Are you about to finish writing a book? Are you an editor, agent, publisher, or even rookie lawyer in publishing? If so, or even if you are considering publishing something- anything, really- than this book is an essential tool/workbook in navigating the potentially dangerous/potentially treasure-filled waters of the printed word industry. Do not sign any book contract- no matter how good it 'sounds'- without first reading this book. Do not quote another source in your material without understanding the possible copyright consequences as explained in this book. Do not sign on with an agent or collaborator without first studying this book. I have seen too many musicians get screwed in boilerplate recording contracts and now that I have moved into writing I am very thankful that I have found and read this book- as I do not want to be the next victim of the 'small print' of a powerful publisher or by a indemnity lawsuit due to any negligence on my part.

What Kirsch does in this publication is go through a book contract step-by-step, clause-by-clause, he 'reads between the lines' for us, he dissects the main deal points in a negotiation and summarizes the critical areas to pay attention to; he hems out publishing law as it applies to writing your book, selling your story to a publisher, and reaping your rewards without incurring a hefty lawsuit. This book is very-well formatted in a visual sense, is user-friendly, even for the publishing law novice, yet it teaches its concepts at a fairly advanced level. What more could you want?

Read this before you sign your first book contract. I'm glad I did. I made this material my crash course and it paid off. - DaveDavidson.com - author

Not only has this book saved me much time and money in research and legal fees, but the author makes the information accessible by offering myriad examples to back up his sage advice. I keep three books on my desk: the dictionary, the Chicago Manual of Style, and Kirsch's Handbook of Publishing Law. A classic.

As a student in one of Dr. Johnson's poetry classes, I waited until the end of the quarter to buy his book. Frankly I had given him a pretty hard time about inaccessible, elitist poetry, though he took it pretty well. When I finally cracked open "Mastodon," it was with a lot of trepidation. I had come to respect and admire Jonathan a great deal and was afraid I would discover exactly the kind of poetry I had been dissing in class.
Thank God, it was not. His poems, while not "easy" in any way, are nevertheless quite accessible, because Jonathan puts his whole soul into them. He swallows what fears must accompany every poet who opens his life to his readers and writes of personal joy upon hearing his baby's heartbeat for the first time. Then, to bring the collection to a heartbreaking end, he reveals the loss of that baby in "Be Young. Have fun."
The moments of his life before, during and after those moments cover events that range from a child waving a "Hi!" sign at him from the back of a bus, to a skinhead who is slowly dying while doggedly hoping to live. Every poem, whether shocking or mundane on the surface, shares one thing in common--Jonathan's fascinating ability to wrench out its deepest, human meaning. And every time, that meaning is one that any soul could relate to. This is a truly beautiful book.

ok, so this isn't becky house. let's get that straight. this is her daughter, hallie. i attended interlochen arts camp two summers ago where i majored in creative writing and jonathan johnson was my instructor. simply put, HE'S AMAZING. he's one of the nicest guys ever, and i know it seems as if i'm just bragging on him to make you feel guilty for not buying the book, but i'm not. i'm bragging on him because it's true. he's nice and he loves writing, which is what it's all about. and worry not, your money will not be wasted. he lives in a log cabin that he and his wife built. no electricity. so please, love this man, you should.

In what would seem to be just a book of nature poems, ends up being a monstrous work about being alive. In his poem, "Eclipse," Jonathan takes the reader for a ride in his wife's friend's car. By the end of the piece, the reader is a vital part of the jaunt in the "forest green and stealthy" vehicle. Like the car, the poem is clean and has more power that one would initially believe. "Eclipse" begins with an engageable narrative style, which allows Jonathan to put the reader at ease. As the poem accelerates, the reader is second-guessing the narrative style, wondering what Jonathan is truly getting at. As the poem comes to a halt, Jonathan has interwoven themes of trust and control, using his wife's friend's new car as a vehicle for an extended metaphor.
"Eclipse" is just one example of Jonathan's commanding use of language and metaphor that is present throughout his inaugural book of poetry. Jolting the reader from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, to a hand-built cabin in Northern Idaho, Jonathan's book is a complete journey, not 80% complete as his title might suggest.

This is one of the first serious film books I ever picked up. The picture of ol' Jack Nance from David Lynch's Eraserhead is what caught my eye. After reading the first paragraph of the first chapter, I was hooked.

Written by, arguably, the two best critics around -- J. Hoberman (who writes for the Village Voice) and Jonathan Rosenbaum (who writes for the Chicago Reader) -- this is an excellent look at a bygone era of movie-going. They document the midnight movie circuit that used to exist across the country for films too weird and strange for mainstream consumption. Sadly, most of these theatres are gone now -- swallowed up by the multiplex monster.

These guys clearly did their homework -- their chapters on the early careers of Lynch, Alejandro Jodorowsky, John Waters and George Romero are definitive. Best of all, their writing style is never dry or academic but very readable (it helps that these guys write for weeklies).

This book is a must-have for any fan of cult movies (and esp. the above mentioned directors). I have read it many, many times and it inspired me to be a writer myself. Great stuff.

A lot of these directors have had entire books written about them since this book was published, but the authors manage to make this book so entertaining and fascinating that I've reread it twice-- I usually just read nonfiction once and then use it for reference. If they would put England's The Incredibly Strange Film Show (and the spin-offs Son Of... and For One Week Only)out on DVD, it would rival this book. Until then, this is the most vital source of information on cult movies.

Still in print after almost 20 years? You know it has got to be good. This book was an essential part of my film education, turning me on to a dozen great flicks I might never have heard of otherwise.

Jonathan Culler's 'On Deconstruction' is a remarkably lucid analysis of the theory and practice of deconstruction. Not only does Culler introduce the whole concept of deconstruction step by step for beginners, but also analyzes the most complex aspects of Derrida and De Mann's work for the more knowledgeable reader. This in fact, is the beauty of the work. The reader's journey into the murky field of deconstruction begins with an analysis of reading. Focussing on the reader-response theories of Stanley Fish, Culler illustrates how reader's have been seen to take a more active role in the production of meaning in texts in recent years. The role of the reader has gained importance also in the world of feminist criticism. Culler attempts to analyze what exactly it means to 'read as a woman'. So far, so good, even for the beginner. A reader with virtually no knowledge of deconstruction can begin to develop an idea of what the theory is actually based on, reading strategies and the production of meaning. The final two sections, which deal with deconstruction itself are more difficult to grasp without a background in literary theory and terminology. Culler addresses topics such as 'graft', 'traditional hierachies of thought', and the now notorious 'differance'. Yet still, his analysis is clear, thorough and comprehensible. His final section, giving examples of deconstructionist criticism, is interesting in the way that it shows the complexity of the topic. Few of the works he cites have anything in common with each-other, and the meaning extracted from various works proves to be both thought-provoking and original. Isn't this, after all, the whole aim of deconstruction. Fornovices in the world of post-modernist literary theory, this book is still extremely useful (especially if read more than once). Those readers with a background in the subject will also benefit from Culler's extremely detailed analysis of the mysterious world of deconstrution.

On Deconstruction delivers lucid explanations of some of the most difficult ideas in post-structural theory. Culler manages to explain the ideas without diluting them, which is no mean feat. Culler reads like an excellent teacher who whets the appetite for further reading. Read this book before you read anything by Jacques Derrida. It may change your whole experience. This book is also helpful as an introduction to a cross section of literary trends including feminist criticism and reader response. I have owned this book for several years and find myself returning to it again and again.

As Cullers himself tells this book is a sequel of his Structuralist Poetics but with different methods and conclusions. In the 80ths write about critical theory is no longer to introduce unfamiliar questions, methods, and principles, but to intervene in a lively and confusing debate. This is the special point about this book.

The reader finds an account of what Culler considers the most vital and significant in recent theoretical writing and undertake an exposition of issues often seem poorly undertood. For it brings up debate, On deconstruction is provocative and demands some effort from the reader. It is certainly not a book for begginners... The theory and criticism of recent years is discussed focusing on deconstruction as the principal source of energy and innovation. He offers a detailed exposition of its ideas and methods, defining its relation to other strands of contemporary criticism, and assessing its implications for literary studies.

With emphasis on readers and reding, Culler considers deconstruction, in terms of the questions raised by psychoanalytic, feminist, and reader-response criticism. He then turns to a systematic analysis of deconstruction, drawing together the disparate and difficult writings of Jacques Derrida and the working out the implications of his approach for the concepts and methods that literary critics have relied on.

Surveying the variations and achievements of American deconstructive criticism, the author clarifies the procedures and assumptions of several interpretative essays, giving special attention to the work of Paul de Man. Not an easy book but surely a good deal for those who search for a better understanding of the post structuralist critics point of view and methods. Give a try!

Jonathan Dimbleby's The Last Governor is a tour de force that gives the reader an insider's perspective into the tenure of Hong Kong's last colonial leader, Chris Patten. Dimbleby treats the reader to a narrative account of the trials and tribulations that Patten faced as he attempted to enact democratic reforms in Great Britain's last colonial jewel. Although one would undoubtedly expect the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) to be vociferously opposed to any belated attempt by the British colonial authorities to bequeath a semblance of democracy on Hong Kong, Dimbleby makes the case that Patten's biggest enemies often came from within his own government. Dimbleby's revelations that selected British cabinet and Foreign Office officials shamelessly sought to downgrade the importance of Hong Kong and sacrifice Patten's proposed reforms on the alter of commercial relations with the PRC, resulted in Dimbleby being investigated by the Foreign Office for possible receipt of secret intelligence materials. Dimbleby was cleared of these allegations, but the vast array of insider information that Dimbleby amassed for this book strengthens the strident arguments that Dimbleby advances. Only a handful of participants in The Last Governor emerge with their reputations unscathed. Hong Kong's local and international business elite is portrayed as willing supplicants in the PRC's efforts to scale back personal and political liberties after Hong Kong's reversion to PRC sovereignty, a position easily enforced by PRC threats to their commercial interests. Martin Lee and Emily Lau, two of Hong Kong's leading democracy advocates, are portrayed as actually weakening Patten's push for democratic reforms through their uncompromising approach. The various representatives of the PRC are painted as unbending ideologues with little appreciation of Hong Kong's way of life. Dimbleby is most critical of the British officials, past and present, who acted to either inadvertently or deliberately sabotage Patten's governorship. Most prominent on this list is Sir Percy Cradock, Great Britain's lead negotiator in the 1984 Joint Declaration and former Ambassador to the PRC. Cradock comes off as a modern-day Neville Chamberlain, willing to cut a bad deal with an unsavory power for the sake of diplomatic expediency. Cradock compounded this error by working both privately and publically to weaken Patten's political position and policies. Dimbleby also argues that the Cradock mentality had infected the entire Foreign Office and selected members of John Major's cabinet, who worked to undercut Patten and sell-out Hong Kong in favor of better commercial relations with the PRC. The greatest strength of The Last Governor is also its greatest weakness. While such open access to Patten gives this book the necessary dramatic propulsion, it also strikes the reader as serving as Patten's mouthpiece. While Dimbleby does downgrade Patten for underestimating the challenges he was to face as Governor, Dimbleby's portrayal of Patten as the lonely David fighting against the multi-headed Goliath seems to diminish the numerous allies Patten needed to help him accomplish the limited reforms he was able to enact. Dimbleby could have also delved deeper into the political rationale behind the PRC's bargaining position and policies regarding Hong Kong. The Last Governor is highly recommended reading for anyone interested in Hong Kong, Chinese, or British affairs and to readers interested in how bureaucratic politics affects international diplomacy. Dimbleby's prose is brisk and should easily captivate and entrance the reader. Keep in mind that this is not an academic tome, so Dimbleby's point of view is repeatedly expressed without reservation or apology.

I loved this book. I thought it was a great narrative on Chris Patten and his governorship and the hardships he endured. The book spares almost no detail, but I would have liked to see more of the Democrat's point of view. This book is absolutely necessary for people who wish to know in-depth about his governorship.

After reading the online review of Theroux's Kowloon Tong (a fictional account of the 1997 Handover of Hong Kong), I am surprised to find that only one customer have contributed a review to Dimbleby's marvelous work on the historical events. Dimbleby provided an excellent and comprehensive account of the political events that led to the signing of the 1984 Sino-British agreement, the arrival of Chris Patten, the introduction of legislative reform, and the eventual derailment of the democratic movement by the Communist Chinese Government. Dimbleby also tell the stories of several Hong Kong citizens and their views of the Handover. Being a native of Hong Kong who have spent my last 12 years in the States, Dimbleby's book brought me up-to-date on the big political stride taken by and the obstacles awaiting the people of Hong Kong.

The poetry is cunningly crafted, but I am not sure how well the translation really stands up, as I read it in the native Portuguese.

Those who have never studied Portuguese history will probably rate this only a 2 or three statrs, but those who have studied Portuguese history in depth and have developed a sense for the sentiment of the nation will be amazed at how Pessoa has managed to capture the flavour and emotion of centuries of a nation's past into his clever verses.

I give it four stars as it is a translation. The portuguese version gets five and then some.

If you are wondering how the portuguese are like, Pessoa's book will give you a hint. Unfortunately things haven't changed much since the author's time. Once a great nation of sailors and of a great world wide empire, nothing remains but a dull far away memory of what we were. We tend to live to much from the glories of the past without ever thinking of the possible glories of the future. We live in the shadow of Camões's epic poem "Os Lusíadas" still thinking it was the greatest portuguese literary work ever written. On the 25th of April 1974 a new generation raised from the fall of a dictatorship of almost 30 years. But those who gave birth to the revolution are now those who perpetuate the social differences between rich and poor, good and bad, high and low. Ironic isn't it? As Pessoa, I still have hope. This people is made of hope although lacking some iniciative to actually make a difference... If something goes wrong, blame it on the government. If something goes right, thank God for it. The Fifth Empire hasn't arrived yet, and I hardly think it ever will.
Pessoa is one of the greatest portuguese writers of all time but he's not the only one. I also reccomend (if a translated version is available)Mário de Sá-Carneiro, José Saramago, Virgílio Ferreira, Eça de Queiroz, Antero de Quental. These are the so-called classics, just to get you started in the discovery of portuguese literature.

Indispensável, não apenas para os portugueses, mas também para os brasileiros e falantes do Português em geral.

Essencial to all portuguese speakers.

As all parents know, you read the same books to your kids over and over again. Some books drive me crazy, especially those movie tie-in books from Disney - ugh. But there are a few, like Mooncake, that I personally enjoy each time I read it. My kids love it too.

Even though this book was written for younger kids, my 8 and 10 year-old girls love this book! My ten year-old loved the idea of a bear wishing to go to the moon so he could take a bite out of it. We have reading time everynight and Asch's book is still popular with them. I plan to buy more books by Asch...he rates a definite 5 stars!

This book is a toddler's delight. The charming illustrations go beautifully with the story of how a confused bear travels to the "moon" and back again. Bear wonders what the moon tastes like and builds a rocket ship. However the construction goes late into the fall, and you can guess what happens when Bear climbs into the rocket ship and begins his countdown. As my 20 month old son says, "zzzzz". Bear wakes up because the wind starts to blow, and never having been outside in winter, he believes his dream has come true and he's on the moon.

When we read this book, my son likes to fill in the words he knows. He can't read, but he seems to know the whole story and can fill in more and more every day. This is a great book for toddlers, preschoolers and their parents!

This is a great starter book for people who are interested in natural remedies for common ailments. It is very easy to use, easy to read, and unintimidating. For every ailment or illness, it gives the usual natural remedies I have found in other books. And it has a pretty good list of vitamins, herbs and homeopathic remedies. However, it isn't the most comprehensive book I've seen. There are some herbs that I couldn't find. But overall, if you want a basic guide, this is a good one to start with.

Wonderful book that explains all those pills you hear about on the news and in magazines. No hype - just great information. This book ROCKS for people who want info on what the heck all those vitamin/pill things are at the grocery store.

Walk into a bookstore and you can be overwhelmed with the HEALTH information thrown at you . . . particularly if you are interested in understanding how you can play a more active role in your own prevention, treatment and cure of disease. The Natural Pharmacy gives you just the right balance of useful information without insulting your intelligence or burying you in biochemistry. The book is organized around health concerns - in English, not medical-ese, the authors provide you with dietary & lifestyle changes that maybe helpful before they tell you about other approaches - including nutritional supplements and herbs. They cover side effects and interactions as well. They also provide a tremendous resource for insomniacs by listing more than 3,500 references! You can also look up specific nutritional supplements, herbs and homeopathic remedies as well. A nicely done work!

This guide is very usefull for to Duke Nukem 3D Gamer(not Atomic Or the PAK version). The book had all the secrets to each level and episode; good for people who want to master it. However if your a begginer, it tells you the basic and simple parts of Duke,his ego, and his enimies. Gives you a Map guide of the level and path to beat it. Gives hints, tips, and demos of other games by 3D Realms. however, the book can be hard to understand a bit for younger or less educated people. Still, a great book for a great price. get this book if you want to know how to MASTER Duke Nukem 3D!

As strategy gaming host for bellaonline.com, I have to read through quite a number of pitiful walkthroughs. This one is a great exception! The book is extremely well laid out, with clear, easy to use maps, tips and techniques. The instructions are all dead on. But best of all, the book isn't written assuming you're 2 years old. It's written with a fantastic style, with humor and knowledge all mixed together. I was extremely impressed, and this has stayed on my shelves while other books were tossed out long ago!

The Game Book for Duke Neukem 3D is the bomb! It has all the stuff you need to finish the game without missing blasting a thing! If you want the total experience of Duke's adventures, buy this guide!

This is an important text for those studying Kabbalah. It covers the most basic tenents from a historical point of view, while delving fairly deep into their concepts. What I really like about this book is that it covers the many different secular beliefs that abound today as well as where these different systems found their origins. After reading this book, I understand that much like Christianity, different Kabbalists have various beliefs and interpretations of the Bible. After reading the chapter on what the Kabbalist is looking for in a Tsaddik, or righteous one, I'm surprised that more of them are not Christians. As I was reading this text, I couldn't help but think of numerous N.T. scriptures that were nearly identical to their beliefs. Take a look at this book, I think you'll agree.

Gershom Scholem presents a clear and well-researched study on Kabbalah. The book is a fascinating read, and I could hardly put it aside until I finished it. After having been confronted with all kinds of occult and paganized ideas on Kabbalah, this book is very refreshing.

The chapter on Shi'ur Komah (measure of height) shows how the Transcendent God becomes personal and knowable. It also explains how the Kabbalists perceived man to be made in G-d's image. The language of Shi'ur Komah is very anthropomorphic, while G-d's absolute transcendental being is not compromised. The second chapter, about Sitra Ahra (Other Side), explains the various views of how evil arose and what it is. The role of human beings is discussed as is the role of the Sefiroth. In particular the role of the Sefirah Din and the influence of human beings on it are discussed at some length.
The third chapter explains the role of the hasid and the tsaddik. How the role that each played changed and how the tsaddik becomes related to the Sefirah Yesod, and it's function as the source of all souls. Also discussed is the harmony the tsaddik brings and his role in creation.
he fourth chapter deals with shekinah. Scholem shows that originally there was no specific feminine nature atributed to it. He goes on to show how the idea of femininity developed in Kabbalah, and how the Shekinah relates to G-d and human beings. Also discussed is the relationship of Shekinah and the Sefiroth. Very interesting was the explanation of how human actions influence Shekinah to become active instead of merely passive in certain Kabbalists.
The fifth chapter speaks of gilgul. It is a very fascinating chapter. Not just the origins of reincarnation in Judaism is discussed, but also the varied concepts of the soul that go along with it. Scholem shows how certain elements of Kabbalist gilgul are highly original and creative. Much attention is given to the 'soul-sparks' and their redemption. Also interresting was the idea that gilgul reflects the inner workings of the sefirothic world.
The final chapter explains the concept of tselem. Scholem traces it's historic origins to Neo-Platonist influence and early Iranian influence. He shows how these two were given a creative synthesis in Kabbalah and what role it plays in Kabbalist mysticism. Tselem is that which makes a person this person, and seeing ones tselem can activate propheticism. Tselem also has the role of a guardian angel of sorts.

Not being Jewish myself, but an Eastern Orthodox Christian, I must say that this book of Gershom scholem is very helpful in understanding Kabbalah as a Jewish, and not a pagan-occult, phenomenon. The book will assist a non-Jew in gaining a more sympathetic and above all a more correct understanding of Jewish Mysticism. As an Eastern Orthodox I must say that several times Kabbalah and our own Mysticial tradition come very near each other, even though they also widely diverge.

It is a must read for those misinformed by Dione Fortune's fables, and a must read for anyone interrested in Kabbalah.

I enjoy the material in this book by Herr Doktor Gershom Scholem (1897-1982). Despite the title, I did not find the concepts introduced in "On the Mystical Shape of the Godhead" at all basic. The concepts presented include (i) imageless worship of GOD, (ii) good and evil, (iii) the role of the mystic in a religious community, (iv) the personification and hypostasis of GOD's presence in the world, and (v) the uniqueness of our individual spirit (principium individuantis). These are concepts which Herr Doktor Scholem introduced in his landmark book, "Origins of the Kabbalah". Here they are recapitualated in greater detail. The basic conceptual and methodological problem presented in this book is summarised in the forward by Mr Joseph Dan, "an essentially Jungian approach and Kabbalistic approach to the subjects presented by Scholem in this book may converge and present a united front against the historical analysis written by the scholar" Each chapter contributed to my spiritual relationship. My favourite is the second chapter, "Good and Evil in the Kabbalah". One of the ideas I found interesting in this chapter was the idea that good and evil both originate in GOD's creation. "Evil, however one conceives of it, is thus regarded as an entity deliberately created by GOD." (p57). The second idea with which I found resonance was that, as someone interested in maintaining a spiritual commitment, my most important task is to cultivate, maintain and strengthen my contact with spiritual reality. (p69) For me, this is a remarkable book which helps me to grow spiritually. If you are interested in the historical development of "basic" concepts in the Kabbalah, or in contributing to your spiritual development, this book will be interesting to you.