Average customer rating:
- typical
- Couldn't make it past the first paragraph
- Stevie B has a great Holy Spirit directed book
- can't help but love this guy!
- I found Baldwin's "tell it like it is" style refreshing and genuine
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The Unusual Suspect: My Calling to the New Hardcore Movement of Faith
Stephen Baldwin , and
Mark Tabb
Manufacturer: FaithWords
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Binding: Perfect Paperback
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ASIN: 0446579750 |
Book Description
Stephen Baldwin explains why he compares his new life of faith to jumping out of an airplane without a parachute, and calls on you to take the plunge.When Stephen Baldwin was riding the wave of fame from his most successful movie, The Usual Suspects, he thought he was in his glory. Hot in Hollywood--whatever Stephen wanted, Stephen got. Years later, happily married and living his life far from Hollywood, Stephen happened upon Christianity via a most unusual conversion. Now Stephen takes us behind the scenes and tells the stories we've yet to hear--of celebrity fun, curious family, and hardcore faith. He takes an in-depth look at the church's current role in society and the extreme faith movement. It's obvious Stephen has identified his new role in life--that of a Christian--a role more radical than anything in Hollywood.
Customer Reviews:
typical.......2007-09-25
I started this book with an intense curiosity to see just what type of faith this man would be talking about. Certainly we can see that Mr. Baldwin is living a much better life since he adopted Christianity! There is no doubt about that.
But where he falls short is when he starts trying to preach and convert others. His claim that only his God is the right one, and his belief in a literal interpretation of the Bible point to the fact that he can only address the lower ends of the belief spectrum: the Stage ones (see my blog: BeliefStagesandGrowth.com for explanation) who are as yet totally unprincipled and need to adopt that type of religion to make their lives work and the Stage Twos who have already adopted his same type of Christianity and are happy to find their own beliefs substantiated by his.
Certainly, Mr. Baldwin's ministry is of great benefit to the Stage Ones of the world. I wish him much luck in converting all of them! But I do wish there were more understanding in the world that other forms of belief (including that held by many more advanced Christians - Stage Fours) that hold validity as well. Mr. Baldwin makes the mistake of assuming all the world either follows his religion, (called Stage twos on my blog: BeliefStagesandGrowth.com) or lives a totally unprincipled life filled with the chaos of his own pre-Christian experience. (called Stage one on my blog) He seems to try to refute the objections some of the upper level believers might offer (i.e. a God of love would never send anyone to hell,) but he does so in a typically Stage two way - with short, pat answers that come from the bible and are based simply on blind faith.
The only trouble with promoting this simplistic belief system as being the final word is that it discourages the possiblity of questioning and growth to one of the more mature forms (http://beliefstagesandgrowth.com/blog/2007/07/29/walter-clarks-criteria-for-a-mature-religion/)that people might be able to achieve, were the less mature form not being touted in such a pat way by people like Mr. Baldwin.
Couldn't make it past the first paragraph.......2007-09-24
I decided to check this book out because I had heard some great things about the upcoming movie "Midnight Clear". As I read the first paragraph, I was troubled by the comment he made about Barney- ??? - Rubble. What is that about? We all now what that's a euphemism for. It was a red flag for me. I'm not judging the guy. I just don't want to read that.
Stevie B has a great Holy Spirit directed book.......2007-08-30
Stevie B's book I truely believe is inspired by God HIMSELF. What the Lord is doing in the Livin it Ministries is great. You can really see the power of God in Unusual Suspect and with the wonderful stories and teaching to the Young and old, married and unmarried alike. God is AWESOME!! I really pray that the Lord Jesus does a great and mighty work with this book and the Ministry to bring many into HIS KINGDOM.
can't help but love this guy!.......2007-07-28
can't help but love this guy! Pray for him as he ministers to his family...pray for his family too!
Keys to Third Heaven...Using Third Heaven Revelation to Impact a World
Seers Handbook
I found Baldwin's "tell it like it is" style refreshing and genuine.......2007-06-06
Over the years, I've been a bit skeptical about celebrities who become Christians and actively proclaim their faith in Jesus. I took this type of "show me it's true" attitude as I began reading Stephen Baldwin's book with the subtitle, "My Calling to the New Hardcore Movement of Faith." I have seen a few of his films and am familiar with his acting brothers.
Page by page, this book wins over the skeptics, and the reality of Baldwin's genuine Christian experience rings true through these chapters. We learn about the youngest Baldwin brother, who was raised in a middle-class Irish Catholic family in Massapequa, New York. In the opening chapter, Baldwin talks about the depth of his chasing celebrity and a story about seeing Robert Downey, Jr. at the Playboy Mansion. Downey leads Baldwin to a beautiful wine cellar where four playmates are smoking pot. Since Baldwin had stopped drinking several years earlier, he saw the meaninglessness of the situation and left.
Describing his life as blessed and lucky, Baldwin sheds light on his acting career and how it's given him a platform to talk to American youth --- and actually have them listen. Ironically, most teens recognize him from Bio-Dome, a film that the critics hated. As he writes, "God had me make this film to give me the platform that would later become my life's work. At the time, I just wanted to goof off with Pauly Shore for a couple of months. God knew that, and He also knew the plans He had for my life, plans He made sure came to pass."
Baldwin's faith story is told in detail. His wife, Kennya, hires Augusta, a Brazilian housekeeper who only speaks Portuguese. Since Kennya is from Brazil, she can communicate with Augusta. But the housekeeper has one minor quirk: she walks around the house singing about Jesus. Because of Augusta, Baldwin's wife begins to read her Bible and occasionally attend some Bible studies. During a year of prayer for her husband, Kennya shows him Jesus; ultimately, during the ninth and twelfth months, he begins to listen.
Baldwin describes his journey to grow in his faith and give control to Jesus. The Unusual Suspect covers the basics of faith for a new believer from Baldwin's perspective. His stories are unconventional, and his insights about the centrality of the Bible, the importance of prayer and the reality of love for the lost have a freshness that will resonate with many people.
Throughout the book, Bible verses are woven into the text in an appropriate and non-preachy manner. My skepticism turned to enthusiasm as I read about Baldwin's experiences combined with the skilled storytelling from writer Mark Tabb. Baldwin has had a true encounter with Jesus and is out to change his world. He doesn't claim to have all the answers, but he clearly understands that the love of God has to be balanced with the fear of God's pending wrath. Toward the end of the book, Baldwin includes some words that may startle the conservative crowd: "You can think all of this is a bunch of crap. That's your right. You can slam this book shut and say I don't know what I'm talking about. You can say that the God of love you believe in would never send anyone to hell. You can take that chance if you want. But keep this in mind: A day of judgment is coming. Don't blame me when the lever is pulled and you start falling toward hell."
I found Baldwin's "tell it like it is" style refreshing and genuine. I wholeheartedly recommend The Unusual Suspect.
--- Reviewed by W. Terry Whalin
Book Description
TOP FIVE MUSICAL THINGS I HOPE HAPPEN NOW THAT THE ORIGINAL LINEUPS OF THE PIXIES AND DINOSAUR JR. HAVE REUNITED
1. Ian Curtis is resurrected.
2. The Smiths reunite for a private party at my favorite bar.
3. There is a new My Bloody Valentine album.
4. A new Nirvana comes along to blow away all of those fey Duran Duran emulators.
5. Radiohead stops listening to Pink Floyd and starts listening to Black Sabbath.
If you've ever made, or conceived of, a list like this, then look no further for your next book purchase. You have it. In your hands. Please consider it as your next book purchase.
In Perfect From Now On, John Sellers has written a fan's memoir overflowing with humor, self-deprecation, encyclopedic knowledge of musical minutiae, and "you should have been there" personal anecdotes. Despite vowing never to get caught up in music due to the nuttiness of a Dylan-obsessed father and playground taunts about his preference for Top 40 trash, he found himself powerless to resist the allure of indie rock, the genre that begat the likes of Sonic Youth, Pavement, Built to Spill, and Modest Mouse. When his favorite band, Guided By Voices, called it quits in 2004, Sellers examined his own listening habits, caught a few mind-blowing shows, got drunk with his heroes, and wrote this book -- one that is sure to resonate with anybody who has ever obsessed over good music.
Customer Reviews:
Less than perfect.......2007-09-09
I ordered this book because I could relate to the title, unfortunately. "Indie rock" (or what I would call alternative rock...where did this new term, indie rock, come from anyway?) probably did save my life. When I suffered from depression as a young adult, music was my therapy. It provided me with the words or the emotions that I could not express myself. It was an outlet, an escape, a friend. Being a huge fan of 90's music, I was disappointed that Sellers dismissed grunge and only mentioned it in passing. He seemed to be moved more by British bands than American ones, which is okay, but was something I couldn't identify with. The biggest downside to the book was the infinite number of footnotes, which I eventually stopped reading all together because I found them distracting. I think a better writer could have included the material from the footnotes within the text to provide a better flow, or not included them at all (as some of the notes were so idiosyncratic...i.e., who cares?).
Sellers rocks!.......2007-08-28
I bought a signed copy of this book during a visit to Powell's Books in Portland, OR, completely on the basis of liking what the book jacket said about music and Donkey Kong. Maybe you need to have grown up during the '80s and to appreciate college/indie music to get it? Not sure, but I identified with a lot of the scenarios, loved the titling of chapters from song lyrics, got the emotions behind listening to different kinds of music at different points in your life, and ... well, liked John Sellers. It's good stuff that made me laugh out loud many times.
Guided by Indie Rock.......2007-08-20
John Sellers is a music/pop culture writer who's gotten the opportunity to transform his blog (google "Angry John Sellers") into a book that's a kind of musical autobiography--that is, he charts his musical maturation over the years, from young Duran Duran fan to modern day indie rock obsessive. Consider this, then, a non-fiction version of Nick Hornby's seminal High Fidelity: A Novel. One important difference is that where HF's protagonist views his music in terms of his love life, for Sellers the music IS his love life. Sure, he's had relationships with women, but his chief interest in them lies in their ability to turn him on to new bands. Therefore, hie relationships with his favorite bands is what drives this book, and it helps to enjoy it if you share his passions, mainly regular-guy alt rockers such as the Pixies, Pavement and Built To Spill (whose album Perfect From Now On had an obvious influence). He will endlessly listen to and mull over the career of Joy Division/New Order and the lyrics of The Smiths. In fact, he'll even travel to Manchester for a New Order reuniion show and impromptu pilgramage. Far less time-consuming are the numerous lists (you can't be a true music obsessive without them) the lengthy appendix to the book: everything from "My Top Ten Favorite Albums" (#1: The Queen is Dead by The Smiths) to "Top Five musical things I hope happen now that the original lineups of the Pixies and Dinosaur Jr. have reunited" (#5: "Radiohead stops listening to Pink Floyd and starts listening to Black Sabbath"). Meanwhile, the main body of the book is frequently interrupted by long, digressive footnotes, some going on for as long as ten pages (Sellers admits he got the idea from Nicholson Baker, but he could just as easily been channeling David Foster Wallace).
The last few chapters, however, are devoted mainly to one subject: Guided By Voices. This Ohio band has gathered a freakishly obsessive cult following, and Sellers has clearly not only drunk the Kool Aid (or Miller High Life, as the case may be), but mixed it as well. He describes how his addiction grew from just being a fan to finally spinning in their orbit. His status as hanger-on might have helped get him the book deal, but it also garnered him brief ignominy on GBV message boards. Naturally, he covers this incident at length, and in fact continues to apologize for any misunderstanding. Therefore, his fawning over GBV frontman Robert Pollard gets pretty grating after awhile, especially if you don't share Sellers' love of the band (I myself could have written a book about my devotion to Sonic Youth, but of course I digress). Actually, you'll find the whole book annoying if you cna't connect your own obsesseions (be they sports, shoes or heroin) with the author's, and even then it helps greatly to know a bit about what he's talking about. Still, Sellers' writing style is self aware (in that uniquely Gen-X way), witty and often flat out hilarious. Taken for what it is, this is definitely a worthwhile read for music fans, even if, alas, it won't save your life.
Disappointing...........2007-08-01
To any true music fan, there is often times as much joy in debating the relative merit of one artist against another as listening to the music itself. I suspect that is true with most things (sports talk radio comes to mind). That is why I was excited to read this book. Going in, you understand there you are not getting anything that is plot driven or even has a point. What you expect is that the author will lay out arguement as to why he loves a certain band/genre of music and you can silently juxstapose those against your own biases. I am willing to concede almost any point in these debates when I engage in them with friends, with the understanding that they are nothing if not totally arbitrary, so long as there seems to be a sense the opposing viewpoint has a heartfelt conviction about the subject matter. That is why I was hugely dissapointed with this book.
While there is no doubt that the author seems to have a sincere conviction that indie music is a superior medium, it seems borne out of a sense of what he thinks is cool rather than what indie artists produce. For example, if The Pixies has acheived the same level of commercial sucess as Pearl Jam, there is no doubt in my mind the author would dismiss them with the same contempt he holds for Journey. It becomes exhausting to read the contempt he has for anything that exists outside the very obscure or how a band he loved at one point he now regrads with a sneer simply because they eventually achieved broad acceptance.
Another point of contention I have with the overall tone of the book is that Sellers comes off as fairly spineless. A large chunk of the narrative is devoted to him getting to meet Bob Pollard from Guided By Voices. I was willing to overlook the fawning tone toward Pollard as his whole point was to draw a picture of how he is more slavishly devoted at various points in his life to artists than just about anyone so he can gain an upper hand when congregating with like minded obsessives (and if you don't believe his motivations are this shallow, read the book). However, he mentions something in passing (a footnote actually, one of the several thousand he includes in the book) that made me lose all respect for him as a man and thus tainted the whole book. Seller is a University of Michigan grad while Pollard is an OSU fan. Anyone with even a passing knowledge about the sport of college football knows that this is one of the most storied rivalries in all of college sports and the two sides hate each other. Anyway, he ends up cheering for OSU in front of his idol as they watch the game because he so badly wants Pollard to like him. I know nothing about Pollard personally but I bet it wouldn't be far from the truth to speculate that he would have had much more respect for Sellers if he would have grown a pair and had his own opinion about the game rather than adopting one based on being accepted. And that right there pretty much sums up the whole book.
Perfect indeed.......2007-05-24
You know how, every now and then, you come upon someone's music mix, and you instantly think, this person is completely in sync with me, yet simultaneously infinitely cooler?
It's like that.
When it comes it to music, Sellers is insightful, funny as hell, and scarily knowledgeable. He's the guy you want filling your iPod for a long drive, and the guy you'd want in the car, telling great stories along the journey. Anyone's who's ever had that feeling of a song speaking for the state of their lives, anyone who's ever thought of a band as THEIR band, will love it.
Book Description
A favorite of Tibetansâand of the Dalai Lama himselfâ The Words of My Perfect Teacher is a practical guide to the spiritual practices common to all Tibetan Buddhist traditions. It is the classic commentary on the preliminary practices of Longchen Nyingthig, a cycle of teachings of the Nyingmapa school. Patrul Rinpoche makes his subject accessible through a wealth of stories, quotations, and references to everyday life, giving the text all the life and atmosphere of a compelling oral teaching. This second, revised edition (of the book originally published by HarperSanFrancisco in 1994) is the result of a detailed and painstaking comparison of the original Tibetan text with the English translation by the Padmakara Translation Group. The new edition also includes translations of a postface to the text written a century ago for the first printed Tibetan edition by the first Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, and a new preface by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
Customer Reviews:
Marvelous!.......2007-02-19
Right to the heart of the matter. Words of my Perfect Teacher is a spiritual friend.
A handbook to being a Buddhist........2007-01-12
This text is wonderfully written, concise manual on how to be a Buddhist. Written for the layperson and illustrated with fabulous examples. If you have read the Lamrim this book will strengthen your foundation of Buddhism.
You have to get no other books at all.......2006-07-12
If someones fatigued by endless buddhists-friends-philosophical-discussion want instead rapidly to proceed to Dzogchen (Preliminaries of it) practice, they need only one book and this is it.
This brilliant guidance word by word was written by one realized Master of Longchen Nyingthig lineage from the Oral Instruction of the other realized Master of Longchen Nyingthig. Then it was translated under control and with vast pile of commentaries of nowdays realized Masters.
Because of this it really lacks nothing.
"Read this book again and again, do everything it says to do.
The day you will know the book by heart and take it into your heart, you will have just to snap your fingers to achive Liberation" my Lama usually says, when I ask him to give me the most pith instructions.
perfect for anyone wanting insight to Tibetan Buddhism.......2006-02-18
Great to teach about Tibetan Buddhism. A great starting point.
Inspiring, and Informative.......2005-09-26
This book is a must read for all Tibetan Buddhists. I am only half way through chapter 2, but from these two chapters I can tell you that Patrul Rinpoche goes into great detail on all topics he covers. Warning: this book is not intended for beginners, it could be overwhelming for the un-initiated. I highly recommend getting the guide to this book, although the word "guide" is a little misleading, it is more of a complimentary book.
For beginners I would recommend: Essence of Buddhism by Traleg Kyabgon
Book Description
Be Happy or Ill Scream! is for every married woman whose fantasy of a sitcom-perfect familythink The Brady Bunch or The Huxtablesis disrupted by the evidence in front of her eyes. Instead of compliant rosy-cheeked children and an adorably tolerant husband ready to go along with zany shenanigans, most women are faced with kids who view family outings with all the enthusiasm of hardened inmates forced to bust rocks on an Alabama roadside and a man who would trade every one of her kooky ideas for just a little more sex and a hot meal on the table at six.
Customer Reviews:
Love Sheri's humor.......2007-08-13
This is a quick read and Sheri's humor is great. I truly enjoyed the book!
If you love.......2007-07-28
to listen to Bob and Sherry, you'll love this book. My mom did and was happy to get it for her B-day. She read it all in like a week.
It's ok........2007-06-27
I love the "Bob and Sheri Show", that's why I thought I would love this book by Sheri Lynch. It wasn't as funny as I thought it would be. Yes, some places had me really laughing, but not the whole thing.
Poignant, Funny and Painfully Truthful........2007-03-29
In this memoir about life with kids and our crazy desire for perfectionism, radio talk-show host Sheri Lynch gives it up. Whether describing a trip to Chicago, the chaos of a toddler birthday party or the near-impossible task of marital sex, she bares her soul with transparency and humor, encouraging us to laugh with her. Poignant, funny and painfully truthful.
Great Book - great service.......2007-03-19
Recieved product in a timely matter. Just what I was looking for. Appreicated being notified that product was available, because I had ordered similar merchandise.
Book Description
In this eloquent first-person account of a family drama that changed the face of American business, the man who transformed IBM into the world's largest computer company reflects on his lifelong partnership with his father--and how their management style and shared dedication to excellence united to create a unique corporate culture that became the blueprint for the entire technology boom.
In the course of sixty years Thomas J. Watson Sr. and his son, Thomas J. Watson Jr., together built the international colossus that is IBM. This is their story: a riveting and revealing account of two men who loved each other--and fought each other--with a terrible fierceness.
But along with the story of a father and son, this is IBM's story too. It chronicles the management insights that shaped its course and its unique corporate culture, the style that made Thomas Watson Sr. one of America's most charismatic bosses, and the daring decisions by Thomas Watson Jr. that transformed IBM into the world's largest computing company. One of the greatest business-success stories of all time,
Father, Son & Co. is a moving lesson for fathers who dream for their children, as well as a testament to American ingenuity and values, told in a disarmingly frank and eloquent voice.
Promising to remain an important business reference as we move into the next century, FATHER, SON & CO. takes a look at the management insight that helped to shape IBM's course and unique corporate culture. It looks at Watson, Sr., one of America's most charismatic bosses, and Watson, Jr., who spurred IBM into the computer age.
Ten years after its original publication, FATHER, SON & CO. remains a uniquely honest book. Watson's willingness to write about the loving but ferociously combative relationship he had with his father and the turbulent battles behind some of IBM's most far-reaching decisions gives readers rare insights into the realities of leadership. -->
Customer Reviews:
A warm tale behind a cold company.......2005-09-06
Indeed a truly heart-warming, rivetting story. One of the best - possibly the best - bios that I have ever read. This is a story about IBM, the big blue corporate monolith. Yet in its core, this is really the story of a Son, a father and the relationship between them. Once into the pages of the book, you will soon realise that IBM is just a necessary but incidental backdrop to a father-son relationship..It's a book that talks of a strict yet loving father, and a son working his way up to gain his father's approval and affection. A very humane tale, devoid of any overt management jargon or mantra that seems to be the norm in most bios by business leaders, it is a surprise that nobody has thought of making a movie out of this story.
Touching. Warmly recommend to everyone.
Where Destiny Takes You.......2005-06-22
This is not a story that I had really expected to enjoy; I found this book in a hostel in Europe, and with nothing in English to read I gladly snapped it up. Father, Son & Co wound up being a very interesting and enjoyable book, and even though it is more than 15 years old now, it still gives tremendous insights into the rise of IBM and the evolution of the computer. Within two generations of the Watson family, business advanced from the Robber Barons of the 19th century to the big corporations of the 20th, and during this same period the computer advanced from punch-card machines into the electronic machines we use today. It is hard to look at a PC and see a direct connection to horse-and-buggy days, but that is the story Thomas Watson and Peter Petre tell.
A huge swath of American history is encompassed within this book; major events are witnessed and lived out by Watson and his family. But Watson also shows how family relationships have changed over the last hundred years by comparing his relationship with his father and siblings to those of his own children. Those older among us empathize with Watson completely-we took for granted, even thrived, within familial relationships that probably would not be tolerated today. But Watson also shows how primogeniture aids the affluent whether the offspring are gifted or not. To his credit, Watson admits this and does not set himself up as any more special than anyone else. He (and curiously his father as well) is rare in American business: he is a liberal and believes he owes something to his country. Would that this sentiment was felt more widely in the higher levels of business, government, and society.
Readable portrait of an IT empire.......2003-01-13
It is always interesting to read what sons have to write about their fathers. Thomas J. Watson Jr.'s book is no exception to this rule. Although in many ways the book is a business biography, the relationship between the two men creeps in between the lines (almost more than you could imagine that the author had intended it to). Watson Jr. was clearly influenced by his iconic father, both for better and for worse. The book is a lot about how that influence (and the escape from that influence) shaped the company that is IBM today.
Obviously the company has gone through many changes since this book has written-- Gerstner, downsizing, eBusiness, Business Consulting Services, etc. But still, it is remarkable how much of the culture is recognizable back to the very earliest days.
I have a special interest in the subject matter, so it is hard for me to say how fascinating someone without an IBM attachment would find the book. If you do have that special interest in IBM history, however, it is an interesting book and well executed.
A somewhat interesting and fairly candid account of IBM.......2002-11-18
Although not exactly riveting, this book does provide an interesting and readable history of IBM from the view of Thomas Watson Jr. who took over control of IBM after his father, Thomas Watson Sr.. Although much has happened to IBM since then (the job cuts, the internet boom, etc.), this is a fascinating glimpse at the evolution of big blue and the culture it once had.
The Watsons did not start IBM but they did oversee its growth into "Big Blue". Some of the anecdotes are quite memorable, the strict sales "uniform" (including sock suspenders), the refining and gentrifiying of the sales staff & executives, Thomas Sr. teaching his son to clean-up the bathroom on the train, the high-flyer told to forgo his tenant problems by Watson Sr.. It seems all tycoons and corporations have some skeletons in their cupboards and IBM is no exception. According to the book, Thomas Sr. and other senior executives at IBM started a business buying up old IBM equipment so prevent a second-hand market developing that would eat into IBM's market. It almost landed the Thomas Sr. and his colleagues in prison. Watson Sr. spent a great deal of time developing himself and his people to become refined, gentlemen with values and priorities. In these sad days of scum CEOs & executives, duplicitous companies, corrupt accountants & lawyers and valueless company "books" (Enron, WorldComm, Tyco, Merrill-Lynch, Arthur-Anderson, Martha Stewart,...) the incident may seem like grist to the mill but at that time it must have been a huge blow to the man and the company. A decent book if you have an interest in IBM or the history of the computer business.
better than a novel.......2002-01-09
This book tells one of the most fascinating, indeed rivetting, stories that I have ever read. It is about the building of one of the great American businesses of the 20C, but also much much more: it is about the conflict of an extraordinarily hard-driving father and his talented though psychologically burdened and rebellious son. From the beginning, they were at eachothers' throats and never relented in their conflict, even when it became evident that the son's genius surpassed that of his father to build an empire that can only be compared to the accomplishments of the first two Caesars, Julius and Augustus. The book also covers a good deal of American business history from the great depression to the beginning of the stagnation of the 1970s and early 1980s. Thus, it can be read on numerous levels.
There are so many insights in it that it will bear re-reading for a long time to come. Watson Jr. was acutely aware of the cost of success and was brutally honest about his own failings as a manager and family man. I find myself remembering scenes in that book, running them in my mind as examples from which to learn.
Warmly recommended.
Product Description
Most people are curious; what is it like to work as an escort? According to numerous sex surveys, one of women's top fantasies is to be paid for sex. But escort work is not as simple as money for sex. Brooks, a former escort, has written a myth-exploding examination of what escort work requires from the escort while creating an honest and humane vision of a mysterious, maligned business.
The book is not a recruitment tool because the job is not for everyone. The Foundation is a reference written to create a realistic awareness of the pitfalls and bonuses of escort work for current and future escorts, as well as the curious public. Ultimately, safe and sane escort work leads to happier, healthier escorts. (And happy escorts make for happy clients.)
Customer Reviews:
They WILL publish anything!.......2007-09-17
This purchase was a way to delve into the lifestyle of an escort, since they've been involved in many sexual scandals lately. I wanted to find the value and thrill these men in the public eye have found in their encounters with these women. This was bought and read with an open mind, truly no expectations. I read it as a professional business woman, a mother, a wife, a daughter and a sexual and sensual being. There were some interesting revelations and candid discussions which opened my eyes to situations I was ignorant of. Her words were biting and cut-throat at times, but as she claims, it's about business not emotions. Kudos! However, I felt that it read like a chapter book for a 3rd grader, it was condescending, drab and simply not very well written. Granted this wasn't aiming to become the next literary accomplishment, but I just expect more from a book if someone, somewhere, felt it was worthy enough to publish. Interesting read, not certain that it would do to much to help anyone who MAY want to break into this field. It seems that the basic business information she provides is common sense to begin with.
Highly recommended.......2007-08-17
The Internet Escort's Handbook is truly a well thought out book written n in a holistic matter by an ex escort for all girls who are currently working in the industry, keen or curious about entering the industry. It gives an insight of what it is and what goes on in this industry; asks a lot of provocative questions; provides useful tips. I would strongly recommend this as the ONE resource you should read. I can't wait for the other books in this series to be out.
So you want to get started?.......2007-08-11
Thought the book by Amanda Brooks was well put together. Gives you ideas of what you need to do if you chose to go into the business. But, it does not stop there. Need to go to Book 2 which is not available yet. I do recommend the book for starters.
highly educational.......2007-07-05
This is not a sex book. The style is simple and direct. there are lots of very interesting topics. I loved the part about "taking care of physical appearance". This does apply to women in general, not only escort business. The part about protecting yourself from STD is a little paranoiac but since this job is exposed to high risks, it is good to know what the risks are. I would recommend this book for all women and men (even if this is mostly for a women audience), curious about this underground world. It is more about the facts and the technical aspect than about the morality, although the author mentions the psychological part and the fact that it often leads to a double life. This book is intended to be a how to guide, but it can be read for entertainment only as well. I am a married man and I have more respect for these women after reading this book. They are normal women, often educated and running a home business, with all the administrative part of it.
Wonderful!!.......2007-06-19
I have to say that Ms. Brooks hit it on the head! This book is a perfect read for anyone that was interested in this line of work, how and where to start! She dispels the myths of drug addicted, sexual abused women are the only ones in this profession. She gives common sense answers to questions that the average person may not have thought of! Gracious and beautifully written, this book pays homage to the women that have gone before and prepared the foundation. It sheds light on the facts (and fictions), gives hope and laughter to anyone who reads this book. This book is not for everyone, but for everyone who is privy to it, it is a joy to read! I truly enjoyed it!
Book Description
This guide provides readers with essential background information for studying and practicing with Patrul Rinpoche's Words of My Perfect Teacherâ the text that has, for more than a century, served as the reliable sourcebook to the spiritual practices common to all the major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. By offering chapter-by-chapter commentary on this renowned work, Khenpo Pelzang provides a fresh perspective on the role of the teacher; the stages of the path; the view of the Three Jewels; Madhyamika, the basis of transcendent wisdom; and much more.
Customer Reviews:
An indispensable book to all studious and apprentice of the Tibetan Buddhism. A true rare preciousness!.......2007-01-11
Together with this guide's book mother - "The Words of My Perfect Teacher" -, this book works as a vehicle of the good, correct and true understanding of the noblemen beginnings of the teachings of the Tibetan Buddhism. Who read the book above mentioned certainly was in ecstasy, such the beauty and depth of their teachings. A book wonderful, poetic, heart writing, for a master worthy of like this to be called. And this guide could not leave for minus, because that explains and you/he/she enlarges the understanding that she can reach to the if she reads Patrul Rinpoche's book. And to everything this is added the authority in the great master's Khenpo Hgawang Pelsang subject. These two books have to be acquired together: they are the alpha and omega of the tibetan Buddhism, Yin and Yang, it Lies and Heart, Body and Soul... Without these two preciousness, every understanding and daily practice of the Buddhist teachings they would be as powerful cars without fuel. It is now, with this two books the Buddhism is a car "totalflex" (bi-fuel), as we say in Brazil.
Book Description
It’s Time to Laugh Away the Myth of the “Perfect Woman.” Women juggle endless responsibilities these days, from bringing home the bacon and frying it up in the pan to making sure husband and kids have a good supply of pork rinds—and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Whether we’re creating (burnt) offerings in the kitchen, balancing listing checkbooks, or keeping romance alive and well (or at least breathing), women can quickly become burned out, stressed out, and just plain worn out.
In
When Perfect Isn’t Enough, humor writer Nancy Kennedy approaches this misperception with her trademark wit, describing a hilarious quest to become the Proverbs 31 Woman that will bring relief to your heart and tears of laughter to your eyes. Like Nancy, you will be profoundly changed by a life-transforming truth: God loves you just as you are and has given you all the grace and gifts you need to be exactly who he has called you to be.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Read!!!.......2007-03-10
This book is the perfect companion to any mom's life. It's easy to read and has great foresight into a mom's relationship to God. Nancy Kennedy is witty and charming and tells you how it is. I highly recommend this to any woman for a great devotion each day.
Excellent, well-rounded,easy read & great study!!.......2007-01-08
This book was not only an excellent read, but a great time!! It was so funny that I laughed out loud through most of the book. Intelligently written for those struggling to be all for everyone, for those needing a load off of their shoulders as well as for those seeking straight-forward yet gentle encouragement as each attempts to grow as a Christian woman. The chapters are short enough to read one at a time, contain a large amount of unbelievable hilarity with the right amount of theological truth. I would highly recommend this book to anyone & already give the book away as gifts on a regular basis.
So True! Easy to Read!.......2004-04-12
The mixture of truth (everyday and spiritual) and humor make this an excellent book. Can't wait to see what else she's written. God Bless!
Book Description
Hana Schank had never given much thought to her wedding, or to marriage in general, for that matter. That, is until she found herself newly engaged and trying to plan the "Happiest Day of Her Life": spending weeks crafting save-the-date cards, worrying incessantly about every minute detail -- even matching her cocktails to her wedding colors -- and obsessively reading Martha Stewart Weddings magazine. Hana soon decides that if she is going to follow traditions like wearing white and walking down the aisle with flowers, she wants to know why. In her search, she turns up several interesting wedding facts and ultimately casts a critical eye on a $72 billion wedding industry that pressures women into becoming obsessive-compulsive Bridezillas.
Part confessional memoir, part social critique, A More Perfect Union chronicles a year of wedding planning, capturing as it does not only the stresses but also the undoubted joys of becoming a bride.
Download Description
"Hana Schank had never given much thought to her wedding, or even really imagined herself married, so when she found herself suddenly sporting a brand-new engagement ring she assumed planning a small, low-key wedding would be no big deal. But soon she finds herself adrift in Wedding Land, a world where all brides are expected to want to look like Cinderella, where women plan weddings with fantasy butterfly themes, where a woman's wedding is, without question, the Happiest Day of Her Life. Part confessional memoir, part social critique, A More Perfect Union chronicles a year in Wedding Land, capturing as it does not only the stresses but the undoubted joys of becoming a bride.
Customer Reviews:
A Thoughtful, Humorous, Ultimately Moving Look at Modern Wedding Planning Mania from a Modern Urban Woman.......2007-04-30
Hana Schank lives up to the promise of the subtitle ("How I Survived the Happiest Day of My Life") to her marriage memoir A More Perfect Union with humor, history, and a self-aware look at just how this modern, feminist-minded woman got caught up in everything from flower colors to save the date cards. "In just a few weeks they had become my new vital statistics," Schank writes about the post-engagement facts of her life as strangers swarm her to find out every detail of her nuptials, her "Rosetta stone" of a ring blaring to anyone she meets that she is about to get married.
Using her own foray onto wedding website The Knot's message boards and reading of wedding magazines as background, Schank proceeds to recount the ways the process getting married changed her, and what she learns about the wedding industry along the way. She's telling the story as both an observer and participant, going back and forth with facts she doles out about the corporate and cultural pressure on brides to how these intimately affected her.
Schank talks about the things one isn't usually supposed to mention when it comes to the joy of weddings--namely divorce, baby pressure, the picking and choosing of religious traditions. She acknowledges the clashes she and her husband have over the wedding planning, such as his anger that he's not once asked his opinion about their flower choices.
This is not simply a tirade against the wedding industry, or it would not be such a delight to read. Schank and her fiancé Steven are able to laugh at those around them--and themselves--pretending to shoot at each other with the scanner while adding to their registry, or joking on their way to retrieve her wedding dress:
"I feel like I should be yelling at some imaginary kids back there or something," I said.
Steven turned his head to the back of the van. "Stop hitting your brother!" he yelled.
I laughed. "Who wants to watch the Finding Nemo DVD again?" I asked the backseat.
What becomes crystal clear from page one is how much of their wedding planning is not only inclusive of, but dependent on, their families, from what to wear during the wedding weekend softball game to how Schank's divorced and divisive parents will be able to come together. Reading her final chapter, in which her fiance's brother gets a concussion during the softball game and various mishaps occur, I certainly teared up when Schank's parents join her to walk down the aisle, adding a blissful conclusion to the often-stressful weekend. "And right then I realize that this was the moment I planned the entire wedding for. If weddings are about fantasies, then this was mine: I wanted my family back together again, even if it was for a few fleeting seconds. And right then, as I bask in the warmth of my family, it is all worth it. The months of tears and obsession and ribbon and Martha Stewart. It is all worth it."
These sentences show that while her marriage is, in large part, about, as the rabbi tells Schank, "sovereignty," an us-against-the-world partnership between the bride and groom, in many other ways it is about joining two people, and two (or more) families, about the negotiations and compromises Schank and her relatives and her fiancé and his relatives all have to make to create this "happiest day" of her life.
Her final chapter, a post-script about the reactions to her book from various sides of the wedding world, is the most illuminating. Schank concludes that even so-called "bridezillas" don't think they're any more wedding-obsessed than anyone else, and even though she has herself marveled at why anyone could care so passionately about ribbon, she emerges with a sympathetic attitude toward brides of all stripes. When Schank writes about her feminist critics that, "It makes it easy for people to tell you you're not being the right kind of girl," she could be writing about any number of female realms, from mothering to sex work to bikini waxes to breast implants, in which women's choices are debated and attacked with viciousness. This isn't a how-to book (or a how-not-to book), but I'd imagine that many prospective brides and grooms will enjoy and learn from Schank's story, or at least have someone to commiserate with.
What makes this book special is that it's both a laugh- and cry-out-loud memoir, and an insider's look at the ways wedding hype has descended on Americans, particularly New Yorkers. Schank is smart enough to know when she's being manipulated, but it's her very awareness, sharpened by historical facts long with the very modern reality of one-bride-upsmanship and the quest for perfection in every area, even as she goes through the process of being (sometimes) swept away, that adds depth to A More Perfect Union.
A hilarious, down-to-earth look at the wedding planning process.......2007-04-11
This book was such a fun take on wedding planning.
Useful & Hilarious.......2007-03-19
"The wedding obsessed story of a bride to be who believes that matching napkins colors to bridesmaid dresses will determine her future happiness - hilarious!"
An essential reflection on the wedding industry and modern bride experience.......2006-07-05
Hanna Schank's story of "How I Survived the Happiest Day of My Life" is essential reading for any bride, groom, family member, wedding party member, newlywed, wedding guest, literature fan, or memoir fan. I read this book just a year after planning my own wedding, I had repeated moments of identification with Schank's experience. I would have loved to have been given this book as a bride-to-be.
Schank was a highly successful 30-year-old New York woman when she got engaged. She experienced a year of the tug of Bridezilla-ness despite her best efforts to keep her wedding plans in check. The became obsessed with her wedding colors despite her original plans to allow everyone to dress as they wished. She initially spurned registries and then became irritated with people who didn't believe in them. After laughing at the notion of Save the Date cards, Schank painstakingly hand-tied bows on hundreds of them, and was then crushed when they didn't garner effuse praise from the recipients. At some point, Schank succumbed to the belief in "My Day" and flew off the handle at vendors who refused alter their standard packages to meet her unique needs.
In addition to her first-hand bride experience, Schank possesses research skills and an MFA in non-fiction writing, so she is supremely qualified to reflect on her experience with the modern bridal industry. She muses about the invention of the registry, about the social networking of wedding site The Knot, about the "once in a lifetime" mantra of the wedding industrial machine (spend the money, this is once in a lifetime), and about traditional Victorian etiquette versus the realities of modern life.
Grammy serves as the perfect foil to all of Schank's wedding planning. Over the telephone, Schank has to repeatedly explain to her aged grandmother the wedding plans, the reasons behind traditions, and what she needs from her relatives. Schank's witty prose ties the story together well. One of my favorite passages is about the trickle of wedding gifts that start arriving after the invitations are mailed: "Other people called our parents and informed them that they didn't see anything on the registry they liked, and therefore wanted to know what else we might want. This was particularly confusing because the whole point of having a registry in the first place was so that people won't have to call you up and ask you what you want. In theory, everything you want is on the registry. And really, who cared if the gift-giver didn't like anything on the registry? It wasn't going to them ... People want to sent you something that they see as representative of their personality, even if their personality representation isn't necessarily something you want hanging around your house. You therefore must live with a butt-ugly set of ceramic dessert plates or a set of Judaic art depicting a Jewish bridge and groom in renaissance costume, as opposed to the really nice set of crystal highball glasses you spent several weeks hunting for."
The combination of personal experience, terrific research and historical perspective, and witty naration makes this memoir a surefire winner.
A MUST for wedding goers........2006-05-03
Whether you are planning a wedding or about to attend a wedding, I recommend reading this book. Hana Schank will take you step-by-step through all that one goes through when venturing down this path.
For the bride and groom, Hana's book will help you think through many of the important decisions that one needs to make in wedding planning (location), as well as to help you to decide which trivial details you may choose to avoid without regret (the city of the postage cancellation on the invitations.)
If you will be attending a wedding anytime soon, Hana's book really will help you to appreciate all the excruciating fine-tuned detail that goes into planning a wedding. (Don't complain if there's no cake, there's a dessert bar and there's a reason for that, that's what the bride and groom wanted!)
Personally, what I really liked about the book is that it gives some explanation and history about certain wedding traditions to help you put into perspective those ideas which you may want to preserve and those that you may want to drop. Hana also encourages people to be creative at their wedding, even if they are breaking tradition.
Best of all, Hana describes all of this with her great sense of dry humor as she describes the various characters and situations she is confronted with while dutifully attending to weddingland antics.
Hana is definitely a non-traditionalist. As a reader, I felt sympathetic to Hana while trying to buck convention on various wedding traditions. However, we realize that even the staunchest of people can get caught up in the pressure of the media, and our guests expectations in dictating to us 'how a wedding should be.' Thank you, Hana, for giving me a fresh perspective on weddings. I will never look at them the same way.
Average customer rating:
- My Perfect Life
- My Perfect Life
- A Good Book
- A fight to win!
- Quieter than CONFESSIONS, but still worthwhile
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My Perfect Life Reissue
Dyan Sheldon
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ASIN: 076362828X
Release Date: 2005-03-03 |
Book Description
"Captures teen angst with wit and poignancy. . . . Fans of DRAMA QUEEN will grab this right away." —BOOKLIST (starred review)
With perfect parents, perfect friends, and perfect poise, it seems like Ella Gerard has it all. But when her best friend, Lola, nominates her to run for school president against the wickedly popular Carla Santini, some of the less-than-perfect aspects of Ella's life come to light. How can Ella come out a winner without losing face?
Customer Reviews:
My Perfect Life.......2007-01-07
If you read Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen and loved it, you'll love My Perfect Life. Dyan Sheldon, again, wrote another amazing book that grabs the readers attention. While reading this book, and I just couldnt put it down. Ella and Lola are both strong characters, along with Carla and the rest of the supporting characters. I reccomend this book for someone who is looking for a good book to grab their attention. I hope you found my review helpful.
Sophie S.
My Perfect Life.......2006-10-26
I thought that this book was a great book. I dont like reading at all, but once I picked this book up, I couldnt stop reading it. Its a good book; great for teenagers.
A Good Book.......2006-06-30
This book was a good read. I read it for my required humor book for my literature class. It is the same characters from Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen. It is different though, because it is written in Ella's point of few, not Lola's. I read this book in one day it was so good. I would definatly recommend this book to fans of Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen. I am sure that if you read this book you will find it pleasurable.
A fight to win!.......2006-05-12
Ella Gerard has a perfect life. Her friends are perfect, her family is perfect and she is just perfect! Ella used to be best friends with Carla Santini, but now she's not. They don't really talk or hang out anymore. Her new friend, Lola is exciting and not perfect at all. She's somebody who Ella needs in her life to realize that being perfect is not everything. Lola is spontaneous and so much fun! Carla is running for class president at their school. Lola really doesn't like Carla and she doesn't want Carla to win this election. Lola decides and nominates Ella to also run for class president. Things get confusing and drama is created. Will Ella win and become the best and most responsible class president ever? Or will she lose and then lose faith and hope in herself?
I enjoyed this book. This book is the type of genre I love to read. Realistic Fiction I absolutely love. It's so interesting and you can't stop and even set the book down. This story was all about what teenagers go through almost every day. Friends, family, school and drama is all part of it. Dyan Sheldon is a really great author. I recommend this book to anybody. Girls or guys. It's just a great book to read!
Quieter than CONFESSIONS, but still worthwhile.......2006-04-28
This is best friend Ella's story, after the antics in Sheldon's earlier novel featuring Lola, CONFESSIONS OF A DRAMA QUEEN. Arch villain Carla Santini is back in fine form, ready to win the election for school president, but Lola secretly nominates Ella to run against her. Although the plot is a little on the predictable side, it is fun to see Ella come into her own, and learn that sometimes winning isn't only about votes; it's about being true to yourself. What elevates this novel above the predictable is its subplot, and Ella's slow realization that her 'perfect life' only looks that way on the surface.
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