Book Description
Discover nature by using it! Learn to meet your needs for clothing, shelter, fire, water and food from natural resources. Tom's guide gives you a direct, hands-on experience of the world around you. With this book you will discover the thrill of staying warm and comfortable without even a blanket! Experience the magic of starting a fire by friction. Butcher your own deer and braintan its hide to make warm buckskin clothing. Learn about edible plants of the Rocky Mountain region, plus processing techniques and "primitive gourmet" skills like making wild strawberry ashcake pies or stir-fry cooking without a pan.
This book is the source for in depth coverage of tire sandals, bedroll packs and pack frames, felting with wool, quick bows and bone arrowheads, sinews, hide glue, trapping, fishing by hand, water purification, birch bark canisters, willow baskets, primitive pottery, wooden containers, cordage, twig deer, stalking skills, simple stone knives, flint & steel, bowdrill and handdrill fire-starting.
Participating in Nature includes dozens of innovative skills and an incredible 350 pictures and illustrations plus a thoughtful philosophy. Tom does extensive experiential research. He places an emphasis on publishing new information that is not found in any other source.
Customer Reviews:
Great if you are into primitive camping, but no survival book per se.......2007-10-12
This book is fine for understanding and harmonising with Nature, but as a survival book it is very limited.
If you want a good survival guide for any and all situations, I would recommend Ron Foster's "The Rural Ranger.....". This man trains emergency response people and his guide is up to date and practical.
Seriously,
David Highum
Participating in Nature.......2007-10-03
Thomas Elpel practices primitive living skills and is the director of Hollowtop Outdoor Primitive School (HOPS) in Pony, Montana. This book is not essentially about how to survive in the wilderness, nor is it about abandoning the modern world and living a primitive, pre-industrial lifestyle. Elpel seeks merely to remind us of our place in the ecosystem and to show us how to get along in the wilderness without the modern conveniences we benefit from in our daily lives. In the second chapter, Mind, he spends some time thinking about the primitive and the modern. "As for a philosophy about technology and society," he writes, "remember that all technologies are relative, and that they are neither good nor bad, but it is how we use them that makes them that way." Speaking of fire during the early ages of humankind, he reminds us: "Fire was a means to keep warm and cook food and makes tools, but it was also a technology that could be used to wage war and ravage ecosystems, both of which happened." (pg 13) The rest of the book is about what some of us would think of as skills and knowledge for survival: shelter, fire, water, cooking, plants, animals, clothing. But his focus is on enjoying those skills and knowledge now, in non-survival situations, as a means to realize or rediscover our place in nature, to "participate in nature", as the title suggests.
It is an extraordinary book, and I would evaluate it beyond the 5 stars Amazon provides. It is certainly well beyond the 4 stars I gave to Davenport's Wilderness Survival in an earlier review. Without the need to create a comprehensive survival manual, Elpel is allowed to go into detail and talk to us, without haste yet to the point, about the procedures he is showing us, and to tell us what has and what hasn't worked for him. The book, in that sense, a personal book, but it is not egocentric, and it is certainly not cloying with emotion, although there are emotions expressed.
His chapters on shelter and fire are excellent. He analyzes the concept of shelter into the four elements of shingling, fire, insulation, and air-proofing, because "instead of merely giving you some various shelters to replicate, I want to teach you how to think shelter." (pg 28) He spends a good amount of time discussing the bow drill and the hand drill, but does not neglect other methods, including flint and steel. In his chapter on Cooking he shows in detail how to find and prepare clay and how to form it and fire it into cooking pots.
The chapter on Plants is, frankly, overwhelming. Many of the illustrations in this chapter are line drawings, not photos, so this is not the place to learn the identification of edible plants, but Elpel does cover a large variety of them, with helpful information on harvesting - where and when, and how long it might take with a simple digging stick - and how they are best prepared and eaten. He is writing from experience, not untried knowledge. The book is not a compilation from other books. It is a report from the field.
It should be no surprise that someone as enthusiastic about primitive living skills as Elpel should prefer hunting with tools he has fashioned by hand. In the chapter on Animals he shows in detail how to construct arrows and a simple bow by hand, using a modern knife. He discusses hide glue and using tendons for sinew. Then he spends several pages, complete with photos, explaining how to butcher a road kill deer. Lastly, he mentions the spear and throwing stick, and briefly discusses deadfall traps, but says little otherwise in this chapter about hunting and trapping.
Having shown us how to butcher deer, he then shows us, in the chapter on Clothing, how to braintan its hide. There is a lot of rich detail here. Elpel is a practitioner of primitive living skills, not just a compiler, so he has years of experience - learning from his own experiments, mistakes and achievements - from which he teaches these skills to others. The chapter continues with making tire sandals and felting wool. As the book nears its end, he shows us how to make a primitive backpack, with or without a frame, and gives us a list of what he takes with him when he camps during the various seasons.
Primitive living skills can be enjoyed in themselves and are useful for wilderness survival. Whatever the basis of your interest, this book is an excellent source and a great pleasure to read. Highly recommended.
Not very detailed.......2006-07-26
This book is best described as an overview. It lacks detail and covers too many subjects.
Great practical book.......2006-06-29
What I liked most about this book is that the author tried to strike a balance between using only the most basic and natural tools and using resources derived from civilization.
A bit overwhelmed..........2006-02-07
Wow, this book is for someone who wants a little more nature than I could handle! I'm very glad the deer gutting is in black and white - I am still a bit overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information in the book. Haven't read it cover to cover yet, but can see why it's getting such high ratings.
I'm not about to go into the deep woods or mountains, gut deers and make my own purified water....but I sure think it would be major fun, making our own fire and some ash cakes in the back yard.
My kids are in Scouts, as well as 4-H and Special Olympics....I can see MANY things in this book that could be used, especially in the Scouts, for the kids to learn and have fun - my favorite way - HANDS ON.
I don't think the book should suffer less than 5 stars from me just because it's bursting with so much information I had a mild nature overdose while reading. I'd absolutely rather have so much info I might not use it all, than the other way around. I don't think it would be possible for me to ever 'outgrow' all the info in this book. So a solid ***** five stars.
Book Description
This book is an in depth "how-to" of outdoor primitive skills.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book.......2007-10-14
This Book is very usefull and I have learned a lot about how to survive the things in this book are great to learn and have helped me with many wilderness survival skills,I Highly recommend.
Primitive Wilderness Living and Survival Skills.......2007-10-12
The book is a compilation first published in 1993 from a series of 10 booklets the author published from 1986 to 1992. It is very idiosyncratic in writing style, bordering at times on the semi-literate or at least the pretense of it. According to the author, at the time of writing there was not much published on primitive living skills. The mountain man reenactors would have been one group eager for information, and this may account for the writing style as much as anything, although clearly no critical editor was involved in the final composition of the text.
McPherson began merely with the intention of a writing a book on brain tanning buckskin, and over the years worked to expand his publications into a series on primitive living skills, finally publishing them together in a single volume. The book covers brain tan buckskin, the bow drill and hand drill, cordage, the bow and arrow, traps, the spear throwing atlatl, meat preservation, cooking, butchering a deer, baskets and other containers, clay pots, tools from stone and other natural materials, and shelters. There is no information on edible plants.
There is an abundance of photos (over 700 according to the blurb on the back), and McPherson is an avid practitioner of the skills he teaches; but the long term value of the book varies among the chapters. At times he relies on the photos to instruct us, rather than taking the time to articulate what it is he knows. Some times this is good enough, at other times it's not. If he would not have had a ready audience for each of the chapter length booklets he published, he just may have put in the effort to write a better book.
The best there is!.......2007-08-23
This book is so well written, covering so many primitive skills, that a student could spend years just working off this book alone. In my opinion, this is the best out there.
Just In Case, or Just For Fun.......2007-04-12
Learn to survive if you happen to be stranded in the wilderness with nothing but your bare hands. This information just might save your life one day.
If you actually want to survive........2007-04-10
First read some of these booklets when I was learning brain tanning etc. from Jim Riggs (Blue Mountain Buckskin: A Working Manual For Dry-scrape Braintan; another must-have book). I remember learning the dead falls and finding them the best (I have experimented with others). Since I had no money and little food they were also practical. In fact I got obsessed with the Paiute deadfall and the one by Henry Rhyne. I thought it was amazing to toss a pine needle on a trigger and watch a rock slam down like a guillotine. There are a lot of books out there with traps of dubious quality or time-consuming construction. These truly work if you are hungry.
Average customer rating:
|
Vegetation and Climate Interactions in Semi-Arid Regions (Advances in Vegetation Science(discontinued))
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General
| Plants
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Botany
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Rivers
| Earth Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Meteorology
| Earth Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Weather
| Environment
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
Botany
| Biological Sciences
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0792310616
Release Date: 2007-01-24 |
Product Description
X
Customer Reviews:
Way Better Than Google!.......2004-08-06
If you want to know how to find all the "insider" secrets to exciting, safe, and inexpensive travel, you can't do better than this great guide.
This book helps you navigate the deepest, darkest corners of the Web so that you can plan the best vacation ever.
Want to go hiking in Scotland, or scuba diving in the Carribean? You'll find where to look for vacation information here.
Need the best selection of luggage, at discount prices? You'll find the best places to shop online.
Want the best ways to stay in touch while on business travel? You got it -- the links are here.
I consider myself pretty Web savvy, and at first I was skeptical that a book could do better than a few minutes with Google. Well it can -- and now, I am a big believer.
Save yourself hours of frustration searching page after page in the search engines, jumping back and forth from site to site, as you try to find what you need among billions of search engine pages. Use that time, instead, enjoying the great vacation you were able to plan.
He did this for his Mom-I knew I would LOVE it!.......2004-04-27
This is a very, very helpful book on travel! I love the fact that it is so up-to-date with web addresses and information-the athor has really done his work! I lost my Mother recently and before she got sick I tried to get her on a cruise. I could not convince to go. Your book is a Godsend! God Bless You!
Makes Traveling a Pleasure!.......2004-04-20
This incredible book is jam packed with everything you would ever need or want to know with over 3,000 websites, adventures, bed and breakfasts, mountain climbing, resorts and spas, tips on airline fares, hideaway destinations, and cultural ones, this book has it all!
Whether you want a long weekend getaway, a long vacation, or are planning a speaking tour and want to know where to stay, and what you can see and do at your destination, this book will make your life so much easier.
Highly recommended for its incredible resources no matter where you want to go, or what your interests are, it is covered in this fantastic book.
Amazing Resource for Travelers.......2004-04-15
Whether you are surfing about online dreaming about your next vacation or seriously planning your next adventure, "You are Here" is the ultimate online travel portal.
Features:
More than 3,000 carefully researched Websites
Money saving travel bargains
Travel tips that make a difference
34 chapters filled with amazing information
Some of the main chapters:
Steals and Deals on Fares
Lodging
Airport Information
Food on the Road
Traveling with the Family
Seniors: Traveling in the Golden Years
Student Travel
25 Things to Do and See (Everything from Haunted Tours to the London Theatre)
Pets Can Travel Too
You are Here: Traveling with JohnnyJet dot com is encyclopedic and perhaps the most comprehensive book I've seen on online travel resources. If you travel, you need this book.
John E. DiScala's research will make your travel research easier and when you are actually traveling, you can visit the website. When you visit the site you can look up information with the "Jet Codes." For example: Johnny Jet Code: Boat Rides. You will then find links to various sites and can quickly click through and find the information you need. It was super fast and much easier than trying to look up boat rides in a regular search engine. Just look for the Code Index in this book. The regular index is also quite helpful.
So, whether you need a free language translator or want to avoid the world's most dangerous places, it is all here.
Eric Leebow is the founder of Yahbooks Publishing and is the author of various other You Are Here books. John E. DiScala, AKA Johnny Jet is a travel expert and the founder of the travel portal Johnny Jet dot com. He is known for his weekly newsletter and site and from what I can see he is passionate about traveling.
~TheRebeccaReview.com
The Ultimate Internet Travel Guide.......2004-04-04
With the thousands of Internet travel guidebooks to choose from it is very difficult to separate the good from the mediocre. You can literally devote days trying to figure out which guide will reveal the most useful information pertaining to the best air-fares, hotels, cars, lodging, student travel, medical resources, romantic vacations, unique lodging, National Parks, hideaways, things to do and see, shopping, restaurants, and many other essentials necessary to plan and enjoy your vacation.
The impetus that brought about the publication of the recent Internet travel guidebook, You Are Here Traveling with JohnnyJet.com, was the result of the many emails John E. DiScala had received from viewers of his Internet portal JohnnyJet.com.
Apparently, people were inquiring if there was a companion travel guidebook to compliment the portal.
As a result, DiScala and fellow co-author, Eric Leebow, decided to put together a innovative book that would be the ultimate Internet travel guide for people wanting quick and easy information, and at the same time to be used in conjunction with the web site.
Divided into 34 chapters, the guide effectively points its readers in the right direction in clearly summarizing and highlighting over 3000 travel Internet sites.
These sites provide a wealth of detailed information that makes life much easier for the traveler. Even the arm- chair traveler will find something of interest.
The guidebook not only focuses on the traditional topics as senior travel, restaurants and hotels, but also the non-traditional-where to find the best diving directories, adoption travel or family reunions, travel humor sites, religious travel, archaeological digs, zoos, and other topics you would not normally find in the "run of the mill" Internet guidebooks.
Also included are some interesting sidebars containing useful tidbits of advice.
For example, where is the best place to sit on a plane? We are advised that if you suffer from motion sickness, choose a seat towards the middle of the plane or near the wings.
What I found particularly useful about the book is the user- friendly format with its detailed Table of Contents, appendices and Index.
The reader is not forced to thumb through several pages before he or she can track down what they are seeking. Immediately, a glance to the table of contents or index will clearly point out the way, saving you a great deal of time and frustration.
In addition, you even have comprehensive appendices listing destination sites, automobile rental sites, major hotel and motel chains, US and International airlines, airfreight companies with phone numbers, and where to report stolen credit cards with phone numbers.
You Are Here Traveling with JohnnyJet.com is sure to prove to be an invaluable tool in covering the full range of queries travelers often ask and is a welcome addition to the spate of Internet travel books.
Average customer rating:
|
World Focus: Senegal (World Focus)
Ali Brownlie
Manufacturer: Heinemann Educational Books - Library Division
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| History & Historical Fiction
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Customs, Traditions, Anthropology
| Social Science
| People & Places
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Education
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 043107240X |
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Canada and the World Backgrounder, published by Taylor Publishing Consultants Ltd. on December 1, 2001. The length of the article is 1941 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: Senegal. (Areas of Conflict).(Brief Article)
Publication:
Canada and the World Backgrounder (Magazine/Journal)
Date: December 1, 2001
Publisher: Taylor Publishing Consultants Ltd.
Volume: 67
Issue: 3
Page: S30(1)
Article Type: Brief Article
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Average customer rating:
|
Conservation Biology: Concepts and Applications
George W Cox
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Biology
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Biology
| Biological Sciences
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
All Titles
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
ASIN: 0073275441 |
Book Description
Growing interest and enrollments in conservation biology courses provide the perfect environment for this updated second edition.Conservation Biology: Concepts and Applications is ideal for your introductory nonmajors or combined courses. Its attractive, two-color interior contains more than 200 visuals. This new edition’s “ecosystems approach” features discussion of both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, describing each system’s characteristics, plant and animal life, and environmental problems and solutions. Conservation Biology’s clarified concepts and updated references allow students to investigate practical approaches to ecosystem management and resource conservation from a biological perspective.
Book Description
This first edition takes a contemporary, interdisciplinary approach to conservation biology and features vivid illustrations, an engaging writing style, and succinct coverage of the key principles governing conservation.
Conservation Biology focuses on the preservation of worldwide biodiversity through the conservation of habitats and restoration of ecosystems. This text is designed for undergraduates at the junior and senior level, especially those with strong backgrounds in biology. It assumes a basic knowledge of cellular, organismal, and ecosystem functions and characteristics, complemented by a basic understanding of reproductive biology, including the characteristics of DNA and its replication and mutation. It is designed for a one-semester course.
Book Description
Fred van Dyke’s new textbook,
Conservation Biology: Foundations, Concepts, Applications, 2nd Edition, represents a major new text for anyone interested in conservation. Building on his experience as a successful textbook author van Dyke uses his organizational clarity and readable style to the full to produce this excellent synthesis. The result, which presents key information and well-selected examples, will be an invaluable resource for students in conservation around the globe.
This student-friendly volume carefully integrates the science of conservation biology with its implications for ethics, law, policy and economics in a way which both engages students and is unique to this book. Moreover, while covering all the theory expected of such a text, the book’s chapters on aquatic conservation and participation, as well as its strong emphasis on the purpose of conservation and implementation of conservation practice, set it apart from other texts.
Aimed primarily at undergraduates studying courses in conservation and conservation biology, this book will also be useful to practicing conservationists and natural resource managers.
Average customer rating:
|
Metal Ecotoxicology Concepts and Applications (Yearbook)
Michael C. Newman , and
Alan W. McIntosh
Manufacturer: CRC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Social Services & Welfare
| Poverty
| Current Events
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Biology
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Ecology
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Ecotoxicology
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Crystallography
| Chemistry
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Metals
| Chemistry
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Environmental Science
| Earth Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Natural History
| Nature & Ecology
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Environmental
| Civil
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Hazardous Waste
| Environmental
| Civil
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Ecology
| Biological Sciences
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Conservation
| Environment
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Conservation
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0873714113 |
Book Description
This book provides an in-depth discussion of various aspects of metal ecotoxicology. State-of-the-art information and techniques in areas ranging from metal behavior in surface waters to bioaccumulation kinetics and toxicokinetics to community effects are presented in a hierarchical arrangement. Specific topics discussed include metals in abiotic components of ecosystems, autecology (effects of metals relative to the individual or a single species), and metals in marine and freshwater systems in the context of synecology (species associated and interacting as a unit). This is an important book that will be useful to researchers, risk assessment consultants, regulatory personnel, and teachers and students.
Average customer rating:
|
Hoofdstukken uit de geschiedenis van de scheikunde
H. A. M Snelders
Manufacturer: Rodopi
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
General & Reference
| Chemistry
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Dutch
| Foreign Language Nonfiction
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Dutch
| Foreign Language Books
| Specialty Stores
| Books
ASIN: 9062039227 |
Average customer rating:
|
Complementarity, Duality and Symmetry in Nonlinear Mechanics (Advances in Mechanics and Mathematics)
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Civil
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Structural
| Civil
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Differential Equations
| Applied
| Mathematics
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Applied
| Mathematics
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Physics
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Mechanics
| Physics
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Applied
| Mathematics
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Differential Equations
| Applied
| Mathematics
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Physics
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Mechanics
| Physics
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
All Amazon Upgrade
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Engineering
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Professional & Technical
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Science
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
All Titles
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Professional
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Science
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
ASIN: 1402078870 |
Book Description
Complementarity, duality, and symmetry are closely related concepts, and have always been a rich source of inspiration in human understanding through the centuries, particularly in mathematics and science.
The Proceedings of IUTAM Symposium on Complementarity, Duality, and Symmetry in Nonlinear Mechanics brings together some of world's leading researchers in both mathematics and mechanics to provide an interdisciplinary but engineering flavoured exploration of the field's foundation and state of the art developments. Topics addressed in this book deal with fundamental theory, methods, and applications of complementarity, duality and symmetry in multidisciplinary fields of nonlinear mechanics, including nonconvex and nonsmooth elasticity, dynamics, phase transitions, plastic limit and shakedown analysis of hardening materials and structures, bifurcation analysis, entropy optimization, free boundary value problems, minimax theory, fluid mechanics, periodic soliton resonance, constrained mechanical systems, finite element methods and computational mechanics. A special invited paper presented important research opportunities and challenges of the theoretical and applied mechanics as well as engineering materials in the exciting information age.
Audience: This book is addressed to all scientists, physicists, engineers and mathematicians, as well as advanced students (doctoral and post-doctoral level) at universities and in industry.
Amazon.com
Playwright David Mamet has forged a considerable reputation, particularly in the theaters of New York and London, for dialogue that is austere, sharp, complex, sophisticated and realistic, a skill that transferred successfully to Hollywood with the movie version of his play Glengarry Glen Ross. His first collection of essays, The Cabin, gave Mamet enthusiasts the chance to see more directly what the author thinks about the world. This second miscellaneous collection of 24 essays again gives a lively scattershot view of his concerns and obsessions: sketches of friends; a memoir of child abuse; an essay on anti-semitism; thoughts on an early job writing pornography captions; much about the theater, including his beginnings on Broadway. Definitely a clue to the mind behind the dramatic art.
Book Description
Playwright David Mamet has forged a considerable reputation, particularly in the theaters of New York and London, for dialogue that is austere, sharp, complex, sophisticated and realistic, a skill that transferred successfully to Hollywood with the movie version of his play Glengarry Glen Ross. His first collection of essays, The Cabin, gave Mamet enthusiasts the chance to see more directly what the author thinks about the world. This second miscellaneous collection of 24 essays again gives a lively scattershot view of his concerns and obsessions: sketches of friends; a memoir of child abuse; an essay on anti-semitism; thoughts on an early job writing pornography captions; much about the theater, including his beginnings on Broadway. Definitely a clue to the mind behind the dramatic art.
Customer Reviews:
Far superior to his fics.......2005-01-22
From SECRET NAMES by David Mamet: "I instance the phrase 'weapons of mass destruction'. This formulation is overlong, clunky, and obviously confected. This is not to say that this or that dictator, or indeed well-meaning soul, may or does not possess such tools. But the formulation itself is unwieldy and, to the American ear, unfortunate. It is the cadence of 'I'm not going to tell you again'. Rhythmically, it is a scold. And its constant enforced repetition by the newscasters (you will note that the people in the street do not use it often, and then with little ease), its very awkwardness, ensures that the phrase, and thus its reference, pass beyond the borders of consideration."
A better term would be "megadeath weapons". Even though it sounds techno-trendy.
A Collection of Essays.......2002-06-25
The 3 that I give this collection of essays is due to the fact that some of the essays are a pure delight and would earn the book a 5/5 stars, while others are down right offensive and whiney. Iýd like to focus on the positive and say that any fan of Mamet should definitely buy this book. It is a quick read and a pleasure (mostly).
On the positive side, the book consists of 24 short essays, of which a few are among the most wonderful that I have ever read. Of particular interest was a story about gambling in Chicago. It is worded so beautifully, that the reader aches when it finishes. Another story is about his days as a copy editor on a pornographic magazine that is rather entertaining. Finally, there is an essay that all would-be writers will love called ýThe Dinerý that discusses the craft of writing in relation to where one writes ý as well as a number of takes on screenwriting, etc. Iýve left out a ton of great essays out, but this at least gives a window into the breadth that this book covers.
On the offensive side, I too am a Jew. However, Mamet becomes so ýUs v. the Christian themý in some of the stories that I was actually turned off to him as a person. One essay criticizes ýShindlerýs Listý as being a terrible movie as if Mamet has ever written or directed anything as powerful. In another, he talks on the subject of minority rights in such a way that I want to slap him upside the head and tell him to quit his whiney driveling. Finally, in the wake of September 11th, his criticism of the government and their military actions were enough to cause me to put the book down.
As is always the risk in personal essays, some make me value Mamet as a talented writer, and some make me want to see his career come to a bitter end. The only way you too can judge is to buy this book and read it. At the end of the day, Iým happy I went on the journeyý but wanted to warn you all about some of the sights.
Wow - What a smart guy!.......2000-01-16
Having been my first Mamet book, I was startled to realize just what an extraordinary talent lay beyond the creation of his play 'Glengarry Glen Ross.' Looking back, it was naive to think that a mere 'hack' could have written such an invective piece (which I first viewed as the popular major motion picture), that talent like that would be present in any endeavor. And that is the case with Mamet's 'Make-Believe Town : Essays and Remembrance.' I urge any fan, casual or dedicated, to read this book for Mamet's insight is spellbinding. It felt like I was actually spending time talking to the guy. Gosh. I really do love this book. -I'm gushing!
Pure Mamet.......1999-12-01
Mamet writes on a variety of subjects, some "of importance" others meerly ruminations on past events or experiences. This leads to a certain uneven nature, as some essays seem like throw-aways in light of their immediate neighboors in the book. By the same token, some of the lighter subjects are the best in the book.
Overall: very good and required Mamet reading for any fan.
Mamet's book an interesting guide for students.......1999-04-14
I have a bachelor's degree in theatre. I was impressed by the essays in this book. They cover anything from script writing the the nature or art. Mamet is one of my favorite writers. I especially enjoy Oleanna. A must read for any Mamet fan. This book presents excellent essays for class discussion or as a source for a paper.
Books:
- Partner Earth
- Physical Chemistry: Prinicples and Applications in Biological Sciences
- Physiologia: Natural Philosophy in Late Aristotelian and Cartesian Thought
- Ploughing Up the Farm: Neoliberalism, Modern Technology and the State of the World's Farmers
- Pond Life, 2nd: An Introduction to Familiar Plants and Animals Living In or Near Ponds, Lakes and Wetlands
- Premeditated Man
- Principal Diseases of Marine and Shellfish, Volume 1, Second Edition (Principal Diseases of Marine Fish & Shellfish)
- Realm of Algebra.
- Recombinant DNA: Genes and Genomics: A Short Course
- Resilience and the Behavior of Large-Scale Systems (Scope Series)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- W. E. Gladstone III: Autobiographical Memoranda, 1845-1866
- What Paul Meant
- Wintering: A Novel of Sylvia Plath
- Trees and Shrubs for Fragrance
- Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson
- Today's Technician:: Automotive Suspension and Steering Systems
- Where Is Baby's Belly Button
- The Royal House of Monaco: Dynasty of Glamour, Tragedy and Scandal
- Walter V. Berry: Inventor, Entrepreneur, and Philanthropist for Children
- Trees of San Diego,: A pictorial guide,
Primitive Technology
Botany in a Day: The Patterns Method of Plant Identification
Primitive Technology II: Ancestral Skill
Primitive Wilderness Living & Survival Skills: Naked into the Wilderness
Earth Knack
