Secondly, the book is a long overdue portrait of the real Mario Batali and of the real Marco Pierre White--two complicated and brilliant chefs whose coverage in the press--while appropriately fawning--has never described them in their fully debauched, delightful glory. Buford has--for the first time--managed to explain White's peculiar--almost freakish brilliance--while humanizing a man known for terrorizing cooks, customers (and Batali). As for Mario--he is finally revealed for the Falstaffian, larger than life, mercurial, frighteningly intelligent chef/enterpreneur he really is. No small accomplishment. Other cooks, chefs, butchers, artisans and restaurant lifers are described with similar insight.
Thirdly, Heat reveals a dead-on understanding--rare among non-chef writers--of the pleasures of "making" food; the real human cost, the real requirements and the real adrenelin-rush-inducing pleasures of cranking out hundreds of high quality meals. One is left with a truly unique appreciation of not only what is truly good about food--but as importantly, who cooks--and why. I can't think of another book which takes such an unsparing, uncompromising and ultimately thrilling look at the quest for culinary excellence. Heat brims with fascinating observations on cooking, incredible characters, useful discourse and argument-ending arcania. I read my copy and immediately started reading it again. It's going right in between Orwell's Down and Out in Paris and London and Zola's The Belly of Paris on my bookshelf. --Anthony Bourdain
Book Description
Bill Buford—author of the highly acclaimed best-selling Among the Thugs—had long thought of himself as a reasonably comfortable cook when in 2002 he finally decided to answer a question that had nagged him every time he prepared a meal: What kind of cook could he be if he worked in a professional kitchen? When the opportunity arose to train in the kitchen of Mario Batali’s three-star New York restaurant, Babbo, Buford grabbed it. Heat is the chronicle—sharp, funny, wonderfully exuberant—of his time spent as Batali’s “slave” and of his far-flung apprenticeships with culinary masters in Italy.
In a fast-paced, candid narrative, Buford describes the frenetic experience of working in Babbo’s kitchen: the trials and errors (and more errors), humiliations and hopes, disappointments and triumphs as he worked his way up the ladder from slave to cook. He talks about his relationships with his kitchen colleagues and with the larger-than-life, hard-living Batali, whose story he learns as their friendship grows through (and sometimes despite) kitchen encounters and after-work all-nighters.
Buford takes us to the restaurant in a remote Appennine village where Batali first apprenticed in Italy and where Buford learns the intricacies of handmade pasta . . . the hill town in Chianti where he is tutored in the art of butchery by Italy’s most famous butcher, a man who insists that his meat is an expression of the Italian soul . . . to London, where he is instructed in the preparation of game by Marco Pierre White, one of England’s most celebrated (or perhaps notorious) chefs. And throughout, we follow the thread of Buford’s fascinating reflections on food as a bearer of culture, on the history and development of a few special dishes (Is the shape of tortellini really based on a woman’s navel? And just what is a short rib?), and on the what and why of the foods we eat today.
Heat is a marvelous hybrid: a richly evocative memoir of Buford’s kitchen adventure, the story of Batali’s amazing rise to culinary (and extra-culinary) fame, a dazzling behind-the-scenes look at the workings of a famous restaurant, and an illuminating exploration of why food matters.
It is a book to delight in—and to savor.
Customer Reviews:
Interesting but not what I thought it was going to be.......2007-09-19
I got this book because my husband heard an interview on the radio and thought I would like it since I love to cook. It was interesting but spent too much time, for me, on the politics of working in a restaurant kitchen and not enough on the workings of food in a restaurant. I bored with the personalities and gave up trying to figure out who was who.
I think I made the pages soggy..........2007-09-17
This guy, Bill Buford, is pretty amazing. Despite the danger of slicing off his hands entirely (an accident that he somehow manages to repeat) under various huge, sharp, professional knives, he insisted going (back again and again) to Italy to learn about things so obscure even professional chefs wouldn't have much idea about.
If you're looking for a book about Batali, this isn't the most comprehensive one, but it's scathingly honest and if you really live and breathe food, you'll gain a whole lot more than goss about the inner workings of Batali's businesses. It gets a bit soppy at times - a bit too "Tuscany is beautiful, and Provence is the ultimate foodie heaven", but only fleetingly, and all can be forgiven once you read about the author's hilarious effort to cook a whole pig...
ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.......2007-09-11
The chapters on Mario Batali and the dynamics of his kitchen were really interesting and engaging. I was intrigud by the sections on Marco Pierre White as I had just read Gordon Ramsey's autobiography in which his tempestuous relationship with White plays a significant role. The rest of Buford's book is just too tediously, self-indulgently written to the point where it killed my interest in the underlying subjects of pasta making and butchery (I ended up skimming page after page as I just couldn't take it). It reminded me of a computer spitting forth every bit of information in its memory regardless of relevance or interest. Just too many tedious, boorish details.
BRAVO!.......2007-09-11
If you've ever wondered what it would be like to work in a professional kitchen... this is the book makes you feel like you are there. Ver interesting and delightful to read. Very different than any other book I've read.
A great foodie book...though missing just a slice of Bourdain.......2007-09-03
I'll offer right up front that Bill Buford offers in this book what I have been missing from Anthony Bourdain's books--both offer a wonderful no-holds-barred approach to the restaurant culture and the madness that lies behind the swinging kitchen door as well as a sheer love for food, but while Bourdain has much more of the insider appeal and the edge of experience from which to tell his tales, Buford is, hands-down, a durn better writer. This book is an intense view of the world of Italian food. It is researched and experienced. Buford made a reputation with Among the Thugs of going deep into his subject matter, culminating (in Thugs) in being beaten by cops as though he were one (after he had worked hard to be one of them). Rather than take a removed, journalistic perspective, researching from afar, Buford dives right in and learns everything from the inside.
In this book, Buford comes under the wing of rockstar-chef Mario Batali, and though he may fancy himself a foodie who could have become a renowned chef himself had he put in the time, the work of the kitchen turns out to be a whole different world. From almost day one, Buford learns that there is a proper way to dice carrots (which he didn't do), uncovering the first of many lessons I would learn through this book that would let me realize that I, too, am but an amateur in the world of cooking. Buford learns that one of the first secrets to being an ace chef is being able to cook the same dish the same way each and every time, so that those who come in and enjoy it one night can come in on any other night and still have the dish that they loved so well.
From there, the lessons don't get any easier. Moving up from prep to line cook creates its own hazards (literally), but within it all Buford maintains his cool (in his own way) and becomes a student of food. This eventually leads him to take some trips to Italy, where he tries his hand as an apprentice to making pasta and, ultimately, as a butcher. The book leaflet is a little misleading here, for Buford learns more about the proper way to butcher a pig carcass rather than slaughter the pig itself--this is where Buford divides from Bourdain, who wanted to be involved in the actual killing of a pig in his quest to become closer to the food he loves so much.
It's hard not to make corellations between Bill Buford and Anthony Bourdain, maybe because both have such a deep respect for food and the craft of making it. Bourdain, of course, speaks from the inside, and that might be his ultimate downfall. His TV appearances are golden, but when translated to the page, books like Kitchen Confidential and A Cook's Tour have the essence of foodiness that I like, but the pages eventually get rather unreadable. Buford has a very engaging style and is good at developing moments of humor and manicness and pure horror, and the gruff relationships between the cooks seem to go right up the same alley as Buford's previous work with English soccer hooligans. His research into cooking history (for example, when egg was first used in making Italian pasta) is wonderful, though I wasn't so intrigued in his chapters that delved into the histories of some of his colleagues, including Batali. In the later chapters, Buford's writing became almost a little too thick, like (excuse, please) munching constantly on duck in a thick, rich sauce, but then getting a little overwhelmed and wanting a bit more of a respite before being bombarded with another round of deep, deep flavor.
In all, this book becomes the story of a foodie's journey into discovering the essence of being a chef and even attaining that, in a way. Though I was a little let down by the ending that suggested a sequel in the guise of conveying a deeper sense of yearning in Buford's curiosity about food, the narrative is quite secure throughout.
The ultimate foodie book will be written by someone with the passion and experience of Bourdain, but with the skills and desire for further knowledge of Buford. Right now, this would seem to be the best case scenario we can find, but I hold out hope that there might be another out there who can mix absolutely everything together.
Amazon.com
The sparkling personality, sense of humor, and charm familiar to Jacques Pépin's television audiences carries over to the page in the superstar chef's humbly titled memoir, The Apprentice.
A clever, mischievous, and very likable boy, Pépin's earliest food memories are hungry ones from his childhood in war-torn France. After World War II, his first restaurant job was peeling potatoes for his mother at her restaurant, and he became an apprentice in a hotel kitchen at age 13. In this delightful tale he works hard, plays fair, is kind to others and good to his family, and his efforts take him to Paris, and then New York. Except for the terrible car accident that required him to reinvent himself as a teacher and television personality, he seems to have always been in the right place at the right time. He cooked for Prime Minister Gaillard and then General Charles de Gaulle, met Pierre Franey, Craig Claiborne, and Julia Child, and turned down a job cooking for JFK to accept one with Howard Johnson. But just as entertaining and enjoyable to read about are his tender memories and thoughts about his relationships with his parents and brothers, and with his wife and daughter.
We all wish we could cook like Pepin (and every chapter ends with one of Pépin's favorite recipes), but this enchanting tale will make you wish you knew him. The clear, simple way he expresses himself and the honesty with which he tells his story will bring you to tears, and make you laugh out loud. --Leora Y. Bloom
Book Description
From the moment of its publication, The Apprentice established itself as an "instant classic" (Anthony Bourdain). With sparkling wit and occasional pathos, the man whom Julia Child has called "the best chef in America" tells the captivating story of his rise from a terrified thirteen-year-old toiling in an Old World French kitchen to an American superstar who ad-libbed and demonstrated culinary wizardry as the cameras rolled and changed American tastes. The Apprentice is an engrossing tale of the modern cooking scene and how it came to be, told from an engaging personal perspective. The story begins in prewar France, with young Jacques cutting his teeth in his mother's small restaurants. Moving to Paris, it offers tantalizing glimpses of Sartre and Genet. In his role as Charles de Gaulle's personal chef, Jacques witnesses history being made from behind the swinging door of the kitchen. In America, he rejects an offer to be chef in the Kennedy White House, choosing instead to work at Howard Johnson's. He then proceeds to make some history of his own, creating a revolution with a band of fellow food lovers: Julia Child, James Beard, and Craig Claiborne. Culinary high jinks and revealing portraits ensue. The Apprentice also includes well-loved recipes, from Maman's Cheese Souffl to Chicken Salad la Danny Kaye.
Customer Reviews:
An Inspiration to Cooks and a Great Companion Piece to the United States of Arugula.......2007-07-29
What a lovely book -- elegant, flavorful, delightful! My compliments to the chef. Jacques Pepin accomplishes much with a few key ingredients. I aspire to do the same with my review. As I read the book, I couldn't help thinking that I was reading first-hand source material for the book, The United States of Arugula, a fascinating, if breezy, history of food tastes in the U.S.
puts current food 'celebs' to shame........2007-07-11
A fascinating book. His experiences in real French kitchens, post WW2, when the apprentice system was still in place are truly amazing. This man worked harder than a dog (as do all real chefs!) to learn about food. I especially enjoyed the early part of the book where he reminisces about his family's life in German occupied France. He doesn't talk about solders mind you, he talks about it from the point of view of what they ate!
They really don't make them like this anymore. If you enjoy cooking at all you will enjoy this book. I mean, the man read Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking in manuscript form! He was there at the awakening of the US to its modern culinary tradition, and he has some stories to tell. He also includes quite a few quirky recipes such as for his mother's deviled eggs. Jacques Pepin's story puts 99% of the current crop of cooking `celebs' to shame in terms of training and real food experience. Rachel Ray worked, where, in a fine food store in Lake George NY for a couple of years? Be serious. JP spent more time learning how to prep vegetables. I loved every word. If you enjoy a well prepared meal and are at all interested in how it got to your plate you will love this book too.
Add Chives!.......2007-07-09
I became a fan of Pepin after seeing his show on PBS...I believe it aired Thursdays or Fridays before I had to go into my restaurant job as a bartender. I have worked in restaurants for most of my life, and I was delighted to hear about his life and encounters with food and people!
His voice is SPLENDID! The recounting of first tastes and lifelong allies including: his mother, father, brothers, wife Gloria, best friend Jean-Claude, contemporaries Julia Child, Helen McCully, James Beard, Craig Claiborne, The Kennedys, the HoJo Family, and Danny Kaye is a marvel and testament to his cooking and attitude.
For anyone who is a fan of food and life, this is your book!
Gastronimic Senses - A Classic Story.......2007-06-19
The audio version of this book, beautifully written by Jacques Pepin and read by Michel Chevalier, (with an animated, French accent perfect for this writing), is great fun. It's a perfect listen for the car or while walking/hiking/commuting.
Pepin tells his life story thru gastronomic senses in which he paints stories of his life against his culinary education . Pepin was obviously born to cook and to write. His chaper/stories capture a great sense of time and place, with insights, humor, self-deprecation and a real joy of life.
To borrow a description from Pepin's fellow chef and author Anthony Bourdain from his own reader comments, this book is an 'instant classic'.
Charming and Funny.......2007-05-08
This autobiography of a chef who moves from France to America is fun and fill of French charm.
Amazon.com
Smart, direct, precise. These are adjectives viewers of NBC's hit reality show, The Apprentice might use to describe Donald Trump's left-hand woman, Carolyn Kepcher. Kepcher is a tough judge who can make or break hopeful contestants vying to get hired by Trump. In Carolyn 101, readers find a respected business executive and familial leading lady. Kepcher's personal stories draw an entertaining and inspiring picture of a scrappy, former waitress and restaurant manager, with a no-holds-barred approach to getting hired and succeeding in a mostly male-dominated environment in New Jersey--and, eventually, in The Trump Organization.
In Carolyn 101, Kepcher describes how she successfully synthesized her learned-on-the-job business acumen and motherhood duties to become a respected leader in the Trump empire. Plus, readers will love the snippets Kepcher shows of her famous boss, including his empathy to her personal life and foresight in choosing Kepcher for a management role at the age of 25: "I was twenty-five, a woman, and had never run a golf club in my life. But since Donald Trump trusted that I could handle it, I trusted myself to handle it."
It's clear from Carolyn 101 that Kepcher is a renaissance woman through and through. She balances the demands of the show, her job, and home-life, making her success that much more impressive. Those joining the workforce or already in the trenches will appreciate the firm advice she offers through personal stories and short blurbs dotting the pages, like this gem: "When someone hands you an opportunity, don't be afraid to take it." Case in point: Carolyn Kepcher, EVP and COO, The Trump Organization. --E. Brooke Gilbert
Book Description
Known to the millions of viewers of the hit reality television show The Apprentice, Carolyn Kepcher attracted enormous media attention for her cool demeanor and her no-holds-barred assessments of the show's candidates in the boardroom each week. In Carolyn 101, the woman Donald Trump has described as a "killer" businesswoman reveals the secrets of her success.
Geared toward those just entering the workforce or seasoned employees looking to distinguish themselves, Kepcher's book provides readers with guidance for their professional lives. Illustrating her advice with examples taken from her own career, she shows them how to:
- ace an interview
- deal with a difficult boss
- maintain a healthy balance between work and home life
- spot potential business opportunities
- be a strong team member or team leader
Straightforward and inspirational, Carolyn 101 shows ambitious professionals what they need to do to get ahead and take their own careers even further than they had imagined.
Download Description
"Known to the millions of viewers of the hit reality television show The Apprentice, Carolyn Kepcher attracted enormous media attention for her cool demeanor and her no-holds-barred assessments of the show's candidates in the boardroom each week. In particular, she was not shy about speaking out about her disappointment with the professional conduct of the female candidates, whom she felt too often resorted to using their sex appeal to move ahead and gain the favor of Donald Trump. But if anyone knows what to do to impress Donald Trump, it's Carolyn, his longtime employee and trusted adviser. In Carolyn 101, she reveals the secrets of her own success and provides readers with guidance for their professional lives. By looking at the types of people most often encountered in the workplace, she illustrates her advice with examples from her career -- largely within The Trump Organization -- showing readers how to: . ace an interview . ask for a raise or promotion . maintain a healthy balance between work and home life . deal with a difficult boss . spot and seize potential business opportunities . dress for success . be a strong team member or team leader Inspirational to both recent college graduates entering the workforce for the first time as well as seasoned employees looking to distinguish themselves, Carolyn 101 will show ambitious professionals what they need to do to get ahead and take their careers even further than they had imagined. "
Customer Reviews:
Business Primer For Women.......2007-06-24
Despite her high profile, or because of it, this book should be required reading for every young woman going into the business world. Ms. Kepcher has succinctly covered the important topics found in most business offices in America today. While the world of business is commonly thought of as a man's world the author instills the reader with the belief that yes, there is room in that world for women. She gives praise where praise is due. Basically, she reiterates that common sense, ambition, hard work, and attention to details are the precepts of success.
Only good.......2007-05-16
Althogh some chapters are good remainders of what a good manager must do / must behave, it's quite boring sometimes to read so many praises for her boss (now former boss).
I'm happy I bougth it used (US$ 1).
Not worth your money.......2006-05-15
I was really disappointed with this book for two reasons: 1) Carolyn praised Donald Trump throughout the entire book (I understand that she is very grateful for working for Mr. Trump but she comes off more like a starry-eyed love sick puppy. 2) She really did not provide any real business tips beside those that are pretty much common sense.
This book was not worth the money if she writes another book I will make sure I check it out from the library first before spending anymore money.
Worth the Quick Read.......2006-04-17
I wish Carolyn had addressed her snarky tone with Apprentice candidates. From another manager, it's an abuse of power. I don't agree with Carolyn's advocacy of outsourced parenthood. What's the point? But I was pleasantly surprised by the content of her book. It was likely written by her, given the errors in grammar and content organization. But it is very open about office politics, a topic rarely discussed so openly and personally. And her advice on how individuals need to position themselves relative to employers to promote success is spot on.
Good workforce intro.......2006-01-29
The title to this book is very succinct in explaining its content. Carolyn Kepcher's account of her rise to the top includes very basic business tips for anyone who's embarking on their careers, climbing the corporate ladder, or new to their executive role. The beginning of Carolyn 101 was great; Carolyn gives insight into what it took for her to achieve her career goals as a young woman and carry on her executive duties after having two children. She discusses tips for how to ace an interview, ask for raises & promotions, becoming a good manager and the importance of a team enviornment. All of this was wonderful but the book starts its decline as Carolyn finishes the book by talking about experiences from the Apprentice & I believve the last few chapters used the Apprentice as a crutch to make the book longer. Overall though, it's a good read.
Book Description
With the skill of a master storyteller and the spiritual courage of a lifelong seeker, Wallace takes us from early meetings to a romantic idyll in Mexico; she shares previously unpublished material straight from the Nagual and explores the harrowing aftermath of Castaneda’s death – including the mystery of five missing disciples who may have left Los Angeles in a suicide pact – and the shattering long term effects of his legacy. Finally, we see her ultimate, uplifting escape from the group, as she learns the danger of giving away her power to another and the consequent joy of recovering the strength of her spirit, a power each one of us possesses.
Customer Reviews:
A Painful and Troubling Revelation.......2007-06-22
A man of mystery, Carlos Castaneda was one of the most controversial writers of the twentieth century. Some in academia branded him a fraud for claiming his stories to be biographical rather than fiction, while others left-handedly lauded him as a novelist of the first order for exposing a mass audience to otherwise inaccessible philosophical abstractions, only to turn around and accuse him of conceptual plagiarism. To me it all smacked of professional jealousy.
I'm reminded of the time back in 1977 when a girlfriend of mine offered to introduce me to a friend of hers over dinner who graduated with Castaneda from the same anthropology department Phd program at UCLA back in the 60's. We were barely into our first course when I asked her to tell me what she thought of Castaneda. "Kinda weird I guess," was all she offered. "In what way," I pressed further. "He was just very secretive," she continued, "never wanted anyone to know anything about himself, where he lived, what he was into, things like that."
Now I was really excited. All of his writings were coming true right before my eyes. "So Castaneda really did practice `becoming inaccessible' and `erasing personal history' just as don Juan had instructed him," I went on. The woman looked across the table at me like I'd just said something in ancient Aramaic. "I wouldn't know anything about all that," she replied. "Surely you remember those concepts from his books," I went on. "I never read any of his books," she stated flatly. I was crushed. Had I been able to lift my chin from the table I would have called for the check. It was the most disappointing dinner conversation of my entire life. How many more critics from the world of academia were lurking about out there that had never opened one of his books, I wondered to myself.
But then came "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," a scathing expose by well-known writer Amy Wallace, daughter of the late best selling novelist Irving Wallace, recounting her life as an intimate partner of Castaneda's from 1991 until his death in 1998. While her book provided little corroboration for or against the accounts in Castaneda's books, since the time of the events she describes is well after the period when Castaneda's relationship with don Juan is alleged to have occurred, it nonetheless provides a disturbing view inside the final years of Castaneda's life, a picture of descent into sexual addiction and possibly madness, leaving one to wonder if Castaneda may have been just one cup of cool-aid short of a Jonestown.
It was enough to shake anyone's faith in a treasured icon, and I was no less vulnerable than anyone else. Over the course of the week I spent digesting her book I remembered how many people had asked me over the years why I put any stock whatsoever in Castaneda. A story from my autobiography, "The Vortex" may shed some light. A year before Castaneda published his first book I had an experience that would remain a mystery until Castaneda published "Power of Silence" twenty years later.
For a brief time, in my youth, I became a practicing Muslim, meticulously performing the complex prayer ritual five times a day. Then one night, sitting in my car, frustrated and complaining at not being able to find the address of my next sales appointment, something inside me snapped. It was as if some part of me had disconnected from my body and assumed control, lecturing me about my lack of discipline. A profound calm settled over me, rendering me simultaneously detached and engaged. For the next two days my sales figures soared. It was as if no one could say no to me. On the evening of the second day I decided to put my new state of being to the acid test by visiting my parents. Their response was cordial beyond anything I had ever experienced from them, and convinced me that I was now living in an altered reality. But by the following morning I had returned to "normal." So distracting had this event been that I had completely forgotten to perform my Muslim prayers, and in fact, never did so again.
Twenty years later, in a chapter of "Power of Silence" entitled "Place of No Pity" Castaneda describes a very similar experience. In the aftermath of the event don Juan explains that humans are like televisions stuck on a channel called "self-preoccupation," lacking the energy to tune into any of the vast array of other channels available to us. To change channels, he explains, we first need to accumulate energy, by practicing rituals that are deliberate, precise and repetitious. Do this long enough and eventually we experience a shift to a channel where self-importance and self pity are no longer possible. Once this happens we connect with the force that controls the entire universe, a force called "intent," and everything can be bent to our will and even more channels can be opened, assuming we remember to keep practicing the rituals that save our energy.
Amy's revelations notwithstanding, this one realization alone was enough to inspire me to dedicate my autobiography "To Carlos, with gratitude."
Maxwell Austin van Lack, Author of The Vortex: A True Story of Passion and Karma
cold shower.......2006-12-22
somehow this story that unfolded gave me a cold shower. my image of carlos casteneda was squattered. but sometimes that is neccesary. Amy tx!
We will come back for you..........2006-09-28
We will come back for you...when you are more willingly to die. Goodbye Amy. Thanks for the book, it's been of a lot of help in ways you wouldnt imagine nor comprehend...
The good, the bad and the ugly........2006-06-04
I was drawn to this book as many others may have been by the desire to find out more about the mysterious Carlos Castaneda. I have read his books as they came out and they had an impact on how I lived and understood the world.
As I read this book, I realized that I was getting more than I realized. Certainly, I came away with a sense of the "inner circle" that surrounded Castaneda and the inconsistencies of the teachings and the life of this gifted writer and teacher. The purpose of the book was the make sure that others don't give to their teacher's their "will power" according to the author.
This is where the book went awry for me. I understand the persuasive power of teachers. I understand that we want to believe that someone has the answer to the primary questions we have about life. I also understand that I can not give away my "will power". This would mean that others can control me and my actions. Rather, I am choosing to act in a manner that gives me something that I want.
The author was excited and repulsed by the relationship. She was a woman of fame and personal wealth so Castaneda did not hold her hostage in some physical way. Rather, Ms. Wallace wanted to believe in what Castaneda was offering. Even when she became clear of the incongruities of his life and teaching, she continued on. She is no victem. She is a willing participant in the deception of Castaneda and for that she should take responsiblity. If she had the book would have been much more creditable for me.
Energy Drainning.......2006-04-21
I was very excited to receive and begin reading The Sorcerer's Apprentice as I am with all books that can further my knowledge and guide me in the realm of personal growth. I was unfortunately very disappointed in this book.
I have read all of Castaneda's books including many, many others like Ken Eagle Feather, Teun Mars, Sanchez, Ruiz, Summer Rain, Millman ect. One important feature of all these are that they have furthered my understanding of the Toltec knowledge, its applications and increased my energy level. This book however did none of those. I found it to be draining and nonproductive.
To be fair I must admit I only read half of it. I did find it well written and interesting however I found it to be very unimpeccable. Not to say that the truth shouldn't be put out there (I do believe Amy's account)however I don't need an entire book full of examples to tell me that Castaneda as Nagual was like Castaneda as the apprentice , Weak and Egotistical. I would have rather go on believing that if an idiot such as he could do it anyone could.
PS Anyone CAN but this book is unlikely to help!
Average customer rating:
- Good Story, Bad Book
- amazing courageous woman
- eye opening account of what many children endure behind closed door
- Appreciating Daddy's Apprentice
- Appreciating Daddy's Apprentice
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Daddy's Apprentice: Incest, Corruption, and Betrayal-A Survivor's Story
Sandy Wilson , and
S. L. Bolton
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ASIN: 0595135544 |
Book Description
Sandy Wilson immerses you in the horrific, true account of her childhood. You travel the labyrinth of incest, crime sprees, and exploitation. Her struggle captures your heart and fuels your outrage. How does Sandy end a decade of her father's psychopathic tyranny?
Customer Reviews:
Good Story, Bad Book.......2007-07-21
Though meaning well, this book couldn't keep me wanting more. The story is riddled with poor grammar, minuscule chapters, and frequent mentioning of "the sickness." I swear, by the end of the second chapter, "the sickness" was mentioned so many times that "the sickness" lost all meaning to me, as she also tried to make "the sickness" sound overtly ominous. Whatever. And don't get me started on the somewhat open-ended finale. So how does she cope with her past and find a way to move on? Good question.
amazing courageous woman.......2006-03-22
I picked up this book, and could not put it down. I was riveted by the courage of this girl, who endured so much for so long. It is amazing to me that these things can happen, and in many instances right under our noses. This girl was at the mercy of her father, and the only person who could have helped her, was too being abused. I admire this woman, because she has come so far from where she began, she learned to let go of the resentment and hate that her father deserves. In letting go, she set herself free. I commend her for this, because now she has taken control of her life, and chosen not to let anything bring her down. I can only hope i would have half her courage.
eye opening account of what many children endure behind closed door.......2006-03-12
I had to read this book for a class in college.
Not only did the author make you feel like you were actually there, but I honestly could not put it down. (And I am sorry to say, I hate reading what my teachers assign me) It was an eye opening account of what many children endure behind closed door. I recommend this book esp. to Psychology and Education students, faculty, or even someone in the profession already.
Appreciating Daddy's Apprentice.......2000-12-28
Sandy Wilson's "Daddy's Apprentice" is an account that deserves serious attention. One of the many profound issues that this work addresses is that of the devices employed by abusers to intimidate their victims into silent compliance. The courage summoned by the author to reveal her secrets broke the fundamental bonds of her father's control. The themes of guilt, fear, and accountability are brilliantly woven between the lines of this text. The storyline is exciting and fast-paced, while deeper personal and social issues are subtly explored. The reader is not bombarded with the explicit details or the extent of the sexual abuse, however, the issues of power, violation, guilt, and perpetual dread are apparent. Meanwhile, the notion of "pigeon-holing," which is only mentioned directly towards the end of this memoir, is ever-present throughout this book. Sandy accepts a society that views her as "white-trash" and by this, our society not only minimizes, but compounds her sufferring. Nonetheless, the author does not depict herself as a martyr, a helpless female, or a heroine. She addresses her situation honestly, and reccounts her experiences without prejudice. This work not only lends understanding to a very sensitive subject for every reader, but empowers those who can identify with Sandy's struggle. As this is a true story, it cannot be neatly packaged up and shipped out. Therefore, the unanswered questions, the jagged edges, linger with the reader and offer a sense of wonderment at the vague line between what can be seen and what lurks in the shadows beyond. I invite those who pick up this book to examine such themes as co-dependency, enablement, the depth of trust and the depth of fear, isolation (personally and geographically), stereotyping, and the ease at which we can be manipulated by others. Sandy's gift to the public in sharing her story must be noticed and appreciated.
Appreciating Daddy's Apprentice.......2000-12-28
Sandy Wilson's "Daddy's Apprentice" is an account that deserves serious attention. One of the many profound issues that this work addresses is that of the devices employed by abusers to intimidate their victims into silent compliance. The courage summoned by the author to reveal her secrets broke the fundamental bonds of her father's control. The themes of guilt, fear, and accountability are brilliantly woven between the lines of this text. The storyline is exciting and fast-paced, while deeper personal and social issues are subtly explored. The reader is not bombarded with the explicit details or the extent of the sexual abuse, however, the issues of power, violation, guilt, and perpetual dread are apparent. Meanwhile, the notion of "pigeon-holing," which is only mentioned directly towards the end of this memoir, is ever-present throughout this book. Sandy accepts a society that views her as "white-trash" and by this, our society not only minimizes, but compounds her sufferring. Nonetheless, the author does not depict herself as a martyr, a helpless female, or a heroine. She addresses her situation honestly, and reccounts her experiences without prejudice. This work not only lends understanding to a very sensitive subject for every reader, but empowers those who can identify with Sandy's struggle. As this is a true story, it cannot be neatly packaged up and shipped out. Therefore, the unanswered questions, the jagged edges, linger with the reader and offer a sense of wonderment at the vague line between what can be seen and what lurks in the shadows beyond. I invite those who pick up this book to examine such themes as co-dependency, enablement, the depth of trust and the depth of fear, isolation (personally and geographically), stereotyping, and the ease at which we can be manipulated by others. Sandy's gift to the public in sharing her story must be noticed and appreciated.
Book Description
The psychologist behind The Apprentice reveals the surprising qualities that are essential for getting to the top! As the Consulting Psychologist for the popular reality show The Apprentice, Dr. Liza Siegel is in charge of screening, testing, and interviewing applicants--as well as escorting "fired" contestants from the set. From this unique perspective--as well as her many years in clinical psychology--Dr. Siegel has learned the valuable (and surprising) lesson that without certain beliefs and attitudes, even people who are extremely capable, hardworking, and honest are apt to be thwarted in their quest for the top. Packed with real-life examples and stories about contestants from The Apprentice, Suite Success shows readers how they can:
* learn to develop the positive mindset that leads to self confidence and improved work relationships * be seen as resilient, tough, and even-keeled in high-stress and competitive environments * develop the proven philosophy that will enable them to become charismatic and effective leaders
True success is often a function of mind over matter. Featuring a Foreword by Mark Burnett, Executive Producer of The Apprentice, this unique, fascinating book gives readers the edge--and attitude--they need to win.
Customer Reviews:
Suite Success: The Psychologist from the Apprentice Reveals What It Really Takes to Excel-in the Boardroom And in Life.......2007-07-18
Why are some people successful in business and in life and others never quite seem to reach their goals? How is it that some people can withstand traumatic situations and seem to thrive while other individuals seem to have all the opportunities and still can't reach their aspirations. What is the key to achievement: education, luck, or something else?
Suite Success is written by Liza Siegel, Ph. D., the psychologist for The Apprentice and Survivor. Siegel has interviewed thousands of individuals wishing to be cast members for these reality shows in hopes of finding that one quality that makes a person successful whether they win on the show or not. Suite Success is the result.
I found this book fascinating. I had always wondered how individuals even within the same family could differ so in the ability to reach their dreams. We all have difficulties, failures, and setbacks but the secret to coming out of these tragedies is actually quite simple- it's all in the attitude. Self reliant people look at success and failure in completely different ways. Such people see negative situations as temporary challenges that need to be addressed and positive outcomes as the result of their hard work and diligence.
Suite Success contains lots of examples using participants from The Apprentice that will be particularly enlightening for fans. Nonetheless, those who have never watched the show will find this work just as useful and interesting. Maybe they'll even feel the desire to start watching the show.
Optimism and the Power to Change Your Life.......2006-07-14
Oh no, another "self-help" book. What could be different about this one that makes it a "must read?" The short answer to that is that the research in this book is based on a tremendous sampling of individuals. In fact, the case studies cited by Dr. Siegel are only the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. For every contestant who appears on the television show, there are thousands, maybe tens of thousands, who don't pass the preliminary psychological testing. This means that Dr. Siegel's data is drawn from a much larger pool than is at first apparent. As anyone who has taken psychological statistics knows, the bigger the data pool that a researcher can draw from, the more reliable the results that are produced. But the biggest data pool in the world would be useless in the hands of an untalented interpreter. This is not the case with this book. Dr. Siegel is not only able to draw out the often subtle information contained in the data, she is also able to present her findings in a clear and intelligible manner that is perfectly understandable to the average reader. Moreover, Dr. Siegel fleshes out the bare bones of the data with interesting stories about the participants in the television show that appeals to the tabloid addict in all of us, and then lays out a clear program for adapting her findings to the lives of average individuals like you and me. All in all, this is an impressive book that has very broad applicability to many peoples' situation and is certainly not just for business people alone.
This book is just plain terriffic!.......2006-06-02
Suite Success is an easy read and does a great job of explaining the softer side of leadership. There are not many books out there about optimisim or resiliance and this one does an excellent job of tying those features to leadership and is supported by scientific study as apposed to just observation. It has some great tools anybody can use to help them improve thier outlook on life and I cannot recommend it enough!
I hope you get as much out of this as I have.
Dr. Scout Cloud Lee from Survivor Vanuatu Reviews "Suite Success".......2006-06-01
I have had the opportunity to know Liza Siegel personally from inside the CBS show,
Survivor. Suite Success is a beautiful expression of Liza's authenticity, precision, and dedication to her work. She is one of the most genuinely warm people on the planet. She's walks her talk and writes about it with an eye for feeding the souls of everyone interested in succeeding. Secondly, I am a corporate executive and corporate coach. Reading Suite Success was a breath of fresh air. Liza illustrates repeatedly the power of optimism, resilence, and creativity in the world of business.
While the cast of Apprentice is uniquely A type personalities, they are also the cream of the crop of a casting process that seeks only the finest from the entire country.
This book authenicates what the best do to succeed. Finally, I am an author of inspirational and motivational books for business and life. Liza brings to the boardroom of life, a plethoria of examples and coaching tips for success. This will be required reading for my leadership seminars. Dr. Scout Cloud Lee, Author and Motivational Speaker
Average customer rating:
- Expertly edited for contemporary readers
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History's Apprentice: The Diaries of B. H. Roberts
John Sillito , and
B. H. Roberts
Manufacturer: Signature Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Religious
| Leaders & Notable People
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Memoirs
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
All Titles
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
ASIN: 1560851732 |
Book Description
On 13 March 1882, a twenty-five-year-old from a small Utah town, serving an LDS mission in rural Tennessee, recorded the following plaintive confession: Perhaps one-half of my life has passed away--and what have I done? But little of anything, either of good or evil; my misdeeds are like my talents--on the small order. I have made attempts to accomplish something in various directions, but "miserable failure" is written across the face of each of them. ...
I can but choose to regret the past when looking over it, but as I cannot call it back to amend it, or straighten out the crooks which appear in the path I have trod, I will look to the present and future, trying to profit by the experience of the past. ... The author of this diary entry was of course B. H. Roberts, who would become a household name in some circles and would live a remarkably full and productive life by anyone's standard but his own. In the half century between March 1882 and Roberts's death in September 1933, his achievements surpassed most mortals in areas of religion, politics, and scholarship. But he remained somewhat dissatisfied with himself and occasionally suffered bouts of depression.
After his mission, Roberts cut his teeth as a writer and opinion maker at the Salt Lake Herald, followed by an assignment as editor of the church's overseas publication, the Millennial Star. Years later, his more mature histories and biographies received wide critical praise as definitive works of LDS history and apologetics. In fact, these studies are still read today and continue to be held in high esteem
Customer Reviews:
Expertly edited for contemporary readers.......2004-09-07
Expertly edited for contemporary readers, History's Apprentice: The Diaries Of B. H. Roberts, 1880-1898 introduces the life experiences of one of the leading figures in early Mormon history. Enhanced with maps and an extensive index, the personal journal entries are organized in ten distinct sections from Iowa and Tennesse, 1880-1881 to Settling into Normalcy in Utah, 1898. Entries are listed date by date, with extensive notes adding background, depth, and insight into the writings. Maps, black-and-white photographs, and a thorough index round out this fascinating primary source of a truly courageous and trailblazing American.
Book Description
Guy Finley's "Appprentice of the Heart: Lessons in Life Only Love Can Teach" is a heart-stirring call to each soul to find fulfillment in and through Love. Written in short, eloquent chapters, Finley guides us into the mysteries of the heart, showing how the most important lessons in life can only be taught by Love; how Love works endlessly in Her mysterious ways to conquer the willing heart; how each and every one of us are apprentices of the Heart . . . Being prepared by Love for Love.
An Apprentice of the Heart is Guy Finley's most memorable and intimate work.
Customer Reviews:
A Journey the whole world is intended to take.......2006-06-30
This is one individual's journey to divine love and is a journey the Creator intended each of us to take.
Thought has hidden the true purpose of life but this book uncovers the hidden purpose beautifully and poetically. This
book is a must read for the whole world.
Huh?.......2004-08-30
I think I must have missed the part in the description of the book about this being a bunch of sappy poetry. Wow, was I disappointed to get this book in the mail and realize I wasted my money. Boooooooring.
Phenomenal.......2004-08-13
I first came across Guy Finley when I stumbed upon his original best-seller, "The Secret of Letting Go." What an incredible discovery that was. I can still remember the excitement of those first few weeks pouring over the book night after night after night. I know it sounds strange, but it was as though I had been eating imaginary food up to that point, and finally had been given my first real meal.
Here's the strange part. Prior to finding Finley's books, I had read the big names in the self-help field - the Coveys, the Robbins, the Dyers - and the rest. But what amazed me was that, here was an author I'd never even heard of before, yet somehow his writings supplied the missing ingredient that finally began resolving the problems I'd been battling for years.
My hat's off to Mr. Finley for the extraordinary path he must've traveled to be able to put these works together.
And "Apprentice of the Heart" is no exception. It's simply magnificient. It's style is remarkably different from his earlier works, and it has a very lofty, inspiring, and poetic presence behind it. One thing you'll love about this book is its honesty. Mr. Finley talks very openly about the real day-to-day struggles and difficulties we all face, but which we're often reluctant to admit -- but then he goes on to reveal the subtle secrets that actually restore life's natural sweetness.
Get this book. It will stir your heart to levels you never thought possible.
Soul Stirring.......2004-08-11
A subtle treasure, 'Apprentice of the Heart" is unique among spiritual books I've read. The author, Guy Finley, goes beyond simply sharing his inner adventure to Divine Love. Somehow he captures the longing and unquenchable thirst that all seekers know, and puts it into words. He asks us in a poem at the end of one of the book's chapters:
"Don't the walls of your heart
Ache to break loose and open
The floodgates of freedom?"
If that stanza resonates with you, I recommend you read this book. You'll love it. The poem continues:
"You have riches untold,
But have lost the map to the upper regions of yourself
Where you are always overflowing.
So forget this world with its intermittent streams
Whose waters begin and end.
Search out the Ocean and stand in Her surge
Until the waves wash away the shores of your soul."
"Apprentice" is a soul-stirring journey to the heart of Love.
beyond compare.......2004-07-13
There are only a few real gems that come out of the mind of mankind, and this is one. It does what true objective art ought to -- it stirs in the reader the timeless quality the book is about: Love. This is a writing that ranks with anything I have read from past mystics; maybe better -- because it is written in terms -- from the simplest levels of wanting to learn about human love, all the way to those who wish to unite themselves to Love itself -- that anyone can appreciate and grow from. My hat is off to Mr. Finley.
Book Description
Triumphantly conquer the office grind with this funny 32-page book, the retro-look, wind-up robot featuring a magnetic torso, and the accompanying service tray for those who are tired of toting around their own office supplies. Humorous cards round out the offerings in this great gift item for a colleague or cubicle-bound friend.
Average customer rating:
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Aprendiz De Sabio/ The Apprentice of the Wise (Autoayuda)
Bernabe Tierno Jimenez
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Personal Transformation
| Self-Help
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
Spanish
| Foreign Language Nonfiction
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
No-Ficción
| Libros en español
| Formats
| Books
| Automotriz
| Ciencias Sociales
| Crimen y Criminales
| Educación
| Estudios de la Mujer
| Feriados
| Filosofía
| Gobierno
| Hechos Verídicos
| Planeamiento Urbano y Desarrollo
| Política
| Sucesos de Actualidad
| Transportación
Transformación Personal
| Auto-Ayuda
| Salud, mente y cuerpo
| Libros en español
| Formats
| Books
ASIN: 8497938712 |
Books:
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- Holy Mother!: Seriously Weird Sightings of the Virgin Mary
- How the Irish Saved Civilization (Hinges of History)
- How The Russian Snow Maiden Helped Santa Claus
- How to Spot a Dangerous Man Before You Get Involved: Describes 8 Types of Dangerous Men, Gives Defense Strategies and a Red Alert Checklist for Each, and Includes Stories of Successes and Failures
Books Index
Books Home
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