblewoman. Gwynplaine's disfigurement hides his true identity from all, including himself; and out of the eventual revelation of this truth, Hugo constructs a magnificent and heart-wrenching symbolic drama that is as filled with meaning as anything you'll find in literature. Again, this is not light reading, and it is not made for those who prefer to breeze through an action thriller in an afternoon.

Hugo has much to say about the destructive nature of political power, as well as the envy and injustice that conspire to keep the high and low in their respective places. The Mohawk Club of the nobility exemplifies these themes through their vicious and destructive pranks, victimizing the helpless in the name of "fun."

Hugo's contempt for the period's institutions of power is evident throughout the novel; on the wicked Barkilphedro's rise to prominence, he writes: "He had crawled where he wanted. Flat beasts can get in everywhere. Louis XIV had bugs in his bed and Jesuits in his policy. The incompatibility is nil." Clearly this is a novel of ideas, written by one who had a great deal to say and knew how to express it. Even so, I must acknowledge that Hugo's expository passages, although witty, impassioned, and eloquent, occasionally become a distraction from the story.

Hugo's style is astonishingly lofty, in a way that just doesn't happen in the present day. It is an ambitious and demanding discipline, now so far gone that we scarcely even know to miss it. As such, it may strike today's readers as unnatural and overdone; or so it did to me, at first. But by the finish, I was fully seduced into Hugo's stylistic world, and left unable to choose what to read next -- for what is there today that is even conscious of this standard of craftsmanship? I can only imagine how much of the effect of this high language is lost in translation from the original French.

If you are interested in this book, I strongly recommend the Paper Tiger edition, with its afterword by Shoshana Milgram. This afterword was of great use in understanding the book's ending, which to me was difficult; it clarified how the ending was necessitated by the novel's overall theme -- and it made the extent of Hugo's achievement that much more evident.

I read this book as a teenager, along with "Toilers of the Sea," Ninety Three" and "Hunchback of Notre Dame."
I have re-read only "Toilers of the Sea" and found it as riveting now as were all of Hugo's book then. I can't imagine a library system not containing these timeless classics or their being out of print.

I have read almost all of Hugo's novels and I feel he was a master beyond most as far as story telling goes. This particular books is ingenious with the various characters and the twists and turns and the tragedies and political statements. It broke my heart, while exciting me to cheer on the lead character in his efforts to right the wrongs of the parliament. I loved the characters of this books and the story line and I would strongly recommend it to any who are fans of "Hunchback" or "Les Miz" (forgive me). While I really loved Les Miz (and again, it broke my heart, as did the musical,which I thought was brilliant), this is the one that stayed with me. I read it many years ago and have a number of copies (some very old). When I bought this movie, I had no expectations, and I was amazed to see how much of the story was included. It was brilliantly produced, directed and acted. Even though it is a silent movie, it speaks volumes. I highly recommend the book and then the film. I also urge everyone to see the musical "Les Miserables" because it is all so wonderful. Hugo was a true master!

This is extremely well written and the story is easy to follow. The story had me smile and cry. The method that Victor Hugo collected the sections of this book is similiar to the style Ayn Rand used in writing Atlas Shrugged-my favorite book. The Man Who Laughs is one I think every Victor Hugo fan would want to read and read again--I loved it!