Tex Avery: The Mgm Years, 1942-1955

Customer Reviews:

We are all mad here.......2002-12-19

To view individual cels from a Tex Avery cartoon is like a brief stop into an insane asylum. Fortunately, this book is chock full of film stills from vintage MGM cartoons such as Screwy Squirrel, Red Hot Riding Hood and lesser known but just as noteworthy cartoon shorts from the Golden Age of American Animation. The text by John Canemaker is just as light as it needs to be with some helpful intros. Avery changed how directors think about pacing, sight gags, and characterization while knocking off layers of the sugar-sweet Disney-stigma and this book does a fitting job paying tribute to that.

King of Comic Animation!.......2000-07-23

Tex Avery was and probably will be the king of the most wackiest animation the world has ever seen. Being the inspiration for future generations of cartoonists, Avery brought us such funny characters as Droopy, Spike the bulldog, Screwy Squirrel, and several Looney Tunes characters.

This book, originally published by the now defunct publishing branch of Turner Enterprises (now part of AOL-Time Warner) is an excellent tribute to the man who gave the cartoon world new ways to express comedy and feelings. From exploding cigars to eyeballs that pop out of their sockets, Avery gave many comedians and animators inspiration (the film "The Mask," with Jim Carrey and his facial expressions are a great example of this).

Most of the cartoons in this book are now owned by Ted Turner (president and CEO of Turner Enterprises, and now one of the executives at AOL-Time Warner) and Turner's preservation of Avery's works will give future generations access to some of the most wackiest cartoons ever made. Overall, an excellent book with beautiful animation cels and a wonderful history of Avery's life and contributions.

King of Comic Animation!.......2000-07-23

The book Tex Avery fans have been waiting for.......1997-07-02

For us long-time fans of legendary cartoon director Tex Avery, we enjoyed the earlier Joe Adamson tribute, but were disappointed at the poor quality black and white photos included in it. Now at last the famous Avery shorts get the treatment they deserve, in this full-color, oversized coffee table edition straight from their proprietor Turner/MGM. Loads of famous scenes, model sheets and background designs are reproduced here, capturing the vivid color and style that we remember these cartoons for. Canemaker covers his subject mostly from a historical perspective, so you won't find any of the amusing anecdotal references here as in the Adamson book. Nonetheless, Canemaker covers Avery's cartoons with appropriate insight and reverence. If you haven't yet discovered the inimitatable style and hilarity of Tex Avery cartoons, you simply don't know what you're missing. And if you already know and appreciate the genius of Avery, your home shouldn't be without this book. It's a treasure.

Product Description

Tatsuki must fight a beautiful demon shogun to avenge his uncle and reclaim his kingdom. He's joined by the young circus acrobat Keo who quickly becomes more than a friend. Tatsuki must raise an army against the demon shogun by proving he's worthy of the spirit mark of the tiger. He's tested not only by the spirit mark clans, but by the demon shogun himself, who would rather have the gorgeous Tatsuki as a lover than as his enemy. Also in this book, a science fiction yaoi story about a clock-maker and a beautiful android.

Customer Reviews:

really bad !!.......2006-06-18

I was really disappointed with this title. This book does not even come close to Japanese yaoi titles. The art is child like, and the story is weak. You don't like the characters, and you cannot get into the story. The sex is there, but it holds no meaning since you don't care about the characters.
I wanted to like this book, but I couldn't. This book was a waste of my money, and I doubt I will buy from this publisher again.

Jet

very disappointed.......2006-04-13

If your looking for someing interesting AND explict keep on looking. the main story wasn't as intrigueing as i had hoped at all. And i felt nothing for the characters in the story.

not bad, but seen better.......2006-02-01

had a nice story, and the art work wasnt as bad as some that this publisher has produced. will retain in my collection but I do warn other yaoi seekers to maybe look elsewhere.

A Fantasy Yaoi Manga With Substance.......2005-12-23

I ordered this manga off amazon for both the fantasy elements of the plot synopsis and the yaoi content, and was more than pleasantly surprised at what I found. This manga is well worth the price, with a fast-paced storyline and beautiful illustrations on every page. Plus, a fantasy-genre yaoi! Spirit Marked has visually well-defined character designs -- a welcome treat in itself. The undercurrent of sensuality entangling the main characters(Tatsuki and Keo)was constantly engaging throughout the story, and never dull. Shogun's advancements were an equally fascinating dynamic woven into Spirit Marked. There is a fair amount of sex in this manga, and the scenes were well detailed and interesting without being exaggerated or falling into the realm of the bizarre or worse, of the tedious. I will, however, stress for inquiring minds that this is nowhere near hardcore yaoi, althrough a few scenes included are definately of the sort that you wouldn't want, say, dear old Grandma to see.

---Rating Breakdown---
Storyline: 4/5 (Althrough very well done, the story seemed to move alittle too quickly in places).

Yaoi Content: 4.5/5. Steamy scenes and character interactions. Good detail, but a qualm some readers might have with Spirit Marked is that while there are some pretty graphic scenes here, lower regions are rarely shown(as another character is usually blocking the view somehow, etc, not for lack of detail in the scenes).

Artwork: 5/5. I am very much in love with the illustrator's character designs. No complaints here!

Characters: 4.5/5(There could have been more character development, but then again, I'm definately one to nitpick.)
---

Clockwork Heart: This bonus story in the back of the manga is much more wobbly plotwise than the main attraction, but a fun (very quick) read nonetheless. As the previous reviewer mentioned, the ending felt slightly abrupt. My rating: 3/5
---
Spirit Marked became a new personal favorite of mine(in both the manga genres of yaoi or fantasy)the moment I began reading it. I'll definately be buying the author's next yaoi title upon its release.

Court

Amazing.......2005-12-16

This is by FAR the best manga put out by this site! The art is amazing, and the storyline is riveting. It keeps you wanting more, and also keeps you guessing! I love the main character. Just the way he's drawn and his characteristics are just amazing! I can really tell this is a well thought out story, but there is one thing I didn't like. I wish it were longer!!! The story in the back is also a bit short, and seems to be cut off (as if something is missing). It's a bit "gushy" and "romancy" but it's not so bad.

I can't wait for the artists of this book's second manga to come out!

A Marked Destiny: In God's Eternal Glory

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A Marked Destiny: In God's Eternal Glory
Bruce R. Gililland
Manufacturer: iUniverse, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | New Age | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Near-Death Experiences | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Bible & Other Sacred Texts | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0595320333

Book Description

Have you heard the most recent near death experience? This book makes it clear that our final destiny is not a story of hope or doubt, but can be clearly understood and known.

This assurance is so strong that doubt is completely erased with an earnest down payment for our mansion over the last hilltop of life.

New age thinking says that there are many ways to gain this assurance, but this book tells the certain pathway to take for an eternal existence destined for the family of supreme royalty. Learn how to gain a position in the champion family of love.

Average customer rating:

MARKED for LIFE
DOROTHY P. MYERS
Manufacturer: iUniverse, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

ESP | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0595363342

Book Description

Adonai sits upon the circle of the Earth, holding the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. The key to the House of David is upon the shoulder of Jesus Christ. The proverbial 'end time' is upon us. Adonai will remove the righteous from the evil to come, but Satan opens not the doors to the house of his prisoners. All prophesy points to the past, and the future. Warnings, concerning what to look for, so that specific events will not catch us unawares, are relevant today. Christianity looks to be flourishing, as world satellites show thousands stepping out in faith. However, the Imposter and Anti-Christ will also appear as a man from Adonai. Marked For Life will reveal the characteristics of the Anti-Christ and his 'mark'. Biblical history reveals symbols of the Jewish faith and Hebrew prophesy that are clues to what to expect from the 'man of sin'. The final battle and the end of evil will take place. Read, and know who will escape the 'mark of the beast,' and how.

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1984 lunch recalled the days of prohibition. (Wine Institute lunch which marked 50th anniversary of repeal of prohibition): An article from: Wines & Vines

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1984 lunch recalled the days of prohibition. (Wine Institute lunch which marked 50th anniversary of repeal of prohibition): An article from: Wines & Vines

Manufacturer: Hiaring Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | e-Docs | Formats | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Wines & Vines, published by Hiaring Company on September 1, 1989. The length of the article is 642 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: 1984 lunch recalled the days of prohibition. (Wine Institute lunch which marked 50th anniversary of repeal of prohibition)
Publication: Wines & Vines (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 1, 1989
Publisher: Hiaring Company
Volume: v70 Issue: n9 Page: p43(2)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

1998 marked shifts in world wine production and trade.(Industry Overview)(Statistical Data Included): An article from: Wines & Vines

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1998 marked shifts in world wine production and trade.(Industry Overview)(Statistical Data Included): An article from: Wines & Vines
William F. Doering
Manufacturer: Hiaring Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | e-Docs | Formats | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Wines & Vines, published by Hiaring Company on June 1, 2000. The length of the article is 1022 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: 1998 marked shifts in world wine production and trade.(Industry Overview)(Statistical Data Included)
Author: William F. Doering
Publication: Wines & Vines (Magazine/Journal)
Date: June 1, 2000
Publisher: Hiaring Company
Volume: 81 Issue: 6 Page: 136

Article Type: Industry Overview, Statistical Data Included

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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A surprisingly intimate portrait of a family

Disappointing but not completely worthless...

Not great

It's like a shiny, new clock...

Good but not great

The Real Festivus
Daniel O'Keefe
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: B000GG4I7E

Book Description

It's beginning to look a lot like Festivus!

From the Seinfeld writer and co-creator of the holiday that's becoming a world-wide cult phenomenon.

Beginning on December 23rd and ending sometime in May (if revelers are still into it), Festivus is becoming one of America's most revered secular-if peculiar-holidays. Since making its public debut in 1997 on Seinfeld, Festivus is finally fully explained in the definitive guide to its bare-bones celebration of second-rate miracles and hopeless regrets.

Discover the Festivus traditions:

Gather Round the Festivus Pole: A latter-day addition to festivus celebrations, traditionally a simple aluminum pole. While tinsel is strictly forbidden, non-threatening decorations are permitted within reason.

The Airing of Grievances: At the Festivus dinner table (spaghetti, meatloaf, whatever) participants inform family and friends of the ways in which they've been a disappointment.

The Feats of Strength: Customarily Festivus is over when the head of the family is wrestled to the ground and pinned. (Either participant may decline if they have something better to do.) Conceivably this whole thing could be stretched out until sometime in May.

Customer Reviews:

A surprisingly intimate portrait of a family.......2007-08-20

If you're a Seinfeld fan you know all about Festivus, the faux holiday that was invented by George Costanza's father Frank:

Frank Costanza: Many Christmases ago, I went to buy a doll for my son. I reached for the last one they had, but so did another man. As I rained blows upon him, I realized there had to be another way.

Cosmo Kramer: What happened to the doll?

Frank Costanza: It was destroyed. But out of that a new holiday was born: a Festivus for the rest of us!

In the Seinfeld episode ("The Strike"), the celebration of Festivus involves an aluminum pole, feats of strength, and a ritual airing of grievances. It is not, at least in George's view, an occasion of celebration, but rather a holiday to be endured. The idea of Festivus has nonetheless leapt from the small screen into the popular imagination. Need a Festivus pole for your own real-life celebration? You can buy a six-foot floor model online.

As it turns out, Festivus did not spring fully formed from the heads of Seinfeld's writers. It sprang from the imagination of Daniel O'Keefe Sr., the father of one of those writers. The O'Keefe family actually celebrated Festivus annually during the 1970's and 80's while Dan O'Keefe and his two younger brothers were growing up. But as the author explains in The Real Festivus, the holiday they observed was rather different from--if no less bizarre than--the celebration popularized on television:

"Though only a family of five originally celebrated Festivus, these days it is celebrated by literally dozens of prisoners, college students, and bored people in rural areas across this great nation. And some crappier nations like Canada and Uruguay. And God bless them all and keep them from rape and thresher accidents. But they're doing it all wrong."

In this record-straightening book, O'Keefe explains the genesis of Festivus, its symbols (a clock and a bag, but no pole) and rituals. Festivus was celebrated (irregularly, with no set date) with depressing music and the recitation of poetry and the ingestion of meat. There were strange hats and coarse political statements. Each year one or more themes were assigned to the holiday. (In 1977, for example, the theme was, "Are We Depressed? Yes!") But the most important element of Festivus was the annual tape recording. More than half of this book is taken up with a transcription of some of those Festivus tapes--jokes and pronouncements and embarrassing family secrets and summaries of the family's history since the last recording.

Do these transcripts make for interesting reading? Well, not per se. We readers are like outsiders peering through the O'Keefe's windows. The boys are teasing one another, their mother sitting to the side, for the most part quiet. Their father is hamming it up in front of the cassette recorder, now speaking German, now breaking into song, now declaiming in some more or less meaningful pidgin Romance language. Most of the jokes are lost on us, but we can appreciate the atmosphere within. And so the Festivus transcripts, if not riveting, wind up providing us with a surprisingly intimate portrait of a family, its members intelligent and deeply odd, playful but mutually supportive.

In his humorous introduction to The Real Festivus Jason Alexander (George Costanza on Seinfeld) says of the book that it is "a shameless attempt to cash in on an international phenomenon. It is airport or bathroom reading at its best." Which is true enough. But it's also mildly informative and funny and charmingly written and brief. Recommended, in short, for the Seinfeld aficionado.

-- Debra Hamel

Disappointing but not completely worthless..........2007-06-09

As a fan of Seinfeld, I snagged this book in a bookstore outlet because of its obvious Seinfeld connection. I had hoped to learn more about the show or more about that episode, but such was not to be found in this book. To his credit, the author is extremely clear about the premise. This book is an obvious attempt to cash-in on the popularity of Seinfeld, but it quickly departs from any Seinfeld connections and enters the bizarre world of the O'Keefe family.

In short, the Festivus concept that appeared in one Seinfeld episode originated with the O'Keefe family. The author of this book was a writer for Seinfeld who introduced the idea into a script. The script for that episode took on a life of its own and quickly left the actual holiday that the O'Keefe family celebrated, so this book brings it back to that real, fake holiday.

Quite honestly, I didn't think that the book was very funny. The author is relatively clever, but his writing style is overly conversational and often profane. To be sure, there were a few laugh-out-loud moments, but they were too rare.

The worst part of the book is the transcripts. One of the hallmarks of the O'Keefe Festivus celebration was recording their conversations about the holiday. Much of this book is the actual transcripts of those recordings. Though this was probably a hoot for the O'Keefe family to relive, it just didn't resonate with me as interesting, funny, or worthwhile.

Ultimately, this book was a disappointment. Had I read the book jacket and description more closely, I could have discovered this fact. If you want to learn more about Seinfeld, this book won't do it. If you want to learn about the strange fake holiday that a random family celebrated in the 1970's and 1980's that ultimately inspired a general concept for a Seinfeld episode, then this is the book for you!!

Not great.......2007-02-03

Most of the book is taken up with the family transcripts of their Festivus celebration. Lots of inside jokes and stories that are just not that amusing to read. Who wants to watch some other family's home movies, you know? I appreciate the history of Festivus, it was an interesting look into this family, but the book was not worth $12.95 and if you can buy any other book, buy something else. It's just not worth it.

It's like a shiny, new clock..........2007-01-11

...in a velvet bag. Short, but well written. Hilarious. Buy it now. I'm serious, stop thinking about it. Buy it. Now.

Good but not great.......2006-06-05

"The Real Festivus" is written by the man who came up with the general idea for the Festivus theme in the Seinfeld episode. The writer came up with the idea from his own life when his father had somewhat of a holiday that was neither Christmas nor anything in between. On top of that, there are only a few similarities that can be made from this real life holiday and the festivus we saw on TV. Those few connections are distant at best. For instance, Festivus had no actual date and wasn't even near Christmas, but took place some time in a 6 or 7 month period.

The book reads more like a history book recording a strange holiday that was celebrated by only a few select people. There aren't many funny stories or commical observations, rather it's one man's telling of how he came up with the idea of a new holiday on a hit TV series.

If you're looking for a book that makes you chuckle, I'm afraid this isn't it. although if all you want is a quick read and know a little trivia about the "real" festivus, it may be worth the time.

Customer Reviews:

Pretty good, but..........2003-02-27

It was a pretty good book, however, like people have mentioned, some of the stuff is repeated. A lot. I don't know how many interviews he did in that period of time, but I wish they had done better choosing what they did instead of repeating so much of the same stuff. The one I really wish they had put in there was his most famous interview. The one they video taped, where he talks about everything while trying out for a tv show. If you've seen the new Enter the Dragon 25 year anniversary, its the one before the movie that lasts like 15 minutes. They should have included a text version in this book.

If you find this book on sale at a used book store or something, pick it up, it's worth it. But don't go spending full price for this, because it isn't worth it. If you find it on Amazon here along with another book (like Tao of Gung Fu and this together) then go ahead and get them. To buy this book solo though would just be a waste, you would have it done within a couple of hours.

Still Bruce, but..........2002-03-17

I heard several of these interviews from other sources. If YOU haven't then the book might be worth your time and money, but then again even the interviews in the book get old. Each interviewer asks the same questions and Bruce gives the same answers. It's less thrilling than other Bruce Lee books.

words of the dragon.......2000-06-28

This book gave me an insight into the personality of Bruce Lee. it is the second book about him i have read. The only thing i do not like about this book is one peice of information which it gives without correcting it in the notes. He didn't die in hospital; he died in the house of an actress which he and Raymond Chow had gone to see about offering her a role in the film Game of Death. While they were there, Bruce got a headache and took a pill and retired to the bedroom. That's where he died.

better title 'Words about the Dragon, Press Reports'.......2000-04-28

The title of the book Words of the Dragon, Interviews 1985-1973" reflects a little bit a wrong impression of the book. A better title would be Words about the Dragon, Press Report 1958-1973". At the beginning of the book a few things are repeated over and over again. It seems that it would be difficult to investigate e.g. how old Bruce Lee was when his parents returned to Hong Kong. Only at the end of this book one could catch a small impression of Bruce Lee's philosophy. His carrier as an actor comes primarily up. The US Press didn't understand until Bruce Lee's death that his art wasn't Karate. I expected more philosophically thoughts and background knowledge of his martial art. The Bruce Lee connoisseur gained no really news and I thing the book isn't stimulating for beginners. I was impressed by the letter of Brandon Lee, which is printed at the end of the book.

"words of the dragon": a unique perspective on bruce lee........1998-04-13

for lee fans and martial arts fans alike, "words of the dragon" provides a unique perspective on the life of an extraordinary man. through newspaper articles, tv and radio interviews, etc. mr. little (with kind cooperation of linda lee cadwell)has pieced together a media history of bruce lee. readers find a chance to get to know the lighthearted and the intense mr. lee, the fighter, the artist, the family man. though we all realize how the media can turn words around, or add them, etc., the author has included corrections at the end of each chapter, which, in themselves, must be read to understand the full story.very well-crafted, and intelligently pieced together, "words of the dragon" will take the reader to a new level of understanding of the mind and heart of the great bruce lee.

Average customer rating:
Essays on the Viennese Classical Style: Gluck, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven
H.C. Robbins Landon
Manufacturer: MACMILLAN COMPANY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OL8G3I

Average customer rating:
Essays On The Viennese Classical Style. Gluck, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven.
H.C. Robbins Landon
Manufacturer: Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UUKKS2

Customer Reviews:

Solid Product, inside and out.......2007-02-12

When I first saw this product listed as "Hardcover", I assumed it was a typo. I've never had an RPG screen that wasn't just cardstock paper. This is really hardcover - the same material that the books use. It has 4 panels that fold away, so it fits on the shelf nicely with the rest of the line (it can be read like a book, too, given the way the book folds). The front image is the same as the cover for the Mage book (green, turquoise swirls with gold lettering and holographic overlay).

The contents are pretty helpful - some of it is reminders for the Storytelling system and some is for Mage in particular.
Tables:
Combat Summary (stages and dice modifiers)
Grappling summary
Melee weapons
Ranged weapons
Armor chart
Extended Actions (how often you roll and the target #successes)
Fire types & Damage
Explosives (for Call of Cthulhu players :)
Sample Objects: durability, size, structure, damage potential
Feats of Strength (dot ratings = lift potential)
Electrocution damage
poisons (toxicity ratings)
Sympathetic Magic penalties
Paradox (rolls and severity)
Effect of Gnosis levels
Spell Factors (dice penalties - very handy)
Experience costs
Gauntlet Strength
Aura signifiers
Wisdom Chart

My big complaint is that there is no list of rotes w/ reminders, like "req. 1 mana", vulgar/covert, and instant/extended casting. Make it tiny print, whatever, it just is very time consuming to look up each rote when it is used if you are inexperienced (and if I were experienced, I wouldn't need the screen!) Anyway, I still highly recommend this screen as a reminder table of almost everything you could need.

Best screen ever.......2006-02-08

I just got my new Mage: The Awakening Screen and I have to say right out of the box I was impressed. As the previous review stated it is made from the same materials as the covers of the books. This screen will stand on it's own and take some abuse.

And the derth of the information is huge. It has all the magic items on one panel for easy reference, Combat, damage, auras. All info that I now won't have to look up everytime.

A definite must for any ST!

Excellent product.......2005-10-25

I think that the Storyteller's Screens put out by White Wolf have only done nothing but improve over time. In year's past, the screens were slightly flexible and not nearly as sturdy as they should have been, and not nearly as nice looking as they could have been. This one is definitely nicely done.

Firstly, the screen itself is made of the same material as the hardcover books you buy from White Wolf. In and of itself, this is a huge leap forward, as the screen is about as sturdy as you can get, at the same time being easily folded up for transportation. It's also a nicely sized screen, covering plenty of area that you want to obscure. And the cover itself is very similar to the designs and patterns on the Mage book.

The screen has plenty of information from the original WoD book (so you don't need to have it open all the time), as well as plenty of material from the Mage book itself. Definitely something that makes it a bit easier on the spines of those hardcover books (which is a shame to damage in the case of the very beautiful looking Mage book). In some respects, it's almost too packed, as there is literally information all over the 4 folding sections of the screen. So, you definitely get what you paid for.

Which is really my only complaint; the screen is almost too full of information. So, it can be hard to find stuff as there's a lot up there. The large type face makes things fairly easy to find, but it still has a lot all over the sections facing the Storyteller. Many might find this a hard complaint, as the more information available at a glance the better... But there's always some little bit of less referenced information that can be left off.

Still, all in all, it's an excellent piece of work. For the $14 or so price, it's worth it.

Average customer rating:

Best Book on this topic

An important book, perhaps a couple of decades ahead of its time.

Brilliant

Presence: An Exploration of Profound Change in People, Organizations, and Society

A very important book written by people that care deeply about the direction of our future, and a work in progress however...

Presence: An Exploration of Profound Change in People, Organizations, and Society
Peter M. Senge , C. Otto Scharmer , Joseph Jaworski , and Betty Sue Flowers
Manufacturer: Currency
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Organizational Behavior | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Organizational Learning | Organizational Behavior | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 038551624X
Release Date: 2005-08-16

Amazon.com

Presence can be read as a both a guide and a challenge to leaders in business, education, and government to transform their institutions into powerful agents of change in a world increasingly out of balance. Since business is the most powerful institution in the world today, the authors argue, it must play a key role in solving global societal problems. Yet so many institutions seem to run people rather than the other way around. In this illuminating book, the authors seek to understand why people don't change systems and institutions even when they pose a threat to society, and examine why institutional change is so difficult to attain.

The authors view large institutions such as global corporations as a new species that are affecting nearly all other life forms on the planet. Rather than look at these systems as merely the extension of a few hyper-powerful individuals, they see them as a dynamic organisms with the potential to learn, grow, and evolve--but only if people exert control over them and actively eliminate their destructive aspects. "But until that potential is activated," they write, "industrial age institutions will continue to expand blindly, unaware of their part in a larger whole or of the consequences of their growth." For global institutions to be recreated in positive ways, there must be individual and collective levels of awareness, followed by direct action. Raising this awareness is what Presence seeks to achieve. Drawing on the insights gleaned from interviews with over 150 leading scientists, social leaders, and entrepreneurs, the authors emphasize what they call the "courage to see freshly"--the ability to view familiar problems from a new perspective in order to better understand how parts and wholes are interrelated.

This is not a typical business book. Mainly theoretical, it does not offer specific tips that organizational managers or directors can apply immediately; rather, it offers powerful tools and ideas for changing the mindset of leaders and unlocking the latent potential to "develop awareness commensurate with our impact, wisdom in balance with our power." --Shawn Carkonen

Book Description

Presence is an intimate look at the development of a new theory about change and learning. In wide-ranging conversations held over a year and a half, organizational learning pioneers Peter Senge, C. Otto Scharmer, Joseph Jaworski, and Betty Sue Flowers explored the nature of transformational change—how it arises, and the fresh possibilities it offers a world dangerously out of balance. The book introduces the idea of “presence”—a concept borrowed from the natural world that the whole is entirely present in any of its parts—to the worlds of business, education, government, and leadership. Too often, the authors found, we remain stuck in old patterns of seeing and acting. By encouraging deeper levels of learning, we create an awareness of the larger whole, leading to actions that can help to shape its evolution and our future.

Drawing on the wisdom and experience of 150 scientists, social leaders, and entrepreneurs, including Brian Arthur, Rupert Sheldrake, Buckminster Fuller, Lao Tzu, and Carl Jung, Presence is both revolutionary in its exploration and hopeful in its message. This astonishing and completely original work goes on to define the capabilities that underlie our ability to see, sense, and realize new possibilities—in ourselves, in our institutions and organizations, and in society itself.

Customer Reviews:

Best Book on this topic.......2007-09-09

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It combines important, visionary concepts with clear illustrations and stories for a general readership. The authors present a hopeful way for humans to deal with the challenges of our time.

An important book, perhaps a couple of decades ahead of its time........2007-07-31

This outstanding book has been published in several editions under the same title. It is about how to pursue group endeavors capable of changing organizations, communities and the world for the better. To that end, Senge et al explain the details of the path to be taken which they named as "The U Process". I would say that Presence's concepts pushes the envelop in organizational learning, visionary leadership and strategic thinking. I personally see the "U Process" as a set of guidelines for a "Hero's Journey" to be followed collectively by a group. Most fascinating and enlightening.

From conversations with my colleagues, this "U Process" appears to them as being so novel that it is perhaps way ahead of our times. Yet I would suggest that its far reaching implications are practical, useful and important. In my work in facilitating epic spirit workshops and strategic thinking, this "U Process" helps people get in sync with their overall environment. Furthermore, the U Process allows them to become more conscius of being a part of that same environment thus leading into a higher plateau for individual, organizational and collective learning. It is worthwhile to note that going through a Presencing experience at a personal level might be a prerequisite to fully grasp its power for organizational and or collective learning.

Just as is often the case for many new approaches, Presencing experiences will contribute to enlighten disbelievers. For those of us that are putting this book's concepts to work, the adventure has already started to bring rewards.

Brilliant.......2007-07-01

A new way of thinking and talking about change ... and I hope it will learn us a new "doing" of change ;-) I'm convinced !

Presence: An Exploration of Profound Change in People, Organizations, and Society.......2007-05-12

I did not find this to be a very useful book for my MBA studies.

A very important book written by people that care deeply about the direction of our future, and a work in progress however..........2007-01-19

I'm not sure that the presentation given in this specific book is for everyone... and this maybe the source of the polarization of views on Amazon

The best piece of advice I could give would be first go to Otto's website (and some of the other associated websites although probably not SOL) and go through the resources there (and there's an extensive list of resources). It will provide a much better overview than I can give you here. From there you can see the model, gain some context on its origin and application. Then decide if you want to read this book, given what I discuss below.

The book is taken from transcripts of conversations the authors had in the first part of this decade. It includes personal conversations, reflections and commentary on the extensive interviews with scientists, leaders (including many spiritual leaders) and entrepreneurs they did which underpin the philosophical basis of the model they've created. It does provide a good context for the model, it's just that it's quite a long book and sometimes reading it is a little frustrating, especially if you're somewhat versed in the areas they talk about. I struggled getting through the last half for this reason. I have no doubt the other reviewer here was frustrated as well. That said, with the internet, availability of books and democratisation of information these days it can be hard going for authors as often their readers have different and sometimes more extensive experience in the field and other perspectives they've not considered. While their model is uniquely their creation, the concepts and ideas and some of the methods (eg. shamanic journey) are not. For people not well versed in these areas then I'm sure they'd pick up a few valuable new perspectives, insights and ideas they could use in their business (although that isn't the intention of this book and I would suggest that's what frustrated other reviewers who were looking in it for a source of ideas and tools).

In the book you'll find lots of references to dialogue, open space type ideas, systems theory and perspectives, natural systems and the new sciences, spirituality, shamanism, personal transformation and the importance of inner work, prototyping, suspending assumptions, storytelling, synchronicity, seeing from the whole and so on. You'll find that many of the ideas discussed have been written about in their prior individual work. Included are many examples of companies and people that illustrate these philosophies and some extracts of conversations with people like Dee Hock.

What's the difference between editions? From their website:

'The differences between the books are minor. The Doubleday/SoL edition has been revised to be slightly shorter (289 pages vs. 304), but the substance of the book is essentially the same. Changes to the jacket design and the subtitle were made by Doubleday to appeal to a wider audience.

The original SoL edition was conceived as a short-run limited edition book. It was intended for distribution only through SoL's website, and through Amazon. The goal was to get the book directly into the hands of people who were already engaged in deep learning work, and our marketing efforts were focused on that group. SoL decided to have Doubleday publish the book with a SoL imprint in order to respond to a need for wider distribution through more traditional channels.'

There's no doubting though the sincerity of the authors, their care for the planet, and their work and their genuine desire to make a difference with what they do. That can be seen through the establishment of the Global Leadership Initiative and is also deeply reflected in the conversations they've had which are included in this book. (From memory they only go up to around year 2002, so I would imagine things have evolved since then).

This is an important book, one written by people who deeply care about the direction the planet is heading in and have made a very good effort to develop a new tool for use in business and leadership. While some people will see this in a cynical way as being just another theory or another tool for the authors to line their pockets, I don't think this is the case. I love how as part of the course Otto teaches, the notes are actually available free on the internet in the MIT Open Courseware initiative whose aim is to make widely available the content of the university's courses. (Unfortunately though I don't that's going to apply to their teaching of this model!) I know others that do this as well where they generously periodically make publicly available their tools and methods, forcing themselves to constantly innovate and evolve their approach and making a contribution to the public good rather than the common separative method of labeling ideas and models (often that are well known in the public domain anyway) as private intellectual property which is then jealously protected.

For most people reading this review though I'd say looking at Otto's website should suffice to give you all the context you need about the model and then reading his new book Theory U - Leading from the Future as it Emerges due out in 2007.

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