5 comments about Broadway Musicals: The 101 Greatest Shows of All Time.

1. I received this as a birthday gift and love it! I'm just a little surprised at the selection that made it to the 101 shows included in the book. No Rent? Really??? Regardless of your opinion on the show, it is surely one that should make it on a list of 101 greatest shows..



2. I ordered this book as a birthday present for my boyfreind because he is really big into musical theater. I placed the order late Thursday afternoon and the UPS man delivered the book Friday evening, it was the fastest service I've ever experienced.
   Not only does the book have tons of colorful, glossy pictures but it's packed with quite a bit of commentary and information. He loved it! Great product, I reccomend it for anyone who is a fan of musicals.



3. I am a high school theatre teacher. I was looking for a textbook for my musical theatre class when I came across this wonderful reference book. While it doesn't have all of the shows I need, it is a wonderful way to look at some of the most popular musicals in a condensed version with beautiful pictures and interesting trivia. My students love the book so much, they do not want to return it to the school at the end of the semester. They keep it and pay the fee for a missing book. It is reasonably priced for a coffee table book.



4. Wonderfully researced by people who love musical theatre--brief paragraphs of backstage and unknown situations behind the scenes-- a must for the musical theatre "groupie"



5. What a wonderful book. Over 330 pages in this oversized tome chock full of pictures. Maybe some would disagree about which shows belong in a list of the 101 greatest Broadway musicals, but the authors have done a great job here. Each of the shows is broken down to details (opening date, number of performances, cast of characters, actors, synopsis, songs etc), wih several photographs for each. Also included are features on some of the key people involved, plus special sections on "Flops", "Star Turns", "Off Broadway", etc. This would fit well into the collection of any lover of Broadway musicals and would make an awesome gift.

5 comments about Modern Coin Magic.

1. Modern Coin Magic, or the 'Bobo Book', is one of the CLASSICS of coin manipulation and deserves a prominent place in the library of any magician. Thanks to Dover we can avail of this book more than 5 decades after its first publication.
   
   Commencing with the basics of palming, sleeving, concealment, production, vanishes, etc., this book builds on with quick simple 'tricks' to ever more complex routines - including suggestions on patter & mis-direction. Never before have I seen such clarity of explication & illustration in books devoted to sleight of hand. And there is hardly any sleight of coin manipulation that has not been covered in this book. While one can come up with one's own routines based on a thorough mastery of the 'primitives of the trade', the most famous routines of its day have also been documented to the tiniest relevant detail.
   
   However, be warned that a complete mastery of coin manipulation is 'earned' only after hours & hours & hours of practice. This book is not the place to be looking for trivial 'self working' coin tricks (though they may well be in here).
   
   An excellent companion to this book is Expert Card Technique: Close-Up Table Magic which is to Cards as the Bobo book is to Coins.
   
   Overall a MUST HAVE for any budding/practising magician. Highly Recommended.



2. This book is great for learning good old fashioned magic. There is a ton of different coin handling techniques. Trick coins will only take you so far, "Modern Coin Magic" will help you to learn the coin skills to amaze your friends and family with any coin. Of course with lots of practice.



3. This review will be simple and to the point. One of the best coin books you can possible find. By reading it, you won't just gain skills with coins. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. Anyway, great book.



4. You find the best magic in books.
   
   To many magicians these days learn from videos and DVD's. While these are useful tools, book are where it is really at. The skill it takes to read a book and put it all together is what makes a magician great.
   
   But you have to find the right books and this is certainly one of them. Every magician worth his salt should have certain books in his library and Bobo's Coin Magic is one of them.
   
   Tim "Santiago" Converse
   Enter a World of Elegant Magic
   Santiago's Magic



5. Although this book is not really "modern" anymore, I found it to be the most comprehensive and helpful book on coin magic that I have ever read. It gives detailed illustrations and step by step instructions (unlike some other books) and is well worth the effort. I definitely reccomend this book as a great buy, especially if you have been looking around on the internet for some coin magic that you can easily learn. There really is no website, but this is a great buy at a great price. Definitely buy this book, whether you are a novice magician or an expereienced one.

5 comments about Comic Insights: The Art of Stand-up Comedy.

1. All these books about Stand Up can not produce one good joke. Some of the techniques might come in handy when in front of an audience but laughter they will not bring. For that, one must be inspired and have a particular view of the world to attract people and share in a funny manner. Bought several books and fine and dandy to hear anecdotes and comedians in all kinds of situations but in the end, if you are really interested in pursuing Stand Up Comedy, a person must be willing to put themselves on the line. Attempt and fail, over and over, until one is recognized as a true comedian and has developed hers or his particular style of comedy. Taking an acting class might be beneficial for so many aspects of stand up comedy can be affected by theatrics. Kind of like wanting to play poker and become rich. You can read all the books you want but until you become one of the players you will not really know wether you are good enough or not. Practice makes perfect, theory does not accomplishes the same thing.



2. The first part of the book was very informative. It offers many tips and knowledge about stand-up comedy. They seem relevant to many types of comedy. I was worried when I saw all the reviews that it was just filler and they would be pointless. However, the author asks great questions. The interviews are a thrill to read. I could not put this book down and read it from start to finish in a couple days. I reccomend it to anyone interested in any kind of comedy or who want to be funnier.



3. Ajaye gives great insight to the aspiring comedian in this concise read. I have never been on stage but this book has helped tremendously in the writing process and my eventual presentation. The many interviews he conducts show a wide variety of approaches and thought processes. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone that is thinking of taking it to the stage.



4. The lone negative review is so off it's beyond belief. This is, in part, my defending a book which I found to be the most helpful of the 3 I own (the other two being Judy Carter's) and challenges the negative points in the bad review.
   The author's introduction includes the information that he found law school disinteresting, which is a fact that cohesively brings him to his self-admitted bumpy first night at stand-up comedy. His analysis of comics was fresh information to me. I am relatively new to stand-up (one year) and never thought to specify what makes my comedic heros funny. This advice is tailored to the individual as a road to slowly find one's footing in this world of comedy, a full introduction.
   The author does not simply state "tap into your own life experiences". What he does suggest is for the beginning comic to try and find their own voice, whatever that may be, i.e. what we are truly passionate about, as opposed to what we think we should write about. And he writes about this in great detail.
   The "third eye" is explained in great detail. I was stumped when sitting down to my notebook to write jokes. I thought to myself "if only I could get to that 'zone' in which I'm on a roll with my friends, making them laugh". The author is urging the reader to expand on his/her own self-awareness as to when and why people respond to him with laughter, as well as asking them to stay aware to one's surroundings and environment. If you're funny or geared towards comedy, your original take on life will guide you, over time, to better writing. That's "third eye" in a nutshell. I'm not an author, nor an expert, but I feel compelled to offer just a tiny explanation of the in-depth book discussion so dismissed above on "third eye".
   Lastly, I was at first concerned with the seemingly small portion of the book before the interviews. First of all, those pages offer so much more than previous, now dated books (i.e. Judy Carter) in less space; Secondly, the interviews are truly the most informative part of the book. Trust me. Most of the subjects are so humble and truthful about their beginnings. (I write most as there was one comic who I found egomaniacal, and that in its own way was informative about that world). Hearing their stories and different methods is priceless.
   This book rocks.



5. Excellent looking book. Well organized information on the inside. Franklin Ajaye may not be a household name in stand up, but he's written a book that definitely makes him a household name in my life. I would one day like to make my living as a stand up comedian, and after much searching and perusing, I decided that out of the many books on stand up I would pick this one up first. The big selling point for me was all of the interviews. Once I saw all those names of comedians that I had watched for years I knew I had to read this book.
   
   
   I have to say that this book was extremely encouraging. I consider myself a funny person, and judging by their reactions to me, I would say that my friends and coworkers think I'm funny as well. My big question was, "how do I turn being a funny person, which I think most people are, into a stand up career?" The first section of this book is a how to guide for doing exactly what I wanted to accomplish. I don't think an aspiring stand up could read this part of the book too much.
   
   
   The interviews section contained the meat and potatoes that I was most looking forward too. I wasn't let down with any of these chapters, and Ajaye is a really good interviewer. The subjects of the interviews were a diverse group of stand ups and there is tons of methodical insight and stories from the road to be digested from each of them. Frequently, the comedian being interviewed will describe their style of writing and/or performing, and it will be a contrast to what Ajaye suggests beginners do in the beginning of this book. I like how this highlights that there is no formula for stand up, and it encourages one to be experimental and innovative in developing their own funny style.
   
   
   The final section was also very helpful for someone in my position. It was a set of interviews with what I would call behind the scenes characters that are very important to a stand up comedian. What an entertaining read for aspiring comedians, people who want to be funnier, or just those who are fans of stand up comedy.

5 comments about Much Ado About Nothing (Folger Shakespeare Library).

1. Set in Messina, Sicily, "Much Ado About Nothing" is one of William Shakespeare's romantic comedies that depicts the love story and follies typical of any Shakespearean play. While the play follows the typical Shakespearean plot of boy-meets-girl, boy-falls-in-love-with-girl, and quickly tips over a conflict, it does resolve to a happy ending at the end. The follies committed by the characters invite the audience to laugh with them, instead of at them. The dilemma in the story is reminiscent of those from a handful from Shakespeares' other plays: the false gossip from Othello, the separated lovers and the fake death from Romeo and Juliet, just to name a few. Even the characters themselves are similar, with the blocking character, the lovers, the friar, the parents, etc. It is Shakespeare's clever manipulation of the same plot and characters that gives new insight into each of the plays, however similar they might be.
   Unlike other Shakespeare plays, Much Ado About Nothing is a much lighter burden to read; it is not written in blank verse, and is easily understood by modern readers of all ages. It is a delightful read, departing from his historical or tragic works (i.e. Antony and Cleopatra) and drawing it towards the genre of romantic comedies (i.e. A Midsummer's Night Dream). Both its comedic elements and advancement of events come from the motif of deception. Although the action of eavesdropping leads to multiple misunderstandings, some of which contribute to the conflict between Claudio and Hero, it does some good in uniting Benedick and Beatrice. The witty repartee between those characters also adds to the overall comedic feel of the play.
   The play is definitely a page-turner for those seeking for a lighter read.



2. This play focuses on two love affairs. Shakespeare plays on misconceptions, and nothing is at it seems. There are a lot of double entendres throughout the play, and the audience's perception of what is going on, is totally the opposite of what the characters are feeling. This is another good play to see performed.



3. Cute romantic comedy by Shakespeare which is short and entertaining. I am not a huge fan of the Bard, but I enjoyed this play despite the less than spectacular translation. Other plays like Hamlet, Julius Caesar and Othello are good reads as well.



4. Here's the deal. The best way to appreciate Shakespeare is on a DVD with subtitles. But it has to be performed by some folks with the proper appreciation of the Bard. Mayhap that comes naturally to actors, or at least it tries to, since he was one of them. I dunno.
   
   I know this. You can show this DVD to Chinese students who'd rather be thinking about computer games or Hello Kitty or puberty, where English is a second (really a third or mayhap fourth) language, hundreds of years and thousands of miles away from Shakespeare's intended audience, and they'll laugh so hard tears come out of their eyes. If you're me, you can show it 20 or so times and the tears of laughter still come out of YOUR eyes. Name ONE other author who can do that.
   
   Parallel structure, which I've mentioned before. The young couple is in love at first sight, the older couple may be a bit too proud to hook up without some manipulation but in their defense they actually speak instead of doing the goo-goo-eyed shuffle. Shakespeare really sends up our attitudes in this one, and in fact drifts into tragic territory that pisses off many students. As he would have wanted. I love its cross-genre nature. It's how some of us write e-books. Rules are for fools.
   
   Love at first sight. Seriously. What up with dat? Actually being confident enough to communicate with the one you love. Why's that so freaking shocking? And why is a damn so-called COMEDY making me ask these questions? Because I'm talking about Shakespeare, that's why. And probably screwing up this review in the process.
   
   Early on, verbal humor aplenty. You won't get it all. You don't care. You get the gist, the mood, and by my troth you can watch it again and again.
   
   Each scene builds upon what preceded it. Possibly, much Shakespeare does that. But I've been reviewing scripts ere now. This is my first review of an actual performance, and it's gonna be different because of that.
   
   It's quite easy for me to summarize plot and character, since I've seen it about 20 times, but I don't wanna. Watch the dang thing and you'll be able to do that yourself. Or read it at Gutenberg, if you're feeling so inclined. Or even in the Cliff's Notes I've mentioned elsewhere if you're a geeberhead. Nobody cares.
   
   After all these viewings, what works for me is the language. Stuff I missed the first 19 viewings. Stuff that convinces me that, if we were to manage the impossibility of producing another Shakespeare, we'd pump him full of Ritalin and try to turn him into a burger flipper. And then he'd defy our plans and write any damn way. Ha!
   
   I think the bottom line is that I need some more Shakespearean DVDs. I've also greatly enjoyed THE MERCHANT OF VENICE but probably reviewed it badly, and I have some others that mayhap weren't quite so faithful to the Bard. We'll see, won't we? I'll keep writing these reviews. Yes I will.



5. I feel it is necessary to dispute some of the prior reviews I have just read. Shakespeare is a magnificient writer and Much Ado About Nothing is no exception. Some people have written that it is difficult to understand his language; however, the Folger Shakespeare Library has notes on the left page to explain vocabulary that modern readers may not understand. These notes also explain phrases that are no longer used such as "civil as an orange" which is a similie (with the orange being a Seville orange) having the meaning of "between sweet and sour".
   
   Much Ado About Nothing is a witty comedy with enjoyable banter between Beatrice and Benedick, an ironical storyline, and humorous characters such as Dogberry whose malapropisms bring a smile to the reader's face.

5 comments about Painting With Light.

1. This book is really great. Written in the fifties it still seems very relevant to me today.
   
   It explains very basic items like cookies, gobos etc. and basic concepts like how to let objects appear to be three dimensional.
   
   I looked at the book from the eyes of a still photographer. Some content was only relevant to cinematography. Personally, I even liked those parts as they gave me an behind the scenes look into movie lighting, which output I see every day.
   
   A revised version would be very much appreciated.



2. First off, I want to note that the author DOES cover still photography in this book even though the major emphasis is on film techniques. As someone who has always considered lighting to be vital, learning more lighting techniques is a passion. I was naturally drawn to this one.
   
   It didn't disappoint. Very convincingly, Mr. Alton makes his case for the way lighting and setting can affect the whole tone and mood of a film. He also reveals how some difficult situations, filming against snow, can be overcome.
   
   This was a seminal book of 1949 and I'm glad to rediscover it, even though I wasn't born in 1949 and I came to it late but had the luck to see an earlier edition. As you can probably tell, the cover photo is riveting and the contents are also compelling.
   
   I did want to note what may, perhaps, be obvious to some readers: film techniques and the ability to manipulate lighting have come a long way since 1949. Special effects can be used. But I come to this book with a still photographer's background and I'm thrilled to be able to use the information in both film and still photography.
   
   If you are prepared to take what is here and remember when this book was written, you'll find an abundance of riches. For those who like noir type photos or movies, you'll be thrilled when Alton discusses how to use weather to your advantage - whether that be rain, snow, fog, etc.
   
   Also, a confession: I prefer black and white photos and films - in many instances - so I was particularly delighted to read Alton's words about "rich blacks", two words that might not seem to be joined together - rich and black (and I'm not talking politics or class here). As most of us who work with visual effects know, there are shades of black and there are rich, deep tones as well as the infinite variations along the scale.
   
   I'll forever be baffled as to whether it is the shadows that set off the light or the other way round. But whatever your take, you can't go wrong by reading this book on how to paint with light - and whether you are a professional or amateur, I think you'll find your work benefits from the experience.
   
   Other subjects covered in this one: close-ups, aspects of outdoor photography, still photos (mentioned above), basic principles. When it comes to TECHNIQUE, if you think about what is discussed with a historical perspective, it will serve you well because some of the techniques have come a long way since then. Still, I found it very useful to pretend that some of those techniques didn't exist and it forced me to be more creative.
   
   Highly recommended!



3. Even though the subject of the book deals with B&W lighting effects for film and TV, as an artist, it helped me in creating paintings with better "moods" and making them more dynamic.



4. I think this book is an evergreen among books. "Romantic" way of writing covered by practical knowledge and techniques. I would recommend reading it.
   Especially for people doing CG this could open some new ways, ideas looks.



5. Was the perfect gift on Chritsmas ! My son is very happy!
   Shipppin in time! Good service.........
   Thank You AMAZON!

5 comments about Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes: Part One: Millennium Approaches Part Two: Perestroika.

1. The book on amazon was cheaper than at my college bookstore and local bookstores. Brand new, came in time, and all together fantastic service.



2. After watching the Angels in America DVD, I wanted to see how it was originally as a play, and it does not disappoint. In many ways, I think it's a better experience reading this play than it was to see it on my tiny television. Angels in America is essentially a theatrical work, and the miniseries came off just as that, a filmed stage play, espcially in Part 1: Millenium Approaches, so that it seemed really static, even with, if not because of, Mike Nichols' direction. It was, on the other hand, tremendously faithful to the play script. As far as I could tell, not a word was changed.
   
   Part 2: Perestroika, however, had a few changes from the script to screen, and those changes worked well, making the filmed version far more dynamic than Part 1. There's some additional backstory that got dropped in the translation, but the spirit is very much the same.
   
   Ultimately, I recommend that you watch the DVD to get an idea of the characters' mannerisms and the staging, then read the script to fully appreciate the poetry of Tony Kushner's language. Buy it and love it!



3. Angels in America is probably one of the most important pieces of American theatre of the last twenty years. Outside of musicals, probably one of the few contemporary plays of the period that has had a significant mainstream impact outside of an adapted form (and probably significantly more important then a large number of the adapted ones even before it became an excellent miniseries). And for that reason alone, it is worth reading.
   
   But there is more then that.
   
   The play actually is one of the most influential plays for a reason. It speaks to a number of socially relevent themes about the American experience. It deals heavily with the roles of gays in society giving a fascinating dialectic about the potential roles that gays can play in society. One of the most interesting social arguments in the play has to be the complete failure of the traditional nuclear family on every level, a statement that can echo the larger social issue where the image of the nuclear family has failed. As a tangent to that, the play deals heavily with the Mormon church, being both one of the only major religions founded in America and one of the religions with the heaviest focus on the family (and one of the ones with the harshest line towards homosexuality).
   
   This probably isn't a great play to read if you like to read things out of a larger social context. Honestly, though, I really can't imagine how any American could read this play without connecting it to the larger social issues (and I think that would be true for people of a lot of other nationalities as well, though to what degree I'm not sure).
   
   In terms of the actual play, its quite good. But I found (and just about everyone I've asked) has said that they found Part I to be much stronger then Part II.



4. Wow, I don't usually read plays, but this one is the exception, its astonishing! I even went out to rent the play from HBO studios! I strongly reccomend this book.



5. A playscript is a blueprint for a performance--a document that is intended to be interpreted by those trained in theatre arts. For this reason most non-theatre people find reading a play akin to a tour of purgatory: it is often extremely difficult for the layman to imagine how these strings of words on a page will actually play on a stage before a live audience. This is particularly true of Tony Kushner's ANGELS IN AMERICA, a play which even many theatre arts people (myself included) find very, very flat on the page; consequently, I do not really recommend it for those without a background in theatre arts.
   
   Set in 1980s New York and subtitled "A Gay Fantasia on National Themes," the play concerns a group of largely homosexual men who find themselves caught up in series of disasters that range from love to religion and from politics to philosophy--and most specifically caught between the rising tide of AIDS and a generally unsympathetic society. In the midst of this, AIDS patient Pior Walter begins to have a series of visions, which may be fever dreams, medicine-induced hallucinations... or, most unnerving of all, real. His long dead ancestors rise to speak to him, the floor cracks open to reveal a burning book--and at the conclusion of the play's first half a beautiful woman with majestic wings crashes through his roof. She is the Angel of America. He is, she tells him, a prophet, and she has come to bring him a message for mankind.
   
   Intertwined with Prior's other-earthly experiences are oddly parallel lives. Joe and Harper Pitt are a deeply dysfunctional couple doubting their faith in the Mormon Church, Joe a closeted homosexual, Harper a valium-addicted and mildly psychotic woman given to visions as strange as those of Prior Walter's. And as further counterpoint historical figure Roy Cohn (1927-1986), among the most sinister figures of 20th Century America, finds himself taunted by the ghost of Ethel Rosenberg as he drifts toward his own AIDS-induced death. The characters swirl in and out of each other's lives and dreams, playing to stereotypes and yet defying them, arguing politics and philosophy and love and death--and it is fascinating stuff. And the play, which ran six hours and had to be performed across two consecutive evenings, astounded theatregoers: nothing similar had been seen on Broadway since the days of Eugene O'Neill's MOURNING BECOMES ELECTRA.
   
   But for all of this remarkable vortex of dreams and realities, issues and ideas, there is a tremendous problem with ANGELS IN AMERICA, and even the most casual reader should be able to spot it. When an angel crashes through the roof you naturally expect startling revelations to follow--but having spent the first half of his play building to this amazing climax, Kushner seems to have painted himself into a dramatic corner. The ideas, issues, and characters continue to swirl as brilliantly as before, but the angelic revelations and their gradual unraveling seem to be born more of desperation than of true originality.
   
   Is ANGELS IN AMERICA a play that will resonate through time? It is possible, but I think it unlikely. To return to MOURNING BECOMES ELECTRA, that play is very much of its era in terms of style--but it deals with themes and ideas that are of all times and places, and in consequence it remains as powerful today as it was when it startled Broadway some seventy years ago. But ANGELS IN AMERICA is not only stylistically of its place and time, it is also a play that deals specifically with issues peculiar to its place and time, and as our thinking about these issues change the play's authority begins to fade. While it remains required reading (and ideally required viewing) for any one who is seriously interested in theatre, it seems unlikely that it will forever maintain that status.
   
   GFT, Amazon Reviewer

2 comments about Public Relations: Strategies and Tactics, Study Edition (8th Edition).

1. How about Pearson Education, taking a best selling PR book and adding tear-out quizzes! ...for free! This is a typical publisher ploy where they sell the profs on this free added value; but what they don't tell the professor is that this is how they force students to always buy new. What a racket. And I don't just blame Pearson; Cengage Learning is probably the worst offender but they all do it.
   
   Professors, do the right thing and adopt the non-consumable version of this textbook. Ask your Pearson rep to supply the quizzes so that you can print them and hand them out in class and tell them that you won't partake in the screwing of college students.



2. From the very first page this book gives a good introduction into the daily life of a professional account executive a public relations firm. This is designed to ltet the student know how his workday is likely to be spent. Perhaps in eight editions they've learned how to approach students.
   
   That brings up the question of what's new in the eighth edition. One important step is the new chapter on Conflict Management. This has become very critical in today's world as investigative reporters are constantly seeking conflicts to spread to the public. There's a new 'casebook' at the end of every chapter that presents a situation in depth that is left as a discussion subject for the student or the class. Finally the book is completely revised to use up to date in areas as diverse as salary ranges or notable public relations campaigns such as those mounted by John Kerry and George Bush.
   
   This is the student edition of the book which contains a 64 page practice test at the end of the book.

3 comments about Dancing with the Stars: Jive, Samba, and Tango Your Way into the Best Shape of Your Life.

1. I ordered the wrong product, however this book was in excellent condition and it was shipped to me very fast.



2. A great TV show deserves a great book, and this is it! The book is printed on heavy, shiny paper with tons of color photos that include almost every couple from Season 1 through last year when Apolo and Julianne won. The last part of the book is photo after photo of Alec and Edyta demonstrating the different dances. Not so interesting! Why were they chosen when there is a bevy of beautiful people to chose from, for example, Maksim, Julianne, etc. But anyway, if you love the show, you will love this book. There is some instruction, and text on the differences between the various dances. Watch the show! Buy the book! Both are a lot of fun.



3. the fastest mail delivery ever---pictures were very colorful----but did not show the dance steps for exercise

No comments about The Little Dog Laughed.

5 comments about The Complete Idiot's Guide to Exotic and Pole Dancing Illustrated (Complete Idiot's Guide to).

1. This is a great book and DVD! It teaches you so much, and you can rewind, fast forward, pause soy you can get the technique down. Any one can do this! It is also SO much fun, even if you are by yourself!



2. All I can say is: AWESOME! This book is so great and the step by step guides are super easy to follow. My boyfriend is REALLY happy that I made this purchase!



3. My boyfriend has a pole in his house and challenged me to learn how to use it. So I ventured out to do some research and stumbled across this book. When it came, I watched the DVD first and was actually impressed! After watching the DVD, I read the book and it was awesome!
   
   She not only talks about exotic and pole dancing techniques, but she also provides tips like how to wear your make-up, how to do your hair, what type of shoes to wear, and even trimming up the bikini line (VERRRRRY IMPORTANT)! She makes you feel comfy with your body since all of us aren't shaped like the poles we are learning to dance with.
   
   All in all, I was thoroughly pleased with this book and I would definitely recommend it if you're just starting out and need some basic techniques and a little guidance!



4. Book and vidoe are ok. I have since purchased videos adn books which are much better.
   Effective at showing the moves although the presenter looks a bit clumsy and not that sexy.
   Felt it was a bit cheesy - the dance names, which other videos and books are pretty much consistent this one renames with "student and friend's" names.
   Book is ok- for beginners and those just wanting to maybe use it for spice. For more professionally done woudl recommend Fawnia, or Edith Aboul-Hosn videos.



5. Wow, this book is a steal for $20. You get a well-written, thoroughly entertaining and funny book loaded with creative ideas, suggestions and advice- plus a DVD with examples of what you see in the book. It's a great deal. Not to mention the author really knows her stuff.
   
   I love her comfortable approach, helping reduce anxiety over dancing "dirty," etc. As a former stripper, I find that many many women want to learn how to strip/lapdance/pole dance but are afraid of the social consequences, so I adore her reassurance throughout: this is fun, this is good exercise, this is for you and let no one make you feel any shame about being a sexy goddess. Amen, sister. Also emphasizes imperfect bodies and how to make your "imperfections" work to your advantage and learn to embrace them. Required reading for all shy violets and anyone who has ever said, "I'm too ___ to be a sexy dancer/stripper/etc."
   
   Very highly recommended if you don't have a pole, if you just want some sexy moves to impress your partner or just look hot in front of your mirror at home. Also recommended if you have just invested in a pole and want a place to start that's basic and yet, provides room to grow. A masterpiece, a bargain.