Subjects:  1. United States    2. Entertainment & Performing Arts - Actors & Actresses    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Motion picture actors and actresses    5. Entertainment & Performing Arts - General    6. Biography & Autobiography / Entertainment & Performing Arts    7. Biography & Autobiography    8. 1908-1997    9. Individual Movie Actors And Actresses    10. Biography And Autobiography    11. Biography/Autobiography    12. Biography    13. Stewart, James,   

Subjects:  1. (40th :    2. 2006 :    3. Bettis, Jerome    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography And Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. Detroit, Mich.)    9. Football    10. Football - General    11. Football - Professional    12. Football players    13. Sports - Football    14. Sports - General    15. Super Bowl    16. United States   

Editorial Review

Dave Eggers is a terrifically talented writer; don't hold his cleverness against him. What to make of a book called Read more

Reviews (848)

Self-indulgent writing
I have to agree with the many who did not like this book. I got it from the library and tried to read it, but couldn't get past the self-indulgent writing style. It almost seems like someone was too lazy to edit this book or make it readable for the reader. Any writer can put down stream-of-consciousness thoughts, but it takes hard work and effort to edit and revise with the reader in mind. A writer should want the reader to enjoy the process of reading a book. A book is written to express oneself, but also for the reader. Without the reader, the book is nothing.
Wonderful
Ridiculously amazing read. Couldn't put it down. Snide, cynical, heart-wrenching, and joyous all at once. A raucous rollercoaster of insight and observation. It's been a while since a book made me laugh out loud and burst into tears all in the same reading... But that's just me... If you've gotten this far, give this book a shot. I highly doubt you'll regret it. And if you do, something may very well be wrong with you.
Get to the Point!!
Once I saw the numerous reviews coating the inside and outside of this book telling me how much I was going to like it, I was already dubious.Perhaps I like to be contrary, and that may be why I was irritated by this book.I understand that this is his way of dealing with the passing of his parents and the growing up he was "forced" to do, but his style of writing came off as abrasive, narcissistic, and smug.This is a memoirs of sorts, so it's hard for me to criticize his need to put this out, but if I was supposed to gain anything from it, I didn't. I didn't find his wordplay sparkling, I don't find him droll or charming, and I felt like he was trying too hard for me to do so.Plus he yammered on so much it was hard to understand the message(s) he was trying to convey to the reader, if any. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Brothers    6. Death    7. Editors, Journalists, Publishers    8. Eggers, Dave    9. Literary    10. Parents    11. Personal Memoirs    12. Psychological aspects    13. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs    14. Reading Group Guide   

Reviews (85)

A Hard Adventure
A Hard Adventure
Unbelievable!
Can you imagine an overweight, past-his-prime ex-president with lingering injuries today disappearing into an unexplored part of the world for many months, with mostly useless provisions, without any communication with the outside world, while the world wonders if he is dead or alive?The first part of the journey is a trek through a barren wasteland, with pack animals dying all around you.The second part is down a river that no has ever traversed.What is around the next bend?A village of Indians who have never seen a white person, who would rather pump you full of poison arrows than befriend you?A series of impassable rapids, only to be followed by more rapids?
Millard finds a hidden gem of a story and tells it wonderfully.
Reading this book makes you wonder how many great stories from the past we never get to hear because someone like Candice Millard doesn't find them and tell them.As you read this wonderful book, you realize how easy it would have been for this amazing adventure tale featuring one of the premier figures in US history to just slip unknown into the past.Fortunately for all of us, Millard found this story, polished it up and presented it to us for our enjoyment.
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Subjects:  1. Discovery And Exploration (General)    2. Essays & Travelogues    3. Expeditions & Discoveries    4. History - General History    5. History: American    6. Latin America - South America    7. Presidents & Heads of State    8. Travel    9. U.S. President    10. United States - 20th Century    11. History / General   

Reviews (19)

The Way We Were:Remembering Diana
I read Burrell's other book, "A Royal Duty" and came away feeling that the author was obsessed with his employer and that he was a neurotic.
Well written, didn't want it to end
Well written and a must read if you want to read about Princess Diana, the person. He doesn't make her out to be bigger than life. The author seems unbiased because he writes about her faults as well as her assets. Enjoyed Paul's sons remembrances of fun times with Diana, William and Harry.
Absolute GOLD !
For anyone who loves Princess Diana, this book is pure, absolute gold. Paul Burrell tells stories about her that no one else can, because he lived and worked with her for years. The book is respectfully written, yet also very entertaining. He reveals aspects of their life together with total love and not the slightest hint of gossip or nastiness. Paul Burrell remains sensitive to The Boss and I, for one, will welcome any book he writes about Diana because it's plain to see that he is telling the truth. Anyone in the royal household who has a problem with him or his books needs to get a grip. Diana belonged to the world, and they should be thankful that with all the other books out there floating around about her, that this one tells it like it was, and stands head and shoulders above the others. Highly recommended reading. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1958-    2. 1961-1997    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Burrell, Paul,    8. Diana,    9. Great Britain    10. Great Britain - History - 20th Century    11. Historical - British    12. Monarchy And Aristocracy    13. Princess of Wales,    14. Princesses    15. Rich & Famous    16. Royalty    17. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Subjects:  1. Australia    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Business    7. Golf    8. Golf - General    9. Golfers    10. International Business    11. Sports - General    12. Success in business    13. Biography & Autobiography / Business   

Reviews (6)

Very Insightful
"Never Again" is a book that has been ignored by much of the so-called mainstream media, probably because it is not scandalous and takes positions they don't want to hear. AG Ashcroft was attacked by bitter Democrats during his hearings for the position and during his four years in office, but he's a strong man with a deep sense of right and wrong. His observations before, during and after 9/11 are another view of that horrendous day. The book is not entirely about 9/11 and other chapters are very informative and interesting.
Rise to vote, Sir
With all the books being published by former and current government officials it is refreshing to read a piece that does more to explain the recent historical situation than to blame others for how it came about.
John Ascroft -'Never Again'
John Ashcroft has written a book detailing his job as attorney general for president George W. Bush's first term.
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Subjects:  1. Attorneys general    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. National Security Issues    7. National security    8. Personal Memoirs    9. Political    10. U.S. Departments    11. United States    12. War on Terrorism, 2001-    13. Biography & Autobiography / Political   

Reviews (1)

An absolute must
I went to sleep last night angry that I had to sleep and got up early, angry that I had not gotten up early enough to finish "Through the Children's Gate." As I finish this short review, I finish the book. Its last paragraphs I delayed reading because, as I neared the end, I realized how much I dreaded reaching the end. Now that I have, I'm eagerly awaiting the next collection. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Description And Travel    5. Family    6. Gopnik, Adam    7. Home    8. New York    9. New York (State)    10. Personal Memoirs    11. Psychological aspects    12. Social Psychology    13. Social aspects    14. Travelers    15. United States - Mid Atlantic - New York City    16. United States - Northeast - Middle Atlantic (General)    17. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (35)

This is a terrific insight into the Sierra and to the Park Service Rangers
I loved the book. I spent 20 years backpacking in this same area every summer in the same time span and loved the insights and details of the author regarding the environment. Wallace Stegner gave advice (detailed in the book) to Randy about how difficult it is to write in general about nature. Eric Blehm successfully overcomes this difficulty. I felt back in the mountains and reliving my experiences due to his details. Thank you Eric. The dedication and professionalism of the park rangers in the search is a tribute to these men and women. Thank you to them also.

Who, or what killed Randy Morgenson
Eric Blehm's book "The Last Season is the biography of a Sierra Nevada National Park Ranger, Randy Morgenson. Despite decades of experience and an intimate knowledge of the terrain in which Morgenson patrols, he goes missing. Blehm captures the search and rescue operation that spans over years and in the process details Morgenson's life history.
A stunning book abouthuman nature and the natural world
I will admit that I usually do not do things like review books. This book though has been one of the most enduring books that I have ever read. In a most tragic way it shows one mans bond with the natural world that few if any will ever match. Then it goes on to show the nature of those closest to him, and the profound impact he left on their lives both in life and in death. Reading this book has totally changed my outlook on the natural world. Thank You Eric Blehm for delivering the "Gospel" of Randy Morgenson to me. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1942-    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. General    7. Morgenson, James Randall,    8. Mountains    9. Outdoor Skills    10. Park rangers    11. Parks    12. Sequoia National Park (Calif.)    13. Sports - General    14. United States    15. Nature / General   

Reviews (57)

Boring and stupid
Out of fairness, I should tell you that I didn't listen to the whole audiobook.I got about 1/2 way though the first CD and just couldn't stand it anymore.What I heard was boring and extremely slow moving.It's read like a "see spot run" story for children, which makes the boring storyline even more boring and I found it to be a bit insulting.I think an audio book of names and nummbers in the phone book would be more exciting.Maybe it gets better as it goes along, but I am not willing to endure any more to find out.

just okay, not great
I have read three of Augusten's books (Dry, Running With Scissors, and Magical Thinking), and absolutely LOVED them.This book, however, was really disappointing.It wasn't funny, nor particularly interesting.It was just bland.None of the stories were really entertaining.I can't pinpoint exactly what this book is lacking, but it's simply not as well-written as his other books.I would definitely recommend his previous work.This one?Not so much.

Hopefully He's Not Slipping Already
While there are still the stories that make you cringe, cry and laugh at the same time, we're now also subjected to his "horror" stories of success: sweating while at book signings; famous-author-recognized-on-airplane-with-bloody-nose; Bad accommodations while on speaking tours.We should all have such problems. On top of this, the book is by-and-large written in fragmented sentences..where was the editor on this one?
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Subjects:  1. 20th Century American Literature    2. 20th century    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Burroughs, Augusten    8. Childhood and youth    9. Health, Exercise & Fitness    10. Literary    11. Novelists, American    12. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Editorial Review

Short and snappy as it is, Stephen King's Read more

Reviews (662)

Plain everyday wanting to write
I'm your plain everyday wanting to be writer. I found, 'On Writing' to be one of the best books I've read. Mr. King writes of his childhood and life in the first part of this book, then in the second half gives advice on how to write, which I have highlighted and marked up something awful. I was one of those teenagers he talks about in his book, that failed English in high school, and thought I was dumb, because of it. I did write as a child, only for myself, not like Mr. King who wrote for Dave's Rag. I loved the parts that spoke of his and his brothers dreams, escapades, or just having fun growing up. It brought back memories of me and my brother. I've read a few books by King, but I find I loved this one the most. I'm one of the older crowd, five years older then Mr. King. I wish he would write more books on plain everyday life, as he lived with his brother and mother, for me and others out there who don't want to read murder, mystery, etc. I'm not saying I didn't like Misery, because I did. I guess now in my elder years I'm just looking for a little less anxiety. I guess I'm what you call "old" and want to think of the world as a loving place and nothing more. I know I'm just dreaming about loving your neighbor, but I "do" believe that people are out there to love one another. I tried my hand at self publishing a book named, "Fears Flutterby", maybe if Mr. King reads this he can give me some tips.
As Much of a Writer's Manual as a Riveting Tale Told By a Master Story Teller
I am not sure how I should classify ON WRITING. It is part memoir, part guide or manual, and part autobiography. As a reader, this book entertained me. As a writer, this book empowered me.
On Writing, by Stephen King
So you've finally come to it: you wake up in the morning, and decide to heck with this nine to five job, bills, and a squinty-eyed boss that smells like old tobacco - you want something better out of life. You've decided to do what you always wanted to do; become a writer, and create worlds and whole universes for a living.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Authors, American    3. Authorship    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. Composition & Creative Writing - General    9. Horror tales    10. Literary    11. Language Arts & Disciplines / Composition & Creative Writing   

Editorial Review

Heralded as the "best book on the dope decade" by the Read more

Reviews (381)

This is one heck of a fun book!
Thompson's classic novel shows that quest literature (in this case the quest for the American Dream) is not at all dead. This is tale is wonderfully crafted and will entertain until the last page.
Sometimes you just have to give it another chance
I have read this book about a dozen times, and I won't lie, the first few times were hard. I wasn't sure if I even understood this book, let alone liked it. My husband was a big fan, and convinced me to give the book another shot one day- and am I happy he did. I got it. It is funny, sad, crazy and weird. It's a journey that I am happy I took, and will take again. It is one of those book that each and every time you read it you will take away something new and fresh. Great read. Try it, you will like it.

hilarious!
If you are looking for a good laugh and are not offended by drugs, lewd behavior, and hooliganism, then I would highly recommend this book.90% of the story takes place while the two main characters are doped up on various drugs or combinations of them, and the consequences are hilarious.I laughed most of the way through.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Journalism    5. Journalists    6. Literary    7. Pop Arts / Pop Culture    8. Popular Culture - General    9. Thompson, Hunter S    10. United States    11. United States - 20th Century/60s    12. American English    13. Biography & Autobiography / General    14. Modern fiction    15. True Stories   

Reviews (64)

Eternal truths (and lies)
This is the most candid and honest record of Trump's deals by the great master to date, or so it seems. This impression can be attributed, however, to the great job Tony Schwartz did on this book. Compare this to Trump's "How to get rich" and you know what I mean.
Written After The Early Years: Good Trump Entertainment
Let us give him his due. He has great style and tenacity and the nerve. This book was written in better days before his fall. I have visited a number of his buildings - which I understand that he was closely and personally involved in the design and construction - and they are beautiful.
For What Its Worth
You never know whether to ever really trust what Trump says or not. I actively avoided reading this book for some time. I just resisted it. I must have felt that it is a propoganda piece and I was right. It is just another win for Trump. Another chance to boast about himself and his competence. And the ironic thing is the lesson to be learned by the man on the street is exactly that. In real estate, it is simply connection and bravado after a certain level of core competencies have been achieved. This book does not go into the details of how to do what he has done.....as step by step approach beside being boring would have been ridiculous. First thing to do is go back in time and be born in a family where your father is a wealthy builder. And be born to a father who was historically in the right situation himself--building homes when the soldiers came home and started families. The second thing is go to the premier business school in the nation. After that, you do a few deals with your father and learn the business inside and out. After that make some connections through your father's friends. And the most important thing is to start your career and venture when the real estate market is absolutely deppressed. You can't help but make money.
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Business    5. Personal Memoirs    6. Real Estate Finance    7. Rich & Famous    8. Business & Economics / General   

Reviews (43)

A Brilliant Addition To A Great Story
I can recall being 13 years old at summer camp in 1977 when I read the incredible non fiction book "Alive" by Piers Paul Read. It was a story that haunted me and stayed in my memory for many years. As I came of age, I wondered what had become of the two "expeditionaries", Nando Parrado and Roberto Cannessa, who traipsed their way for 10 days out of the wreckage of the fuselage of the wrecked Uruguayan Fairchild and through the Andes to freedom and rescue. It was then, a great thrill, to have Nando and Vince Rause write this awe-inspiring followup 30 years later. The factual chronology that Read used were incredible, but this firsthand account takes the story to a different, more personal level. His daily struggle to survive, both physically and spiritually, are nothing short of extraordinary. To paraphrase Nando, the opposite of death IS LOVE. This is a book that makes one believe it and seek to live it.

This book has the power to change your life!
First let me say I read about a book a week and this is the best book I have ever read.If your not hooked by page 42 or so I dont know what book could hold your attention.This story, this incredible story of the will to survive and the process the human mind goes through in the face of unimaginable pain, suffering and starvation should be manditory reading for everyone.

Even the casual reader will be glued til the end
After reading an excerpt of the book in a outdoors magazine, I knew I had to buy and read this entire book. I am not a frequent reader, and I feared that I would end up buying this and not finishing it as I so often do. But I knew just a few pages into the book that I would finish it. I had too many questions that I knew would be answered if I finished it. The only real certain part(having never seen the movie 'Alive!') was that Nando would make it out, since he wrote the book. But past that, I had no idea who would and wouldnt survive and the series of events about to unfold.
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Subjects:  1. Aircraft accidents    2. Andes Region    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography And Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Cannibalism    8. Personal Memoirs    9. Survival after airplane accidents, shipwrecks, etc    10. Travelers    11. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (152)

The Translation for Our Times........
Simply the best translation of the Tao Te Ching available. Stephen Mitchell has done us all a great service by bringing this ages old book of wisdom to the modern era.

stephen mitchell presents the tao te ching
The tao te ching is a great book, I'm not giving that a one star review, I'm giving mitchell's interpretation of it one star.As many other reviews have stated, he doesn't speak chinese, so this translation is comprised of his reading other peoples' translations and what he thinks it means.He then tries to modernize it and make it accessible to 21st century americans.I like the old world feel of this book, you don't need to change swords to nuclear warheads, I know what a sword is.At least though, this change makes sense, some chapters Mitchell changes so much, that the entire chapter loses its meaning.A couple chapters made no sense, so I went to the back of the book where he tells what parts he changed, and then I was able to understand exactly what Lao Tzu intended to say.Don't buy this book.

Comments on reviewers
It's funny, people are giving it 1/5 because it isn't a "literal translation." It has to be the exact translated words by someone who is "scholared" for it to be worth reading.
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Subjects:  1. General    2. Philosophy    3. Religion    4. Taoism    5. Biography: general    6. Religion / Taoism   

Reviews (41)

Memorable
I read this book shortly before visiting Guatemala, and I have to say it made my travel experience alot richer.I felt more sensitized to the currents of racism and political struggle still present in the country, as well as to the pain of a people recovering from a horror in the not so distant past.Nearly every Guatemalan that I met had some powerful story of the genocide, and this book gave me a good background on the facts and politics behind the peasant struggle.
Just 2 or so hours South of Miami!
It is incredible that such human suffering went on, and in many ways is still going on, just a couple of hours (by pane) away from where I live. Rigoberta Menchu's book, written as dictated by her, is sad and tells of horrible situations.
A Credible and Important Piece of Literature.
Mench�'s book is the inspirational testimonial of an indigenous Guatemalan woman's rise from absolute obscurity and extreme poverty to become a champion of human rights and eventual Nobel peace laureate.In her book, Mench� describes the typical life of a Quich� Indian who is forced to survive in a world filled with never-ending hardships. She talks about her world and how she and her penurious people struggle daily to uphold the dignity and traditions of their forefathers while suffering under extreme oppression, exploitation, and genocidal practices inflicted upon them by the wealthy ladino landowners, the Guatemalan government, and, in particular, the Guatemalan military.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. General    5. Guatemala    6. History - General History    7. Indians of Central America    8. Menchu, Rigoberta    9. Quiche women    10. Quichâe women    11. Social life and customs    12. Women    13. Women revolutionaries    14. Biography: political    15. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    16. Sociology, Social Studies   

Reviews (6)

A great and sordid tale
This is a greeat and depressing book. I documents how America is a country of many laws and little enforcement. Believe it. That the book was trashed as anti-Semetic in The NY Times Sunday Book Review only makes it a more important read (The dolt Times reviewer reviewer had a tribal agenda and comes from self-admitted mob affiliated tax cheat family should be all you need to know about that review)
HOPING FOR AN UPDATE
This book tells how Sidney Korshak and other mob fronts moved from Chicago to Las Vegas and Southern California in the 1940's.Using such notorious hangouts as the Bistro and City National Bank in Beverly Hills, some of which are still as sinister as ever, they gained influence in unions, business, and politics at the local and even national and international level.
Worth the wait?
It's 490 years since Sir Thomas More wrote Utopia, a model for any society desiring to live rightly.The Utopians had little interest in money or the false pleasures of jewelry and high fashion.They disdained gambling and the pursuit of "empty and worthless honors," and anybody arrogant enough to run for public office could never gain it.The legal profession was absolutely banned, as was private property.Everybody worked for the greater good of all.There was no "conspiracy of the rich," in which a few preyed on the many and amassed wealth through crooked schemes.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. California    5. Chicago    6. Illinois    7. Lawyers    8. Lawyers & Judges    9. Organized Crime    10. True Crime / Espionage    11. United States    12. History / United States / 20th Century