Book Description

When Mikhail Baryshnikov defected in Toronto in 1974, he admitted that he knew only three things about Canada: It had great hockey teams, a lot of wheatfields, and Glenn Gould. In Wondrous Strange, Kevin Bazzana vividly recaptures the life of Glenn Gould, one of the most celebrated pianists of our time. Drawing on twenty years of intensive research, including unrestricted access to Gould's private papers and interviews with scores of friends and colleagues, many of them never interviewed before, Bazzana sheds new light on such topics as Gould's family history, his secretive sexual life, and the mysterious problems that afflicted his hands in his later years. The author places Gould's distinctive traits--his eccentric interpretations, his garish onstage demeanor, his resistance to convention--against the backdrop of his religious, upper middle-class Canadian childhood, illuminating the influence of Gould's mother as well as the lasting impact of the only piano teacher Gould ever had. Bazzana offers a fresh appreciation of Gould's concert career--his high-profile but illness-plagued international tours, his adventurous work for Canadian music festivals, his musical and legal problems with Steinway & Sons. In 1964, Gould made the extraordinary decision to perform only for records, radio, television, and film, a turning point that the author examines with unprecedented thoroughness (discussing, for example, his far-seeing interest in new recording technology). Here, too, are Gould's interests away from the piano, from his ambitious but failed effort to be a composer to his innovative brand of "contrapuntal radio." Richly illustrated with rare photographs, Wondrous Strange is a superbly written account of one of the most memorable and accomplished musicians of our times. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The Title says it all
His music was wondrous, beautiful, and moving. His behaviour was very strange, off and on stage.
He hated performing, once turning down a million-dollar fee for a recital, but he did perform in his early years; they were bizarre, sometimes difficult to watch, but so wonderful to hear.
One the many stories Bazzana relates is of Gould's first Russian concert. The auditorium was only a third full, but at intermission, concertgoers hurriedly called their friends telling them of the incredible performance. There was a small riot for tickets for the second half of the show.
Later in his career he turned exclusive to the recording studio; bringing us some of the best selling and rarely played classical pieces ever produced.
Kevin Bazzana gives us an in-depth, very personal look at the genius that was Glenn Gould.
The Thursday File

Extraordinary Bio...Very Accessible, Very Intelligent...
I've been perusing this book every chance I get at Borders. I can't wait to buy it! This has got to be hands-down the best bio on Gould you can read. And it is remarkably accessible. I'm no musician so hate it when writers go off on tangents describing a certain "contrapuntal line in 3/10 time over a 2/8...etc, etc", but this book is nothing of the kind. Anyone can come to it and enjoy it for what it is -- a candid, in-depth, and intelligent portrait of a genius. Also, full of revealing photographs. A must-buy for any music-lover, Classical or not, doesn't matter. Gould is indispensable and I agree with the author when he talks about a "cult of personality" surrounding Gould, a cult that approaches a "James Dean, Elvis Presley" stature. Believe it!

AN ENIGMATIC GENIUS
Born in 1932 in Toronto, Ontario, Glenn Gould is surely one of the most enigmatic and celebrated musicians of our time. According to biographer Kevin Bazzana, it's almost as if Gould's gifts were too many for one man to pursue.

Bazzana has spent some two decades studying his elusive subject. Given free rein to explore Gould's papers and granted interviews by any number of the artist's friends and colleagues who were once reluctant to speak, the author is able to shed light on many questions that have piqued the interest of Gould fans. We are privy to much of his family history (the original family name was Gold), and the health problems that plagued him.

Precocious? Yes, indeed. Readers learn that at the estimable age of 3 his talents were obvious. Perfect pitch was but one of them. As a child he was publicly performing on both piano and organ. His musical education was completed in Canada, and although known throughout Canada he did not make his American debut until 1955. His programs were unorthodox and his behavior on stage often very odd. To say Gould was an iconoclast is an understatement, but such a talented one. He was also an industrious writer, and later in life began conducting.

It was in 1964 that Gould deserted the concert stage to perform solely for records, radio, television, and film. His last recording was made in 1982, the year that he died.

Like some before him Gould's fame has grown since his death. Today many visit Toronto, paying their respects to a man who is arguably one of the greatest contemporary musicians.

- Gail Cooke

An Enigmatic Genius, Understood a Lot Better
Among the classical musicians of the twentieth century, there was none with as eager a fan base as Glenn Gould. The fans have not diminished in number since Gould's death at age fifty in 1982. Gould was a consummate musician who brought light to neglected but important works, but he was also an oddball who adored the Mary Tyler Moore Show, (...), popped dozens of pills every day to help him over imaginary illnesses, and refused to come out of self-imposed isolation to play a recital for a million-dollar fee. There has been an authorized biography of Gould before, but now _Wondrous Strange: The Life and Art of Glenn Gould_ (Oxford University Press) by Kevin Bazzana must be the one for all fans to have. Bazzana is the editor of nothing less than GlennGould magazine, and has written a previous book about Gould's musicianship. He brings helpful light on such topics as the influence of Gould's one piano teacher and his love of Canada and his home town Toronto. He is especially helpful in illuminating Gould's early life.

Gould's parents were conservative, strict Protestants who stressed propriety as he was growing up in Toronto's Beach district. They had to make sure he did not practice too much (not too little, like most parents of young musicians) and learned that the strictest punishment they ever needed to enforce was locking up the piano. He remained close to them all his life, only moving out of their home when his parents were elderly in 1959. He knew he was going to be a classical pianist from age around five. He loved his neighborhood and the people who knew he was freakish or famous, but treated him as if he were just an unusual guy. He hated performing and touring. Even so, his performances were regarded by many as high points in their lives as listeners. Among the many stories told here is that of his first Russian concert, in Moscow. The auditorium was only a third full, but at intermission, concertgoers hurriedly called their friends to tell them what was going on. There was a small riot for tickets for the second half of the show.

It was the recording studio to which he was devoted and to which he retired from his hated performing. His premiere recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations in 1955 brought to attention a piece that had only rarely been performed or recorded before, being thought too difficult and rarefied. The recording was a sensation, and remains one of the bestselling classical discs of all time. (It ought to be; there is no better join of dazzling technique, speedy fingers, and loving intimacy with the music.) He liked working with the technicians who helped record his performances, and had good humor in the sessions, but it was him in front of the microphone, in the isolation he preferred; he wrote, "Isolation is the one sure way to human happiness." Bazzana relishes the multiple enigmas that Gould presents, and this one is surely key: Gould isolated himself right into millions of homes, where it was obvious he communicated something important. Today, worshipful listeners, some of whom were not alive when he was, make pilgrimages to see his home sites, and his rickety old chair which he used whenever he played. He said that the purpose of art is "... the gradual, lifelong construction of a state of wonder and serenity." If that is the purpose of art, he would have admired this graceful, readable, big biography that underscores the full complexity of a monumentally enigmatic artist.

A well balanced, definitive biography
After having started his career with meticulous analyses of Glenn Gould's musical interpretations, Bazzana immersed himself in all available resources to write the oracle of Toronto's definitive biography. After the previous biographies by Friedrich and Ostwald and all the articles that have appeared on Gould, much of the material in this book has limited novelty value, yet thanks to the depth of the writer's research, the detailed context he provides of the environment in which the young pianist grew up, and the balanced view of Gould the man and the performer, this biography deserves the "definitive" stamp.

Starting the book with the flight that Gould's fame has taken after his death and the almost pathological admiration among some of the fans, Bazzana puts down the fundament for this biography by detailing the political and social climate of Toronto in the late 1930s. He really does a great job in bringing the sheltered surroundings in which Gould grew up to life, shatters myths over his heritage and does not play up the friction in the relationship between Glenn and his father that others have explored.

Gould was both a "high tech" performer/recording artist and a true romantic. Bazzana delves into this dichotomy by analyzing Glenn's admiration for the odd couple Schoenberg / Richard Strauss. He hits a lot of right notes here, as he does later in unflattering, yet fair analysis of Gould's best known composition, the string quartet opus one, which was clearly influenced by Arnold and Richard.

With an intermission chapter of Gould the man, this book follows the world's most articulate keyboard player throughout his career until his untimely death. A great strength of the book is its balanced treatment of the "hero". Both fans and critics get their say, and many details of eccentricities that have so much been the focus of previous publications are either put in proper context or just completely debunked.

Even almost 22 years after his death Gould is still among his labels best selling artists and has become the most important pianist of the twentieth century. This book shows that this success was based on a lot of method and very little madness.

A must for everyone interested in a visionary artist. ... Read more

Book Description

This new edition of two of the greatest works to chronicle the Civil War provides the unique perspective of that great conflict as it appeared to its greatest generals. It is illustrated with over 400 drawings and photographs drawn from historically contemporary sources. The illustrated abridgement of the Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant is contained in this work. Fast-paced, colorful, lucid and laced with flashes of humor, it provides the most authoritative of all contemporary accounts. All the topics that are not covered in the excerpts are summarized by the editor. Historians have always lamented the fact that Lee, who died only five years after his surrender to Grant, was never able to write his personal memoir of his role in the Civil War. The most detailed and revealing view of this great general in action is by General Armistead L. Long in his classic Memoirs of Robert E. Lee. The edition of Long's Memoirs contained in this work is a shortened version of the original. Peripheral matter has been summarized and full texts of official correspondence and extended quotations by other writers have been deleted. What remains is vivid first-hand portraits of Lee just as the author set it down over a century ago. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Grant's "Memoirs" and Memories of Lee in one nice Gift Book
This is a lavishly illustrated abridgement of Grant's wonderful "Personal Memoirs" and of Confederate Officer Armistead Long's "Memoirs of Robert E. Lee", two of the major works of the Civil War (Lee never did get around to writing his own memoirs).

While it must be stressed that this is an abridgement, and the actual volumes themselves are worth purchasing on their own, especially Grant's, the clear text and the extraordinary and realistic illustrations makes this volume a perfect gift for the Civil War buff this holiday season, or a worthy addition to one's own Civil War Library even if you already have the separate volumes - as I do. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

Visual history
An important document of a successful revolution. No matter what aura of glamour may be projected onto Che, he stands as an inspiration for all oppressed people anywhere in the world. ... Read more

Book Description

The Canvas Cathedral is a book that would serve as both a history of evangelism as well as a personal history of the evangelical ministry of Billy Graham.

Dr. Lewis Drummond carefully examines the history of evangelism and the methods used throughout history. He starts with the Apostle Paul and ends with a special emphasis on the ministry of Billy Graham.

This book is a“must buy” for pastors, teachers, professors, students, and lay persons who are interested in the various ways that ministry and evangelism has taken place over the centuries, from Roman coliseums to canvas cathedrals.

For this reason, The Canvas Cathedral can be used in the classroom, the church, or for personal study to learn more about the scope of evangelism through the centuries.

Reviews (2)

Not Impressed.
Canvas Cathedral read like a doctoral thesis that got way out of hand. Granted it is a historical look at evangelism, but every ten paragraphs mentions how Graham "fits the mold and makes it better." It almost reads like, "I like Billy, you should too!" One must doubt the professionality of the book, simply because he frequently refers to Graham as "Billy." Something that should be avoided in an "objective" analysis.

On the Brighter side, this is an excellent analysis of an anglo-protestant world-view of history.

A Carefully Researched Presentation of Billy Graham
To cover the work of Billy Graham's 60 year ministry is a formidable task. The author in his presentation examines Billy Graham's work from the historical perspective, going back to the first chapter of Genesis and giving a survey of evangelism from that time on. He is a serious student of the Bible and stresses memorizing scripture. Prayer is a vital part of Billy Graham's life. No other man has preached to as many people as Graham has but the author is quick to point out that Grahm works in a context of support provided by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Assoc (BGEA). Graham has been the intimate confident of presidents ane other leaders. Interesting little known facts are also to be found.

The book provides detailed information about Billy Graham, his methods, his message, and his day-to-day practice of his faith from his perspective. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Che's Course realistic for workers
This is the diary that the CIA and their henchmen cut short with their cowardly execution of Che. This book is for young people of all ages--attracted by Che, the icon of the heroic fighter--because it gives a deeper look. Che was a realist with a well-considered communist world view. He was a towering figure in history who looked for every opportunity to live as a fighter for human solidarity, for socialism. Che had a clear, vivid writing style--and the editors set the stage with accurate and useful background material. ONE LOOK AT BOLIVIA (AND THE WORLD!) TODAY SHOWS US THAT CHE'S COURSE WAS THE REALISTIC ONE

Extending the revolution
Che went to Bolivia because he (and the Cuban leadership) thought that the situation was ripe for revolution. It tells the story of how he built a cadre of fighters with dedicated youth who wanted to fight until freedom or die. He wrote this diary in the mountains, fighting the Bolivian army as well as hunger and asthma. Despite everything, he was always focused on the goal, not his own pain or suffering. He was constantly evaluating their situation, politically and militarily, and determining the next move.

I first read Che's diary in the early 1970s because I wanted to learn more about him. At the time I thought it was interesting, but it didn't make much sense to me. This new edition is far superior to the Ramparts edition I read back then. The Pathfinder editors went to Cuba to collect photos and maps to make the diary come to life. This book includes accounts by surviving guerillas who fought with Che in Bolivia. There is a chronology and a glossary so you can understand who everyone was, where they came from, and what happened to them. If you want to read this famous book, make sure to read this edition!

The Bolivian Diary of Ernesto Che Guevara
A truly remarkable man. This book is very sad and very moving.
May his life teach us all about human nature, courage and faith.

His murder was a tragedy the west will never transcend. May his memory be preserved and cherished.

The book reveals Dr. Ernesto Che Guevara's true character and his dedication to the liberation of oppressed peoples.

Read This Book, This Edition,Get To Know The Real Che
If you read this book, THIS edition, you will begin to know the real Che-- who gave his life building an embryo of the kind of leadership required to rid the world of Yankee Imperial domination and military dictators.Bolivians,Argentines,Peruvians, and Cubans fought side by side, changing themselves as they fought, with food and water and ammo and BOOKS in their knapsacks.Studying indigenous languages, among other things--- with the full support of Fidel Castro and the Cuban government.

And they fought to take the heat off brutalized,heroic Vietnam, even just a little.They were defeated in combat, but victorious in the example they set : "the highest form of the human species" , yes they were.To defeat this monster in the USA, working people will have to emulate these men and women.Not in the mountains, but on strike picketlines, street demonstrations,studying together, as we fight the Imperial march towards Depression, fascism, and war. Excellent introduction points to struggles in Argentina,Bolivia,Chile, afterward :now it begins again...

Inspiring, Authoritative edition.
. .. . .What strikes me in this edition is Che's outstanding humanism. You don't kill or abuse your prisoners, because it dehumanizes you, teaches Che, who would be murdered without a trial after he was taken prisoner. The contrast in this excellent text between Che's modesty about his own difficulties and the testimony in the memoirs of other combatants of how Che suffered because of his asthma, how he pitched in doing all of the work is truly inspiring and illustrative of how you lead by example. This is the authoritative edition, edited with the assistance and advice of Cuban revolutionists who fought with Che in Bolivia, Bolivian revolutionists, and Che's surviving family ... Read more

Book Description

The two greatest firsthand accounts of the Civil War together in a boxed collector's edition. The extraordinary memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman evoke the Civil War with a vividness unparalleled in American writing. Annotated by distinguished historians and filled with detailed maps, battle plans, and facsimiles reproduced from the original editions, these lavish volumes offer a unique vantage on the most terrible, moving, and inexhaustibly fascinating event in American history. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

An excellent book that you'll want to read again and again.
I thought this was an excellent book. From the very first chapters Ghandi's words give cause for pause and self examination. A very good read written by one of the world's greatests persons. I would highly recommend this book to anyone. This is a very good place to begin if you are wanting to study Ghandi's works, or it stands quite well alone.

Introduction
This collection of Quotations from Ghandi's principal works was originally issued by UNESCO as an introduction to his thinking. The chapters cover Gandhi's life and his views on religion, non-violence, politics, the future of India and the role of women in society. Gandhi was this rare phenomenon in history: a true political revolutionary who did not destroy people and had an absolute respect for human life .His thoughts and actions inspired the Civil Richts struggle of the sixties and the peacefull revolutions in Eastern Europe and the Phillipines.

A very insightful view that delves into gandhi's psyche.
Very good book, the book contains several interesting happenings in gandhi's life. It is very melancholic and reflectful. The book however, is a hard read, and I found myself struggling to understand what Gandhi meant. But there are very good metaphors and some very interpretive views on modern day india, as well as the world. Gandhi was a predominant character in the 20th century, and his works are highly appreciated. I recommned this book to all readers of interest in india. And hope that you enjoy it as I did.

Thoughtful and still relevant
Not as successful as his other books this is a gem whose relevance increases in todays world Read it and you will gift it!! ... Read more

Book Description

In this concise, vivid, and brilliantly readable biography, New York Times bestselling author Michael Korda sheds new light on the life of Ulysses S. Grant -- a man who is consistently ranked as one of the greatest American generals and as one of our weaker presidents.

The son of a tanner in Ohio, soft-spoken, taciturn, given to drink, easily hurt and embarrassed, Ulysses S. Grant was the most unlikely of heroes. But, as Korda vividly demonstrates, Grant also possessed remarkable tenacity, decisiveness, a willingness to tackle conflict head-on, and a ruthlessly objective way of evaluating military situations. These characteristics are what enabled a shy and awkward boy to overcome his unhappy years as a West Point cadet and his lack of early success in the army. They propelled him through the ranks of military leadership to victory at Fort Donaldson, Shiloh, and Missionary Ridge; drove him in his epic pursuit of Lee to Appomattox; and eventually guided him to the presidency. Korda writes that it was Grant, with his slouchy hat, rumpled uniform, unkempt beard, and omnipresent cigar, who understood like no other man -- Lincoln excepted -- that the Civil War would be long and bloody, and would be won not by fancy maneuvers or clever strategy but by confronting the Confederate army in the field and defeating it.

Despite his battlefield successes, Grant is often dismissed as a failed president. Examining his leadership in the White House, however, both within the context of his time and in contrast to more recent American presidents, Korda shows that, although Grant's two terms were riddled with political and financial scandals, he managed to exert a calming influence on a country that had only recently emerged from civil war, and that he sought -- above all things -- peace between North and South, and between the United States and the rest of the world.

Korda concludes that Grant was both a military genius and an ordinary American, a warrior without arrogance or vainglory, a general who excelled at fighting and hated what he was doing -- in short, a hero only America could have produced. It is at once a unique portrait of Grant and a rousing and illuminating study of his times -- and of the great war he did so much to win.

Book Description

Ernesto "Che" Guevara (1928-67) is the twentieth century's most famous revolutionary. Che grew up in a bohemian family drawn from the landed gentry and went on to train as a physician. As a young doctor his travels in Latin America produced a political awakening that altered the course of his life. He joined the1952 riots against Juan Peron in Argentina, joined agitators in Bolivia, worked for the pro-Communist regime of Jacobe Arbenz Guzman in Guatemala and, when Arbenz was overthrown in 1954, fled to Mexico, where he first met Fidel Castro. Che became one of Castro's closest and most trusted friends, and after the 1956 rebel invasion of Cuba became his chief lieutenant. Che proved to be a resourceful guerilla leader and was instrumental in establishing the Communist state in Cuba. He continued to foster revolutionary activity in other countries until the time of his death in 1967 when he was captured and executed by government troops in Bolivia while directing a guerrilla group there. Che: Images of a Revolutionary features nearly 400 photographs--many of them never previously published. The book follows Che's life from early childhood to his career as a political activist. Writings by Che, including a number of his speeches and examples of literature written about him, by Fidel Castro and Allen Ginsberg and others, complement the visually stunning photographic collection. The book is a result of exhaustive research in public and private archives in Cuba, Argentina, Bolivia, Europe, and North America. A concluding chapter discusses the "Guevara myth" from his death until the present day. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Truth Hurts
This is not a book for the general public but for leftists.
And it isn't about HISTORY but about Communist mythologie.
Contains several omissions:

.It forgets to informate the readers about what Che Gue Vara did
when he and his guerrileros went to Bolivia to "Liberate" the Bolivian peasants: they assassinated about 50 people ( peasant and soldiers in ambushes ) BEFORE he himself was captured and executed.
The Bolivians felt strange about this "Liberation" and not even one (!) joined his "red terror" band ( they actually told the Bolivian army the precise local where the che's band was ).
In other words, CHE GUE VARA TASTED HIS OWN POISON but the author (and some reviewers) made him a martyr and think America is the real guiltie....
it hurts the intelligence of a rational person

.it says very little about Che's cruelty and crimes: in Las Cabanas prison he ordered the execution of hundreds of people( some of them former brothers in arms which refused communism and stayed democratic ).SOME OF THEM WERE SHOT BY HIM, to give the example...
CHE incentivated their followers during those executions: « DON'T WAISTE TIME WITH THE CAUSES, THIS IS A REVOLUTION, DON'T USE LEGAL METHODS OF THE BURGUEOSOIS, THE PROVE IS SECONDARY.
IT'S NECESSARY TO ACT BY CONVICTION!»
We bet they did.
And the Mass Killings of the "enemies of the people" in Santa Clara Prison (some years later )is practically omissed by the author.
etc etc i could go on AD INFINITUM..

Omited too is the TROPICAL GULAG, the concentration camps and prisons system( or "REEDUCATION" CAMPS like CHE used to called them),where have been imprisioned since 1959 until today about 100 000 political prisioners.
Read how they were and still are beaten and forced to drink they own urine in AGAINST ALL HOPE of Valladares in Amazon.com

Great Photos of el Che
Filled with photos of Che from childhood until his death, if you want to know more about him thru photography then this book is a fine start. Also to read Che: A Revolutionary Life by Jon Lee Anderson, the best biography ever written about him.

Best photos
Anyone interested in one of the 20th centuries most enigmatic and charismatic figures will love this book. This is an excellent source to compliment the book by Jon Anderson or to enjoy by itself. Filled with over 400 photgraphs, many rare and never seen before, this book captures the image of the man in the various years of his life, most notably his years spent in Cuba. To see the man in all his glory, whether it be sipping his beloved mate, smoking a cigar or fighting his guerrilla war somewhere, his face is unforgetable and this book shows the many facets of his personality. The text is an easy read that can be read in one sitting but the pictures are priceless and require one's attention over and over. This is a book that sits prominently in full view in my house for quick browsing. The photos are exquisite, taken from various sources including one's taken by Che himself. Of particular interest is a section of the book that deals with the now fanous photo taken by Korda that is the image most people know of Che. This is the image that adorns everything from t-shirts to money that was taken during a service for for the victims of an explosion on a ship in 1960, one of the images of our times. The contact strip is included and the various degrees of differences can be noted. Of even more interest is the image of Che's corpse that was displayed by the Bolivian authorites and a comparison to the art of Mantegna's Dead Christ. The resemblance is uncanny. The open eyes of Che, even in death, are more alive than many of the people alive who walk around with tombstones in their eyes. This is an excepional book that chronicles the life and times of Ernesto Guevara, portraying an image in text and magnificent photographs of the man, not the myth, known as Che.

A very interest book . . .
I think this is the best book of Che Guevara that I've read, and im really read a lot of him. It's perspective it's ecuanimous and objetive and show to the readers, many pictures of his life than we never know. I'm not triying to write some kind of promotion but i feel compromised to say my experience with the book. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

An excellent book for the serious student of Reconstruction
As a person with some knowledge of the Civil War and Reconstruction, I found LET US HAVE PEACE extremely well written, very readable and highly informative. However, I do not believe that it is for the casual reader. The book deals with a very specific time and a very specific subject: Grant's transition from general to president. The author shows Grant's involvement in Recontruction and the peace process before the end of the war and during the Johnson administration. For example, I was unaware that Grant was secretary of war after the removal of Stanton and his role in the controvery over the Tenure in Office Act. The book gives an interesting view of Grant's role in the impeachment of President Johnson and shows the interworking of the relationship between Grant and other generals, espcially William T. Sherman. I found the chapter on the rise of Grant as a presidential candidate extremely interesting contradicitng the general consensu that he was an shoe in for the nomination.

The epilogue which is historiographic in nature was very helpful in terms of putting Simpson's thesis in context.

Once again, for the student who already has knowledge of the cast of characters and the interworkings of the politics of Reconstruction, this is a must read. It was also refreshing to read a book on Grant that avoids references to his drinking. As I recall there are three references in the entire book and they are well placed and put in proper context. ... Read more

Book Description

Since Glenn Gould's death in 1982, the pianist's extraordinary talent has captivated new listerners through the re-release of his most famous recordings. Recently, a stage play and a feature film, "32 Short Films About Glenn Gould," introduced the eccentric artist to a new audience. With the publication of these 184 letters, a wide range of Gould's artistic activities is presented. Whether he is writing to esteemed musicians such as Leonard Bernstein or Leopold Stokowski, or to friends and colleagues in the world of performing and broadcasting, or answering the numerous fans who sent him questions, Gould explores all aspects of the art of making music.

In his own words, we hear about his favorite Bach, the choice of tempi for Beethoven's late piano sonatas, the power of Richard Strauss and Arnold Schoenberg, to name only a few of the musical concerns that fill his correspondence. His letters, which concentrate on the creative life, provide a rare glimpse into how the man worked, suggesting, finally why he devoted himself to music with such dedication and single-mindedness. A valuable addition to "Gouldiana," Glenn Gould: Selected Letters will give pleasure to all students of the piano, admirers of Gould, and music-lovers who have ever wondered how a great musician thinks about his art. ... Read more

Book Description

Billy Graham: God's Ambassador is a retrospective on the remarkable life and career of this living legend, witnessed and compiled by his longtime photographer, Russ Busby.The photos, many of them never before published, follow Billy's life from his childhood in North Carolina, to the development and growth of his ministry, to the enormously popular crusades that swept six continents, to his most recent reflections from home.Throughout, there emerges an intimate and unique portrait of a man who dedicated his life to the Gospel and became one of the century's most influential figures.

Reviews (3)

His Only Purpose in Life--Helping People Find Jesus
For many years through all his dedication in giving his life for Jesus Christ and helping others, Billy Graham is truly God's Ambassador. Tehabi Books in conjunction with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has organized and produced the story of the man with a lifelong mission of giving hope to the world. The book is lavishly covered with black-and-white and full color photos from the archives of eyewitness photographer Russ Busby. Busby had spent most of his life documenting Billy Graham's ministry around the world. In just half a century, Billy Graham has traveled the world to preach the Gospel to millions of people across the globe-more than anyone in history.

The book captures public and private moments from his humble beginning as a dairy farmer's son in Charlotte, North Carolina to one of the most influential evangelist of the 20th century. 'Billy Graham: God's Ambassador' includes comments, quotes and personal reflections mostly from the words of Billy Graham himself and those who have been closest to him. This insightful book looks at Graham as the advocate and preacher of human rights and world peace, Counselor with Presidents, world leaders and celebrities, inspired a positive influence in times of conflict and discord and at home with his family he was husband and father. This is an intimate and unique portrait of a man who dedicated his life to the Gospel and the world's most prominent figure of this century. Quoting from Daniel Webster-"If we work on marble, it will perish; if on brass, time will efface it; if we rear up temples, they will crumble into dust; but if we work upon immortal minds and imbue them with principles, with the just fear of God and the love of our fellow men, we engrave on those tablets something that will brighten to all eternity."

MORE THAN JUST A BOOK ABOUT A MAN
I loved this book. It was an inspiring and delightful time spent viewing the photos and reading about this man's life. I ended the book with the feeling it was more than just a book about Billy Graham - it was a book of history. Mr. Graham has touched the lives of countless people, but has also had the opportunity to meet with more heads of state and influential people than most public officials. The pictures and commentary were indeed a trip through history. Billy Graham is a true public servant as well as a preacher. What a great gift has been given to this man of God!

IT WAS CAPTIVATING
This book covered everything I could hope for on this man who has been voted one of the most admired and influentuel men of the last century.I loved the photos as well as the commentary by himself and from so many other sources. It was inspiring and informative. My husband and I were competing for our chance to enjoy the book. Should have bought two copies! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The most enjoyable of all Che's bios
In the US, Paco Taibo II is better known within the mystery readers' crowd for his accomplished police stories with a touch of irony and a shrewd writing style. For this reason with certain apprehension I started reading this biography. In fact it was the first complete and serious Che's bio I have ever read. Later I grabbed Jon Lee Anderson's one... Of all Che's bios Paco's is the most enchanting one. It may lack the huge documention of Anderson's book, but it compensates it with an amazing style. Paco cannot divorce his own admiration of Che from his subject, but, hey, that is exactly why this book becomes so much enjoyable. I still recall grabbing the book (700 hundred pages!) one morning and going that same night to bed with the book in my hands! I couldn't stop reading it! Che's story is reflected under the light of an amazing storyteller. The episodes of Che's story are exquisitely threaded together in a masterful way. His life becomes flesh and blood in Paco's hands. The icon, the symbol of rebellion and struggle for social justice turns a man, an incredible, passionate and admirable human being throughout the book. The end cannot be better: it is ghostly but hopeful with a lot of energy and sadness and beauty: a song to Latin American history of struggle. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

BEST JUDY GARLAND BIOGRAPHY WRITTEN!!!!
Gerold Frank has taken a subject of innumerable facets, a larger-than-life personality, and an almost indescribable talent and has put the history of her life to words as no writer before or since has been able to accomplish. Judy Garland, one of the silver screen's most beloved stars, is accurately and honestly conveyed in this biography. Frank's style is unique: when he tells of the tradgedies or failures of the star, he is not incriminating against the subject. Frank's book is one as written by an observer, sometimes voyueristically so. His thorough research bring Garland through in all her glory: as the vaudeville headliner, the little girl on the rise to stardom, the MGM superstar, loving wife and mother, and the sometimes self-destructive woman, taken from this earth too soon by the disease brought on by a lifetime of pills, but most of all, the woman trying to find her place in the world and the love she always craved and needed. Judy Garland is a human being, not a media figure, in this book. Gerold Frank is to be well commended for his excellent portrayal of Judy Garland, and readers will also be delighted or surprised by the informative tidbits along this Yellow Brick Road into the life of the great Judy Garland.

Garland Under The Microscope
Gerold Frank's biography is probably the single most comprehensive book written concerning Judy Garland: meticulously researched, debunking many myths, and richly detailed, it is certainly a standard for any one seriously interested in Garland. Even so, I have several issues with the book.

My single greatest complaint about the book is that Frank often seems to include detail for the sake of detail, and at times these details don't seem to make any cohesive statement. That aside, while Frank places Garland under a microscope, he never really quite delivers any sense of the world in which she moved; consequently, we never really have any background against which we may judge her. There is no context.

These are serious flaws, and while the book is certainly readable and enjoyable, I do not think it is one to which the average reader would return, nor would I particularly recommend it to any but the toughest of hard-core Garland fans.

A MUST HAVE for true Judy fans...
This is a very well written book. There is a lot of interesting and detailed information that I have not heard about before. This book sets the facts straight through primary sources. Gerold Frank spoke to Judy's children, husbands, friends, fellow cast members, and even to her doctors. He is the only author that Judy's family and friends completely cooperated with. This was very informative; and it is a real page-turner, unlike so many biographies that merely present fact after fact, or promote fictitious legends. This book sorts through all of this. It is, I believe, one of the best biographies yet written about Judy Garland. A definite must have:)

THE GREATEST BIOGRAPHY OF THE GREATEST ENTERTAINER!
There won't be any point in anyone writing a biography of Judy Garland ever again, because Gerold Frank has outdone them all with "Judy", which is undoubtedly the finest marriage of biographer and subject that I have ever read. Here is Judy Garland, in all her colors and facets, revealed in an outstandingly candid and refreshingly honest story that dispels all the false rumors spread over the years and will be read with surprise, warmth,love, pity but more often joy, as we meet Judy Garland through the pages of "Judy".

Born Frances Ethel Gumm, Judy Garland was a vaudeville headliner at ten years old, was a signed player at MGM at thirteen, and achieved immortality at seventeen in "The Wizard of Oz". From there on, the superstar endured a blockbuster-after-blockbuster decade at MGM, surviving on various prescribed medications that she soon came to depend on just to get out of bed in the morning. For the next twenty years of her life, Garland performed in thousands of live concerts, television shows, and engagements. In the midst of all this, Garland was married five times, had three children, and was hailed as one of Hollywood's greatest tragedies at the time of her death.

But all that changes here: Frank captures Garland's wry wit, her ability to laugh at the world, her bitterness when she was wronged, to be a "tragic clown", to love passionately, and to exhaust endlessly. Frank captures with a poignant honesty the Garland whose exasperating mood swings, brought on by pills and barbiturates, exhausted those closest to her, but never stopped loving her. You will become a person who tries to keep Judy happy but doesn't know to keep her happy, just keep loving her, through Frank's recreating of events and times in her life.

He captures the Judy who loved her children desperately, who loved to be loved, and was sometimes selfish and manipulative, but ultimately, was a warm, funny, glorious treasure, just a beautiful lady with a very mixed-up life. Garland's life was filled with so much emotion, so many ecstatic joys and bitter disappointments, and she vented the emotions in many different ways, depending on her mood and the people around her.

Frank also captures the people who knew Judy best, like her father Frank Gumm, her beloved mentor Roger Edens, her dear friend Kay Thompson, her third husband Sid Luft, and her children Liza Minnelli, Lorna Luft and Joey Luft. These were the people to whom Judy meant the most, and they became a part of the whirling maelstrom of love and erratic behaviors, and the harsh realities and unbelievably wonderful times that loving Judy Garland meant. They never stopped loving Judy, or she them, but the inevitable was Garland's lapses of reality, or refusing to believe reality, admonishing it, or laughing at it. They saw all facets of Judy Garland, and they learned to live with her and love her, no matter what.

Frank writes convincingly and digs deep into Garland's depths. For the people who say, If only she had been loved more, she would have lived, if they read this book, they will realize just how easy it was to fall in love with Judy, but they will also find out exactly how exasperating and horribly difficult it was sometimes to hold Judy up. But again, this book is not tragedy: Even the tragedy and gossip hunters will be enthralled with the Garland who could love and laugh as no one could, and celebrated here is also the love and admiration that so many different people held for her. The contents of the book are also overwhelming in their scope: the author held countless interviews with many individuals closest to Garland, includes hundreds of little-known details, and also had access to audio tapes that Garland used to write her never-finished autobiography. These reveal Garland most tellingly, and most poignantly.

For those who want to know all about Judy Garland, this book does even better: after reading it, the reader feels that they actually knew Judy Garland, and loved her. It is an extraordinary book, a spectacular book. Any reader can take delight, Garland fan or not, in "Judy", the capital biography that the world's greatest entertainer has long deserved.

"Judy" by Gerold Frank
The library is a wonderful thing. I have read all the Garland biographies. If I had to pick one to own, it would be two - this one by Gerold Frank and Lorna Lufts' "Family Memoir."

A reader. ... Read more

Book Description

Washington, Lincoln, Grant--these were once the triumvirate of American nationalism.But, like his tomb on the Hudson, Grant's reputation has fallen into disrepair. The image many Americans hold of him is a caricature: someone "uniquely stupid," an insensitive butcher as a general, an incompetent mediocrity as president, and a drunk.Several efforts to counter this stereotype have often gone too far in the other direction, resulting in an equally distorted laudatory portrait of near-perfection. In reading the original sources, Brooks D. Simpson became convinced that Grant was neither a bumbling idiot who was the darling of fortune nor a flawless general who could do no wrong.Rather, he was a tangle of opposing qualities--a relentless warrior but a generous victor, a commander who drew upon uncommon common sense in drafting campaign plans and in winning battles, a soldier so sensitive to suffering that he could not stand to see the bloody hides at his father's tannery, a man who made mistakes and sometimes learned from them.Even as he waged war, he realized the broader political implications of the struggle; he came to believe that the preservation of the Union depended upon the destruction of slavery. Equally compelling is Grant's personal story--one of a man who struggled against great odds, bad luck, and personal humiliation, who sought joy and love in the arms of his wife and his children, and who was determined to overcome adversity and prevail over his detractors. "None of our public men have a story so strange as this," Owen Wister once observed; agreeing, William T. Sherman remarked that Grant remained a mystery even to himself. In the first of two volumes, Brooks Simpson brings Grant's story to life in an account that is readable, balanced, compelling, and definitive. ... Read more

Reviews (33)

A Superb Biography of a Superb Man
Ulysses S. Grant is one of the most written about figures in all of history and one of the most surpassingly interesting. I have been reading about Grant for almost forty years now and I still don''t think that I know enough about Him.Brooks Simpson has written a magnificent biography which takes it's place among the classics of Civil War literature. Simpson is not a Haigieographer. He clearly takes an objective view of Grant, which is long overdue.The Author explores Grant's complex relationships with His parents and His cantankerous Father-in-law, Colonel Dent and also the most important relationship of Grant's life with His beloved wife Julia and their children. Simpson shows us how Grant's failures in civilian life prepared Him for success in war.Simpson clearly shows us that Grant was one of the greatest military commanders of all time. He did''nt not prevail because of superior numbers and resources, you will note that Lee did not surrender to McClellan , Burnside or Hooker who also had superior numbers and resources. No Grant prevailed because of superior Generalship. Simpson shows us how the persistent allegations about Grant's drinking are overdone at best. Certainly Grant did have a drinking problem but He was able to control it. And there is no record of His drinking ever interfereing with military operations.Simpson does not overlook Grant's shortcomings, some of which were horrendous. I cannot reccomend this book highly enough. Even if you are not a Civil War buff I believe you will find this a great read.

Wide of the mark
I was disappointed by this first volume of Grant's life. The sections on the war were accurate, fair and well-written. But the concentration on the professional areas of Grant's life came at the expense of the private side. A previous reviewer said said this book concentrates on Grant's marriage and family relationships. I found almost none of that in this book.

I hope that in volume two, the author puts his concentration on Grant first as a man of the nineteenth century and not as a cog in the wheel of the military or politics. Bruce Catton wrote about Grant in a well-rounded manner, this book is simply too dry for enjoyable reading.

A civil war buff
This book was a lot easier to read than McFeely's biography of Grant. It has a more even flow and tempo to it. Mr. Simpson shows that Grant was not the moron which post 1910 historians tend to portray him as. Mr. Simpson also does not goes into the syrupy viewpoint which 19th century historians tended to have of Grant. Grant was a man of few words, iron willed, and when he had to be, for better or worse, a decision maker. If you are looking for a book which introduces you to Grant and the historical context of the times in which he lived, this is a solid book.

Fantastic!
A wonderful book, with brillant, sizzling prose! A must buy!

Little new here
The text appears to be highly derivative of the works which preceded it and the author provides little that is new beyond a spectacularly one-sided view of General Ulysses S. Grant.

All Grant's errors are minimized or omitted completely from the story. Praise of the general, sometimes merited sometimes not, goes on and on. Some evenhandedness, please. ... Read more

Book Description

One of this century's greatest athletes, Wayne Gretzky, The Great One, never failed to enthrall hockey fans with his incredible talent and skill.

It was with bittersweet sadness that the hockey world accepted the retirement of its most beloved player after the 1998-99 season.For the past twenty years, Wayne Gretzky above all has epitomized the toughness, power, and excitement of hockey. A class act, admired by teammates and foes alike, holder of numerous records, and always a consummate sportsman, Gretzky simply defines the game of hockey.

Including more than 120 extraordinary black and white and color photographs, The Great One celebrates Gretzky, from his early days as Brantford, Ontario's whiz kid, all the way to his Stanley Cup glories. The Great One includes a compilation of number ninety-nine's records of achievement and game-by-game statistics for his two decades of excellence.

Expertly written and researched by hockey historian Andrew Podnieks, the book also includes rare interviews, anecdotes, and little-known facts about Gretzky.

With Wayne Gretzky's retirement, hockey fans everyone mourned the passing of an era.But Gretzky's words and achievements live on in The Great One.There is no better way to remember the career of hockey's most superb and charismatic player.

ANDREW PODNIEKS is the author of many books on hockey, including The Blue and White Book, Portraits of the Game, and Shooting Stars.A hockey historian, photographer, and former creative writing teacher, Andrew lives in Toronto. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Great One: Life and Times of Wayne Gretzky
I bought this book for my 3rd grade son to write a paper with, and found myself completly engaged in it. For someone who didn't know much about "The Great One", I am now as big a fan as my son! Tells a lot about his younger years and doesn't just focus on the goals. AWESOME ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Must Read Book For Anyone Interested in Gould's Philosophies
I think the best way to look at this book is as a book by Gould filtered through the mind of a professional philosopher. Read Friedrich's book for an example of the influence that Gould had on how this book was written. Although this might detract from this book as an objective analysis of Gould's thought (I got the same sense reading the book that I do when listening to or reading a transcript of one of Gould's famous scripted "off-the-cuff" interviews), it is still very important as a compendium of his ideas, articulated in a coherent framework. Especially interesting is Gould's denunciation of much of the Romantic piano literature, and his admission (gasp) that he would occasionally play Chopin for himself at home. (and,yes, I am aware of the recording of the B minor sonata.) If you are interested in Gould or modern thought on music and the relationship of media to music, buy this book.

Mr Payzant ........very little real content
If you wish to read this book, you must first know that Mr Payzant almost pays homage to Gould and allowed Gould to change the book in his own words. As I read the book, I felt as though he was being worshipped and looked for mechanisms to the mechanics of Goulds philosophy on music as though it were a science.....we'll it was not...Gould himself never wanted to know how or Why he could play the piano as he could for fear of loosing his gift...this is we'll documented....I liken the book to a Fan who is a worshipper and not a biographer in any sense.

David_Carlin@vtel.com

Glenn Gould Review from Philadelphia
A real masterpiece - insightful and comprehensive. The reader is actually able to see inside the mindset of Gould. Great for anyone who appreciates music and performance at the highest level.

A wonderful tribute to a genius.
I read this book when it was first published by the Author. His comments concerning one of the greatest creative geniuses ever are a fitting tribute. His recognition of Gould's special place in the scheme of things is evidenced on every page. ... Read more

Book Description

Judiologist Scott Schechter presents an account of every day of the singer and actress's life, from her earliest show-business performances at the age of two to her misunderstood final years. The book includes excerpts from personal letters, transcripts o ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Wonderful!!
Absolutely fascinating.

Despite what the Library Journal may say (and frankly how you rely on a review by anyone who recommends Sheridan Morley's appallingly incompetent effort is beyond me), this is a tremendously detailed and revealing look at the life of one of America's few genuine legends.

As someone who has read virtually all the books about Miss Garland I would certainly rank this book in the top three. Highly recommended to anyone who has an interest in Judy Garland, Hollywood or what the highs and lows of stardom can really be like.

Wow! What a great Book!
I loved this book. I have been a Garland fan all of my life. I have read almost everything written about her. Reading this book I found out things I didn't know. It's so interesting to follow Judy's path from great star to a woman that must live from friend to friend. At one point she even sang for $100 a night. I was totaly taken with this book. I couldn't help but be left with a profound sadness after I had finished. Judy was loved but just never was able to see it. Even though I knew she was going to die at the end I kept hoping she would get it together and come out on top. If you love Judy READ this book.

A record of how HARD Judy worked.
Judy Garland worked harder than any other performer of her era. Detailing this work, as Scott Schechter does, day-by-day, does more to emphasize that work than any other biography that has been released.
What is sad is that one can predict, long before a Garland project comes out, who will like it and who will not. Does it have to do with Judy's artistry? No. Is it related to the breadth of the research? No. Is it critically reviewed based on its own merits and not on personal feelings about the author? No.
Judy Garland has, most definitely, groups (perhaps COVENS is a better word) who reject or accept a Garland project based solely on who was involved in its making. I will be the first to agree that John Fricke's Garland biography "World's Greatest Entertainer" is brilliant, and sumptuously illustrated. Steve Sanders' "Rainbow's End" is also excellent, dealing specifically with Judy's 1963-64 CBS television series (although Sanders seems almost fixated on Judy's weight throughout the book).
The recent Garland biography by Gerald Clarke was raked over the coals in a very sanctimonious manner, and one had to be private about their feelings for this book, to avoid being chastised by other Garland fans/biographers.
Well, I am not a Garland biographer. I am a collector of her memorabilia, and have been collecting for 30 years. People like myself and a VERY small handful of collectors are responsible for making ANY Garland biography have unique and rare photographs and memorabilia, whether the coven approves of it or not.
I have been around, dear readers. I know that personal feelings interfere with every single negative review of this book, or ANY Garland book. That is a part of the mystique of Judy Garland and the emotional response her art can create in an individual. Scott Schechter did what all of Garland's fans have moaned about forever. He presented a chronological perspective of how HARD Judy worked, from December 1924 through March 1969.
It is sad, shameful, and even egregious that the quality of a Garland biography, DVD, or CD release is filtered through the perceptor's own personal feelings about the individual that made it possible.
Not liking something based on who was responsible for its creation means that the individual likes Judy Garland on a conditional basis. And conditional love for Judy Garland is not love at all. It is haughty, noxious, and disgusting behavior that is in complete opposition to the attitude and message of Judy Garland the person, and Judy Garland the artist.
W. Eric Hemphill B.A., M.Ed.

Best Book Ever on Garland
Loved this book. Yes, it is "intense," but so was/is the subject. Gotta have it if you're a major Garland fan.

WHAT A DUD! Too bad I can't rate this "no stars"
JUDY GARLAND was an incomparable talent, and many authors have celebrated her amazing life with very special literary tributes to her gifts.

This poorly conceived, and cheaply-produced rip-off isn't one of them. It tells you nothing about Garland's artistry or personality, but lets you know everything you already read elsewhere, or didn't want to know.

Amateurish and sloppy, this book is an insult to Garland and her fans. Save your money, even though the used copies are now going for less than $3.00!.

A DUD! ... Read more

Book Description

More than half a century after his death, Mahatma Gandhi continues to inspire millions throughout the world. Yet modern India, most strikingly in its decision to join the nuclear arms race, seems to have abandoned much of his nonviolent vision. Inspired by recent events in India, Stanley Wolpert offers this subtle and profound biography of India's "Great Soul." Wolpert compellingly chronicles the life of Mahatma Gandhi from his early days as a child of privilege to his humble rise to power and his assassination at the hands of a man of his own faith. This trajectory, like that of Christ, was the result of Gandhi's passion: his conscious courting of suffering as the means to reach divine truth. From his early campaigns to stop discrimination in South Africa to his leadership of a people's revolution to end the British imperial domination of India, Gandhi emerges as a man of inner conflicts obscured by his political genius and moral vision. Influenced early on by nonviolent teachings in Hinduism, Jainism, Christianity, and Buddhism, he came to insist on the primacy of love for one's adversary in any conflict as the invincible power for change. His unyielding opposition to intolerance and oppression would inspire India like no leader since the Buddha--creating a legacy that would encourage Martin Luther King, Jr., Nelson Mandela, and other global leaders to demand a better world through peaceful civil disobedience. By boldly considering Gandhi the man, rather than the living god depicted by his disciples, Wolpert provides an unprecedented representation of Gandhi's personality and the profound complexities that compelled his actions and brought freedom to India. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Facts vs Fiction
In a democracy every one has a right to voice his opinion something 'a reader' doesn't understand... instead he jumps to the obviously childish accusations and insinuation