The Cartoonist's Workbook Drawing, Writing Gags, Selling

Average customer rating:

Good Cartoon Book

Helpful, Concise and Inspiring

An unexpected art resource...

Its well made.....

Awesome Book for Beginners and Beyond

The Cartoonist's Workbook Drawing, Writing Gags, Selling
Robin Hall
Manufacturer: Sterling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Drawing | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Cartooning | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
Satire, General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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Your Career In The Comics

ASIN: 0806996730

Book Description

“Comprehensive and entertaining...far more material in a cleaner format [makes] the reader laugh on every page....Thus, one learns that of 6,000 submissions to King Features Syndicate, only three are accepted, and...how to make snacks while preparing one of those submissions.”—Library Journal. “A wealth of information...Hall does everything but make the cartoon for you.”—Art Times.

Customer Reviews:

Good Cartoon Book.......2007-04-17

the cartoonist's workbook is a great book that just about goes over every thing needed to make a cartoon. of course since the book is only around a 100 pages it doesnt go into great detail on every issue. its a great recourse as it has around 20 pages of just gag ideas, useful poses etc...

Anyways the book teaches you a very 90's looking type of cartoon which i happen to like. I would recommend this book for anyone trying to draw some cartoons. This book assumes you know almost nothing and cant draw so its for absolute begginers. i highly recommend this book.

Helpful, Concise and Inspiring.......2006-07-16

This book is very helpful. I've had some experience before with attempting cartooning and I've been drawing seriously for years. However, this book teaches a different method for cartooning and drawing that is different than what I've been using before and reading it inspires me again to do more cartooning.

The way he writes is just encouraging, friendly and it is quick to get to the point. He accompanies his writing with illustrations that look comfortable and accomplished. The author is obviously a capable cartoonist and it allows you to feel like you are being taught well. He assumes you know nothing and I'm certain that his methods would seem comfortable to even the most inexperienced artists.

The gag writing section of the book is interesting too but it isn't as good as the rest of his book. This is understandable given the nature of writing humor. Even though it doesn't do as well as the drawing sections, it still is the best guide to writing humor I've ever seen. Like the rest of the book, it inspires me to write humor of my own. It's shortcoming though is that unlike the cartooning section, the examples don't seem accomplished. Though the methods he teaches seem promising with practice, his own stuff is not very funny.

Regardless of the flaws in the humor-writing sections, the whole of the book is just so inviting that it makes the book a great purchase. It's a useful and fun book and I'd have gladly paid twice what I did for it.

An unexpected art resource..........2006-06-22

I've worked with fine art for years, and I was looking for a way to loosen up a little, do some simple sketching. Among art books there isn't much to choose from if you want to draw loose! I came across this book at a bookstore and I just liked the drawing style. I brought it home and within hours the looser style I wanted to achieve had emerged. If it's helped me this much, I can imagine what it would do for someone who actually wants to draw cartoons! It's a great reference for the simple basics of drawing everything from people to common objects. A great book!!!!

Its well made............2005-04-22

I found this book comprehensive and inspirational, covering need-to-know ground. It helped me (and I can draw more advanced things than cartoons) to get to know cartoon bodies. I'm used to more realistic bodies.... Anywho, about the book. The book started with basic body formation-how to draw "Ken"-, and most importantly in that section told you to practice it over and over. Than it goes on to show you some basic what-to-does and what not-to-does. It shows you how shadows work, how to balance your character, how to show motion and tons and tons of useful poses for cartoons. It show you how to draw more advanced characters, but that isn't as in depth as the information on Ken. It show you different types of lips, hair, noses, eyes, accessories, etc... This book was written for people who don't have natural talent in drawing. So, wether or not you think you can draw, this part of the book is very useful. Then there is the gag writing section, snicker snicker. This section, to, was very helpful. It showes you the building blocks of writing jokes, like potentially funny situations, developing your characters and branching out your ideas. And finally,the last section gives you information on how to hire yourself out in the industry.

1 last note: I like this guy's drawing style. It is loose, not to scribbly, and still looks nice. It is not perfectionist, you can tell he didn't meditate over every line. In short, he makes drawing cartoons seem easy without intimidating the reader.

Awesome Book for Beginners and Beyond.......2003-11-13

This book starts off with the absolute basics, which is just what I needed(my stick figures even looked bad). In just the first pages you get what I think is the most valuable lesson in drawing - practice. Practice until you can do it easily, one step at a time.
I highly recommend that you don't underestimate what this book can do for a novice artist. I find myself refering back to this book especially when I get stuck on some of the more advanced manga books.
Remember this is a workbook, not a reading book.
Good luck.

Average customer rating:
Photography as Artistic Experiment: From Fox Talbot to Moholy-Nagy (Photography, Men and Movements)
Willy Rotzler
Manufacturer: Amphoto
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0817403175

Amazon.com

Who would have ever thought that learning the finer points of improvisation could be such fun? The "Harold," an innovative improvisational tool, helped Saturday Night Live's Mike Myers and Chris Farley, George Wendt (Norm on "Cheers") and many other actors on the road to TV and film stardom. Now it is described fully in this new book for the benefit of other would-be actors and comics. The "Harold" is a form of competitive improv involving six or seven players. They take a theme suggestion from the audience and free-associate on the theme, creating a series of rapid-fire one-liners that build into totally unpredictable skits with hilarious results. The teams compete with scoring based on applause. The "Harold" is a fun way to "loosen up" and learn to think quickly, build continuity, develop characterizations and sharpen humor.

Customer Reviews:

The Manual Of Improv.......2007-09-02

Even if you're not a "long-form" improviser, this book is a must read for anyone actively working in an improv group.

This book is The Bible of improv........2007-06-29

Any improviser worth his/her salt owns at least one copy. And can quote from it directly.

The definitive book on The Harold.......2007-06-27

I began taking a long form (The Harold)improv class about a year ago. Halfway through my term, the instructor suggested a few books to read on the subject. After reading through the first few pages of this manual, it became clear to me that this was the class that I had been taking for over a year. Charna Halpern-with a fee quotes and exercises by the late, great Del Close-have put together an excellent "how to" book that any improviser, from beginning to proffessional would find etxremely helpful. For anyone interested in imrovisation this is the book for you!

Covers the basic rules of improv (and Harold) very well.......2007-06-08

I am taking improv classes at Second City and this book is directly aligned with their teachings. Many of the games presented are ones we have done in class. The rules are well explained and there are nice anecdotes and quotes from people like Chris Farley and George Wendt. The long form structure called the Harold is fully explored as well. A good book to start with in improv, although I liked Mick Napiers' book "Improvise" better for where I am personally. He takes another approach that side steps "The Rules". This book (and the beginner Second City courses) stress their importance, although the idea is that after you know the rules well enough it is OK to break them (!).

This book made me funnier!!!!.......2007-05-21

I am taking an Improv class in Dallas and this was a suggested book. It really helped us learn faster! They really know what they are talking about and I really enjoyed reading it then putting what I learned to the test at Improv class! I am really good now! hehe!

Customer Reviews:

Great comic book history - but an obvious gay bias.......2007-07-29

This book is a good examination of Batman's impact on society, but more than that it takes a good look at the impact of all comics. The author addresses issues of Batman's creation and his creators, war, propaganda, camp, homosexuality/homophobia and more.

He's very knowledgable and it's an interesting read, but after finishing it, you can't help but feel like Brooker had an agenda.

He seems to strongly defend the two most embattled topics of the Dark Knight - the 1960s TV series, and the question of his sexuality. It's one thing to be objective and fair in reporting these issues, but Brooker easily spends more than half his time explaining why the 1960s series wasn't as bad as we collectively remember it, and why Batman could be gay.

More than that, not only does he suggest that it's possible that Batman is gay, he suggests it might add more dimension to the character by opening him up to more situations. He quotes message board posts (a questionable form of research) and attacks any poster as "homophobic" if they try to assert that Batman is not gay.

Booker can spend all day examining the fictional life of Bruce Wayne off the page/screen, but that doesn't change the fact that Bruce Wayne HAS NO LIFE off the page/screen. We can only take him on what we have seen released from official sources (ie: DC Comics and WB). He reads a lot into subtext, which is fun, but that doesn't always mean it's the intended reading. I can apply political, religious and feminist readings to FRANKENSTEIN, but that doesn't mean it was Shelley's intention.

Regardless, Brooker is very knowledgable and informed, but the time he spends defending the two most embarrasing moments of Batman's history leads one to question his entire thesis -- especially when you take into account Brooker's own sexuality.

You'll feel like he had an agenda to promote.

An interesting but flawed study of character.......2006-04-08

Will Brooker's "Batman Unmasked" has its moments. Brooker does a great job of giving the character a solid publication background and discussing some of the key issues that have come up in the history of the Batman character. However, he seems to spend a disproportionate ammount of time trying to convince us all that Batman is gay, or, more accurately, that "gay readings" of Batman are not "wrong", or even uncommon.

Well, to be frank, of course they're not "wrong," as you can never be "wrong" in an interpretation of a character. I remember writing a paper in my freshman year comparing the characters of Hamlet, Iago, and Richard III, and concluding that Hamlet could be read as a villain. However, Brooker preemptively tries to pigeonhole everyone who argues against this point as "homophobic" and tries to essentially say that most of the gay subtext of the character in the 40s, 50s, and 60s was intentional. It's one thing to reinterpret a character, it's something completely different to make the assumption that the subtext is intentional.

Brooker spends little time talking about "The Dark Knight Returns," probably the most famous, well-loved, and groundbreaking Batman comic book of the last 25 years, and only mentions it as a counterpoint to the more campy interpretations and as an influence on Tim Burton's 1989 film.

Finally, Brooker spends way too much time quoting from Internet message boards. I guess that's fine for a Culture Studies book, but I think that time may have been better spent reading Carl Jung, Joseph Campbell, and Bruno Bettelheim and discussing how The Batman fits into the ideas of authors who have done similar works relating to mythology and fairy-tales.

This wasn't a bad book, but I think it could have been MUCH better.

Brilliant and entertaining.......2001-03-07

This is a rare thing - a scholarly study that you can't put down. It's beautifully written, enlightening and thoroughly researched all at once. I strongly recommend it to anyone with an interest in the Batman in particular or popular culture in general. Superb.

Brilliant and entertaining.......2001-03-07

Brilliant. We need more books like this........2001-01-29

The idea of analyzing Batman as a serious cultural icon may seem laughable - until one realizes that there is some sixty years of history to the character and his companions. Batman has been there through most of the 20th Century, so there's something to analyze.

This is not a pop culture book - this is an analysis of culture. Serious, insightful, footnote-heavy analysis. This is not for the casual comics fan - this is for people who love comics and their culture and want some insight into that culture and that history.

This book analyzes batman in "blocks" of time. From the creation, to the war years, to the 50's, the 60's, the 70's, and beyond. Examples of interpretations, misinterpretations, and historical impact are given, at times in incredible detail (such as panel-by-panel analysis of a comic issue).

Without giving anything away about the book, this analysis looks at how Batman came to be, what themes have endured, and how the times have (and haven't) affected him. Most interestingly, the "dark eras" of the comics Inquisition of the 50's and the controversial pop-interpretation of the 60's are examined in detail - and some startiling revelations and interpretations are made.

The problem with reviewing this book is that I can't do it justice and don't wish to spoil the readers. However, simply, if you care about comics in general or Batman in particular, and like to understand the deep issues of culture, buy it. Buy several - give them to friends. It's worth it.

Book Description

Laura Nyro was a beloved and pioneering singer-songwriter of the 1960s and 1970s whose songs were covered with great success by the Fifth Dimension; Blood, Sweat Tears; and Three Dog Night. This first biography uncovers previously never revealed details, including a brief romance with Jackson Browne and her relationship with painter Maria Desiderio. Unappreciated in her time, Nyro's legacy is currently ex-per-iencing a revival. With her groundbreakingly honest and pas-sionate lyrics, her unusual and innovative rhythms and melody, Nyro's influence is still felt by singers and songwriters today. 'Wonderful.'-Billboard 'Captures the essence of a widely admired, improbably successful artist.' -Kirkus Reviews 'Kort's admiring biography begins to give Nyro and her impressive music their due.'-Booklist

Customer Reviews:

A Loving Tribute To A Great Singer-Songwriter.......2007-05-23

When this book came first came out four years ago, I was delighted to see it on the stands. Finally, Laura Nyro was getting her due, or at least SOME of her due. But oddly enough, I didn't find myself rushing out to buy it despite my being a fan of long standing. I wasn't so sure I really wanted to know all there is to know about Laura Nyro. I mean, sure, I had read dozens of magazine articles and reviews back in the day. I knew the rough outlines of her life, certainly, but her relative inacessability as a "public figure," made Laura Nyro "the artist" all the more intriguing as far as I was concerned. It may sound corny to some, but she revealed herself so completely through her music that it wasn't clear how necessary it was to know ALL the details.

I needn't have worried. SOUL PICNIC does not rob Laura of her mystery, does not seek to explain away her allure. Author Michele Kort is plainly a fan, but she did not know Laura personally, and doesn't try to create the impression that she has (or IS) the last word on all matters Nyro. There's still plenty of mystery to go around. But, like any good journalist, Kort pigues your interest about her subject. You come to know Laura Nyro a little bit better maybe. You also come to realize that you can never know her as intimately as you might wish.

I occasionally heard gossip about Laura Nyro back in the day. Even as a teenager growing up in a small town in Maine, some of my friends said knowingly (usually while taking a deep drag on a cigarette) that Laura was "gay" or "bi-sexual, doncha know?" How else could you explain that back cover on ELI & THE THIRTEENTH CONFESSION? There was even a former runaway in one of my English classes, a girl recently returned from a crash pad in the East Village, who claimed to know Laura and had these little snippets of gossip to impart. It was all very interesting, but even at age 16 I knew that was NOT the point Or at least, not the whole point.

Michele Kort's book actually implies that Laura did not actually have a relationship with another woman until quite late in her all-too-short lifetime. There was always those ambiguous lyrics to "Emmie," of course, and apparently she hinted to high school friends that loving another woman might be but one option open to her, but there is little evidence that even experimented much in that direction as a young woman.

Does it matter? Well, it does suggest that Laura, who was still in her teens when she started her career in the music biz may NOT have been leading the intense boho lifestyle that my runaway friend had depicted. On the other hand, what she was conveying in her music, even at that tender age, was as wild and free--and ultimately, as revolutionary--as anything coming out of the West Coast at the time. It may have just taken a little while for her life circumstances to catch up with her inner reality.

And for a few short years in the late 60s and early 70s, there was no one making music as intense or as vital as Laura Nyro. Unlike the early Joni Mitchell, she was only minimally influenced by folk music, even though her records often ended up in that section of the store. (Where else did you file a solo female singer-songwriter in those days anyway?) And, of course, Peter, Paul and Mary had covered "And When I Die" already, but anyone expecting a Joan Baez clone or a "Sweet Laura Brown Eyes," was in for a surprise. Nowadays it comes as no surprise when a woman refuses to be dainty and to play it safe, but to sing with the unbridled passion that Laura Nyro brought to her early work was pretty darn revolutionary in '67-'68. Sure there were other women breaking down sound barriers at the time, Janis Joplin and Tracy Nelson were belting the blues in San Fran and, of course, even during the folk scare days of the early 60s, there were not-so-ladylike powerhouse singers like Judy Henske who were stomping the blues when they weren't churning out Childe ballads.

But what Laura was doing was different still. It was less blues based than Philly Soul and Motown influenced. And throw in a dash of jazz, of Broadway, gospel--and OK, OK, some folk and classical influences, and you get the idea. Laura was the very embodiment of 60s eclecticism. You could even say that she was influential in getting Joni Mitchell to loosen up a bit, musically--although I have to say that while the latter artist admits that she took "some direction" from Laura, her roving sensibility have eventually led her in a more experimental direction anyway. But Laura actually got there first, and it's a crying shame that she is not more widely acknowledged as the innovator that she was, or for that matter, that nowadays she's scarcely acknowledged at all.

So Michele Kort's book offers something of a corrective to that sorry state of affairs. And it does so, by focusing as much on Laura Nyro's musical life as it does on the her biography. And believe me, I am fine with that. Had the book been more gossipy, I really would have felt that I was violating the privacy of one of the most elusive artists of her day, of any day really. I have to take issue with the capsule review from LIBRARY JOURNAL included above. When the anonymous author of same writes, ... there is perhaps too much minutiae regarding studio sessions, musical arrangements, chord variations, personnel changes, and industry infighting," I find myself shaking my head in amazement. The creative process, good sir or madam, the MUSIC is the thing. Yes, some might find such matters as her "ambiguous" relationship with David Geffen more, uh, "interesting" I suppose, but it wouldn't have mattered much if Laura Nyro's WORK weren't the product of genius.

Michele Kort's focus is really just right. It is her love of and feeling for the Art of Laura Nyro that makes her life's story so important. Laura was always true to her muse. And she deserves our love and respect for that. And Kort deserves our thanks for this compelling, generous and warm look at the life and art of one of the 20th century's great songwriters.

Laura's song.......2005-04-11

= Laura's song
Reviewer: jane from USA
A very thoughtful, well researched, and sensitive book describing the music and style of Laura Nyro. This book uncovers Laura's musical journey. It reveals a unique and uncompromising artist, whose drive toward emotional and musical honesty surpassed any desire for fame. Laura's unique sensibilities and moralities about her musical gifts were clearly integrated in an unusual style. The book reveals and integrity of spirit, while a quirky, unrelentingly controlling musical direction, that could drive others crazy. A great book for those seeking a greater sense of Laura's creative journey.

Stoned Soul Delight.......2005-03-10

In my opinion, Laura Nyro continues to be one of the most underrated songsmiths in the history of American Music. While some record stores still file her under "Folk Music", Nyro's primary musical inspirations were pop, jazz and the vocal R & B and doo-wop stylings of the 50's. She also had an affinity for show music and her circle of friends included Broadway Icons Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. Her poetry was unique, as well. No woman before her had explored so many controversial and personal issues in their lyrics as Nyro did. Since little has been written about this Great American Artist, Kort's book is a welcome read and fills in alot of the spaces that fans have been wondering about regarding this very private person. The book is a little light on depth, however, and it reveals itself as more of a record of rememberings by people that were part of her personal and music business worlds, either fleetingly or for long periods of time. Kort treats her subject with great respect and reverance, however, and her affection for Nyro as an artist and as a person is reflected throughout this book. Although this book will, mainly, be of interest to Nyro's longtime supporters, hopefully people who are curious about who this woman was, and the art that she created, will go out and buy her music. If you have never heard her before, nothing can prepare you for CD's like New York Tendaberry or Christmas and the Beads of Sweat. She was a shining star, a visionary, and a pure artist who paid dearly for her musical vision. We will never see the likes of her again. Love you, Laura, RIP.

I Feel Like I know Laura.......2005-02-27

From the first time I heard her on the radio singing "Save The Country", I have been enamored with Laura Nyro. I loved her voice, piano and songs, and thought her work on New York Tendaberry was some of the best and most unique work I had ever heard. I also liked her looks and her demeanor. I liked her so much, I wrote her an affectionate letter via Columbia Records in 1969, but, to my regret, she never answered.

Michele Kort, in her outstanding biography of Laura, has made me feel like I did get a chance to meet her, afterall. Her writing pulled me in from the first page, and I felt like I was right along side of Laura as I relived her ascendancy to musical greatness. Ms. Kort informs the reader of many interesting facts, such as Ms. Nyro having been named by her musician father after the song from the classic movie, Laura, and that she had lots of training in voice but had fairly limited piano training.

Ms. Kort takes us through all Laura's albums, what was going on in her life when they were being conceived, developed and recorded, who produced and engineered them, who the other musicians and vocalists were, and the various negotiations Laura engaged in with the record companies to get the result she wanted. I found this information of great interest and I would not have minded at all if the book had been another three hundred pages.

Most gratifying was that Michele Kort has written a quite detailed book which gives the reader a very good sense of Laura and some of her idiosyncrasies, but she always treats her with the greatest respect. Over and over, through the many people who knew Laura and are quoted, one realizes that Laura was a genuinely sweet, kind person who was steadfastly more interested in the integrity of her music than any commercial success that others may have urged her toward.

I fully recommend this book to anyone, particularly to those who are Laura Nyro fans. After reading it, I feel even more sad that she passed on so early, but I at least feel like I got to know her a bit. While she never answered my letter those many years ago, I feel like I finally got to meet her and know her, and I'm even more enamored with her than before.

An ace job........2004-03-29

Considering the lengths Laura Nyro went to to keep her private life out of the public eye, it's amazing that we have this book at all, let alone that it's as well put-together as it is. Michele Kort does a first-rate job in showing the evolution of Nyro, her music and her outlook on life, which was always key to how her muse took hold. What you end up with is a portrait of a woman steadfastly true to herself, no matter the cost to her career. I'm left with admiration for her, admittedly tempered by a feeling that not every choice she made was a good one. No matter; this is a well-drawn biography of an interesting and uniquely talented person who made some unforgettable music.

Soul Picnic: The Music and Passion of Laura Nyro

Average customer rating:

Soul Picnic: The Music and Passion of Laura Nyro
Michele Kort
Manufacturer: Thomas Dunne Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000W0KPNU

Average customer rating:

Yaz tackles the important endgame.....

Another great installment to the winning chess series

Initial early impressions: bad beginning

A COOL MONSTER BOOK!!

A good book by a good author

Winning Chess Endings (Winning Chess - Everyman Chess)
Yasser Seirawan
Manufacturer: Everyman Chess
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Instruments & Performers | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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Similar Items:

Winning Chess Openings (Winning Chess - Everyman Chess)

Winning Chess Strategies, revised (Winning Chess - Everyman Chess)

Winning Chess Tactics, revised (Winning Chess - Everyman Chess)

Winning Chess Brilliancies (Winning Chess - Everyman Chess)

Winning Chess Combinations (Winning Chess - Everyman Chess)

ASIN: 1857443489

Book Description

Winning Chess Endings teaches endgame strategies in an exciting new way--by putting the player in the middle of the action with firsthand stories taken directly from famous matches. Pull up a chair and watch the world's most exciting chess endings. Then become an endgame master!

Winning Chess Endings explains how to:
*Relentlessly find checkmates, from easy to hard, in all basic endgame patterns
*Master the intricacies of King and Pawn Endings
*Win consistently in the most common endgame--the Rook ending
*Master the pros and cons of Bishop vs. Knight Endgames
*Seize the advantage in Rook Pawn and Queen Pawn endings
*Play like a grandmaster in solitaire endings

Customer Reviews:

Yaz tackles the important endgame............2006-08-04

Well Yaz gets around to the important endgame phase of chess which is so important. Yaz presents a nice work on the endgame which enables the reader to have an understanding of this phase of chess. It prepares the reader for more advanced works on the endgame (all of Yaz's books accomplish this feat). One needs to really give this book the going over since the concepts here in are very important. A strong International Master was quoated as saying 'Studying the endgame in chess is like cheating!' after reading this endgame book which was followed by some other more specialized (advanced) works I could not agree more!

Another great installment to the winning chess series.......2006-06-27

I can honestly say that I have never disliked a single book in the Winning Chess Series. Yasser Seirawan is a brilliant author. He combines his good writing skill and humor, his entertaining personality, his good chess skill, and his good teaching skill all into his winning chess series.

Winning Chess Endings is a great book. After just a few hours of studying king and pawn endgames from this book, I felt like I had mastered it. My hypothesis was correct when I went to a big national tournament and was undefeated! 3 out of 5 of my games were king and pawn endgames, and I was able to effectively win them thanks to this book. I have yet to complete the other chapters, Queen and pawn endings, Rook endings, bishop endings, knight endings, Bishop vs. Knight, Rook vs. Minor pieces , and the rare and the perfect. My only complaint is that in the basic mates chapter, where he teaches you King and rook vs. King checkmates(which I already knew), King and Queen vs. king endgames(which I already knew), King and two bishops vs.kings endgames (which I didn't know before, but now do know because of this book) and King andn Bishop and Knight vs. King. That last one is a very difficult one, and I don't feel that Yasser Seirawan teaches it well.

Overall this book was ideal for my level(USCF 1236) and probably good for ratings between 1000 and 1400.

Initial early impressions: bad beginning.......2006-05-11

This is a review of the early part of Winning Chess Endings by Yasser Seirawan. I just received Winning chess Enginds by Yasser Seirawan. I was eagerly anticipating this book, as the reviews were glowing about how great the explanations were, even if it didn't cover all important endgame theory compared to other texts. I didn't really care about coverage, as I know that's not really possible to cover all endgames and do it in the detail that a beginner requires. The main thing I expected and wanted from this book was getting deep understanding of different endgame types from what it did cover.

I dissapointed with the first chapter, Basic Endgames, and with the beginning of chapter two, King and Pawn endings. Pandolfini's Endgame Course is much better on the two bishops endgame: Pandolfini shows you stage by stage how you can rustle the enemy king into the corner with two bishops. This approach of breaking the solution down into different stages is in my opinion much more helpful to the beginner than showing just one example from start to finish, which is what Seirawan does for the two bishops. Pandolfini's two bishops is superior to Seirawan's.

Seirawan has a detailed discussion on knight and bishop vs. king, but again I prefer Pandolfini's approach of breaking down the ending from the final checkmate positions, then working backwards towards how to maneuver into the checkmate positions. Seirawan does have more text in knight and bishop compared to Pandolfini but I'm not sure it's more instructive in this case. So I'm neutral about knight and bishop with a nod toward prefering Pandolfini's organization.

In the beginning of the King and Pawn seciton, Seirawan introduces the critical notion of distant opposition without ever defining it or telling how the reader can calculate distant opposition himself. Silman's "Reassess Your Chess" has an exemplary distant opposition discussion, with many detailed diagrams and wording showing exactly how to calculate (distant) opposition along with very detailed examples discussing distant oppostion and showing how one king can outflank another king. Seirawan just breezes through this topic, missing an important teaching opportunity, leaving the beginningn reader confused. Now I'm starting to get worried: is the rest of the book going to be this way, too? My concern is: how will I know if Seirawan misses more important teaching opportunities in those areas I'm not already very familiar with?

In the section on the "tempo tester," (a pawn vs. pawn game Seirawan says is great for teaching tempo calculation), Seirawan gives no guidelines at all at how to approach playing it well or how the calculation should be done! He writes "I always beat my students at this game, white or black" without giving any insights into what his thinking is when he plays, or what techniques he uses, or just what kinds of calculation he does and just how to do the same yourself. I know that chess is all about doing the hard work yourself, but the point of buying chess books is to get direction and to prevent flailing around.

Again, this is just a review of the initial section of the book. I am really hoping the rest is better. Flipping through the rest of the book, the discussions do *look* like they are very detailed, and I see general principles are outlined, but my confidence has been shaken a bit by the bad beginning. I'm rating it 3 stars for what I see in the remainder of the book. I'd give it 1 or 2 stars at most based on the beginning, and recommend strongly that readers look elsewhere for the basics (Pandolfini and Silman referenced above).

A COOL MONSTER BOOK!!.......2005-11-15

My 5-year-old (soon to turn 6) started participating in the scholastic tournaments about half a year ago. He often seemed to do well in the beginning and the middle parts of his games but mess up in the end. A friend introduced this book to us because her kids' endgame coach used it. She thought the endgames introduced in this book were easier for kids to understand and apply to their own games. (Her own kids are 5 and 8 years old. Their USCF ratings are about 1200 and 1450.) The first day I got this book and gave it to my kid, he was all excited and started studying it by reading the book and playing it out on the chess board. Before his bed time, he had read through 86 pages. I guess the author's language must be easy to understand, or my kid who's still a kindergartener couldn't possibly go through it at such fast pace. I asked him how he thought of the book. He replied, "This is a cool monster book!" As to the result from reading this book, well, his ICC rating jumped from around 1200 to almost 1400 after studying this book on his own for just 3 days. He is still working on it and has asked me to buy all the other books by the same author. My kid's USCF rating is about 1100 so I guess this book is at least great for the advanced beginners.

A good book by a good author.......2005-10-18

I like Yasser's style. It's a very informative book. My only problem with this book is the content is thin. Other than that, it's a good book.

Average customer rating:

Winning Chess Endings

Manufacturer: EVERYMAN CHESS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GTNEW6

Customer Reviews:

A really funny book.......2004-06-22

It is a verry funny book. It has alot of Top ten charts. Like one are top ten albums. There is also alot of different things. Like it shows you how to do the Fish hook, from the movie.

Average customer rating:

wayne's World Extreme Close-up
Mike and Ruzan, Robin Myers
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GRO9G8

Average customer rating:

Wayne's World: Extreme Close-Up
Mike Myers; Robin Ruzan
Manufacturer: Hyperion Books (Adult Trd Pap)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000PS203M

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