History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

All That Glittered: The Golden Age of Drama on Broadway, 1919-1959

Average customer rating:

Mordden Does It Again
A fascinating retrospective on the role of Broadway in American culture
Play Time

All That Glittered: The Golden Age of Drama on Broadway, 1919-1959
Ethan Mordden
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0312338988
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Book Description

From the late 1920s to late 1950s, the Broadway theatre was America's cultural epicenter. Television didn't exist and movies were novelties. Entertainment took the form of literature, music, and theatre. During this golden age of Broadway, actors and actresses became legends and starred in now classic plays. Laurence Olivier, Alfred Lunt and Lynne Fontaine were names to remember, etching plays into memory as they brought the words of Tennessee Williams or Eugene O’Neill to life. Joseph Cotton romanced Katherine Hepburn in Philip Barry's The Philadelphia Story while Laurette Taylor became The Glass Menagerie’s Amanda Wingfield. Frederic March, Florence Eldridge, Jason Robards Jr. and Bradford Dillman showed us life among the ruins in Long Day's Journey Into Night. In All That Glittered, Ethan Mordden, long one of Broadway's best chroniclers, recreates the fascinating lost world of its golden age.

Customer Reviews:

Mordden Does It Again.......2007-09-30

Ethan Mordden has written many books on the topic of Broadway, although generally they have been about the musical stage. This time he writes about plays, (mostly) without music, and rather arbitrarily defines, perhaps for purposes of symmetry, its golden age as the period between 1919 and 1959 (although he can't help himself and goes on into the 1960s a bit). As usual one is amazed at his encyclopedic knowledge of Broadway history; one can imagine him spending weeks and months, perhaps even years, in dusty libraries reading all those old copies of Variety, Playbill and the New York newspapers. His all-but-copyrighted bitchiness is much in evidence and gave me more than a few chuckles. His penchant for pointing who was gay among the actors, authors and directors, and for finding gay themes where they aren't obvious, is prominent.

He chronicles the Broadway spoken play by decade and finds something characteristic about each period. I found his writing, always sparkling, becomes more so when he gets to the 1940s and beyond, perhaps because those plays and the people who made them are within living memory for many people. Clearly Mordden (who is right at sixty, although his glamorous never-changing dustjacket picture hasn't changed in at least two decades) has had personal contact with many of the people mentioned in those latter years and he has some tales to tell.

Included are some pretty obscure plays and we are all the more informed for that. He writes much about the important actors, writers, producers and directors and we pick up a lot of theater lore as a result. His writing style is dense with fact and sometimes hermetic but it always dances along. I had difficulty putting the book down.

Another valuable book by Mordden, possibly primarily for specialists but assimilable by the casual reader with even a modicum of interest in the subject.

Scott Morrison

A fascinating retrospective on the role of Broadway in American culture.......2007-06-25

I love theatre history, but Mordden is such a fine writer that I will read his "History of Plumbing" should he write one.

Unlike his essential seven-volume chronicle of the musical, this is not a show-by-show description. Instead, Mordden takes a thematic approach, insightfully linking the development of the Broadway play to broader cultural developments. The shift from rural to urban humor, the relationship between Broadway and Hollywood, and the role of theatre as educator to the unsophisticated are among his compelling through-lines. Despite my unfamiliarity with most of the titles referenced, this is a great read.

Play Time.......2007-04-06

Ethan Mordden is probably best known for three things: the impossibility of remembering how to spell his last name; the width and depth of his subject matter; and his encyclopedic knowledge of musical theater. To all this, we can now add a fourth; an almost equally deep knowledge of "straight" (in the theatrical sense) drama. While it is arguable as to whether the golden age began in 1919 and ended in 1959, Mordden's treatment of this span is as exciting and insightful as any of his other critical studies and that, as his readers know, is saying a lot! (Aside to Mr. Mordden: The title "Beggar on Horseback" may be more closely related to the saying, "If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride."... just a thought). Oh, and the only reason for 4 instead of 5 stars is to have somewhere to go for the next time.

Average customer rating:

World of the Trapp Family
Very Nice book
The real Sound of Music
This book is great....
Great book

The World of the Trapp Family
William Anderson
Manufacturer: Anderson Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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philosophy hope in a jar daily moisturizer

ASIN: 1890757004

Customer Reviews:

World of the Trapp Family.......2007-05-08

This is one book I will keep in my private library. Very good book with all the pictures. My mother has enjoying looking at it also.

Very Nice book.......2007-03-08

I really enjoyed the beautiful pictures. I first read "The Trapp Family Singers" by Maria which was great but I wanted pictures and more info and this book was greatly enjoyed.I really liked it.

The real Sound of Music.......2006-02-05

I had the opportuntiy to buy this book last fall when I saw the grandchildren of Maria Von Trapp in concert at the Dollywood theme park. Having read the account by Maria in her book "The story of the Trapp Family Singers" as a child I was fully aware that the movie and the real story were not identical, however the liberties of the movie version aside this book is a delight for anyone who loves the story and music of the Von Trapps. It gives you a first hand insight to what the family went through from the Natzi's to the building of their inn in Vermont to the rebuilding of it after it was destory by fire. The photography is superb and the history of this family is one I have enjoyed for years and will for years to come. I can hardly wait til next Christmas to add the Von Trapp Children CD to my holiday music enjoyment.

This book is great...........2003-06-06

....because I find so many information about the Trapp Familiy which I don't know. I saw the two german movies from 1956 und 1958 and the american from 1965, and I like all this films.

The pictures make it easy to read.

But there is something, that I don't like. Martina, who died in 1951. Maria Augusta wrote only one and a half sentences about her stepdaughter. Why had she done that ?

Good, that I've read "Yesterday, Today and Forever", so I know the tragedy of Martina's death.

...

Great book.......2000-08-16

This book is a really great behind-the-scenes type book about the real Von Trapp family. Fans of the movie may not like it as much, because there isn't very much stuff written about the making of the SOM. However, it really gives you a very clear picture of the way the story reall was without detracting from the magic of the movie.

Average customer rating:

Puppetry: A World History
Entertaining, informative and beautiful
Welcome but with some reservations
A Great Gift for Lovers of Beautiful Books
two part review

Puppetry: A World History
Eileen Blumenthal
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0810955873

Book Description

Puppets have existed in one form or another in nearly every culture throughout human history. From the intriguing shadow puppets of Java to the romantically challenged Miss Piggy, from African carved-wood actors with outsize genitalia to merry maniac Mr. Punch, puppets are incredibly diverse, reflecting the varied cultures, environments, and personalities of their creators.

In this lavishly illustrated volume, Eileen Blumenthal provides a comprehensive overview of the history and techniques of puppetry, examining the unique nature and abilities of puppets and illustrating the countless roles they (and their creators) have played in societies across the globe for thousands of years. She draws on examples from an astonishing array of puppeteers, performances, and historical artifacts, providing readers with an in-depth view of this intricate world of constructed actors and the eclectic-and often eccentric-artists who create them. With a lively and accessible text and a wealth of illustrations, this one-of-a kind volume will be treasured by lovers of both visual and theater arts. AUTHOR BIO: Eileen Blumenthal is professor of theater arts at Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University, and a writer on contemporary Asian and Western theater. She has written hundreds of articles and reviews. She is also the author of Joseph Chaikin: Exploring at the Boundaries of Theatre and coauthor, with Julie Taymor, of Abrams' highly acclaimed Julie Taymor: Playing with Fire.

Customer Reviews:

Puppetry: A World History.......2007-03-08

I have been a professional puppeteer for over 50 years and now concentrate on the History of Puppets
throughout the World from the Mists of Time to the present day.
It is one of the best books I have read on the subject, profusely illustrated and well researched in the main, concentrating on the USA, Europe, the Orient and the Eastern bloc.
My only criticism is that the coverage of puppetry, apart from Punch, is very slight when mentioning the United Kingdom notably Harry Whanslaw who wrote many books on the subject and was a founder of the British Puppet and Model Theatre Guild, The Lanchester Marionettes, The Field Marionettes who invented the lip synch for the t.v. series 'The Telegoons'. Many other puppets included Sooty still going strong to-day after many years, Muffin the Mule, Gerry Anderson's films- 'Thunderbird', 'Stingray' etc. I should like to see a Part 2. of this book.

Entertaining, informative and beautiful.......2006-03-10

This book is a wonder. How the author could bring together sthe quantity of scholarly information and beautiful photographs under one cover is beyond thinking.
Even persons who have no interest in the subject will be fascinated and entertained by the variety,ingenuity and artfulness of the puppets.

Welcome but with some reservations.......2005-11-26

This is not a history book told in a chronological order. It is a survey with a point of view that jumbles puppeteers and their puppets into themes. It is extremely well researched, but because of the many, many listings of puppeteers and the odd juxtapositions of their work, it might be hard for a reader to get a sense of which puppeteers were actually more influencial and successful than others. Some very famous people are not mentioned at all, and some, frankly contemporary, mediocre puppeteers are given great mention. Also, the field of children's theatre which is quite important and which many puppeteers take very seriously, is given short shrift.

A Great Gift for Lovers of Beautiful Books.......2005-09-27

"Puppetry is one of the most beautiful books in print, filled with vivid color photgraphs on heavy glossy paper that bring to life hundreds of puppets of all types. Blumenthal is a terrifically witty writer and provides volumes of information that is clearly written and very well organized. While this book is a good addition to one's coffee table, it is also good food for the mind.

two part review.......2005-09-21

This book is a coffee table book---fine constuction and photos but a bit unwieldly to read . As the title implies this book is an overview not an in depth study-- a good beginning.

Serpent of the Nile: Women and Dance in the Arab World

Average customer rating:

For the Bellydance Afficionado
FOr the Pictures, if Nothing Else
Inspirational, but Flawed
great pictures but...
Or, Belly Dancing for Dummies! A Good Resource and Accessory

Serpent of the Nile: Women and Dance in the Arab World
Wendy Buonaventura
Manufacturer: Interlink Publishing Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1566563003

Book Description

"I think it is the most eloquent of female dances, with its haunting lyricism, its fire, its endlessly shifting kaleidoscope of sensual movement."

With these words, Wendy Buonaventura explains her own fascination with Arabic dance. Her book is a unique celebration of the female dancers of the Arab world, and their impact on the West. She explains the origins of this ancient art, which has survived in the face of commercialism, religious disapproval and changing times.

Focusing on the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, she shows how Arabic dance came to be influenced by Western ideas about art and entertainment. But the influence was two-way. In the heyday of "Orientalism," Arabic dance exerted a powerful influence on the Western imagination-on such writers as Flaubert, such artists as David Roberts and Jean-Leon Gerome, and such imitators as Colette and Mata Hari. Their fascination was often based on common fantasies about the women of the Middle East. Yet, as the book's sumptuous illustrations show, this obsession also produced wonderfully evocative images. At the turn of the century, the genre also had an impact on fashion, theater and popular entertainment.

Customer Reviews:

For the Bellydance Afficionado.......2002-11-17

Lots of colour pictures ... past & present ...including old paintings, quotes & accounts of the people who actually watched belly dancing...& then tried to describe it!

For those just starting out to find out about Bellydancing & such enthusiasts,there are some pictures of famous older dancers, past & present .. Samya Gamal, Fifi Abdou & Sohair Zaki.
More like a collection of cameos than a real in-depth exploration of the Art Form, or Elucidation of the styles & Expression... but it IS a good coffee-table book & nice, informative read .

FOr the Pictures, if Nothing Else.......2002-07-04

I can't speak to the accuracy of Wendy Buonaventura's history of belly dancing, though I found no evidence of the most controversial complaint, that she fails to note the role of European Orientalists in fabricating our notions of Middle-Eastern dance. In fact, she discusses this very thing at length.

The treasure in the book is the collection of paintings. Where else can you see Dinet's gorgeous watercolors? I had never even heard of him. Are the pictures accurate? I suspect they are. Are they representative? Of course not. Like Gauguin in Tahiti, the Orientalists saw what they wanted to see.

Inspirational, but Flawed.......2001-07-26

Wendy Buonaventura obviously loves raks baladi ("country" or folkloric belly dance) with a passion. As sometimes happens with authors passionate about a subject, she unfortunately treats her opinions as facts upon occasion. As a dancer, I love the glorious Orientalist pictures, early 20th-century photos and fascinatingly slanted accounts from Western travellers, and I love her feelings for the dance. It's a beautiful book to peruse, and you can get some marvelous ideas for theatrical costuming from it. But like the Orientalists she reviews, Buonaventura presents an exotic and monolithic Middle East, where Egypt represents this entire diverse region and where nothing changes over time. She also perpetuates the popular myth that this is a *women's* dance, whereas in truth both sexes dance at private functions, and in both Egypt and Turkey, men historically performed as well. (Western tourists just weren't interested!) Read this for its lovely artwork and, if you're a dancer, for a feel-good spiritual connection with earlier dancers--but if you're interested in the subject of dance history, do some further research. And if you are involved in the Society for Creative Anachronism, PLEASE don't use this book for costume documentation. Egyptian clothing pre-1600 was very, very different.

great pictures but..........2000-08-29

The quality and quantity of pictures in this book is wonderful and there is also some good information but unfortunately all the information is not very accurate and there are even many things that are not true. As a book this is nice to watch but as this book has become "a bible of belly dance" when other more accurate documents have been hard to find I can't rate this higher because readers tend to believe everything that is written here.

Or, Belly Dancing for Dummies! A Good Resource and Accessory.......2000-07-26

"Serpent of the Nile" is a wonderful book for anyone with an interest in Middle Eastern Dance, which is currently gaining tremendous popularity in the West. The author traces the art of 'Beladi,' what we now refer to as 'belly-dancing' from its origin to how it has changed over time. There is a lot of very interesting information in here, written concisely and accessibly, even for those of us who are not overly concerned with history; such as the need for male dancers to entertain the public when women were forbidden to do so, how the patriarchal nature of Arabic society affected Beladi, and how the Westerners exoticised and perhaps even corrupted the original form of dance. But the beauty of this book lies in its stunning pictures, a treat for the eyes! Photographs of sculptures, paintings and engravings of dancers and musicians fill the pages and make it an ideal coffee table book. A wonderful resource.

Average customer rating:

Lot of Information but not too much
Fun stuff!
A good Premise For A Book-- But Only Decent writing And No Pictures
Required Reading for Disney Addicts
Amateur Writing, but Interesting Info Nonetheless.

The Disneylands That Never Were
Shaun Finnie
Manufacturer: Lulu Enterprises, UK Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1847285430

Book Description

In 1955 Walt Disney presented the world's first theme park. Disneyland opened with just 18 rides and attractions. Today there are eleven Disney parks around the globe. Visitors can spend weeks at a time in these resorts, often staying in one of Disney's own hotel rooms. But in the last fifty years the Disney Imagineers have designed thousands of rides, attractions, hotels, and even entire theme parks that have never been built. Many of these concepts have remained hidden in the company's private archive for decades. until now. The Disneylands That Never Were documents the biggest, best and most outrageous of these abandoned plans. It details everything from Walt Disney's initial ideas for Mickey Mouse Park to his planned ski resort in California. From small developments like The Disney Hotel in New York's Times Square to the huge Port Disney concept, over five decades of dreams are brought to life in The Disneylands That Never Were.

Customer Reviews:

Lot of Information but not too much.......2007-06-20

This book give us lot of very interesting information but without pictures. It's a bit frustating. Else, my first impression was a few spoofing with the use of a very big font for all pages.

Fun stuff!.......2007-06-08

For Disney park aficionados, this is a great read to hear about ride, land, park, and resort ideas that never came to be. One caution: the book contains little in the way of verification or validation: it reads like a high-school book report without supporting references. Not a scholarly work, but certainly fun for those with a Disney Jones!

A good Premise For A Book-- But Only Decent writing And No Pictures.......2007-05-31

For true fans of the Disney theme parks, this book is a good list of the many ideas considered by Imagineers for projects that, for various reasons, were never completed.

If you can ignore the many typos -- and the self-published vibe -- of the book, you'll enjoy the research that reveals the dozens-and-dozens of concepts for attractions, hotels, shops (and entire theme parks) that were never built due to politics, finances and/or public resistance.

My one MAJOR complaint is the complete lack of any photographs or artists renderings of all the "lost" Disney ideas. The writing is decent, but in no way is able to fully convey some of the GREAT ideas that have been tossed-around in the hallways of Disney's Imagineering division. Not having pictures for this sort of premise is silly (though I understand that Disney was probably uncooperative on this venture), and in a way, self-defeating. I'd love to see a revision -- under the Disney publishing arm -- loaded with the artwork from Imagineering's "morgue" of discarded ideas. Maybe the author can approach Disney with that proposal in a year or two?!? One can hope...

Required Reading for Disney Addicts.......2007-05-14

This book is required reading for Disney Addicts. The information in this book is extremely interesting to even the most seasoned Disney lover. The book is an easy read with tons of interesting info. You can't go wrong with this book...a definite buy!!!!

Amateur Writing, but Interesting Info Nonetheless........2007-05-12

This book is a flawed product of good intentions. It is poorly edited, misstates facts and names, and generally makes a mishmash of its subject, but it is still full of interesting stuff for the casual and inexperienced fan of things Disney. Most of the info here is better told in first-hand memoirs of Disney people, the book is poorly organized, and the author, who clearly hails from the UK, uses mistaken terminology to describe American subjects in a way that grates if you care about language as I do. The book jumps back and forth, repeats itself, and is kind of painful to read...BUT...the info is there hiding beneath the bad writing, so if you really want the basic background on many historical curiosities about the Disney theme park empire and especially about the attractions and plans that were never completed (even though many of the reasons and facts given about WHY they weren't are wrong or half-baked) then read the book anyhow. But you've been warned. It is realy rough going.

Moviemakers' Master Class: Private Lessons from the World's Foremost Directors

Average customer rating:

Master Class, unmasterly with repetition
Master class for sure!!!
Very telling
Highest possible recommendation
Best conversations with Directors

Moviemakers' Master Class: Private Lessons from the World's Foremost Directors
Laurent Tirard
Manufacturer: Faber & Faber
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 057121102X

Book Description

From Scorsese and Lynch to Wenders and Godard, interviews with twenty of the world's greatest directors on how they make films--and why

Each great filmmaker has a secret method to his moviemaking--but each of them is different. In Moviemaker Master Class, Laurent Tirard talks to twenty of today's most important filmmakers to get to the core of each director's approach to film, exploring the filmmaker's vision as well as his technique, while allowing each man to speak in his own voice.

Martin Scorsese likes setting up each shot very precisely ahead of time--so that he has the opportunity to change it all if he sees the need. Lars Von Trier, on the other hand, refuses to think about a shot until the actual moment of filming. And Bernardo Bertolucci tries to dream his shots the night before; if that doesn't work, he roams the set alone with a viewfinder, imagining the scene before the actors and crew join him. In these interviews--which originally appeared in the French film magazine Studio and are being published here in English for the first time--enhanced by exceptional photographs of the directors at work, Laurent Tirard has succeeded in finding out what makes each filmmaker--and his films--so extraordinary, shedding light on both the process and the people behind great moviemaking.

Among the other filmmakers included are Woody Allen, Tim Burton, Joel and Ethan Coen, and John Woo.

Customer Reviews:

Master Class, unmasterly with repetition .......2007-10-01

This book is great and has a wealth of insightful conversation with some amazing directors but my one complaint is that the bulk of the book is framed too similarly. While the directors all have their unique take and insights, Tirard essentially asks them all the same questions which leads to repetition over the bulk of the book. In no way am I saying not to purchase this book but I'm simply criticizing it's redundancy.

Master class for sure!!!.......2006-10-18

This is exactly what a moviemakers master class should be. It asks technical and artistic questions to some of the greatest directors of all time.

If you want to hear why Tim Burton likes wide lenses, which contemporary directors Scorsese admires and why, Jean Pierre Jeunet's theory of camera movement, David Lynch's "secret dolly move", John Woo's method of shooting and cutting scenes to music, The Coen brothers writing process, Lars Von Trier's take on the rules of Dogme 95, Jean-Luc Goddard's theory of filmmaking out of desire vs. need, then this book is your ticket.

This is a goldmine of knowledge. There are no fluff interviews here; only the best filmmakers in the world relating solid technical advice and tried and true shooting strategies developed from years of experience.

Very telling.......2006-02-24

Great stuff. Gives a lot of info on each director. For example; Sidney Pollack was an acting coach before he became a director.
This book is filled with insight, knowledge and terrific stories all from the top directors of our time.

Highest possible recommendation.......2005-10-23

What with formal education and all, I don't really have much time for outside reading. It's rare that something is so addictive that it will make me completely ignore my studies, against my better judgement.

This book is fantastic. Not only is it first-hand advice from actual filmmakers, rather than second-hand interpretations from critics or theoreticians (which are both helpful, the latter moreso, and I do read such things), but they are short enough to be digested at any pace whatsoever, and diverse enough to give you multiple perspectives. You get to find out if you're a Scorsese or a Wenders. You also find out that Von Trier is actually a pretty nice guy. Who knew? (Just kidding, I'm a fan).

Anyway, there's really no excuse to read this. It's very inspiring, and it's simple and fun. I read 150 pages or so in one sitting without becoming restless. Go for it.

Best conversations with Directors.......2005-08-30

This is the must read book for any aspiring movie director. It encapsulates the ideas and personal perceptions on presentation of screen story. It's not a book to know nitty gitty technical details, this is a collection of interviews with many directors and their style of making movie, when they talk about it. Same questions have been asked to all directors (Very good questions, no sterio typical questions you see in movie promos).

Get your copy today and enjoy it.

Another World: The 35th Anniversary Celebration

Average customer rating:

'Another World' still turns in this wonderful book!
More like "Fall of the House of Usher."
A Must for AW fans
A Must Have for any Soap Addict
A Welcome Gift, A Prized Possession

Another World: The 35th Anniversary Celebration
Julie Poll
Manufacturer: HarperCollins Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0060193042
Release Date: 1999-04-27

Book Description

For 35 years, the families, lovers, villains, femmes fatales, young and old of Bay City have drawn devoted viewers to their sagas. Another World originated on May 4, 1964, a creation of the legendary mother of soap operas, Irna Phillips. The show celebrates its 35th anniversary with this spectacular volume.

Complemented with hundreds of photographs, the Another World anniversary edition brings together everything fans want to know about their favorite soap opera. Relive the romances of Rachel and Mac, Cass, Kathleen and Frankie, John and Sharlene, and Vicky and Jake, to name a few. Take a peak inside the family albums of the Corys, the Matthews, the Frames, the Loves, the Hudsons, and the McKinnons. Enjoy the adventures of glamorous romance novelist Felcia Gallant, the high comedy of Wallingford and friends, and the evil doings of Carl Hutchins and Bay City Mayor Grant Harrison.

Relive the complete story line, tour the Brooklyn studios, meet the people behind the scenes, and hear humorous backstage tales from the stars in this essential guide for any fan of Another World. Another World: 35th Anniversary Celebration is a keepsake that will be cherished for years to come.

"We do not live in this world alone, but in a thousand other worlds."

Another World: 35th Anniversary Celebration includes

A dramatic account of Another World's intricate plotline, from 1964 to 1998.

Hundreds of photographs from the show's archives--many never before seen.

Details on the unforgettable love stories, notable nuptials, and dastardly deeds of Bay City's inhabitants.

Rare glimpses of what it's really like behind the scenes and on the set of Another World, including interviews with the show's producers and crew.

Backstage tales from the cast about fans, auditions, days on the set.

A roster of today's stars whose exciting careers started on Another World.

Remembrance of those actors who are no longer with us.

Awards, show credits, a comprehensive cast list and much more!

Customer Reviews:

'Another World' still turns in this wonderful book!.......2005-05-19

This book is a must-have for any fan of the much-missed soap opera Another World- hundreds of photos, detailed year-by-year recaps, and interviews with the actors all make for a great tribute to a wonderful show. If there are any complaints, it's that some of the plot synopsis have been condensed a little too much, and more information about spin-offs Texas and Somerset would have been welcome, as well as more behind the scenes information. Still, this is an incredible book that should appeal to any fan!

More like "Fall of the House of Usher.".......2004-10-08

Who wants to remember 35 years of people robbing, cheating on each other, stealing money, jumping in bed with someone else when they were already married, the search and holding on of power. These were not nice people they were all distrubed human beings who belonged in jail or the sick house.

When the series finally left the air, it was a sign of sanity.

A Must for AW fans.......2001-07-23

Anyone who watched this soap will enjoy this book. Since this soap was taken from us on the 35th anniversary, this book has even more meaning. You will get to relive the highlights and story lines now missing from our daily lives. I get mine out about every 6 months - or whenever I need a Bay City fix. Looking through the book always manages to bring tears or laughter to me.

A Must Have for any Soap Addict.......2001-07-11

This is now a great retrospective of a great show that is now defunct. It is one of the best types of this book (though it is not as well done as General Hospital's). It should be in every collector's bookshelf.

A Welcome Gift, A Prized Possession.......2000-04-29

For the first 10 years of watching AW, I was a loyal, but hardly passionate fan. The last 5 years, leading up to the cancellation, I developed a passionate attachment. This book has made dealing with the loss of this 15 year old friend so much easier. I treasure this book in so many ways. If you are or were a fan, this really is a must have. No doubt.

The Musical World of Boublil and Schonberg: The Creators of Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, Martin Guerre and The Pirate Queen

Average customer rating:

Very insightful

The Musical World of Boublil and Schonberg: The Creators of Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, Martin Guerre and The Pirate Queen
Margaret Vermette
Manufacturer: Applause Theatre and Cinema Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1557837155

Book Description

Two Frenchmen, an idea, and a blank piece of paper. That's how it started. Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg are the creators of the multi-award-winning and much-loved musicals Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, Martin Guerre and now an exciting new work The Pirate Queen. Les Miserables alone has been seen by over 53 million people.

The Musical World of Boublil and Schonberg is the first book to offer a comprehensive look behind the closed doors of these intensely private musical theatre giants. Boublil and Schonberg take center stage and talk openly about their methods and the creative processes involved in writing the book, the music, and the lyrics. Additional interviews from collaborators such as their co-writers Herbert Kretzmer, Richard Maltby, Stephen Clark, and John Dempsey; their directors Trevor Nunn, John Caird, Nicholas Hytner, Conall Morrison, and Frank Galati; the choreographer of The Pirate Queen, Mark Dendy; and their long-time producer Cameron Mackintosh gives the reader a full view into their successful process.

Full-color production photographs tell the story of each musical.

Customer Reviews:

Very insightful.......2007-04-11

This book is a wonderfully insightful book to some of my favorite musicals! I really enjoyed the background information as to how some of the musicals came to be, the processes that were followed...everything! I highly recommend this book!

Natasha's Dance: A Cultural History of Russia

Average customer rating:

Great reading of Russky history
Very well done
How to Supplement Figes' Work
Full of information but poorly written
A Moving Portrait of Russian Culture

Natasha's Dance: A Cultural History of Russia
Orlando Figes
Manufacturer: Picador
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0312421958

Book Description

Beginning in the eighteenth century with the building of St. Petersburg and culminating with the Soviet regime, Figes examines how writers, artists, and musicians grappled with the idea of Russia itself--its character, spiritual essence, and destiny. Skillfully interweaving the great works--by Dostoevsky, Stravinsky, and Chagall--with folk embroidery, peasant songs, religious icons, and all the customs of daily life, Figes reveals the spirit of "Russianness" as rich and uplifting, complex and contradictory--and more lasting than any Russian ruler or state.

Customer Reviews:

Great reading of Russky history.......2007-01-25

Amazing, such history, told so well, I cannot put it down!

Very well done.......2006-11-29

Figes has managed to write an engaging history that reads quickly, yet is rigorous and packed with information. The work elaborates beautifully on the Russian identity crisis between East and West, as well as the conflict between the peasantry and nobility. Particularly enjoyable is the coverage of the eastern peoples, such as the Tatars, and the culture of the peasantry. In addition, the author dwells on religion and spirituality -- the role of the Orthodox Church in Russian life, and its various divergent branches -- monastics, ascetics, Old Believers, holy fools and, of course, the mainstream church.

Figes explores many aspects of culture, including literature, music, dance, theatre, painting, and much more. The work isn't dry, however. Figes weaves together numerous intriguing tidbits and andecdotes, for example, the tragic life of Anna Akhmatova under the Soviets, or what it means to dine on the "Sheremetev account", or the private operas featuring divas of serf origin.

It is astonishing that a topic so broad could be covered so competently in one volume. "Natasha's Dance" is a superb synthesis that promises a rewarding journey to the history-oriented reader.

How to Supplement Figes' Work.......2006-10-07

Several of the earlier reviewers have covered the book very well, including both its strengths and weaknesses. I have to nothing to add or subtract, but some recommendations to make. There is a very good "interpretive" cultural history of Russia written in the 1960's by James Billington (who is the Librarian of Congress). The book is still in print and is one of five or six concerning Russian history and culture written by Billington. For reader-reviewers who felt that Russian history prior to the late 17th century was slighted by Figes, Billington's book is the place to go for information on the earlier period, especially on Russian Orthodoxy --its art,architecture, and influence on political and cultural life. The abundance and high quality of 20th century translations of Russian literature (both prose and poetry)almost obviates the need of a "cultural interpreter" for the period of the last 120 years or so. Edmund Wilson's "To the Finland Station" does this sort of job for the relationship between the radicalized ideas of the Enlightenment and Russian political life, but should be read with the cautionary note that he himself lost his enthusiasm for Leninism as a real solution to Russia's age-old social and economic problems. Reading a typical 1930's era hagiography of Stalin by any Western writer who leaned to the left is especially informative if you read any of the post-mortem biographies (Volkogonov's, R. Tucker's, etc.)that tell the truly awful story of the man, who chose to bestride culture as well as politics as a "colossus". Chekov, Bulgakov and the far less talented Solzhenitsyn(I mean this only from the point of literary skill, his importance lying in other directions) will also show you life as perceived by those who have lived it in its recent Russian incarnation. My "supplementary" list slights a few areas (the visual arts, music, film), but each of these areas has been treated in depth and with finesse by 20th century authors whose work is available in English. Like any book of this type, Figes' work should be a starting point from which the reader can branch out along many possible paths (and then come back and read it again, say five or ten years later, after exploring some of the territory in depth; then he or she will be able to better judge whether or not it does a good comprehensive job.)

Full of information but poorly written.......2006-07-15

As a Russian Student at Moscow Lomonsov State University, my whole education is surrounded by Russia, Russians, and most of all history. I love it. But I don't love this book. I've had it for almost three years and still can't get around to finishing it all. It's a big, big book. One of the reason why I love history books so much is because they are a bargain! However that didn't turn me off, I actually was quite happy with the amount of information and the color excepts were fantastic. I can tell the author is enthusiasm for the cultural history because it goes from speaking about traveling musicians to how Peter the Great abhorred the unwesternized ways of Moscow. I mean, it goes from one thing to an completely different topic in only a paragraph on one page, and then picks up back with describing the local music of the small villages. The information is so rich and he wants to describe everything to us at once that the reader can get so overwhelmed and lost that it becomes boring to read. It isn't my first history book and I have so many unexciting textbooks I have to read, but I rather read my law book -- in Cyrillic -- then attempt to actually finish this book. You would think with around 700 pages he would be able to take his time. No doubt, this is for the serious reader and someone who is in need to cite something for their term paper (the index works very well indeed, that's one star) and the major information it gives you that you could hardly find in a text book (that's another star) but as reading you c

A Moving Portrait of Russian Culture.......2005-11-26

This is an extraordinarily moving portrait of Russian culture, seen through its writers, poets and composers, peasant folklore, painters and aristocratic manners. The motif that runs through the book is the tussle between the western and the eastern influences in the Russian consciousness, a tussle that gives the Russian soul its peculiarly dichotomous cahracter, and Russian culture it distinct blend of western rationality and eastern mysticism. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the differences between MOscow and St. Petersburg, the latter modelled after the grand capitals of Europe; the former evolving with the earthiness of Mother Russia, complete with its oriental onion-domes that look like something out of the Arabian Nights. The most poignant part of the book is the efforts of post-revolution Russian emigres in coming to terms with the "loss" of Russia in all its physical vastness, a landscape that had so informed their art. Thier longing for Russia was an almost visceral yearning that tormented them all their lives. (For a similarly moving book on the modern Chinese artistic/intellectual tradition, see Jonathan Spence's THE GATE OF HEAVENLY PEACE.)

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