Book Description
"By the time I was 24, I was pretty jaded--I thought I'd seen and done it all. Then I met Gene. My life is divided into two sections: PG (well... maybe R) and AG (after Gene)." Shannon Tweed--model, actress,
Customer Reviews:
it was really good.......2007-08-09
i like how she described everything, and it gives some really good info on her and gene
what fun!.......2007-07-17
growing up in the same time frame as shannon tweed, i can completely go where she's been and laud her surviving and thriving today as a result! an interesting glimpse into what makes her relationship with a bad boy of rock'n'roll tick.whatever demons have driven either one of this couple, there is an air of openness and honesty that must be healthy and refreshing not only for their fans, but a great environment in which her family seems remarkably well-adjusted for ANYone in THIS day and time. thanks for sharing!
Very Disappointed!.......2007-06-27
I love biographies of all kinds and I loved Gene's book 'Kiss and Make Up'. I also love Shannon on her reality show "Gene Simmon's Family Jewels". One thing I did not love, was this book. It was horrible. I know there are so many more things she is not sharing, and that is her prerogative. This was just plain boring and seemed to be too edited by Gene. I never give books away, but I just recently gave this one to a senior citizens home (I am sure someone will be plucked when they see the nude shots inside.) If you like to read about Playmate's lives, or any stars lives, read The Bunny Tales or even Sharon Osbourne's book. Don't waste your money on this- it was horrible!
great read interesting book.......2007-05-31
interesting and a great read.if your a gene simmons fan or family jewels fan you will love this book.
Boring.......2007-05-15
Thank goodness I got a used copy to take to the beach. The beginning is about growing up in Canada, boring. I stomached a few pages of this then skipped to the early Hollywood days. If you title a book "Kiss and Tell", then by all means do it! I get the feeling Ms. Tweed is ashamed of her past and does not want to upset her children.
Average customer rating:
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Playboy: The Celebrities
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Playboy: Fifty Years : The Photographs
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ASIN: 0811856801 |
Book Description
From Marilyn Monroe to Cindy Crawford, Linda Evans to Farrah Fawcett, Playboy has celebrated the sensuality (and even launched a few careers) of celebrities for more than fifty years. Here, in all their glory, are over 150 breathtaking photographs of the magazine's most famous heavenly bodies. Celebrity models such as Naomi Campbell and Stephanie Seymour, Playmates Jenny McCarthy and Pamela Anderson, rockers such as Debbie Harry, and many more reveal all posing for equally renowned photographers such as Herb Ritts and David LaChapelle. With an introduction by Hugh Hefner himself and an afterword by Gary Cole, the magazine's director of photography for the past 30 years, this definitive collection from Playboy is a potent portfolio of celebrity nudes.
Customer Reviews:
GREAT INTERVIEW.......2007-05-12
I had read this book years ago and like so many other things, you lend it out and never get it back. sigh. I was happy to find this online and ordered it straight away. It was ordered at the same time as my Amazon stuff (through a reseller) and it beat my Amazon order by a good 3 days! lol
This is a fantastic inverview. I only wish an audio were available. Maybe someday.
My Favorite book!.......2002-07-27
I love John lennon so i started reading biographys on him and interviews, etc to learn more about him. When I read "The Playboy Interviews With John Lennon and Yoko Ono" I HONESTLY COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! I couldn't believe it; i started reading it in the afternoon and didn't put it down until late at night where i finished it! It is a wonderful, wonderful book with John's sense of humor and yoko's too and their insight into the world. It really is my favorite book because it is close to a John Lennon autobiography as the world will ever know. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
A Good Book About John and Yoko!!!!!!!!.......2002-04-09
I think that this book was very good. It took the reader in to the private lives of both John and Yoko. It gives us an inside look on what their own private lives were really like. That being when John was with The Beatles and his life afterwards and up to the end of his life. I recommend reading this book. It takes you into John's thoughts about life!!
essential insights.......2000-11-10
This is the definitive book regarding John Lennon. He reviews almost every song he wrote with or without Paul McCartney, which alone is worth the price of admission. In addition to that, he provides insights into his personal philosophies and world views. One could call it the perfect companion to the recent Beatles Anthology book. Crucial reading. How sad he had to die a little over 2 months after these interviews were conducted. Unfortunately out of print, do yourself a favor and try an out of print book search; you won't regret it.
One of my very favourite books..........2000-01-06
I first read this book back in 1983, to gain a little insight of John...and it quickly became my favourite book. Although I don't think Yoko was or is everything he thought, this was a man who truly loved his wife, and believed with his whole heart and soul in their marriage and life together. He was enjoying making music again, so much (this interview was done in September of 1980) and was looking forward to the future...hoping he'd be there with us. His love for his music, his wife, his sons, and even the Beatles are all there. He gives his opinions on every subject he can think of, both positive and negative, in his usual witty, straight-to-the-point manner that we all know him for. The interviewer did a great job, and was clearly a man who admired John Lennon as much as I do. He did a great job in this book, and it is my absolute favourite, out of all of my collection. Anyone who wants a peek into what John thought and felt and wanted you to know, should read this book...you will treasure it as I do.
Book Description
For 50 years, Playboy magazine has showcased the world's best and brightest cartoonists. Their spectacular stable of artists includes luminaries such as Buck Brown, Jack Cole, Eldon Dedini, Jules Feiffer, Shel Silverstein, Doug Sneyd, Gahan Wilson, and hundreds of others. Hip subversives and sly revolutionaries all, Playboy's artists have continually proffered a sophisticated brand of humor sorely missing in other men s magazines. Now, Playboy celebrates its golden anniversary with this glorious collection of the finest and funniest cartoons. Handpicked by Hugh M. Hefner himself, the pages are filled with the distillation of the entire cartoon archive, offering insightful commentary on topics from the sexual revolution to relationships, money, and politics. More than 450 cartoons feature sweet young things, terrible tarts, winsome wives, suitors, and studs -- a riotous chronicle of five decades of Playboy cartoons.
Customer Reviews:
cool book..........2007-03-08
would not suggest paying retail..but it is a fun book.. it would have been nice to have a litle more detail about the cartoons.. artist, year, etc....
This Is A Cool Book.......2006-09-30
Fifty years worth of cartoons from Playboy. Doesn't that just set the mind reeling? Some of the biggest names in the business have their work showcased here in this history-making compendium. These cartoons are sometimes funny, often sardonic, frequently risqué, and one and all they once graced the pages of the world's favorite source of "illustrated" reading material. Perhaps the best way to regard this hefty collection (did you catch the pun?) is as a window to the changing mores of American society regarding not only women and sex, but what is and is not acceptable subject matter for a cartoon itself. When taken as a whole I find this material reflective of how much times have changed, and Playboy magazine with it. Very little to offend anyone here, just good clean fun and some real laughs too.
Fifty years of fun........2004-06-15
It's nice to see a book of coffee-table proportions just devoted to cartoons, well why not? Previous Playboy books have covered the history of the magazine, the delightful Playmates and now the cartoons. The 450 plus illustrations are the work of 107 cartoonists and if you are a regular reader of the magazine you'll see your favorites. Gahan Wilson has the most (thirty-two) followed by regulars like Eldon Dedini, John Demsey, Alden Erikson, Kiraz, Roy Raymonde, Doug Sneyd (he of the flamboyant signature, which I was never able to decipher until now) Erich Sokol and between these, dozens of great artists who have maybe one or two works each. The humor might not be the wonderful ironic style of the New Yorker but it is amazing how many fresh takes can be created with the bachelor lifestyle.
This is a handsomely produced book, printed on thick glossy paper which, nicely, allows you to really appreciate just how good some of these artists are. My favorite, Jack Davis, unfortunately only has four shown, Richard Taylor has a super picture on page ten, an art gallery where he has created several Picasso type paintings, Doug Sneyd, Phil Interlandi and Dedini are all brilliant draughtsmen and Shel Silverstein can create so much with so little line and color.
However I was a bit disappointed with this book, as another reviewer has commented, there is no indication of when the cartoons appeared and I wish the publishers had gone the extra mile and perhaps devoted some space throughout the pages for a photo and biography of the regulars, some of these guys have been with Playboy for years. Someone though, at least, did have the foresight to compile an Artists index and a useful Order of appearance list, both of which are in the back pages.
Clearly a wonderful book for the bedside table if your date didn't turn up, try laughing yourself to sleep.
Not enough Yeagle !!!!.......2004-06-14
I enjoyed seeing the work of some of my favorite cartoon
artist...together in one book. Some I had forgotten about.
It cetainly must have been difficult to narrow down the
selection with so many great cartoons over the years.
However, I was disappointed not to see more of one of my
very favorites.....Dean Yeagle. There is one cartoon of his
in the book...and it is also on the cover...the showgirls
and earrings cartoon.
Mr.Yeagle does excellent work....just check out his website..
www.bellefree.com.....His Mandy pinup girl is adorable!
I would love to see an all Dean Yeagle book published !!!!!!
nice book, but..........2004-05-07
First of all this book is printed on excellent paper & is well done except for one thing. there is no way to tell what year the cartoons are from. They should have had chapters. 1950`s 1960`s ect so you know what era they are from
Book Description
From Playboy's classic archives comes a trilogy of stocking-stuffer-sized volumes, each devoted to a certain hair color destined to quicken a man's pulse. Blonde? Brunette? Redhead? In the fifties, sixties, and seventies, it seemed like all the Playboy models, not just blondes, had more fun. Building sandcastles in the buff, romping on tiger skin rugs, or starting pillow fights, beauties of every tress are captured in these timeless color photographs. Playboy contributing editor James R. Petersen introduces each book with a heartfelt text, and witty quotes are sprinkled throughout. At once evocative and whimsical, this handsome collection is a perfect gift for a gentleman whether he prefers a blonde, marries a brunette, or has always had a thing for a redhead.
Customer Reviews:
If I can't have red, I'd rather be dead!.......2007-09-05
After reading the other reviews, I was somewhat hesitant to purchase this book. But I love redheads, so I went ahead. I'm glad I did. This book absolutely works for me. My only complaint is the size of the pages. They measure 8 in. x 6 in, nowhere near large enough to do justice to the beauty of these women. Others have complained about the age of the photos, but for me, it adds an intriguing element to the book. It's like a set of rare treasures, sealed in a time capsule for 30 years to scintillate a new generation. The beauty of many of these ladies is enough to overcome the age of the photos, especially Marquerite Empey, Willy Rey, Deanna Baker and Monica Tidwell. Deanna and Monica in particular look as if their pictures were taken yesterday, not in the 70s. The foldout featuring Allison Parks is excellent as well.
If you love redheads, I think you will enjoy this book despite the small pages. But there are a few reasons it might not work for everybody. First is the age of the photos. The most recent date I saw was 1973. For me, a beautiful nude woman is a beautiful nude woman. But if hairstyle affects your appreciation of a woman's body, you will find a few of these photos off-putting. Some of the tan lines are a bit amusing, too. Also, if you're looking for the anatomical lesson to be found in modern Playboy photos, you won't find it here. In other words, there are no microscopic examinations of hairless genitalia here. In fact, there is only one crotch shot, and it is quite hairy. As noted by others, these pictures are a bit more artistic and less explicit than what you will find in the modern magazine. Works for me, but maybe not for all.
I wish the photos were larger, but I have no absolutely regrets about buying this book.
Great Book.......2007-05-15
This book really isn't just another playboy, its more of an art book dedicated to red heads. If you've got a thing for red heads then I would say this book is a good choice. While not all of the girls are attractive some of the prettiest girls I have ever seen are in here. Its interesting to see the changes of women over the decades.
Come On Baby, Light My Fire..........2007-03-26
This mini-volume is one of three vintage photo collections issued by Playboy to celebrate any man's favorite hair color. PLAYBOY: REDHEADS is an homage to that relatively rare though undeniably beautiful and mysterious mutant strain, the true redhead.
James Peterson, the Editor, must love redheads the most. He waxes absolutely rhapsodic about them in his introduction. Any man who appreciates the redhead will instantly understand.
The book consists only of photos dating from 1953 to 1974. While many alluring redheads have appeared in Playboy's pages since then, by limiting the collection to The First Twenty Years, Peterson has no shrift with "bottle jobs," ignores the artificially-enhanced breast, and disdains the racing stripe sorority and the Baby Bare Generation. Thank heavens! The women portrayed herein are real women, some of them wearing Mrs. Cleaver's hairdo perhaps, and some of them more voluptuous and less toned than current tastes allow, but, still in all, untouched by surgically-gloved hands.
Since this is a collection of vintage photographs, they range from 1950s stilted to 1970s freestyle, and it is interesting to see the magazine evolve, and our culture's perceptions of feminine beauty change.
My only criticism is that there just isn't enough of it.
PLAYBOY: REDHEADS is a great "stocking stuffer" book for any man with taste.
Playboy Redheads.......2006-10-25
Whether it's a smoldering auburn, a fire engine red or a sweet strawberry blonde, red hair has captivated red-blooded men for centuries. The rarest and most beguiling of hair colors finally gets its due in this collection of fabulous full color photographs from PLAYBOY from the fifties, sixties and seventies. This sleek volume presents a host of scantily clad beauties each in her favorite element: frolicking poolside, preparing the perfect cocktail, starting a pillow fight. Elegantly designed with the discerning man in mind, REDHEADS captures the eye like only a REDHEAD can.
Playboy: Brunettes.......2006-10-13
this review refers to the Brunettes edition of the 3-book Playboy series:Brunettes,Blondes and Redheads.
the girls in these pages range from the late 50's to the early 70's.
i am of the age that the girls from the mid-60's to early 70's are my favorite so this book was just for me and i should think other men who prefer girls from those days.
Playboy girls are always so pretty. sweet smiles. nothing dirty or raw about them.
the girls from this era had no use for implants which i don't even think were around then.
back then, the girls were all natural. and the brunettes in this book are all natural and beautiful......and of course sexy.
i highly recommend this book. and it's very reasonably priced too.
Average customer rating:
- Incredibly Shallow
- accidental find
- One very funny book
- insightful and disturbing
- What a surprise
|
Accidental Playboy: Caught in the Ultimate Male Fantasy
Leif Ueland
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0446527009 |
Book Description
Struggling writer Leif Ueland has hit rock bottom: no job, no money, no decent apartment, no girlfriend, and he's also a really nice guy. Acutely insecure, he's been trying to get a grip on things with the help of a mentoring therapist. Then the opportunity of a lifetime arrives: Playboy's Playmate of the Millennium search. Dozens of cities. Thousands of women. And one man covering it all. Suddenly, Leif, a son in a family of feminists, the anti-Hefner, finds himself at the center of a vortex of erotica, sexual harrassment, plastic surgery, stripping, and, always, beautiful women. But what does it mean to be a heterosexual, single guy? Sensitivity to women's needs? A life full of machismo and meaningless sex? Leif Ueland is about to find out-and tell all.
Download Description
Sometime journalist Leif Ueland has hit rock bottom as a straight single male: not only does he not have a girlfriend, but he's also a really nice guy who's visibly uncomfortable in the presence of overt he-manishness. Combine that with no job, money, or decent apartment, and the result is acute insecurity. How, he wonders, can he expect to decode women's sexuality if he can't even understand his own? Then, the opportunity of a lifetime comes along: The world's leading men's magazine needs a Fearless Reporter to travel cross-country for six months on the "Playboy Bus" in search of the Playmate of the Millennium. Dozens of cities. Thousands of women, willing to take it all off for cheesecake immortality. One man, covering it all: Leif, the anti-Hefner, the only son in a family of feminists, who finds himself at the center of a vortex of erotica, sexual harassment, plastic surgery, stripping, and, always, beautiful women.As the cross-country journey progresses and the overwhelming sense of vertigo increases, Leif struggles to figure out what it is to be a heterosexual single guy. Is it being sensitive to women's needs, like his mother and women friends taught him? Is it being a "man's man," full of machismo and meaningless sex? Or can he find some kind of utopian meeting place, preserving a liberal, enlightened sensibility while at the same time giving his libido a "ticket to ride"?
Customer Reviews:
Incredibly Shallow.......2003-10-02
The book chronicles nerve.com columnist Leif Ueland's experience after he was "accidentally" thrust by circumstance into the position of chronicling Playboy's search for their year 2000 "playmate of the millennium" for the Playboy Web site.
So, early on, the book promises to be something of an expose of the shallowness involved in the whole liking-people-for-their-looks thing, by someone who thinks of himself as a deep thinker, who is working on the great American novel. But, the opposite turns out to be the case. It is, "accidentally" an expose of this so-called deep thinker who, as a friend of mine put it, "thinks he's a saint because he's one step removed from the devil himself." That is, because he's maybe 10% less shallow than the incredibly shallow people around him, he thinks he's incredibly un-shallow, which he isn't. Almost immediately, he's dropped his idea of making his playboy.com column classy, and is obsessed with making it popular. And he keeps telling himself that, because he'll never have another opportunity like this, it's important that he have sex with someone once during this year of working for Playboy. And like a made-for-playboy movie, the book's climax comes when he sleeps with a random stranger who he met on the road, as though that resolves everything.
accidental find.......2003-08-18
I found this book in the political figures section of audible.com and downloaded it on a whim. It turns out to be the most entertaining piece of non-fiction that I have read/heard in a long time.
Leif Ueland, fearless reporter, begins the 1999 search for the millenium playmate very tentatively and is hesitant to dive into the playboy culture. As the bus trip/search progresses, he becomes more bold and lives out a handful of his own "Hef-scapades". Leif Ueland offers an incredibly insightful and sensitive perspective of the millenium playmate search and the Playboy corporate culture. The book is reminiscent of Hunter S Thompson trips but with a 90's flair.
One very funny book.......2003-01-28
I just finished this hilarious book, Accidental Playboy. I purchased the book to give to my boyfriend for X-Mas, knowing he would love it. Unfortunetly, I randomly opened to page 5, my eyes focusing on a line that I don't think I can repeat here. I only put it down to sleep and eat. Ueland is so honest about his sexuality, or lack there of, and I adored that as well. I also loved how he revealed so much through the scenes with his therapist and really let women in on how the mind of at least one guy works. I could go on and on. All and all I loved it and now must buy my boyfriend his own copy.
insightful and disturbing.......2002-12-19
I thought this book was interesting and funny. The author seems quite honest and tries to be such a "good guy" despite finding himself in the middle of the "ultimate" male fantasy. He is introspective on some levels, but doesn't seem to ever realize that little by little he becomes just another man perpetuating harmful stereotypes about women and supporting a corporation that thrives on objectifying them. If Mr. Ueland has foremothers who were writers, they would probably be proud of his skill as an author. But I'm guessing that his feminist foremothers, whom he mentions, would be disgusted.
What a surprise.......2002-11-14
After a exhausting week at work, I picked this book up along with some Haagen Daz and bottle of champagne wanting a mindless, childish weekend at home. I started the book not expecting much, Ueland won me over after a few pages. I resisted, and much like being in the company of a new love affair, I slowly melted and was left begging for more. Although I am not claiming it to be the most well written book, nor a masterpiece, it is however brutally honest and says what most men would hesitate to say. His wit, his words, the sarcasm... We need more Ueland's around. I suggest anyone with any sort of interest in human nature to pick it up, and any gal ever confounded by the male sex needs a copy as well. Oh and did I mention, the general male population could stand to take a few tips.
Book Description
Collecting a half-century of cartoons from Playboy's most venerable contributor.
For over 45 years, Eldon Dedini has been one of Playboy's most recognizable full-page gag cartoonists. With a masterful watercolor technique that burlesques a broad range of subjects—from East and West Coast urban and suburban adult-hipster to classical Japanese erotic prints—Dedini's most personal cartoons rely on mythology and legend, evoking a bucolic sexually liberated paradise that leaves its reader lingering over the imagery long after the gag registers.
A lifelong Californian, Dedini cut his graphic teeth in his early twenties as an editorial cartoonist for the Salinas Morning Post. He studied drawing and painting for two years at L.A.'s Chouinard Institute until 1944, when Walt Disney Studios hired him as a story sketch artist. Refusing to end up as just another anonymous Disney drone, Dedini worked nights and weekends to develop his own style and sold dozens of cartoons to Esquire, which in 1946 offered him a four-year contract at twice his Disney salary. In 1950 Dedini moved to The New Yorker—where he is still a contributor—and finally to Playboy in 1959.
An Orgy of Playboy's Eldon Dedini is the first retrospective collection of his work and gathers in one volume the most sophisticated, elegant—and funny—gag panels of the past six decades.
Customer Reviews:
Dedini was the best!.......2007-07-14
Dedini was the master at his craft. He worked at Disney,Esquire,Playboy,New Yorker etc. He worked at his same drawing board in Carmel CA for 50yrs! His research books were stacked to the ceiling. I had the pleasure of meeting him several times in 2005. The book AN ORGY of PLAYBOYS ELDON DEDINI is a beautiful tribute!
The Best Cartoonist at Playboy.......2007-02-11
I knew Eldon.He was a master.He loved his work and it showed with the wonderful women etc he drew for his cartoons in Playboy.His watercolor work was superb.His jokes;on the button funny.He was simply the best at his occupation.I will miss him and his art,and so will readers of Playboy.
One Of The Best Books and Film Put Out By Playboy.......2007-01-12
The book on the life, art, and personal observations of Eldon Dedini is excellent indeed. The cartoon photos are beautiful, and the explanation of the steps involved in creating the final cartoon is informative. I especially liked the DVD film of Eldon Dedini at the back of the book. It gave me a look into the person of Eldon Dedini, what made him tick and what kind of a person he was. I found the information on his family life most interesting. [...]
Worth it for the DVD alone.......2006-11-28
Aside from the gorgeous cartoons, the book comes with a DVD documentary called 'Dedini - A life in Cartoons'
While the book gives the reader a great look at Eldon's work over the years (on very fancy paper I might add) the DVD tells you about the life of this great artist. It is funny to see how so many of the women in his cartoons look just like his wife (she features in the documentary too)
Considering I bought this thinking I'd just get the book, it was a great surprise to find that it came with a DVD, there is no mention of it in the listing.
Book Description
Jean Shepherd (1921-1999), master humorist, is best known for his creation A Christmas Story, the popular movie about the child who wants a BB gun for Christmas and nearly shoots his eye out. What else did Shepherd do? He is considered by many to be the Mark Twain and James Thurber of his day. For many thousands of fans, for decades, "Shep" talked on the radio late at night, keeping them up way past their bedtimes. He entertained without a script, improvising like a jazz musician, on any and every subject you can imagine. He invented and remains the master of talk radio. Shepherd perpetrated one of the great literary hoaxes of all time, promoting a nonexistent book and author, and then brought the book into existence. He wrote 23 short stories for Playboy, four times winning their humor of the year award, and also interviewed The Beatles for the magazine. He authored several popular books of humor and satire, created several television series and acted in several plays. He is the model for the character played by Jason Robards in the play and movie A Thousand Clowns, as well as the inspiration for the Shel Silverstein song made famous by Johnny Cash, "A Boy Named Sue." Readers will learn the significance of innumerable Shepherd words and phrases, such as "Excelsior, you fathead," and observe his constant confrontations with the America he loved. They will get to know and understand this multitalented genius by peeking behind the wall he built for himself - a wall to hide a different and less agreeable persona. Through interviews with his friends, co-workers and creative associates, such as musician David Amram, cartoonist and playwright Jules Feiffer, publisher and broadcaster Paul Krassner, and author Norman Mailer, the book explains a complex and unique genius of our time. "Shepherd pretty much invented talk radio ... What I got of him was a wonder at the world one man could create. I am as awed now by his achievement as I was then." - Richard Corliss, Time magazine online
Customer Reviews:
An Excellent Compendium of Shepherd's Life.......2007-05-14
This book does not attempt to be a linear, narrative biography of Shepherd's life, but instead contains voluminous material organized around broad themes that cut across different time periods of his life. This is both a difficulty and a strength. It can make for a somewhat difficult and disjointed reading experience. The text contains extensive quotes from Shepherd's radio broadcasts, which, while valuable to have in writing, lose something in translation from Shepherd's delivery to written text and break up the flow of Bergmann's text. However, when viewed as a Jean Shepherd encyclopedia, the book is an indispensable addition to a Shepherd fan's library, as it assembles a prodigious amount of material. The book paints a full picture of Shepherd in both his genius and his flaws, including a sensitive treatment of Shepherd's problematic relationships with women and with his two, sometimes unacknowledged, children.
Excelsior, You Fathead! Missed a lot .......2007-05-13
I was very disappointed after reading this book. A lot of good information about the life of Jean Shepherd was left out. Many details of his life were either missed or overlooked. I would hardly call it a biography. Most of the details were left out. After reading the entire book, I said to myself, "Is that it?" Hopefully someone will write a more complete story of such a man that was larger than life.
Warts and all, still a genius.......2007-04-11
For this listener of the incomparable Jean Shepherd when his show was live on WOR radio out of New York and who still tunes in via taped recordings on the internet, "Excelsior...[ever higher]...You Fathead! [a Shepherdism]" is very welcome. His show did not book guests; it was Shep alone, monologist at work. Yes, Shepherd branched out into books, records, and a film he wrote and narrated--but those were pale imitations of the real thing, the radio show.
Some of Bergmann's revelations about Shepherd's personal life will be disappointing to those who carried his banner a tad too high. Bergmann is a fan but his view of Jean Shepherd's unpleasant side is unvarnished and well-researched through interviews and published quotes of those who knew him. By all accounts Jean Shepherd was a hard man to know. Purposely so: he often did not give his real address to employers, coworkers, and friends. He would disappear for days in fast cars, touring the countryside. He traveled the world, usually alone. Which left the author fewer sources than he would have preferred decades after Shepherd's radio years. But he found enough. They offer insights into the "enigma" in the title, a polite description of a probable manic-depressive who often sabotaged his own dreams of fame and fortune.
The "art" was spun out of an empty studio near Times Square in the quiet of late night from the 1950s to the mid-70s; it is an art like no other before or since. Some of Shepherd's monologues are partially excerpted here from recordings Bergmann painstakingly transcribed. Among these the author deftly weaves details he has unearthed of Shepherd's childhood in Indiana, his Army service, his tempestuous years in the Big City.
Of course, not all Shepherd's radio broadcasts were unforgettable. The man had to fill forty-five minutes every night. When he got away from his natural talent for storytelling and indugled in shrill rants against all manner of "phoniness," he played too strongly to the sophomoric segment of his audience, the size of which he sometimes claimed dismayed him, Bergmann notes. Yet throughout his career Shepherd relied heavily on gigs at college campuses for extra income. But he wanted it all. The author relates how his subject fancied himself an heir to Jack Paar on the big-money "Tonight Show" before Johnny Carson snatched it away; had he won the job, Shepherd wouldn't have lasted a month: he was consistently dismissive of that audience...but he still craved its approval. And was bitter he didn't get it.
Yet, he played Carnegie Hall to great success. Carson was an admirer, Bergmann says, advising Shepherd to "get out of that damned medium [radio]." But radio was made for Shepherd and he for it. Bergmann writes that U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins grew up a regular listener and acknowledged being influenced by Shepherd. When Shep was "on," it was magic. Regretfully, talk radio was withering in Shepherd's best years. And he knew it.
This is the first book-length work that gives real shape to the man that was Jean Shepherd and the genius behind the voice.
A crummy commercial........2006-12-31
Forget "A Christmas Story" for a moment. Even this long love letter to Jean Shepherd only covers it to the extent of two pages. This book attempts to document the body of work Mr. Shepherd produced, within its contemporary context, and relate it to the present-day descendants. At least, that's where I think the author intended to go.
What ended up happening, from what I can tell, is that there was a great deal of research done 'breadth-wise' and not enough 'depth-wise'. Mr. Shepherd had two children who he disowned, which was a bit of a shock considering his on-air persona. This alone merited an entire chapter of material, analysis, interviews, anything. It barely made it into the book, except to lightly underscore some mild point about Mr. Shepherd being a bit of an SOB. There are all these interesting inflection points throughout, but no attempt is made to root out anything other than a mere mention or two. Instead, the author chooses to use radio transcripts to either demonstrate some thinly-connected theme (Shep as a jazz talk-radio guy, Shep as an anti-corporate loner, Shep as a 'realist'). The transcripts are hit and miss on the coverage of the point being proposed as well. Yes, it's great to read some Shep transcripts, but what's the point being made here?
As a full spectral coverage of Mr. Shepherd's work, it fails to catalog along some consistent continuum all of the work, in its proper context. The author could've used a timeline structure to place all of the known media, which would have made an extremely useful supplementary guide for the book as well as a nice 'wish list' for fans. I feel as though this review could easily turn into the kind of editorial feedback the author needed *before* he submitted his final galleys.
For all the heft of this hardcover, I expected far more analysis or even a somewhat cogent thesis. Even as a comprehensive biographical reference book, it falls far short in the editing department. Still, it merited three stars because it does bring much to the table. It never really organizes it, though.
-Fred
Hmm.. Head Scratcher.......2006-07-17
This will be short and not so sweet. I was disappointed in this book for one reason, it read like a text book, and a very boring text book at that. I don't mean any disrespect because I know this work took hundreds of hours, and the information was very interesting, but like I said it was boring and I had to struggle through just to finish it
Customer Reviews:
Great Look Into the Glory Years of The Playboy Mansion.......2007-01-05
Much like the TV show "Playboy After Dark" this book gives one a real look into the glory days of the Playboy Lifestyle and specifically the Playboy Mansion. Although more of a coffee table book, the pictures and even the plans to the "original" bachelor pad that Hefner planned to build, are also included. The pictures and the memories included in this book are facinating.
A very wierd book.......2002-08-25
Inside the Playboy Mansion starts out really great. Shows the lifestyle most young bachelors want for themselves by showing how Hef entertained at his Chicago mansion in the 60s. Lots of socializing with very important figures of the day plus all the beautiful women these young men would want. As the book progresses throughout the decades(that's how "Inside" is divided), it's starts looking like a very uninspiringly put together society page from a newspaper. Ho-hum pictures with Hefner and celebrities. Don't get me wrong, the book also has some great shots of the most important playmates ever, especially Barbi Benton which was possibly the cutest playmate ever.
However, the thing that bothered me the most about "Inside" was the last part, were Hefner marries Kimberly Conrad and they have two boys. Totally wierd. All the baby & family pictures just didn't fit. I mean, its starts out as this great sexy book and then it turns into a freaking family album, COME ON!
An execellent journey of the famed Playboy Mansion.......2000-08-21
This is such an interesting book both in photographs and the stories behind each of the Chicago and "Hollywood" mansions that Hef has lived in. From the early 1960's where the food and the women were abundant listening to the Beatles, The Rolling Stones and even Frank Sinatra, the Chicago Playboy Mansion was definitely the social scene of the early-mid 1960's and 1970's. Even the Playboy Bunny's had special rooms upstairs in the mansion where they paid rent to live (although very inexpensive rent due to the genorosity of Hef). Now the Playboy Mansion West is the social scene in the 1990's. The heyday's of the 1960's 1970's and 1990's (the 1980s were a down period for the mansion, also Hef was married to Kimberly Conrad so the 1980's were a quiet time at the Mansion) are shown in excellent photographic detail, and yes Hef rightly so, is the spotlight and focus of this book since he is the creator not only of Playboy Magazine but also the Playboy lifestyle.
From Chicago Hef moved to California and started the Playboy Mansion West (still the place to go for Hollywood's elite) and every Playboy fans fantasy is to visit the mansion and meet Hef himself. From the Grotto to the movie room each room gives a glimpse of what a tour would be like and what it would also be like to live there. The party's, the movie nights, and even the petting zoo are shown. This book is a result of many fans of Hef and Playboy asking him what his everyday life is like behind the scene's at the mansion.
I congratulate Hugh M. Hefner for starting the vision of Playboy, which not only showcases beautiful women from around the world, but also gives them the opportunity to take that experience and make it an opportunity. Alot of feminists and people may not agree with Hef's philosophy and lifestyle, but that is what makes Playboy great. The Playboy forum and letter's to the editor gives people and readers of Playboy Magazine a chance to voice their opinion if to agree or disagree, Hef believes in the right for people to make their own choice and express it. That is one of the purposes of Playboy, the freedom to express yourself, as long as it does not hurt or damage others.
Thank you Hef for allowing your fans to appreciate the scenes of the Playboy Mansion and what has happened there over the years, (what I wouldnt give to go to a Midsummer's Night Dream Party or to Hefs movie nights!) This is a great book to all fans of Playboy and the immortal Hugh M. Hefner.
Figures of 20th century: Hugh Hefner.......2000-04-28
Truely one of the great masterworks of the late 20th century. In years to come will be an essential classic for the whole family. Many interesting pictures.
How Much "Hef" Can You Take?.......1999-02-03
This big, candy-colored book suffers from so much merciless knee-bending to the great lord of the manor--Hef, Hef, Hef--as if he were some sort of god. (And you just thought he published dirty books.) Indeed, you begin to think the main activity at the mansions must have been butt-kissing. This book was penned by longtime Playboy staffer Gretchen Edgren, with Playboy's full cooperation, so don't expect any details on the very real toll this silly, hedonistic life ultimately had on some of the participants. What's most amusing is that Hugh Hefner seems the anomaly in his own surroundings, a small, unglamorous, goofy looking guy surrounded by A-list celebrities and tantalizing vixens. He seems plucked out of a James Thurber short story, a Walter Mitty, transported from his accounting cubicle to a life of carnal overkill. One outtake photo included actually shows Hefner's large , exposed behind in the famed grotto. Also, interestingly, is a very unflattering photo of Kimberley Hefner, the Playmate For A Lifetime, who is now estranged from her husband. A most rosy postcard from Chicago and Holmby Hills.
Book Description
Alice Denham's lusty memoir is a juicy tell-all about a time when male writers were gods and an aspiring and gorgeous female novelist tries to win respect-and sometimes more. Caught between the sheets are James Dean, Norman Mailer, Hugh Hefner, Philip Roth, and William Gaddis. The steam rises page by page as Denham-the only Playboy Playmate to have her fiction published in the same issue as her centerfold-chases her dream of writing as a young, oversexed beauty in the literary swirl of 1950s Greenwich Village, New York City.
Customer Reviews:
Fantastic read!.......2007-08-14
An excellent retelling of her literary and sexual exploits during the 50s. Because she knew so many famous authors, it's also a fun look through a different angle of the beat generations history. The bits about James Dean and Norman Mailer are fun reads, as well as many others. Her writing is evocative and juicy, making the book a relatively quick read and a page-turner. It's all around a fun book to read, her life in the 50s was excellently publishable.
The way she writes about love and sex makes this book amazing and timeless, thanks to her friends and acquaintances, the literary heroes from the 50s, her interesting struggle to have her writing published, and her entertaining rift with Playboy. Not recommended for anyone looking for a literary history, but for any fan of the beat generation or looking for a good, fun read about past times.
Utterly absorbing from cover to cover and enthusiastically recommended........2007-05-13
Author Alice Denham, whose writings have appeared in "The New York Times", "New York" magazine, "Cosmopolitan", and "Playboy" (her fiction was published in the same issue as her centerfold) presents Sleeping With Bad Boys: A Juicy Tell-All of Literary New York in the Fifties and Sixties. Sleeping With Bad Boys lives up to its title and then some, offering lusty, sexy, between-the-sheets tell-alls about James Dean, Normain Mailer, Hugh Hefner, Philip Roth, and William Gaddis. Though sensual elements are definitely a highlight, Sleeping With Bad Boys isn't all sex, all the time; chapters also tell of the author's road to maturity, and pivotal events in her life, from private family emergencies to the assassination of JFK. Written in an anecdotal style of brief, discrete passages that lend themselves to being read a little bit at a time or all at once, Sleeping With Bad Boys is utterly absorbing from cover to cover and enthusiastically recommended.
Carl.......2007-02-07
Her struggle to succeed in publishing her writing is admirable, but the titillating bits of sexual exploits though interesting detract from the main story.
Fools are they who kiss and tell.......2007-01-01
Fools are they who kiss and tell the wise poet once sung. Man can hold many a place if he can only hold his tongue. Because of that, I usually avoid kiss and tell books. Who wants to read something written by a fool? But the New York Times reviewed sleeping with Bad Boys favorably and the book did touch on two of my favorite subjects: Literature and Sex. Alice didn't disappoint me. She is a real writer with intelligent things to say. Besides being literate, her memoir does not have the feeling of retrospective falsification that often haunts and sometimes adorns similar works. In fact, I can almost hear the file cards in the background, as she tells us, with a sense of immediacy, about James Dean (his is too small) in bed or Norman Mailer (what he knew about love was nada). And yes she was playmate of the month back in 1956, I think. I'm too lazy to look up the exact date. And yes, she did it with Hugh Hefner as many of the playmates did. Sort of like pay to play only it's play to play. Alas, alack, her sex friends disappointed her by not blurbing her book. She thinks that they are prejudiced against the second sex. More likely, they like women but not those who kiss and tell. Alice Denham is not quite the oversexed ancient Aztec goddess of earth and fire, Coatlicue. But she is close enough to inspire worship by me.
No Exley, Alice?!?.......2006-12-06
Unfortunately, like the rest of the world, Miss Denham has forgotten poor Fred Exley!
Otherwise, this is a fun, breezy read.
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- Knitting on the Edge: Ribs, Ruffles, Lace, Fringes, Floral, Points & Picots: The Essential Collection of 350 Decorative Borders
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- Letter to a Christian Nation
- Literacy for the 21st Century: A Balanced Approach (4th Edition)
- Literacy for the 21st Century: A Balanced Approach (4th Edition)
- Make: The First Year (4 vol. set)
- Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga and Graphic Novels
- Making Polymer Clay Beads: Step-by-Step Techniques for Creating Beautiful Ornamental Beads
- Maus : A Survivor's Tale : My Father Bleeds History/Here My Troubles Began/Boxed
- Mistress of the Art of Death
Books Index
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