Outlaw Representation: Censorship and Homosexuality in Twentieth-Century American Art (Ideologies of Desire)

Book Description

From the U.S. Navy's 1934 confiscation of a painting of sailors on shore leave to contemporary culture wars over funding for the arts, conflicts surrounding homosexuality and creative freedom have shaped the history of modern art in America. Richard Meyer's Outlaw Representation tells the charged story of this strife through pioneering analysis of the works of gay artists and the circumstances under which these works have been attacked, suppressed, or censored outright. Focusing on the careers of Paul Cadmus, Andy Warhol, Robert Mapplethorpe, David Wojnarowicz, Gran Fury, and Holly Hughes, Outlaw Representation explores how gay artists responded to the threat of censorship by producing their own "outlaw representations" of homosexuality. Instead of acquiescing to attacks on their work as indecent or obscene, these artists used the outlaw status of homosexuality to propose new forms of social, sexual, and creative life. Richly illustrated, Outlaw Representation includes close to 200 striking images, ranging from the art of celebrated figures such as Andy Warhol and Robert Mapplethorpe to physique-magazine photographs and gay liberation posters. Throughout, images that once provoked censorship now elicit close visual analysis and careful historical investigation. Engagingly written and sweepingly researched, Outlaw Representation promises to be a landmark in the study of twentieth-century American art, politics, and sexuality.

Customer Reviews:

A much-needed look at a much-neglected subject.......2004-08-19

This book does for twentieth-century American art what Vito Russo's "The Celluloid Closet" does for twentieth-century cinema. The illustrations and reproductions are brilliantly choreographed with the text.

A book for anyone interested in art, politics or freedom.......2004-04-23

This book is genius and amazing. Read it right now.

Brilliant, ground-breaking work.......2003-04-17

This is an amazing book, rich in detail and images, but also exploring with passion and intensity a border between queer studies, art history, and cultural studies. It demonstrates an astonishing command of the social and political history of the period it covers, along with theoretical depth and great sophistication in the reading and analysis of visual materials. I was mesmerized. Written beautifully, this book makes its erudition appear effortless, but in fact it is an extremely courageous and innovative text, bringing together disparate worlds of scholarship into a brilliant synthesis. It neither panders to popular tastes, nor remains trapped in disciplinary jargon; instead, it is an examination, full of intellectual integrity, of the intersection of the law and artistic production, showing how artists moved around and through what might have been devastating censorship by entrenched homophobia. It is to be expected that the book itself will encounter resistance, since it breaks new ground with such authority, unnerving those with vested interests in disciplinary boundaries or in policing representation.

Rather disappointing.......2003-04-08

I must say that the reader from Cambridge, whose review appears below, seems to me to have it right. Certainly, the book is well-illustrated, well-researched, and readable. But analytically, whether understood as art history or cultural criticism, this book offers very little. Meyer does us a service by collecting these images and placing them next to each other, but his observations about the consequences of censorship struck me as quite banal, and predictable to such a degree that you must wonder whether he has any interest in complicating (let alone challenging) the theoretical paradigms he draws on. It is hardly news that right-wing zealots intent on suppressing representations of gay sexuality often display a questionable fascination with the very images they claim to despise. It hardly requires any advanced art historical training to see that Mapplethorpe's "Brian Ridley and Lyle Heeter" photo plays on the conventional image of the Victorian heterosexual domestic couple. I had rather hoped, given the time and effort that Meyer put into this book, that he would have been able to present something more surprising and innovative than he delivers. For a good discussion of current perspectives on censorship in law and the humanities that goes far beyond Meyer's account, see the Getty publication, edited by Robert C. Post, titled "Censorship and Silencing: Practices of Cultural Representation."

A Well Written Research on an Interesting Topic.......2002-06-08

Richard Meyer has added a significant volume to the compendium of books on American art and its kinship to social mores. Using Censorship as a topic should arouse the interest of all who value freedom of expression and it is to that audience that I think this books plays to best. Yes, the art examined here is queer art, but it is art that is a significant part of the 20th Century, not just an isolated school. His chosen artists are Paul Cadmus, Robert Mapplethorpe, Andy Warhol and Gran Fury and in presenting these artists he is concomittanly investigating the influence of such highly important social issues as AIDS, consumerism, POP culture, the whole Jesse Helms/Jerry Farwell/Christian Coalition debacle in a way that makes the reader look into the motivational behavior of the past century that continues into this century. The book is well documented in images and footnotes, making it a must for school libraries and fellow scholars. Despite the confrontational topic of the book, Meyer writes so well that he maintains interest even when extending his examples a bit too far. He overall theme appears to be that there is some good to be found in censorship: media attention derived from such art brings heightened awareness and eventually more prestige and longevity to the art and involved artists. One major complaint about this book: the typeface point is so small that it makes reading the pages a visual strain. In an otherwise expensive layout, one wonders why the typeface couldn't have been changed to one more user friendly.

OUTLAW REPRESENTATION, Censorship and Homosexuality in Twentieth-Century American Art.

Average customer rating:

OUTLAW REPRESENTATION, Censorship and Homosexuality in Twentieth-Century American Art.
Richard. Meyer
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OKAFJM

Customer Reviews:

Richly Humorous and Oh so Real.......2007-02-17

I have been a faithful FoxTrot reader for years. Roger, Andy and their kids Peter, Paige and Jason are always good for a reality check with a large dose of laughter. I've got two girls and let me tell you, I see a lot of my kids in Paige with, I believe, even a healthy dose of Jason thrown in. And they have Peter's bottomless stomach. Of course, they're faithful FoxTrot readers too. I used to read the strip to them, explain what was going on, but now they get it just fine and we three all laugh together. Then my girls try and explain the strip to their dad, who pretends he doesn't get it.

The FoxTrot folks are a great family, one we sort of got used to checking up on every day, so we took the news that Mr. Amend was going to cease daily distribution of his wonderfully funny people and turn his strip to Sunday only, with a bit of sadness. Still, we have these terrific FoxTrot books to keep us going with our FoxTrot fix. Mr. Amend is to be commended for his great gift to our culture and his great gift to so many lives. I truly believe a laugh a day, helps keep the blues away and the FoxTrot gang are always good for a laugh. Heck there are a lot of laughs in the FoxTrot books. I know, I have them all and I am, along with my girls and my hubby dear, eagerly awaiting the next one.

Oh yes, I forgot to mention, we don't have an iguana, but my girls do have a pet gecko and, you guessed it, his name is Quincy.

FoxTrot Beyond a Doubt. Foxtrot, All Great!.......2007-01-20

I've been a Foxtrot reader for a long time and personally I think there is something suspiciously wrong with people who don't find Bill Amend's characters funny as all get out. If you want a good laugh, check out Bill in your local newspaper, or better yet, get one of the Foxtrot books. They are all great, really, they are.

Like many of Mr. Amend's fans I'm a bit disappointed he's switching his strip to Sunday-only, but fortunately I can still read him daily in the Foxtrot books. Get them one and all and you can keep right on a laughing.

The greatest FoxTrot book ever!.......2006-04-17

This is truly my favorite FoxTrot book! I have read "My Hot Dog went out, can I have another?","Assorted FoxTrot","Wildly FoxTrot","Camp FoxTrot", and "FoxTrotius Maximus". This is better than all of these. Check out the others too, though.

FOXTROT RULES!.......2004-04-07

This book is awesome! This is a A+, 100%, 5 star, simply amazing book! Bill Amend is clearly one of the best cartoonists of our time, right up there with Charles Schulz, Jim Davis, and Scott Adams.

I enjoy all of Amend's collections - no exception here........2003-07-10

I have always found Foxtrot a wonderful evening read. This collection is another great way to go to sleep with a smile on your face.

Average customer rating:

great music

I was pleased!

This is THE most fun book I've ever played

FrAcTuReD FaIrY tAlE's BoOk Is GrEaT!

Really Funny.

Once Upon a Mattress : Vocal Selections

Manufacturer: Hal Leonard Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Songbooks | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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Musicals | Musical Genres | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Once Upon A Mattress (1959 Original Broadway Cast)

Once Upon a Mattress (1997 Broadway Revival Cast)

Once Upon a Mattress

Guys and Dolls

Little Women: Vocal Selections

ASIN: 0881881015

Product Description

Songs include: Happily Ever After, In A Little While, Normandy, Sensitivity, Shy, Very Soft Shoes, Yesterday I Loved You.

Customer Reviews:

great music.......2006-03-10

The accompaniments are easy to play, and the music is so much fun to sing. definately reccomended if you're auditioning for the show, or just need a fun piece to perform.

I was pleased!.......2002-01-06

When I purchased the vocal selections for this show I received exactly what I expected. The songs were not difficult to play at all, yet it had almost every song from the show. If trying out for the show or just want some simple music to play...this is the book to buy.

This is THE most fun book I've ever played.......2001-04-01

I was the pianist for my high school's performance of this musical, and when I heard the music (the 1997 CD), I fell in love immediately. As the rehearsal pianist, I played through this book three hours a day for two months, but the original appeal has not faded! In fact, since I have to return the book (it's a rental), I plan on purchasing it as soon as the show's over.

FrAcTuReD FaIrY tAlE's BoOk Is GrEaT!.......2000-01-30

We all know the story of the Princess and the Pea, right? Well, this musical and its music book give it some well needed humor! Origianlly starring Carol Burnett, MATTRESS went on to make 2 TV movies and eventually star Ms. Sarah Jessica Parker, a now Emmy award winning actress. MATTRESS entered my life 12 months ago, and it is still here! For me, MATTRESS seems to have started my acting career. Buy this book if you need to learn songs for a role, or if you just want to add it to your Broadway collection!

Really Funny........1999-07-16

I am in this play at a Performing Arts Group that I am in, and I think that this is one of the most hillarious plays I have ever done. This book is hightly recommened.

Average customer rating:

3 1/2 *s Enjoyable story of two people trying to start over
Terrific, sexy contemporary romance

Once Upon A Mattress (The Wrong Bed)
Kathleen O'Reilly
Manufacturer: harlequin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0373691270

Customer Reviews:

3 1/2 *s Enjoyable story of two people trying to start over.......2003-05-20

This second contemporary from Ms O'Reilly is not quite as good as her first, "Just Kiss Me". The characters could have been a bit better developed, as they came across a bit one-dimensional, but all in all, this is still a pretty good read.

Hilary Sinclair has recently moved to Dallas and a new job at McAllister Beds desperately needing a fresh start. She left Atlanta and her old life behind when her fiance of 7 years dumps her leaving her hurt, confused and wondering if she was really that stupid or that needy. But her new life is not exactly off to a great start when the roof of her fixer-up-er cracks and leaks during a rainstorm. Needing a place to sleep until she can get her roof fixed, she decides on the mattress test center at work - it's full of beds and who'll ever know?

Ben McAllister has spent the last several years working his way through his "list of things to do before I die". He's been a ski instructor in the Alps, spent a summer working construction in the Carribean even been to the Galapagos. Next is a stint on a ranch in Colorado to play cowboy for awhile. But for now, he's come back home to Dallas and the family business to help out. His parents are divorcing and Ben figures they must need him, but when his father gives him the token job as Director of Security, he's disappointed to say the least. Determined to prove himself useful, he sets out to discover who has been sleeping in the test center. He decides to spend the night himself and catch the culprit in the act.

Morning finds still half-asleep Hilary and Ben in the same bed and engaged in some fuzzy close contact. Though they seem ill-suited, there is a definite attraction. Ben offers to fix her roof if she will teach him about the mattress biz in exchange. Friendship grows and they begin to share personal histories. Much as he is attracted to her, Ben unhappily decides that, with all her recent heartache, he's not the guy for her. He's not Mr. Reliable and they both know it. Besides, he's off to Colorado in a few months anyway - isn't he? But then Ben's dad drops a bombshell that will affect all of their lives and Ben has some serious thinking to do about what really should be on that list of his and what's really important to him. And when the going gets tough will Hilary stay and fight for what she wants or just run away again?

An enjoyable read.

Terrific, sexy contemporary romance.......2003-05-16

Word of his parents' impending divorce sends fun loving Ben MacAllister home. Assuming he will finally be able to prove his worth, Ben prepares for responsibility for the family business and to be a pillar of strength to the family. But his mother's margarita parties and his father's travel trailer leave him feeling unneeded, not to mention disillusioned. Apparently MacAllister mattresses out last MacAllister marriages. Worse, his father plans to sell the family business just as Ben seems to be carving his nitch.

A new house and a new beginning scarcely seem the promising beginning Heather Sinclair needs when a portion of her roof collapses from heavy rain. Her already damaged bank account cannot afford repairmen and hotel rooms, so Heather temporarily borrows one of the test rooms in the mattress factory, hoping for a few hours respite. She does not expect to awaken with the sexy Ben in her bed! Nor did he expect his sensual dream to be based in reality!

I admit that Temptation's Wrong Bed series heads my favorite long term series, and author Kathleen O'Reilly lives up to me expectations with pizzazz. Heather and Ben seem to say all the wrong things, come together in the wrong places, and get the sensuality exactly right! With witty dialogue and amusing plot to provide an absolutely memorable read, ONCE UPON A MATTRESS comes very highly recommended.

Average customer rating:
Alvin Theatre Playbill Once Upon a Mattress Stariing Carol Burnett January 4, 1960
PLAYBILL WEEKLY MAGAZINE FOR THEATREGOERS
Manufacturer: PLAYBILL
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Nonfiction | Subjects | Books | Automotive | Books on CD | Books on Cassette | Crime & Criminals | Current Events | Economics | Education | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Government | Holidays | Law | Philosophy | Politics | Social Sciences | Transportation | True Accounts | Urban Planning & Development | Women's Studies
ASIN: B000NQ9G0G

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Once upon a mattress
Mary Rodgers
Manufacturer: Music Theatre International
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Musicals | Musical Genres | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0007E4FQE

Average customer rating:
Once upon a Mattress - Life in Bed
Martin Riskin
Manufacturer: Ivory Tower Publishing Company, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0880324597

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Once Upon A Mattress Songbook

Once upon a mattress: Libretto/vocal book
Mary Rodgers
Manufacturer: Music Theatre International
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Musicals | Musical Genres | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0007H203Q

Customer Reviews:

Once Upon A Mattress Songbook.......2005-04-03

This is bound to be a great product. I am always singing Once Upon A Mattress songs but I don't have the music so I can't always get it right. This is a good solution, though I haven't tried it yet. However, there is not much information provided about this product (no picture, etc.).

Amazon.com

Readers who agree with Stefan Sharff that "the voyeuristic drive is an unavoidable part of watching a film," will find much food for thought in this book. Sharff contends that the hero of Rear Window, played by James Stewart, is himself a voyeur, and that through him Hitchcock replicates and satirizes the experience of movie watching itself. The author further argues that Hitchcock uses a cinematic "high vernacular" to convey his complex ideas. As he reveals the relationship between the film's visual style and meaning, its form and its content, Sharff walks through it no fewer than three times. In the chapters that make up the heart of this book, he summarizes the movie's plot, then comments on each of its shots in succession, and finally provides a sequential shot list for easy reference. The result is one of the most meticulous analyses of a single film available in print. It should hold a special interest for Hitchcock fans who own Rear Window on video--putting the film in the "pause" mode as they read along with Sharff will give them the opportunity to follow, absorb, and argue with the analyses of a famous film critic and Hitchcock fan. --Raphael Shargel

Book Description

A detailed overview of Hitchcock's skill in developing the story from intriguing start to shattering climax, and then goes on to a shot-by-shot analysis, using the shooting script as text, that describes how Hitchcock's technique accomplished its magic.

Customer Reviews:

Deeply-Flawed Volume -- But Still Fun For Fans Of The Film.......2004-05-25

"The Art Of Looking In Hitchcock's Rear Window" is a 196-page volume written by Stefan Sharff in 1997. For mega-fans of Alfred Hitchcock's much-heralded 1954 classic suspense movie, "Rear Window", this book can provide a fun way to pass some time.

This is very literally a "Movie in a book", with the emphasis on painstaking detail of every scene contained within the engrossing Hitchcock 115-minute flick.

Well, maybe I should have stopped short (above) of using the word "painstaking" to describe this volume. Because Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines "painstaking" as -- "diligent care and effort". While Sharff's work here might well be termed as "painstaking"; I'd also have to add that it's not painstaking enough!

I say this mainly due to the mountain of errors I found while perusing Chapter 4, entitled "Shot By Shot (With Timing And Dialogue)". This lengthy chapter of more than 70 pages purports to "provide the complete dialogue as heard in the film" (exact quote from the book). However, any die-hard fan of "Rear Window" (who has seen the film multiple times) will instantly recognize this "complete dialogue" claim to be vastly overstated.

There are HUGE chunks of dialogue missing from this "Shot-By-Shot" portion of the book. And an even greater number of mis-quotes from the film. I couldn't believe how much stuff was omitted here. On very nearly every page during this supposedly 'verbatim' text reference to every scene in the film I kept saying to myself -- "Nope. That's not exactly right either!". Or, on many other occasions, "Why has this line by Jefferies (or by Lisa Fremont) been left out here?".

One such blatant example of ignored dialogue occurs on page 123 of the book (during the description of an early scene between L.B. Jefferies (played by James Stewart) and Lisa Fremont (Grace Kelly). .... After Lisa says "I don't care what you do for a living; I'd just like to be part of it somehow", the book just decides to cut out the next few lines for no apparent reason (which, as I mentioned, happens way too often during the course of this publication).

According to Sharff's text, the next line to be heard in the film (after the line spoken by Lisa that I just wrote above) is Jefferies saying: "Wait a minute" (a line which isn't in the movie AT ALL!).

What *should* have followed is a little more give-and-take between Lisa and "Jeff" at the end of this very good and well-done scene (a scene which has a poignant and bittersweet flavor to it). Lisa's next line is: "It's deflating to find out the only way I can be part of it is to take out a subscription to your magazine. I guess I'm not the girl I thought I was."

Jeff then comes back with: "Now, there's nothing wrong with you Lisa. You've got this town in the palm of your hand." To which Lisa responds: "Not quite it seems."

All of these lines I've mentioned are totally missing from this book's "Shot-By-Shot" chapter. Ridiculous! To leave out a word or two here or there is certainly understandable in a work like this one, where an entire movie script is being re-played in print form. But here, enormous hunks of important lines are cut out, willy-nilly!

Lisa's "magazine subscription" line, in fact, is a very clever line in the movie, both funny and sad at the same time. It's one of my favorite lines in this film. To omit it (and many others that follow) displays just plain carelessness and negligence on the part of the author, in my opinion. For, how difficult is it to get the lines correct for a publication like this? Just watch the movie beginning to end, and write down every word spoken. But this obviously wasn't done in this case. Curious. Most curious indeed.

Now, even though I frown at all the sloppy omissions and errors that prevail in this volume, it *is* still a fun book to browse through (for the many pictures if nothing else). A lot of the photos in the book are of subpar quality, being taken (I think) directly from a VHS video source, which doesn't really flatter the material (kind of blurry and non-detailed). There are, however, many excellent-quality photographs contained on these pages. The crystal-clear pics are (I think) mostly "publicity stills".

A few of these "production photos" (plus a bunch more) can also be found among the "Special Features" on the superlative "Rear Window" Collector's Edition DVD, produced by Universal Home Video.

Despite my negative comments above, I still like having this book in my collection (mainly because I enjoy behind-the-scenes stuff involving films directed by "The Master", Alfred Hitchcock).

If you pick up this item of bound printed matter, just don't expect it to be anywhere near comprehensive or complete in terms of a "word-for-word" account of the motion picture. Because it's far from earning that distinction.

READ THIS REVIEW FIRST BEFORE PURCHASE!!!!.......2004-04-07

Okay. So you're thinking about buying this book. Maybe you should, maybe you shouldn't. However, what you really shouldn't do is base that decision on the number of stars it has or any of the stupid reviews found (most likely underneath mine). "Why?" do you ask. Pretty much becuase the reviews are all biased and not well thought out. I'm a filmmaker and appreicate a book like this in its truly in depth, detailed analysis of a great filmmaker's work - this being Rear Window. It's an analysis of the script and then a shot by shot analysis of the film, including images of the shots to help you visualize. If you are interested in this sort of thing, then by this book. Anyone fascinated by the art of the cinema can agree that it can be imperative in really discussing the use of camera by a director, particularly by Hitchcock, who was a master of such craft. It's one of the few books I can find that break the film down in this regard so well and with such conviction/detail. Its a truly great reference to find. ***Okay, now listen up. If you do decide to read any other reviews (mostly the stupid ones with only one star) then note how the writer of each review states that what they wanted was something about the making of the film or production itself. They didn't find that from the book b/c that's not what it's about, so they gave it a bad review. That's just dumb and ignorant. If they wanted that, then why did they buy the book in the first place. Sorry, this just makes me angry. You can't rate a book by what you thought you were getting, especially when the book backing says nothing about any sort of 'making of'. So, if this IS what you are looking for, then, fine - do yourself a favor - and buy a different book on the subject. If you want a book like the one I mentioned earlier, then stop reading this and purchase. Thank you.

yuck.......2001-11-19

bore bore borING! if i COULD i wouldn't give this book any stars. the movie is GREAT but the book is just 3 scripts--1 is more detailed than the other, and one is more detailed than that! yawn . . .zzz . . . .zzzzzz. .zzzz. SERIOUSLY! DON'T WASTE YOUR PRECIOUS TIME AND MONEY! don't fall into the trap!

boring!.......2001-11-19

i really like "Rear Window" and i thought this would be about the MAKING OF THE MOVIE. All it was, was a script, a more detailed script, and a MORE detailed script. i wasted my money on it. :'( don't do the same!

p.s. if you WANT a detailed script, then get it.

See the movie instead.......2001-11-10

Yawn! Stefan Sharff's shot by shot analysis of Hitchcock's work is painstakingly executed, and painful to the reader. Not that understanding a great work of art should require no work on the part of its audience but in this case simply having the the plot of a classic movie told repeatedly and then gone over shot by shot adds little to the discussion of a much discussed work. Also, as another review here noted, there are many errors in Mr. Sharff's re-telling of the movie, which could easily have been avoided. I ordered this book along with 'Writing with Hitchcock' by Steven DeRosa, which offers a fresh analysis of 'Rear Window' and tells the complete story of its making - that one I do recommend along with seeing the movie again.

Product Description

Renowned Beatles expert Keith Badman has updated this edition to include details of the death of George Harrison, Paul McCartney s appearance at the charity concert at Madison Square Gardens in aid of September 11th and Yoko Ono s peace message. He will also detail forthcoming events such as Paul s American tour this summer and his appearance at the Queen s Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Customer Reviews:

Lots of Fun.......2005-09-14

Unrehearsed is right. These 4 guys are about as straight forward as anyone can get. Loved it.

THE REFERENCE BOOK ABOUT THE SOLO YEARS !.......2002-01-30

This is a must-have book ! Really, this is the best book ever published on the beatles solo years history !!!
It's like the sequel to the "Anthology" book. The Beatles themselves, through 30 years of interviews, tell their story from 1970 to 2001. Even if you're a big fan like me you'll find a lot of information you don't already know. It even includes some very rare and beautiful photos...
All Beatlefans must have this great new book !!!

For all dedicated Beatles fans.......2001-10-15

In The Beatles Off The Record, Keith Badman has assembled an impressive, 496 page compendium of unrehearsed interviews and outrageous opinions by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. Their sometimes iconoclastic commentaries on the personalities, events, and issues of the day are arranged chronologically by year beginning with the opening chapters "When I Was A Boy" (covering pre-1960) and "The Hamburg Treadmill (1960) down through "Apple Crumble" (1969) and "The End" (1970). A massive undertaking, The Beatles Off The Record is a unique, essential, core title for all dedicated Beatles fans and reveals these four young men from Liverpool as no other book ever has -- or could!

Great book.......2001-04-13

This book is very good indeed. It has lots of little known facts even to the die hard fan. I only wish it had more pictures, although the ones that it has are excellent. It is far better than Anthology, buy this instead! Also check the other book by this author, The Beatles after the break up.

Damn Good Book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2001-04-11

I thought this book was a great read!. Its researched with great detail & passion from a writer who knows his stuff. I'd love to meet the writer, as I imagine that he could talk for hours about the Beatles & you wouldn't get bored!.

Average customer rating:

Baccarat - Carefully

Worthless baccarat book

Great Book

Secrets of Winning Baccarat
Brian Kaysar
Manufacturer: Cardoza
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Card Games | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1580420877

Customer Reviews:

Baccarat - Carefully.......2004-07-18

I wouldn't buy this book if you are just starting in the game. This book can help you through bad shoes, but you must be able to recognize what a bad shoe is, and then apply a combination of basic strategy and advanced strategy #3 (Run Vs Singleton).

However in good shoes. 7 or more ties per shoe(Because I play ties) I have found that if you use the methods in this book. It costs you money on good shoes in mini-baccarat. Now if you have good money management skills. (aka. quit while ahead.) And know what you are doing, but would like some help getting through bad shoes, purchase this book. If you are looking for a book to start learning the game. Look elsewhere.

Worthless baccarat book.......2003-12-06

The author recorded the results of each hand for 232 shoes and concocted a system that would work against that set of results. He doesn't recognize that anything can happen in such a small sample. For example, he reports that, in his 232 shoes, the Player hand won 50.8% of the non-tied hands. In the long run, of course, the Player wins less than 50% of the non-tied hands. Otherwise, anyone could win at baccarat just by betting Player all the time. This is why serious analysts use computer simulations to study samples of literally millions of hands.

The author's basic method is an up-as-you-lose progression. Any such system will indeed tend to win more often than it loses, because it wins large bets that recoup earlier small losses. The catch is that, when the large bets lose, then the system loses big. The few big losses will offset the many smaller wins. The net result, over the long run, will be in keeping with the game's underlying math -- which, in baccarat, means that the bettor will lose about one percent of the total amount bet. Therefore, this author's claim that his system will win two-thirds of all shoes is plausible. Unfortunately, the long-run result will be the same as that of a player who didn't bother to record hand results and just bet the same amount every hand -- i.e., a net loss.

The author states, correctly, that the odds on each hand are the same regardless of the results of the preceding hands. Nevertheless, he advises betting that streaks won't continue. He doesn't explain this inconsistency. (There's actually an extremely slight interdependence among successive hands, so that streaks are very slightly more likely to end than to continue, but the author doesn't discuss this phenomenon and correctly doesn't rely on it. It's far too small to meaningfully reduce the house edge.)

The author's expertise is said to be in the construction of mathematical models. His error here is to construct a model based on very limited data. As the saying goes, "Garbage in, garbage out."

Great Book.......2003-04-20

If you want to learn all about Baccarat, this is the book to read. No get rich quick system here. You get betting systems that are based on the mathematics of how the game works, and examples based on real play in casinos. There is also stuff on how to enjoy playing at the tables like a pro.

Average customer rating:

Secrets of Winning Baccarat
Brian D Kayser
Manufacturer: CARDOZA PUBLISHING U
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Average customer rating:

Fabulous ideas backed up by case studies

Full of Duh's

Read this book!

Joe Calloway is a star

Get's to the point quick. Great Examples

Indispensable: How To Become The Company That Your Customers Can't Live Without
Joe Calloway
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0471703087

Book Description

A five-step strategy for turning a commodity into a necessity

When products and services become interchangeable, price becomes the ultimate determinant for consumers. Indispensable shows businesses how to break out of that cycle by using The Five Drivers-a strategy that takes companies to the next level of performance. Renowned business consultant Joe Calloway looks at how real companies have made their product or service "mission critical," and satisfied customers in the process.

Indispensable goes straight to the heart of the issue and reveals how successful companies-of any size, in virtually any manufacturing, selling, or service endeavor-achieve market leadership through The Five Drivers of fierce customer loyalty. Indispensable shows readers how to:
* Create and sustain momentum: overcome organizational inertia and keep moving forward
* Develop habitual dependability: make consistency of performance a defining characteristic
* Connect continuously
* See the Big Picture Outcome: create compelling customer experiences
* Engage, Enchant, Enthrall: make magic in the marketplace

With interviews, detailed case studies, and dozens of real-world, effective customer service ideas and initiatives, Indispensable is just what today's forward-thinking businesses need.

Download Description

"A five-step strategy for turning a commodity into a necessity

When products and services become interchangeable, price becomes the ultimate determinant for consumers. Indispensable shows businesses how to break out of that cycle by using The Five Drivers-a strategy that takes companies to the next level of performance. Renowned business consultant Joe Calloway looks at how real companies have made their product or service ""mission critical,"" and satisfied customers in the process.

Indispensable goes straight to the heart of the issue and reveals how successful companies-of any size, in virtually any manufacturing, selling, or service endeavor-achieve market leadership through The Five Drivers of fierce customer loyalty. Indispensable shows readers how to:
* Create and sustain momentum: overcome organizational inertia and keep moving forward
* Develop habitual dependability: make consistency of performance a defining characteristic
* Connect continuously
* See the Big Picture Outcome: create compelling customer experiences
* Engage, Enchant, Enthrall: make magic in the marketplace

With interviews, detailed case studies, and dozens of real-world, effective customer service ideas and initiatives, Indispensable is just what today's forward-thinking businesses need."

Customer Reviews:

Fabulous ideas backed up by case studies.......2005-11-15

When I saw the raving testimonials on the back cover by executives from Saks Fifth Avenue, Volvo, Tractor Supply, and Quill Corporation, I was dubious. What could be so great about this book? I'm a believer. From understanding how to compete against the "lowest price" provider to unique case studies ranging from a revolutionary bank and W Hotels to a pancake restaurant and selling guru Geoffrey Gitomer (Little Red Book of Selling), Calloway has written a compelling business book that will force you to examine your own business in a way that inspires performance improvement. Those who haven't spent time "in the trenches" of business or management probably won't get it, but for those who have to constantly find ways to improve productivity - this is the book to read this year. You won't find a book with more practical or engaging case studies anywhere.

Full of Duh's.......2005-11-15

Calloway's book starts with 5 promising but not earthshattering "drive behaviors" that result in becoming indispensable. But the book quickly becomes lots of duh's. Among his 28 indispensable lessons: #1 "Sell the same thing as everybody else and have the lowest price." Duh.
#7 "Know your customers." Duh
And lots and lots of stories...Serious students of business development should pass on this book.

Read this book!.......2005-09-28

Meet Joe Calloway, a consultant on branding and competitive positioning. He's delightfully candid, direct, instructive, and stimulating. As you read this book, you will get to know Calloway as a human and consumer with feelings...that certainly come out in this text. I thoroughly enjoyed page after page of stories of how companies become indispensable...or not. The conversational tone is captivating and motivating.

You'll read about the Five Drivers: create and drive momentum, develop habitual dependability, continuous connection, big picture outcome, and engage, enchant, and enthrall. The chapters illuminate these drivers and deliver even more. I found myself looking at my business relationships much differently-both as a consumer and as a deliverer of goods and services. Between Calloway's lessons, countless examples, and case studies is an intricate fabric of a clear message. Be indispensable or lose to the competition. I won't tell you more details-there's too much to try to convey the depth of this book in a review. Read it.

Expect to be thoroughly engaged by this book, eager to return to it every time you put it down. And, expect to send it to someone who really needs it when you're finished!

Joe Calloway is a star.......2005-07-11

Great writing technique. Get to the punch lines quick and establish clearly what needs to be done.

A perfect reminder that we all seem to forget how easy it is to captivate our customers' attention and have them come back for more.

Also great examples that cover many industries giving clear pictures of the difference between great and mediocre companies.

Get's to the point quick. Great Examples.......2005-07-01

I've read many management books in my time and Indispensable: How To Become The Company That Your Customers Can't Live Without really hits home on creating a great company. A very easy read, with great examples that prove the points he makes.

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