Bear v. Shark: The Novel

Book Description

So it's kind of like a parlor game, then?...

The question is apparently of Ancient Eastern extraction....

It seems to be a gut thing. The answer just feels right and then you come up with reasons....

Given a relatively level playing field -- i.e., water deep enough so that a Shark could maneuver proficiently, but shallow enough so that a Bear could stand and operate with its characteristic dexterity -- who would win in a fight between a Bear and a Shark?

As they head cross-country, the family is besieged by a dizzying barrage of voices: television and radio personalities, public service announcements, bear and shark pundits, Freudians, theologians, and self-published authors, in addition to the Bear v. Shark fanatics, cultists, and resisters they meet at roadside gas stations and restaurants. Overwhelmed by factoids, statistics, and ten-second debates, the Normans -- along with the rest of country -- can't seem to get their facts straight, much less figure out a way to actually communicate with one another. Sound bites and verbal tics predominate; misheard, misunderstood, and just plain mistaken information is absorbed, mangled, and regurgitated to hilarious effect; and the most inane subjects -- from the disappearance of Dutch culture to the Shakespearean bias toward the bear -- are vigorously and obsessively debated. These meaningless exchanges of misinformation leave Mr. Norman disenchanted, world-weary, and ambivalent about the impending show, but the family eventually makes it to Vegas for an apocalyptic and surprisingly emotional ending.

Written in quick, commercial-like segments that mirror the media it satirizes, Chris Bachelder's debut is a fiercely funny, razor-sharp novel about the odd intersection of zealotry and trivia, about the barriers to human connection in a society that values entertainment above all else. Through a clever act of novelistic subterfuge, Bachelder makes us laugh at our penchant for absurd and useless information while drawing us into a dazzling spectacle of his own imagination.

Download Description

In this brilliant satire of our media-saturated culture, the sovereign nation of Las Vegas -- the entertainment capital of the world -- is host to Bear v. Shark II. After a disappointing loss in the first matchup between the land and the sea, the bear is back with a vengeance and out for blood. All of America is obsessed with the upcoming spectacle, so tickets are hard to come by. With an essay entitled "Bear v. Shark: A Reason to Live," young Curtis Norman wins a national writing contest and four tickets to the event. The Normans load up their SUV and embark on a road trip to Vegas. As they head cross-country, the family is besieged by a dizzying barrage of voices: television and radio personalities, public service announcements, bear and shark pundits, Freudians, theologians, and self-published authors, in addition to the Bear v. Shark fanatics, cultists, and resisters they meet at roadside gas stations and restaurants. Overwhelmed by factoids, statistics, and ten-second debates, the Normans -- along with the rest of country -- can't seem to get their facts straight, much less figure out a way to actually communicate with one another. Sound bites and verbal tics predominate; misheard, misunderstood, and just plain mistaken information is absorbed, mangled, and regurgitated to hilarious effect; and the most inane subjects -- from the disappearance of Dutch culture to the Shakespearean bias toward the bear -- are vigorously and obsessively debated. These meaningless exchanges of misinformation leave Mr. Norman disenchanted, world-weary, and ambivalent about the impending show, but the family eventually makes it to Vegas for an apocalyptic and surprisingly emotional ending. Written in quick, commercial-like segments that mirror the media it satirizes, Chris Bachelder's debut is a fiercely funny, razor-sharp novel about the odd intersection of zealotry and trivia, about the barriers to human connection in a society that values entertainment above all else.

Customer Reviews:

In the end, I liked it but it should have been a short story.......2006-08-24

I picked this one up at one of those discount book warehouses based upon reading the first page in the store. When I got around to reading this book, I had a hard time trying to decide if I liked it. The book is a satire about the influence of television, infomercials, entertainment-as-news and advertising in America today. It is written in a collection of sound bites, news clips, and slogans. It reminds me in many ways of Chuck Palahniuk's work. Much of it is very funny and original. But, the stylistics get a bit annoying after awhile. I think this would have been an excellent short story. Still, I think this was good writing and very witty. I look forward to seeing more from this author.

Which is more annoying...........2006-05-31

It poses the question of which would win, given a level playing field, enough water to maneuver, but not so much the bear couldn't keep its purchase: a bear or a shark. The style of the writing, however, asks if it's more annoying to watch network television, or to read a book written in sound-bytes, commercial breaks, and slogans. I liked reading it, but I also like watching television, foreign-language commercials, and amateur videoblogs, so I'm really easy to entertain.

Not funny. No real plot. Poor satire. Not well written.......2006-03-29

I was greatly disappointed with Bear V. Shark. I expected something funny. It is not. I expected satire and political humor, it has none. If the author was trying for a book like, "1984" or "Brave New World" or "Fahrenheit 451" or "Animal Farm" or "The Jungle" he missed by a huge margin. Truly good satire tells a story, and makes a message. BearV. Shark does neither.
The book is so inconsistent and difficult to follow that it becomes almost unreadable. It reminded me of the ramblings of a psychiatric patient (was that the author's intent?) I did finish the book hoping it would wind up in a glorious manner, but it just plods along and ends.
None of the characters are in any way believable. None of the situations are engaging. None of the attempts at humor are funny. I was really, really disappointed. Did the other reviewers actually read this book?

Buy This Book.......2005-09-28

I bought this book because the author is my friend's neighbor (say "howdy" to Henry for me, Chris)and I bought it used, cheap. Authors don't make any money on used book sales, and I feel a little bad about that because this here is a fine piece of what the pretty folks call "litter-chure." It's witty, ironic, and well done, and maybe best of all the chapters are short so it's great for in the bathroom. If I didn't own this book, I'd buy it new because Bachelder is the sort of author we want to support. That is, he is pretty good at what he does and we will all benefit from his writing more of these fine books.

Screamingly funny *and* scary as hell.......2005-05-24

This book is easily the most downright amazing satire since _Snow Crash_. And it is just as frighteningly prescient too; like it or not we live in the world of this book now.

Breakout! Escape from Alcatraz (Step Into Reading , No 4)

Average customer rating:

Great adventurous book
A child's tour of Alcatraz
princess courtney
Deep into Alacatraz

Breakout! Escape from Alcatraz (Step Into Reading , No 4)
Lori Haskins
Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0679881204
Release Date: 1996-09-09

Book Description

Illustrated in full color. Alcatraz, San Francisco's number one tourist attraction, played a pivotal role in American history from the 1930s through the 1960s housing some of the nation's most notorious criminals. Teachers can use this gripping true account to trigger discussion on such topics as the Great Depression, the FBI, Native American history, and our criminal justice system. Escape-story fans, true-crime aficionados, and history buffs will want to make a quick getaway to read all about the legendary landmark they call "The Rock."

Customer Reviews:

Great adventurous book.......2006-04-09

I was previewing this book for my 2nd grade classroom and became completely enthralled in it! It's a great adventure/mystery story sure to capture the attention of any child who likes action and suspense! It creates great imagery of Alcatraz and leaves the reader with an eerie feeling of not knowing whether these men made it or drowned in the bay. It's definitely one of my students' favorites in the classroom.

A child's tour of Alcatraz.......2005-01-28

This book outlines in vivid historical detail the legendary escape of three men from the most inescapable prison in U.S. history. The book also explains a brief history of the island of Alcatraz in addition to a brief account of its final days. One of the major themes of this book is that not everyone will be shut up. Out of every prison, or every situation, there is a way out, and there is an escape if one is only willing to take the risks.

Along with colorful illustrations which tell a story by themselves and photographs which provide historically accurate detail, the book also tells an exciting though quite short, true story about the legendary island of Alcatraz. The text is not overrun with needless detail nor is it too general. What I liked best is that by the end of the book, the reader feels as if he or she has just been given a tour of the island prison.

princess courtney.......2001-06-01

I think Escape From Alcatraz Island was a great book because it had alot of adventure,and I could picture in mind what was going on.also I think it must have been really hard getting chased by a gang through san fransisco near the dwarfs pier,I could probably imagine what it was like locked up in a cell at night in Alcatraz, having to find away to get back home during the morning.

Deep into Alacatraz.......2000-10-15

This book is a great read for people of all ages. Whether your interested in learning more about "The Rock" or need some background information on it, this is the one book for you.

From the colorful pictures scattered throughout the pages to the easy to read layout, you will find yourself immersed in the horrific atmosphere that is Alacatraz.

Few books manage to capture so many elements that make a book sucessful like Breakout! Escape From Alcatraz does. I guarantee you will feel as if you've actually walked through Alacatraz and know exactly why they call it, "The Rock".

Average customer rating:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers

Pants on fire?

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.

Very Interesting

History as Science Fiction

History: Fiction or Science? Dating methods as offered by mathematical statistics. Eclipses and zodiacs. Chronology Vol.I
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Delamere Resources
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)

History: Fiction or Science? Astronomical methods as applied to chronology. Ptolemy's Almagest. Chronology III

Discovering the Mysteries of Ancient America: Lost History And Legends, Unearthed And Explored

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They Cast No Shadows: A Collection of Essays on the Illuminati, Revisionist History, and Suppressed Technologies

ASIN: 2913621074
Release Date: 2007-03-19

Product Description

History: Fiction or Science? is the most explosive tractate on history ever written - however, every theory it contains, no matter how unorthodox, is backed by solid scientific data. The book is well-illustrated, contains over 446 graphs and illustrations, copies of ancient manuscripts, and countless facts attesting to the falsity of the chronology used nowadays, which never cease to amaze the reader. Eminent mathematician proves that: Jesus Christ was born in 1153 and crucified in 1186 The Old Testament refers to mediaeval events. Apocalypse was written after 1486. Does this sound uncanny? This version of events is substantiated by hard facts and logic - validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources - to a greater extent than everything you may have read and heard about history before. The dominating historical discourse in its current state was essentially crafted in the XVI century from a rather contradictory jumble of sources such as innumerable copies of ancient Latin and Greek manuscripts whose originals had vanished in the Dark Ages and the allegedly irrefutable proof offered by late mediaeval astronomers, resting upon the power of ecclesial authorities. Nearly all of its components are blatantly untrue! For some of us, it shall possibly be quite disturbing to see the magnificent edifice of classical history to turn into an ominous simulacrum brooding over the snake pit of mediaeval politics. Twice so, in fact: the first seeing the legendary millenarian dust on the ancient marble turn into a mere layer of dirt - one that meticulous unprejudiced research can eventually remove. The second, and greater, attack of unease comes with the awareness of just how many areas of human knowledge still trust the three elephants of the consensual chronology to support them. Nothing can remedy that except for an individual chronological revolution happening in the minds of a large enough number of people.

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.

Double Danger (Live from Brentwood High #3)

Average customer rating:

Great Book!
Double Danger
Good Book!!!
Live!

Double Danger (Live from Brentwood High #3)
Judy Baer
Manufacturer: Bethany House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1556613881

Book Description

Chaos has broken out at Brentwood High. Police vehicles with flashing lights and screaming sirens are cluttering the parking lot, and an ambulance has taken center stage. Suddenly the class clown, Izzy Mooney, bursts into the broadcast news room, spilling out a tale of threats, panic, and bloodshed.

One student is dead; one is charged with murder; both claim allegiance to a gang. Stunned by the sudden increase of violence in their school, Darby, Jake, Izzy, and the rest of the broadcast news team take on the imposing task of addressing an issue with no clear answers. But the gang members don't like them snooping around, and someone innocent might end up caught in the middle.

Metal detectors and armed guards may not be enough-

Customer Reviews:

Great Book!.......2004-04-26

Live! From Brentwood High was one of the best books I've read in a really long time. Judy Baer did an excellent job with this book in making teens able to relate to it. I'd recommend this book to anyone who is looking for something good to read. It is a sensational book!

Double Danger.......2004-04-17

Live! From Brentwood High: Double Danger wasn't exactly what I was expecting it to be. Parts of it would be really exciting, and make me want to continue reading it, just to find out what happens, but then other parts weren't as exciting, or in my opinion relevant to need to be included in the book. All and all, the book was ok to read, but it just wasn't the best book I've read. Judy Baer could have maybe explained things a little bit better in the book so that maybe I could have pictured the scenes better.

Good Book!!!.......1999-07-26

I like how this book and all the other books tell how to deal with some of that's in the world. I think Shane is opening up more to the Live! group. This book and the beginning and following books are a must!!! If you read this series you'll find out what's going to happen to Jake and Darby!!! Read this Series!!!

Live!.......1999-06-20

I though that this book and the rest in the series where one of the best teenage books that I have read. It deals with things that us as teenagers deal with everyday and they try to show other teenagers exactly what is happening in todays world.

Book Description

An in-depth look at the violence and philosophy behind the #1 toy and kids' TV show in America.

Customer Reviews:

Focus on some good episodes!.......2004-07-28

I highly recommend that insted of buying this book, buy a tape of some classic episodes such as "Day of the Dumpster", "White Light", "Island of Illusion", "High Five", "Where There's Smoke, There's Fire", and "Forever Friends"

The fight scenes usually do not last more then 8 minutes!.......2004-07-28

I have to admit, I've never read this book, but I read all of the "look inside" and I just thought I should write a review. So anyway, getting to the point: The author needs to do a little more research. Most of what I read seems to be focused on the pilot, which only aired once. As much as I love Power Rangers, and have watched "Day of the Dumpster" (The first episode) to many times to count, I can't seem to find the whole thing about Zordon and the Time Warp. As for metamorphosis, it WAS stated in "Day of the Dumpster"! Zordon says they can morph into a super-human fighting force. Kimberly is confused ("Morph?"), Billy (The smart one) fills in excitedly "Metamorphosis!" and Trini (Equally smart) fills in for Kim: "It means to change." It's true that the teens do not-so-every-day stuff every day, BUT, nothing they do is EVER unsafe. They always wear protective padding when biking, roller-blading, scuba diving, and all that good stuff. In "Day of the Dumpster", Jason is shown teaching a martial arts class at Ernie's Juice Bar and Youth Center (the teens hangout). He goes over what martial arts helps to teach (No, beating-up bad guys is not included!), and when Bulk and Skull show up, wanting to learn to "Beat people up", Jason calmly tells them that's not what martial arts was developed for. Also, I just want to let people know who the original Power Rangers are: Jason Lee Scott/Red Ranger, Trini Kwan/Yellow Ranger, Billy Cranston/Blue Ranger, Kimberly Ann Hart/Pink Ranger, and Zack Taylor/Black Ranger. I hope you find this review helpful as to why I do not recommend this book!

The only reson I gave it 1 star is ,,,,.......2003-07-09

becasue it didnt have a "no star" option...I have watched this show since the very beginning and the only thing this guy is talking about is how bad a show it is...well, considering that the majority of people who watch it are atleast 13 then the violence and "action" is what they want to see any way...and the only reason this guy wrote this book is because he feels that...for reasons beyond my understanding...he feels he has the right to say whatever he wants about things he dont even know about...quite frankly...this book is not even worth a dollar and the only thing i would use it for is fuel for a fire.

What I think of the book:.......2001-07-23

The Book basically contents the reasons why not to watch the Power Rangers, have good redaction, and elocuent arguments, but, acording with my opinion, it's just another book against a sucessfull serie by attacking it with religion. Acording to the arguments used against PR, all the series of TV are wrong. Instead of be named "The Truth Abot Power Rangers" should be called, "The Truth About the actual TV Shows for children". The book no only attack the TV shows, but the Martial Arts practice. In my opinion, the Power Rangers give a good mesage to the children, by studing, don't quit the school, and make their best in everything they do, and showing comun troubles among the youth, and how they shouldn't feel guilty about things that aren't their fault, like the parents divoce.

This guy is nuts!.......2000-08-01

Sorry to say, but I don't agree with this guy at all. He doesn't even know a thing about "Power Rangers" It has changed so many times, and he's so wrong. The original Power Rangers were the ones that started the DARE program. It is not cheap also, and there is no sexual context in it, out of 9 years that Power Rangers have been on, I've only seen 4 short kissing scences. And to those parents that have 4 year olds, the show is rate TVY7 so pay a bit more attention, thanks, Steven

See No Evil: The Backstage Battle over Sex and Violence in Television

Average customer rating:

See No Evil: The Backstage Battle over Sex and Violence in Television
Geoffrey Cowan
Manufacturer: Touchstone
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0671254111

Average customer rating:

Kids & Media Influence (Kids in Crisis)
Cynthia Dilaura, M.D. Devore
Manufacturer: Abdo & Daughters Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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ASIN: 1562393243

Violence in Television Fiction (Public Opinion & Broadcasting Standards)

Average customer rating:

Violence in Television Fiction (Public Opinion & Broadcasting Standards)

Manufacturer: University of Luton Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Television | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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Violence in Society | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0861962842

Average customer rating:

A TV cameraman's view of War and its effects on him
So many reviewers misunderstood!
Do not read this book for the truth!
Truth of War
War Junkie: Like a Bullet

War Junkie
Jon Steele
Manufacturer: Corgi Books Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0552149845
Release Date: 2003-09-29

Book Description

An adrenalin-fuelled, white-knuckle ride through the worst places on earth.

As a TV cameraman, Jon Steele filmed in most of the military hot-spots of the world -- Georgia, Moscow, Rwanda, Zaire, and Bosnia where he finally realized he had seen and filmed too many horrific things -- had in fact, been seconds from death himself. He spiralled out of control, deep into emotional meltdown.

His gripping story, packed with action, unexpected humour and emotional honesty, will challenge our assumptions about war, and the human capacity to inflict and endure suffering.

From the Trade Paperback edition.

Customer Reviews:

A TV cameraman's view of War and its effects on him.......2004-06-08

If you're looking for a book that gets straight to the action then this is the one you should read - despite the title that might make you think twice. Rest assured, this ain't one of those egotistical yarns about how he kept his cool while all about were losing theirs. Jon Steele isn't ashamed to let you know when his "fear monster" gets the better of the adrenaline rush. Leaving out the standard "How-I-ended-up-as-a-TV-cameraman" bio stuff, this book instead grabs you by the neck and takes you along as the author travels from one war zone to another. Although Steele chooses to cover only one year of his life (Sep 1993 - Sep 1994), by the end of it you soon realise why. So many things happen in that time (Georgia, Yeltsin, Rwanda) you wonder how he managed to hold himself together as long as he did. It gives a completely different view of the rise of Yeltsin than was feed to us at the time. And, the horrors of Rwanda are so graphically captured that the word-pictures remain seared into the mind, co-incidentally when news of the Congo re-igniting are coming through on the wires. The only nagging doubt, I must admit to having, is whether Steele actually wrote all the words. After all, if he is so good at telling the story, how come he remained behind the camera and not in front of it?

So many reviewers misunderstood!.......2003-12-28

I have just finished reading War Junkie and jumped imediately onto amazon.com to see what others thought of this wholly amazing book. I am greatly disappointed with the criminally few reviews there are on here. I am a great supporter of personal opinions, but saddened that some of you just didn't get the point. This book was never meant to be a rendition of facts, or a well-researched history. There is no point moaning that it's a misrepresentation of Rwanda, or that outside the gory, war chapters Jon Steele's life is dull.

Don't you understand? This book is the story of life as Jon Steele saw it. When we read we see war through his eyes. We see it from his perspective. Whether everything he thinks and feels about the Hutu's is 100% factually correct is not what is important here. This is a story of his own personal experience and how his emotionally driven and sometimes irrational feelings affected him. It is vivedly written from his own individual perspective. The book does not pretend to be a dry rendition of the facts of a conflict. All it aspires to be is one man's story. It achieves this magnificently.

This book came into my house on Christmas day. For the past few days I have been seeing the world through Jon's eyes. The writing is fast-paced and colourful. Images are sharp, clear and perfectly in focus. Jon Steele doesn't tell, he shows. In graphic detail he paints a movie in our minds. His horror and denial and pain leaps up off of the pages and into the readers soul. We fear for him, laugh with him and cry with him.

Jon Steele is a complicated man from a dark past that is alluded to spectacularly throughout the book. It is this way that we understand and sympathise with his struggles with his internal demons. This book is, above all things, the account of one man with an extroadinary job as he struggles to understand himself and to understand the world.

Writing this book was undoubtedly a form of self-therapy for Jon Steele. A way to organise his thoughts and purge his demons. On a more sensitive level he is also asking us to help bear the burden of the terrible things he has seen. He deserves to feel lighter and I hope I have helped simply by hearing his story.

I will never see the world in the same way again. If I can do anything in order to achieve peace in this world and stop the mindless, shameless killing, I will do it. My eyes have been opened and all I wish for is world peace. And for Jon to know that even though it threatens to break him, showing us the world as it truly is, is worth it.

Do not read this book for the truth!.......2003-12-05

A brief note of caution: this book is an atrocious misrepresentation of the Rwandan Genocide. It is a perpetuation of the false storytelling that allowed the genocide to occur. I am appalled that in a time when such good information and evaluation of the Rwandan crisis exist, garbage like this is being published and read.

Truth of War.......2003-07-03

I am living in Jerusalem and I have lived with war for the last three years. It is impossible to describe the fear and pain all of us, Jews and Palestinians, suffer with in these terrible times. I never thought words could express the feelings, till I read War Junkie. The minute I started it I could not put it down, I was glued to the book. Jon Steele has put the horror and true reality of war on 440 pages for the world to read and experience for themsleves. This book breathes with tension. He describes perfectly the terror of war. I know, I live through it in my world. It made me realise what cameramen go through behind the camera, and all the emotions they have to deal with, I felt it was so real that I lived through every word and every event of the story.. But what amazed me too, that it was funny in parts, heartbreaking in other bits and horrifying as well. I cant believe how we take things for granted, even the pictures we see on TV, if we dont like them we turn the other way, but someone like Jon Steele had to live with them and deal with all those emotions and guilt. I am glad he allowed us to share what happened to him, in a book that is an excellent read, thrilling and poetic at times... I was able to live and see what happened through his words.
If you want the truth of war, read War Junkie. You will never look at TV news the same again.

War Junkie: Like a Bullet.......2003-06-25

War Junkie is not for the sqeamish. Those who like their war stories as facts and figures will find none of that here. Those who want to FEEL war, in your face so close you can taste it, need to read this book. Jon Steele pulls the reader into a terrifying world where you FEEL the bullets race by your head. More than that he never lets us forget war casts its worst curse on the innocent and the helpless. The tales of the thousands of nameless people or the 'shadows' as Jon Steele describes them, the innocents he watched suffer and die, are riviting and painful. I read this book and found my hands shaking at the end of it.
Jon Steele's style is not fot the acedemic or those who like their war neat. It races across the page like a machine gun. It hits you between the eyes the same way. Read this book and you will feel as if you were there.
War Junkie also gives an insight into the terrible price paid by the frontline journalists who get in the middle of the action. Jon Steele carries the scars of battle in his soul. For me, there was an awful moment reading War Junkie when in the last chapters Jon Steele talks about the moment he went over the edge and lost his mind from the endless pictures he had filmed. His companion in that chapter was a British TV reporter named Terry Llyod. The story involves a young girl shot down by a sniper in Sarajevo in front of Jon Steele's camera. It was a devastating story. But at the same time I finished reading this chapter, I turned on my TV to CNN. There was a story that the same Terry Lloyd I was reading about, was killed in Southern Iraq. It only added to the sadness of this incredible book.
This book reads like an action adventure story but don't be fooled. It is literatue disguised as adventure. It is literature that will break your heart.

Violence in Film and TV (Examining Pop Culture (Sagebrush))

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Violence in Film and TV (Examining Pop Culture (Sagebrush))
James D. Torr
Manufacturer: Greenhaven Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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