5 comments about The Water is Wide.

1. This is an early example of the promise of Pat Conroy. Everything I have read of his has been extraordinarily beautifully written. There are pages I have to reread just for the joy of the wording, the descriptions, the expressions of thoughts.
   
   As a teacher he must have been a treasure. It is an indictment of the school system in which he worked that he was not fostered and encouraged. America's children are the losers in the situation. I know the people of "Yamacraw" felt the loss when he was not allowed to return to the school there.
   
   America's readers have reaped the benefits of Conroy's education and experience and his exemplary use of the language.
   
   Enjoy!



2. After having read the book, we had an opportunity to tour Daufuskie Island (Yamacraw Island in the book). After the tour we stopped at the General Store and noticed that The Water Is Wide was not offered for sale. We asked about this. We were told the Gullahs thought the book put them down and they did not want the book available on the island. ..... Interesting.



3. While reading The Water is Wide, I experienced exactly the kind of heart-warming, comical, enjoyable reaction Pat Conroy had in mind while writing the book. Several themes are apparent throughout, and it was easy for the reader to recognize the most important one. Pat Conroy taught his students and readers that no matter a person's race, literacy level, age, or gender, everyone matters, and everyone is equal.
   Pat Conroy moved many times as a child, since his father was in the military. His first job was teaching English in Beaufort, South Carolina. He then found himself teaching on the remote Daufuskie Island, which was referred to as Yamacraw Island in the novel. This teaching job provided the inspiration and plot for The Water is Wide.
   Pat Conroy, referred to as "Conrack" by some students, has an excellent way of teaching readers the importance of acceptance and equality. He does not preach or lecture his message, but his delivery of it through countless situations is just as effective. Sometimes his point is concealed by the amusement of the Yamacraw students, but by the end of each chapter, the reader will be reminded of the seriousness at hand.
   The Water is Wide never failed to entertain me. The book takes countless turns in the plot, and each turn results in comedy, sincerity, or amusement. The reader finds him or herself relating to each character, even though the lifestyle on Yamacraw Island is much different from most of the United States. Pat Conroy made me realize how lucky I am to live in a society where education is important and emphasized. This book opened my eyes to how people in other, less fortunate areas of the world live. I recognized that education is imperative, and how much the average student takes for granted.
   While Pat Conroy had no problems capturing my attention with plenty of interesting stories, he sometimes overwhelmed readers with his personality. Several parts of the book were filled with Conroy's strong opinion on characters and school rules. This sometimes interrupted the plot. Other than the occasional rant by Pat Conroy, the book flowed smoothly.
   The Water is Wide was an excellent read for teenagers and adults, especially those interested in teaching. I enjoyed reading this book from cover to cover, and it influenced me in ways only exceptional literature can.



4. The author has an excellent command of words in describing characters and action. Unfortunately, they are not used to good effect in this autobiographical novel.
   
   For me the book lacked interesting characters, a fascinating plotline, and impending danger and escalating conflict. Consequently it lacked ongoing suspense, failing to involve and absorb me in this so-called story.
   
   I say so-called because the book seems more like a a series of isolated incidents, hardly focused on a particular end or goal, and therefore take on a rambling, babbling, numbing quality, one which I, for one, found increasingly boring.
   
   There was no point in the book where I felt I couldn't put the book down and wonder or care about what was going to happen to the main, or even the subordinate, characters. It was all ho-hum. To me, a good book compels me to keep reading, even if I have to stay up all night doing so. Not this one--if anything, it threw me into an uncaring state of somnolence. And many of its points that are continually repeated contribute to this
   
   At page 115 I tossed the book into the trash can so that I could better use my time by reading something better, hopefully a book that is more involving and fascinating.



5. I was really impressed with this book. Not only did I enjoy the story, which is true, but I also enjoyed the writing of Pat Conroy. This is the first book I have read by Conroy. This is about the experience Conroy had in the early 70's teaching in a one room school house on Yamacraw Island (which is the pseudonym for Daufuskie Island), an island off the coast of South Carolina. This island was populated by mostly African Americans. The experience was truly eye opening . It really depicted the society of that time: Civil Rights, Segregation and Southern Culture and it's resistance to change. Conroy took a true life experience and put in down on paper in such a way that the reader felt like they were there on the island with him. Add to that an exceptional sense of humor that was drizzled throughout the story and you have yourself a masterpiece. I have added all of the rest of Conroy's books on my wishlist and I feel a little bit more with the program after finally reading one of his works.

5 comments about A Walk on the Beach: Tales of Wisdom From an Unconventional Woman.

1. Each book ~ although different in their own way ~ continues to be truly amazing. They are motivating, endearing and engaging. Joan feels like a dear old friend, yet I'm discovering about myself !



2. I first "met" Joan Anderson in her book, A Year By the Sea. I was in awe of this woman who took a hiatus from her marriage, moved to the solitude of a life on Cape Cod and took the time to really get to know herself.
   
   Her second book, An Unfinished Marriage, was a continuation of her journey, as she shared the story of how her husband eventually joined her in Cape Cod.
   
   Not surprisingly, the third book in this trilogy, A Walk On the Beach, was an uncommon delight. I wasn't quite sure what else Ms. Anderson could share about her Cape Cod experience. I was soon to find out there was a lot left to tell.
   
   Her first book in the trilogy will always be my favorite, but "A Walk On the Beach" ranks right up there with it. We are transported back to many of the same scenes we read about in "A Year By the Sea", but we learn of a remarkable friendship that began in an otherwise isolated period of the author's life.
   
   On a foggy day, we walk with Ms. Anderson onto a jetty overlooking the ocean. There we are introduced to Joan Erikson--a writer and the wife of pioneering psychoanalyst Erik Erikson.
   
   In the pages that follow, we are allowed a glimpse into the "Tales of Wisdom From An Unconventional Woman" (the subtitle of the book).
   
   "The beach to me is a sacred zone between the earth and the sea, one of those in-between places where transitions can be experienced--where endings can be mourned and beginnings birthed. A walk along the beach offers the gift of the unexpected. Scan the horizon and glimpse the endelss possibilities. Stroll head down and encounter one natural treasure after another. Tease the tides and feel a sense of adventure. Dive into the surf and experience the rush of risk."
   
   From the Prologue:
   
   "One of the most significant gifts the beach has given me was Joan Erikson, an elderly woman whom I met accidentally on a foggy February day. She was to prod me to find myself again, even when I thought all was lost."
   
   In her prologue, Ms. Anderson tells us that she hopes the readers of this book will be mentored by some of Joan Erikson's wisdom in much the same way she was mentored by the woman who used to say "The important thing is to share what you know. Be generative and pass it on. That is what makes all the difference."
   
   To read this book is to discover validation of the desire to find true wisdom and inner awareness. To savor this book is to be enriched by the uncommon wisdom of a remarkable woman and to experience the sheer joy of a friendship extroidinaire.
   
   by Lee Ambrose
   for Story Circle Book Reviews
   reviewing books by, for, and about women



3. Scrambling along rocks on a Cape Cod beach, following the sound of a foghorn, Joan Anderson suddenly finds herself almost nose-to-nose with an old woman she doesn't know. The stranger turns out to be Joan Erikson, wife of psychoanalyst Erik Erikson. Feeling an immediate connnection, the two Joans rapidly become close companions.
   
   Joan Anderson has come to the Cape, running away from home, to re-evaluate her marriage and the direction of her life. Always a people-pleaser, she now feels exhausted and confused, no longer fulfilled by family or her career as the author of children's books.
   
   Seeking a small town nursing home where her husband will receive attentive care during his final days, Joan Erikson has relocated to the same town. Her running-away came years ago when she went, a young girl alone, to Europe to dance with Isadora Duncan, at a time when such things simply weren't done.
   
   Anderson's book is the account of the two women's blossoming friendship and the lessons they learn from one another. She recounts a multitude of conversations which took place as they go about their daily activities, walking the beaches, weaving cloth to represent the stages of their lives, sharing meals and ideas.
   
   Erikson urges Anderson to make time for play in her life each day, to get out of her head and into her body. Now in her nineties, she demonstrates the benefits of keeping one's body machinery well-functioning. The friendship reinvigorates her and she excitedly begins to rework and build on the pioneering work on life stages she shared with her husband.
   
   Meanwhile Anderson grows in confidence and clarity of purpose to the point that she can hike the Inca trail to Machu Picchu, a feat that would have been impossible for her before. She walks back into her marriage but as a changed person, more independent, more aware of who she is and the person she wants to become.
   
   Erikson quotes a Japanese scholar: In order not to fail in the end, you have to be dependent on yourself, and know that you can handle things, and most importantly, bring a little humor into the despair. Lightness, imagination, flexibility-these are the things that go into making a new start.
   
   And so, make a new start they do, each growing from the other, becoming stronger and more vibrant in the process.



4. Overall, the book is worth reading. And although I appreciate the relationship and deep friendship portrayed, it does tend to go overboard and become sappy at times.



5. Joan Anderson captures a woman's heart and soul. This a book for any woman who is searching to find herself and her place in the world. I feel my life has been enriched by reading this lovely story. Joan Erickson is the wise woman we all long to sit at the feet of and perhaps some day become. I have bought copies for all my women friends. Thank you Joan Anderson for sharing your story and Friendship with Joan Erickson with the world!

5 comments about Still Growing: An Autobiography.

1. I wasn't a huge Kirk Cameron fan but I did occassionally watch "Growing Pains" and was shocked when Kirk decided to take a hiatus from showbusiness at the height of his career. This book is very well written and insightful. It gives a lot of behind-the-scenes details of Kirk's life growing up both in front of and behind the camera. He's one of the few celebrities that write in a funny, nonjudgmental and yet introspective/honest way about their lives/faith and that really made this book a pleasure to read. I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting!
   
   *PS - His mom Barbara Cameron's book "A Full House Of Growing Pains" was a great read too. Both she and Kirk seemed very honest about the ups and downs of their lives.



2. My favorite quote was, "You don't find God - He's not lost. You are, and He finds you."
   
   Kirk found the two most important things in life - peace and joy.



3. I was a fan of Kirk Cameron from the Growing Pain days. Well, the book gives you a great insight on his life and how he accetped the Lord Jesus Christ to be his savior. It also shows his erros and how he wished as a new Christian he would have done things differently yet, shows that being a christian doesn't mean your perfect... shows you are work in progress and you too see it in his life!!! Awesome book.



4. Kirk Cameron's entertaining and inspirational autobiography is a must read for any young person interested in an acting career or anyone who is curious about what it is like to grow up in front of the camera.
   
   You will find out what it is like to have every kid's dream fulfilled-finding yourself on the cover of dozens of magazines, receiving upwards of 10,000 fan letters per week and the ultimate kid dream-having adults treat you with respect!
   
   Kirk's book exposes the pluses and minuses of fame. From the perks of show business celebrity to finding yourself cooperating with the police to capture a pedophile who uses your fame to hurt others.
   
   You will discover how Kirk's love of God and family has contributed to a happy and fulfilling wonderful life, after child stardom. By the time you finish reading Kirk's autobiography, you will know why he is still growing and still smiling- you'll smile too!



5. Yes, I was a Growing Pains fan growing up, but that is not why I wanted to read Still Growing. I wanted to find out how a devout atheist (who, in his own words, "pitied" the religious people he knew) became arguably one of the most outspoken celebrity Christians in Hollywood. Something radical had to have happened.
   
   Much to my surprise, not only did I get an answer to my question, but I got a candid look at the funny (see the section on a young Kirk's audition for Growing Pains where after reading he asks "Is this a drama or a comedy?"), scary (see the section where Kirk has to be the bait in a sting operation to catch a child predator who had begun stalking him), romantic (see the section where he flew to New York to surprise his future wife) and amazingly providential (see Kirks meeting with Ray Comfort and the start of Way of The Master).
   
   And while it is obvious that Kirk is a better actor than a writer, I stopped caring after the first few pages because of the engaging and conversational tone Kirk employs throughout the book.
   
   If you were a fan of Growing Pains, this is a no brainer. If, like Kirk, you struggled with the bigger questions in life, read this book. It will give you the only satisfying answer that there is.

5 comments about Foreskin's Lament: A Memoir.

1. 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!



2. 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?



3. ...and indeed, he keeps you guessing. Well-written, heartbreaking. So amazing how he gets the reader to sympathize with his abusive father. I just have one critique, which is why I gave it four stars: How could someone raised ultra-Orthodox not know that a medical circumcision is "not kosher"? He participated in Blessing Bees, he can recite all 40 of the Forbidden Sabbath Activities, yet he doesn't realize that a circumcision is a ritual, complete with a *mohel* and blessings? C'mon...Sounds like selective amnesia to me, although who could blame him?



4. Auslander is incredibly funny in his "memoir". I originally came across him in a GQ article and had to read his other material. He provided some great points about God and "theological Abuse" in this book. His negative & nonstop thoughts are both hilarious and very universal. He is in constant fear of an angry God and his idiotic rambles and stupid stunts are only fodder for a great story.



5. Take a young child who relies on his parents for a fair-minded view of the world. Add a major dose of terror and uncertainty in describing an irrational, mean-spirited God who will strike you down if you walk four steps without a yamulke or dare to eat a McDonald's burger (as if God didn't have more important things to worry about). Sprinkle in liberal doses of hypocracy from abusive rabbis, teachers, and parents. It's a sure formula for a very confused, very angry adult.
   
   We've seen it with Islamic fundamentalists...with certain Christian evangelists...and here's the Jewish version of the story. Shalom (his name means "peace" in Hebrew) navigates a rigid orthodox upbringing, where the simplest day-to-day activities -- eating, dressing, even opening a refrigerator door during Sabbath -- have the potential to bring down the wrath of God. Since, in many children's eyes, God equates father, it's no surprise that this fear is maximized because Shalom's father is physically and emotionally abusive.
   
   Shalom Auslander uses humor (just like Augusten Burroughs, his advertising background has kept him in good stead; this is a breezy read in places) to reveal the downright silliness and ultimate harm of fundamental religiosity. His anger at his parents is very thinly veiled, and his desire to be a better father for his own son is poignant.
   
   It's always been amazing to this reader that grown, intelligent men and women take ancient religious precepts at face value, without exploration or examination (Auslander quotes directly from the Talmud about a particularly gruesome torture for those who flaunt God's rules, for example). I urge those readers to pick up a copy of Christopher Hitchen's book "God Is Not Great". However, I suspect that certain readers won't be able to get out of their comfort zone and admit what Shalom Auslander already knows...it is nothing short of theological abuse to submit innocent children to mean-spirited, fundamentalist beliefs of ANY religion.

No comments about Wild Boy: My Life in Duran Duran.

5 comments about Washed by Blood: Lessons from My Time with Korn and My Journey to Christ.

1. It is so encouraging to read about the miraculous change that Jesus Christ made in Head Welch's life. I recommend this for any non-believer you know... especially teens and young adults who struggle with belief and/or with drugs and alcohol. Its an amazing story and I know God used this book to change my life and will use Brian greatly for the Kingdom! This book is REAL....



2. To the people saying it's the same as his first book... this was well documented and announced well in advance:
   
   "Also on June 24, 2008, Harper Collins Publishers will simultaneously release the young adult version of Save Me From Myself, entitled "Washed By Blood". "
   
   It's basically the same book but re-written for younger adults. Still worth reading.



3. I have to agree with the other reviews on this page. I was a huge fan of the first book, and pre-ordered this one thinking it was "new." It IS the same book, but in "teaching" form. I wish these reviews were up before I pre-ordered, and the publishers of this book should have made it clear that this was the same book. For any Christians "hungry" for more after reading "Save Me..." I suggest "Blue Like Jazz" by Donald Miller.



4. This is the same book as "Save Me From Myself" with a different title! I was expecting this one to pick up where the last one left off. This is pretty shady...especially since the back says "You think you're heard the story, but you haven't" or something along those lines. What a rip off.
   
   I loved the original book though.



5. This is pretty much the same book as "Save me from Myself" with points to ponder at the end of each chapter added. My own fault for not checking into it beforehand. His story is awesome nonethelesss and is inspiration to those that are bound to a lifestyle where there seems to be no way out. Jesus is the answer. A lot of people can relate to this testimomy, I did in many ways.

5 comments about Farewell, My Subaru: An Epic Adventure in Local Living.

1. It was an eye opener and such a great read! Thanks Doug!
   
   I usually read non-fiction or intense thrillers, so I wasn't too sure how this book would favor amongst the rest. It won me over.
   
   Doug's book really impacted the way I think. Just cutting back a little bit on certain things makes a HUGE difference. Not to mention that my fast paced life seems to have slowed down now that I am more conscience about what I use and how I use it. Things like gardening, planting trees and building economic structures (solar panel mounts) add to quality time with my boyfriend. Not only is it educational for me and my other half, but these are ideas that we can instill on our children...when the time comes for them of course. Dougs humor and honesty, and anti-Bush quirks add all the bit more to this book. Pick it up today!



2. The book is about the author's adventures when he moved to New Mexico to live green and reduce his carbon footprint. He raises goats and chickens, gets a diesel truck and has it converted to run on grease from restaurants, grows veggies in a garden, and puts in a solar water heater. I was smiling throughout the entire book. He also made a lot of great points about how everyone can do just a little to help save the environmen. He is a great story teller and I love the book.



3. I found Doug's book inspiring AND funny. It made me smile, laugh out loud and ponder ways in which I too can become more self sufficient. Would highly recommend!



4. I loved the book and admire Doug's efforts. I laughed out loud several times!



5. Most books I read may be intellectually interesting, but don't really impact my life to any degree. This humble little tome did instigate some changes for me. On the humblest level I've started making a monthly donation through my power company to a renewable energy trust fund so that more alternative sources can be funded. I've also started to jack up my home's insulation to ever higher levels, even though they were considered average before. And, I'm getting ever more mindful about how low or high I set the a/c & heat in my house, as well as the amount of driving I do, so that I'm cutting back my carbon footprint even more. I've hardly 'gone off the grid' as Mr. Fine has aspired to, but collectively such small changes could make a difference to our country, and to the planet.
   
   But I confess, I still own my Subaru.

5 comments about The Middle Place (Voice).

1. Add me to the chorus of praise. I'm an over-scheduled mom of two young kids who works full-time but I stayed up all night (literally) reading The Middle Place. I so admire Kelly Corrigan's ability to put her family experience into words.
   
   There's too much to say to capture how much I enjoyed it (and I am somewhat less than eloquent), but I tell all of my friends it's a "must read."



2. I absolutely adored the Middle Place. As the mother of two young daughters (3-1/2 and 18 months), I was incredibly moved and touched by Kelly's incredible story and the heartfelt, funny and authentic way she writes.
   
   After hearing about this book from a friend, I picked it up at a local book store. From the moment I opened the first page, I couldn't put it down and was literally reading it in line at pre-school pick up, when I was stopped at stoplights, any free moment I could find.
   
   The Middle Place is a story that every mother and daughter should read. It is a book that makes you think, makes you feel and alters the way you see the world.
   
   Kelly is an incredible writer and I certainly hope she writes more.



3. This book reminded me why I love memoirs. Fantastic, resonant content written with wit, style and precision. The story is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time - which is quite a feat. You want to know her family and be a part of Ms Corrigan's life. And she writes about her own illness (breast cancer) and dealing with her father's (bladder cancer) with such honesty, clear eyed candor and clean prose, that you don't want to ever put it down. I was disappointed when it ended.
   Hurray! Read this book!



4. As a 40-year old mother of a preschool-aged child, I didn't ever consider the possibility of being faced with cancer. During my horrible breast cancer "scare", I found Kelly Corrigan's website, Circus of Cancer (http://www.circusofcancer.org/) which lead me to her book THE MIDDLE PLACE. This is a must read for everyone and anyone who encounters cancer or the possibility of cancer. You will cry and laugh out loud!



5. I loved reading this book. I read it nearly straight through, as it is very accessible, like talking to the author. The main reason I think we should all read it is that it gives an up-close and candid look at the trauma of breast cancer in one woman's life, allowing us the language to face directly-- verbally -- what faces women with breast cancer.
   The strength of the book is in its look at one honest woman's experience lived within a very close family and the strengths and weaknesses of individuals and the system as a whole in dealing with the onset of radically unexpected breast cancer. She does a fantastic job of getting at the implications for one's sense of security, one's inability to protect the people we love. I like the way she takes on the mundane banalities of worrying over looks and diet, how ordinary everyday shallow, thoughtless talk shared between friends becomes really hard to tolerate in the face of the hugeness of this assault on one's body and spirit,etc. And the lonely breakdowns, where really no one can enter.
   
   This is a passionate book. I loved its intimacy, its directness, its vignettes where terror enters, and where love takes over.

5 comments about The Man on Mao's Right: From Harvard Yard to Tiananmen Square, My Life Inside China's Foreign Ministry.

1. Couldn't put this book down, it was such a riveting, dramatic personal story. By the end I felt I understood China for the first time, and especially important periods like the Cultural Revolution. What makes this story so unique is that the author grew up in New York before returning to China as a college student, and his improbably amazing story intersects with everyone from Eleanor Roosevelt, who served him cookies and milk in her Washington Square townhouse, Mao and Zhou Enlai, plus six US presidents. The story is told not in a stuffy official way, but in a very human and observant voice, and a sly sense of humor. If all the Olympic attention has you wanting to "get" China and the Chinese, this is a great place to start. But it's also just a great tale.



2. I knew Ji back in the 70's. At that time none of us, I suspect, had any idea the hardships he had endured in China, particularly during the Cultural Revolution. Toward the end of the book, however, when he gets to Tiananmen, I felt he was trying to set up his readers to conclude (incorrectly) that the Tiananmen demonstrations were essentially a reenactment of the Red Guards/Cultural Revolution excesses and as such deserved to be suppressed by whatever means necessary. This of course is the party line in China and it was disappointed to see someone like Ji parroting it. Toward the end I even began to wonder if the whole purpose of the book was to justify the Tiananmen massacre.
   I was also disappointed that Ji denigrated Han Xu, his colleague and sometime superior in the Foreign Office. He depicts Han as hard line, but it was Han (now dead) who was disillusioned by the Tiananmen suppression and, according to people I trust, contemplated seeking refuge in the United States or some other democratic society.



3. Ambassador Ji Chaozhu's personal journey in the Chinese Foreign Ministry provides vivid and rich details for our understanding of the inner working of Chinese foreign policy-making establishment. From this book, we learn not only real stories of top leaders such as Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and Deng Xiaoping, but also personal relations between Ambassador Ji and other senior PRC diplomats such as Huang Zhen, Han Xu, Zhang Wenjin, Nancy Tang and Wang Hairong, and etc. This book is a major addition to the growing literature on PRC diplomacy, and will become an essential reading for any one interested in 20th century China, especially its diplomacy.



4. A good relationship between China and America is crucial for the future of the world. Period. Therefore, learning the history of recent Chinese politics and the historical relationship between China and America should be mandatory for all Americans, young and old. And what better way to start learning than by reading this very entertaining factual book. This book, written by an interpreter for various high-ranking Chinese officials during the Mao era, is a must-read for those who want an insiders view into the momentous events that occurred in China from the 1950's through recent times. The author is humorous, occassionally self-depreciating, and brutally honest in all he recalls about the great historical events he witnessed close-up in China. Riveting and memorable are two words I can use to describe this book. After reading it, I have a better understanding of what was going on in China when China was "closed" from 1949 to 1976. And, I have a desire to read more from the author. I sincerely hope China and America can grow old together, clean up the environment and always be friends. Nothing less than the future of our planet depends upon it.



5. I fully concur with the preceding reviews.I have been a student of China since the US Air Force assigned me to Taiwan in 1957-58 following completion of language training. Of the many books about China I have read over the years this has to be the most compelling. I could not put it down and was disappointed when it ended. I wanted more!

5 comments about Rock On: An Office Power Ballad.

1. When I picked up this book, I was hoping for a record industry version of Liar's Poker. And having just finished a book detailing the history of Clear Channel, I was interested to learn more about how the music industry has changed over the years. Unfortunately, I got neither.
   
   The book was written in a choppy style and I found it hard to get any flow. By going out of his way to make himself sound like a loser who was not qualified for the job - probably an exaggeration - the author put me in a position of not caring about him.
   
   Even the interesting tidbits, like how some execs made their careers by "picking" hit songs (after tons of research and focus-group testing), are made in such a sarcastic way that the points didn't really hit home.
   
   In the end, I've concluded that the author did what he's accused many bands of doing - putting out a lackluster product just to make a few bucks.



2. There are some laugh-out-loud moments in this book, especially those depicting the culture of marketing meetings and the you-wanna-be-a-winner-don't-ya attitudes so rife in corporate America. Mr. Kennedy's at his best when he's writing bits that could describe *any* corporation. Why? Because we already know that the music industry is more interested in money than talent and that it's out of touch. I wonder just how many people Dan Kennedy's age really are naive enough to think that there are cool rock-n-roll types running any big record (ahem) company.
   
   Mr. Kennedy skewers Jewel for selling out to sell razors (rightfully, IMO; I wish the sell-outs would just admit that they're selling out), but in his otherwise fabulous description of an Iggy Pop concert, he fails even to mention the connection between Iggy Pop and Royal Caribbean. Well, maybe it's easier to criticize a young woman than it is a middle aged man. Or maybe one can't criticize an icon.
   
   I found myself wishing for more details, more substance. Clearly, Mr. Kennedy had much to say about the music industry specifically and corporate America more generally; it didn't get said, though. Commentary on the American working life is lurking below the surface, as if the author is afraid to say it aloud.
   
   This is an easy read; it'll take you all of a single afternoon. But it's thin (as many easy reads are), and, therefore, forgettable. It's kind of like a blog--something interesting to look at during your lunch hour that you forget as soon as 1:00 rolls around.



3. First of all, I'm in the music business, so keep that in mind when you read this review. Also keep in mind that I listened to the audio book, which was strangely enough while on a plane from Nashville to LA, filled with music business people. :)
   
   This is a funny story. Lots of it very true. Like any industry, the music business has problems, and Dan Kennedy does a good job of looking at them in a funny way. I'd argue that you could do something similar with any industry though. When you look at something under a microscope, you see it all.
   
   And looking at Dan Kennedy under that microscope, he seems to be one of the people he loathes. From everything I could tell, he was just killing time. He's certainly not like most of the industry people that I know and work with.
   
   Sure, he likes Iggy Pop, but he was also playing the game of "follow the follower" that is killing this business. Take the money, don't make any crazy moves that will get you fired.
   
   He didn't seem to make the connection that the music industry is us, the people within it. It's not some nameless, faceless entity of old school people who are still in power, sided against the "cool people" who work entry level jobs and do all the work. Like any business, we have a mix of good and not-so-good people, but for the most part, this is a very passionate bunch who loves what they do...they'd have to in order to stick things out with the business the way it is now.
   
   It's a good book. If you're in your 30s and have woken up to the fact that your life isn't all it can be, you might relate. But don't expect any answers from Dan. Again, he was just riding things out, making fun of everybody else, rather than looking at himself.
   
   If you're in the music or entertainment industry, I'm sure you'll relate. We've all had to deal with crazy things in this business. Office politics, public opinion, bad decisions, or whatever... But isn't that what happens when you mix art and commerce?



4. Hey this is one funny book! Buy it read it laugh a lot. I loved it and I know next to nothing about music just about nothing about working in an office..and nothing about being a guy. BUT I loved it. Very funny. Very smart writer. !



5. An amusing memoir of the author's time spent working at one of the mmusic industry in marketing, ROCK ON reminds me of those mildly satirical memoirs, novels and story collections that were popular during the 80's--it manages to take the stuffing out of the industry AND the author both at the same time. Author Dan Kennedy isn't afraid to poke fun at himself (for example at one point he meets Duran Duran and tells everyone including the band's manager that he's a huge fan of them assuming that the manager IS part of the band).
   
   If there's a flaw it is simply that Kennedy hasn't penned a book with lasting resonance--it's like a Big Mac Meal you'll enjoy it at the time but forget about in a couple of days. That's OK because that's truly what it is designed to do--make fun of the very rock/pop/rap culture that Kennedy is also celebrating--the ultimate goal of satire.
   
   
   Kennedy's book is even more timely given the crisis in the music business going on right now. The very absurdities that he makes fun of here contributing to the downfall of one of the most overpriced and greedy industries outside of the oil and movie businesses.
   
   Is ROCK ON a great book? No. Is it entertaining? Yep. It might not go down in as a great work in the annals of literature (at least right now...the book industry/critics are everything that the folks are in the music industry and more because they think that they are MORE important. Dan there's an idea--satirize the publishing industry next)but you'll enjoy it at the same time as you recognize the absurd excesses that you've heard (or read in memoirs)about the music biz.