Book Description
He's back! Adobe's already-powerful imaging editing software has just grown a whole lot more powerful, and best-selling author Scott Kelby (editor of Photoshop User magazine) has returned to unlock even more of its secrets. Using step-by-step instructions and nearly 700 full-color images, Scott reveals precisely how to achieve some of Photoshop Element 3's most closely guarded special effects. By the end of the volume you'll have learned more than 300 new techniques for using Adobe's affordable consumer-level software. Packed with creative ideas, layouts, and design techniques, the volume does more than just rehash masking, pixels, and file formats and resolution: It provides you with the Elements chops you need to unleash your own creativity.
Customer Reviews:
Good book.......2006-11-26
I like this book as a starting place to help with learning some of the ins & outs of Photoshop Elements (PSE) - I actually happen to be using v. 5. It is a bells & whistles book, not a general tutorial book for how to use all the features of PSE.
I just started digital scrapbooking about a month ago, so I wanted a few tricks for making my photos better and beginning to create some elements, so for me it has worked out very well. I've gotten a couple other books that ended up being too simplified and the results somewhat "cheesy", so I found this book more of a middle ground for a beginner who learns quickly - not too simplified, but not complicated.
Typical Kelby.......2005-07-22
This is yet another book from the man who is trying to take over Photoshop with his "Photoshop Professionals" organization.
Someone should take Scott Kelby into a quiet room and tell him some home truths. The first one, in fact probably the only one, is that he's just NOT FUNNY.
If you want a second one, the most important word in the English Language is not one character long, usually expressed in upper case, and is the character that appears between H and J in the alphabet.
And here's one that might save people some money - if you see a neat technique in advertising, it is a good idea to remember it (cut out the page, if necessary) and try to reproduce it yourself. There are a number of "Down and Dirty tips" like this - the one I recall is the one using a watch.
In fact, the tips here are more Up and Clean than Down and Dirty. If you want your Photoshop work to be slightly more interesting (but not too interesting), this is the book for you.
This book bears all the hallmarks of a book done by several authors, none of which had too much interest in it. I don't know whether Mr. Kelby contributed every word in this book, but there are parts with altogether too much sophomore humor (and I'm doing it a favor rating it that high), along with mildly interesting techniques. The humor is something that was passe at the time of DOS for Dummies, and the only reason that I give this two stars is that someone can use the techniques.
However, the techniques shown are yawn-inspiring. There's little or nothing that will blow your socks off, and this book comes a long way behind the Elements One-Click Wow! book.
According to the blurb, this book shows you "Photoshop Element 3's most closely guarded special effects." If you think about this for a minute, why would Adobe want to guard the special effects you can make with its program? And why would Scott Kelby need to have the words in the title "Voices that Matter"?
If a book can't stand on its own merits, why should it need to be bumped up? And why can't the author put over his points without obscuring them with unfunny remarks?
Look elsewhere. This book is for the Windows version only (not that I care that much, because I use Windows). There are plenty of better books on Photoshop Elements techniques.
Many Unanswered Questions.......2005-06-03
I read the book cover to cover while using it as a companion tutor to an on line dslr course. I found many of the steps not complete. I had basic questions on basic elements of PSE 3.0 and didn't find any mention of them in the book or index. I was left "wanting" for my answers on the basic of uses in Organizer and Editor.
Excellent Photoshop Elements 3 Book.......2005-05-14
Excellent Book! Full of useful information that is made simple by step by step insructions. Great information for someone who understands the basic tools of Photoshop, but wants to create more prfessional looking photos. Wonderful examples that inspire new ideas and twists on classic pictures! Highly Recommended!
A need for photo organization before the bells and whistles.......2005-04-18
I am an Adobe fan. I have Adobe Album 2, Elements 3 and Photoshop CS. Using a Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II camera with my Epson 4000 Printer going through Photoshop CS is a marriage made in heaven. But first, I want to store and organize my photos in my own way. This I did with Album 2, 2nd Version, to the limits of its capability. Its limits, I can see are mostly overcome in Elements 3 and I want to transfer my Album 2 organization to Elements 3 with its much more sophisticaled capability. I have 5,000 photos. There is nothing in Mr. Kelby's book about organizing photos at all. His index is 4 pages long. Under the word "photos or photographs" there is nothing. Under the word "organizing" or "organization" there is nothing. Under the "word" albums, there is nothing.
Yet this is the first thing this Elements 3 Program wants to do is to collect all my "bmp's" and "jpegs" and drop them in one file for me to organize. With 5,000 photos, I don't want to go through this very time consuming procedure again. If there was some space spent on this first step, I could figure how to transfer my Adobe Album 2 photo organization to the expanded capability of Element 3. The organizational ability of Elements 3 is ignored. The other aspects elaborated on are much better done through Photoshop CS. The lack of explanation on the basics of photograph organization makes me feel this book is of little help.
Average customer rating:
- For a graphic designer, not a photographer
- Photoshop 7 Down & Dirty Tricks
- A whole lot of content... not sure how much of it is good though
- my review
- Learn a ton in a short time
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Photoshop 7 Down & Dirty Tricks
Scott Kelby
Manufacturer: New Riders Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Adobe Photoshop | Digital Photography & Video | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
Web Graphics | Web Design | Web Development | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
General | Graphic Design | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
General | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
General | How-to | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Equipment | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Arts & Photography | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Computers & Internet | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0735712379 |
Amazon.com
Scott Kelby is both funny and generous. His wry sense of humor doesn't get in the way of the hundreds of nifty techniques in this new collection of Down & Dirty Tricks. In fact, when you first flip quickly through the book, gobbling up all the creative ideas and timesaving tips, his sly jokes only add to the I've-just-hit-the-lottery feeling.
Whatever you're looking for--type that looks distressed, made of gel, or carved in stone; shadows in perspective or in motion; text that wraps around a globe; a glinting starburst on the edge of an object; a logo artificially placed at the bottom of a pool; or a starry sky created in an instant--just about every trick is here. And most are done in 10 steps or less. Also, each page has a Quick Tip sidebar (there're over 200 of them) that are worth the price of the book alone, with everything from getting better results from your eyedropper tool (click on Options and change the Point Sample to "3 by 3 average") to the quickest way to change units of measurement (the secret is in the Info palette).
The book has been updated since the previous edition with mostly new illustrations, many new and better ways to perform the same tricks, and a few completely new ones. Project files and images can be downloaded from the book's companion Web site at downanddirtytricks.com. Although aimed at experienced Photoshop users, the text is detailed enough for readers of all levels. For example, steps like "make a copy of that layer by dragging it to the New Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers palette" or "press the letter m to switch to the Rectangular Marquee tool" are repeated in full whenever a trick calls for them. This not only helps beginners, it allows all readers to hop around the book and be able to carry out any trick in any order. Yet another reason this book could've been titled Speedy Down & Dirty Tricks. --Angelynn Grant
Book Description
Updated for the latest version of Photoshop, Photoshop 7 Down & Dirty Tricks is packed cover to cover with step-by-step tutorials on the coolest Photoshop 7 effects. The book is not another rehash of masking, pixels, and file formats or resolution--it's nothing but the cool stuff that will make your client's (or boss's) jaw drop.
Customer Reviews:
For a graphic designer, not a photographer.......2007-09-18
This is an excellent book for an advertiser or graphic designer. There are TONS of text effects and tricks that would be vital to creating ad copy or web graphics. As a photographer, I found very little that was relevant to my line of work. So it's a great book for a lot of people, just not for photographers.
Photoshop 7 Down & Dirty Tricks.......2007-08-31
Again, another Photoshop 7 book by Scott Kelby, my favorite expert. Like all his other books, this one is informational and easy to follow. It has effects that are ones you will use when making photoshop art as well as information to improve ordinary photographs. Photoshop is such an amazing program that keeps surprising me with effects I have not discovered. This book is another that teaches us some things that the program includes. I recomend this book to anyone who loves Photoshop and wants to learn more about it.
A whole lot of content... not sure how much of it is good though.......2006-04-02
This book teaches you how to do "FUN AND ZANY WACKY PHOTOSHOP TRICKS." There's a couple good ones. But anyone who is paying 800 dollars for a piece of software isn't going to buy a book to learn how to make cool watery text. Well, maybe they are.
The book is decent.
my review.......2005-10-20
I bought this book a year ago. I did manage to successfully complete certain tasks but in my opinion, he uses too many shortcuts. Obviously this book wouldn't be for a beginner. His sense of humor is dry and wasn't needed. This book would have been slightly better if a CD were included as well as a place to download the images he used so that we may practice on them.
Learn a ton in a short time.......2004-09-16
Photoshop has a very steep learning curve. The depth of the program is daunting. While I'm no guru on this program - yet - I've found that just diving right in and doing some of the more involved applications of the program exposes you to the maximum amount of features and you learn much more in much less time. With this book, you can do some very simple things, or jump into some of the more complex, such as creating "from scratch" illustrations. Everything is presented with beautiful, full color illustrations of every step, including menu examples and keyboard shortcuts. This book is very good for the beginner, but can also be a valuable resource for the more experienced user, and can help you to become your own in-house Photoshop innovator.
Book Description
Bestselling author Scott Kelby (Editor of Photoshop User magazine) is back with an amazing new collection of
Photoshop Down and Dirty Tricks, including how to create the same exact effects you see every day in magazines, on TV, at the movies, and on the Web. It's more of those eye-popping, jaw-dropping special effects that made Scott's previous version an award-winning worldwide smash hit!
But this isn't just an update to his previous book--these are 100% ALL NEW EFFECTS from cover-to-cover to reflect the latest trends in Photoshop special effects and design. These are nothing but today's real world techniques--the same ones you see used by leading Photoshop photographers, designers, and special effect masters, and its all here in the only book of its kind.
You'll learn the most closely guarded inside secrets for creating the latest cutting-edge effects, including techniques that have never been revealed before anywhere! And the book is written so clearly, and is so easy to follow, that you'll be able to create every one of these amazing effects yourself. You'll learn:
- Tricks professional photographers use to show off their work
- The most popular effects used by the big Hollywood studios
- The latest cutting-edge photographic special effects
- How to fake all kinds of studio shots (you'll be amazed how its done!)
- The type effects that are most in demand by clients
- How to get stunning 3D effects without using a 3D program
- How to turn simple snapshots into museum quality gallery prints
- The most asked for new Web effects
- Plus loads of advanced effects that look hard, but are easy, once you know the secrets
But Down and Dirty tricks is more than just a just an effects book--it's a tips book too, because on every page Scott includes a cool tip, a quick trick, or a timesaving shortcut, making this an invaluable productivity tool too! Plus the whole book is packed with design techniques, creative ideas and stunning layouts that will help you unleash your own creativity. It's all here-- "Just the funk and not the junk" and if you're into Photoshop, you're absolutely gonna love it!
Customer Reviews:
Useful tips and tricks.......2007-05-13
This is not an in depth instruction manual for Photoshop CS. This does give the inexperienced user of Photoshop quick and easy tips for creating a variety of useful projects. Many of these projects will expose the new user to some of the powerful tools of Photoshop. If you want to learn all of the features of Photoshop then buy a more technical book or take a Photoshop course. So to get a start into the world of Photoshop this may be the book for you.
Incredible........2007-05-12
This book is great for Photoshop CS beginners. It's packed with many tricks and techniques. You'll be saying, "So that's how they do that!" quite often. I have been able to take several techniques and use them and create variations for my own advertising.
Example photos are available on Kelby's website for download. Unfortunately, they have a BRAND X stamp on them and their quality seems lower, but useful none-the-less.
Great book for all Photoshop enthusiasts.......2007-04-01
I buy all of the "Tricks" books for Photoshop. They all have great 'secrets' for achieving some really cool effects in a very short time. This book was no exception. Once you get one of the "Down and Dirty" books, you'll want them all. No Photoshop artist should be without them. If you want to hang with the pros out there, you need to know every one of these tips in this book. I recommend the "Down and Dirty" series for everyone who owns Photoshop.
Great book when paired with...........2007-02-19
The Photoshop CS Book for Digital Photographers (Voices That Matter)
Both books are by Scott Kelby. He does a great job of telling you exactly what you need to do with the photos.
Great book for everybody.......2007-01-15
Think the author of this book is very known guy and he makes really cool stuff. And writes much books.
Don't know if he thinks about all this "tips and tricks" himself, but for sure he have fantasy and imagination. Think it's very important for every designer. Think book "Adobe Photoshop CS Down & Dirty Tricks" will help many people to find inspiration in what they wanna do, doing.. or if they don't know from where to begin.
In book you can find a lot of cool and good tricks. Some of them of cause just using some filters, other made with fantasy, third taken from some magazines, but book in common is really great.
Now it's almost published his new book "Photoshop Down and Dirty Tricks" It it will be as good as this one, i definitely wanna have it.
Book Description
The short stories in this collection are written by the best authors in the business—including M. Christian, Thomas S. Roche, Sage Vivant, Maxim Jakubowski, Rachel K. Bussel, N. T. Morley, Dante Davidson, and many more. Some stories are sensational sexual snippets, while others are fully detailed dramatic depictions. All of the 69 pieces have one thing in common: They're dirtier than dirty. And we know that's just the way you like them!
Customer Reviews:
Perfect!.......2007-08-23
I've been using the Alison Tyler short stories in general as a wonderful little aside for my relationship. I tend to get taken away from home for long periods of time so I recorded myself reading almost the entire first two books in this series for my fiancee to use on her ipod, and she gets as much of a kick out of them as I did in reading it.
Absolutely worth it!
very dirty but very sweet.......2004-06-08
how nice to find a collection of great short erotica that is explicit and dirty but also sweet and not too rough or dark. bravo! perfect for sharing.
Disappointed.......2004-01-18
I have read a selection of erotic fiction recently and was very disappointed with the short stories in this book - generally quite boring!
Great book!.......2003-09-30
This book is a gift that keeps on giving!I love that each story is a bite-sized tidbit of erotica, just enough to get your fantasies sparked, and explicit enough to put you over the edge. Thhis is a great book for couples, as it is full of erotic fantasies that couples will want to try together. Bravo to Alison Tyler: a great idea, perfectly delivered. My girlfriend and I are putting this one to great use!
The perfect book!.......2003-07-20
This sex book is filled with 69 super-short stories. They get right to the "heart" of the matter. Featured are some top erotic writers, but I actually liked all the stories, even by authors I hadn't read previously. I really liked a few by Rachel K. Bussel and one about a girl on a rooftop by M. Christian that was totally hot. I thought I'd read a few a night, but I ended up reading the whole book in one weekend. And then my boyfriend took it with him and did the same thing on a business trip...read the entire book in an evening. You just can't put it down.
Book Description
Sew Subversive is about making fashion your own, whether it's embellishing or customizing off-the-rack clothing or transforming clothes that have lost that loving feeling. The three twenty-something co-owners of Stitch Lounge, an urban sewing studio in San Francisco, teach you, in plain, fun language, how to do it, whether you're hand sewing, machine sewing, or, in a few cases, simply wielding a pair of scissors.
The first three chapters lay the ground work: Hand Sewing Basics, You and Your Machine, and Gearing Up, which includes Fabric 101, how to set up a sewing space, and a run-through first project on the sewing machine. Then the fun begins with Embellishing and Customizing projects, including adorning your pant legs with ribboning, turning a computer-scanned image into an iron-on that you can apply to a t-shirt or skirt, taking in a skirt, or untapering a pair of pants (the authors believe tapered pants are the devil's work). Then move onto Refashioning: The Next Life of Your Old Clothes and turn a t-shirt into a skirt, a sweater into a halter top or legwarmers, or a pair of pants into a hip belt. There are 22 projects in all, some of which only require an iron and/or pair of scissors, while others can be sewn by hand, for those readers who haven't yet made the sewing machine plunge.
Customer Reviews:
Perfect for a beginner: fun and helpful. Might be too funky for some though........2007-08-14
As a novice, I appreciate all of the basic info at the beginning of the book. I also like the authors' fun, hip, "hey girlfriend" tone. Each project includes a time estimate, and many projects provide instructions for handstitching as well as machine-sewing. Would I cut off the sleeves from a sweater to make leg warmers or turn vintage ties into cuffs and collars? Probably not. But I will try turning a sweatshirt into a tote and definitely "un-taperfy" some pants by adding a triangle of fabric for flair (and yes, flare too). This book is fun and helpful for novices, and its projects encourage personal creativity and new ways of thinking about clothing.
Not what I expected but it has a lot of good basic info .......2007-07-31
I bought this book expecting it to be full of complete projects- not so. I guess it sort of says that it's about personalizing your wardrobe, I just didn't realize that it was pretty much all about reconstructing old clothes. Some of the ideas are good, but I found most of them to be either really basic (as in, common sense- sewing a patch on a skirt to make it different, etc.) or something that I wouldn't really wear. I think that this book would probably be better for a teenager or someone in her early 20's. On the other hand, for basic sewing instruction, I thought that this book had some nice thorough info.
Not for the Novice Seamtress.......2007-07-18
The author is to be applauded for encouraging young readers with her hip writing style. As a result, teens are encouraged to sew something more than repairing the seams of their blue jeans.
Most of the projects Ms. Rannels proposes involve the use of T-shirts. For anyone who has made sewing a hobby, sewing with knits, especially stretchy cotton knits, requires the very careful attention and patience of the sewer.
Therefore, anyone attempting the projects in this book should have a lot of experience in sewing with knit fabrics.
eh.... not impressed..........2007-07-13
I was excited to see this new DIY sewing book in the new books section of the library, as I'd been eying it on-line for awile. However I was really disappointed with this book after reading it. Sew Subversive offers the beginning sewer (and I do mean complete beginner) and "Fashionista" somewhat practical advice at the beginning of the book on a number of topics including, choosing a sewing machine and how to thread it, hand-sewing, understanding fabrics, reading a pattern, organizing supplies and other nitty gritty. Much of this information is supplied in an easy to understand and well laid out format. The bright color photography and fun casual conversational tone will put the nervous beginner at ease. However the second half of the book where the patterns begin are where I have to give really low reviews. First off the patterns are horrendous! I'm all for hip, cool, trendy clothes, but most of the outfits are un-wearable and really poorly designed. Close up's of most of the clothes revealed terribly poor sewing, I don't think this was just for design sake either. I mean there is punk and then there is junk. I don't think even the coolest hipster could pull some of these things off. The workmanship was the worst, threads hanging, jagged edges on garments that should have been smooth and all around poor sewing. Soo....I have to say..I'm not impressed. I think the book could possibly be worth a look at for some of the helpful sewing hints in the front, but there are better beginner sewing books out there.. I dunno...if you can already sew you might be able to take some of the patterns and ideas and fine tune them a bit, but overall, for me this book was a dud.
it rawks.......2007-07-11
This is a fun and inspiring book. I noticed that some of the other reviewers thought it was too simplistic. It is true that it focuses on some of the most basic sewing techniques, including handsewing, and how you can take a minimum amount of tools and create fabulous outfits. It is for would-be sewer who is intimidated by the notions, patterns, and fabrics in the fabric store, but would love to get started on some quick, creative projects using what s/he already has. Being the daughter of an amazing seamstress/designer, I have always been ashamed that I can't sew. Most patterns assume some level of knowledge and involve complicated diagrams. This book however got me jumpstarted and now I am doing all sorts of projects.
The first part of the book focuses on technique and some people may not use this. However, I found the hand-sewing information very useful. With the advent of machines, I never learned to handsew. I wish there had been information on sergers, since I just bought one, but it was probably considered too advanced.
The rest of the book involves modifying clothing you already have, such as making a t-shirt fit better, changing a pair of jeans into a skirt, or converting a tee into a tube top or a messenger bag. Many of the ideas can be done in under an hour and it is great to find a use for all those baggy t-shirts I had acquired. This book is in fact very GREEN in that it encourages re-use and recycling of existing clothing, rather than buying new fabric! It's also encourages creativity - break away from those patterns and make something new - or take something off the rack and modify it! I really like the idea behind this book.
Some of the ideas I have seen before, in a similar sewing manual from the 1960s/70s, which was also geared towards young people. Of course, fashions have changed and this book is more punk rock than hippie. So I think it serves a market, the young new sewer, and this market needs to be developed if sewing is to survive as an artform.
Book Description
A Likewise book.Most folks think of Jesusas the man who started Christianity.But it turns outhe wasn't just a man,and he didn't just start Christianity.Most folks think of Jesusas an other-worldly religious leader,a great moral teacher,or maybe they don't think of him at all.But he had dirty feet, partied,cooked breakfastand got himself killed.Who was this guy?Why did people hate him so much?And why should I care?Whether you've never looked closely at the Christian faith or you've dismissed it as irrelevant, you owe yourself a glance at a Jesus unencumbered by stereotypes. You might be surprised at what you see.
Customer Reviews:
Jesus with dirty feet.......2007-10-05
I was please with the book it was just as they said it would be in good shape.
Jesus with Dirty Feet.......2007-03-13
Back to basics. This book breaks down all of the fronts that religion has created and brings us back to Jesus.
Tofu, Warhead Candy, and a Moose. .......2006-08-06
I recently listened to Don Everts speak at a CHIC, a national Covenant youth conference, and he was wonderful. In a matter of minutes he had compared Jesus to tofu, a warhead candy, and a moose. We treat Jesus like tofu; we eat it because it is good for us and not because we necessarily enjoy or like it. When he was alive he was treated kind of like a warhead candy. People got a slight taste of him and they either wanted to spit him out as fast they could or waited to learn more. Everts went on to talk about his intimate encounter with a moose in Colorado. He was awestruck, amused, scared, and amazed. He said we need to work on treating Jesus the same way, even though we love to treat in like tofu. I bought this book soon after listening to him speak and I loved it. I've grown up in a Christian home and I found myself wondering what am I really following? Who am I really following? This book was put into simple text and only took about an hour and a half to read. It helped me see through the thousand year old opinions and traditions that the church has created and the prepackaged Jesus that many of us are subjected to. I loved it, but it may not be for you. Everyone has a different way they like to learn and take in information. Good luck and enjoy.
Amanda (momentsnvrfade - aim)
Pretty choppy and weak.......2006-03-26
There are a few interesting Biblically-based thoughts in this book, but the format and syntax can be summed up in two words: wretched poetry. The free-form is atrocious and choppy, and the organization is servicable. I've read serious books that discuss the life of Jesus and Christian faith, and I've read solid free-form poetry. This is pathetic in comparison. I can't help but wonder why something of such low caliber would even be published.
It may be somewhat suitable for the junior high youth group crowd, but it is far from a sounding board for deep, mature, articulated discussion. Whatever you are looking for, be it an acocunt of the life of Jesus, apologetic discussion, or info on Christian faith, much better can surely be found elsewhere. Skip it.
A terrific book that's well worth your time.......2004-03-12
What else could you ask for, but an interesting book, well-written, culture-connected, with a truly biblical perspective on the God-man. It's a fast-paced quick read.
My response to Michael Mazza is "Never judge a philosophy by its abuse." ~ Saint Augustine. You can not look to the crusades or any other offensive acts performed by self-proclaimed "Christians". When and if you judge my faith, you can consider only the object of my faith. In this case, Jesus Christ, the perfect son of God.
Nuff said!
Amazon.com
You've heard the rumors. The film industry is filled with ruthless executives who think nothing of brow-beating their employees, of using creative accounting to cheat filmmakers, and re-cutting a director's vision into a soulless crowd-pleaser. Well, it turns out those rumors are often true--at least according to Peter Biskind's highly entertaining Down and Dirty Pictures: Miramax, Sundance, and the Rise of Independent Film. Packed with industry anecdotes and history, the book chronicles the growth and eventual mainstreaming of independent films and offers the back-story to seminal works including sex, lies, and videotape and Pulp Fiction among others. Biskind, author of Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex-Drugs-and-Rock 'N' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood, divides most of his time between Sundance Film Festival founder Robert Redford and Miramax co-chairman Harvey Weinstein. Biskind simultaneously credits these two as fostering, though ultimately ruining, the purity of indpendent film. Other indies are largely left out, although the now-defunct October Films appears prominently in the role of noble failure. Biskind has serious points to make, but he's not stingy with the war stories, either. (One particularly amusing scene involves October executives chasing Robert Duvall's agent through a Sheraton Hotel in an attempt to stop him from making a deal with Miramax to distribute The Apostle.) Those who have only a passing interest in the movie business may tire of Biskind's oft-repeated themes (Weinstein is an evil genius! Redford is a passive-aggressive control freak!) but for those who truly love film industry gossip, Down and Dirty Pictures is a feast of insider stories--each tidbit juicier than the last. --Leah Weathersby
Book Description
Down and Dirty Pictures chronicles the rise of independent filmmakers and of the twin engines -- the Sundance Film Festival and Miramax Films -- that have powered them. As he did in his acclaimed Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, Peter Biskind profiles the people who took the independent movement from obscurity to the Oscars, most notably Sundance founder Robert Redford and Harvey Weinstein, who with his brother, Bob, made Miramax an indie powerhouse.
Today Sundance is the most important film festival this side of Cannes, and Miramax has become an industry giant. Likewise, the directors who emerged from the independent movement, such as Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh, and David O. Russell, are now among the best-known directors in Hollywood. Not to mention the actors who emerged with them, like Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Ethan Hawke, and Uma Thurman.
Candid, penetrating, and controversial, Down and Dirty Pictures is a must-read for anyone interested in the film world and where it's headed.
Customer Reviews:
Interesting at first, then gets repetitive and boring.......2006-07-24
Mr Biskind's previous book, "Easy Riders, Raging Bulls" was far better, simply because the people he wrote about (directors like Friedkin, Scorsese, Altman, etc.) were more interesting people and filmmakers. I never had the feeling that the author really cared about the movies he was writing about. This book is really about Miramax and Harvey Weinstein and once you've understood that Harvey Weinstein is a savvy producer but also a monster prone to uncontrollable fits of rage, you've understood 70% of the book's content. There are some interesting passages, mainly about Tarantino and Soderbergh, but the same story could have been told in a much shorter form. I often had the impression that the publisher badly wanted a 400 pages book, even if 250 pages would have been more than enough.
Gossipy history of '90s movies.......2006-04-28
In Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, Peter Biskind chronicled the history of movie-making in the 1970s (or more specifically, in the period spanned by the two movies in his title). In simple terms, this was a period of good moviemaking, when the studios, desperate for success, allowed greater creativity; such big names as Scorcese, Coppola and Spielberg came out of this period. The end of this era began with Jaws and Star Wars, which made the studios focus more heavily on blockbusters and be less willing to take chances.
Down and Dirty Pictures is the follow-up to Easy Riders, focusing on the independent movie movement of the 1990s. An introductory section discusses the 1980s, making that decade seem creatively arid compared to the eras before and after it. By the end of the `80s, the studios were still obsessed with the big moneymakers, but there was a burgeoning independent film movement that was producing the daring (sometimes good, sometimes bad) movies that the studios wouldn't touch. The bulk of the book deals with the rise and (sort of) fall of the independents.
Easy Riders dealt primarily with the creative people, particularly the directors who defined the `70s "New Hollywood" movement; Down and Dirty Pictures shifts the focus to the producers, perhaps appropriate as it deals with the money-obsessed `80s and `90s (actually all decades are money-obsessed, it's just that some eras are more blatant in their obsession). There are no real heroes in this book, but there are villains, especially Miramax's Harvey Weinstein whose dubious business practices, tendency to demand excessive edits (he received a nickname of Harvey Scissorhands) and volatile temper make him an ideal bad guy. There are other villains too: Harvey's brother Bob, and to a much lesser extent, Robert Redford. The heart of the book is on Miramax, however, and its story is the story of the independent movement. There is a secondary story with Redford and the Sundance Film Festival, but Biskind seems to lose interest in this topic, and it quickly fades more or less into the background.
There are certain loose parallels that can be drawn between the two books. As Easy Rider marked the unofficial beginning of the New Hollywood movement, so did the Independent movement start with Sex, Lies and Videotape. Both periods would have movies, that while top-notch themselves, would also present major threats: Star Wars, as noted before, would really kickstart the idea of the blockbuster, forcing the studios to pay big money to seek big paydays; Pulp Fiction would really push independent movies into the mainstream, creating that same desire for the blockbuster. If, however, Biskind defines Raging Bull as the unofficial end of New Hollywood, there is no similar end for the Independents. They remain, but Miramax, like the pigs in Animal Farm, has changed so much that it now closely resembles the very entities that it once rebelled against.
This is all intriguing stuff, of which I'm providing only a crude summary. Overall, Biskind does a good job, but sometimes reading him is like studying something through a flawed piece of glass. None of the angles give you the true picture, but if you combine all the views, you get something approaching reality. So much of the book is based on interviews (each with their own biases and contradictions) that many of the accounts within must be taken with a grain of salt. Adding to this is Biskind's own opinions, which pepper the book and remove the objectivity that a book on this topic would benefit by. And there are also little flaws, in particular misspellings of names (such as Jennifer "Anniston") and an incomplete index, but these may be more the fault of the publisher than Biskind. Overall, however, this is a good book and an entertaining read for movie fans who want to know what goes on behind the scenes.
NOT REALLY DOWN, NOT REALLY DIRTY.......2006-01-29
Title is misleading if you are expecting a behind the closet door revelation of Independent Film Makers. That said, interesting read, with some new pertinent facts or fables that I had not heard before. My rating - a good read if you are really interested in film and how the Industry has changed so much since the days when the Majors dictated what we saw. No Jack Warner or DFZ here! But perhaps mores the pity.
Excellent follow up to Easy Riders, Raging Bulls.......2005-12-01
In my opinion Easy Riders, Raging Bulls is the best book ever written about film and while this book never quite matches it, it is a very good book in its own right. It tackles the rise (and in Biskind's view fall) of independent film making concentrating on Robert Redford (and the Sundance festival); Harvey and Bob Weinstein (and their company Mirimax) along with a host of film makers and actors including Quentin Tarantino, Stephen Soderbergh, Kevin Smith, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and many others along the way.
Told in much the same style as Easy Riders, Raging Bulls it is a wild mixture of serious comment and salacious gossip. Biskind writes beautifully, handling another huge topic with an enormous cast of characters deftly. He is assisted by the fact that many of the players and the films are already well-known to the reader but he has a wonderful talent for the one-line character profile (often a one-line character assassination) and he chooses his quotes well.
It is evitable given his larger than life personality and aggressive business practices that Harvey Weinstein comes to dominate the book in much the same way as the Weinstein brothers have dominated the independent film business. Harvey Weinstein is a fascinating although in many ways deeply repellent character - very aggressive, prone to outbursts of rage, guilty of some very dubious business practices, a man who will shaft someone just because he can - however he is responsible for some of the best films of recent years and at least he loves movies (unlike some of his competitors). In Biskind's view he made the independent film business. Taking it out of its niche and finding a much wider audience but he is also responsible for corrupting it; as Mirimax increasingly became a studio with a more conservative attitude, eschewing rather than courting controversy, and an ever increasing reliance on stars. This has made life much more difficult for genuine independent film makers like John Sayles and Spike Lee who find it very difficult to get funding.
Absolutely fascinating, particularly if you are familiar with the films of the period (or if you want to be reassured that you do not have the worst boss in the world).
Portrait of a bully.......2005-11-16
Peter Biskind's "Down And Dirty Pictures" reflects how much cinema has changed since the golden era of 1970s films chronicled in Biskind's last book "Easy Riders, Raging Bulls." The very subject matter covered in "Down and Dirty" - the rise of the "independent" studios and the Sundance Film Festival - is geared more toward the executive than the cinephile. The movies chronicled in "Easy Riders, Raging Bulls" - "The Godfather Parts I and II," "Chinatown," "The Exorcist," "Taxi Driver," and "Apocalypse Now" tower over "Pulp Fiction," "Good Will Hunting," "Shakespeare In Love" and "Gangs of New York."
And considering the biggest name in the book, Sundance founder Robert Redford, wouldn't submit to an interview, "Down and Dirty" boils down, essentially, to a gossip rag about Miramax Studios - the ascent, the victories, the flaws, the acquisition by Disney, the ugly battles - and its two co-chairmen, brothers Harvey and Bob Weinstein.
The Weinsteins are combination of 1940s studio head, ruthless talent agent and - no other way to put it - spoiled rotten baby. Like Philadelphia Eagles receiver Terrell Owens, they are men whose talents are overshadowed by their sheer need to be loved by everyone, all the time. Victories pale in the shadow of the smallest slights. Biskind accurately portrays - there are enough people on record here to say that he does - the brothers as nothing short of shrewd dictators who have collected lots of trophies but who will, one day, be on the outside looking in.
They have vision, intelligence and the gift of persuasion. They also ride their "favorite" people into the dirt. Others they just treat like the dirt. Biskind recounts tantrum after tantrum, threat after threat, goad after goad. Of course the Weinsteins are successful - they're committed to winning at the cost and detriment of others. While it's revealing to read how the brothers changed the way Oscar campaigns work, they did not change it for the better by stuffing so much marketing down voters throats that they vote Miramax out of sheer saturation. While it's impressive to read how the Weinsteins brought some of the better movies to theaters in the 1990s, it's appalling to see how they treat the talent - aside from Quentin Tarantino - who delivered the art. They bully, cajole, plead, push, prod, stab, clench. Whatever, however, whoever. To a point it is interesting, and then, as Hollywood can be, mind-numbing.
There are good mini-stories within the book. How Matt Damon and Ben Affleck made "Good Will Hunting." How director Wes Craven was almost forced to use a different mask in "Scream." The absurd tale of executives dueling over "Sling Blade" and later "The Apostle." The rise, fall and rise again of Steven Soderbergh is laced throughout the book, and Soderbergh's honesty - about his work and himself - is refreshing. When Biskind actually opens the floor for a philosophical debate about independent studios, Ethan Hawke thoughtfully weighs in. Sundance only emerges in the narrative occasionally; without Redford, I question its existence in the book at all.
Mostly "Down and Dirty" is about the Weinsteins, those who loathe them, and those who make excuses for them. Harvey Weinstein, the more visible and volatile of the two, gave Biskind several interviews, mostly to deny certain events and underline his triumphs. Kevin Smith makes quite a few appearances as a sycophant for Weinstein who can hardly believe he's in the movie business; in one of the book more appalling statements, Smith, who couldn't direct his way out of a paper box, complains that his director of photography on "Dogma" wasn't as talented as he should have been. Tarantino is all id in his interviews, as we've come to expect, but at least he shows a working template for standing up to the Weinsteins.
Biskind tries to end his book a powerful note of failure for Miramax, when "Gangs of New York," the supposed crowning achievement of Martin Scorsese's career, crashes and burns during awards time and at the box office. But Biskind doesn't give the tale nearly enough coverage; it's touched upon and dropped. Unlike "Easy Riders, Raging Bulls," Biskind never settles his narrative long enough to enjoy a topic. He flits from emotional fracture to emotional fracture. The book is not warm or fond of much of anything. In 15 years, maybe the views are a bit different. Maybe, by then, the Weinsteins are no longer on top. Maybe Tarantino is a has-been. Maybe Kevin Smith has finally given it up. Maybe there's more perspective. Maybe there's more of a point to this book.
Book Description
Gen–X ಥxpertߔristan Taormino goes beyond the basics for an edgy and playful book of sex secrets that help adventurous couples take their sex lives a step farther.
From her popular columns and website to her videos and speaking enagagements, Tristan Taormino has been garnering raves for her no–holds–barred straight–talk about sex. As a sex educator, Tristan has listened to thousands of people's most intimate sexual questions. Finally, she's written book to respond to those questions – no matter how taboo – giving honest, useful information that doesn't shy away from sensitive topics. All the basics are covered here, but she also tackles such topics as strap–ons, female ejaculation, the latest in sex toys, incorporating erotica into your sex life, strategies for hitting that elusive G–spot, anal sex for him and her, and BDSM. Tristan's book isn't for men and women looking for generic ৡve better sex' advice. It's for people who already have great sex who want to explore all the ways that they can further enhance their skills and their pleasure. Pucker Up is quite simply an indispensable book for anyone looking for healthy, adventurous, mind–blowing sex.
Download Description
Special Features: This PerfectBound e-book contains: three Adventure Girl adventures: "My Date with Betty Dodson"; "I Came! I Shot!"; "I Go to a Swingers' Party"! A frank and witty tour of modern sexuality from a knowing young "sexpert" who's seen -- and done -- it all. From her popular columns and website to her videos and lecture series, Tristan Taormino has garnered raves for her unabashed straight talk about sex. Now, for the first time in book form, she imparts wisdom gleaned from years of adventurous and informative sexual anthropology. As a sex educator, Tristan has listened to thousands of people's most intimate questions. In Pucker Up, she responds to those queries -- no matter how taboo -- giving honest, useful advice that doesn't shy away from sensitive topics. All the basics are covered here, but Tristan also tackles such topics as strap-ons, female ejaculation, the latest sex toys, erotica and how it can improve your love life, and new strategies for hitting that elusive G-spot. Pucker Up is quite simply an indispensable book for anyone looking for healthy, adventuresome, mind-blowing sex.
Customer Reviews:
Disappointing - a very basic primer.......2005-02-26
From the description, this book sounds like it would be filled with interesting and different information. Instead, it was rather vanilla. You could find all this information just by walking into a toy shop. Nothing new, nothing different, nothing adventurous. Too bad, I was hoping it really would have some new perspectives. The person who wrote it clearly wanted something accessible to the mainstream, but the mainstream probably won't be buying this book and leaving it on their coffee table. I was disappointed - the info like "men will enjoy sex more if they know a woman is totally into it also" is obvious - it is true for women too! The author's attempt to make it more racy by calling it the new "joy of **" (well, another word for sex that starts with an "f") was funny, but other than her occassional crass language, there was nothing saucy or new here. It is probably a good basic primer for any woman who has never bought a toy, her sex is usually missionary, and she is now curious to explore her sexuality, and is written in a humorous and clear manner.
A comprehensive book for its size........2004-08-07
This book is the ideal book every couple should have.Its covers so many topics.Simple,easy to understand format and a few detailed diagrams help this book.
No matter how adventurous you are or aren't then this book will give you ideas to add to your repetoire.Couples can read this book together and gain something from it.This book makes an ideal gift for a spouse(who needs a few hints)or friends.
You will be thanked for buying this book as a gift.
loved it and set me free!.......2004-06-24
great writing, great advice. this is an awesome inro guide to topics like g-spot, role play, multi-orgasmic man, anal sex, basics. i loved the tone of the book, it made me comfortable and made me laugh- but always kept me intereested. not as dull or shallow as other guides i thumbed through in the store.
Pucker Up Baby it's going to be a wild ride!.......2003-12-04
Unlike alot of How to's for the bedroom this book reads like a conversation over coffee and a donut. To say the least, Tristan Taormino writes about what she knows, SEX.
She began her career in sex education at a sex-toy shop in NYC. She honestly tells you all the sexual anthropology she witnessed and then some.
I did find the book refreshing in style and candor. It doesn't read like an ABC123 this is how you do it book, but somewhat like a personal experience from Ms. Taorminos' mouth to your ear. And let me just warn you now, if you dislike harsh slang maybe you should try a more clinical book.
This book covers all the basics any other sex book would but then she covers it with a little kink.
For the most part, this book did a great job with sex tools and toys. Everything you ever wanted to know but couldn't drag yourself into one of those stores to find out is covered. Once you've read the Sex tools and toys chapter of her book you most decidedly want to check out the goods in person just to see if they really exist.
This book also does a great job of demystifing the female G-Spot, female ejaculation, and anal sex. In very plan language with seemingly life experienced knowlege Ms. Taormino tells you like it is.
I did enjoy many sections of this book but it did just skim some topics. I also felt this was a book for boys who like girls and girls who like girls but fell short of addressing girls who like boys.
Over all the book had some great places in it and great ideas but was decidely toned down from Ms. Taormino's usual Village Voice column and therefore could have been much better.
Worth buying if your interested in tools, toys, and the awsome resource guide.
good, simple, real.......2003-10-21
Good book.
Used real language, real information, and real inspiration to put together a great new sex-ed reader for curious/adventurous adults.
I got a lot out of it - and I think that was her point.
Reading the intro to the book really hleped me understand why an outspoken queer woman is stopping and taking the time to write a sex guide that is basically aimed at the non-queer population.
I think she pulled it off great and I appreciate her insight into the common-man's sex life.
Thanks.
Average customer rating:
- This books has saved me alot of pain and suffering
- Cheap Shots Yes, but One Hell of a Great Book!
- Mixed Bag
- Entertainment and Advice
- Very good book by "Animal"
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Cheap Shots, Ambushes, And Other Lessons: A Down And Dirty Book On Streetfighting & Survival
Marc Animal MacYoung
Manufacturer: Paladin Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General | Martial Arts | Individual Sports | Sports | Subjects | Books
General | Sports | Subjects | Books
General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Safety & First Aid | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Reference | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0873644964 |
Book Description
Streetfighting is a down and dirty topic, and the author, an ex-streetfighter, shares his hard-learned lessons here. Want to know how to recognize a mugging setup? How to avoid getting sucker punched? It's all here, as well as tips on bullies, weapons, martial arts vs. streetfighting and more.
Customer Reviews:
This books has saved me alot of pain and suffering.......2007-08-18
As an 18 year old Marine fighting full contact karate in Japan, I picked up a copy of this book looking to discredit it....I mean a guy named "Animal" c'mon...
But what I found was a great if rough read(Marc was just starting as an author then). This is a book by someone who has been there and done that(even the bad things) and was willing to share his life experience and sense of humor.
I learned how fast I was heading down the path to destruction and changed up.
I have since had the opportunity to train with Marc and I can assure you that he is the real deal and a really nice person.
Cheap Shots Yes, but One Hell of a Great Book!.......2007-03-19
Once again, Marc gives you a no-holds barred look at the reality of fighting and surviving on the street. This book is simply loaded with sound principles and easy to learn techniques for making the most of a bad situation. Marc spends a good deal of time discussing the principles behind the techniques and what to look for. I find this information on the principles behind the techniques very useful, and it is usually a very good indicator of a high quality self-defense and/or martial arts book.
Because of the limited amount of space I have to write and post this review, I am only going to hi-light just a few of the many interesting things in this particular book.
Introduction: It is painfully obvious that Marc has had some bad experiences with formal martial arts training and that is too bad. However, one must remember that, "One bad apple doesn't spoil the whole bunch babe." I believe that is either an old parable, or a line from the Jackson 5, if I'm not mistaken. Or it may even be both.
The Foundation: Attitude or Spirit: This can also be summed up as your desire to do whatever you have to do in order to not only survive a violent encounter, but also to come out on top.
Fear and the negative voice in your head: In this section Marc discusses fear and the negative reinforcement training that we receive from the time we are able to crawl until the time you are put into a wooden box.
Difference between fighting and combat: Believe it or not, there is a difference between fighting and combat. Generally speaking, fighting is usually a combination of stupidity and hormones gone amuck. While combat is serious life and death. And yes, sometimes fighting can lead to combat.
Blows: In this section Marc discusses 4 different types of blows and what their designed or intended to do. They are as follows:
Set-ups: These can be (and do include) the boxers jab. These are designed to confuse and create an opening or openings on your opponent so that you can exploit them with heavier more dangerous blows.
Rattlers: These blows hit a little bit harder than an initial set-up blow and are designed to "rattle" the senses of your opponent.
Maimers: These are blows that are designed to do the most damage after initial contact with your opponent has been made. For example; a slap to the side of the head by an open hand that once it hits the head, reaches up and grabs a hold of the ear and rips it off the side of your skull.
N.N.B.R.: I have to chuckle every time I read about N.N.B.R.'s. Not that they are inherently funny, but what the acronym stands for is pretty hilarious. What these blows are designed to do is to put your lights out, nappy time, kissing the canvas, etc. They knock you out!
Punches: Although several good points are brought up in this section, the one that is perhaps the most important is this, "As fast as your punch goes out, it should be just as fast coming back in."
Kicks: Now before I get into the "nuts & bolts" of this section, I have to admit that the subject of kicking is a sore spot with me. Not in the sense of being against it, as a matter of fact it is quite the opposite, but as being totally in favor of kicking as a means of self-defense when the kick is executed correctly, and applied properly. This in itself can be the deciding factor between improving your chances of victory, or total humiliation with a smattering of pain thrown in for good measure.
Here are two important points to remember when reading this section.
a. For the most part, a lot of what Marc says about kicking is correct.
b. However, it is not the kick that is ineffective, but rather the improper application of the kick that is ineffective.
Anger, Bullies, and Berserkers: Marc gives you an extremely good profile of the 3 types of people you are most likely to be confronted by during a self-defense type situation. He also gives you sound advice on how to handle each one of these threats.
Sucker Punches, Low Blows, and Tricks: In this section Marc discusses the theory and principles as well as some myths about cheap shots and so forth. Very informative information that, like the rest of the information in this book, should be stored in the old grey matter.
Weapons: Marc discusses various types of weapons you are likely to encounter and spends a good deal of that time discussing the most common of them all, the knife. He also includes 4 rules for using a weapon that are very sound and should be followed.
Martial Arts vs. Street Fighting: Once again I have to take a bit of an exception with Marc's comparison of PKA (Professional Karate Association) to self-defense. To me, this is like comparing apples to oranges. Although I do understand the comparison he was trying to make. Again I must emphasize that, "One bad apple doesn't spoil the whole bunch babe."
Teachers: A good teacher is worth their weight in gold, just like a bad one is worth their weight in crap.
Like all of Marc's books, this one is straight forward and well worth the price.
Mixed Bag.......2006-12-28
This has some good advice mixed with lots of unnecessary filler.
First, the good:
1. It has lots of valid criticisms of the martial arts and their applicability to self defense such as there is too much emphasis on 'polite fighting' and rules. He makes a good case for why martial arts instructors should have students practice fighting in different environments such as uneven ground, confined spaces such as hallways, different environmental conditions, etc.
2. He defines 'fighting' and 'combat' differently and makes a case for much a much different approach for 'combat' situations.
3. He is very good on discussing environmental awareness and avoiding possible setups by criminals.
Now, the bad:
1. The book is full of braggadocio. If the author has really been in as many fights as he claims, he evidently does not practice what he preaches. His book has lots of information about how to avoid street fights, yet it seems that he boasts about some situation he was in on every other page. The best self defense is avoiding a bad situation. That being the case, MacYoung either is not that great at self defense or else loves storytelling.
2. He is rather crude. It is fine to be realistic, but his language is gutter level throughout the book. It adds nothing and makes him sound like he doesn't have a big enough vocabulary to write without crudity.
3. He uses some goofy terms that he evidently thinks are quite clever but are not commonly known and frankly add nothing to the content. Here are some examples: 'Nighty Nite Bunny Rabbits (NNBR's)' referring to a knockout punch commonly known as a 'haymaker'. Another is 'rattlers' which is a term he uses for a jab like punch. 'PIBU' is another one of his 'homemade' terms that is meaningless to most readers.
Although some of his information is very good, I would recommend finding another book if you're looking for something good on self defense. One that is particularly good is 'Strong On Defense' by Sanford Strong. I believe it is out of print and hard to find, but it excellent.
Entertainment and Advice.......2005-09-25
After reading several of his books, I feel like I've come to know Animal. I'm familiar with some of his old stomping grounds in Ventura and have met the acqaintance of people like him. The real tragedy is that there are areas across the U.S. that breed brash troublemakers who not only put you in the precariouis position of haing to defend yourself with a crude weapon like a knife, but themselves. Many such punks routinely bite off more than they can chew, relegating them to mere predators, and not too smart ones at that.
Animal says it and I've seen it, but the best way to stay out of trouble and avoid the situations he teaches you how to deal with when things have gone too far, is courtesy. I'm sure Animal would never say so in print, but I'm certain he's forced loudmouthed louts into fights when they would rather not have fought because they said or did something that he found to be rude to himself or someone else. One can't be in that crowd without being part of it.
Now, looking back on it, he's realized how senseless it all is. He still commands respect in his circle and under some situations others might find innocuous, he's probably capable of being driven to violence to this day. And if he's known as the author of books, there are probably those who are anxious to take him on.
All this brings not only a wealth of knowledge to his books, but a tremendous sense of the senselessness of violence. Dying for a noble cause--something one believes in--is honorable. Dying because you are piss poor drunk and said the wrong thing to the wrong person is a tragedy that, like AIDS, can be avoided by keeping everything where it belongs.
If you're a yuppie or a retiree, you're probably not going to be in situations Animal describes; however, it's still insightful to see how the psychology of the biker bar stand works. Long hair, bandanas, pony tails, leather jackets, leather armbands, hairy arms, ego and, of course, knives, beer bottles and puke. This is the world you'll be hearing about in Animal's books which are in essence guides to living in his world. When you're done with the entertainment there, pick up a book on the mob and learn how to survive with the Sopranos.
I enjoy Animal's books, but I've never been part of that world and never hope to be. But hey, if you ever find yourself living in a post-nuclear world with Mad Max, it might come in handy.
Very good book by "Animal".......2005-09-22
Well,
Senshido instructor Richard Dimitri speaks highly of Marc "Animal" MacYoung's books, and like always, Rich is right.
Animal's books contain excellent tips about how to detect violence and deal with it effectively using no nononsense techniques.
Marc talks about many important things in his book, such as the importance of awareness, the difference between a striker and a maimer, real stories that either happened to him or to acquaintances regarding violence, among other things.
If you're into Real world self defense, not flashy Martial Arts, get this book, and others by this author. I know I will.
I highly recommend getting "In Total Defense Of The Self", by Richard Dimitri. It just takes your training to the next dimension and enhances your survivability a hundredfold
Average customer rating:
- So powerful and insightful....
- 30 Years too Late
- Dr. Auerbach hits nail on the head!
- very eye-opening!
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Irritating the Ones You Love: The Down and Dirty Guide to Better Relationships
Jeff Auerbach
Manufacturer: Cedar Fort
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Interpersonal Relations | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Love & Romance | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Mate Seeking | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
jp-unknown2 | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 1555176046 |
Book Description
Find the "missing ingredient" in your relationships
Your relationships will improve as you learn how to:
• Find the hidden attraction in relationships
• Make reality your best friend when choosing a partner
• Tame your pet peeves
• Tell the difference between "truth" and "fiction"
• Discover tools to stop repeating the same mistakes
The author also shares his Three Jars Technique, a format that will help you easily identify building blocks and sources of irritation in your relationships.
Customer Reviews:
So powerful and insightful...........2004-08-10
After reading more then my share of relationship books, this one really clarifies the core issues that haunt us throughout every relationship we embark on unless you deal with some internal issues that were programmed within us during our early years.
Not only does it help you pinpoint the major issues haunting you or your significant other, but it also shows you how to diffuse what is most likely a ticking time bomb. I recommend this book to all my friends.
30 Years too Late.......2002-11-04
I wish that I had read a book like this 30 years ago. The author gives reasons why people argue over seemingly trivial things, and he also provides valuable insight into how individuals should go about looking for a partner in the first place. I strongly recommend this book, especially for those who are not yet married and who want to go into a long term relationship with their eyes wide open. This includes unerstanding both the conscious and unconscious reasons we chose the mates we do.
Dr. Auerbach hits nail on the head!.......2002-10-10
This book identifies and analyzes the things we all need to know in conducting relationships! It is insightful and clever and a must read for anyone in or contemplating a relationship. The Jars technique is an easy and comprehensible way to look at oneself and one's partner and identify what make us tick! THe book is well written and humorously articulate, as well!
very eye-opening!.......2002-09-27
this book has changed my whole view of relationships! it's written in plain language, while providing deep insight into the patterns we all go thru. in many ways, the information is about things we all know, but we only know is as "sprinkles"- this is the 1st place i've seen it as a solid entity. very concrete and systematic, w/ lots of entertaining stories i could relate to- great book!
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