Watches International 2001: The Original Annual of the World's Finest Watches (Watches International)

Customer Reviews:

Big letdown from prior years.......2001-07-23

This volume is grossly inferior to its 2000 version and competing annual wristwatch publications in that (1)it omits prices,whether in Swiss francs or US dollars(2)a substantial amount of the illustrations are from the brand public relations materials without data and(3)recognized brands such as Lange,Blancpain,Breguet,Franck Muller,Glashutte,Ulysse Nardin and Vacheron Constantin are given much less page-space than such lesser brands as Bedat,Clerc,Concord,deGrisogono,Ikepod,etc.Save your $$$$ and buy Peter Braun's annual.

Watches International 2001.......2001-05-30

I was very disappointed. The major brands are not well represented at all (with few exceptions) and too much space was given to jewelry/fashion watches for which serious collectors are not likely to be that interested. Perhaps comprehensive inclusion of the major companies required their financial participation. If so, they obviously opted out. A slick publication way off the mark. Could be much, much better.

more flash than cash.......2001-05-12

The book is beautifully published and photographed. It offers a good review of the history of watchmaking, especially helpful to the novice collector or the casual reader. The second tier and exotic bejewelled brands are catalogued in great detail over several pages each, but the Grande Marques watches such as Breguet, Cartier, Franck Muller, IWC, Omega, Ulysse Nardin and Vacheron Constantin are given a cursory overview in about a couple pages for each. As is customary for this publication, no retail prices are quoted.This significantly detracts from its usefulness and value to the serious watch collector. It is an interesting coffee table book, but more useful catalogues for the watch afficionado are Wristwatch Annual 2001 and Watches vol.4

Book Description

Material Strategies brings together scholars from different disciplines to explore what dress and textiles can tell us about gender history. Experts from the fields of dress, design and textile history, business history, cultural anthropology, social history, art history and cultural history consider particular periods, places, individual garments, and moments of transformation. The book is broad in scope, covering women, men, social groupings and nations from the sixteenth to the twentieth century. At the same time, it incorporates illustrations that provide detailed visual evidence for gendered strategies of dress.Material Strategies both demonstrates the potential of this field of enquiry and helps to define its parameters. A jargon-free style makes it accessible to readers from a wide range of backgrounds.

Customer Reviews:

Hilarious and insightful.......2007-05-30

I just got this book recently after seeing Richard E Grant interviewed on TV (in NZ). He came across so well in the interview, funny, and insightful, and rather cute too... Hearing that he's a writer I decided to check out his books. Within two pages I was laughing out loud, and then a little further on I had tears in my eyes (no not from laughing, but from a reading his account of the birth and death of his first child).

Grant has an interesting way of writing - stream of consciousness, and it really works well, taking the reader along for the ride. At a quick glance the writing is similar in a way to Tom Wolfe (father of New Journalism) who is well known for writing in that stream of consciousness vein. But whereas Tom Wolfe's writing comes across as purely observational - there's no emotion, he's just retelling what he sees... Grant's writing is more personal, he has great observational strengths, but it's his insight, perceptions and intelligence that really jumps out from this book.

I love the book, and can't wait to get my hands on The Wah Wah Diaries, and also his novel, By Design.

Totally agree with other comments on this book - Grant's style just makes it feel like a conversation between the him and the reader, and as one reviewer said: "leaves the reader aching to meet Grant in person to continue the dialogue".

And completely feel the same as the other reviewer who said that finishing the book felt like losing a best friend - I so didn't want to finish reading the book - I wanted to continue the conversation - I was enjoying it so much.

Totally worth getting hold of this book.

From Withnail to stardom........2002-02-02

Richard E Grant's film diaries are fascinating for anyone wondering about the machinations of the film industry. It covers everything from his earliest job in the film "Withnail and I" (which launched his career)through to working on "Hudson Hawk", LA Stories" and many more. He comes across as so affable and totally appreciative of his fame and new found financial security. The personal stories involving his wife's miscarriage and death of his father tug at the heartstrings.
I'm sure Grant is the sort of guy you coould meet on the street or in a pub and have a good chat with, not one of these pretentious Hollywood bores.Merely someone who has paid his dues and truly deserves to be where he is today.
If you read this Mr Grant, all I can say is hurry up with the second lnstallment of your film diaries. You've worked on so many films in the past few years that another book MUST be in the works. A book that I can't wait to read. If for nothing else for your recollections of working on SPICE WORLD:The MOVIE!!
Funny,poignant and truly endearing.

i beg to differ.......2001-10-26

reading the other reviews, i have to wonder if I read the same book they did! I got this HOPING it would be a witty and amusing dishy book on Hollywood life, instead it reads like a long scattershot set of "and then i did this, and then i went there". A sample paragraph is how he went to restaurant X, and then flew to city Y, to promote movie Z, then he called his wife, then he said hello to actor W, who said he liked his work. Yawn.
I gamely plowed through the first half, then gave up.

Witty and entertaining.......2001-07-25

This is quite an entertaining book that traces Richard E. Grant's career from his very early days in WITHNAIL & I all the way through to his role in the Spice Girls movie, SPICEWORLD. A varied career indeed. It's fascinating to read about his rollercoaster ride through filmmaking, bouncing from gigantic bombs to critical successes in a seemingly random fashion.

This is a captivating look at the behind the scenes activities from several movie sets, yet Grant manages to keep both his feet firmly planted on the ground even when meeting and socializing with the biggest of stars. The result is an often hilarious tour of the madness and method that goes into making films. We encounter several very famous people within this text: Grant parties with Madonna, receives multiple high-fives from Bruce Willis, accepts strange fan-mail from Steve Martin and gets stuck on a never ending film-shoot in Budapest with Sandra Bernhard. Each of them are seen through his grounded eyes and interacted with in his neurotic, slightly sarcastic manner.

Although this is not even a complete account of all (or most) of the films that he has acted in throughout his career, there are a few places where his private life does occasionally intersect on the pages of his diaries. There are some extremely tear-jerking moments, the most moving of which is during the shooting of WITHNAIL & I where he is caught going back and forth between the film work and his wife's pregnancy complications. The book is a whirlwind of emotions and random observations. It's slow and thoughtful during the breaks between shooting, but quickly speeds up to a breakneck pace when the real work begins.

This is a great book for anyone who has the slightest interest in a behind the scenes peek at the movie industry from someone who doesn't have their head already in the clouds. Richard E. Grant shares his philosophies, his outlooks and his wit with us in these diaries and they come highly recommended.

My Favourite Book of All Time.......2001-02-18

Richard E. Grant takes his readers on a hilarious journey through his experiences in the film industry. His writing is sharp and incisive with no hint of egotism creeping through. Throughout the entire memoir, Grant is on the same plane as any working-class person in the world - this allows for him to connect with his reader, and at the same time, it makes his experiences, such as meeting a plethora of celebrities or attending all sorts of bizarre parties, all the more unbelievable and hilarious. With Nails is a book that can be read over and over again: Grant delivers so many bitchy, shrewd observations that, upon rereading, rear their barbed, comic heads.

Richard E. Grant is probably someone you've never heard of. He has always been a supporting actor, and has starred in a few dud pictures such as `Hudson Hawk' and `Pret-a-Porter'. The great thing about With Nails is that he's not afraid to admit his own, or his movies' failures and foibles. At the same time as he delves into his film diaries, Grant discusses some extremely personal experiences with the reader, such as the death of his baby girl only 36 hours after delivery: "she was the size of my hand" he laments.

It's moments like those in With Nails that remind the reader that Richard E. Grant is just a normal guy who has inadvertently stumbled into the totally bizarre and foreign world of Hollywood. For goodness sake, the man was born and raised in Swaziland, Africa! It's amazing that, despite his successes and run-ins with celebrity, he remains totally grounded. Just like your next-door neighbour. Just a guy that has had a tremendous run of luck and has described his whole way-out trip along the way.

This book is so excellent, so funny, so amazing... it's my favourite book of all time. Definitely get it. You won't regret it.

Product Description

This book was written with the novice percussionist in mind. No previous musical experience is required to constructively make your way through this self-instruction course. Basic rhythm reading principles and fills are illustrated and discussed. Drumming concepts are introduced progressively, so that; provided you stay with it; you will gain a solid foundation for drumming technique and overall musicianship.

Average customer rating:

Easiest Drum Set Book

Manufacturer: Mel Bay Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Book Description

A useful manual for any magician or curious spectator who wonders why the tricks seem so real, this guide examines the psychological aspects of a magician’s work. Exploring the ways in which human psychology plays into the methods of conjuring rather than focusing on the individual tricks alone, this explanation of the general principles of magic includes chapters on the use of misdirection, sleight of hand, and reconstruction, provides a better understanding of this ancient art, and offers a section on psychics that warns of their deceptive magic skills.

Customer Reviews:

Exceptional book.......2007-03-08

This exceptional book studies the theoretical and above all psychological elements of conjuring, in an analytical way, expecially considering the Misdirection and the Reconstruction. It is very very interesting and you can learn much from it. I am a magician so I know what I say.

Sister's gift.......2007-01-10

I bought this for my brother and he loved it. I can't review it.

Magic in Theory - Review by Clark May.......2005-10-02

I recently purchased Magic in Theory which is a college level text on the theoretical and psychological elements of performing as a Magician.

For an intermediate or advanced level Magician, this book tends to be quite helpful and causes one to think toward making the performance of Magic more believable and more entertaining for the audience.

The paperback version of the book is quite reasonable priced but,unfortunately, the hardbound version is somewhat overpriced.

Average customer rating:

Great overview except for Peace Corps bias

Very Informative

Excellent Guide, but kind of dry for everyday reading.

This book was my bible...

Socially responsible guide to volunteering

How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas
Joseph Collins , Stefano DeZerega , and Zahara Heckscher
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Volunteer Vacations: Short-Term Adventures That Will Benefit You and Others (Volunteer Vacations)

Alternatives to the Peace Corps: A Guide of Global Volunteer Opportunities, 11th Edition

World Volunteers (3rd Edition): The World Guide to Humanitarian and Development Volunteering (World Volunteers: The World Guide to Humanitarian & Development Volu)

So You Want to Join the Peace Corps: What to Know Before You Go

The Back Door Guide to Short-Term Job Adventures: Internships, Summer Jobs, Seasonal Work, Volunteer Vacations, and Transitions Abroad

ASIN: 014200071X

Book Description

More than 100,000 people contact the Peace Corps every year, but only 3,000 are placed overseas. To help more Americans find volunteer opportunities abroad Joseph Collins, Stefano DeZerega, and Zahara Heckscher-all founders of respected volunteer organizations-have written a guide that provides all the necessary information on volunteering in Latin America, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. Presented in a user-friendly format that includes case studies, worksheets, and quotes from international volunteers, How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas provides college students, senior citizens, and everyone in between with information on:

* How to decide if volunteering overseas is for you
* How to choose the right program
* What to do before and after you go abroad
* Fundraising and financing
* How to be an effective volunteer
* Political and social contexts of Americans volunteering abroad
* The Peace Corps
* More than one hundred volunteer organizations

Download Description

"More than 100,000 people contact the Peace Corps every year, but only 3,000 are placed overseas. To help more Americans find volunteer opportunities aborad Joseph Collins, Stefano DeZerega, and Zahara Heckscher-all founders of respected volunteer organizations-have written a guide that provide all the necessary information on volunteering in Latin America, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. Presented in a user-friendly format that includes case studies, worksheets, and quotes from international volunteers, this books provides college students, senior citizens, and everyone in between with information on: How to decide if volunteering overseas is for you How to choose the right program What to do before and after you go abroad Fundraising and financing How to be an effective volunteer Political and social contexts of Americans volunteering abroad The Peace Corps More than one hundred other volunteer organizations"

Customer Reviews:

Great overview except for Peace Corps bias.......2007-07-22

I am a former PC volunteer (RPCV) so my review may be considered jaded but the overview of the PC I found to be detailed and full of useful information but with many negative comments. A good example is the statement that, "the Peace Corps is overwhelmingly made up of young, inexperienced people fresh out of college." This struck me as odd since, for example, the authors load praise on WorldTeach for placing "volunteers with little or no teaching experience (and) WorldTeach succeeds in getting its volunteers started as teachers." So, it's okay for WT but not for PC?

I know as one of those who was "fresh out of college" that the Peace Corps did an outstanding job of teacher training and our group had many retired teachers who acted as mentors. Yes, my experience is just in one program and the Peace Corps is big so the situations can vary, for sure, but I would like people considering overseas opportunities to consider all programs. Now having worked in a variety of work situations in my adult life, I realize: bad bosses and inadequate training and, on the reverse, fantastic working conditions and fabulous perks exist and these programs are not immune to any of that.

Good luck to anyone seeking such an experience and, good, bad, or otherwise, it will change your perception of your host country, American culture, and, most profoundly, yourself.

Very Informative.......2007-03-15

There are so many volunteer opportunities available that I really didn't know where to start my search. This book is a terrific resource. It goes into exactly the detail I was looking for: nature of the work, country, cost, what type of volunteer a particular group suits and how to get started. My daughter, who is in college, loved it as well ... and has begun exploring volunteer opportunities, too. I highly recommend this book.

Excellent Guide, but kind of dry for everyday reading........2006-12-15

This guide is very informative, but I was hoping it give me a better idea of what it's like to volunteer overseas, and how I could get involved. It's got good references, but I didn't really learn anything that I didn't already know before.

This book was my bible..........2006-01-13

I did extensive research before going overseas to volunteer, and this book was my bible, beacon, guiding light, whatever you want to call it. It answered questions I didn't even know I had, and opened my eyes to the various ways I could accomplish a goal that, at the beginning, I thought had very few options for accomplishment. The appendix is incredibly thorough, and that alone could be a great resource. This book changed my ideas about how I wanted to volunteer, and in the end I completely restructured my plan and had a wonderful experience abroad. I would have felt very lost without this resource..

Socially responsible guide to volunteering.......2005-10-30

If you have a good heart, are curious about other cultures, and are new to volunteering, the opening section of this book may come as a bit of a shock.

First, volunteering isn't free. Most volunteer placement organizations require substantial fees (usually $1,000 plus) to arrange for your food, accommodation, and provide basic training.

Second, altruism, when applied to international development, isn't always helpful. There's a beautiful example of this in Chapter 3. You imagine that three volunteer groups from around the world come to Washington DC to help the city develop and get past its problems of violence and poverty. The first group is from Zambia- they identify the problem as a shortage of churches, and lack of respect for elders. The second group is from the Amazon- they propose knocking down skyscrapers to add more green space. The third group is a Rastafarian youth organization- they criticize the focus on power and money, and help DC by training politicians to grow ganja.

Similarly, the best intentions of American volunteers aren't always welcomed or even potentially helpful abroad unless they are developed in the context of the host culture.

From this point, the book describes the practical logistics of volunteering abroad- from fundraising to support your trip, learning about your host country, preparing for your travel, and ultimately being an effective volunteer.

The bulk of the book focuses on organizational profiles of volunteer organizations. These are extraordinarily helpful as critical analyses of many such organizations, and should help you navigate through the bewildering maze of opportunities. Unfortunately, the "over 100" organizations that they profile are just a fraction of what's out there, and there's really no easy way to navigate through these. There are a few indexes in the back (organizations offering short term programs, organizations placing volunteers in Latin America, etc), but there's no easy way to look for volunteer opportunities in a specific country, for example. If this organizational profile guide was online or on a CD, it would be infinitely more useful (and cheaper to publish...)

How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas. (Book Notes: Activist Tools).(Book Review): An article from: Multinational Monitor

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How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas. (Book Notes: Activist Tools).(Book Review): An article from: Multinational Monitor

Manufacturer: Essential Information, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Multinational Monitor, published by Essential Information, Inc. on September 1, 2002. The length of the article is 519 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: How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas. (Book Notes: Activist Tools).(Book Review)
Publication: Multinational Monitor (Refereed)
Date: September 1, 2002
Publisher: Essential Information, Inc.
Volume: 23 Issue: 9 Page: 29(1)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

How To Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas

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How To Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas
Joseph Collins
Manufacturer: Penguin Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000N7DRQE

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