Book Description
The candid memoir of one of the most effective, controversial figures in modern politics
Very few people are on the fence about Tom DeLay, who was nicknamed "the Hammer" for his hard-charging, take-no-prisoners style of leadership. Liberals despise him, but for conservatives he's a hero—one of the architects of the 1994 Republican revolution. For twelve years afterward, he was the driving force of the Republican majority in the House of Representatives.
In this eagerly awaited memoir, DeLay will share fascinating stories from his entire career, starting with his early, raucous days in Texas; his personal conversion to Christ and how that changed his personal and political life; his work with other rebels to sow the seeds of the shocking 1994 takeover; and his ascension to the top leadership in the House. He offers a behind-the-scenes view of the most talked-about stories of the past decade, involving George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Newt Gingrich, and many others.
DeLay will also discuss his victories against the odds with the slimmest of margins; his passionate dedication to abused and neglected children; and his battle to fend off a ten-year barrage of malicious and frivolous allegations of wrongdoing, which ultimately led to his decision to resign from Congress.
Perhaps most importantly, DeLay will unveil a blueprint agenda for the country's next group of elected leaders, and show conservatives how to make it a reality.
Customer Reviews:
Slogan Slinging Slop.......2007-09-30
I picked this book up on a whim at my local library. I had read a couple of politically oriented books at that time, one from a moderate republican's perspective and another from a more liberal perspective, so I thought it would be interesting to get insight into the thinking of the modern conservative.
I'm sure there are good intellectual arguments for the core principles of the modern conservative movement (on a surface level I tend to agree with a good number of them), but don't look for them in this book--they aren't there. While Mr. DeLay does list the core principles of the conservative movement from his perspective, he doesn't discuss them on an intellectual level. Instead, he resorts to the type of sloganeering that infects so much of our modern political discourse (convervatives and liberals alike).
Mr. DeLay starts by sharing his experience on a layover in Havana in 1959. He attributes the nasty treatment his family endured as leftist tyranny and asserts that liberalism in the US is just a precursor to the same thing. From there DeLay states what seem to be at the core of his belief system: "There is a God and...there is absolute moral truth" followed by "Human life is not about the state but about God and his unfolding will for every individual."
In the second chapter Mr. DeLay lists his political manifesto. It starts with his religious beliefs followed with some issue-specific agendas (e.g. abortion should be illegal, we should abolish certain government agencies, Congress should be able to overule the Supreme Court, etc). There wasn't any discussion, just a list.
Like many politicians at both extremes, Mr. DeLay's actions in congress at times violated his own principles when the outcome of an issue didn't suit him. For example, on page 5 Mr. DeLay says that state and local governments that are closest to the people have the greatest authority to shape their lives. In the case of Terri Shiavo, however, Mr. DeLay was eager to usurp the authority of the state government when the court upheld, after years and years of appeals, that the feeding tube should be removed from Terri Shiavo. A look at Mr. DeLay's voting record shows many instances of him voting on legislation in ways to contradict his stated core principles. Mr. DeLay seems to be a "the end justifies the means" kind of thinker.
Mr. DeLay makes some self-assessments in his book that I think were pretty accurate. He says that he isn't particularly introspective, he says he isn't an "idea" person, he states that he isn't very articulate, and he indicates he is a slow learner. I found myself agreeing with all of those statements when I finished the book.
The best part of this book was Mr. DeLay's description of how he worked the system to get legislation passed. Unfortunately it wasn't very detailed. I followed up my reading of the book with some wikipedia reading on the subject and got much more useful information.
The rest of the book rarely rises above sloganeering: liberals are evil people who want to take away our freedoms and destroy America. I can't recommend this book to liberals who are interested in understanding the intellectual underpinnings of modern conservative thought, and I can't recommend the book for conservatives either--they've heard the slogans before just like everyone else. I can, however, recommend the book as an example of the way shallow thinking and use selective evidence has distorted our political system. While this book is an example from the Right, there are plenty of examples from the Left too.
In the end, I'm glad I didn't spend money on it, but I'm disappointed I wasted time on it.
Zero Stars is more likely!.......2007-09-23
What a piece of worthless flotsum. Those that would part with the money to read this are probably of the mindset to enjoy it but for the rest it is simplistic, mind-numbing gibberish written by a man adept in pandering to the defective. I picked it up at a local library, curious if he had any insights- he doesn't!
The side of the story you don't hear.......2007-08-27
This book is an interesting read, detailing DeLay's life and accomplishments. Naturally there are those who hate him, but very few seem willing to give him the same benefit of the doubt that Democrats regularly seem to receive. Whether you like him or not, whether you think he is guilty or not, I would at least recommend taking the time to read his side of the story. For those who are really interested in knowing the WHOLE story, this book is for you.
Delay retreated AND surrendered.......2007-08-14
This book from the guy who RESIGNED his office in disgrace, handed his leadership post to the democrats, and ran away from Texas.
No Retreat, No Surrender.......2007-08-11
Tom Delay truly explains how washington works--for better and, unfortunately, for the worst. It's really a shame that going to D.C. seems to ruin even the best people.
Book Description
#1 National Bestseller!
The amazing inside story about a gambling ring of M.I.T.
students who beat the system in Vegas -- and lived to tell how.
Robin Hood meets the Rat Pack when the best and the brightest of M.I.T.'s math students and engineers take up blackjack under the guidance of an eccentric mastermind. Their small blackjack club develops from an experiment in counting cards on M.I.T.'s campus into a ring of card savants with a system for playing large and winning big. In less than two years they take some of the world's most sophisticated casinos for more than three million dollars. But their success also brings with it the formidable ire of casino owners and launches them into the seedy underworld of corporate Vegas with its private investigators and other violent heavies.
Filled with tense action, high stakes, and incredibly close calls, Bringing Down the House is a nail-biting read that chronicles a real-life Ocean's Eleven. It's one story that Vegas does not want you to read.
Download Description
"It's Friday night and you're on a red-eye to the city of sin. Strapped to your chest is half a million dollars; in your overnight bag is another twenty-five thousand in blackjack chips; and your wallet holds ten fake IDs. As soon as you land in Las Vegas, you are positive you are being investigated and followed. To top it all off, the IRS is auditing you, someone has been going through your mail -- and you have a multivariable calculus exam on Monday morning. Welcome to the world of an exclusive group of audacious MIT math geniuses who legally took the casinos for over three million dollars -- while still finding time for college keg parties, football games, and final exams. In the midst of the go-go eighties and nineties, a group of overachieving, anarchistic MIT students joined a decades-old underground blackjack club dedicated to counting cards and beating the system at major casinos around the world. While their classmates were working long hours in labs and libraries, the blackjack team traveled weekly to Las Vegas and other glamorous gambling locales, with hundreds of thousands of dollars duct-taped to their bodies. Underwritten by shady investors they would never meet, these kids bet fifty thousand dollars a hand, enjoyed VIP suites and other upscale treats, and partied with showgirls and celebrities. Handpicked by an eccentric mastermind -- a former MIT professor and an obsessive player who had developed a unique system of verbal cues, body signals, and role-playing -- this one ring of card savants earned more than three million dollars from corporate Vegas, making them the object of the casinos' wrath and eventually targets of revenge. Here is their inside story, revealing their secrets for the first time.
Customer Reviews:
Non Fiction.......2007-09-03
A look at the ever growing sophistication of the duel between casinos and the professional card counters who realise that they do, indeed, have an edge at blackjack.
Technology and increased surveillance is slowly and surely bringing this to an end. Where it doesn't, there is still the good old beat up the winners technique if you fancy try it in Uzbekistan or somewhere.
Great Book.......2007-08-04
If you like Vegas, Money, and an awesome time, read this book. I read it in 2 days, and I hardly read.
Dad's fathers day gift.......2007-07-22
Amazon website wouldn't let me type in a zip code; website defaulted the zip based on city name and the zip was incorrect. As a result, package couldn't be delivered. I was issued a full refund (I think).
Fiction.......2007-07-19
A reviewer below who gave this book 5 stars noted that it is a dramatization based on real events. There is a label for those types of books--fiction. It bothers me tremendously that this book is billed as non-fiction and was listed on non-fiction bestseller lists. As soon as it became obvious to me that the book was fiction (which should happen very quickly if you approach the book with any sort of a critical perspective), it became difficult for me to enjoy the book. If you can suspend disbelief and are interested in a story based on events the general framework of which I'm sure are true, then you will probably find this to be a quick, entertaining read.
I get it.......2007-07-08
This is an interesting story, but it would have been better as a feature article in a magazine, not a 257 page book. It was a ballsy thing for these geeks to do, but we didn't need to hear about every trip, and every close call. And where were the serious consequences besides getting banned from casinos, and audited by the IRS? I kept waiting for some real trouble for Kevin.
Average customer rating:
- Calculations are only as good as your numbers
- Pants on fire?
- Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
- Very Interesting
- History as Science Fiction
|
History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
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Similar Items:
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History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
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History: Fiction or Science? Astronomical methods as applied to chronology. Ptolemy's Almagest. Chronology III
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Discovering the Mysteries of Ancient America: Lost History And Legends, Unearthed And Explored
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Before the Pharaohs: Egypt's Mysterious Prehistory
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They Cast No Shadows: A Collection of Essays on the Illuminati, Revisionist History, and Suppressed Technologies
ASIN: 2913621058 |
Book Description
Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.
Customer Reviews:
Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03
Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.
Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19
Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09
There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.
For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.
Very Interesting.......2007-03-07
It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.
History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10
Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.
I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.
Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.
Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.
I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.
This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.
Average customer rating:
- A true artist.
- Through the Looking Glass
- Light and Fun
- Review of R. Mesnier's book on serving for 25 years as the White House pastry chef
- self-serving
|
All the Presidents' Pastries: Twenty-Five Years in the White House, A Memoir
Roland Mesnier , and
Christian Malard
Manufacturer: Flammarion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Similar Items:
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White House Chef: Eleven Years, Two Presidents, One Kitchen
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Dessert University: More Than 300 Spectacular Recipes and Essential Lessons from White House Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier
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Real Life at the White House: 200 Years of Daily Life at America's Most Famous Residence
ASIN: 208030559X
Release Date: 2007-02-13 |
Book Description
This extraordinary success-story-told by the hero himself-of a young French pastry chef who climbed his way to the top, embodies the great American dream. After working at the Savoy in London, the George V in Paris, the Princess in Bermuda, and the Homestead in Virginia, Roland Mesnier took on the job of a lifetime as pastry chef to the White House. He provides behind-the-scenes insight into the characters, tastes, and obsessions of the five presidents and first ladies he served during his 25 years in Washington. Having witnessed major world events from the hub of the world's superpower, Mesnier has unique perspective on both crises and celebrations. He recounts stories such as Carter's incessant battle for the return of American hostages in Tehran, the aftermath of the attempt to assassinate Reagan, Bush senior's doubts after the war in Kuwait, and the shock of September 11. He uncovers intimate details such as Mrs. Reagan's bad moods and Prince Charles's embarrassment at not knowing how to use a tea bag. Fiercely loyal to each of the first families, Mesnier's bipartisan message is positive and inspirational. Twelve easy-to-follow recipes include the favorite desserts of presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush.
Customer Reviews:
A true artist........2007-09-02
When I checked this book out from the library, my intention was only to check out the recipes in the back. But I started reading Roland Mesnier's life story, and found myself totally engrossed in it. What an inspirational life story this is.... Mr. Mesnier grew up poor in France, and through talent, determination, and a lot of hard work, he became probably one of the best pastry chefs on the planet.
Several things stood out for me in this book. The first was how interesting his early life was.. how he grew up with basically nothing, became an apprentice, perfected his craft, and continually pushed himself to become better and better--even during his later days at the White House. He never once rested on his laurels, although he easily could have.
The second thing that stood out for me was how he regarded each of the "first families" he worked for. He clearly grew very attached to whoever he worked for, and through his eyes I was able to see the various Presidents and First Ladies as the normal human beings they are. That's an interesting perspective you don't usually see.
Thirdly, I could barely keep my mouth from watering while reading about all the amazing desserts that were prepared over Mr. Mesnier's 40-something year career! Note: don't read this if you are hungry.
One last note: One of the reviewers mentioned a left-leaning slant to Mr. Mesnier's politics. I simply did not see that. In fact, he seemed particularly attached to the family of Bush Sr. And when the Iraq war was looming, he was in full support of it, so much so that he couldn't believe that his home country of France was against it. There are many other examples, but the point is, Mr. Mesnier was very loyal to whomever he served, whether Democrat or Republican.
Through the Looking Glass.......2007-07-02
In All the Presidents' Pastries, Roland Mesnier provides a glimpse into a hidden world
of White House power through the eyes of its renowned former pastry chef. For those of
us outside the concrete street barriers of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and the cocktail
circuits of policy wonks, pundits, and political celebrity, his memoir makes
us feels privy to select secrets of the rich and famous even as he respectfully shrouds
prominent indiscretions and missteps. They were there, and no doubt they would offer
tantalizing fodder for curious gossip mongers. Instead Mesnier's enthusiastic recollections
of his White House adventures read as delectably as President's Reagan's favorite
chocolate mousse tastes rich, but without the bite and heat of the crystallized ginger
melded within the mix. For those seeking to recreate executives' favorites, there is a
small collection of recipes at the end of the book.
Similar to Mesnier's first successful book, Dessert University, one discovers within the pages of All the President's Pastries, a mind that thrives on continual challenge, creates success through extensive thought and preparation, and moves on when an occasional snag clutters his mindscape. In preparation for Tony Blair's White House visit in 1998, Mesnier envisioned London's parliamentary clock, Big Ben, as the dessert's stunning chocolate centerpiece. Unaware that logistics and time would become formidable obstacles to execution of the Big Ben replica, he "decided to take the bull by the horns and invent a new way of molding chocolate." In his characteristic humility, Mesnier shares that he and his staff "pulled off this minor tour de force thanks to a great deal of extremely fast work"; therefore, saving themselves from a metaphorical Go Straight to the Tower of London jail card.
I hope you all will enjoy reading Mesnier's Upstairs/Downstairs disclosure of White House anecdotes to discover the convivial yet complex Roland I know.
Light and Fun.......2007-06-01
I enjoyed reading about the pastries that were prepared in the White House. It was very light hearted reading and I thought that Mesnier's life journey from a small village in France to the White House made for good reading. When I noticed that there were glossy colored pages in the middle of the book, I became very excited. All along he states that the desserts he prepares are photographed. Yet, most of the photographs in the center of the book were of the presidents and their wives. Every glossy page could have been a picture of a delectable delight. What a disappointment.
Review of R. Mesnier's book on serving for 25 years as the White House pastry chef.......2007-05-28
Roland Mesnier's book is on his career as a pastry chef, from his early years working in France, Germany, England and Bermuda and culminating as serving for 25 years as the White House pastry chef was a good read. He is a talented and driven man. I enjoyed the book for its historical context (the presidents and their families and significant events that took place during their presidencies) to detailed descriptions of his fantastic dessert creations.
self-serving.......2007-05-22
After reading the excellent White House Chef, I was looking forward to reading this chef's account of his time in the White House. I found him to be a self-serving braggard and at the end of the day this book was a waste of time. He also made no bones about his political leanings.
Book Description
Advance praise for Sharehouse Confidential "John Blesso is the maestro of his Fire Island orchestra, madly conducting the participants in his hedonistic social experiment. It's an entertaining punch that connects, making it surely the best beach read of summer or, better yet, the television successor to Sex and the City."
-
Graham Murphy, McSweeneys
Sharehouse Confidential: Sex, Drugs, and the Single Life Inside an Epicurean Beach House, an uproarious memoir, recounts the adventures of author John Blesso and two-dozen New York City singles living under the same communal roof.
Desperate for distraction after shelving his seven hundred-page novel, Blesso renovates a seven-bedroom beach house on Fire Island, and serves up full-throttle epicurean living. Blesso and his sharehouse members, friends and strangers alike, madly search for a soul mate-or maybe just another Saturday night escapade. He tries to observe rule number one: don't hook up with other house members. But when the late-night jacuzzi sessions start bubbling, leaving only bikini bottoms standing guard, rules are easily broken.
Achingly funny, Sharehouse Confidential charts the battle between body and soul as Blesso strives to make sense of post-9/11 America.
Customer Reviews:
Not what you're thinking...........2007-07-26
I was expecting a completely fluffy book about a bunch of jerks. What I found was excellent writing that was humorous, contemptous of the Bush white house (extra special bonus!), and dedicated to painting a picture of a group of people that love food, drink, a good laugh, and a beautiful view. Makes you want to be in the house, no matter your age...
What happens next??.......2007-06-01
This is a story in need of a sequel. Will John become the next big fish in the little pond of Kismet? What will happen when Bush leaves the White House, the drugs start fading, and now matter how old he gets the girls stay the same age? Could the main character of this book run far or fast enough to leave the summer of 2005?
This book was a good, light read. The author's voice translated onto the page in a casual way that coaxed me into immediately trusting him as a narrator, despite his rakish reputation. Trust is needed in a story with so many aspects. Blesso ties in the story lines nicely. You can tell the rhythm Blesso writes in is the rhythm he speaks in as some of the paragraphs were obviously stories honed through countless tellings long before they reached the page. On one hand I appreciated the tact he showed his friends and lovers but I would have enjoyed more emotional depth on all sides; as is, I found it hard to keep the characters straight based on their physical descriptions. Sharehouse Confidential could have been meatier, but it must have been hard to flesh out characters you only get to know over a few weekends. It was nice to hear about an American struggling with our role in the war--boiled down, this is more than just a "summer read". I would have enjoyed another 100 pages.
I'd recommend this book to my friends and I would definitely buy the sequel to find out what becomes of the hardest working man in sharehouse business.
Not your mother's beach book.......2007-04-23
While I could easily describe Sharehouse Confidential as a great beach read, I wouldn't be doing the book, or John Blesso, justice if I stopped there. True, it has the qualities of a great beach read--it's sexy, funny, and breezy. But John's candor and honesty also give this memoir a refreshingly raw feel that we rarely get with all of the glossiness that has become our culture--kind of like Kismet itself.
Buy this book and plan to read for a long stretch. You won't be able to put it down until the end--and then you'll be disappointed that it's over.
Just delicious!.......2007-04-20
A great memoir is more than the story being told - it's so much about the voice of the author, and right from the introduction, one can't help but love the sound of John Blesso's voice - smart and funny and thoughtful and sexy. The fact that he tells a great story makes this book impossible to put down unfinished.
And it is a fun read - clever and flirty and indulgent. All-weekend parties, covert hook-ups, table dancing, where the participants are real and interesting and funny and sometimes brilliant, and sometimes flawed. It's also strikingly poignant at moments - the idyllic life as an escape from scary times in a scary world. Food and drink and sex and community as counter-programming to the fear and hate. There's stuff that makes you think, and stuff that makes you laugh. He really strikes a wonderful balance, and it just makes for a highly enjoyable read.
I read this book at breakneck speed, at times literally laughing out loud (amusing to my fellow commuters, I'm sure). The included recipes at the end are an added bonus, though I barely skimmed them before turning right back to page one to read it all over again.
Like the salacious and decadent meals that title each chapter, Sharehouse Confidential is absolutely delicious.
More than a guilty pleasure.......2007-04-14
First things first...the book is a delight. I was enthralled and captivated inside of three sentences, and based on the title and subject matter, it seemed destined to be a book that I would recommend to others with the verbal headline "it's a guilty pleasure." To my surprise, while the elements that often serve as the building blocks to a guilty pleasure (they are right there in the title) are certainly in effect, this is a beautifully written memoir of a man on a journey. For those looking for an infectious romp, the hedonism is rampant and plentiful; though at it's core, the author paints an intimate and vivid picture of the path that led him to buy and maintain this summer haven. His courage, his fears, his setbacks, and his ever present willingness to wear life like a loose garment really had me rooting for him. As each page would turn (and they turn fast!), I found myself enraptured as John attempts (not always successfully) to ride the line between headmaster and housemember. Not to mention, the details of what it takes to run a house like this one gave me a newfound respect for anyone who takes on such a project. The house, the participants, and the events are described in such masterly detail; I will say this: I have been sober for ten years....I have a wife and two kids...and I still want to join John Blesso's sharehouse. Do yourself a favor....buy this book!
Book Description
A Year in Provence meets Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House in this lively and entertaining account of a couple's year building their dream house in Mexico.
In 2004, Barry Golson wrote an award-winning article for AARP magazine about Mexican hot spots for retirees longing for a lifestyle they couldn't afford in the United States. A year later, he and his wife Thia were taking part in the growing trend of retiring abroad. They sold their Manhattan apartment, packed up their SUV, and moved to one of those idyllic hot spots, the surfing and fishing village of Sayulita on Mexico's Pacific coast.
With humor and charm, Golson details the year he and his wife spent settling into their new life and planning and building their dream home. Sayulita -- population 1,500, not including stray dogs or pelicans -- is a never-dull mixture of traditional Mexican customs and new, gringo-influenced change. Before long, the Golsons had been absorbed into the rhythms and routines of village life: they adopted a pair of iguanas named Iggy Pop and Iggy Mom, got sick and got cured by a doctor who charged them sixteen dollars a visit, made lasting friends with Mexicans and fellow expatriates, and discovered the skill and artistry of local craftsmen.
But their daily lives were mostly dedicated to the difficult yet satisfying process of building their house. It took them almost six months to begin building -- nothing is simple (or speedy) in Mexico -- and incredibly, they completed construction in another six. They engaged a Mexican architect, builder, and landscape designer who not only built their home but also changed their lives; encountered uproariously odd bureaucracy; and ultimately experienced a lifetime's worth of education about the challenges and advantages of living in Mexico.
The Golsons lived (and are still living) the dream of many -- not only of going off to a tropical paradise but also of building something beautiful, becoming a part of a new world, making lasting friends, and transforming their lives. As much about family and friendship as about house-building, Gringos in Paradise is an immensely readable and illuminating book about finding a personal paradise and making it a home.
Customer Reviews:
I couldn't have said it better myself!.......2007-08-16
Having just completed out first year living in a different small seaside town in Mexico, I can attest to the authenticity of Barry and Thia's experiences and appreciate their outlook on living in Mexico. I found myself following my husband around, reading passages out loud to him, i.e., "You've got to hear this!" Golson does an especially good job of describing the naivete with which they (and we) began the experience and the incremental ways they learned to love a side of Mexico you can only experience as a resident.
The hopes and the frustrations involved in building a home here are accurately and humorously described. But for me, the real value of this book is the unpretentious way he describes the development of their deep affection for Mexico and Mexicans. My husband and I have reached the same conclusions, through a series of experiences that are very similar to theirs.
If you are considering a move to Mexico, this is an instructive read - not so much for the information about homebuilding (although it IS helpful and accurate) but more for the story of acclimation to a culture that is SO much more different than you could ever imagine.
Many authors have taken advantage of the growing trend to move south and we have read most of them. Along with Don Adam's book (Head for Mexico), this is the one I would recommend.
One of the best of its genre.......2007-08-14
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Golson writes in a witty, down-to-earth style that engages the reader and leaves you wanting more. So many of the "American moves to paradise" authors come off as either arrogant or complaining know-it-alls. Barry Golson is neither, and his zest for participating in the very life of his adopted second home is refreshing. A great read.
An Epic Mexican Feast That's Wonderfully Nourishing ..........2007-07-23
...and has something for everyone. I can't say enough good things about this book: the writing style is unfailingly crisp, droll, and punchy; it is a love paean to Mexico, its people, culture, and history; it is a wonderful story of a 'boomer' couple's marriage and resolution of the quandary aging couples face over what to do when the nest is empty, but the nest egg is modest and forced retirement looms. It is filled with lots of wisdom about home building and expat living. It builds up hilarious suspense over whether or not the author's 90-year-old father and a bevy of other relatives, all invited to celebrate Thanksgiving at the not-quite-finished house, will be forced to improvise out back for lack of operable plumbing. Even if you're not interested in Mexico, retirement, or homebuilding, you will be utterly charmed by this stranger-in-a-strange-land saga that every human faces sooner or later.
Mexican House Building How-To in story format...sort of.......2007-07-04
This is a great story of how an American couple built their Mexican dream house in Sayulita, Mexico near Puerto Vallarta. While it's not a Mexican house building how-to, it does give you an idea of what you'll have to go through to build an authentic Mexican house on your own. Hopefully, you'll have a good experience as this couple did and not like the one described in God and Mr. Gomez.
Enjoyable read.......2007-05-21
Great story on early retirement in Mexico, especially the pros and cons of buying a home south of the border.
Average customer rating:
- Lively vignettes and fine recipes.
- A Special Guest
- A wonderful read and great look into the daily routine of White House living
- needs some help
- White House Chef: Eleven Years, Two Presidents, One Kitchen
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White House Chef: Eleven Years, Two Presidents, One Kitchen
Walter Scheib , and
Andrew Friedman
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0471798428 |
Book Description
"An engaging book about life at the Executive Mansion. . . . Hillary Clinton had charged this fiercely competitive, meticulously organized chef with bringing 'what's best about American food, wine, and entertaining to the White House.' His sophisticated contemporary food was generally considered some of the best ever served there."
—Marian Burros, New York Times
White House Chef
Join Walter Scheib as he serves up a taste—in stories and recipes—of his eleven years as White House chef under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
Scheib takes readers along on his whirlwind adventure, from his challenging audition process right up until his controversial departure. He describes his approach to meals ranging from the intimate (rooftop parties and surprise birthday celebrations for the Clintons; Tex-Mex brunches for the Bushes) to his creative approach to bringing contemporary American cuisine to the "people's house" (including innovative ways to serve state dinners for up to seven hundred people and picnics and holiday menus for several thousand guests).
Scheib goes beyond the kitchen and his job as chef. He shares what it is like to be part of President Clinton's motorcade (the "security bubble") and inside the White House during 9/11, revealing how he first evacuates his staff and then comes back to fix meals for hundreds of hungry security and rescue personnel. Staying cool under pressure also helps Scheib in other aspects of his job, such as withstanding the often-changing "temperature" of the White House and satisfying the culinary sensibilities of two very different first families.
Customer Reviews:
Lively vignettes and fine recipes........2007-09-02
Walter Scheib provides stories and recipes of some eleven years as White House chef under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, so anticipate a collection which is far more than your usual cookbook - and which will appeal to collections strong in culinary history and presidential trivia. Scheib was hired by Hillary Clinton in 1994 to become White House chef and faced taking an outdated kitchen focused on traditional French cuisine and making it a showcase for modern American foods. His memoir embraces some eleven years of culinary history at the White House under two different administrations and pairs original recipes with accounts of Presidential family encounters, making for both lively vignettes and fine recipes.
A Special Guest.......2007-07-03
My husband and I own the Genesee Country Inn in Mumford, New York. Walter Scheib, the former White House Executive Chef, stayed with us while he attended and spoke at the "Hail to the Chief" fundraiser at the Genesee Country Village and Museum. Mr. Scheib has a plethora of fanscinating stories of life in the White House and especially in the White House kitchen. His eleven years serving two presidents is revealed in this "cookbook" filled with stories about living and working in the WH kitchen. From Chesela's favorite cookies to the First Ladies luncheons, Mr. Scheib takes you behind the scenes to what it is like to cook for the most powerful leaders in the world. This is a must read for anyone who enjoys cooking and kitchen poitics.
A wonderful read and great look into the daily routine of White House living.......2007-06-05
Scheib has given us a pretty good look into the life of a White House chef under two administrations: one (the Clintons) that really wanted to make the White House into a place of entertainment and a place to show off America's best foods, and one that, well, isn't interested in that.
The recipes are good, interesting, and worth the cost of the book as well.
But what I find most interesting in the book, and what I was most hoping for when I ordered it, was a look at the non-flashy daily grind of life in the White House, and Scheib provides us many anecdotes, from Bill Clinton ordering huge steaks when his wife was away, to George Bush popping his head into the kitchen after a run and asking "What's for lunch?"
I enjoyed the stories of the giant dinners and elegant soirees, but it was the daily stuff I found most interesting: where the First Families enjoyed eating, their comfort foods, Chelsea Clinton making cookies with friends, Chelsea's first adult-style evening of entertaining, Scheib fighting with the purchasing staff to get better quality produce, that Bush likes his toasted cheese sandwiches cut at an angle, how the White House staff fill the elevator at lunch time making it difficult for the chef to get food to the president while still hot, the personalities of different people, and so on. While it is a world famous house, with incredibly important stuff going on, it's still a workplace for many with all the personality adventures of a workplace, and it's also home for one family that, for the most part, act like any other family or any other people. That is the aspect of the book I most appreciated, and which I wish had a lot more.
I also appreciate that Scheib refused to dish dirt on either family, or use the book as avenue to embarrass to sensationalize.
While the book is wonderful as it is, I think that a book about more than a decade in the White House deserves a lot more text. It reads much too quickly for subject matter that is this interesting and fascinating. Color photographs would have been more appropriate, too.
"White House Chef" shows some of the excitement of the big state dinners and other large entertainments, but is mostly an intimate look at some of the daily grind of the presidential family and the White House. Although we cannot all be president, we all eat, and so a book looking through the lens of food makes for a compelling read, tying us together on a more human level than just a biography or history book. But it should have been bigger, more in-depth, and with color photographs. Not many people are in a position to write a first-person account about being the chef at the White House. The rarity of that situation, I think, deserves a much more in-depth cover of the experience, and that's why I give this four stars.
needs some help.......2007-05-14
Cookbooks are great as teaching tools, inspirations for new meals, or often just plain interesting reading....this book, teaches and sometimes inspires but it is bland, without color photos to share the chefs excitement, and therefore way overpriced...thumbs down.
White House Chef: Eleven Years, Two Presidents, One Kitchen.......2007-03-25
Don't buy it if you're a Republican. The author can't help getting political as he contrasts the Clinton and Bush White Houses (the Clintons are wonderful, the Bushes not so great). Clintonites will eat it up. Good recipes, okay writing with excellent editing, fine pictures. Independents and hungry non-politicos will give this four stars.
Book Description
Faced with the sale of the century-old family summer house on Cape Cod where he had spent forty-two summers, George Howe Colt returned for one last stay with his wife and children. This poignant tribute to the eleven-bedroom jumble of gables, bays, and dormers that watched over weddings, divorces, deaths, anniversaries, birthdays, breakdowns, and love affairs for five generations interweaves Colt's final visit with memories of a lifetime of summers. Run-down yet romantic, the Big House stands not only as a cherished reminder of summer's ephemeral pleasures but also as a powerful symbol of a vanishing way of life.
Customer Reviews:
The Big House.......2007-10-02
"The Big House" is best when author Colt is talking about the history and appearance of the Cape, or evoking a picture of the summer days he spent there, but as the memoirist of his family, he seems only in the elementary stages of his struggle to find his true relationship to Boston Brahmanism. Certainly part of maturity is trying to figure out what of the heritage we've been landed with we accept and what we reject; this is neither an easy nor a straightforward task. But Mr. Colt's discomfort about his Wasp-iness is such that the reader is uncomfortable too--we don't quite know where Mr. Colt is coming from.
There are, however, many nice moments in this book. I owe to Mr. Colt the happy surprise of meeting, in his apparently vigorous old age, Penrose Hallowell, a Civil War hero of mine, riding out on a summer morning to pick up his mail from the post office in Pocasset. And if you summer (or used to summer), on the Cape, especially if you've spent time on Buzzard's Bay, you will find much to enjoy.
(If this book interests you, you may enjoy "In My Blood," by John Sedgwick, about a rather similar family in another big house, with some of the same challenges.)
NICE STORY.......2007-08-16
I liked this book. I read it while I was on the beach in Misquamicut. Its about a man who brings his family to Cape Cod to spend the last summer in a summer home owned by his family that has to be sold because they could no longer afford to keep it. It told of his parents, the story behind the house, his grandparents, and his memories of the house when he was young. I liked it.
A Sense of Place.......2007-07-16
Partway through this memoir, one of George Howe Colt's friends uses "a sense of place" to describe what seems most important about Colt's family summer house. I could not agree more. The Big House is a huge, rambling monstrosity of a place, seeming more like the Addams Family's house than anything else. But the Colts and the Atkinsons have lived in and loved the Big House for a century, and its easy to see why. It provides an anchor and a gathering point for the generations to come together every summer. But its too expensive to maintain, and the family has to decide what to do with it, causing some members to fear that it may be lost forever.
This is a memoir both of a house and of a family. The Atkinsons and Colts were Boston Brahmins, WASPS who were once wealthy and prosperous but who now have fallen on leaner times. They endured much unhappiness over the years, but found the Big House to be a place of healing for them. I recognized many traits they shared with my own extended family, which is to be expected since we are WASPS, too, though we are Southerners rather than New Englanders and much less prosperous. I understood the need for "a sense of place" too, since I feel it strongly when visiting areas where my own ancestors lived.
I picked this book up on a whim, but once I started it I could not put it down. It is a fine memoir of a place and way of life that has almost disappeared, but it is also an evocation of much that is still important: family, heritage, and memory.
LOVELY.......2006-11-29
THIS IS A LOVELY BOOK THAT MAKES ME REMEMBER MY OWN FAMILY BIG HOUSE. ALTHOUGH IT WAS IN THE NORTH WOODS OF WISCONSIN AND NOT ON CAPE COD, I REMEMBER THE SAME FAMILY DYNAMIC WITH KIDS EVERYWHERE AND AUNTS AND UNCLES READY TO DO SOMETHING FUN. THANKS FOR THE WONDERFUL BOOK.
Wonderful!.......2006-11-03
I couldn't put this book down! A perfect blend between well written history and personal family narrative. Also, it was pretty creepy how similar their family is to mine! Highly recommended for anyone who's ever had a summer house, been to a summer house, been to Cape Cod, or enjoyed summer in any capacity.
Book Description
With the nation at war in the 1940s, twenty-two-year-old Jack Valenti flew fifty-one combat missions as the pilot of a B-25 attack bomber with the 12th Air Force based in Italy. In the 1960s, with the nation reeling from the assassination of a beloved president and becoming embroiled in a far different kind of war in Vietnam, he was in that fateful Dallas motorcade in 1963, flew back to Washington with the new president, and for three years worked in the inner circle of the White House as special assistant to President Lyndon Johnson. Then, for the next thirty-eight years, with American society and popular culture undergoing a revolutionary transformation, Valenti was the public face of Hollywood in his capacity as head of the Motion Picture Association of America.
Been there, done that, indeed. Texas-born and Harvard-educated, Valenti has led several lives, any one of which could have provided ample material for an unforgettable memoir. As it is, This Time, This Place is the gripping story of a man who saw the terrible face of war while fighting with skill and bravery for his country; who was in the room, listening, participating, and remembering, as political decisions were made that would benefit or devastate countless lives in this country and on the other side of the world; and who championed the interest of the vast and globally influential movie industry with tenacity and vision. The list of boldface names whom Valenti knew and with whom he worked is as varied as it is astonishing in number. Aside
from LBJ, there were Jack and Bobby Kennedy, Kirk Douglas, Frank Sinatra, Robert McNamara, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Julia Roberts, Cary Grant, Lew Wasserman, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jack Nicholson, Michael Douglas, Warren Beatty, and Bill Clinton, to begin a very long list.
The life of a man who earned both the Distinguished Flying Cross and his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is inherently intriguing, but Valenti’s warm, sometimes rueful, always engaging account gives this memoir a depth of humanity and a taste of life’s unpredictability that will linger long after you turn the final page. From growing up poor but largely oblivious to that fact in a hardscrabble neighborhood of Greek and Italian immigrants in Houston to rising to the highest summits both of national government and Hollywood, This Time, This Place is a candid and clear-eyed reflection of the joys and sorrows, ambitions and disappointments, of a life fully recognizable in its extraordinary variety. It is also a sweeping and important historical record, written by a brilliantly successful man who helped to shape politics and entertainment in the second half of the twentieth century, and who always found himself in the center of the current storm.
Customer Reviews:
Saint Jack.......2007-09-21
One must be a very dedicated movie or Jack Valenti watcher to plough all the way through this tome. Apart from the timing which cannot be faulted - he died shortly after the book was published: the book is more a diary than a literary work. Except for the opening chapter on the assassination of JFK, which is good and compelling writing, the remainder stretched incredulity a little too far.
If we are to believe what Mr Valenti tells us about himself, we should not be surprised that at the books completion, the Almighty whisked him off to heaven to be at his right hand. A more Saintly man never lived beyond the Vatican.
We learn that he started life very poor - not even any shoes. We also learn that his close relatives were very rich. That confused me. I thought these old Sicilian families stuck together. Or is that only in the Mafia? One of these relatives who did not feel able to buy little Jack any shoes, did give him a job however. The salary was not sufficient for the future $1.3 million a year boss of MPAA, so he lied to take the time off to solicit work at Humble Oil which was successful. Little Jack clearly had a talent for ingratiating himself into the affections of those who could help him. First it was the HR lady who gave him his first job at Humble. Then it was the head of the advertising department who put him to work there. Work: I use the word loosely as he seems to have spent his time travelling around the country keeping his boss from being lonely. He must have been a very seductive little chap.
Then the war intervened. Now I thought, this is where it gets interesting. He reminds us frequently that he was a war hero, so I was very keen to learn more. Unfortunately modesty prevented him from sharing with us any daring-do that he was involved in. Other than telling us that the Luftwaffe fighters held no terrors for him - indeed, he actually says that they were no problem to him. Well that's a first. I must have more than 30 books on WWII aerial combat, and I never read that before. Could it be that all the others were spoofing? We do learn at great length his mile by mile journey back to America from Italy. The war was over by this time, but low cloud and rain was more formidable than the Luftwaffe it seems.
Once back to civilian life, he takes advantage of the GI Bill and goes to Harvard. If he goes on about his time at Harvard to his everyday listeners as he does in his book, there can be few American who don't know that Jack Valenti went to Harvard. Upon completion of his course he goes back to Humble Oil. This is the second time they have him back. He learns as much as he can from them, sets up a company with a partner and promptly leaves Humble Oil. Using what he learnt from Humble he solicits business from Humble competitors. This is a life long habit of Jack's. He ingratiates himself with people until they are of no more value; then he drops them. He did that with President Johnson after he learnt that Johnson was not going to seek re-election. He would have done it to MPAA and gone to Columbia Pictures, but his devoted wife of God knows how many years wouldn't go to Los Angeles with him. Washington was more important than Jack it seems. She did offer to let him commute once a week from DC to LA.
It is at this point in the book that one loses the will to live. It becomes a page after page catalogue of the rich and famous who Jack loved deeply, and they him. Pick at random any Name from the A List, and they - and of course their gorgeous spouses, were close personal friends of the Valenti's. There is not an enemy in sight - he even had a good word for the Luftwaffe! But then this is a work more interesting for what it doesn't say than for what it does. He never mentions that he lead a crusade to prevent VCRs being introduced into America. He takes full credit for the `original' introduction of a film rating system. He expects the readers not to notice that the British Board of Film Censors has been rating movies since 1912. It is also interesting that Jack never ever mentions the British film industry. He mentions, and praises British actors and directors, but never identifies them as such. He does every other country that has a film industry. Perhaps under the overcast skies of grey old London lurk a few skeletons that Jack would prefer to keep in the cupboard.
After one has waded through pages and pages of Hollywood's `Who's Who', the book is completed with the unsurprising information that all of his three children are `...movie star beautiful, and they are all outstandingly successful.' No kidding. He even tells us that his grandchildren are perfect.
Jack Valent's life story could have been an enthralling read had it been an `unauthorised version' by Kitty Kelly or similar. Instead, it is a very boring exercise in self aggrandisement. It is said that before one writes a book, one should identify your audience. The only audience for this book is the Hollywood Hoorays who will enjoy what is written about themselves, and think kindly about Jack - and of course his children.
Well done Jack. Not so much a book, more an advertising brochure for the Valenti dynasty.
Good Read but Lacks Bite .......2007-07-15
In a sense this is two books in one. Valenti (apart from his war years) had two very different careers - as a valued aide to President Lyndon Johnson and latterly as President Motion Picture Association of America. He did sterling work in both roles.
Almost anything written about Johnson is fascinating and Valenti keeps that legend going. The author never fails to see good in people and like other Johnson aides such as Joe Califano, seemed to have a genuine love for the towering Texan.
Valenti's opening chapter on the dreadful events of November 22nd 1963 is compelling reading. The author also writes well on the meetings and decision processes that encouraged LBJ to enlarge the war in Vietnam. For those with rose tinted glasses who believe JFK would have taken the US out of Vietnam before it became a quagmire, Valenti makes it quite clear that the bulk of LBJ's Vietnam advisors were Kennedy people. Overall the section on Johnson and the White House years is enjoyable reading. The same can not be said for his MPAA memoir.
Part of the problem is that Valenti is so gushing in his praise of everyone. The number of "radiantly beautiful" or "dazzling" wives he met with adorable offspring is mind-blowing. This man would have something good to say about the devil! He alludes very gingerly to the excesses of and infatuation with Hollywood, but never provides any depth.
Valenti - who wrote a book on communication - is a wonderful writer with a flowing style that is a joy to read. It is a pity that he did not bring greater depth and I think honesty to his MPAA career.
A Truly American Story.......2007-07-05
Jack Valenti's memoir "This Time, This Place: My Life in War, The White House, and Hollywood" tells an authentically American story. Valenti, the grandson of a Sicilian immigrant, rises from his working class roots to:
* win the Distinguished Flying Cross (WWII)
* attend Harvard Business School (Veterans Bill)
* start his own successful business
* become the aide de camp to a US President (Lyndon Johnson)
* and, become the chief lobbyist and defender of the motion picture industry for four decades.
Valenti's book opens with a flashback to Dallas, Texas on November 23, 1963 as he rode in the fateful Presidential motorcade that passed the Texas Book Depository with Lee Oswald's rifle pointed at President John Kennedy. Before the day was over, he was THE confident and consigliore to a new US President, Lyndon Johnson, overseeing the president's speeches, decided whom he would see and where he would go to speak. His chronicle of his White House years reads like a fast-paced novel and has plenty of detail to satisfy historians.
"This Time, This Place" provides important events in Valenti's early formation which were the underpinnings of a remarkable life. As a working class kid from Houston, he watched his grocer grandfather practice local politics and made his own first speech at the age of 10, advocating the reelection of the Sheriff. He worked as movie usher during high school, and got himself elected class president as a night student at the University of Houston.
In 1943, he joined the Army Air Corps, taking his first solo flight only after nine hours of instruction. He piloted 51 bombing missions over Europe in a B25 winning the Distinguished Flying Cross. His descriptions of these years are among the most vivid in this book. His prose throbs with memories of an experience that was simultaneously exhilarating, terrifying and "brutal."
The section on the Hollywood years is looser. Valenti's good-old-boy Texas story-telling comes out. He is more willing to tell tales, poking fun at some of the pompous behavior and trappings of the Motion Picture Industry's celebrities.
"This Time,This Place" is told straightforwardly, acknowledging debts, sketching people he knew and giving a not entirely flattering view of himself. His self-portrait is one of restlessness, and a strong commitment to advancement.
This is a man that senators, congressman and presidents readily took calls from. His formula was simple, "It is rooted in the ability to engage in courtship, to cosset talent, to understand the human condition and to make decisions fast." He exuded charm and was able to establish relationships by being everyone's pal but he never left empty-handed.
Jack Valenti died two years after his retirement from the Motion Picture Association of America in April, 2007.
Outstanding.......2007-07-04
Jack Valenti was both a witness to, and an instrument of, history and his autobiography presents the fascinating elements of his life and all those that he came across. Written in a very easy to read, yet eloquent, style (you can hear Valenti speaking these words)the book should be read by anyone interested in the Washington, the Great Society, and movie industry scenes.
Valenti's Life.......2007-06-27
A memoir of someone (now deceased) who -- after brave service in World War II -- spent time in two workplaces that most would find very interesting, The White House and Hollywood. While some stories within the book are interesting, especially the historical notes on the Johnson Administration, most are very shallow.
It is the life story of a bright, ambitious man from the hinterlands who happened to be in all the right places and took full advantage of his career opportunities. He is the type of person who always has his eye fixed on the main chance ... and toward the most important person in the room.
The prose drips with sincerity and soars with hyperbole. Mr. Valenti said about his friendship with Don Imus and Bernard McGuirk (whose own careers cratered after this book went to press), he had instant fame from being on Imus In the Morning "...however fleeting!" I think Mr. Valenti's fame indeed will be fleeting since it is primarily derived from the reflection of others.
Book Description
The creator of Animal House at last tells the real story ofthe fraternity that inspired the iconic film--a story far more outrageous(and funny!) than any movie could ever capture.Animal House, the film adaptation of stories Chris Miller published inNational Lampoon about his experiences at a Dartmouth fraternity, is amongthe most beloved and successful comedies of all time. In fact, itsportrayal of college party life is still imitated on campuses across thecountry--toga party, anyone?Now, nearly 30 years after the movie hit theaters, there are no taboosleft, and Chris Miller can finally answer the fans who all want to know onething: Was it really like that? The answer: Yes--but much, much more out ofcontrol! Here, for the first time, are the real stories of Alpha Delta Phi.Like the one about the frat brother who entertained the house by lightinghis hair on fire--not the hair on his head, however. Or about the pledgewho trick-or-treated around campus in a very revealing jack-o-lanterncostume. Or about initiation night when a frozen hot dog became verypainful for two rushes.Wild and hilarious, THE REAL ANIMAL HOUSE is a must-read for any fan of thefilm and anyone who remembers their college days as a blur of great partiesand solid friendship.
Customer Reviews:
More Quaint Than Depraved.......2007-05-03
I discovered National Lampoon in 1987, at a time when the magazine was in decline and well on its way to becoming a brand tag for C-grade movies starring Paris Hilton. But there was enough residual genius left in the magazine to change my life. That year, at age 15, I read a story by Chris Miller with the ever-subtle title of "C--k Tales." It was so fabulously wrong that I sent in my subscription card that same day.
Connoisseurs of gleeful depravity might get a chuckle or two out of this book, but it doesn't pack the same punch as his early NatLamp material. Maybe it's a matter of context -- in the '70s and '80s, d-jokes and target vomiting weren't as overmined as they are today. But compared to South Park and the amazing first "Jackass" movie, Miller's stories appear more quaint than depraved.
More Pathetic than "Depraved".......2007-04-29
The very fact that "awesomely" appears in the subtitle as if it were an acceptable adjective of the English language should have been enough to dissuade me from picking up this book. I am somewhat ashamed to admit that I compounded that error by reading the entire book.
It was not that the book is in any way compelling, fascinating, or even humorously entertaining. I continued reading it far beyond my usual tolerance for a dull narrative and poorly developed characters, and despite the persistence of the author's infantile egocentrism which, unfortunately, pervades the entire book from beginning to end.
The book recounts Miller's supposedly "depraved" college fraternity experience. Far from being "awesomely depraved," the characters mostly stand around in the fraternity house basement... talking. Miller describes this standing around talking business as wildly entertaining, something that he finds so compelling he can't wait to get back to that basement so that he can, well, stand around talking again. And again.
This standing around talking plot goes on and on, literally ad nauseum, since he also tells us how important it is to copiously vomit on demand, and how proud he was to have mastered this dubious social skill.
Miller recounts for us the thrill of drinking beer to intoxication, as if getting drunk were a wildly perverse activity that he and his band of fraternity brothers alone-unlike all the rest of the obviously sober college students the world over- had discovered, tested, and perfected for the good of all mankind.
There is nothing "depraved" here, unless your idea of depravity includes the severly upset stomachs of fledgling alcoholic narcissists so sadly dysfunctional they wouldn't have a snowball's chance in hell of getting into a good school if they had to compete with the high school class of 2007.
I suppose I kept reading because I was waiting for the turning point in which the author would describe his transition from childish egocentric to integrated human being. That payoff is never delivered and I was left to assume that Chris Miller sincerly looks back on his happy days of drunken vomiting with wistful nostalgia.
This memoir lacks even the skimpiest scrap of insight. The author never offers us even the slightest wince of regret at having spent his entire college career in what he himself describes as an intoxicted obsession with booze and... more booze.
This memoir is neither "depraved" nor the slightest bit funny. It is wiltingly sad and pathetic.
Don't waste your time.
Jovial and Depraved.......2007-03-13
Well, I certainly laughed, but I was also disgusted. This is not a book for the faint of stomach. Miller uses composite characters and features many stories that sound exaggerated, begging the question - how much of this 'real' version of the animal house saga is actually r e a l? Ultimately, it does not necessarily matter, because the content is engaging and funny either way.
As a current member of a Dartmouth fraternity I was able to relate to the setting, and some of the plot-lines This actually accounted for much of my enjoyment of the work as a whole. I would therefor note that those not connected to Dartmouth and not interested in perverse college humor should stay away (Dartmouth was the draw for me, not the perversion).
Excellent Book!.......2007-03-08
I loved this book from front to back. It is truly an amazing read; I suggest it to anybody who's looking for a good read and laugh!
Really Funny, With Broad Appeal.......2007-02-20
I strongly recommend this funny and important book. Chris Miller parts the Big Green curtain to reveal a hitherto unknown world.
This possibly true memoir recounts the 1960-61 academic year at Dartmouth College, the only Ivy League school in the woods. Popular culture was taking a breather between the Beat Generation and the Hippie era. Undergrads were not yet politicized. Female students were over a decade away. As author Miller writes, "...there was nothing to do but get drunk and break things."
Actually, there was a lot more to do as the book reveals. This is a must read for fans of
* The iconic film, "Animal House." This is Holy Scripture to that film.
* White male college behavior. Miller is the Godfather of Frat Lit.
* The memoir genre. Think "Running with Beer."
* Screenplays. "The Real Story of Animal House" demonstrates source material that one can mine for that million-dollar screenplay. Cheaper than going to a Robert McKee seminar, too.
* Understanding why your man still behaves the way he does.
This Coming of Age novel sits on my bookshelf next to "Catcher in the Rye," Kafka's "Metamorphosis," Dylan Thomas' "Adventures in the Skin Trade" and Phillip Roth's "Civilization and Its Discontents." (This last novella was expanded by Roth and renamed "Portnoy's Complaint.")
Books:
- Nothing Down for Women: The Smart Woman's Quick-Start Guide to Real Estate Investing
- On Becoming Baby Wise: Giving Your Infant the Gift of Nighttime Sleep (On Becoming. . .)
- Outsmarting the Female Fat Cell After Pregnancy: EVERY WOMAN'S GUIDE TO SHAPING UP, SLIMMING DOWN, AND STAYING SANE AFTER THE BABY
- Pilates for Pregnancy: Gentle and Effective Techniques for Before and After Birth
- Plain Truth
- Preschooler's Busy Book: 365 Creative Games & Activities To Occupy 3-6 Year Olds
- Preschooler's Busy Book: 365 Creative Games & Activities To Occupy 3-6 Year Olds
- Raising a Modern-Day Knight: A Father's Role in Guiding His Son to Authentic Manhood
- Raising Great Kids
- Reversing Multiple Sclerosis: 9 Effective Steps to Recover Your Health
Books Index
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