Fayed: The Unauthorized Biography
Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
  • Where is your pride???
  • Rather a Hatchet Job
  • Comprehensive Bio of Fayed and his Business
  • Not a business biography.
  • Brilliant
Fayed: The Unauthorized Biography
Tom Bower
Manufacturer: Macmillan UK
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0330372394

Book Description

Mohamed Al Fayed, flamboyant tycoon, condemned by DTI inspectors as "guilty of deception on a grand scale," has always bitterly attacked these findings. This is the story of the poor boy from Egypt who became the self-proclaimed King of Knightsbridge.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Where is your pride???.......2006-10-14

You have applied several times to get the British nationality, and at all times you have been rejected.
You lost your son in a tragic 'accident'!!!
Yet, you are still living in the UK, cursing the Queen of England, her husband (in specific) and her son Prince Charles....

Why don't you go back home? To Egypt...

You can read, I suppose, between the lines.
Sooner or later, you, and all those who had been given British Nationality will find out they are being cornered to emigrate.

Right???

2 out of 5 stars Rather a Hatchet Job.......2005-08-29

Tom Bower is a relatively able writer who has written biographies of Tony Rowland, Richard Branson, Robert Maxwell and various others who figured prominently in the British news during the 80's/90's.

His subjects all have something in common - they are outsiders, often of foreign birth or extraction, who bought or created iconic institutions and were cordially loathed by the Establishment which they outwitted. Their careers also threw a glaring light on the hypocrisy, greed and bumbling inefficiency of that Establishment, revealing just how ill-equipped it was to deal with such predators.

The subject-matter ought to be fascinating, but in this case, Bower seems to have found disappointingly little dirt about the reclusive, strange man who is Mohamed Al Fayed.

That Fayed lied about his origins (he was the son of a school inspector, born in a "smelly street," according to Bower) is reiterated dozens of times throughout the book. But that is hardly a capital crime - except within the British Establishment, where family pedigrees are still considered a measure of a person's worth (explaining in part how ruthlessly able interlopers like Maxwell and Fayed were able to knock their aristocratic victims down like ninepins.)

Subjects of far greater interest, such as how Fayed obtained his initial millions from Papa Doc, the Sultan of Brunei and other dictators, are apparently beyond Bower's scope, and he does not have the sources to tell us how it was done.

Essentially, the book centres on Fayed's struggle with Rowland for the House of Frazer (including the jewel in the crown, Harrods), but there is nothing in Bower's portrait that we hadn't already gleaned from the media. Fayed the man is just not there.

The mainspring of Fayed's imagination seems to be an intense nostalgia for the golden age of the 1950's. He threw all his energies into acquiring the Ritz in Paris and Harrods in London, and he continues to run both institutions profitably and comme il faut. He burnished the memory of the late Duke of Windsor by restoring his house in Paris and presenting it to the French government. He has bought castles in Scotland and houses in Park Lane. He has managed to get himself close to the British Royal Family. He is the original dinosaur hunter.

The gods have punished the wretched man for this hubris by taking his beloved son, along with that other waif, the Princess of Wales. He is left blundering in blind pain and incomprehension, convinced that the Establishment finally struck back at him.

The real story of Mohamed Al Fayed, I am certain, is far more interesting and terrible than anything Bower has been able to imagine. We will have to wait for a better and more understanding biographer to come along.

5 out of 5 stars Comprehensive Bio of Fayed and his Business.......2003-10-05

This was a really comprehensive biography of the life of Fayed. The book takes you through his lowly Egyptian origin-- his poor family, and first job selling Coca-Cola on the street--through his first successes, and his first marriage. Then the book shows the reader how he completely "remade" his public image, his family, and ancestors!

Most of the book is slower reading because it details all of his business dealings extensively. But that is really what Fayed's life is all about-BUSINESS. I did not enjoy this book as much as Bower's other books, such as the one he did on Princess Diana, but that is because of the type of life Fayed led, not because Bower's writing is not as good. I just want readers to know that this book is NOT read easily, or quickly. But it will answer ALL questions about Fayed, who he is, his life, his brothers, his business associates-friends and enemies--his business dealings, personal dealings, AND what caused all the hoopla about the British Secret Service assassinating Dodi and Diana. Part of it was the "Arab psyche," and part of it was Fayed's effort to take any focus off the driver's inebriated condition.

This book answered ALL of my questions about Fayed, and I am glad I purchased the book. If you are interested in Fayed, by all means, buy this book.

1 out of 5 stars Not a business biography........2002-01-09

Unfortunately not a business biography but more of a London gossip column. Though the first part of the book regarding Mr. Fayed's entrepreneurial life is very interesting, after the first 100 pages it becomes very superficial, leaves out all details and provides no explanation at all on how Mr. Fayed has builded his business interests. Instead it focuses solely on his private life, repeats annoyingly the same issue (the true value and the obscure origin of Mr. Fayed's fortune without providing any insights).

5 out of 5 stars Brilliant.......2001-06-04

I would like to say that this is one of the best books I have read for a long time. Full of factual information and well written. It kept me enthralled and interested from begining to end.
Fayed: The Unauthorized Biography
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Fayed: The Unauthorized Biography
    Tom Bower
    Manufacturer: Macmillan
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover
    ASIN: B000PX7GGS
    Fayed: The Unauthorized Biography
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Fayed: The Unauthorized Biography
      Tom Bower
      Manufacturer: Pan Books Limited
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback
      ASIN: B000OUNQFM

      The Life of Dr. Elisha Kent Kane: And of Other Distinguised American Explorers
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        The Life of Dr. Elisha Kent Kane: And of Other Distinguised American Explorers
        Samuel M. Smucker
        Manufacturer: Digital Scanning
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Hardcover

        GeneralGeneral | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
        Adventurers & ExplorersAdventurers & Explorers | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
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        ASIN: 1582182671
        The Life of Dr. Elisha Kent Kane: And of Other Distinguised American Explorers
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          The Life of Dr. Elisha Kent Kane: And of Other Distinguised American Explorers
          Samuel M. Smucker
          Manufacturer: NY
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Hardcover
          ASIN: B000MUH0MY

          Bankruptcy and Insolvency Taxation: 1997 Cumulative Supplement
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            Bankruptcy and Insolvency Taxation: 1997 Cumulative Supplement
            Grant W. Newton , and Gilbert D. Bloom
            Manufacturer: John Wiley & Sons Inc
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Paperback

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            BankruptcyBankruptcy | Business | Law | Subjects | Books
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            ASIN: 0471166979

            The Quality Audit: A Management Evaluation Tool
            Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
            • Dry Reading
            The Quality Audit: A Management Evaluation Tool
            Charles A. Mills
            Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Professional
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Hardcover

            GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
            AuditingAuditing | Accounting | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
            ManagementManagement | Accounting | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
            Quality ControlQuality Control | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
            EntrepreneurshipEntrepreneurship | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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            1. Quality Audits for Improved Performance Quality Audits for Improved Performance
            2. Fundamentals of Quality Auditing Fundamentals of Quality Auditing

            ASIN: 0070424284

            Book Description

            The quality audit, from initial request through planning, implementation, evaluation, reporting and follow-up is thoroughly presented in this step-by-step guide. The author explores each stage of the audit process from the point of view of the auditor and the client requesting the audit--with an in-depth focus on the special interests and needs of the organization being audited. Manager or engineers of quality control and quality assurance, auditors, and those in need of an auditor will find a straightforward comparison of the major national and international Quality System Standards, as well as a ``hands on'' explanation of both internal and external audit objectives. Administrative and technological aspects of the audit process are analyzed, and various types of working papers, documentation, and sampling plans are reviewed. It thoroughly covers the collection and analysis of audit data, the creation of reports, taking corrective action, and utilizing techniques for improving the audit process itself.

            Customer Reviews:

            3 out of 5 stars Dry Reading.......2002-03-28

            Like most books about quality control and quality assurance, this one is a sleeper, too. What is even more interesting is that an author could write a 300-page book about this subject! Dry as it is - and that may be no fault of the author - the book has some valuable ideas about auditing. The chapters are short and well organized, making it easier to find a good "stop-for-the day point." I'd suggest putting on a pot of coffee and giving it a shot.
            The Quality Audit: A Management Evaluation Tool
            Average customer rating: Not rated
              The Quality Audit: A Management Evaluation Tool
              Charles A. Mills
              Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Professional
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Paperback
              ASIN: B000OFR9Z0

              Miller's: Silver & Sheffield Plate Marks: Pocket Fact File (Miller's Pocket Fact File)
              Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
              • A first rate pocket book
              • A must have for collectors of Antique English Silver
              Miller's: Silver & Sheffield Plate Marks: Pocket Fact File (Miller's Pocket Fact File)
              John Bly
              Manufacturer: Mitchell Beazley
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Hardcover

              GeneralGeneral | Sculpture | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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              2. Pocket Ed. Jackson's Hallmarks Pocket Ed. Jackson's Hallmarks
              3. American Silversmiths and Their Marks: The Definitive (1948) Edition (1948 Edition) American Silversmiths and Their Marks: The Definitive (1948) Edition (1948 Edition)
              4. Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers (Schiffer Book for Collectors) Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers (Schiffer Book for Collectors)
              5. Sterling Flatware Identification & Value Guide Sterling Flatware Identification & Value Guide

              ASIN: 1857320964

              Book Description

              This compact, pocket-sized guide from Miller’s shows how to decipher the hallmarking system of silver and Sheffield plate, and to read the history behind the marks. An introduction explains the history and meaning of marks, followed by a look at all the marks of the major London and provincial assay guilds. The pages are positively packed with lists of key manufacturers, designers, patterns, and more, and supported by detailed glossaries and line drawings of the various styles.

              Customer Reviews:

              5 out of 5 stars A first rate pocket book.......2006-11-27

              This little book delivers the goods ~ well-organized marks for the English silver sleuth. Also has a credible selection of silver styles thrown in as a little bonus.

              5 out of 5 stars A must have for collectors of Antique English Silver.......2000-12-23

              This book is a must have for anyone who collects antique English silver. Not as comprehensive as a lot of others I have seen which is actually a plus since it fits comfortably in your pocket when you go antiquing. I keep my copy next to my computer so I have it handy while surfing the silver listings on eBay. Well worth the price.

              Basic Model Railroad Track Plans: Small Starter Layouts You Can Build (Model Railroader Books)
              Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
              • Good for New-Be's
              • Great starter book
              • Some Nice Ideas in Small Spaces
              • A recommended resource book for model railroaders
              Basic Model Railroad Track Plans: Small Starter Layouts You Can Build (Model Railroader Books)
              Kent J. Johnson
              Manufacturer: Kalmbach Publishing Company
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Paperback

              GeneralGeneral | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
              Model TrainsModel Trains | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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              3. One Hundred and One Track Plans for Model Railroaders (Model Railroad Handbook, No. 3) One Hundred and One Track Plans for Model Railroaders (Model Railroad Handbook, No. 3)
              4. Ho Scale Model Railroading: Getting Started in the Hobby (Model Railroader Books) Ho Scale Model Railroading: Getting Started in the Hobby (Model Railroader Books)
              5. How to Build Model Railroad Benchwork, Second Edition (Model Railroader) How to Build Model Railroad Benchwork, Second Edition (Model Railroader)

              Product Features:
              • Kalmbach Basic Model Railroad Track Plans - 12237
              • KAL

              ASIN: 0890246130

              Product Description

              These simple layout designs are ideal for beginners who are building their first layout. Features full-color plans for HO and N scale starter layouts, additional watercolor sketches, and general construction techniques.

              Customer Reviews:

              4 out of 5 stars Good for New-Be's.......2007-03-26

              Would have given it 5 stars, but its a bit too basic for my needs, although the title "Basic Model Railroad Track Plans" should have given that away. I was more interested in the track plans then the "Basic" part.
              For those interested in getting into model railroads, this may be a good place to start, it helps you with the basics, but if your just looking for layout ideas you may want to pick up something else.

              5 out of 5 stars Great starter book.......2007-02-21

              There is a lot of information on the web and in many books on
              model railroads -- too much for any one book. This book is a great
              source of basic information on getting started (laying track, cork,
              wiring, etc.) that helped me get started. With clear pictures and
              great explanations, this gives you enough background to start and
              to read from more complex sources as you need.

              4 out of 5 stars Some Nice Ideas in Small Spaces.......2006-08-30

              The two biggest problems of any model railroader are lack of money and lack of space. This book nicely addresses both of those problems. The first is addressed indirectly because small layouts cost less than those that take over large buildings. These are mostly intended to fit in small areas, 4'x8' usually, and they are well though out, interesting and cost effective.

              In addition to the layout ideas, the book begins with tips for putting a layout together. These are invaluable. They will be known by people with experience in the hobby but many neophytes don't know them; they are useful for all.

              If I have any real complaint it is that I would have liked to seen photos of the actual completed layouts instead of just the schematics and rational. Still, it's a good book.

              5 out of 5 stars A recommended resource book for model railroaders.......2002-04-13

              Basic Model Railroad Track Plans: Small Starter Layouts You Can Build is a superbly presented collection of detailed plans and layouts for amazing and vibrant finished results. From models of St. Paul Central to Valley Forge Central, these scaled-down railway s reflect locations across America. The informal and practical text offers useful tips for dedicated hobbyists and color illustrations combined with detailed three-dimensional diagrams help to clearly explain the methodology of construction. Basic Model Railroad Tarck Plans is an excellent and recommended resource book for model railroaders.

              R.M. Schindler: 4 Houses (Planet Architecture)
              Average customer rating: Not rated
                R.M. Schindler: 4 Houses (Planet Architecture)
                Judith Sheine
                Manufacturer: In-D
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: CD-ROM

                GeneralGeneral | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
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                5. Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonian Houses: Designs for Moderate Cost One-Family Homes Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonian Houses: Designs for Moderate Cost One-Family Homes

                ASIN: 1893801020

                Book Description

                "R.M. Schindler: 4 Houses" is the first in a series of new monographs featuring the works of individual architects by PlanetArchitecture.com. The four houses featured here are the Kings Road house (1921-22) and the How house (1925) which exemplify the innovative wood and concrete structures from the beginning of Schindler's career as well as the Kallis house (1946) and the Tischler house (1949-50) which embody the essence of Schindler's "Space Architecture" - complex interior spaces composed of "space, climate, light, and mood."

                This CD-ROM features an intuitive, multi-referenced interface used to access the entire e-archive (electronic archive) of video interviews, photographs, writings, virtual reality panoramas, and drawings. The unique graphical interface takes full advantage of the interactive media and makes the self guided explorations both user friendly and enjoyable. This e-archive provides comprehensive documentation and virtual experiences unparalleled by any single medium. Over 100 full screen color photographs from exteriors and interiors to details document these houses like never before. 49 virtual reality panoramas (allowing 360 degree panning) take you there "virtually". Rare archival materials from the R.M. Schindler Archives reveal his masterful drawing skills. Judith Sheine provides an overview of Schindler's career in a 30 minute video presentation supplemented with drawings and photographs. Also, Sheine's audio introductions of each house (30 minutes in all) provide new insights into these notable houses. In addition, Lionel March's video commentary on Schindler's theoretical concepts shed new light on the otherwise unknown foundation of Schindler's architecture. Lastly, a comprehensive collection of drawings from plans and elevations to sections allow you to study and analyze each project in greater detail.

                R M Schindler (1887-1953) was a pivotal Modernist architect who remained largely unrecognized by the critical establishment during his lifetime. A pragmatist and theoretician, Schindler designed more than 500 projects, over 150 of which were built, most of these in the Los Angeles area, where he settled in 1920. R.M. Schindler was born in Vienna in 1887. After his studies there with Otto Wagner and Adolf Loos he was drawn to America by Frank Lloyd Wright's work and came to Chicago in 1914, working for Wright in 1918. Wright sent Schindler to Los Angeles in 1920 to supervise construction of the Barnsdall house and Schindler settled there, establishing his own practice, living and working out of his Kings Road house (1921-22), developing his own original form of modern architecture, which he called 'Space Architecture." His central concerns were with the creation of complex and beautiful interior spaces composed of "space, climate, light, mood."

                The Fathers Book: Being a Good Dad in the 21st Century (Family Matters)
                Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
                • Okay, but not recommended.
                • The father's book
                The Fathers Book: Being a Good Dad in the 21st Century (Family Matters)
                David Cohen
                Manufacturer: Wiley
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: Paperback

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                ASIN: 0470841338

                Book Description

                What does being a dad in the 21st Century really mean?
                Men today want to play an active role in the upbringing of their children; that means knowing how to cope with them, play with them, control them and love them.
                Becoming a father however, can be an extremely daunting prospect, after all it is completely uncharted territory.
                This wonderful book is not only for expectant and new fathers but covers the whole range of issues dads encounter from conception through to teenage traumas. Situations such as step-fatherhood and the changing relationship with partners are also discussed in a sensitive and informative style. The stresses imposed by modern lifestyles on fathers and kids are looked at as well as the problems and benefits encountered by the fact that kids today are often very sophisticated and clued-up.
                Chapters include: Written in a light-hearted yet informative style, and including numerous interviews with fathers themselves, this book reflects the latest thinking and theories on how to be a good father.

                Download Description

                "Being a dad isn't easy -- just ask David Cohen. In this personal and humorous account, he shares with us not only his experiences of being a father, but his in-depth knowledge of psychology. Along the way, you'll pick up tips -- about child development from the terrible twos to teenage tantrums; about sex with your partner in the weeks after childbirth; about accepting your stepchildren's rules about socks. The Father's Book is a mine of information you'll re-read many times. It is a wise best friend who can advise on discipline, how much time to spend with the kids, favouritism, their play, personalities and IQ, helping with homework and more serious problems and allowing them space to grow and leave. You'll wonder how you ever coped without it."

                Customer Reviews:

                3 out of 5 stars Okay, but not recommended........2006-04-26

                This book is just okay. There is some good empirical information for you. The book is geared towards Great Britain, so a little strange for an American in some respects. There are a lot of either grammatical and/or spelling mistakes, possibly typos, which may be attributable to the differences between English and American English, I'm not sure. Either way, I found that aspect of this book a little annoying. It's not terrible, but I can't really recommend it.

                5 out of 5 stars The father's book.......2002-02-17

                This was a fun book to read. Congratulations to Wiley for finding David Cohen to author this book. This book is part of a new series on Family Matters introduced by Wiley to highlight common topics relevant to the 21st century family.
                David Cohen is a psychologist, writer and also film-maker, who has been involved with many interesting and funny projects. His PhD thesis, as an example of this, was on the subject on what makes children laugh. In this book he has used his talents as a reporter, a psychologist, an academic, as a father to two children and stepfather to another two. The book is very personal on his experiences and relationships to his parents, his ex-wife, present wife and children.
                Every year around 120 million men become fathers, but very few were ever taught the profession of being fathers, because very few fathers tell their sons about this task. Men usually do not talk about these things and the author's father only told him two things, honour the mother of your children and send them to decent schools.
                This book has 12 chapters, from the history of fathers (from Abraham to Woody Allen) to the new dependency paradox, where it seems that today's children are very reluctant to leave home. This is due to the harsh world out there with sky high rents, stress and why leave the nest, when the nest will provide you with food, drinks, computers, e-mail, emotional and financial support.
                We recommend this book to both new and old fathers, you will have a good laugh, but it will also provide you with intelligent and relevant information for the task of being "a good enough father". .... .... .... .... .... ....
                The Fathers Book : Being a Good Dad in the 21st Century (Family Matters)
                Average customer rating: Not rated
                  The Fathers Book : Being a Good Dad in the 21st Century (Family Matters)
                  David Cohen
                  Manufacturer: NY
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Paperback
                  ASIN: B000MU4KRW

                  Bruno Walter: A World Elsewhere
                  Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
                  • Bravo for Bruno! A serious biography of a Renaissann man and conductor of genius!
                  • Bruno Walter:A World Elsewhere
                  • A gentle reader opines
                  • Vindication for a neglected master
                  Bruno Walter: A World Elsewhere
                  Erik Ryding , and Rebecca Pechefsky
                  Manufacturer: Yale University Press
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Hardcover

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                  ASIN: 0300087136

                  Book Description

                  Bruno Walter, one of the greatest conductors in the twentieth century, lived a fascinating life in difficult times. This engrossing book is the first full-length biography of Walter to appear in English.

                  Erik Ryding and Rebecca Pechefsky describe Walter's early years in Germany, where his successes in provincial theaters led to positions at the Berlin State Opera and the Vienna State Opera. They then tell of his decade-long term as Bavarian music director and his romantic involvement with the soprano Delia Reinhardt; his other positions in the musical community until he was ousted from Germany when the Nazi Party came to power in 1933; and his return to Vienna, where he was artistic director of the Opera House until he was again forced out by the Nazis. Finally they trace his career in the United States, where he led the New York Philharmonic and other orchestras and in his last years made numerous recordings with the Columbia Symphony Orchestra, an ensemble created especially for him. Ryding and Pechefsky are the first biographers to make extensive use of the thousands of unpublished letters in the Bruno Walter Papers, now in the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. In addition to interviewing more than sixty people who knew Walter, they examined countless reviews to assess the popular and critical impact he had on his times. Authoritative and even-handed, this biography sheds new light on Walter, one of the great formative influences in musical interpretation.

                  Customer Reviews:

                  4 out of 5 stars Bravo for Bruno! A serious biography of a Renaissann man and conductor of genius!.......2006-05-20

                  Dr. Bruno Walter (1876-1962) was born to an upper middle class home in Berlin. He was a child prodigy composing and conducting with such ensembles as the Berlin Symphony. Walter became the assistant to the genius Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) winning the admiration of the prickly man of music.
                  Walter's music room was all of Europe and the great concert halls and recording studios heard his majestic music making in operas, symphonies and chamber music. He composed until 1910
                  forsaking creative compositon to become a peerless conductor of
                  works by Mahler; Beethoven;Brahms; Bruckner; Wagner; Verdi and
                  the other gods in music's pantheon.
                  Walter had seen and experienced tragedy. His younger daughter
                  Greta was murdered by her husband; he lost his homeland as the
                  Nazis conquered Austria and expelled him and other Jewish geniuses from the Reich; he had extramarital affairs but was a
                  decent, honorable and serious man. Walter loved literature becoming friendly with Thomas Mann the great novelists; he enjoyed reading, writing on music and was a strong but understanding conductor. He and Toscanini were friends.
                  This is a book for those who are familiar with classical music .
                  The book is very detailed and one almost feels like he/she
                  has seen a review of every concert conducted by Walter!
                  While this can become tedious to the general reader the overall
                  effect is one of respect for Walter.
                  In a time when classical music is a minority taste
                  the co-authors have done their homework producing a well written
                  and researched biograpy of Dr. Walter.

                  5 out of 5 stars Bruno Walter:A World Elsewhere.......2001-11-04

                  To say that the book "Bruno Walter: A World Elsewhere" is both a godsend and a delight would be an understatement-I cannot say enough good about this work. "A World Elsewhere" is a detailed and concise look at the conductors' life and career from birth until death-and in English.(My definite language of choice) It offers a style that is smooth and a pleasure to read and obviously involved alot of meticulous research. I have been an admirer of Bruno Walter for many years, and this biography is the perfect companion to my collection of Walters'recordings.It is an even-handed, multi-faceted depiction of the conductors' experiences. In reading "A World Elsewhere", I have learned much about the man that has enabled me to understand his life better; although the book does not go into alot of detail about Bruno Walters' connection with Anthroposophy, it has still inspired me to investigate this movement further. "A World Elsewhere" is a definite "must read" for anyone who admired Bruno Walter- a great conductor whose involvement with music touched and enriched many people's lives, and still does today.

                  Doug Rea

                  5 out of 5 stars A gentle reader opines.......2001-07-12

                  I probably qualify as a representative of the tribe of general readers, being mostly an interested amateur in what this book covers. As such, I found "Bruno Walter: a World Elsewhere" a very satisfying window into an era of music (and my childhood) that I was heretofore only vaguely aware of. In other words, it helped me fit together and fill out a picture of the musical and political and social history of the twentieth century, and that alone made it worthwhile.

                  But aside from that, it was simply great fun to read personal vignettes about so many eminent musicians, composers, conductors, and others. I found the book entertaining reading too, I mean to say--a dandy thing, in the summer (or any other time as well)!

                  While I may be an amateur as far as the contents of the biography go, I am also a professor and teacher of writing, and it was gratifying to find a biography written so smoothly that reading it was a pleasure, which is by no means the rule in scholarly biographies. There are notes and indeces aplenty for the scholars, but these should not dissuade the general reader--they do not get in the way in the least.

                  Add to this the fact that the volume is a handsomely designed one, with splendid pictures and an attractive typeface, and you have a book truly worth owning--or giving, for that matter.

                  5 out of 5 stars Vindication for a neglected master.......2001-06-28

                  Finally, a full-length biography of Bruno Walter in English that devotees of his work can savor. Walter was widely recognized in his time as one of the master conductors, but his lack of flashiness, and sometimes fake air of saintliness, are off-putting to our star-obsessed age, so he hasn't received the recognition he deserves. SONY is sitting on a large back-catalog of important mono recordings by him that may never see the light of digital distribution -- or perhaps the imminent changes in music distribution wrought by the internet will eventually make it all available. Meanwhile, this very well-done, comprehensive biography will have to do. My biggest complaint is the lack of a complete discography as an appendix to the book - referring people to websites won't cut it yet, as too many folks still don't have regular internet access. Apart from that failing, this is a model of what an arts biography should be, a well-researched life, a serious consideration of issues of personal performing style, and decent pictures.
                  Bruno Walter : A World Elsewhere
                  Average customer rating: Not rated
                    Bruno Walter : A World Elsewhere
                    Erik S.; Pechefsky, Rebecca Ryding
                    Manufacturer: Yale University Press
                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Hardcover
                    ASIN: B000OLU3C0
                    Bruno Walter: A World Elsewhere (book review): An article from: Midstream
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                      Bruno Walter: A World Elsewhere (book review): An article from: Midstream
                      George Jochnowitz
                      Manufacturer: Theodor Herzl Foundation
                      ProductGroup: Book
                      Binding: Digital
                      ASIN: B0009FDAHG
                      Release Date: 2005-07-28

                      Book Description

                      This digital document is an article from Midstream, published by Theodor Herzl Foundation on July 1, 2001. The length of the article is 1260 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: Bruno Walter: A World Elsewhere (book review)
                      Author: George Jochnowitz
                      Publication: Midstream (Magazine/Journal)
                      Date: July 1, 2001
                      Publisher: Theodor Herzl Foundation
                      Volume: 47 Issue: 5 Page: 44

                      Article Type: Book Review

                      Distributed by Thomson Gale
                      Bruno Walter: A World Elsewhere. (Book Reviews).: An article from: Notes
                      Average customer rating: Not rated
                        Bruno Walter: A World Elsewhere. (Book Reviews).: An article from: Notes
                        Scott Warfield
                        Manufacturer: Music Library Association, Inc.
                        ProductGroup: Book
                        Binding: Digital

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                        Release Date: 2005-07-28

                        Book Description

                        This digital document is an article from Notes, published by Music Library Association, Inc. on December 1, 2001. The length of the article is 1097 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: Bruno Walter: A World Elsewhere. (Book Reviews).
                        Author: Scott Warfield
                        Publication: Notes (Refereed)
                        Date: December 1, 2001
                        Publisher: Music Library Association, Inc.
                        Volume: 58 Issue: 2 Page: 385(2)

                        Article Type: Book Review

                        Distributed by Thomson Gale
                        Bruno Walter : A World Elsewhere
                        Average customer rating: Not rated
                          Bruno Walter : A World Elsewhere
                          Erik S.; Pechefsky, Rebecca Ryding
                          Manufacturer: Yale University Press
                          ProductGroup: Book
                          Binding: Paperback
                          ASIN: B000OS947S
                          A World Elsewhere: The Life of Bruno Walter
                          Average customer rating: Not rated
                            A World Elsewhere: The Life of Bruno Walter
                            Ryding , and Pechefsky
                            Manufacturer: Holiday house
                            ProductGroup: Book
                            Binding: Hardcover
                            ASIN: 002864848X

                            Saying Goodbye to Grandpa
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                              Saying Goodbye to Grandpa
                              Moshe Halevi Spero
                              Manufacturer: Simcha Media Group
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