Manual of Bacterial Plant Pathogens

Book Description

Syria & Lebanon, the home of the mighty crusader castles, Roman temples, ancient souks, steaming hammams and delicious food have opened their hospitable arms to the traveller. Detailed up-to-date practical information.

Footprint Jordan/Syria/Lebanon Handbook: The Travel Guide

Average customer rating:

Best guide book on the market

Footprint Jordan/Syria/Lebanon Handbook: The Travel Guide
Ivan Mannheim , and Dave Winter
Manufacturer: Ntc Pub Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Africa | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Middle East | Travel | Subjects | Books

Jordan | Middle East | Travel | Subjects | Books

Lebanon | Middle East | Travel | Subjects | Books

Syria | Middle East | Travel | Subjects | Books

Footprint Handbooks | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 084424869X

Book Description

These three countries are gold mines of interest, from the world famous Nabatean city ruins of Petra and natural wonders of Wadi Rum in Jordan to the glorious Roman ruins of Palmyra and formidable Crusader castle of Crac des Chevaliers in Syria. Lebanon combines a different slice of Middle Eastern/Mediterranean life wit ha wealth of important historical sites.

Customer Reviews:

Best guide book on the market.......2000-12-08

I travelled to Syria and Jordan this November, armed with my first Footprint guide book, and I'm now a convert. It is especially good in giving out well written historical background and cultural titbids that just make the trip so much more rewarding. Lonely Planet and Rough Guides are sooooo shallow by comparison.

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Labour/Le Travail, published by Canadian Committee on Labour History on March 22, 2005. The length of the article is 1259 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Frank Milligan, Eugene A. Forsey: An Intellectual Biography.(Book Review)
Author: Nelson Wiseman
Publication: Labour/Le Travail (Refereed)
Date: March 22, 2005
Publisher: Canadian Committee on Labour History
Issue: 55 Page: 269(3)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Average customer rating:

"Bomb Proof"

The Perfect Pony is a perfect pony book!

Provides newcomers with tips on caring for ponies

Perfect Pony: How to Care for and Train Your Pony
Susan McBane
Manufacturer: The Lyons Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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Similar Items:

My First Horse and Pony Book (My First Horse and Pony)

Horse Handling & Grooming: A Step-By-Step Photographic Guide to Mastering over 100 Horsekeeping Skills (Horsekeeping Skills Library)

Cherry Hill's Horse Care for Kids: Grooming, Feeding, Behavior, Stable & Pasture, Health Care, Handling & Safety, Enjoying

Horses For Dummies (For Dummies (Pets))

ASIN: 158574302X

Amazon.com

It doesn't matter where you live: if you're a parent of a little girl, at some point you'll hear the dreaded words, "I want a pony!" It may be that you've got the financial resources, but live in a downtown condo and don't know the first thing about ponies. Or perhaps you're a country mouse, but know more about cattle than pony breeds. In any case, you'd do well to invest in The Perfect Pony before buying that sweet-faced little Shetland; it could save you both money and frustration. Although the book is extremely detailed, the language is simple enough to hand it over to your 9-year-old pony lover. The first section is devoted to various breeds and explanations of differences between ponies, cobs, and horses. Contrary to what you might think, character is more important that height when making the decision to label your equine pony or horse. They are generally stronger than similarly sized horses, but most important is "a certain look about the face and a particular type of personality." Choosing a pony involves factoring in the child's age as well as what the pony is destined for. If the rider is inexperienced, most important is choosing a "bombproof" pony--one that will never be tempted to unseat your little jockey. It's also important to read later chapters before making a pony purchase; details of boarding, insurances, feed, and care will give you a fair idea of what to expect and what you'll have to pay extra for, along with just how much work the proud new owner should be willing to put forth. With tons of clear color photos and straightforward directions, this is one pony book that can be enjoyed and used regularly by both parent and child. --Jill Lightner

Book Description

A step-by-step introduction to ownership with advice on breeds, management, grooming, and handling.

Customer Reviews:

"Bomb Proof".......2005-05-30

This book was great for laughs. Who knew that ponies joined gangs and beat each other up? This book was bombproof. I will never crawl under my pony again after reading this book. I also learned to contact my "support" group after my pony gets in fights with the other ponies. This book is great for anyone who dosn't know squat about ponies, braiding and gangs.

The Perfect Pony is a perfect pony book!.......2002-07-30

The Perfect Pony is surely worth buying. It gives detailed information on buying your pony, and goes on to give useful information on showing, tack, and more! The Perfect Pony would be a great read for anyone of any age and horse experience. It's filled with beautiful photos that only add to the books greatness.

Provides newcomers with tips on caring for ponies.......2001-09-11

Susan McBane's The Perfect Pony is a practical introduction to caring for and showing a horse. The Perfect Pony provides newcomers with tips on caring for ponies, from breeds and choices to housing, handling and feeding. A fine choice for the home reference collection.

Book Description

This practical yet inspiring series will tell you all you need to know about your favorite plants.

Average customer rating:

Foliage for Year Round Colour
Jane Taylor
Manufacturer: Ward Lock Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Leaves: For All-Year Round Colour and Interest in the Garden

Average customer rating:

Leaves: For All-Year Round Colour and Interest in the Garden
M. J. Jefferson-Brown
Manufacturer: Trafalgar Square Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Garden Design | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0943955181

Average customer rating:

Foliage For Year Round Colour

Manufacturer: Ramboro Books PLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 7215997901

Average customer rating:

Not "Gentle"

A good mix of sleep strategies

not worth it

Not much help for younger babies

It's okay

Good Night, Sleep Tight: The Sleep Lady's Gentle Guide to Helping Your Child Go to Sleep , Stay Asleep, And Wake Up Happy
Kim West , and Joanne Kenen
Manufacturer: CDS Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Babies & Toddlers | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
Child Care | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
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Similar Items:

The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night

The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers: Gentle Ways to Stop Bedtime Battles and Improve Your Childs Sleep (Pantley)

Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems

Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child

Sleeping Through the Night, Revised Edition : How Infants, Toddlers, and Their Parents Can Get a Good Night's Sleep

ASIN: 1593153562

Book Description

Getting a young child to go to sleep and stay asleep is one of the most challenging aspects of parenting. Yet many parents resign themselves to enduring years of exhaustion. Practical help is not easy to find, and much of the available advice stresses letting even very young babies "cry it out," an option that is not comfortable for many parents. Kim West, known to her clients as The Sleep Lady®, has developed an alternative and effective approach that is gentler on both parent and child. West emphasizes that sleep is a learned skill and explains how parents can teach children to sleep, even at an early age. She starts with newborns, showing parents how to avoid sleep problems from the beginning. And she has solutions for older babies and children who have developed poor bedtime, nighttime, or nap time habits. The Sleep Lady method—including a gentle, practical, step-by-step program called The Sleep Lady Shuffle—has proven effective for hundreds of families. West has spent more than a decade successfully teaching parents how to help their children sleep soundly and independently through the night. She provides specific, achievable guidelines that work, while also taking into account the values, lifestyles, and parenting styles unique to each family. Most parents who adopt The Sleep Lady Shuffle see dramatic improvements in a few weeks, if not days. Good Night, Sleep Tight contains age-specific chapters from birth through five years old, in which West succinctly outlines what action to take; discusses important developmental changes; provides sample waking, feeding, and napping schedules; advises how to use The Sleep Lady Shuffle; and lays out common problems and solutions. Included throughout are real-life testimonies and anecdotes from parents West has assisted. Good Night, Sleep Tight also discusses co-sleeping, bedtime strategies for twins and siblings, and dealing with nightmares and illnesses. West even offers tips on how to minimize sleep disruption when families travel or experience other breaks in routine. Essential reading for any tired parent, or any expectant parent who wants to avoid the pitfalls of sleeplessness, Good Night, Sleep Tight offers a practical, gentle, easy-to-follow remedy that will work for all families in need of nights of peaceful slumber.

Customer Reviews:

Not "Gentle".......2007-10-10

I was told that this was an alternative to the CIO method but it really isn't. You just stay in the room while they scream instead of leaving. It even suggests you keep a towel handy because your child may get so upset that he/she throws up, but if that happens you are still not supposed to pick them up. I don't consider that "gentle".

A good mix of sleep strategies.......2007-09-21

I first read Babywise, which a friend had given me. We started on a flexible schedule with feedings about every three hours. This was very helpful and a good start, but after reading some negative things about the book, I wanted to read some others. There are so many different theories on sleeping and feeding! I found Good Night, Sleep Tight and really liked it because it seemed to be a good mix of the different theories. There are a few main components that almost every sleep book I've read recommends, including having a bedtime routine, putting the baby down drowsy but awake, and creating a sleep friendly environment. This book begins with those basic components and gives you additional information and resources. I like that it gives some guidance as to what a typical schedule might be like, what you might expect, etc. It's also nice to see that what you're experiencing is very normal and that there are things you can do about it. My son started sleeping through the night at about 3 months. Naps are still a little difficult to settle him down for and I just pulled the book out again to get some advice on making naps a little easier. There is a whole section of suggestions. I don't think this is a cry it out book. She creates a middle ground between letting your baby cry and responding immediately. Although we didn't need to do the "Sleep Lady Shuffle" she suggests, so I can't comment on that. You will drive yourself crazy trying to find the "right" way to do things. Read what you can and do what feels right.

not worth it.......2007-08-25

This is essentially a "cry it out" book, except she recommends staying in the room for the crying part. There is no new information I could find. So utterly not worth it. It seems that this book was written to generate sales for her individual consultation service. If you've read "No Cry Sleep Solution" and "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" you do not need this book. Just meet the ideas in the middle and realize there will be some uncomfortable nights, then spend your money on something worthwhile.

Not much help for younger babies.......2007-08-24

We bought this book when our daughter was four months old (and had it shipped overnight--we were getting desperate!). It wasn't very helpful, as it turns out. Her advice for babies this age essentially boils down to letting them cry it out, but staying in the room with them. Not particularly helpful, especially since our daughter was more hysterical when we stayed in the room with her than when we left her alone. We ended up doing more of a Ferber approach. No fun for anyone involved, but it worked.

When she was seven months old, we went on a trip, and her sleep schedule got all messed up. We got the book out again, and this time read the chapter on six- to seven-month-olds. This is the age where West introduces her Sleep Lady Shuffle. The idea is that you stay near their crib and "shh-shh-shh" at them, pat their back, whatever. It's a pretty good approach, and it seems to work for our older baby. So if you're looking for advice on how to get your six-month-old to sleep, you'll probably get some good information here. If your baby is three months old, get another book.

It's okay.......2007-08-21

I needed something to tell me how much my baby should be sleeping and to give some direction on how to help that happen. If you want to or need to impose a schedule on your baby, this book is the least dogmatic I've read. It's also okay if what you want is some general baby sleep information.

Book Description

Jack Nicholson is the most popular film actor since Marlon Brando, and as he swaggers well into his seventh decade, he shows no sign of losing any of his astonishing star power. Here, drawing on interviews with many of Nicholson’s Hollywood associates, John Parker pieces together a complex portrait of the star—his tangled and tumultuous childhood, his wives and high-profile romances, his brilliant film career, and his Oscar-winning triumphs in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Terms of Endearment, and As Good as It Gets. Find out what lies behind that famous shark’s smile—and be prepared to be surprised. Journalist John Parker’s previous books include Arise Sir Sean Connery, King of Fools, and Five for Hollywood.

Customer Reviews:

Nothing New Here & Somewhat Annoying.......2006-04-07

I would recommend Patrick McGiligan's biography because it has the research and detail one would expect of a biography. This book, (I assume written by an Englishman since it was published in England and uses words like "chum",etc) is a composite of what has already been published on Jack Nicholson. Its even balanced and focuses on seminal events in Nicholoson's life and his movies..What is very annoying about this book is the excessive description of the cultural context that surrounded Jack's 60's days...Way too much setting, frankly because there is not any new content here...If you don't know much about Jack, this is not a bad introductory piece....Oh, yes the other thing about this book is way too much (previously published) information on Warren Beatty, Roman Polanski, Marlon Brando, and Robert Evans...the writer goes into great details on the problems in their lives...not central to subject of this biography...

Average customer rating:

Great book, Great actor.

Jack Nicholson: Movie Top Ten

Manufacturer: Creation Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1871592984

Book Description

Jack Nicholson - charming, charismatic and demonic. Having sustained one of the most successful careers in Hollywood, he is still receiving critical acclaim (Oscar for 'As Good As It Gets') years after his early Oscar-nomination as the drunken, liberal lawyer in Easy Rider. With a prolific filmography ranging from convict McMurphy in Milos Forman's seminal One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, to the psychotic axe-killer Jack Torrance in Kubrick's The Shining, and sleazy private eye Jake Gittes in Polanski's Chinatown, Nicholson's ability to blend box-office success with cult status is unparalleled.

Jack Nicholson: Movie Top Tens takes ten of his most engaging or offbeat films and analyses them through accessible, in-depth essays by some of the best cutting-edge film writers around. Visually charged with striking b/w shots throughout, the result is both an incisive overview of Nicholson's impressive career, and an anthology of films by some of the leading cult directors of recent years such as Stanley Kubrick, Tim Burton, Roman Polanski, Mike Nichols, Antonio Antonini, and Milos Forman.

Customer Reviews:

Great book, Great actor........2004-07-02

I love Jack Nicholson. I recommend this book for anybody who wants a serious study of his best acting roles. Don't buy it if you're looking for a glossy 'star' fan book, as this is a collection of essays by film critics. It makes a refreshing change to see Jack's work taken this seriously.

Average customer rating:

What's up with the pseudonym?
Good book to say the least
Excellent overview of his life and loves
Quotes and Notes
An excellent chronological and referenced account.

Jack: The Great Seducer
Edward Douglas
Manufacturer: HarperEntertainment
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Actors & Actresses | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0060520477
Release Date: 2004-11-09

Book Description

Jack Nicholson is one of the longest-lasting and most recognized sex symbols of our time. This sizzling biography goes deep in-depth, relating exclusive interviews with past flames and flings, to shed light on the unique charisma and magnetism of one of America's most respected and desired movie stars.

Among the startling revelations:

A longtime girlfriend who describes Jack's reaction when he at last discovered the long-buried, dark secret of his childhood
Jack's notorious penny-pinching, such as the time he came home from a movie set with a doggie bag of catered Mexican food
The woman Jack "shared" with Robert Evans and Warren Beatty
The night Christina Onassis, who'd had a fling with Jack in Los Angeles, got mad at him for seducing a girl in her party at Xenon
The beauty queen who was still married to drug dealer Tom Sullivan when she was drawn to Jack
The beautiful, talented costar who showed up at Jack's house at 1 A.M. and what happened when live-in girlfriend Anjelica Huston answered the intercom
The night Steve Rubell ran around Studio 54 saying, "We got to keep Ryan O'Neal and Jack Nicholson away from each other. There's going to be a big fight."
Why Rebecca Broussard refused him when Jack asked for her hand in marriage in 1993, even after having two children with him
Why Katharine Hepburn's goddaughter still loves Jack and has spent years looking for a man who can measure up to him
Diane Keaton's reaction to Jack passing gas during filming of a love scene for Something's Gotta Give
Jennifer Howard, who found Jack's lovemaking "very oomph! He knows what he's doing. You can kind of just let go. Let him le-e-e-ad the way!" In Jack, Edward Douglas offers us a provocative, fascinating portrait of the man, the legend, the star: Jack Nicholson.

Download Description

Among the startling revelations:

A longtime girlfriend who describes Jack's reaction when he at last discovered the long-buried, dark secret of his childhood
Jack's notorious penny-pinching, such as the time he came home from a movie set with a doggie bag of catered Mexican food
The woman Jack ""shared"" with Robert Evans and Warren Beatty
The night Christina Onassis, who'd had a fling with Jack in Los Angeles, got mad at him for seducing a girl in her party at Xenon
The beauty queen who was still married to drug dealer Tom Sullivan when she was drawn to Jack
The beautiful, talented costar who showed up at Jack's house at 1 A.M. and what happened when live-in girlfriend Anjelica Huston answered the intercom
The night Steve Rubell ran around Studio 54 saying, ""We got to keep Ryan O'Neal and Jack Nicholson away from each other. There's going to be a big fight.""
Why Rebecca Broussard refused him when Jack asked for her hand in marriage in 1993, even after having two children with him
Why Katharine Hepburn's goddaughter still loves Jack and has spent years looking for a man who can measure up to him
Diane Keaton's reaction to Jack passing gas during filming of a love scene for Something's Gotta Give
Jennifer Howard, who found Jack's lovemaking ""very oomph! He knows what he's doing. You can kind of just let go. Let him le-e-e-ad the way!"" In Jack, Edward Douglas offers us a provocative, fascinating portrait of the man, the legend, the star: Jack Nicholson.

Customer Reviews:

What's up with the pseudonym?.......2006-03-22

There's not much to say about this book other than it's a compliation of everything the author read with a few recent interviews sprinkled in.

Like a previous reviewer, I lost interest (starting with Chapter 2) when I saw that it was one quote after another. When I looked at the Bibliography to see the sources and saw Mike Walker's gossip column in The National Enquirer as a source, as well as other tabloids, I figured the book wasn't worth the time considering how "accurate" those tabloids are (The Enquirer *can* get it right more often than other tabloids, sure, but a book needs more solid sources than tabloids!).

I have always had the greatest respect for Nicholson's acting ability. Numerous times in the past, I've read about how he is the consummate professional: He gets on a set and knows his lines (*and* yours!), does what he has to do and leaves. (*That's* the mark of a professional!!!)

The title says it all: The focus is more on Nicholson's personal life rather than his professional life. I find him fascinating (and, yes, unbelievably sexy at his age!) and believe his accomplishments are just as, if not, more interesting (and important) than his personal liasons.

This doesn't do Jack justice and the fact the author hides behind a pseudonym really sucks.

Good book to say the least.......2006-01-12

For instance we learn that Nicholson was taught acting by veteran film and tv actor Jeff Corey. It gives a little vague when it describes exactly what kind of actor Nicholson is. Corey mostly taught Nicholson method acting but for some films like The Shining Nicholson was more old fashioned theatrically in his approach. We learn many more things about JN like that that Nicholson gave up being an actor for a while (I often wondered why Nicholson wrote Head for the Monkees)then he was brought back. I'm more interested in the book when it's
on Jn's acting career than personal life though they do intertwine a lot. If you want my opinion this book leaves me with the opinion that Nicholson is a little too clickish in who he works for. Director Bob Raffleson or Diane Keaton or with John and Angelica Huston (before JH died that is) and so on. But come to think of it most actors who are famous are somewhat clickish(John Wayne was with John Ford a lot in movies to give another example).

Excellent overview of his life and loves.......2005-10-26

as a casual movie goer who is no specialist on Jack's romantic and professional history, I found this to be a very comprehensive, continuously enlightening tour through all that he's accomplished in his amazing private and public life... although I couldn't help but be familiar with his reputation as the consumate rogue, I had no idea of the staggering quantity (and quality) of his conquests and of the 8 kids he's fathered and what's become of so many figures in his life... a very enjoyable read...

Quotes and Notes.......2005-04-20

This review refers to "Jack: The Great Seducer" by Edward Douglas....

As a big fan of Jack Nicholson, I was quite disapointed with this book. It is subtitled 'The Life and Many Loves of Jack Nicholson'. In that respect it did give quite a bit of information of his many loves and a good synopsis of his life before and after he became the great star that he is. If you are a fan and have never read anything else about him, you can probably add a star to my rating. However, although there are a few new interviews with various friends and girlfriends of the mega star, and the info is very up to date(going all the way through "Something's Gotta Give"), most of what you will read has been printed elsewhere. As a matter of fact, of the 436 pages, about 50 are devoted to the bibliographies and notes of quoted sources. I gave up by chapter 2 going back and forth to see where the quote came from. Each page has at least half a dozen noted quotes(sometimes there are that many in a paragraph). I also found at times, the book was nothing more than an X rated "Enquirer" as it couldn't have been more up close and personal when it comes to Jack's love life(and other big names as well). I was quite insulted by this part, as I feel most fans of this very talented actor, who has brought us so many hours of wonderful entertainment through the years, would be as well. It wasn't shocking, just sleazy.

What the book did have the warrants my 2 stars, is a good look at his life and loves, chronologically through his films. From the beginning of his career, each film is touched on, and the ones that really define Jack ("Easy Rider", "Five Easy Pieces", "Chinatown", etc) are quite detailed as to how he got the part, why he chose the roles, and what was happening in his life at the time.

Edward Douglas (a pseudonym, and I can't blame him for that) sheds some new insight into the what makes Jack tick, but for the most part I didn't think the as the front flap suggests, the revelations were "startling". I mean, what is so startling about a rich man wanting to take home left overs from his favorite restaurant. Maybe he LIKED the food and wanted a midnight snack.

Fans will not miss much by passing this one by....Laurie

An excellent chronological and referenced account........2005-01-31

"Jack: The Great Seducer" offers an excellent chronological and referenced account of his interworkings with the women in his life and career.

The book itself offers one new revelation I was unaware of in the likes of Cynthia Basinet. Depicted as one of Jack's gals and downplayed as an "aspiring singer", I found her compassion, courage, insight, and humor within what seems to have been a geninue love affair to be inspiring. Cynthia is a single mom who took to assisting W. Sahara refugees after separating from the actor. Upon further research, I discovered Miss Basinet single-handedly transformed her career as a successful model/actress into a recording artist with a philanthropic platform with no apparent assistance from JN. Her rendition of "Santa Baby" was originally recorded for Jack as a Christmas gift, and has gone on to become a Holiday favorite. It's the version often thought to be Marilyn Monroe, which appears in the 2003 film "Party Monster".

On the surface, the book resonates as a rah-rah "harem" lifestyle most men only fantasize about, however as I gave it more thought I couldn't help but wonder: where is the love?

"If the Other Guy Isn't Jack Nicholson, I'Ve Got the Part": Hollywood Tales of Big Breaks, Bad Luck, and Box-Office Magic

Average customer rating:

One of the neglected gems of movie trivia
Good
Fascinating!

"If the Other Guy Isn't Jack Nicholson, I'Ve Got the Part": Hollywood Tales of Big Breaks, Bad Luck, and Box-Office Magic
Ron Base
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill/Contemporary
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

History & Criticism | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0809235285

Customer Reviews:

One of the neglected gems of movie trivia.......2002-10-15

One of my favorite games of movie trivia is trying to imagine what certain classic, beloved films would be like if they had been made with an entirely different cast. Often times, the results range between the horrifying and the ludicrous (for example, Lana Turner as Scarlett O'Hara and Jeffrey Lynn as Rhett Butler, teaming up to make Gone with the Wind the dullest Civil War epic ever) and occasionally, you're forced to admit that a film like the Fugitive probably would have pretty much been the same rather the lead was played by Harrison Ford or Alec Baldwin. And sometimes, if you're lucky, you imagine a film that may be different from the classic the world knows and loves but, at least to the mind's eye, is just as fascinating -- The Graduate starring Charles Grodin, Doris Day, Sally Field, and Ronald Reagan or Terms of Endearment featuring a comeback supporting performance from none other than Burt Reynolds.

These fun, intriguing, and often infuriating speculations are what lie at the heart of Ron Base's unjustly neglected film book, If the Other Guy Isn't Jack Nicholson, I've Got the Part. (The title is an actual quote from Reynolds who either lost or gave up roles in films ranging from Terms of Endearment to One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest to our Mr. Nicholson. After reading this book, one wonders what Boogie Nights might had been like if Reynolds had passed on that...) Starting from Hollywood's golden age and the days of the star systems and ending with the modern-day, often interchangeable blockbusters of today, Base writes a lively, humorous, and always fascinating account of the struggles and the intrigue that went into casting some of the best pictures to come out of Hollywood's studios. He covers the famous search to find the perfect Scarlett, the comical saga of finding the perfect actors to bring the Graduate's story to life (and yes -- Day, Field, Grodin, and even Ron Reagan were all serious possibilities at one point of time), the birth of the Corleone Family, and even explains how a little-known Sharon Stone ended up with the "honor" of exposing herself to the world in Basic Instinct.

Along the way, the book manages to provide a treasure trove of little known trivia and anecdote. As well, by showing us how the faces of Hollywood's ideal leading stars changed (basically going from suave Clark Gable to awkward Dustin Hoffman and eventually ending up with the hulking likes of Arnie and Stallone), Base provides an interesting and entertaining look at the way American society views itself has been changed and transformed over the course of the 20th century. This is a wonderful, fun book that will be enjoyed by anyone who ever watched Jack Nicholson on screen and thought to himself, "Gee, I wish they'd gotten Burt Reynolds for that role." Luckily, the book can enjoyed by the rest of us, too.

Good.......2002-05-22

Interesting book. And Ron Base gets it right a lot where others don't. The unspoken truth when saying, "Burt Reynolds turned down TERMS OF ENDEARMENT" etc., is that THE MATERIAL IS THE THING. Stars are interchangeable!!!! This book gets that right. God knows how many millions studios would save on star fees if they'd get that through their heads! (Only George Lucas said paying Jim Carrey $20 million is stupidity. Carrey made $20 million for THE MAJESTIC, which was still one of the biggest flops in history.)

Fascinating!.......1999-02-13

One of the best books I've read about movies. It is well-written and fascinating. The book is broken up into chapters that deal with certain episodes, so it's easy reading. Although the material written about isn't life-or-death stuff, it is interesting to contemplate Travolta having had taken certain parts, or Stallone having taken certain parts, etc. Great book.

Acting Male: Masculinities in the Films of James Stewart,Jack Nicholson, and Clint Eastwood

Average customer rating:

Acting Male: Masculinities in the Films of James Stewart,Jack Nicholson, and Clint Eastwood
Dennis Bingham
Manufacturer: Rutgers University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

History & Criticism | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0813520746

Jack's Life: A Biography of Jack Nicholson

Average customer rating:

AND, THERE'S A GREAT DEAL MORE TO COME.....
The Standard-Setting Biography Of Jack Nicholson
Good insight into early career, but fades badly.
Nothing exceeds this man
There must be more to life then this

Jack's Life: A Biography of Jack Nicholson
Patrick McGilligan
Manufacturer: W W Norton & Co Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0393034828

Customer Reviews:

AND, THERE'S A GREAT DEAL MORE TO COME............2006-08-05

While many of us think Jack Nicholson burst into cinematic celebrity with his role in "Easy Rider," the truth is he had already put in ten long years of trying to make it in Hollywood, In fact, 1969 found Nicholson throwing himself into writing and producing until Rip Torn, who was slated for the role in "Easy Rider," left after a contractual dispute and Nicholson stepped in.

We could say the rest is history, but it is not for despite the countless interviews Nicholson has given there is still much to be learned about this baffling and brilliant actor. The author of biographies of George Cukor, James Cagney and Robert Altman, Patrick McGilligan knows how to document a life.

Renowned for playing estranged loners ("Five Easy Pieces," "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest), Nicholson was born in 1937 and raised to believe that his mother was his sister. He was never certain who his father was. Despite the question of his parents, he seems to have had a rather conventional upbringing in New Jersey.

Much found in Nicholson's past can be sighted in his present: He was succored by the women who raised him as he has been by his many romantic relationships; he followed professional sports as a youth and attended games with a cadre of his buddies; he was careful with money - today he is one of Hollywood's richest actors.

Nicholson and his close friends declined conversation with the author. Thus, McGilligan has relied on already published material, albeit written with a fresh slant. "Jack's Life" is entertaining, yet the career of one of our most gifted actors is still ongoing. I'm waiting - after all, everyone who saw "Batman" knows that the Joker will return.

- Gail Cooke

The Standard-Setting Biography Of Jack Nicholson.......2005-05-26

This book covers Jack's life from birth to age 57. Jack Nicholson has such a gift for acting that it is, for me, almost unbelievable. This book will let you in on his life so that you, the reader, can understand how this amazing talent came about. Thank you, Jack, for all of your great work.

Good insight into early career, but fades badly........2005-01-23

Patrick McGilligan does a good job of examining Nicholson's early career, his work from the late fifties to the early 70's is discussed with insight and detail. The early chapters show a young man searching for his role in an industry he desperately wanted to be part of; and McGilligan focusses on Nicholson's attempt to create a role for himself in Hollywood. You definitely get the feeling that McGilligan had much more access to the people in Jack's life from this time period.
But as Nicholson becomes more famous, McGilligan's work seems to lose focus,and as Nicholson became more circumspect when dealing with the media, McGilligan's sources of info seem to dry up. Writing a biography of a living person without access to them in some way will always cause a bio to have a distance that only the best writers can overcome. McGilligan is not able to overcome this deficit and the book becomes tedious as it progresses to repeated mentions of Nicholson's less than ordinary formative years as the child of a woman he grew up believing to be his sister and their presumed affect on his work and relationships. This is a focus for McGilligan as he tries in some way to gain some kind of psychoanalytic understanding of Nicholson and the book bogs down under the weight of these constant asides. By the time the book reaches its end in 1992, I was thoroughly bored with McGilligan's take on what really should have proven to be an interesting life.

Nothing exceeds this man.......2000-11-25

He is Plutonian regeneration. A shining star in a world full of mediocrity. Thanks Jack. Thanks for the inspiration.

There must be more to life then this.......2000-04-20

Unlike some of McGilligan's other subject's, this book is titled somewhat innapropriately as there's some life in the old dog yet. There's evidence that he researched the first 57 year's of the actor's lfe pretty well, but the resulting portrait leaves Jack as enigmatic as the famous grin McGilligan seems so fascinated by. The tone is often sensationalistic, particularly when he argues that Jack my be reading of his possible illigitamacy "for the first time here" Nonetheless, it's an enjoyable read, though I didn't feel I knew Jack any better when I turned the last page, and was more enlightened about 70's Hollywood by Jack's friend Robert Evans, Robert Siskind, and others.

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Acting Male: Masculinities in the Films of James Stewart,Jack Nicholson, and Clint Eastwood
Dennis Bingham
Manufacturer: Rutgers University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000SSJM08

Best, Worst, & Most Unusual Horror Films, The ( Jack Nicholson on Cvr )

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Best, Worst, & Most Unusual Horror Films, The ( Jack Nicholson on Cvr )
written Darrell Moore Editors of Consumer Guide
Manufacturer: Publ international
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JD0CBA

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The Films of Jack Nicholson
Jack] Brode, Douglas [Nicholson
Manufacturer: Citadel Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000KVFY3C

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