Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream

Amazon.com Reviews

Heralded as the "best book on the dope decade" by the New York Times Book Review, Hunter S. Thompson's documented drug orgy through Las Vegas would no doubt leave Nancy Reagan blushing and D.A.R.E. founders rethinking their motto. Under the pseudonym of Raoul Duke, Thompson travels with his Samoan attorney, Dr. Gonzo, in a souped-up convertible dubbed the "Great Red Shark." In its trunk, they stow "two bags of grass, seventy-five pellets of mescaline, five sheets of high-powered blotter acid, a salt shaker half-full of cocaine and a whole galaxy of multicolored uppers, downers, screamers, laughers.... A quart of tequila, a quart of rum, a case of Budweiser, a pint of raw ether and two dozen amyls," which they manage to consume during their short tour.

On assignment from a sports magazine to cover "the fabulous Mint 400"--a free-for-all biker's race in the heart of the Nevada desert--the drug-a-delic duo stumbles through Vegas in hallucinatory hopes of finding the American dream (two truck-stop waitresses tell them it's nearby, but can't remember if it's on the right or the left). They of course never get the story, but they do commit the only sins in Vegas: "burning the locals, abusing the tourists, terrifying the help." For Thompson to remember and pen his experiences with such clarity and wit is nothing short of a miracle; an impressive feat no matter how one feels about the subject matter. A first-rate sensibility twinger, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a pop-culture classic, an icon of an era past, and a nugget of pure comedic genius. --Rebekah Warren

Book Description

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is the best chronicle of drug-soaked, addle-brained, rollicking good times ever committed to the printed page. It is also the tale of a long weekend road trip that has gone down in the annals of American pop culture as one of the strangest journeys ever undertaken.

Now this cult classic of gonzo journalism is a major motion picture from Universal, directed by Terry Gilliam and starring Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro. Opens everywhere on May 22, 1998.

Customer Reviews:

I know, I know..........2007-09-30

I know, it's THE Hunter S. Thompson book. It would be like having the gall to write a review for the Grapes of Wrath or Slaughterhouse Five and think you'd be doing anything other than blabbing just to see your own words on a computer screen.

That said, read this book this instant. Whatever good anyone's ever said about this book, it's twenty times better. I read it in two sittings and only stopped myself from reading it again because it was a library book and had to be returned.

The late HST's gift for gonzo, that strange mix of fiction and nonfiction, is ultimately realized in this book. Reality is seamlessly mixed with a bizarre fantasy world of sentient reptiles and split personality through the medium of hard drugs that serve to clarify (and sometimes amplify) a violent and twisted town in a strange time.

This book will have you laughing hysterically at parts, so don't read it around other people unless you're okay with passing it to them. This book will have you cringing at the brutality of human nature at points, so have your wits about you.

I really can't say anything else, other than that this book must be purchased and read this very instant if you haven't already done so.

A must read for anyone.......2007-09-21

Thompson's book helps create a vivid picture of the drug fueled 60's and early 70's a way no one else has before.

Good stuff, but less important than his other work.......2007-09-14

¨Fear and Loathing¨ is a great ride for sure. A drug-addled, hilarious, disturbing romp through Las Vegas in search of the American Dream. Thompson is definitely a skilled writer and an outlaw and this stuff comes through in this book. I don't want to shrug this work off by any means, but I definately prefer his other work, such as ¨The Great Shark Hunt,¨ because it truly brings out Thompson's outlook on the world, his hatred of wealth, power and greed, etc. This book is fun, but Thompson is definitely capable of more depth and thought. While this work might be what gave him his big break, he definitely went on to better things.

Buy the ticket...take the ride.......2007-08-23

A bizzare journey to the heart of the American Dream, funny, witty and full of memorable episodes. The illustrations by Ralph Steadman are also superb. Raul Duke says it clearly : "buy the ticket...take the ride"

A wild and extraordinary ride down a lost highway ..........2007-08-20

The lost highway of the American Dream.

I wasn't old enough to remember much from the late 60's early 70's let alone the political aspects of Nixon's presidency or the drug culture of the time, so this review won't have any profound social or political commentary, except that comparisons can well be made to the drug culture of today, and it is glaringly apparent that not much has changed.

Considering the climate of the time: Nixon's presidency, the war in Vietnam, and the country's young men succumbing to the draft, it was no wonder that an entire generation wanted something more, for this was not the American Dream they had been sold. And for some, the only way to drown out the hypocrisy gnawing at your brain is to give your brain an escape. Expand your mind, as that might be the only part of you that is truly free. Whatever it takes to get you directly out of your head -- the higher the better. This story chronicles a journey utterly devoid of restraint and reason as these two men, Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo, and their trunk full of felonies set themselves loose upon Las Vegas -- the last vestige of the American Dream. However, their idea of the American Dream is not how most of us would understand it, but somehow, through the fog of hallucinatory metaphor, we can actually see and feel what the main characters are searching for so desperately.

All that aside, even if the 60's culture is beyond your age group, Thompson's writing is worth the read -- Brilliant, sarcastic, and frighteningly funny: Bars seething with has-been lounge lizards, tearing the patrons to shreds, blood soaked tacky hotel rooms, police car chases, kidnapping, gambling, excess, and debauchery ... not to mention the Narcotics Convention. The dialog is brilliant. Harrowing experiences abound; it is amazing that the two main characters make it out of Vegas alive.

Definitely a wild ride for all.

Rebel without a Crew: Or How a 23-Year-Old Filmmaker With $7,000 Became a Hollywood Player

Average customer rating:

Rebel Withou A Crew
Great read, inspiring
Excellent!
Interesting insight into a very talented man
Inspired and Inspiring

Rebel without a Crew: Or How a 23-Year-Old Filmmaker With $7,000 Became a Hollywood Player
Robert Rodriguez
Manufacturer: Plume
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0452271878

Customer Reviews:

Rebel Withou A Crew.......2007-09-28

This book is very good. It is encouraging and helpful to any young film maker like myself. I highly recommend it. It's worth the money.

Great read, inspiring.......2007-09-23

Tells the story of how Rodriguez got to where he is. Everyone's road is very different but this is definitely an inspiring book. Hone your skills!

Excellent!.......2007-08-14

I bought this thinking it would be more of a guide then the journal it ended up being, and I couldnt have been happier. It was an interesting and easy read that I couldnt put down! I would definitely recommend this book to any young filmmakers or anyone interested in the independent process. Rodriguez really does a great job of showing how a lot of hard work, dedication and some luck can jump start a career. I felt inspired to go out and start working on films again, but I'm still reluctant to join any medical experiments to finance it.

Interesting insight into a very talented man.......2007-08-06

A great tale, but not so well written that I could recommend on its literary quality alone. I admire Rodriguez - even more, knowing what he went through to make this film (and I'm a fan El Mariachi more than the overly-produced Once Upon a Time in Mexico). The story-telling reflects his jagged style. At the very least, it should inspire you to make a few sacrifices in favor of pursuing one of your own dreams.

Inspired and Inspiring .......2007-07-03

This was a great read! Highly recommended for anyone thinking about putting a story on film.

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Average customer rating:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers
Pants on fire?
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
Very Interesting
History as Science Fiction

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Dumbstruck: A Cultural History of Ventriloquism

Average customer rating:

How can this volume possibly sell for $96.00?
HUH?
cultural ventriloquism suddenly verrrry interesting

Dumbstruck: A Cultural History of Ventriloquism
Steven Connor
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0198184336

Book Description

Why can none of us hear our own recorded voice without wincing? Why is the telephone still full of such spookiness and erotic possibility? Why does the metaphor of ventriloquism, the art of 'seeming to speak where one is not', speak so resonantly to our contemporary technological condition? These are the kind of questions which impel Steven Connor's wide-ranging, restlessly inquisitive history of ventriloquism and the disembodied voice. He tracks his subject from its first recorded beginnings in ancient Israel and Greece, through the fulminations of early Christian writers against the unholy (and, they believed, obscenely produced) practices of pagan divination, the aberrations of the voice in mysticism, witchcraft and possession, and the strange obsession with the vagrant figure of the ventriloquist, newly conceived as male rather than female, during the Enlightenment. He retrieves the stories of some of the most popular and versatile ventriloquists and polyphonists of the nineteenth century, and investigates the survival of ventriloquial delusions and desires in spiritualism and the 'vocalic uncanny' of technologies like telephone, radio, film, and internet. Learned but lucid, brimming with anecdote and insight, this is much more than an archaeology of one of the most regularly derided but tenaciously enduring of popular arts. It is also a series of virtuoso philosophical and psychological reflections on the problems and astonishments, the raptures and absurdities of the unhoused voice.

Customer Reviews:

How can this volume possibly sell for $96.00?.......2006-07-10

Does it come with a ventriloquist dummy... AND a ventriloquist?

HUH?.......2005-07-07

This book is an example of psuedo-intellectual overthinking of the highest order. It's dense, wordy and unreadable in every way. Why would any writer spend what appears to be LOTS of time and energy on this of all subjects: Ventriloquism's effect on CULTURE?!

The resultant product amounts to little more than an uninteresting mess.

Skip it.

cultural ventriloquism suddenly verrrry interesting.......2004-10-11

I enjoyed this text, recommended by a colleague, for other reasons, but thought of it immediately when the possibility of George W. Bush's use of a wire and "ear" during the first debate with John Kerry began to surface on the internet in the last day or so. Talk about the "vocalic uncanny"! Is "wiregate" merely(!) a part of the trend of increasing technological possibilities for problematizing the relation between voice and body?
Are you talking to me?
Is this thing on?
Steven Connor should write the next chapter. Meanwhile, read his deft connections and analysis of diverse phenomena associated with "cultural ventriloquism" and think about the (allleged) voice in our president's ear, and what that does to the (alleged) significance of his speech as he (allegedly) addresses the citizenry.
Is ventriloquism more acceptable if we are in on the trick?
Are we in on this (alleged) trick, anyway? I mean, we all know how packaged and predicted and rehearsed the responses to the questions posed in the debates are anyway--but a line has been (allegedly) crossed here, and that's the line Connor's book charts. Good stuff, and timely.

Average customer rating:

Simply Wonderful!
a must have book for anyone in the tat industry
GREAT APPRENTICE BOOK!!!
So poorly written I was embarrassed for the author
Poor.

The Art and Science of Modern Tattooing
Erick Alayon
Manufacturer: BookSurge Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1419651595
Release Date: 2007-04-23

Book Description

The Art and Science of Modern Tattooing is one of the most comprehensive reference manuals ever written on the craft of tattooing. This book loaded with tips, tricks and techniques that would take years to figure out on your own. Inside you will learn everything you need to know about tattoo machines, springs, coils, frames, and more! Written for the beginner and professional alike. This book is destined to become and industry standard.

Customer Reviews:

Simply Wonderful!.......2007-08-19

This book is a great addition to any library. I found it refreshing to see someone shed some light into the secretive life of the tattoo artist, which unfortunately is a "no no" for the tattoo world. I agree with the author whole heartedly that knowledge should be shared no matter what the subject matter may be, otherwise how is it to be improved? I found the tattoo information to be accurate and useful and I loved his comment "A book does not make a cook" nor does a tattoo book make a tattoo artist BUT it is nice to have such an in depth and down to earth peek inside the technical aspect of the artform, as well as some good information on what to do and not to do while tattooing. The only thing I would change about the book is it's cover, I would have loved to see a cool tattoo design from the author/artist here. They say you can't judge a book by it's cover and with this one it is so true. BUY THIS BOOK you will learn something and enjoy the information. The author talks to you, not down to you and I find that rather refreshing.

a must have book for anyone in the tat industry.......2007-08-18

This is a most have book for anyone serious about tattooing. Those learning and those that have been doing tats for a long time should have this book in their library. The information presented was good to review and for considering alternative approaches. I was grateful to find information that confirmed what I already knew and learned WHY I was doing it. So much of the industry is wrapped in unneeded secrecy. There is even information addressing the conflicts of how and what to do. Hopefully the book will help calm the confusion for those learning.

GREAT APPRENTICE BOOK!!!.......2007-08-18

I ordered a copy of this book as recommended by the owner of the shop where I am apprenticing. Im glad I got it! Its like a text book for my training! Thank you Eric for writing it!!! I cant wait to read his other books!!!

So poorly written I was embarrassed for the author.......2007-08-14

The author may be the greatest artist in the world, but his book will not help you much. I have never read a book so poorly written in my life, and that makes me wonder how great this guy really is. If he is such an authority on tattooing, why not have the book edited and correct the hundreds of spelling/grammar errors. Not a reference "bible" at all...more like a thick pamphlet. A ripoff at the hefty price...I was expecting a serious reference book, and got a joke.

Poor........2007-07-17

Some info about the machines, needles, tubes, grips. Thats all. Nothing about MAKING a tattoo.

Greek Today: A Course in the Modern Language and Culture

Average customer rating:

EXCELLENT FOR SELF STUDY
Good Textbook
A good start
GREEK TODAY: A COURSE IN THE MODERN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
This is a good textbook.

Greek Today: A Course in the Modern Language and Culture
Peter Bien , Dimitri Gondicas , John Rassias , Andromache Karanika , and Chrysanthi Yiannakou-Bien
Manufacturer: Dartmouth College Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1584650338

Book Description

Greek Today presents an up-to-date communicative approach for students of Modern Greek. Aimed at the introductory to intermediate levels, it is a completely revised and expanded edition of the popular Demotic Greek I. Presenting material that relates to a wide range of cultural interests, the textbook offers twelve lessons with a total of sixty grammar points, all conveyed through dialogues that present the realities experienced by young people and adults in contemporary Greece. Lessons are supplemented by songs, poems, realia, images, and cultural texts. A large number of cartoons by Greece's eminent artist Kostas Mitropoulos provide a running commentary on modern Greek culture and its relation to Europe and the ancient Greek past.

Employing a vocabulary of more than 2,000 words and introducing students to the most current Greek idioms, Greek Today also includes etymological notes on the evolution of the Greek language and the Greek roots of many English words.

Beautifully illustrated, Greek Today is accompanied by a CD that contains recordings of the basic texts of each lesson, performed by Greek actors.

Customer Reviews:

EXCELLENT FOR SELF STUDY.......2007-06-22

Learning modern Greek can be a bit of a daunting task.
Specially if you have some knowledges of classical Greek . The modern pronunciation, the iotacism, words that looks alike but do mean something different.. well, it can be a bit scary.

Now, I must say that "Greek Today" is a REALLY GOOD self study textbook. The main book is quite thick and is in a A4 format. It comes along with a workbook that I definitely recommend as it gives great exercises and a great way to make sure you know your vocabulary. All the explanations are in English,and also, the course comes with 2 CD roms, 1 for Mac, one for Windows, with recordings of the dialogue by Greek actors.

Studying that course is pleasant, an easy task and honestly, it makes modern Greek a Doodle to learn compared to its classical sister. NO ghastly hard conjugations, reduced declensions.. what a joy. Greek Today gives you all the pleasure of learning a great and lovely language without the headaches. The website also gives you extra material to study and loads of texts, videos andis very user friendly.
I have tried other textbooks, and THIS one is by far my favorite.

If you re serious about learning modern Greek.. Go for it . Buy that course, (I know it is an investment but you deserve quality ).
Get yourself a cup of agnos ellinikos kafes (real greek style coffee) and start studying.. You won t regret it , I can assure you that

Good Textbook.......2007-05-07

Nicely published, large textbook, with clear layout and clear font. The accompanying CD is well produced also, although it seems to lack a cross-index to the textbook. It is obviously intended for classroom use, under the guidance of a teacher. It can also be used for self-study, perhaps in tandem with " A Manual of Modern Greek" by Anne Farmakides, an older but excellent book which I found extremely helpful.

A good start.......2007-01-17

This I find to be a good start on learning Greek. Learning any language is going to require effort but having the various forms of media may ease it some. Go to their website which is also referred to in the book for additional material in learning this wonderful language.

GREEK TODAY: A COURSE IN THE MODERN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE.......2007-01-11

This is an excellent, comprehensive work on modern Greek language and culture. However, it is not ideally suited for self-tuition and needs back-up from a teacher. It is also essential to use the workbook alongside it in order to reinforce each aspect of the grammar covered. In order to make it more suited to self-tuition it would need to have a key to the exercises and a Greek/English glossary at the end of each chapter. Finally, I think that each chapter could have been divided up into smaller units in order to aid motivation. So much grammar and vocabulary is included in each chapter that it can be of-putting.

This is a good textbook........2007-01-03

It is accessible for English-speaking students and well-rounded in content.

Artcore Volume 5 (The Best of Artcore Plus Highlights)

Average customer rating:

Better than I expected.

Artcore Volume 5 (The Best of Artcore Plus Highlights)
Various
Manufacturer: SQP
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0865620989

Book Description

THE source for erotic artwork of gallery quality. Artcore has set the standards by which all other highbrow hardcore must be judged! In this installment, Artcore showcases some of the hottest material its published so far and combines it with some new finds to create a blistering "best of" that'll peel the paint off the walls! If you've been timidly circling this title, Artcore 5 will be a most excellent place to drop in and see where all the smoke is coming from!

Customer Reviews:

Better than I expected........2006-07-08

This magazine was far better than I expected. I signed up to be notified of any new editions which I will be sure to buy.

Star Wars and Philosophy (Popular Culture and Philosophy)

Average customer rating:

Good book, unil.......
Philosophy and the Force.
Son of Frost, Siblings of the Force
Philosophy from the Jedi Masters
Great idea but a bit monolithic

Star Wars and Philosophy (Popular Culture and Philosophy)

Manufacturer: Open Court
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0812695836

Book Description

The Star Wars films continue to revolutionize science fiction, creating new standards for cinematographic excellence, and permeating popular culture around the world. The films feature many complex themes ranging from good versus evil and moral development and corruption to religious faith and pragmatism, forgiveness and redemption, and many others.

The essays in this volume tackle the philosophical questions from these blockbuster films including: Was Anakin predestined to fall to the Dark Side? Are the Jedi truly role models of moral virtue? Why would the citizens and protectors of a democratic Republic allow it to descend into a tyrannical empire? Is Yoda a peaceful Zen master or a great warrior, or both? Why is there both a light and a dark side of the Force? Star Wars and Philosophy ponders the depths of these subjects and asks what it truly means to be mindful of the "living force."

Customer Reviews:

Good book, unil..............2007-01-15

I found this book to be quite entertaining and a good refresher in the basics of Plato and Aristole's writings. The only problem was the one sided view when you got to the "environment" section. The author who wrote this section came across to me as a tree hugging, socialist who would like to see corporation go down. Really a big turn off!!!!! Shame!!! Otherwise, with the exception of this one section, the book was fine. Nothing earth shattering, but neither is the "Jedi's mythology". All it is is an amalgomation of already written and explored mythologies with lightsaber fights and spaceships.

Philosophy and the Force........2007-01-11

I'm kind of a weirdo.

My wife and I went on a trip for our anniversary to a Bed and Breakfast in Thomasville, GA. We just stayed in the room and read the whole time. I read this book in about 1 day.

I have to say that I was more than a little surprised at how good a book it was. I've read other books in the Philosophy and Popular Culture series, but was expecting this one to be kind of lame. Star Wars is my favorite movie series of all time, and I find that it's easy for someone commenting on or writing about the series to provoke my ire. (Dorks hate it when other people get their life's obsession wrong.)

I am by no means a great mind. But I do enjoy the notion that Plato put forth that one cannot avoid popular culture, and it is better to teach by popular examples than by those examples that no one will understand. As a result, I say that this series is a good one if you want to get acquainted with philosophy in a "friendlier" setting than a classroom, though the average reader will still have to think more deeply than they usually do.

Which is why this is a good book. It's an introduction to critical thinking about philosophy. It causes you to question the nature of good and evil. (ie..The notion of Lying Jedi and Truthful Sith). And again, all of it is heavier thinking than the average movie watching TV viewer is used to doing, but it's worth it. It can open your eyes to philosophical notions that you hadn't really fathomed before. (ie...There is a wonderful article on Stoicism as represented by Yoda. I had no idea that stoicism was a philosophical movement, I just thought it described a certain quality. And even that was the vaguest of notions.)

There were certain aspects (philosophical not stylistic) of the book that I didn't really care for, understand fully, or agree with. But to be fair, the editor also put a note in the introduction saying that he didn't really agree with everything in it either. It does, after all, cover a wide berth of philosophical issues. No one can possibly agree with all philosophies.

So if you are like me, and probably watch too much TV, but occasionally let slip the surly bonds of your couch and reach out to learn something new, this is the book for you.

Son of Frost, Siblings of the Force.......2006-11-03

For those whose Heart burns with the fires of the cosmic energy, and loves Star Wars. This is the book for you.

Philosophy from the Jedi Masters.......2006-03-23

Certainly Abrams and the contributing writers are strong in the force. I enjoyed this book. While it may not be very deep for the seasoned philosopher, the book serves as a great intro to philosophy in a unique way. The material is clearly well researched, both from the movie and from the philosophies covered, but written in a way that beginners like myself can understand.
A great choice for both Star Wars fans and the padawan philosopher!

Great idea but a bit monolithic.......2006-03-06

I give the book high marks for its novel approach to integrating philosophy (so too the series) and popular culture in a creative way. The essays are brief, readable and mostly to the point. Fans of Star Wars, of course, will enjoy it the most. I was a little disappointed by its repetition and lack of deeper penetration. Great emphasis, for example, is place upon Yoda. He is the guru and his line "Fear leads to anger... hate .... suffering," is then a key point in many essays. Less emphasis upon the female voice is found. Padme a little but where is the voice of Lea?? Quite enjoyable but needs greater penetration!

Average customer rating:

Nice coffee table book
Far Out
good hippie book
One flower short of a bouquet
Great look, terrible text

Hippie
Barry Miles
Manufacturer: Sterling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1402714424

Book Description

It’s the celebration of an era. At a mind-blowing price, this ultimate, beautiful, illuminating, and really groovy look at the 1960s counterculture is rich in illustrations and filled with the history, politics, sayings, and slogans that defined the age. For those who were there, this volume will flash them back. For those who weren’t, they’ll wish they had been.

Sex, drugs, and rock and roll; peace rallies and riots in the ghettos; Flower Power, Black Power, and Gay Power; Mothers of Invention and Women’s Liberation; Woodstock, Monterey Pop, and Altamont. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times: it all depends on whom you ask. But without a doubt the hippies transformed society. Every significant moment of the era comes vibrantly alive once again in psychedelic images, rare portraits of writers and musicians, dynamite poster and album artwork, and photographic records of political events that shook the world. Hundreds of unforgettable quotations come from seminal figures such as Ken Kesey, Timothy Leary, Grace Slick and George Harrison. Proceeding year by year from 1965 to 1971, Hippie gives an unprecedented degree of shape and coherence to an age—that is kaleidoscopically astounding.

Barry Miles was a central figure in the counterculture milieu. He wrote Paul McCartney: Many Years from Now, as well as The Beatles: A Diary; contributed to I Want to Take You Higher, the Rock Music Hall of Fame’s chronicle of psychedelic music. The Sixties is Miles’ own memoir of the decade.

Customer Reviews:

Nice coffee table book.......2007-06-12

That's actually a very nice coffee table book with amazing pictures and good stories. Good for random "excursions" into the era of the hippie movement and the love generation. I also liked a lot the print quality. Overall, strongly recommended if you're looking for a coffee table book. If you are looking for a more detailed narrative, "The Haight-Ashbury: A History", by Charles Perry, might be more appropriate.

Far Out.......2007-06-01

I just received this book at work and quickly went through it, I noticed some reviewers were not that happy about the way it was written, considering the price and wealth of original illustrations and images this is a must have for anyone who is interested in the counterculture, looking at the images alone can give you a feel of a whole era, I loved it

good hippie book.......2007-05-22

This book is great. I loved all the pictures and information. I even got an idea from the book for my wedding! I love the hippie lifestyle!

One flower short of a bouquet.......2007-01-02

Great photos, but not a great read. Still, it's fun. Get it cheap...
Barnes & Noble recently marked it down to $5.

Great look, terrible text.......2006-12-11

I very much wanted to like this book. And I do, for the pictures, for the quotes, and for the book itself, which is nicely sized, has great cover art, and a satisfying heft. However, the writting itself is terrible.

The style of the writting could be generously called journalistic. Miles, the author, is not a writer, and his tone is that of someone dictating a grocery list, and thus the text fails to express any of the excitement and vitality which it describes.

Furthermore, there are numerous factual errors and lapses in editing. For example, San Francisco's big park is Golden Gate Park, not Central Park. To walk from SF's Filmore to Golden Gate Park, you have to walk west, not east (actually, more north-west, but let's not quibble). In terms of editing, there were several mispellings and typos, including the consistant use of quotation marks (") instead of apostropheses ('). Thus "David's" becomes "David"s." This is very sloppy editing. Was this book done on the cheap, or in a great hurry?

However, the book is only $14.95, and the pictures alone are worth the price. However, just don't buy it expecting much in terms of the writting.

Average customer rating:

Everyday English 1500-1700: A Reader

Manufacturer: University of Michigan Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Popular Culture | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Linguistics | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0472066862

Book Description

What kind of language did ordinary men and women use in the seventeenth century? Everyday English 1500-1700 addresses this question by bringing together and explaining more than sixty nonliterary texts from the early modern period, ranging from witnesses' depositions to church wardens' accounts, and from letters and journals to constables' presentments and scurrilous abuse shouted in the marketplace.

This unique source book of essential documents designed for courses on Early Modern English is designed as a teaching text with full guidance to each text, including glossary, explanatory and background notes, and suggested topics for linguistic evaluation. Everyday English takes an up-to-the-minute approach by focusing on language as it was used and spoken at the time.

This wide-ranging collection for the first time makes available to students a corpus of examples of the ordinary, nonstandard language of the man and woman in the street, coming from areas as diverse as England, Scotland, and America. The emphasis throughout is on providing as much assistance as possible to the reader to aid understanding and appreciation of both the linguistic features and the everyday lifestyles of the time.

"The only book a really conscientious teacher of the history and structure of Early Modern English would use for source texts." --Roger Lass, University of Cape Town

Bridget Cusack was lecturer in English Language, University of Edinburgh.

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