Sir Lawrence Alma Tadema

Customer Reviews:

But is it art?.......2007-05-12

I confess to very mixed feelings about this collection, and about Alma-Tadema's work as a whole. The more positive of those feelings admire his mastery of process and draftsmanship, and his elegant composition in the medium of human figure. His early career emphasized the classics and the myths of Rome and Greece. Later work evokes Parrish's emotional abstractions.

The down-sides are many, though. His models all display a languor that makes me want to check the dose on their muscle relaxants. His scenes tend towards the Roman baths, where it's OK to see hot babes get nekkid. Apparently, he was quite popular among the Vicotrian nouveau riche who wanted the kind of smut you could hang on the wall and show the neighbors. And, oddly, his popularity died just when he did, at least the first time it died.

Then, mid-twentieth-century, Alan Funt rediscovered Alma-Tadema, collected his work, popularized it, and created a market for it. Yes, that Alan Funt, the guy who created the 1950s "Candid Camera" rage. Some cynical voice in the corner of my mind insists that this was Funt's greatest joke ever, turning a 19th-century dealer in parlor-room porrn into a figure of artistic importance.

Truth is, I don't much care. The images are warm and romantic, with the kind of blatant sensuality that both titillates and scolds you for your nasty thoughts, then offers plenty more on which to build more of those nasty thoughts. Warm, drippy, and iffy about the wardrobe, they're wonderful images. Art? I dunno. I like them anyway.

//wiredweird

Awash in Victorian Romance and Classicism!.......2005-08-26

The Victorian painters are enjoying a posthumous comeback and one of the more famous of these elegant painters was Sir Lawrence Alma Tadema. Exceedingly popular in his time, the modern, reductionist movements of the post-Freud 20th Century brushed his work under the rug - except for those collectors and lovers of the human figure who refused to allow the body to be cubed, flattened, distorted, and abstracted.

Now with the return of the appreciation of the human form Alma Tadema's paintings are enjoying a resurgence of popularity. Russell Ash certainly gives us reason to see why in this lavishly illustrated, beautiful book filled to overflowing with complete paintings and fragments or details of perfect ladies languishing in flora and classical vistas. Paintings that once were labeled as 'corny' are now being appreciated as suggestions of what made the Victorian Era unique.

Ash writes well and thoughtfully minimizes written word space for the flow of the pictorial value of the book. This is simply a lovely volume honoring a misunderstood and in the past under appreciated artist. Grady Harp, August 05

Fantastic Full Page Reproductions!.......2003-11-15

This book is filled with full page reproductions of Sir Lawrence Alma Tadema's paintings. It also has an interesting bio with pictures of his home, studio, and himself. I've been looking everywhere for a great book on Alma Tadema and I believe this is the one. Besides reading about a painter's life, I think it is very important that we see color reproductions of the painter's work, and this book does it very well. I hate books with 4x4 black and white images of an artist's paintings, its useless. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book for lovers of Victorian art and Alma Tadema. I recently went to the Getty Museum and saw Alma Tadema's "Spring" and it looks exactly how it appears in the book. The full page color plates are exact reproductions of his paintings, unlike the newer book on Alma Tadema published by Phaidon whose reproductions have been altered and all appear saturated with blue hues. Anyways....GET THIS BOOK IF YOU CAN ONLY GET ONE BOOK ON ALMA TADEMA BECAUSE IT IS THE BEST!

Lovely Art - Spendid Work.......2003-11-10

If you love Victorian painting of scenes of antiquity (Greece/Rome) then check out this beautiful book.

A short bio on the artist is very interesting and the full sized plates are reproduced in excellent detail and glorious color. No "dup-ey" reproductions here!

An added bonus: Each plate comes with a descriptive page which
describes the painting and what it depicts - a major plus.

Heartily recommended to fans of the genre...or anyone else who loves beautiful artwork masterfully portrayed.

Alma-Tadema,an artist.......2001-08-08

So that you willunderstand my perspective, I am a professor and a painter mostly of large scale, representational figures, so I buy anything to do with artists who specialize in the figure. In Russel Ash's book, the reproductions were large and fairly clearly reproduced. I enjoy the art of the late 19th and early twentieth century and the detailed realism of Tadema's female figures was, though academic in development, fun to see. Of that era I prefer Waterhouse and others, whose sense of color and less passive work is more powerful and deep, but if you like figure paintings especially of "Victorians in toga's" as one critic of his day describes Alma-Tadema's work, then you will love the large format reproductions. The book is lavishly adorned with semi-nude, sleepy-eyed, languid, supple, neo-classical women and a few men, all painted in the always safe, pastellish colors of the time. The women are engaged in mostly pastoral time passing non-events. "The Roses of Heliogabllus", with it's profusion of rose petals was easily the most colorfully of the reproductions, and a large composition of "Joseph Overseer..." as the most powerful of his offerings. The bio of Alma-Tadema was interesting enough to make me want to know more. If you are an art lover, a collector of large format books of painters, even the 19th cnetury academic styles, this is a good one for you

Average customer rating:

Illustrations not good enough
An Artist of Classical Antiquity
A Flowing and Finely Tuned View of Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema
Excellent coverage of this Victorian Painter
At last I found a great book about Alma Tadema

Lawrence Alma-Tadema
Rosemary J. Barrow
Manufacturer: Phaidon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | History & Criticism | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Romanesque | Schools, Periods & Styles | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 071484358X

Book Description

Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836-1912), was one of the finest and most distinctive of the Victorian painters. Dutch-born, he moved to London in 1870 and became famous for his depictions of the luxury and decadence of the Roman Empire, set in fabulous marbled interiors or against a backdrop of dazzling blue Mediterranean sea and sky. In this original study, Rosemary Barrow presents an absorbing and often amusing portrait of an exuberant personality who carved out a brilliant career for himself at the heart of London's artistic and cultural elite. But above all she subjects the paintings to a fresh scrutiny, and reveals that Alma-Tadema, a knowledgeable student of antiquity, repeatedly used literary and archaeological allusions in his paintings to play a game of interpretation with his viewers. Time and again the seeming innocence of the scenes he depicts is subverted by a mischievously placed inscription or statue, suggesting to the initiated a darker and usually risque meaning. Neglected after his death, Alma-Tadema's paintings are once again admired for their beauty and their remarkable mastery of light, colour and texture. With its intriguing insights into his personality and intentions, this book should provide a challenging reassessment of a major artist.

Customer Reviews:

Illustrations not good enough.......2007-03-09

I'd seen, downloaded, and printed many of Alma-Tadema's works full page in color from the artrenewal web site. I though they were beautiful. The colors and quality were good and the resolution high, but I really wanted a bound copy containing some of his works and this was the one I chose.

I was fairly disappointed. There are some good, clear, reproductions in the book to be sure but a number of them are so poor that it's not worth looking at them. What strikes me as odd is that these same works look good in my printouts and on the web. I can only conclude that some of the illustrations in the book were scanned from old print or negatives rather than being original for this book. That would be understandable if it weren't for the fact that better images are available on the web.

An Artist of Classical Antiquity .......2006-08-24

Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836-1912) started as a young boy to delight in the use of pencil and brush. He grew up to be one of the greatest artists of the classical bent, and in my opinion his work is generally superior to that of the earlier French Neo-classicists David and Ingres. For one thing Alma-Tadema was an excellent painter of the human face and form and I find some of Ingres' human forms to be anatomically impossible! Like the Pre-Raphaelites Waterhouse and Rossetti, Alma-Tadema favored classical and mythological subjects, but his faces are more varied and seem to me more real, despite an almost dream-like quality of many of his works.

This book titled (simply enough) "Lawrence Alma-Tadema", by Rosemary J. Barrow, is a gem-like work that presents the story of the artist's life, from his boyhood in Holland to his adulthood as one the the most respected Victorian painters in England, as well as numerous selections of his paintings. As he himself states, he attempted to show the classical peoples in Greece and Rome like real humans (as they were) rather than like some sort of plaster statues, as they were often portrayed. His habit of adding little touches of moral comment or humor to odd parts of his paintings and his complete mastery of his media (oils and watercolor!) make this a very charming book indeed!

This is a fascinating work on a fascinating and under-appreciated master of the human face and form. If you are at all interested in this genre of visual art, this book is a must!

A Flowing and Finely Tuned View of Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema.......2005-10-02

Rosemary J. Barrow seems to be having a terrific time writing about the controversial painter Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema. Perhaps not as scholarly a tome as the one by Russell Ash, this beautiful volume is graced with the publisher's decision of pairing apposing images of both watercolor and oil painting forms of many of Alma-Tadema's works. The book is a successful pictorial essay.

But it is the well-groomed good humor that Barrow uses to relate the pictorial puns and innuendoes Alma-Tadema subtly adorned his mythology-influenced subjects that makes this volume sing. She has done her research so well that her writing is conversational, a fact that makes perusing this lovely volume even more of a joy. Though Alma-Tadema's works are usually reviewed with a degree of scorn by art historians, here the truly lovely paintings are displayed and discussed with utmost respect - and with the élan of descriptive terms that are as light and wispy as the flowing garments of the Romanesque players on the canvases of the fantasy-inspired painter. The color reproductions and the layout of the book are up to the usual high standards set by publisher Phaidon. This book is both a visual delight and a journey through Victoriana. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, October 05

Excellent coverage of this Victorian Painter.......2005-09-17

I am a big fan of narrative painting. Paintings that tell a story. Alma--Tadema is an excellent painter. Despite that his Romans look like Britons, his historical and Roman era paintings are wonderful vignettes.

At last I found a great book about Alma Tadema.......2002-08-29

Perhaps this book is the only one about Alma tadema-the greatest master of Victorian age- which deals with his life and works the way it should be. It contains a great collection of his works as high quality pictures as well as a great biography. Just buy it and see what you have missed all this time.

Empires Restored, Elysium Revisited: The Art of Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema

Average customer rating:

Empires Restored, Elysium Revisited: The Art of Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema
Jennifer Gordon Lovett
Manufacturer: Clark Art Inst
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Painting | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0931102308

Lawrence Alma Tadema: Spring (Getty Museum Studies on Art)

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Lawrence Alma Tadema: Spring (Getty Museum Studies on Art)
Louise Lippincott
Manufacturer: Getty Trust Publications: J. Paul Getty Museum
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | History & Criticism | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Study & Teaching | Reference | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

ASIN: 0892361867

Book Description

The works of the late Victorian painter Alma Tadema have recently enjoyed a revived interest. This second volume in the Getty Museum Studies on Art focuses on Spring, one of Tadema's most renowned paintings. The book is lavishly illustrated and includes details of the painting, a history,
and an analysis focusing on sources, composition, and symbolism.

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Luxury and Decadence: Notecards
Lawrence Alma-Tadema
Manufacturer: Phaidon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Cards

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

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ASIN: 0714844128

Book Description

A selection of 16 dazzling greeting cards featuring Lawrence Alma-Tadema's celebrated depictions of the luxury and decadence of ancient Greece and Rome.

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Alma Tadema's Spring
Burton B Fredericksen
Manufacturer: J. Paul Getty Museum
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Painting | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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Alma-Tadema
Lawrence Alma-Tadema
Manufacturer: Academy Editions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Painting | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Alma-Tadema: The painter of the Victorian vision of the ancient world

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Alma-Tadema: The painter of the Victorian vision of the ancient world
Vern G Swanson
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Painting | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Art in Reproduction: Nineteenth-Century Prints after Lawrence Alma-Tadema, Jozef Israels and Ary Scheffer

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Art in Reproduction: Nineteenth-Century Prints after Lawrence Alma-Tadema, Jozef Israels and Ary Scheffer
Robert Verhoogt
Manufacturer: Amsterdam University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Modern | Schools, Periods & Styles | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 9053569138

Book Description

Works of art have always been reproduced: not necessarily cleverly, not necessarily cleanly, and often with an eye toward profit. Those concerned with this important aspect of the art world have often paid attention to how these reproductions have helped to form the reputations of artists and their works, while the reproductions themselves remain relatively unexamined.

In the nineteenth century new graphic techniques, the legal development of copyright, and the rise of the art market and art publishing resulted in a wide distribution of printed reproductions to the general public. Art in Reproduction examines the cultural meaning of artistic reproduction in a refreshingly new context through its consideration of how three nineteenth-century artists—Ary Scheffer, Jozef Israëls, and Lawrence Alma-Tadema—managed the reproduction of their own work. In addition to careful attention to the quality of their printed proofs, these artists shared a burgeoning interest in copyright procedure and a keen interest in profit—writing the next chapter in this changing artistic culture of replication, authenticity, and commodity.

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Athens of Alma Tadema
R. A. Tomlinson
Manufacturer: Sutton Pub Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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

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ASIN: 086299876X

Book Description

This vividly illustrated book celebrates the close relationship between the worlds of art and fashion in the twentieth century. It traces a history of ideas from these two arenas, investigating their similarities and differences and the ways that both have been crucial to the development of twentieth-century culture.
Topics explored include the role of theater and ballet in the 1930s; the place of the fashion mannequin and the tailor's dummy in surrealist art; mutability and transience in art and fashion and fashion photography; and clothing's effect on the presentation and perception of the body.

Average customer rating:

It grew on me

A Great Serie: Import it to the US

Orphan of the City Shaft (The Incal, Book 1)
Alexandro Jodorowsky
Manufacturer: Humanoids Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
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Incal, The: The Epic Conspiracy - Volume 1

Incal, The: The Epic Journey

Megalex: The Anomaly - Book #1 (Megalex Book)

Metabarons, The: Othon & Honorata - Volume 1

Technopriests, The: Rebellion - Volume Two (Technopriests (DC Comics))

ASIN: 1930652348

Customer Reviews:

It grew on me.......2004-06-05

If you are looking for Marvels or Manguas, pass on. You won't find what you are looking for with Incal. Incal is in the French comic books tradition. The story takes place in the future on a planet that you have never heard of before. People live there on levels. The closer level you are from the outside of the planet, the wealthier. Difool, the hero, lives at the very bootom. He is a teenager learning to live in his world and finding a planet-wide conspiration from its government. Action, spy, a little character to accompany him. This comic has grew on me has I was reading it. Not as good as Travis or the XIII and Largo Winch I like, but I bought the #2, so that must mean something ;)

A Great Serie: Import it to the US.......1998-11-06

The Incal serie was written by Alexandro Jodorowsky and Moebius. It is very famous in France and is actually considered as one of the masterpiece of Moebius ( and Jodorowsky of course ). A brillant scenario: In a distant future, John Difool, Type R Detective is given the Incal of Light and must join its power with the Incal of Darkness to generate the new Hermaphrodite ( his son ) that will rule the universe. I believe this is the first appearance of the Meta-Baron as a main character in a story.

From this author, I also recommend greatly 'The Adventures of Alef-Thau'. Alef-Thau is born without arms and legs and will progressively recover all of those to become the emperor of his planet. His planet is just an illusion ( so is he ) except for the woman he loves who is the only immortal ( at first ) on the planet. Great Stuff! Buy it on your next trip to France!

Book Description

Humor 101 is a self-study course for people who want or need to tell jokes effectively.

Book Description

The Planet of the Apes Chronicles analyzes the science fiction and allegorical themes that run through the original Planet of the Apes films as well as Tim Burton’s remake to be released in August 2001. Illustrated throughout, the book describes the original story, which evolved into a closely followed cycle of five films, and examines the impact of the movies upon popular culture. Fans and cult movie enthusiasts will appreciate the author’s tracing of the evolution from the original films to the current remake.

Customer Reviews:

Decent reference.......2002-09-22

I enjoyed this book: the summaries of the Apes media, information on the previous versions and possible alternate versions of the original Apes films, background info on the remake, and the timeline (bringing it all together) were all interesting. I suspect, however, that someone who isn't a casual Apes fan like myself might be disappointed, as I'm sure similar info could be had on the web.

The Ultimate Apes Compandium........2002-09-08

I have just concluded the POA Chronicles and have enjoyed very much the diversity of the book - which covers the original movie- cycle, the off-spring TV series, and various publications which have been later introduced.
Particularly interesting, were the interviews (Pieree Boulle, the various Producers, Directors, etc.) and the original movie reviews - retrieved while the POA phenomenon was at it's zenith -in the early 1970's. Also provided is a good breakdown on the Apes TV Series, Cartoon Series, and a (detailed) pulp fiction POA industry which has intermitently resulted.
One element the book lacked - was a pre-1963 study (which could perhaps be corrected in future printings), covering the literary background on idea/originator/author Pierre Boulle. Not so much with the emphasis on his previous works (Bridge on the River Kwai, etc...), but concerning his literary colleagues, and enviromental influences (WWII participation) - which may have influenced his original 1963 thesis/idea. For example, Aldous Huxley wrote Ape and Essence in 1948 - concerning a post-nuclear vision, where enlightened apes initially anhiliate the world - before humans re-evolutionize?. It is therefore quite conceivable, Boulle was familiar and influenced by this 1948 work - yet nothing is mentioned. The concluding chapter in Huxley's work also introduces a Forbidden Zone where humans can escape - to a more liberal/tolerant natural enviroment. The Chronicles however, commences from 1963 - onwards, including the most recent 2001 film. The interviews and outtakes of Boulles original ideas though, are terrific.
Since all of life/creation is ultimately inter-related - and the Arts is included here-within, it appears the gensis of Boulles 1963 idea/concept may not have originated in France - circa. 1963, but may have resulted following a post-WWII (and P.O.W.) contemplation - combined possibly with Aldous Huxley's purported influence. But if the reader is just interested in the resulting media industry/contribution/hype post-1963, then it's all found here - within Paul A. Woods very well researched Hollywood phenomenon. (RobertKirk-CPC)

A MISSED OPPORTUNITY.......2001-12-29

I was somewhat disappointed with this book. The book had alot of potential but fell flat. First of all, the book had no introduction which was necessary to explain how the subject matter was obtained, how the book would approach the subject, etc. The book was also not organized well. The book was basically old articles the author dug up with the author interjecting his thoughts in various chapters. There were some inaccuracies in the book, also. For example, the author refers to General Urko from the T.V. series as Ursus (p. 125). One of my biggest complaints was the author's denouncement of Charlton Heston due to Mr. Heston's being President of the NRA. The author mentions the Columbine shooting (p. 92) and the apes being hypocritical about the human's propensity for violence due to the apes "possession of firearms" (p. 127). The author's ignorance of the United States Constitution and disdain for firearms has no place in a book about The Planet of the Apes. (GIVE ME A BREAK!) It was interesting to read old articles about The Planet of the Apes but one could have acheived this on ones own with a little effort.

Book Description

Focusing on the lives and work of several prominent singers and songwriters from a wide range of musical genres, Inside the Music explores the influence spirituality has had on their lives and work. Includes profiles of Jeff Buckley, Billy Bragg, Leonard Cohen, Dead Can Dance, Perry Farrell, Michael Franti, Allen Ginsberg, Philip Glass, Al Green, Robyn Hitchcock, Ziggy Marley, Moby, Meredith Monk, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Iggy Pop, Joan Osborne, PM Dawn, Vernon Reid, and the Reverend Run of Run DMC.

Customer Reviews:

Really interesting stuff! Not new age, but full of insight........1998-08-29

This book is full of interviews with musicians and the author got them all to talk about thieir inner expereince as creative people. The cool thing is, it's not too soppy or mushy. There's a sense of humor and a sharpness to the writing that makes it really readbale. I really recommend it to anyone inter4ested in music, spirituality, and the place where those two areas mix.

Book Description

The presenter of Radio National's The Music Show and composer, Andrew Ford talks to 30 colleagues about their attitudes towards audiences, performers and the business of composing.

Why is it no longer possible to say what is modern or avant-garde in music? Why do some return to traditional musical languages? What sort of music do you compose?

Book Description

Tom Schneider, a former CEO, is currently a professional poker player. After noticing the similarities between the business and the gaming worlds, he realized that he had a story to tell...actually, he had sixty-one stories to tell. This book is the result of Tom's experiences in the boardroom and at the poker table.

People from varied backgrounds, including members of corporate America and gamblers from Vegas, have taught Tom how to read people. You will enjoy reading Tom's humorous, educational, and sometimes poignant renditions of games he has played both well and badly, people he has met who have changed his life, and hands he has won...and lost. Ultimately, you'll come to realize what Tom now knows: everything in life is a gamble.

Customer Reviews:

Overrated.......2007-09-07

I bought this book because more than a few reviewers gave it 5 stars. The author must have called in favors because as poker or business advice it is hard to imagine anyone taking his "wisdom" seriously. He constantly hypes his previous business positions and seems to address his audience as if they are high school drop-outs on drugs. Bad advice is somehow acceptable if it also includes bad humor. Here are some examples:
"Winning Wisdom #7: The telephone is the best invention of all time. Use it"
"Winning Wisdom #9: If you won a bronze medal at the last Olympics in the 100-meter dash, no need to tell that seventy-year-old man about it before you dust him for $5,000 at the local high school track."
"Winning Wisdom #10: When you get fat, dumb, and happy, leave the dumb part out."
"...but 90 percent of the time a decent player plays, he has a win at some point during the play. Yet that same player may only have a winning percentage of 60 percent at the end of the night. He's not a good quitter."
"Winning Wisdom #18: You'll be in the spin cycle several times in your life. Don't make big decisions while you're in it..."
"Winning Wisdom #20: Anyone can be the best. You just have to do the right thing."
"If there is one thing that I would like women to learn from his book, it's not to complain about your weight or looks to your fat, ugly friends."

Come to think of it, this book IS laughable.

Sage Advice.......2007-04-18

I don't think this book offers anything new for neither the top professional poker player nor the CEOs of the Fortune 500. However, anyone else in between will surely come away with at least a few common sense gems of wisdom which can be applied in our everyday lives. The stories about the colourful poker characters and crabby old office ladies are somewhat interesting. It is when the author explains how to understand and benefit from their motives is where the value of this fine read shows through. Apparently the author has a lot more sage advice than he does hair. I plan on re-reading this at least once a year.

Will enable poker players to become better at playing the game and living their lives .......2006-07-07

A Certified Public Accountant and former President and Chief Financial Officer for three Arizona-based companies, Tom Schneider found that his background and experience in business and management were readily adaptable to playing and winning at poker. Becoming successful in going up against some of the most accomplished players in some of the biggest poker games around, Tom became and professional poker player (and the host of Texas' first televised poker tournament) for the last four years and has finished "in the money" four times at the World Series of Poker. Now he brings together in the pages of Oops! I Won Too Much Money: Winning Wisdoms From The Boardroom To The Poker Table (also available in a paperback edition, 1933285389, $16.95) all the hard earned wisdom he's learned in business, in poker, and in life to provide aspiring poker players with wit, humor, and "life lessons learned" that will enable poker players to become better at playing the game and living their lives .

Wisdom everyone should tap into.......2006-03-16

Review by Bette Daoust, Ph.D. for Reader Views (3/06)

In my estimation I am not a gambler but in reality after reading this book, I recognize the signs of a true gambler at business. Some of us go to the poker table while others play the game of business. No matter which way you go, you are always taking risks and perhaps even educated risks. Poker is about knowing when you have a positive edge and when you should recognize where you stand at all times. Business is no different. Tom Schneider opens the eyes to the similarities between how we work the business game as a parallel to the game of poker.

His wisdom comes from deep experience and is not just giving platitudes about what we should be doing. His insights ring true. This book will help the reader to strengthen their game in either world because you will be more aware of the nature of other people in the inside the game.

This book packs a lot of information into an easy read - wisdom everyone should tap into.

Common sense approach to life and business.......2006-02-17

Tom Schneider doesn't tell us too much we don't already know in his new book. But he reminds us of important things we maybe don't pay attention to enough. I finished his easy to read book in a couple of evenings. The writing style is almost like a wizened old uncle telling interesting stories. Never heavy handed or hard to decipher he reveals truths about life and business through clear clean parables.
This is a book you will enjoy and enjoy giving friends.

Book Description

This extraordinary guide will provide you with all the tools that you need to become a successful concierge, personal assistant and/or errand service professional. It is the perfect book for beginners who have never owned their own business before.

Mrs. Giovanni will teach you all about the business basics including how to create your brochure, design your sales kit, write your business plan and create your new website. Do you need a lawyer, accountant or insurance? This book tells all!

The manual will also explain how to set up your new business. It explores in great detail what services you might wish to offer and how to set up your fees. Learn how to set up your errand service as well as how to set up your vendor services and get commissions from them!! Plus there are some wonderful sales and marketing tips that will help you get started!

Sure, you could learn how to do this business yourself, but it could take you months to research it and figure out how to set the service up. Buying this book will eliminate the guesswork. Why re-create the wheel if you don't have to?

Customer Reviews:

Not for me, sorry........2007-04-15

This book is NOT for the one-man/woman small errand running services. It is really geared toward a MUCH larger operation. I found the book no help at all and a great waste of my money. Perhaps I should have done extensive research before ordering it- lesson now learned.

Gave me exactly what I needed, period!.......2003-08-03

Well, I do not normally give reviews, but I could not sit by after reading one of the last reviews. What do people expect in a book? It amazes me that people want to start a business on a shoestring, and then when they are out of business, they wonder what went wrong. This book gave me exactly what it state in the subtitle and that was basic business ideas and a few different ideas and directions I can take with my concierge start-up business. That is what it said and it delivered! For the price I got more then I could in the time it may take to research, plus it directed me. Most likely, I will look for more help in growing my business, but for the $40 it was well worth it for me. How can anyone expect to build a business for that kind of money, if they want to make a business work, it will take investment of time, patience and of course, money. I was one of those people who were downsized, with no direction or job offers. So THANK YOU for writing this helpful book with directions and ideas, I for one, do appreciate what you shared. Besides, if I invested only $40 dollars in my new business, then I should start looking in classifies for a new job, because my business venture is dead from the start. If you are looking to start your business, then this an excellent book, but if you expect this book to be your only investment in starting your business, then don't and get a job.

A good book.......2003-08-03

I thought this was a good book. Gave me all the information I needed about how to set up a concierge service and basic business set up. I thought it was good and very helpful.

lightweight introduction.......2003-07-28

I agree with other reviewers, this is a handy little book if you've never been in business before and want a general introduction.

However, given the title, it's logical that most people who buy this book are not looking for a guide to small business generally, but want the lowdown on how to run a concierge service. Unfortunately, Katharine doesn't give much away. I can't help feeling that this is deliberate - if you really want to know how to run a concierge service, she wants you to use her consultancy services.

If you are serious about going into business, you will need a lot more information than is contained in this book, and you probably don't have a bottomless budget. Get yourself a good book about starting and running a business (Amazon.com has several) and a good book about concierge work, and you can save yourself the money on this one.

The Concierge Manual, 2nd Edition.......2003-05-24

This book has helped me with ideas and directions that I may have missed. Although I would have like more information, I did understand that I was buying a book and not a franchise like I notice some may expect. It gave me tools that can get me started and it also showed me what not to do. It is a great beginning guide. Which is what I needed to get me started in right direction in my new business.

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