Reviews (374)

Karrine Steffans Sees The Light
in that the whole industry exploits vulnerable women of color such as Karrine Steffans.I know some would say that they participated voluntarily but I hear stories such as Ms. Steffans regarding music industry's exploitation and abuse of women who starred in rap videos.The whole hip hop video scene has come under fire recently by all sectors of society for its sexual and violent content.
Lacking something
Karrine's story was gripping, but there was emotion missing. I felt like she was just sitting back, giving a list of things that happened and not really grasping the effects of them. Regardless, I think she is a strong woman and I admire her willingness to say, "ENOUGH!" and get her stuff together.

An Entertaining Read
I really liked reading this book. I finished it in one day. At first I felt bad for. Then, as I read more, I thought she was stupid and by the end of the book I questioned whether she learned anything at all. I mean, yes she knows her mistakes, but I dont think she has learned from them. Overall, I think this book was a great read. I would recommended it to anyone who wants to live the Hollywood lifestyle. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Actors    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Entertainment & Performing Arts - Actors & Actresses    7. Entertainment & Performing Arts - General    8. Individual Actors And Actresses    9. Performing Arts (Specific Aspects)    10. Personal Memoirs    11. Stripteasers    12. United States    13. Women    14. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs    15. Biography: film, television & music   

Editorial Review

As CEO at accounting giant KPMG, Eugene O'Kelly was so immersed in his job that over thecourse of a decade, he managed to have lunch with his wife on weekdays just twice. His travelschedule was set 18 months out. Once, he was so obsessed with impressing a potential client that hetracked down the man's travel schedule, booked the seat next to him on a flight, schmoozed the guyall the way to Australia, landed the account, and flew immediately back to Manhattan. His Type-A ways vanished when, at age 53, a top neurosurgeon in New York told him he had late- stage brain cancer. "His eyes told me I would die soon. It was late spring. I had seen my last autumnin New York." [p.7] Read more

Reviews (51)

Meaningful message for all who read...
Having just lost my own mother to Glioblastoma multiforme grade IV, I found this book comforting and relevant. It had a great message to share "take the time to tell those you love about the perfect moments you will remember about them". I have purchased a dozen copies since my first to send out to friends in memory of my own mother.

Must read for accountant!
What an inspirational book! I read this book few days prior to a job interview with KPMG. Well good news is.. I got the job! but the message behind this book is "balance" and purpose of life. Life is too short and many people knew that, but we need a reminder once a while to put us into perspective again. Gene is a visionary behind KPMG and to lost someone like him is definitely a lesson to learn. As an accountant, we know how many hours we have to spend at work, but think it this way to balance it out.. treat your family like your client. They need as much time as your other clients need you too. I would recommend this book for any accounting major college students.

Courageous
This book is phenomenal.Those with a Type A personality will certainly appreciate the approach the author took to put closure on his impending death.Since another reader had mentioned that Joan Didion's "The Year of Magical Thinking" was better, I had decided to read both books.I absolutely loved Chasing Daylight better although both books have value.
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Subjects:  1. Brain    2. Cancer    3. Cancer (Psychosocial Aspects)    4. Consumer Health    5. Death    6. Death And Dying (Sociological Aspects)    7. Death, Grief, Bereavement    8. Diseases - Cancer    9. General    10. Health & Fitness    11. Health/Fitness    12. Patients    13. Psychological aspects    14. Psychology    15. Terminally ill    16. Coping with illness    17. Death & dying    18. Self-Help / Death, Grief, Bereavement    19. True Stories   

Editorial Review

The third tale in David Pelzer's autobiographical trilogy, Read more

Reviews (195)

A must read! Highly recommended!
I just finished this book about 20 minutes ago. During the past two weeks I read all 3 books in this series. My heart broke during the first book as I read a trageic story that no child should ever have to experience. During the second book I cheered Pelzer on as he was slowly recovering and sometimes even enjoying life. I almost didn't read the 3rd book in the series, because I was confident that Pelzer's life turned out well. However, I just couldn't stop myself from wanting to know how it all ended.
Wow
The end of the trilogy. I finally got my head around part of what makes him so compelling. If you read what the marketers put together, you may think this is gloomy and such. Nope. It's about how he survived, and is therefore inspiring. But what finally comes together for me in this conclusion is the author's refusal to let me hate his mother the way I'd like to. Damn, life would be easier that way. Pelzer's no saint, mind you. He's human too. But dang, I really did want him to let me hate his mother. You can learn a lot from this guy, even if you do hate his mother.

Great book.
We enjoyed reading all of Dave Pelzer's books.Excellent reading for all. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Abuse - General    2. Abused children    3. Abusive mothers    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. California    9. Children of alcoholics    10. Daly City    11. Family relationships    12. Personal Memoirs    13. Specific Groups - Special Needs    14. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs    15. Biography: general   

Reviews (55)

My Life as a Quant: Reflections on Physics and Finance
One needs to consider what they want out the book before buying it.If your looking for a book with market trading tactics and think this book will provide that, then my score would be a "1"Its not about how to make YOU money and its title implies that.In fact, its title is a quite honest answer to what is inside, the reflections of this Quant on his life in physics and finance.While he does not give the reader any CLEAR suggestions on how to make money in the market, he does give a good view of life as a professional in the hard sciences most of them would find it boring, the book would be a goodfor some super high school achiever that is contemplatingor announced committment to a life as a PHd in hard science.He does do a good job of relating all the "posturing", the "idea stealing", and general BS that is the real world of both science and commerce.His descriptions of his finance modeling efforts and the difficulties does show why many big firms can go bust.But other than messing up your own trading, you have to know when a big firm had bad Quant.So, unless you can think beyond what your reading as to making money in the market and learning to make money is your goal, then pass on this book.I gave it a "3" as it is good at exposing BS. More BS exposure type books may some day help us all.But you won't find specific maket making money ideas in this book, thus no "5"
An interesting world line
It is very uncommon for scientists to be revealing of their personal lives, and even more rare for them to make written commentary on the people they have interacted with over the span of their careers or even a portion thereof. The author of this book, who began his career as a physicist and then chose to be a financial engineer, is thus a statistical outlier in this regard. His transparency has allowed the reader to gain insight not only into how it is to live, study, and work in academia, but also in the financial world. All personal life histories are subjected to random perturbations, to events and people that are unplanned and unexpected, but as this book clearly shows, with pertinacity, with determination, one can smooth out even the strongest of these perturbations, and trace out a world line that is personally satisfying and dignified.
intense modelling in finance
As a Physics PhD who left physics, I read Derman's book with especial interest. He too faced this career choice after getting his doctorate and doing a stint in academia. The book shows the sometimes [often?] intense nature of academia, with emphasis on getting a tenured position. Whereas some industries can offer much higher salaries.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Business    4. Business & Economics    5. Business/Economics    6. Derman, Emanuel    7. Futures And Options Trading    8. Investment advisors    9. Investments & Securities - General    10. Mathematical Physics    11. Options (Finance)    12. Personal Memoirs    13. Physicists    14. Scientists - General    15. Business & Economics / Finance    16. Finance & Accounting   

Editorial Review

People around the world have found inspiration in the story of Lance Armstrong--a world-class athlete nearly struck down by cancer, only to recover and win the Tour de France, the multiday bicycle race famous for its grueling intensity. Armstrong is a thoroughgoing Texan jock, and the changes brought to his life by his illness are startling and powerful, but he's just not interested in wearing a hero suit. While his vocabulary is a bit on the he-man side (highest compliment to his wife: "she's a stud"), his actions will melt the most hard-bitten souls: a cancer foundation and benefit bike ride, his astonishing commitment to training that got him past countless hurdles, loyalty to the people and corporations that never gave up on him. There's serious medical detail here, which may not be for the faint of heart; from chemo to surgical procedures to his wife's in vitro fertilization, you won't be spared a single x-ray, IV drip, or unfortunate side effect. Athletes and coaches everywhere will benefit from the same extraordinary detail provided about his training sessions--every aching tendon, every rainy afternoon, and every small triumph during his long recovery is here in living color. Read more

Reviews (670)

trash
we all know this story, but if you want to read a cocky, self absorbed version from lance's perspective pick this up. horribly written, some attempts are made at poeticism ("I keep riding, into the highest peering hills, up the pitch of a mountainside, where green leaves quiver in the cold sun") but overall i'd probably get more out of a 2 page summary of his life on wikipedia.

Inspirational!
Lance provides a lot of insight into his life, who he is, and how he became the greatest cyclist in the world in this book!This book covers his life from birth to the 2nd Tour de France win.The dedication he has to his job (cycling) is so impressive.A truly inspirational story....

Fantastic- One of the best books I have ever read
I must say that this is easily one of the best books I have ever read, and probably the most inspirational.It delves deep into the realms of the human spirit, against the worst of odds.Lance Armstrong isn't just the single greatest athlete of our generation, hes an American hero, and he beat cancer.Yes, he did not just survive, he defeated it, and proved it can be done.I have never had cancer, I have never fought against unbelieveble odds.This man has, and he tells his story in a remarkable, touching, and humane way.Fantastic Read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Armstrong, Lance    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Cancer    7. Cycling - General    8. Cyclists    9. Diseases - Cancer    10. Patients    11. Specific Groups - Special Needs    12. Sports - General    13. United States    14. Biography & Autobiography / Sports   

Reviews (1)

A great read!
An interesting and compelling read, providing great insight to the complications of Earl Warren. A must for anyone who enjoys American or California history, or the Law. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1891-1974    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Judges    5. Law    6. Lawyers & Judges    7. Legal History    8. Political    9. Supreme Court    10. United States    11. United States - 20th Century    12. United States.    13. Warren, Earl,    14. Biography & Autobiography / Lawyers & Judges   

Reviews (3)

A beautiful book
The photography and the text of this book has been described in other reviews, but I want to add that this is now one of the most beautiful books that I own. The typesetting is flawless, the paper is of a much higher weight than I have seen in other monographs, and, of course, the reproductions are class. These points are magnified by the sheer size of the book-- check the dimensions given in the details above. The book is a work of art.

"The Meaning of the Idea Photography" -- Alfred Stieglitz
This book clearly deserves many more than five stars.It is one of the most remarkable expressions about and by an artist in any genre that I have ever seen. Wonderful collection of his writing and photographs
This is far more than a picture book; it contains 73 high-quality plates and its real treasures can be found is the twenty page introduction and the fifty pages of selections from his writings about his work and views onphotography.As a full time artist, I found this book to be both rich andinspiring.If you have lost sight of why you shoot pictures, try this as areminder of clearer moments. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1864-1946    2. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions    3. Exhibition Catalogs    4. Exhibitions    5. Individual Photographer    6. Photo Essays    7. Photoessays & Documentaries    8. Photography    9. Photography, Artistic    10. Stieglitz, Alfred,    11. Biography: general    12. Individual artists    13. Photographs: collections    14. Photography / Photo Essays    15. Stieglitz, Alfred   

Reviews (153)

An Extraordinary African Childhood
Alexandra Fuller's "Don't Let's Go To the Dogs Tonight" will bring you into her world of a childhood spent in the wilds of Africa.Hers is a colorful memoir that you won't soon forget.While reading this book, I literally carried it with me everywhere I went so that I could read it during any spare moments I had during the day.Run, don't walk, to purchase this book and buy a spare to share with everyone you know!

Great Book
I like this book a lot I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed her stories . For anyone who wants to know about growing up in Africa. A must read

Being born in an interesting part of the world should not be an excuse for just anybody to write
Alright, so her childhood was a bit different than your average white middle-income childhood.
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Subjects:  1. 1969-    2. Africa - General    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Childhood Memoir    8. Childhood and youth    9. Fuller, Alexandra,    10. Girls    11. Historical - General    12. Literary    13. Zimbabwe    14. Biography & Autobiography / General    15. Reading Group Guide   

Editorial Review

Coach Wooden's remarkable 10 national basketball championships in 12 years at UCLA speak for themselves. In Read more

Reviews (62)

An amazing inspiration
John Wooden is a motivational icon for a reason.While basketball coach at UCLA, he won ten national championships in twelve years.What's more, he did it the "old-fashioned way," by focusing on establishing his team's character.
This book changed my life
I didn't know much about John Wooden and his 10 basketball championships.After reading this book, I realized why he won those championships.Wooden reflects on his experience as a coach and also what he learned from his dad.The thoughts presented in this book are timeless.I have read this book more than 10 times and still look forward to read it.Just reading Wooden's philosophy makes me feel better. It changed my outlook towards life.

Wisdom & Heart
This brief book is full of wisdom and heart.
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Subjects:  1. Basketball    2. Basketball - General    3. Basketball coaches    4. Biography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Coaching    7. Coaching (Athletics)    8. Conduct of life    9. General    10. Philosophy    11. Sports & Recreation    12. United States    13. Wooden, John R    14. Biography: sport    15. Fitness training    16. Sports & Recreation / General   

Editorial Review

You probably enjoy eating codfish, but reading about them? Mark Kurlansky has written a fabulous book--well worth your time--about a fish that probably has mattered more in human history than any other. The cod helped inspire the discovery and exploration of North America. It had a profound impact upon the economic development of New England and eastern Canada from the earliest times. Today, however, overfishing is a constant threat. Kurlansky sprinkles his well-written and occasionally humorous history with interesting asides on the possible origin of the word codpiece and dozens of fish recipes.Sometimes a book on an offbeat or neglected subject really makes the grade. This is one of them. ... Read more

Reviews (88)

Cod, who would have thunk it?
This book was utterly full of suprises.Man, how one little fish has altered and played a role in so much political and economic attitudes towards the sea and its treasures.The book also stands as a cautionary tale of what can happen when a natural resource such as cod are recklessly exploited to the point of having the inability to recover their numbers.As a marine biology teacher I was faascinated with this book and plan on having my classes read it to see how the ocean world affects life on land.

A real keeper!!
I just finished reading a borrowed autographed copy of Kurlansky's Cod and decided that this is a book that I must have in my shelf to read it over again. I like fish and I like history. This book has the perfect match to gain my favor. I purchased my own copy.
Cod
This book is better than great. The older I get, it never ceases to amaze me how little I know and how much I have to learn.
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Subjects:  1. Cod fisheries    2. Codfish    3. Cookery (Codfish)    4. Fish    5. History    6. Literary collections    7. Nature    8. Nature/Ecology    9. World - General    10. Biography & Autobiography / Historical   

Reviews (13)

Brings the politics and lives to the foreground as no professional politician's words could achieve.
The Prince of the Marshes And Other Occupational Hazards of a Year in Iraqprovides an unusual survey of Stewart's time as an interim and deputy governor in Iraq's marsh regions. His THE PLACES IN BETWEEN became a best seller and told of his walk across Afghanistan and encounters with the region's people; here he describes nearly a year in a remote, improvised marsh region in southern Iraq negotiating hostage releases, holding elections, and developing an uncertain government leadership. Any who would understand the peoples and politics of Iraq must read The Prince of Marshes: it brings the politics and lives to the foreground as no professional politician's words could achieve.
Wow*****Now I Understand
I am so glad that I brought this book. I wanted to understand some of the conditions and situations from an unbias view. Mr Stewart tells his story and does it well.If you truly want to learn more about Iraq, prepare yourselves and read this book. I would loved to meet this unique person just to shake his hand and say "well done".

Middle East in a Nutshell!
Rory, just so you know, your book is now a required reading in my conflict analysis and resolution course, at a graduate peace program in Washington DC. Your point well made! THANK YOU! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography And Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. British    7. Description and travel    8. Iraq    9. Iraq - History    10. Middle East - General    11. Military - General    12. Personal Memoirs    13. Social life and customs    14. Travel / Middle East / General   

Reviews (38)

Great Biochem book
I had this textbook for Biochem 1 and 2 and I thought it was excellent. It went in-depth when it was needed.The authors choose to leave out some reactions (using multiple arrows) and I thought that was great because it wasn't really needed in most cases.Sometimes there were questions though on how to get to one structure from the last.Pictures were great and really helped to picture what was going on.

Very helpful!
I really like this book.It does a great job of explaining the topics in detail, yet not too esoteric that one without a background in either biology or chemistry won't be able to understand.I have neither and I feel I am progressing along well.
Review
I bought this book because I need it for my biochemistry class.The book itself isn't bad.It gave detail of how biological systems and chemical reaction affect each other. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biochemistry    2. Biochemistry (General)    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Life Sciences - Biochemistry    5. Literary    6. Science    7. Science/Mathematics   

Editorial Review

I found a 1955 printing of this book in an old waterfront cabin and was struck by the care with which the previous owner had read it. Eve (the name inscribed inside the front cover and then again above the heading for chapter 3) made pencil marks on nearly every paragraph of the book, underlining a phrase, highlighting many passages with strong vertical marks, scratching out some words that she seems to have found superfluous and even x-ing out whole sections that apparently missed their mark with her altogether. Two rusting paper clips isolate several pages, absent any marking at all. Anne Morrow Lindbergh's lyrical words are still relevant and presage so many of the themes of today's most popular books: simplicity, peaceful solitude, caring for the soul, a woman finding her place in society and life. I heard that the woman who had lived in the cabin had actually passed away some time before. Thank you, Eve, for your gift... from the sea. ... Read more

Reviews (73)

A gift from Anne Morrow Lindbergh
This is a terrific book for awoman of any age. It provides much food for thought and is a source of inspiration through her personal musings and easy flowing prose. I like the 20 year "report" from the author where she shares her surprise that her own refections and thoughts have influenced others. Obviously others have the same life experiences to consider and learn from.

Should be required reading...At least once every year!
There is much to gain by reading this book. This book captures the aspects of life and love by a woman's reflections while looking over her "Gifts from the sea."
Excellent Read
I picked this up at a bed and breakfast and finished it in 2 nights! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Inspiration & Personal Growth    2. Inspirational    3. Inspirational - General    4. Life    5. Literary    6. Philosophy (General)    7. Religion    8. Biography & Autobiography / Literary   

Reviews (1)

Best Baseball Book & Best Law Book I've Read In Years
Brad Snyder has done it again. Following on the heels of his much-acclaimed Beyond The Shadow of the Senators, Snyder returns to the pinnacle of his profession with A Well-Paid Slave, a gripping account of Curt Flood's fight for free agency in professional sports. In my opinion, Snyder's latest work is at once the best baseball book and the best law book that I've read in years. It is a gem that shows off Snyder's talents as a writer, researcher, and legal analyst.
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Subjects:  1. African American baseball players    2. Baseball    3. Baseball - History    4. Baseball players    5. Biography    6. Free agents (Sports)    7. Sports    8. Sports & Recreation    9. United States    10. Sports & Recreation / Baseball / History   

Reviews (25)

A quick read but slow to forget
This story, set in 1960's, concerns Ron, an affluent art collector who wears designer suits and is a world traveler; and Denver, a dangerous, illiterate drifter who left virtual slavery on a cotton farm in Louisiana. Denver's room in the slave shack is smaller than a closet in one of Ron's multiple houses. The heroine is Ron's wife, a lovely lady of faith and trust. Affluence does not jade her tender qualities. She fights a battle with cancer while they fight a battle of coming to a stronger faith and trust such as she possesses.
Connect with purpose Anita Jefferson*Climb Every Obstacle*
This book is authentic in its language of spiritual love that was lived by Debbie and Ron Hall which was unpretentiously extended to those in need. It was sure providence that guided the Texas socialite Halls and homeless, illiterate, street-hard Denver Moore to mingle first at a soup kitchen but eventually around the family table.
Excellent book--a story about extending oneself for love and glorious transformations it brings
I could not put this book down. Because this is a true story, I hope to purchase many more copies to give to my friends so they too can be touched by the powerful story of transformations taken place in the heart of Ron, Debbie and Denver. It's wonderful to know that God is still moving in His powerful and mysterious way. I thank the authors for writing this book because i know it must have been a difficult book to write since the story deals with so much of their vulnerability and emotions. I believe this story will continue to change lives, bring hopes and stengthen faith in many others. This is an excellent and inspirational story about the glory of God revealed in these people's courage, love, faith and friendship. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography And Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Christianity - Theology - Apologetics    6. General    7. Personal Memoirs    8. Religious    9. Biography & Autobiography / General    10. Biography: general    11. Slavery & emancipation    12. True stories of endurance & survival    13. USA   

Reviews (11)

Very Good at what's important
This is a fast and engaging read about one of the most important musicians of the late 60s. Duane Allman was more than a musician but the leader of the southern music movement that started in the late 60s and into the 70s. This book gets a lot of stuff right, especially giving you a good picture of the man. There isn't a lot of rumour and rock star stories, but the author is blunt about Duane's shortcomings as well as his musical genious.
Precise Doses Of Passion And Power
This is one of those rare books that make me wonder what had more impact.Was it the truly worthy subject of Duane "Skydog" Allman or was it the superb writing?Truth is, I read this book in two sittings because the story is so terrific and the way it's told completely spellbinding.It's my favorite rock book of 2006 thus far.
Thank you Randy Poe!
As a diehard Duane fanatic, I was very pleased with this book. It felt to me much more than just retread and recompiled interviews, I got a good picture of the man and the musician and learned lots of stuff, interesting stuff, about Duane. The years at Military school were a complete blank until now, and we are also given the secret to how he became so good. He played and practiced and built his chops one note and then one phrase at a time...how do you get to Carnegie Hall?
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Subjects:  1. Allman Brothers Band    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Entertainment & Performing Arts - General    7. Rock musicians    8. United States    9. Biography & Autobiography / Entertainment & Performing Arts    10. Biography: film, television & music    11. Rock & pop   

Reviews (19)

What is a good read?
Bob Harris is a working-class guy who grew up near Cleveland, Ohio.Somehow he came to live in Los Angeles, California.Bob had an outdated degree in electrical engineering with a usefulness that "ended with Pong".Bob had watched Jeopardy! with his parents as a kid.He must have wanted to be on the show because he auditioned for it at least four or five different times.In fact, Bob doesn't remember how many times he took and failed the Jeopardy! test.What he does remember is that the last time he took the test he had decided that was going to be the last time he took the test.He passed it and that began a decade long "career" as a Jeopardy! winner and loser.Bob is a five-time Jeopardy! champion. He made it to the finals of a Tournament of Champions, completed in the Masters Tournament, and won a first round in the Ultimate Tournament of Champions.
He hits the Daily Double!!!
If you're a Jeopardy fan, you will enjoy this book I think.Harris offers a funny glimpse into the populat game show.As a former stand up comic, he at times is a bit over the top, manic and cloying in showing how clever or funny he can be.Nevertheless, he pulls it off with paralel themes between the game show (trivia) and key relationships in life.
Even the index makes good reading
Bob Harris, a one-time "B-minus-list comedian" turned five-time Jeopardy champion, has written a memoir centered around his experiences as a contestant on the show. His Prisoner of Trebekistan--a title hearing which Alex Trebek is said to have "smiled inscrutably"--is everything you'd hope for in a comedian's Jeopardy memoir. Harris proves to be an affable, goofily amusing escort through the various stages of Jeopardy playerdom, from the tests administered to would-be contestants through the mind games played backstage in the green room to chats with Alex mid-game. Having lived it, Harris is able to describe the life of a Jeopardy contestant in training. The regimen of study he adopted makes for fascinating reading: notebooks filled with information to be absorbed (lists of presidents and Shakespearian plays and European rivers), innumerable cartoons, very often buttock-related, drawn as mnemonic aids; Harris's lifestyle and living room rearranged to facilitate his "state-dependent retrieval" of information once on stage. (Which means that he ate green-room-style food for months and moved his furniture around so it resembled the Jeopardy set.)