Writing instructors and conference speakers like to discourage writing wannabes. "You won't get rich, you'll get depressed and lonely, and you need a buddy to talk you off the window ledge."

So I was curious to see how Bruce Holland Rogers would address the psychology of writing. As other reviewers observed, this book is not about how to write or how to market your writing. It's about the day-to-day life of being a writer.
Get up. Go to word processor. Stare at computer awhile.

Rejection. Bad reviews. Writing a novel under deadline pressure. And a whole lot more.

Word Work is a collection of Rogers's columns, so each chapter can be read as a stand-alone. That's a plus and a potential downfall. If you open the book, as I did, to a chapter that's doesn't grab you right away, you may be tempted to toss the whole thing aside. I couldn't get excited about "best time to write." The message seems to be, "Whenever you want."

On the other hand, you can read a chapter at a time, in any order, and feel satisfied.

Which chapters are best? I suspect that will be a personal decison. What made the book work for me were "Death and the day job," "in the affirmative," and "advanced affirmations." That's when I realized Rogers was a thoughtful person who knows how to read self-help without getting suckered. And, like Natalie Goldberg in Thunder and Lightning, Rogers really writes about life, not just the writing life.

In particular, Chapter 1 - Hunters and Farmers - blew me away. I had never heard of this metaphor, which apparently comes from an author of a book on ADD. Writers are primarily hunters -- and so are entrepreneurs.

The chapters aren't light reading. You don't need to underline and read each sentence three times to get the meaning, but you won't always get hooked on the first sentence. And Rogers makes no effort to sell the reader. A chapter "The Foam White Bull" would be more approachable if titled "The Minotaur in the Basement."

I would like to see two major changes if Rogers gets to a second edition. First, Rogers needs an opening chapter, describing his own life, to unify the chapters and give us a context. The author of a daily or weekly column becomes an old friend. We see his name over and over again and sooner or later we read and we get hooked. In a book, however, we need bait. And Word Work is a very personal book, so we need more background about the author..

Second, the cover is off-putting. The design shows the back half of a wine-colored iMac and some stacks of paper. That's not the view most writers have of their own computers. I see the front of my computer, rarely the side view. And the cover artist needs to sacrifice esthetics for readability. The front words sprawl over the artwork and the back cover -- yellow on gray? -- presents a real challenge.

This is the book to give your writer friend for her birthday or his Christmas. As other reviewers have indicated, it's not for the raw beginner who is still busy asking, "What should I write and where do I send what I write?" It's really for someone who's committed to writing and wants to hear from someone who's been there. Writing is lonely and Rogers is a good companion for the journey.

I stopped buying writing books years ago when I had a couple of Xerox boxes filled with Strunk & White, Gardner, Burroway, and just about everyone else. But the back cover blurbs for this book -- by Peter Straub ("The most useful, reliable writer's guide imaginable.") and Jean Auel ("Word Work will likely end up on every writer's desk, or it should.") -- made me look. I opened right to a chapter about what I've always thought would make a pretty interesting book all by itself: things to keep in mind if you're in a relationship with someone who doesn't understand the writing life. (Nora Joyce to James Joyce, "Why don't you write books people can read?")

Word Work looks to be targeted at everyone from beginners to successful professionals. I think it will be most valuable to the writer who's made a commitment to the craft but who hasn't yet rocketed to acclaim and success. Do I quit my day job? (Ch. 11: 'Death and the Day Job') Am I getting usuable feedback from my workshop? (Ch. 16: 'The Hazards of Writing Workshops') Am I crazy to believe I'll ever get published? (Ch. 20: 'That's an Affirmative')

The impediments to writing, to writing well, to publishing, and to making a living at it, are myriad. Rogers touches on more of them than any book I've seen outside of Plimpton's Writer's Chapbook. He presents multiple practical and novel strategies for dealing with the psychological, logistical, and social roadblocks writers face. Of the three writing books I keep handy to help me through the rough times (the Chapbook, Gardner's Art of Fiction, and this book) 'Word Work' is the most useful for the dealing with the greatest number of demons. Simply put, it helps me get more writing done.

Word Work is a book about the writing life-not technique or how to become published. The author playfully describes surviving by becoming a lone wolf or a pack member, assuming the pack is the right one for you. Several chapters are devoted to the tireless subjects of writers and their relationships with friends, spouses and children. Packed with humorous examples and antics the author endured, it creates laugh-out-loud moments.Without forgetting the elements of competitivness, frustration and anticipation about publishing, Rogers suggests that the writer envision success and it will eventually happen. It's often choosing the right topics that make the most impact to the writer which, in turn, will imapct his or her readers.
This heartfelt book provides the writer with plenty of valuable strategies to keep on writing...and writing.

We're just glad this book is back in print for all to enjoy! With first editions now selling for over $200, it's great to see the 2nd edition just in time for Disneyland's 45th Anniversary. The story of Walt Disney and Disneyland is told through the history of Disneyland souvenir postcards from 1955 thru the present. Bruce Gordon and David Mumford are to be commended for this true labor of love. The book is jam packed with hundreds of color and black & white photos (as well as images of the original Disneyland postcards); and the accompanying text accurately tells the story of Walt Disney's creative vision for a new form of family entertainment. Beautifully bound and printed with quality materials. A fascinating read from cover to cover! Bravo!

The Nickel Tour is ostensibly a pictorial tour of Disneyland's history through a presentation of every postcard the Park has ever offered. However it is so much more. Written by Walt Disney Imagineers Bruce Gordon and David Mumford, the books gives fans a glimpse behind the scenes of both Disneyland and its development wing- Imagineering. Want to know when an attraction opened? It's in there. Want to know the history of that attraction? It's in there. How about "what might have been"? Yup, it's in there too. If you are fan of Disneyland, or just Disney, you will love this book. The writing is fantastic, the images wonderful, and the inside info is priceless.

If you're a fan of Disneyland and it's history, then this book is a must! I was astounded by the scope of this work, and the attention to detail. It covers Disneyland from it's beginnings in the early 50's to the present day with individual "stories" about the different aspects of the park. Accompaning these "stories" are hundreds of rare photos and artwork along with the postcards the book is named after. This is a definite must have book for fans of the California park.

Anne Bruce has her thumb on the heartbeat of human nature. Her latest book "Building A High Morale Workplace" transcends corporate walls and infiltrates any business environment that demands human interaction, which in today's society is all of them.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants an instant surge of energy and posses the desire to implement techniques that will engage and inspire your team.

Thank you Anne Bruce, you have helped me to see the limitless opportunity, for the first time all over again!

Anne Bruce is a great author who has written a book that has a message that is both easy to digest and also easy to apply to the modern workplace. Her style is smooth and all of her chapters build towards helping the reader understand the importance of improving morale in the workplace. Her examples are interesting, her teachings meaningful and her conclusions insightful. Morale building made easy .... what a great thought. I heartily recommend this well-written book to all Managers!!

Anne Bruce's "Building A High Morale Workplace" is a must read for anyone truly interested in making their work environment a happy and productive place. Her use of the Management experiences of others together with specific steps for implementing morale building procedures will prove to be an invaluable resource.

"Vivid. Evocative. Bruce Holland Rogers' writing jumps right off the page." -Wil McCarthy, author of Bloom

"Bruce Holland Rogers stories are like the glimpses you catch out of the corner of your eye. They are full of the logic of dreams, and the logic of the heart." -Maureen F. McHugh, author of Mission Child

"I admire Bruce Holland Rogers and his writing for their seriousness, their onesty and their style." -Valerie Freireich, author of Becoming Human

From dark fairy tales to creepy science fiction to a theological mystery set in the Old West, the mind of Bruce Holland Rogers takes you to territories of the bizarre: Wall Street, Suburbia, and Mexico. In the Nebula Award-nominated story "These Shoes Strangers Have Died Of," a World War II veteran confronts the perpetrators and victims of genocide, and the would-be perpetrators, through his art. The title story, "Wind Over Heaven," exposes the weird underside of the upscale restaurant business. And the 1998 Bram Stoker Award-winner "The Dead Boy at Your Window" (which also won a Pushcart Prize for literary fiction) takes readers on a journey to the land of the dead like no other.

I've heard it argued that horror is an emotion, not a genre, and Bruce Holland Rogers has demonstrated this well in his collection of dark stories. The stories range from a western to a fable to science fiction, but all are intelligent tales with dark themes, including redemption and revenge, and settings ranging from the land of the dead to an alternate Aztec-like Mexico. I recommend this book.

"Vivid. Evocative. Bruce Holland Rogers' writing jumps right off the page." -Wil McCarthy, author of Bloom

"Bruce Holland Rogers stories are like the glimpses you catch out of the corner of your eye. They are full of the logic of dreams, and the logic of the heart." -Maureen F. McHugh, author of Mission Child

"I admire Bruce Holland Rogers and his writing for their seriousness, their onesty and their style." -Valerie Freireich, author of Becoming Human

From dark fairy tales to creepy science fiction to a theological mystery set in the Old West, the mind of Bruce Holland Rogers takes you to territories of the bizarre: Wall Street, Suburbia, and Mexico. In the Nebula Award-nominated story "These Shoes Strangers Have Died Of," a World War II veteran confronts the perpetrators and victims of genocide, and the would-be perpetrators, through his art. The title story, "Wind Over Heaven," exposes the weird underside of the upscale restaurant business. And the 1998 Bram Stoker Award-winner "The Dead Boy at Your Window" (which also won a Pushcart Prize for literary fiction) takes readers on a journey to the land of the dead like no other.

I bought him dog in spca in Malaysi

I recomend this book to any dog lover, dog breeder, or anybody that has the slighest intrest in dogs!!! It's GREAT!!!! Get it!!! :o)

The book I have read has really helped me care for my German Shepherd puppy.really I don't have to say much because it helped me alot.

hey people: I just want to tell you this book is great, and if Toefl is the next exam you have to take to make your future a better one I would highly reccommend Toefl Success 2000. It helped me get a score of 243CBT or 590PBT, and I had not even studied English for more than 4 months.

Don't doubt about it You'll get a great score!

I bought this book two years ago, and I got high score which nobody can believe. I'm studying in the U.S now. I ordered this book again to give my friend who want to get over 600(Cbt:250)score. This book has everything what you want;vocabrary, grammer, and reading, especially listening. If you buy this book,it will be lucky to you because you can get high score at toefl test. Just keep going when you read. You can't stop to read this Great Boook!!

Bruce Holland Rogers presents a masterful collection of short stories and novelettes from the far-distant future. The stories are speculative fiction at its best. (I'm the series editor for the Darkfire Anthologies, so I'm biased, but I think you'll agree.) Bones of the World has stories from your favorite authors, such as Jerry Oltion, M. Shayne Bell, and David Ira Cleary, plus a nice selection from writers you may not have heard from...yet. Over 200 authors competed to be in this collection, and Mr. Rogers selected only the best of the best. Open the book. Open your mind. You'll be glad you did.

AUTHOR WAS OBVIOUSLY A CLOSE FRIEND OF BOB'S!

One of the most surprising things you'd expect out of me, a 15 year old skate punk kid, is my collection of books. Big and small, short and long, all of my books are spanned on a shelf system that runs around my room. An those are just the good ones. The really good ones go in my night table drawer. This is one of them. Bob Marley is and was one of the most inflential people not only in my life, but in many others as well. This book not only shows that, it also shows the feels and vibes of Caribbean life during his time. It richly illustrates reggae in general, racial boundaries, and social problems of Marley's time. It is a vividly painted portrait of one of the greatest musicians of our time. With facts from his birth to his death and everything that happened to him in between, it helps you (the reader) to fully understand this great person. Bob Marley was truly influential, and this book illustrates that fact completely. You will read it over and over and over again.

MY ONLY SUGGESTION IS THAT THOS BOOK REALLY POTRAYS CLEARLY THE LIFE OF A LEGEND.

An enjoyable and provocative read, but very importantly, Bruce adjusts the dial and focuses a great deal on stakeholders and employees, who are, after all, critical elements in the achievement of customer satisfaction,loyalty, and profitability.

Bruce provides lots of examples personalization and privacy (and the lack thereof) that make one gasp, think, and question some of the longer term ramifications. He also offers some reasonable solutions and guidelines to help companies prevent a privacy faux pas.

Your next visit to the grocery store, weekend getaway, or web site will never be the same after you read this book!

Enjoy and beware!

Here's an idea: Forget about the web personalization that makes Amazon such a wonderful site, or that has writers from Wired still breathing heavily, and instead imagine a world where personal memory is "everywhere" -- where your every conversation, trip, purchase, phone call, or jog with the dog is recorded, turned into a data file, and shared with parties beyond your control. Kasanoff explores this world, and notes that it's coming the day after tomorrow. This book is one-third business strategy guide, two-thirds global forecast, and the tale is plausible enough that executives who read it may want to pull the CEO aside at the holiday party.

Consider:

- Data trails are proliferating, and most companies have no plans in place to manage the privacy, legal, ethical, moral, managerial or competitive impacts of this information boom.

- A plan requires anticipating new privacy laws -- and there are ways to do this by examining history and the fundamental constructs of personal protection legislation.

- Acting on information can provide the economic benefits outlined in every 1to1 book or CRM software manual, but success requires self-critique. There are proven models to gauge your firm's ability to succeed with new products and services.

- Personalization means moving beyond technology to carefully migrate to a diverse business system, where complexity is constrained to keep costs to a minimum and modular capabilities change everything from product design to employee behavior.

These ideas are powerful. Along the way, Kasanoff shares stories about data pitfalls and exercises that inspire a team meeting at the nearest coffee shop. Consultants can always explain which way the wind is headed, but for a look at the weather beyond the next quarter, I recommend this book.

I started jotting down some one-word descriptions of
Making It Personal while I was reading it-

Insightful
Readable
Practical
Creative
Compelling
Important
Entertaining

But then I forgot about taking notes. I guess I'll just
have to add Absorbing to my list.

Bruce does a wonderful job of presenting personalization
and privacy issues in an amazingly accessible way. It's
not pedantic. It's not ominous. It's not dry. Besides
being extremely topical, it's a darned good read.

From what I've seen of Websters International distionaries, they are very clear, concise, as usually give pronunciantion. I never trust these "how to speak conversational japanese as they take too much time to tell you pronunciation a perfect grammar, I tend to say, "How do you say chestnut?" "Oh, it's..." (I'm gonna make you look it up)

This is such a low price!

This dictionary is very good for those who need a pocket-sized Japanese dictionary. Under some of the entries there are helpful example sentences, and all of the Japanese characters are right next to the english entries. This is a very good dictionary for its size. Most words that you need to be a functional Japanese speaker are in this dictionary.