5 comments about Cadillac: 100 Years of Innovation.

1. This is a great book for the casual Cadillac enthusiast who seeks a solid, well-rounded book about the marque; it's also good for the die-hard types like me who simply like to have as many beautiful color photos of Cadillacs as they can contain on their bookshelves.

   The photography is stunning and other illustrations in the book are fascinating and often quite original, i.e. the sort that you don't commonly find in other books or Web sites on the subject.

   One unique aspect of this book that I particularly appreciate is the way it is organized. Every other book on the subject follows the same proven approach: a chronologically organized history of the marque. Van Bogart's book, by contrast, is divided into different histories focusing on different aspects of the marque rather than a single history that encompasses all of them. For example, after reading a general history, the chronology repeats again, this time focusing on Cadillac's impact on pop culture, then again focusing on Cadillac's innovations, and so-on.

   Although I've read many books on the history of Cadillac, and although this book is not as thorough as others, I really enjoyed recounting Cadillac history with a different focus each time.

   I gave this book a 4-star rating for its beautiful photography, interesting illustrations, and particularly for its novel approach to recounting the history of Cadillac. The fifth star is reserved for anyone who can match Thomas Bonsall's out-of-print "Cadillac: The American Standard", which is also available in more abbreviated and updated form as "Cadillac: The Postwar Years". These books represent the benchmark for the subject in my opinion.




2. Mr. Van Bogart has captured the classic beauty of Cadillac design and composed a brief history of the marque packaged in an immensely readable tome that does not require the strength of Hercules to lift.



3. I have loved Caddys since my first one.(A 1961 I bought in '72 when I was just a girl.)
   I was never able to afford another one until almost 20 years later. Worth the wait.
   Because of this love there of I read up on the then Cadillac history and honestly believed I knew all there was to know about this wonderful car.
   I was wrong.
   If you own this car, any year, any make, any model and you DON'T own this book. Shame on you! It is worth the price of admission just for the pictures.
   Trust me!



4. Love the book! Like any picture book it needs more pictures. I think it skips some details on some of the cars. A summary in the back with options for each car would of made this a true classic. Hope he makes a new addition, more pictures please. It's a great first book to get your bearing on the world of Cadillac Americana.



5. My son in law just purchased a 1960 Cadillac, I wanted a pictorial book for his birthday. I could'nt find one in any of the bookstores in Adelaide, South Australia. I was thrilled when this book arrived in the post, it was just what I wanted. Very informative with plenty of colour photos. Needless to say son in law loved his present!

1 comments about Cadillac: The Tailfin Years.

1. The Tailfin - the relic of the fifties and what was cool during those years. "Cadillac: The Tailfin Years" is a coffee table book of photography for those who don't want to accept that time has passed and still find the tailfins cool. Filled cover to cover with full color photos and countless information on each of the models of Cadillac's during that era, it is the ideal gift for lovers of old vehicles, making "Cadillac: The Tailfin Years" highly recommended to community library photography and automotive history collections.

1 comments about Ellie Herman's Pilates Cadillac.

1. a detailed reference for pilates workout and Pilates exercises on Pilates Cadillac - Trapeze Table. useful for advanced pilates students and professional pilates trainers.

5 comments about More Than a Pink Cadillac: Mary Kay Inc.'s Nine Leadership Keys to Success.

1. Mary Kay, Inc., is perhaps best known for two things: the cult of personality surrounding its founder, Mary Kay Ash, and the fact that it rewards successful salespeople with pink Cadillacs. In this illuminating book, management expert Jim Underwood delves into the guiding principles of Mary Kay, Inc.'s daily operations, which remain, 40 years later, true to Ash's founding vision. Countries or corporations founded by a charismatic leader often sag or sink when that leader inevitably steps down. Mary Kay's leadership was unique in that she built a solid foundation for the company so it could continue without her day-to-day guidance. This corporate biography represents the first time the privately owned company allowed an outsider complete access to its managers and employees, enabling Underwood to persuasively illustrate nine leadership rules with testimonies from members of the "Mary Kay family." We recommend this to anyone who aspires to leadership. Mary Kay may look fluffy, but it's all about the firm.



2. I cannot say enough great things about this book. Mary Kay Cosmetics is truly a wonderful company and Mary Kay Ash was a very inspiring businesswoman. Even for those people not in leadership positions, this is still a fantastic book. This exceeded my expectations. I was very thrilled with my purchase.



3. When I decided to start my own business, my goals were lofty and to the average person unattainable. Many people in my life were unconvinced that I could accomplish them. Desperate to grown personally, I began working my way through self-help books and the like. By mistake I picked up MORE THAN A PINK CADILLAC" and my life was forever better. Jim Underwood offers us a look into the life of a remarakable woman who refused to let anyone hold her back. Not only does this book share her personal/professional journey, it shares the journey's of women just like myself. It's not just about business, it's about people. It reminds us that this world is nothing without the people in it. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever thought they couldn't make it work...no matter what "it" is. Pure inspiration!



4. I was really impressed with the work that Jim Underwood put forth to create this woderful book. One of the most inspiring things for me is the fact that he shares insights that I didn't know about the company that I am proud to represent. I left each reading session with an added sense of pride and inspiration.
   More Than a Pink Cadillac...is a great tool for sharing with prospective team members and their spouses/spices as it comes from a person who doesn't represent MK Inc and shows how much corporate does care about those who represent MK in the field.



5. Mary Kay's autobiography tells of a woman with indomitable spirit and profound emotional intelligence. How she reached the pinnacle of success despite the tragedies and measly capital is a life lesson we should all learn from. I like Jim Underwood's writing style. His closeness to Mary Kay and his first-hand knowledge of her leadership style certainly provided credibility to this book. Highly recommended!

5 comments about The Gold Cadillac.

1. This book basically sucked. It was so boring cause liek there was a ton of talknig and no action or adventure or even fantasy or excitement or blah blah blah.



2. It was a very inspirational book. It kind of made you feel like you were back in the days when there was segragation. i loved it!



3. This is the best book of Mildred D' Taylor
   
   1. The gold Caddilac
   2. Road to Memphis
   3. The friendship
   4. The land
   5. Roll of thunder hear my cry
   6. Let the cricle be unbroken
   7. The well david's story
   8. Song Of trees
   9. Mississippi Bridge
   
   and thats it. This tells about a different family other than the logans for once. I think that is better because some of her books can stress but Road to Memphis is successful and fun to read. Mississippi Bridge sucks though.



4. The Gold Cadillac is a good short book. Its aboat a girl and her family. One day her dad comes home with a brand new cadillac. They already had a new Mercury. The dad shows the cadillac to everyone and everyone likeed it except the mom. She did not like the car because they were saving for a new home. She did not ride in the golden Cadillac until the dad went to Missisipi, and nobody wanted him to go because it was a bad place for him. You've got to remember that this book takes place in the 1960's. He and the whole family went. If you want to know what happens,read The Gold Cadillac by Mildred D. Taylor.



5. The book 'The Golden Cadillac' genre is realistic fiction. It is about how a father sells his car for a Cadillac and wants to drive it to the south: From Ohio to Mississippi. The conflicts are that 1.) Wilma's and Lois' mother do not like the new car and was very upset. And also 2) for a black man to go to the south with a new shiny perfect car police think he stole it. The theme is both preparations because the dad knew of this of the warnings and trust because the family had to trust the Father on knowing what he was doing. Wilma's and Lois' Father get pulled over by a police officer and he has to spend the night in jail. There are two things We liked about this book 1) the father wasnt afraid of going to the Mississippi, 2) he didnt listen to what this family thought about going to the Mississippi.
   All kids would probably love reading this book.

No comments about More Than a Pink Cadillac: Mary Kay Inc.'s 9 Leadership Keys to Success.

5 comments about Duncan Delaney and the Cadillac of Doom.

1. I recieved this book as gift from a family member who I had introduced to Christopher Moore. To her credit she found this gem that C. Moore had recommended.
   
   And they were both right on target. What a rollicking, page turning read.
   
   A budding painter ventures to LA and finds subjects and people that were beyond his imagination. His art draws acolytes from a strip club and they fast make themselves fixtures in his apartment.
   
   The guiless painter ( Duncan Delaney) has left Wyoming and a poor relationship to find that the most intriguing of women are the least simple to understand.
   
   What's great: All of the salient characters are well fleshed.
   The plot gives some nice twists.
   Laugh out loud contrivances.
   Fantasy explicating real life.
   
   What's not: Too short.
   
   It's a fun game that Haskett plays and there is craziness around every corner. Haskett drives home a message - "I was a victim of a series of accidents - as are we all."
   
   So A.L. Hasket what about that next book?



2. You're going to love Duncan Delaney if you're male. Between he and his buddy, they do just about everything that you ever envisioned yourself doing, perhaps not exactly, but in concept at least. Things move fast, and there's not a lot of words wasted in this story. It's not long, you'll probably read it in a day. But it's very satisfying. I'm not sure if I'm going to read it again, but I'm not going to give it away like all the other books that I read. At least, not for a while.



3. "Quick, easy and fun" ... yup, that's how I found A.L. Haskett's debut novel, Duncan Delaney & the Cadillac of Doom.
   
   I'm not sure why Bantam compares Haskett to Tom Robbins per se. Actually, I would compare him to Hemmingway or Chandler just as much as I would compare him to Robbins, which isn't saying there's an obvious comparison at all, really. His characters are unconventional, sure, but his writing style is simple, streamlined and almost journalistic. This, all in all, makes the book easy to zip through.
   
   The only issue I had was with Duncan Delaney; I didn't find him a great protangonist. I didn't find his dialogue all that real, which made it difficult to keep my interest. But Benjamin Lonetree, on the other hand, is great fun and redeems Haskett's ability to characterize. His dialogue is fresh, his actions are bold, and he just outshines all the characters in the book.



4. I bought this book because of the good reviews it received on Amazon and because it was compared to the works of Tom Robbins and Christopher Moore, both of whom I love. But, to compare this book to those authors' work is downright insulting to Robbins and Moore. This book wants to be a screenplay and it reads like one. The dialogue is so trite that it made me cringe to read it and the character development was also very poor. It was very difficult to finish this book even though it was relatively short.



5. I don't understand why Christopher Moore's name keeps coming up in discussions about this book (and I realize that I just brought it up again). The only similarities I see between the two authors are the bizarrely intriguing titles. I honestly feel that this book is much deeper and richly written than anything I've read by Moore, and I wish I could find more information on this A.L. Haskett person. It almost seems like Haskett wrote this book and disappeared again.
   
   That said, I have to recommend this book to everybody. I was put off by the title, thinking that it was going to be one of those barely coherent bizarro stories, but I was pleasantly surprised and immediately addicted when I was introduced to the namesake character and his friend.
   
   As far as characterization goes, Duncan Delaney is the bee's knees. No character in this book is unimportant. Even the walk-on characters are laid open as Duncan's artwork sends each individual viewer into a beautifully nostalgic reverie.
   
   The use of Duncan's dreams as both a window into his past and an "intervention of the wise sage" technique make the story just that much more beautiful, and every part of the book feels rewarding and important. The humor is sharp and funny. The conflicts are intense and wonderful. And, of course, the antagonist is NOT a demonic car that chases people down or shoot hellfire or anything.
   
   If you enjoy reading, read this book. That's all I can say. You'd be better off getting it from the internet, as most book stores don't seem to carry it.

5 comments about Cadillac Beach: A Novel.

1. But humorous. This tale is too complicated to even begin to describe. Serge and his dopehead buddy Lenny never grew up, and take a wild romp through Miami under the guise of a tourism business. Lots of gangsters, shootings, diamonds, trying to find out what happened to grandpa Sergio, etc. The plot jumps back and forth over a 40 year span and becomes way too hard to try to follow.. just enjoy the pointless laughs.



2. 
   So - It was an impulse buy.
   
   There on the local Barnes & Noble, remainder rack.
   
   Cadillac Beach - Ok! It was the cover art that made me pick it up; apparently this Tim Dorsey has written a slew of books. I figured if Tim was keeping the publishers happy (they are a notoriously, bottom line lot) he may be worth a "look."
   
   Pretty damn good!
   
   Serge, the main character, is thought to be criminally insane.
   A fictional example of genius having its curious, other side.
   
   Set simultaneously in 1964 and the present day Miami - Serge feels compelled to bring back the heyday of a bygone era - when Miami was America's southern jewel; exotic, trend setting, and notorious.
   
   Throughout - it is difficult to determine whether Serge is a genius - appearing crazy or a lucky lunatic. Perhaps both.
   
   What's good:
   
   Insightful, historical backdrop - very funny - ingenious plotting- great characterizations
   
   Not so good:
   
   Sometimes over the top, a few, seemingly senseless killings, lengthy rants - the true genius of Dorsey's, inspired, plot twists may appear confusing
   
   Somewhere towards the end, this novel seemed to run out of gas. I set it aside and thought about not finishing it. Gladly that was not my mistake!
   
   Serge has a master plan that he never divulges. He links bizarre events and issues. With the main character's reasoning so horribly flawed that only humor can respite, the final product is simultaneously dirty and elegant.
   
   I appreciate an author who brings more to the table than clever verbiage. Spoiled by writers who teach as well as they tell - I highly recommend Cadillac Beach!
   
   Caslo



3. So, it's over the top, outrageous, ridiculous even. But, it's so dang funny -- And, you'll actually root for the serial killer, who's not all that bad.
   
   You absolutely must have a sense of humor to read Dorsey. It's not cartoon-y, more of a futuristic Keystone cops on bad dope, perhaps?
   
   Anyway, the Florida historical information is rich and believable and Dorsey includes enough truth in his work to make you think maybe the Sunshine state residents are sniffing the Coppertone a bit too enthusiastically.
   
   If you need an escape and can't afford a plane ticket or the time to get away, try this book (or any of the other Dorsey novels) and you'll emerge refreshed and perhaps a bit stunned, but you'll know you've been somewhere.



4. In the last Dorsey book we finally found out what happened with the suitcase full of money, but now there is a new target for Serge and his "friends". In 1964 there was a big heist in New York and most of the jewels were recovered in Miami Beach, but there are twelve large diamonds that were never found. Guess who will go after them? In this case though, Serge's ultimate goal is not the valuable merchandise, but to find out what really happened to his grandfather. Serge believes his death is related to the diamonds and that he did not kill himself, but that he was murdered instead.
   
   As is normally the case, Dorsey starts the book with an illogical scene, and then without warning us, goes back in time to explain how the characters got there and what is the logic behind the events. A group of salesmen visiting Miami for a convention decide to play a prank on an old friend. But being drunk, they grab the wrong person, who ends up dead in an accident during the "kidnapping". The fact that the victim was a member of the Palermo organization, one of the most powerful families in the Florida mafia, and that Serge was driving the limo, complicate things a little.
   
   Serge has teamed up with Lenny, the weed fiend, and decided to put his knowledge and special personality to use. They start a tour business, which is intended to show the other side of Miami to those willing to take the risk. Once again, besides the hilarious comments and situations, we get a collection of eye-opening tidbits about Florida's history, in this case focused on Miami. The vast amount of things that bother Serge are also a treat to rejoice in; especially because he is right in most of them. For example, he is bothered by bait and switch tactics and by the last episode of "Seinfeld", among many others.
   
   As those that are familiar with the series know, Dorsey consistently delivers an array of outrageous situations that make us laugh out loud. But in this case, there is much more, because part of the book focuses on the past. Yes, on the time previous to the death of Serge's grandfather, who by the way was named Sergio. We get to see who shaped Serge's personality and also the origins of this charming serial killer. I still can see him in my mind as an innocent little boy running around the tables in strip joints. For the Dorsey fans, this is as good as it gets, and for those that have not tried the series yet, I just have to say: What are you waiting for? Go and pick up "Florida Roadkill" right away and embark on this wonderful journey.



5. Bought as gift for my son. Was a little dissapointed in the condition of the book. It was suppose to have been new but it looked used.

5 comments about Cadillac Jukebox (Dave Robicheaux Mysteries).

1. Glenda, the Good Witch of Northern Oz, said "It's always best to start at the Beginning," but she was talking about the Yellow Brick Road. With James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux mystery and mayhem series, that ain't necessarily so, it's all Good, and the reader may start anywhere within this steamy, murkily atmospheric Southern Louisiana stories arc.
   
   In this affair, Burke illustrates that "Some Saturday afternoon heroes will never go gently into that good night." Patrician Golden Boy and former LSU quarterback, descendent of KKK lynchmongers, Buford LaRose is running for Governor of the Great State of Louisiana. His ultra-libidinous wife, daughter of a gumball vendor to cheerleader, aspires to be First Lady. What have they to do with the 30 year old murder of a Civil Rights leader? and what about the Tim Leary flashback guru guy?
   
   Burke as Robicheaux in the 1st person does his usual deft job of leading us through a mire of local characters, backwoods highways and bayous and, for tunes for the trip, there's that titular Cadillac Jukebox. /TundraVision, Amazon Reviewer



2. This is the third time that JLB has tackled the same type of story: a old murder, an old acquaintance, an old girlfriend and a boyhood friend (who is on the wrong side of the law).
   
   The old murder involves the killing of a NAACP civil rights activist forty years ago by a KKK racist. The old acquaintance is an ex-vietnam marine (sound familiar) who became successful (came from the right side of the tracks) and is now running for Governor. The ex-girlfriend is now the politicians wife who has never forgiven Dave for dumping her. The old boyhood friend is a 'made-man' who has been playing both sides for a while and is now in trouble with everyone.
   
   Needless to say the bad-guys get their cumuppence and the good guys win, but as always there is some collateral damage to someone near Dave. His old friend and bait shop buddy, Batist, gets stuck between a rock and a hard place, but thankfully survives.



3. James Lee Burke in Cadillac Jukebox does an excellent job of describing the corruption in Louisiana politics that has been around for years. This book kept me on the edge of my seat wondering where it was going next. This was my second Burke book and I will be reading many more. Recommended to all. Keep them coming Mr Burke.



4. I really enjoyed this book. The mobsters are so well discribed and play into the plot. The mix of the southern artistocrats and the dirty underworld makes this a fun read.



5. The regular characters of the bayou are back in this Dave Robicheaux novel as well as the usual pyscho killer.
   The characters are colorful . The plot is okay.I'm not sure why the pyscho killer was hired to kill but, I never lost interest in the story. This novel is really 31/2 stars.

5 comments about Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water, Revised Edition.

1. If you want to see how U.S. government policy and greed has encouraged the wasteful use of water in The West, this is the book you should read. Every politician should read this book so that more rational decisions are made with regard to our national resources. The book is well written and a joy to read even though the information provided will make you wonder why we as a nation are willing to sacrifice the future for our immediate short-term gains.



2. This book was an alarming, eye-opening account of how the United States is running out of it's own water resources that provide for many of desert urban areas. Why is it that we are settling in areas that are not natural for us as human beings to live in, and depleting our water resources and damaging natural beauty in order to live in seemingly uninhabital areas, such as Las Vegas, and Phoenix? This book looks to address this and much much more. A great read for anyone interested in enviromental politics and issues in the U.S..



3. Cadillac Desert is a plodding book that spends more time making sideways remarks about its characters than establishing it's own narrative. Plagued by numerous typographical errors, it reads in fits and starts. While its message of government excess and because-we-can justification for modifying the natural landscape is surely worthwhile, if repetitive, the fact of the matter is that two generations of farmers, ranchers and urbanites in the American West looked to the Bureau of Reclamation as the only organization suited to develop their water resources. The dated material is noticeable at times--who but a civil engineer now knows of the Teton Dam failure? why the concern over the Central Arizona Project that has operated for nearly two decades?--and the treatment of the material is done with an eye toward stirring the reader's emotions more than informing them. Donald Worster's Rivers of Empire deals with much the same material in a more thorough and even-handed, though academic, manner.



4. Essential reading for anyone living in the American West or living in the East and subsidizing water rates in the West.



5. This was a return engagement to "Cadillac Desert", as I had read the original in the 1980s, amazed at the time, considering it a premier example of thorough history and analysis in a subject about which few people knew much at all. What could have been a "dry" subject was actually quite gripping and informative, and fortunate to have many participants in key moments still available.
   
   In that sense the author was ahead of his time, documenting essential history that looks all the more important twenty years later. No doubt the book would still be fresh history to many, especially if supplemented by some other source on more current topics. I can only imagine what Mr. Reisner would think of the explosive growth of Las Vegas in the barren Nevada desert in recent years.
   
   I finally got to the revised edition and certainly feel the loss of Marc Reisner, who would have had plenty of material for another revision or two. The additional material is a plus, although it, too, has been around long enough for either edition to be a worthwhile reference.
   
   The growth of Los Angeles and the whole situation with the Owens Valley, San Fernando Valley, William Mulholland, the Chandlers, and so on, is exceptional, and can be read almost on its own. Perhaps there is a more definitive history, with more emphasis on some individuals or some other angle. Reisner packs a punch, laying it all out bluntly, including the fraud and corruption along with social and technical aspects.
   
   Another favorite was the early history of the unexplored West, such as John Wesley Powell's prescience and his journey down the virgin Colorado. How much the region has changed in such a short time, and how extensive were our errors.
   
   This is a first-rate history.