Condoleezza Rice: An American Life: A Biography Review

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Condoleezza Rice: An American Life: A Biography ReviewA good biography should provde interesting personal insights not readily known and engaging examples that show character strengths and flaws. Once an author interjects his or her own political bias, as this "liberal" author clearly does on more than one occasion, then the reader feels as if the biography has turned into political analysis, which is precisely what happens in this book about midway through.
The author does a nice job describing the childhood, adolescence, family, and personal crises of Ms. Rice through and including her appointment as provost as Stanford. But then the author decides to simply discuss in chronological order the various political events that Ms. Rice was involved in as she entered the realm of politics and ultimately became Secretary of State. From that point on the book becomes not biography, but a superficial and biased presentation of various political events into which the author intersperses quotes from Ms. Rice. It sounded more like a series of newspaper articles than a biography.
In short, the first half of the book through the events at Stanford is worth reading. You can simply skim the rest and skip to the Conclusion, which is rather pedestrian.
There are no great insights provided in this book, but in the early chapters there is a wealth of personal and fascinating details that makes this book worth reading at all.Condoleezza Rice: An American Life: A Biography Overview

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Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution: Music and Social Change in America (Book) Review

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Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution: Music and Social Change in America (Book) ReviewI teach a course on the history of American popular music; therefore, I was excited when I saw this book. However, upon reading it, all I can say is..."um, okay." Here are a few points:
1. Weissman is addressing a HUGE topic--one could write an entire book about each of his chapters. The result? He briefly scratches the surface of many subtopics before skipping along to the next. The book "feels" like someone who is trying to impress you with a vast amount of knowledge but only has three minutes to explain it...
2. Some of his information is, at best, underdeveloped (or incorrect). He makes many good points (albeit briefly) regarding various ethnic groups and the music written for/by/about them. The first chapters on immigrants, American Indians, and African-Americans are interesting (but...head-spinningly quick and superficial). He does provide examples, but some of his assertions, especially in the later chapters (rock-oriented--which don't really start until about pg. 265) are laughable. Some examples--A) Alice Cooper and Marilyn Manson= glam rock?...maybe B)Sonic Youth= "representative of the macho, torn-t-shirt-and-big-biceps-attitude that was part of hardcore"? Um, have you listened to Sonic Youth? They were not hardcore (although they were on SST for a while--after hardcore was effectively dead). C) The B-52's=punk?! There are many other "huh?" moments, and while I may seem to be nitpicking...well, I am. Get your facts straight, especially with regards to modern music--there are many out here who know these types of music well (and are, frankly, more interested in them...they are ultimately more relevant than much of the info in this book). I get the impression from these (and many, many other) generalizations that Weissman is more interested in a Howard Zinn-like version of American musical history (the suffering of everyone who wasn't wealthy and white) than a relevant discussion of American music.
I guess, overall, I feel a bit misled. The cover has pictures of Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, punks, etc.--it leads one to believe that this book is going to thoroughly address more "modern" musical forms--I'm assuming that this was a marketing decision? Shrewd--it will sell more copies than if people could really see inside the book. The cover (and title) imply a modern approach--I would suggest a more comprehensive--and accurate--portrayal of these types of music(or maybe a new, more accurate title/cover?). I do applaud Mr. Weissman for what must have been an exhaustive project, but after reading it--he bit off more than he could chew (plus, he could have straightened out some of the details). The scope of this book is awesome, but frankly, the end result is not.
Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution: Music and Social Change in America (Book) Overview

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Reading Dance: A Gathering of Memoirs, Reportage, Criticism, Profiles, Interviews, and Some Uncategorizable Extras Review

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Reading Dance: A Gathering of Memoirs, Reportage, Criticism, Profiles, Interviews, and Some Uncategorizable Extras ReviewI learned of this book through Mr. Gottlieb's appearance on the Charlie Rose show and I odered my copy the next day, although I rarely buy new books. Both informative and highly entertaining, the book is an absolute treasure. As a lover of classical ballet I would have preferred more entries on that subject and fewer on modern/contemporary dance, but that is a minor quibble. For anyone who loves dance, especially ballet, my advice is simple: get a copy of this book as soon as possible.Reading Dance: A Gathering of Memoirs, Reportage, Criticism, Profiles, Interviews, and Some Uncategorizable Extras Overview

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Just Above My Head Review

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Just Above My Head ReviewThis is one of the best written, most beautiful books I've ever read. If any one book could be said to distill James Baldwin's entire life, this could be it, at least among his fiction. The sense of love, compassion, and empathy Baldwin has for his characters is tangible. Many of the passages are poetic in their power; Baldwin excels at finding the nuance, the meanings in a gesture, a glance, a touch. Baldwin was a black gay man but I believe that in this book he has transcended both race and sex, and is writing about something more basic and yet more complex: relationships between *human beings*. For those who grew up in the 1960s and 70s, it's impossible to overstate the impact Baldwin had on many of our lives (even in my case, and I'm Caucasian).
I was lucky enough to hear Baldwin lecture 20 years ago; Just Above My Head had been out for about a year and I was able to get my copy autographed and personalized. He was as arresting a speaker as he was a writer.
In the short list of the most deeply felt, most moving, most powerful books written in the 20th century, this has to come near the top.Just Above My Head Overview

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Play Dead (A Dog Days Novel) Review

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Play Dead (A Dog Days Novel) ReviewI've enjoyed this whole series and this latest book is a great entry. The strongest aspects of the book is the mystery element and the characterization. While I guessed the who-dun-it in one of the earlier books, this one is more complex; even though you have a handle on the "not-so-honest" people, you're not exactly certain which crimes they are guilty of nor how many.
Lou, being a dog with a little extra, is given a large starring role in Play Dead; Mason gets a little more independent. Of course...without his friends around the *entire* time, he does seem to get in rather larger amounts of trouble.
The magic is "realistic" and doesn't overshadow the plot. The world building is top-notch, taking place in San Fransisco. Levitt does a great job of turning real places magical without ever going over-the-top. I think that is what I like about these books the most. The magic is woven with music; nature is often woven into the themes of magical places (natural forces) and there are certain settings/plants used that make the ideas come alive without becoming too far-fetched. Everything has a grounding; the characters are very real.
If you like the Dresden Files, I think you'll like this series.Play Dead (A Dog Days Novel) Overview

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Miles and Me (George Gund Foundation Book in African American Studies) Review

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Miles and Me (George Gund Foundation Book in African American Studies) ReviewI read Troupe's tome, and neither recommend nor disrecommend it. Those interested will read it. However, to me it brings to mind two comments I recollect: "I don't want to hear the bathroom noises of the artist" (Bill Evans), and "The greats are disappointing when you meet them" (Woody Allen).
I read "Miles" and was riveted. It is valuable, hard-hitting oral history. Reading this though, is a perplexing, even depressing exercise. (I'm not saying it's not well written, it is, and has some moving passages)The book is as much about Troupe as Davis, and I'm not sure what his modus operandi is for making public the tyrannical rages and assorted uglier impulses of Davis. Is he trying to bask in reflected glory, tripping that he "really knew" Davis? Is it necessary for music fans, etc. to read how Troupe stood up to Davis's verbal taunts? Does this have anything to do with, or cast any light whatsoever on the MUSIC( which, after all, is what we'll remember long after books like these fade away)?
Honesty notwithstanding, as a musician the more I read about Miles Davis the person, the more I'd like to forget.
The really important stuff is down on record.Miles and Me (George Gund Foundation Book in African American Studies) Overview

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Cengage Advantage Books: Audio Basics Review

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Cengage Advantage Books: Audio Basics ReviewThis book was required for my daughter's major in school. She loves the book & I was happy that it came as quick as promised.Cengage Advantage Books: Audio Basics Overview

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