5 comments about Don't Make Me Stop This Car!: Adventures in Fatherhood.

1. This book on tape, read by Al Roker himself is a mixed bag. There are laugh out loud moments and sweet moments, but generally speaking the book has too many filler moments, WAY too much information about his second wife's attempts to get pregnant and sometimes is sickeningly sentimental. The last half of the book saves the first half from being a total disaster.



2. By now, I've probably read this book three or four times. Although the beginning was a bit boring, a couple of chapters in I got really into it. All of it was told with a bit of a funny tint. You can tell he loves his kids through it!



3. I expected something really funny and light. Instead, I learned WAY too much about the birth of one of Al Roker's children. I walked away thinking that I had learned a lot more about what a wonderful person Al Roker is......but the title led me to believe that I would have something funny to listen to over and over again.



4. Frankly, I am disappointed. I thought this book would be humor filled. I guess I was hoping for another like "Bill Cosby: Himself". This was not to be.

   All the other reviews are excellent, but I cannot recommend this one. Where he tried to be funny about his wife and things they went through, I thought instead he was being utterly RUDE toward and about his wife. He even criticizes his wife when he asked her to look over and critique his manuscript and she left her opinion for him. Why ask her opinion if he is just going to throw her suggestions back into her face?

   I do not recommend this book to anyone and that is a rare thing for me to do.




5. Simply stated, this is the worst book I have ever read. In fact, I have to admit that this is the first book I can remember not being able to finish. It's just that bad. By the time I abandoned "Don't make me stop this car", approximately a third of the way through the book, the baby hadn't even been born yet. Instead, Roker spends over 100 pages walking the reader through every painful, minute detail of he and his wife's efforts to get pregnant, including a miscarriage and the step-by-step details of her artificial insemination. Anybody with kids will care less, because they'll have already gone through it themselves. Anybody without kids will care less, because there's just nothing interesting to read about. Have I mentioned how bad this book is???? As I write this, used copies of "Don't make me stop this car" are available on Amazon starting at...

4 comments about The View From Nashville.

1. As another book stated, "He is arrogant". I have never figured out how he got to be the so called endall of records in Nashville. Goes too show you, pickin's must be slim. In my book I will never forget the shoddy treatment of Gram Parsons (a real talent!) by this record spinner.



2. your first book was 2 thumbs up I will read your 2nd god bless you mr.emery since hee haw has gone and most of any old tm. music it is a pleasure to read about the real country from you some one who was there



3. This book was a very interesting read and and a minimum offers any reader a real "View" from Nashville, TN the World Capital for Country music and the stars and players involved.. I give it 4 stars and reccomend to all.



4. When a man has been in a business for all his adult life, he is well quialified to write about that business and the people within. There in lies the story of "View From Nashville". No other living person knows and can tell the story of "Nashville" scene better than Ralph Emery. The reader gets to know as a person one on one Dolly Parton, Marty Robbins, Tammy Wynette, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty and countless others. Loretta speaks of an out of body experience as she stood by the bedside of her dying friend Conway Twitty. Merl Kilgore relates through Ralph the message Jim Reeves sent him from the other side. One finds that being a child star does not always mean living in a big house, and driving a fancy car as Brenda Lee relates. That Elvis might have appeared on a recording after his death. Through the writing of this Nashville Icon one learns the humor of Roger Miller, and gets to know stars Reba McIntre and Brooks and Dunn. For Elvis fans he writes extensively about an interview with Colonel Tom Parker and the book he would never write. One can feel the love the author has for the business, his city, and peers. No one else could or has told the Nashville story like Ralph Emery in View From Nashville. No wonder his TNN program was voted the networks most popular for 10 consecutive years. Thank goodness he has had time to pen these stories in written form so they may be enjoyed forever.

5 comments about Fantastic: The Life of Arnold Schwarzenegger.

1. Arnold is without doubt one of the most influential human beings of the 21st century. Fantastic gives us a glimpse into the life of the man who on the face of things looks invincible. The book (and I pray it doesnt make things up) also gives readers a glimpse into arnolds kinder side. The oak has a heart.



2. my boyfriend is a huge arnold fan so he loves this book that i bought for him



3. this book is an objective and complete biography of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
   it tells the rise to fame and power from his childhood to his first year of governorship. After reading it, one must observe that succes in life depends not on luck, as many believe so, but on discipline, wilful ambition,drive and
   positive thinking followed by action.
   i recommend this book not only for arnold fans (it should be mandatory for them :) ) but to anyone who wants to get an insight into one of the most extraordinary success stories of our times
   Please excuse any language mistakes, i`m not a native english speaker



4. Larry Leamer's 'Fantastic' is fantastic. I couldn't put it down. It is amazing to learn that one human being, Arnold Schwarzenegger, built such an amazing life. Leamer catalogues this life in a readable, entertaining, objective way. If anyone wants to know what makes Arnold tick, this book will tell him.
   
   Marc H. Rudov
   Author
   The Man's No-Nonsense Guide to Women
   (ISBN: 978-0974501710)



5. As a big fan of Arnold I couldnt wait to buy this book.
   However as he is now a politician I feared it may be nothing but pro Arnold propangada as there is a future possibility of this man running for president. Instead I found a well written, interesting and honest account of the man who was born with nothing material but had bucketfulls of determination, ambition and confidence. The early accounts of Arnolds life are facinating and the book gives an honest account of how Arnold was far from the perfect man providing details of his gamesmanship and arrogance in bodybuilding contests and his days of womanising.
   Some people only knock this book because they despise the fact that Arnold won California. The facts are he is the greatest bodybuilder of all time, his movies while not oscar winners sold millions of cinema tickets and he did win California which was incredible. Love him or loathe him the mans a winner. My only knock against this book is that it contains too much political stuff and as I am from Spain im not very interested in American politics.

No comments about Country Bouquet (Reminiscence).

No comments about Flying High: My Autobiography.

5 comments about Mountain, Get Out of My Way: Life Lessons and Learned Truths.

1. Having long admired Montel, I decided to read this book. What a fascinating life this man has led. From the ghettos of Baltimore, a child of hard-working parents, Montel became a good student and class president in high school. He started playing in a band, bass and trumpet, and also sang. His plan was to save money for college.
   Then he took notice of one of his brother's friends who had joined the Marine Corps, and how the friend had changed for the better. It was then that Montel began to think that the Marine Corps could provide him with a college education. He enlisted, and gained a great respect for the demanding, disciplined, character-building aspects of the military system.
   Eventually, thanks to his leadership potential, his superiors recommended that he apply to the Naval Academy Prep School, which led him to Annapolis. There he struggled with the rigorous curriculum, but made it through with his strong perseverance.
   Throughout the book, we are privy to Montel's challenges, trials, and triumphs, all the things that have led him to his monumental success today as a motivational speaker and TV host. He shares his thoughts on many subjects, and shows his concern for our younger generation.
   "We're in danger of becoming a mediocre society, shaped by mediocre minds, because we promote mediocrity in our schools."
   His thoughts on the breakdown of our society are compelling. "Once we legislated religion out of everything, we had to replace it with something else, so money and success became the gospel...all of a sudden, it wasn't good enough to be a hardworking person, making a living, supporting a family. Now we all have to be millionaires, and we have to be millionaires right away. Everyone's looking for shortcuts, but there are no shortcuts, not a single one."
   The title of the book comes from a line William's used to hear from a drill instructor, who got it from an old gospel song. Montel's mantra now, "Mountain, get out of my way, " means "if you have faith, you can move mountains. If you have faith in something bigger than yourself-in God, community, family, whatever- then anything is possible. Faith alone will give you the strength to clear any obstacle in your way."
   I found this book to be inspiring, enjoyable, and informative, and confirmed my impression of this fine man. I believe he's a tremendous role model, a man of grace and courage, who writes in a clear, concise, entertaining style. Highly recommended!



2. In Montel William's book, he brings much light onto the never-ending battle people have with frustration and "hard times." I was given this book as a gift from my mom. She said she heard from people at work that it was very eye-opening and motivational. I would be lying if I said I didn't agree. From the opening chapter, until the very end, you'll get a feeling of warmth and bursts of motivation as you read about the trials and tribulations of Montel as you begin to relate to your own life experiences. His recollection of a motivational lecture at a high school where he calls on a young boy to discuss issues of morals (chapter 2?) will put an ear-to-ear smile on your face. While this book is not a "billion-dollar" winner, it sure is worth a read. I find myself thinking about this book in particular when I come across situations in my life that require personal integrity and determination. I am now 18 and I still think about the words and wisdom that Montel had to offer. Do yourself a favor and give it a chance, it might be as influential on you as it was me.



3. When I first saw this book it was on the bargain/clearance rack at the local bookstore. Having seen Montel's wonderful TV show, I decided that I'd buy the book and take it home for immediate reading. I made a big mistake. Instead of finding glimmering little gems of wisdom and insight throughout the pages of the book, I found nothing but a lot of self-congratulatory references to Montel's supposed superior public speaking abilities and his assumptions that he has all of the answers for society's various ills. When I was through reading this book I experienced a feeling that I have never had before -- I wanted to slowly roast his book in my barbecue grill! No other author has ever managed to raise such a truly unpleasant feeling inside of me like this guy has. Before I read the book, I respected and even admired Montel, but after I read it I began to dislike him immensely. Maybe this would have been a better book if Montel had the common courtesy to check his ego at the door and focused on something other than how great he thinks that he is.



4. I purchased this book several years ago and found it to be very down to earth. I appreciate the fact that while Montel shared his not always so bright life with the public he was able to share lessons learned that could bless someone else who may have been going down the same path. I commend him as a man to be able to receive correction but to also admit fault and openly correct his behavior to make his future better. I also enjoyed the example of him standing up for his show and doing what he thought was a proper format not matter what the cost or what the network execs thought. Being an example for our youth is important and Montel showed that he could influence our children on their level and not preach at them. This book gives us all a reality check in things we can do to improve ourselves, our relationships, our children and our society. Continued success!



5. I loved this book. Montel puts alot of love in everything he does. Not only in the show but in his book as well. He really cares about his viewers and guests. I love his show and I think he is a gift from God for many.

5 comments about Sleeping With the Devil.

1. ..As much as I'm sure Barbra is a nice girl,and while she definitely didn't deserve what happened to her,I can't say that she had no culpability in the matter.She had many chances to get away from what was once her dream guy,but she refused to do it.I think they both had dependent personalities;whether that was from a violent incident in Barbra's past,or rather if she saw Minns as a father figure of sorts and needed that,I have to wonder.But she definitely would have been better off leaving him and the material items to be, and fleeing the area.Why on earth she didn't,I don't know, as I can't beleive it was because,like she said, it would have been easier to link Minns to any violence brought against her.It seems she was still secretly hoping they would get back together.
   As far as Barbra saying she couldn't afford to travel back and forth for the theft hearings ..what's more important than your life??? While she was right that she did have the right to be in Tx (or anywhere she wanted to live),and even though she didn't want to let Minns get the best of her by feeling that he'd run her out of town,I can understand that, but-she was given a warning that things could get dangerous if she didn't get out of there.I think I would have left asap.
   I kept thinking Minns had a lot of signs of bipolar disorder,and when I got to the part where it stated a Dr. had been telling him for years he had manic depression,I thought ..BINGO ! It does sound like maybe his untreated illness played a part in what happened to Barbra.(paranoia from it).It's a shame he wasn't committed and treated for it,but I'm guessing his money and connections would have bought him a way out of it anyway.I don't know if Barbra,having some health care knowledge and background,realized what was wrong with him,but I can't help but think she did, and was hoping he would pull out of his latest mood swing.Unfortunately,untreated BPD only tends to get worse over time.I'm not making excuses for Minns and for what he did(it also sounds like he lacks a conscience,termed antisocial personality disorder),but it's a shame Barbra didn't realize how serious the situation was and get out of there.I don't understand why she moved back to that same city either,and stayed awhile,even after another scary incident occurred that indicated Minns was behind it.
   This is definitely a book with lots of things to ponder.In the end,Barbra sounds like a strong woman who made great strides to overcome her disability,in spite of all that happened to her.That's much to be proud of,and I hope she is. :)
   
   *I want to add one thing here,Barbra testified in a court of law,under oath,that she knew Minns was married when she arrived in Tx,and that the townhouse he bought,and it's contents, belonged to him.I can't help but wonder how her lawyer thought that could be changed.It would mean Barbra would have to admit she lied.Also,the impromptu wedding Minns performed was done while he was still married.Would that have held up in court? No way,and I would have gotten myself out of there as soon as I'd found that kill switch in my car,especially since Minns had previously talked about wanting to kill his ex-wife,and was obviously after Barbra now.I have to wonder why on earth she would have stayed with him or wanted him back after he talked seriously about killing someone.I keep thinking I missed something here? Barbra is not as innocent as she pretends to be,IMO.She refused to go on another trip with him,and indicated she felt he would harm her if she did.
   As far as Barbra saying Minn's soon-to-be ex was the 'enemy' ..she was his wife and mother of their children for God's sake ! I don't have any respect for her for choosing to be Minn's mistress,no matter what kind of marriage he said he had.I'd have kicked his arse right back to his wife and kids!
   And I wonder why it took Minns over an hour to get to Barbra when she was having a miscarriage? After all the phone calls from Minns' friends telling her to abort...could it be he was not helping her on purpose? I think so,and I can't believe that Barbra simply didn't have a clue.She stayed in that relationship for a reason after that.Probably for the same reason she got pregnant by Minns again.
   I also can't believe that Barbra didn't know Minns wasn't married when she met him on that first ski trip.She even admits his whole family was there,INCLUDING HIS WIFE,and that she met his son.She even states she had lunch with him while his wife sat at another table,and yet still expects the reader to believe that she didn't know he was married.(go tell it to someone else).
   As far as Barbra taking the entire contents of the townhouse with her and saying that was just to 'get Minns attention',I don't buy that.I think she did it as a way of saying to him 'I've took all this and I'm going to get the townhouse,too!!!' The comments about the furniture being cheap were just all too obvious.I don't believe it was.And when Barbra's story appeared on Unsolved Mysteries,it was portrayed as Minns wife knowing he was seeing Barbra.I believe in the book it says she did not know,and that was when she found out for sure he was seeing someone else (when she went to the condo).
   I would really like to see this book rewritten to tell the whole truth of the matter.



2. While I sympathy with the victim of this book, Barbra Piotrowski, I found this book to be extremely one sided.
   
   Readers of told the story of how young, sweet, innocent Barbra is seduced by Richard Minns after being a victim of a brutal rape that left her with a inability to trust men. After falling in love with Minns, Barbra moves from Los Angeles to Huston to be with him; unaware at the time that he is still very much married and she is nothing more than a mistress.
   
   After learning that he is married, Minns convices Barbra that he has an open marriage and she agrees to stay. Even following occassional beatings, watching her dream guy manipulate and control others, and being forced to be who he wants her to be, she stays in the relationship. One morning after an explosive verbally abusive incident, Barbra decides to leave. When she does, she takes everything with her and moves out of the apartment she and Minns shared. As he had done so many times in the past, Minns becomes very angry and seeks revenge because Barbra took what he felt belonged to him.
   
   While [....] is seeking revenge both underhandedly and via the legal system, Barbra mentions numerous times she is hoping that she is Minns will reconcile. Of course, that never occurs. And eventually Minns does get even...he hires someone to kill her.
   
   Although the hired killers failed miserably at killing their target, they did manage to paralyze Barbra. And just as Minns had stated many times in the past, he did, essentially, get away with murder.
   
   While I found the story to be interesting (amazing how one man with money and connections can evade prosecution of numerous charges), I believe this book is a bit misleading. We are told of how Barbra is so innocent and so niave. We are painted a picture of someone who was so in love, had victimized early in life and felt Minns was her knight in shining armor. I'm just not buying it.
   
   When she first met Minns, I'm sure she still was still niave...she was only 20. But this same innocent learns that she is a mistress and stays. Barbra, at some point, signed a contract with Minns that, should the relationship ever end, she would receive a huge settlement of both cash and furniture. Barbra made comments to the effect, while on the "run" from Minns, that having his belongings would help them reconcile. That's a coniving woman's way of thinking...how many battered women leave things behind that truly are theirs to keep just to get out of an abusive relationship? There is a list that goes on and on of things that were not so innocent in nature, but readers are truly pushed to feel that way about the victim.
   
   The author did an excellent job of writing the book and doing her research. It is worth reading...just don't get sucked in to her world of make believe!



3. This is not your average true crime book! The story of Barbra Piotrowski and Richard Minns is the quintessential narcissistic relationship. It is fascinating to see just how manipulative and successful a narcissist can become, using family, friends, strangers, hired thugs, the legal system, and law enforcement to seduce, posess, and nearly destroy the life of his victim. A self-made local celebrity, Minns lived the ultimate narcissistic existance, honing his body at the gym (which he owned), bleaching his hair at the beauty shop, keeping a wife and kids in one house while openly escorting his much younger, blonde, beautiful "fiance" around the same town, in front of his own kids and friends of his real family. As other reviewers pointed out, Barbra, though the victim of monstrous and unbelievable manipulation, was too much of a user to be a truly sympathetic character, as the author attempted to portray her. She was definitely an opportunist. I don't think this hurts the book, though. The reader obviously draws her own conclusions about the character of Barbra and will not be led by the author. And, ultimately, no one deserves the mind-bending gaslighting and physical abuse Barbra went through, let alone the horrible crime which finally ended the relationship. This book is truly riveting. The term page-turner could have been invented to describe this book. It stacks up to the best of Ann Rule, which from me is the ultimate accolade.



4. As a professor of Women's Health, I want to be sure to remind all women to read "Sleeping With The Devil" by Suzanne Finstad. It is one of the best texts out there that describe in mind-shattering detail the intricacies and hidden subtleties of toxic relationships. I have found Ms. Finstad's meticulously researched story of Barbara Piotrowski to be one of the best educational and life-saving assignments that I can give to my students. Thank you, Suzanne. Your insight and biographical genius continue to amaze me.



5. Heard the taped version of SLEEPING WITH THE DEVIL by Suzanne
   Finstad, a true crime story about a Texas beauty queen and the
   self-made millionaire who loved her . . . or so it seemed . . . then his
   world fell apart and he blamed her . . . that is, before he attempted
   to kill her . . . I now see why I like these type books better than
   typical mysteries . . . I'm reading one now (the latest by
   Mary Higgins Clark), and there is just no comparison . . . this
   is so much better! . . . it makes you feel like you really
   know the characters, and you find yourself hoping--against
   all odds--that the ending is going to differ from what really
   happened . . . my only disappointment was in the ending,
   but that was not because of the author; rather, somebody
   seemed to get away with murder--or something very close
   to it . . . if you're in the mood for a gripping tale of obsession
   and murder, this is the book for you!

5 comments about The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio: How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less.

1. This book is a real-life account of growing up in a large family with limited financial means and often rocky family dynamics. The matriarch of this clan is the prizewinner of the title. While raising 10 kids and keeping the wolf from the door, she hits upon a way to generate income by entering any/every contest that comes along. She frequently does win, of course, very often in the nick of time. The book was written by a daughter, who ably recounts the challenges and rewards of growing up in a family that lives so close to the edge. Her mother is a gritty, funny, honest-to-god domestic goddess. She is a prize-winner in so many ways--it makes this book uplifting without being sappy--good read.



2. I saw the movie based on the book first. Once I found out it was a book, I had to read it. I couldn't put it down.



3. I thought this was a wonderful book that came to my attention only after the author had died. The story revolves around a family of 10 kids, an alcoholic father and how the mother (sporadically) supports them by winning contests and jingles she (Evelyn) has written.
   
   While the story wouldn't hold up in this century - I thought it was a great slice of life of the 50's. Evelyn's journals and contest entrys are well preserved and entertaining to read. She must have kept everything!
   
   Underneath all the entrys and journals is a smart woman. She knows the power of the written word and also hooks up with a group a ladies that also enter such contests. These women are smart as whips - yet somewhat stymied by their roles in life - housewives. Contesting offers them a way to challenge their wits and writing.
   
   The father is a somewhat disappointing character - but somehow he even redeems himself, but you have to read the book to find out how!



4. I first heard of this book on the Today Show. Then I happened to run across the movie on HBO. It is a good quick read.



5. I typically enjoy fiction, but the title of this book caught my attention. And soon after starting the book, Evelyn Ryan became one of my heroes! I won't offer any spoilers, but the book generated within me, and many others who have read it, genuine feelings for Evelyn, including respect, compassion, sympathy, and encouragement. If the measure of a good story is the ability to arouse that many emotions, then this is a really good story!

5 comments about Looking for Gatsby: My Life.

1. Being a long-time fan of Miss Dunaway, I bought this the day it was released and read it straight through when I got home. Frankly, I wasn't expecting much. I always got the impression she has no sense of humor, particularly about herself. I also figured she was writing this for the money, and it would be a typical take-the-money-and-run, say-nothing bland autobiography like most of the other celebrity junk that's out there. Boy was I wrong! While Miss Dunaway is certainly a very serious person, the book was pretty candid, the good and the bad, covering topics I didn't think she'd cover much like Mommie Dearest, Marcello Mastriani, her two marriages, etc. She covers it all pretty thoroughly and candidly. While this book is certainly not a "tell-all" or at the Shelley Winters level (thank goodness), it's pretty thorough. She also covers a lot of her early career, college, and her growing up in rural Florida, a lot of information you can't get from magazine articles or prior media materials about her. It was very, very well done, well written, and is obviously must-read material for any fan or someone interested in the premier actresses of her generation. You won't be disappointed. It also has some great photographs in the center section, and Terry O'Neill did the cover. Great stuff!



2. Not knowing quite what to expect, I was happy to read a very warm, candid story by an actor whose work I admire a great deal. As Dunaway told her story, I could not help but think that her body of work would stand side by side with those actors of her generation who are so glorified -- Beatty, Nicholson, et. al. That she is not appreciated in the same way as those actors explains her vulnerability all the more. After reading this book, I would definitely have her over for dinner.



3. With startling honesty, Dunaway intimately details her fascinating life. The book does lapse into mild self-indulgence at times, but her introspection reveals an interesting mind. Her fierce determination and dedication is vividly depicted, hinting at the price she paid for stardom, as well as painting an interesting portrait of what it is to be a female actor of her calibre and over fifty in Hollywood today.



4. First of all, let me say that as "celebrity biographies" go, this is one of the better ones. Rather than produce a mere catalogue of people, places, and events, Faye Dunaway gives her readers impressionistic peeks into her life; her words are used like water-colored pastels to create a pleasing but not too controversial work. Although she overemphasizes pop-psychology explanations, Faye Dunaway still manages to bring her readers closer to Faye Dunaway the Woman and the Actress while chipping away at Faye Dunaway the Icon. It's a nice compliment to her work on film.



5. Faye Dunaway, a terrific actress, should, as they say, not quit her day job. Her book is poorly written and redundant, redundant, redundant! A superb technician on the stage, she paradoxically has a room-temperature IQ, to judge from this memoir. And her accounts of some parts of her life, such as the filming of Roman Polanski's Chinatown, are self-serving. It's too bad we never get beneath the veneer in this boring read.

2 comments about The Life of Oscar Wilde (Classic Fiction).

1. This book was given as a gift to me and although being not the only biography of Mr Wilde that I own it is definately one of the most comprehensive. It has an easily structured layout and a highly detailed reconstruction of the great writer's life; this is recommended to any fan of Oscar Wilde who doesn't know all that there is but wishes to learn it from a totally different point of view. It can at times be slightly prejudiced and the reader must remember the time in which it was written. However this does not detract from the book and should be enjoyed by any fan, giving in its outdated view an insight into the changes undergone in the last 100 years to the appreciation of his life and work. Enjoy Reading.



2. This is the book that helped resurrect the reputation of one of the most tragic figures in English literature. When this book was originally published, Wilde was nowhere near the iconic figure he is now accepted as. Dying in poverty and disgrace in 1900 in Paris, (where all "bad" Englishmen went in the 19th century!) Wilde was still anathema to the "Establishment" for close to a half century afterward. Today, a bust stands in Westminster Abbey, and Hesketh Pearson's biography can claim a good measure of the credit for it. Comprehensive, detailed and sympathetic without being hagiographic, this book is essential to understanding the enigmatic genius of Oscar Wilde.