5 comments about Breaking the Limit: One Woman's Motorcycle Journey Through North America.

1. I read this book and loved the adventurous ride! Ordered a second copy to give as a gift to a girl friend that rides a Big Dog....figured she'd also apprecitate the solo journey done on a Sportster!



2. Super book about a young, educated lady who rides a Harley 1200 motorcycle about 18,000 miles, all the way to Alaska and back to Massachusetts. She is one gutsy lady and tells it like it is. Good book.



3. The story is excellent .you get the feel of riding a motorcycle through her words.



4. This book was first brought to my attention as an amazon reccommendation. Just from reading the excerpts I thought this might be a good read. I will say, (again,) this was exactly what I had hoped for. Karen's journey from New Jersey into Alaska and back, using almost all back roads, was a detailed account of what it might be like as a woman traveling throughout the united states. She stayed at, for the most part, campsites or hostels, only rarely staying in a hotel, thats over 14000 miles. An incredible review of the journey, and not so much the destination.
   The first thing you might ask while reading this, as I did and do, is, how did she remember all these details? She must of taken notes every night before she camped. The roads she took, the people she met at gas stations or coffee houses, their names, what they were wearing, the expressions on their faces, all of it. She of course doesnt account everything, the book would be monsterous, but she gives you a good idea of the whole aspect of the journey. If your into adventure, motorcycles, and possibly getting an idea on your next summer road trip, I say read this book.



5. What an incredible read by an amazing woman. The book is intelligently written, including bits of history in her descriptions of areas traveled and her encounters with strangers. I also ride a "SPORTY" and men are amazed that I have ridden over 10,000 miles on it, much less a "short distance" trip of 450 miles in one day. I am in complete awe that this women did it on a model that was not rubber mounted as is mine. Have shared excerpts with my husband and he is interested in reading the book also. And being the man that he is, knowing I would enjoy a solo/soul searching journey of travel, encouraged me by stating he would "hold down the fort" so I could have a similar but shorter experience. Definitely recommend this to all women who ride.

No comments about A Pryor Commitment: The Autobiography of David Pryor.

5 comments about Goodbye to a River: A Narrative.

1. I lived in Texas for 8 years and have seen the Brazos and the alligators and armadillos on its banks (although the Brazos that I saw was the section close to its mouth to the gulf and not the part that's described in this book). I have left Texas for a while now. On a recent trip back to Austin, I picked up this book in a local bookstore and I am glad I did.
   
   In this book Graves blends travelogue, history, folklore and personal reflections in a highly readable account. It is personal, anecdotal, sentimental, but not overly melancholy. The language is relaxed, yet well crafted, it gives you the feel of an intimate dialog, but the author also has tight control over what he chooses to say instead of rambling to endless tedium. The conversations, though few, carry the authentic flavor of western Texas, and as other reviewers alluded to, remind one of Steinbeck's writing. In a sense Graves was the last link to that frontier era -- although he was too late himself for the bygone days, he looked backward into those days, and personally talked to people who were its last ruminants. Even this book was written nearly 50 years ago now. Today we can get some glimpses of replicas and trinkets from museums, souvenir shops and Hollywood movies, but to get a real feel, one has to resort to books like this one. What is lost is not just another river.
   
   (A side note: if you like river rafting stories, you may want to check out Colin Fletcher's River)



2. This is one of my favorite books. I went to YMCA and Scout camp in the Palo Pinto country. Back then, the divide that exists today between the so-called "cultural elite" and rural Texas didn't exist (or at least both sides respected each other enough to be civil, as a funny episode from the book relates), and Graves lived in both worlds. His is a lost generation, and although only one or two of the dams along his route got built, the country is now part of the vast exurb of Dallas-Fort Worth, filled with rural retreats for the city folk, 5 acre ranchettes, and driveways lined with 40-thousand-dollar pickup trucks. Graves doesn't mourn its loss, but commemorates what seemed like "progress" in the 60s and has only accelerated thousandfold since. If you pass through that country, or want to know what rural Texas used to be like, read this book. It's a bit long in the telling, but if you trace the journey on a map, it was no small trip.



3. I was very impressed with this book. Graves does so much in this enjoyable volume. As he takes a canoe trip down the Brazos near where he grew up, he shares the history of the land--both recent and not-so-recent. Through him, we learn the reality of life for the average settler on the edge of the frontier. He also seems to be detailing a life that in his time was declining and in our age is nearly completely gone. His writing is difficult to describe and unlike anything I have ever read. It flows smoothly with a combination of regional speech and erudition. As you read you feel like you are in the canoe with an incomparable guide to this region of our state. A great book that deserves to be read much more widely than it is.



4. As a native Texan, I grew up with the stories of the wild frontier and I'm sure that Graves did too. But he takes those stories and, with beautiful prose, shows the really hardscrabble life that folks overcame on the edge of the frontier. Not the stories of Texas Rangers, but of ordinary pioneers who made a life for themselves despite drought, snowstorms and other natural disasters. But the book is also a wonderful "painting" of a part of Texas that is rich in history and natural beauty. A must-read for anyone who wants to know what Texas was like before the arrival of air conditioning and the discovery of oil.



5. Not since I read "Walden" has a book so moved me. If you ever loved a river, or a piece of land, or ever felt at home in the presence of Nature, then you will delight in this book. But if you are a Texan, then heaven help you, this book is nothing less than magic.
   
   As another reviewer suggested, Mr. Graves should be considered a National Treasure, or nothing less than a Texas Treasure.

5 comments about Getting into Guinness: One Man's Longest, Fastest, Highest Journey Inside the World's Most Famous Record Book.

1. I'll be the first to admit that I spent my pre-teen years poring over the Guinness record books, trying to dream up some way that a kid like me could break a world's record. I remember watching television specials and wishing I could set up a record number of dominoes; I wore scars into my legs trying to set a pogo stick jumping record; and my copies of the Guinness books always fell open to the page with the guy with the long fingernails.
   
   So this book by Larry Olmsted was a perfect treat, mixing humor and history as he examines the books, the records, the people behind the records and even issues like whether setting new records just might be, in some cases, a little too dangerous. There are personal anecdotes, behind-the-scenes looks at things like a melting giant ice pop and so forth. It's a lot of fun, and written in a great personable style.
   
   I'd hoped this book would be a fun one for my son, who at age 10 is going through the same obsession over Guinness that I myself had. It's a little too dry, and a little too gray. (My review copy has no photographs, which would make it so much better.)
   
   But for adults who used to be obsessed, and maybe still harbor hope that they could one day do something great enough to warrant a place in the Guinness pages, this is a light and entertaining book.



2. I approached this read with an almost guilty pleasure in the macabre. Don't many of us share this? I mean t say, just where IS the biggest ball of string, and what happened to all those kids who crammed into a Volkswagon bug?
   
   This book is pure cotton candy! It's a fun read, a beach book, a book you can pick up anywhere, turn to any page, and have fun! It's also a book you can use to jumpstart a conversation.
   
   Give it a try! It's a great gift (I've give five copies away already, and will be giving more over the holidays!



3. As one who as a child dreamed of being one of the 'freaks' in Guinness, I thoroughly enjoyed this read. It is not perfect, but it sure was fun. Took me back to many of my thoughts as a kid, as well as provided a reasonable understanding from the authors' perspective of the drivers of those that make it into "The Book. Thanks for sharing!



4. Everyone has read the Guinness Book of World Records at some point, but do any of us really get to see what goes on behind the book -- its history, the ever-growing worldwide culture of record mania, and the actual mechanics of setting a record and receiving the Guinness seal of approval? Given the longevity and popularity of the GBWR, you'd think that there would be mountains of companion volumes lighting the way.
   
   Instead, it seems that Larry Olmsted's Getting into Guinness is the first. Olmsted is a journalist -- I've seen his work in many magazines and USA Today -- but also a two time Guinness record holder. This outsider/insider combination lets him approach the subject with a genuine touch. It's like having your own guide through the weird and wacky world of Guinness.



5. I've always enjoyed reading about the various Guinness World Records, and because of this I found Larry Olmstead's "Getting Into Guinness" enjoyable. The world of world records can be obsessive for those trying to break records and fascinating to readers. I guess that is why the "The Guinness Book of Records," after a couple name changes now "Guinness World Records" has been so popular.
   
   For people that are fascinated with records, "Getting Into Guinness: One Man's Longest, Fastest, Highest Journey Inside The World's Most Famous Record Book" will be a fun read. I especially liked the history of the book and learning a little about the text that I read every year when young, and still take a peek at once in a while when I see one.
   
   It is also fun to read about Olmsted's journey toward record breaking with golf and especially his longest poker session tale.
   
   There are sections that are funny, some bizarre, some hard to believe, but definitely interesting. If you are fascinated with the world of record breaking, you will enjoy this book. If you're not fascinated with the world of record breaking, you most likely would never read a book like this anyway. There are parts that are a bit dry or redundant, but there are still enough interesting parts to keep you engaged. If you are thinking of doing something to join the ranks of those listed in "Guinness World Records," you should read this book first. It might not help you get listed, but it just might help you along the path. If not, you'll still enjoy it anyway. Bottom line, it was fun and I enjoyed reading about some of the crazy and impressive records people have set and what it takes to get there.
   
   Reviewed by Alain Burrese, author of Hard-Won Wisdom From the School of Hard Knocks and the dvds: Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, the Lock On Joint Locking Essentials series and articles including a regular column on negotiation for The Montana Lawyer. Alain Also wrote a series of articles called Lessons From The Apprentice.

5 comments about Leave the Building Quickly: True Stories (P.S.).

1. I loved this book. I thought it was witty and funny and a great read to relax with and just enjoy. I wish it were longer.. I didn't want to finish it.



2. I bought this book after reading a good review. It was terrible! One chapter explains how a close friend and mentor told her that the book wasn't ready for publication. She made fun of him for being so foolish - she should have listened!



3. This is a book of essays (unlike a novel, which I thought it was when I bought it). But, I read it as I had already bought it. As essays, they are amusing; not hilarious or funny as is described elsewhere, but just amusing. They do not have much substance; they did not make me think, or change my mind, or do anything except amuse me. If that's all you want, by all means, buy this. But do not expect to be greatly enlightened or have your thinking changed; Plato or Machiavelli are much better authors for those purposes.
   
   In short, if you like essays about nothing in particular, you might want to consider this book. If you're expecting something else, forget it.



4. Very easy and quick read. I was laughing out loud the whole time. All the things you thought only you were thinking, wrong- Cynthia Kaplan is too!



5. I read many titles steeped in humor but this just failed to impress me. I didn't get very far into it before I made my decision to discontinue my time with it. I've never read Kaplan before and doubt I will again. She attempts to write in a self-deprecating manner like other humor authors, but for me, it failed to have the same effect. I just didn't think she was that likable. Her stories failed to capture my interest. There were a few notable points, but they didn't arouse laughter in me as I was expecting.
   I suppose if you're in the mood for a few stories from a mostly negative-minded Mother, then this book is for you.

5 comments about On The Road With The Ramones (revised edition).

1. A must read for even the most casual fan...is there a casual Ramones fan?
   
   Monte details all of the travails and hard work in an honest fashion, but without a "woe is me" attitude at being the guy out of the spotlight. And in doing so, it gives you a deeper appreciation of what the band was, warts and all.
   
   Lots of photos and memorabilia too.
   
   Worth every penny.



2. What an entertaining book! I'm half-way through it and enjoying every minute. You get a real sense of the various personalities that made up the Ramones roster, which changed over the years. Johnny - the hard-on; Dee Dee - the Crazy; Joey - the freak; Tommy - the oppressed; and Marky - the over the top alcoholic. I personally love the oral history format. Johnny, Joey, Tommy, Marky, Ritchie and Monte, their tour manager, all contribute their stories. For some reason, Dee Dee doesn't personally contribute but he comes through vibrantly in the stories of his band mates.
   
   I'm not a fanatical fan, but after seeing the Ramones documentary: End of the Century - The Story of the Ramones, I knew I had to read this book. The only down side is realizing that the three core band members - Joey, Johnny and Dee Dee - all failed to see age 50.



3. The Ramones' popularity keeps growing--it's a shame that Joey, Dee Dee and Johnny didn't live to enjoy it. As a result of their popularity, so many--TOO MANY--Ramones books have been written and it seems like a new one comes out every month. If you are a die-hard Ramones fan, this is the ONLY book you need. Monte was with them from the beginning to the end and was partly responsible for making them the best touring band ever. He tells it like it was, and it is a fascinating read. Buy the book!



4. This is the best book on The Ramones, period. I absolutely loved it!! The pictures are so cool and the stories are even better. I recommend this book to anyone who loves The Ramones. Great purchase.



5. This book is a GREAT read for any Ramones fan, but it was very heartbreaking in the end to see how "the remaining band members" treated Joey at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction. I only wish Joey's mom and brother would have stepped up on stage to accept that award for Joey. He indeed was the most kind hearted soul and he deserved more recognition then what he got that night. May he rest in peace.

5 comments about Leaving Mother Lake: A Girlhood at the Edge of the World.

1. Very interesting book. Brings you into the culture of the Mosuo people. Read it for Human Development class. Enjoyed it!



2. Yang Erche Namu, born in 1966 is a professional singer, model, socialite, author and basically a very famous person in China. She has written eight autobiographies in Chinese, none of which have been translated into English. However, from what we can gather from excerpta most of them narrate together with her life story the many relations she has had with men all over the world, with detailed appreciations of their virtues and vices. She is actively interested in women empowerment in China and has been investing in hotels in her home region in Sichuan. In 2007 she wrote a public letter proposing to Sarkozy, but evidently he preferred Carla Bruni. Her fame in China does not march together with public sympathy, and she says of herself that Chinese hate her almost as much as Mao's wife.
   However, this discussed public personality has a very interesting background, that has drawn the interest of an appreciated anthropologist Christine Mathieu (1954) who undertook the task of reconstructing Namu's childhood. This biography written in first person is not actually written by Namu but by her "interpreter" Mathieu. Namu was born in the Moso ethnicity, one of the 56 Chinese recognized minority groups. The less than 50,000 Moso live according to a matrilinear social organization. Women detain property and through the so called "walking marriage" procreate children that more often than not do not know their fathers. A woman's offspring is usually by different men. This kind of social organization is very rare, but still survives in some parts of the world and determines a peaceful and non violent environment. Until the 1980's this secluded society had had few contacts with the outside world and maintained its peculiar characteristics and represented an anthropologist dream..
   The spirited and intelligent Namu was keen to escape her limited life in a Moso village, and this is the story of "Leaving Mother Lake". The story of Namu's youth ranges from the description of her family and friends, sibling rivaltry, an isolated experience among the mountains with her uncle and basically a conflictive relationship with her mother Christine Mathieu has reconstructed and rewritten Namu's childhood from long conversations and memories of the protagonist, and after completion of the biography she submitted it to Namu, who recognized herself in the tale. Can this lead us to call this is an authorized biography, a biography by proxy, a false diary, an interpreted memoir? The definition is difficult, and the genesis of this book, which has been a world wide best-seller, is I think one of its drawbacks. The personality of the young Namu has been westernized, and probably for this reason it gains so much empathy. In some points Namu's story reminded me of "Caddie Woodlawn" " or "The Little House on the Prairie".
   Independently however from the description of the protagonist's character and her personal facts, the book is an anthropologic text full of stories, episodes, historical and religious analysis and correlations with history and sociology of the evolution of modern China. I was personally more interested in this aspect and found that Mathieu knows how to tell a story, and has aptly chosen Namu as her vehicle for a social analysis of the Moso ethnicity. The memoir is followed by a chapter on the discussions on the evolution of the Moso ethnicity and its possible historical explanations and another with a two voice interview with Namu and Mathieu.
   This book is very readable, it breezes along conveying by broad lines the sense of this social group, it also introduces us to the strong personality of Namu. But I suggest to look her up on from other sources, one of which is Michel Palin's "Himalaya" and reflect on who she really is and what she represents in modern China.



3. A very inspiring and good book about moso culture. I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to know a little bit more about it.



4. As with all young people, Erche Namu Yang--or just Namu--faced the traditional crossroads of forging her own identity when she was a teen in the early 1980s. While many authors have written about this important life turning point, Namu's book stands out because she faced her coming of age in one of the world's most unique cultures. As the book's extended titles notes, she experienced "a girlhood at the edge of the world." What she should have said was "in a Feminist Utopia"!
   
   Namu was born into the Moso (also Mosuo) people, who live near Lake Lugu (or Mother Lake) in remote parts of Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces, bordering Tibet. This area has been referred to as The Country of Daughters, with good reason. The Moso are one of the world's few remaining matrilineal societies. Mothers serve as heads of their families, daughters are favored, and property and leadership is passed down among the females. Sounds good! However, this culture has been described as a feminist fantasy as well as mistakenly understood as tribes of promiscuous women, because the women do not marry. They move from one relationship to the next when they wish, without any self-consciousness or guilt between either party. Male roles within the family structure are filled by the family matriarch's brothers and sons. The Moso believe that because the men in the household are all blood relatives, they will be forever loyal and helpful to their women kin. There's definitely something to that.
   
   No, I'm not making this up! The wealth of details Namu provides about Moso culture in her story will set the record straight about her people's lifestyle. Put on your cultural historian hat and remain aware that the Moso's socio-economic structure totally works for them, and you will learn a lot about an amazing group of people.
   
   Though it traumatized her family--especially her mother--Namu knew her destiny lay beyond becoming her family's next leader. This book is about a girl having the courage to fulfill her dreams and how these ambitions affect her relationship with her mother. The Moso cultural aspect provides a unique backdrop for a timeless story about personal growth.
   
   SIDE NOTE: I had the privilege of hearing Namu speak at the Shanghai Literary Festival one year. She is stunningly beautiful with a voice to match. She is so talented that she is successful at everything she does. When she couldn't sing anymore, she became a model. When she was too old to model, she became an author. To date, she has written 13 books--though only Leaving Mother Lake has been translated into English. Now she is trying to improve the quality of life in Lake Lugu and to be an ambassador for the Moso. She has opened the Namu Palace Hotel Museum at Lake Lugu, where artists can stay gratis if they create a piece to put in the adjacent art gallery and where guests can learn about Moso culture first hand. Hmmm. Definitely something to think about! But if nothing else, you can be inspired simply by reading her coming of age story.



5. A beautiful book ... truely inspiring ... no-one can fail to be moved into the (Moso) world ... so full of humanity ... I would recommend it to everyone .....

5 comments about Self-Made Man: One Woman's Journey into Manhood and Back.

1. Very insightful! I now know more about the male psych and why they behave they way they do. Terrific story idea. It was not entertaining or engrossing and was actually quite dull and tedious at times, but I learned a lot from it. It could have been cut in half, as the author tends to drone sometimes. I thought it was very helpful in understanding the difference between the sexes. At one point, I actually felt bad because I recognized pattern behavior in myself in my attitude and treatment towards men in general. Norah points out that women judge men too harshly based on what men in the past have done to them. I also learned that men behave the way they do, as coldly and unemotionally as they do, simply because that is what is expected of them and until mainstream society says it is ok for men to have feelings, they will continue to behave they way they do. Kudos to Norah for "having the balls" to undertake this project. Very helpful book. I now know that men are not necessarily jerks because they want to be, but because they have to be. (Or one thinks they are gay.) LOL. Note: there were some big words in here. Have a dictionary on hand.



2. I found this book fascinating and humorous. But though this experiment gave valuable insight into the club of male bonding I found it to be skewed by the fact that the experimenter was a woman. As a woman, whatever information is gleaned from the experience is going to be biased in some fashion, but interesting nonetheless.
   
   I did find the book to focus a bit much on sex. Ned spent a lot of time at nudie bars, trying to convince the monks that he wasn't gay, and dating. The other aspects of his existence were minor in comparison to this preoccupation. The men that I have encountered in my life, though were normal healthy men, also had other interests.
   
   Although, Ned may have come across a bit feminine, and what metro sexual doesn't these days, he did allow for one important insight to this mother of boys. Boys need men to show them how to be men regardless of what kind of man that is. Only men know how to read the cues that other men transmit and fathers/father-figures relay this information to the boys in their charge whether its conscious or not. This is a vital part of the make-up of our society and must not be looked down upon as something that isn't necessary.
   
   Read this book for what it's worth.: a workshop in curiosity of the other side. You might find something that can be taken from the experience.



3. I greatly enjoyed this book, although parts of it (specifically the strip-club chapter) were hard for me to get through. Every chapter had some surprising insight into what life is like for men in western culture. Norah is one brave person, and she's a terrific writer.



4. Norah Vincent had a not very unusual desire, a desire to know what it was really like to be a man - they have it made, right? Being a lesbian, and having been considered rather tomboy-ish since childhood, she figured that she was the perfect woman to actually penetrate the male world. And so, with the help of a great makeup artist and a voice coach, she transformed herself from Norah to Ned, complete with crew cut, facial stubble, and size 11-1/2 shoes! So disguised, she set out into the male world, went to strip clubs and a monetary, went bowling with the guys, and even dated some heterosexual women. And what she found...well, you'll just have to read the book!
   
   Overall, I found this to be a very interesting book. The author showed herself to be remarkably free from ax-grinding, simply learning from the people around her, and seeing the world from a man's point of view without trying to force it to fit her preconceived notions. Indeed, what Norah learned about men surprised her, as did what she learned about herself.
   
   I have read many books about men over the years (Iron John, The Hazards of Being Male, Naked Nomads, and many more), and found this one to be very revealing and informative. If you are a woman and want to get a real inside-look at men, then I highly recommend that you get this book. Indeed, if you are a man, and want to see an outsider's compassionate yet frank look at men, then I highly recommend that you get this book as well.



5. Norah Vincent wants to learn more about the opposite sex; that is, what it's like to think, feel, act, and be treated like a man. In order to do this, she does what any cultural anthropologist would do - she embedded herself within the culture and subjected herself to several "guy" activities and experiences. She realizes that, yes, there are culturally defined differences between men and women. It is not a judgmental book; it doesn't bash men - it seeks understanding of what is considered "male" in our society. This is a wonderful experiment. My key drawback is how she tends to make a point and overly "beat it to death".

5 comments about 'Tis Herself: An Autobiography.

1. I've always liked Maureen O'Hara, especially in 'The Quiet Man', and it was great fun to read about her personal life, and her thoughts about what was going on behind the scenes in the different movies I have watched so many times. The chapter on her comments about the making of 'The Quiet Man' and about her friendship with John Wayne were my favorite part. Her writing showed her weaknesses and mistakes made in her life in a balanced way that made me like her all the more. If you like Maureen O'Hara at all, you will not be disappointed in this book!



2. Walt Disney's last dying gasp was to call Maureen the B word. Uh-huh. Riiight. That's all he had on his mind. That's what consumed his soul as he bid this world goodbye, his venom for Maureen O'Hara. Walt couldn't stand Maureen because Walt had wanted to give Hayley Mills top billing for The Parent Trap. Not (mind you) because little Hayley deserved it and ought to have been recognized. Oh no. Rather Walt the Schemer, Walt the Destroyer was intent upon keeping Maureen down by listing her name after Hayley's. Maureen had to stand up for herself. Maureen had to stand strong. Maureen insisted her name be listed first and Walt never, ever forgave her for gaining the upper hand in that situation. So, on his dying bed, his last concern was to call her a nasty word. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. This lady hates a whole lot of people.



3. The content of the book is not unusual. The same things happened to many female movie stars. They married husbands who were drunks, who physically beat them, psychologically tortured them, stole all their money, whored around, and refused to work. Movie queens were preyed upon by a certain type of man. You can read the same stories over and over again in the lives of Lana Turner (whose abusive lover was stabbed to death by her teenage daughter in her bedroom), Judy Garland whose husband used to slap her across the face in restaurants, Hedy Lamarr whose husband wanted to tie her up and burn her with cigarettes, Lucille Ball whose husband was an alcoholic addicted to sex with other women, Bette Davis who was beaten "many many times" by 4 husbands. Many of these actresses stayed for considerable amounts of time with these abusive husbands, putting up with it, and hoping for change, just as millions of women do who are not actresses.
   
   What happened to Maureen is nothing compared to what Doris Day reveals in her autobiography.
   
   From the way Maureen has written this book I take it that she used this autobiography to release all the resentment and anger at people who she feels betreayed her or abused her over her lifetime. Near the begining of the book, she writes "Allow me just a smidgeon of lattitude here. I've waited seventy years for this!" And then POW! A lifetime of rage comes pouring out. It's powerful stuff, and not easy to read.
   
   Repeatedly Maureen writes that what she was doing, and what was being done to her, was confusing. Her life was full of contradictions, some of which she has no answer or explaination for. The book is certainly thought provoking.



4. Having watched the Quiet Man again recently, I was interested in learning more about Maureen O'Hara. As I read this book I was rather surprised at the contradictions in her life.
   
   The woman who fought her own battles, some of which are legend, had difficulty in her earlier career saying no to men, and ends up marrying one man she had no interest in. He calls her to his apartment, and unbeknownst to her has a preacher there to marry them. Shocked, she felt her intellect was sitting in a couch on the corner watching her make a dreadful mistake. She boarded a ship to America several hours later, and never sees the man again.
   
   She later makes a similar ill fated and disastrous mistake with her second marriage. Ten years is a long time to put up with that kind of BS. Finally, with Charlie Blair she finds true love, but will fate intervene?
   
   Most surprising is the relationship with John Ford, the brilliant director who won five academy awards for best director. At times, she was his muse, and at times he was her tormentor, sometimes using her in his movies, sometimes interfering in her life, and getting her fired off one movie, and also directing her most memorable role. He would not hesitate to use his influence in a negative self serving way. A complicated relationship. His presence haunts this book.
   
   Less surprising is the friendship with John Wayne, and the book gets quite emotional towards the end, as you can imagine. This book is very readable and flows quickly, and has plenty of drama to keep it moving along. If you were hoping for any insight into her craft, as I was, you will not find it here. Nevertheless, this is an interesting read.
   
   I hope you find this review helpful, and if you do, please click yes.



5. 'Tis Herself - is a wonderful read for anyone interested in Miss O'Hara or in the "Old" Hollywood when stars were STARS.

5 comments about The Early Years of the Les Paul Legacy 1915-1963.

1. This is an excellent book with lots of interviews with Les Paul and others who were part of the development of the Les Paul guitar through the early years. The photography is excellent with photos of significant Les Paul guitars. It is a beautiful book with lots of inside scoop for the Les Paul aficionado.



2. I really wish it were possible to review products at Amazon without assigning a rating, because pinning a number of stars on The Early Years of the Les Paul Legacy: 1915-1963 is no easy task.
   
   It must be said right off the bat that the book is a veritable treasure trove for fans of Les Paul and the famous solidbody guitar that bears his name. The images alone are worth the price of admission, and the author brings a unique perspective to the book that's deeply appreciated. The book is extremely well-written; there's no denying it.
   
   Unfortunately, though, it's extremely poorly edited. I searched for an editor to blame -- it's hard to fault Robb Lawrence, because even the best of writers need an editor -- but I could find no such credit. As a result, newer fans will often find themselves lost in the course of reading the text. Sometimes lesser-known information is presented matter-of-factly on one page, only to be explained sufficiently four pages (or two chapters) later, as if it were being introduced for the first time. It's as if Lawrence wrote the book in chronological order, then someone else cut-and-pasted paragraphs into chapters by subject, without ever going back to tidy up the text.
   
   Honestly, though, that's the only blemish on an otherwise brilliant and one-of-a-kind book. None of the other texts on Les or the Les Paul model guitar come close. The layouts are unparalleled, the images are simply breathtaking, and the personal anecdotes are priceless.
   
   Seriously, though, Robb? If you're reading this, please find an editor before releasing the second volume! The quality of work you're putting into this project deserves that last 5% of polish.



3. Anything written on the grand master of the guitar is worth reading. This book has plenty of pictures and interesting history on Les. I'd recommend it if your a fan of Les Paul or of the guitar that bears his name.



4. A long awaited insightful look into the legend and his famous axe. I have several books on vintage guitars, as well as ones specifically on the Les Paul. This one is my favorite. I think this is a great book full of tons of facts and an enourmous amount of eye candy. This is the type of book I keep around close and look at again and again.
   A great job done, and I cannot wait for part two!!



5. This is the definitive must have book for any Les Paul fan. Thoughtfully written and well researched, this book has it all. Information about the man, the history and the guitars. Tons of photos, facts, trivia and details. Do not pass this one by! Great job Robb!!!