5 comments about No Exit and Three Other Plays.

1. This book is a wonderful collection of plays written by the brilliant intellect of Sartre. It is an essential reading for the philosopher at heart.



2. Sartre is sometimes given a reputation that far precedes him, as with many Nobel recipients. These plays are a testament against the skeptic's mindset.
   
   "No Exit" is a modern-day interpretation of the antiquated "fire and brimstone" hell we are so accustomed to hearing about. Sartre adroitly picks up on the small idiosyncracies of human behavior and capitalizes on them with his version of hell. Three incompatible personalities are locked in a hot, stuffy hotel room for eternity, unable to get along with one another or reconcile their personal differences. The lights are always a bit too bright, the furniture a bit too stiff, and the wonder at "what lies down the hall" eats at the occupants for eternity. This is a far cry from biblical interpretations of hell, where an individual can mentally will themselves against pain. Instead, Sartre focuses on the interpersonal nature of unhappiness, and gives his spirits "one of those days" for eternity.
   
   "Dirty Hands" is perhaps my favorite piece of literature. It plants its focus on a young intellectual revolutionary intent on assassinating a corrupt party leader. As he grows closer to Hoederer, the man he is sent to kill, he comes to realize that pure intellectual theories will always become muddied in the waters of reality.
   
   "The Respectful Prostitute" depicts a young woman, a prostitute, who spends the night with a man who turns out to be a politician. The man completes his sordid mission, but the next morning scorns the woman. An lesson in objectivity and the two-faced nature of those who tend to preach loudly.
   
   "The Flies" is set in Ancient Greece, but possesses Sartre's aptitude for human behavior. Just as good as all the others, though not as indicative of how humans behave.
   
   These are all plays, making them quite easy to read. The characters are not hard to keep straight. The ease of reading doesn't detract from their literary quality. These four plays are elegant simplicity at its finest.



3. I have read this little collection countless times over the years. I have seen Huit Clos (No Exit) performed several times (generally poorly) but it has never quite lived up to the power that I find in the written version. I realize that this is unusual for a play, and may reflect a fault in Sartre's work rather than a strength.
   
   It is important to remember, however, that Sartre's work is always more about the ideas behind it than it is about the form he is using. Sartre wrote novels, plays, essays, and criticism during his long career. Through it all, he was a philosopher-- struggling with the notion of freedom and indifference.
   
   People (particularly students) tend to stop with No Exit, neglecting its less famous cousins. This is a shame, as both The Flies and Dirty Hands are fascinating pieces. Particularly if you have an interest in the Oresteia then The Flies is a wonderful interpretation.
   
   A must read book.



4. These four plays were good plays- they are easier to understand if one is familiar with Sartre's philosophy. The plots in all these plays were both unique and exciting yet at times, especially in dirty hands and the flies, the plays seem to drag on and on. Had the plays been shorter, Sartre's main point would have been made clearer and more forcefully. In plays, it's hard to communicate character background yet with a novel the author can just describe it from third-person perspective. I think perhaps these plays would have been more successful and more dramatic had they been written as short novels with more description and character analysis. At times I felt that the characters were explored and described in superfical ways. All in all, these were good plays yet I cant say I loved them. This might just be me though since I have never been too fond of the format of plays- i feel like it never gets to the heart of the character since you only get dialogue with little analysis.



5. This book is an answer to a question many people have been avoiding all their lives. And when you finally develop the ability to ask it to yourself, Sartre provides his suggested answer for you, though it may not be the answer you wanted.
   
   The premise of the main play, "No Exit", is that many people have chosen to exist in misery, even when the exit to that misery presents itself clearly. For these people, there is "no exit". Their existance is defined by their misery. If they make the concious decision to exit, then they have nothing to live for.
   
   All four plays are written in non-pretentious and easy to understand styles, unlike many philisophical writings. They don't require a great deal of effort to read or understand. In fact, they are quite enjoyable and I found myself reading each play many times before moving on to the next one.
   
   Don't expect to feel uplifted about the state of humanity while reading these plays, however. Sartre's message about human existance can be a dismal one. It is quite helpful, though, to come to terms with the fact that many of our fellow humans are just puzzled about their lives, and sharing a social existance with these people can be precarious to your own search for meaning.

5 comments about Emotional Structure: Creating the Story Beneath the Plot.

1. You have to dig for it, but there's gold in these pages. In between, there's a lot of cute stuff about the author -- pure unedited egoic writing. Who cares how grateful he is to the inventor of Index Cards?? A serious writer really wants to know How he uses them, Why, What benefits he finds in the process. That info is in the book but it's necessary to scan past the author's love affair with himself.
   
   On the other hand, he does write for film and not for general readers -- maybe no one told him to be more attentive to the reader and less attentive to himself?
   
   If you are a seriously creative writer of fiction or film, buy the book and X-out the paragraphs that are empty of the content you seek.
   
   You will find a lovely concept of emotional flow for you story telling -- great stuff that no one else has addressed in the many "how to write" books that I have read.
   
   He makes good distinctions between Plot [what happens] and Story [the emotional impact on the characters as well as the film viewer or fiction reader].
   
   And he details the emotional path your character must travel.
   
   Dunn is only focused on film scripts but I bought the book as an aid to working on novels.
   
   Get the book and go mining for the good stuff -- take a deep breath and pass over the gunk.



2. Well written resource for those beginning to write screen plays. Examples are concrete and easy to understand. A good supplement to a basic book on screen writing. I don't think it is a stand alone.



3. I should have posted this months ago. I bought this book, full price at the bookstore because I'd never seen anything like it. I still haven't. This guy is concise, thorough and easy to understand, using small words when small words are appropriate--instead of ten dollar words to show off his knowledge. I love it, have worn it out, and will buy anything else he does. Everyone else has talked about how good this book is. What I'll say is this--thank you for NOT using the sterotypical "archtype" babble, or mythic journey, or GMC, or any of the other overused cliches. This guy spent time thinking. It shows in his writing. Way to go, Dunne.



4. This well written book conveys the importance of really connecting your audience to your charcters feats, flaws, and final acts. It a lesson well learned for any screen writer, think of your favorite movies, they made feel emotion for the heros, the villans etc. This emulates that concept through and through.



5. I would recommended this book to all new screenwiters. Bring your characters from 2D to 3D!

5 comments about Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre.

1. You don't need to be interested in theatre to find this book fascinating. I've purchased over a dozen copies to give to my friends. It's changed my life more than any other!



2. This book taught me many, many things, mostly immediately applicable to improv but also, on a deeper level, everyday life. It is not a book of physical techniques to try but of mental exercises to show us how we think of the world, how we are trained not to think and what we subconsciously do or avoid doing. This theoretical base I see as being immensely helpful to understanding improvisational work, but the lessons I have learned easily apply to real life situations. The author writes mostly non-linearly, but it is still very easy to follow and full of life rather than being overbearing and pretentious or dry and dull. Reading it has also exposed me to many fascinating stories, especially in the final chapter on Masks and trance, which tells us of hypnotic states and Mask-related cultures across the world and across time. The lessons we learn from these apply to our world as well, but we are conditioned to reject Mask work as being silly or strange. This book has changed and will continue to change how I think of myself and my interactions with other people and I am sure that once I get back into the improv workshop I will be a more confident and knowledgeable performer, both consciously and subconsciously, and thus a more eager participant and more ready and open to further teaching. I recommend this book to any who want a theoretical, metaphysical and spiritual guide to both improvisational performance and the constant improv performance of life.



3. As a theater actor, this book has been a very good tool for me. It has made me a better listener which is important on the stage. Just memorizing lines is not enough. In case someone drops a line, you can immediately come to their rescue, without making them look bad, thus maintaining the scene. I highly recommend this to anyone in the theater.



4. I read this book more than 15 years ago. On that time I was an engineering student taken some classes on pantomime. The book was absolutely helpful to undestand some hidden rules in terms of space, rythm, all things that are very dynamic on improvisations.
   I also remember another book that my teacher recommended me, 'To the Actor' by Michael Chekhov.
   Johnstone's book helps not just for acting. It is a good aid to recognize what helps and what inhibits our behaviour in groups. The book is plenty of examples and every point is well demonstrated.



5. This is an essential book for teachers of any subject, actors, directors, and/or any other human.

5 comments about Conditioning for Dance.

1. I've always loved dancing, though not professionally as a prefer club-style. While I haven't attempted other forms of dance, hip hop has always provided an extreme work-out and took an exceptional amount of energy.
   I followed Blake McGrath and Benji Schwimmer closely during the "So You Think You Can Dance" on Fox TV (call me corny but we all have hopes and dreams).
   More recently I went to California after seeing the dance company Coastal Dance Rage was now co-owned by Blake McGrath and Josh & Shannon Mather - After leaving the studio after the first time I was completely exhausted. As I was leaving on my third day someone leaving the studio handed me this book and wow - incredible, I've never felt better and more aware of my actions. My flexibility as improved greatly, which was a key failure point previously that I could not get beyond.
   Unfortunately I never saw the the person that handed me the book again - so to whomever you were - Thank you!



2. Franklins imagery and anatomical understanding is expressed effortlessly. It is a pleasure to read his work and apply it to my work in the physical sciences



3. I am NOT a dancer. I am just an advanced beginner in Yoga.
   
   I'm not sure how I found this book, but I'm more than glad I did. I have chronic lower back pain, and the excercises using balls are very therapeutic.
   
   Franklin's use of imagery, his explanations and wonderful drawings of anatomy are simply fantastic.
   I have found that just reading the book and not doing anything has helped my yoga and my posture. Of course, actually doing the exercises is even better!
   
   I would be delighted if Franklin put out a DVD with this kind of material. I have bought many yoga and dance DVDs and the thing I do not like about almost every single one of them is not explaining in any way WHY a certain movement or posture may be beneficial. There's all just mindless work-outs.



4. As a pilates/belly dance teacher (and performer) I know the importance of using visualisation techniques to release tension, increase range of motion, and free the body. This book has greatly expanded my teaching repertoire and also my understanding of the core musculature, particularly the pelvis (the power center). Highly recommend this to anyone no matter what their occupation!
   Try his other books as well. All excellent!



5. This book has been very helpful to me as I returned to ballet at 27 after a two year hiatus. I purchased the Franklin Method balls and found them very useful in implementing some of the exercises. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to increase their abilities and lenghten the life of their physical abilities.

5 comments about The Book of Shadows : The Unofficial Charmed Companion.

1. i couldnt wait to get it i really enjoyed this to my collection of charmed items a must have kinda gives you the in and outs of the charmed ones series



2. If you're looking for character bios, episode guides, and things like that, then this isn't for you. This book takes the show a step further, showing the history behind the characters, the magic, and the potions used. I just got it today and only read the first section so far, but it has a wealth of knowledge (skimmed through the second part), and would be invaluable to any budding witch today.
   Overall, great book!



3. I gave this to my daughter (she's 20 yrs. old) who is a fan of Charmed. This was a perfect gift for her. She collects all kinds of Charmed memorabilia. She was really excited when she saw it and poured over it to read all the spells. So for anyone out there who is a true fan of Charmed....it's the perfect gift.



4. I am a die hard Charmed fan and my daughter has recently through re-runs caught the bug,so I ordered this book for her birthday assuming it would be like the "Book of Shadows" on the show. I expected pictures and descriptions of demons and things and the spells they'd cast on the show. It did have some of the spells, and a lot of information on the wiccan religion but, not a demon or ghost in sight. While I find wicca interesting if I wanted a book about it I'd have ordered one on the subject. In it's favor if your'e interested in the craft or in behind the scenes information on the show you'd like the book but, it's not the companion book the title suggests.



5. I love this book. It has all sorts of information about Wicca, spells, and more and lots of interesting tid bits about the show "Charmed" that for a fan is really a plus!!!

5 comments about Singing for Dummies.

1. After trying this book, I am convinced that nothing compares to live singing lessons. Although chapters are written fluidly and are an easy read, real singing improvement after finishing seems minimal compared with the effort.



2. Great book overall. The author got to the point and didn't over-emphasize any part that wasn't important or relevant. The only reason why I can't give it 5 stars is because my voice teacher disagrees with some aspects, so until I can figure out who's right and who's wrong, I don't know which way to sway. But the CD is by far the best part. After reading the whole book and getting the recommended songs, I still do the CD occasionally. The only gripe I have about the CD is there's no just straight out warm-up session. It's all practice, no warm-ups, which would have made the CD useful after you've learned what you can from the book.



3. I sure you've heard it before but don't be fooled by the title.This is a very good place to start if you have never had any training before.One thing I like is the fact that she doesn't play the piano too loudly for the exersizes.The two vocalists sound good too.Allthough the book addresses some pop techniques it seems more geared towards classical.I'm suspicious of methods that try to combine the two,such as Seth Riggs, since they are so completely different.I'm looking forward to Singing for Dummies II.The audio could be a bit louder but I am using a laptop.No big deal.You won't find all the silly endorsments like in the Riggs books.5 stars all the way.



4. I am taking Bengali folk singing lessons. Bengali folk songs demand strong voice and wide vocal range. I tried quite a few different ways to increase my vocal range. Following the suggested instructions in this book, I have gained two notes in the upper side of the range in three weeks. I am also singing much better in the lower range. I feel that I'll continue to make improvements, if I continue to follow Pamelia S. Phillips' suggested techniques. Even though I am more familiar with Bengali music than Western music, I did not have any problem understanding this book. As a matter fact this book has taught me a lot of terms used in Western music. Accompanying CD is a big help.



5. If you don't have the courage or money to go to a teacher, this is a great book. The exercises are easy and encouraging. Although I found that some of the exercises hindered more than opened my range, I know that not every exercise will work for every person and so I skip one here and there and move on. I did learn a great deal from this book and I would buy it again. Although I wouldn't take it as Bible, it is a great starting point. I am not an expert so I really can't give a more thorough review BUT I would recommend that you buy a few books to get more points of view and take something from each.
   The biggest problem I have is that the 'for dummies' series does not sell or give replacement cd's. If you lose the CD, you must buy the entire book again. This is ridiculous. If you buy a book with a CD, make plenty of copies so that you have a back up or three.

5 comments about Julius Caesar (The New Folger Library Shakespeare).

1. As with so many of Shakespeare's history and tragedy plays, this one is a wonderful history lesson. It is also a wonderful character portrayal of some well-known historical figures. Brutus is a fine example of one of Shakespeare's most wonderfully portrayed tragic figures. Brutus is the true hero of this tragic play. There are lots of wonderful soliliquays, and the language used is just beautiful. A wonderful play to re-read.



2. Julius Caesar is murdered very shortly into this play so while he bears the title the play is about the conspirators and the supporters of caesar and the struggle for power that comes after his asassination. The power of language to persude the masses and the fickle nature of crowds are only a few of the themes that Shakespeare explores.
   
   Shakespeare explores the nature of tyranny, politics and absolute power in ways that must have been remarkably risky and controversial in his day.
   
   Someone below noted that we have come to believe that the events as Shakespeare crafted them in his play are how this really happened. "Et Tu Brutus", etc. This is one of the better known and more widely read of Shakespeare's works and is the way many middle school kids are introduced to Shakespeare (maybe rivaled by Romeo and Juliet).
   
   That said it is a fine drama and after multiple readings will still yield something new to think about or some new phrase that will stick in the readers mind.
   
   When Brutus and Antony each deliver their respective addresses to the crowd following Caesar's death Shakespeare demonstrates a universal truth that people can be persuaded by words and the body politic is susceptable to a good propogandist. As true today as it was then.



3. Julius Caesar
   Author: William Shakespeare, 1623
   By: Cameron Jones
   
   What would you do if the only people that you trusted on this earth betrayed you? How would you feel if the only friends you had killed you? What would you feel if no one cared anymore about you and wanted you to be gone? Well imagine living in 100 B.C Rome as dictator for life and you were hated. That's the kind of life that Julius Caesar had to live.
   
   William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564, and later died on the same date. The only way that they found this out is because Caesar died on the same day he was born. Shakespeare died at 52 years of age.
   
   Caesar resided in the city of Rome where he was dubbed as dictator for life. He was offered King of Rome but declined it due to the fact he didn't want people referring to him as "King". So the main characters of the book, Brutus the friend that betrays Caesar for the sake of Rome, and Cassius the horrible mastermind of the murder get Caesar to go to the capital for a dispute that needs to be settled. Calpurnia, Caesar's wife, told him not to go, that she had a dream of him being the statue of the water fountain and instead of water coming out of him there was blood pouring out of him. But being the man that he was, he was persuaded anyway instead of taking his wife's word for it. So Brutus and Caesar walk into the capital were there was a group of conspirators waiting to stab him repeatedly all over his body. Mark-Antony, Caesar's friend heard about the horrible news and ran away fearing that he would be next. Brutus sent news to Antony telling him that there was no need to run that they wasn't going to harm him and that he needed to come back so that they could have a talk about what happened. Antony returns but not for a little chit-chat but for revenge for his best friend! Antony on the way back home met with a man named Octavius, and he would soon join the army of Antony. While news was sent back home telling Brutus and Cassius that Antony and his new added piece to the chessboard was going to declare was on them! So there was four different army fronts with Brutus one leader and Cassius another, and on the other side there was Antony and Octavius as leaders of each of their men.
   
   Now who will walk away on top will good defeat evil or will evil trample over Antony and his hell bent way to get even with Brutus and Cassius?
   
   I would strongly recommend this book to a mature audience, only because the vocabulary in the book is to strong for the adolescence. As far as that goes the story gives very great detail and a very great picture image in your head. So I would defiantly recommend this book for high school children and older.



4. This is a book that i have recently finished for the first time reading all the way through. It asks compelling questions through the thoughts and converstations between the main characters and their wives. It also relates to current political parties battling for control of the governtment with a 3rd side party also involved. There are also many ironic and suspenseful moments that kepp you reading evan if you are not reading it for study. Over all, I find it a great novel, but it is not something that I would read again for a long while; but possibly see the play acted out or watch a telivision form.



5. Scholars have expounded on the merits of Shakespeare's work for centuries, so I'm not likely to add anything of value here. I merely want to point out how extraordinary and rewarding it is to read something written 500 years ago that still seems so fresh today. Human nature really hasn't changed at all. Upon rereading this tale of the machinations surrounding the assassination of Julius Caeser, the scene that really stood out for me was the one in which the assassin Brutus and the loyalist Antony take turns addressing the public following Caeser's death. The manner in which the crowd is stirred against Caeser by Brutus and then swayed the opposite way by Antony can be read as a humorous parody of today's poll-driven political scene. When Antony insists that "I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,/ Action, nor utterance, nor the powers of speech/ To stir men's blood; I only speak right on," I can hear the voices of any number of modern politicians, including good old George W. himself.

5 comments about The Comedy Bible: From Stand-up to Sitcom--The Comedy Writer's Ultimate "How To" Guide.

1. What was I thinking that I thought a book could help me be funny? Might teach the rules of the game, do's and dont's, some anecdotes and funny phrases by established comedians but the funny comes from the individual. Check out comedy central. Sometimes comedians are so funny that my ribs start aching and others just mild laughter, no spark. This book is called the bible and I thought it would lead me into the funnyland but that, it can not do. Was hard to even want to finish it but paid hard earned dollars for it so I did. 3 Stars for the effort it takes to write a book but no more. Funny comes from the very soul of the individual. First make sure that funny exists and try out in crowds, bars, buses. If at a second's notice you can elicit laughter from unsuspecting crowds then you can worry about the rest. What am I going to wear, how to keep the club's owner booking your act, be nice to the staff, etc. That is all fine and dandy but first and foremost you got to make yourself laugh, that's how funny one needs to be to become a comedian in any of the many forms. Without the funny no one gets the money!



2. I bought this book because of the rave amazon review and was disappointed. this only thing this book succeeds is doing two things: being vain and false. a book which hands out a quiz that determines if you can be a comedian is vain and false. a book which shoots out false truisms such as "all writers get their best work done in the morning" and "moving on stage makes you funnier" is vain and, well, false. not to mention that the book is bloated with room for you answers to exercise. not to mention that it spends more time with instructions on how to live your life when writing jokes than on actually how to write jokes. might work as a cult but not as a writing aid.
   
   I made it to page 130 and threw it back to the end of the stack. up to that point i felt i learned ONE useful thing, which is the structure of the stand up joke: attitude + topic + something i cant remember + act out + mix. there. i just saved you 12$



3. I've bought and read quite a few 'stand up' how-to's, and this book is the one I keep coming back to for material development, stage presence, just all the 'basics' that one needs to keep on touching base with. It's easy to follow, easy to read, and not pretentious. Judy WANTS to help you be the best presenter you can be, and makes you think about other venues and opportunities besides stand up that might be more appropriate for you. A lot of books are 'stand up' related only, but Judy's book explores other ways people can tap into their creativity and use it in many other ways.
   WELL worth the money and I won't EVER loan this puppy out!! Thank you, Judy!!



4. This book is a worthwhile investment. Here's why:
   
   1) The stand-up intruction is priceless. In reading this book you should be able to go from knowing absolutely nothing about performing stand-up to having an edge on most aspiring comedians.
   2) Carter covers every medium for comedy, from stand-up to writing sitcoms.
   3) The book is very well-written. It's easy to read and understand. It's interactive and fun. It teaches you to think.
   4) It is filled with resources. Places to book a gig. People to contact. Where/How to send your script to Hollywood.
   5) Carter invites you to contact/email her personally. She wrote this book to help you succeed. She puts her money where her mouth is.



5. I've read a number of books on comedy, and this one is the best by far. The author has broken down the steps to writing great comedic material into logical, easy to follow instructions. Few how-to books are as clearly written as this one. This comprehensive book can teach anyone how to be a better comedian. I can highly recommend "The Comedy Bible" not only as the perfect textbook for building a career in comedy -- or even just to add a comic touch to one's writing or public speaking -- but also as a "fun to read" book. Prepare to LOL as you perfect your comedy skills.
   
   David Rizzo
   Dr. Roadmap

5 comments about An Actor Prepares.

1. This book is very informative and resourceful. It teaches you the true method of acting.



2. the magic 'if' can transform worlds for you...the grand Master Stanislavski in a rough interpretation brings you his mystery of acting..has any acting technique been more misrepresented then 'the method'? ..read how MR S wanted to reach actors, how they went about rehearsing...how they realized their most important job was being true to the playwrights words..much to Anton Chekov's delight..how they built layer upon layer of developing a character..I think this book will enhance any artist, hold magic over them and let them develop their own magic 'if'..what if I was a king? what if I was a world famous dancer? what if I can make any dream come true? what if?



3. I had to buy this book for an acting class I am currently taking in college. If you were to open my book, you'll notice the bright color of my highlighter. It is highly informative and intellectually stimulating for those who want to be actors, or people who are simply interested in acting.



4. This book is an absolute MUST READ for all actors. I am convinced that no-one should be allowed on stage until they have read this book.
   
   Stanislavski's ideas form the basis of most modern acting techniques, as well they should. Before I studied Stanislavski, I had always felt there was something lacking in my acting and could never quite figure out what; I discovered it when I studied Stanislavski.
   
   My one complaint is that the translation is bad. The translator was NOT an actor, and many cuts were made to the original text. This has resulted in many confusions about what Stanislavski actually said.



5. 
   
   Stanislavski himself says, "My system is for those who have a creative nature. It's for the talented". On stage or on a movie set you have to be believable. All musicians should read this book (or any performing artist in that matter). It would be a priceless benefit for them... For instance, many soloists these days are displaying an unnatural, forced "phrasing". If they were asked to speak the way they play, the result would be so fake or even funny that they'd realize it in a flash.

3 comments about Communication in Our Lives (with CD-ROM and SpeechBuilder Express/InfoTrac ) (Wadsworth Series in Speech Communication).

1. I had to have this book for my first year college speech class. It was interesting to read, but I wish that I didn't have to actually read so much of the book to get the meanings. Part of that is not knowing HOW to read a college text book.

   Being a Media & Public Communications major, and I can see how this book is really useful for incoming freshman. Most have only given speeches in high school and need to develop the skills for giving good speeches and presentations in college and beyond.

   This book really lays out the process for speeches and your behavior. What kind of non-verbal cues are you sending? There is also a pseudo-outline (you actually have to pick out the details from the reading) for laying out a speech.




2. I received a book that I didn't even order. The one I ordered is yellow and white ( 3th edition). THis isn't the one I ordered; therefore, I need a refund.I sent the book back and I know the seller received it on 8/19.



3. This book makes comminication fun and interesting. I am using this book for a speech class, but I find that it is an interesting read outside of school. The writing is very clear and examples pertain to every day life.