By Peter Lathan - It Happened on Broadway is a collection of interviews with 107 Broadway luminaries, including Carol Channing, Betty Buckley, Joel Grey, John Kander, Fred Ebb, James Hammerstein (son of Oscar), Mary Rodgers (daughter of Richard) and Kitty Carlisle Hart (widow of Moss). It tells the story of Broadway from the point of view of those who were deeply involved in its development as the centre of American theatre. It takes us behind the public faces and into the private thoughts and feelings of the stars, writers, composers, directors, producers, designers, press agents, playwrights, and even the restauranteurs (Vincent Sardi Jr. is there, too). It tells about the great successes (and some of the spectacular flops). It reveals much about the great writers - Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Moss Hart, Irving Berlin, Cy Coleman - and the performers - the portrait of Carol Channing in her own words is stunning. And we see the great directors and choreographers - my own favourite, Bob Fosse, is talked about at length - through the eyes of those who worked with them. I thoroughly enjoyed it. What this book shows very clearly is the deep love of theatre, of live performance, which these Broadway luminaries share with the rest of us. In their words I could hear echoes of myself and all of my theatre friends.

"Myrna Katz Frommer and Harvey Frommer have penned their fourth oral history: IT HAPPENED ON BROADWAY. The Frommers are considered the quintessential word-of-mouth authors of modern-day America. In this book they take the reader from the dramatic successes of the years before and after World War II, through heralded rise of the book-musical in the 50s, the great dance musicals, up to the current trend of the long-running mega-hit. Lavishly illustrated with rare photographs, playbills, set designs and tons of hand-delivered memorabilia, the book ultimately finds itself standing alone as the only history of the Great White Way told by those who actually lived it. A narrative historical composite has been drawn with photos and interviews of actors, directors, producers, set designers, stage managers, publicists, composers, lyricists and playwrights (not to mention highlights by well known newspaper and radio critics). Among some of the high points are Kim Hunter's remembering her onstage mishap with Marlon Brando in the original production of "A Streetcar Named Desire." Donna McKechnie's discussion of "A Chorus Line," and her backstage relationship with its creator Michael Bennett, and the breaking-in stories of Richard Kiley, Leslie Uggams, Jerry Herman, Betty Buckley and Carol Channing."

It Happened on Broadway: An Oral History of the Great Whire Way by Myrna Katz Frommer and Harvey Frommer. A husband and wife team of Professors in the Masters of Arts in Liberal Studies at Dartmouth College, the Frommers have gathered together the living memories cf over one hundred actors, directors, producers, lyricists, playwrights, critics, designers, publicists, and stage managers to create a volume filled with the light and magic of Broadway itself. These collected memories take us from the enduring dramatic successes of the years~ before and after World War II, through the golden age of the American musical, right up to today's megahits. It Happened on Broadway offers priceless recollections of Broadway hangouts, such as Sardi's and Lindy's; performing with Brando in "Streetcar," the collaborations of Kaufman and Hart and Rogers and Hammerstein; and countless encounters with the likes of Mary Martin, Carol Channing, Jerome Robbins, Tennessee Williams, and Steven Sondheim. There's enough theater lore here - from back stage to the orchestra pit - to entertain the most devoted Broadway aficionado.

Whenever I read a book, I generally use highlighter and underliner to mark the sentences and words that convey the true meaning and essence of what the author wants to say. While reading The Tibetan Book of Living And Dying, I had to stop using the highlighter after a few pages only as the most of the words on each page were worthy of being highlighted. Indeed, the author has said so much precious on every page that a reader must read and re-read the book and with every reading she/he gets more and more knowing.The subject of death has been most puzzling and perplexing to humankind since the time immemorial. The Eastern way of looking at the death as only a 'transition' is explained by the author in a profoundly simple manner. The book certainly helps one to understand the true meaning of the phenomena called death. This understanding helps one to reduce the irrational fear of death. From the lives of the great men and women we know that those who 'lived' a life can only meet the 'death' with equnimity. Thus the author has first taught the art of 'living'. It is only through right type of living that we can 'live' the death also.
I suggest that this book be read by all the Buddhist as well as by non buddhists also. Every one who reads it will find something for him/her.
I salute Sogyal Rinpoche for giving us a wonderful gift of THE TIBETAN BOOK OF LIVING AND DYING.

This book should be read by or to everyone at some point in their lives. It not is not just for the buddhist. As His Holiness, the Dalia Lama explains, no matter what religion you practice the goal is the same: happiness. This book can be an inspiration at all times in life. Once you have read it through once, it is organized in such a way, so one can go back and read certain sections to help along the way. Sogyal Rinpoche captures the essence of his purpose of creating the book when he writes: "to learn how to die, is to learn how to live." That simple statement is a social commentary on the development of modern society and the direction it is heading in. The ageing and dying are quickly isolated and doctors are rarely educated in emotional or spiritual care. Sogyal Rinpoche's proposes a new attidute to those who are in a stage that we all will reach at some point. His beautiful writing style and comforting compassion radiates from the pages themselves. I do not associate myself with any one religion, but consider myself a wanderer following my own road in search for answers, for all those who feel the same, this book can illuminate some of the darkness that surrounds us all who have not yet awakened.

This book gives you a spirutal, personal and intimate understanding of death and dying. More than that, it compels you to stop and take a deep and serious look at your own life and your own death. The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying helps to alievate your own fear of dying and helps you take the responsibility to prepare for your death. At the same time, it gently helps you prepare yourself for the death and dying of a loved one. The teachings and personal experiences of Sogyal are simple to understand and intrepret and incorporate into your personal life. I wholeheartedly recommend this book for every introspective person as well as for those facing the death of a loved one.

This is a smut book with a plot. The twists and turns keep you guessing to the very last page. The intricate way in which several different storylines all weave together is absolutely brilliant, I kept turning back to reread past chapters only to reabsorb each juicy detail. I read this for the first time about 8 years ago, and my paperback copy is so worn I may have to replace it! If you start this one, be prepared for the housework to suffer, you will not want to interrupt this amazing story of deception, lust, greed, passion, and sex aplenty!

This book was given to me by a guy, who said I must read it. Once I started it I couldn't put it down. A GREAT book of fastasy, passion, and revenge, it makes you want to become a part of it. We all have our fantasies, oh, to be a part of this for one day. Stars was eqyally good.I can't wait to read more by Kathryn Harvey

I have read this book so many times, I actually had to go out and buy a new one, because the first one I had fell apart! No kidding! I love it, and I'll probably read it a hundred more times. It gives the feeling of power to all women, not just the main character. It shows what true friendships are all about and keeping true to yourself. Whenever I'm down, I just pick it up and read it. I'm 22, and I only hope that someday I could make as much of my life as the main character did with hers. It's and inspiration. I hope Kathryn wrote more novels. And if you loved this book, "Stars" is a definite, you have to read what happens!!! It's a thrilling continuation of Butterfly.

Philip Gulley's books give me a sense of peace, calm, and quiet seasoned with a generous helping of humor that always lets me end my day on a happier note. I've read most of his works and especially enjoy the characters who make me think, "I KNOW that person!" "Front Porch Tales" has joined my other favorite book, Clyde Egerton's "Walking Across Egypt" as my gift of choice to dear friends and loved ones.

I'm 13 and I'll admit I only bought this book because I had a gift certificate to a local Christian bookstore and I couldn't find anything to buy in the young adult section. But after being bored one day I picked it and it's dusty cover off of my bookshelf and started reading it. I'm glad I did. Philip Gulley writes in an easy manner that anyone can understand, even a teenager like me. His stories make you laugh, even though I don't think he tries to be funny. It just comes out natural in his writing. I've read the book twice and got my mom to read it and she liked too. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read mini-stories, because that's what the book is. You can put the book down and not have to worry about remembering characters' names or other details. It's full of stories that will make you laugh and also warm your heart. So why are sitting here reading my review? Buy the book on Amazon today! If I'm 13 and I liked it, I think you'll like it too. Thanks for reading my review. Bye!

Philip Gulley does an excellent job of bringing us the stories of his life. He has a wonderful sense of humor and brings his relationship with God into perspective each time. He has a very interesting writing style that makes you want to know the man and read on. His other book is great too "Hometown Tales". I hope he puts pen to paper more often...

This is just a heck of a book - the best of all the Yankee books out there. As the flap copy says: "There are picks and profiles of the greatest (and worst) Yankee teams-sure to get a few arguments going. There are quotes, a quiz, lists, trivia, and tributes-as well as tales of fierce rivalries and unforgettable moments." A Yankee Century has it all

New York Yankees are the most popular, successful and enduring franchise in any sport. With all the amazing history that they have, can it be summed up in one book? The answer is no but this book does a great job of giving you a lot of their history in one book.
The beauty of this book is the little things, the attention that Harvey Frommer gave each page and each section. He listed so many facts in this book that any baseball fan would find this a great read.
The book has great quotes, timelines, short stories, player bios, full breakdowns of great records like the Joe DiMaggio hitting streak and when Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth's record (the breakdown of Ruth's 60 is in the book too!). The quotes are great too and there is a lot of information in this book that has never been seen before like Mickey Mantle's Hall of Fame speech!
The nickname section is priceless and all of them are explained in good detail. The pictures are well above average too as you will see a younger Casey Stengel, Thurman Munson, Ruth, Mantle, Maris, and Mel Allen. That's right even the great announcers that have worked for the Yankees over the years get their moment in the sun too.
Expect a lot of Billy Martin mentions and Yogi-isms in this Yankee treasure. There are also mentions of movies and really anything that has happened to the Bronx Bombers like Yankee Firsts and Lasts. And this book even has every manager to ever put on the pinstripes.
This book will cost you just over twenty dollars, but for the money you get a ton of baseball knowledge so it is well worth it.

424 pages; ....

By Dan Mackie
Valley News Staff Writer
I shoulda been a Yankee fan.

Well, that's what I learned from reading A Yankee Century: A Celebration of the First Hundred Years of Baseball's Greatest Team, by Harvey Frommer. He's a teacher in the Liberal Studies program at Dartmouth College "and a longtime Yankee fan,'' according to the book jacket.

He's also major league prolific, the author of more than 30 sports books and a number of popular oral histories.

Yankee Century is a book for the fan, the true believer, for 12-year-olds tucked in at night in Yankee pinstriped pajamas (and for 40-year-olds tucked in at night in Yankee pinstriped pajamas, for that matter).

The Yankees, according to this telling, have been an assemblage of characters (Casey Stengel, Lefty Gomez, Yogi Berra) and demigods, (The Babe, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle). If the Dallas Cowboys are America's Team, then this was Heaven's Team. Greatness followed the players around like an adoring shadow.

Sadly, it's sort of true. In the last century, the Yankees have collected pennants and World Series victories as if they were routine stuff. The Yankees were the Big Dog, Microsoft, Joe Louis, General Motors. Other teams have risen up and taken their shots at greatness, but no other major league team has been as consistently good.

Time for an admission: I'm a Red Sox fan. History has not been kind: The Sox are the Titanic, the Yankees the iceberg. I read this book out of professional obligation. I've had my nose rubbed in the greatness of the Yankees all my life.

The Red Sox last won the World Series in 1918. The Yankees have since won 26 times. They've been feasting, while Red Sox fans have been left with bitter crumbs. But enough about the Red Sox, baseball's longest-running Shakespearean tragedy. ("My kingdom for a first baseman. ... Out, damn Bucky Dent! ... What fools these managers be!")

A Yankee Century takes the reader through New York's glory, and a couple of dry spells. It's mostly uncritical, the way sportswriting used to be, before reality and cynicism intruded. That's kind of refreshing in a way. If we wanted to think about labor strife and corporate shenanigans, we'd read the Wall Street Journal, not box scores. Alas, that's too simplistic, but baseball seemingly was meant to be a simple pastime.

Yankee Century offers all the highlights, funny quotes, trivia (Iron man Lou Gehrig pinch-hit for Pee-Wee Wanninger, not Wally Pipp, to start his historic streak), lists and quizzes a true Yankee fan might want.

Other fans wrestle with the question of whether all this Yankee success has been good for the game. Much of it has been due to smarts and talent, but much has also been due to the Yankees' dominant revenue stream. If you can't beat 'em, outspend 'em.

Yankee fans, of course, do not worry much about this. The last century was theirs and presumably the new one won't be bad, either

This book saved our lives! Our little girl came home from the hospital wailing and it never stopped. She would cry for hours upon hours and nothing would soothe her--not cuddling, not feedings, not burping, not changings, not my mother-in-law (the baby soother extraordinaire), nothing...until this book!

The horror is finally over--the technique absolutely works every time. The book is well-written, easy to follow and the examples of other parents going through this are so reassuring. I am happy to report that now, at 7 weeks, we have lots of cooing, many smiles, bonding (nearly impossible with a screaming baby) and a lot more sleeping. You can call the author Dr. Karp, but in our house he is reverentially referred to as Saint Harvey--our patron saint of babies. If you have a fussy baby I can not recommend this book enough. It truly works miracles!

If I were the Queen of Everything I would make sure all new parents and hospital nurses learned this method. It could save so many, so much. Thank you Saint Harvey!

Like other parents of colicky babies, we were at our wits end. That is until we discovered Dr. Karp's 5 S's. We were truly amazed and delighted how quickly Dr. Karp's methods made a difference with our 3-week-old daughter - it was practically immediate. And being tired, sleep-deprived new parents, we also were glad to find the book very easy to read and understand. The book provides great insight into what your baby wants and needs to be happy. And a happy baby makes for happy parents. With Dr. Karp's invaluable help, we learned to successfully manage our daughter's colic, gain confidence as parents and, perhaps most importantly, enjoy our new baby. This book should be a staple in every pediatricians's office and is a must read for all parents.

I have read just about every major book that purports to explain why some babies are fussy and how to calm them. None of them can hold a candle to Dr. Karp's book. Forget about gas and all the other theories -- this book clearly and easily explains what newborns are experiencing. And the best part is the technique for calming that is based on cutting edge medical research. The book's explanation of the "calming reflex" is pretty fascinating, but if you really want to calm your baby, buy the accompanying video with the book. It is an eye-opener! When you see Dr. Karp take a dozen different babies and calm them in a matter of seconds, you finally see what the book can't stress enough -- it's a calming REFLEX, just like swallowing, and anyone can learn how to trigger it. The video is a surefire way to assure yourself that you are mastering the technique. It shows the technique again and again, with helpful tips and trouble-shooting. This is the ticket to new parents' peace of mind.

I might as well have read the back of a baseball card as have read the book, for all the insight into Jackson's personality it gave me. This book simply read like an extended sports column; I suppose that is all well and good if sports columns are all you ever read, but I expect more from a biography than a collection of blow-by-blow accounts of the games Jackson played in. The man, after all, spent 13 of his 62 years playing in the big leagues. There is scant discussion of his later years. Does Frommer suppose that the reader is not interested in how Jackson came to terms with his status as a disgraced former big-league ballplayer? One is left with the impression that Frommer did not even attempt to scratch the surface when dealing with Jackson's later years.

Couple this with Frommer's clumsy writing style, lack of citations, and bizarre style of quotation, and one is left with a book that was not worth the time spent reading it. I was left with no greater insight into Jackson the man than before I first picked up the book.

"He was the greatest ball player ever from South Carolina. His lifetime batting average was .356, topped only by Ty Cobb and Rogers Honrsby.But Shoeless Joe had to leave the game in disgrace, one of the members of the "Black Sox" accused of throwing the 1919 World Series. Author Frommer argues that Jackson got a raw deal and deserves reinstatement and enshrinement in the Hall of Fame. Frommer's book is something of a biography and partly the story of baseball in the first two decades of this century. He sees Jackson as symbolizing the game's more innocent era, and he calls Jackson a 'folk hero, the representative of a collective nostalgic yearning for an agrarian past.'"

"A tremendous account. . . I must refer anyone who has any interest in the Black Sox Scandal to Shoeless Joe and Ragtime Baseball. There is a shiny gold sticker on the jacket of Frommer's book, by the way, announcing that it contains "Never before published -- Joe Jackson's complete Grand Jury Testimony." . . .The testimony is worth reading. Frommer quotes Joe Jackson: "I never said anything about it [the plot to throw the Series] until the night before the Series started. I went to see Mr Comiskey and begged him to take me out of the lineup .... If there was something going on I knew the bench was the safest place, but he wouldn't listen to me...." I would love to fill about ten pages with excerpts from Shoeless Joe and Ragtime Baseball, but will not. Get the book. It's a fascinating and fast read.

With "My Life is my Sun Dance" Leonard Peltier proves that though his body may be imprisoned... his spirit, his soul still roams free. Though this book did not have the same profound effect on me as either of Mumia Abu-Jamal's prison writings, it does shed light on the mind of a man possesed with the anger of Malcolm X and the compassion of Ghandi. This is a must read for any individual in America (especially "white America") who recognizes the need for revolutionary change as we enter the year 2000.

United States Prisoner #89637-132, a hero and a brave man,
full of spirit. Nothing, not even false imprisonment
can take that away from him. This book will bring you to
tears and warm your heart, as does the traditoinal but
improvised sun dance. The miscarriage of justice may
anger you, and my prayers are that enough of the readers
of this book will contact their congressmen, anyone that
will listen, and hopefully free this innocent man. In the
meantime, he lives his life with dignity and shines with
honor. His ancestors would be proud of him.
I read this book in one sitting, as I was unable to put
it down, and neither will you. May God Bless Mr. Leonard
Pelletier and all Native Americans that continue to endure
what the white man has done to all of the Indian tribes!

PRISON WRITINGS brings the vital point of view of Leonard Peltier himself--often spoken of but rarely heard from. Peltier writes of the contexts which shaped his life, the impulses to activism through AIM, and the horrific miscarriage of justice perpetrated upon him. And aside from that, there is a beautiful and very moving description of an inipi, i.e. sweat lodge ceremony, which comprises the last several pages of the book, a section which I recommend for anyone who wishes to understand the logistics and the importance of this ritual. PRISON WRITINGS is a memoir, a treatise *and* a profoundly important accounting of the cultural connections which remain firmly in place for Leonard Peltier. I recommend this book vigorously.

I had been playing what I thought was golf for more than 25 years before reading this book. Some of the most basic methods to play shots well are described in this book. The methods are written in a style clear as fresh water. A quick, easy read that will open your eyes, help your game, and make you understand what so many others have said about this great teacher.

Boy Howdy! I've been playing golf for two years now, and like other golfers who've started playing the game, I too watch The Golf Channel religiously looking for every possible tip to help with my swing. Reading golf magazines, and the like. Well,this past spring I purchased The Little Red Book, and it along with two other books written by Mr. Penick, are the only books on golf I have, and I don't need no more. I'm telling you,as you read this book, it's like Mr. Penick is right there with you, helping you to "Be At Ease" and to "Take Dead Aim". I love the Slow Motion Drill, and it's my goal to purchase a weighted club and use the drill extensively during the off season. Most of all, I plan to devote as much time as possible to my short game, because Mr. Penick is right when he says a twenty foot putt is more psychologically damaging to an opponent than a 270 yard drive off the tee. I carry "The Little Red Book" with me every day along with my Bible in my book bag. Sound crazy, but that's how I feel about Harvey Penick. In fact when people ask me if I have an instructor, I tell them it's Harvey Penick..

I've owned this book for a few years now, and like my caption says, it never gets old.

In this golfer's book you will find instruction, philosophy, and history - all woven masterfully together in the form of stories. Whether it's the lengthly section where Harvey gives his thoughts in the grip, or the extremely terse paragraph explaining why he never joined the tour, Penick uses the right words at the right times.

I've read it several times and often take it with me on long trips. It's broken into several very short segments, sometimes two or three on a page, sometimes two or three pages. This means you can always pick it up, read a quick snipit, and walk away from it.

Lastly, I've found that whenever my golf game is struggling, I read this book and it always somehow gets back on track. I don't know if it's from the lucid instruction or the comforting philosophy, but either way this book has become an integral part of my golf regimen.

This is actually a presentation on de Tocqueville's life and times, centered on a general analysis of Democracy in America, but including much background on his family's history, his political career and accomplishments and a look at the historical context of France, Europe and the US in the mid 19th Century. The themes of DiA are reviewed with many quotes from the book and from commentaries by de Tocqueville's contemporaries. He is presented in all his glory: his hits (the brilliant insights into social character, the nature of democracy and his devastatingly astute, timeless analysis of our American identity) and his misses (his advocacy of war and his surprisingly traditionalist views of society's class structure). An occasional cheesy French accent in some of the characterizations is the only flaw. This is a _great_ commute tape, I look forward to "reading" more in this series on other great writers!

There is no doubt that Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America is perhaps the greatest book ever written on the US government and the principles of democracy. Tocqueville clearly shows both the promise and the problems of democracy. In many ways he is not at all flattering of the Americans, and in fact shows us how really terrible we can be. Nevertheless, he still shows hope in the ideas of democracy, and points that it is possible to overcome these problems.

The Mansfield edition of this book is a wonderful translation with great annotation and references, that make it good for a studnet or a casual, non-social theory, interested person to read. The introduction is also beautifully written and lays out the ideas de Tocqueville had marvelously. I think that this will be the edition to use in the future.

After hte events of last year, it is important for us to keep in mind what this country is about, what are its true problems, and how we can improve it. The problems that de Tocqueville points out are not something that panders to either left or right in our current sense, but points to problems fundamental in all democracies and particularlly in the American way of democracy. Yet, his hope should be uplifting.

Toquevilles' Democracy in America, written over a century and a half ago, is almost as relevant today as when it first appeared in print. Outside of the Federalist Papers, no book is as essential to a American student of political philosophy as this. This book is neither a manifesto of the right or left - both sides can draw powerful arguments (and lessons) from this work. Paramount to the book are the conflicts between equality and liberty, which today remains the core difference between the major political parties. Toqueville also predicted the rise of America and Russia, as well as the growth of the central government - a hundred years before it became reality. His praise of the American system of decentralized, voluntary associations is also dead on. A wonderful book.