5 comments about Ordeal.

1. I have known women who have done porn and based on this as well as the testimonies of countless other sex industry survivors such as Shelley Lubben and Crissy Moran, I have no reason to doubt the claims made by in this book. The sex industry is an evil exploitive, multi-billion dollar industry and LL was brave in sharing her story with the public. This book haunted me years after I read it as a teenager.



2. What really did happen with Linda Lovelace? According to ORDEAL, waved as a bloody flag by feminists as a symbol of the so-called oppression of women, she was a nice girl who found herself in an unbelievably abusive relationship with a man who put her in porn. Given the tone of our times, one cannot question this account without finding oneself the object of hysterical execration.
   
   And yet.
   
   There are just too many questions. For all the adamant talk coming from certain quarters about how abused women can't, just can't, leave their abusers, the facts is that, although at times difficult, they can. And the portrayal of Chuck Traynor, Lovelace's husband, is so over the top it is as if he were specifically created to play the role of the literary wife-beating bogeyman. Traynor allegedly made Lovelace engage in the most degrading and humiliating sexual practices imaginable, all presented to the reader in the style that makes one drool with excitement in that guilty sort of way. No way are you actually going to admit to liking it, are you?
   
   Events subsequent to ORDEAL's publication have cast doubts on its accuracy. Some fellow adult stars around at the time have stated that they saw no sign of abuse and that Lovelace herself, far from acting like the poor frightened waif, instead was as sexually voracious off the screen as she was on, even, or even especially, when her husband was not around.
   
   It is a cliche to say that the truth is somewhere in between. Sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't. But Lovelace's saga is probably one of those times when it is. She seems like a girl who dreamt bigger than her personality and talents could lead her, got in with a tough crowd, and got swept away. When things don't go as planned, many people re-interpret things to make themselves more passive than was actually the case. And for Lovelace, aided by feminists who exploited her as badly as any man ever did, re-interpretation of her past was the way to face the future. Hers was a sad life, but probably not as sad as portrayed in ORDEAL.



3. I'm an ex-sex worker. I now belong to Sex Workers Anonymous. I've lived this industry and I know the crowd Linda spoke about in her books. She had the courage to write about what wasn't just her experiences - but also many of ours experiences - but we go off into hiding and fear once we leave rather then speak out like she did knowing what it could and did cost her. I watched while people who knew nothing of this industry attacked her for speaking out about this industry doing what men do - always blame the woman/victim. Speaking out about what really goes on in this world affected her health deeply from the stress and contributed to her early death I'm sure. She's not the only one who had lasting health problems to deal with after having left the sex industry though no fault of her own. In America - a man can go to jail for raping his wife - but not for raping a sex worker. What people don't realize is that many of these men, women and children are living out Linda's story - they can't get out without fear of themselves being killed or their family members. I knew a pimp once who would hold a woman's child hostage until she came back each night with "his" money. One night she got arrested and wasn't able to come home on time. The pimp cut off the left arm of this six year old girl. Anyone who thinks you can't be held in this business against your will - obviously hasn't been there and should shut up about something they know nothing about. I consider Linda a martyr for taking all the guff she took to tell our stories and to try to enlighten people about what goes on every day - but we don't have the guts to tell about our stories ourselves. Anyone who wants to know what this industry can really be like - should read her stories. If all she wanted was to keep making money and just made this up to sell books - she would have done what Xavier Hollendar or Norma Jean or Heidi Fleiss - did. Sell a hell of a lot more books feeding into the american myths about this business - without any of the flack she took for telling the truth. The woman had the courage of a lion - not only to survive what she did - and to live to tell about it - but also to tell about it in the hopes that us "unknowns" are more believed when we try to tell our stories and try to get help to get out.



4. I am going to defend Linda Lovelace against those reviewers here who really don't believe her story by quoting from the groundbreaking psychotherapy book "Trauma and Recovery" by Judith Herman:
   
   "Most people have no knowledge or understanding of the psychological changes of captivity. Social judgment of chronically traumatized people therefore tends to be extremely harsh. The chronically abused person's apparent helplessness and passivity, her entrapment in the past, her intractable depression... and her smoldering anger often frustrate the people closest to her. Moreover, if she has been coerced into betrayal of relationships, community loyalties, or moral values, she is frequently subjected to furious condemnation.
   
   "Observers who have never experienced prolonged terror and who have no understanding of coercive methods of control presume that they would show greater courage and resistance than the victim in similar circumstances. Hence the common tendency to account for the victim's behavior by seeking flaws in her personality or moral character."
   
   So, think hard before you judge her.



5. I found this book unexpectedly in a public library about 7 years ago and was elated. I believe that it was out of print at the time. This book did move me. I have read several of the other reveiws and some of the folks were and still are skeptical about Linda's story of abuse and being forced into prostitution and porn.
   
   I couldn't help but feel so passionate about this story when first read it. I zealously defended her story (or I wanted to believe it so much). I still believe that there are elements of truth to her story, but as someone else once said in their review, you don't need to look carefully to see that she has a tendency to blame nearly everyone else for her mistakes and for the bad things that have happened to her. I sincerely believe that Linda was abused by her husband, Chuck Traynor, and that he was not a nice person. The question is whether or not she willing engaged in prostitution and pornography, or if she was forced or coerced into doing it. There is still much debate over that. The problem is that once LL became an overnight sensation (something she wasn't expecting or prepared for) she made some damning statements about loving what she did and these things later came back to haunt her when she tried to recant those things that she said. Unfortunately, many of the things that she said and much of the unspeakable things that she did on film followed her all of her life. She apparently couldn't escape LL.
   
   To me, it is interesting that the woman that Chuck Traynor married and managed the career of none other than Marilyn Chambers. Unlike Linda, Marilyn Chambers always said that she liked what she did and had no regrets. In her book, LL says that she had been advised to just be the person that the world knew as LL, because no one would believe otherwise. She said all along that this was not really her. She tried to hold her ground. Some people believed her and embraced her, while others scoffed at what she had to say and said that she was just bitter. Who knows?
   
   I'm not a fan of porn. To me, this book is a harrowing story of abuse.

5 comments about The Intimate Sex Lives of Famous People.

1. "The Intimate Sex Lives of Famous People", by Wallace, Wallace, Wallechinsky & Wallace. Delacorte Press, NY 1981. ISBN: 0-440-04152-X, HC 618/592 pages, with Index 22 pgs., & B/W photos. 9 1/2" x 6 1/4".
   
   Three Wallaces and a Wallechinsky collaborated on an expose of sex lives of over 200 persons, all customarily known somebody's from divers walks of life, many briefly or long relegated to the grave including generals, presidents, movie stars, writers, actors, industrialists, musicians, scientists, world leaders, sport figures and sex symbols.
   
   The book is divided into 17 specious chapters for rhetorical overstatement reasons at best, each sexual biography possesses an accompanying picture of the lover or loveress. Authors indicate they scrutinized over 1500 biographies but also memoirs by their lovers, friends and enemies. They justified this reference work by noting this expositiion filled a gaping omission on "sexual behavior of well-known and distingished men and women in world history".
   
   Presumably their research dug deeper than that encountered with present-day tabloids. Despite its explicit nature, the authors' material is largely confined to adults now deceased, unlike the goings-on of Hollywood's present genre of teens and teeny-boobies with their pregnancies, partners, public & pubic display of sexuality & drug adventures and misadventures displayed on weekly newsstands courtesy of paparazzi. So, with what's going on now, two decades later, the book is not a shocker and is thusly for those with a void in/or possessing a nugatory sexuality.



2. Normally I'd just pass something like this by, but I saw it was done by the same folks who had done the People's Almanac series (Irving Wallace and David Wallachinsky). I grew up reading those massive compendiums of assorted information (including my earliest sex education in a book) and figured that if anyone could cover this topic tastefully, it would be the Wallaces/etc.
   
   This is over 500 pages of information on the sex practices of everyone from royalty to actors and actresses, poets and playwrights, the rich and famous and the famous-after-they-died-as-paupers. Ever wondered what Casanova was really like? Or if Babe Ruth was as much a slugger in the sheets as on the baseball field? How about Cleopatra herself? Well-researched, and well-written without being lurid, this is a frank but mature appraisal of the relationships and flings of the famous. While there are a lot of unfaithful folks, as well as some early free love advocates, there are also those who managed successful monogamy. Only the most prudish people could take offense at this excellent approach to S-E-X and the famous.



3. Quick. Name the famous baseball player who once rented an entire brothel for one evening. Or, how about the French novelist who, on his wedding night, coupled with his new bride nine times? And then there's the billionaire who had his employees recruit scores of young women to satisfy his "appetite."

   Interesting stuff, to say the least.

   Published over two decades ago, THE INTIMATE SEX LIVES OF FAMOUS PEOPLE still provides chuckles, giggles, and even a raised eyebrow or two as the reader becomes privy to the bedroom antics of dozens and dozens of "celebrities" (most of them historical figures). Written by the Wallace family (novelist Irving, wife Sylvia, daughter Amy and son David) this is a well-researched and sometimes overwhelming volume that presents the material as matter-of-fact and only gets risque when the subjects--through actual letters or conversations--are allowed to "speak for themselves."

   The "famous people" are a veritable "Who's Who" from all walks of life and epochs of history. Henry VIII. Leo Tolstoi. Gary Cooper. Warren G. Harding. Joan Crawford. Douglas MacArthur. Elvis Presley. Page after page, person after person, the intimate tidbits of those we revere--or despise--are revealed.

   THE INTIMATE SEX LIVES OF FAMOUS PEOPLE reminds me of a bag of Lay's Potato Chips. No one can read just one account; he or she will be busily turning the pages, looking for more scandal on the part of more people. I only wish this book was more contemporary. Think what a juicy chapter Bill Clinton's sex life would have been!
   --D. Mikels




4. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by this book. From the title, one might think it is some sort of sleazy tabloid in book form. But far from it! It's a real treasure trove of interesting information that is not readily available anywhere else.

   There's nothing sensationalistic about it; rather, the book helps make a large number of well-known names from movies to arts to politics, as well as historical figures from the less-recent past, seem more human and like the rest of us.

   Each subject is given approximately two to five pages of coverage. Of course I don't have the knowledge to speak about the book's accuracy, but it gives every appearance of being very well researched. Yet despite its almost scholarly approach, it's quite readable and interesting. Highly recommended!

   (I have the hard cover version.)




5. I found the book a fascinating look into the extremely private parts of famous people's lives. The book is chocked full of mini biographies of famous people. Writers, artists and movie stars. All of them have a private life that most have tried to hide from the public.

   This book must have taken forever to research the facts. The book was written by almost all the same people that wrote the Peoples Almanac and The Book of Lists.

   I actually wore out three copies of this book. It's one of those books that you pick up again and again.

   For anyone looking into the "true history", this book is a must have. Through the years, I have gone through three paper backs and now have a hard back copy of this book. A real "keeper".

5 comments about Your Heiress Diary: Confess It All to Me.

1. It's bucking the trend of beauty minded America. It proves that looks don't matter... just money and connections.



2. This as stated is more of a journal than a book, hence the title "YOUR heiress diary" It is fine for young girls and doesn't contribute to their delinquency as so many would have you believe. Teenage girls write in their diaries about boys, clothes and less meaningful aspects of life, it doesn't make this book bad nor does it make Paris vapid and useless. There are several pages devoted to careers, role models, family and inspirational quotes. My niece loved it!



3. This diary is so fun! It's awsome for someone who dreams of fame and fortune. It allows us to feel rich and famous, if only for a moment. Writing in this diary is so fun! It also cool that you have little questions on each page. If you love Paris Hilton, you WILL love this diary!!



4. i think that the book is very cute had alot of pics of paris i gave this as a present to my friend and bascailly it's a questinare book about yourself great as a present.



5. Oh me, bookworm me, was at Barnes and Nobles one day looking for a good dark fantasy novel and some good manga when I saw this on the table of new books that had arrived to the store. I saw a stack of this book on the table among other neatly piled new books, thinking, "Paris Hilton's diary! I'd like to read it, and see what she writes about in her diary."
   Well, to my disappointment, dear readers, and maybe even yours, this is NOT HER DIARY!!! Instead, this is a diary targeted for young and maybe even teenage girls to write in. I was filled with more and more disgust as I flipped through the pages. Oh my freakin goth, pink pages with Paris's "advice and tips" on writing, her stupid ideas on what to write about, photos that show her being oh-so-full of her ridiculously shallow self, and HIGHLY immature quotes that say things like, "People who don't like pink just aren't very colorful," or, "Why wear black when you can wear pink?" or "You can be a heiress!" What the heck...I really look down on this girl. She thinks EVERYTHING in her shallow life that the stupid Gossip Girls novels are modeled after is an accomplishment! First, she's born into a very wealthy family (well, I suppose it's nice to be wealthy, but just not too wealthy), but I guess I can't blame her for that, because she never chose that life. Then she's an actress. A model. A porn star. A singer. NOW SHE'S A WRITER???????????????? OMIGAWD, the only reason why she ever became a published author is because she's a celebrity, and when agents and publishers get submissions from a celebrity, they would be incredibly stupid to turn down the offer, and they think, "Hey, this is a manuscript sent in by a celeb! I can make BIG bucks off of this!" whereas, there are TRUE writers out there who are struggling their hearts out to get published, but they can't get accepted, because they're new to the world of publishing, and agents and publishers think they won't be much of a success, AND IT MAKES ME SO MAD TO SEE PARIS HILTON AS AN AUTHOR!!!!! AND A BEST-SELLING ONE TOO!!! Now she just HAS to make this stupid diary so that she can manipulate the minds of girls to be these shallow, mindless, material-obsessed girls like her! I suppose she can give some good advice, like being happy, and pretending to wear an imaginary tiara on your head to give you confidence, but that's it. Yes, I do write (I've filled approximately 25 diaries and notebooks since the age of 9, and my 14th birthday is in a couple of months), but you would never catch me writing in this stupid trashy journal Paris Hilton published unless if you paid me. I prefer BLANK journals, ones that don't give you any distraction, like this one would. What a waste of paper. Paris Hilton needs to quit being a writer wannabe and save the occupation of an author for the TRUE writers with depth in their souls out there.

5 comments about A Passion to Win.

1. Wow! I'm the first to review this book here in over a year!
   
   A Passion to Win was recommended to me by a fellow Viacom employee, though he's at Paramount and I have freelanced at MTV for the past four and a half years. I'm embarrassed to say that I previously knew nothing of Sumner Redstone or his behind-the-scene battles to turn Viacom into the world's top entertainment company. When confronted with the inevitable bureaucracy of performing my job duties, I just envisioned a nameless, faceless corporation that really only cared about the bottom line.
   
   What a treat it was to spend the last day and a half seeing operations from the creator's perspective! I have a newfound respect for Mr. Viacom (or Mr. Redstone) and every other division that has invariably kept him awake at night as he set to reform it from the inside out. Quite an inspiring and optimistic tome from someone who could easily have concentrated on the negatives of his own triumphant journey.
   
   I was surprised with Redstone's candor in recounting his business deals, including the personalities of the players involved. The character "types" he has dealt with paralleled my own encounters with businessmen over the years. It was comforting to know that our dealings were not so dissimilar, only in the scope of what was being negotiated.
   
   I'm sure Sumner has his share of detractors, but I was really impressed with his story. I found myself cheering (though not audibly) when he closed a significant business deal. The uncomplicated prose actually helped me through most of the legal situations, as that's never been an area of interest for me.
   
   Suffice it to say that I think this book holds up exceedingly well, giving great insight into one of the top business minds currently at play on the American (even global) corporate landscape. A complete recommendation.



2. As a highschool student, I found this book to be extremely inspiring. Anyone who has ever thought of entering the field of business should read this book. I did and it helped me channel my i nner ambition. Redstones inspiring stories (he survived a terrible fire) made me want to get out and conquer the world. At times, Redstone seems a bit full of himself, but anyone who can climb to the top usuallly is. This book is a great read to anyone wanting to find passion by reading from a passionate person.



3. Whether you buy this book for self-help or because you want to know how the top people made it in their careers, this book will satisfy you. Well written and focused, you catch a glimpse into the life of Sumner Redstone as he rose from a "poor, Jewish boy" to becoming a media conglomerate who is well respected (and feared) in his arena.

   Reading about people like this, you can't help but be inspired. Whether you agree with Mr. Redstone's tactics, you will admire and respect his fortitude and resilience. He takes you through a journey of his life, and you see how successful people overcome the obstacles in their lives. I don't want to give away everything in the book, but Sumner faced many "obstacles". What's nice is he also names the names of the people who have infuriated him throughout his career. He has guts!

   I recommend this book. Honestly, though, it may not be for someone who has already "made it" in life. I think the best person to read this book is a recent high-school or college graduate who has his/her whole life ahead of them. This book will make an excellent gift to someone and will definitely inspire them.




4. If one is asked to describe a blueprint for genocide, Hitler's "Mein Kampf" invariably comes to mind. Thus ever should Sumner Redstone's "A Passion to Win" be linked with the equally heinous crime of cultural genocide.

   In this book, Mr. Redstone recalls the long road that led him from drive-in theater projectionist to media mogul. At every twist and turn, Mr. Redstone defeats "incomprehensible" odds to claw his way to the top of his "entertainment" empire. The capstone of this empire was his acquistion of Viacom, and with it, MTV.

   Redstone describes with almost messianic fervor how he ignored advice to sell off the fledgling music channel. "I believed that MTV could be a cultural force in America" (page 116). "Young people 12 to 20 were going to become adults of 30 to 40...", "If we attracted them early, we could keep them forever." (page 117).

   Well, attract them he did, and anyone who can sit through ten minutes of MTV "programming" can readily appreciate Mr. Redstone's "cultural messages". (Try searching "Shower Rangers" on you favorite browser some time. Thanks, Sumner!).

   Even more sinister is the calculating way in which he targets the youngest viewers for his oily propaganda. "I felt much the same way about Nickelodeon and the possibilities in creating a children's brand." (page 117). From cradle to grave, Uncle Sumner had a direct conduit to America's, and then the world's, most impressionable viewers.

   But Mr. Redstone does not live in a vacuum. He has children and grandchildren of his own. They grew up with the MTV generation too (Can't you just see Grampa Sumner settling down with the grandbabies to watch some quality rap videos?). Mr. Redstone, however, believes that while "multiculturalism" and "diversity" are just the ticket for the gentiles, his family would attend private schools in Israel.

   Towards the closing pages of this book, Mr. Redstone also mentions his wife of 50+ years, as he is in the process of divorcing her. "I took measures to see that she would have no control in the company". Heart warming, ain't it?

   I highly recommend this book. As the old proverb goes, "Know thy enemy."




5. i agree with the EDITOR's review of this book as well. Often self-promoting, this book can often be too tedious in its descriptive of the deal makings. i enjoyed it more having worked for the firm for a while. i didnt agree with everything he said and his comments about some of the people he fired were too slanted in my opinion, but hell, thats what being the boss entitles you to. i would have liked a more candid description of the different chgannels rather that a listings of the shows which appeared to be just a listing provided by someone at each channel. toughness during deal-making is the message i got most from this book and is what will stick with me most. one last thing--i would have enjoyed more details on the work during wwll .

5 comments about Diana and the Paparazzi.

1. For all intents and purposes, this IS "Dicing With Di", the book written by these same idiots a decade ago. My guess is that they're trying to ride the wave of publicity the 10 Year Anniversary of her death brings and tried to update their old, sorry book. Shame on them. The first one wasn't good . . . why they bothered with updating it is more than I can understand.



2. I was disappointed to find that this book, promoted as new, is basically an updated version of "Dicing with Di", written in the late '90s. As I was reading it I thought it sounded really familiar, so I sat down with the new book and "Dicing with Di" and found many of the same stories. Yes, there were a few different pictures, but nothing to be able to say Wow!! about. And adding a note written 10 years after the first book to the end of the new book doesn't constitute "new". Knowing the amount of time these guys spent chasing Diana, you'd think they'd have enough stories and pictures for a totally new book. Save your money and just re-read "Dicing with Di."



3. This book appears to be a different version of events than the book these two men wrote whilst the Princess was still alive. (Dicing with Di) Their first book was much better, and probably more honest. For somebody with thousands of unpublished photos of the Princess they should have just made a photo book - it would have been more interesting and sold more copies. I was disappointed.



4. I rated this one star because zero wasn't an option. I'm not quite sure what exactly the authors were attempting to accomplish with this book. Well, apart from continuing to make money off the very person that to this day, try to blame for her own untimely death. These two Gentlemen, and I use the term Gentlemen loosely, do not acknowledge nor do they accept any personal responsibility for their contribution to the upset and ultimate death of Diana. The bottom line is, Diana Windsor and Dodi Fayed were victims. Victims of the media's need to take photos and make money off them, victims of our need to buy them and victims of a drunk driver. Was the driver of her car drunk? Yes. Should he have been driving? No. Would he have been if they had been left alone that evening? No. Would Dodi Fayed have allegedly told his driver to speed away from the Paparazzi? No. There wouldn't have been a reason to. No chase! No Crash! We are to blame. The media for chasing them to get pictures and us for buying them. One criticism that really bothered me in this book was the "How Dare She" attitude of the authors, that Diana thought she should be allowed to walk down the street or shop in a store without harassment from the media or public. Well, she should have been able to. Despite the fact that she was famous. She was always willing to oblige when on public display. That should have been enough. Any one of us would have reached the point of hysteria and began acting out if we were constantly hounded as she was. Anyone who says differently is a liar. The authors also state that the Diana "Paparazzi Years" had ended six months prior to her death. This is an obvious attempt to step away from blame. They ended the night the Paparazzi played a part in killing her by chasing her car at a high rate of speed until it crashed.
   This book reads as if to invoke sympathy from the public for the paparazzi who hounded Diana for her verbal attacks on them. They received none from me. Nothing really new to this book. Maybe some previously unpublished photos. They all look like photos I've seen before.



5. The book was ok, reads like the other books by people who either knew Diana, worked for Diana, or took pictures of Diana. I expected to see new photos in the book that was not seen before. There is a couple.
   
   Disappointed to say the least........

5 comments about What Jackie Taught Us: Lessons from the Remarkable Life of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

1. This book is not for serious readers, people who would hope to find an insighful and serious understanding of the subject. It merely touches the surface of a myriad of interesting questions. The language itself is shalow, repetitious and the few scatterd thoughts of the author are utterly unoriginal and mundane.



2. I'm a 20 year old girl that read this book to hopefully pick up some wisdom on life and thats exactly what I got. I learned that everybody goes through hard times and it is how you handle it that matters. There are a lot of qualities that I admire in Jackie. SHe is an extraordinary person that really deserves more fame than she has (I didin't know about her until I read this book).



3. An enjoyable book - I looked forward to picking it up each day. And that is a compliment, because very rarely do I read anything other than murder mysteries!



4. Knowing nothing about Jackie Kennedy except what I knew about JFK from history courses, I was not as interested in her as I am after reading this book. Although not for those seeking a detailed biography of her life, it is inspiring and concise enough to prove that Jackie was truly a remarkable woman who lived a remarkable life. Perhaps the best parts of this book were the clear explanations of why Jackie might have responded to events as she did and the ending of each chapter with "What Jackie Taught Us" (which, although somewhat biased, gets the point across for those who get lost in the story rather than the lessons). After reading this, I had a basic understanding of Jackie's life and a clear understanding of who Jackie was: strong, determined, and resourceful while being a woman worried over her husband's infidelity, her mother's remarks, and the safety of her children. Flaherty is clearly a devoted fan of Jackie's - the book does come across as a bit biased; thus, if you're looking for the hardcore facts, don't read this just yet.
   
   If you're looking for an introduction to Jackie, an inspiring tale of an American woman, or insight into the life of someone truly influential in America during the early '60s, this is the book for you.



5. Whatever age you might be, whatever era you are from, you absolutely do not want to miss reading this book! Most of us recall the special "charm" that was Jackie, but few of us really knew or understood the details of this remarkable woman. What made her tick? What made her do what she did? Tina Sant Flaherty answers questions...looking into Jackie's childhood, young adulthood and her life as a daughter, wife and mother.
   Through this heart-felt book, we see Jackie, but can also see what we might do in her shoes. What we might like to immitate in some instances. What can we learn from her? There seems to be much.
   I loved the way she kept her "private life private and was an example of strength and grace, charm and sophistication.
   If you weren't a Jackie fan prior to reading this book, chances are you'll be one afterwards and probably one of the author as well.

3 comments about You Me and Apollo: Hope Beyond Bipolar Disorder.

1. I just finished my third reading of this honest and hope-filled true story by J.D. Stottlemire. With each reading, I have felt a deepening of my awareness about Bipolar Disorder, as well as what it is to be human. The message of hope is for all of us, whether we have experienced Bipolar Disorder ourselves, or know someone that has, or if we just go through depression sometimes...(and who hasn't?) Mr. Stottlemire speaks from his heart, combining humor and seriousness in a very real-life way, that is so easy to relate to, and so easy to read. His story changes lives, by offering that we are not alone, and as he says, "Today there is a great deal of hope."



2. I never write book review becuase (well...frankly, I'm too lazy)but after reading Apollo I had to get off my duff and tell everyone what a great book this is. Informative, witty, an easy, quick read. If you don't personally know someone who would benefit from this book buy a copy to donate to your local hospital, mental health center, jail or library!!!!
   This is the kind of book that could save a life.



3. J.D. Stottlemire takes us into the surreal world of a mind with Bipolar Disorder. Woven into one man's journey through life is a fascinating comparison to the Apollo 13 mission. Readers of this book will gather insights into the inner sanctum of a brilliant mind, a mind with "a hidden flaw."
   
   This is an eloquently written account of a very personal struggle with Bipolar. Stottlemire humbles himself with grace and style and leaves the reader with real hope that they too can understand and get through the challenges. For all those whose lives have been shattered and broken by Bipolar, I urge you to read this book.

1 comments about Celebrities Are Groupies Too!.

1. SHE GETS STRAIGHT TO THE POINT AND DOES NOT SUGAR COAT ANYTHING. VERY GOOD BOOK

5 comments about Alwaleed: Businessman, Billionaire, Prince.

1. There are many billionaries listed with Forbes. But in Saudi Arabia, Alwaleed rules. It is a good book to learn the strategies and success of what he did. He did not get rich, using oil money as you might suspect.
   I would recommend this book to all.



2. This book is extremely fawning (sickeningly so), and it is obvious without it being written anywhere that Alwalweed would only participate in the biography if he had full control over the final product. He has a massive ego that comes through on every single page.
   
   Salient points:
   
   1. This book manages to bring up Israel *A-gain.* Big surprise.
   2. Strangely, there are no pictures of any of Alwaleeds wives anywhere in the photos section. (It is said that cameras are not allowed to take photos of any of them.)
   3. It is very surprising to find out that the author is from a family of moderates and that Arab royalty seems to be as much distinguished by country of origin (even though these countries are all relatively recent) as by anything else.
   4. This book teaches some very interesting things about the nature of banking-- but all these facts are not presented in a technical, unapproachable way.
   5. It was obviously an imporant thing to Alwaleed to make the point that he made his money from ways OTHER than oil. This is reiterated *many* times throughout the book. The conclusion that one comes away with is: No, it was not strictly oil that made his money, but royal connections/ nepotism accounted for a healthy chunk of it.
   6. The prose is very light and easy to read, and the whole thing can be put away in about 2 afternoons of reading.
   
   This is worth buying on the second hand shelf if you can find it.



3. Probably the most salient thing you need to know about this book is that it's the OFFICIAL biography of the billionaire Saudi prince. Its author, Riz Khan, is a Yemenite who works at Al-Jazeera TV. The book was originally published in Lebanon.
   
   It's doesn't actually SAY "official" anywhere on it, but the book was made with extensive assistance and encouragement from Al-Waleed himself, and explicit cooperation from the Saudi government. In a country where even Mickey Mouse and "Little House on the Prarie" have been banned, you can find a copy of it in nearly every corner bookstore (not that there are many in the region). In fact, it's quite common to see it in shops and airports all over the Middle East.
   
   So you'd better believe there isn't a single negative word anywhere in it about Saudi culture, the Saudi royal family, or, of course, the main subject, the alluring Prince Waleed. Everything's hunky-dory!
   
   So if we can't criticize, that pretty much leaves what . . . ?
   
   Did somebody say praise? Why, praise it is! Did you know, gentle reader, that between loving his family wholeheartedly, wishing only the best for the world at large, and praying five times a day, the brilliant and raffish Prince Waleed is also an accomplished mountain climber, linguist, chef, author, skydiver, bodybuilder, musician, archaeologist, patriot, photographer, zoologist, pilot, historian, wine connoisseur, chess whiz, hunter, fashion designer, gymnast, philanthropist, bear wrestler, psychologist, pearl diver, stamp collector, tank commander, belly dancer, magician, software programmer, antiques buff, croquet master, Arctic explorer, pearl diver, entomologist, kappelmeister, physicist, sculptor, alchemist, mathematician, acupunturist, shark hunter, car collector, lutenist, Civil War aficionado, polo player, scrabble champion, zymurgist, yoga enthusiast, bridge player, and world-renowned expert on cigars?
   
   Need I say more?



4. 
   Impressive bio ... However, authot repeats a lot of facts/opinions..



5. Not really an insightful book. Not even worthy of a gossip column.

2 comments about Halston.

1. The book is great if you are just looking for a collection of Halstons's fashion photos. There are really great shots of the clothes, and a lot of the glamorous people that wore them. The book, however, is a really strange size. It's really small, but really thick (6" by 4",and about 3 inches thick). I was anticipating a coffee table type book, but this is too odd of a size to display lying on a table. The text was a bit random and sparse, and the type identifying the photos was difficult to read on several pages. I liked it overall, but it will end up on shelf and I probably won't pick it up very often.



2. WOW. A knock-out! Bluttal has cumulated a splendid chronicle of the career of America's definitive fashion star, Roy Frowick Halston.

   The book gathers and presents the photographic richness that you must have to know why Halston mattered and continues to. The sequence, arrangement, and ingenious categories all articulate the Halston passion for pure color, form and line that made him legend and attracted the star-studded clientele and the trademarking of his family name as a label still very much in evidence today, a decade after his death.

   Wistful nostalgia over the Studio 54 years and the innocence of New York in those years are the only drawback of paging through this tome.

   BRAVO BLUTTAL! Your fat fat fashion clutch should be on every gift list - the best fashion bargain of the year!!