Mark Singer's spiritually moving and thought-provoking poetry, accompanied by Leon Lombard's eloquent prose, illuminates the many hidden aspects of one's sojourn in life. Pegge Patten interprets each poem through her insightful graphics, and her visual feast reveals the spirit contained in the poetry and prose. This profound work helps me explore the meaning of life, love, relationships, fear, hope, and inner peace. This is one book that I will never store on my bookshelf. I keep it handy and reflect often on the wisdom shared by these three compassionate artists. It's a book I imagine you would treasure for many years, too.

Life's biggest joys and challenges leap from the pages of this soul-searching, extraordinary work. How do we deal with the passages of life? What do these passages really mean and how do the affect us? The calm thoughtfulness of Mark Singer's probing thoughts and Pegge Patten's fascinating graphics make this a volume we all need to read many, many times. I pick this book up several times each week and glance through it for badly needed inspiration. Thanks to the three authors for pouring their hearts, minds, and being into this soothing study of life.

SOUL IN MORTAL CHRYSALIS, a spiritual journey of the life cycle, seems in some ways like a unique prayer book as we explore inner thoughts about each step in life. Mark Singer's poems are given an artistic interpretation by Pegge Patton, who visually gives more meaning to the poetry. The insightful thoughts of Leon Lombard gives another dimension of depth to the ideas presented. The three together blend the aspects of spirituality in a whole new way for me.

I shall be re-reading this book many times. With each reading comes more understanding.

...so praised Lawrence Ferlinghetti of "I am Thinking of My Darling", adding "to read it is a little like having a 1940's New York City taxicab in your living room." Why this book hasn't become a popular classic is a mystery to me.

In his 1943 novel, McHugh draws a vivid portrait of sophisticated, urbane city unraveled by a mysterious disease. This epidemic attacks inhibitions: Friends, co-workers, even strangers drop spontaneously hug, celebrate, leave their jobs to pursue long-abandoned fantasies, and have guilt-free and always-safe sex. It's like "The Invasion of the Body Snatchers" in reverse--instead of producing automatons, the intruder recovers your humanity, releases the repressed id, and generally induces a madcap euphoria.

So, what's the problem? If you're protagonist Jim Rowan (a minor planning commissioner soon to become Mayor after the latter runs off to a model train convention), the problems are potentially enormous--maybe the trains don't have to run on time, but they do have to run. As do the hospitals, police department, fire stations, transportations systems, and other essential human services. It also doesn't help when your spouse catches the virus and runs amok in the city.

Part of the genius here is McHugh's mixing of the silly and the sexy with the practical and scientific. There are intelligent discussions of psychiatry, epidemiology, city planning, and philosophy placed with discretion amidst the delirium. And, although it inhabits a particular American past, the book's slightly cautionary hedonism has an admirable egalitarian stance: Men and women share in the equal employment of desire.

This would have made a great movie, with the potential to rival the most intelligent of the screwball comedies. So as you read it, I suggest you imagine your own "movie," casting Jimmy Stewart or Fonda or Grant; Lauren Bacall or Eve Arden, Rosalind Russell or Jean Harlow. Set it in the New York of the Ritz, the Colony, and Sardi's, fill it with the sassy repartee of Bogart and Bacall--or Nick and Nora Charles-- and please, film it in sharp, shimmering black and white: Because they don't make books--or movies--like this anymore!

It's not a classic, it's not even well known enough to have a cult following, but Vincent McHugh's "I am Thinking of My Darling" is about as good a comedic novel as ever has been written. Few books achieve the same level of graceful humor that distinguishes the old Hollywood screwball films of the thirties and forties, but this is one of the few that does. A disease infects the population of New York city; it results in the complete loss of one's inhibitions. People go wild in the streets, doing whatever they want. Thousands leave their jobs and spouses; sexual sprees and non-stop partying are the norm. The novel follows the adventures of the hastily installed mayor, who must impose order to the chaos, even while catching the virus himself. He spends the novel trying to track down his wife, at the same time sexual obliging about half a dozen women, including his beautiful black maid (in a novel written in the forties!). McHugh crams his narrative with a wealth of quirky details, and manages to even sneak in some pathos. I read it with a continual smile on my face. Simply a great book.

I read this book in two sittings! Quantum Teaching gives you the impetus to implement everything you've not yet mustered the courage to try - and every reason to believe you'll be successful. Included are simple phrases to encourage better communication between teacher and student as well as strategies to promote a more positive classroom atmosphere. Everything in this book can be applied to any classroom at any level. This is not just a teaching reference; it is a teaching essential.

This book covers everything that teachers can always improve on. It covers from how to use the student's body to help them learn to how the classroom should look like! When put together in practice, it makes for a fun and challenging classroom that pushes both students and teachers to learn more. A great book.

Singer does an excellent job of portraying this madman from his beginnings here in Indianapolis as a prime suspect in the "Speedway Bombings" of the late 1970s to his accusations that he sold pot to Dan Quayle... Singer's subject is someone that you should be afraid to meet on the street and he does a great job explaining why and how...

Although less well-known than the "Earl of Louisiana" and the recently-rescued-from-neglect "Between Meals," this sly and rollicking account of a Gentleman con-man is among Liebling's greatest achievements in form and in style. No follower of AJL's work can fail to note the author's bag of tricks or his own con game within the story, both of which illustrate Liebling at the top of his game. Purportedly a reporter's account of an aged confidence man, the work is in fact a running gag. Liebling was well-versed in the lore of American fun-and-games, an erudition that breaks forth in these pages with unalloyed glee. He contributes an account of gunfights in newspaper offices that some readers will recognize as an offshoot of a Twain story (which was also worked over, without gunfire, by Mencken).

The structure is simple: an aged newspaper man (the Colonel) recounts his life in "the Fourth Estate," complete with race tracks, swindles, marks, boobs and baloney. Charming scams are told in an engaging, orotund style in the hands of a master reporter and portraitist whose skills are sorely needed today. Liebling's delight in his world are evident, and an attentive reader will view the modern era with a more mirthful eye when he finishes the book. It is also worth pointing out that, as an example of a well-told story, this book is unsurpassed. The details are perfect and the timing is exquisite. Seasoned readers of Red Smith, Joe Mitchell and Damon Runyon (to pick only three)will noticed many inside jokes that only increase on re-reading. One fears this work has been neglected because it is just too damn clever and too damn good. Now that a humorist has been awarded a Nobel Prize, perhaps America will awaken to the fact that fun and wit have some revealing things to say. But do not let the fear of portentious Truth deter you from this book: you need gain nothing but fun.

At the heart of this charming story lies a meditation on the uncanny power and beauty and mystery of music. The watercolor illustrations are quite lovely and fit in smoothly with the mood of the tale. It took me just five minutes to read, but I immediately wanted everyone I know to read it, too. (Makes a great gift for your favorite church musician!)

I loved this book. It tells how Sade's life was and how it all began. Sade is the most beautiful woman and has a great band. I advise any Sade fan to have this book or at least read it. It is a amazing book. Love you and admire you Sade!

This is an unusual but wonderful book for writers. Imagine a slightly more mystical Wittgenstein retreated to Galway Ireland and returned with a manuscript on the subjet of poetry: The Sighted Singer could be that manuscript.One some level this analogy is entirely superficial: the numbered section and paragraph organization is a direct descendent of Wittgenstein's Tractatus. But the Sighted Singer shares much more with the Tractatus than that: poetic thinking so rigorous it becomes almost mystical, a ladder one must pull up after one has climbed up it.Whether the author's poetics are "right" or "true" is almost inconsequential. His propositions are so challenging and so thought-provoking that the mere experience of reading this book is valuable.If you are a writer or serious reader of poetry, this book will make you more serious about the task at hand in either endeavor.

This book is written with the absolute truth and Love that Mario Lanza deserves. As a up and coming tenor the book gives insight and guidance on Mario to guide my career. Not only is it written well but the pictures speak more than a thousand words. Mario Lanza was a true, Loving, kind, warm, compassionate, as well as a singer to lead new talent into the new Millieum. Once you begin to read the great work of Damon Lanza, Bob Dolfi, and Mark Muller you will not stop until your finished.

"Be My Love -A Celebration of Mario Lanza" By Damon Lanza, Bob Dolfi, and Mark Muller is an entertaining and factual publication on one of the greatest singers and entertainers of the 20th century.

It features information culled from Lanza's personal archives as well as reminices from people who were collegues and friends of the great tenor. There are even sections by singers who were influenced by Lanza. Throughout the work there are many fine photographs a good deal of which are being seen for the first time.

This book shows Mario Lanza as he was and would like to be remembered and finally dipells the rumor as to the cause of his pre-mature death.

It is highly recomended not just to Lanza fans but to anyone who is interested in reading about a man that came from simple roots and went on to become a major force and influence in the music and entertainment world as it is today.

I have read every book published on Mario Lanza, and the past books I have read, were nothing more than pages filled up of dishonest untruthful facts.

I have re-read Be My Love A Celebration Of Mario Lanza twice. Each time I read this great novel. I could not put it down.

It is indeed a great pleasure to be able to read a book on Mario Lanza, that is not filled with filth! The Authors Damon Lanza and Mr. Bob Dolfi should be commended for publishing such a great book, that tells the true facts that Mr. Lanza was not murdered by the mafia as stated in other books. In the Be My Love Book, the authors Damon Lanza & Bob Dolfi have proven to the world that Mario did die of a heart attack. Mr. Mario Lanza had suffered from 3 heart attacks, in which the third one was the one that took this great talent away from us all.

I have recently bought 3 more books to give as gifts to family and friends. This book, "Be My Love A Celebration Of Mario Lanza" is a book that all families will not have to fear in seeing pages filled with garbage,filth, and lies.

It was about time such a book was published. This book in my opinion not only deserves a 5 star rating...But how about a 10 star rating?

We thank the authors for publishing a truthful book on our idol Mario Lanza.

Terry...A dedicated Mario Lanza Fan

This book is a very in-depth resource for understanding how the voice works and how to treat the voice as an instrument.

Unfortunately, "The Rock-N-Roll Singer's Survival Manual" was edited very poorly and is very crude in layout, flow, and readability. The diagrams are poorly drawn (by the author), and spelling and grammatical errors are rampant. Included is a useless "flipbook" animation of proper breathing technique which hogs up the left side of every left sided page. The author also has a very confusing tendency to talk about (and direct the reader to) subjects which are not covered until chapters later in the book. I found myself flipping back and forth throughout the book instead of reading it from front to back. The book is also printed in a very large condescending type size, as if the book was originally intended to be a small paperback and was blown up to fill a larger cover without decreasing the amount of pages. Though it is understood that the author is speaking primarily based on his experience as a vocal coach, many of the points he makes are to be accepted on their merit alone; there is very little (if any) referencing.

There is a wealth of information here, we can only hope that Mark Baxter releases a new and improved 2nd edition to make it easily accessible.

This was the first book I read and now I've been singing for two years. This book has a ton of information about your body and the physics of your voice. There is no professional feel to the book at all. It has huge print and goofey pictures. It reminded me of reading in elementary school. I couldn't get the feeling that mark had actually trained pros. Instead I got the feeling that he was just a poor vocal instructor working in a guitar shop or something that decided to put together a book of all he knew. Don't get me wrong, he seems to know a good deal and there's lots of information. I did walk away from the book having more confidence singing then before. I would hope the're are better books available for aspiring singers. Definitly buy this book if you need to know how to protect your voice from damage.

This book is a "must have" for all singers. I am a voice teacher, and I highly recommend this book. It really teaches you about your instrument, and the proper care & maintenance it needs. I wish I would have read it when I first started singing 20 years ago!

Another book I recommend is "Singing for the Stars", by Seth Riggs.