In Search of Captain Zero: A Surfer's Road Trip Beyond the End of the Road

Amazon.com

In 1966, Allan Weisbecker "made a Manhattan run from the landlocked suburbs" to take in a siren-song movie called The Endless Summer, a documentary that depicted the carefree life of two beach bums who roamed the world in quest of the perfect wave. Weisbecker was hooked, and he became a hardcore wave rider, a fixture on the Long Island surf scene. With a friend, Christopher, he also undertook illegal ways to finance his passion, transporting drugs from exotic countries, a business only briefly interrupted when Christopher went off to Vietnam. There he took fire and came home scarred; something in him changed, and one day he simply vanished.

Weisbecker's book, a sort of gonzo detective story blended with travelogue and peppered with hang-10 jargon, does many things, all of them very well indeed. It offers up a vision of innocent times brought to ruin by war and drugs; it recounts his search for his lost friend, whose life had gone from bad to worse far away from home; and it affords a look inside the strange culture of surfing, whose masters "understood, in a visceral and soulful and inexpressible way, the machinations of the sea, and, by subtle inference, the universe at large."

Full of regret and exhilaration, Weisbecker's memoir is a fine chronicle of a dream gone sour and a friendship redeemed. --Gregory McNamee

Book Description

In 1996, Allan Weisbecker sold his home and his possessions, loaded his dog and surfboards into his truck, and set off in search of his long-time surfing companion, Patrick, who had vanished into the depths of Central America. In this rollicking memoir of his quest from Mexico to Costa Rica to unravel the circumstances of Patrick's disappearance, Weisbecker intimately describes the people he befriended, the bandits he evaded, the waves he caught and lost en route to finding his friend.

In Search of Captain Zero is, according to Outside magazine, "A subtly affecting tale of friendship and duty. [It] deserves a spot on the microbus dashboard as a hell of a cautionary tale about finding paradise and smoking it away."

Customer Reviews:

Read it over (and over and over).......2007-09-14

A wonderful book, evocative of end of the road towns and other equally compelling ideas. This could be a guidebook for various Central American hideaways, with perhaps some advice of a different nature thrown in. At one point or another, I've made nearly everyone I know read this book. And...it should be followed by "Can't You Get Along With Anyone." If at any time someone decides to put together a cannon of literature that addresses Central American surf spots, publishing, and the tricky nature of friendship, Weisbecker's "In Search of Captain Zero," and "Can't You Get Along With Anyone," must be included.

Ride the Wave.......2007-04-12

If you are at all interested in surfing, this journey of self discovery will grip you deep within its pages. You'll also gain insight on life as seen through surfing.

A profound journey.......2007-02-13

Whether or not you have ever attempted to surf, dreamt about it, or have made it a practice, I think that this book will speak to you. Should you know nothing about the culture at all, this book will make you feel as if you had been there all along. Weisbecker's style of writing draws you into the story in a very personal way, providing easy to understand epiphanes and philosophies, that seem entirely unique to Weisbecker. Yes, he has his flaws and stereotypes, but this only furthers to strengthen his character. After all how many people can claim not to have either of those things. Weisbecker presents profound views on life through surfing, and different experiences in his travel, that seem far more sophosticated than the stereotypical surfing mind, which would consist of pot, "bro", and of course, surfing.
Besides the development of Weisbecker himself during the story, and the more mental, and spiritual aspect of the book, the story is also a gripping tale, which leaves you wanting to turn the page. Each experience draws you in as you join Weisbecker in the search for his friend. I often found myself eagerly wondering what would happen next, from run-ins with bandidos, to finding a way to work a monster of a wave. What made each experience truely different however, was the reflection of each one afterwards, being able to see how Weisbecker was affected and/or changed.
So, if you are willing to look past the many drug related stories, and whatever flaws you may find, underneath is a compelling story and many valuable insights to life, which may make you want to take off on your own adventure.

A great author.......2007-01-10

The best surf book i have ever read! He also has two other books out there that i would recommend to anyone who buys this one.

This is a journey worth taking.......2006-11-10

I stumbled onto this book and author by chance and months now after reading this book I feel like I am still on a journey that started the day I flipped opened the cover and started reading. This past spring I gave my second shot at surfing and this time it really stuck! That passion and stoke led me to find surf related books and I quickly found In Search of Captain Zero, Allan Weisbecker's website and other books. "Zero" is a surfer's journey and if you are looking for that kind of narrative-its certainly there amidst these pages. If you surf or even just love the ocean, his descriptions of surf sessions are amazing. However, much more is weaved into this journey as Weisbecker opens himself for all to see- the good, the bad and the ugly. Imagine Steinbeck's - Travels with Charley taking place in central america with a surfer's bent, substitute in some tequilla, and give it a whole lot more edge to the story. I found myself haunted by some of what this book said about myself, about friendships, and my ever present feelings of wanderlust. This is much different from Cosmic Banditos, but if you want something that sort of blends that pace with In Search of Captain Zero you really need to find his latest book "Can't You Get Along With Anyone?" published by Humdrumming in the UK. I give this 5 stars. It will always be one of my favorites.....

Joan Lunden's a Bend in the Road Is Not the End of the Road: 10 Positive Principles For Dealing With Change

Average customer rating:

I like it
A Little Superficial
Joan Lunden's Bend in the Road is very helpful
Joan Lunden's A Bend In the Road is Not the End of the Road
Joan Lunden's A Bend In the Road is Not the End of the Road

Joan Lunden's a Bend in the Road Is Not the End of the Road: 10 Positive Principles For Dealing With Change
Joan Lunden
Manufacturer: William Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0688160832
Release Date: 1998-10-13

Amazon.com

We can't stop changes from occurring, but we can control how we react to them, says Joan Lunden, cohost of Good Morning America for 20 years, who suddenly found herself ending her stint on the show and unsure of her future. She shares her story and her philosophy that change--as negative as it may seem at the time--is an opportunity to grow. The book teaches that "staying even is better than getting even."

If you're a fan of Joan Lunden, this book is like listening to her tell her stories for hours. Amidst tidbits of philosophy, Lunden offers flashbacks to memorable incidents on and off the show, such as her first interview with Howard Stern, ice-skating in Central Park with Brian Boitano, training for a Las Vegas dance production, and smashing her alarm clock on David Letterman's show.

"Whether it's a breakup, a job change, or a loss of your health or a loved one, you need to learn to change what you can, accept what you can't," says Lunden. Lunden shares the tools that work for her, such as reorganization, relaxation, pampering, hobbies, reflection, exercise, and positive affirmations. --Joan Price

Book Description

With millions of Americans watching, one of the nation's most popular television personalities, Joan Lunden, made a life-altering transition with grace and ease as she brought to a close two decades of hosting Good Morning America. For the first time Joan candidly reveals how she approached such an enormous challenge as an opportunity for growth -- and how you can, too.

For each change that occurred during the course of those twenty years, Joan had an entire nation watching her respond, commenting on the things that she did, critiquing the way that she did them, and putting forth opinions on what she should do next: "People I had never met constantly offered me suggestions about how I should handle my divorce, how I should raise my children, and the career choices I should make after GMA. I was a private citizen with the normal stresses that a mother, wife, and businesswoman endures on a daily basis, going through life's changes in a public arena."

We all go through change. Whether it's an illness in the family, a divorce, teenagers acting out, losing a job, having to move, or kids leaving the nest, one thing is certain: Change is the only thing we can count on. Yet, while change is the one constant in our lives, it often produces the greatest amount of fear. In this inspiring new book, Joan shows us the importance of staying levelheaded in the face of crisis no matter what or whom you're facing.

Both an intimate self-portrait and a practical blueprint for living a happier, more fulfilling life, A Bend in the Road is Not the End of the Road proves once again why so many viewers have followed Joan Lunden for so many years.

Customer Reviews:

I like it.......2007-07-15

Having recently gone through a major change of my own I saw this book on tape and thought I would listen to it. I have read quite a few self help books on change from more "accepted" authorities but she has given me inspiration and really made real the fear that one can feel and how to calm yourself. I have read a lot of self help books but this was like listening to a friend tell you how she got through it. It made me realize that my change is only a fork in the road and that life can get better.

A Little Superficial.......2004-06-26

I tried to like this book, but it was a little too dull and boring. Her sense of humor seems contrived. I'm sure she is a nice person, but this book did not hit home with me. It didn't speak to me.

It seems like she just wrote this book to make money.

Joan Lunden's Bend in the Road is very helpful.......2003-12-14

I reviewed the audio tape several times and found it to be very helpful in our approach of how we deal with issues in everyday life. While many of the stories were insightful and inspiring, the one that most stuck with me was when she talked about one of her aids on Good Morning America that told Joan that she could start her day over whenever she liked, when she felt that Joan was off to a bad start in the early morning hours when most of us are still in bed. We all deal with rough times in our lives, and it is important to learn how to best deal with those times. Joan Lunden shares some idea's that would help most anyone. I also attended an Anthony Robbins seminar a few years ago - where he had assembled numerous celebrity or high achievers to speak to the thousands assembled. Joan Lunden was by far the best speaker there. This is not only a great tape or book to review, it would be one that others would really benefit from.

Joan Lunden's A Bend In the Road is Not the End of the Road.......2001-09-04

I picked this audio book up in a discount store. It was truely what I call a diamond in the rough. Sometimes people give them selves a self evaluation and feel that they need to make changes in their lives but just don't know how or where to begin. I am at that point and thru much prayer my answer came from this book. It makes you realize that though change is a part of life and sometimes it is vital, it is how we handle it that can make the difference. I've read the reviews and I while they are all different it is how we view something as to how we will benefit from it. There are some things I did not agree with and I chose not to focus on those things. There was much that I can use to my advantage and I choose to do just that. My whole life is about to change. From a person who felt that there was no hope I can say keep looking and keep praying. Faith is the substance of things hoped for. Keep an open mind and an open heart and be ready to recieve the blessings.

Joan Lunden's A Bend In the Road is Not the End of the Road.......2001-09-04

People Who Live at the End of Dirt Roads

Average customer rating:

So enjoyable to be reminded of things the way they were.
Rite On....what we lost and where were goin.....
is book is excellent,

People Who Live at the End of Dirt Roads
Lee Pitts
Manufacturer: Gibbs Smith
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0879056738

Customer Reviews:

So enjoyable to be reminded of things the way they were........1998-06-18

So happy to get ahold of this book. The author put you right back at the scene and brought out lost feelings. Hope to share it with others.

Rite On....what we lost and where were goin............1998-03-27

Its colorful writing about everyday stuff that is simply not like it used to be. Touches on many aspects of todays changing and regressing ways. Makes you think.

is book is excellent,.......1997-06-24

Lee makes you stop and reflect on what it used to be like and what we have lost in our fast pace in todays living. He makes you laugh and cry, the book is excellent

The Floating Opera and The End of the Road

Average customer rating:

Men are attracted to the bon mot, not the mot juste
Barth 101 & 102: An Introduction to the Master
One of the great American comic novels--with a twist!!
The Satire of a Genius
Two takes on the same grim story

The Floating Opera and The End of the Road
John Barth
Manufacturer: Anchor
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0385240899
Release Date: 1997-03-11

Book Description

The Floating Opera and The End Of The Road are John Barth's first two novels. Their relationship to each other is evident not only in their ribald subject matter but in the eccentric characters and bitterly humorous tone of the narratives. Both concern strange, consuming love triangles and the destructive effect of an overactive intellect on the emotions. Separately they give two very different views of a universal human drama.

Customer Reviews:

Men are attracted to the bon mot, not the mot juste.......2004-08-02

In THE FLOATING OPERA the main character's name is Todd Andrews. The focus is on a day, June 21, 1937. Todd is 54 years old and six feet tall. The Floating Opera is the name of a showboat. Jane Mack is Todd's mistress. Harrison Mack, her husband, is Todd's excellent friend. The hero has a weak heart and as a consequence rents a room at his hotel by the day. The author describes a breakfast of Maryland beaten biscuits, doublers, Cambridge, and the Choptank River. As a boy Andrews labored on a dinghy when he wanted a schooner. In 1935 the narrator began building his second boat, systematically. Miss Clara Malloy is described as the Mary Pickford of the Chesapeake. She is part of the show Andrews sees. On the enumerated date Andrews is to commit suicide, but then changes his mind.

The main character of THE END OF THE ROAD is Jacob Horner. He seeks to obtain a position at a teachers college located on the Eastern Shore. He moves from Baltimore to Wicomico, deciding to reside there whether or not he is hired. He finds, to his surprise, a really perfect room to rent. He arrives at his interview 24 hours early. It had been rescheduled because one member of the panel was with the Boy Scouts at Camp Rodney. The recorded music he owns is all Mozart except for a manic Russian piece, Gliere. Both novels recount a single man's friendship with a married couple. The people are special, the kinds found in universities. They live their lives in programatic fashion. There is a willed quality to their marital existence. Jacob is being treated in a kind of therapy to make him conscious of his existence to overcome paralysis. He is afraid of violence and experiences self-contempt because he has been a deceiver. There is a pregnancy and tragedy ensues.

Both novels are entertaining and accomplished. Each is filled with the lure and the lore of Maryland's Eastern Shore.

Barth 101 & 102: An Introduction to the Master.......2004-06-28

John Barth's first novel will celebrate its fiftieth anniversary of publication in 2006 Should this almost 50 year-old book, whose protagonist was born in 1900, still be read in the 21st century, by people who may not have even been alive when Barth wrote it? Emphatically, positively, yes!

The Floating Opera serves as an excellent introduction to the body of work of one of the 20th century's greatest writers (time will tell), and also stands on its own as an engrossing, amusing, thought-provoking tale. It establishes many of Barth's common themes and settings: the flawed, cynical (yet also fun-loving) protagonist; impossible quests; the absurdities of society's structures and laws; philosophy and morality; coastal Maryland and boating on the Chesapeake. Barth's later works are longer and much more intricate, so TFO is very much like Beethoven's first symphony: a simpler work than his later masterpieces, but which still shows definite signs of genius, originality, and timelessness.

The storyline, like Barth's other works, is quirky and highly original. It describes the lead-up to an event that, because of the way the book was written (in the first person), the reader knows cannot have taken place. Barth openly explains the disjointed nature of the book's structure (which is just one way that the floating opera of the title is important to the story), and everything holds together in the end.

TFO's protagonist, Todd Andrews, is a lawyer who has developed a detached, cynical view of the world. His mentality is perfect for his profession, and he wins his cases by crafting intricate technical loopholes that reduce his cases to absurdities. Thirty-five years before the Johnnie Cochran's poetic words in the O.J. Simpson trial, Barth prophetically describes a similar situation of the "bon mot" winning out over the "mot juste". But this is just one of the amusing vignettes in TFO. Barth also describes the challenges of an open love triangle, different ways to approach old age and death, the drawbacks of various outlooks on life, and an intense father-son relationship. Comic relief is never too far away, especially when the various crusty old men in the book are speaking.

"The End of the Road" shares a central plot element (a love triangle) with "The Floating Opera", but in TEOTR the relationship is about as far from consensual as can be, and as a result TEOTR is a very different, even more powerful story. Barth crams a lot of substance into TEOTR, and it succeeds on multiple levels: as a compelling story with much for the reader to ponder, as a political statement (John Irving appears to me to have been inspired by the ending of TEOTR in his acclaimed "Cider House Rules"), and as applied philosophy, with religious undertones.

"In a sense, I am Jacob Horner," states Jacob Horner, the Barthian hero/anti-hero of TEOTR, at the very beginning of the story, but who is Jacob Horner (or whom does he represent)? Jacob Horner may represent the ultimate modern man, a person who rejects objective, absolute truths in favor of relativism, and who is so imbued with knowledge that he can see all sides of any argument, contradiction or paradox. At times Horner is completely paralyzed from acting, and at almost all other times his actions are timid to the extreme, such that he relies on "the Doctor", who prescribes nonsensical therapies to get Horner to take action, any action. Horner's thought process has many parallels in today's society, especially leaders who can't make up their minds and waffle on the issues. Horner suggests he may be the devil, but his logical thought process (his ability to see and accept opposite qualities in others, as in a love/hate relationship) suggests the "shades of gray", fuzzy logic thinking prevalent at all levels of modern society.

Joe Morgan, Horner's colleague, also believes only in relative values, and has even more formal education than Horner, but he has devised a philosophy which he believes tells him how to act in all situations. Morgan, whom Horner suggests may be God, is the "black and white" thinker in contrast to Horner's gray, but his philosophy has holes that become obvious to all but him at the end.

TEOTR, while not Barth's greatest work, is everything a great piece of literature should be. Barth creates fascinating characters drawn from the fabric of modern society, puts them through episodes of high drama, and produces outcomes that provide the fodder for debate about just what it all means.

One of the great American comic novels--with a twist!!.......2003-06-03

I discovered this book by happy accident more years ago than I like to remember, but I read it once about every six months and EVERY TIME I find a new pun or joke that I hadn't noticed before. Incidentally, the start-and-stop narrative style isn't as influenced by Joyce as it is by the novel Epitaph of a Small Winner by Joachim Machado de Assis, which is out of print...Also, check out The Sot-Weed Factor by Barth, which is absolutely one of the greatest, funniest and deepest novels ever written by an
American! Read ALL his books--they're fantastic!!!

The Satire of a Genius.......2002-01-06

...John Barth is, without a doubt, a brilliant, witty, creative and original writer. Sometimes he is just too brilliant and original for most of the book buying public. Happily, this isn't the case with his first two books, The Floating Opera and The End of the Road.

Both The Floating Opera and The End of the Road concern love triangles of sorts, but each is developed in quite a different manner. While The Floating Opera is funny and rather light, The End of the Road is black comedy of the highest order, and in my opinion at least, it is the far superior book. I think it showcases Barth's genius in marvelous ways, with characterization and dialogue being two of the best. In both books, however, Barth is so dead-on with his artifice and eccentricity that we have to laugh at our own recognition of ourselves, reflected in his twisted characters and their strange goings-on.

In both books, Barth's characters seem to be searching for something, though what they are searching for is not made exactly clear. It could be good vs. evil, love vs. hate, war vs. peace, yet ultimately, after each character becomes ensnared in a mesh of confusion and confabulation from which he or she seems unable to extricate himself, the search is narrowed to the simple meaning of existence (or non-existence as the case may be). There are no absolutes in either book, making them all the more confusing for some, but all the more enjoyable for others.

Barth, himself, seems to be an author whose message is simple--the world is going straight to hell and we are going with it, so why not have a laugh on ourselves now and then? There really isn't much else to do.

I am afraid this review has not done The Floating Opera and The End of the Road justice, but how does an ordinary reader do justice to genius such as Barth's? I recommend all intelligent readers to buy this book, read it, enjoy it, savor it. Laugh at yourself as you laugh at Barth's characters. Just sit back and enjoy the ride. After all, there isn't much else to do.

Two takes on the same grim story.......1999-12-14

Of these two novels I believe The End of the Road is the superior. Shorter and with a clearer narrative thrust, Barth manages to achieve a real classical tragedy using only the common material of immature domestic conflict. More 'serious writing' has gone into The Floating Opera but the emotional impact is blunted, one suspects, because of that. Perhaps more editing and rewriting and less demonstration of the 'writer's art' would have made it as powerful a novel as The End of the Road.

The End of the Road is one tough little book. It is a simple story that could have been pure empty soap opera but instead manages to rise above its material and carries quite a punch. Much more deserving of being read than most of Barth's later work.

Average customer rating:

This is good stuff

A Really Good Laugh

NOT Hyperbole! The FUNNIEST Book I've ever read

An excellent book

does not have the complete collection of stories from book

End of the Road, The
Tom Bodett
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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As Far as You Can Go Without a Passport: Views from the End of the Road

The Big Garage on Clear Shot: Growing Up, Growing Old, and Going Fishing at the End of the Road

Norman Tuttle on the Last Frontier (Tom Bodett Adventure Series)

Small Comforts: More Comments and Comic Pieces

Williwaw! (Yearling Books)

ASIN: 0553287575
Release Date: 1990-09-01

Customer Reviews:

This is good stuff.......2002-07-15

Warm, witty and humane, Bodett's stories about his fictional town is a fine illustration of the human condition. Most people know Bodett's distinctive voice from his hotel commercials, but he's a heck of a good writer, too. Mostly funny, sometimes sad, almost always poignant, this book is one that I highly recommend to everyone.

A Really Good Laugh.......2002-01-31

If you've ever heard Tom's radio program of the same name, "End of the Road" will be a real treat. I could almost hear his voice coming from the pages. The characters are as quirky as those from "Northern Exposure," yet as real as your brother-in-law. I can see the stories happening, and feel the emotions of the characters. They have foibles and faults, they are generous and stingy, smart and not so smart. The situations in which they find themselves could happen right here at home.

Tom's way of storytelling has me smiling and even laughing out loud. There are serious and poignant moments, but mostly these are very funny tales of everyday life in a small town. There is every kind of person you can think of in all kinds of escapades and they reappear throughout the book, just as townsfolk will do.

I often try to recount the stories because I enjoyed them so much, but I cannot do them justice. They are better read aloud using Tom's own words. I've lent my copy of "End of the Road" to so many friends and family members that I've lost track of it. I'm currently searching for a copy to give as a gift. Get one for yourself and one to lend or give away. You'll all enjoy it, over and over again.

NOT Hyperbole! The FUNNIEST Book I've ever read.......2000-03-21

This Book was required reading for class, and I am so grateful it was! That was nearly 6 years ago, and I still read this book almost every 2 months, or whenever I feel down--It ALWAYS cheers me up. My only complaint is that it is so hard to find. My original copy fell apart because I read it so many times, and I had a heck of a time finding a new copy. I Wholeheartedly recommend this book. IT's a treasure.

An excellent book.......1999-09-23

This Tom Bodett book ought to be an American treasure and an instant classic. Perhaps the only obstructions to this happening are a lack of good distribution and increasing apathy towards reading. This collection of stories outshines the cassette version with its completeness and the liberty that it affords readers in portraying the characters as they wish to see them. Tom Bodett's reading is top notch, but his writing is even better. His stories are of small town people. Some have a clue, others don't have so much as a prayer of getting a clue, but they all hold your attention while shedding new light on life, love, happiness, and the ever present confusion that goes along with them.

does not have the complete collection of stories from book.......1998-12-05

I heard some of the stories over PBS years ago and decided to buy the collection. I am disappointed that the two tape set does not have the complete book as I was expecting. Some of the greater stories are left out. I have read "The End of the Road" hard cover and recommend it!

The Road to the World's End (Sun and Moon Classics)

Average customer rating:

Inside And Outside His Head

The Road to the World's End (Sun and Moon Classics)
Sigurd Hoel
Manufacturer: Sun and Moon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1557132100

Customer Reviews:

Inside And Outside His Head.......2000-03-09

The Road to the World's End is an amazing book, particularly with regard to style. The content is as simple as it gets--the maturing of a young boy, Anders, as he grows from the age of three to adolescence, on a farm in Norway. However, as in the works of Joyce--this book in feels like a blending of Ulysses and Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, the simple story is set forth with an incredibly dense and beautiful narrative, with shifting perspectives and intense descriptions of the psychological imagery of the mind of a young boy as he experiences and re-experiences events in his life. You see the world through the eyes of Anders, though there is often, as in Ulysses, a sudden shift in narrative to another character, or to an unknown thrid person commentator. What holds the book together so well is the prose, which even in translation into English is poetic, dense, and mysterious. Must be incredible in the original Norwegian! I am now trying to find other novels by Hoel, which are all out of print, seeing if they can match the splendor of this book--it really left me surprised and spellbound--one of the best books I have ever read.

Average customer rating:

good story but so rushed
It's Nostalgia-riffic
A Great Transformers comic book collection!

Transformers, Vol. 14: End of the Road
Simon Furman
Manufacturer: Titan Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1840233729
Release Date: 2002-10-01

Book Description

The hit animated TV shows Beast Wars and Beast Machines introduced a whole new generation to the Transformers - a race of robots able to shift form and become vehicles, weaponry and hardware. Now, at last, the original stories of those `robots in disguise' can be seen again in their world-shaking glory.

The war with Unicron reaches its apocalyptic conclusion, but even if the Transformers win — they lose. Their world, Cybertron, is coming apart, shuddering in its death throes, the fragile alliance between the Autobots and the Decepticons is on shaky ground, and the inhabitants of Earth tremble before the power of the utterly insane creature known as Galvatron. With Optimus Prime missing in battle it might finally be the day when all hope is gone!

Customer Reviews:

good story but so rushed.......2004-04-26

unicron arrives and this battle was legendary it shocked me that unicron ate brainstorm the way he did and scorponok's death was kind of sad too, the movie was'nt this drAMatic with the unicron battle this was way better opyimus prime desposes of hi q to destroy unicron and prime knew what he was doing when he let hi q go he knew his spirit or whatever tf's have would transfer to hi q anyway the rest of the story grimlock leads the bots again he loses his transformation powers the effects of nucleon then the disputes with him and prowl are timeless prowl was pissed that grimlock was the leader and grimlock knew that peace between him and the autobots was a mistake bludgeon wqould have been a good leader if he would have had more spotlight too bad megatron killed him in gen2, megatron returns here too along with ratchet and megs meets galvatron and then they kill shockwave and ratchet crashes the ark to earth again where they all seem to die however galvatron escapes and goes insane only to be knocked offline by fort max while the autobots head to klo to fight the cons only to be destoyed cept grimlock and a fw others but a newly resuercted optimus prime along with the neo knights and the last autobot save the day and defeat the cons while bludegeon goes to exile.

It's Nostalgia-riffic.......2003-04-20

An epic storyline and awesome artwork make this a must have for any fan of the Generation One comics. Buy it!

A Great Transformers comic book collection!.......2002-06-02

This Transformers graphic novel collects Marvel comics US Transformers#75-#80! This comic books were written by fan British fan favorite writer, Simon Furman! The Artwork was also done by British fan favorites, Geoff Senior and Andrew Wildman! They were the creative team behind the success of the Marvel UK Transformers comic books series! Transformers#75 features stunning artwork by Geoff Senior! Unicron arrived to destroy Cybertron! Many Autobots and Decepticons die! What happened to Thunderwing and the Creation Matrix?! How does Scroponok handle threat of the Chaos-Bringer, Unicron! How does Powermaster Optimus Prime ultimatly stop Unicron from destroying Cyberton?! The Next four issues lead to final issue, Transformers#80! The Civil War is over! But how do the Autobots stop the Decepticons Without their leader Optimus Prime to lead them? Who is the Last Autobot and how is he responsible for the destruction of Cybertron and Optimus Prime's ressurection?! Find out! Buy these wonderful Titan books! Highest Possible Recommendation!

Pilgrimage to the End of the World: The Road to Santiago de Compostela

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A rationalist walks the Camino.
straight to the point
A rare book is both scholarly and practical
Getting in the pilgrimage frame of mind
Short and Sweet

Pilgrimage to the End of the World: The Road to Santiago de Compostela
Conrad Rudolph
Manufacturer: University Of Chicago Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0226731278

Book Description

Traveling two and a half months and one thousand miles along the ancient route through southern France and northern Spain, Conrad Rudolph made the passage to the holy site of Santiago de Compostela, one of the most important modern-day pilgrimage destinations for Westerners. In this chronicle of his travels to this captivating place, Rudolph melds the ancient and the contemporary, the spiritual and the physical, in a book that is at once travel guide, literary work, historical study, and memoir.

Customer Reviews:

A rationalist walks the Camino........2007-07-03

As I write this review, I'm wearing the boots I plan to use on my own Camino pilgrimage next week. In addition to breaking them in, I've been preparing my body, mind, and heart for the long walk to Santiago. Reading "Pilgrimage to the End of the World" was an enjoyable and necessary part of that process.

Conrad Rudolph's book on the Camino de Santiago has four parts: 1) some historical background, 2) an account of his trek, 3) a series of black-and-white personal photographs with explanations that range from a paragraph to a page or so long, and 4) a practical guide (what to wear, how to pack, etc.). Despite its brevity (only 131 pages), Mr. Rudolph's memoir is packed with useful and interesting information. The surprising revelation that the author is a rationalist only serves to make his tale more compelling, especially considering the profound effect a pilgrimage usually done for spiritual reasons had upon him.

Indeed, the Camino began as an important medieval religious pilgrimage to Santiago, alleged burial place of St. James. But it has grown to accommodate folks on quests of many kinds. What's ironic about Mr. Rudolph's journey is that despite his rationalist mindset, he walked the farthest distance of any pilgrim, faith-based or otherwise, I've read about so far. He began in Le Puy, France, went through Santiago, and concluded in Finisterre - the "End of the World" on the Spanish west coast. That's about double the walking distance from the usual starting point of St. Jean Pied de Port, a French town on the Spanish border. And I thought we religious folk were supposed to be the crazy ones...

Despite his excellent account and helpful information, I part ways with the author in one key area: his firm recommendation of an external-frame pack. He's correct about the increased ventilation it offers, since the external frame holds the pack away from one's back. But according to another pilgrim's memoir, you'll sweat no matter what kind of pack you carry. Also, there are far more sizes and types of internal-frame packs to choose from. At REI I found only one model of external frame pack for sale among the plethora of internal packs - a forlorn Kelty similar to the one the author used. Bottom line, I'd say that an internal-frame pack is a better choice (I'm taking a 4,300 cubic-inch Gregory Baltoro).

At any rate, "Pilgrimage to the End of the World" is a must-read for anyone contemplating, or actually preparing for, the Camino pilgrimage. Other helpful and inspirational books I used to get ready include: "Buen Camino," by Jim & Eleanor Clem, "Camino Chronicle" by Susan Alcorn, and "Fumbling," by Kerry Egan (also, check the Confraternity of St. James' website for lots of good info and up-to-date Camino guidebooks). If you choose to go, let me be the first you wish you a Buen Camino!

UPDATE 9/7/07: On 7/14/07 I stepped off in St. Jean Pied-de-Port (France), and on 8/24/07 I walked into Santiago, Spain. Turned out that the boots I mentioned in the first paragraph were too heavy, so I bought a lighter Spanish pair in Logrono that served me well. My internal-frame pack was the Camino standard (although the model I had was too large and initially weighted down with unnecessary stuff) - out of the hundreds of pilgrims I saw, only a couple had external frame packs. At any rate, I recommend this book as necessary reading for anyone planning to walk the Way.

straight to the point.......2007-04-09

For my recent comiplation of pilgrimage quotations ("Ultreia! Onward! Progress of the Pilgrim") I read all 40 or so contemporary English journal accounts available about the various routes. Rudolph's is clearly within the first grouping of 8 or so best such books (i.e. largely those written by established authors and/or academics). He is able to convey in a fraction of the pages of other volumes many interesting and important aspects of undertaking such a pilgrimage. Though not the most quotable of sources (i.e. 7 such extracted for the review volume Ultreia! Onward!) Rudopplh nevertheless is particularly good at writing about the process of pilgrimage.

A rare book is both scholarly and practical.......2006-01-16

Conrad Rudolph, a professor of medieval art,has made the pilgrimage to Santiago de Campostela and knows enough about the history of the pilgrimage and the art and architecture to be seen along the way to write a book that tells not only how to prepare for the long hike and what to take but also what is to be seen and what it all means from a historical perspective.

Getting in the pilgrimage frame of mind.......2005-09-21

The book reads as if you were sitting in an art history lecture -- the author writes using simple, direct, yet descriptive language. While the narrative is framed around the St James trail, it is really a book about inner transformation, not a description of the external world and the landmarks one sees during the pilgrimage. In all, the book has helped me prepare my frame of mind for the bike pilgrimage I am about to embark. The best part -- it's a short and quick read!

Short and Sweet.......2005-02-26

I wonder if Conrad Rudolph is a man of few words. He has certainly managed to convey the essence of his 2-1/2 month pilgrimage in only 131 pages. Rudolph describes himself as a man with virtually no belief in "miracles or the otherworldly", yet experiences a deep, life altering sense of spirituality on his physically punishing trek. Simultaneously a travel guide, with practical information and sensible advice, a brief history of Santiago and the medieval religious psyche, and an insightful, first hand memoir evoking the texture and trials of the place and the journey. The photos in the second half of the book do much to bring Rudolph's eloquent words to life. I don't keep all of the books I read in my home library, but this one has found a permanent spot.

Sahel: The End of the Road (Series in Contemporary Photography, 3)

Average customer rating:

great but too real
Art & Selgado
Riveting imagery

Sahel: The End of the Road (Series in Contemporary Photography, 3)
Sebastiao Salgado , Orville Schell , Fred Ritchin , Eduardo Galeano , and Lelia Wanick Salgado
Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0520241703

Book Description

In 1984 Sebastião Salgado began what would be a fifteen-month project of photographing the drought-stricken Sahel region of Africa in the countries of Chad, Ethiopia, Mali, and Sudan, where approximately one million people died from extreme malnutrition and related causes. Working with the humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders, Salgado documented the enormous suffering and the great dignity of the refugees. This early work became a template for his future photographic projects about other afflicted people around the world. Since then, Salgado has again and again sought to give visual voice to those millions of human beings who, because of military conflict, poverty, famine, overpopulation, pestilence, environmental degradation, and other forms of catastrophe, teeter on the edge of survival. Beautifully produced, with thoughtful supporting narratives by Orville Schell, Fred Ritchin, and Eduardo Galeano, this first U.S. edition brings some of Salgado's earliest and most important work to an American audience for the first time. Twenty years after the photographs were taken, Sahel: The End of the Road is still painfully relevant.
Born in Brazil in 1944, Sebastião Salgado studied economics in São Paulo and Paris and worked in Brazil and England. While traveling as an economist to Africa, he began photographing the people he encountered. Working entirely in a black-and-white format, Salgado highlights the larger meaning of what is happening to his subjects with an imagery that testifies to the fundamental dignity of all humanity while simultaneously protesting its violation by war, poverty, and other injustices. "The planet remains divided," Salgado explains. "The first world in a crisis of excess, the third world in a crisis of need." This disparity between the haves and the have-nots is the subtext of almost all of Salgado's work.

Customer Reviews:

great but too real.......2007-05-13

I think Sebastiao Salgado is a great photographer. All the black and white pictures are in duotone color, which make them look very professional. Something this book has is that you can see through people and at the same time look to a picture with great composition, so you can feel the picture and at the same time admire it's appearance. I just think the pictures are too sad for me, you can see the real people suffering so much.

Art & Selgado.......2007-03-26

I was keen to obtain this book for my son, but was aware that copies were not easily obtainable. I was thrilled to locate it on Amazon and then to receive it well ahead of the estimated time frame. The condition was excellent as described, and they arrived very well packaged. Thank you

Riveting imagery.......2005-09-18

One of the most potent books on the human experience. I got a lump in my throat while viewing this collection of prints. Sebastiao Salgado is a master at using value to capture shape and texture in his subject matter.

Take the Road to Creativity and Get Off Your Dead End

Average customer rating:

A breezy and interesting tour de force of creativity.

Take the Road to Creativity and Get Off Your Dead End
David Campbell
Manufacturer: Center for Creative Leadership
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0912879912

Customer Reviews:

A breezy and interesting tour de force of creativity........1999-03-04

This book delves a bit into the dynamics underlying creativity. It covers the phases of creativity, characteristics and backgrounds of creative people, the kinds of families that produce creative people, characteristics of creative managers, and seven blocks to creativity in organizations. There is a good annotated bibliography. A breezy and interesting book.

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