Everyday Genius: Self-Taught Art and the Culture of Authenticity

Book Description

From Henry Darger's elaborate paintings of young girls caught in a vicious war to the sacred art of the Reverend Howard Finster, the work of outsider artists has achieved unique status in the art world. Celebrated for their lack of traditional training and their position on the fringes of society, outsider artists nonetheless participate in a traditional network of value, status, and money. After spending years immersed in the world of self-taught artists, Gary Alan Fine presents Everyday Genius, one of the most insightful and comprehensive examinations of this network and how it confers artistic value.

Fine considers the differences among folk art, outsider art, and self-taught art, explaining the economics of this distinctive art market and exploring the dimensions of its artistic production and distribution. Interviewing dealers, collectors, curators, and critics and venturing into the backwoods and inner-city homes of numerous self-taught artists, Fine describes how authenticity is central to the system in which artists—often poor, elderly, members of a minority group, or mentally ill—are seen as having an unfettered form of expression highly valued in the art world. Respected dealers, he shows, have a hand in burnishing biographies of the artists, and both dealers and collectors trade in identities as much as objects.

Revealing the inner workings of an elaborate and prestigious world in which money, personalities, and values affect one another, Fine speaks eloquently to both experts and general readers, and provides rare access to a world of creative invention-both by self-taught artists and by those who profit from their work.

“Indispensable for an understanding of this world and its workings. . . . Fine’s book is not an attack on the Outsider Art phenomenon. But it is masterful in its anatomization of some of its contradictions, conflicts, pressures, and absurdities.”—Eric Gibson, Washington Times

Customer Reviews:

Why so many text?.......2007-01-09

A disappointing book that does not cover its title.
Art is visual, not cerebral.

THIS BOOK IS LONG OVERDUE.......2006-10-12

When "Self-Taught Art", "Contemporary Folk Art", "Outsider Art", "Art Brut" or whatever you wish to call (definition of this style is just one section of the book) is finally looked upon as a ligimate movement of Style this book will be a reference that is constantly looked upon to show the difficulties there was and currently is in the acceptance of this Art into the mainstream.
The chapters and their break up are clearly referenced and the debate that they create is magnificent. I thought it was as simple as "Art for Arts sake" before reading this book but now I know that there is a lot more to this genre of Art.
Compelling reading that anyone who owns or is looking at venturing into future purchases of "Self Taught Art" should read before opening their wallets.

A Must Read for Any Folk Art Collector.......2006-02-09

This book addresses everything: the folk art (the term I'm used to) world, the art world and the whole world, because ultimately, any and all worlds are about socio-economic factors. This book is practically a unified theory on socio-economic relationships. If you liked Tom Wolfe's Painted Word, you should read this one.

Everyday Genius does a great job of revealing the insiders' world of folk art, and yes, it addresses the debate over what to call the field.

Book Description

Tales from a Charmed Life is the last in a trilogy of works by Hildred Geertz exploring the complexity of Balinese history, religion, and society. A landmark study by one of the most distinguished anthropologists of Indonesia, it centers around the stories and paintings of Ida Bagus Madé Togog (1913-1989), an artist and ritual specialist who played a significant role in the history of Balinese ethnography. In the 1930s, Togog was central to Mead and Bateson's pioneering studies of "Balinese character" and came under the influence of expatriate artists Walter Spies and Rudolf Bonnet to emerge as a major representative of the Batuan style of painting. Togog's art and anecdotal stories of his most memorable life experiences are here interwoven with Geertz's illuminating commentary to construct an innovative framework for understanding Balinese culture.

Togog shares stories of his early life, relating dilemmas from his childhood and youth. Growing up in the wake of Dutch colonization, he came into contact with new languages, customs, and economic opportunities that presented him with puzzling and poignant experiences. He tells of his association with Spies and Bonnet and later Mead and Bateson and his role in the creation of a genre of painting for which Bali is now famous. This is a view of Bali from the inside—a vivid, highly personal look at a world where spirits, ancestors, and sorcerers have the power to intervene in one's life. According to Togog, who narrowly escaped death numerous times, his was indeed a "charmed life."

Customer Reviews:

Excellent book.......2003-08-24

I am Balinese and enjoyed this book. It is a catalogue of Margaret Mead's and her husband Gregory Bateson's collection of paintings. They were in Bali off and on throughout the Thirties.

Batuan is a village in Central Bali, which is not far from my own village of Ubud. They are both artists' villages, but the painting styles are very different. Ubud has attracted a lot of foreigners, who have influenced the local artists. This was not the case with the painters in Batuan, who developed their own style.

Professor Hildred Geertz is a renowned anthropologist, who writes well, and explains the stories behind these paintings, which would otherwise be rather hard to follow. I think that some of the points she mentions are original and interesting.

Most of the painters are profiled with a short biography. Margaret Mead and Gregory Bates interviewed the painters and made notes. Some are charming and very personal, like the fact that Ida Bagus Made had been to a movie once.

Recommended.

Batuan Paintings of the transition period (1930-1942).......2003-05-04

This is a definitive and well written book on Balinese paintings from the village of Batuan. This book serves as the exhibition catalog for the Batuan Painting exhibition from the collection of Bateson and Mead. Prof. Geertz illusively decribed the relationship between the Balinese culture, tradition and myth, the western influence and the development of Balinese Paintings. Highly recommended for the patrons and the students of Balinese Painting

Spirit Journey: Stories and Paintings of Bali

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Spirit Journey: Stories and Paintings of Bali
Madi Kertonegoro
Manufacturer: Wild Trees Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Folklore & Mythology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0931125065

Perceptions of paradise: Images of Bali in the arts

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Perceptions of paradise: Images of Bali in the arts
Garrett Kam
Manufacturer: Yayasan Dharma Seni Museum Neka
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Painting | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 9798356012

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Balinese Painting
Leland W. Gralapp
Manufacturer: Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0916537277

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Balinese Paintings (Images of Asia)
A. A. M. Djelantik
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Painting | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Folk Art | Schools, Periods & Styles | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0195889576

Book Description

Visitors to the island of Bali are often overwhelmed by the abundance and variety of paintings they encounter. But what is a typical Balinese painting? In this book, newly updated and with new illustrations, the author examines the religious and social values and techniques of painting that
constitute the Balinese style, and then describes the intriguing period of transition in which Balinese art finds itself today, torn between the demands for mass production for the tourist trade and the desire to preserve in traditional paintings Bali as the "last paradise."

Bhima Swarga: The Balinese Journey of the Soul

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Bhima Swarga: The Balinese Journey of the Soul
Idanna Pucci
Manufacturer: Bulfinch Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Painting | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Historical | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0821218964

Desire, Divine & Demonic: Balinese Mysticism In The Paintings Of I Ketut Budiana And. I Gusti Nyoman Miriana

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Desire, Divine & Demonic: Balinese Mysticism In The Paintings Of I Ketut Budiana And. I Gusti Nyoman Miriana
Michele Stephen
Manufacturer: University of Hawaii Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Religious | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Painting | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Indonesia | Asia | History | Subjects | Books

Customs & Traditions | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Hinduism | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0824828593

Book Description

This original and innovative book challenges many of our long-held assumptions about traditional Balinese religion. Drawing on data from visual art, mythology, esoteric texts, and public rituals, Michele Stephen identifies a core of important mystical themes at the heart of Balinese religion and demonstrates the striking parallels between these and Indian Tantric thought. She argues that Balinese cosmology can be better understood in terms of transformations, ambivalence, and dynamic cycles of desire and destruction rather than the fixed hierarchies, harmonies, and balance that have dominated previous accounts. Far from being primarily a matter of customary forms and public ritual, the author shows that Balinese religion also encompasses important streams of mystical thought, including the inner spiritual discipline of various yogic teachings.

Desire, Divine and Demonic begins with an introduction to the problems of defining mysticism in Bali, a discussion of prevailing scholarly views concerning the nature of Balinese religion, and a brief description of the link between art and religion in Balinese culture. What follows is an intriguing analysis of two series of paintings by contemporary Balinese artists I Ketut Budiana and I Gusti Nyoman Mirdiana, who specialize in mystical and mythological scenes. These paintings, in Stephen's convincing interpretations, illustrate important mystical themes--themes that also appear in oral and textual versions of Balinese myths and philosophical texts and bear remarkable similarity to the basic premises of Indian Tantric thought. In the book's final chapter, Stephen examines several well-known Balinese rituals to show how they can be reinterpreted as expressions of the central and classic themes of Shivaitic Tantric philosophy.

Desire, Divine and Demonic provides an important and timely reassessment of the nature of Balinese religion as it has survived in the modern era. It will generate fresh debate and research as Balinese religious thought and practice continue to be reproduced and re-created in the twenty-first century.

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The development of painting in Bali
Suteja Neka
Manufacturer: Yayasan Dharma Seni Museum Neka
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Modern | Schools, Periods & Styles | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0007C8BC0

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The Epic of Life: The Balinese Journey of the Soul
Idanna Pucci
Manufacturer: Vanderbilt Univ Dept of
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Painting | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Mythology | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0912383062

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Beautiful Pictures without Insights

Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Portfolio 11

Manufacturer: Winding Stair Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 1553661591

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful Pictures without Insights.......2004-06-08

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year is an annual publication of the BBC. It includes the winning pictures from the BG Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition, which is sponsored by the Natural History Museum (of London), BBC Wildlife Magazine and BG Group.

Thousands of photographs are submitted by wildlife photographers from all over the world, from which a panel of distinguished judges selects winners, runners-up and commended pictures, as well as one overall winner. The categories include various classes like animal behavior, composition and form, and animal portraits. Those familiar with nature photographers will recognize many of the competitors' names, like Thomas Mangelsen, Arthur Morris, Patricio Robles Gil and Norbert Wu.

Each photographer includes a short comment about the circumstances of the picture's capture. Photographer-readers will like the fact that technical data is provided for each photo. Almost every one of the pictures is quite beautiful and some are quite astounding. Although I was quite familiar with Joe McDonald's picture of a lion killing a buffalo, I still shuddered when I saw the lion's death grip and the terror in the buffalo's eyes. Andy Rouse's picture of a roe deer buck peering at us from a field of chest high red flowers is lovely.

Each of the pictures in the volume can stand by itself as a worthy photo. My problem is that the pictures, by the nature of the contest, don't hang together as a book. Photographs in a book on a single subject or by a single photographer have a synergistic effect. We learn more about the animal or the photographer's vision than any one picture can convey. That is totally lacking in this book, with the exception of the short portfolio by Vincent Munier that won the award for photographers aged 26 years or under.

People who love wildlife pictures will not be disappointed by this book. On the other hand, they may want to consider subscribing to a magazine like "Nature's Best", published quarterly by the Nature's Best Foundation. There is a contest issue with pictures by many of the same photographers as enter the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, AND the three other issues contain extensive portfolios by a individual photographers, usually on a single subject.

Book Description

The Zombie Survival Guide is your key to survival against the hordes of undead who may be stalking you right now. Fully illustrated and exhaustively comprehensive, this book covers everything you need to know, including how to understand zombie physiology and behavior, the most effective defense tactics and weaponry, ways to outfit your home for a long siege, and how to survive and adapt in any territory or terrain.

Top 10 Lessons for Surviving a Zombie Attack

1. Organize before they rise!
2. They feel no fear, why should you?
3. Use your head: cut off theirs.
4. Blades don’t need reloading.
5. Ideal protection = tight clothes, short hair.
6. Get up the staircase, then destroy it.
7. Get out of the car, get onto the bike.
8. Keep moving, keep low, keep quiet, keep alert!
9. No place is safe, only safer.
10. The zombie may be gone, but the threat lives on.

Don’t be carefree and foolish with your most precious asset—life. This book is your key to survival against the hordes of undead who may be stalking you right now without your even knowing it. The Zombie Survival Guide offers complete protection through trusted, proven tips for safeguarding yourself and your loved ones against the living dead. It is a book that can save your life.

Customer Reviews:

Well, now I'm prepared!.......2007-09-24

I bought this book after flipping through it a little, mainly for the humor value. I didn't think it would consist of much more than that. How wrong I was. I started reading it, and ended up reading the whole book cover to cover. The way the author presents everything, it really makes you believe that a zombie outbreak could happen at any time. The subject is treated as seriously as any other survival manual would be (which actually adds to the humor). So many great tips are offered, such as what types of buildings make the best strongholds, what weapons are best (and worst), and what types of environment offers the best protection. The "real life accounts" section adds to the realism of the book, and is actually quite creepy in some places. After reading this manual, you will have all the knowledge you will need to get yourself prepared for a zombie outbreak.

Zombies cool down.......2007-09-21

I'm nuts about Zombies and suggest that anyone who can't get enough of these books should read World War Z and The Zen of Zombie. You won't be disappointed.

Very good........2007-09-14

This Zombie Survival guide is fun to read and is very entertaining. It explains how to survive a zombie outbreak, how to fortify your home, what kind of weapons to use, and a lot more! I highly recommend this book. It's good for zombie lovers, and those who'd like to get a thrill. Buy this book- it's good.

Interesting Read.......2007-09-07

I would highly recommend this "survival guide" for the like minded individuals. It will truly expand your imagination.

Cool Coffee Table Book.......2007-09-06

Cool book for your coffee table. Book is written very seriously though. If you are into zombie movies, the author has had alot of time to think out every zombie tatic to help you survive. Don't take it to seriously though.

The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead (Unabridged)

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The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead (Unabridged)
Max Brooks
Manufacturer: audible.com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Download
ASIN: B000IJ7IEE

Book Description

The official screenplay book tie-in to the highly acclaimed international thriller from bestselling novelist John le Carré and Academy Award®-nominated director Fernando Meirelles (City of God), starring Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz.

Two-time Academy Award® nominee Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz head the cast of the romantic thriller The Constant Gardener, adapted by Jeffrey Caine from the novel of the same name by John le Carré and filmed on location in Berlin, London and Nairobi and numerous other parts of Kenya.

In a remote area of Northern Kenya, the region's most dedicated activist, the brilliant and passionate Tessa Quayle (Rachel Weisz), has been found brutally murdered. Haunted by remorse and jarred by rumors of his wife's infidelities, mild-mannered British diplomat and Tessa's widower, Justin Quayle (Ralph Fiennes), surprises himself by plunging headlong into a dangerous odyssey. His eyes are soon opened to a vast conspiracy at once deadly and commonplace, one that has claimed innocent lives—and is about to put his own at risk.

The Newmarket Shooting Script book includes the complete screenplay, a color photo section, and notes on the production of the film, with contributions from Oscar®-nominated director Fernando Meirelles (City of God) and his international filmmaking team. 20 color photos.

Amazon.com

That's Alright, Elvis recounts the life of Scotty Moore, one of the early men behind the legendary Elvis Presley. Moore was already an accomplished musician (Rolling Stone Keith Richards says that Moore's music inspired him to play rock-and-roll) when, at the behest of Sun Records executive Sam Phillips, he took young Presley under his wing. It didn't take long for Moore's seasoned ear to discern the young singer's talent, one that would soon explode into the rock sound. Moore's relationship with Elvis deepened through the years as he managed Presley's career and played in his band, the Blue Moon Boys. But as Elvis's popularity skyrocketed, Moore's managerial role was usurped, and the professional relationship between the two ultimately soured over money and miscommunication. Moore continued his musical career and is now considered the quintessential rock guitarist by many in the industry. He maintains an admirable objectivity about his life with Elvis as he tells his story through writer James Dickerson. That's Alright, Elvis is a fresh take on a seminal period in both Elvis's life and in the history of rock-and-roll.

Book Description

Category: Rock music/ Biography/ ElvisThe untold story of Elvis first guitarist and manager, Scotty Moore.For the first time, guitarist Scotty Moore tells the real story behind his years with Elvis Presley. When Elvis first showed up at Sam Phillip's Memphis-based Sun Records studio, he was a shy teenager in search of a sound. Sam asked Scotty and bass player Bill Black, both members of the popular country band The Tune Wranglers, to work with Elvis on his music in advance of his first recording session. While clowning around in the studio they came up with a version "That's Alright"; it was released as Elvis' first single, and launched his career. Scotty and Bill toured with the young singer, and played on all of his Sun sessions and his first recordings for RCA; Scotty served as the business manager for the trio, in essence working as Elvis' first manager. When the trio broke up, Scotty retired from music-making. He has maintained his silence about Elvis since, despite repeated requests for interviews to tell his side of the story. With Bill Black and Elvis both dead, he is the only remaining member of the original trio who can tell the true story of how Elvis transformed popular music---and how he created the guitar sound that has become the prototype for all rock guitar that followed.Jim Dickerson is the author of Schirmers Goin Back to Memphis. He is a Nashville-based journalist and writer.

Customer Reviews:

A legend gets screwed.......2007-06-18

This is a great, but sad book. Scotty Moore was an innovator in early rock and roll music, and a substantial contributor to the success of Elvis Presley's music. It is true that Elvis had the voice, looks, sex appeal and all that stuff to make the young girls swoon. However, it was Scotty that met with Elvis, arranged the first recording sessions, and helped form the type of music that became rock and roll. Without him, Elvis would probably have ended up a gospel singer.

As this book points out, Elvis backed out of the verbal deal between he and his band regarding the split of record royalties. He put the guys on a small weekly salary that actually led to Scotty going into debt for the privilege of playing behind Elvis.

I think anyone who enjoys early rock music should be able to enjoy this book. While the story of Scotty is told well, it never gives one the impression that he is looking for pity.

Required reading even if you're not an Elvis fan.......2004-02-13

Although not a technical genius, or a flambouyant showman, Scotty Moore is the first Rock and Roll guitar hero. He can be considered a discoverer, an inventor. He provided support, on and off stage, to a musical phenomenon, Elvis Presley. They both found a way of making three instruments and a vocal sound big. His riffs and syncopations inspired millions. Too bad he didn't make...millions.
His story is told in a warmly engaging way, filled with panorama; and not once does a bitter tone prevail.
As Elvis progressed, it seems that he (along with the powers that be) decided that Scotty's licks were not sophisticated enough, so Moore apparently was an occasional studio player after 1961. It's interesting that Big El summoned Scotty for his crucial TV Special - the word "Comeback" came shortly after December 3rd, 1968.
It's facinating to read about Mr. Bill Black, Elvis' first bassist. Black was another instinctual musician, limited but perfectly attuned to the new art form. He died a young man, but found a way onto the charts with the Bill Black Combo and strong instrumental workouts. He died in 1965 and it's too bad that Elvis did not mention his name on the TV Special section where he demonstrated how they got the big sound with just three guys.
I do not enjoy the storytelling in the second person: it would have been much more effective to have Scotty's words up-front throughout. Just like his guitar playing.

Excellent biography.......2003-10-15

James Dickerson did a great job of telling the story of Scotty Moore. I was as impressed with the writing as with the subject. I read this as research for the biography I'm writing about Faron Young, and I must admit to disappointment--but not surprise--at the lack of mention of him. That aside, this is a book worth reading. Scotty Moore is a man I'd like to meet.

Excellent, simple tale of a world-class musician and Elvis.......1999-02-10

Scotty Moore is one of the unsung heroes of rock 'n roll and his writing style reflects his playing style- simple, precise and to the point. In a humble, matter-of-fact style, guitarist Moore recounts his experiences with the King in an eminently readable and interesting way. I have read many Elvis books and this is one of my favorites. After reading it, you just wished you could bump into Scotty sometime, buy him a beer and talk the night away.

That's Alright, Elvis: The Untold Story of Elvis's First Guitarist and Manager, Scotty Moore (Classic Rock Albums)

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That's Alright, Elvis: The Untold Story of Elvis's First Guitarist and Manager, Scotty Moore (Classic Rock Albums)
Scotty Moore; James Dickerson
Manufacturer: Schirmer Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O8ZVYS

Average customer rating:

Breaks It All Down

He's got the right idea

A Must Read

Beat the Casnos!

The Best

Guerrilla Gambling
Frank Scoblete
Manufacturer: Bonus Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Gambling | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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Forever Craps

Casino Gambling : A Winner's Guide to Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Baccarat, and Casino Poker

1000 Best Casino Gambling Secrets (1000 Best)

Beat the Craps Out of the Casinos, 2nd Edition: How to Play and Win

The Winner's Guide to Casino Gambling: Fourth Edition

ASIN: 1566250277

Book Description

Guerrilla Gambling: How to Beat the Casinos at Their Own Games! offers players not only winning strategies but also wonderful techniques for getting more comps for less risk. It teaches you how to take advantage of the casinos without the casinos taking advantage of you.

Customer Reviews:

Breaks It All Down.......2007-01-13

This book is very good. Totally excellent! I was suprised that it contained such detailed information regarding the games offered in gambling casinos. Specifically it is really good on how to take advantage of the casino, and make use of the best advantages regarding best odds on the games. It is also truthful about other games and what you real odds are. I found this very refreshing, as some books seem to rely on luck more.
It's also very good on explaining comps. What they are. How to get all the comps you can. How to use them, rather than just going for the usual mugs, free meal, or towels. How to is big in my game, so I enjoyed the advice and stories.
All and all I have been impressed with this book, and the only thing I would say negative is it's challenged me to "bring" up my math skills.

He's got the right idea.......2005-05-16

After reading this book about 4 or 5 times over, I've come to the conclusion that this is a decent book, and I emphasize decent. It isn't anything extraordinary or amazing, it is a solid book that teaches you how to gamble smart. The common misconception that people have when buying gambling books is they think they are going to get some magical betting system that will gaurantee them a win every time they step into a casino. Sorry guys, but that's not going to happen. The sooner you you realize that, the better.

What Scoblete does is he teaches you the basic fundamentals of all the general games(and some that I've never even heard of) and provides the best possible strategies for all of them. His sections on blackjack and craps are the best. So if those are your games(which they should be if you're a serious gambler) then I would highly recommend this book to you. Some people laugh at his 5 count pass and come strategy, but after playing it and researching it, I found that it actually works. What is most misunderstood about this system is that it doesn't help you win so much as it helps you avoid losing by not betting during cold streaks. All the math jockeys out there will tell you that you can't predict when streaks will occur, that a seven can come up at any time no matter when you bet, and by using this system it will not mathematically improve your odds, and they're right. BUT, at the same time, it will not reduce your odds of winning either since his system incorporates the use of craps' basic strategy anyway by betting the pass line and come and taking the odds. It merely stretches your bankroll so you can play for a longer period of time and, as a result, rake in more comps.

Finding a biased wheel IS the only way to beat roulette and it has been proven that biased wheels DO exist by testimonials I have heard from casino managers from several Las Vegas casinos. But it sounds like too much work for a game that is so hard to beat. Especially when you can just walk ten feet away and play craps for better odds. The chapter on the 'Day in the Life of a Guerrilla Gambler' is entertaining but I wouldn't go as far to say that you could make an entire movie out of it(like some of the other reviews have suggested), considering it's only 35 pages long and the average movie script is about 200 pages long. But Scoblete is an outstanding writer. The chapters on comps, gambling myths, bankroll management, and the ten commandments of gambling are very good. The chapters on roulette, baccarat, pai gow and video poker are adequate.(I didn't even bother reading the chapter on slot machines.)

There are two reasons why I gave this book 4 stars in stead of five. The first reason is that he has a 27 page chapter on all of the junky carnival games people play(caribbean stud, sic bo, super pan nine, etc). He explains each game in light detail, tells you the optimal strategy for it, and then follows it up by telling you to avoid playing these games at all cost. It just seems like a waste of a chapter. If you're suppose to avoid these games in the first place, you don't need to waste your time learning them. The second reason I gave this book 4 stars is because it has a terrible poker section. Scoblete makes it painfully obvious that poker is not his game of choice, plus poker is way too complex of a game to be taught in a simple sixteen page chapter. His poker section is only for severe amateurs. If you want to become a poker pro, I would suggest Doyle Brunson's SUPER SYSTEM and David Sklansky's THEORY OF POKER.

In conclusion, if you want to learn how to play quick and smart at all of the general casino games, this is a very good book and I would definitely recommend it(pro or amateur), especially for its price. I know this was a long tutorial, but I thank anyone and everyone who had the discipline to sit and read the entire thing, and I hope you found my input useful.

A Must Read.......2004-09-22

This was my first book by Frank Scoblete and everyone should study this material before they enter a Casino. Frank will give you a good time and save you money. He is a great writer and the information is right on. Well worth the money.

Beat the Casnos!.......2004-08-19

This book helped me incredibly understand the odds and help beat the casino at their games. I recommend it.

The Best.......2004-04-05

This is the best book on all the casino games that I have ever read. It is also a lot of fun to read as Scoblete is a great writer who keeps the pace moving. His great stories and insights are worth the price of the book alone! Get this, you won't be sorry.

Secrets of Successful Gambling: Hit-Win-Run Guerrilla Warfare

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Secrets of Successful Gambling: Hit-Win-Run Guerrilla Warfare
Sung, Edmondson, Peter Paradice
Manufacturer: Paradice
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000LZKVIK

Book Description

Beyond Ideology addresses the predominance of television news. This research attempts to rise above partisanship, that is, go beyond ideology in order to focus on cultural influences, if any, that may exist in the network newsrooms.

Customer Reviews:

Grapples with soul-searchingly difficult issues.......2004-01-14

Beyond Ideology: A Case Of Egalitarian Bias In The News? by Reginald Estoque Ecarma is a rather scholarly discussion recommended for college- or graduate-level journalism studies, and which closely examines cultural factors, human limitations, and egalitarian consequences that come from the exercise of media power. Combining technical detail with advanced philosophical concepts, Beyond Ideology grapples with soul-searchingly difficult issues in the seemingly endless quest to provide the world with an accurate interpretation of major events. Beyond Ideology is most especially recommended for students of journalism, political science, and controversial social/cultural issues.

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