Too bad this book is out of print! This deserves to be reprinted.

I came across National Public Radio many years ago just tooling around the FM dial. I found "Fresh Air with Terry Gross" and was hooked by the interview at the time, with Clint Eastwood. The questions were ones I would want to ask him. I was intrigued by this voice I have never heard before on radio, sophisticated, smart, smooth, curious, and down to earth. No commercial radio hype, none of the exaggeration for a big news story, not a celebrity exclusive. I've since heard this audio compilation of the the comedians interviewed on "Fresh Air laughs" and loved it. This isn't just a side splitting laugh a minute tape, it also brings you a realization that these are real people. The Bill Murray interview is so unlike his performer identity we all know that you have to listen to it carefully, because Terry brings out his humanity with her interview style. We get to listen to conversation that has substance and not just style. This is a tape you can sink your teeth into, it's that thick.

This is the best one in the series so far. If the rest are anything like this one, then readers will have something to look forward to in the coming months.

I really love the Chic Simple books ... I find the photographs, text and lay out to be really inspirational and compelling on a daily basis i.e. we all have to get dressed each day, and these books (especially "What Should I Wear?" - my real favourite) have made it more fun for me to wear, and buy, my clothes and accessories. There is one matter about this new book which has disappointed me in only a small way, and that is that the authors have chosen to use certain photos and text from older books in this, their new book. I dislike paying for the same content twice. I also had very high hopes for this new book, the first new 'big' fashion/wardbrobe-planning book by these authors for some years now, and was a bit cheesed off to find the same images/text, apparently recycled. It's just a small thing, but it seems to me to be a little lazy on their part. That said, I'm still a fan of the book, and wish I'd had it years ago when I started my first job (I wear suits for work & this book really focuses on that look and how to 'polish' it or expand upon it). This would be a great book for a recent graduate, or for the library of a corporate employer looking for a simple yet thorough and elegant style guide for their staff.

This book does an excellent job of getting you from nothing to wear to a closet of every possible wardrobe nessessity for the office. The organization is fantastic, going from one interview outfit and then starting a collection of business appropriate clothing based on four suits. Great book for someone getting a promotion, returning to work after a leave of absense, or a new college graduate.

Although I do not work in a field that requires suits---I couldn't pass this book up. There may be a time I need to know how to dress for a business lunch, etc. The point is this book is a must have for all woman entering the work arena again or for young woman just getting out of college. The pictures are wonderful and the advice is perfect as in the other Chic books. I love this book..........

After becoming interested in mountaineering while watching the Everest IMAX film Mr. Breashears directed, I read every book on mountaineering that I can get my hands on. I really enjoy reading the books about the Everest 1996 tragedy. When I saw this book on a shelf in a book store I knew I had to read it. Mr. Breashears book takes the reader from his childhood to Everest 1997. I've found most books that go into to much of the climbers life are boring, but this one is not. I found his personal life very interesting. Mr. Breashears wasn't anybody special, yet he's climbed Mount Everest four times. It shows the reader that it really doesn't matter who you are if you put your heart to it and train, you can reach the top of the world. Through his book he made me realize that you have to be in the best of shape to climb Everest. You can't just go up there and take a little hike up the up the hill. You earn the respect of vertern climbers, such as Mr. Breashears if you go on the mountain prepared. I think reviewer, Suzanne, was right when she said that Mr. Breashears respected women climbers. Some people belive that women or girls should not be on Mount Everest. Mr. Breashears seemed to respect anyone who was trained and ready to climb a mountain such as Everest. I also agree with the climber from Canada who said that Mr. Breashears was one of the few climbers on Everest in 1996 who gave credit to Anatoli Boukreev. Though he said he thought, Anatoli, didn't do his job as a guide, he did give Anatoli the credit he deserved. He said that Anatoli went out in the storm and single handly saved several lives. Maybe Anatoli did go down way ahead of the climbers he was to guide, but if he hadn't he probably wouldn't save those lives. I belive God sent Anatoli down so he could rest and then go out and save those climbers. Anatoli was the hero on May the tenth, 1996. As I read about him as he realized his friends and fellow climbers were dying near the summit. He delt with grief and anger. He wondered how these climbers, known for there experience, could go against all the rules of climbing and head on to the summit past three in the afternoon. As he sat with the body of Rob Hall I felt Like I was sitting there with him. I felt his tears and his pain. He felt he had to have some closing with his soul about the Everest 1996 tragedy, that's why he went back to Everest in 1997. He is a climber who loved and commited his life to climbing. Mr. Breashears is a wonderful climber and a very friendly man. He is not cocky as Jon Krakuaer is. Mr. Breashears is a top notch person as well as a climber! Thank you Mr. Breashears for being a top climber, all your great films, and for being a good all around person! Your IMAX film inspired me and got me started climbing!

This first-hand account of the frightening and absolutely breath-talking adventures on the slopes of Mount Everest during the ill-fated 1996 American climbing expedition is terrific reading. Brashears, a professional cinematographer, had already climbed Everest previous to this expedition, and his prize-winning documentary IMAX film about the ascent of Everest is itself both entertaining and edifying, as it holds no punches regarding the reality of life on the mountain. Neither does this book, which certainly proves that the author has a future in journalism is he chooses to pursue it.

His colorful and well-written autobiography also does great service in helping those of us who prefer to have our adventure while sitting in the comfort of our reading room just what it is that draws people like him to the pursuit of mountaineering. Indeed, his gleeful enthusiasm is close to being contagious; this too is testimony to Brashears' ability to write convincingly and well. His approach is so colorful as to blur the lines between biography and fiction, and I often found myself having to remember that all this really did happen. It is that well written.

His beginnings, too, seem like the stuff of popular fiction; a childhood of humility and privation, his early exploits in climbing on a virtual shoestring, his wildcat days in the oil field, all seem to fit this persona that wangles his way into situations and then has the gumption, intelligence, and character to pull it all off. He progresses with climbs both domestically and internationally, finally reaching into Nepal and Tibet. Always with him is this sense of humor on the one hand, and a willingness to take risks that most of just would turn away from. One senses he is heading for even more danger and self-discovery. Of course, the key to the book is his description of the events leading up to, including, and after the tragic catastrophe and loss of several climbers' lives in the ascent of the mountain. Busy himself with both the climb on the one hand and the IMAX filming of it on the other left him little time for instant reflection or remorse. These things probably helped him to focus on what had to be done to go on with the successful climb, the discovery of the bodies, and a safe descent to the camps far below. I found myself sorry to reach the final pages of his book, and I for one hope to find more writing from this talented filmmaker, writer, and climber in the future. I can highly recommend this book, and I think you will enjoy it, as well.

This is a terrific book which draws you into David Breashears' world. You follow his development from young rock climber to world class mountaineer and filmmaker. You also see his development as a person, all while drawing you into that exclusive club of mountaineers. He makes you feel his passion for the mountains he so loves. You learn how he combined that passion with the art of cinematography, making him an award winning filmmaker.

You live through the 1996 tragedy on Everest with him, and feel the compassion that he has for those who died on the mountain under such tragic circumstances. The narrative is always compelling and informative, making the book a hard one to put down. His compassion and sensitivity towards those who did not fare well on the ill-fated 1996 Everest climb is palpable, and for his assistance to those who needed it, even though it put him and his expedition in jeopardy, he is truly an unsung hero. This is, without a doubt, a man who leads by example.

David Breashears writes beautifully of his experiences and his book is a must read for all climbing enthusiasts, as well as for those simply interested in the human condition. This is a book that is simply too good to pass up.

This was a very good book. It talks not only about the equipment and the thrill of bungee jumping, but also about the physics of bungee sports. The thing I didn't like about it though, was the lack of information about costs, and about extra safety measures, such as airbags and pools.

After living and working overseas for 12 years I have decided to return to the USA and must update my wardrobe. I bought 2 books: this one and Dressing the Man by Alan Flusser. This book is broken into 3 parts: Get Job, Succeed in Job and Get Better Job. Each section reviews the issues of dressing pertaining to that particular category. Basic stuff but necessary for the younger inexperienced man. This book's strong point is its explanation of the 4 dress codes: Corporate, Casual, Business Appropriate and Business Casual Appropriate along with business travel, entertainment and sales meetings. Its weak point is its lack of elegance and sophisticated masculinity. For that please see Alan Flusser's splendid book Dressing the Man.

Chic Simple is a book of glossy pictures and bad text. The writing is poor in both substance and in its unreadable graphics. The text full of senselessly varying fonts and styles. There is good information squeezed in tiny print in the back of the book, but that is obtainable from any of the clothing books out there already. If you like gazing at men's clothing, though, it's a nice book to thumb through for a few minutes. It will provide you with some nice visual examples of how to put together outfits. However, a good salesman could do the same. I don't understand the rave reviews given to this book. It's not bad but it's not great either. If you're looking for real understanding of clothing beyond pictures, go elsewhere.

I have found this book to be a good general resource for information regarding mens fashion and grooming. (The checklists are VERY helpful) The book has good overall advice with one exception. The authors claim that the perfect tie is the black knit tie your mother tied for you on Sunday morning. As an adult I don't know if I would want to shop in a clothing store that sold black knit ties, much less wear one in public... With that said, the book provides ample information in an easy and visually pleasing way. I would suggest this book to any man who is interested in becoming more informed about laying the foundation of a stylish wardrobe.

This book is *the* reference guide for the man pursuing that elusive, important goal that separates a real man out from the philistines around him: the quest for the perfect, stylish wardrobe.

This book was given to me as a 21st birthday present, which was shortly before I finished university, and I have found it to be an invaluable resource in building a good wardrobe and in discovering a good sense of style as I've set out to forge my own way in the 'real' world.

The book presents a very detailed examination of classic men's fashions in various aspects of life and their corresponding wardrobes: work, leisure, sport, winter, summer, accessories, ties, cufflinks - and so on. This book gives you an insight into what defines the classic fashion in each of these areas and gives some tips and general rules about how you should construct your wardrobe in each of them.

The book is also very 'cool' - it is very well presented with lots of great photos and illustrations. The variety of classic quotes from books, films, etc that are used to illustrate various points work really well and help to maintain your interest and the sense of coolness about the book as well.

It should be noted that this book is not an exhaustive guide to what is fashionable, and is almost quite the opposite. Rather than focusing on clothes or wardrobes that are fashionable, this book presents only those things that are never likely to go out of fashion (like the classic two or three button, black or dark blue suit, or a well-made trenchcoat). So, don't buy this if you're looking for an analysis of the latest in men's fashions, but do buy it of you are into timeless classics and don't plan ever to go out of style.

This would also make a good companion piece to other books on "how to be a man", and in fact it does address this question in part as well.

4 Stars for writing style; 2 stars for the implications and reason for publishing. One cannot comment on this book without making reference to Gillian Helfgott's book as well. Margaret cannot be 100% wrong. David and Gillian Helfgott cannot be 100% wrong. Therefore, I took both Gillian's book and Margaret's book and began comparisons. Several things struck me: what man would pick up his family, force them to travel 2000 miles, and all with no prospects or money? (I mention this since the biggest bone of contention seems to be the father, Peter--his actions at certains times were questionable behavior by any stretch of the imagination.) Next, why are some of David's siblings literally beaming in the photo (in Gillian's book) taken with Actress Redgrave during the filming of SHINE? I could go on and on, but I think the truth lies somewhere in-between the two books. It's unfortunate that this book has and may continue to overshadow David's career and Gillian's sincerity. Read this book with the proverbial grain of salt. Besides, Margaret's childhood was not necessarily David's, unless she was with him 24 hours per day. The only good thing about the book is the obvious love the author has for her deceased father. Of course, Gillian made an effort in her book, too, to show that there were happy times and love. No stars for how Margaret took some of what Gillian had to say out of context. This leaves the book with a very iffy three stars.

I recall after seeing "Shine", I remarked to a friend that while I enjoyed the film, "It sadly doesn't happen that way in real life".

As a health professional who has worked for many years with people, including artists who suffered from schizophrenic disorders, I can affirm that Margaret Helfgott's book rings only, too true.

As a painful and loving testament to her father Peter, her family and her brother David, Margaret Helfgott takes the reader through the maze of distortion and lies by "Shine's" director Scott Hicks, David's second wife Gillian, and the commercial exploitation of David Helfgott by post production interests. Despite the distorted need to invent blame, the profound reality of David Helfgott's illness will not be altered by the many lies in "Shine" about his late father Peter and his family.

I could not put Margaret Helfgott's book down, and highly recommend it to anyone who saw the fiction of "Shine", read the screenplay, or are just interested in understanding the impact of schizophrenic-type disorders on patients and families.

I have been stimulated by a number of your readers' reviews to once again see the video of "Shine" and re-read the book "Out of Tune".

A number of differences are outstanding. Whereas Margaret Helfgott interviews and quotes from many actual people who knew David in the past, identifying them by name, Scott Hicks "stands by his research" involving "friends, teachers, medical people and colleagues of David's" - however, he does not identify a single one of these people despite being challenged. Similarly, regarding Hick's claim that he was told that Shine's "portrait" of Peter Helfgott was actually "kind" and that there were far greater abuses committed by Peter which he chose not to include in the film. Who were these anonymous people who unstintingly fed Hicks his unconfirmed "facts"? If we did not believe Hicks totally, we might think this was innuendo in the extreme - in the best tradition of throwing mud so that some may stick.

What possible motive could Margaret have for defending her father to such lengths? Could it be Hick's claimed jealousy between the siblings, for which no shred of evidence exists in any of the writings.

Apropos the famed disclaimer at the end of the video "Shine" - it is microscopic! Unlike many biopics which honestly displayed their disclaimers legibly and clearly at the start of the film, Hick's disclaimer was illegible; despite the fact that living family members had NOT given permission for their real names to be used in the film. Once again, if one did not doubt Hicks' integrity one might really think that his advertised claims of "Shine" representing the true life story of David Helfgott, were honest.

Apart from attempting to correct the numerous distortions presented in "Shine", Margaret Helfgott, described on the book jacket as a music teacher, represents in "Out of Tune", a sole individual nobly fighting the forces of the film industry, its exploitation and its millions.

Anyone interested in truth and justice should read "Out of Tune".

This isn't at all comprehensive, but is fine for speedy access to common words.

I think that giving this book four stars was fairly generous of me. This book has it's advantages and disadvantages as any dictionary does. The thing that I liked about it was that you get alot considering what you pay for it. It has many of the most common words, and even if it doesn't have a word you are looking for, it has enough words that it probably has a similar word to what you are looking for. I think it is a very good buy. Now to the disadvantages. A similar word isn't always close enough for all of us. I know it usually isn't good enough for me. The other really huge disadvantage is that it is romanized. If you are a beginner in learning Yiddish, you might not know what romanization is. Romanization is also known as transliteration. It is awful. What it means is that it doesn't use anything but English letters. In other words, it doesn't use any Yiddish letters. You're probably wondering "why is this a huge problem?", but just try reading THE YIDDISH FORVERTS newspaper, and you will see what the big problem is. It only makes sense that things written in the Yiddish language use the Yiddish alphabet. If you see something in Yiddish characters, and try to look it up in English characters, you might have a really hard time, and possibly not ever find the word at all, because many Yiddish words come frome the Hebrew language, and Hebrew isn't always written exactly as it sounds. Romanization generally is written fairly near how it sounds. It really just depends what you are looking for, buy I certainly can't say I enjoyed the romanization.