Taking Shots: Tall Tales, Bizarre Battles, and the Incredible Truth About the NBA

Book Description

The NBA is in trouble. And as NBA agent Keith Glass describes it–he's part of the problem! If team owners are willing to throw millions of dollars his way for marginal players, why should he be the only one with the self–restraint to say "no?"

In his insightful, funny, and often mind–numbingly bizarre tales of life in the NBA, Keith Glass lets it fly from half–court. He'll tell you how we got to the present state–where an agent who makes millions off the game can't sit through one; why our NBA stars couldn't capture Olympic gold; why one of the greatest high school players he ever saw ended up in Attica prison instead of the NBA; why selfishness has attached itself to the league; and why the game he loves is in dire need of help. With informative chapters such as "How to Feed Your Family on Only $14 Million a Year," "Eighty–one Feet of White Centers," and "From 6'11" to the 7–Eleven," Glass shatters the myth of NBA marketing: that everything about the game is great, that tickets are worth over $100 apiece, and that as long as the fans in the luxury boxes are happy and weighed down with jerseys and merchandise, all is well. But have no fear! Keith Glass will not preach about the evils of highlight film slam–dunks and gangsta rap tattoos–he'll just have you falling down laughing as he flagrantly fouls the league that was once the home of Jordan, Magic, and Bird–not to mention Wilt, Russell, Kareem and all the greats in between.

Customer Reviews:

A Fun Read.......2007-09-06

I recently met Keith Glass and his wife at a college graduation party for my niece. His son, Tyler, is dating my niece, and my sister-in-law, knowing that I'm a sports fan, made sure I was introduced to Keith because, as she put it, "You know sports, you'll like him." Well, she was right. After a few minutes I realized that I did, indeed, like him. When the book came up in conversation I told Keith that I would order it from Amazon as soon as I got home, and I'm glad that I did. This was a very entertaining read. OK, it's not going to be used as a textbook in school, and it's got its share of glaring typos (I proof read books as a favor to friends who are authors) but if you're a basketball fan you're going to love this book. Keith is truly an "insider" and gives perspectives that can only be gotten from an insider. His anecdotes are filled with conversations that you would normally not hear anywhere. One, in particular, stands out. Keith used to represent the former Chris Jackson, who subsequently became Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, whom you may recognize as the Denver Nuggets player who refused to stand for the National Anthem after he converted to Islam. Keith's insight into Mahmoud's background and battle with Tourette's Syndrome is very helpful in understanding him. Heck, just imagining a Jewish agent representing a Muslim player is fun.
At then end of the book Keith decides to opine on his "ways to fix basketball" and , while some are dead-on and interesting, I found some to be, in fact, either ideas that we've all bandied about in tavern conversation, or non-implementable. Still, it doesn't detract from the overall "fun-to-read" aspect of the book. I sense a follow-up to this book from Keith and, if so, I'll be sure to get the next one. I've already promised to lend the book out to my son-in-law and a good friend in Massachusetts, so Keith will be losing out on a few book sales. When it does return to me I'm going to see what I can do about getting him to autograph my copy.

Finally someone tells the truth!.......2007-06-09

Keith Glass lays it all out. I hope he writes the unedited version upon his retirement someday. I think he got over the line in some of his disclosure and likely pissed a few NBA-ers off, I really hope there is more he can one day share. Good for him to tell it like it is. Shame on the NBA for allowing the game to reach its current state and shame on us for continuing to pay more and more to go see it. At least now I do so knowing I'm getting ripped off most of the time, instead of just feeling good about the trip.

Where is your ghost writer?.......2007-05-19

There is no ghost writer for this book, and I wonder if there was even an editor. Many paragraphs or individual sentences are poorly constructed, and the book lacks an overall theme or unifed feel. Mr. Glass has led an interesting life and does have some good insights on the NBA, but his inexperience as an writer completely distracted me from enjoying this book.

87.33 feet of white centers.......2007-05-04

What an enjoyable read! For those many of us who play(ed) and follow sports, this insider's look at professional basketball is both refreshing in its candor and enlightening in its perspective. Without gratuitously attacking the basketball establishment, Keith Glass delivers a direct and honest accounting of the inner workings of the business of basketball through a series of stories and anecdotes that at times had me laughing out loud. I found myself looking forward to each next chapter, to see what players, coaches, management or entourage members would be the subject of scrutiny. I recommend the book to anyone looking for a lighthearted, honest portrayal of professional sports. Oh, as for the title to my review, I was once a 6'4" white center myself, so I decided to include myself in Glass's chapter originally entitled "81 Feet of White Centers"............

NBA ON FULL DISPLAY: THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE GREEDY!!.......2007-03-19

Four FASCINATING Stars!! Keith Glass portrays the NBA as a multi-million dollar business like no other in the world. In "Taking Shots" we get a real insider's view of the NBA, the players, coaches, and the entire system. He may well have burned a few bridges in the process of writing this book, such is the level of detail and the abundance of inside stories. Although not exhaustive, this book is interesting and informative as it is.

We also get some information on John Wooden, the rise of Larry Brown and his current fate (on which the book ends) and much on Mr Glass, his family and the athletes he represents. Keith Glass' unfavorable comparison of NBA basketball with the game that Dr Naismith invented was an easy layup, the author sees that the game "has become a selfish, tedious, and colossal bore" at times. As such, it cycles between truly exciting games and 'going through the motions' games, between one-on-one post ups on the left and on the right sometimes dominating the action and true team play exhibited by some of the teams.

The litmus test for any insider NBA book is Latrell Sprewell's career and antics and here Mr Glass does not fail, giving the lowdown on what happened before, during, and after the 'choking incident'. Other stories recount players who, unbelievably, refused trades and others who refused to go into the game, and one injured player who, as a true sportsman, retired rather than just play for the money. There are many cases of head coaches and officials being sacrificed for the sake of the team by management, over and over. The anthem "If you can play, you get paid" regardless of your many personal troubles, reverberates across the landscape of this book and the NBA. Maybe I shouldn't have said "greedy" in the review title, maybe they're worth every penny of what they make in their short, frantic careers. Definitely Recommended! Four REVEALING Stars!!

(This review is based on an unabridged digital download in secure eBook format.)

Little Old Big Beard And Big Young Little Beard: A Short And Tall Tale

Average customer rating:

Great to read to kids, fun for adults too
our favorite book of all time

Little Old Big Beard And Big Young Little Beard: A Short And Tall Tale

Manufacturer: Marshall Cavendish Children's Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0761452885

Customer Reviews:

Great to read to kids, fun for adults too.......2005-05-08

After I heard about this book on NPR, I had to get it. It was just as good as promised. The story is heartwarming and humorous, taking the reader on a journey with two cowboys who lost their favorite cow. It is also wonderfully paced so that after a few readings, children can chime in to say the cowboys' favorite meal ("Guess what?" "Beans!"). There is just enough text on each page so that children with short attention spans don't lose interest, and for children with longer attention spans, the beautiful and kid-friendly illustrations contain many fun details to discuss as you are reading. It's also typeset in big block letters that are easier to recognize for kids who are still learning the alphabet.

I bought this for my favorite nephew, but before giving it to him I ended up reading it through many times just to enjoy the story and pictures. I only managed to read it to him once, but in the thank you letter my sister wrote, "No one here reads the story quite like you do," and that makes me think he might have asked to have it read to him again.

our favorite book of all time.......2005-03-08

this story is wonderful and so are remy charlip's warm illustrations. it's nice to read a book about cowboys where the cowboys are really nice guys and good friends and cry when they lose their beloved cow, grace. so sweet, especially the very last page where charlip has re-worded the song amazing grace to sing about grace the cow.

Peace, Love, & Barbecue: Recipes, Secrets, Tall Tales, and Outright Lies from the Legends of Barbecue

Average customer rating:

Great Stories, and Incredible Food written by one of the masters of BBQ
Fantastic Book on all things Barbecue
Tops For All Skill Levels
Best BBQ Foundation Ever
Tall Tales Are Sometimes True

Peace, Love, & Barbecue: Recipes, Secrets, Tall Tales, and Outright Lies from the Legends of Barbecue
Mike Mills , and Amy Mills Tunnicliffe
Manufacturer: Rodale Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1594861099
Release Date: 2005-04-28

Book Description

In this unique combination of cookbook, memoir, and travelogue, Mike Mills, the unrivalled king of barbecue, shares his passion for America's favorite cuisine-its intense smoky flavors, its lore and traditions, and its wild cast of characters. Through conversational anecdotes and black-and-white photographs, readers meet a diverse circle of colleagues and friends and join Mills in a behind-the-scenes tour of the barbecue contest circuit, with stops at some of the best 'shrines, shacks, joints, and right-respectable restaurants.'

Customer Reviews:

Great Stories, and Incredible Food written by one of the masters of BBQ.......2007-09-06

If you like food, you will enjoy this book, but if you like BBQ in the real down home tradition your gonna love it. And if you read it after reading only one other book on BBQ then you will be like me, totally smitten.

Heck, because of this book, I had to go get a charcoal grill after many with a gas grill. Now my father in law thinks I am the better of the two of us when the grill is turned on.

I am still trying to keep from turning my life over to "low and slow" exclusively, but my PL&BBQ tshirt is in the mail.

Fantastic Book on all things Barbecue.......2007-08-21

This book was amazing in its simplicity to cover all things barbecue in such a straightforward and folksy manner, by Mike Mills, a genuine legend of barbecue. Mills discusses the culture of barbecue, what barbecue means to the people and families that barbecue, how to succeed at barbecue, and is even able to coax a few great recipes from the greatest legends of barbecue. Standing back, one realizes Mills has written a rare work, one that really captures the essence of what food means to people and a culture. Even more amazing is how unpretentious and genuine the whole book is.

And while the book stands on its own as a cultural history, the recipes are worth the price of the book. Most of the legends Mill's interviewed likely reluctant to give up their secret sauces, rubs, and signature dishes. So many of the recipes Mill's collects are various side dishes. I made Billy Bones Wall Cherry Sausage, and it is definitely a keeper, although next time, I'll cut back on the salt a little. Mike Mills graciously provides many of his "secret" recipes, including his magic dust seasoning. I made up a batch and put it to the ultimate test: Would it wake up a TV dinner? Yessirreee! I find myself using Mill's Magic Dust lots of places, and Mill's recommends using it on everything but ice cream. Actually, it would probably make ice cream taste better too! Finally, I made Sarge's Smoked Portobello Mushrooms, which were awesome!

Even as a simple home cooking book, I highly recommend it. But it's true strength is a cultural history of a truly American cuisine that's starting to come into its own.

Tops For All Skill Levels.......2007-06-17

This is my favorite BBQ book, though maybe for different reasons than other reviewers like it.

I've been BBQing and grilling for many years, since I was a teen ager, and my main reason for preferring this method of cooking is because I'm no gourmet, and if you take BBQing at its basic level, it's a very easy method of cooking. By this I mean you don't need culinary school/professional skills to pull of good BBQ--just a lot of care and patience, plus the experience you will pick up as you go along.

I'm not planning to enter BBQ championships or competition. I just like simple recipes that taste good, with easy-to-get ingredients. And though this book can be taken as a championship BBQ manual, it is also easy enough, its ingredients basic enough, that even the back yard duffer like me can make the most of them.

The recipes are just about fool-proof, if you take the care and time to follow them properly. F'rinstance, the famous Magic Dust rub recipe is about as easy as mixing Nestles Quik, and you don't have to go to exotic asian markets to find the ingredients. I hate shopping and I like a recipe where you can get everything you need at the local supermarket.

You also don't need thousands of dollars of fancy BBQ equipment to get the job done here. Sure, you can do it all in a big fancy smoker, but I only have a regular 26" Weber charcoal kettle grill, plus the pint-sized Weber Smoky Joe for side jobs, and every thing comes out dandy. A food processor would certainly come in handy, though I don't even have that. It would make the job easier, but its not necessary.

On the other hand, if you are very ambitious, there's enough meat here for the most competitive cook. I don't imagine there is anyone BBQing out there who can't learn something, and a great deal, from this book.

One of my favorites is the grilled stuff peppers, which even the most incompetent [...] can throw together without straining yet which, in the hands of a BBQ master, can probably come out like ambrosia for the grilling gods.

The guy who wrote the introduction to this said it's the last cookbook you'll ever need, and though you should certainly get some others (I like Steve Raichlen's BBQ USA and Paul Kirk's Championship BBQing), this is the one to start with, even if you're brand new to the BBQ. It used to be a custom to give a newlywed bride a cookbook as a wedding present. That custom seems to have passed away in these days when wives don't cook. However if it still existed, this is the book I'd give them.

And there's one other benefit to BBQing, which they don't mention here--you don't have to clean the kitchen when you're done. For an old bachelor like me, who is a first rate lazy slob, this last thing can't be overemphasized. Just keep the grill cleaned & oiled, make sure you scrub all surfaces when going from chicken to anything else, let the charcoal cool down before you throw it in the garbage pail, uses paper plates, and dump everything right in the trash and your day is done.

Best BBQ Foundation Ever.......2007-03-05

I bought a high-end (Lang) offset smoker a year ago. I was raised in the South, so I am no stranger to BBQ (slow cooked meat usually with wood). This was my 5th book on the subject. Most of them I purchased, tried a rub or sauce recipe, and retired to the shelf. However, Peace, Love and BBQ is different. It is the real deal. I am not a reader, but I find myself picking up this book and just reading for ideas and inspiration. It makes me hungry every single time. BBQ varies from region to region, and this book helps you understand regional preferences. It covers the fundamentals and provides recipes based on ACTUAL success stories of people and restaurants.

If you are a BBQ fan, this is your book. Buy this one first and save yourself some money. It covers a wide range of flavors in recipes that meld together in the BBQ world as determined by judges and customers. As with any cookbook, when you get a good foundation, you can adjust to your tastes as necessary (i.e. adjust spices for sweet or heat). Understanding that BBQ is a hobby, and admitting that I am biased, this is the best cookbook on a culinary subject that I have ever purchased! I believe that this book will change my approach to BBQ indefinitely. What a bargain.

Tall Tales Are Sometimes True.......2006-11-30

This is the only cookbook I've ever heard of that would make a person cry. Mike and Amy achieved a beautiful balance of story telling, how to and why to as well as showing a reverence for those of us who are out there in the BBQ world everyday. This great read is full of recipes that your grandmama never bothered to write down all the way to how my dad cooks a whole ribeye. (Yes, he's mentioned in the book.) Mike and Amy did what they set out to do: the gave the world the gift of an insider's view into what bbq culture is all about. I'm not only proud to own it, I'm proud to give it as a gift on any and all occasions.

Between the Lines: Not-So-Tall Tales From Ray "Scampy" Scapinello's Four Decades in the NHL

Average customer rating:

Hockey fans will like it...
A big let down...Scampy held back
Between the lines

Between the Lines: Not-So-Tall Tales From Ray "Scampy" Scapinello's Four Decades in the NHL
Ray Scapinello , and Rob Simpson
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0470838345

Book Description

An insider's look at life on the lines

To hockey fans, Ray Scapinello's name and face are as recognizable as any star player or coach in the NHL. Scampy, as he is affectionately known has had a long and storied career as a linesman in the NHL. His 5-foot-7 frame and 163 pounds belie his ability and endurance on the ice. When Ray retired in 2004 after 33 years in the NHL, he had officiated in 2,500 regular season matches (never missing a game), 426 playoff games, and an astounding twenty Stanley Cup final series. His untouchable statistics make him a lock to enter the Hockey Hall of Fame as an official, but even they do not do justice to the respect he has earned from officials, players, coaches, and fans alike. On and off the ice, Scampy is considered one of hockey's great personalities, a consummate professional, a chronic practical joker, and a true ambassador of the sport.

Between the Lines gives a rare glimpse inside the world of hockey from an unusual perspective — through the eyes of one of the game's greatest and best-loved officials. Scampy shares his tales of life both on and off the ice as an official, an inside look at what those players and coaches are really like, what they really say and do, and what the game looks like between the lines. Full of fun stories, perspective on how the game has changed and evolved, and stories and interviews about Scampy from players, coaches, and other officials, Between the Lines is a captivating memoir of a truly unique life in hockey.

Customer Reviews:

Hockey fans will like it..........2007-03-28

As an avid hockey fan, I enjoyed all of the stories in the book. It provides incredible insight into the NHL and its officials. I found myself thouroughly amazed at how much extracurricular stuff goes on during a hockey game between the officials and players.

That said, the book itself was dissapointing. It seems to skip around alot, telling a story and then going off on several related tangents before returning to the original point. This causes the author to repeat himself several times, particularly across several chapters.

Perhaps most dissapointing is the general lack of "Scampy" stories through the first two thirds of the book. It's more of a "life of the NHL officials" type of book than a story about the life and career of a specific person. This is why hockey fans will still enjoy this book, reading background stories about NHL games always provides a unique, new, and enjoyable experience. Unfortunately, this book is published as an [auto]biography and that takes away from the overall enjoyment of the book.

A big let down...Scampy held back.......2007-01-20

I really looked forward to reading this book over the Christmas holiday.

However, it's very painful for me to say that this book was a complete and total let down. Based on Scampy's tenure in the NHL, I would have expected so much more, but Scampy held back. Clearly, Scampy didn't want to do a "tell all" book, but this book was so poorly written and organized with weak stories and annecdotes. Scampy certainly had better material that he could have shared with us. Perhaps I can't blame him for not wanting to get into more details on topics the average hockey fan would want to know.

Scampy was the best linesmen I ever saw and his career spanned so many years. It's just too bad the book did not get into the level of detail and stories that Scampy must surely have filed in his memory banks that we all would have enjoyed reading.

Between the lines.......2007-01-15

Fantastic Book - a must have for any die hard hockey fan. Great insight into the game and it's history.

Average customer rating:

cultural mythology
Excellent Collection...
Great Folktale Collection

American Tall Tales
Mary Pope Osborne
Manufacturer: Knopf Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0679800891
Release Date: 1991-09-24

Book Description

Celebrating the 15th anniversary of these collection of tales. There are among nine "tall" heroes featured in this exuberant collection of traditional American folk tales, including Paul Bunyan, JohnnyAppleseed, John Henry, and other American folk heroes.

Customer Reviews:

cultural mythology.......2005-01-07

I bought this book for a grandchild. I grew up with the stories and want to share them and the characters with him. Who hasn't heard of at least one of the characters in the book: Paul Bunyan, Davy Crockett?

The writing style will be easily understood by children in early elementary. The really exceptional part of this book is the Foreward. It easily and clearly explains how the stories in the book have become part of our US cultural heritage without needing to be an educator to understand it.

I highly recommend it to anyone considering this type of book.

Excellent Collection..........2000-05-09

This is an excellent collection of american folktales which both I and my siblings have enjoyed. It is well written and very enjoyable on the whole.

Great Folktale Collection.......2000-05-09

I had to buy this book for an education class i am taking, and I very much enjoyed it. It is a wonderfully told collection of American Folk Tales which both me and my siblings have enjoyed.

Home Tree Home: Principles of Treehouse Construction and Other Tall Tales

Average customer rating:

Awesome book
Highly reccomend for any treehouse builder
HOME TREE HOME IS A BLESSING
detailed information for planning a serious treehouse
complicated book

Home Tree Home: Principles of Treehouse Construction and Other Tall Tales
Peter N. Nelson , and Gerry Hadden
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0140259988

Customer Reviews:

Awesome book.......2005-08-02

A previous reviewer said that this wasn't for beginning treehouse builders. I don't think that is the case at all.

I bought this book because I wanted to explore attachment options, and it had a chapter on that topic. There was so much more inside this book. There is a detailed description of a massive treehouse they built. Even though I never plan to build such a thing, the read was wonderful.

I was going to put a treehouse in our back yard. After reading the section on picking the tree, I realized that it probably would have killed the tree completely. My tree, which I saw as huge and tall and a great tree-house tree turned out to be very sick, and the book even pointed out why.

This is the kind of book that makes you want to sit down with the author and have dinner. His writing style is very conversational, easy to follow, and hard to put down. I wish I was fortunate enough, as those in the book have been, to have him come and build my treehouse.

This book is a great read and great value. I hope that he writes more of his treehouse adventures for us to enjoy.

Highly reccomend for any treehouse builder.......2004-06-15

I live in a treehouse (corbin's treehouse), and I used a lot of techniques in this book when building my house. excellent book, and highly reccomended.

HOME TREE HOME IS A BLESSING.......2003-08-26

FABULOUS BOOK FOR THE BEGINNER WHO IS LOOKING FOR THE STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS ON "HOW TO BUILD A TREEHOUSE"- IT EVEN TELLS YOU HOW TO PICK THE PERFECT TREE. A MUST HAVE FOR ANYONE THINKING OF TAKING ON THIS KIND OF PROJECT!!!!

detailed information for planning a serious treehouse.......2003-01-16

This is a book to read before you even decide what type of structure you want to build. This book is not a book of plans or a quick-read instruction manual of how to build tree houses. This is a serious book about the most important part of the process: the planning.

Nelson begs us to realize that first we must select the tree(s) and that the characteristics of the tree(s) will dictate what size and type of structure can be built. Nelson includes information about which trees are best suited for building in, taking their strength and growing characteristics. This is great information to know, and something I think my tree landscaping books don't include. We learn that the growth of some trees will actually crush the structure over time, while others are too weak to safely hold up a structure, let alone one with people inside it.

The key element in this book is safety. Nelson gives detailed information about how to build a structure that is safe to inhabit, whether it is a playhouse for children or an actual house for adults to use to work or live in. I was surprised to see that some of the tree houses in the book are for actually living in and working in!

Several different methods to attach the structure to the tree are outlined in detail. Exactly what type and how many tree "attachments" to use is explained, such as too many direct nailings into the tree will kill it. I think this information is key.

Looking at the plans for the tree houses in the book, I realized the quality of the workmanship surpasses houses that I have lived in. These are not quick slap-up tree houses, not the type where you use scrap wood that you have lying around. The houses featured have fine edgings, safe banisters and ladders for climbing, beautiful doors and windows. Some have balconies!

Anyone considering building a tree house should read this book first lest they waste their time building a tree house that later kills the tree, ends up being not-secure, or is flat out unsafe for people to use. As a non-carpenter, frankly I am feeling intimidated and doubt I have trees on my property that are worthy!

complicated book.......2001-07-26

Hard to read. It only has a couple of different designs for treehouses. This is for an experienced builder.

Average customer rating:

Pablum
Great Pictures for a Great Story!
Jeff's Book Review
Wonderfully Illustrated!
fun with tall tales

Paul Bunyan
Steven Kellogg
Manufacturer: William Morrow & Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0688038492

Amazon.com

Do you know how the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River were first formed? How about the Great Plains and the Grand Canyon? Some people think these wonders were established by the forces of nature, but those folks clearly haven't heard of Paul Bunyan, the "strongest, smartest, and tallest hero of the tallest of American tall tales." Paul and his pal, Babe the Blue Ox, were responsible for creating all these geographic features as they worked their way west with their unusual lumber crew. Paul's adventures begin when he is just a baby (who can lift a cow over his head) and continue as he grows into the biggest lumberjack in the world. All the basic stories about Paul Bunyan are here in this rollicking tale, as well as a few inventive incidents added by author and illustrator Steven Kellogg.

Kellogg is well known for his stories about Pinkerton the Great Dane, retellings of classic tales such as Chicken Little, and illustrations for books such as How Much Is a Million? by David Schwartz. But Kellogg's most important contribution to children's literature is his series on American folk heroes, including Johnny Appleseed, Mike Fink, Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett, and of course, the tallest hero of the tallest tale of all--Paul Bunyan. A great legend and great fun. (Ages 5 to 9) --Marcie Bovetz

Book Description

Who was the largest baby ever born in the state of Maine? Who dug the Great Lakes? Who gouged out the Grand Canyon? Why, Paul Bunyan, of course, America's finest, fastest, funniest lumberman and favorite tall-tale hero.

Customer Reviews:

Pablum.......2006-08-02

Saccharine cotton candy. About the only "real" thing left from the folk tales is Babe being found during a blue snow and staying blue. My grandkids' great great grandparents came from a logging past. Am I going to use this book to introduce them to heir own history? Absolutely not.

Great Pictures for a Great Story!.......2006-02-10

Paul Bunyan is a great book to entertain anyone. You'll love it! When I first read it I didnt want it to finish it. Can you believe it?! Paul Bunyan is the greatest character ever! Paul Bunyan gets raced in the Wild West fighting through anything that gets in his way. So watch out and dont run into him because he'll knock you off your feet!

Jeff's Book Review.......2004-03-08

This book is very funny and entertaining.It was funny to see how Paul Bunyan, who was gigantic as both a baby and an adult, delt with all of the people and monsters who were much smaller than him. This book has great pictures and will make you laugh.

Wonderfully Illustrated!.......2001-04-09

This is a very enjoyable story retold with the most captivating illustrations. The vocabulary telling this story is wonderful and is a great book to read to the young and an excellent book for the early reader. Children will enjoy this enhanced version! This is not a book to miss.

fun with tall tales.......2000-06-24

Students are sure to enjoy this hilarious account of how many of our nation's wonders were created. This tall tale has been "spruced up" with a rich and colorful vocubulary, and is combined with illustrations that will keep the reader coming back for discovery time and time again. Steven Kellog's series of tall tales are invaluable in the classroom as students experience various literary elements such as: genre, author/illustrators, and theme related impressions.

True Grits: Tall Tales and Recipes from the New South

Average customer rating:

Amazing!
Disappointing
Coca Cola Recipe IS wrong!
A culinary wealth of delicious home-style cooking
Five's not enough -- make it 10 stars.

True Grits: Tall Tales and Recipes from the New South
Inc. Junior League of Atlanta
Manufacturer: Wimmer Cookbooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Reference | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0871974258
Release Date: 1997-07-09

Product Description

A collection of regional recipes, inspired photography, and lively, charming stories by renowned southern authors - people like Anne Rivers Siddons, Lewis Grizzard, Terry Kay, and Eugenia Price. Finalist in the 1995 James Beard Cookbook Awards. First Place Winner of the 1995 PMA Ben Franklin Cookbook Award. A 1995 National Winner of the Tabasco Community Cookbook Award.

Customer Reviews:

Amazing!.......2007-02-19

As a member of the Junior League and a collector of Junior League cookbooks, I have to say that this book is one of the best I have ever seen or used. While some of the receipes may be a little time intensive, they are worth it! The chicken pecan quiche and the spicy spinich pinwheels are to die for! You will not be disappointed with this book!

Disappointing.......2006-07-28

I expected some simpler Southern cooking because of the title. The recipes might have came from California instead from Atlanta. No thanks, this isn't Southern fixin's.

Coca Cola Recipe IS wrong!.......2005-06-28

The first recipe I tried from this book was the "controversial" Coca Cola Cake-& it was indeed a flop! In researching other versions of this recipe I found that for the icing, this recipe calls for 3/4 cup of cola whereas most others call for approx. 3 tablespoons! No wonder mine looked lake a "floating isle"! Now I'm not sure I trust the other recipes!

A culinary wealth of delicious home-style cooking.......2003-10-14

Compiled by members of The Junior League Of Atlanta, True Grits: Tall Tales And Recipes From The New South presents a culinary wealth of delicious home-style cooking ranging from traditional faire such as Fried Chicken and Buttermilk Biscuits, to original, mouth-watering offerings such as Pan-Seared Crab Cakes with Lemon Linguini; Kiwifruit Frozen Yogurt; Peanut Butter Chocolate Drops; and more. Helpful hints and enjoyable anecdotal tales in the margins add a friendly and enjoyable touch to this excellent and savory recipe guide.

Five's not enough -- make it 10 stars........2002-07-18

Jr. League cookbooks have come a long way since the first little spiral-bound paper products of some 40 or 50 years ago. I don't know if the Atlanta Jr. League was the first to come up with the cookbook moneymaker project, but I do know their cookbooks have been much respected over the years -- venerated, even.

In this one, though, they've outdone themselves. Even if the recipes were awful (and they're not), there's still enough entertainment in this book to make it worthy of the price. And that's not counting the gorgeous illustrations that place it firmly in coffeetable display status.

It's the stories by famous Georgia writers that kick this volume into the stratosphere of pleasure.
Ferrol Sams's double-take as he watches Katie Couric brave a glass of horse's milk on the Today Show, for example, is bound to split a stitch or two.
Then there's the late Lewis Grizzard on his prowess at the grill. "I come from a long line of outdoor grillers," he says, "My Uncle Jerome still holds the American record for consecutive days grilling out, 178."
Reconstructed Yankee Bill Diehl holds forth on how he came to love the South. He quotes his mentor, Ralph Gill of the Atlanta Constitution, "We must work to make a better North, South, West or New England, because in so doing we make a better America."
The inimitable Anne Rivers Siddons holds forth on the difficulties of finding a bowl of real Southern grits while on book tour in the great Fly-Over Land.
Stuart Woods, Eugenia Price, and Valerie Richards Jackson are just a few of the star-studded literary lights who shine in these pages. What a great idea to showcase Georgia's finest literary talents along with its best culinary talents!

I'll vouch for the recipes, too. I've been married to a full-fledged (and also reconstructed) Yankee for more years that you can count on all the digits of several people and when his side of the family came to visit recently, of course they expected Southern food from the only bona-fide Southerner in the family. So I served Crème Fraiche Biscuits with Chevre and Country Ham Butter, Spicy Grits Casserole and German Pancake with Peach Compote when they converged on me for a reunion brunch. They loved the food, asked for recipes and when I showed them the cookbook, they enthused over that, too!

Every recipe I've tried from TRUE GRITS has been delicious and has garnered raves from my family and friends. Therefore, I can unequivocally give it the highest recommendation from a cook's point of view as well as from one who values -- indeed, treasures -- a good read.

Average customer rating:

A small still book

simply perfect

When You Were Small
Sara O'Leary
Manufacturer: Simply Read Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Family Life | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Family Relationships | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1894965361

Book Description

When father puts young Henry to bed he always says "Dad, tell me about when I was small." His father complies, telling Henry how, when he was little, he used to be so tiny that he could take his pet ant out for a walk on a leash! What's more, he got his hair combed with a toothbrush and was such a little boy that he could even fit in his father's shirt pocket. Henry was so small that his father's original name for him, Hieronymous, wouldn't fit.

An enchanting, comic bedtime story that can make even the smallest child feel big, When You Were Small is the perfect book for children in a hurry to grow up.

Customer Reviews:

A small still book.......2006-05-25

Pity the small publisher in this age of global conglomerates and massive buyouts. In a time of Harcourts and Harper Collins, and Antheneums it's almost impossible for the little guy (the little guy in this case being Simply Read Books) to make any kind of a lasting impression on the marketplace. Worse than all of this is the snobbery involved in criticizing small publishers. I admit freely that when I picked up, "When You Were Small", I looked at it long and hard with an eye towards finding any faults it might have. Not all small publishers are good, after all, and not all of their books readworthy. Simply Read Books is different, though, and "When You Were Small", is infinitely readworthy. An unassuming title with a charming presence, great use of wry commentary, and some really outstanding pen and ink illustrations. "When You Were Small", reminds all of us that sometimes the smallest publishers are the ones who find the best new talent around.

Every night, we are told, Henry and his dad sit down, "and have a chat". Henry asks his dad to tell him what he was like when he was small and dad does so. The only thing is, dad seems to be a bit of a literal sort. The first thing he tells Henry is, "When you were small you used to have a pet ant and you would take him out for walks on a leash". And here we see Henry, no younger than before, but tiny enough to walk an ant as if it were a particularly frisky dog. With each page we learn more about what "little" Henry's life was like. Sometimes it's straightforward, as when we're told, "When you were small we took the toy castle out of the aquarium and you were king of it". Other times the book acquires a dry wit, saying things like, "... your mother once lost you in the bottom of her purse. When she found you again, you were clinging to an earring she'd lost three years before". We hear about how Henry would eat, use a ruler when it came to tobogganing, and take a bath. Near the end of the book Henry's father notes, "we wanted to call you Hieronymous but it was too big a name for you and so we shortened it to Henry". And when Henry asks if all of this is true (as I am sure he asks every night) his dad simply says, "Well ... don't you remember?".

With a steady hand O'Leary parcels out the information in this book in a familiar form. Each section that discusses Henry's previously tiny state begins with the repeating phrase, "When you were small". I think it was the understated humor that really won me over to this book, though. There's a wonderful moment when Henry would ride around in his father's breast pocket. "Your little head would just stick out and your little hands would grip onto the edge of the cloth. Actually you ripped a lot of my shirts that way". It's a small statement, but it makes the reader suddenly wonder if all the dad's stories were true after all. I mean, that's a pretty realistic detail to include. Illustrator Julie Morstad further confuses the issue when she displays front and endpapers that consist of Henry staring at photographs of himself in his "small" state. Some show him posing alongside an ant. Others display him floating away on a balloon or doing something as mundane as posing for Halloween. What is a child to think?

Actually, I should be giving artist Morstad some definite props for this book as well. Using the thinnest of pen lines in a wide variety of colors (subdued, for the most part) the book feels almost like a foreign import. We rarely see such delicate perfectly rendered pictures in our American bookstores and libraries. There's a picture of Henry standing astride a beautifully penned cat. Every hair of that cat is meticulously placed, making it my favorite image in, "When You Were Small". Morstad could make even Peter Sis look like a thick-penned schlub in comparison.

I should mention that the book conveys a great deal of love without artifice or false sentiment. Some of this you might be able to chalk this up to the simplicity of the book's design itself. Publication information is in tiny type at the bottom of a single page. There is no information about either the author nor illustrator nor even a dedication section. The book also hasn't any book jacket, giving it a rather classic feel. All in all, this is one of the lovelier picture book creations I've had the pleasure of reading in a long time. A quiet, intelligent, rather sweet read in a style that everyone can enjoy. Recommended with honors.

simply perfect.......2006-05-23

Everything about this book, I love. The words, the message, the illustrations, the gorgeous cover, everything. This book is endearingly quirky and charming. I fell in love with it. I can only hope they write one with a little girl as the main character!

Rabbit Ears Treasury of Tall Tales: Volume One: Davy Crockett, Rip Van Winkle, Johnny Appleseed, Paul Bunyan (Rabbit Ears)

Average customer rating:

Rabbit Ears Treasury of Tall Tales Volume I
Easy on the ears for the whole family

Rabbit Ears Treasury of Tall Tales: Volume One: Davy Crockett, Rip Van Winkle, Johnny Appleseed, Paul Bunyan (Rabbit Ears)
Rabbit Ears
Manufacturer: Listening Library (Audio)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 0739336509
Release Date: 2006-08-22

Book Description

The Rabbit Ears Treasury of American Tall Tales features the larger-than-life characters of America's favorite folk stories--read by your favorite stars and featuring original music by some of today's greatest artists.

Davy Crockett
Read by Nicolas Cage
Original Music by David Bromberg
Follow the escapades of America's ultimate backwoods hero as he travels the frontier in his trademark coonskin cap in search of adventure and brags his way into history at the Battle of the Alamo.

Rip Van Winkle
Read by Anjelica Huston
Original Music by Jay Ungar and Molly Mason
This Washington Irving classic tells the story of likeable but lazy Rip Van Winkle, who shared a strange brew with some mysterious strangers and fell into a deep sleep for 20 years. He discovers when he finally wakes that things are considerably different than he remembers, providing a cautionary tale about making the most of life.

Johnny Appleseed
Read by Garrison Keillor
Original Music by Mark O'Connor
Here is the touching tale of the good-natured naturalist who traveled through the Ohio Valley in the early 1800s planting apple orchards, making friends, and spreading goodwill. Walk the miles with this barefoot explorer who never met an apple pie he didn't like.

Paul Bunyan
Read by Jonathan Winters
Original Music by Leo Kottke with Duck Baker
The larger-than-life lumberjack swaggers through the forests of North America with his faithful companion, Babe the Blue Ox, by his side. Hear about the pancake griddle that's over an acre wide and the truly tall tale of how the Great Lakes and Grand Canyon were created.

Customer Reviews:

Rabbit Ears Treasury of Tall Tales Volume I.......2007-04-05

Thia is was very enjoyable and easy to listen to. I would feel amyone no mater their age would enjoy this listening to this book.

Easy on the ears for the whole family.......2006-09-24

I purchased this for my daughter's fifth birthday and was very pleased with this collection.
Things I liked about Rabbit Ears Treasury of American Tall Tales:
1. Garrison Keillor has an amazing reading ability. He is easy for everyone to listen to.
2. Each story was backed by original music, written to enhance the mood of the story. It was well played and enjoyable.
3. Almost all of the tales were enjoyed by everyone in my family.
4. Each was an appropriate amount of time (approximately 30 minute per story) to hold interest and provide detail.
5. We have listened to the stories over and over, and no one is tired of them yet!
6. The vocabulary is not dumbed down, but understandable in context.

Things I didn't like:
1. Rip Van Winkle was a bit scary to my five year old. The ghosts' decision to sabotage Rip's future with his family really bothered her a great deal.

2. Occasionally the audio became difficult to hear. Repeat listenings and cranking the sound during quiet moments helped, but shouldn't have been necessary.

3. The bit about Johnny Appleseed believing he will have three angel brides in heaven if he remains pure on earth just kept bringing my mind back to the 9/11 sickos who believed killing innocents would mean they would get virgins in heaven. That's my own personal connection, so it shouldn't be troublesome to kids listening to the story (though adults reading this might feel squeamish after seeing this connection. Sorry.)

This is great for car trips, and a real entertainment bargain. Overall, I would recommend this CD and would buy more Rabbit Ears audio cds in the future.

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