I'm a big fan of Sinbad, so when I got this audiobook, I was really looking forward to listening to it on my next business trip. Having finished it, I can't say I was ENTIRELY disappointed, but it didn't live up to my expectations either.

Unfortunately, it sounded too much like Sinbad reading rather that Sinbad talking. And that took away some of his charm. I have heard some of the chapters in the book from his concert performances, and he definitely delivered this stuff better when he was doing his live show. He just didn't seem to have the same energy as when he's in front of a live audience.

Now, don't get me wrong...the book is still clever and funny, and I did enjoy the anecdotes that he delivered, but Sinbad is a comic that is best experienced in front of an audience.

Sure, I think Sinbad is a great comedian; I guess everyone has that opinion. Who would have imagined that he is just as good at writing comedy books? When I bought his recent book, I was in for the laugh ride of my life. I sat down and read the book up in my den. My family kept hearing chuckles,hoots, giggles, screams, and gasping for air coming from my reading room. Was I alright? Yes, I survived the haha-trip, but the book just barely made it. It had spittle and rips through some of the pages from my laughing convulsions. Well, I guess I'll have to just buy a new book if I want to share it with my wife. And you should read it, too! Just buy lots of copies

I was laughing out loud most of the time that I was reading this book. His way of looking at life, and describing experiences was really creative. I just loved it. I plan to read it again real soon. I would highly recommend it to anyone who likes good clean humor.

A blues story
B.B. King's life is presented here in a breezy, happy go lucky style. Ostensibly an autobiography, (although if you heard any of B.B.'s interviews about the book and his amazement at some of the details that were revealed, you know David Ritz did much more than help out.) this book deals with B.B.'s childhood of amazing poverty and his eventual rise to be the "King of the Blues." Conversational in style, but revealing in detail, BLUES ALL AROUND ME works as both a personal reminiscence and as a look at the life of a black man living in America during the 20th century. Tales of racism (in the military and elsewhere), the difficulties of dealing with a less than honest music industry, and the struggle for success against these odds are all expressed in a manner that shows no true anger, rather an acceptance that these were challenges to overcome. B.B.'s personal relationships with the many women in his life is not avoided, nor his opinions of many of his contemporaries. While the selected discography is extremely disappointing, this book should be required reading for any fan of the blues, and while any autobiography has to be taken with a grain of salt, this one definitely rings true.

I can't remember a time I didn't know who B.B. King was, but only in the past few years did I own any of his music. Always a Rock & Roll fan I only discovered it's roots in Blues and Jazz in the past few years. Now I can't get enough of the Blues. I read this book before a much anticipated B.B. King concert I recently attended. I would highly recommend the book, not to mention the Concert. That's the remarkable thing about B.B. King, if you want to see him in concert in a city near you just wait. Even now in his late 70's, B.B. is still on tour booking 250 to 300 one night stands per year. He's been doing this for over 50 years! His autobiography, told in his own simple and patient voice, tells a complete story of this remarkable man. This book reveals the personality and character of B. B. King in a way that no "tell all" biography could. Along the way you also learn much about the history of 20th century music. B.B. is the king of blues, but as his book reveals he has a complex understanding of all forms of modern music. He knew most of the significant musicians of the last 60 years and the book is filled with great anecdotes about many of them. Sadly you also learn about the painful experiences of racism from the perception of a black entertainer who has been on the road since the days of segregation.

Blues All Around Me surveys the life of blues musician B.B. King, offering insight into his struggle for success and charting his rise in the music world. From his encounters with racism and civil rights issues to his show business experiences, this provides a well-rounded survey of King's life and times for any fan of his blues style music.

This is an easy introduction into the genre of Biography, only 52 pages, with pen and ink sketches by Karen Ritz. This book about the life of the first author to write a book just for children to enjoy (rather than be instructed from) can easily be read in one sitting. It reveals the crippling limitations of Victorian women of the Gentry in both Career and Marriage. Was poor Beatrix doomed to be a spinster?

An excellent First Biography in short sentences for school children. Also a good study in Victorian upbringing (where children were not always Seen, much less Heard!) Beatrix was raised in a home considered strict even by Victorian standards. Thus the book could stimulate discussion about when it was best/worst to be a child, as well as Women's Roles in Victorian Society. Children might even ask about Queen Victoria.

Most important is the care which Beatrix put into her books--not just the stories and the illustrations, but her insistence that the format be sized for children's smaller hands. The book includes a complete listing of her tales plus a bibliography. This book just might lead some elementary children to reread their childhood favorites! Or inspire them to read these tales aloud to Kindergarten classes. They would be amazed to learn that serious adults actually belong to a Peter Rabbit Society too!

I drew this name as a book report subject, and I was not sure I would like it. I really enjoyed reading it. Beatrix was not expected to do much beyond fix flowers and play the piano. She became a world famous author. Young readers will love this quick paced life story.

If you are a music lover, industry hopeful, or history buff, this book will give you an honest, down to earth, fireside story of one very important man's life in the business. The manner in which he chooses to tell his story is an in depth, straight forward approach which keeps you wanting to continue to the next chapter. When it is all said and done, you feel as if you knew Wex throughout his journey and understand his joy in the career path he chose and just what he has accomplished. As a music business student, this was an inspiring, thought provoking read. Find this book, and enjoy.

In-between the archetypes of musician-as-record- exec (as in Berry Gordy) and evil-incarnate-as-record-exec (as in The Geffen and progeny) is the fan-as-record-exec. Atlantic is the greatest example of a record company run by fans. With top-flight soul/R&B, jazz, and rock divisions, Atlantic beats Sun and Chess for the title of "History's greatest independent label." Jerry Wexler's colorfully logomaniacal verbiage tells of the view from the air up there. The personal history detailed in this book isn't to be skipped, either. Not nearly outshined by the magical music history that attracts us to this book, the life lived by the author helps make this stuff such a good and quick read. There's something to be felt there. Read. Look for Ahmet Ertegun's entry on the subject, coming in May 2000.

Robert Guillaume always made me laugh, so I was eager to learn more about him when I picked up this book. Suprisingly, "Benson" is about as far from Robert's reality as a character could be.
Born in poverty to an alcohol-addicted prostitute, Guillaume certainly didn't have a charmed start. Love and encouragement from a grandmother who showered him with love gave him a chance, and natural intelligence got him to Hollywood.
Guillaume is clearly a haunted soul, and I hope this book assisted him in expunging some rather obvious demons, which he deals with along the way. Repeating the family cycle, he fathers, and then abandons a series of wives, women, and children, though he never seems sure why he repeats the pattern. A chance audition landed him the role of his lifetime, as Benson, first of the dearly missed "Soap", and then the rather limp spinoff "Benson". Success in Hollywood gives him the stability to at last enter a strong relationship, rebuild past bridges, and overcome a near debilitating stroke while performing on "Sports Night", another classic show. The chapters dealing with the stroke, and his recovery (it's great to read how "Sports Night" was reconfigured to work his disability into the script) are particularly touching, and give Guillaume the opportunity to deal not only with his illness, but with his perceived failings as an individual. It makes for some very strong, and very inspiring reading.
Guillaume isn't likely, by his own admission, to win any "Father Of the Year" awards, and doesn't (fully) apologize for a somewhat soiled past. He does revel in his successes as an individual by the later years of his life, and makes up for many of his self-created messes by the end of the story. It's overall a very insightful look at both a performer and a man, and well worth reading

Hiding from the Nazis

I don't know how old I was when I first learned of the Nazi death camps; the Holocaust was an unknown word. As an adult, young children come to me asking for books about the Holocaust. I am confronted with the question, how much information to give and what form should it take? In this picture book Hiding from the Nazis, David Adler, in slightly stilted, but in unambiguous words lays out the pivotal moments of Hitler's systematic persecution and murder of the Jews in the Netherlands. This true story centers on Lore Gottschall and highlights the danger, isolation, and deep break of trust suffered by those who hid from the Nazis. This story cannot be told with out bringing to light the courage of Dutch families who bravely hid Jews from Nazi invaders. Lore is separated from her family and hidden on a farm in Holland at great peril to her protectors and shows the sacrifice her family made to survive in a personal way. Mr. Adler also shows how rocky the reunion of the Gottschall family was and shares what happened to the Danish family and the Gottschall's after World War II ended. The illustrations of Karen Ritz clearly show the story with color, facial expressions and movement.

Hi' I'am a 6th grader. And reading a book about the Holocaust. My book is Hilde and Eli childern of the Holocaust.This book is really fun to read when there's nothing too do. The characters are Hilde and Eli, they are the kids of the holocaust.

I was disappointed when I received this book. The title is very deceitful. What the book really showed was posed photographs of rock stars and actors. What was not shown were detailed photographs of tattoos, nor was there really any explanation or narrative about the individual photograph itself. The book is weak and definately not for someone interested in tattoos. However, if your interested in photographs of a few famous people, you should buy the book.

I was totally psyched about this book when I first heard about it months ago,so I was keenly disappointed to find out that it's not at all what I thought it would be-see,since it's from the publishers of Rolling Stone I assumed it would feature photographs that have appeared in RS,by photographers like Mark Seliger and David LaChapelle...NOPE,the portaits you'll find in this book are ones you've seen a million times,in countless publications.The WORST thing about this book,the thing that really annoyed me,was how pathetically underrepresented WOMEN are.There are only a few women in the entire book,and the pictures aren't even good.A few of the portraits of male musicians are okay,which is why I gave this 2 stars rather than 1.But on the whole I wouldn't recommend buying this book.

If you don't like tatoos, get this book for the wonderful photography. It portrays celebrities in their best light. It also features quotes about how each person feels about their tatoo and the reasoning and personal memories behind it. Tatoos are a growing part of American Culture, and it seems now that the peolple that are unique, are the ones that are un-inked. This a great and fun coffee-table book, and also makes an amazing gift.

Where have I been! I was totally clueless that the Queen wrote a memoir. But believe me, this is no royal piece of literature. I did not get the impression that Aetha is being totally honest with us readers, and in viewing others comments, I see we are on the same page. I did not know she was having children at such a young age. And I am no idiot to believe that she "is unaware" of any controversy that resulted in the church after she virtually births two children almost back to back. I think ole C.L would have smacked her right down if he read that "Bravo daddy" comment- Some things you just keep to yourself. Unfortunately, she did just that in relation to her relationship with Ted White, which has always been alleged to be filled with action and confusion.
I guess Divas will always have their share of catty-tudes with other performers, but Aretha takes the cake. It's real cute near the end of the book when she names specific divas in her book. As if now, that she has christened these women divas, they have now entered Diva-Dom. Yeah right!
This book leaves you with a sour taste and does not give off the perception of Aretha being a nice person. I am so disappointed. I think this book alone will destroy any chances for future comebacks. I really did not enjoy this book.

In my opinion, a memoirist's chief, if not sole, responsibility to their readers is to be honest about themselves. So the fact that Ms. Franklin often expresses a queenly hauteur in this book bothers me not in the slightest. (She is the Queen of Soul, after all, so I figure she's entitled.) And that she presents her hearty, arguably gluttonous, appetites for men and food with lip-smacking relish is entirely to her credit - the best part of the book, in fact. (Did you think that a great soul singer would be the type to clip coupons and come to a full stop at intersections?)

But everything that readers have written here about the author's evasiveness when it comes to the most interesting parts of her story are true. (As Bart Simpson critiqued Krusty the Klown's autobiography, "it was self-serving with many glaring omissions!") To cite only one example, her idealized portraits of her early family life simply ring false. The bald facts are that her parents separated (which could not have been a casual matter for a minister and his wife in the 1950s), she lived apart from her mother for many years (Aretha huffily denies that she was "abandoned", as many have said, but this was a very peculiar arrangement for the time), she was flogged with a belt for transgressions (not peculiar, sad to say, but can no longer be passed off as simply firm parenting), and while still a teenager she became pregnant not just once but twice (which convinces me that her feelings about the strongly patriarchal rule of the Reverend Franklin - which extended well into her young adulthood - are a lot more complicated than her worshipful descriptions of him would suggest).

So you might try this book if you're willing to settle for simply hearing Aretha's "voice" speak in the first person. (The audio version is read by an actress who does a good job of delivering those queenly cadences but it just ain't the same.) But anyone interested in the inner life of a great American artist will have to look elsewhere.

I have been a life long fan of Miss Franklin's. I have listened to her promise a book that would set the record straight abought rumors, innacuracies and fables for along time. Was this it?

Aretha wants us to believe that her father was a paragon of virtue and a dedicated pastor though he lived with a woman to whom he was not married (Lola). He seemed to be no fine example of Christian morality perhaps that is why he was so cool with her two pregnancies. I personally did not need to know the names of her children's fathers but something, even a little something of what is was like to be a teen mother not once but twice before she was 17. I am well aqauinted with black church culture and I KNOW there was a lot of drama there especially in the era she became pregnant.

Aretha left out many relevant points of her life (and her father's) that would have made a more honest and readable tome. We really learn nothing about the lady's true feelings about nothing; other than her father.

Miss Franklin reveals herself as a petty, ego-rich diva; talented but vey shallow. If this is not the case then she should've written a more detailed and honest book.

The best parts of the book are her remembrances of all the food she ate throughout her life and career. These are vivid and full of lucious detail. In one part of the book, in a mere 4 paragraphs there were no less than four food references; they seem to be memory starters for her. She can recall with great verve and relish the food experiences she's had; from the Apollo Theater in New York to Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles in Los Angeles. I wish she'd been more forthcoming with her life experiences.

This book was a true waste of my hard earned money. I enjoyed Patti Labelle's memoirs much more. They were honest, balanced and did not always paint the author in the most flattering light. In other words she was real. C'mon Auntie Ree what's the real deal. Give me something I can feel.