Book Description

Film

Introduction by Kenneth Tynan

The collected writings of this icon of the silent era, in a new, more complete edition.

Louise Brooks (1906-1985) is one of the most famous actresses of the silent era, renowned as much for her rebellion against the Hollywood system as for her performances in such influential films as Pandora's Box and Diary of a Lost Girl. Eight autobiographical essays by Brooks, on topics ranging from her childhood in Kansas and her early days as a Denishawn and Ziegfeld Follies dancer to her friendships with Martha Graham, Charles Chaplin, W. C. Fields, Humphrey Bogart, William Paley, G. W. Pabst, and others are collected here. New to this edition is the revelatory "Why I Will Never Write My Memoirs" by Brooks and "The Girl in the Black Helmet" by Kenneth Tynan, which brought about the revival of interest in her work and was the best discussion of Brooks's film work to appear in her lifetime.

"The writing is assured, graceful, and magnetic; the life the dancer-actress-author describes makes most fiction trivial by comparison. . . . This is no ordinary collection of gossipy memoirs. It is a tour de force, as history and as a searching study of human nature." Publishers Weekly

"Brooks is brilliantly perceptive and articulate on everything from the art of film directing to the comedy of W. C. Fields." New York Times

"A minor classic." Film Quarterly

Translation Inquiries: Alfred A. Knopf ... Read more

Reviews (7)

BROOKS AND TYNAN ARE EXTRAORDINARY
I am unimpressed by Emily from Seattle's harsh words, which are both snotty and inaccurate. Tynan was the finest theatre critic of his time--and not bad on film, either. His profiles of stage and screen actors, recently collected in one volume, are masterpieces of the genre. In particular, his profile of Brooks was an indelible portrait of a brilliant and beautiful woman. Brooks herself, though not a great actress, was indeed a great star--exquisitely beautiful, highly charismatic, and powerfully erotic. To the best of my memory, Tynan describes her only in these terms, never as the creator of naturalistic film acting. (Incidentally, none of the women named by Emily--Crawford, Davies, Bow, and the insufferable Shearer--could properly be described as an actress. They were merely stars--and distinctly inferior to Brooks in talent, intelligence, and beauty.) Finally, as everyone here (including Emily) acknowledges, Brooks was a first-rate writer herself, and the essays in this book are required reading for anyone interested in silent film.

Brooks back in print
Great to have this irreplaceable book back in print. Even better that it now includes the New Yorker article by Kenneth Tynan, "The Girl in the Black Helmet," that helped touch off the 80's Brooks revival, and an additional piece by Brooks entitled "Why I Will Never Write My Memoirs." Still, one can't help coming away from this book wishing there were more material, just as one wishes there were more Brooks films.

Brooksie in Hollywood...
If she knew how captivating her writing was she may not have wasted so much time with a broken heart. A well written synopsis of some of her mis-adventures. Lending insight to how she viewed others and herself. With and without grace.

Brooks is Best
You don't have to be a fan of Louise Brooks to want this special item. This colection of essays that she wrote cover many different famous names from the past. Each offering great insight and a diferent look. So if you're a fan of the era then this will not hurt. If you are a fan of Brooksie then you get a better insight into her life. It also shows that she could write extremely well, as well as act.

louise, the 'it' person
louise brooks didn't know how to act. sure. even if this book does try to show the opposite, what it really shows is that Louise Brooks was an actress larger than Hollywood and the film industry itself. and also one of the most strange beautiful woman i ever saw in screen. ... Read more

Book Description

Gable, Tracy, Stewart, Ol' Blue Eyes, the King. They were Hollywood gods; men wanted to be them, women just plain wanted them. As celluloid royalty and soldiers in Louis B. Mayer's box office army, the men of The Leading Men of MGM captured the hearts and imaginations of the movie-going public during a thirty-year stretch encompassing three wars and the ultimate downfall of a studio empire. And while their roles onscreen are some of cinema's most memorable, they often pale in comparison to the lives these men lived behind the scenes. The Leading Men of MGM exposes these legendary figures in all of their salacious glory-from Clark Gable's clandestine homosexual encounters in bistro bathrooms to Elvis's pill-popping and Sinatra and Lawford's icy post-Kennedy jousts. Also profiling such stars as Ramon Novarro, Billy Haines, and Van Johnson, the collection offers complete filmographies, photographs, and insightful looks at the nature of stardom during an era when the phenomenon was being minted. Offering a warts-and-all look at fifteen-plus legendary Tinseltown stars in addition to exploring their successes as genuine Hollywood talent, author Jane Wayne has written a must-have volume for film buffs of all stripes. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Cat Gal
The Leading Men of MGM is a great read. i couldn't put the book down. Included are Louis B. Mayer and Irving Thalberg who founded the greatest studio in movie history. Wayne profiles the actors whom we all adored and still do, thanks to TV. They were rascals, but nothing could take away from their talent and silver screen auras. You'll love this book. I recommend it to movie buffs of all ages.all age

An Interesting Take On The Men of MGM
If you've heard all the tawdry stories about how the MGM machine covered for its male stars, STOP READING THIS REVIEW as you've probably heard it all before. I gave this book a *** rating because I enjoyed it, but I've processed this information before and it didn't really put a new spin on anything for me.

However, if this is unexplored territory for you, this book is the ticket as it provides insights into the personal lives of thegreat male stars from the golden age of Hollywood. It also provides a view of to what lengths the studios would go to protect the images of their 'assets' in the good old days when the star system was in place and the studios owned their talent.

The juiciest 'star' exposed in this book? Probably Van Johnson. And I think the reason is that Johnson's story is relatively fresh due to the fact that Johnson is probably the only person discussed in this book (excluding Mickey Rooney) that is still living.

The most fascinating thing about this book is that it takes the reader back to a place in time when studios could really bury and even obliterate negative publicity and create a fantasy world that is stranger than anything in those great old MGM movies.

Having Been There Before......
I have to admit up front that I have not read Wayne's latest. In fact, I will never bother to open the book, nor have I done so for good reason: unfortunately, I spent good money onher 'biography' of Barbara Stanwyck. And enough said! I have no illusions about Stanwyck as a person; she was human and as such flawed - and necessarily many things to many people. The jury is still out on more than one issue. Nonetheless, Wayne's largely undocumented Stanwyck 'biography' would seem to be little more than an anti-Stanwyck diatribe. Even objective readers will quickly note her overwhelmingly pro-Taylor bias, as well as her 'obsession' with painting Stanwyck in a completely unrealistic, negative light. I cannot help but feel obligated to suggest that those who seek new and reliable information take care when treading Wayne waters. An avid Stanwyck/Taylor follower for over 4 decades, I would hesitate to place my trust in a great deal that she has to say.

Another "Book" by "Author" Wayne
Jane Ellen Wayne's love obsession with Robert Taylor and her hate obsession with Barbara Stanwyck casts serious doubts concerning her integrity regarding anything or anyone she writes about. After reading her cruel hatchet job on Barbara Stanwyck, generously laced with untruths and low-life gossip, she continues in that same vein in this newest book's chapter on her obsession, Robert Taylor, portraying him, naturally, as a saint, while demonizing Stanwyck, as usual. Anyone so driven by adolescent jealously can hardly be deemed a reliable biographer.

Pity the publishers don't bother to verify Ms. Wayne's "facts."

Save your money. And let the dead rest in peace.

MATINEE IDOLS HAD SOME WILD NIGHTS

During its golden years Hollywood had mega studio MGM.A wag might comment that it would be more accurate to say that MGM had Hollywood as this studio boasted the biggest, brightest stars.MGM men were top box office draws - Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart, Spencer Tracy, Robert Taylor, Frank Sinatra, and more.These handsome hunks had female hearts aflutter and cash registers ringing.On screen they were larger than life, starsAs we learn from Jane Ellen Wayne's tell-all-in-graphic-detail expose, off screen they were oftenfalling stars.

Keeping them in line was such a challenge that Metro-Goldyn-Mayer mogul Louis B. Mayer had a cadre of over 80 police officers on duty 24 hours a day.To protect the golden images of his male idols, Mayer shelled out."City officials were paid well for their cooperation, discretion and silence in cases of disorderly conduct, adultery, drunken misbehavior, suicide, and even murder."

Mayer disliked homosexuals and wanted his matinee idols to be known as he-men.He went to any lengths to achieve this, even to convincing Evie Wynn to divorce her husband, Keenan, in order to marry Van Johnson.Johnson's career was saved and the pair remained married for two decades until a chorus boy won Van's heart.

However, Mayer also knew that he couldn't keep his men away from houses of prostitution, so he provided one for them "to prevent them from contracting a social disease or getting a one-night stand pregnant."Ladies of this "cat house" were starlets who didn't make the grade.They were checked frequently by studio doctors to ensure their health and cleanliness.

For these tactics and more Mayer was detested by some and admired by others.Whatever one thought of him, his was the largest and most successful movie studio in the entire world.

Devoting some 40 pages to each male star, Ms. Wayne details their career, offers a filmography, and dishes, dishes, dishes.Some of it is recycled gossip, much of it is new (at least to this reader).Most know that Elvis Presley popped pills by the palmful.How many know that he had a foot fetish and "loved to fondle and suck women's toes"?

We learn that Jimmy Stewart was shy and stuttered.At one time he was completely captivated by Norma Shearer but was too embarrassed to be seen riding around in her yellow Rolls-Royce so he always slumped down in the back.She gifted him with a gold and diamond cigarette case but, ever the picture of humility, when she asked him for a cigarette, he pulled out a crumpled pack of Lucky Strikes.

What else is there to say about `Ol Blue Eyes?Plenty, according to this author.He once attempted suicide, and although worth millions when he diedleft his first wife, Nancy, only $250.000.And, there was the night in Indio, California, when he and Ava Gardner "shot up" the town with his 38s.And, they said theirs was true love.Sinatra once described himself as having "an overactive capacity for sadness and elation."An understatement?

Author Wayne has left no stone, story or starlet unturned in telling the intimate stories of "The Leading Men of MGM."

- Gail Cooke

... Read more

Book Description

"I am so proud to be Jamie's 'dad.' She is not only a talented actress but also a bright, generous, and inspiring young lady." -- James Gandolfini

"Jamie-Lynn Sigler definitely knows how to inspire people....I'm grateful to call her my friend." -- Lance Bass, *N'SYNC

Everyone knows Jamie-Lynn Sigler as Meadow Soprano on the HBO hit television series The Sopranos. But there's so much more to her, as her candid, outspoken autobiography proves. In Wise Girl, Jamie-Lynn reveals both the perks and the pressures that have come with fame, and how uncertain, fearful times have made her stronger, more confident, and able to face life's challenges. Writing openly and from the heart, she describes the emotional and physical toll taken when Lyme disease left the healthy 19-year-old paralyzed at the height of The Soprano's popularity; an obsession with her weight that nearly destroyed her career; and the dark side of overnight success. Her story will both surprise and inspire you. For this wise girl, the key to success isn't just what's on the outside -- it's using your brains, going with your gut, and learning from your experiences, including the mistakes, every day. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Wise Girl: What I;ve Learned About LIfe, Love, and Loss
This novel,by Jamie-lynn Sigler, is a wonderful story. It is a perfect book for teenage girls to read to teach them about the pressures of being a teen and a star. It is a wonderful example of how a strong conviction can help to overcome anything. It teaches girls about the dangerous effects of eating disorders and how to get yourself out of a deep hole. This is a story about a girl goiung through what everyone goes through, love, loss, and the daily pressures of life.

The Wise Meadow Soprano
Thanks to DVD I was able to watch all 3 seasons of The Sopranos, and since season 1 I was wondering what the story behind Jamie Lynn Sigler really was. After reading on The Sopranos website that Jamie had written a biography I immediatly went out and bought Wise Girl and read it all in one sitting, which I never do. This is a very informative and sometimes very entertaining book, it answered almost every question I had about Jamie.

So Much More
I picked up Jamie-Lynn Sigler's book, Wise Girl, because I have an eating disorder. I wanted to be inspired to move forward with my recovery. I wanted to feel connected to someone else who had once been lost in obsessions with food and weight. And I wanted to be moved to take a stand for eating disorder awareness - just as Jamie has done by speaking publicly and sharing her story. Well, Jamie definitely touched my heart and motivated me to continue fighting my eating disorder. And she also reaffirmed my desire to speak out in the fight against women hating their bodies.

But Wise Girl did much more than that. It is so much more than a moving account of a trip to hell and back with an eating disorder. Wise Girl is a journey of self-discovery - a chronicle of lessons learned in the life of a courageous, young woman. Jamie has been through a lot in her twenty-something years, and she shares her experiences in a way that is both enlightening and entertaining. I learned so much from Jamie and simultaneously enjoyed every minute of it. Jamie writes with incredible insight, frankness, and honesty. Her casual and conversational tone made me feel like I was getting to know a new friend.

I definitely got what I wanted out of Wise Girl, and I found so much more. Whether you are suffering with an eating disorder or not, this book is for you. You will be amazed by what you can learn from such a young and wise girl.

Jenni Schaefer, author of Life Without Ed: How One Woman Declared Independence from her Eating Disorder and How You Can Too (McGraw-Hill/Contemporary Books - Feb '04 release)

Wise Girl Review
Wise girl is a very smart, inspirational, and true book. It is about her life and how she deals with fame and perfection. Jamie shows people through this book to be smart in your actions, how to deal with relationships, how important family is, and what her horrible eating disorder caused her to do and change. She shows how hard to be famous is and how she keeps in contact with friends and family. The title explains it all. Jamie is a very "wise girl" and is sharing that with the world. She tells people how to make smart decisions. What amazes me is how she is so down-to-earth and seems like a completely normal person.

Great for a teenager....
For all the interviews I have seen or read of Jamie-Lynn Sigler, I have thought her innoccent, kind and concerned. After reading this book it all still stands true. She seems sincere, sweet, and loyal to her fans. As the on screen daughter of Tony Soprano she was thrusted into the lime light and had not only the pressures of any average teen, but a teen on a hit series. She is insecure and takes everything to heart. In this book she basically speaks to the teenage girls. She gives advice on relationships, friends and eatting disorders. She wears her heart on her sleeve as she talks about what she went through to overcome her eatting disorder and her battle with lyme disease. Although it is a good book, it is very young, as is she. Not that this is a stab at her, I do admire her and think she is a gifted actress, I would love to see her be the next "American sweetheart" especailly with the personality she possesses. But this again is geared toward teenagers, with information such as; "dont let yourself get so caught up in a boy that you lose yourself, like if you break up, you will never get over it, that is like so not true" as an example. For a teen it is perfect and she makes a fabulous role model. To end the book, she has great resorces for centers of eatting disorders all over the country, complete with addresses and phone numbers. Eatting disorders can be a problem for anyone at any age. But again, this is for the younger crowd, I would say 21 and younger, anyone older with eatting disorders can find better reads. But Jamie did well and should be proud. Im sure there will be many a teenage girl who will feel better after reading her book. ... Read more

Book Description

No legend ever walked taller than Hollywood icon John Wayne. Now, author Michael Munn's startling new biography sets the record straight on why Wayne didn't serve in World War II, on director John Ford's contribution to Wayne's career, and the mega-star's highs and lows: three failed marriages, and two desperate battles with cancer. Munn also discloses publicly, for the first time, Soviet dictator Josef Stalin's plot to assassinate Wayne because of his outspoken, potentially influential anti-Communist views. Drawing on time spent with Wayne on the set of Brannigan- and almost 100 interviews with those who knew him-Munn's rare, behind-the-scenes look proves this "absolute all-time movie star" was as much a hero in real life as he ever was on-screen. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A wonderful tribute to a man larger than life
This is a "must read" for any John Wayne fan. The book is written with a deftness and style similar to the character of the man of whom it portrays. Munn is a self-described fan, yet is able to depict Wayne in a realistic light while using great sensitivity and care. The book is based largely on Munn's personal interviews (spanning several years) with John Wayne's colleagues and more importantly, the Duke himself, which lends credibility to his words. I have come away from this book not only with an historical view into John Wayne's career, but also with a great sense of respect for Waynes's honesty and "no-nonsense" approach to life. His love for his country is more than admirable, especially now in such times of partisanship and complacency. Sadly, John Wayne's era has gone by the wayside so kudos to Michael Munn for keeping his spirit alive. ... Read more

Book Description

America grew up learning The Facts of Life on this popular television sit-com of the 1980s. As Blair Warner -- rich, pampered boarding school student, Lisa Whelchel matured from a snobby prep schooler to a responsible adult. Now the actress recounts the real facts of life she's learned as a child of God making the journey -- from a shy girl out of a small town in Texas, to the glamorous life of fame and fortune in Hollywood, to suburban life as a pastor's wife and homeschooling mother of three. Readers will relish this inside glimpse into the life of a child star who looks to her Heavenly Father. Touching autobiographical stories reveal the developing trust in God that has enabled Lisa to grow in grace through seasons of pressure, pain, and prosperity. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

AN AMAZING WOMAN EMERGES...
I can remember Lisa Whelchel well from watching the television series, "Facts of Life" with my daughters. Lisa, who played the role of Blair Warner, was the spoiled, pampered, snobby rich kid who made a point of showing the others how great she really was, if only in her own mind. Yet, there was also a very insecure side to her lingering beneath her character's surface.

The real Lisa Whelchel is about as far removed from her television role as Antartica is from the Sahara Desert. I was totally amazed to read about Lisa's life as a pastor's wife and the homeschooling of her three children. She is also a gifted singer and songwriter. Lisa's life, for all it's glitz and glamour, has not been without challenges. However, through all of life's experiences, Lisa appears to have found strength in her faith in God and comes across as a mature, inspirational and a woman of great inner peace and beauty. Fans of "Facts of Life" will certainly enjoy this highly recommended book. Now, can anyone tell me what happened to the rest of the cast?

The Facts of Life : And Other Lessons My Father Taught Me
I recently purchased this book because I am a huge Facts of Life fan and Lisa Whelchel was doing a book signing in my area. I brought the book home and read it cover to cover. She has found a new calling. This book is informative and makes you think and may give you the answers your looking for. I recommend it for young and old alike.

I can really relate to her...
This book was a great read, and I have learned things from Lisa that are actually helping me get through the days. I didn't want to put it down until I finished it, and I want to get a copy for all my friends. She may have been a star, and she's different from me in plenty of ways. But she's also so much like me as a Christian woman, wife, and mother. When I'm having a rough day, I just remember reading about how she went through something similar and how she got through it, whether it be a major life struggle, or just dealing with my kids when they're having a particularly bad day.
I went to one of her Mom-Time conferences a couple of months ago, and there I learned that Lisa is so down to earth. The book shows that about her even more. It has been such a blessing to me already, and it's a book I plan to read at least once a year.

Wonderful book!
This book was awesome....it was funny, entertaining, but also very spiritual and uplifting. I've been a huge fan of the TV show "The Facts of Life" since I was very young, and adored "Blair". Lisa Whelchel is a wonderful writer and I highly recommend this book.

The Facts of Life And Other Lessons My Father Taught Me
This book is a great insperation for my friends, family and myself. I have shared my copy with a choosen few who have said that something in the book helped them with a problem they were having at the time. I would tell anyone to read this very enjoyable book. ... Read more

Book Description

In an era of Hollywood icons, no star shined brighter than Audrey Hepburn. Her charm, her grace, her frail humanity and, of course, that stunning face delighted moviegoers across the world. On-screen and onstage she dazzled millions as Gigi, Eliza Doolittle and Holly Golightly. But to her son Sean she was simply "Mummy."

In the first insider portrait of Audrey Hepburn, Sean Hepburn Ferrer offers an intimate glimpse into the life of Hollywood's most celebrated actress. In this emotional and candid memoir, Sean tells his mother's remarkable story, from her childhood in war-torn Holland to the height of her fame to her autumn years far from the camera and the crush of the paparazzi. It is a rare look at Audrey not from the photographer's lens, but through the eyes of the son who adored her.

Audrey Hepburn, An Elegant Spirit features nearly three hundred photographs, documents and artwork by Audrey herself, many of which have previously been unavailable. In this unprecedented memoir, Sean Hepburn Ferrer remembers the actress the world adored as only a son can.

More than a Hollywood biography, Audrey Hepburn, An Elegant Spirit is about the relationship between a son and his mother. Sean introduces us to an Audrey who was as profoundly sad as she was beautiful. Helpless to change the cruelties of the world and powerless against her own insecurities, Audrey was a devoted mother to Sean -- "my best friend," he calls her -- and his brother, Luca. And when they were older, they were proud to see their mother use her fame to help the children of the world who were in need. As the spokeswoman for UNICEF, Audrey brought worldwide attention to the tragic lives of millions of impoverished children. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

How to be a citizen of the world...
Sean Hepburn Ferrer was raised by an angel. "Audrey Hepburn: An Elegant Spirit" is a loving and fascinating tribute to the humanitarian and actress, written by one of the people who knew her best-her oldest son. Mr. Hepburn Ferrer generously shares stories and images of Audrey's humor, charm, grace, empathetic world outlook and incredibly caring nature. I've read several Audrey biographies, and this book is by far the best, but it functions more as a poem than a traditional bio. We see Audrey's life filtered through the primary modes of 20th century pictorial representation (bureaucratic, celebrity photography, family snapshots), then refracted back through her son's recollections and impressions.

Within the book's pages are Audrey's lifetime of passports-these "papers" can be a chilling reminder of the obsession for national identification within the Europe she was born into, but they also optimistically mark her transformation into a citizen of the world. Family photographs reveal a woman consistent with her onscreen persona, and Audrey's elegant, delicate lines cut straight through the intimate and public realms. In pictures of her gorgeous garden in Switzerland and in images of her work for UNICEF, we witness her mission to imagine the world as it could be, and her tireless efforts to make it so.

An Elegant Story!
I felt incredibly inspired after reading this book. I read it from cover to cover in one afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed it. I'd seen most of Audrey Hepburn's movies in the past but never knew the true story of her life. Now, after reading her son's narrative, I completely understand why millions of fans around the world want to emulate Audrey in both style and persona. She was the epitome of grace, beauty, and elegance - not only in fashion but in how she treated others throughout her life despite any disappointments or setbacks that she faced. She truly touched people's lives, especially with her involvement in UNICEF.

The family photos and mementos were my favorite part of the book! The intimate shots with her husband and children really draw you in and make you want to learn everything there is to know about her. I only wish there were more people like Audrey in the world to inspire us today.

If you love Audrey Hepburn, you'll love this book. If you know nothing about her, you'll still love this book. And when you're finished, it makes a fabulous coffee table book. My friends can't put it down.

perfect!!!
Describes Audrey exactly, puts into words how I feel watching her on screen. She was more than a great actress, she was a presence that touched you, and her elegance and grace was more than the outside, it was something that radiated from within, and her son does a fantastic job acknowledging that, helping us, her fans, understand a little better. I have been captivated by Ms. Hepburn my whole life, and have read almost everything out there but none of her biographies have touched me, and done real justice to her like this one. I feel this is the way Audrey would want to have been remembered, as if she were there as her son wrote it. My respect and admiration for Audrey Hepburn has increased dramactically through the reading of this book and I treat my loved ones better, and enjoy life more through her great wisdom and courage. I love this book! It has great pictures also and is a delightful read, he has real talent!! Thank you so much for writing this book and all the love that went into it!

An Elegant Spirit - indeed
Too bad there are not more people in the world like Audrey. There will never be another. The most beautiful women in the world, and the reason is because she was even more beautiful inside. A terrific read. Tells more about her UNICEF work. Loved the book - the pictures are wonderful. This book is much like Audrey, a beautiful cover on the outside and the contents are wonderful with beautiful pictures and a beautiful story. This is one book I plan to keep always. Other books I give to others to read, or trade them at a half price book store, but this one is a keeper.

great book
This is a wonderfully and beautiful book. The photos are great. Audrey Hepburn's son writes a beautiful tribute to his mom. A very loving and well put together book . ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Look into the life of a true actor
I'm an immense Judi Dench fan and waited for the publication of this paperback version of her biography. I wasn't disappointed. The author gives a complete picture of 'the Dame's' professional life--from her first stage parts up until her more widely known successes in the last couple of years.
Reading the book made me want to know this smart, funny woman who has now added 'M' (Bond movies) to her coverage of classical stage roles, television pieces and other movie parts. I came away with a somewhat better understanding of the enormous talent it must take to get to the heart of various characters. And, I greatly enjoyed the descriptions of the practical jokes JD loves to organize. I loved the 'corpsing' (the Brits use the term to describe actors 'cracking each other up').
Great reading for a 'Dame Judi' fan, or any fan of good acting, with an 'inside' view of the process.

Dame Judi Dench
This biography is a rarity. Its purpose is to share the tremendous career and achievements of Mrs. Judi Dench, and it happily is lacking what biography has often become. It is not several hundred pages of dubious gossip or borderline slander. It is not a litany of innuendo from those who claim some dubious relationship to the subject and then do their best to damage the individual's reputation. If you are looking for gossip-strewn trash, buy history as revised and fictionalized by Kitty Kelly. Mr. John Miller has written a wonderful book about a woman of substance and of great personal and professional merit. Unlike other biographers who survive based upon how low they will sink for tabloid attention, he did not write whatever someone would spew to relate a story that was not there.

Dame Judi's career has spanned a period that has allowed her to work with many of the greatest names of the theatre of the 20th Century. Additionally the actresses, the Directors and Playwrights also read like a list of those most accomplished in their fields. Many fans first met her as "M" in the James Bond Film Series, or as "Mrs. Brown", in her portrayal of Queen Victoria, or Queen Elizabeth in "Shakespeare In Love". The latter two films won her nominations for The Academy Award and the trend continued this year in Chocolat.

If you are interested in a story of a hard working actress, a woman who is a consummate professional, and respected by virtually all who have worked with her, this book is for you. However if you are like the journalist that opened a press conference by asking her a personal and intimate question, which caused her to rightfully dismiss the press conference format of dirt gathering from that day on, you will have to look elsewhere.

This is a great book about a woman who has succeeded in all areas she chose, and has done so with style and without the sordid notoriety that passes for fame today. Hers' is not a career of 15 minutes or 15, 30, or 45 years, but more like another legend Sir John Gielgud, who when he hit his 90th birthday never thought to pause.

Mr. Miller is to be commended for writing a worthwhile book and not a hardbound tabloid. If he seems less than objective due to the praise he has collected from her peers, it in fact only does "seem" that way. There are accomplished people today who can be admired and pointed to as role models. This book documents one. The other group tends to be long on press clippings and short on substance, but they also unfortunately sell books by the ton to book reading voyeurs.

Mr. Miller has written a work for the other readers.

Fascinating view of the British Theater and one of its Best!
I became interested in Judy Dench when I first discovered the British comedies that appear on American Television. "As Time Goes By" is my favorite and of course stars Judi. When I heard about her most exceptional career I wanted to learn more about her and see more of her acting. I found this book, which does give an "arm's length" view of Judi, the person, which I understand is her choice, and more power to her. However, I was fascinated with the in-depth information on the British Theater and those who have performed there over the last 40 years as told in this biography. It certainly describes many of the wonderful theatrical productions, and all that goes into making these possible. While Judi Dench is the central character, the book shows what a career in theater is like and all the many aspects of theater that go into every presentation. I did enjoy the book, and felt I had learned far more than anticipated about the recent British Theater.

Good bedtime reading....
Well, I've finally finished WITH A CRACK IN HER VOICE and I am certain this the most boring biography I've ever read...and I've read hundreds of biographies and autobiographies. The first part of the book is so boring I almost tossed it in the wastebasket a dozen times (and I bought a hardcover!!).

If I can believe what John Miller writes, Judi Dench never had a date until she met her husband Michael Williams in her mid-thirties. Maybe she did, maybe she didn't. Miller's writing seems to have improved a bit after Judi marries Michael Williams, but I say "seems" only because the first half of the book was so dry and dull. Maybe Judi herself keeps everything under wraps?

After reading this book, I can understand why a frustrated reporter once asked Judi "When is the first time you had sex and with whom." I imagine the reporter was desparate. The result of this incident according to Miller has been that Judi Dench no longer does press conferences. Unlike her character Jean Hardcastle, the Judi Dench of this book is flat and sexless.

Judi Dench is one of my favorite actresses. I've followed her career since I first discovered her in ROOM WITH A VIEW in which she co-acted with Maggie Smith another favorite. I'm an Anglophile and I love British Theatre and Shakespeare. I've seen most of the plays she has performed in at one time or another (other actors, but I have seen many RSC productions). I've seen all the episodes of her two tv shows and most of her movies (not a James Bond fan). I own VHS tapes and DVDs movies of her work. I LOVE JUDI. I bought this book because I thought I would learn more about the "real" Judi and her husband Michael. Forget it. Michael is barely mentioned. Jeffrey Palmer gets more coverage.

WITH A CRACK IN HER VOICE is really a synopsis of Judi's work over the last half century. If you love the theatre and want a glimpse of the creativity and toil that goes into a stage production, you'll get a little glimpse of it in this book. If you are not familiar with the older British actors who have worked with the RSC over the past few decades you may not recognize many people. If you recognize Elisabeth Garvie then you will probably enjoy the sections of the book that discuss casting and performances. If you want a list of the plays, movies, and tv shows Judi has appeared in over the past 50 years, you'll obtain the equivalent of an annotated bibliography in this book. If you want to know more about the real flesh and blood Judi Dench, you will have to wait.

One anectdote led me to believe this could have been a different book. John Miller writes of Judi's experience while performing in Hamlet in the 1980s. One night Daniel Day Lewis, who was playing Hamlet, fell to pieces. His own father had died recently just as Hamlet's father has died before the play opens. After Day Lewis finished the ghost scene, a fellow actor found him collapsed in the hallway in tears and he gathered him in his arms and comforted him. In this one little shared memory, Miller reveals Judi is capable of recognizing real human pathos and not just play acting the stage version.

dench fans will love the book
if you are a dench fan you will love the book. it is packed with information. the only drawback for some may be the style in which it is written. the author seems to have approached it more like a research paper rather than a book. but this does mean there is much material... and a good read if you're not looking for the slick, overly editing books we have become used to. ... Read more

Book Description

In 1978, Paul Newman and A. E. Hotchner made a foray into local gourmet shops bearing bottles of their homemade salad dressing. Freewheeling, irreverent entrepreneurs, they conceived of their venture as a great way to poke fun at the mundane method of traditional marketing. Much to their surprise, their products spurred a tidal wave of enthusiasm in the country’s supermarkets. What had started as a lark quickly escalated into a full-fledged business, the first company to mass-market all-natural foods, Newman’s Own became a major player in the food business. The company’s profits were donated to medical research, education, the environment, children’s programs, and to the creation of the eight "Hole in the Wall Gang" camps for children with serious illnesses.

Newman and Hotchner recount the picaresque saga of their unexpected success in SHAMELESS EXPLOITATION IN PURSUIT OF THE COMMON GOOD. In alternating voices, playing off each other in classic “Odd Couple” style, they describe how they systematically disregarded the advice of experts and relied instead on instinct, imagination, and common sense. They write about how they hurdled obstacle after obstacle, share their hilarious misadventures, and reveal their off-beat solutions to conventional problems. Even their approach to charity is decidedly different: Every year, they give away all the company’s profits and start over again. The results of this amazing generosity is brought to life in heartwarming stories about the children at their camps.

From the rare glimpses into Newman’s private life to A. E. Hotchner’s wonderfully told tales, SHAMELESS EXPLOITATION IN PURSUIT OF THE COMMON GOOD is the perfect nonmanagement book, at once playful, informative, and inspirational.

Reviews (12)

A day to read and worth your time
'Shameless Exploitation' is actually two books in one - you get the tale of how the 'Newman's Own' started as a germ of an idea in Paul Newman's garage. Newman was legendary back then for commandeering the kitchen of restaurants he would frequent and whipping together his own salad dressings. He and co-founder Hotchner make light of their lack of business knowledge, but it's worth noting that much of their success is based on their innate sense of what is right, for example their unwillingness to compromise on the freshness of their product.

The latter third of the book details the duo's efforts in starting up the 'Hole in the Wall Gang' camps for sick children. The authors are passionate about this endeavour, as well they should be. It's outstanding work they're doing. Newman personally drives these projects, sometimes through the force and magnetism of his personality.

In fact, that's the thing that stands out in the book - this is no 'slap the celebrity name on the bottle' exercise. These two gentlemen are intimately involved in all aspects of the business. There's a comparison in the book to other celebrity food bits good bad - Frank Sinatra's tomato sauce venture is one example. It ran aground in less then two years, an unmitigated disaster. The difference? Sinatra simply loaned out his name and looked to scoop up the profits. By contrast, Newman and Hotchner are in this thing heart and soul. Plus, the product is superlative. That's the only way to get repeat buyers.

As of the book's printing, Newman's Own has donated over $137 million to charity. When they write Paul Newman's epitaph, that first paragraph is going to be a real stemwinder to capture the essence of the man.

Humorous Account of New Dimensions for Philanthropy
Shameless Exploitation in Pursuit of the Common Good details the almost accidental development of the Newman's Own line of foods, its eventual success, and how the founders, Paul Newman and A.E. Hotchner, developed a new kind of charity to allow seriously ill children to attend summer camp. The book is filled with humor, good-hearted fun and a will to do good. Most people will find the overall effect to be heart-warming . . . except for the tendency to self-congratulation.

The book's is one part self-deprecating personal narrative, one part "advanced moving and shaking", one part "legend-making" tales, one part "I told you so" to the corporate "experts", one part funny stories from customers and one part business history mixed with two parts serious stories about young peoples' illnesses, three parts lessons about establishing a new charity, with a dash of recipes and cartoons for final humor. The mixture, while quite unusual, has a zestful freshness that leaves a taste for more.

If you are like me, you've never quite understood how Newman's Own came into existence and became a big success. I've tasted some of the products and find them to be of good quality. But there must be something more than that to it.

I was even more surprised to read in past news articles that all profits are distributed to charity annually. "Where in the world did the company get the working capital to stay in business?" was the question on my mind.

I also wondered how anyone would decide which charities to support and which to shun.

Shameless Exploitation in Pursuit of the Common Good answered all those questions and more for me.

I was deeply moved by the tale of starting up and running the Hole in the Wall camps for seriously ill youngsters, and intend to tell others about this good work.

What intrigued me most about the book was that it showed that doing the right thing could be amazingly commonsensical. The products are good because Paul Newman would not be satisfied until he thought they were. The packaging copy and promotional activities are zany, and reflect the good humor of the authors . . . not some copywriter. Profits and cash flow are good because the authors paid attention to setting up their business model so the company would need very little capital. Making the profits go to charity allowed the authors to have fun with the business in a way they could not have done if they had been trying to line their own pockets. The psychic and emotional satisfaction of establishing the camps and helping other charities are probably worth much more than any money can buy.

I hope that other talented people, whether they are prominent or not, will consider how they could follow some parts of what the authors did with their business or their charity. I thank them both for sharing the story in this entertaining book.

The Paul Newman Story
This is the story of Paul Newman, aka the hustler, the sting, butch cassidy, cool hand luke and superman (almost). He is an Oscar winning actor, car racing champion, philanthropist (215 million dollars and still counting), successful businessman and an alien (I heard this recently through a psst..psst network). Read the book. It will expand your horizons. Anything is possible.

Highly Recommended
Shameless Exploitation in Pursuit of the Common Good is an easy book to find fault with. That said, it's also one of the most enjoyable, heartwarming and inspiring books I've read in a while. What these two did is beyond impressive. In a world filled with so many self-serving scoundrels and so much depressing news it's really a pleasure to see what a couple of pals out to have a little fun managed to accomplish. Hooray for them!

Delightful and entertaining
What a delightful book, telling all about the inception of the "Newman's Own" brand of foods, which started as a joke and became more successful than its founders ever imagined! The cover says that it is a lesson in business mis-management -- or something to that effect --and that is such a good way to put it.

They did everything wrong: concocting the recipes; marketing the products; having a makeshift office (furnished with Newman's pool furniture, including an umbrella); finding people to make and distribute the products. It makes for a great tale, and the best part is that they have made TONS of money from it and charities have been the sole beneficiaries of their largesse. From $1 million the first year to $140 million in a recent year, the profits keep getting spent on doing good for others.

Newman's pickiness about his products have made them very desirable and have helped attracted followers who are very loyal to the name.

I knew about the charities funded by the company, but not much about the "Hole in the Wall Gang" camps that now are in operation all over the U.S. and beyond. What a wonderful gift Newman and Hotchner have given to these sick children.

This is an easy-reading book that entertains and makes one grateful that people like this are around. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

An excellent biography!
This is without a doubt the definitive biography of the gorgeous and extremely talented Vivien Leigh. This book chronicles her life and the experiences that shaped her as a person as well as an actress. This book follows Vivien from her birth in India through her passionate romance with Laurence Olivier, the stage and screen roles that made her a star, all the way to the final and turbulent years of her life. She was indeed an intelligent and strong willed woman. Alexander walker does an excellent job of presenting the life of one of the most talented and breathtaking actresses Hollywood has ever known. This book is poignant, interesting, tasteful and highly recommended! Once you start reading it, you'll have an impossible time putting it down.

More than just Scarlett O'Hara!
To the best of my knowledge, this is the most recent biography of Vivien Leigh, famed star of Gone With The Wind. It is probably the most comprehensive, as well, and is much kinder to her memory than any of the other biographies I have read. Walker makes a point of showing that Vivien had a mental illness and was not "insane" and, probably due to the fact that it was written so recently, it examines the lasting effects of Vivien's marriage to Olivier and includes various quotes from his autobiography. This book made me appreciate Viven Leigh's talent more than her beauty and realize what a profound impact she had on the theatre and motion picture industry. Vivien Leigh was more than just Scarlett O'Hara, she was a brave, fascinating, and extremely talented (I believe the most talented actress ever) woman. Definitely worth reading!!!

Vivien Leigh Was Too Vibrant For A Book This Dull!
This book drags on and on for pages and is written in a fussy style that gets irritating after awhile. No gossip, no juicy tidbits, devotes too much time to her stage career and tells nothing of interest about the most beautiful actress the screen has ever known. The author repeatedly reminds the reader about Vivien's fondness for gin and tonics, and believe me, you WILL need a few to get through this.

a tad disappointing
As a fan of Vivien Leigh, I was hoping for a biography that would delve more into her personal life. Instead, it dragged with pages and pages dedicated to mostly her career. However, if you can breeze through the boring parts, the rest is worth it.

A life in turmoil
"Vivien" is proof positive that there can be a well-written, well-researched, realistic yet understanding biography of a messed-up star. This book could have been a sordid tangle of tabloid sensationalism, but Alexander Walker carefully crafts it into a tapestry.

Vivien Leigh was one of the most memorable actresses of the twentieth century, playing the headstrong Scarlett O'Hara. Yet Vivien was not as strong or indomitable as she appeared onscreen. The book starts with a poetic interlude during a peaceful time in her life, with several guests attending a dinner, then shifts back to her girlhood. Her first marriage fell as her fame rose, and she soon met the man she would fall in love with, her also-married costar Lawrence Olivier. But Vivien's life, despite her fame and idyllic life, was never a happy woman, her mental problems plaguing her to the end of her life.

Very few authors are able to strike a balance between admiration and reality; they'll either idolize the object of their biography, or pour vitriol on them. Walker does neither. While he acknowledges Vivien's faults, he also seems to care about her and her struggles. Nothing could more poignantly convey Vivien's pain than when she shrieked at a nurse, "I'm not Scarlett, I'm Blanche!" (Blanche being a character she played who went mad).

Vivien herself is a vivid presence from the first pages onward. Her struggles with mental illness are done with great delicacy, as is her relationship with Olivier. He himself is almost as strong a presence, even though he ultimately could not stay with her; another impressive real-life presence is Jack Merivale, the understanding younger man who remained with her until her untimely death. The scene where Merivale brings Olivier to his dead ex-wife's beside is another extremely effective anecdote.

The writing style is lush for a biography. Quite uniquely, there is also a lot of focus on Vivien's movies as well as her personal life, especially her dogged pursuit of roles that she desperately wanted to play. The pictures are well-suited for this book -- they're clear, elegant, well-laid out, relevant to the different parts of Vivien's life, and balanced well between her on-screen roles and her personal life. Walker keeps these pictures of her roles grounded by mentioning what was going on in Vivien's life while she filmed the movie.

Alexander Walker's biography of Vivien Leigh is a treasure for all of her fans. Without being sordid ior adoring, he creates a believable biography about a troubled, talented and passionate actress. Outstanding read. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Known as the Camino, the Santiago de Compostela Camino is a famouspilgrimage that has been undertaken by people for centuries across northern Spain. It is saidthat this 500-mile path lies directly under the Milky Way and that it reflectsthe energy of the star systems above it. Facing her sixth decade of life onearth, writer and actor Shirley MacLaine decided to go on this trek. She wasn'tsure why, she only knew that the Camino had been traveled for thousands of yearsby "saints, sinners, generals, misfits, kings and queens. It is done by theintent to find one's deepest spiritual meaning and resolutions regardingconflicts in Self."

Typical of MacLaine, this is a personal story with enormous adventure, asmattering of flashbacks, and a hefty serving of cosmic revelations. Like a truepilgrim, MacLaine travels solo, willing to strip herself down to the backpackingessentials and find deeper meaning in all the bizarre, frightening, andcoincidental events she encounters along the way. It is no small feat that thissixtysomething woman walked the grueling path in 30 days. Readers can expectvivid stories of stalking paparazzi, icy showers, bouts of hunger, lost paths, aworshipping young man, a deranged woman screaming in a roadside shelter, saintlytruck drivers, a fellow pilgrim in a wheelchair, bouts of constipation anddiarrhea, and a cosmic crescendo that will knock the socks of MacLaine's fans.--Gail Hudson ... Read more

Reviews (86)

A Fascinating Quest!
"There are many ways to experience one's spiritual education." This quote from Shirley MacLaine sums up this incredible book perfectly. This is Shirley's journey of one finding themselves, or re-discovering themselves on the centuries old Camino - a 500 mile spiritual trek across Spain.

I found this book to be wonderfully enlightening, illuminating, and I applaud Shirley for the courage to complete this journey of the Spirit. Shirley says, "The Camino itself helps facilitate the resolution of emotional issues."

The reader is treated to flashbacks of Shirley's past lives as she once lived along the Camino, including an amazing past life in Lemuria and Atlantis. I found Shirley's honesty and candor refreshing, and many of her insights hit directly home with me. I do believe that the reader will also gain as many insights as I did and stop and let it all sink in. We are treated to her lessons and fears that she has to conquer as well.

I really resonated with her thoughts on fear: "Never ask yourself what it is you fear - instead ask yourself what it is that concerns you. A fear thought, put out, will return, because all energy returns to the sender. Any energy always makes a loop until it regains the source. A concern thought will return also. A that moment discern why you're concerned."

I began my spiritual questing with Shirley's first book and have devoured everything she has written. She is not afraid to speak her truth and she is not afraid to seek to deepen her spirituality and then share the rest of that with humanity. I am sure that I am not the only one who she has deeply and positively affected. We are spiritual beings having a human experience and once again we are reminded of our mission - to reconnect to the Divine source - to love - to God.

Another wonderful quote, "I had walked the Camino in order to understand what we were capable of as human beings - such spiritual magnificence and such destructive fragmentation of our own souls. Were we all repeating such dramas even today because we hadn't remembered what we came from?"

I urge everyone to read this fascinating book. You too, will want to trek the Camino after finishing the book.

More Steps on the Road To Enlightenment
"The Camino", Shirley Maclaine's new book, covers a 500 mile walking trip she completed along the Camino de Santiago in northern Spain. Blisters and body pain, loneliness followed by relentless press who heard she was making the pilgrimage, vivid dream/recollections and synchronicity are shared in this journal. 40 pages into this book, I announced to my family that I will be making this same trek. Ms. MacLaine is an excellent writer; clean, intelligent, free of the need to prove anything to anyone. She's just saying what she experienced. We come away with a glimpse at the history of the trail from the days of Charlemange. We see her experience of the possible origin of three dimensional human life, Atlantis, Lemuria, ancestral connections to ET's and genetic engineerring that very possibly got us where we are right now. Skeptics will scoff. Students of Spirit will nod. (Remember, in spring 2000, scientists JUST found out that dinosaurs had four chamber hearts that show they were WARM blooded, not cold blooded like the "fact" they have "known" for years.) Whatever your level of listening, believing or remembering, "The Camino" is a wonderful journey that leaves us feeling renewed. Ultreya, Ms. MacLaine!

Shirleys Books
I have to say, I felt very lucky to find that Amazon.com carried Shirley Maclaines books, I had looked all over my area and could not find them. So Far I have read all but 2 of them and I loved every one of them. She has always been one of my favorite female stars. After reading what I have so far, I like her even more. Seems like some of her favorite Movie stars (Dean Martin, and Barbra) are mine too. I had to smile when she said she had a crush on Dean, I always loved his style and voice, the same for Barbra, they are to me the best singers ever. I feel that Shirley Maclaine is not only very talented, but her writing flows so easily that I can get lost for hours and really enjoy it. She is a remarkable and brave lady who has had a very facinating life. Sure can't say shes boring. She is honest and open and caring, someone whos company I would really enjoy, and her books are a good way to do that. God bless her, I wish her all the joy in the world and luck in her search.

For Serious Spiritual Seekers
I have read and enjoyed each of Shirley Maclaine's books; those that have explored the journey's of life, and those that have explored her show business career. I have not always agreed with everything the author presented, but I have always found the materials to be interesting, thought provoking, and presenting the challenge that always comes with new ideas. I first picked up the Camino when it originally came out about two years ago and simply was not able to read it. I now understand that it was because I was not ready to read this book, even though I have been and continue to be a serious seeker of spiritualism and the meaning of life. Having just read this book, I found it to be interesting and mind broadening. This book is not for everyone. Some people will eagerly and openly embrace its message; others will be questioning and skeptical, which is also good. Others will deride the book and its author, which is unfortunate. Those of us who have read and/or experienced spiritual phenomena owe Ms. Maclaine a great debt, because as a celebrity, and as a gifted writer, she has been able to take subject matter that was once hidden and has presented it to a wide audience, who are free to enjoy it. Most of us do not have the financial resources to take a spritiual journey or pilgrimage. I admire the way she has taken a very personal spiritual journey, and has presented it to her readers in a frank and meaningful way, to allow us explore and examine our own souls.

Shirley's Cosmic Camino
The Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route attracts some 60,000 walkers and cyclists annually, retracing the path taken by medieval Christians across Northern Spain as they travelled to venerate the bones of the apostle St. James in Santiago de Compostella. The journey ranked in importance with going to Rome or Jerusalem and it attracted not only the Great Unwashed, but also many famous people including St. Francis of Assisi and Dante. And Shirley MacLaine. Her book, "the Camino," describes her pilgrimage on the Way of St. James. Sort of.

Walking over the Pyrenees, traversing the altiplano-the high plateau of Northern Spain-, and crossing the green hills of Galicia is not a trip to be undertaken lightly. It is to Ms. MacLaine's credit that she, in her mid-60s, accomplished this in 30 days. But anyone reading this book to learn about the Camino-its beauty, its peoples, its history, its meaning-will learn nothing here. Ms. MacLaine could have saved some effort and just wandered around her home in New Mexico for a month to come up with this silly book.

The book is really concerned with the author's "dream walk" in which she fantasizes about an obscure cleric in the court of Charlemagne who reveals all kinds of secrets about Atlantis and Lemuria and sexuality. Shirley's parents and even poor Olaf Palme pop into the dream. And the "highlight" of the book is when the author finds a gold cross in Leon that seems to have come from another dimension.

When in the real world, Ms. MacLaine describes the wretched hostels, her blisters and her even more painful fellow-pilgrims. She recounts all the autograph requests and never misses an opportunity to remind readers of her sexual attractiveness. And how I wished that total strangers would have volunteered to do my laundry when I cycled the Camino as seems to happen to the famous.

Europe's first example of organized tourism, the Camino de Santiago was a product of the medieval cult of relics, the need for believers to have tangible, physical evidence to buttress their faith. The origins of the pilgrimage seem based on fraud and political expediency but the Road, with its marvellous churches and cathedrals and monasteries, all ignored by Ms. MacLaine, is a monument itself to faith and perserverance. For many of the medieval pilgrims, it was the one great trip of their lives, and many did not return. And here we have a book that purports to be about the Camino but barely mentions St. James or Christianity. Rather, the Camino has been repaved with New Age rubble.

Shirley MacLaine is a charming and much-lauded entertainer. She is bothered by the press in the book but celebrity clearly has its advantages too. If "the Camino," with its obsessive self-interest, had been written by anyone else, it is unlikely to have ever seen print. For those with a genuine interest in the Camino de Santiago, they would be better-served with a basic guidebook before experiencing this wonderful road, on foot or by bicycle, on their own. It is worth it. ... Read more

Book Description

When James Dean's life was cut tragically short by a high-speed car crash, a legend was born. Three decades later Dean is still idolised by a generation that hardly knows him and he has become a potent symbol of rebellious youth - an eternal teenager.

Now, for the first time, Jimmy Dean in his own words speaks out, and, with the comments of friends, family and contemporaries, a talented, complex and tragic figure is revealed.

Illustrated with a wealth of rare Dean memorabilia. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Jimmy
This book is excellent. It is presented as abstract, creative, and genious as it's subject. It also includes some of the rarest pictures of Jimmy, and unlike some other Dean Biographies keff keff ("Boulevard"...) the writing is as engrossing as the pictures themselves. This is an excellent addition to any JBD library, along with "Rebel" by Spoto and "The Mutant King". This book is more refference of Jimmy as a person, than a straight-forward bio, but that's what makes it great.

This is a wonderful book of quotes from and about James Dean
This book taught me so much about Dean's real feelings, what he was really like. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in his life. It is by far the best book ever published about James B.Dean. ... Read more

Book Description

"Mom, I'm gay." With three little words, gay sons and daughters can change their parents' lives forever. Twenty years ago, during a walk on a Mississippi beach, Ellen DeGeneres spoke those simple, powerful words to her mother. That emotional moment eventually brought mother and daughter closer than ever, but it was not without a struggle. In Love, Ellen, Betty DeGeneres tells her story: the complicated path to acceptance and the deepening of her friendship with her daughter, the media's scrutiny of their family life, and the painful and often inspiring stories she's heard on the road as the first nongay spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign's National Coming Out Project.

Insightful, universally touching, and uncommonly wise, Love, Ellen is a story of friendship between mother and daughter and a lesson in understanding for all parents and their children.

Twenty years ago, during a walk on a Mississippi beach, Ellen DeGeneres spoke those simple, powerful words to her mother. That emotional moment eventually brought mother and daughter closer than ever, but not without a struggle. Coming from a republican family with conservative values, Betty needed time and education to understand her daughter's homosexuality -- but her ultimate acceptance would set the stage for a far more public coming out, one that would change history.

In Love, Ellen, Betty DeGeneres tells her story; the complicated path to acceptance and the deepening of her friendship with her daughter; the media's scrutiny of their family life; the painful and often inspiring stories she's heard on the road as the first non-gay spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaigns National Coming Out Project.

With a mother's love, clear minded common sense, and hard won wisdom, Betty DeGeneres offers up her own very personal memoir to help parents understand their gay children, and to help sons and daughters who have been rejected by their families feel less alone."Mom, I'm gay." With three little words, gay children can change their parents' lives forever. Yet at the same times it's a chance for those parents to realize nothing, really, has changed at all; same kid, same life, same bond of enduring love.

Twenty years ago, during a walk on a Mississippi beach, Ellen DeGeneres spoke those simple, powerful words to her mother. That emotional moment eventually brought mother and daughter closer than ever, but not without a struggle. Coming from a republican family with conservative values, Betty needed time and education to understand her daughter's homosexuality -- but her ultimate acceptance would set the stage for a far more public coming out, one that would change history.

In Love, Ellen, Betty DeGeneres tells her story; the complicated path to acceptance and the deepening of her friendship with her daughter; the media's scrutiny of their family life; the painful and often inspiring stories she's heard on the road as the first non-gay spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaigns National Coming Out Project.

With a mother's love, clear minded common sense, and hard won wisdom, Betty DeGeneres offers up her own very personal memoir to help parents understand their gay children, and to help sons and daughters who have been rejected by their families feel less alone. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Reassuring, uplifting thoughts from a mother who "knows"
As a recently "out" daughter I bought this book to understand what my family members are going through. Betty Degeneres is an inspiring role model for anyone concerned about tolerance in today's world. She delivers a message that many parents should be relieved to hear. Her love for her daughter is palpable, and expressed in a way that all parents of all children can relate to. A wonderful book for everyone. Bravo, Betty!

Acceptance Means Everything!
As a devoted fan of the Ellen show in the past, I loved this book for all of it's depth and meaning. Betty Degeneres tells of how it was first hard for her to accept Ellen as being gay, and then having to find a way to acceptance.

Betty DeGeneres tells in the book, about the media's scrutiny of their family life, and other stories which are inspiring, that she's heard on the road as the first nongay spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign.

It is also quite a story about their own family life. A very good read for anyone concerned about their child's sexual orientation, the coming out process, and reaching love and accptance.

A Mother's Love
Motherhood challenges all of us. It can be the most frustrating, exhilirating, terrifying and powerful experience any woman can undergo. Betty DeGenerous brings her experience of sharing the journey of her daughter, Ellen, to new heights with her positive, uplifting style. Regardless of the challenges we meet along the way, all mothers can learn from the humility, courage and openness of Betty DeGeneres to take what is given to us in this life and make the most of it. All relationships are hard work, and all are learning experiences. Betty Degeneres teaches well what she has learned. May we all learn so much from our children, and be so blessed.

Betty, please....
Betty, thanks for your inspiring book...I am still trying to convince my best friend to give it to her mom. If anything can save that woman, it's you and your message.

Go Betty
This is a powerful book about women. Focusing on Ellen's coming out, Betty DeGeneres gives her autobiography in a wonderful writing style. This is the memoir of a mother (twice over), woman, accidental spokesperson, cancer survivor, and supporter of gay rights. Betty is a strong woman, but as this book shows it took her many years to get where she is today. This book promotes acceptance, love, and understanding. I recommend it to both those who are coming out and to parents with gay children. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Porn-star-turned-performance-artist Annie Sprinkle presents an illustrated history of her 25-year career, documenting her transformation from ugly duckling to prostitute to porn queen to sexual healer, activist, and educator. Although she began as "an excruciatingly shy girl" selling popcorn at an adult theater showing Deep Throat, her playful and uninhibited nature was soon recognized. When the police closed the theater, she asked a spiritualist friend for a spell that might bring her a new job. "It was my first experience with witchcraft," Sprinkle recalls, "and I didn't really expect it to work. But did it ever! I hit the jackpot. Maybe it was just good luck, but a week later I was working as a prostitute." She was discovered by porn producers soon afterward and went on to make over 200 hardcore films before leaving the industry to develop her own public performances, the most famous of which was her "Public Cervix Announcement," in which she allowed audience members to view her interior using a speculum and a flashlight. Well-written, well-illustrated, and calmly outrageous, Post-Porn Modernist is a great introduction to an American original. --Regina Marler ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Of *course* she's smiling . . .
She's Annie Sprinkle! And she's done favulous work with this book. An autobiographical romp through the sex industry, Post-Porn Modernist is hilarious and touching. Most people (of those who have heard of her) think that Annie Sprinkle derived her nom-de-porn from her golden shower scenes in her early film, Deep Inside Annie Sprinkle, but Annie debunks that myth on page ten with her tribute to her namesake. It is, of course, wonderfully ironic that "Sprinkle" fits her career history so perfectly.

A mix of stories, photos and lists ("The Sprinkle Salon Guest Book," "101 Uses for Sex"), Post-Porn Modernist touches on a little of everything: the porn industry, AIDS, art, transexuality, burlesque. The section titled "Erotic Bible Reading" is especially fun. In it, Annie writes of such a reading she gave in which she read from the first book of Genesis. She says her personal favorite line was, "it was gooood."

Annie Sprinkle is a legend in the porn industry, and has used her experiences to further the lovely idea of sex positivity.

And it certainly is "gooooood."

A cool lady with a sharp wit
Having heard the likes of Cal Thomas and Senator Jessie Helms rally against her and then seeing her on Politically Incorrect and seeing how articulate and funny she is I can't recommend this book enough.

Why is it the funniest and brightest women are the ones who take calculated risks and are not afraid of their own raw sexuality?