Book Description

'I treat the narrative of the Lives as a kind of mirror...The experience is like nothing so much as spending time in their company and living with them: I receive and welcome each of them in turn as my guest.'

In the eight lives of this collection Plutarch introduces the reader to the major figures and periods of classical Rome.He portrays virtues to be emulated and vices to be avoided, but his purpose is also implicitly to educate and warn those in his own day whowielded power.In prose that is rich, elegant and sprinkled with learned references, he explores with an extraordinary degree of insight the interplay of character and political action. While drawing chiefly on historical sources, he brings to biography a natural story-teller's ear for a good anecdote. Throughout the ages Plutarch's Lives have been valued for their historical value and their charm.This new translation will introduce new generations to his urbane erudition. The most comprehensive selection available, it is accompanied by a lucid introduction, explanatory notes, bibliographies, maps and indexes. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good but not definitive anthology
This fine, well-edited translation would be THE translation to get for Plutarch's best Roman lives ... IF they had included the Life of Cicero. (Soldiers outweigh orators in the Oxford hierarchy.) As it is, the Penguin "Fall of the Roman Republic" anthology remains useful.

That said, Oxford has been kicking Penguin tail with its scholarly, up-to-date translations of classical texts. Penguin has been sprucing up its backlist some, but I always look for an Oxford first, if there is one.

please read this book
This is an excellent translation of a timeless classic. The notes are well done and thorough and the introduction is very helpful whether you are a scholarly type or an interested lay reader. The only qualm I have is that it was often hard to know when the action of each life took place. This is a minor glich, however, and does not hinder from the overall enjoyment of the work. The lives are biography, history, psychology, comedy, tragedy and farce all in one. Plutarch's narrative is brisk and never dull; he mixes anecdotes and interpretation deftly, but never forces the reader one way or the other. He is a masterful essayist and biographer and these works can be read repeatedly with enjoyment each time. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

A Gift in Words From A Living Legend
If you are a fan of the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, then this book is something you probably can't wait to read. If you are a poor soul who has never sat down and listened to "Live at Carnegie Hall"...well you'd better get busy. You have a lot of reading and listening to do, and I envy you for it. This book is simply beautiful to read. Mr. Clancy has the Irish way with words in the truest sense, and its a wonder he waited so long to begin a literary career (I always enjoyed his liner notes!) The story of his life and career is well worth reading to fans of his music and to fans of good memoir writing as well. Read this book and you will feel as though Mr. Clancy is speaking only to you. He evokes memories of family, home, and childhood with amazing grace and ease. In addition, be sure to get the reissue of his solo album "Liam Clancy" which is availble from this site. God bless the Clancy Brothers!

A Wonderful Book!
This book is the perfect example of True Celtic spirit; laugh at yourself, and never let anyone or anything keep you down. I would recommend this book to anyone. It's warm, insightful, humorous, and thought-provoking. Liam Clancy takes his readers gently by the hand and leads them through the highs and lows of his life. He shares everything from his early childhood memories to the beginning of his incredible musical career. Taking the advice of Shakespeare, he is indeed to his own self true. He's not afraid to face the good times or the bad. Like the man, his music, and his singing, this book is truly a treasure.

Insightful Biography
The Clancy Brothers albums opened by ears to traditional celtic music in the 60s, so it was a treat for me to read Liam Clancy's account of how the group evolved. The family background and his personal development as an student, actor and musician were very enjoyable reading.
If you liked Angela's Ashes, this will certainly appeal.

Publishers Weekly Award
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY AWARD

Audio: Listen Up Awards 2002Audio: Listen Up Awards 2002
By Lynn Andriani and Shannon Maughan -- 1/6/2003

NONFICTION

THE MOUNTAIN OF THE WOMEN: Memoirs of an Irish Troubadour by Liam Clancy, read by the author (Random House Audio). Irish folk musician Clancy masterfully recounts more than "40 years of acting, singing and great foolishness" with a powerful, melodic voice and guileless magnetism.

A Long Way from Tipperary
Liam Clancy portrays a poignant, honest, and sometimes irreverent portrait of the life of a young man growing up in the Ireland of the 40s and 50s. His prose is as lyrical as his music, sprinkled with laughter and pathos.

I read, and understood his struggle living in a country of which he said had one foot in the twentieth century and the other in the Middle Ages. From provincial Ireland to the fast pace of New York's Greenwich Village in an era of coffee houses, folk singers, booze and (Playboy) bunnies, the multi-talented Liam Clancy comes out a survivor, unapologetic and charming.

My only problem with this book is that it ended too soon.

Will we be treated to a sequel, Mr. Clancy? ... Read more

Book Description

Bugsy Siegel built Las Vegas, but it was Tony "The Ant" Spilotro who ran the show.Now William F. Roemer, Jr., veteran FBI agent and scourge of the Cosa Nostra, tells the shocking story of how a teenage wiseguy grew up to become "the man" in Vegas.From the gritty streets of Chicago to the neon-lit Nevada wonderland, Roemer assembles a rogue's gallery of the highest-ranking capos and the lowest creeps of organized crime.As incredible as any work of fiction -- but it's all fact!

... Read more

Reviews (28)

Where is Tony
I am a bit disappointed after reading this. William Roemer didn't convey much about Tony. I bought the book eager to read about 'the Ant' after watching /reading 'Casino' by N. Pileggi. However, there is very limted info about Tony and I feel William is deceiving the buyer by calling the book 'The Enforcer et. al.' He should have titled it something like, 'The Mob: Chicago and Las Vegas', as this is what he details. It is not a story about Tony Spilotro in comparison to other books like 'Underboss' or 'Wiseguy'. An example of how thin Roemer is on Tony, not even half way through the book he states 'this will be the last time I would deal with Tony'.
William also needs to look at the wrighting style of authors like Pileggi and Maas, who can back track through history from the current event without confusing the reader and making the story jump all over the place. For a better read of Tony Spilotro read 'Casino' by Nicholas Pileggi.

Spilotro ain't a nice guy
Tony Spilotro rose from the poor streets of Chicago to the glitzy strip of Las Vegas to end up face down in a shallow grave in Indiana,beaten viciously but buried alive,along with his brother.Quite a trip!Anyone interested in the mob,particularly the Chicago mob,will enjoy the stories and information in this book.Spilotro,although a big name gangster in Las Vegas,was basically a street thug,the kind of guy the bosses rely on to go out and intimidate,beat up,and kill people in order to collect money.Brought up in the mob by two of Chicago's most notoriously brutal hitmen,first "Mad" Sam DeStefano and then Felix Alderisio,it's small wonder Spilotro became what he did.Although some complain they didn't get a personal feel for Spilotro and what he was really like I say so what.The guy was a murderer,thief,and extortionist.By definition I'd say he wasn't too good of a guy.I did read where his son said toward his end Tony couldn't fall asleep unless he was resting his head in his son's lap.He knew he was going to reap what he had sown.Roemer's all over the place in this book but if you want to read about the real Chicago mob of the 1960's through the 80's and how they robbed Vegas blind,pick this up,as well as Casino.Most or at least some of you probably know in the movie Casino Joe Pesci was playing Tony Spilotro.

How do you get something like this published?
For this book to average three stars, Roemer must have written at least half of the reviews, himself. It is that bad.
The Enforcer is a written in a befuddled and awkward style that is makes following what story that there is here uninteresting and sometimes downright difficult to muddle through. And the subject of this book is hardly Anthony Spilotro! No, that may have actually been interesting. This book is really the self- aggrandizing autobiographical ramblings of William F. Roemer, who obviously considers himself to have been quite a interesting character in his day.
What is evident from the beginning of this poorly structured train wreck is that Roemer loves to talk about himself. He feels obligated to give the reader in depth accounts of his personal life and career accomplishments -even those that have nothing at all to do with the story. He's also fond of dropping as many famous names as he can along the way. I can only assume this is an attempt on his part to make himself appear to have been a real "player" in Vegas. But he comes across as being more pompous than significant.
If there is a good book out there about Spilotro, I would enjoy reading it. But the reader will get little information about this mob-connected psychopath reading Roemer's book. About half way through, I actually put my copy beside my bed on my nightstand and when I had trouble sleeping, I'd read a couple of pages. In fact, for insomniacs it's probably a good buy. I know I personally was never be able to read more than four or five pages before nodding off.

Roemer Love Fest
Aside from this book and Pileggi's Casino, there isn't much that deals directly with the Chicago mob's foothold in Vegas and the man who kept people in line, Tony 'The Ant' Spilotro. (In Casino, Joe Pesci played a character closely based on Spilotro.)

The problem with this book is that it's misleading from the start. This book is not really about Spilotro all that much. Bill Roemer penned Man Against the Mob and then his ego must have really swelled. Roemer spends a good portion of this book talking about himself. When he's not reminding the reader that he's brave, courageous, strong, a lawyer, a former boxer at Notre Dame, and an all around good person, he name drops about a thousand other law enforcement people involved in taking down mobsters. It makes you wonder about the ridiculous amount of money and resources dedicated to busting the Mafia; meanwhile, a guy like Spilotro managed to stay out of jail for a good portion of the time he was muscling Vegas.

Roemer didn't know Spilotro all that much. He admits this, and yet his book just goes on and on. He only met Spilotro a couple of times, and Roemer reminds us that he's so brave that he wasn't afraid of 'The Ant', a nickname that Roemer is proud he helped coin.

If you're interested in the story behind Casino, book and film, then this will be of interest. It has a few insights into some of the other characters, but there isn't enough about Spilotro, who must have been a bit more complex than Roemer thinks if the guy had the kind of street power he did in Las Vegas.

While Pileggi's Casino is a bit too Lefty Rosenthal-centric, The Enforcer is a bit too much Roemer to handle at times.

Knew Tony personally for over 25 years
My sister is married to one of Tony's brothers. I knew him from the time I was about 14 years old. Mr. Roemer is a joke. I do enjoy reading various books to see how he is portrayed. Due to the laws of omerta (silence) I am unable to write my own account but have written my story concerning how our lives intertwined. Each memory is in the form of a story and so far it appears to be informative and amusing. Sadly though, the only ones that will ever get to view it are my children and later my grandchildren. Writing is a hobby of mine and it is something to leave my family once I am gone. I hope you enjoyed hearing from me. My last statement is that I want you all to realize that the movie Casino was not the Anthony Spilotre story, but the Frank Rosenthal tribute to himself. Very little of the show was accurate and my husband was smart enough to take me to the outdoor theatre, so that when I viewed it, my shouting would not disturb the other patrons. I did find it interesting, however. Keep in mind as you read these books, take it all with a grain of salt. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Much needed and long overdue, this reference work gathers the life stories of more than 600 Native Americans. Many of them, like Tecumseh and Crazy Horse, are familiar; many others, from Abomazine to Honayawas to Zotom, are less well known, and their histories are uniformly fascinating. Among other things, you'll learn that Geronimo was a devoted baseball player; that a thriving Indian slave market existed in Los Angeles after the Civil War; and that Crispus Attucks was not only the first African American to die in the American Revolution but was also the first American Indian to do so, for Attucks's mother was a Massachuset. One test of a good encyclopedia is whether it bears reading from start to finish, and this passes with distinction. ... Read more

Book Description

Medical technology meets rural values of simplicity, home health remedies,and unwavering faith in divine providence when a country boy turned country doctor returns to his roots. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Three fascinating lives
Davis takes the reader deep into the lives of three quite different European women of the 1600s, showing how they courageously face family and career challenges. Each story is amazing. Catholic widow Marie Guyart goes to the wilderness of Canada to help found the Quebec branch of the Ursuline teaching order. Jewish mother of 14 children, Glikl von Hameln is a successful business woman, both as her husband's chief assistant and as a widow. Divorced Protestant Maria Merian supports herself and her daughters through her engravings based on her own ecological observations of caterpillars native to Europe and northern South America. I particularly enjoyed learning about Merian because I have been impressed by her elegant work which I have seen in a number of museums including the National Museum of Woman in the Arts in Washington, D.C. ... Read more

Book Description

In Life in the Pinball Machine, one of the most influential people in training and performance improvement shares the experiences that shaped his ideas about human performance and behavior. With his characteristic humor and unique perspective, Robert F. Mager shares his revelations about how people work, how people learn, and the world in general.

Follow along as Mager reveals the experiences that led to the CRI methodology, more than ten books, and a mind-boggling and unusual array of talents and hobbies. Whether becoming a ventriloquist, riding a unicycle, or playing the banjo, Mager embraces the experience and challenges of learning and wakes up the student in us all. Life in the Pinball Machine is the story behind the story of the books, workshops, and ideas. It is the humorous and surprising account of a life spent learning. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The best explanation of our field from one of the Master's
For years I have looked for a credible book that traced the lineage of human and organizational performance improvement. All others had biases and lapses. This book written by one of the Masters who helped define and develop this field has written the best account of our lineage I have ever seen. It is beautifully written--clear, concise, accurate, and human--and meets (no, exceeds) my expectations.

It is a must for any student (senior or starting) in our field.

Essential reading
Although I selected Dr. Mager from all of the experts in the early 1960's to work with a major management consulting firm to introduce programmed instruction into European countries, and have stayed in touch since then, I learned more about him and his genius as I turned each page of this book.It is essential reading for everyone in the fields of education, training and management. ... Read more

Book Description

His father is a white trapper, his mother an Athabascan Indian who walks a thousand miles in winter to reunite with her family. Thus, Jimmy Huntington learns early how to survive on the land. When his mother dies, Huntington-at age seven-must care for his younger siblings.

A courageous and inspiring man, Huntington hunts wolves, fights bears, survives close calls too numerous to mention, and becomes a championship sled-dog racer.

On the Edge of Nowhere is an enduring Alaska classic, still "tingling with excitement." Jimmy Huntington's memoir is being republished in a handsome new third edition to which photographs have been added.

Lawrence Elliott, who has written several books and numerous magazine articles, was Reader's Digest correspondent for Alaska and western Canada when this story was written in the mid-1960s. Elliott now lives in France.

". . . Funny, wildly exciting, and heartbreaking . . . a wonderful reading experience." -Publishers Weekly

"One afternoon, we heard a great rumble upriver. It was an angry sound, like thunder rolling at you out of the sky. Dad and old Charlie, who knew right away what it was, ran for the bank, and Sidney and I followed. Half a mile up the river, a blue-white wall of ice had been shoved fifty feet out of the water, massive chunks under terrific pressure, groaning against one another as they were forced up from a winter-long lock on the river. The ice was going out, and it was going fast.

"'Get everything out of the cabin,' Dad said sharply. 'Put what you can on the roof. Put the rest in the cache.' Even as we worked, the ice came thundering down the river, reaching high above our heads, and geysers of water shot up over the bank. We knew we were in for it. . . . Then the ice jammed up just below the cabin, a heaving dam building from bank to bank, and the river came tearing over the land in a wild rush. 'Into the boat!' Dad yelled." -from ON THE EDGE OF NOWHERE ... Read more

Reviews (7)

An inspiring, awesome true tale of adventure
Considering the few reviews this book has received, and the long wait to get the book if you order it (one-two months as of now), I have to say this is a very overlooked book. If it had the right marketing and promotions I could easily see it becoming a bestseller. If you like true life adventure, than this book is for you. The first chapter is about Jim's mother's 1000 mile trek on foot by herself from Nome to her home to be with her children. Her incredible spirit and drive is so inspiring--you have to keep reminding yourself this is a true story. If it wasn't, you would never believe it. Jim's story of his own life is just as captivating. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure, true stories, tales of Alaska and frankly, anyone who likes to read!

Order the book now and even if it takes two months to arrive, it will be a treat when it does.

GREAT Story!!
I am a storyteller in Fort Worth Texas and found this book absolutely facinating. Wonderfully and simply written in the voice of Jim Huntington. I used the story recently at a Library that was focusing on Alaska of Jim's brush with the wolves and the kids loved it. I noticed in the other reviews that a relative of Mr. Huntington had left a review of the book, Martha S. Barker. I would love to talk to Mr.s Barker about Jim. If she would contact me at storymantales@hotmail.com I would be honored. It's an adventure from beginning to end and a wondrful personal story, Worth the time.

Great reading
Jim is my uncle and unfortunately he passed away a several years ago; I didn't know him as well as I would have liked but heard much about him from my mother. Sidney, Jimmy's brother; wrote "Shadows on the Koyukuk" an Alaskan Native's Life along the River by Sidney Huntington as told to Jim Rearden (you'll note he also did Jimmy's book as well); Alaska Northwest Books. another 5 star book and not just because they are relatives; you'll find this when you read them yourself.

On The Edge of Nowhere
This is one of the best books I've ever read. It is one that you will want to read over and over and you will never feel as though you have read it before. Full of real life adventure in the native bush. Wonderfully written.

Best book I've read in years.
I actually heard of this book shortly after it was written in 1969 when I was stationed in Galena Air Force Station, Alaska in 1971. However, I never did get a chance to read it then, forgot about it and eventually found an original copy of it in an old book store. It brought back memories of my one year at Galena and decided I had to buy it. Boy, I could not put this book down and read it every spare moment. I had even read it at stop lights (not recommended)while driving to work. The endurance and hardships Jim and the peoples of Alaska had at that time in history was incredible. Makes our silly problems seem so trivial. I did briefly meet Sydney Huntington dury my stay in Galena, I just wished I'd had a chance to meet his brother Jim. I too wonder if they are still around, they would be in their eightys by now. Great book, I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Book Description

The opening essay of this Companion provides a chronologically organized introduction to and summary of Nietzsche's published works, while also providing an overview of their basic themes and concerns.It is followed by three essays on the appropriation and misappropriation of his writings, and a group of essays exploring the nature of Nietzsche's philosophy and its relation to the modern and postmodern world.The final contributions consider Nietzsche's influence on the twentieth century in Europe, the United States and Asia. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

nothin much here
This is like the other cambridge companions: it is not a reference work, is not thorough, is not authoritative nor objective. This is a collection of essays tending toward the highly speculative, each around 50 pages in length. They range from the silly to the ok, and none are very impressive. The cambridge companion series is misleadingly titled. They cater to narrow interests, not to the general public. Students who need a basic understanding of Nietzsche before they start delving into special topics will find almost no assistance here. Most of the material is of the professorial, specialized, not-generally-interesting variety.

Cambridge Companion to Nietzsche
I felt that this Cambridge Companion was extremely well written and provides an inquisitive and responsible look at Nietzsches works. It provides a rational and judicious insight into Nietzsches philosophical writtings, as well as his personal life, allowing the reader to further understand this often times misrepresented philosopher. Any Cambridge Companion is a must for an individual who is interested in a deep study of a philosopher for it acts as a teacher; guiding the student through difficult passages and texts. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Excellent Source of Information on Confederate Generals!
I remember first reading Generals in Gray as a teenager and have often referred back to the book over the years.

Warner gives a synopsis of each general , usually containing the following information:

1. Birthplace and birthdate.
2. Pre-Civil War life.
3. Battles served in, promotions, woundings, death (if applicable).
4. Postwar career (if he survived the war).
5. Death and place burial.
6. Brief mention of the general's competency (or lack thereof).
7. Relationships with other generals (superior, subordinate).

I have often found the book to be extremely helpful when reading a book on a particular Civil War battle. Doing so helps me to better understand the general when studying a particular battle.

Whether you have a serious interest in the Civil War or a novice, I highly recommend the book as an excellent reference!

Excellent reference book
Warner does an excellent job in giving short biographies on all 425 Confederate generals, including a picture of each general. An excellent reference guide and a must have for your Civil War library.

A must have reference work
If you have even an ancillary interest in the American Civil War, this is essential to read and to own. I consult my copy on a weekly basis and I've owned it for twenty years. Warner writes well and succinctly about all of the Confederate Generals. Each biography is accompanied by a single photograph of the subject. The book is like a large biographical dictionary, easy to navigate and peruse at your leisure. If you are interested in in-depth material on any of these Generals, it's best to consult an individual biography of your chosen favorite. But if you have a casual interest or merely want an essential reference tool, this is a "must have."

Many historians have compiled lists of the most influential and indispensable civil war books of the 20th century. Invariably, Warner's book is included, along with the companion volume on Union Generals. It's not fancy, but it remains one of the preeminent biographical tools for any civil war historian.

An essential reference to any Civil War Enthusiast
This is a must have book that outlines each Confederate General who fought in the Civil War. From their beginning to the end of their life, each General of the Confederacy is listed, as well as their picture. From the great and popular Generals such as Robert E. Lee, Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson to more obscure generals such as Francis Nicholls and Paul Octave Hebert, each of these are analyzed and given honest treatment to their conduct and bravery during the Civil War. This is a defifite MUST have to any Civil War Historian, Librarian or enthusiast. Highly Recommended!

GENERALS IN GRAY -- LIVES OF THE CONFEDERATE COMMANDERS
Generals in Gray -- Lives of Confederate Commaders. Published by Louisiana State University(1959) Ezra J. Warner gives biographical information on all 425 Confederate Generals.He gives facts about service in the -- Old Army-- and reasons why men followed the Lost Cause. This book along with Generals in Blue -- Lives of Union Commanders has excellent scholarship.Generals in Gray is a library must for buffs of the War Between the States.Mr. Warner died in 1974 ... Read more

Book Description

Foreward byMaya Angelou STC is proud to celebrate the tenth anniversary of I Dream A World with this completely revised and updated paperback edition that charts the achievements of a remarkable group of African-American women and their continued impact on the world.

First published in 1989, I Dream A World, a collection of 75 portraits, has been an enormous success, selling more than 450,000 copies and becoming a landmark in publishing history. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

It encourages one's own dreams!
I Dream a World is inspiring in its beautiful photography and the brief stories it shares about the women in the pictures.While it touches on their life stories, this book shares these women's thoughts.That is what draws me closer to this book each time I open it.The women inside, and the book itself, will make you think about your dreams and encourage you to work towards them.

No matter what your race or gender, give this book to anyone who needs encouragement.I especially enjoy recommending this book to young women who can learn a lot from the women within its pages.

Most Excellent
I DREAM A WORLD is a most excellent book.The photographs of the women are like portraits of their souls.What makes this book so wonderful is that each woman's story is told in her own words.This is more of the real history.Everyone should read this book because it is not only black history or women's history, it is American history.

A Complete Insiration
I truly love this peice. Not only is this book Quite inspiring it is very informative and based on the history of this country. I am trying to find a way to get contact with this photographer? if any on has information on an e-mail address or a residing address that would allow me to rite Brian Lanker, I would love for them to contact me. thank for your help! (he is related to me.)

Tamara Michele Saenz

I LOVE this book.I saw it on a commercial.
I saw this book on a commercial to help educate our black women, so I searched all over the place for this book and finally found it in a library in Texas.I looked over it and immediately decided that I was going topurchase it.It is extremely inspiring and my goal in life is to appear inone of the next additions of the book.

Sincerely, LaShanda Renee Conner

ONE OF THE MOST INSPIRING BOOKS THAT I HAVE EVERY BOUGHT.
I have given this book as a gift several times to other women, to men, to blacks and to whites.Each recipient has raved about the inspiring women who are the subject of this wonderful book ... Read more

Book Description

This month-by-month chronology offers fascinating insight into the life of this most charismatic of jazz musicians. ... Read more

Book Description

One of the most dynamic figures of the entertainment industry, Fred Astaire's career spanned most of the twentieth century. For some, he brings to mind the world of Broadway. For others, he represents the golden age of the movie musical. But virtually all of his fans will long remember his effortlessly graceful dance routines. International dance giants have credited his work with inspiring their careers and with giving them a model of excellence. This reference book is a complete guide to Astaire's legendary career. The volume includes a short biography, followed by chapters devoted to his work in stage, film, radio, and television. each of these chapters contains entries for specific performances, with entries providing plot synopses, cast and credits, critical commentary, and excerpts from reviews. An annotated bibliography concludes the volume. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Essential reading for the true Fred fanatic
This book is a treasure house of information, packed with tidbits and anecdotes that will have you reading for hours when you only meant to look up just that one bit of info. The author pulls it off with style in a readable format that makes fascinating going out of what could have been just a laundry list of dates. His passion for the subject, and joy in sharing it, shines through on every page. I was intially put off by the high price myself until I had a chance to look at a copy, and I realized that it was worth every penny, not to mention every minute of painstaking research that went into it.

The Best of All the Astaire Books
This book was recommended to me by Fred Astaire's daughter, who described it as "wonderful." I found it to be all of that and more. The author knew Mr. Astaire personally and made extensive use of the Astaires' papers (both Fred's and and his sister's) that are preserved at Boston University. The book covers the full gamut of Astaire's life and career, including vaudeville, stage, films, radio, recordings, and television. Insightful and meticulously researched, this is a "must have" for any admirer of the man who has been described as "the greatest musical perfomer in the history of motion pictures" and "the premier American dancer of the Twentieth Century."

A must for Astaire fans!
Let me start off by saying that this book is for serious Astaire fans only. If you have seen only one movie of Fred's, enjoyed it and wish to know more about the man, I suggest "Steps In Time". However, if you've seen most of his movies, listened to his music, watched his tv shows, and still want to know more than this book is invaluable. Billman covers all aspects of Fred's work. Each chapter is devoted to a different facet of Fred's career: filmography, radio, television, discography, etc. While giving the facts, Billman also mentions interesting anecdotes about Astaire that give you a glimpse at his character. Its definitely not "clinical" by just saying "Fred did this movie this year with this costar and this director". He does give that information but also mentions any difficulties with dances, how certain things were done, any problems with costars. He also includes a short biography of Fred, short because chances are if you're reading the book in the first place you're already familiar with Fred's life. I've found myself using it several times to check dates, supporting actors, and as a sort of checklist for my Fred collection. I highly recommend it even if it is rather expensive.

For Very Serious Fred Astaire Fans
I believe Larry Billman's "Fred Astaire" is the most comprehensive reference source on Fred Astaire ever printed. The other seven Fred biographies that I own pale by comparison, and only Fred's autobiography is more enjoyable. Anything anyone wants to know about Fred's stage, film, radio, television, recording, and songwriting careers is in this book - cross referenced! In addition, the book offers behind-the-scenes/backstage peeks, comments, anecdotes, interviews, etc. that illuminate Fred's character and personality. This book is highly recommended for very serious Fred fans. ... Read more

Book Description

One of art's purest challenges is to translate a human being into words. The New Yorker has met this challenge more successfully and more originally than any other modern American journal. It has indelibly shaped the genre known as the Profile. Starting with light-fantastic evocations of glamorous and idiosyncratic figures of the twenties and thirties, such as Henry Luce and Isadora Duncan, and continuing to the present, with complex pictures of such contemporaries as Mikhail Baryshnikov and Richard Pryor, this collection of New Yorker Profiles presents readers with a portrait gallery of some of the most prominent figures of the twentieth century. These Profiles are literary-journalistic investigations into character and accomplishment, motive and madness, beauty and ugliness, and are unrivalled in their range, their variety of style, and their embrace of humanity.


... Read more

Reviews (10)

For All You People Watchers
You have heard of the obnoxious person who, upon meeting a biographer who has given up the last 25 years of his life to write the definitive biography of say Queen Elizabeth II, asks, "Now tell me, what's she REALLY like??" Friends, I am that person, which is one reason I always find New Yorker Profiles an unalloyed delight. Rightly or wrongly, I always believe I am getting the real insider stuff.

David Remnick makes thoughtful selections in this anthology. He has covered a time period from the '30s to the present, some very famous people and some you have never heard of, and the same is true for the authors of the Profiles. I fully intended to make a leisurely tour through the book, picking and choosing a Profile here and there for a short read. Once I read the very first one, Joe Mitchell's "Mr. Hunter's Grave," I was hooked and read the whole book from start to finish. So much for leisurely reading!

It is hopeless to attempt to select a favorite; all have their own merits. I was particularly fascinated by Truman Capote's insightful piece on Marlon Brando. Capote's flamboyant personality frequently overshadows his tremendous skills as an interpretive writer. Jean Acocella's study of Mikhail Baryshnikov is an excellent in-depth study of both the man and the artist. John Lahr's Profile on Roseanne is almost scary (or at least Roseanne is!) Joe Mitchell's, "Mr. Hunter's Grave" is so beautifully rendered you can understand why The New Yorker never took him off salary even after Joe suffered the granddaddy of all writer's blocks; he didn't submit an article for fourteen years! The New Yorker always said Joe had a "work in progress."

"Life Stories" is worth it at twice the price. Some of these profiles are unobtainable (unless you have a roomful of old New Yorkers). This is a book you will go back to again and again.

An outstanding collection of profiles.
It's easy, I suppose, to knock 'The New Yorker' as effete and self-satisfied. Certainly its left-wing bias looks a bit strange surrounded by all those ads for expensive imported whisky and porcelain figures. This book demonstrates, however, that for seventy-five years the magazine has been turning out splendid profiles of a very disparate group of people. And, what's even more important, they're written so beautifully. Even an oddball piece like Ian Frazier's 'Nobody Better, Better than Nobody' is lucid and full of fine sentences. Every one of the profiles in this book has something to recommend it. You needn't admire or be familiar with the subject of the profile. I harbour an intense dislike for Roseanne Barr, for example, but John Lahr's profile of her had me enthralled; and I enjoyed Roger Angell's piece on Steve Blatt, despite my never having seen a baseball game. David Remnick states in his introduction that he gave pride of place to Joseph Mitchell's 'Mister Hunter's Grave', and that's understandable: it's a masterpiece. But Richard Preston's long story about the Chudnovsky brothers and their search for pi, or Mark Singer's tale of the amazing sleight-of-hand artist Ricky Jay, would distinguish any anthology. I think that Remnick could easily compile another volume as strong, and I hope he does so in the future -- he should include something by himself next time.

Delightful and Revealing Profiles
Hemingway, Baryishnikov, and Henry Luce are the subjects of some of my favorite celebrity profiles in this wonderful book. But topping my list is "Man Goes to See a Doctor", the awesome Adam Gopnik's sweet and funny rendering of his shrink. Here's a snippet: "Your problems remind me of" - and here he named one of the heroes of the New York School. "Fortunately, you suffer from neither impotence nor alcoholism. This is in your favor." Highly recommended!

"Life Stories" Hit the Mark
This is a compilation of some of the best Profiles to appear in the New Yorker over the last 80 years. Sometimes you will be familiar with the person being profiled, sometimes not, but in all cases you will find the stories entertaining and the writing, superb.

My favorite Profile happens to be of one of the non-famous persons, George H. Hunter ("Mr. Hunter's Grave," by Joseph Mitchell). It is a story not so much about a person but of a long-forgotten community, and a way of life. Despite being the longest entry in the audio collection, I rewound the tape three or four times to listen to it again and again - it was that good.

Some of the celebrity stories are just as compelling, although, being celebrities, many aspects of their lives are already well known. But this sometimes opened a window into foreshadowing that could not have been appreciated by the reader (or even the writer) at the time the piece was done. One example of this concerns Ernest Hemingway ("How Do You Like It Now, Gentlemen?", by Lillian Ross). Hidden somewhere in the middle of the Profile, Ross mentions the fact that Hemingway's father had committed suicide. This had no major relation to the story in general, and was probably forgotten by most readers at the time, but we have the perspective of history. And it becomes more than just a tidbit when we realize that Hemingway, too, committed suicide 10 years later, in 1961.

Another eyebrow-raising instance came when hearing about Marlon Brando ("The Duke In His Domain," by Truman Capote). Capote was on location with Brando in Japan as Brando was taking part in the filming of "Sayonara." Brando at one point confesses to Capote that he had to lose weight for the part, and that he wasn't there yet. He still had 10-15 pounds to go. Despite this, the dinners delivered to Brando's hotel room are not those of one looking to cut down; to the contrary, Brando could only gain weight eating the food being sent up to him! Hearing Brando fuss about what he should and should not eat and Capote take note of the rich foods on the tray, it almost seems fake, as if Capote knew how Brando was going to end up. But, of course, he didn't. The story was written in 1957!

But what makes this collection great, though, is the quality of the writing itself. It matters not the subject: actor, comedian, dancer, writer, boxer, even a dog! The common thread running through all the Profiles is the way in which each story is told. Always lucid, always interesting, the stories are less stories and more like works of art.

If you enjoy exceptional writing, this collection is for you. Highly recommended. Five stars.

"The Noooo Yawkuh" George W. Bush, campaign 2000
The well-known New Yorker writer, Nicholas Lehman's profile of George W. Bush on the campaign trail would be an atmospheric, perhaps poignant look at the country previous to the Supreme Court decision and 9/11, except for one thing. On the campaign bus, Bush came up to Lehman and said, "So who you writin' this piece for Nicky?" - (NICKY?) Lehman answered, with the name that Bush already knew. And Bush replies, "The Noooo Yawkuh, don't see why any of those readers would be interested in me." That, no matter what your political viewpoint or opinion about the magazine and its readers may be, is an indicator of the power of the magazine via its writing. The authors of the selected pieces are sometimes the primary reason to read the article. Perhaps the most famous example is Capote writing on Brando making Mitchener's Sayonara, an impossible thing to imagine today. The grandiosity of Brando doing something that he would no doubt later be ashamed of is not lost over time. Capote always boasted of his ability to keep himself out of an interview, something that I found amazingly untrue and part of his attraction. In this case, he managed to find the comedy in the Japanese girls calling, "Marron" while remaining deferential to the star. Capote innocently notes every plate of high calorie food consumed like Henry VIII and the serious tone Brando took about his own artistic endeavors. The result was that upon reading the article, Brando vowed to kill the author. Every reader will find their particular famous people who are no longer interesting, and that itself is instructive. For me, those were Johnny Carson, an early Roseanne, Baryshnikov and perhaps sadly, Al Gore. Others, eternally fresh are Isadora Duncan, Richard Pryor and Ernest Hemingway drinking champagne with Dietrich, who was passing around pictures of her grandchild. Papa mentioned that he'd like to see a Dietrich grandson in the ring.
The best, I think most New Yorker fans will agree are the otherwise unknowns, sometimes to everyone, and sometimes just to you. These are those pieces that seem to bring on Buddha-like powers of concentration where time stops and you can't account for the hours, the stuff's been so good. The pieces that will be the most deeply memorable for me are, "Mr. Hunter's
Grave," a 1956 favorite of David Remnick, the editor who placed it first. It's about a lost, secret community of black Oystermen and a mystery solved in graveyard fashion. There are the `Chudnovsky Brothers' and their entire apartment and life spent studying Pi, A piece of Henry Luce that was a savage, sarcastic and hilariously wicked perspective that quite naturally infuriated the tyrant. Nancy Franklin's profile on the infamous Katherine White was an unexpected source of female pride, without the attachment of doctrinaire feminism.
This is a sure thing for future journalists with an interest in the ubiquitous personality piece. Plenty here for those that may aspire beyond People Magazine but still can't quench the thirst for celebrity. For readers just seeking a good read however, it is a promise that life abounds with intriguing characters, subject of course to the eye and the voice of the finest
No matter the proportion of those who deplored reading a campaign piece about the future president, he managed to spark our interest once he shared his opinion about us. ... Read more

Book Description

In 1762 James Boswell, then twenty-two years old, left Edinburgh for London. The famous Journal he kept during the next nine months is an intimate account of his encounters with the high-life and the low-life in London. Frank and confessional as a personal portrait of the young Boswell, the Journal is also revealing as a vivid portrayal of life in eighteenth-century London. This new edition includes an introduction by Peter Ackroyd, which discusses Boswell's life and achievement. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Where's the video?
Tired of all those solemn "memoirs" and "remembrances" that are on the library shelves? Well, this one will knock your socks off!
If Boswell were alive today and using videotape instead of a quill pen, the talk shows would have him as their constant guest.

I'm not sure if I'd want to have known him, but this lecher, alcoholic, and moocher had a keen eye for London high- and low-life that will keep you hanging on every page.

Pure delight
To anyone who, like myself, has found a real and deep enjoyment in reading the Life of Johnson, I can only recommend Boswell's own diaries. The first volume - his 'London Journal' starting in the year he met Johnson - is pure delight. Boswell always saw himself as a character acting in the drama of life, and he could be almost excruciatingly honest and objective about himself. His voluminous diaries record all the trivia, triumphs, and despairs of his own life, day by day and year by year.

My own opinion is that Boswell is a far better diarist than Pepys, though not nearly as well known in this respect. There is a fascination about seeing his whole life recorded from youth to shortly before his death, with all the same force and liveliness that went into his Life of Johnson. His inner life is at least as entertaining as his outer life. He seems totally determined to write about himself as he wrote about Johnson - warts and all.

It's this courage and honesty about himself that makes us respect Boswell even when he is at his most foolish or debauched. The diaries make it extremely clear that he was no idiot, and that the Life of Johnson was no fortuitous masterpiece. From his diaries he comes across as a deeply sensitive, romantic, self-conscious man. Charming, likeable, and often playing the clown to his acquaintances; but often filled with self-doubt, frustration, insecurity, and a deep depression that he concealed from all except his closest friends.

We see Boswell puffed up with vanity at some silly social success, and the same Boswell quietly devoting large amounts of time and money that he could ill spare to helping people in trouble. We see Boswell in love again and again with totally unsuitable women, and eventually marrying the cousin who had always been a good, close friend rather than an object of wild romance. We see Boswell in his vibrant youth, and his tragic final years, as an alcoholic filled with bitter shame and despair, yet unable to reform.

His diaries are certainly one of the great undiscovered treasures of literature. They deserve to be a lot better known than they are.

A timeless classic
It has been quite awhile since I have read this book but and can remember few details. What sticks in the mind is the complete humanity displayed by its author. Frankly, Boswell is unlikable and hardly to be admired but his passion and candidness make this book very readable today. Not many tomes from this era can make this claim. It is a must read for both those interested in Johnson and those students of the human condition.

Why is the rest out of print?
Here's a Boswell diary entry. 'Good heavens, what a loose did we give to amorous dalliance! ...In a moment I felt myself animated with the strongest power of love, and, from my dearest creature's kindness, had a most luscious feast. Proud of my godlike vigour, I soon resumed the noble game. I was in full glow of health. Sobriety had preserved me from effeminacy and weakness, and my bounding blood beat quick and high alarms. A more voluptuous night I never enjoyed. Five times I was fairly lost in supreme rapture... Louisa had an exquisite mixture of delicacy and wantonness that made me enjoy her with more relish. Indeed I could not help roving in fancy to the embraces of some other ladies which my lively imagination strongly pictured. I don't know if that was altogether fair... I have painted this night as well as I could. The description is faint; but I surely may be styled a Man of Pleasure.' (12 January 1763) Indeed. Get hold of this book immediately.

Often funny and always honest
James Boswell (author of the Life of Samuel Johnson) was about 22 when he arrived in London in 1762. His journal, even by today's standards, is remarkably uninhibited. Boswell loves describing everything--from his elicit love affair with an actress to the bout of venereal disease he contracted as a result; from his strained relationship with his father to his rather clingy relationship with Johnson. Oftentimes, I found myself a bit disenchanted with Boswell as a person(he seems to embody so many human weaknesses)--but he is a remarkable relator of events, characters, conversations, and situations. ... Read more

Book Description

Georgia on My Mind, Rockin' Chair, Skylark, Lazybones, and of course the incomparable Star Dust--who else could have composed these classic American songs but Hoagy Carmichael? He remains, for millions, the voice of heartland America, eternal counterpoint to the urban sensibility of Cole Porter and George Gershwin. Now, trumpeter and historian Richard M. Sudhalter has penned the first book-length biography of the man Alec Wilder hailed as "the most talented, inventive, sophisticated and jazz-oriented of all the great songwriters--the greatest of the great craftsmen." Stardust Melody follows Carmichael from his roaring-twenties Indiana youth to bandstands and recording studios across the nation, playing piano and singing alongside jazz greats Jack Teagarden, Benny Goodman, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, and close friends Bix Beiderbecke and Louis Armstrong. It illuminates his peak Hollywood years, starring in such films as To Have and Have Not and The Best Years of Our Lives, and on radio, records and TV.With compassionate insight Sudhalter depicts Hoagy's triumphs and tragedies, and his mounting despair as rock-and-roll drowns out and lays waste to the last days of a brilliant career. With an insider's clarity Sudhalter explores the songs themselves, still fresh and appealing while reminding us of our innocent American yesterdays. Drawing on Carmichael's private papers and on interviews with family, friends and colleagues, he reveals that "The Old Music Master" was almost as gifted a wordsmith as a shaper of melodies. In all, Stardust Melody offers a richly textured portrait of one of our greatest musical figures, an inspiring American icon. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Sudhalter does it again
We owe Richard Sudhalter for preserving the often-forgotten history of America's early jazz pioneers and composers. His subjects are white musicians, but he doesn't write about them with a nasty political agenda. He just doesn't want their contributions to be forgotten. Along the way, he pays warm tribute to the black musicians who led the musical revolution. Unfortunately, politically-charged reviewers refuse to see this.
I especially love this Sudhalter work. Sadly, Hoagy is becoming a forgotten genius of American song. Duke Ellington once called him America's greatest songwriter, and Sudhalter goes a long way in providing the evidence to such a claim. I especially enjoyed the focus on Hoagy's home state of Indiana, which was an amazing hotbed for jazz in the 1920s. One should take this book and drive around Bloomington, Indiana, and find all of the haunts described in rich detail by Sudhalter. Then go to Indianapolis, and Richmond, Indiana. Sudhalter really did us all a huge favor in providing such a wonderful document.

Who really wrote Star Dust?
Hoagy Carmichael's college roommate, Hank Wells, claimed all his life that Hoagy, consciously or subcon- scioujsly, stole Star Dust from him. People in his home- town of Lake Bluff, Ill., said that this "broke his heart." Wells visited back and forth with the parents of a friend of mine, and she personally heard him tell this story. He played piano at her wedding..
I have read Hoagy's own words about Star Dust quoted in a book and they are cryptic. He does indeed imply that the song came out of nowhere into his mind.
Two facts: (a) What if a man wrote one great song that was unusual and never wrote another? Why is that?
(b) Why could one man write such a great song and then
never equal or exceed it in his long writing career. Why?
Only one set of facts fits that scenario. Hank Wells, heartbroken, never wrote again. Hoagy couldn't write anything so good on his own.

CCarf

Accurate, well written
My father, Bud Dant, is prominently featured in this book, as a man who helped Hoagy write down Stardust and I grew up hearing about the stories and now here they all are in a book...not just a book, but what I know is an extremely accurate and real account of Hoagy's life...the writing is terrific and Richard's obvious love of the music and times shows in his accounts...I know for a fact he researched this material exhaustively...it shows! It pretty much dwarfs all other books on Hoagy.

AN EXTRAORDINARILY TALENTED SONGSMITH
Whatta life! From poverty to great wealth based on musical talent of creating songs as well as a wonderful actor. He had many highlights writing songs and acting but after rock & roll took over the musical scene his talents went for nothing as no youth were interested.

Mr. Sudhalter covers Hoagy's entire life and an interesting one it was. The writing in many places is of a "text book" nature, but the content of relating Hoagy's life puts the reader in the center of life as it existed in the 20's through the 60's. Apparently Hoagy's type of music is gone forever which is a loss without question. New generations continue on and what was usually stays behind as merely history. ... Read more

Book Description

Cuban American artist Ana Mendieta was working on many important projects that were left incomplete at the time of her tragic death in 1985 at age 36. Among these was a beautiful book of photo etchings of her carvings of female figures in remote caves on the outskirts of Havana, Cuba. These sculptures were inspired by the myths and beliefs of the Tainos, preColumbian inhabitants of the West Indies. This publication reproduces in facsimile Mendieta's unfinished book of photo etchings and related works and publishes, for the first time, her notes and writings for this important project.

Mencdieta's work crosses the categories of earth art,body art,performance and conceptual photography. As her works generally were site specific and ephemeral,they became know primarily through the photographic documentation she exhibited in galleries and museums. She intended her intimate book of photo etchings to capture the experience of viewing her elusive life-size sculptures in the close quarters of the caves.

Illustrated with many never-before published photographs, this book is an important contribution to the understanding of his extraordinary artist. ... Read more

Book Description

Notable Women in the Physical Sciences features substantive biographical essays on 96 world and American women scientists who have made significant contributions to the physical sciences from antiquity to the present. The essays go beyond basic facts found in standard biographical dictionaries, bringing to life the women's developmental influences, the obstacles they faced and overcame, and their efforts to contribute in their chosen professions in spite of sometimes overwhelming disapproval by the establishment. The emphasis is on 20th-century women, and many of the living scientists profiled contributed interviews and autobiographical statements, that add a vital and unique element to their profiles. Entries have been written by 70 practicing scientists and researchers who explain the scientific work clearly, in terms familiar to general readers and high school students. ... Read more