5 comments about Private Parts.

1. This is one of those books you can pick up anywhere, read a few pages, enjoy it, and put it down again. Perfect for, er, certain rooms in the apartment.
   
   If you get Howard, you should get this.



2. a rather interesting bio. pretty much the whole book is half bio and half satire and commentary. it definitly give's you a tour into the demented mind of howard stern and as you progress through the book even as raunchy as it get's you finish by saying to yourself "well that made sense"
   
   not for the uptight and not for the easily offended,,,read with an open mind!



3. I could actually hear Howards voice as I read this great book that tells the story of Howard Stern from a child until present day(1994)Also check out his follow up book Miss America(its also great)



4. Writing about oneself is an extremely difficult task that requires both daring and self-criticism. I don't know how many times I wanted to destroy my own writing because, with time, I realized how naive and stupid I was in the past. This is not the case with Howard Stern's autobiography here. He's a very brave man who does not fear to be criticized neither for who he is nor for what he does. Perhaps, the greatest anxiety of being ignored or under-appreciated drives H. Stern to put his "private parts" into unusual and fascinating language codes. And in this creative process, he is probably to be compared to such great names of the past as Giovanni Boccaccio ("The Decameron") and Francois Rable ("The Life of Gargantua and Pantagruel").
   
   Moreover, H. Stern's "Private Parts" is a great representation for the recent immigrants like me of the unofficial American life in the second half of the 20th century. I'm reading this book along with Peter Novick's "The Holocaust and Collective Memory" and it's a great combination so far that allows me to see what's considered history and by whom.
   
   Leaving the critical reflection for people who don't understand that critical concepts and theories are not weapons to discredit an artwork or an artist, just want to say, "I really loved this book!" I did love it even though as an average woman I was constantly measuring myself up to who H. Stern considered "hot" or "nice" or important. On the other hand, reading "Private Parts", I've never felt alone in my self-oppressive thoughts and unrealistic dreams. Howard Stern also indulges into both unimaginable self-appraisal and genuinely scary self-criticism.
   
   I'm still just half-through his book, but I think I won't change my mind about his talent and daring even if he wrote at the end that every reader of the book is an idiot. So far, I don't even care what the book ends on. H. Stern has already put the culmination at the beginning - a very feminist gesture... If you are easily excited (sexually I mean) I'm not sure you'll be able to continue reading after the first 10 pages. You'll surely need to pause... for a while... Enjoy the reading!



5. First off, I hate his show, I loved this book and the movie.
   
   Private Parts is hilarious, compelling and truthful. I've never been a huge Howard fan, I saw this book and for some reason started reading.
   
   The book is his story, how he got where he is now and where it all started. If you love Howard Stern, you'll love his book, if you arent a fan, its still great reading.

5 comments about Love, Lucy.

1. Lucille Ball abandoned this book in 1964, out of concern that its contents would hurt Desi Arnaz. She then forgot about it (as did everyone else in her life, it seems), and it sat neglected in a box of papers until the mid-1990s. This is a phenomenal book, and easily the best I've read so far regarding Lucille Ball.
   
   Love, Lucy should be read along with other biographies in order to get a balanced perspective (Miss Ball tends to be a bit circumspect, though not as private as I expected her to be, regarding her own shortcomings and her private life), but on the whole it is a fascinating glimpse into a legendary life when it was far from over. She had only recently divorced Desi Arnaz and was in the heart of working on The Lucy Show at the time she abandoned the project, and was still terribly active in the running of Desilu.
   
   Lucille sometimes remembers things in a way that makes her seem a bit more moral than she really was. She doesn't discuss running wild and being naughty in her teen years, but since she had young children of her own at the time of the writing of Love, Lucy, I don't suppose I should have expected her to do so. Who wants to display their shortcomings to their kids and then say "don't do that!"
   
   What is most beautiful about this book is the discussion of her love of Desi Arnaz and their marriage. Even though the marriage didn't survive, they adored one another and continued to do so until the ends of their lives. The quote that made me laugh out loud, and I could HEAR Lucy saying it was "It was not love at first sight; it took five minutes."



2. I quite enjoyed this one. It is Lucy's "lost" autobiography--that is, it was only discovered and published after her death in 1989. It was found tucked away in the files of her former attorney, discovered when her children were processing her estate. Apparently, Lucy had begun an "as told to" book by dictating for two years to a talented secretary who transcribed her tapes and even traveled to her hometown to interview her childhood friends for their memories. The resulting product is the history of Lucy from her birth in 1911 to Christmas of 1962. It is written in the present tense, and many of the readers who knew her commented that it was in her "own voice." When Lucie got to listen to the tapes, she even discovered that her mother had been accurately quoted for once! A warm picture emerges of an ambitious but essentially normal comedienne who was very family-oriented and hard-working. Her father died before she had a chance to know him, but she was raised lovingly by her mother and maternal grandparents. She goes through stints of modeling and starring in movies, about which time she meets Desi Arnaz. He played the Cuban firecracker to her more low-key character, and the sparks flew. They went on together to produce the most beloved television show of all time and to rule over the empire of Desilu Productions. But they found themselves not too compatible in the end--he was working too hard and given to explosive rages, and his drinking and many infidelities didn't help matters any. He humiliated her publically on many occasions, and that was why she eventually wanted a divorce. But she remained fond of him, and put this book away because she was afraid that its revelations would hurt him. She went on to meet and marry Gary Morton and found happiness with him for many years until her death. But Gary is only a small part of this book--you walk away struck by what Lucy and Desi achieved together that neither could have achieved alone.



3. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a Lucy fan. Knowing that it is an autobiography makes it more interesting. You can almost hear her voice as you read through the lines. Her life wasn't all roses. Lots of pictures for us to enjoy. Get the book. You won't put it down.



4. Love, Lucy by Lucille Ball was an autobiography she wrote but never published. Her daughter Lucie found the manuscript and decided to publish it almost a decade after her mother's death. Lucille Ball was a comic gem, she did everything so perfectly. This book is good but some of the parts seem empty so I can't give this book 5 stars. Ball talks about her modeling days, how she met and fell in love with Desi Arnaz, her hit t.v. show and becoming a businesswoman when she was highly criticized for being too tough. Check this good summer read out sometime, enjoy!



5. I picked this book up on a recommendation from someone who used to work on the I Love Lucy Show (Dann Cahn). It was fantastic! Written by Lucy herself, it really focused on her feelings and thoughts early on. Once I started I couldn't put it down.

5 comments about Grammatically Correct.

1. It is not an exciting book to read but it was never intended to be entertainment. It is just what it says it is - a guide to punctuation, spelling, style, usage and grammar. As a writer of books and articles, I have myself reaching for this book often. I must admit that I have actually sat down and read this book from cover to cover several times looking for things I did not know or had forgotten. I would think that most sane people would never attempt to do that stunt at home!
   
   I bet if I proof read this review against what the book would recommend that it would find fault with how I punctuated it and also with my style. In any case, do not use me as an example of how well it teaches one to write! Now you can see why I keep the book around and have to use it as often as I do. I think my book review makes the point very clearly that the book is indeed needed by writers!



2. I recommend Grammatically Correct to every writer I know. It's unparalleled for its range of topics and ease of use.
   
   Use it as a reference book to look up proper punctuation or read it cover to cover for a thorough grounding in writing rules. Stilman is easy to understand and provides plenty of examples.
   
   My hardcover copy is flagged with post-it notes, marked with yellow highlighter, and heavy with paper clips.
   
   Grammatically Correct is my first choice when I need to check punctuation, grammar, or word usage. A recommended book for any serious writer, the not-so-serious writer, and anyone looking for a complete reference source in one book.
   
   Buy this one for the writer in your life. Especially if that writer is you.



3. The 3 books I've recently purchased via Amazon are far too old. I feel taken advantage of. Henceforth, I shall be buying books on line only from sellers who furnish the copyright & latest revision dates.



4. This product will be of assistance to anyone who is writing articles,books or even just business letters. It has been a great help to me.



5. I have wanted to replace these books. I think they are essential in helping you write any and everything.

3 comments about Benjamin Franklin.

1. I am surprised to see that I'm doing the first review on this book! I checked this book out from the library to read to my children, and it is one of the most memorable biographies we have read together. This beautiful book is the story of Benjamin Franklin's interesting and inspiring life, with many full page illustrations. It includes many of his sayings throughout the book. I can't wait to own it!



2. I think this biography on Benjaman Franklin was very informative,interesting,and more exciting than the usual historical book. It was easy to read and had some of his famous quotes written on the bottom of the pages. I would recomend this book for kids who are interested in learning more about Ben Franklin or who need more information about him for a school project.



3. I've been through this book with two of my children now, and I love the D'Aulaire biographies. What a wonderful way to learn about important people in history! The kids love them too--and everyone has liked Benjamin Franklin in particular. He was such a brilliant man--a true Renaissance man! This book has been a fun and educational part of our homeschool. The kids also like the wise sayings from Poor Richard's Almanac that grace every page. They're inevitably surprised that they know some of them, and now they know the source. It's a good way to teach them how pervasive Franklin's influence continues to be.

5 comments about Managing the Dragon: How I'm Building a Billion-Dollar Business in China.

1. Just finished Jack Perkowski's Managing the Dragon, and excellent book in three sections. I was fortunate enough to work with Jack and his team as a consultant for several years. Jack was generous with his time and insight, is able to distill the complex into plain-speak (some memorable phrases in the book), and an excellent listener. All are qualities enbedded in the book. Jack's best advice? Interested in doing business in China, then go there for yourself. This book will serve as a good framework for your fact-finding and due-dlilgence, but keep an open-mind, seek multiple views, and remember: in China, nothing is easy; everything possible. Oh ... and watch out for the mao-tai



2. I must admit I wasn't convinced I would enjoy the subject matter. A friend told me it was a great read, and I agree totally after completing CHINESE ED 101!! The humor, warmth, and insight of what Mr. Perkowski has been doing in China comes through in great fashion. With the Olympics on the horizon, we've only been getting the bad news from China, so "Managing the Dragon" really gives us incite of what the people are like and how the country functions on a day to day routine. It should be required reading for everyone going to the Olympics.



3. 
   I liked this book. It's another one of those books where the author was a successful W-2 worker for a large US company whom decided to go out on his own and try to build a large company that he could own and run. Last October (2007) I read and reviewed on Amazon Maxine Clark's story that she told in "The Bear Necessities of Business" (ISBN: 0470139056). The instant book being reviewed has a similar feel to me to Ms. Clark's book. I think both books are worth an entrepreneur's time to learn how someone else built a big company. The instant book has the following 19 chapters:
   
   0. Introduction
   1. Who is Jack Perkowski?
   2. Stay in New York or move to Hong Kong?
   3. A blank-sheet approach to China
   4. 100 factories in 40 cities
   5. Eating, drinking, and sleeping on the long march
   6. Developing our new China management strategy
   7. Closing China's management gap
   8. Guerrilla warfare in Anhui
   9. A peaceful transition in Langfang
   10. An election in Mao's backyard
   11. Building for the long term
   12. Decentralization and China's local governments
   13. China's different cost perspective
   14. China's two markets
   15. China's technology gap
   16. Establishing a business in China
   17. Challenges or running a business in China today
   18. Where is it all headed?
   
   The author is CEO of ASIMCO Tech, which is among China's largest automobile components makers with 12,000 employees in 17 plants in 8 provinces. He founded the company in 1994 after being a successful investment banker for Paine Webber. The book is split into three sections:
   
   I. Author's story (1-5)
   II. Management issues (6-11)
   III. Key themes author sees in China (12-18)
   
   This book is about entrepreneurship, about doing something different, and about being an American starting a business in China. It's a book spoken with clarity, humor, and about the author's adventure that he is still riding. It is a book with lessons learned for the trenches. And it is definitely a book anyone interested in import/expert between the US and China should read.
   
   It is clear, and the author reminds us, that this book is full of practical wisdom about the realities of China today. China has many problems: (1) it doesn't use capital well, (2) it's legal system is not reliable, (3) information doesn't flow freely through it, (4) it suffers from slow technological development, and (5) its economy is highly decentralized and locally driven. 5 stars!



4. is this worthwhile?
   
   Let us analyze the facts. Jack moved his family to China, and spoke no Chinese. As a Wall Street banker, he got $400 million private equity funds to invest in China. Fifteen years later, Asimco Technologies has 17 plants and offices in China hiring 12,000 workers with the
   annual revenue less than $500 million. The company is private, therefore, the valuation is not known.
   
   If you invest in any stock, mutual fund or bonds with $400 million capital, you will get at least $1 billion (after 15 long years) even you are not a great fund manager.
   
   Surviving the government red tape, lawsuit, bribery, and misc worker issues in China, Jack did a great job, creating a company in China for the long term.
   
   But from the return on investment calculation, it is not good at all.



5. As an American who has lived in Beijing for the past 13 years and who had never managed to meet Jack until recently, I just have to say that this book was a tremendous read. Jack's enthusiasm, humility, humanity and wisdom permeates the book and it was never ever tedious.
   
   As an executive search consultant who specialized and recruited top Chinese managers long before it became fashionable or at all profitable in the 90's, I can honestly say that his management lessons are spot on. I can't imagine what it would be like to live in China without speaking Chinese, but applaud him for his accomplishments. He may have been a bit too harsh on his expatriate folks which broad generalizations and characterizations (I know some of the personalities involved there, and it could have been wrong selection!!)
   
   His emphasis as well on 2nd and 3rd tier cities is also excellent, though he has the luxury of not requiring bi-lingual employees as do most MNC's.
   
   I recommend this book both as a great china lesson, but also as an inspirational and interesting read that truly flows!

5 comments about Home CD: A Memoir of My Early Years.

1. Rather than pre-order the book, I waited until the CD came out to see if, as I suspected, it would be narrated by Julie Andrews. Julie's words in her own voice add so much to her story. I can't wait until the next installment! The only criticism of the CD is you have to turn the volume up all the way to hear it, at least while in the car. It brought back such pleasant memories as Julie related stories of her appearances on TV, with Carol Burnett, and on the Ed Sullivan Show, and her own show. Some of the excepts can be found on the internet. Wonderful performer. A voice not to be forgotten, nor repeated.



2. I have been an admirer of Julie ever since I first saw her in Mary Poppins so many years ago. What a joy to listen to her tell the story of her early years up until the time when she is on a plane heading toward Hollywood to make that film. She has overcome a great many obstacles in her fascinating career. I certainly admire her even more now after hearing her tell her story. This was so interesting that I wanted to hear more. This is a must read!



3. This memoir is truly one of those that cannot be put down. And to hear the reminisces in Julie Andrews' own crystalline voice is a rare treat. The situations that the young girl endured growing up are stunning and the listener's heart breaks for her, all the while gaining a new appreciation for Julie's grace and grit. I highly recommend this book, especially as a book on CD, and am hopeful that Ms. Andrews will continue her life story in the form of a sequel....



4. It was if Julie Andrews was sitting across from you telling you about her life story. I also have and read the book first, so hearing Julie read her own story, with all of the inflections in her voice, was great.



5. At 25, Julie Andrews had it all: She was a Broadway star about to take on her first starring role in a film, Mary Poppins, she was happily married, and she had just become the mother of Emma. Her smile and lovely voice were known to tens of millions around the world.
   
   But the path from her origins to those heights was not the expected one. In this candid memoir, Ms. Andrews takes us for an eye-opening ride through her family's genealogy, her career as a youthful vaudeville star, her experiences in becoming her family's sole support at a young age, and the many amazing things that happen in performing companies. It's a wild trip!
   
   Before the book ends, she gives us behind-the-scenes looks at many of the giants of 20th century entertainment including Moss Hart, Alan Jay Lerner, Fritz Lowe, T.H. White, Walt Disney, Rex Harrison, Richard Burton, and Carol Burnett.
   
   She is a lady in all that she has to say, but she does have opinions. The finely nuanced reading captures her true feelings in subtle ways that the book cannot hope to do. I could have listened to this recording all night, every night. It was marvelous!

1 comments about Who Was Amelia Earhart? (Who Was...?).

1. My 7 year old son could not put this book down! He read the entire book in one afternoon, and then was able to complete his biography project for school without any additional research. The book brought Amelia Earhart to life; it was comprehensive and interesting, with so many insights that I had never known before. There were also numerous sketches and maps which would keep a youngster engaged throughout the book. This book gets a resounding "WOW!" from us.

5 comments about Shadow of the Almighty: The Life and Testament of Jim Elliot (Lives of Faith).

1. This is my absolute favorite book of all time. In an age when I struggle to find like-minded people around me, Jim Elliot encourages and inspires my heart. In an introduction recently added to the book, Elisabeth Elliot says it all. She describes how HUNDREDS of young men over the years have come up to her at conferences or book signings and told her "that book changed my life." God answered Jim Elliot's prayer that he would be "A testament to the value of knowing God." It's so amazing to me to think how God could use this one man to reach so many people. Great book. If you are a young guy like me and wanting to live earnestly for Christ, you've got to read this book.



2. Shadow of the Almighty is by far the best biography I have ever read!!! It has been said that "You will be the same today, except for the people you meet and the books you read", I have found this to be very true in my life.
   
   I feel you can glean so many spiritual nuggets from this book. From raising kids, praying for them, allowing God to use them, the importance of eating healthy and exercising, the value of education and when education is taking the place of God and true knowledge of Him....
   
   Reading this book, almost makes the movie End of the Spear seem shallow. Unless you know the history of these men's lives before they went into missions it is easy to be disillusioned and think that a group of over zealous guys decided to go and reach the savage Auca Indianans, which is not the case. It was an absolute calling of God on each of their lives that God had been preparing them for most of their lives (at least this is the case with Jim Elliot). Even Elizabeth Elliot, Jim's wife, had the calling on her life. They were spiritually, intellectually, and physically prepared. Yes, they were a group of young, good looking, and fun guys, but they also were spiritually mature beyond their years and they knew their calling.
   
   Elizabeth Elliot began compiling journal entries and letters of Jim's immediately after his death to begin the writing of Shadow of the Almighty, while the hurt and sting of her lose was still fresh! You will not find regret, resentment, bitterness or anger in her writing; only a life devoted to God even unto death. So while the book focuses on the life of Jim, remember it was his newly young widowed wife who wrote the very words contained within its pages.
   
   I guess what so impresses me about this book, is that it is more than the retelling of Jim's life. Throughout the book are original writings of Jim's, you see what makes his heart beat, his passion, his frustrations, his surrendered obedience, his incredible faith. You will see God's sovereignty, His hand, leading and weaving Jim's life and death.
   
   The story begins with his childhood, and continues on up to his death. Really his story still carries on today. How many people has Jim's life impacted even now 50 years later? While in college ,Jim at one point lets His grades suffer a bit so that he can focus on earning the Degree of A.U.G. (Approved Under God). I am so impressed with chapter 3, here you will find a handsome, athletic, intelligent young man keep his focus on the Lord in an atmosphere that pulls most people away. At this point he doesn't even take his parents advice, if it is not what he is hearing from the Spirit. His obedience to Christ makes him a true leader among his classmates.
   Following is a journal entry of Jim's, it show the wisdom and insight he had as a young man. "No one warns young people to follow Adam's example. He waited until God saw his need. Then God made Adam sleep, prepared for his mate, and brought her to him. We need more of this 'being asleep' in the will of God. Then we can receive what He brings us in His own time, if at all. Instead we are bloodhounds after a partner, considering everyone we see until our minds are so concerned with the sex problem that we can talk of nothing else when bull-session time comes around. It is true that a fellow cannot ignore women-but he can think of them as he ought-as sisters, not as sparring partners!"



3. The insight, sensitivity, and nobleness of character found in these pages would be notable if they were found in the words of a novel. The fact that they also serve as a historical record and the loving tribute of a devoted widow make them profound. The challenge offered to the reader by the example and set by Jim Elliot further enhances this book to palce it among the very finest I have ever encountered.



4. I highly recommend reading this book. The passion for being a missionary starts here in Jim Elliot's life. Don't miss this wonderful story and testimony of Jim's passion for witnessing about Christ.



5. Jim Elliot is in many ways the very model of the modern major missionary, especially since he died so young and in the course of complete and utter commitment to his faith. "Shadow..." is a well-written and passionate account of a fanatic Protestant martyr.
   
   I read this book long ago when I was on staff with Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship after hearing his widow (and the book's author) speak at the triennial missionary convention held at the University of Illinois at Urbana. Even though Elliot's entire family were considered evangelical royalty (not my description of the Howard clan), reading this book in the context of the fervor of a missionary convention that had more than 10,000 college students in attendance was, in retrospect, a major turning point on my journey out of evangelical Christianity.
   
   Elliot was crazy -- crazy for the Lord! Yee Hah! -- and his craziness was held up as a positive model of the "100% committed Christian," dedicated to the salvation of native peoples through intrusive proselytizing. His wife was even crazier than him since she went in after him and successfully "converted" the tribe that had killed him.
   
   What a waste of a brilliant young man, and what an arrogant obliteration of native culture in the name of Christ. It occurred to me that Elliot and his ilk are perfect illustrations of the impact of Eric Hoffer's "true believers." Far from being heroes to be emulated, men and women like Jim and Elizabeth Elliot are examples to be avoided at all costs if we are to survive as a species. The absolutism and consequent monopolism of such faith -- which comes into inevitable and deadly conflict with ANY sort of fundamentalistic religious, political, or cultural philosophy -- in the end destroys rather than builds.
   
   Please, PLEASE, read this book as a cautionary rather than a laudatory tale and I hope it helps scare you away from evangelicalism as it helped scare me.

5 comments about Never Have Your Dog Stuffed: And Other Things I've Learned.

1. I've been a fan of Alda's work for a long time. The man is so talented it's unreal. Now to be able to see where he came from and how he got into the spotlight is amazing. He uses certain elements in his life where, had it happen to you or someone you know, it would be depressing, and turns them into amusing learning experiences. I am a constant reader, however 99% of what I read is fiction, nonfiction never grabs my attention. But I could not put this one down. Please read it. You wont regret it.



2. Alan Alda titled his new book Never Have Your Dog Stuffed -- and Other Things I've Learned. But rest assured he didn't write it as a guide for self-improvement. He doesn't aim to be your guru. "I tried to tell as good a story as I could," he sums up. The resulting narrative, at 224 pages, is as lean as its author, and as engaging, and as flush with ideas and observations. "There are things that were very, very difficult to put into words," says Alda, at 69 an entertainment veteran actor who had written numerous screenplays but never a book. "That was what I had the most fun with - the things that don't want to go into words. "But the hardest part was how to take a life and make it one simple story, not just a bunch of anecdotes. I didn't like the idea of writing a memoir or an autobiography. I only put in stuff that moved the story forward." The story: One man's advancement toward accepting the uncertainties of life. Letting go, notes Alda, is a drawn-out process, "so you don't just decide to do it. You have to creep up on it. Practice it. Get used to it. "I think the guy who winds up at the end of the book would say, 'Destiny is just what happens. " Alda should know. A lot has happened for that guy this year. He got an Oscar nomination for his role in Martin Scorsese's The Aviator, a Tony nomination for his Broadway performance in David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross, and an Emmy nomination for The West Wing, in which he plays flinty Republican presidential hopeful Arnold Vinick. He continues this season on the NBC political drama, and, for its Nov. 6 episode, Sen. Vinick will square off against the Democrat (Jimmy Smits) in a debate aired live. Which candidate will succeed President Bartlet (series star Martin Sheen) by season's end? " I wouldn't spoil the surprise even if I knew," Alda replies when pressed for details about his contractual commitment to the series. But then, flashing his incandescent grin, he pledges to remain "as long as necessary to turn this great country around." When he isn't shuttling to Los Angeles to shoot the series, Alda leaves his Long Island home to hit the campaign trail for Never Have Your Dog Stuffed. Its first sentence establishes the book's matter-of-fact, often darkly witty tone. "My mother didn't try to stab my father until I was six, but she must have shown signs of oddness before that," Alda writes. He was the son of a mentally ill mother and an actor father, Robert Alda, who was subject to the vagaries of show business during a career that ranged from the hardscrabble vaudeville circuit to Broadway in the original production of Guys and Dolls. All in all, it was a dizzying childhood for Alan. But by age nine, he had decided he would be an actor, too, setting the stage for his push-pull life of embracing make-believe while defiantly inquiring into how things really are. He is a man in love with facts and verifiable truth (his decade as the gung-ho host of Scientific American Frontiers makes that clear). But he has also studied what it means to yield control to forces beyond reason.



3. This tale contains much more about lessons of life than a famous TV star's autobiography. Alda discusses everything from his best moments on the road with his father's traveling stage-show to dealing with the mental illness of his mother. This is a must for any MASH fan who wants to know the unique journey of its star. You will not want to put this one down.



4. First of all, let me start out by saying that I have been in love with "Hawkeye Pierce" since girlhood. I grew up watching reruns of M*A*S*H and wishing I was a nurse, girlfriend, or anyone who could be close to this dynamic persona that was Alan Alda. I purchased the book, eager to know more of my childhood crush and was not disappointed. Alan Alda has a sincere writing style that makes you feel like you are in his living room as a trusted friend--rather than as a mere reader trying to find out more about his life. Many times, I laughed out loud at his wonderful stories and recollections. I am very eager to start his next book--which could not be disappointing if only half as good as his first. Thanks Alan Alda--but you will always be Hawkeye to me.



5. As a lover of M*A*S*H I jumped at this book and I'm glad I did.
   
   Alan Alda paints the portrait of his life with beautiful detail. I learned about the relationship he had with his parents. I didn't find the relationship he had with his dad to surprising. I sensed that a lot of who he is today comes from the foundational relationship he had with his dad.
   
   His mom on the other hand was very interesting to read about. I could sense his pain as he described what their relationship was like and at times how he wished it could have been.
   
   I wish he had spent more time on MASH memories and such, but I don't think he should have taken out anything that was in there.
   
   In short you sense the person he was that made him the person he is. I really enjoyed it. Anyone who loves MASH, or is just an Alan Alda fan should grab this book.

3 comments about Tesla : The Lost Inventions.

1. In reading this, I found it to be a rehash of information freely available on the Internet. I had hoped for more.
   
   It feels like I paid to have someone gather and print it out for me.



2. the book is an interesting collection - perhaps more valuable for evaluating spoof patents - and arcane ideas than for building any of these devices. there is probably a reason most of this has not been published. The book succeeds in vividly portraying the era after the civil war - post-modern science - and the ideas the permiated culture.
   
   Anyone reading this is bound to have a great appreciation for Tesla - and a better understanding of the times he lived in.



3. This 34 page "pamphlet" does an good job of an overview of Tesla and his ideas. It shows the progression of his ideas and also helps the reader to better understand and debunk all the junk science now being espoused concerning Tesla's theories and inventions.