Alice Waters and Chez Panisse: The Romantic, Impractical, Often Eccentric, Ultimately Brilliant Making of a Food Revolution

Alice Waters and Chez Panisse: The Romantic, Impractical, Often Eccentric, Ultimately Brilliant Making of a Food Revolution
Average customer rating:

Interesting overview of the not-so-intentional leader of California Cuisine

Saint Alice - hagiography of a restaurateur

Life altering

Fine history of fascinating people and a wonderful place to eat

Alice Waters and the food revolution

Alice Waters and Chez Panisse: The Romantic, Impractical, Often Eccentric, Ultimately Brilliant Making of a Food Revolution
Thomas McNamee
Manufacturer: Penguin Press HC, The
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
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History | Gastronomy | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1594201153
Release Date: 2007-03-22

Amazon.com

You can't tell the story of Chez Panisse, Berkeley's famed restaurant, without relating that of its diminutive founder, proprietor, and sometime chef, Alice Waters. This is what Thomas McNamee does most handily in his Alice Waters and Chez Panisse, a chronicle that begins with the seat-of-the-pants opening night of the "counterculture" venture in 1971, and ends 35 years later with Waters's restaurant an American institution--one credited with birthing California Cuisine, a style devoted to simplicity, freshness and seasonality. The book also limns, with tasty gossip, the ever-evolving Chez Panisse family, including the cook-artisans uniquely responsible for dish creation; follows the attempts, mostly failed, to put the restaurant on sound financial footing; shows how dishes and menus get made; and of course pursues Waters as she broadens her commitment to "virtuous agriculture" by establishing ventures like The Edible Schoolyard and The Yale Sustainable Food Project.

The success of Chez Panisse--Gourmet magazine named it the best American restaurant in 2002--has everything to do with Waters, yet she remains an elusive protagonist. Sophisticated yet naive, professional and amateur, hard-driving but emotionally blurry, she invites reader interest but doesn't always satisfy it, as least as presented here. If McNamee cannot quite bring her to life, and if his tale lacks an insider's full conversance with his subject, he still engages readers in the considerable drama of people finding their way--blunderingly, with talented intent--to something new. With menus, narrated recipes, and photographs throughout, the book is vital reading for anyone interested in food, period. --Arthur Boehm

Book Description

In an authorized biography-the story of Alice Waters, Chez Panisse, and the San Francisco 1970s counterculture food revolution that invented "American cuisine"

Not so long ago it was nearly impossible to find a cappuccino or a croissant in this country, and goat cheese and mesclun lettuce were virtually unheard of. Most people had no idea what "organic" food was, and even fewer thought about "sustainable farming." But in 1971, in a corner of Berkeley, California, a young Francophile named Alice Waters opened a small counterculture restaurant for her friends called Chez Panisse and launched an entirely new way of thinking about and serving food in America. Without an ounce of business sense or financial discipline, Alice relied on the coterie of devoted friends and followers who developed around her and on her strong principles of, among other things, using only locally grown and organic ingredients at the peak of their seasons, to keep her restaurant afloat. It was a reckless, extravagant, inexperienced venture that would have failed at any other time and place, but that instead-somehow-turned into a food revolution.

Today, Alice Waters may be the most important figure in the culinary history of North America. Chez Panisse revolutionized what it means to eat out and gave birth to a new nationwide cuisine-the first in this country not associated with a single region or ethnic group, the first "American" cuisine. Gourmet's 2002 appraisal ranked Chez Panisse as the best restaurant in America, and The New York Times has called Alice "the mother of American cooking." Alice has become a public figure, revered and idolized by many. The first "foodie," she has become a famous chef, activist, advocate, and spokeswoman whose personal beliefs have become the values of an entire food movement. But her complex personal character is hardly known at all.

Thomas McNamee was selected by Alice to document her story and was given exclusive access to her and her closest friends, to the Chez Panisse archives, and to private collections and memorabilia. As the story unfolds over the decades, we learn of her many passionate loves, her marriage, her divorce, the birth of her daughter Fanny, her failures, her critics. We come to know the extraordinary cast of characters who have formed the ever-shifting Chez Panisse community-a make-shift family with complex relationships, competing interests, and a strange, almost cultish, devotion to each other and to their work.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting overview of the not-so-intentional leader of California Cuisine.......2007-10-08

Any foodie worth her sun-dried sea salt knows the name Alice Waters. Waters was the person who spearheaded the move to fresh, local produce that's grown sustainability and locally, and Chez Panisse is probably the most famous restaurant that most of us have never visited.

So I was particularly interested in Waters' story. I'm glad I read it, as I feel like I now know things that I ought to know... but I can't say that this is a Wow book. If you have the opportunity to read the book, do; but I don't think you have to drop everything to put it on the top of your Must Read pile.

Yes, Alice Waters created a revolution in the way that Americans, or at least food-conscious Americans, think about food. But she didn't set out to do so as though she was on a lifelong mission... she just wanted to open the sort of one-star Michelin restaurant that she had encountered across France. Through a set of remarkable happenstance (which makes me think simultaneously -- if oddly -- of both Forrest Gump and Connie Willis' Bellwether), Waters was always in the right place at the right time. The right person always showed up in her life, at the time needed. And -- here's a lesson far beyond foodiehood -- she repeatedly took disaster and turned it into opportunity.

For example, after she brought Italian wood fired pizza to the States (oh geez, she started *that* trend, too?), an oven started a huge fire. The restaurant had to be renovated in a hurry, so instead of recreating the small door between kitchen and dining room, she made a big open area... and began a trend towards the "open kitchen." Waters was just solving a problem, but her innovation started a trend.

This is all interesting stuff, and it's interwoven with the events of Waters' own life (such as a procession of lovers, her marriage, motherhood), as well as the strong personalities who have been associated with the restaurant (many of whom have become celebrity chefs or written cookbooks, too). Much of this is from quoted interviews. It's interesting, and the author does a good job (though not dispassionately, as it's clear that the author *likes* Waters). The result, though, is that I felt informed and educated, rather than blown away or inspired or fascinated. That is: I liked this book. I didn't adore it.

Saint Alice - hagiography of a restaurateur.......2007-09-25

McNamee's book is an excellent read, no doubt. The story flows, the characters build, the plot thickens. I've been fortunate enough to often eat at Chez Panisse, particularly in its first 5 years, and had seen more than a few of the scenes the author, or one of his correspondents, describes. Alice's determination and pursuit of the best possible ingredient have always been remarkable. She's a Taurus, isn't she!

My only quibble is the rather overly respectful view McNamee takes of her. She's more a flesh and blood person than a saint, and the author might take that into account if he continues to plumb this vein of research.

All in all a fairly well researched and well written tome. Perhaps not as evocative as the chapter on Chez Panisse in David Kamp's, United States of Arugula, but a good book to open to any page & foster a laugh, a sigh or an hurrah!

Life altering.......2007-09-06

Adored this book. It will change the whole way you look at food, from farming it to eating it. It also helped hone my palate and I am still running about buying ingrediants mentioned in it. Have bought three additional copies for friends.

Fine history of fascinating people and a wonderful place to eat.......2007-07-05

The background and history of Chez Panisse is a grand addition to the good meals I've eaten there over many years. Thanks to the author for capturing the early years with such vitality.

Alice Waters and the food revolution.......2007-06-08

This is an inspiring and clear-eyed view of the woman who is indisputably linked to the revolution in American cuisine. Before Alice Waters, thinking about organic food, local food, support for small farms, eating seasonal foods, food as essential to a return to civility, did not pervade the collective consciousness of our society. The book paints her, warts and all, breathtakingly well and Alice gets into your mind leaping off the pages to look over your shoulder as you buy and prepare dinner. Her revolution is not about food. It is about life and how to live it. It's a great read.

Tyler's Ultimate: Brilliant Simple Food to Make Any Time

Average customer rating:

not all that...
THE BEST COOKBOOK EVER!
Tyler's Ultimate
Some Dishes I absolutely Have to Try
Different & Delicious!

Tyler's Ultimate: Brilliant Simple Food to Make Any Time
Tyler Florence
Manufacturer: Clarkson Potter
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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Everyday Pasta

ASIN: 1400052386
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Amazon.com

TV chef Tyler Florence brings a direct, regular-guy charm to cooking that is equally straightforward, simple and good. In Tyler's Ultimate, he offers 100-plus recipes for just this kind of food—-"ultimate" versions of dishes like onion soup, crab cakes and spaghetti carbonara, as well as more innovative fare like Chicken Paillard with Fresh Fig Salad and Blue Cheese, Grilled Leg of Lamb with Lemon Chickpea Puree and Greens, and Coconut Shrimp with Basmati Rice, Apricots, and Lime. His desserts, all tempting, include the likes of Chocolate Banana Bread, and Almond Semifreddo with Spiced Honey Dried Fruit. Many of the dishes in this concise collection reflect a thoughtful winnowing of ingredients and technique to produce food that is not only delicious, but can be prepared on a regular basis. Some of Florence's inventions—-like Watermelon Gazpacho with Chile and Feta Cheese, which is entirely accomplished in a blender-—are ingenious. Photo-illustrated throughout, "Ultimate" is for cooks who want their kitchen work to be as easy as possible, but who also require good cooking—-dishes that capture fully their flavor potential. --Arthur Boehm

Book Description

As his millions of fans know from watching him on Food Network, Tyler likes to rock the kitchen with big, bold flavors and sophisticated yet accessible fare. Whether you’re dishing up a family favorite like spaghetti and meatballs or pulling out all the stops with a succulent tenderloin steak topped with spicy crab salad, Tyler Florence believes every meal can–and should–be the ultimate dining experience. At last, in Tyler’s Ultimate, he shows us how to get these spectacular results in much less time.

Tyler believes the ultimate meal brings together good food, good friends, and good times–with Tyler’s Ultimate as your guide you can elevate any gathering to a cause for celebration and every family meal to an occasion worth savoring. In his travels around the world for his Food Network show, he’s sampled countless versions of classic dishes, taking an ideal technique from one, a perfect ingredient from another. Here he gives you the best of the best.

Make no mistake: Tyler’s approach here may be simplified and the ingredients list streamlined, but your palate will never feel compromised. These recipes are packed with zesty flavors, yet easy to pull together and always straightforward enough for even novice cooks. Because Tyler believes that the little details separate a good meal from a “wow!” experience, his recipes feature bright, exciting flavors that sing on the tongue yet don’t require fancy equipment or exotic ingredients. Tyler has collected all his most trusted and best-loved recipes for the ultimate collection of go-to meals, including can’t-miss versions of the dishes we all crave most: the ultimate burger, French onion soup, beef stew, macaroni and cheese, and chocolate mousse, plus exciting new discoveries that will find a permanent home in your cooking repertoire.

Filled with recipes for sensational, all-American food, Tyler’s Ultimate is the all-around, everyday great cookbook his fans have been waiting for.

Customer Reviews:

not all that..........2007-07-21

I have maybe hundreds of cookbooks, love them. But this one fell short for me. I say download his favorites from the food network.

THE BEST COOKBOOK EVER!.......2007-06-15

I have tried numerous recipes from this book and ALL of them turned out great! I made a few recipes for my dad and he loved them so much that he went out and bought it for himself. I have lots of cookbooks and its always been a hit or miss, but with this one they're all a hit to my family and I!

Tyler's Ultimate.......2007-05-09

I bought this book for a friend and did not get a chance to cook from the recipes in the book.

Some Dishes I absolutely Have to Try.......2007-04-03

Cookbooks have to meet certain needs to be acceptable. It's probably not fair, but the first thing that I do is flip through looking for something to serve the next time I have company. In this book I stopped at page 130, Chicken and Coconut 'Paella.' Paella is a favorite of mine, chicken is always a good thing to serve, and I liked the picture.

OK, so read a little more -- it's not Spanish, it's not Asian, and it's not Italian. It's rice based - he recommends Basmati, I prefer Jasmine - but I bet the recipie wouldn't care. And I suspect that it wouldn't matter if I also threw in a few shrimp or perhaps some crab meat - people like two meat dishes.

On the otherhand, there's also Coconut Shrimp with Basmati Rice, Apricots, and Lime. This is a very similar dish, but with a distinctly different set of spices.

And I have to try his suggestions on grilling shrimp. I've been making the same mistakes he says a lot of people make.

Do I like everything he recommends, of course not. I'm not going to even try his duck recipies, I don't like duck. And I have one other complaint. The directions are printed in fairly small type, and sometimes with a dark background making them hard for old eyes like mine to read.

Different & Delicious!.......2007-03-25

I love cookbooks that will teach me new recipes and new tricks, and this book does both. I let my 5 year old pick out a recipe for dinner the other night (I figured if he picks it, he'll eat it), and he chose a coconut rice and chicken dish similar to paella but not with Spanish flavors. It looked OK to me, not something I've ever seen before. It was a perfect one pot meal that the whole family devoured! It was simple and very tasty, but the best part about it, it was DIFFERENT! There are so many cookbooks out there with wonderful recipes (I have bookshelves filled with many of them), but so many of them just have variations of the same meals. Tyler really mixes things up with his new book, and I am thrilled with the results!

The Most Brilliant Thoughts of All Time (In Two Lines or Less)

Average customer rating:

You've got to be kidding!
I have two copies - i can't be without it!
Lots of Profound Quotations
Literature ?
Carry right too far and it becomes wrong

The Most Brilliant Thoughts of All Time (In Two Lines or Less)
John M. Shanahan
Manufacturer: Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Self-Help & Psychology | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0060194111

Book Description

You don't have to be a genius to sound like one. Here's a collection of the most profound and provocative wit and wisdom in the English language in two lines or less. Edited by entrepreneur John M. Shanahan, who created the wildly successful Hooked on Phonics program, this wonderful book presents the best that has been thought and said on every imaginable topic.

Classified by such themes as "Truth, Lies, and Deception," "Men, Women, and Relationships," and "Passions, Virtues, and Vices," these quotes contain timeless messages for all humankind. Oscar Wilde: "A man who marries his mistress leaves a vacancy in that position." Charles de Gaulle: "The cemetery is filled with indispensable men." Abraham Lincoln: "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." Sophocles: "Men of ill judgment oft ignore the good that lies within their hands, till they have lost it."

Perfect for anyone who has ever been left speechless, this book will make you as glib as Oscar Wilde, as profound as Winston Churchill, and as wise as Aesop. Inspirational, entertaining, and thought-provoking, this is one collection that no library or bookshelf should be without.

Customer Reviews:

You've got to be kidding!.......2007-06-08

If this editor really thinks these are the most brilliant thoughts of all time, he needs to get out more. A few gems, but mostly tired truisms from the 1900's and before. Nothing much new. I found this book disappointing and boring, which is unfortunate, since it includes a CD with all of the content included. But here is some good news; if you are looking for something similar that will really inspire and entertain you a far better choice is-
"A Dancing Star: Inspirations to Guide and Heala wonderful book that was given to me by a friend 10 years ago when I became ill with a chronic disease. I still read it all the time.

I have two copies - i can't be without it!.......2006-10-18

This is an amazing quote book. I manage a large office of creative staff and I
also attend many business functions where I am often called upon to make
speeches. I use the quotes in this book when communicating with my staff and
colleagues. I like to throw in a few quotes from Mr. Shanahan's book, it never
lets me down when I need to make a point subtly and eloquently.

I find a great way to start the business day on a positive note is to
open up The Most Brilliant Thoughts of All Time' (in Two Lines or Less) and
read a relevant quote to my team.

I have a copy at my office and another at home.

Lots of Profound Quotations.......2006-04-26

I REALLY like reading quotations & this book is FULL of them, BUT the author, John Shanahan, has attempted his 15 minutes of fame by including his own quotations, most of which I read & said, "HUH??" because they are not up to the same quality as the others. However, it IS his book! Great read, tho!

Literature ?.......2006-03-14

As books of this type go it is about what I expected, a real novelty. I may find a few items to quote, but most are not very profound nor of great interest.

Carry right too far and it becomes wrong.......2005-11-15

As I have just finished reading the book of Baltasar Gracian "the art of worldly wisdom" which is a must on every serious readers shelf , I picked up this book to relax my mind and enjoy it.....I must admit that it is very easy read and one can finish it in a couple of days since most quotes can be found written at the back of public toilet doors. A good book overall but far from brilliant.
Pascal Hagge

Brilliant Madness: Living with Manic Depressive Illness

Average customer rating:

Fabulous!
Compelling and educational
Excellent!!
The Best book on Bipolar for the average reader
Awsome Book for Families and Bi-Polar sufferers

Brilliant Madness: Living with Manic Depressive Illness
Patty Duke
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0553560727
Release Date: 1997-02-04

Book Description

In her revealing bestseller Call Me Anna, Patty Duke shared her long-kept secret: the talented, Oscar-winning actress who won our hearts on The Patty Duke Show was suffering from a serious-but-treatable-mental illness called manic depression. For nearly twenty years, until she was correctly diagnosed at age thirty-five, she careened between periods of extreme euphoria and debilitating depression, prone to delusions and panic attacks, temper tantrums, spending sprees, and suicide attempts. Now in A Brilliant Madness Patty Duke joins with medical reporter Gloria Hochman to shed light on this powerful, paradoxical, and destructive illness. From what it's like to live with manic-depressive disorder to the latest findings on its most effective treatments, this compassionate and eloquent book provides profound insight into the challenge of mental illness. And though Patty's story, which ends in a newfound happiness with her cherished family, it offers hope for all those who suffer from mood disorders and for the family, friends, and physicians who love and care for them.

Customer Reviews:

Fabulous!.......2007-10-05

This book is both entertaining and informative with loads of references and resources....I highly recommend it, especially for someone just starting the research into what this desease is all about.

Compelling and educational.......2007-07-02

I've always been a big fan of Patty Duke which is what prompted me to purchase the book. I knew a little bit about her illness from the movie "Call Me Anna" that came out in the eighties; however, nothing could've prepared me for the astonishing ways she pulled herself together after falling apart over and over again or for how long she dealt with her disorder until doctors were able to figure out what it was she had and how to treat it. Most importantly, this book teaches scientific information regarding neurotransmitters and mental illness. I can't believe how much I learned from this book while being entertained at the same time.

Excellent!!.......2007-06-02

This is an excellent book. It is more than Patty Duke's situation, which is very well presented in her own words. There are multiple examples of others experiences. It gave me a much greater understanding of my own experiences. It also helped de-stigmatized the disease for me. The single drawback is the discussion of Lithium; it was written before many of the current medications became available. This in no way detracts from the power of the book. I would, and have, high recommend it.

The Best book on Bipolar for the average reader.......2007-03-30

This book is one I recommend to any patient I suspect may have bipolar disorder in the differential. Patty Duke is a most lovable character who pours out her heart in an endearing autobiography. The chapters go back and forth between Patty Duke, telling her story (Which reads like an exciting novel) and a science writer who talks more in depth about bipolar- beautifully written throughout. This book is a must read, as well as a very fun read for anyone who think they may have bipolar or anyone who may love someone who has bipolar. Very inspiring and upbeat. Filled with humanness.

Also don't miss Kay Redfield Jameson's Autobiography An Unquiet Mind

Awsome Book for Families and Bi-Polar sufferers.......2007-01-20

This book gives you a real insight as to what families of bi-polar patients and the patient himself goes though. There is a great deal of information on medications and their effects, what is good, what is not, what works, what doesn't, etc.

The book includes names of organizations where one can turn to along with phone numbers, addresses of the organizations. I bought five books for my family and friends so they might understand this disorder with a broader perspective. My daughter has had manic depressive disorder for 8 years and this book has given us hope.

A Brilliant Solution: Inventing the American Constitution

Average customer rating:

A Reflection of the Past
Not recommended
Nicely Done.
Not Brilliant but Worth the Read
an engaging and important book

A Brilliant Solution: Inventing the American Constitution
Carol Berkin
Manufacturer: Harvest Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Constitutions | Government | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0156028727

Amazon.com

"The majority of historians seem to suggest that the founders knew just what to do--and did it, creating a government that would endure for centuries," writes CUNY historian Carol Berkin in the introduction to A Brilliant Solution. Sitting atop the pedestals we've placed them on, these figures would be "amused" by such notions, she says, because in reality the Constitutional Convention was gripped by "a near-paranoid fear of conspiracies" and might easily have succumbed to "a collective anxiety" over its daunting task. The story of the birth of the U.S. Constitution has been told many times, perhaps best by Catherine Drinker Bowen in Miracle at Philadelphia. Berkin's rendition of these well-known events is clear and concise. It does a bit more telling than showing, but this seems to be in the service of brevity--the main text is only about 200 pages. (Another 100 pages of useful appendices follow, including the full texts of the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution, plus short biographies of all the convention delegates.) Berkin is an opinionated narrator, unafraid, for instance, to call Maryland's Luther Martin "determinedly uncouth." She also points out that American government has evolved in ways that would make the founders cringe: they believed the presidency would be a ceremonial office (rather than the locus of the nation's political power) and that political parties were bad (when, in fact, they have served democracy well). Readers who want a sure-footed introduction to America's founding would do well to start here. --John J. Miller

Book Description

We know--and love--the story of the American Revolution, from the Declaration of Independence to Cornwallis's defeat. But our first government was a disaster and the country was in a terrible crisis. So when a group of men traveled to Philadelphia in the summer of 1787 to save a nation in danger of collapse, they had no great expectations for the meeting that would make history. But all the ideas, arguments, and compromises led to a great thing: a constitution and a government were born that have surpassed the founders'
greatest hopes.
Revisiting all the original documents and using her deep knowledge of eighteenth-century history and politics, Carol Berkin takes a fresh look at the men who framed the Constitution, the issues they faced, and the times they lived in. Berkin transports the reader into the hearts and minds of the founders, exposing their fears and their limited expectations
of success.

Customer Reviews:

A Reflection of the Past.......2007-03-15

In light of current events that occurred after the turn of the century, the presidential election of 2000 and the US Pentagon and World Trade Center disaster, Carol Berkin laments on those events as well as her life as a historian, and responds by reflecting on the historical past with her book, A BRILLIANT SOLUTION: INVENTING THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTION. She revisits the US Constitution with the present in mind, but reflects on the past with a critical eye. For example, Berkin asks one of the most frequently asked questions to arise in recent times, what would the Founding Fathers do?

Berkin succinctly provides answers with her examination of the Founding Fathers and state delegates who helped comprise and create of one of the most significant documents in American history. The book is not meant to be a comprehensive examination, but a concise narrative that describes the inception of the Constitution, which began with the Articles of Confederation, and includes a vicissitude of discussion, which reveals the impassioned activity and skepticism that occurred in the writing of the document that even the Founders did not think would succeed. With her dramatic discussion surrounding the events of the writing of the Constitution, Berkin contains a character sketch of the key framers that intimately describes their intellect as well as their quirks and eccentricities. From personal squabbles to triumphant cooperation, it is amazing that everyone came out of the experience alive.

The biographical sketches after her discussion spotlights each delegate and their unique personal qualities. Most of the delegates attained their education through prominent universities at home and abroad, and came from distinguishable families. But for those who did not, they came from modest upbringings and backgrounds, which ran the gamut of artisans, agrarians, and merchants. Upon reading through each synopsis, several of the names rear close to home in terms of Virginia history, from the famous George Washington to the eminent George Wythe; as a teacher at the College of William and Mary, Wythe "trained Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, and John Marshall in the law" (248).

A BRILLIANT SOLUTION reads like an essay with its compact and reader friendly format. For the casual history reader, the book is a welcome introduction to the US Constitution and those who helped construct the foundations of American society, which included the rights for individuals as interpreted through governmental laws. Overall, this book stresses the importance of understanding the present through a historical perspective.

Not recommended.......2007-01-05

Decent book as a popular history but for anyone who wishes to go further...Berkin cites absolutely no sources in the text! She could be making this stuff up for all we know. There is a 3 page "Note on Sources" towards the end of the book but it is just a short bibliography, not a list of citations. Not recommended.

Nicely Done........2005-12-20

If you are looking for a short, understandable compendium of how the US Constitution evolved, then this is the book for you. Carol Berkin has done a very good job of putting these critical deliberations, the pros and the cons, forward in layman's terms. Better yet, the prose is clear, crisp and incisive. This is a succinct volume in which every word counts, so you will probably want to read it through more than once.

The story of our Constitution is really quite amazing. None of those who helped write it, who agreed with it or fought against its adoption ever thought they were forging a document that could possibly be so enduring. Many of the central issues the original framers debated, argued and fought over, such as States rights vs. a national, central government, remain critical issues today. More importantly, these issues are debated just as intensely today as when the original framework was set up.

You will enjoy this well written work. Ms. Berkin communicates well with her readers, does not appear to have an interpretative agenda, and does quite a good job at enabling the reader to become more conversant regarding the central document upon which our republican form of government is founded. Most of all she will leave you with an enthusiasm to learn more.

Not Brilliant but Worth the Read.......2004-05-06

Like so many elements of history, there is rampant ignorance or misunderstanding among the American public regarding the origins of our Constitution. Sadly, a significant majority surely have no concept whatsoever of the failed initial attempt at a United States government. More significantly, among the historically literate outside academic circles, there has been a common misperception of our Framers as a set of omniscient statesmen who shared a clear view of the ideal government and crafted a structure that remains unchanged in its essentials to this day. The purpose of Berkin's book is, through a focus on the papers of constitutional convention delegates, to provide insight into the reality behind these myths.

Her theses can be summarized primarily as follows: 1) the process by which the constitution was written was one involving sharply differing views, particularly as to the sharing of power between the individual states and the national government, substantial uncertainty and pessimism regarding the document's capacity to forestall tyranny and a great deal of compromise from strongly held principles, and 2) the character of the current US federal government would astonish the Framers in certain areas, most notably in the greatly expanded powers of the presidency.

Berkin makes a compelling case for both theses through her narrative discussion of the drivers behind the scheduling of the convention, the twisting progress of debate during the sixteen weeks in session, the fierce fight for ratification by the states and the inauguration of Washington as our first president. The major strength of the work is the illumination of the key roles played by delegates such as Gouverneur Morris, James Madison, James Wilson and Roger Sherman. Interesting anecdotes abound, such as the amorous successes of the one-legged Morris ("He scandalized the convention's proper New Englanders by his open philandering, although he won the admiration of the more worldly New Yorkers and South Carolinians, who marveled at the success in the boudoir of this fleshy middle-aged man hobbled by a wooden leg."), the alcohol-induced tirades of Luther Martin ("The nationalists were fortunate that Luther Martin did not do battle with them in a sober state") and the surprising nervousness of Washington during his inaugural address ("His hands trembling and his voice unsteady, ..." ).

The book is not without its weaknesses. On the quibbling end of the scale, the editing in several places leaves something to be desired. There are several instances of repetitive diction in juxtaposed sentences and the biographical snapshot of Charles Pinckney contains an obvious editing error. A more important shortfall is found in the overall style of the writing. While Berkin writes with admirable clarity and economy, her utilitarian approach lacks the literary style and flair for communicating the drama of great events found in the work of popular historians such as David McCullough and Barbara Tuchman. In those rare cases where she ventures into more dramatic narrative, her effort comes off as somewhat contrived and incongruous with the rest of the work.

Regarding the content of the book, its chief shortfall is the puzzling treatment of the role of Washington in the debates and, more importantly, in the ratification battles. Berkin makes it very clear that Washington privately was keenly supportive of the nationalists' agenda during the debates and of the resulting constitution that was submitted to the states for ratification. She also notes his unparalleled prestige in the fledgling country and the tremendous potential for influence that this implied. Despite this combination, Washington apparently played little or no role in the contentious debates. When, apparently for the first time during the entire sixteen weeks, he finally rises to express an opinion regarding a relatively minor change on the convention's final day, Berkin rather blandly explains that "up until this moment, he had felt his position in the president's (of the convention) chair required his silence." It seems difficult to believe, notwithstanding his procedural scruples, that he did not exert some degree of influence on key issues of disagreement, even if he chose the channel of private conversation and lobbying over public speech. The unexplored issue screams for further attention during the tenuous ratification process. Berkin states that "the usually stoic Washington made no effort to disguise his hopes for ratification. `I never saw him so keen for anything in my Life,' a Virginian told Thomas Jefferson." Yet there is no discussion of his active involvement in the ratification fight. Not even the crucial and hard fought battle in his home state of Virginia, an essential member for a viable United States, appears to have moved him to action. She strongly implies that Washington had the power to ensure approval yet does not explain his apparent unwillingness to do so. This seems an important omission.

Notwithstanding these faults, this is an enjoyable and educational read. It is certain to excite the reader's interest in exploring the lives of some of the more colorful delegates and, at a time when the United States is engaged in a very challenging effort to build a representative constitutional government in Iraq, it provides a reminder of the painful, challenging and contentious birthing process of our own polity.

an engaging and important book.......2004-04-01

Civics class ranked among the most horrendous when I was a student, compared to art studio, gym or field biology. The Federalist Papers seemed like the most stultifying tome one could ever be force-fed. So why would anybody inflict a book on the Constitution upon themselves for fun?
The answer is, because it is the stuff of drama, crucial drama at that. It was not clear that the US would exist after breaking away from Britain, and certainly its lack of a constitution made its prospects seem even more unlikely. Additionally, the original colonies shared few ideals once they had vanquished their common foe. Berkin pulls together these complex forces, shows how they collided, and how a few prescient leaders were able to unite the disparate strands such that we have were able to stand up as a nation. Not a bad achievement in a mere 200-readable page book!

Brilliant!: Shuji Nakamura And the Revolution in Lighting Technology

Average customer rating:

Any science library strong in invention history needs BRILLIANT!
Must read book on Nakamura and LEDs
A MUST READ for environmentalists and investors!!

Brilliant!: Shuji Nakamura And the Revolution in Lighting Technology
Bob Johnstone
Manufacturer: Prometheus Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Scientists | Professionals & Academics | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1591024625

Book Description

A revolution in the way we use artificial lighting is underway, one that is every bit as sweeping and significant as Edison's invention of the light bulb. The technology of light emitting diodes (LEDs) is ready for widespread implementation. Its impacts will include a reduction in energy consumption for electric lighting by up to 80 percent.

Brilliant! tells the story of Shuji Nakamura, a gifted Japanese engineer who came out of nowhere to stun the world with his announcement that he had created the last piece in the puzzle needed for manufacturing solid-state white lights. The invention of this holy-grail product, which promises to make Edison's light bulb obsolete, had eluded the best minds at the top electronic firms for twenty-five years. Until his startling announcement, Nakamura had not even been on the radar screen of most industry observers.

Veteran technology writer Bob Johnstone traces the career of Nakamura, which included many years of obstinate individual effort as well as a dramatic legal battle pitting him against his former Japanese employer. Over a five-year span, Nakamura distinguished himself with an unprecedented series of inventions—bright blue, green, ultraviolet, and then white LEDs, plus a blue laser that will play an essential role in the next-generation DVD players. Then he was forced to leave Nichia Chemical, the company where he had worked for twenty years, and his former employer sued him. The result was a multimillion-dollar settlement in a landmark decision that acknowledged, for the first time, the rights of individual inventors working in a corporate context. Today, Nakamura holds a professor's chair at the University of California at Santa Barbara, where he continues to develop the technology of LEDs.

Johnstone, the first Western journalist to meet and interview Nakamura, has received the brilliant engineer's full cooperation through a series of exclusive interviews given for the book. Johnstone has also interviewed other key players in the imminent lighting revolution, providing an exciting preview of the technological, entrepreneurial, and artistic creativity that will soon be unleashed by Nakamura's inventions.

Customer Reviews:

Any science library strong in invention history needs BRILLIANT!.......2007-07-27

BRILLIANT! SHUJI NAKAMURA AND THE REVOLUTION IN LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY tells of the evolution of LED technology and how it was stalled over making an LED that would emit the bright blue light needed to make useful white light LEDs - until researcher Shuji Nakamura's key invention which single-handedly created the industry of solid-state lighting. Author Bob Johnstone is the first Western journalist to meet and interview Nakamura, and here provides a powerful blend of science and biography to show how the inventor made his ground-breaking discovery and how LEDs are revolutionizing the world. Any science library strong in invention history needs BRILLIANT!

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Must read book on Nakamura and LEDs.......2007-06-02

I heartily recommend this book for people who are interested in innovation, business, science, technology, etc. The book tells the fascinating story of Nakamura and the impact LEDs are having on the lighting industry.

Part One of the book tells the story of how Nakamura invented the first commercially successful GaN LED. Part Three explains how Nakamura became unwanted at Nichia and how he decided to move to UCSB. Parts Two and Four talk about some of the companies that are using LEDs to make exciting new products. I'll be a nit picker and say the book should be titled "Shuji Nakamura and the *Coming* revolution in Lighting Technology" because the revolution is just starting.

Although LEDs have been around for about four decades and everyone already owns products that incororate them, very few people understand the potential of LEDs and the impact that they will have on lighting over the next few years. The conversion to white LEDs for general lighting is underway. People will want to understand more about this phenomenon as they recognize the impact that LEDs are having on the lighting industry and energy consumption. The good news is that this book will serve as a tutorial for people who want to learn about LEDs.

A MUST READ for environmentalists and investors!!.......2007-05-15

Brilliant!!! Refreshing!!! Bob Johnstone is correct in espousing Shuji Nakamura as the leader of the LED revolution. Shuji's list of patents and accomplishments in his field far outshine all of his peers put together. Definitely a Nobel Prize in the works for Mr. Nakamura and hopefully a Pulitzer for Mr. Johnstone for his ability to explain this complex subject to the average reader in a true tale of high intrigue! The LED scientific community is still rather small. The competition for the holy grail (replacing the everyday lightbulb) is phenomenal. Bob and Shuji have this unusual, provocative combination that tells the story of this new high tech race. Bob spends quite a few chapters explaining the unusual and life changing ramifications of LED development worlwide. A must read for any investor or those with eco-green concerns!!!

Six Easy Pieces: Essentials of Physics Explained by Its Most Brilliant Teacher (Helix Book.)

Average customer rating:

Interesting historical perspective
Reads very quickly
Comments on Feynman's "Six Easy Pieces"
Outstanding book
Addresses those nagging questions I've always had

Six Easy Pieces: Essentials of Physics Explained by Its Most Brilliant Teacher (Helix Book.)
Richard Phillips Feynman , Robert B. Leighton , and Matthew Sands
Manufacturer: Perseus Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Science | Subjects | Books

General | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books

Six Not-So-Easy Pieces: Einstein's Relativity, Symmetry, And Space-Time
Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Adventures of a Curious Character)
What Do You Care What Other People Think?: Further Adventures of a Curious Character
QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter
The Pleasure Of Finding Things Out: The Best Short Works of Richard P. Feynman (Helix Books)

ASIN: 0201409550

Book Description

This set couples a book containing the six easiest chapters from Richard Feynman's landmark work, Lectures on Physics--specifically designed for the general, non-scientist reader--with the actual recordings of the late, great physicist delivering the lectures on which the chapters are based. The six compact discs are "music" CDs, not CD-ROMs. Nobel Laureate and genius-at-large Richard Feynman gave these lectures just once, to a group of Caltech undergraduates in 1961 and 1962. He is a startlingly lucid, agile, contagiously enthusiastic communicator, and hearing him deliver these lectures himself in his broad New York accent is a great experience.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting historical perspective.......2007-09-03

This is the kind of book to pick up from the library out of curiosity, as opposed to buying it. I am a big Feynman fan and wanted to see what he said all those years ago about these basic topics, as opposed to wanting to learn much from the content. If you are pretty informed about basic physics, then you won't find much you didn't know. Feynman's approach to the problem is certainly interesting, and he manages to given six different overview chapters with almost no mathematics. He also offered some insights that I had either never thought of or had long forgotten.

One nice benefit is how often Feynman says, "we don't know this yet" or equivalent, and to compare that to the reality 40+ years later. For several items, we of course still don't know. He could have covered much of basic physics without wandering into the "don't know" explanations, but that wouldn't have been Feynman then, would it?

I can also understand why many of the Cal Tech freshman didn't appreciate the lectures and attendance faded, according to the introduction. The work of actual problem solving techniques with gravity and the other topics was offloaded to the sections with other staff.

The book is short and not difficult to read, so it may be worth a look. I'd rank it back of various other books by Feynman as far as pleasure for the casual reader who is not himself or herself a teacher.

Reads very quickly.......2007-07-29

I have heard of Feynman's collection of physics lectures for a long time and had intended reading them "one of these days" but never seemed to get to it. When a couple of friends and I formed a book club to discuss science and other types of expository prose, and one of them suggested this book, I decided "this is the day."

In reading Six Easy Pieces, I had a distinct sympathy with Feynman's undergraduate students. The man's mind must have run at the speed of light, ideas just firing off like gunshots. For a decade that had only reel to reel tape recorders, and big ones at that, the only resort for the student taking notes would have to have been a strong skill at shorthand.

I had expected a more difficult and thorough book, but the author presents a very simple, almost too brief, analysis of basic physics in this volume, which is a section of a larger text based on his lectures. In it he illustrates the close association, even a basic underpinning, of other sciences by physics. He notes relationships with earth sciences, particularly geology, with astronomy/cosmology, biology, and chemistry in particular. What he doesn't do is go into very great detail on how these areas relate to one another, his discussion of chemistry being the most thorough of them.

The book is very short, and the author spends much of it on the history and relationships of physics as a science. It is more like a general introduction written to preface material presented later in the course. He does a nice job of explaining the issue of particle/wave duality in electromagnetic and other waves in the final chapter of the book, which also suggests that the bulk of the book is "introductory" in nature and that more is to come later.

Athough the author presents some equations and graphs, those who are math-shy needn't be daunted; they are straight forward and helpful in understanding the points the author makes. Furthermore, Feynman's narative style goes very rapidly. He jumps from topic to topic, intercalating brief stories and amusing comments to put his message across in an entertaining manner, rather than in a ponderous discussion or chalk boards full of formulae.

Although the reader who has no physics background may enjoy learning something of the field through this book, I suspect those with a science background may find one of the more recent books on the subject more informative.

Comments on Feynman's "Six Easy Pieces".......2007-06-08

The book is relative short, but all Feynman writings are excellent. Dispite holding a degree in Physics, I did not find the "pieces" all that easy, but very worth-while reading. The lectures increased in difficulty, but all helped me understand the subjects better. (I'm only bitter about not being aware of Feynman and his writings / lectures when I was an undergrad in college.) I expect to re-read this little volume multiple times, because dispite it's claim to be "easy", the material is very rich, and mostly Feynman leads you from the known to the unknown. I certainly recommend this book to all students of physics, from high school students to graduate students. Other science and medical students will probably benefit from it also. Interested layman may find it worth attempting.

Outstanding book.......2007-01-11

This is an excellent book. Feynman uncovers very intricate issues in most simple terms. A must read for both students and teachers of science.

Addresses those nagging questions I've always had.......2007-01-04

I took three semesters of physics to complete my undergraduate degree; I'll never forget the dumbfounded look on my instructor's face when we were studying electrical force and I asked, "so, why *do* protons attract electrons, anyway?" The professor sputtered and said, "it's just a force of the universe. Shut up and stop asking stupid questions." Or when the instructor presented Newton's third law ("every action has an equal and opposite reaction"), and I asked, "So why is it that when I push against a wall it doesn't push back and fall apart?" The answer was, "Well, the wall doesn't fall apart does it? So that's that. Shut up and stop asking stupid questions." Dr. Feynman addresses *exactly* these types of questions, over and over again. (If the earth and the moon are attracted to each other, why don't they crash into each other? Why are snowflakes shaped the way they are? Why does blowing on soup cool it down?) I only wish this book had been 1300 pages rather than 130 - every page answered some nagging problem I've had with the physics explanation of the universe. I don't think you can learn physics from this book, but you can get excited enough about it to start digging around and discovering more, like I did.

Average customer rating:

Seeing through the dream
complete
What a relief: Total Clarity!
perfectly brilliant
good enough place to start

Perfect Brilliant Stillness
David Carse
Manufacturer: Paragate Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

New Thought | New Age | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Other Eastern Religions | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0976578301
Release Date: 2005-09-01

Product Description

An intimate account of spontaneous spiritual enlightenment and its implications in a life lived beyond the individual self, Perfect Brilliant Stillness is a guidebook for the more advanced spiritual seeker who is ready to go beyond popular new age ideas to explore in depth the perennial wisdom of the non-dual tradition of Eastern spirituality. Perfect Brilliant Stillness offers an invitation to finally let go of the false sense of individual self and to go, completed, beyond.

Customer Reviews:

Seeing through the dream.......2007-09-26

This book is wonderful. It cuts through all the 'personal' drama that comes from identifying ourselves as individual beings and sees it for what it is: the dream of the Infinite. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
Words are always inadequate ...........

complete.......2007-07-22

This book felt like my final reading assignment in the field of Advaita. The realizations that came to me as a result of reading this were not the realizations I was searching for, and it is certainly not enlightenment. It simply led to the feeling that what I was searching for is rather futile. To be consumed by THINKING about this stuff really is a contradiction. I am now happy to say that I am diving in to duality - the dream, whatever it is, and enjoying living and not seeking the road to realization. I'm suddenly aware that what I've always wanted is only happiness, and that I don't have to have the "absolute understanding" in order to be happy. Ah. What a relief. So much of this search is conceptual, while we are all going around saying, "the truth is not conceptual". Why, then, have I felt the need to read and think about it perpetually? I feel like I've been cured of something and I hadn't even recognized that my searching WAS the suffering.

David Carse has written an incredibly CLEAR book about this - perhaps the clearest I have ever read. It is evident he is speaking from his experience and not what he has intellectually learned.

And after the clarity, I was able to put the book down and embrace my life in a way I realize I had not been doing for quite a long time.

This review is only about my experience, and not the book itself. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in nonduality, mysticism, Advaita, spirituality, etc. It was a delicious read.

What a relief: Total Clarity!.......2007-06-08

This book is a great relief because of its clarity and conveys a deep knowing of Oneness. So different from "spiritual" books that tout just another belief system or claim to teach Oneness while actually preaching separation. I am happily suprised to find another sharing of Oneness Consciousness that is as clear as Tony Parsons. If you want the real deal on what "Enlightenment" is actually about, this is the book for you. I'm glad, because now I don't have to write it. David Carse did a better job than I ever could. Spiritual beliefs no longer "doing it for you", "getting you there" - than this is a must read.

perfectly brilliant.......2007-05-13

This book is a must read for any seeker who wishes to better understand the subject of what is commonly termed "enlightenment". It is probably best-suited for someone with a fairly good knowledge of the subject of advaita rather than someone new to this path. When reading the words of David Carse, the reader gets the strong sense that what is being said is unquestionably the truth. To one not familiar with the subject material, this book will probably come across as pure fantasy at best, and absolute insanity at worst. At any rate, as the author warns, this work can cause one to become skeptical as well as troubled. But, to paraphrase from the gospel of St. Thomas, "after you have been troubled, you will be greatly astonished." In a word, this book is "astonishing."

good enough place to start.......2007-04-10

anyone new to non duality and its concepts will do well to start here.

The Inventor's Bible: How to Market and License Your Brilliant Ideas

Average customer rating:

Scary
An Essential Guide for Inventors
Very helpful with step by step procedures
This Updated Version has Patent and Marketing Workbook
Great Resource for Inventors - highly recommend

The Inventor's Bible: How to Market and License Your Brilliant Ideas
Ronald Louis Docie
Manufacturer: Ten Speed Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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Patents and How to Get One: A Practical Handbook
Patent It Yourself

ASIN: 1580085660

Book Description

You've just invented a new technology, a must-have product. So what now? Patent it? Manufacture it? Sell it? If you're like most would-be Edisons, chances are your stroke of genius will collect dust waiting for you to plot your next move. Fear not, intrepid creator—inventor and author Ronald Louis Docie Sr. shares more than 20 years of valuable insight in this revised and expanded edition of THE INVENTOR'S BIBLE, which now includes a workbook to help you take your ideas from concept to profit. With everything you need to know about marketing, licensing, and selling your invention, this comprehensive handbook will also help you figure out what your invention is worth, which companies might want your ideas, and what steps to take first. You dreamt it, you created it, and it actually works—let THE INVENTOR'S BIBLE pave the way to your first million.

Customer Reviews:

Scary.......2007-06-27

I haven't gotten all the way through the book but it scared me enough not to want to go through the effort of inventing and marketing something.

An Essential Guide for Inventors.......2007-01-07

This book is an essential investment for enabling the inventor to take the right steps, and beware of the pitfalls of rip-off marketing companies and scams, with the thousands of dollars they charge.

The Special Bonus Workbook enables you to get started right away, and numerous Bookmark references refer you to the main part of the book for more detail and with many Words of Wisdom.

Another useful inclusion are the printable versions of the worksheets from the website for proceeding with commercialization of the product.

Valuable contacts of Local Inventors Organizations are also listed to help support inventors.

Finally, quoting from the book, "If you perform the exercises in the Workbook enough times, before you know it the process will flow intuitively. Interviewing people, who you have never met, can actually be fun, and you can make new friends. So relax and enjoy yourself.

Very helpful with step by step procedures.......2006-09-22

I recently purchased this book, to market one of our company product ideas. When I picked up the book locally at barnes and Nobles, I was a bit reluctant by the quality of the paper and the print. But within hours I was at my office, reading it, and it has abolutely good information. The "words of wisdom", "tricks of the trade" tips on each page are very helpful.

One can be in business without understanding many critical aspects of invention and marketing. Being a professional services company so far, this book is helpful for me when I'm venturing into new product inventions, manufacturing and marketing.

The books takes the reader step by step with real examples of the authors experience and points out the pros and cons of various scenarios.

It also has a comprehensive workbook for every section of the book (convered as a separate module at the end of the book) for the inventor to document and prepare for everything.

Wonderfully written book. After browsing through few books, I purchased this one. I also got some other related books. But haven't gone through them yet. I'll review them after I read through them.

The author, Ronald has truly manifested his experience for many of us to learn without re-inventing the invention wheel and suceeding without too many trials and errors.

This Updated Version has Patent and Marketing Workbook.......2006-03-05

I found and read the first version of "The Inventor's Bible" in my local library. The book was full of so much relevant and detailed information that I knew I had to own the updated version. When it arrived, I was pleased to discover that the book included a "Patent and New Product Marketing Workbook" to help readers evaluate and profit from their inventions. Even better, you can download the pdf versions of the workbook pages from the publisher's website (Tenspeedpress). When you get to the site, search for Inventor's Bible, then click the book's title on the page that returns, and then click on the link for the complementary Inventor's Bible PDFs.

What I liked most about the book is that it helps you seriously evaluate your invention's chance at making money. Some other books I have read assume you are going to do whatever it takes to profit from your invention and then lead you through the steps. The Inventor's Bible helps you evaluate your invention and then shows you what to overcome to make a profit. If going through that process makes some people reconsider whether their good idea just isn't good enough, then they will be wiser and richer for it.

That being said, after reading the book, I feel more confident that my invention will make me money. At the same time, I now know that it's going to take much longer than I expected, so I'm planning accordingly.

Great Resource for Inventors - highly recommend.......2004-03-11

I found this book very helpful. I am an engineer currently working on bringing my alternative energy invention to market. Not only I found a bunch of good advice in this book but this book made me feel that even though marketing my invention will be a lot of work, it can be done. I've read several similar books ("Idiot's guide.." and "Patents to Profit") but I think what set this one apart for me were the case studies. Reading what some of the other inventors went thru, their rises and their falls, makes you feel like you are already part of that group. I highly recommend this book.

Racing in the Rain: My Years with Brilliant Drivers, Legendary Sports CArs, and a Dedicated Team

Average customer rating:

A great insight into 60s/70s sportscar racing
Memories of Steve McQueen
scientific method validated
How An Autobiograpy Should Be Written
Racing in the Rain: My Years with Brilliant Drivers...

Racing in the Rain: My Years with Brilliant Drivers, Legendary Sports CArs, and a Dedicated Team
J. Horsman
Manufacturer: David Bull Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Racing | Automotive | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Transportation | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Motor Sports | Miscellaneous | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1893618714

Product Description

Few can claim that their racing careers spanned the greatest decades in sports-car competition-the 1960s and 1970s-and then extended into the 1980s. Fewer still were consistently successful. John Horsman is one of the fortunate few. Horsman's vivid personal account takes you to the world's greates circuits and puts you alongside the drivers and the crew as you experience things such as Jacky Ickx's prowess driving in the rain, the fiery determination of Pedro Rodriguez and his astonishing come-from-behind wins, and Horsman's exciting solution to the Porsche 917's handling problems, with a tail of his own design.

Customer Reviews:

A great insight into 60s/70s sportscar racing.......2007-09-14

This book highlights the technicalities of racing sportscars at the highest level. Whilst the book focuses on the development of the various cars the author worked with (GT40/Mirage/Porsche 917), it also touches on the various drivers employed by his teams during his career (Rodriguez, Vern Shupan, Derek Bell).

This book provides some fascinating insights into the author's perspective of the Porsche 917 era, particulalry in regards to the rivalry between the Gulf team and Porsche Salzburg/Martini.

A great read, particularly if read in conjunction with Vic Elford's book, which details the Porsche Salzburg side of things.

Highly recommended for those who enjoyed the epic sportscar era.

Memories of Steve McQueen.......2007-04-04

This is a great book for anyone who grew up on the movie Le Mans (still the best racing movie ever made) and dreamed of racing at night down the Mulsanne straight! The author not only was a part of history, but is a surprisingly engaging writer as well.

scientific method validated.......2007-03-18

Over the past twenty years, I have been able to highly recommend only one book (other than my own) on sports car racing in the 1960s, "The Certain Sound" by John Wyer. I can now highly recommend a second, John Horsman's "Racing In The Rain", which extends coverage into the '80s and is even more empirical than Wyer's book, if such be possible. If you want to know how to succeed in road or long distance racing, this is the book. Horsman's book is a tribute to the empirical method, honest analysis and old-fashioned persistence. There is plenty of humor and action to make it all palatable, but this is a book for someone who wants to know how it really happened and why. The quote from Howden Ganley on page 313 is alone worth the purchase price. An extraordinary book.

How An Autobiograpy Should Be Written.......2007-01-26

I've had the distinct honor of reading and collecting motorsports-related literature for almost 40 years. John Horsman's book "Racing in the Rain: My Years with Brilliant Drivers, Legendary Sports Cars, and a Dedicated Team" easily ranks in the top-10%. How often we racing fans spend hard-earned money and countless hours attempting to glean something new from the pages of another racing-related book, only to fill rather empty from the effort. Further, errors of fact abound in many of the titles published over the last few decades (errors easily avoided with a decent editor). Far too often, stories are simply rehashed from older titles, with the same worn-out photos making title after title- not so with Mr. Horsman's book. I found myself exclaiming out loud every few pages after discovering a "fresh" take on something I'd never known, and again, I consider myself well-read. The drivers who were "there", as well as mechanics, and rival team members, will find all sorts of revelations in this book, as well as the secret(s) to John Weyer's / Horsman's successes with the GT 40, 917 and Mirage. Horsman goes down a path seldom taken by authors- namely, calling the shots as he saw them (warts and all), including the mistakes he and others (by name!!) made, as well as the "good" calls / decisions. Some may find the inclusion of specific details as to lap times, set-ups, engine specifications, etc. not terribly necessary, but these truly make the book all the better. I'm one of many knowing the history of the great races and their associated drivers, but have always wished to be schooled in the more technical while reading; Horsman accomplishes this- and more. His recollections on the greats- Redman, Bell, Ickx, Rodriguez, Siffert, Hobbs, etc. are alone worth the modest price of the book. This is another great title from David Bull Publishing and very similar in design and take to Vic Elford's memoirs (another "must" read) and the story of the American great, Walt Hansgen. Bravo again to D.B. Publishing for bringing such great titles to motorsport fans.

Racing in the Rain: My Years with Brilliant Drivers..........2007-01-19

Excellent information, great perspective from someone directly involved with the Gulf racing program (of which I was a big fan).

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