This is an excellent book on the healing power inherent in healthy, intimate relationships. But this is not just another flaky "positive thinking" "how-to" book. Written by a noted therapist and researcher, it summarizes extensive research done at the Timberlawn Research Foundation, in Dallas, Texas, and presents the results, along with interesting and insightful case studies, in a clear, easy-to-read style for a general audience. It is thorough and informative enough to be useful to professionals in this area, and includes the Timberlawn Couple and Family Evaluation Scale, which can be used to rate couple and family relationships in terms of healthy functioning.

An excelent resource, likely to become a classic.

In a beautifully written analysis of O'Connor's life and work, Balee displays considerable knowledge of the cultural and historical background of O'Connor's world, and provides rare and revealing photographs. A must read, and apparently the first biography of O'Connor.

Any book wirtten on this man is worth having in ones collection. There is great detail and powerful information that shows what a true genius the great Jerry Lewis is.

Buy Buy Bye!

With all the other things on his plate--his charitable endeavors, stage performances--Jerry Lewis' impressive film career is often overlooked. The authors, with Mr. Lewis' cooperation, have done a commendable job putting this baby together. Jerry's comments at the end of each movie synopis/review are invaluable to admirers of this comic genius. Even Jerry Lewis' cinematic "failures" are infinitely more interesting than most actor/director's "successes." I value this book.

This book reads as if it was started with a great burst of energy,lost steam somewhere along the line,was abandoned,picked back up,dusted off,put down again,and then finished off for a payday...I had great expectations for this work as Charles White was involved,the Killer was clean and sober and was eager to tell his story (set the record right) after his ex wife (and probably only true love) Myra came out with Great Balls of Fire which was made into the movie of the same name.Unfortunately,well... we get a rambling,somewhat incoherent hodge podge of rehashed stories that have been told and retold for the most part,and Jerry Lee really adds nothing new to them. There are some worthwhile nuggets;Jerry's brief profiles of some of his contemporaries,a few words on his substance abuse problems,and some great color commentary of touring life during the early days,however,what becomes apparent is that most of the time EVERYONE AROUND the Killer seems eager to tell jerry's life for him and he either lets them because it serves his purpose ,or he is resigned to this type of treatment,or maybe he is so crispy that he just doesn't have it in him.Whatever the reason,this book is definitely NOT THE story of Mr. Jerry Lee Lewis as it should be told.
This book is still a riveting read simply because one never knows where the rambling might lead!The frustrating point is knowing that this effort could have been so much more IF the Killer could have reached down inside and demanded from himself and from those around him that he be heard.

This book was published in 1971 and, since then, several other books tried to teach young film-makers how to make a movie. Well, some people say that filmmaking changed in 30 years, you now have digital cameras and digital sound, you have amazing special effects, but the basic is all in the book. And, most important: If you are a young film-maker, you won't work with special effects and a million-dollar budget. Jerry Lewis put everything on the book: The pre-production, budget, the filming itself, homework, and the pos-production, with editing and mixing. And distribution. But the book is really how to relate with the people that you are working with, actors and crew. If you have ever been in a set, you know how hard it can be. Jerry Lewis gives us advice. Maybe you don't follow all of his advices but, even so, you have to think about. What he says makes sense. And that is more than you can say about most of the men who writes about filmmaking.

This is a delightful book in which Linda recounts her life as a member of the exrtaordinary Lewis family. The style is conversational, warm and intimate - so much so that you can almost hear her dropping her voice as she gets to the more delicate bits. It's like having her sitting by your side, chatting away - slipping in the odd bit of scandal here and there to spice up the narrative lest your attention should wander. Linda does the story justice by telling it simply and with humour. And what a story it is! If it had been written as fiction it would be dismissed as being too fanciful. Shooting, killings, Heaven, The Devil, death and judgement, marriage, divorce, sex, drugs and rock'n'roll all play their part - and that's just for starters. Chapter two gets even better. Linda begins with a snapshot of family life in Ferriday, Louisiana with (one imagines) daddy coming in from a hard day's bootlegging to Jerry Lee playing boogie-woogie, momma raisin' the roof with songs of praise and big sister Frankie Jean generally causing mayhem. It wasn't until later in life that Linda realised that not every family lived like the Lewis' - but for all their perceived shortcomings (even by Ferriday standards they were regarded as somewhat eccentric), daddy and momma were exemplary parents. No one could have done more for their children or been more supportive. The story of mortgaging the family home to buy a piano and selling eggs to raise money to get to Sun Records are well known, but Linda for her part remembers the talk at home as always being of 'when' Jerry Lee would become famous - never 'if'. The Lewis famiuly were always well represented at the Holiness Church in Ferriday - which Linda describes as the battleground between good and evil. Guys urged on by the preaching and the singing and the speaking in tongues would confess all manner of sins and vow to fight the good fight, which some of them did - at least for an hour or so afterwards. In later years as older members of the family died and were buried, Linda and Jerry Lee with cousins Mickey Gilley and Jimmy Lee Swaggart would return to sing with the fifty or so regular congregation in what must have been the gospel show to end all gospel shows. The lessons learned in church were taken to heart - even though the bit about not sleeping together without getting married meant that Linda (like Jerry) had to tie the knot many times over to keep within the letter, if not the spirit of the law. Linda recounts her marriages with good humour and without rancour. One guy blew his brains out, another just lasted for one glorious sex-filled weekend and in one case a quickie divorce (to allow an immediate re-marriage) was facilitated by a judge who was well disposed to the Lewis', having played the mailman in the movie 'Great Balls Of Fire'. A good deal of the book is taken up with life on the road with Jerry Lee. Having dropped out of school she was able to see Jerry through the lean years following the Myra incident. She went everywhere with him, backwards and forwards across America playing any club or bar that would have them, even the places where she says they frisked you for guns - and if you didn't have one, they gave you one. Jerry's resillience and determination in fighting his way back to the top is widely acknowledged, but Linda - forever his number one fan - deserves some of that recognition for her totally untiring and unselfish support. It grieves her that in later years Jerry Lee has been hi-jacked by the infamous Dr. Nick and sixth wife Kerrie. Linda is generous towards previous wives but understandably wouldn't give Kerrie the lickings of a dog. What should have been the crowning glory of a glorious career seems to end in ruins and that hurts. But among the lighter moments - and there are plenty - it is revealed that Jerry Lee Lewis sleeps with a fully-loaded sub-machine gun under his bed. But as to the circumstances in which he came to use it - you'll have to read the book. It would be wrong to give the name away here, and in any case Linda tells it so much better. In life, as in the book, there's never a dull moment with 'The Devil, Me and Jerry Lee'. Chris Woodford.

This is a delightful book in which Linda recounts her life as a member of the extraordinary Lewis family. The style is conversational, warm, and intimate - so much so that you can almost hear her dropping her voice as she gets to the more delicate bits. It's like having her sitting by your side, chatting away - slipping in the odd bit of scandal here and there to spice up the narrative, lest your attention should wander. Linda does the story justice by telling it simply and with humour. And what a story it is! If it had been written as fiction it would be dismissed as being to fanciful. Shootings, killings, Heaven, Hell, the Devil, death and judgment, marriage, divorce, sex, drugs, and rock n roll all play their part - and that's just for starters. Chapter two gets even better. Linda begins with a snapshot of family life in Ferriday, Louisiana, with (one imagines) daddy coming in from a hard day's bootlegging to Jerry Lee playing boogie-woogie, momma raising the roof with songs of praise and big sister Frankie Jean generally causing mayhem. It wasn't until later in life that Linda realized that not every family lived like the Lewis' - but for all their percieved shortcoming (even by Ferriday standards they were regarded as somewhat eccentric) momma and daddy were exemplary parents. No one could have done more for their children or been more supportive. The story of mortgaging the family home to buy a piano and selling eggs to raise money to get to Sun Records are well known, but Linda for her part remembers the talk at home as always being of 'when' Jerry Lee becomes famous-never 'if'. The Lewis family were always well represented at the Holiness Church in Ferriday - which Linda Gail describes as a battle ground between good and evil. Guys urged on by the preaching and the singing and the speaking in tongues would confess all manner of sins and vow to fight the good fight, which some of them did - at least for an hour or so afterwards, In later years as older members of the family died and were buried, Linda and Jerry Lee with cousins Mickey Gilley and Jimmy Lee Swaggart would return to sing with the fifty or so regular congregation in what must have been the gospel shows to end all gospel shows. The lessons learned in church were taken to heart - even though the bit about not sleeping together without getting married meant that Linda (like Jerry) had to tie the knot many times over to keep to the letter, if not the spirit of the law. Linda recounts her marriages with good humour and without rancour. One guy blew his brains out, another just lasted for one glorious sex-filled weekend and in one case a quickie divorce(to allow an immediate re-marriage) was facilitated by judge who was well disposed to the Lewis', having played the mailman in the movie 'Great Balls of Fire.' A good deal of the book is taken up with life on the road with Jerry Lee. Having dropped out of school whe was able to see Jerry through the lean years following the Myra incident. She went everywhere with him, backwards and forwards across America playing any club or bar that would have them, even places where she says they frisked you for guns - and if you didn't have one, they gave you one. Jerry's resilience and determination in fighting his way back to the top is widely acknowledged, but Linda - forever his number one fan - deserves some of that recognition for her totally untiring and unselfish support. It grieves her that in later years Jerry Lee has been hi-jacked by the infamous Dr. Nick and sixth wife Kerrie, Linda is generous towards previous wives but understandably wouldn't give Kerrie the lickings of a dog. What should have been the crowning of a glorious career seems set to end in ruins - and that hurts. But among the lighter moments - and there are plenty - it is revealed that Jerry Lee Lewis sleeps with a fully loaded sub-machine gun under his bed. But as to the circumstances in which he came to use it - you'll have to read the book. It would be wrong to give the game away here - and in any case, Linda tells it so much better. In life, as in the book, there's never a dull moment with 'The Devil, Me, and Jerry Lee'.

This is a delightful book - in which Linda recounts her life as brother to rock and roll star Jerry Lee Lewis. The style is conversational, warm and intimate - so much so that her voice can be heard to drop as she slips the odd bit of scandal here and there lest the attention should wander. Linda does the story justice by telling it simply and with humor. And what a story it is ! If it had been written as fiction - it would be dismissed as being too fanciful. Shooting, killings, Heaven, Hell, the Devil, death and judgement, marriage, divorce, sex, drugs and rock and roll all play their part - and that's just for starters. Chapter two is even better.

Linda begins with a snap-shot of family life in Ferriday, Louisiana - with Daddy coming in from a hard day's bootlegging to Jerry Lee playing boogie-woogie and Momma raising the roof with songs of Praise. It wasn't until later in life that Linda realised that not every family lived like the Lee Lewis's - even by Ferriday standards they were regarded as somewhat eccentric.

The Lewis family were always well represented at the Holiness Church in Ferriday, Louisiana - which Linda describes as a battleground between good and evil. People would confess all manner of sins and vow to fight the good fight, which some of them did - at least for an hour or so afterwards. The lessons learned in church were taken to heart - even though the bit about not sleeping together without getting married meant that Linda (like Jerry) had to tie the knot many times over to keep within the letter, if not the spirit of the law. Linda is quite specific as to why her marriages failed. For example one guy blew his brains out and another just lasted for one glorious 'sex-filled' weekend.

A good deal of the book is taken up with life on the road with Jerry Lee - during the lean years which followed the 'scandal' of the marriage to his 13 year old cousin. She went everywhere with him, backwards and forwards across America playing any club or bar that would have them, even the places where she says they frisked you for guns - and if you didn't have one they gave you one. It grieves Linda that in later years - Jerry Lee has been hi-jacked by the infamous Dr.Nick and sixth wife Kerrie. What should have been the crowning of a glorious career seems set to end in ruins - and that hurts.

But among the lighter moments - and there are plenty, it is revealed that Jerry Lee Lewis sleeps with a fully loaded sub-machine gun under his bed. But as to the circumstances in which he came to use it - well, it would be wrong to give the game away here. In any case Linda can tell it so much better. In life, as in the book - there's never a dull moment with 'The Devil, Me and Jerry Lee'.

Entertaining biography of rock and roller Jerry Lee Lewis. It details his rise from the poverty of rural Louisiana to become a rock and roll legend. Told by his wife of thirteen years, Myra Lewis, the book recounts an insider's view of those early days of rock and roll and of the rise of Jerry Lee Lewis in the annals of rock and roll.

Jerry grew up with his first cousin, Jimmy Lee Swaggart, who in his own right achieved a measure of notoriety as a prominent preacher and televangelist. Lewis, however, a music lover from early childhood, wanted nothing more than to be a piano playing musician. A backwoods good ole boy, he shocked the country with his antics, topping it all off with his marriage to his thirteen year old cousin, Myra, an act which brought him unwelcome notoriety.

Known for his high energy performances, Jerry Lee Lewis lived hard, played hard, and worked hard at his music. His was a life of which legends are made. This book is an enjoyable, no holds barred narrative of that life.

This is the best book ever written about "The Killer." It is
well researched, factual, and brilliantly composed! It is a classic.

Here's a writer who did his research for years...its factual, interesting and important!

This book is a fine resource for looking up Lewis quotes or for thumbing through to read Lewis in a different light. The quotes are grouped alphabetically by topic (e.g. "courage", "experience", "joy", "Macdonald", or "Middle Ages"), being culled from the academic and popular works alike. Lewis enthusiasts (or pastors or priests or rabbis looking for material for their sermons) would do well to invest a few dollars and purchase this book. It comes equipped with a preface & introduction, bibliography, a helpful index, and several pages of pictures.

Not only is this book an excellent resource for Christian speakers/preachers/etc., but it can also be of usefulness an individual's personal life by offering words on joy, peace, death, etc. The quotes are topically organized, and the references back to the original works are very helpful when you can't quite remember exactly which book contains that C.S. Lewis quote that has been running through your mind lately. This book is also helpful if you engage in theological conversations and/or debates. The quotes included in the book are good encapsulations of the gyst of many of Lewis' insights into human nature, Divine nature, and Divine human nature. Some sections that I have found especially helpful in informal philosophical debates are "Free Will", "Sin", "Human Nature", and "Love." Any diehard Lewis fan (without a photographic memory), who loves being able to quote him in sermons, academic papers or in conversation, could greatly benefit from having this book.

I've thoroughly enjoyed reading the Quotable Lewis and continue to use it often in my study of the Gospel. C.S. Lewis is the greatest Christian Scholar of our time and in reading passages from his works in the Quotable Lewis I've gained greater insite into what being a Christian is all about.

At the beginning of the book, Levy implies that he will trace Lewis's life as a parallel to American culture from the 40s to the present day. He does not deliver. What we are sold is a thoroughly researched, very well written account of a twentieth century comic and filmmaker as seen through Levy's jaded eyes. Too bad, because he would have made it if it hadn't been for his apparently irresisitible urge to put Lewis down. Levy decided, at some point during the writing of his book, that he didn't really like Jerry very much, and set out to convince us that we shouldn't either. His bias stoops to its lowest ebb during his "personal" interviews with his subject, wherein he snidely baits Lewis into explosions that any person (especially an artist) might react with. More below-the-belt tactics are sprinkled throughout the text, most noticeably with the cheap shots that become more frequent in the later pages and with the only partially representative quotations that have Lewis spewing vulgarities in nearly every sentence. Other than this overt bias, there are a few other things to take Levy to task over, some of which are commonplace with first editions (I read the hardcover version in 1996, so hopefully some of the mistakes have been corrected) and others of which demonstrate carelessness. An example of this would be Levy's description of the film "The Stooge," where several details concerning the characters and story are confused. As regards the films generally, Levy praises many of them at the outset and then, not wanting to sound too laudatory, undercuts his enthusiasm with more put-downs. In Levy's eyes, Lewis's creative genius as a filmmaker is nearly obliterated by ego, which actually places Levy's ego between the reader and the films as works of comic art. These films, especially those of the early-to-mid 1960s, deserve better treatment than this; Levy's opinions (there is little in the way of critical discussion) are discolored by his jaded lenses. Aside from the aforementioned cheap shots, this is the most irritating aspect of the book, especially in light of the promise of its title. On the positive side, Lewis's relationship with Dean Martin, its importance for both men and its dynamics, is convincingly related. Also effectively shown is the importance and ENORMOUS popularity of Martin and Lewis as popular performers. Between Sinatra and Elvis it was these guys, and anyone who second-guessed it before won't do so now. This biography is informative and enlightening throughout; unfortunately we're going to need a better one. Although it begins with promise, ultimately Levy's rigorous flailing at his subject produces a portrait of Jerry Lewis that is noticeably skewered by the author's prejudices and, perhaps most of all, by his unwillingness or inability to thoughtfully examine Lewis's unique contributions to comic film.

I have read several books about Jerry Lewis but I believe that Shawn Levy has produced the most in-depth work about Lewis. He is able to provide a fluid explanation to many unanswered questions about the career of Jerry Lewis.

He provides a detailed structured background into the creation, rise and fall of Martin and Lewis, which allows the reader to grasp why the act ruptured at the height of its success. Levy is the first writer to really provide concrete answers about the breakup, since both Martin and Lewis have always talked around the issue.

Levy also provides a back stage look at the solo career of Jerry Lewis allowing the reader to see why Lewis was never able to build an enduring successful career in the movies.

Actually, the best summary of the comedy of Jerry Lewis is on page 270, when Levy lifts quotes from a 1960s article written by comic writer, Al Capp. Capp's remarks totally sumed up why Lewis was brilliant with Dean Martin and such a flop in solo comedy roles. If you choose not to read the book, read page 270.

Though, I do not like the comedy of Jerry Lewis, I have always been impressed by personal interviews where it becomes apparent that Lewis is a gracious person, who has always credited Martin for the success of their act, whether he totally believes it or not.

Jerry Lewis has always been more impressive to me when he performed or acted as an adult rather than a child. Personally, Lewis did his best work in the movie "King of Comedy" and the "Wise Guy" television series, which were dramatic roles.

King of Comedy is fun to read. I couldn't put it down. Jerry Lewis had his start watching his parents in burlesque shows. That's a step down from vaudeville. From there his comedy sprang from a vulgar side of life. Dean Martin looked on him with contempt in their act. He also did in real life. Jerry Lewis was a strict father who believed in hitting his kids. He had too much on his mind with his career to give his family the attention they needed. He could do comedy antics but the kids had strict rules at the dinner table! Hal Wallis had a nightmare time managing Jerry. This book has all the juicy details, including details of the muscular dystrophy telethon days!