Book Description
A powerful and spiritually satisfying novel from a compelling new voice about three courageous women who must confront the harsh realities of their lives through faith and prayer. Pam Lyons has a husband who places more trust in money and marijuana than in God. Yvonne Hastings is a minister's wife whose husband's infidelity and physical abuse brings their marriage to a crossroads. Taylor Johnson is a single mother who is looking for a good Christian man to help raise her son, but is unable to rid herself of the guilt left over from her promiscuous past. The secret of Taylor's child's paternity is the catalyst for the tumultuous relationship between the three women. Together, they will learn unforgettable lessons about love, forgiveness, prayer, and sisterhood.
Customer Reviews:
Wailing Women.......2007-05-26
While interesting, I found the characters to be faily predictable in their response to their individuals challenges. All claimed to be "saved", yet each exhibited characteristics that highlighted their lack of faith and self-esteem. Each character could have shown more depth, possibly more background information to help readers understand what molded their traits; set their personalities, etc.
While overall, I enjoyed the premise of the plot, the story left a lot of questions unanswered--unless a sequel is anticipated.
Good Debut Novel.......2006-06-29
This was a very good story for the first time out for this novelist. She brings you into the lives of Taylor, Pam and Yvonne. The story was very interesting and well put together. I could not put this book down. The ending was a little rushed I thought but nonetheless this book was worth my money. I like how God can touch you through a story.
Agape Book Ministry.......2006-05-20
I thought this was a very interesting book. It kept my attention with all of the plots and twists. I really learned alot from this book. Keep up the good work. Looking forward to reading more from you.
Reality.......2006-05-19
I enjoyed reading this book. It presents real situations that can happen to anyone. The central theme in my opinion is prayer and developing a relationship with God. I think the author did a good job with bringing three separate women with different circumstances together while providing a common ground for each of them. And that common ground was the love, friendship and prayer.
www.valderbeebeshow.com.......2006-03-05
Interesting with secrets, lies and the impact of making life decisions. A great reflection of the realities of life.
Customer Reviews:
Among Peters' Better Inspector Felse Novels.......2005-06-22
Best known for her "Brother Cadfael" series, Ellis Peters (1913-1985) was also the author of thirteen novels featuring Inspector George Felse. Published in 1961, DEATH AND THE JOYFUL WOMAN is the second novel in that series. Like most of Peters' work, it is a lightly written, enjoyable read.
In this particular novel, Inspector Felse is called to the scene of an unlikely homicide: Alfred Armiger, wealthy businessman and owner of the newly opened pub The Jolly Barmaid, has been found clubbed to death with a bottle of champagne. At a guess, the most likely suspect would seem to be Armiger's son Leslie; the two have had a very public falling out. But Leslie Armiger is hardly the only suspect; there is also the young and slightly eccentric heiress Kitty Norton, whose beauty ensnares Felse's young son Dominic. And Dominic may be willing to run any risk to protect her from prison.
JOYFUL WOMAN is among the most critically lauded of Peters' Inspector Felse novels, and with some reason. The characters are particularly well drawn, the plot is quite tight, and it reads at a quick pace. True enough, Peters will never compete with such masters of the genre as Christie, Sayers, or Marsh--and a sharp reader will likely spot the killer in the last third of the novel. Still, JOYFUL WOMAN is a pleasant read and good introduction to Peters' style of "cosy" mystery.
GFT, Amazon Reviewer
Repetitive from the first in the series........2004-10-15
Ellis Peters is a very good author, so I don't understand why she would have used the same trick in each of the first two books in the George Felse series. Also, I thought that this series was a George Felse series, but both of the first two books have his young son Dominic as the key character and the one who actually solves the case in each instance. This book also exposes poor Dominic to an adolescent crush that seems to take over the plot of the story. Needless to say, I was very disappointed with this book. I do hope that subsequent books in the series have different plots and a little less of a certain adolescent boy. In this book a rich business magnate is found brutally murdered in his brand new ballroom in his brand new hotel. The police seem to be at sixes and sevens throughout the book, and it appears that this murder is just "too complicated" for them to solve, but it was easily figured out by Dominic. Disappointed (and that's the first time ever that I've said this about Ellis Peters).
"Death and the Joyful Woman": Rediscovering the Felses.......1998-04-17
Is vulgarity grounds for murder? Alfred Armiger had antagonized many with his greed and crass acquisitiveness. So when the ruthless beer baron is discovered dead, his head beaten in by a magnum of champagne, there is no shortage of suspects. But all of Comerford is shocked with Detective George Felse arrests Kitty Norris, the daughter of a rival beer baron, the last person to see Armiger alive, and the main beneficiary of his will! But Kitty, charming and popular, has an unexpected advocate in Felse's young son, Dominic, who secretly adores her. Passionately convinced of Kitty's innocence, Dominic sets out to find the true culprit, a hazardous undertaking that might well cost him his life!
Best known for the Brother Cadfael mysteries, Ellis Peters actually wrote the Felse series first, but until recent years, these appealing books have been out of print in the United States. "Death and the Joyful Woman," which received an Edgar Award, deserves a warm welcome from American readers. Peters has told not only an engaging mystery but a sensitive coming-of-age story as well. Characters and relationships are sharply delineated--Dominic is a highly likable teen sleuth and his interactions with his parents, especially his father, are both amusing and touching. And a subplot concerning a struggling young couple and an unusual painting--the Joyful Woman of the title--proves just as involving as the main storyline. Readers of "Fallen into the Pit," Peters' first Felse mystery, may notice that the method Dominic uses to flush out the murderer is similar to the one he employs here, but this is a minor quibble in an otherwise excellent novel. Highly recommended.
Average customer rating:
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Death and the Joyful Woman
Manufacturer: Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000GAP4CS |
Product Description
Bloody Pink Champagne spilled over the polished ballroom floor. ALfred Armiger had kept his secretive rendezvous. The ruthless and cunning Armiger had told no one who his special guest was to be-- but he was most surprised of all when an uninvited visitor made the symbol of his triumph the instrument of his death.
Product Description
Paperbacks
Book Description
Enter lands of mystery, magic, and danger in the triumphant epic fantasy inspired by The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám!
The realm is tormented by catastrophe. Lord Safar Timura, the great wizard, is trapped in the doomed world of Hadin, condemned to suffer and die, over and over again. It is up to his wizard son, Prince Palimak, to stop the disaster slowly poisoning land and sea.
Though he is half human and half demon, even Palimak may not possess the awesome powers needed to free Safar and discover the great lost tomb, guarded by a fierce she-beast who holds secrets to halt the terror.
There are many enemies, barbarian kings, monsters of the underworld--and, lording over all, the Demon Moon, looming in silent, bloody challenge. With the help of Leiria, warrior goddess, Palimak must destroy the doomspell and confront the sinister Demon Moon. Only then will the gods be awakened and the world be saved . . .
Customer Reviews:
Forget it ........2000-08-09
If you look for a 5 star piece of fantasy , look for G.R.R.Martin , S.Donaldson , T.Williams , D.Eddings , J,Wurts or R.Jordan .
If you want to read a 100th variation of Connan the Barbarian (or Forgotten Realms for that matter) with VERY bad witches and a VERY nice hero , you can try this book .
Well I grabbed it in a hurry on an airport , wanted to throw it away after 2 chapters but had still a long flight ...
So it is my duty to warn every fantasy amateur who'd happen to come here : forget Cole .
I hope it is not the last one!.......2000-01-06
The 3 tome of the Tales of the Timuras are very good. And each of them show an other aspect of all the actors in this adventure, making this saga attractive enough to make me wait for a 4th book!
Only bad point would be the difference of book cover between the book 1-2 and the book 3 (Did the writer change his editing company! ) Same format I do agree but I like some order in my bookshell.
Buy them!
Engaging adventure from a grand storyteller.......1999-09-02
Safar Timura, a character modeled on Omar Khayyam, continues his desperate journey in this next volume of the Tales of the Timuras. In attempting to lead his uprooted people to a haven safe from the vengeance-mad Protarus, Safar finds himself rushing towards the volcanic destruction and personal doom he has anticipated in vision. Several excellent new characters are introduced in this volume, including a wonderfully conniving evil queen and her brutal ruler son, who provide even more complications as the hero tries to save not only his people, but ultimately the world. An unexpected ally also joins the group in the quest to stop the rapidly spiralling destruction and bring to consciousness the gods that have abandoned the world. A rousing tale of courage against odds, of desire versus duty, of ambition and corruption - adventure on a grand scale, along with the wonderful characters and interactions we have come to expect from Cole. Adrenalin-rousing episodes lead towards the awe-ful finale at Hadinland, where Safar plays out the final confrontation with fiery forces of evil and a resolution with Protarus. As an aside, I would recommend the British version of this book, which has additional scenes that do not appear in the slightly shorter American edition. An exciting, recommended series.
The action starts fast and does not let up........1999-09-01
As I neared the end of The God's Awaken and was mentally drafting this review, I had planned on describing Book 3 as the "thrilling conclusion" to the series. Having finished the novel, however, I'm not so sure we've seen the last of Safar Timura. Call it a hunch.The novel's action starts fast and does not slow down, culminating in a very powerful ending that is, in my opinion, truly riveting -- Allan Cole writing at his best. The thing I like best about the Timura Trilogy is its flawed characters and the troubled relationships between them. In Book 1, we cannot help but feel that there is something not quite right with Iraj Protarus, but we¹re willing to overlook such misgivings for the sake of his and Safar's friendship. It all makes for powerful storytelling. Speaking of flawed characters, both real and imagined, you can imagine my delight when I learned that I was going to be a part of this wonderful series -- as a character in Book 3. Allan, my thanks to you for the many hours of reading pleasure and for the incredible honor of an alternate life as a demon most awful.Bob Rhodes, Southern California, aka King Rhodes, Syrapis
Book Description
There are 3 kinds of investigations that can be made with a syncrometer;
1.You can detect entities in your body, taken as a whole. For example, mercury aflatoxin, Streptococcus pneumonia, Epstein Barre virus, orthophosphotyrosine, benzene. Such a test is not as sensitive as the organ test, described next, but for this reason allows you to select those entities most abundant in the body and therefore of special significance.
2.You can identify which organs contain a particular entity. For example, the mercury may be in the kidney, the Streptococcus in the joints, and so on. This allows you to embark on a cleanup program for your body in a focused way. The syncrometer lets you monitor your progress.
3.You can detect entities in products. For example, lead in your household water, thulium in your reverse osmosis water, asbestos in your sugar.
Customer Reviews:
Synchrometer Science Laboratory Manual.......2005-09-13
This book is the finest book written by Hulda Clark that goes to the nitty gritty of cleansing the body and chasing out the polutants and invaders. The progress Hulda Clark has done in the field of health in mere 15 years could not be done by Allopaty in hundreds of years.Fantastic job!
This is the ultimate science appetizer.......2005-04-24
This is the ultimate science appetizer. It is relevant because it holds the key to proper immune support and protection. It is fascinating because it is new turf. This book shows how to be your own toxin detective in the foods you eat and the personal items you use.
Knowledge is power and the knowledge in this collection of experiments will put you and your family into the power of toxin reduction and elimination.
Here is the magic wand to make intelligent daily choices in the marketplace and in the kitchen.
Here is the book that started me on the path of science investigation.
Here are only a tiny fraction of the experiements by the woman who deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for decoding the functions and processes of the body detoxification systems.
Here is the book I wouldn't sell at any price.
Here is the cutting edge neo/techno Dr. Clark revolution.
Her body resonance invention inspired the marriage of radio electronics with biochemistry to offer a cheap, personal, and effective means of studying the workings of your own body in the comfort of your own home.
Ahhhhh, if only she had been my science teacher in high school I might have been a rocket scientist by now. I'll settle for being a benzene-detecting kitchen mama.
It Works.......2001-05-27
My paradigm of science has been expanded. I bought the syncrometer. I bought the video by Carmen Myers. I bought the Syncrometer Science Manual. I sat down one afternoon with all of the above. After three hours of practice, it worked.I will never, NEVER be the same again!!
A technical guide packed with explanations and tips.......2001-05-18
Syncrometer Science Laboratory Manual is a college-level manual with a plastic comb binding which will find its audience with students interested in making a Syncrometer and devising experiments for its use. These biology students will receive a thorough grounding in experimental procedures using syncrometry, from plate-zapping to new techniques for cancer therapy. A technical guide packed with explanations and tips on applying the syncrometer to research.
The tide is turning!.......2001-01-04
I was astonished when I saw this manual available from Amazon. Fantastic! For all the skeptics out there who view Hulda Clark's theories as "unscientific" and "quackery," I invite you to check out her latest publication. This is science way beyond its time. This independant scientist has bypassed the normal route of dicovery and handed the results to you personally. No medical journal time lag involved here! She is not motivated by peer recognition nor financial gain. (Clearly the great power above would not have allowed her tremendous success in cancer, aids, etc. if she was motivated by greed.) Anybody familiar with biochemistry and physics can truly appreciate this entire book. It is basically broken down into 3 sections: 1. Basic syncrometer testing: This section contains 30 experiments in basic syncrometer testing. It is a companion section on her 3 books, "Cure for All Cancers," "Cure for Hiv/Aids," and "The Cure for All Diseases."
2. Syncrometer Biochemistry testing: This section contains 62 experiments in advanced biochemical testing with the syncrometer. This is not for the beginner. Nor can one use household products to make testing samples, but with a few hundred dollars in specimen, tissue and substance slides the possibilities are endless!
3. Geometabolism: This 3rd section of 16 experiments undoubtedly qualifies Dr. Clark for a Noble prize in various categories.(Of course she deserved a Noble prize in medicine with her very first Cancer book!) This section involves the effect of the earth's(or outer space) magnetic field on the timing of our metabolism. It would be a great discovery in modern science if she or other syncrometer operator was able to perform these experiments in a space environment outside of the earths atmosphere. This would bring us major steps closer to piecing together many questions of our existence. Are we really connected to our universe? Is there an ultimate "force" that brings us all together? Is there really something to Ayurvedic medicine's philosophy of our health being connected with the cosmos?(Ayurveda is the oldest form of medicine originating from India and spawning nutritional and exercise(yoga) guidelines.)
This book is years ahead of its time for those who can look past its basic ingredient, the syncrometer. Although rather elementary in its design compared to todays technology, its use involves the most sensitive, fool proof machine existing. Our own senses. This device is more sensitive than ELISA immunology testing, is cheap, quick and user frendly. So what is the catch? Well ask any musician if their instrument is difficult to use and you will most likely get a quick, "No!" The reason for this confident answer is that they have PRACTICED long hours. The syncrometer will initially require a few hours of practice much like a musical instrument. It is a blend of hand eye coordination, sensitive listening and concentration to blend the two together. In 6 months of daily practice one can become a saviour to ailing family members and friends. Good luck and God bless!
Customer Reviews:
A Helper for Planning Ahead.......2002-03-08
For the last 10 years this has been my favorite cookbook. I've been through 3 phases of life: single, married, married with 3 children. And the "Do Ahead" cookbook has made all 3 stages of life flow a little easier by planning what's for dinner ahead of time and then enjoying a delicious meal that's quick to put on the table.
Each recipe gives information on freezing or how long to keep in the refrigerator. Several recipes are given for leftovers of a main meat dish (such as ham). Some chapters provide full menus for various occasions.
One of my 10 best cookbooks.......1997-10-02
With an extensive and sophisticated library of cookbooks I am always amused by the compliments received; (always), and the requested recipes from guests enjoying foods prepared through the use of this book! I now give it as a gift as I am tiring of copying from its pages at the behest of my friends, business associates and family. It is filled with practical yet interesting suggestions and many favorite recipies.
Customer Reviews:
My all time favorite.......2002-07-01
I must echo what each of the other reviewers has already said about this book. I have made many of the recipes and always get asked for "a copy". At least six of my friends have gone out and purchased their own edition of the book. Now I'm planning to buy a second copy so I won't have to keep taking my original with me when I go to Florida for an extended period in the winter.I really can't be without it.Even my batchelor son borrows Mom's book when he's entertaining.
Must Have Book for entertaining.......2000-10-12
This is a great book! I have made the Delta Shrimp recipe several times and always get asked for the recipe. I make it even easier using frozen uncooked, peeled and cleaned shrimp, and always get rave reviews. The Company Artichoke Chicken Bake is also excellent! For anyone who loves to entertain, and do most of the preparation ahead of time, this is the book to get!
One of the best cookbooks I own.......2000-05-30
This has become one of the books I reference most often. I like the individual recipes, but I absolutely LOVE the recipes for full dinners and buffets. I have made the cocktail for 40 not once, but twice, and it was a smashing success both times. My new mother-in-law so enjoyed the frozen apple waldorf salads I made for an inlaws visit recently, she asked for the recipe - when I removed it from my cupboard, she said, oh, I have that cookbook, but I haven't looked at it. What a shame! It's one of my all-time favorites!
A Tried & True Find.......1999-12-20
The time saving tips you will find here are worth their weight in gold. I like to entertain but still have enought time and energy left to enjoy my company. This book teaches you how to prepare foods well in advance so you are not running around at the last frazzled minute before dinner guests arrive. I had a Christmas part for 60- prepared all the food myself and did minimal preparation that day. I was able to freeze the cream puffs for Curried Chicken Salad Puffs a month ahead and fill them that day. The section Coctail Buffet for Forty took all the hassle out of planning for a large affair and I used every recipe I found there- the Beef Tenderloin with Horseradish was elegant to serve and thrilled my guests. Also, the Rasberry Vinaigrette is the best I've ever come across. This is almost exclusively the only cookbook I use and has become my standard present for soon-to-be brides.
Beyond Compare.......1998-05-02
Over the past 25 years, I've purchased a lot of cookbooks and I love to cook. When I ordered this book I expected a lot of mediocre recipes that could be done ahead and in a hurry. What a wonderful surprise. Every recipe I've made has been outstanding and received rave reviews from my family. I don't like meatloaf - but I loved the Piquant Little Meat Loaves. Cornish Hens Mandarin was excellent and Company Chicken-Artichoke pleased even grumpy teenagers. The final and supreme compliment came when I visited my mom (recovering from surgery in Iowa) and I cooked one of the recipes. She is a superb (extremely particular) cook and said, "This is a cookbook that finally makes sense." She liked that the first recipe was large and leftovers were utilized in the series of recipes that followed. Thank you so much for a group of fresh and exciting recipes!
Book Description
This book, written by an experienced treasure hunter, provides practical tips to get started in the hobby and find relics, coins, jewelry, treasure and lost items. Photographs and suggestions on how to conduct research make this an easy-to-read and easy-to-follow book for those who have an interest in learning about this fascinating hobby.
Customer Reviews:
Don't bother.......2007-09-09
Book was very short with some interesting points. Some were useful and others were very obvious. Seems more like the author put this book out to make a quick buck.
Helpful Information.......2005-02-16
I was given this book as a gift. It gave helpful information to go along with my medal detector Christmas present. As a beginner the information was useful. I recommend this book for anyone who is new to detecting and just wants basic information. Kathy W.
A pamphlet, not a book.......2004-09-16
At all of 43 pages this book is certainly not worth the price. Most of the information is useful only if you've never heard of detectors or coin hunting. That said, the author is enthusiastic and does give some ideas for beginners.
Average customer rating:
- Excellent relevant historical treatment of Swedish carving
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Carving & Whittling: The Swedish Style
Gert Ljungberg , and
Inger A:son-Ljungberg
Manufacturer: Sterling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| Instructional & How-To
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Sculpture
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Fun with Paper & Wood, Stones & Knives
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Woodworking
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Projects
| Woodworking
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 188737440X |
Customer Reviews:
Excellent relevant historical treatment of Swedish carving.......1999-12-15
Carving and Whittling: The Swedish Style is an excellent source for historical information of techniques and materials in the Swedish style of carving, as well as some information on other cultures' development of carving. One of my all time favorite carving books I have had the pleasure of reading and putting to use. Overall a great book and wonderful photos.
Average customer rating:
- Good introduction to folk carving.
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Swedish Carving Techniques (International Craft Classic)
Wille Sundqvist
Manufacturer: Taunton Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Woodworking
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Materials Science
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0942391454 |
Customer Reviews:
Good introduction to folk carving........2001-09-01
This book takes you through traditional folk woodcarving, with an emphasis on sloyd (handcraft) knives and some discussion of axe, adze, and gouge work.
The author shows you the tools and how to sharpen them. Then he gets into carving techniques and different kinds of strokes. He discusses in detail control, power and safety. He starts off showing you how to sharpen a pencil, and gets into dough bowls, butter paddles, spoons and ladles. There is a good discussion of how to design spoons so that the strength is maximized by the shape of the spoon and choice of wood.
If you are interested in carving boots or ducks, this book is probably not for you. But if the sensuous appeal of a spoon carved from a tree branch appeals to you, you will find it fascinating.
Favorite quote: "A knifeless man is a lifeless man."
Customer Reviews:
The Man With All The Toys.......2007-04-03
There was little in life William Paley wanted and didn't get, with the notable exception of a laudatory and readable biography. Sally Bedell Smith performed half that service with "In All His Glory," published the same year Paley died (1990); you will be hard-pressed to find as juicy a book on a hundred more engaging personalities.
Paley built a radio-television empire with CBS, "the Tiffany Network" known for its much-touted commitment to quality broadcasting. While acquiring markets and talents was Paley's contribution to CBS's glory, it was secondary by Bedell Smith's reckoning to his more material passions for lucre, women, and fame. He got most of what he wanted, but as we watch him on his deathbed, it's hard not to feel a Calvinistic twinge of regret for his limited vision.
"Bill Paley wanted every last minute from life," Bedell Smith writes.
It's about the most positive thing she has to say about Paley, who otherwise doesn't come off either as visionary or a leader. He failed to see the promise of innovations like television, color television, and the long-playing record, and had to be coaxed to letting his subordinates take up these and other ideas for building his empire. Then when they achieved success, Paley swooped in and took credit. "The convenient amnesia of the powerful," Bedell Smith calls it.
Where Paley excelled was in the art of interpersonal relations, which contributed to some major deals for CBS and very few lonely evenings for Paley himself, even if his wives couldn't say the same.
Bedell Smith writes an engaging story about Paley's years at CBS, but it is in recounting his social life where the book excels. Paley was born Jewish, and spent the rest of his life trying to pretend otherwise. Even as other Jews formed their own high-level Manhattan social circle, "Our Crowd, " Paley preferred to court the Mayflower set, a fast-dying clique of Long Island dinosaurs who imagined themselves better than the rest of mankind for the money they inherited.
One British noblewoman who ran with this set described Paley as "100 percent Jew but looking more like good news from Tartary," nicely encapsulating the jaded, facile, anti-Semitic waters Paley willingly navigated.
Readers looking for more of a history of CBS may be vaguely disappointed. Paley was seen as an "absentee landlord" by network insiders, leaning on Frank Stanton and other executives to run the shop while he globetrotted. Bedell Smith leaves the trail of the network for many long chapters at a stretch, to focus on Paley's marriages and affairs.
The problem with this shows with her loving depiction of wife number two, Babe Cushing, a glamorous clotheshorse. Bedell Smith describes Babe's look and surroundings in overrich detail, at one point itemizing the contents of her closets for half a page. Bedell Smith obviously treasures Babe more than Paley himself ever did, an imbalance that threatens to lose the reader from time to time.
But Babe is an interesting mirror to view Paley from, an empire builder in her own right who left nothing in the way of a legacy but gaudy baubles and mixed memories about what it all meant. As she lay dying of cancer, an unnamed intimate tells Bedell Smith: "She had not a glimmer of having a soul." It's a comment with more than religious meaning.
For Paley, too, the world was all there was, and immortality something only worth having if he was around to enjoy it. He built an empire, only to hang on too long and preside over its crumbling, even facilitate it when his hand-picked successor failed to show him the proper deference. Ephemerality is the nature of mass media, and in that way at least, Paley proved its perfect embodiment.
Inaccurate .......2006-09-24
This book is not only unremittingly malicious in tone,
but well known as being inaccurate, sloppily put together,
and a book whose author clearly had an agenda in depicting
Paley as some kind of monster of evil. A bad book that
leaves you feeling bad.
Thorough Inspection of a Fascinating Man.......2003-08-17
Author Sally Bedell Smith does her typically excellent job with IN ALL HIS GLORY, her biography of William Paley. Smith is known for her scholarship and her research, and it shows in this book.
Like many self-made successful people, Paley led an interesting life. Smith chronicles his original involvement with the nascent television industry as his interest grew into the empire he built surrounding CBS.
This is an important book for anyone interested in the development of that industry. As well, it is a fascinating peek into Paley's life. Here was a man who moved from the ghetto life of a child of 19th century European immigrants to becoming one of America's power elite. Once he was rich, he lived his life accordingly.
His journey makes for fascinating reading.
Upclose Look at Media Giant.......2003-07-27
This book has been out for as long as it has, and no reviews? It's been about five or six years since I've read it, but this volume is a must-read for anyone considering a career in broadcasting, or if you're interested in the building of a corporate empire.
The book takes us from Paley's somewhat well-to-do background and takes us, in all his glory, (which the book's author uses sarcastically), from cigar maker to the head of one of the most powerful corporations in American history, what used to be CBS, Inc.
The book doesn't necessarily portray Paley as a sympathetic character, but more of a small man who made it big. There's a heavy emphasis on the warts of the man, which may be somewhat understandable, since prior to this book's release, he was always presented as a man to be totally revered. But here he's portrayed as someone who likes to take credit for other's doings, as someone who plays petty head games with people such as Frank Stanton, and uses his on-air talent (Ed Murrow, for one) while it's convenient, and then when they're of no use to him anymore, casts them aside.
Despite the type of man Paley is presented as, this book is a very good chronicle of his career, which means it also is one of the definitive books on the creation of CBS. No matter what his personal flaws were, this is a man who did the impossible by challenging NBC to create the even more successful CBS radio network and then dominated television for roughly 20 years. The building of that empire with the "talent raids" of Amos 'n' Andy, Jack Benny, and others is vital reading for anyone who is in the broadcasting industry. What's even more essential, however, is watching the ideas and motivations that took the Columbia Broadcasting System to CBS, Inc, and how it lost focus as it became a corporate behemoth.
Paley's death came several years before Westinghouse, and then Viacom, would acquire CBS, and having read this book, you can only imagine what he would have thought about how that played out.
One final note, while the book is lengthy, it's a breeze-through read. Once you get started, you won't put it down.
Books:
- Wrong Place, Wrong Time: A Novel
- A Change of Heart: A Harmony Novel
- A Crowning Mercy
- A Rose for the Crown: A Novel
- A Son Called Gabriel
- A Triple Shot of Spenser (Spenser Mysteries)
- Baker Towers: A Novel
- Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams: Volume 3 (Batman)
- Behind the Lines: Corps 07 (Corps)
- Beware of God: Stories
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Civil Rights Chronicle
- A Feast for Crows
- The Wadden Sea Ecosystem: Stability Properties and Mechanisms
- Troubleshooting LC Systems: A Comprehensive Approach to Troubleshooting LC Equipment and Separations
- WICKED: THE GRIMMERIE, A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT THE HIT BROADWAY MUSICAL
- Applebee's America: How Successful Political, Business, and Religious Leaders Connect with the New A
- 4 Ingredient Cookbook
- Report Writing for Architects and Project Managers
- Victorian Gothic House Style: An Architectural and Interior Design Source Book for Home Owners
- Yellow Street: A Novel in Five Scenes
Soul Matters
Farther Than I Meant To Go, Longer Than I Meant To Stay
The Amen Sisters
Let the Church Say Amen
A Sin and a Shame: A Novel
