Published in 1974, playwright Jerome Lawrence's biography of famed American actor/star Paul Muni has been hailed as 'The greatest theatre biography of the [20th] century', and rightly so. This exceptional book recounts Muni's whole life, from his childhood travelling with his parents Yiddish theatre company to his declining years and failing health. The vividness of Lawrence's accounts of Muni's life are due to the fact that Lawrence knew Muni well (Muni's most successful Broadway play was 'Inherit the Wind', co-authored by Lawrence) and most of the information is first hand. After muni's death in 1967 his widow Bella (with the encouragment of Lawrence) began a book on her husband's life to be entitled 'The Men I have Lived With'. But the book was never finished as Bella died in 1971 so Lawrence took what had been written and wrote his own account of Muni's life. Some of Bella's original passages have been included - most notably the story of how she met and married Muni. Lawrence also recounts the history of the Yiddish theatre, the story behind the making of the classic 'Scarface' and Muni's obsessive 4 year search for the story of Alfred Nobel. Lawrence interviewed many of theatre and Hollywood's greats for the book including Luther Adler, George Abbott, Howard Hawks and Bette Davis (a complete transcript of her interview is included in the closing chapters). A fascinating and compelling read about a man who ultimatley didn't know what else to but act.

This book/workbook is a true gem for anyone who wishes to be a strong communicator. It provides you with all the ins and outs for planning, delivering and receiving feedback. The feedback planner tool is simple, yet highly effective at giving you a process to follow to "collect, complete, revise and discuss your thoughts." The author shows you WHEN and HOW to craft a coaching discussion using the tool, and provides numerous examples of appropriate feedback planners. He also prepares you for difficult behaviors or responses that may arise. This is a great tool for the workplace and can be applied at home too!

I have used this book for several years as a text in Composition classes. I even used it in writing classes in Africa. It's a "multicultural" text. The wonderful choices (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama) show that no matter who you are, you can use the powerful tool of the English language to write about your own experiences. Seems obvious, but perhaps not. Great writing suggestions, too, just about a perfect book. It's too expensive, of course. But in the end, worth it. I wish they'd come out with a third edition!

A key book to understanding ancient people and their worldview. Malina and Neyrey do an excellent job of "digging" up ancient understandings of persons. Using the character of Paul in ancient literature, they cogently and clearly use Anthropology, coupled with ancient literature, to discuss how ancients understood and viewed each other. I highly recommend this volume for students of the Bible and the ancient world in general.

This book will do exactly what they said wasn't possible by illustrating how video and sound can be integrated into your Flash presentations, placing you at the extreme edge of creative web design. The application of such tools as AfterEffects, QuickTime, SoundForge and Wildform test the boundaries of Flash and suggest ways to take sound and video beyond Flash and into the realms of Shockwave.

Showing you how to break your site down and incorporate video and sound, the techniques covered in this book capitalise on the capabilities of Flash whilst tackling its limitations head-on. It will then look at how to take web ideo and sound a step further with Shockwave presentations.

this book has really helped me in my research about the political situtation in russia. it will benefit any other student who has to do a research report on this topic.

Now in its third revised, updated, and expanded edition, St. Paul's Corinth: Texas And Archaeology by Jerome Murphy-O'Connor (Professor of New Testament at the Ecole Biblique) is a literary and archaeological exploration of Corinth, and presents the literary works of twenty-one Greek and Latin authors in chronological order from the first century B.C.E., to the second century C.E. Exhaustively researched with especial insight into the meticulous translations of the works it presents, St. Paul's Corinth is a fascinating, informative, scholarly, "reader friendly", and very highly recommended study.

"Every Child a Light: The Pope's Message to Young People" combines excellent full-color photographs with excerpts from the discourses of Pope John Paul II. The book is edited by Jerome M. Vereb. This book is full of visual appeal. The photographs, which show John Paul interacting with children of various ages, are crisp and full of life. The Pope is effectively depicted as a caring and joyful man.

The book is beautifully designed. The Pope's word's are arranged as poetry on the pages; this nicely complements the photos. The text is drawn from the Pope's global ministry.

The content of the words themselves is often rather bland and vague. Controversial topics are generally avoided. Sometimes the messages are a bit mixed. In one excerpt, for example, the Pope seems to be taking a multifaith tone, praising children for offering each other "a hand / with no regard for color, / social condition, or religion." Elsewhere he seems more theologically exclusive. For example, he claims that "a generous 'yes' to Christian faith / is the purest sense of the fullness of life"--a statement which I'm sure those of other faiths would dispute!

Still, many of the statements are relevant and inspirational to young people of any faith or culture. He tells young people, "The future belongs to you; / for you are the leaders of tomorrow" and challenges them to be "men and women of high principles / and hopes." But the book as a whole is, in my judgment, mainly relevant for Catholic children and adults.

Not only did the photographs in this magnificent production touch the heart, but the words of the Holy Father are emblazoned in our minds for all to see for years to come. His holiness shows his tenderness and love of children in the words and pictures, revealing his compassion, humor, and child-like love.

This is one of the funniest books I've ever read. So why only 4 stars? Because it's not consistantly funny. The problem seems to be that Jerome started to write a travel story, with some serious thought on history and life, and added a few humorous bits as he went along. His editor got him to tone down the history and emphasize the humor, but we, the readers, are still stuck with some dreary Victorian romantic musings.
But then there are the funny bits. And there are a lot of them. I'd say 80% of this book is funny, and a good 10% is hysterically funny. Well worth the dull patches.
WARNING: Do not read this in a public place. You WILL embarrass yourself by laughing out loud. The pages on cheese are especially deadly. I still giggle uncontrolably each time I re-read them.

Like other reviewers, I first heard of this book after reading the wonderful novel by Connie Willis, To Say Nothing of the Dog. That wonderful book inspired me to read Three Men in a Boat. A simple story set in Victorian England of three young men taking a boat ride down the Thames, and yet I laughed so hard and so often that I actually had to stop reading to catch my breathe. The writing is wonderful, with characters that everybody can identify with. The story of uncle Podger hanging the picture is priceless.

I can't believe that this book was written over one hundred years ago. The story is timeless. But the humor is such that few readers will be able to come away without loving this book. Already, I am trying to get hold of the author's other books. I can't recommend this book highly enough. Whatever you do, READ THIS BOOK! If not, you are truly missing one of life's greatest pleasures!

I was given a copy of this book about 12 years ago. It has turned out to be one the best gifts I've ever received. Jerome's witty ramblings are the funniest I've ever read. Mark Twain, who I also love to read, comes close to Jerome's style but, in my opinion, is a poor second. Jerome finds humor in the commonplace and the every day occurrences which all of us, even a good 100 years later, can identify with. Starting with his self-diagnosis of every ailment, excepting house-maid's knee, to his singular insights into his friends, self, and surroundings; I never tire of rereading this book. It becomes clear quickly that the dog, Montmorency, is the only one with any sense. Three Men and a Boat always cheers me after a cold, bleak winter. It's the best Spring tonic--I highly recommend an annual dose. I shop now for gifts to give to friends so they can share my enjoyment in this wonderfully humorous and offbeat book. Read, enjoy, and laugh often.

This book is an excellent example of how art critique can be used to analyze politics and history. Paul Zanker does an exceptionally thorough job as he systematically works his way through the end of the Republic to the heights of Augustan Rome. The book includes tons of photographs, coins, maps and reproductions to illustrate appropriate points in the text. The thesis of the book is to show how art was used to convey the importance and dignity of the new Imperial system. Despite the breadth of material presented here, the text is smooth and understandable.

There really isn't enough space in a review to adequately cover this book. Zanker's main thrust is to show how Augustus rebuilt and remodeled Rome with himself at the center. The styles that Augustus used were quickly picked up and duplicated by the Roman upper classes, as well as those in the provinces. My favorite section of the book concerns the coinage. Augustus minted coins closely linking himself to Julius Caesar in order to establish himself as the heir apparent (which he was) to Caesar. Coins were also used to commemorate Augustus's triumph at Actium over Antony, and also to promote Augustus's conservative legislation concerning marriage and childbirth. Although Augustus slowly consolidated power under the title of princeps, he took great pains to show Rome that he was bringing about peace, prosperity and honor, all things that had been missing during the civil wars. Is Augustan art propaganda? It could certainly be interpreted that way, even though there was no "Ministry of Information" in Rome.

An excellent book, although there are a few problems. One of them is the tendency of art critique to see things that others may not. Zanker's descriptions of statues of Augustus are a good example. While I can agree with his depictions of the later Augustan busts as showing a calm, sort of omniscient demeanor, I have a tough time agreeing with his assessment of an earlier bust of Augustus as nervous and power hungry. This is a small problem with an otherwise great book that will make you think about Rome in a different way.

A wonderful tour of the early Roman empire framed within a rigorous theoretical discussion. Zanker skillfully illustrates how an empire was built by the manipulation of public thought through the use of images, or in other words, propaganda. Shapiro contributes with a lively and nearly transparent translation.

Zanker offers a fascinating reconstruction of Octavian Augustus' agenda for consolidating his position as leader of the Roman world. He does this by careful analysis of the buildings, statues, coins and other physical objects made during the rule of Rome's first emperor. Zanker understands well the impact of visual communication and uses it insightfully. He doesn't simply catalog artifacts, he interprets them and connects them within a broad system of consciously articulated ideology. In two decades of academic reading, this is one of the two most memorable books I read.