5 comments about Dispatches from the Edge: A Memoir of War, Disasters, and Survival.

1. It was an eye opener into Anderson's life and amition to do what he obviously it very good at, along with the pain of losing his father and brother.



2. Anderson Cooper is one of the best journalists to come along in a long time. He has gotten me interested once again in current and world events because of his honest and compelling way of reporting and seeing things.
   
   I thought this book was excellent and well written. I could not put it down. It pulled me in the whole time and I usually don't completely finish books in 2 days.
   
   I think it is a must read for anyone wanting to understand our world as it is today.



3. I trust major newspapers more than the broadcast media, but there are trustworthy stalwarts who stand out on the tube. Anderson Cooper is one such person.
   
   I "only" knew him to be a reporter with integrity, and who was unafraid to challenge the blatantly self-serving blather days after Katrina hit, drawing upon the observations of his own eyes, and sympathetic to the plight and indignities of the NOLA residents.
   
   Andersen shared enough of his family background, both privilege and tragedy, to provide another element of respect. This is a man who could easily have coasted on family fortune, hobnobbed in the Hamptons, and lived a leisurely, carefree life. He committed himself to a career, and was compelled to go to the sorriest (and riskiest!) places and situations on Earth. The memoir itself is an easy read. It's informative on events he witnessed. AC shares enough of his background to provide perspective, but it is fact and background only - no rosy glasses, no salacious tidbits. Enough.
   
   If you think this guy is likeable, read this book. By the time you finish, you'll respect him.



4. This book is fantastic! I purchased it and read the entire book within 72 hours. His descriptions of the accounts are breathtaking. The section that touched me most was about Katrina and the Aftermath. I lived in New Orleans as a volunteer relief worker for 1 year, November '06 - October '07. It was a life changing experience for me. The experiences I had begin 14 months after the storm. To read Anderson's accounts, just hours and days following the storm, it was unbelieveable. To read his accounts from the view of someone who was choosing to be there, it's amazing. I recommend this book to everyone.



5. I loved this book. He is a wonderful journalist. I recommend this book to anyone that loves world news and travel all in one.

5 comments about My Boring Ass Life: The Uncomfortably Candid Diary of Kevin Smith.

1. I got this book back last Christmas, but somehow forgot to bring it back from my parents' house. I was very excited to see it when it arrived this summer in a box from the folks. This is a collection of Kevin's dairy that he's been keeping online, but since I hadn't been keeping up with that, it was all new to me.
   
   I have to give Kevin a lot of props for revealing so much of his life to his fans, especially the stuff about when his dad passed away. Sharing like that made me call my own father to let him know I love him.
   
   I know some folks might find some of the entries a little boring, but who lives a life that is always exciting? It shows that Kevin is just as human as the rest of us, though with a ton more bank and a great job.



2. Kevin Smith never fails to make me laugh. If you are a fan of his work, buy this book!



3. I'm not completely finished with this yet, but from what I've read so far, it's definitely interesting. The title isn't very accurate in my view, and I'm sure many would agree- his life isn't all that boring. He does a bunch of mundane stuff, and he writes about that mundane stuff in a fairly matter-of-fact way, but still- there's something interesting about it.
   
   I loved Clerks (didn't like Clerks 2 all that much), and I've seen a few of his other films. I'm not a mega-fan, but I like the guy in general, and I've enjoyed his work. He had a lot of interesting stories in An Evening with Kevin Smith, and this book is much like that. The stories are much shorter and not as interesting reading them on paper, but still- it works.
   
   There are laughs, some really moving parts when it gets serious, some neat inside info. about his business (to a small degree). Uber fans will surely love it, and those like me who have enjoyed a few of his films will probably find it a good read as well. I'd give it a 4, but most of the stuff written about is just so mundane that I'd have to give it a solid 3.5



4. At this point in his career, it would be hard to put Kevin Smith in the top tier of directors, in the same league as folks like Eastwood, Spielberg, Scorcese or the Coen Brothers; he does, however, have a real cult following, of which I am a part. Besides the fact that he makes really good movies, he also has a just-one-of-the-guys aura, developed through his "Evening With..." DVDs of his speaking engagements and his film commentaries. My Boring-A$$ Life also promotes that reality (or very well-constructed image).
   
   My Boring-A$$ Life is subtitled The Uncomfortably Candid Diary of Kevin Smith, which is pretty honest. Starting on March 20, 2005, the book begins as a daily chronicle of Smith's activities. Not just the movie-related items, not even just the extraordinary events, but even the most mundane activities, including bathroom trips and sexual acts. Admittedly, some of this wears thin in the early going, but the book changes as it goes along.
   
   As the book evolves from pure diary to more interesting tales, it gets stronger. We follow Smith's first real acting role (in Catch and Release) and the lessons he takes from working for another director. We get the story of Smith's acting in the fourth Die Hard movie, and details of his work on Clerks II. There is a lot that's funny, but when necessary, he can be serious. This is most evident in his "Me and My Shadow" entries, which describe Jason (Jay of Jay and Silent Bob) Mewes's coping with drug addiction.
   
   Overall, Smith seems to have a pretty good life: he makes decent money, he spends a lot of time goofing off, watching movies, having sex or hanging out with friends. Fortunately, he doesn't really crow about his good life but presents it matter-of-factly. It also helps that he is quick to point out his own shortcomings, most notably about his weight.
   
   This is a great read, especially for Kevin Smith fans. It is, not, however, a really fast read (it is too densely packed with detail), but fortunately, it is structured in a way that allows easy breaks when necessary. If you have enjoyed films like Clerks, Chasing Amy or Dogma, here is your chance to learn more about the man behind these movies and have fun in the process.



5. I am a huge Kevin Smith fan so I loved this book. The diary style can get a little boring as Smith describes daily life but a true fan will enjoy the insight. The section chronicaling Jason Mewes struggle with drugs (Me and My Shadow) is a great read. Very touching.

5 comments about Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions.

1. Pros: Great book about MIT students who use their brains for more than science, but to take advantage of inefficient markets. Well written, fast paced and exciting.
   
   Cons: None
   
   Summary: Fast read about a real story that's exciting and fun.
   
   Overall: 9/10



2. In Bringing Down The House, Ben Mezrich tells the true story of a group of MIT students who count cards in blackjack. The story focuses on Kevin Lewis, and how he came to be an expert card counter. At no time is this story dull or boring. It will keep you into it until the very end. The story itself is unbelievable, which makes the book even more amazing. Mezrich does a great job of describing the thoughts and actions that each student took during the book. He also does a good job on showing each character's growth and development during the book. Kevin starts off the story as a shy Asian kid who is not happy with his job at the lab. Once his friends Martinez and Fisher show him the amazing world of counting cards, Kevins life turns completely different. The Las Vegas highlife and huge amounts of money turn Kevin into a completely different person. His change during the book is smooth and very believable. This is the kind of book that you will pick up and wont be able to put down. It's an easy and a very fun read. It will show you a different side of Vegas and a different side of Blackjack. Mezrich shows how difficult card counting really is and how much hard work it is to master it. Kevin and his team went out nearly every weekend to Vegas to count cards. Their lives in Las Vegas completely overshadowed their lives at home. Not only did the team spend almost every weekend in Las Vegas, but they had to keep their double lives secret from all their family and close friends. The team counted for over a year. Spending that much time together, there must be some problems they encounter. If you read this book I can guarantee you that you will not be disappointed.



3. Looks like Ben Mezrich can join the ranks of James Frey, Dave Pelzer and Kathy O'Beirne, who write fiction but call it non-fiction. After reading this book I decided to do some online research. Didn't take long to find this comment in Wikipedia "In 2008, Boston magazine and The Boston Globe investigated the accuracy of Mezrich's non-fiction, identifying occasions in his blackjack books where scenes were invented out of whole cloth." Very disappointing to discover another best seller that is so fabricated yet purports to be telling the truth.



4. Not sure what to say. There might be a kernel of truth to what happened, but it certainly didn't happen as described in this tripe. Anyone who falls for this sure is naive.



5. I didn't understand why the book said the F word so many times. I know that it is based in Vegas, but I just don't think that it was necessary and got very annoying towards the end. It also makes me hesitate to recommend this book because I don't want to offend anyone and them thinking that I didn't mind the crude language.
   
   After I read the book I looked up the story on the Internet about what happened with these MIT guys and I was annoyed to find that most of the stuff that was in the novel was untrue or exageratted. I just wish he wouldn't of made up some of the stuff in the book. I am sure it would of still been interesting if he told the truth of what the students did.

5 comments about We Bought a Zoo: The Amazing True Story of a Young Family, a Broken Down Zoo, and the 200 Wild Animals That Change Their Lives Forever.

1. This was a pretty powerful memoir. It combines a family, a dream, hard work, and tragedy. I think for the most part all the elements are pretty well balanced. I was rooting for this family and the success of their zoo and dream. They worked tirelessly to make improvements for the animals and zoo while trying to remain a close-knit family as the author's wife passes away.
   
   I loved reading about the author's wife and children, especially his love for his wife. I would have loved to learn a bit more about his other family members as well. The author's mother is mentioned several times but I would have liked to learn more about his siblings.
   
   All the stories related to the zoo were pretty amazing. Multiple animal escapes, staff spats, and animal personalities. There was a great deal going on. And I loved it all! At times when the author was talking about the animal enclosers I had a hard time picturing exactly what he meant. I don't know if it was just me or if it's hard for a zoo outsider to understand these things. It was very rewarding to see the zoo's makeover from start to finish and see the staff form and come together to get the zoo ready for inspection.
   
   This was a very original true story and I would like to learn more about this family and their zoo since this book was completed!



2. This is a terrific book. Probably because it is something I always wished I could do.



3. Normally, no matter how interesting the topic, I never seem to finish any non-fiction books I pick up. They just never manage to raise my interest level to the point that I normally voraciously consume fiction.
   
   This book is my exception.
   
   I started by just leafing through and reading excerpts. It did not take long for the book to hook me in. I finally started from the beginning, and read the entire thing, cover to cover that very evening. It's a lovely tale, though tinged with sadness. I love the author's voice as he narrates his story. It is very conversational, and made me both laugh outloud, and shed a couple of tears. This is someone I'd love to get know, this book doesn't just tell a story, but lets you into someone's life.
   
   This is an author I will look forward to reading more of.



4. Benjamin Mee's memoir delivers in so many unexpected ways that at times make it an emotional, enjoyable read. The "We Bought a Zoo" hook winds up being little more than a hook as a lot of the anecdotes about the purchase and pulling together of the unusual family business fail to deliver; but, Mee brings surprising humor, honesty and passion to the personal drama his family undergoes when his partner/wife is diagnosed with and eventually succumbs to a brain tumor.
   
   His wife's story becomes the center of gravity that holds reading interest in spite of some antics by his family's newly acquired menagerie, a couple of colorful characters in the zoo acquisition, and the larger tale about the effort to take the failing animal park from disrepair to profitability.
   
   While that turnaround of the titular zoo is supposed to provide the conflict, suspense and narrative weight, it just fails to deliver and it is really the more emotional family story that saves this from being a two-star "cute" book. If you're a "Marley & Me" fan or liked the current bestseller "Dewey," this might really work for you. Otherwise, I'd say its a so-so effort with a couple of really excellent moments that make it worth the read if you're looking for something to fill a gap in your reading list.



5. We Bought A Zoo is subtitled: The Amazing True Story of a Young Family, a Broken Down Zoo, and the 200 Wild Animals That Changed Their Lives Forever
   
   Given that, the story takes a little time to get off the ground. We find the author, a free-lance writer, living in rural southern France with his wife & two children and refinishing two dirt-floor stone barns. When word comes through his sister that a dilapidated zoo in the English countryside is for sale, the author & his extended family takes action to purchase it. This is not an easy endeavor and the business details fill the first quarter of the book. Note also that a BBC film crew got wind of the endeavour and asked to film the process.
   
   The thing is, I don't think I'd like Benjamin Mee if I met him in person. He uprooted his family once, by selling their beloved flat in London to move to his personal idyll in France, and then again, back to England because, after all, HE'D always wanted to own a zoo and now his French dream wasn't what he wanted after all. On both occasions, he overrode his wife Katherine. This was especially appalling to me the second time because Katherine was newly diagnosed with a brain tumour & receiving (excellent) treatment in France. The fact that his (possibly) dying wife wasn't enthused about this new venture didn't faze him a bit.
   
   In addition, although Mee has experienced staff and certified professionals advising him, he ignores their advice in serious decisions at least twice that he reports. In both cases, things ended up favorably but, rather than be grateful for twists of fate that may have affected the situations, he boasts and struts.
   
   But the story? Animal lovers, once you get past the purchase transaction, there's plenty of goodies for you amidst the details of the continuing financial issues, grim living conditions (for the family), and Katherine's disease and eventual death.
   
   Imagine the day staff moved Tammy the tiger without proper restraint precaution, only to have the beast gain consciousness as they moved her. Mee describes the situation as being "beyond fear, to total calm". But the fear lingered when, sometime later, Mee & his brother are startled by a large animal moving behind them while checking some reservoir pipes, & spring to defend their lives - against the neighbor's cow. I believe they were less afraid when one of their younger wolves was running loose through the nearest town. And there is an amusing exposé: what happens "When Porcupines Go Bad".
   
   Perhaps the most likable animal in the zoo was Zak, the elderly alpha wolf, who "maintained his grip on the pack now, not with brute force, but through sheer charisma and experience." The account of his surgery to save him from testicular cancer will be a source of angst among male readers and of glee to the women.
   
   Mee's account of the peacock - which he evidently disdains - as a dumb, evolutionary mistake, is humorous. It also amuses me that Mee can describe the wonders of these animals and their behaviours and personalities and make attribution every time to the marvel of evolution, to the point, by his own admission, that it "[made] evolution sound (almost) like a religion".
   
   That these creatures are so intelligently made, with abilities beyond what are needed for survival, and so varied is surely evidence of a designer, a creator. And since, according to Mee, the peacock (named, so he postulates, for the size of its brain), has that marvelous tail that is so "evolutionarily expensive", it really should be extinct by that theory. The last time I checked on the world's peacock population, that wasn't the case.
   
   I would have loved to see more photographs of the animals Mee brings to life in his stories, but the colour pictures included are disappointing. Nearly half are of their project in France, and the ones of the animals include many that are not named in the book, and exclude many that are.
   
   I really did learn a tremendous amount, though, about the running of a zoo. It's a highly regulated & examined business - and an almost unmaginably expensive one to run. The money and the struggle to get it, manage it & plan for making it, are a major part of the book. And, animal lovers with the same dream, please note that, despite the months of Herculean effort by Mee, his family & his staff, the zoo would not have succeeded financially if the BBC (whose film crew had been on location for those many months) had not run the four-part television series Titles "Ben's Zoo" in November of their opening year. That brought more paying visitors and made endless opportunities for additional moneymaking venues such as this book. Without that, the zoo would have closed, broke, after the first summer and the animals would have been disperse. In other words, "Kids, don't try this at home!"
   
   Should you read it? Even though I personally dislike the author, he does write well and the book held my attention from beginning to end. There are no bogged down bits - it's all moving forward. If you like animals or are interested in learning about the world of zoos, then by all means - read it & enjoy!

5 comments about Magical Thinking: True Stories.

1. Augusten Burroughs has lived a fascinating life, made more hilarious and fascinating by his story telling. It is a great introduction to his life and writing, although it was not the first to be published. His humor is self-deprecating and sometimes mean, yet still charming, witty and fun. We've all wanted to be able to be as forthright as Burroughs and this is a great way to live that vicariously through him.



2. Ooookay. I'm glad I checked this one out of the library instead of wasting money on it.
   
   I've previously enjoyed Burroughs' work. (Sellevision, Dry, Running With Scissors.) So I recognized the first chapter, with the admen for Tang coming to Burroughs' school) as something previously published in another book. I feel a little ripped off when I invest money and/or time into consuming the same content in multiple works.
   
   And then came the "Rat/Thing" chapter, in which Burroughs describes torturing a white mouse which was unfortunate enough to find itself in his apartment. As a citydweller, I know unwanted pests spread disease and nibble wiring that causes fires, and I sympathize with the need to exterminate the tiny squatters as necessary. But Burroughs seems to take pleasure in this -- detailing how he sprayed a can of RAID on the mouse, noting how the chemical burns dulled the animal's eyes and made it frantic with pain. He then filled the bathtub it was in with scalding water and, getting creative, started flashing a lightbulb like a strobe light in the mouse's face until it had a seizure and died. Y'know, I didn't think there was a way to make glue traps seem humane, but Augusten Burroughs found one.
   
   This is comedy writing?
   
   I'm disgusted.



3. I bought this book for my boyfriend and he LOVED the book, of course his sense of humor is close to the authors, but if you like the author you'll love the book!



4. I was standing in the bookstore aisle plucking books from the shelves and flipping pages when I came across 'Magical Thinking' and this line, "The year I snuck an interracial lesbian couple into the background of an American Airlines ad..." I read some more. I could have read the entire book while standing there. But, my whooping laughter would have disturbed my fellow readers. Burroughs puts on paper what most folks block from conscious thought. He presents such a can't-make-this-stuff-up life that one moment you don't believe it, then you wish you had been there to see it. Ever been intimidated by a cleaning lady-cum-personal assistant? Meet Debby. Ever fought a rodent or a roach in a NYC apartment? Meet the Mouse. Reading the stories will make you late for work, burn your dinner and ignore the kids fighting at your elbow. The writer has a rich talent for self-conflagration, as well as burning others with his wit. If there is a downside to this work, it's that all the boyfriends (except Dennis) seem to be the same beautiful-bodied man with slight variations. Warning: If the "f" word or descriptions of the male anatomy offend you, don't even pick up this book. After reading his caustic commentaries on his failed dates, I enjoyed the tender turn he takes in vignettes of his domestic relationship with Dennis. Dennis is the normal, stable part of the partnership. Burroughs remains dramatic and, well, crazy.



5. Augusten Burroughs does not come across as what you'd call a "nice person," but he's so very honest, funny, and sometimes self-deprecating that the reader can't help being on his side, as he battles a crazy cleaning lady, kills a mouse in his tub, and moves in and out of quasi-relationships with gorgeous, but unsuitable men. And frankly, he appeals to that deep, dark, mean corner we all have suppressed inside, that place where we want to make a snide comment about someone's fatt butt or stupid hairdo. I adore how he hated sickeningly perfect Raoul on their first date, and his description of his schoolteacher in the opening chapter was a delight.
   
   When Dennis enters the picture, we see Augusten's tender side, his appreciation for another's vulnerability, and we start to think perhaps Augusten has been holding out on us, letting us see only his vanity/insecurity polarity, his delayed-reaction remorse for mouse-killing and child-frightening, keeping this kinder Augusten hidden until the time is right.
   
   While reading this book, I couldn't help thinking that I'd love to have him over for dinner, but I wouldn't let him babysit my child.
   
   Augusten Burroughs is a great writer and enigmatic presence on the literary scene.

5 comments about La Suma de los Dias.

1. I had read all the books written by Isabel Allende is my favorite author. This book is wonderful. You will wonder be part of her "tribu" !
   I can't wait for the next one!
   Thank you Isabel



2. I love all of her books. I love her! If you read PAULA, you would like La Suma de los Días, since it is about the life and family as well. However, this is not her best book by far.



3. Me gusto mucho el libro al punto que no queria que se me acabara y no lo podia soltar



4. Isabel Allende siempre ofrece un deleite literario, este libro es la continuación de "Paula", que pasó despues y como sigue la Familia que Pula dejó,,, o ¿sigue con ellos?. Una novela entre la realidad y el toque ficticio de la escritora. MUY RECOMENDABLE



5. As much as I like (actually adore) Isabel Allende's writings and style, La Suma de los Días is not in my opinion up to Isabel's standards. It felt weak and repetitive. But at the same time maybe that it is exactly what she was aiming for. Inner family matters and things of the heart and emotions tend to be weak and repetitive with a twist of hope and eternity. Having said that, I read the book in 3 days hoping until the very end that the next line would become the starting point for the ususally turn-page reading Isabel always brings to her readers. But this is not a worry at all. I consider myself the most common and ordinary of all her fans. Likely one that she will never meet but always will be with her waiting for her next master piece.

5 comments about Something for the Pain: One Doctor's Account of Life and Death in the ER.

1. Paul Austin's book Something for the Pain is compelling from the first chapter. What makes it riveting is the truth of his observations about the medical life and his willingness to reveal his inner struggle.
   
   As a Nurse-Midwife, and author of The Blue Cotton Gown: A Midwife's Memoir, [[ASI N:0807072893 The Blue Cotton Gown: A Midwife's Memoir]] I know that self-revelation is risky. You must ask yourself, how will I feel if my patients read this.
   
   As the spouse of an OB/Gyn, I know that physicians are trained to exhibit confidence. For a doc to share his inner life, his sadness, emotional isolation and doubt, is a gift.
   
   Every physician and nurse should read this book. Every health care provider in training should read this book. Everyone who has ever gone to a doctor or will go to a doctor should read this book, and that includes all of us.



2. What a great story about Dr.Paul Austin and his life inside and outside of the ER. The story was very personal and moving. This story gave me a look inside of what goes on in the ER and how it feels to the patient, and the doctor treating you. This is a book to read for inspiration and the true reality of life inside & outside of the ER.
   Buy it as a gift for someone! It will change their way of thinking.



3. In his new memoir, Something for the Pain: One Doctor's Account of Life and Death in the ER, Paul Austin takes a clear-eyed look at the profession he has chosen---that of a doctor in a metropolitan Emergency Room, who frequently works what other (less superstitious) professionals might term "the Graveyard Shift."
   
   Within the covers of this thoughtful and moving debut, Austin graciously allows us an insider's look at the struggles and rewards of his job, as well as the toll it can take on a growing family, especially when the detrimental effects of persistent sleep-deprivation fray nerves and breed frustration. (When the author finds an innovative way around these struggles, we silently cheer for his ingenuity and for the sake of his patient, empathetic wife, herself a former nurse.)
   
   Unlike many of our nation's first responders (and ER doctors are definitely first responders), Austin and his ilk often don't get the respect that a fireman (which Austin has also been) or a paramedic might, and they certainly don't receive the full measure of respect they're due. (Have you ever tried staying up all night, on constant alert, dealing with bleeding, vomiting, angry people---many of them drunk and violent---or patients with chest pains and grisly car crash wounds that need immediate attention and split-second medical decisions? All this, while frequent understaffing creates delays that in turn create patients so angry that once they are finally seen it can complicate the process of diagnosis? ...I thought not.)
   
   With equal measures of honesty and empathy, Paul Austin has created a timeless memoir that deserves a wide readership. As Richard Selzer's "Letters to a Young Doctor" helped to open the public's eyes to the general practitioner, so can "Something for the Pain" give us important insights into the working conditions for an ER physician. I do know that without a doubt, the next time I visit an ER, no matter my circumstances, I plan to extend a measure of empathy to the doctor on duty and not just expect it. And I plan to be thoroughly grateful--and definitely sober.



4. Something for the Pain is a searing account of life as an emergency physician. It's the kind of book that makes you laugh and cry out loud. It's the kind of book that is tough to put down. In prose as clean as a scalpel's shave, and as fast-moving as the pace of the emergency ward itself, Austin re-creates the atmosphere of blood and guts and heart-stopping pain, of wry humour and supercharged adrenaline that fuels a busy hospital. At the same time, he describes the ripple effects that emergency work can have on a family, and his own efforts to achieve balance in the midst of so much death and suffering - not to mention, sleep-depriving shift work. Honest, gripping, fiercely compassionate, and unafraid to pose big questions, Something for the Pain should interest anyone who is looking for a well-written memoir, and anyone who cares about the caring professions.



5. This book account from an E.R. physician places the reader on the front row of what happens and the thoughts and emotions that these heroes have during the drama and in between.Best,beleivable book I've read in quite awhile.A must read for non-fiction lovers!Hope the author writes more.

5 comments about Foreskin's Lament: A Memoir.

1. As if !, To me this is another one of those books were the subject matter really does not matter. What is important to me is the authors willingness to leak out some of his pent up frustrations in this very incomplete and unbalanced book. Guilty pleasure in so much as getting off on his anger and passion, yes , does it inspire me to want to read more of his work, no (Same with T. Sowell and T. Wise). The one thing that keep popping into my thoughts while reading this book, was whether the defining of oneself is voluntary or involuntary. In conclusion, read this for the pleasure of reading, not much else.



2. Yes, this book was mildly amusing. But I bought it expecting much more. I expected an insightful look into the ultra-Orthodox community and into the author and his family. What I got was no more than a long newspaper article with a few laughs. Or maybe an outline for a longer, truer look into the author's life. So many questions were left unanswered. Why did the author's father "hate them all." What was his relationship with his brother and sister (who remain nameless)? Why, really, did he suddenly become religious in Israel? I could go on and on. In short, I was amused but disappoined. Next time I'd like a real look into Mr. Auslander's life and soul. Unless this is the way he chooses to to present himself, it's much more like an idea for a book than a real one.



3. I found this book very interesting. I think the questions the author asks are important--especially in regard to the unquestioned fantasies so many people hold of a tyrannical father-god. I'm sorry to read other reviews in which the author is so severely castigated, simply for expressing his own experience and view.



4. you know those moments in life that are frustratingly awful but then you can laugh when you look back on them? This is Foreskins Lament. Auslander has the ability to look back and see the humour and how great to share it with us.
   
   The curcumcision Dillema is at the beginging and end of this book, and I feel it is more of a construct to make the book into a package and not the heart and story of the book.
   
   I do not know how it is interpreted by those who are far from this story in real life. For me, having gone to a yeshiva, I really sympathized and related and laughed out loud.
   
   I would love to see or hear Ausalnder on a panel togheter with the author of Living the Bible. What a panel that would be!



5. I wanted to like this book. I heard an interview in which Auslander read the first page or so, and thought it sounded really funny. As someone that grew up in what was, at times, an overbearing religious environment and a semi-dysfunctional home, I was sure I could understand, and laugh along with him.
   
   But my, oh my, Auslander is angry. Very, very angry. And more so than the humor, this is what permeated this book for me. In many places, it completely washed out the humor.
   
   Don't get me wrong, he's a funny man and knows how to turn a phrase for comic effect. There were moments I really, really enjoyed, and even one or two that made me laugh out loud. (Who names their kid peace?)
   
   But I guess I was expecting something more like David Sedaris -- a man who really knows how to make the most of a screwed up and depressing situation.
   
   Foreskin's Lament just left me uncomfortable, and possibly worried about Shalom's blood pressure. You just can't hang on to anger like that, can you?

5 comments about A Lion's Tale: Around the World in Spandex.

1. I had a great time reading this book as this was a book written by one of the "younger generation" of wrestlers - the ones that I grew up with and followed their careers from the mid 90's to today. Chris Jericho presented a funny and amusing account of his travels as a wrestler and the dues he had to pay along the way - probably one of the last wrestlers to go through the "territorial system" on his way to the WWE. In addition, he also presented a unique take on the turmoil that was WCW as an undercard wrestler being "held down" from breaking through. I also enjoyed reading about the hush hush double secret meeting Jericho had with Vince and co. Of course, with the ending of the book at his intro to WWE, I look forward to "part II" of the Lion's Tale.



2. I really enjoyed this book. I was not so sure of how it would keep me into the story since it's about most of his time before WWE, but it did. Very intresting way to fullfill your dreams and the measures you sometimes go through to get their.



3. I've always been a fan of Jericho's in ring work (well "always" dating back to the late 90s in his WCW days anyway). This book is written in such a manner that you feel like you are sitting down with him over a bottle of rum and he is just telling you some really good stories (sometimes funny, sometimes weird, sometimes sad). I really didn't feel like I was reading as much as just listening to a guy (whom I admire) talk about his life.
   
   As with any "wrestling" book you are going to limit the number of people who are going to be interested. I don't believe being a fan of the business is a must for reading this book (although there are some jokes that only fans will get), but I will say this book is not for everybody. Several topics are a bit off color and will offend some.
   
   There are some problems with the book though (I'm actually surprised to see it getting as many 5 star reviews as it is). For one, almost every topic is dealt with in a "light-hearted" sort of way. This is fine for the majority of the book, but there are times when it this approach seems odd. For example, he discusses a situation were a bunch of wrestlers and himself go out bowling after taking prescription sleeping pills like it was nothing. Yet, some of the people who went out that night died very real drug related deaths. Second, he mentions that he is Christian yet openly discusses drug use, strip clubs, alcohol, sex, etc... I'm not even religious, and I found it strange.
   
   Overall, it's a great book and well worth the cheap price.



4. He's my favorite WWE wrestler (and the champ) since John Cena is out sick and this is an excellent book, I learned a lot about him from this book and I would rate this book a 10+!



5. If your a wrestling fan (more so from the late 90s) do yourself a favour and buy, borrow or steal a copy of this book, even if your not a big reader you won't want to put it down. I lent it to a couple of friends of mine who also watch wrestling and they too found it highly entertaining. If your not or have never been a wrestling fan then you may not care for it and lose interest at least thats the opinion I got from someone else I lent it to, however if you do fit this category what are you doing looking up jericho's autobiography?

5 comments about Rickles' Book: A Memoir.

1. I bought this because I know Don. He is a bit under appreciated with the kids these days. Check out why he was so influential and why to be insulted by Don is an honor. He is a living piece of America history, entertainment and otherwise. He is also a very kind and very funny guy.



2. This book was very funny. Just could not put it down. When reading you could hear his voice.



3. Don't bother, a waste of time. You will feel conned. I never really liked his bigoted, racist and hurtful denegrading of all cultures, especially Spanish/African Americans. He denegraded all cultures, but not his own jewish culture. Posterity will judge rickles unkindly, as it should any bigot. Some/many comedians use comedy to hide their hate, but deliver their bogoted diatribes, like rickles, to get 'his,'hate messages out their - with a smile. His guilded, candy-coated comedy is loaded and cleverly calculated, with hurtful, demeaning, intent underneath. Ad Nauseum. Not a nice person or a person to admire.



4. I have been a HUGE fan of Don Rickles for decades and was so excited to get this book since having seen him, watched him and known about him I knew his life would be amazing and the book just let's you know what an amazing life he has indeed led. Unfortunately, this book reads like seeing an apartment through the windows of a passing el train - nothing solid, no flow whatsoever and nothing to bring you in. The average chapter is like 3 pages and if you are thinking to yourself, that's not enough to really get into depth about anything, you are absolutely right - a perfect example is a time on stage he talks about where Sinatra doesn't even recognize him and he knew something was wrong - he doesn't get into it anymore, doesn't talk about anything more about it - just leaves you lacking and the whole book lacks with it - thoroughly disappointed in what could have been and should have been an AMAZING book - true and big fans will find some laughs but there is nothing here that frankly, the really big fans will not already have heard him talk about before many times over (ie. the Carson broken cigarette box/CPO Sharkey story) - save your money and wait for someone to write a biography, the auto biography seems to have been written by someone who wasn't interested in telling his life story and that is a true shame for anyone as interested as I was to read it.



5. I didn't scream with laughter the way I do when he's talking, but I could hear his voice in the book. Too short I think, but it's not some detailed biography--it's a quick presentation, like his typical stories. I reckon if you hadn't heard him talk, it wouldn't read as funny as it does for me. But Mr. Rickles has class and heart and that comes through loud and clear; and that counts for a lot.