5 comments about Madness: A Bipolar Life.

1. I liked Marya's memoir. I have read a number of biographys/memoirs of people with mental illness and what I found most unique and original about Marya's is that she really puts you IN the bipolar mind. So much so that you are taken on the ride with her, more so than is generally the case. In doing this, she has to sacrifice some clarity and details. I'm guessing she does this to make the experience more real but also because many of her experiences occurred when she was either very off balance or both off balance and drunk... so in those cases, it would be harder for her to get all the details objectively clear anyway... so rather than focus on those details or presenting those details absolutely perfectly, she seems to have decided to put you in that 'confused space' with her, so that you can really feel what she was feeling... this to me was the best part, the greatest achievement, of what Marya has created here for her readers. It is possible that some may find this jarring for the first 100 or more pages...but the final 100 pages do give more overall perspective, if that is something you are concerned about.
   
   Of course, being very interested, I wanted to know more, I wanted, at times, more objectivity, more details about her life, about the people around her (friends and family, etc), about the process by which she learned to write so well and do other things so well, including the magazine work. But I think she kept to a very clear purpose here. And that seemed to be, I think, to give the reader a very real honest, straightforward sense of what the bipolar mind is, how it thinks, how it hears and unnderstands and interprets, etc.... she achieved this very well...



2. I'm a clinical social worker. As a professional I found Marya's story very compelling. I do think, however, that the writing was only fair and the book could have been edited down some (especially the sections of her hospitalizations....too much to read...too repetitive). And at times it seemed a bit chaotic and disjointed. But I think it's worth reading.



3. This is a brilliant follow-up to Wasted. I've been reading it for less than a day and I am nearly halfway through. It's a tragedy that this book will end...



4. I cried reading this book. While I have been diagnosed with Bipolar II, where the mania is not so severe, but the depression is, I got to see myself from the outside. Marya's pictures in to the life and mind is extrodinary.
   
   My husband is reading this after hearing an interview with her on the Dianne Rhem show on NPR. He said he finally knows me better than he ever has. The book is frightening, but at the same time hopeful.
   A must-read for anyone who wants to see mental illness from the inside



5. I have some addiction issues with Klonopin and I started reading this book when I was going through some serious Klonopin withdrawal. I am not bipolar but I found this book helpful and comforting while going through my own personal madness.
   
   Like she says in the book, I honestly don't know how she made it through all this without killing someone (by mistake of course) or herself, accidental or intentional. It is a miracle and she is blessed to come through this. Her writing is so convincing. I really felt like I was in her head and this is how it feels to be bipolar.
   
   I don't know how she drank as much as she did!! I kept thinking, Wow, considering her situation she was able to travel for her book tour and become an accomplished woman.
   
   I hope she stays on the straight and narrow and am glad that she told her story. I feel like anyone who reads this will finally understand what it is to have mental illness. Because so many people don't understand and I know I have a very hard time explaining how I feel sometimes.

5 comments about Same Kind of Different As Me: A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together.

1. Recommended by a friend, this book actually surprised me. I initially wondered whether the story would get "sappy" or "preachy," but my fears were unfounded. Instead, I found it to be a rather straighforward, personal chronicle of how authentic Christianity impacted the lives of an unlikely trio - a homeless black man who deeply distrusts Christian "charity," a Christian woman who persuades her reticent husband to volunteer with her at a homeless shelter, and her husband, a man who finds in the experiences that ensue much more than he ever expected. The writing is heartfelt and candid, and the story is compelling without being pontifical. The lives of all three are forever changed, and as a result, the lives of countless homeless persons continue to be changed as well. Buy it, read it, and I think you'll recommend it to your friends, too.



2. I read this book in just a few days. It was unpredictable, inspiring an a great read.



3. Second only to the Bible, Same Kind of Different As Me is the most outstanding book I have ever read. Thanks to Ron Hall and Denver Moore for sharing their beautiful story about the activity of God in all of our lives. Gentlemen, you are to be commended for putting on the printed page the mighty works of the great I AM. Proverbs 2:1-5 speaks to our search for understanding and that when we search for it as for treasure, we find it. You, gentlemen, have found it! Your book testifies to that fact. May God richly bless you and your families as you continue to follow Him.



4. I started this book while eatting lunch on a Thursday. I picked it back up on Sat. and did not put it down until I finished it. Being from Ft Worth TX myself, I could really connect with the 1st part of the book. I did not know much about the book (picked it up for book club), so I was not prepared for the 2nd half of the book. It really touched me. Warning: Have tissues ready!!! Being a Christian, it made me reflect on how God's plan for us may not be exactly what we had in mind, but we just have to trust HIM that "Father knows best." Christian or Not - Texan or Not, I think everyone can enjoy this book. There are so many subjects cleaverly intertwined into this book, that it is thought provoking - - - Racism, Prejudice, Poor, Rich, Infedelity, Grief, Self-Doubt, etc. That's what I thought of the book, now for a brief synopsis of the book itself...
   
   You have Denver, who worked most of his life virtually as a slave in a cotton field, until he escaped only to find himself homeless and a slave within his own self doubt. He isolates everyone around him and set a boundry of fear around him as a survival technique. Then there's Ron who is very successful and enjoys being so. He travels with the "right" kind of people; enjoys fancy cars and doesn't have much use for those below him. Ron is married to Deborah-a loving Christian woman, who really does not care for the rich fancy lifestyle. She wants to be a good mother, wife, person and serve God. Ron has an affair. Deborah forgives him and their marriage becomes stronger, however to try to appease his wife, Ron reluctantly follows her to work in a homeless shelter. Through Deborah's persistence, Ron learns to let go of his prejudice and Denver learns how to escape from his self prison and they both learn to trust people again. But nothing comes without a price and Ron & Denver learn to work together and with the love of God to overcome a great tragedy. As a result they become best friends and even closer to God.



5. A really inspiring look at my generation, the generation of the Great Depression. It shows you what one determined and truly caring individual can do in a world seemingly without hope.
   
   Highly recommended. It has the power to convert the most determined sceptic among us.

5 comments about War and Decision: Inside the Pentagon at the Dawn of the War on Terrorism.

1. This book is essential reading for historians and those concerned with national security reform. It is not recommended for normal people, including those that have strong political views one way or the other. You will get much better value simply by reading reviews of a 100 related books starting with the ten below, and buying the book Fixing Failed States and checking out the reviews of the books I recommend there.
   
   I read the Index after the Table of Contents and before I actually read the book. It became immediately evident to me that:
   
   1) The index stinks in not including place names like Jalabad, Tora Bora, Kandahar, etcetera.
   
   2) The author has written a personal account that opens with a concise (even impressive) summary of the high points of "alleged" criticisms and conspiracy claims, but with the exception of Bob Woodward, I could not find a single other reputable author in the index (see my list of ten books below, a token of the 100+ books that generally refute most of what this author has to say at the external level). I have no doubt this author is honest and credible on the details he knows, but as with the Viet-Nam rejoinder, "so what", I really question whether the author--good man that he is--is at all in touch with reality. Baer, Bamford, Clarke, Ritter, etc. do NOT appear in this book's index or footnotes that I could find.
   
   Getting into the book, I am immediately impressed by the existence of a supporting website (waranddecision.com just add the www) and I am generally very impressed with the level of detail, the sequencing of information, the able reference to those he talked with by name. There is no question in my mind about the authenticity of this book. The author speaks from his mind and his heart, he is not dumb, just self-centered.
   
   As the book progresses, I am astonished by several factors:
   
   1) Dick Cheney appears only 28 times in this book, and not before page 53. The Cheney-Rumsfeld relationship is one that was evidently not shared by the author. He consequently is oblivious to the reality that Dick Cheney orchestrated 935 distinct documented lies in the rush to war; and committed 25 distinct impeachable offenses, not least of which was leveraging the nine advance warnings of the plans to attack the World Trade Center to allow a Pearl Harbor.
   
   2) I had to go forward to read Chapter 6 ("Why Iraq") because of the prominence of the author's claim of the many "proven" instances in which Iraq trained, supported, or financed terrorism, but I quickly note that the author makes no reference at all the many proven open sources, including the former President of Czechoslovakia, who totally trashed this assertion.
   
   3) The author is actively deceptive on more than one occasion. He cites the New York Times as "evidence" while casually neglecting to mention that he is citing the notorious Judith Miller, a fellow traveler at least, if not an active agent of influence for Israel.
   
   4) The author is critical of the CIA throughout the book, including Milt Bearden whom I happen to respect greatly, and while I myself think CIA needs to be burned to the ground, I do not respect the manner in which the author manages to completely disrespect by omission of three major facts:
   
   + CIA got it right on WMD. Between the son in law that defected and the 30+ legal travelers that Charlie Allen orchestrated, CIA established without a shadow of a doubt that they kept the cookbooks, poured the stocks into the river (something that will have downstream impacts for decades), and were bluffing for regional sake. Since Rumsfeld and Cheney delivered the original WMD supplies and the joke is they kept the receipts, what I see here is an elegant concealment of the reality that the Pentagon was not about to listen to the CIA no matter what. The fact is that the professional CIA got it right, George Tenet sacrificed his integrity, and the White House was able to ignore secret intelligence because both the CIA professionals and the Pentagon's flag officers drank the koolaid and confused loyalty with integrity to their Constitutional oaths of office. ALL of our checks and balances failed us.
   
   + The author infuriates me with the manner in which he blatantly misleads the reader about how he and Rumsfeld triumphed in pushing for both early precision targetting inside Afghanistan, and the push to Kabul prior to the winter. He is maliciously evil in failing to credit the CIA teams that are described in "First In" and "Jawbreaker" and he can be excused for not being told that Putin told Bush he could take Kabul before the winter. Obviously the author does not read widely, and one can understand how immersed he might be in the reality of his own creation.
   
   + He misleads the reader in parroting Ahmed Chalabi's accusations against the CIA, while failing to point out that CIA fired Chalabi for stealing and lying; that Chalabi was convicted in Jordan for embezzlement; and that Chalabi is almost certainly a very well paid agent of influence for Iran, one reason most in Iraq's leadership circles want nothing to do with him.
   
   In passing, there is no mention in this book of our love fest with 42 of 44 dictators; there is active (virulent) hatred for Colin Powell and Rich Armitage (I would follow either over any hill), nor is there any mention, as the book draws to a close, that ignorant treasonous rendition and torture aside, the score for nailing terrorists right now is CIA 40+, DoD zero (I may not know of one or two).
   
   I bought and labored through this book because James Schlesinger recommended it and because it may be the only book among the 100 or so I have read circling the sordid regime from 2000-2008, that comes from one of the avowed "insiders." I give the author high marks for his homework, his documentation, and his writing.
   
   Doug Feith is what you get when you agree to elect one man who picks a few cronies that pick other cronies who in turn orchestrate their kind of crony in Afghanistan and Iraq and elsewhere. In Singapore, I am told, one must have a Master of Business Administration before being qualified to run for Parliament. We don't need to go that far. I believe that in the General Election, we must demand that Presidential candidates appoint a Cabinet in advance of election, at least three of whom must participate in the debate process (State, Defense, Attorney General), *and* they must produce a balanced budget proposal for public scrutiny at least 90 days before Election Day. It's time to put Citizen Wisdom back into the Republic.
   
   See also, apart from my lists on Dick Cheney, impeachment, strategy, emerging threats and so on, the following ten books:
   DVD Why We Fight
   Breaking the Real Axis of Evil: How to Oust the World's Last Dictators by 2025
   9/11 Synthetic Terror: Made in USA, Fourth Edition
   A Pretext for War : 9/11, Iraq, and the Abuse of America's Intelligence Agencies
   State of Denial: Bush at War, Part III
   Jawbreaker: The Attack on Bin Laden and Al Qaeda: A Personal Account by the CIA's Key Field Commander
   First In: An Insider's Account of How the CIA Spearheaded the War on Terror in Afghanistan
   Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq
   Squandered Victory: The American Occupation and the Bungled Effort to Bring Democracy to Iraq
   Vice: Dick Cheney and the Hijacking of the American Presidency



2. This attempt of his showed he was still internationally dangerous years after Desert Storm. It is also mentioned in the 2008 New York Times Almanac (in the Kuwait section).
   
   On other points, there is a mention of how the US seized a ship in 2003 (a ship which was carrying centrifuge parts) to Gadhafi's Libya! This book explains how the ship's seizure lead Libay to disarm wmd-wise! True and so did the very occupation of Iraq by the US and allies (see books like Shopping for Bombs, Surrender is not an Option and former CIA-head Tenet's own memoir book 'At the Center of the Storm' plus a webpage called "How Gadhafi lost his groove" for more on this).
   
   PS The ship's name, not given on the page the seizure was mentioned on, is the BBC China!



3. I rarely write reviews, and especially when I have not even read the book, my bookshelves are full of almost all of the politcal books written between 2000 and 2008 (Amazon can testify for me!). As reported by John Byrne - at the booksigning party and I quote:
   "On Thursday, Feith pointed his finger at everyone but himself regarding the war in Iraq. According to the Washington Post's Dana Milbank, at a book-launch party for his new book, "War and Decision: Inside the Pentagon at the Dawn of the War on Terrorism," Feith blamed a laundry list of officials for failing "to challenge the logic of going to war."
   (here: http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Feith_says_Iraq_war_not_my_0425.html)
   
   Mr. Feith blames everyone else except himself. With all of his bumbles and misplaced loyalties I would rather sit in silence for 8 hours than read his phony book.
   
   I would suggest for anyone who is bothered and mad about the Bush 43 Presidency, I would suggest do not buy this book to deprive this maniac of any royalties.
   
   For those of you who disagree, you are entitled.



4. Fascinating view of the first years of our War on Terrorism. Only Bush seems to make decisions based on the fact that our enemies had discovered how to fight their enemy (the USA) by bypassing our military and attacking citizens directly. Why the MSM doesn't understand that protecting us from such attacks has to be the main function of our Presidency is beyond me.
   . . only their hatred for our country and hope for its downfall can explain the anti-war behavior. Noone wants war but to pretend it's not necessary is foolhardy. Bush's main goal (according to Feith) is that we not suffer another attack and in that he's been successful. I for one am grateful to President Bush for that. Feith finds errors on all sides (state dept, Defense Dept. but he's gives a full narrative not just the soundbitten biased report we now expect from the mainstream media. Anyone interested in the real story must read this book!



5. I have now finished the book but the number of negative reviews posted here still suggests that half a review by someone who has read the book carefully was better than what else is on offer so far. I have not altered my comments since reading the rest but have a few additional observations. This is a personal story of Feith's career in the DoD, before and during the Iraq War. He comments on contacts with others but he does not offer general statements or philosophy about matters that he is not personally familiar with. He does, however, offer some conclusions at the end about what was done well and what the mistakes were. He is honest about identifying his opinions and what he believes to be facts. This is a source document for the history that will be eventually written, hopefully fairly, about this period. I marked a number of sections because they impact the mythology of the war as illustrated in the other reviews and comments.
   
   He is critical of Colin Powell, and especially, Richard Armitage, who seemed not to be as concerned with the post-Saddam situation yet who resisted anyone else treading on their turf. His first skirmish was in 2002 (page 173) when he attempted to set up an office, called Office of Strategic Influence, to counteract the Islamist propaganda about why violent jihad was becoming a threat. Some went back to the old "root causes" excuse yet the Saudi hijackers of 9/11 were upper middle class educated men. His effort came to naught when the office was attacked in a strategic leak from within the administration, followed by a sensational NY Times article that accused them of planning to spread false information. Another similar article was printed recently about another DoD effort to reach Muslims with honest information. In his conclusions, he points out that we still do not have any serious effort to counter jihadist rhetoric.
   
   He refutes (page 197) another charge, prominent in another review here, that Chalabi was a "creature" of DoD and Feith was his "sponsor." One would think that the fact the Chalabi has been a major official in the Iraq government would put to rest that old CIA smear but it lives on on Amazon pages. He tells the story of CIA incompetence and the firestorm created when a 20-year DIA expert on his staff wrote a critical briefing (page 265) pointing out how CIA had ignored links between Saddam and al Qeada before the war. On page 278, he recounts another example of State's conflicted thinking where they advise against an "occupation" but their antipathy toward the "externals" (exiles like Chalabi) leads them to plan for a "many year" occupation and rule before an Iraqi government can be set up. The insurgency gained force from resentment at that policy. He points out with some understandable satisfaction that the "externals," including the Kurds who CIA predicted would not be accepted by other Iraqis, constituted almost the entire interim government that took over from Bremer and the CPA in 2004.
   
   He has some mixed opinions about Paul Bremer, pointing out how Bremer took too much authority, resisting any consultation with Rumsfeld, his superior in the chain-of-command, and made a number of serious mistakes. The most serious one was excluding the Iraqis from governing their own country for as long as he did. The insurgency might never have gained the support of so much of the Sunni population had the "Occupation" not been so obvious.
   
   I don't say this is the last word and Feith seems to resist many generalizations. This is an objective account and very valuable. He has his deficiencies. The most serious is the fact the he never mentions the tribal nature of the Iraqi society. This was a major mistake in the early history of our post-Saddam attempts to govern the country and fight the insurgency.
   
   I have read many books on this subject and the ones I respect, beginning with The Threatening Storm by Kenneth Pollack, all mostly agree. For example, another review here mentions Bob Baer and his book about Aghanistan and Gary Berntsen and "Jawbreaker" also about Afghanistan. I have read both books and Baer, in particular, dismisses his CIA bosses pointing out the lack of language skills in CIA. This lack, and the ignorance of the culture, was a major factor in the CIAs poor performance in Iraq and is discussed by Feith. He is chiefly critical of CIA implying that their information was better sourced than it was. They concealed how few assets they had in Iraq (none) and led others astray who placed more faith in their reports than was warranted. Better to confess ignorance than mislead.
   
   The dissent, like some of the other reviews here, comes with plenty of invective and obscenity but few facts. I still think this is an important book that anyone trying to understand our policy on fighting militant Islam should read. I'm sure Feith is evening a few scores here but he marshals lots of facts and refers to other documents to support his conclusions. This is an essential book, not least because he is such a controversial figure. The abuse he has taken from partisans is outrageous. At one point (page 388) he mentions a particularly odious slur attributed to Colin Powell by Bob Woodward in which Feith's office in the DoD is described as "a Gestapo office" ignoring the fact that Feith's father was a Holocaust survivor. Powell denied making the remark and apologized to Feith, whom he had known for 20 years, but the tone was set.

5 comments about Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10.

1. This book will renew your faith in the American fighting Man and also reveals that there are still heroes today in the American Military.



2. Marcus Luttrell writes a powerful book that shows the hardship of training, the perfection of the SEAL, and the courage of men.
   
   Marcus is one of the participants of Operation Redwing where nineteen special forces members died in one day. I remember the news stories back when I was in college. I remember seeing Michael Murphy's photo on television. Murphy is probably my idea of how a SEAL should look like; cool, calm, and incredibly fit. I felt a sort of sadness come over me when I saw Murphy's photo on television. Some time later, I heard Murphy got the Medal Of Honor and I knew from the get go after seeing a picture of this man, that he must of died heroically and probably behaved like how a true SEAL should to the end.
   
   Now I have the chance to read over the story about Operation Redwing. I was more interested in hearing what Murphy did that day, but then I found that Marcus did a wonderful job explaining the whole thing; from training to how he survived the slaughter.
   
   I won't go into much details about the story since I think most people will know the entire story. The one important lesson I learned about the training was take it one minute at a time, don't think about the future or how you will perform in the future; think about right now. I think this is an important life lesson that can be used outside of physical training and into everyday life.
   
   By the end of the story I was a bit sad. Marcus was rescued by villagers in the Afghan mountains and these people protected Marcus with their life. Not only that, they took the time to insure that Marcus would be rescued and that the Taliban didn't have the last shot. I was a bit sad that to hear about the village children and how the Taliban abused the children while they tried to gather things for Marcus. I was also surprised by how people gathered around Marcus's parents and family. I think it goes to show that even though the media might make it seem like everyone is against the current war in the Middle East, people still care about friends and families. I think it goes to show that America is a great country and its citizens care about others just as much as they care about themselves.
   
   Overall, I am happy with the book. I am sad of the fact how we lost so many young people, but I think the key thing about this book is that there are good people out there who are willing to lend you a hand when you're down. I heard another good book is Bravo Two Zero. I am planning to read that book in the future.



3. This book is a portrayal of a Navy SEAL - his early upbrining, the SEAL training program that so few pass and most importantly, his role in an operation in Afganistan that ended in disaster for his team and a rescue team. His biases and perspectives are not mine, but I didn't mind hearing them - after all, they probably reflect widely held beliefs within the military... On the other hand, there are parts of the book that stretch credulity (Marcus shot an Afgan between the eyes, who then fell screaming over a cliff), and there is more fluff than needs to be. Overall, a disappointment.



4. I really wanted to read this book, but found I couldn't get past the first 40 pages. The author he can't keep his personal political beliefs out of the narrative. If I heard one more great thing about George Bush or let's hear more about the "liberal American Media". Come on! Enough already, how about a good war story, not a rant taken from the Bill O'Reilly Show. And I'm sorry but modesty is not part of this guys lexicon. Ok, Ok, I get it the Seals are the Greatest soldiers, fighters, shooters, cooks, gardeners, painters, etc, in the world. Look I really wanted to like this book, but this guys ego and self righteous political comments were too much. Sometimes hearing someone being humble instead of saying how great they are goes down a little easier. I should have know when the jacket of the book had two good reviews, both from texas ( here's a little hint the author is also from texas).



5. This book shines the light of truth on how our LIBERAL: MEDIA, POLITICIANS (DEMOCRAT and REPUBLICAN), RETIRED MILITARY, PROFESSORS, TEACHERS and CITIZENS, directly have a hand in killing the finest young men and women our country produces. The evidence is irrefutable, LIBERAL'S KILL American heroes when they influence military rules of engagement, and we as real Americans should elect strong leaders to prevent their perversions. This book should be required reading for all teenage Americans, as it clearly introduces American exceptionalism and a hero creation process. Hero training is a first half of the book prelude to Operation Redwing, straight forward and inspiring, but only hinting at the action to come. When the actual mission begins hold on to your seats, because "LONE SURVIVOR" reads like a viewing of the 'Bourne Identity', and will force you to replace your list of favorite Super Hero names, like Superman and Hulk, with the names of real life heroes like Murphy, Axelson, Dietz, Kristensen and Luttrell. This work of nonfiction will enrage you and clarify why LIBERALS SHOULD BE DESPISED and fought at every opportunity, but you will also smile, laugh, tear up and be forever haunted by the fact these great men are real and their families loss is ours as Americans. Lastly, read "LONE SURVIVOR", pass it on, and let us all pray LIBERAL'S will see through their ignorance and stop COLLABORATING WITH THE ENEMY TO KILL future heroic Americans.

2 comments about Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America.

1. I'm 49 years old, not quite old enough to have a first hand memory of the events and forces covered in this book but I still feel like I've been living in Nixonland all my life. I've read hundreds of books about the 1960's (and the early 1970's, often confused with the 60's) and this is the best. If you fell asleep in 1965 and just woke up and wanted to understand politics and culture today, I'd tell you to read Nixonland before I introduced you to "blogs" or even the 1990's. It takes time to make sense of such a defining era. It's a heck of a page turner too, no one ever said that the period between 1965 & 1973 was boring! Perlstein does a great job of weaving 1960's popular culture into the story but not in a trivializing way.
   
   Even if you are, say, 25, you live in Nixonland too. Like me you grew up with music from Nixonland, TV shows from Nixonland, a culture from Nixonland and, of course, politics shaped and defined by Nixonland. I agree with the author that we are still fighting pretty much the same battles that were first thrust upon the national stage in the form of Richard Nixon and others like RFK, Ronald Reagan, Barry Goldwater and George McGovern who make up the characters in this grand story, all the wierder because its all true. I honestly think, however, that the 2008 election might just mark the beginning of a new era. Some of these battles are getting old. I think we are heading out of Nixonland but we are not there yet. If you want to know where we are and how we, as a country, got here, Nixonland is the place to start.



2. Mr. Perlstein has written a book of the origins of the presidential cultural wars that blaze on today. He covers the presidential and congressional elections of 1964, 1966, 1968, 1970, and 1972 as the conservative right was on the rise and liberalism started its long decline. In the center of all this was Richard Nixon, watching LBJ's landslide win of 1964 over Barry Goldwater, and calculating his own reverse landslide win of eight years later. LBJ's civil rights legislation turned the Solid South into a Republican bastion before his death and gave a racist anchor to Richard Nixon's electoral wins. The chaos of these 8 years transformed the body politic and made way for the conservativism of today.

5 comments about The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists.

1. This book doesn't teach how to be better at picking up girls. What this book does it tell the story of the writer becoming a pick-up artist. In fact, it doesn't even tell you where to go to become a pick-up artist.



2. I bought this book for the simple fact is was kinda like Mr Instability, just a fun book and it was. I think people believe they can read a book and go out and pick up Heidi Klum. I think this book is worth a read just for the stories.



3. Underneath the 460 pages of literature is a simple storyline. It is one man's journey from being a weeny shy male to becoming a confident strong and desirable man. This man is Neil Strauss, aka Style.
   
   Along the way, he follows a path akin to the world of Star Wars.
   
   Initially an Apprentice to Master Mystery, he discovers how to use and control the PUA inside him, becomes a PUA Knight, gains worldly experience, and becomes a PUA Master. The first half of the book describes his many adventures along the path to becoming a PUA Master, until he has a Harem of 8 LTR's and launches Project Hollywood.
   
   No story is complete without a villain.
   
   PUA knight Tyler comes along, with a bad dose of the dark side. Like Darth Vader before him, he believes that at one stage he was but the pupil, but now he is the Master.
   
   But Tyler is caught up in his lust for power amongst the PUA's and has lost his way by seeing the trees instead of the forest. For being a PUA is not just about getting one night stands, but is just a part of developing relationships with attractive women.
   
   Our hero, Master Style, can see this. And he finds one such lady worthy of him and the books ends with him holding hands with his lady, leaving behind Sith Tyler and his apprentice, Darth Papa to the shattered world that was once Project Hollywood. Tyler thinks he has struck down Master Style, but in truth, Style has simply moved on to a new and better world.
   
   This, in a nutshell, is The Game.
   
   May the PUA be with you, always.



4. "The Game" is a fantasitic book with so many facsets to it. The main reason most people purchase this book is most likely to try to learn how to pick up women. You do learn a lot from this book about women, but more importantly you learn new and improved communication skills that can be used outside the world of women. Also, the book is a great read with many hilarious and telling stories of triumphs and defeats. I definitely recoment this book to anyone.



5. After reading this book, I ultimately found myself in the same position as the author. The one night stands were fun while they lasted, but in the end I wanted something more substantial. It is really not that unusual for not-very-attractive men to win more attractive women. While men are mostly visual, and want someone good looking, women look for character in men. If it happens to come in a not-so-perfect package, we are willing to overlook that. One couldn't help but like the author, even while disrespecting what he was doing. But if you are a guy who wants to please either his one night stand or his one and only true love, here's a book that will help you accomplish that: Was that an earthquake? The Sensuous Couple's (Flip Over) Guide to Seismic Oral Sex. Blow her mind with your oral sex technique. If she is a keeper, flip the book over for her to read about fellatio, and she can blow your mind in return!

5 comments about Losing It: And Gaining My Life Back One Pound at a Time.

1. I just finished reading "Losing It", in less than 4 days, in probably less than a dozen hours. Valerie, you have outdone yourself in my mind. I have always loved you as an actress, & now this book is just so truthful, helpful & inspiring. I must say that as I read the last chapter, I was almost in tears, as I started doing a reality check in my own life, & in also trying to play the weight loss game. I wish it was you I could talk to.
   
   I commend you on your courage & for being candid & open. I love true stories, especially true stories about success.
   
   Kudos & congratulations to you on being a wonderful person, a great mom, a great spokesperson, & simply for just being you! I am so glad you wrote this book. I highly recommend it, whether one is thinking about their weight or not. It's a win-win situation, & a must read. Thank you dear lady.



2. I was looking forward to a story of triumph, but all I found in this book was the story of a young girl who's not grown up yet. She's still "playing a role" only it's herself in her life story. It's another celebrity-gone-bad tale and after a while the druggie lifestyle references became tired. Best warning for kids today--don't let this happen to you.
   
   Add in the poor writing, crude language, and the egocentric lifestyle and you have Paris, Lindsay, etc., just several years earlier.
   
   Not worth the time, actually. Wish it could have been kinder, but Valerie, you have a habit of seeing the glass as half empty.



3. This book touches many people in different ways, whether struggling with weight issues to just accepting changes in one's life. This book is great for anyone trying to deal with a change i their life. It is a quick read and it can inspire you to take your life back one pound at a time!



4. This is a great read, especially if you were a fan of Valerie from One Day at a Time.
   
   The book seems to fixate on Eddie Van Halen alot, which can be good or bad, depending if you're a fan or not.
   
   A good read.



5. This was a wonderful insight and written with quite a bit of humor. Very nice read. I read it in one day!

5 comments about Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions.

1. I picked this book up at Logan International Airport in Boston after finishing a meeting at MIT. I had no backgound of the story, other than it involved a modified card counting scheme in Vegas. It was a compelling, fast-paced story that was made more fantastic given I had just left the campus. The book was finished by the time I landed at Dulles. I have a 14 year-old math wiz that I can see being drawn into the high stakes game. For Ben Mezrich's first outing in non-fiction, I feel he did a great job.



2. I saw the movie 21 and this was still a suspenseful account, with lots of interesting details about learning card counting that didn't make it into the film.
   Nice writing.



3. 21: Bringing Down the House - Movie Tie-In: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions my review for the book is excellent. and this was my first time using amazon and i was very pleased.



4. I'm not much of a book reader, even though I enjoy buying books I hardly ever read one completely and almost never a non economics book. But this particular book has given me the opportunity to feel everything the author wrote as if I was there, I don't know if I'm growing into a book reader but this book has an excellent writing very friendly and easy to read, it keeps your attention, long waiting hours on the doctor, bank or anywhere become short while you read it. Also it's a great introduction for the movie 21: Blackjack. If you're interested in card counting this isn't a "how to" book, although there is a essay in the last chapter on card counting that makes a more in depth description on the subject, it's more of a novel based on real facts. As one of the praises for the book says: "Perfect for a read on the plane down to Vegas".



5. I saw the movie and was intrigued. The movie wasn't great by any means, but it did just enough to inspire me to want to know the "real story". The first thing I noticed about the book, was it was a lot smaller than I thought it would be. The thing I remember about the book after having read it, is that it was too long.
   
   Frankly, I thought the book was too long and boring. There were parts that were interesting, and parts that kept me wanting to read more.... but "just barely". Most of the book was a chore to finish. I almost gave up a few times, figuring I've read enough. I did finish it, it wasn't horrible, but I'd rate it below average.

5 comments about 90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death & Life.

1. The book will help people deal with the most difficult subject in life-death. Easy to read and enjoyable.



2. I looked forward to reading this book, but I was very disappointed. Don Piper presents, in my opinion, a totally biased view. Many times he refers to heaven as a "place for God's people" as if nobody else can get to heaven unless they are of his denomination. I think this is one-sided, narrow-minded, and simply not true. This book excludes all religions and faiths except his own. It is a slanted view of heaven. I was completely disappointed with this book.



3. Thank God that Rev. Piper shared his experience with the world. A must read for everyone.



4. I am a humor fan, I love books that can give an escape from reality like Mr Instability did. This book gives me hope that there is more waiting for me in the after life. I live each day as if its my last and this book is encouraging.



5. I've been on a bit of a book reading kick lately, and I've finally been able to finish 90 Minutes in Heaven about three or four months after starting. Apparently, I could only take this book in chunks, and after awhile, eventually just finished it because I started it, not because I had much interest anymore. While I believe Don Piper and his story wholeheartedly, the way this book was written is a whole other matter all together. I just couldn't stomach it, and I eye-rolled so much that I was kicking my feet in agony by the end.
   
   It's basically about a man who has a near death experience, and in that time, goes to heaven. He is miraculously brought back by the strength of prayer, and somehow makes it though, but not without resenting everyone who is trying to help him to the point of not wanting to be on earth anymore. All he wants is to go back to heaven. And he says this often. I mean, who cares about his wife and kids and the people who love him, right? Just get him back to heaven so he can feel like, totally awesome again!
   
   There was also a moment in the story where the author sits down with his friend and cries for all the people who are going to hell because they don't believe in Jesus. Which is basically everyone else but them. Um, what? Very inspirational there, Don.
   
   All in all, this book was very hard to sit through. The author comes across as full of himself. He also sounds bored with life, like he just wants to get hit by a train so he can go to heaven again. He can't do it himself, because that's bad, obviously, so he will wait. And wait and wait and heal the sick while he's at it to show what a good boy he is. And maybe then God will give him an actual pat on the head.

5 comments about Jesus of Nazareth.

1. As a main-stream Protestant I approached this book with trepidation; I was amazed by the depth of scholarship and intellect readily on display. Pope Benedict's deep analysis of Biblical passages and ready command of literary sources is only rivalled by his clear prose and caring approach. I have purchased multiple copies for my friends; I recommend this book as 'required reading' for all Christians and virtually everyone else who has ever wondered about the central figure of Christianity.



2. It took me several months to read this book so at least for me it was not a quick read. However just like you don't gulp don't filet mignon, this book is substantial and thought provoking that should not be breezed through but meditated on. Pope Benedict writes in almost a conversational style that is easily digestible (sorry about all the references about eating!). The Pope's argument that the gospels are the most plausible presentation of the historical Jesus, provides an effective counter to all the recent Gnostic writing (e.g. DaVanci Code) and the theologians that have gone off the deep end with an extreme historical-critical view (e.g. Jesus Seminar).



3. Nazareth was not around in the time frame that Jesus supposedly existed, therefore this book's title and everything in it is null and void.



4. This book addressed the subject in an academic manner. There were references to other lofty thinkers, whose works I am not familiar with. It is just not an easy read, nor is it "light" reading. In many instances, the revelations were not significant enough to me to make me continue on. A good book on this subject matter is Harrington's "History of Jesus". Easier to read and a good companion to this book.



5. Folks, I finally finished reading Jesus of Nazareth, by Pope Benedict XVI. I am not qualified to judge the substance of it because I recognized the mastery that Ratzinger the Theologian had over the subject matter. As a theology student myself, who likes to challenge my teachers to see things in new ways, would have found it very difficult to do so had the Pope been my teacher.
   
   Ratzinger the Teacher and Theologian come through in this book. His style is very conversational and his method elegant in its simplicity. First, the Pope talked about three or four parallel ideas and he developed them at length to the point I had to ask "where is he going with this"? Then, suddenly, he would bring a new thought that unified all parallel tracks and in the process, brought new light to the subject matter.
   
   Pope Benedict didn't discriminate against any scholar who had something to contribute, whether Catholic, Protestant, or Jewish, liberal or conservative. If that scholar had achieved a unique insight that the Pope thought was true and valuable, he brought it to bear. The final product was not obfuscated, but clarity itself.
   
   Jesus of Nazareth is a thoroughly biblical book. It breathes and lives the Holy Scriptures. The Pope took the Bible seriously as the principal source of Christology - of information about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth and the appraisal given to him by his disciples, his contemporaries, and other scholars. From the Pope's analysis arises afresh the historical figure of Jesus as Son of God, Son of Man and mighty "I am," in all its originality.
   
   The Pope's work proves that theologians can avail themselves of every tool provided by modern biblical criticism, as well as all the insights provided by the Church Fathers, and still yield a Christology that is orthodox, concrete, unique, saving and life-giving.
   
   Jesus of Nazareth is a work that actualizes the apostolic kerygma or proclamation regarding the words and deeds of the Savior. The Pope succeeded in telling us that Jesus' message and example are intelligible for us living in this day and age.
   
   I think you should seriously consider adding this work to your personal library. With it, you will learn to theologize with the Pope as your teacher.