No comments about Dark Voices: The Genesis of Roy Hart Theatre (Africa Series, 1).

5 comments about Before the Parade Passes By: Gower Champion and the Glorious American Musical.

1. Having a preference for biograhies of Show People I thought I would buy this particular book and have found it very interesting from the point of view that it does not appear to be a "warts and all" biography but it hones in on the various Broadway shows which Gower Champion directed. It gives a good insight as to how these shows are put together and the time and effort taken to do so. I have only ever seen Gower Champion on film and I always thought he was an excellent dancer and obviously a perfectionest. The story comes over as having him rather selfish and dominant, maybe self centred. His mother appears to have been a bit of a problem during his childhood and later years which affected his outlook. Despite all this he seemed to get the best out of the many stars he worked with except for leaving Jane Powell in the lurch with "Irene".
   All in all a good read and far more interesting than some biographies I have read. One annoying point in the book is the continual use of the tiny numbers relating to notes. When one looks these up in the back of the book the majority of them are meaningless.
   Rex Shields



2. I completely enjoyed this book because it managed to show the joys and sorrows and just plain hard work that it takes to become someone so successful in the world of entertainment. So many times you simply get a lurid expose or shoddy manipulation of facts to justify a preconceived idea by the author. In Gilvey's work I was allowed to discover the theater and the man, as we traveled through Mr. Champion's life. The book gave me information which allowed me to grow in appreciation of what it takes to even attempt to produce shows which look magical. When I see any well done production, I am made to feel as if what I am seeing is effortless. I am transported into the world of dancing, singing or feeling with the actors on stage. This behind the lights history reveals the price of that art. It shows the real work of real people, without being overly technical. Consequently anyone can understand and appreciate Mr. Champion's life, and the struggle it takes to put on the magic we so deliciously take for granted as we leave the theater. Kudos to Gilvey for being able to share his love of the theater through the life's journey of an artist who could do it all. This biography illuminates the man and reveals the heart and soul of the artist. A must read for anyone who is contemplating entering the theater.



3. Gower Champion! Forgotten name as the parade passes by. His greatest achievements on the stage failed to make it onto the screen, though shreds of his glory can perhaps be glimpsed through George Sidney's sensible restaging in his film of BYE BYE BIRDIE. And something of his flagwaving spirit makes it through Gene Kelly's otherwise terrible treatment of HELLO DOLLY. But alas, MGM never did make CARNIVAL the way Champion envisioned it. And actually, who would really want to see a movie of I DO, I DO, or SUGAR? (I would have enjoyed, however, seeing the film he planned of THE FANTASTICKS.) He threw away a lot of his pearls in front of a lot of swine. And Gilvey was there for all of it, or so it seems. Could he have been? He doesn't seem that old in the jacket photo.
   
   You wind up not really liking Champion very much. His sense of self makes even Michael Bennett, Bob Fosse and George Balanchine seem well-adjusted socially, even a bit on the wallflower side. After reading this book, I admire Marge Champion more and am eager to seek out some of the work she did with Gower in the derided MGM musicals they danced in.
   
   His career seems like an odd amalgam of hard work, talent, and a hell of a lot of luck. The appearance on Ed Sullivan--a whole Ed Sullivan show devoted to the Champions, just when MGM had dropped them and they were really facing Hasbeen House--seems nothing short of a miracle.
   
   The book gets repetitive and it always takes Gower's side, but the amount of research is prodigious and even a seasoned theatergoer will find something of interest on nearly every page. It's a book of monsters, but fascinating monsters at that.



4. Enjoyed this book very much! It is a detailed and fascinating look at the life and work of Gower Champion, a name not as well remembered today as some of the other notable B'way directors from B'way's "golden era" such as Hal Prince, Bob Fosse, and Jerome Robbins.



5. When thinking of the "Golden Era" of Broadway and some of its "glorious musicals," it is likely that Bye Bye Birdie, Hello, Dolly! or 42nd Street will come to mind. With these, as with many of Broadway's finest musicals, the name Gower Champion is closely related. In John Anthony Gilvey's Before the Parade Passes By, the life and works of Gower Champion are chronicled and brought to the public eye for the first time, allowing readers to experience the story of the man behind the musicals.
   
   The book encompasses his whole life, both on and off stage, providing an intimate portrait of who he was and how his personal life affected him and his work. It also does not skip a single major work that Gower was part of. Not only are all of his creative endeavors mentioned (including his nightclub and films with partner/wife Marge Champion), but they are discussed in such detail that even if you had not seen the productions (as was the case with this reader for the majority of them), it feels as though you have because costumes, sets, choreography and casting are described so vividly.
   
   This well researched and detailed book is written with a passion and respect for Gower Champion and a love for the classical, elegant "Golden Era" in which he was a prominent driving force. Those who lived through that time will enjoy this "behind-the-scenes" look at how Gower shaped and molded some of Broadway's biggest successes as well as works that should have been laid to rest. For those unfamiliar with this time, Parade is an opportunity to gain knowledge of where present-day musicals find their roots: in the heartfelt, extravagant days of the "glorious American musical."

5 comments about Houdini on Magic.

1. I would reccomend this buy for any magic enthusiast because it's history. No, it's not gone, but it contains the writings of Erich Weiss. I wouldn't say that I got a lot of trick ideas for my own act out of this book. However, it is just fascinating to read and to imagine Houdini as he created this compilation.



2. It's well-known among Houdini buffs that much of Houdini's writing was ghostwritten for him. So what? This was part of his role as a master publicist. Nevertheless, this book is a great insight into Houdini's mind and methods, because it's certain that he had at least a hand in the production of all of the material in this book. There is no single book that gives a greater insight into the scope of Houdini's interests than this one.



3. I was disapointed in this book because there is only a few pages written by Harry Houdini. There was also added material that had nothing to do with Houdini.
   Not Recomended



4. It is commonly said that you should never read a book on magic tricks unless you are willing to learn a trick and show it to your friends and not tell the secret. Disclaimers aside, this book has material useful for beginners, and for those who wish to make complex apparatus and only a few of the tricks might pose a risk to your life. The material on fraud commit by mediums is very interesting. It can further be said that Houdini was a very good writer.



5. This book is simply fantastic. It contains a large amount of Houdini's writings from articles, books, etc. It contains Houdini's famous "Margery the Medium" pamplet where he exposes her false methods, explains in Houdini's words how he escapes from a straitjacket, and also tells about an illusion that Houdini was thinking about performing, but never did. A wonderful book with many pictures and illustrations.

No comments about Understanding Plays (3rd Edition).

1 comments about Singin' in the Rain (BFI Film Classics).

1. This is a terrific book on what is probably the best American musical film. Wollen captured me when he compared Kelly's solo dance in "Rain" to a dance in "Cover Girl," something I had long thought, but had never seen anyone mention in print.

   Wollen does a fine job showing how the movie fits into Gene Kelly's career and the development of the movie musical. He also has some eye-opening stuff on how "Singin' in the Rain" nearly ran afoul of the Hollywood blacklist.

   Even if you've seen the movie many times, you'll probably learn something about it in Wollen's book that you didn't know before. I did.

5 comments about The Lighting Art: The Aesthetics of Stage Lighting Design (2nd Edition).

1. This is a great book for thought and discussion however, the version available here is a facimile. This is a BLACK AND WHITE COPY of the original published book. none of the many photos or color graphs and charts are usable, for that matter visible. Amazon does not have the color version at all. I did get a speedy refund and free return shipping, but I missed the time before my upcoming show to read it. The show DID go on.



2. A wonderful book!!! Finally a text that talks about the aesthetics of lighting. I was so tired of reading thru design books that spent more time on technical specifications of luminaires than actual design. I strongly urge any and all lighting design professors to utilize this book in the classroom. It is so much more stimulating to an aspiring design student than disussions on double plano convex lenses. I would also recommend Francis Reid's book "Lighting the Stage".



3. Without a doubt, the best book on the market in its treatment of stage lighting as a vital dramatic art form. There isn't the usual multitude of chapters on the basics of wiring, bulbs, equipment which is obsolete before the book reaches the shelves, blue + green =?, etc., etc. Dr. Palmer simply explains how to create a beautiful picture on the stage. This is the step up for which the professional lighting artist has been waiting. Congratulations Richard.



4. This is the first modern book I have read dealing with Lighting Design as an Art Form. It seriously investigates Lighting Design for the stage at an advanced level.



5. the first text for stage lighting that does not spend half the book explaining electrics... concentrates on aesthetic choices, on developing your own sense of aesthetics, and how to apply your choices to the play.

No comments about Mandolin Scale Finder: Easy-to-Use Guide to Over 1,300 Mandolin Scales, 6 inch. x 9 inch. Edition.

5 comments about Jen-X: Jenny McCarthy's Open Book.

1. It tells us secrets about Jenny never evealed before.It's a little costly but well worth it.



2. I found the book to be a great information resource into her life and career start. The only thing I didn't like about the book was the out of order details, found to much jumping forward then back, or back then forward, but other than that, I thought is was a great book and I still love jenny in a big way, she is the greatest.



3. The title should tell it all: Jen X. It should read Jen O because she is a negative interger. Take away those breasts, and she is just another annoying self serving celebrity with little talent. This book is a must read for airheads, retards, mutants and crackheads. Enjoy!



4. When my boyfriend gave me this book as a joke for my birthday, I didn't find it very amusing! You see, up to this point, I was one of the hopefully few "Jenny-haters" out there. But I decided to give the book the benefit of the doubt and give it a whirl, and I have to say that I was more than just pleasently surprised! Jenny McCarthy is not only very down-to-earth, but she's witty, hilarious, and quite frankly...normal! It was so refreshing to read that she isn't perfect after all - that she had acne, and stretch marks, and bad hair days, and bozo boyfriends. This book flys by, and I really didn't want to put it down. I am so glad I decided to read this book, not only because it was 100% entertainment, but because it gave me a chance to meet the "real" Jenny McCarthy. I loved it!



5. I think the book was one of the greatest books i have ever read. i could realate so much to her. she is my like idol and i was so happy when i found out she had a book coming out. i bought it the very first day i saw it at the mall. one day i hope i can meet her but i know that will never happen but all in all the book was really good~! i think everyone needs to buy this book and see just how much she is like anyone of us!!! well if your out there jenny mccarthy i just wanna say hi and maybe i will be lucky enough to see you one day! i love you! you are so cool! well people i have said enough, now you need to go get the book that i am raving about!please buy it! it will make me happy! well cya people! hope you read this jenny!!!! from: Your biggest fan in the world!!!!jenny h

5 comments about The Devil And Daniel Webster.

1. This book was not what I wanted or expected. I was looking for the short story. What I got was a play.
   What I was looking for was a small booklet with just one or 2 short stories in it including "The Devil and Daniel Webster. I did not want a huge book as I was just going to use the one Benet story in my class. I returned all the copies I purchased and was satisified with the quick action taken. The next time I am looking for something I will check with Amazon again.



2. This lightweight (literally, if not figuratively) story of the hapless farmer Jabez Stone, of Cross Corners, New Hampshire, and his rescue from a cavalier deal with the devil by Daniel Webster is an entertaining, patriotic lark. Although Webster was a lawyer, the narrator tells us, and the "the biggest man...next to God...He never got to be President." Published in 1937, and with a homespun Twain-like love of freedom and the wry vigilance which watches over it, Stephen Vincent Benet's entertaining lark, set "in the border country, where Massachusetts joins Vermont and New Hampshire" is patriotic without being jingoistic or nationalistic. At the end, after the narrator informs us that devil keeps clear of Marshfield and hasn't been seen in New Hampshire he concludes: "I'm not talking about Massachusetts or Vermont."



3. A young nation, built on reason and skepticism, America doesn't have a whole lot of myths and legends. With the possible exception of Parson Weem's tales of
   young George Washington, the stories of Washington Irving, and a few tall tales like Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, and John Henry, the best might be found in Stephen
   Vincent Benet's Faust-influenced but distinctly American short story and screenplay, The Devil and Daniel Webster, which has also been adapted for the stage and
   turned into an opera.

   Jabez Stone of Cross Corners, New Hampshire is a man of little luck, until, with his wife and children ill and a whitlow on his own thumb, he barks :

   I vow it's enough to make a man want to sell his soul to the devill And I would, too, for two cents!

   With that, a stranger appears and Jabez makes a deal, signing it in blood, which changes his luck drastically.

   Over the next ten years, Stone prospers, becoming wealthy and an important man in politics. But with his mortgage to the stranger coming due, Jabez Stone regrets
   the deal he's made and pays a visit to his neighbor, Daniel Webster, of Mansfield, NH--the nation's greatest lawyer and New England's most revered citizen--to see
   if Mr. Webster will take him on as a client and see if there's not some way out of the deal. A lesser man might balk at the prospect of such a fight, but Daniel
   Webster has a special regard for his constituents and cheerfully assures Jabez that they'll prevail :

   For if two New Hampshiremen aren't a match for the devil, we might as well give the country back to the Indians.

   Webster's first ploy is to challenge the stranger's right to prey upon Americans :

   'Mr. Stone is an American citizen, and no American citizen may be forced into the service of a foreign prince. We fought England for that
   in ë12 and weíll fight all hell for it again!'

   'Foreign?' said the stranger. 'And who calls me a foreigner?'

   'Well, I never yet heard of the dev -- of your claiming American citizenship,' said Dan'l Webster with surprise.

   'And who with better right?' said the stranger, with one of his terrible smiles. 'When the first wrong was done to the first Indian, I was there.
   When the first slaver put out for the Congo, I stood on her deck. Am I not in your books and stories and beliefs, from the first settlements on?
   Am I not spoken of, still, in every church in New England? 'Tis true the North claims me for a Southerner, and the South for a Northerner,
   but I am neither. I am merely an honest American like yourself--and of the best descent--for, to tell the truth, Mr. Webster,
   though I don't like to boast of it, my name is older in this country than yours.'

   This prompts Webster to recourse to Stone's rights as an American :

   'Aha!' said Dan'l Webster, with the veins standing out in his forehead. 'Then I stand on the Constitution! I demand a trial for my client!'

   'The case is hardly one for an ordinary court,' said the stranger, his eyes flickering. 'And, indeed, the lateness of the hour-'

   'Let it be any court you choose, so it is an American judge and an American jury!' said Dan'l Webster in his pride.
   'Let it be the quick or the dead; I'll abide the issue!'

   And so begins a trial, presided over by Justice Hathorne, who likewise oversaw the Salem Witch Trials, with a jury made up of the likes of Walter Butler, Simon
   Girty, King Philip, Reverend John Smeet, and Morton of Merry Mount. Inevitably, even these dastards are swayed by the rhetorical power of Daniel Webster and
   Jabez is released from his contract. The stranger good-naturedly conceding :

   'Perhaps 'tis not strictly in accordance with the evidence,' he said, 'but even the damned may salute the eloquence of Mr. Webster.'

   Despite this graciousness, Daniel Webster grabs and threatens him, but then relents to his pleading. In exchange for being let go, the stranger predicts Webster's
   future for him. The stranger well knows of Webster's desire to be president one day and of his pride in his speaking ability. He warns that the dream will never come
   true and, perversely, the ambition will be thwarted by Webster's own talent :

   '[T]he last great speech you make will turn many of your own against you,' said the stranger. 'They will call you Ichabod; they will call you
   by other names. Even in New England some will say you have turned your coat and sold your country, and their voices will be loud against
   you till you die.'

   Webster takes the news surpassing well and in turn receives an assurance :

   'So it is an honest speech, it does not matter what men say,' said Dan'l Webster. Then he looked at the stranger and their glances locked.

   'One question,' he said. 'I have fought for the Union all my life. Will I see that fight won against those who would tear it apart?'

   'Not while you live,' said the stranger, grimly, 'but it will be won. And after you are dead, there are thousands who will fight for your cause,
   because of words that you spoke."

   'Why, then, you long-barreled, slab-sided, lantern-jawed, fortune-telling note shaver!' said Dan'l Webster, with a great roar of laughter,
   'be off with you to your own place before I put my mark on you! For, by the thirteen original colonies, I'd go to the Pit itself to save the Union!'

   Sure enough, Webster's great speech in favor of the Missouri Compromise in 1850 would ensure its passage but with its provision for admitting a new slave state to
   the Union would make him anathema to hardcore abolitionists and doom his presidential hopes.

   Benet helped adapt this story for the screen and it made for one of the really underrated great American films. With sterling performances by Edward Arnold as
   Webster and Walter Huston as the stranger, here called Mr. Scratch, the middle portion of the story, detailing Jabez Stone's rising fortunes and declining character,
   is greatly expanded. This is problematic because James Craig as Jabez is pretty nondescript, but Jane Darwell as his mother and Simone Simon as a sultry vixen who
   becomes the Stone's housemaid help to carry us through until the trial starts.

   One interesting aspect of Benet's tale is his refusal to let his countrymen off the hook; the Devil is obviously integral to the American experience and though Webster
   matches the Devil in the end, he too hears the siren call of Mr. Scratch. In the end though Webster is redeemed by his all consuming love of the nation :

   And they say that if you go to his grave and speak loud and clear, 'Dan'l Webster--Dan'l Webster!' the ground'll begin to shiver and the trees
   begin to shake. And after a while you'll hear a deep voice saying. 'Neighbor, how stands the Union?' Then you better answer the Union stands
   as she stood, rock-bottomed and copper-sheathed, one and indivisible, or he's liable to rear right out of the ground.

   What a worthy legend for America and for one of the greatest of her citizens.

   GRADE : A




4. Daniel Webster might be a Yankee New Englander, a politician and peddlar. This fictious short story by Stephen Benet utilizes a great American statesmen in a great legal case, albeit a fictious one. I first read this in the 8th grade for a book report. It stands out as an entertaining classic of American literature. I also recommend books by James Fennimore Cooper.



5. This book is incredibly hard to find---Amazon was, as, usual, the only place that had it for me. I was dying to read the story that sparked the movie, "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers." About seven mountain men who go down to town to git themselves thar brides! I really enjoyed Benet's style; I was completely unfamiliar with his writing previously. I also read "The Devil and Daniel Webster," included, which seems to be the most popular of his writings. It was a good tale. Interesting author, interesting writings. I'm donating my copy to the library; their Benet listings are sadly lacking! Everyone needs a little "backwoodsman" in their lives!

5 comments about Reduced Shakespeare: The Attention-Impaired Reader's Guide to the World's Best Playwright [Abridged].

1. This book has earned a place on my reference shelf, right next to the collected works of Shakespeare. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and was pleasantly surprised at how much information was provided. I know I'll turn to this book in the future for Shakespeare facts, quick reviews of his works, and as a movie reference as well!



2. This RSC (not to be confused with a certain other RSC) has gotten rave reviews for taking the mickey out of Shakespeare on stage. Here, they do the same in print.
   
   Not to say that they don't have some good points to make: One of their very first is to state that all Shakespeare biographies should be displayed in the Fiction section of bookstores and libraries because there's so little actual information to go on. They also claim that Shakespeare's chief accomplishment was to have been born in 1564, into a hotbed of political intrigue, where "unlike today, people of different religions had no tolerance for each other.... Fortunately, now, these myopic religious views and extremist sectarianism have completely disappeared." (There are numerous side comments along the same lines in the remainder of the book), and at a time when the theater was flourishing.
   
   They start off with a brief, airy, tongue-in-cheek biography and concluding with four pages that sum up everything we know about Shakespeare's life. Sidebars include "The Olden Globe Awards" (Best Racist Stereotype: Shylock; Best Stage Direction: "Exit, pursued by a bear") and Shakespeare's Favorite Sports (The Iambic Pentathlon, Pin the Blame on the Plantagenets). (The sidebars probably sum up the overall tone better than anything from the text.)
   
   Next they go to the plays, dividing them into the traditional three categories of Tragedies, Histories, and Comedies, then raising a stink over both this classification (trying to find a difference between the tragedies and histories and failing: "No, wait. The History plays are just as historically inaccurate as the tragedies.") and alternate classifications ("Let's get something straight. Shakespeare wrote nineteen comedies. Not thirteen Comedies, plus six Romances. Not ten Comedies, plus six Romances, plus Six Problem Plays. It's nineteen Comedies. Nineteen. Count 'em.")
   
   After listing them categorically, chronologically, and alphabetically, they provide a capsule description of each one. This includes the setting, the source, what the play is best known for, the major characters, the plot, a one-sentence plot encapsulation, the moral, a famous quote, the best feature, the worst feature, the rating (scored in bards and illustrated by the number of Shakespeare heads), and an interesting fact. It's not too surprising that when there's no interesting fact to be found, they either come up with something irrelevant or something totally imaginary.
   
   Oh, and after each one there is an "Essay Question," usually on the order of "In this comedy, Oliver asks a wrestler to break his brother's neck. Explain why this is funny."
   
   They show no mercy, ruthlessly excoriating the bad plays (of which there are plenty), but rightly praising the best ones.
   
   Following that, there's a brief section on Shakespeare's poetry, which is possibly the weakest section of the book, particularly the parody sonnets, which aren't funny at all.
   
   But then we get to "Who Wrote This Stuff?" where they take on both the mainstream view that Shakespeare wrote Shakespeare and the fringe views (Bacon, the Earl of Oxford, etc.). Their own favorite hypothesis is that Shakespeare was a time traveler who went back in time, deposited the plays, burned his notes to cover his tracks, and returned to the future. They figure it's as likely as a number of the others.
   
   Another brief section focuses on the Shakespeare business, briefly listing companies and tours.
   
   However, it's the next section that's either the best in the book or right behind the discussion of the plays, as they take on the movies. There's a nod to the BBC Shakespeare series of the 1970s, which were made, as they say, "using excellent actors but budgets of about 23 pence." And again, the reviews make you know just where they stand, and, for most of the ones I've seen, are right on the money. I do regret, though, that there's no mention of the BBC "Twelfth Night," which was my first encounter with the marvelous Felicity Kendal, of whom I've been a fan ever since. I should mention also that they spare space for related movies like "Kiss Me, Kate" and "Rosencrants and Guildenstern are Dead."
   
   A concluding word, purportedly from Shakespeare himself, isn't very funny, either.
   
   Overall, though, this book is frequently hilarious, almost always on the mark, and would be a great gift to any fan of Shakespeare's, which we all should be.



3. I wish this book had been around when I was in high school; I really wish it had been around (in both the English and Drama departments) when I was in college. This isn't just a laugh-out-loud introduction to Shakespeare, but a rollicking guide to all things Shakespearian.
   
   Too often, students are thrown headlong into Shakespeare's plays, and then into Northrop Frye & Co., after which they never approach Shakespeare (or any drama) ever again. Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor, showing the reverence we've come to expect from the Reduced Shakespeare Co.'s treatments of Shakespeare and the Bible, expose the Bard's clay feet (and kinky underwear) while providing a very thorough overview of all the Bard's plays and poetry, along with the movies and tv productions that have followed, and if that weren't enough, a glance at some noteworthy (and otherwise) Shakespearian scholarship.
   
   What's not to like? Some of the anachronistic parallels to Marilyn Monroe and Elvis are played beyond their worth (but so was Falstaff), and the gag essay questions are too abundant to keep their punch. But why quibble? This book casts aside dogma that has sired too many pups onstage and in classrooms and presents the great playwright with the bawdy laughter he is too often denied. And that can only make people more interested in Shakespeare and his literature, and that's a good thing.



4. A laugh out loud Shakespeare book, who'd have thunk it? A book on Shakespeare that doesn't take itself seriously, yet is full of information and fun to read.
   
   I've read several books on the Shakespeare authorship question, and amazingly, this little book manages to do a good job summarizing the pros and con (with odds too) of all the candidates in one 14 page chapter titled, "Who wrote this stuff?". This book is full of goodies: each play has its setting, source, characters, plot summary and rating (1 to 5 'bards'), plus chronologies, chapters on Shakespeare movies, Shakespeare acting, poetry (includes the nine best sonnets and a few newly discovered sonnets too!), biographies, first folio, and lot's more.
   
   It's written by people who know their Shakespeare, seasoned with wit, informed judgment, candor, and all done with good fun. Highly recommended.



5. I've been a fan of the Reduced Shakespeare Company ever since I performed in their first play during my college days. I've followed their work since then, and I've enjoyed most of it, disappointed by a little. This book is somewhere in between. Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor (who, ironically, weren't among the originators of the Shakespeare play) are quite successful at giving a lighthearted and very funny retelling of Shakespeare's life, dissection of his plays and poems, and examination of the movies that have been produced based on his work. They give their own theories about who really wrote Shakespeare's plays (their theory involves a flux capacitor) and even the bibliography at the end is full of jokes.
   
   The biggest problem is their insistence on topical humor. It's one thing to do it on stage, where you can adapt the show as the times change. In a book like this, though, constant jabs at pop culture and current politics get a little tedious and will serve to date this book very badly in a few years. It's a fun book, worth reading for fans of the company, but read it now. Before it's too late.