No comments about Godless: How an Evangelical Preacher Became One of America's Leading Atheists.

5 comments about Dandelion: Memoir of a Free Spirit.

1. Catherine James is a inspiring,loving,inovative spirit. She over came all the obsticals that life tossed at her and came out a true winner. I wish her the best in what ever she does.



2. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I have not seen it in my local bookstore as of yet. It is an extremely moving book (especially the end).I had taken an interest in her story after I had read another book with an excerpt about her in it. I truly was not dissappointed with this read.



3. Can you imagine a fictional story about a woman who marries a man who she knows is a closet transvestite, then discovers that her estranged father, who was a macho race car driver, has also turned into a closet transvestite and then into a transsexual? And how about the glamous but psychotic and perennially drugged wife of this race car driver who routinely feeds her children only rotting food laced with tabasco sauce and treats them sadistically in so many other ways, in her Beverly Hills home. Can you then imagine that the paternal aunt of this woman was a Miss American runner up and a Zeigfield girl who couldn't keep a string of husbands for more than 2 years each, and ends up making a dependent impotent alcoholic mama's boy of her son, as the only constant male in her life. An impossibly contrived plot, right? Well, once again, reality is more unbelievable than fiction, according to the author, Catherine James. This is quite a readible account of a bizarrely improbable life, with a very twisted start, but then with a series of mentors related to the pop music business, who gave her a shot at a more normal life.
   I would have liked some thoughts on what might have caused her mother to be the extreme monster reported. Apparently, she had beauty as well as many talents, including being a compulsive cat burglar. But this was a wasted drugged life, in which she regularly dished out sadism and jealousy toward everyone. Was she probably just born to be such a monster, or were there events in her young life that soured her attitute toward others? Surely, Catherine could have absorbed some evidence from her grandmother. In a similar vein, perhaps she could have offered some explanation for her father's transformation from a macho race car driver into a transsexual. Nor does she offer(as I did above) a plausible explanation for her aunt Claire making a disfunctional mama's boy out of her son Blake.



4. This is my first book review and I decided to write a little something because this book made me feel so happy, and I think it will make someone else happy too.I have been reading many books on LA rock early 1970's, and then I came upon this little TREASURE. It captured me immediately, and I really hope that Catherine will write another book, because she brought joy to me, and through the thick and thin she remained spiritual and asked and she received! I think this book gives more than just insight to the wonderful days of English rock stars and American poets (which is what intrigued me in the first place), it is inspiring and gives you courage to see the good in any situation.I hope you pick it up, you may just want to read it again and again.



5. This book is not *just* about Hollywood Royalty from the 30's and 40's , although her whole family hails from that golden era. It's not *just* about love affairs with Rock and Roll Legends, but you will find kisses from the likes of Denny Laine( Moody Blues & Wings) & father of her son), Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), Mick Jagger (Rolling Stones),and Jackson Browne have graced her lips. She counts Roger Daltrey (The Who),Pamela DesBarres,Patti D'arbanville amoung her closest friends.
   
   However..This is NOT a book of casual name dropping. This is a memoir of a turbulent childhood, a peek at the demons that she faced,and the many legions of angels who have come to her rescue.
   
   Catherine James takes you on a journey that is simply amazing. For those who don't "like to read", this book is SUCH an easy read. It's like sitting down with her and listening to her chat with you.
   
   Catherine comes full circle and I enjoyed every single minute of it.
   I look forward to the sequel.. and Catherine? maybe Diane Keaton can play YOUR double in the film version? :)
   
   Pattie xo

1 comments about Fine Print: A Story About Johann Gutenberg (Creative Minds).

1. I'm not sure how I found this book, but I used it as part of a lesson in conjunction a book study of "Castle in the Attic". The teacher I was working with had the school library order 10 copies for future use. This is not going to be a book kids are going to want to pick up, but they will enjoy it once they do. History is so often presented so dry and boring, this book shows children that people making history are ordinary people with their own problems. I recommend this book for use with how the Renaissance and Reformation influenced education, art, religion, and government in Europe.

5 comments about Reunion in Barsaloi.

1. A great follw up to the two previous books - i really enjoyed this easy to read book.



2. I feel the same way! These books are a waste of time. I am a very open minded person and have a family who lived with the Masai people for 5 years. That's why I was interested in her books in the first place. But my family can truly appreciate what these people have gone through and lived with them for years and still visits.
   They received much more respect and attention from the Masai than she seemingly ever did. She just seems as though she is making a good living off of a lousy experience.
   Did she have to go through intense rituals to become a member of their society? No, she just slept with a member of their society? Did she even do any of her own chores to get water or wash clothing? Hardly, she hired a girl to do it for her!
   For those of you who know nothing about lust and travel, tourist can easily find a Masai man to sleep with and Masai men can easily find a tourist to help make a living for themselves. Its a give and take relationship that most people accept as just that. Sure some fall in love! This is mainly what her story was! Nothing more!
   I'm not sure about what Lketinga's feelings are from reading her side of the story, but I can tell you that alot of men from these tourist countries thrive off of finding a foreign woman with money to help them survive. That's how I saw her story.
   Not many Outsiders can truly become a member of the Masai society like my family member did. And he is of a race and culture, you'd least expect to live in a home made of cow dung!
   Also her ignorance affected not only that sweet man but her daughter. That man was living out his culture and his beliefs and didn't deserve her abandonment with his child.
   I don't mean any disrespect to their daughter by talking about her parents but, I just feel her mother doesn't deserve the rights to profit from this tale. I personally know other people who actually deserve more reputable respects than she does for living with and understanding Masai people and they don't receive any movies or acknowledgments like she does. They just continue to live their lives and look back on their past experiences with joy.
   Basically, her experiences were nothing to write a book over or to make a sequel to. I suppose if you know nothing about lust and tourism, or Masai culture you could easily find this book amusing. But a romantic tale, it is not!!!!!



3. This book can stand on its own but ideally you should read "The White Masai" and "Back From Africa" first. You will not regret traveling with Corinne Hofmann on any of her journeys. She has had an amazing, colorful life....and I'm sure there's more she'll share with us. I do hope she'll write at least one more as she does have unfinished business in Africa and I'm looking forward to hearing about its resolution.



4. Corrine Hoffman wrote 3 books regarding her life experience in Kenya. She is the first white woman to marry a Masai Warrior, lives in the Bush and has a daughter with him. She goes back to Switzerland and then visits Kenya again 14 years later. This is a non-fiction series that is exciting, well written and easy to read. It shows courage and relates to life. The first book is called the White Masai and the second book is Back From Africa. This is the third book where she returns to Kenya for a visit to her family there without her daughter.



5. Well I read the White Masai with the intention to be as open minded as possible and to try to understand why a White European woman would want to marry someone who was of another race and culture. Well the first book was entertaining in that I found myself reading to find out what kind of horrible situation this silly woman would find herself in next. She showed total disrespect for the Masai people and their culture and then ran off wit the man's daughter when things didnt go the way she imagined they would go which must have been very embarrassing for him as a warrior.
   
   Anyway this book, was probably the most boring book that I have ever read. I had to force myself through it, waiting for something to actually HAPPEN. But nothing never happened worth note, it was just the author cashing in on the story once again. I have had more interesting trips to the grocery store that I could write about.

No comments about Big Russ & Me: Father and Son--Lessons of Life.

5 comments about Alexander of Macedon 356-323 B.C.: A Historical Biography.

1. Green gives the reader a well-written and detailed biography of Alexander the Great. Green is adept in his descriptions of Alexander's military strategies, with explict visual illustrations of each battle. Further, he explores the psychology of Alexander, without beating the "Oedipal Complex" to death. Of note, is his sympathetic portrayal of Olympias and Philip the II.



2. It's obvious Mr. Green knows his stuff but I feel this was written for a few of his peers and not the average reader. He tends to explain why he thinks what he thinks, and why others might be wrong or right, or whether new research challenges long held beliefs, etc. which is fine when chatting with your pals who are also well versed in the subject but better left to an appendix in a book as it stems the narrative flow. Please just tell me what happened, tell me why you think so later. I trust you. More than once I found myself at the bottom of the page having to reread it because my mind began to wonder.
   The author assumes the reader is an academic like himself and peppers the book with phrases like, "The truth of the matter can never be known for certain. If we apply the cui bono principle, then Alexander undoubtedly had everything to gain..." and "De l'audace, toujours de l'audace, encore de l'audace: all through his life this was to be Alexander's guiding star, ..." and so on.
   This in not a friendly book for commuters or people who like to read before bed. The chapters range from 30-60 pages a piece so every time you pick it up you're making a commitment. One personal annoyance is that, when referring to something he has already touched upon, the author has the bad habit of saying (see above pg. 47) or (see above pg 123) It paints a picture of him editing it on his computer, why not just say see pg. 47 or pg. 123 why the "above"?
   Academics and those already familiar with the subject may enjoy the book, History Channel historians who saw a cool special on Alexander and want to learn more may want to look elsewhere.



3. I'm very disappointed with this book.
   I was looking for some objective and critic biography but this book have an obvious agenda from page one: put down Alexander by any possible means.
   For Mr Green every good or great thing Alexander is credited to had done is just propaganda or flattery.
   He can even doubt the result of a great battle like Granicus because our sources are few and unreliable. For him it was a defeat hidden by propaganda, a theory he make up with nearly zero backup from the ancient sources.
   But instead, he don't hesitate to follow without doubt every nasty detail some of this sources could give us about the bad acts of Alexander (the chapter about Cleitus assassination for example is pure gossipy).
   For me, thats not an historian...
   A shame...



4. Peter Green is one of the foremost scholars of Alexander the Great. His biography of the Macedonian King is based upon the evidence of the ancient sources, which are themselves only secondary sources, since the eye-witnesses to Alexander's exploits are unfortunately no longer extant. Green does not have "an agenda" as some reviewers have suggested; he is merely evaluating the evidence of Arrian, Plutarch, Quintus Curtius, Diodorus Siculus, Strabo, etc., etc. as it they read it in Callisthenes, Ptolemy, Aristobulus, Onesicritus, etc., etc. All of the non-extant primary sources had their own agendas. Callisthenes was Alexander's press agent and image maker; Ptolemy, who highjacked the king's body, wrote his subsequent history of the expediton in such a way that his own exploits were highlighted.
   
   All of what Green writes is in the ancient sources. He has not made up the facts that Alexander could be very unpleasant at times (Consider his treatment of Thebes, Tyre, and Gaza; not to mention his reported murders of Philip's general, Parmenio; Parmenio's son, Philotas; Alexander's old family retainer Cleitus; Alexander's cousin, Alexander of Lyncestis, and the king's own spin-doctor Callisthenes [Alexander ordered the last two to be carried around in cages, Lyncestis for three years and Callisthenes for several months until he died of obesity and lice in India, according to Plutarch.]).
   
   If Green's Alexander does not live up to the "idealized" Alexander of those who have not read the ancient accounts, it is because we are dealing with a man who, with the aid of Callisthenes, had carefully crafted his own image. That image, which was always grandiose, became even larger than life after Alexander's death, when his successors got busy rendering the Macedonian king's image into their own images.
   
   Alexander was not Alexander the Saint; Alexander the British Public Schoolboy; Alexander the Guy-I'd-Like-to-Have-a-Drink-With (Heavens forfend!); Alexander the Ideal Husband; or even Alexander the Nice, he was actually Alexander the Imperialist! And yes, he was Great! Anyone who can march an entire army--indeed a mobile state--around for ten years, traveling 22,000 miles through snow-blasted mountains and sand-driven deserts deserves the term Great, no matter how many men and women he kills in the process (and Alexander's collateral damage was not to be sneezed at!). The fact that we are even arguing about him today demonstrates that he achieved his dream in renouncing his father Philip and becoming, first the Son of Zeus-Ammon; and next the New Triumphant Dionysus. Alexander has indeed achieved immortality.
   
   Peter Green has demonstrated Alexander's Greatness in a manner that is both exciting and eminently readable. If he has knocked the Macedonian off his gold-plated pedestal of propriety, Green has done readers a singular service, and, in the process, he has brought Alexander to life as the complex, deeply disturbing--and infinitely interesting--character that, according to the ancient sources, he certainly must have been.



5. Alexander, usually known as the Great, was truly great if we are speaking of military prowess. Perhaps the greatest general the world has ever known, Alexander had an insatiable desire to conquer. His motivation did not seem to lie in wealth but in the desire for power, the lust of battle, and the march toward deification. No army could stand against him, all other men were diminished in his presence, he was the ultimate conqueror. He conquered everything except himself, and this proved to be his undoing.
   
   Today we all but idolize men such as Alexander, however it is worth noting that at his death he was universally hated. He most likely died of poisoning, possibly at the hand of his tutor Aristotle, and the entire world rejoiced. As soon as he died his empire fractured. Green writes, "He spent his life, with legendary success, in the pursuit of personal glory, ... and until very recent times this was regarded as a wholly laudable aim. The empire he built collapsed the moment he was gone" (p.488). Perhaps this is a lesson for us all.
   
   This is surely one of the best biographies on the life of Alexander the Great. I recommend it for all that have interest in such subjects.

5 comments about One Day, All Children...: The Unlikely Triumph Of Teach For America And What I Learned Along The Way.

1. In less than 200 pages, Ms. Kopp details every step she took in establishing Teach for America, the national teaching corps for recent college graduates. Chapters 1-9 are a primer for fundraising techniques, non-profit organizational set-up and strong management skills. But, Chapter 10, the most interesting by far, is a lengthy description on what makes good educators. You may be inspired enough to join in the efforts in ensuring excellent education for all children in this great nation of ours.



2. "One Day, All Children" is a captivating story of how Wendy Kopp, the founder of Teach for America, and how she followed her dreams to DO SOMETHING about the harsh realities and failures of many of our public schools. Mind you, the book TELLS ALL, from fundraising nightmares to team member turmoil; this is not simply a book on idealistic pedagogy. The story is guaranteed to frustrate you and inspire you. That a fresh college grad, assisted by other fresh young people, established Teach for America is incredible. This is worthwhile reading for Teach for America applicants, new teachers, education students, and social justice-minded people.



3. ONE DAY, ALL CHILDREN is the story of how Wendy Kopp started Teach For America. For those unfamiliar with the program, Teach For America is an organization that recruits college graduates and young adults to work for two years at inner city and rural schools where there are teaching shortages. Corps members are sent through an extremely extensive three week training program during the summer before heading off to their various assignments in the fall. Teach For America has come under criticism by the professional educational teaching programs because corps members aren't forced to go through a teacher education program before being hired. Personally, I think the program is a great idea that is meeting the needs of our nation's underprivileged children; instead of throwing money at the savage inequality of education, Teach For America is attempting to fix the problem.
   
   ONE DAY, ALL CHILDREN explains how Kopp came up with the idea, how she got the organization started, the trials and tribulations of the organization during the first year, growing pains that happened years later, etc. Those who are familiar with Teach For America might find the book interesting as well as anyone looking for a somewhat inspiring story of a person who creating a national life changing educational agency from scratch. Those who are involved in education might enjoy reading the book, too, though professional teacher educators might balk at the idea of sleeping with an enemy that they seem to hate. For everyone else, the book has some interesting moments, but most of those come near the beginning so you might want to spend your time reading something else.



4. 
   Several years have passed since Wendy Kopp wrote this account of how she established what has since become one of the most effective change agent organizations throughout public school education in the U.S., Teach For America. As I read her book, I was reminded of the song "Come Fly with Me" and the invitation extended by Cahn and Van Heusen's lyrics:
   
   "Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly
   Pack up, let's fly away!"
   
   That is essentially the same invitation that Wendy Kopp has been extending to college graduates since 1990 and an invitation they, in turn, have then extended to public school students throughout the United States. Those recruited, trained, and assigned by Teach for America - making a two-year commitment to classroom teaching -- continue to help children entrusted to their care to dream what may at first seem "an impossible dream" to them, then pursue it. For many children, especially those growing up within low-income, high-crime communities, education can be their "passport" to a higher standard of living and better quality of life.
   
   As Kopp explains in this book, after graduating from Princeton, she (age 21) raised $2.5 million of start-up funding for Teach For America, hired a skeleton staff, and launched a grass-roots recruitment campaign. During its first year in 1990, 500 men and women began teaching in six low-income communities across the country. Since then, Teach For America's network has grown to 17,000 individuals and has become the nation's largest provider of teachers for low-income communities. This year, Teach For America serves 26 urban and rural regions and impacts three million students. To date, it has served more than 5,000 communities, has more than 12,000 core members, more than 425,000 alumni, and has impacted nearly 3 million students since its inception almost 20 years ago.
   
   Kopp traces the process from her original vision (i.e. "a national teacher corps of top recent college graduates who would commit two years to teach in urban and rural schools") to what Teach For America has become. She acknowledges all of the sources of support she received along the way and is especially appreciative of those who challenged her ideas, not because they disagreed with any of those ideas but because they wanted to help her sharpen and clarify her thinking. Here is a composite excerpt from Kopp's narrative near the end of this book that indicates some of the lessons she learned along the way.
   
   "What I have learned in building Teach For America and from our corps members and alumni suggests that it will take three things to raise achievement levels in low-income schools. First, it will take committing ourselves to the vision that one day, all children in our nation will have the opportunity to attain an excellent education...Second, we must recognize that accomplishing our mission will take more of just about everything - including more time and, ultimately, more resources...There's an understandable discomfort with the idea that it will take more money to make schools in low-income areas work. We've all seen and read about too many examples of wasted resou8rces in schools. In some cases merely reallocating the resources already spent in low-income areas can make a difference. And I learned through my experience with Teach for America that money isn't everything, that tough financial situations force high-quality, innovative thinking. But I've also learned that although resources are not the solution to everything, they are necessary to carry out the big plans...The third aspect of realizing our vision is the recognition that it will take a long-term, institution-building approach...when people think about what makes great organizations work, they see it's not a unique strategy. It's that the organizations have built the systems to achieve results, respond to change, and continually improve...Building effective school systems will not be easy. It will take superior leadership and a lot of hard work. It will require a critical look at all the forces - from how school boards govern to how states regulate - that could prevent school district leadership from taking any an institution-building approach. The good news is that there's no mystery about what it will take. The solutions are within our reach."
   
   One man's opinion, what Wendy Kopp expressed then (in 2001) is even truer today. She concludes her book with "a personal invitation to all college seniors and recent graduates who are reading this book" to consider becoming part of this movement. For more information about Teach For America, she asks them as well as those who wish to support its programs to visit this Web site: http://www.teachforamerica.org.



5. This is the story of a dedicated, serious young woman who has done a lot to put education front and center. She gets a lot of credit and deserves it. We can also look at things this way: why is Teach for America necessary? This is the peace corps in America, is it not? How did this come to pass? The fact is that TFA's applicants wouldn't otherwise dream of being teachers. They don't want to be teachers. Had they wanted that, they would never have gone to good schools and great universities. The peace corps model is followed because the premise is that teaching in Africa or in America is a summer job, a fling, an internship, or a kind of junior league volunteer job for bored affluent boys and girls who are terrified of being identified with their aloof, pampered , suburban parents. Two years in Compton gives a Yale grad street cred, which can be used in job interviews. Girls can use it to persuade employers that they "care." It may or may not be helpful to have the kids hanging around American public schools. It's hard to say whether their presence is useful or not. No doubt "studies show" that TFA is the best thing that ever happened. What I can say is that one of the biggest problems in our schools is the revolving door of people coming and going. Almost every Principal in LAUSD has his or her transfer in with the hope of getting as far away from the inner-city as possible. Those who don't enjoy the combat pay. TFA only adds to this perception and to this reality.

5 comments about Walking in this World: The Practical Art of Creativity.

1. One in the Artist's Way franchise, Cameron continues bolstering artists and their recovery through her frank descriptions of creative phases and her prescriptions of activity to work one's way through. these are the pages that bolstered me through the artescape year. it took me 12 months or more to wade through the 12 weeks of her walk, but to take one's time with this material is allowed. i continue to hold julia cameron in high regard--grateful for her work, her confessional nature, her experience with recovery, her commitment to allowing a great creator to work though her. i particularly like the words of other great creatives, celebrated in the margins of her own work through the decorative use of quotes. i found the chapter on dignity, the last chapter, to be particularly poignant--learning that all artists share a glass mountain phase of their creativity. learning i am not alone in my weird ways of hiding and fearing the "real" world when i come down off my creative highs. cameron's books are like candy to me--constant companions who keep me connected to a legacy of creativity. i am grateful for her anecdotes, her name dropping, her truth-telling. i receive tremendous benefit from my 10 year old morning pages habit--and have added artist dates and walks without adhering to them with any religiosity. i recognize, if taken as prescribed, these antidotes to depression would bolster me more equally throughout my days. i am honored to be a loyal reader of cameron's work--admiring the voice i hear on the page, claiming kinship with the author through how she echoes (or is it i who echoes her?) my own inspirational sentiment. i think it's hard to be an artist--and even harder not to be one. i am grateful for the accompaniment of cameron's artists' ways and walks.



2. I read the Artist's Way long ago and thought this would just be a rehashing of it, but it is an excellent book in itself and as a companion to the Artist's Way. It does cover some of the same ground as the previous, but expands on them, and covers some new territory and techniques for living a productively creative life (such as the Walks in addition to Morning Pages, which may sound simplistic, but the importance of them is explained with helpful insight here.) I consider this book as both a way to strengthen the lessons in the Artist's Way, and a small step forward from it. Both are great books to read thoroughly a couple times, then pick up now and then when needing some sage advice and encouragement in creative endeavors, reassurance in the midst of self-doubt, and just to raise the optimism. I also appreciate that Cameron does all this in a non-New-Agey, straightforward way. (While she does touch on spirituality, do not expect language like "the divine cosmic essence of your being" here.) I can imagine even macho tough guys getting something out of these books.



3. This is a nice continuation of the Artists Way program, but will not be as effective without having done the Artists Way first. There are a lot more references to "God" and "The Creator" than the first book, and a bit of repeated information in an identical format. That said, I think this book is a perfect continuation for both artistic recovery and artistic expansion, and is very useful.



4. As Julia Cameron has done so well in her previous Artist's Way books, the Artist is supported and encouraged on their journey to recovery. Although there is a sense of repetition in the exercises, her words read lyrically, as music for the soul. The Artist is lead page to page by inspirational quotes, reassuring in their absolute truth and direct application to daily life and vignettes from an artist's life fully lived. A must for the recovering creative spirit.



5. Known for her best selling book THE ARTIST's WAY...Julia Cameron is the author of 19 books both fiction and nonfiction. She bills this book as a sequel to THE ARTIST'S WAY...and says it is the 'nextstep in her course of discovering and recovering the creative self. She urges writers and all creatives to inhabit the world with a 'sense of wonder' -- to not just observe. By dividing the volume into 12 weekly 'chapters' she lets us 'rediscover' the wonder of her "morning pages-- a type of journaling --to get the juices flowing' and helps us map our interests. Each 'chapter' or week works on a different aspect of Discovering -- ranging from 1 -- A sense of origin, to 2 sense of proportion to 3 a sense of perspective 4) a sense of adventure 5) a sense of personal territory to 6) a sense of boundaries to 7) a sense of momentum, to 8 -- a sense of discernment and 9 a sense of resiliency and 10 a sensse of comraderie and 11) a sense of authenticity to 12) a sense of dignity. Julia explains in her intro that "walking and talking humanize her life...they draw it to an ancient and comforting scale...and it is on these walks that her best ideas come to her...and no you don't have to walk every day-- she suggests a weekly walk. In the afterword which follows a short epilogue she explains about her 'creative clusters guide"...she noes that there are no franchised or accredited Artist's Way Teachers...for "creative recovery' as she calls it is 'a nonhierarchial, peer-run, collective process"....something I too totally agree with...She also includes guidelines for a group....for many readers...this process could be much more productive than just a weekly book club...for others...the book is still a great guide to going solo--- to reawakening your creative spirit or just re-affirming that YES, you are creative...and that it's never too late to write that play, paint that canvas or sculpt that statue....We are all creative...we just need to recognize our styles and to encourage our innate ability to color outside of the lines and think outside of the box! THERE IS NO ENVELOPE....

5 comments about Ron Jeremy: The Hardest (Working) Man in Showbiz.

1. Let's stop and think about this "man" for a moment.There have actually been Ron Jeremy clauses written in the contracts for porn starlets stating that they would never have to sleep with him.He is that replusive and disgusting.It's one thing to be fat,balding and have a ton of back hair,but it's another thing to look like you do not bathe.Try using shampoo and maybe trimming that nasty stache that still contains yesterday's breakfast in it.
   
   This is one thing that makes a person a loser.
   
   We have heard time and time again that Ronnie has a big donger.Fine.I'm sure elephants also have big wangs too,but I don't know too many women who would want to sleep with one.Side note;the elephant would be more attractive than Ron,it also wouldn't be able to tell stupid jokes.It probabally wouldn't smell as bad either.
   
   This is something else that makes a person a loser.
   
   Ron constantly justifies everything about his life.Never does he stop to question his integrity,or lack there of.You've slept with and used thousands of women.You take money in exchange for degrading these women over and over.Heads up Ron;most women (at least the ones who haven't already been screwed up psychologicaly) don't like taking a blast of DNA in the face.You may have a masters degree,but you have no common sense.
   
   In the book XXX Portraits 30 Stars revealed,he stated the following in his biography."When I die,I know people will say good things about me. They will say,"He never lied to nobody."Right,except for the Extends Male Enhancment Capsules that you endorsed on the 4 a.m. infomercials.
   
   Again,this is a path that is traveled by the loser.
   
   I have corresponded with and have a friendship with a former adult star who sat next to him at the AVN awards.She told me that the only reason he still has a steady career with the industry,is becuase he is with the Italian Mafia.
   
   Makes perfect sense to me,because anyone;be it man or woman,
   heterosexual or homosexual,would rather watch Jenna Jameson or any attractive woman having sex with someone like Peter North as opposed to the nasueating Jeremy.
   
   Everybody reading this review,make an "L" with your left hand place it on your forehead and repeat after me:"LOSER!"
   
   Just like Asia Carrera,Ron is a trained pianist and veeerrrry intelligent with his master's degree.There is a famous saying;Acts of greatness take 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.
   
   In another words;you can have have all the degrees in the world and be a genius.But unless you actually put that into action;then it's completely worthless.I guess they didn't teach that a Hedgehog High.No,they taught "Take the easy way out,keep making excuses for yourself and make money at the expense of others."
   
   You COULD have helped disabled kids.You COULD have been a talented professional musician.You COULD have been a loyal husband and a great father.You COULD have been a valuble and respected member of society.
   
   But you chose not to.You chose a lifetime of meaningless sex with women who resent you and laugh at you behind your back.
   
   Hugh Hefner doesn't get it.Larry Flint doesn't get it.You don't get it either.
   
   That's why you are and always will be a loser.



2. Don't waste your money on this book. It is horribly written. he thinks he is funny, when he isn't. It's crude!
   Jenna Jameson's book is ten times better



3. Its nice to see the other side of porn and hear the behind the scenes stories. Ron is obviously a legend, and a great story teller as well. He has many stories to tell. Like I said, a fun read. A great biography of a great person mislabeled for his role in pornography. I recommend it!



4. To me, Ron Jeremy epitomized the role of everyman, he's not in shape, not very good looking, yet he gets boat loads of tail and gets paid for it! Going into this book I thought it would be filled with sorded tales of celebrity sexcapades and "behind closed doors" type stories. Instead what I got was chapters filled with relentless name dropping and Ron's sob story about trying to break into mainstream acting. Here's a hint Ronny, Porn stars NEVER break into mainstream acting roles unless you count cameos or comic relief. Instead of choosing roles wisely like most actors with any talent do, Ron just goes through life accepting every low level, piece of garbage role he was offered. In a way I still admire him for getting paid to do what every man dreams of, but on the other hand I feel sorry for him because he is basically pigeon-holed in the fat porn star role for life.



5. Everything you ever wanted to know about the porn industry and more, told by a witty and charming person, Ron Jeremy himself, the King Of Porn. You see or think of Ron Jeremy you think of adult entertainment, but surprisingly he's also a classical pianist and violinist, does stand up comedy, has a Masters degree in Special Education, was a teacher at the Crystal Run School For The Mentally Challenged, holds a brown belt in Kung Fu, and was honored by PETA as an Ambassador Of Goodwill. Surprise. He was also a boy scout.
   
   Growing up in a normal and supportive family, Ron Jeremy Hyatt wanted to be an actor, a real one. He stumbled into the porn industry by submitting a photo of himself to Playgirl magazine. His career took off from there, but he always tries for (and treasures) getting cameo and bit roles in legitimate movies. He's managed to spend his lengthy career staying away from the drugs and excessive alcohol linked to the occupation.
   
   This book is an explicit look at the porn industry, not holding back in describing scenes or use of language, so its not for the squeamish in that area. There's a 17 page black-and-white photo spread and a 16 page color photo spread included, plus black-and-white photos throughout the book and at the beginning of each chapter. No "naughty bits" are shown except upper torso. The color photos are of Ron with a surprising array of famous people. He's like a who's who of Hollywood. It was also Ron Jeremy who directed (and acted in) both of the movies made with John Wayne Bobbitt and his revamped equipment after his wife cut it off.
   
   While graphically describing scenes such as filming on a yacht where all the actors and actresses were seasick, a "swingers club" (basically a $ex club) in New York, and after hours antics at celebrity houses, Ron still manages to come across as romantic and sentimental. Plus, he has an amazing sense of humor. Another surprise.
   
   If you're not shy of delving into a sleazy industry, then I highly recommend this book. It's funny, informative, and entertaining. I'm not a fan of the porn industry, nor do I own any (though I've rented a few in my lifetime) and perhaps because of that I found the book interesting. It's easy to not put faces to such a faceless occupation, but Jeremy opens up the world and slaps us in the face with it.
   
   This book is a very fast read, even at 360 pages. The content is graphic but told in a humorous tone. It takes us from the 1970's through current day in the industry, and Ron even waxes nostalgic for the "good ol days". Make sure to read the prologue too. I highly recommend this book as long as your not offended by the content. Enjoy!

2 comments about Great Scientists (DK Eyewitness Books).

1. My son's school didn't have this book in his library and he's very interestd in Einstein. We bought it to donate to the library. It's a wonderful book-he has checked it out twice since.



2. This one is about Great Scientists. The kids in middle school have had to write about many of the famous scientists so it is a great resource to have. Other kids just were interested in looking at the book and finding out more about science. This was one of the most requested books that kids wanted me to add to our Eyewitness collection.