Product Description
How effectively has the World Bank Group assisted its clients in enhancing the contribution of the extractive industries to sustainable development? This evaluation finds that with its global mandate and experience, comprehensive country development focus, and overarching mission to fight poverty, the World Bank Group is well positioned to help countries overcome the policy, institutional, and technical challenges that prevent them from transforming resource endowments into sustainable benefits. Furthermore, the World Bank Group¡¦s achievements are many. On the whole, its extractive industries projects have produced positive economic and financial results, though compliance with its environmental and social safeguards remains a challenge. Its research has broadened and deepened understanding of the causes for the disappointing performance of resource-rich countries. Its guidelines for the mitigation of adverse environmental and social impacts have been widely used and appreciated. More recently, it has begun to address the challenge of country governance with a variety of instruments. The World Bank Group can, however, do much to improve its performance in enhancing the extractive industry sector¡¦s contribution to sustainable development and poverty reduction. The report identifies three main areas for improvement ¡V formulating an integrated strategy, strengthening implementation and engagement of stakeholders.
Book Description
This debate-style reader is designed to introduce students to controversies in global issues through readings that reflect a variety of viewpoints. Each issue is framed with an issue summary, an issue introduction, and a postscript. The Taking Sides readers feature annotated listings of selected World Wide Web sites. Taking Sides is supported by our student website at www.dushkin.com/online/.
Book Description
This twelfth edition of TAKING SIDES: LEGAL ISSUES presents current controversial issues in a debate-style format designed to stimulate student interest and develop critical thinking skills. Each issue is thoughtfully framed with an issue summary, an issue introduction, and a postscript. An instructor’s manual with testing material is available for each volume. USING TAKING SIDES IN THE CLASSROOM is also an excellent instructor resource with practical suggestions on incorporating this effective approach in the classroom. Each TAKING SIDES reader features an annotated listing of selected World Wide Web sites and is supported by our student website, www.dushkin.com/online.
Customer Reviews:
Thoroughly wonderful.......2006-02-23
This book, is one I bought for my Human Rights class. It is very clear and thorough. The chapters are not long, and each case shows both point of views so it comes off as neutral.
Book Description
This debate-style reader introduces students to current controversies in the field of criminal justice. The readings are written by scholars and experts in the field and reflect a variety of viewpoints presented in a pro/con format. Topics include: gun control, continued criminalization of drug use, the Miranda ruling, police lineups, plea bargaining, jury nullification, the three strikes rule, and prisoner rights.
Average customer rating:
|
Clashing Views on Legal Issues (Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Legal Issues)
M. Ethan Katsh
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill/Dushkin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Congresses, Senates, & Legislative Bodies
| Government
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Sociology
| Social Sciences
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Criminal Law
| Law
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Law
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Criminal Law
| Law
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0073515094 |
Book Description
This Thirteenth Edition of TAKING SIDES: CLASHING VIEWS ON LEGAL ISSUES presents current controversial issues in a debate-style format designed to stimulate student interest and develop critical thinking skills. Each issue is thoughtfully framed with an issue summary, an issue introduction, and a postscript. An instructor’s manual with testing material is available for each volume. USING TAKING SIDES IN THE CLASSROOM is also an excellent instructor resource with practical suggestions on incorporating this effective approach in the classroom. Each TAKING SIDES reader features an annotated listing of selected World Wide Web sites and is supported by our student website, www.mhcls.com/online.
Average customer rating:
- "Cure" worse than the disease
|
Value Rx: How to Make the Most of Your Organization's Assets and Relationships
Edward J. Giniat , and
Barry D. Libert
Manufacturer: Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Economic Conditions
| Economics
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Management
| Management & Leadership
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Management Science
| Management & Leadership
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Social Services & Welfare
| Poverty
| Current Events
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
U.S.
| Politics
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Health Care Delivery
| Administration & Policy
| Medicine
| Subjects
| Books
Hospital Administration
| Administration & Policy
| Medicine
| Subjects
| Books
Health Care Delivery
| Administration & Medicine Economics
| Medical
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Hospital Administration
| Administration & Medicine Economics
| Medical
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0066620953 |
Amazon.com's Best of 2001
In Value Rx, the consulting duo behind the successful Cracking the Value Code delivers strong, smart medicine for health care organizations. Libert and Giniat (the head of the Pharmaceutical, Biomedical, and Health Services practice of Andersen) open with much the same argument presented in Value Code: To compete and thrive in a field marked by rising costs and declining services, everyone from hospitals and HMOs to pharmaceuticals, suppliers, and drugstore chains must not only nurture but rigorously measure every component of their "organisms". That includes finding the optimal balance between tangibles like physical assets and income statements and such vexing intangibles as human assets, customer satisfaction, and the constant generation and free flow of knowledge. To both bean counters and care providers who say such intangibles can't be reconciled with the bottom line or usefully measured, they provide a diverse array of vivid real-life profiles to the contrary. These run the gamut from the medical-device manufacturer that poured its victories from patent-infringement suits into aggressive R&D, to the order of nuns who shrewdly redesigned their sizable network of health care facilities to maximize both services and margins, to the first HMO to let its doctors make referrals without its authorization--and profit from its newfound popularity among doctors.
Other pointed, instructive cases come from huge names like Pfizer, Merck, the Mayo Clinic, and Walgreen's as well as businesses such as the biotech giant Amgen, the Internet medical info leader WebMD, and the large nonprofit HMO Kaiser. Giniat and Libert also provide a four-quadrant asset model that organizations can use to assess their own strengths and weaknesses. And, most astutely, they demonstrate that in this new era, the bottom line and the delivery of quality care are utterly dependent on each other... and that succeeding at both means acknowledging that the business of first-rate health care in the 21st century is, in large part, business. Value Rx is smart, tough, substantial, and progressive--just what the doctor ordered for everyone with a stake in keeping America well. --Timothy Murphy
Book Description
The human genome has a counterpart in the business world, as this timely book explains, in plain English and as no book has done before. The authors show how organizations in the healthcare industry can use this business genome to identify, for the first time, all of the sources of value at their disposal. Beyond that, the book presents a detailed plan for using this new understanding to revolutionize a company's value-creating potential.Thus, the title, Value Rx, is to be understood literally. In the original Latin, the "R" in Rx stands for the word "recipe," meaning "to take," and the book is, literally, a prescription for increasing the value of healthcare companies. In it you will find a new view of today's volatile economic realities -- and a new perspective on how to reinvent your company to meet those realities. Healthcare is everyone's business -- from consumers to policy makers to healthcare providers, suppliers, investors, and bondholders -- and these insights are important to us all.Drawing on the results of a three-year, 10,000-company study, Value Rx reveals how value can be created in the healthcare industry. The authors detail four rules that enable managers in healthcare (indeed, in every industry) to create value by assembling and re-assembling all their assets and relationships in an infinite variety of combinations, much as human genes combine and recombine to create a healthy person. Further, they show how today's technology enables ever more valuable connections.This book resounds with a call to action for regulators, business leaders and managers, caregivers and other providers, and consumers to manage and measure the assets and relationships that matter.Value Rx offers a complete guide to value creation in America's largest industry.
Customer Reviews:
"Cure" worse than the disease.......2001-10-16
The authors last told us how the value code had been cracked by companies like eToys, idealab!, and Compaq. Specifically, how these new economy companies had figured out how to create enduring shareholder value by satisfying their customers, employees, suppliers. This was obviously written before their value code hypothesis was invalidated by the market.
Oops.
Now, they're offering similar medicine for the health care sector.
I've read the book, and my advice for all is to be certain and receive a second opinion.
Book Description
Author Bob Emmons provides expert tasting notes on gin, vodka, and aquavit - from the most popular to the more obscure. He describes historical and current production methods, recent trends, and the different flavoring components of these liquors. The book includes advice on how to organize a tasting, a brief history of the martini, and a chapter of recipes for a variety of martinis and other cocktails.
Average customer rating:
|
Relocation Tax Advisor, Year 2001 Early Edition
ReloTax Accounting Group
Manufacturer: The Hessel Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Personal Taxes
| Taxes
| Accounting
| Industries & Professions
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Buying & Selling Homes
| Real Estate
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Real Estate
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0963629611 |
Book Description
The Relocation Tax Advisor, Year 2001 Early Edition,is a tax planning guide specifically geared toward corporate employees who are being transferred and need guidance in planning for the tax implications of their move. Also included in the publication: current state and federal tax rates, full size IRS Form 3903.
Average customer rating:
|
Relocation Tax Advisor
Manufacturer: Relocation Taxes, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0976075172 |
Product Description
This publication is designed to prepare you for the tax implications of your relocation
Average customer rating:
|
Relocation Tax Advisor
Richard Fahringer
Manufacturer: The Hessel Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Personal Taxes
| Taxes
| Accounting
| Industries & Professions
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0963629603 |
Book Description
The Final Edition Year 2000 Relocation Tax Advisor is a tax planning guide specifically geared toward employees who have been transferred and need guidance with their year 2000 taxes. This publication is offered by The Hessel Group to assist in understanding special tax laws and implications that affect the unique tax situation of the relocated employee. Some of the key features are:
A full-size IRS Form 3903 and Moving Expense Worksheet that you can use when filing your tax return
Federal and State tax tables, explanation of the phase-out of exemptions and deductions, and an in-depth clarification of home sale closing statements (HUD-1)
An explanation and examples of gross-up calculations and its effect on your W-2
An up-to-date listing of helpful web sites and IRS publications
A breakdown of which moving expense reimbursements are deductible, which are excludable, and which are taxable
Customer Reviews:
Relocation Tax Advisor.......2000-07-29
Very detailed, but yet right to the point. I learned about all the various tax issues involving a relocation / move. Great value. It covered all the various State tax issues along with the Federal taxes too.
Overall, I am happy with my purchase.
Book Description
The Relocation Tax Advisor is a tax planning guide specifically geared toward corporate employees who have been transferred and need guidance with their year 2001 taxes. This publication is offered by Homestore Mobility Technologies, formerly The Hessel Group, to assist in understanding special tax laws and implications that affect the unique tax situation of the relocation employee. Some of the key features are:
A full-size, tear-out IRS Form 3903 and Moving Expense Worksheet that you can use when filing your tax return
Federal and State tax tables, explanation of the phase-out of exemptions and deductions, and an in-depth clarification of home sale closing statements (HUD-1)
An explanation and examples of gross-up calculations and its effect on your W-2
An up-to-date listing of helpful websites and IRS publications
A breakdown of which moving expense reimbursements are deductible, which are excludable, and which are taxable
Average customer rating:
- Did not enjoy
- Fun read
- Clausewitz version of the financial theater.
- Unoriginal and superficial.
- Some good info, some fluff, overall OK.
|
Guerrilla Investing: Winning Strategies for Beating the Wall Street Professionals
Peter Siris
Manufacturer: Longstreet Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Investing
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Introduction
| Investing
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Stocks
| Investing
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Personal Finance
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1563526018 |
Amazon.com
For Peter Siris, the stock market is a battleground. And if you're an individual investor, you'd better understand your enemy--the professional investor--as well your own limits and capabilities. According to Siris, the professionals have many advantages over individual investors: they've got the inside track on information that moves the market, and they're backed by research staffs and their networks with other pros. The trick to beating the pros is to employ guerrilla tactics--that is avoid their strengths and exploit their weaknesses.
Guerrilla Investing looks at techniques that individual investors can use to win the investing game. Siris cautions against short-term trading, which plays into the hands of the professionals, and he instead advocates a buy-and-hold strategy. He shows how to read charts, interpret a company's financial statement, and how not to get suckered by what market analysts say. He also encourages investors to develop a investment style and to stick with it. If you consider yourself a serious investor or are interested in becoming one, Guerrilla Investing is something you'll find yourself coming back to again and again. Highly recommended. --Harry C. Edwards
Book Description
Reveals the secrets of Wall Street insiders to individual investors so they can compete with the professionals and win.
Customer Reviews:
Did not enjoy.......2002-03-24
This book had no meaning. I have talked to others about this horrible piece of writting, and they all agree. Siris does not deserve to have this book published.
Fun read.......2000-07-17
Siris does not tell us a lot of new things. But he actually opens your eyes to every-day-life truths that you normally do not think about too often. You seem to know all the tricks and transactions he writes about, but he makes you think about all of them more consciously or prevent you from forgetting some of the basics altogether when trading. As a European reader I can say that not everything in this book is really useful to me - as conditions in my part of the world are somewhat different. But as I intend to do some trading in the US very soon I must say this book was very helpful. In addition to all the useful things I read about I enjoyed the "human" tone of Siris' writing, which brings a lot of color into a usually very "dry" subject.
Clausewitz version of the financial theater........1999-08-14
If I came tonight to amazon, it was to look for more books from P. Siris. Unfortunately, I havent found nothing yet. But as I said, this book is great, simple in its style and breaking much of the mystery cloud that normally is contributed to finance. PS: I will be eagerly expecting the next book!
Unoriginal and superficial........1999-02-20
This book adds practically nothing to the financial literature. The first part of the book is a Peter Lynch rip-off, talking about how we should only invest in things we understand, and use our knowledge of particular sectors to make money. The discussions of fundamental and technical analysis are so superficial as to be practically worthless. The author's assertion that it's easy to tell when a stock has bottomed or topped is ludicrous--if it were that easy I'd be on my yacht right now instead of writing this. The remainder of the book essentially talks about how analyst's reports are not to be trusted, which is very true but certainly not a novel concept. Readers would be far better served by buying Peter Lynch's first two books and/or the first Motley Fook book in my opinion.
Some good info, some fluff, overall OK........1999-02-17
His technical section opens up with very interesting and promising observations on how to read short term price and volume action. But then, it seems like he felt he had to have some kind of indicator in there so he devotes a couple of pages to MACD. This part is lame--just a single example (MSFT 1997.11-1998.02) with no recognition of whipsaw difficulties, or any question of, if this method is so good, why isn't everyone using it. That is the whole theme of the book but he doesn't apply it here.
At various other points I began to get uneasy, thinking that this guy makes a lot of bald statements of effectiveness without much more than a couple of anecdotes in favor. Most of the time he seems to make sense. But how often does he really? In the specific area where I have done some work, he leaves a lot out.
The military metaphor is window-dressing and can be ignored. For example early on, in thrall to this image, he says that in every trade there is one winner and one loser. Punchy. Direct. Simple. But in the final chapter, he admits a case where one investor should be buying and another, with a different style, should be selling the same stock at the same price at the same time. They can trade with each other and both be winners. Once again the real world refuses to be reduced to a simple "explanation".
There is good information here on the data-gathering capabilities of the Internet, and good advice on specifics. For this it's worth the money. But use his evaluation techniques as a starting point; don't adopt them blindly. And for philosophy, read something else.
Average customer rating:
|
Achieving Excellence in Stakeholder Management
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Popular Economics
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Customer Service
| Industries & Professions
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Management
| Management & Leadership
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Ethics
| Business Life
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
New Business Enterprises
| Small Business & Entrepreneurship
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Manager's Guides to Computing
| Business & Culture
| Computers & Internet
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Computers & Internet
| Subjects
| Books
All Amazon Upgrade
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Business & Investing
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Computers & Internet
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Putting Stakeholder Management into Practice
-
Customising Stakeholder Management Strategies: Concepts for Long-term Business Success
-
Stakeholders: Theory and Practice
ASIN: 3540002553 |
Book Description
Today, Stakeholder Management is a term commonly used to describe the policy towards all interest groups that have a stake in a company or an institution, but the crucial question is how this concept can be best applied to a company's context. In this book, companies using a Stakeholder Management tool give their first-hand account of how this tool enables them to successfully measure, monitor and manage their stakeholders' performance. The experience of these companies highlights how across different sectors and countries strong customer relationships, committed employees and successful relationships with suppliers can be created to stay at the forefront of today's global economy. Company contributions are complemented by expert articles about current business topics such as Performance Measurement, Balanced Scorecard and Data Mining methodologies.
Book Description
A step-by-step guide, with sample forms and letters, to show you how to legally UNvolunteer from paying taxes plus supportive documentation.
Customer Reviews:
Read and be free.......2007-09-08
Don't be afraid of the scare tactics by some of the review writers; I have no doubt that some of the ones who are trying to scare you away are government agents who don't want you to get your hands on the biggest ongoing fraud in our country; exchanging compensation for labor is a fundamental right and our constitution protects all American Citizens from taxation of our rights; by signing a W-2 or a 1040 you are invalidating your rights and giving the IRS jurisdiction over your life and property. Yes Lynne Meredith went to jail - making her one of the greatest heroes and Patriots of our day - are her writing infallable..? No,if you want sinless perfection go read the Bible. However reading this book will open your eyes to understanding and set you on the road to be a truth seeker and to find out for yourself by researching and uncovering the historical fraud that has been perptrated against us all.
Beware.......2006-05-02
The author is currently in jail on tax charges. This book could get you into a lot of trouble.
I couldn't put it down.......2005-08-02
I read this book in 1996. It was my first real look into the workings of our government, inparticular our income tax system. Most of the information is well documented and I was able to verify it through my own research. I've read other books since then and this one is in many ways the best. It angered me to find out the truth about income tax and I've been trying to educate others since reading this. I used Ms. Meredith's method to become income tax free and suffered no negative repercussions to date. However, I've since found other methods to be more straight forward and easily defensible. But, I still highly recommend this book for it's informative value.
I know someone that went to jail for 2 years...........2005-01-15
My friend's father read this book and got it into his head he didnt have to pay income taxes. He is currently in jail for 2 years. Caveat emptor.
Meredith Convicted.......2004-05-09
Just a word to the wise. Lynne Meredith was convicted of Failure to file income taxes, and other charges in Federal District Court in Los Angeles in May 2004.
This book was part of the trial evidence that convicted her.
Average customer rating:
- A Glorious Read! A Page-turner.
- A superb biography of a superb singer.
- A superb biography of a superb singer.
- Jim Drake is one of the best musician biographers ever!
- Highly recommended - one of the best of its kind.
|
Rosa Ponselle: A Centenary Biography (Opera Biography Series, No. 9)
James A. Drake
Manufacturer: Amadeus Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Opera
| Musical Genres
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Voice
| Instruments & Performers
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Theater
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Vocalists
| Classical
| Composers & Musicians
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Composers & Musicians
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Entertainers
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
All Titles
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Rosa Ponselle: American Diva
-
Jussi (Opera Biography Series, No 7)
-
Ponselle Prima Voce
-
La Nilsson: My Life in Opera
ASIN: 1574670190 |
Amazon.com
The centennial of the great American soprano's birth brings a gossipy yet affectionate biography. Comments by associates paint Rosa Ponselle as a classic diva, capricious in business dealings (most notably when she abruptly retired in 1937), capable of responding with fury to perceived disloyalty, bitingly honest in her assessment of her own and others' work. Reprints of interviews with Ponselle reveal her enormous charm and offer an intimate glimpse of the creative process employed to interpret Aida, Norma, and other signature roles. A performance chronology, discography, and photographic portfolio round out this delicious volume.
Book Description
Published in celebration of the 100th anniversary of her birth, this book presents a candid portrait of Ponselle, "the Caruso in petticoats," contrasting the singer's own words, from interviews with the author and others, with the recollections of friends, family members, and colleagues.
Customer Reviews:
A Glorious Read! A Page-turner........2007-03-20
To my abject shame, I confess that prior to reading this biography, I knew Ponselle only vaguely as a "name" from the Golden Age. (Since reading the book, I've acquired dozens of her recordings and viewed her screen test!) What great fun this book is! And what a life to chronicle. Miss Ponselle is shown to be a complex, fabulous, contradictory, and sometimes infuriating human being, a woman of enormous stamina and determination. Her struggles would seem trite and unbelievable in one of those Hollywood faux-bio movies once so popular, yet she did struggle and triumph in the best screen tradition. Without resorting to any phony sensationalism, the author skillfully kept me poised on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what was going to happen next. This may have been partly because I was unfamiliar with Ponselle's career, but I think it would be true for all readers. A rich and totally fulfilling book.
A superb biography of a superb singer........1999-05-03
James Drake's previous biography of Rosa Ponselle (styled an "autobiography," but in fact written entirely by Drake), was an excellent book and, until this new offering, served as the only biogrqaphy of an artist many consider the greatest opera singer America has produced, and one of the greatest, of any nationality, of all time. Prof. Drake's new book on Ponselle is not merely a rehashing of his earlier effort, but in fact entirely supersedes it. Unorthodox in organization, it gives us a complete picture of Rosa Ponselle, both as artist and woman. Prof. Drake has given us one of the finest biographies of an opera singer ever written.
Each chapter in the book is divided into four sections. First, there is an introductory overview, by Drake, of the period of Ponselle's life covered in that chapter. Next comes "The Interview," which is a transcript of interviews Ponselle gave to various persons (including the author) in the later years of her life, again dealing with the period of her life covered by the chapter. Here, Ponselle herself speaks. Then follows an account by some other person closely associated with Ponselle, dealing with the same events - her manager, Libbie Miller; her secretary and longtime companion, Edith Prilik Sania; her husband, Carle Jackson; and a close friend, Lena Tambourini. Finally, there is "The Written Record," which looks at what was actually written about Ponselle at the time of the events in question - reviews, articles, interviews, etc.
The overall effect of this sequence is to give a full, well-rounded and sometimes conflicting account of Ponselle's life. Not infrequently, Ponselle's own spoken recollections will be contradicted either by the recollections of others or by the written record. Perhaps the most important contribution of this book is to scrutinize - and in part, explode - the "Cinderella" myth surrounding Ponselle's "discovery" by Caruso and her subsequent engagement by the Met. Edith Prilik Sania's account gives a fascinatingly different perspective on these events. (She was there when they happened.) Another example of a fresh and varied perspective is the account of Ponselle's relationship with her manager early in her operatic career, William Thorner. Ponselle always maintained that Thorner never gave her any voice lessons ("I wouldn't have let him touch my voice!"), contrary to his own claims, and she downplayed Thorner's role in her engagement by the Met. Ponselle's recollections were no doubt colored by her personal antipathy to Thorner. (She later sued him, and one gets the impression that she never forgave him for steering her to Columbia records, rather than to Victor, where she would have been able to record with Caruso). What the written record and Edith Prilik's recollections show, is that Thorner may in fact have given Ponselle some voice lessons (he was a well-known vocal instructor at the time), and he had a lot more to do with Ponselle's "discovery" than she later let on.
Perhaps the major difference between Prof. Drake's old book and the new one, is the extent to which this new book gives us an unblinking look at Ponselle's personal defects, only hinted at in the "autobiography." Ponselle was apparently a very high-strung, almost neurotic individual. She could be petty, mean, greedy, and very difficult to live with. (Admittedly, not uncommon caracter traits among opera singers generally.) She also had many positive qualities, including loyalty to her family (she supported most of them), and she obviously inspired considerable devotion in her friends.
What there is no dispute about by anyone in this book is Ponselle's greatness as a singer. Her magnificent voice, unique in its dark, voluptuous timbre, apparently conquered all who heard it, and her recordings, technically primitive though they are (and which Ponselle herself disliked), are her passport to operatic immortality. Prof. Drake's excellent new book gives us a good look at the life and career behind the indescribably beautiful sounds one hears from a Ponselle recording. "Rosa Ponselle: A Centenary Biography" is fully worthy of its glorious subject.
A superb biography of a superb singer........1999-05-03
James Drake's previous biography of Rosa Ponselle (styled an "autobiography," but in fact written entirely by Drake), was an excellent book and, until this new offering, served as the only biogrqaphy of an artist many consider the greatest opera singer America has produced, and one of the greatest, of any nationality, of all time. Prof. Drake's new book on Ponselle is not merely a rehashing of his earlier effort, but in fact entirely supersedes it. Unorthodox in organization, it gives us a complete picture of Rosa Ponselle, both as artist and woman. Prof. Drake has given us one of the finest biographies of an opera singer ever written.
Each chapter in the book is divided into four sections. First, there is an introductory overview, by Drake, of the period of Ponselle's life covered in that chapter. Next comes "The Interview," which is a transcript of interviews Ponselle gave to various persons (including the author) in the later years of her life, again dealing with the period of her life covered by the chapter. Here, Ponselle herself speaks. Then follows an account by some other person closely associated with Ponselle, dealing with the same events - her manager, Libbie Miller; her secretary and longtime companion, Edith Prilik Sania; her husband, Carle Jackson; and a close friend, Lena Tambourini. Finally, there is "The Written Record," which looks at what was actually written about Ponselle at the time of the events in question - reviews, articles, interviews, etc.
The overall effect of this sequence is to give a full, well-rounded and sometimes conflicting account of Ponselle's life. Not infrequently, Ponselle's own spoken recollections will be contradicted either by the recollections of others or by the written record. Perhaps the most important contribution of this book is to scrutinize - and in part, explode - the "Cinderella" myth surrounding Ponselle's "discovery" by Caruso and her subsequent engagement by the Met. Edith Prilik Sania's account gives a fascinatingly different perspective on these events. (She was there when they happened.) Another example of a fresh and varied perspective is the account of Ponselle's relationship with her manager early in her operatic career, William Thorner. Ponselle always maintained that Thorner never gave her any voice lessons ("I wouldn't have let him touch my voice!"), contrary to his own claims, and she downplayed Thorner's role in her engagement by the Met. Ponselle's recollections were no doubt colored by her personal antipathy to Thorner. (She later sued him, and one gets the impression that she never forgave him for steering her to Columbia records, rather than to Victor, where she would have been able to record with Caruso). What the written record and Edith Prilik's recollections show, is that Thorner may in fact have given Ponselle some voice lessons (he was a well-known vocal instructor at the time), and he had a lot more to do with Ponselle's "discovery" than she later let on.
Perhaps the major difference between Prof. Drake's old book and the new one, is the extent to which this new book gives us an unblinking look at Ponselle's personal defects, only hinted at in the "autobiography." Ponselle was apparently a very high-strung, almost neurotic individual. She could be petty, mean, greedy, and very difficult to live with. (Admittedly, not uncommon caracter traits among opera singers generally.) She also had many positive qualities, including loyalty to her family (she supported most of them), and she obviously inspired considerable devotion in her friends.
What there is no dispute about by anyone in this book is Ponselle's greatness as a singer. Her magnificent voice, unique in its dark, voluptuous timbre, apparently conquered all who heard it, and her recordings, technically primitive though they are (and which Ponselle herself disliked), are her passport to operatic immortality. Prof. Drake's excellent new book gives us a good look at the life and career behind the indescribably beautiful sounds one hears from a Ponselle recording. "Rosa Ponselle: A Centenary Biography" is fully worthy of its glorious subject.
Jim Drake is one of the best musician biographers ever!.......1997-07-28
If Flaubert was in love with Emma Bovary, surely James Drake must be in love with Rosa Ponselle. He has made her live for us, just as Flaubert made Emma flesh and blood. For me, opera singers are made of glass; they shine, and they may even seem transparent, but rarely do they seem human. Through the clear, admiring eyes of James Drake, Rosa could be our next-door neighbor. The dignity of Drake's writing, his clear love and respect for his subject makes her life shimmer like crystal. This book one of the best of the summer
Highly recommended - one of the best of its kind........1997-06-12
Biographies of the great opera singers are not plentiful. The truly good, well-written biographies are even more scarce. The biography of Rosa Ponselle by James Drake belongs in that handful of well-written and well-reseached biograhies that are not only readbale but are difficult to put down (to sleep).
This is not a reprint of the earlier book written by Ponselle with Drake but is an entirely new volume drawing on interviews and documents that were either unavailable or suppressed by Ponselle in "A Singer's Life". Drake constructs his narrative judiciously and fairly giving us a complete (or, rather, as complete as possible) picture of one of the greatest sopranos of this century.
In addition, it also provides fascinating glimpses of some of her colleagues such as Caruso (with whom she made her Met debut in 1918) and Martinelli as well as the rigors of making records during that era and the everyday workings of the Met.
This is a fascinating volume that belongs in every opera lover's library. My only quibble is that Amadeus didn't include a CD with the book (as does Baskerville Publishers). No, not of Ponselle's recordings. Those who buy this book will find her complete recordings readily available on Romophone in superb sound. Rather, it would have been nice to have been able to listen to some of the interviews used throughout the book rather than just read them. Having met Ponselle, it was a delight talking to her and that comes through on the recorded interviews.
Despite this small quibble, I can't recommend this book strongly enough. But, be forewarned, it's as hard to put down as a good Agatha Christie!
Average customer rating:
|
Rosa Ponselle: A Centenary Biography. (book reviews): An article from: Notes
Richard LeSueur
Manufacturer: Music Library Association, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
| Humor
| Movies
| Music
| Performing Arts
| Pop Culture
| Puzzles & Games
| Radio
| Sheet Music & Scores
| Television
Online Books
| Books & Reading
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Science & Technology
| Subjects
| e-Docs
| Formats
| Books
Entertainment
| HTML
| Formats
| e-Docs
| Formats
| Books
ASIN: B00098BOD0
Release Date: 2005-07-28 |
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Notes, published by Music Library Association, Inc. on September 1, 1998. The length of the article is 668 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: Rosa Ponselle: A Centenary Biography. (book reviews)
Author: Richard LeSueur
Publication:
Notes (Refereed)
Date: September 1, 1998
Publisher: Music Library Association, Inc.
Volume: v55
Issue: n1
Page: p134(2)
Article Type: Book Review
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Average customer rating:
|
Mary Paxson, Her Book 1880-1884
Manufacturer: Doubleday, Doran & Company, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000IEDK32 |
Average customer rating:
|
Mary Paxson: Her Book: 1880-1884
Mary Paxson
Manufacturer: Applewood Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Women
| Specific Groups
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Family & Childhood
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Memoirs
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Americana
| Antiques & Collectibles
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Pennsylvania
| State & Local
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Family & Childhood
| Biographies & Memoirs
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Memoirs
| Biographies & Memoirs
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Women
| Specific Groups
| Biographies & Memoirs
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Pennsylvania
| State & Local
| United States
| Americas
| History
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Antiques & Collectibles
| Home & Garden
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
| Coins & Medals
| General
| Glass & Glassware
| Postcards
| Reference
| Textiles & Costume
All 4-for-3 Deals
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
ASIN: 1557095825 |
Book Description
Once in a long time an authentic bit of childhood is captured and held within the pages of a book, so that other children in spirit, whether old or young, may enjoy it. Such a book is Mary Paxson's. The real diary of a real girl in the early 1880's, it has the sweetness, charm, and inimitable humor of unconscious literature in its rarest form. Mary Paxson's book is one to keep on a near-by shelf to read when life seems hurried and nerve wracking and you want to simplify
Average customer rating:
|
Mary Paxson,: Her book, 1880-1884;
Mary Scarborough Paxson
Manufacturer: Doubleday, Doran & Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
| Baby-3
| Ages 4-8
| Ages 9-12
| Audiobooks
| Animals
| Arts & Music
| Authors & Illustrators, A-Z
| Computers
| Educational
| History & Historical Fiction
| Issues
| Literature
| Obsessions
| People & Places
| Popular Characters
| Reference & Nonfiction
| Religions
| Science, Nature & How It Works
| Series
| Sports & Activities
ASIN: B00085UCZK |
Books:
- Foundations of Economics: A Beginner's Companion
- Gallery of Best Resumes, Second Edition
- German for Business and Economics, Band 1, Die Volks-und Weltwirtschaft
- Getting Your 15 Minutes of Fame and More!: A Guide to Guaranteeing Your Business Success
- Gravy Training: Inside the Business of Business Schools
- Handbook of Population and Family Economics Volumes 1A & 1B : Handbook of Population and Family Economics Volumes 1A & 1B (Handbook of Population and Family Economics)
- Handbook on China's Wto Accession and Its Impacts
- Historical Dictionary of Utopianism (Historical Dictionaries of Religions, Philosophies and Movements)
- Home Office - Small Office Quick Planner: Reusable, Peel & Stick Furniture & Architectural Symbols.
- Hoover's Masterlist of Major U.S. Companies 2002 (Hoover's Masterlist of Major U.S. Companies, 2002)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Data Abstraction and Problem Solving with C++: Walls and Mirrors
- All Grown Up And No Place To Go: Teenagers in Crisis
- Tone Poems in Full Score, Series 2: Till Eulenspiegels Lustige Streiche, also Sprach Zarathustra and
- Working with Microsoft Dynamics
- 3D Game Engine Design, Second Edition: A Practical Approach to Real-Time Computer Graphics
- All Through the Night
- Al-kitaab fii Ta'allum Al-'Arabiyya with DVD's A Textbok For Begining Arabic
- Introductory Accounting and Finance for Lawyers
- Value Wars: The Global Market Versus the Life Economy
- Illustrated Dictionary of Architectural Preservation
