Mortal Faults

Book Description

A one-woman private operative, Abby Sinclair stalks the stalkers. Her new client is a U.S. congressman shadowed by a mystery woman believed to be a disgruntled ex-employee. He wants her stopped. What Abby doesn't know is that FBI agent Tess McCallum is already on the case. Now, despite vowing never to work together again, Abby and Tess have been partnered in a deadly game. And this is a case that takes one surprising turn after another-because there's more to the story than anyone knows.

Customer Reviews:

Engrossing Read But Weak Characters.......2007-10-09

I've been a Prescott fan for years now and have read every book. His first few featuring these characters were incredible. This book was attention-grabbing as well, and pulled you through the story quickly but his characters tend to be one-dimensional. The heroines lack any flaws and the antagonist is truly evil, almost over the top. When Abby is suspected of murder in this story, I thought to myself...finally! She's not so perfect; she has a flaw. Imagine my disappointment in the end when it turns out that the true killer was found...and it wasn't Abby. Of course. How could perfect Abby have a flaw? I wish Prescott would let his character have both strengths and weaknesses.

Pretty good, and I think I will read more by him, but..........2007-03-11

The story was pretty entertaining but pretty hard to believe. The whole thing seemed pretty incredible and the real mystery behind it all was easy to see coming early in the book. My main complaint with this work was the flip heroine, Abby. Everything seemed to be a joke to her and a chance to make a wisecrack. She also was Supergirl. I almost expected bullets to bounce off her. The villian was vile and despicable. Abby was hard to believe might actually exist in reality. The FBI agent, Tess was some what more believable but still seemed to willing to risk her career on a whim. As in many novels, the investigators who were not the main characters were not only incompetent but down right hinderances to the real investigation. I think I will read more by this author, and I see that he has more books featuring these same two characters, Abby and Tess. I would not hesitate to give them another chance. This was kind of a fun read and it moved right along. I say, suspend reality, enjoy the book and don't think too much about the implausabilities. If you can do that, you will enjoy 'Mortal Faults'. If you can't do this and are looking for great literature, well, move on. This is not one that challenges you to think a lot. More like an episode of the "A=Team" as opposed to maybe "Law and Order." I liked both shows by the way but for different reasons.

Crummy Book.......2006-11-27

This is one of those thrillers where everything happens within a one-day period and the characters zip from shootout to beating to concocting some bizarre, byzantine plan to trap the bad guy, etc., without sleep, without pain, without second thoughts. To me, this is the sign of a lazy novelist. Masters of the genre such as Connelley, Lescroart, Burke, etc., work very hard at creating credible characters and credible plots and don't rely on cheap tricks or gimmicks. This book is predictible from page one, the characters are one-dimensional, the plot is ludicrous and this is my first and last Michael Prescott book.

Overly embellished professional vigilantism.......2006-10-27

Michael Prescott's "Mortal Faults" is an over the top tale surrounding the exploits of main character Abby Sinclair. Sinclair considers herself to be a personal security consultant. Using a combination of a psychology degree, martial arts training and street smarts she gets hired to stalk stalkers and get them to cease and desist their aberrant behavior.

Abby was hired by California congressman Jack Reynolds, a middle aged ex-quarterback type who was in the midst of campaigning for re-election. Reynolds had been stalked by a woman he claimed was a disgruntled ex-employee. Little did Abby know that the congressman's fabricated facade covered the fact that he was a manipulative, sadistic, misogynist who had made some perculiar friends when he was D.A. for Santa Ana county.

The woman Abby was assigned to stalk was named Andrea Lowry and was already under surveillance by the FBI. Agent Tess McCallum who had against regulations partnered with Abby, a civilian, in an investigation of a serial murder case was involved in the case. Lowry had changed her name to hide that notoriety that followed her as being the main player in a double homicide, 20 years ago known by the FBI as the MEDEA case. The case had negative ramifications for Congressman Reynolds.

To protect himself, Reynolds mobilized a local biker club, The Scorpions, whom he had used many times to violently cleans up his messes, to kill Andrea Lowry. Abby caught in the crossfire and after learning the truth allied with Lowry to once and for all take down the congressman, without incurring the wrath of Agent McCallum.

What hurts this novel is its total lack of plausibility. Prescott tends to overexaggerate the nuances of his characters. For example he overdoes it when painting Reynolds as the most despicable villian to walk the face of the earth. He also adorns Abby Sinclair with superhuman acumen in her ventures, painting only Agent McCallum as a normal and believable person.

Good way to spend the weekend.......2006-04-24

I first stumbled across Mr. Prescott at my library when I was looking for a good mystery to read. My first book by him was The Last Victim. Since reading that novel, I've read his other books. Mortal Faults did not disappoint. It was fast-paced full of twists and turns. The bottom line is do you trust your friends? Caution: never turn your back on your enemies. Read it and be prepared to give up your day to finish it.

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Mortal Faults
Michael Prescott
Manufacturer: Onyx Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000K6NSRG

Average customer rating:

Mortal Faults
Michael Prescott
Manufacturer: ONYX BOOKS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000VFQWOM

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Mortal Faults

Manufacturer: Onyx Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 073946275X

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Mortal Faults by Prescott, Michael
Enid Blyton
Manufacturer: Pan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000WF04OU

Once Bitten: A Melanie Travis Mystery (Melanie Travis Mysteries)
Average customer rating:

Is Melanie going to the dogs?

Good but not her best

The dogs are back---so Melanie, wake up

Ms. Berenson combines dogs and mysteries better than anyone.

Great amateur sleuth novel
Once Bitten: A Melanie Travis Mystery (Melanie Travis Mysteries)
Laurien Berenson
Manufacturer: Kensington
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Series | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
Women Sleuths | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
Berenson, Laurien | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0758201826

Customer Reviews:

Is Melanie going to the dogs?.......2001-11-17

If you read the previous Melanie Travis mystery, Unleashed, and you are like me, you were likely disappointed to see Melanie's fiance Sam take off for an undetermined time following his ex-wife's murder for reflection and what-not. Berenson, however, appeases us in Once Bitten by fulfilling the promise of a wedding -- that of Melanie's brother Frank.

While she is happy to see her brother maturing into a responsible businessman and committing himself to dog trainer/knockout Bertie Kennedy, Melanie is still nursing the wounds of her breakup. When Bertie's flighty wedding planner, part-time trainer Sara, mysteriously disappears, Melanie finds there is no time left to cry over spilt engagements when Bertie pleads with her to find Sara...and help plan a wedding while she's doing that.

Berenson injects quite a dose of romance in this installment when in the midst of all this chaos, ex-husband Bob returns to town, clearly bitten by the reconciliation bug. I have to admit, Melanie's divided loyalties between maintaining a stable home life for son Davey (who is ecstatic to have his father so close) and yearning for her missing true love made for better suspense than the actual mystery, the disappearance and even more bizarre reappearance of Sara, a character I came to like less and less as the story progressed.

I have enjoyed the Melanie Travis series since its inception, but with Once Bitten I fear Berenson may be hitting her stride. However, the weaknesses detected in the actual mystery (the aforementioned Sara and her conflicts with her even less likable parents...Melanie herself admits she can't stand them) are bolstered by the compelling subplot. I certainly hope for the next book the mystery will be a bit meatier (no pun intended).

Good but not her best.......2001-10-30

ONCE BITTEN brings back most of the familiar characters from previous Berenson tales (with a puzzling omission -- what happened to Aunt Peg's Douglas? He's missing in action here), and moves their relationships along nicely. However, there's so much going on -- the impending marriage of main character Melanie's brother and ravishing trainer Bertie (short for Alberta), the reappearance of Melanie's ex-husband, the move into judging for Aunt Peg, "finishing" Melanie's poodle's championship -- that the mystery seems more of an afterthought than the main event. Also, there's not much mystery -- the pointers to the guilty parties are pretty pointed. As always, the dog show segments are the most realistic, but the Christmas Eve chapter at the end is well worth the price of admission.

The dogs are back---so Melanie, wake up.......2001-10-15

Melanie Travis tries to deal with her disappearing fiance when her future sister-in-law's wedding planner, Sara, also disappears and Melanie's ex-husband suddenly reappears and wants to play in Melanie's life. Melanie settles for sleuthing to find the missing Sara--only to discover that plenty of people want her to stay missing. They just might get their wish when Sara's house burns down and a woman's body is found inside.

What's best about this novel is the dogs. Melanie shows her standard poodle Faith and is working on 'finishing' her, i.e., achieving champion rank. When Melanie goes to the dogs, ONCE BITTEN goes well indeed. When Melanie fixates on men, I was tempted to roll my eyes--I mean, get on with it.

The mystery plays a third fiddle to Melanie's dog problems and her men problems. Fortunately, she doesn't have to do much to solve it.

Author Laurien Berenson's light tone, her wonderful descriptions of the dog shows and of dog people, and of the relationship between Melanie, her son, her aunt, her dogs, and her future sister-in-law make ONCE BITTEN a pleasure to read despite its flaws.

Ms. Berenson combines dogs and mysteries better than anyone........2001-08-26

In the latest Melanie Travis mystery, her fiance Sam has gone off to find himself after the death of this exwife and former friend, leaving Melanie in the lurch. On the bright side, her brother Frank is about the marry Bertie, dog handler and friend of Melanie. Faith finally gets her second and final major, finishing her championship(her daughter Eve looks like a winner also). In the midst of all this, Bertie wants Mel to help with her wedding plans. She's hired a flakey dog groomer/handler/rich kid to do all the arrangements, so Mel wonders why. Then, ex husband Bob shows up six weeks before the wedding, newly divorced from his very young bride, looking to get back together with Mel. Then the wedding planner disappears and her cottage on her mother's estate burns down. A young woman's body is found in the ruins. Is it Sara the wedding planner? Who burned the cottage? Mel is determined to find out. This is the best of all her mysteries. Ms. Berenson has a gift for giving the reader a good mystery and not losing the dog show background. This book will appeal to readers who have no idea what is involved in the dog world, the characters and mystery are that good. I learn a little more with each book. Hopefully, Mel's trip to the obedience ring as a spectator will lead her in that direction also.

Great amateur sleuth novel.......2001-08-17

Life is finally come together for dog show owner Melanie Travis. Even though she was supposed to be getting married during Christmas, she has come to grips that this is not going to happen. Her fiancé left for an unspecified time to find himself. She is delighted that her brother is getting married to Bertie, another person involved dog shows, in six weeks but she is horrified that her ex husband is going to be around for the same month and a half trying to win her back.

When Bertie's wedding planner Sara disappears leaving behind an ominous note, she asks Melanie for help in tracking down the missing woman. Before they can get very far in their inquiries, Sara's cottage burns down, which leaves behind the remains of a skeleton that can only be identified by dental records. When Melanie and company learn that arson caused the fire and that Sara remains alive though still out of sight, the group increases their efforts to find answers.

ONCE BITTEN, like the rest of the Melanie Travis mysteries, takes readers into the colorful and exciting world of dog competitions. Long time fans of this amateur sleuth series will be ecstatic that Faith finally won enough shows to be considered Champion by the AKC. Laurien Berenson has written another fine work in this delightful mystery series.

Harriet Klausner

Claws of Chaos (Warhammer)
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Claws of Chaos (Warhammer)
Gav Thorpe
Manufacturer: Games Workshop
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Series | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0743443195

Book Description

Working as an emergency room nurse, Margaret Coberly came in contact with death on a daily basis. However, it wasn't until her own brother was diagnosed with terminal cancer that she realized she understood very little about the emotional and spiritual aspects of caring for the terminally ill. To fill this gap she turned to the unique wisdom on death and dying found in Tibetan Buddhism. In this book Coberly offers sound, practical advice on meeting the essential needs of the dying, integrating stories from her long career in nursing with useful insights from the Tibetan Buddhist teachings. In the West, death is viewed as a tragic and horrible event. Coberly shows us how this view generates fear and denial, which harm the dying by adding unnecessary loneliness, confusion, and mental anguish to the dying process. Tibetan Buddhism focuses on the nature of death and how to face it with honesty, openness, and courage. In this view, death is not a failure, but a natural part of life that, if properly understood and appreciated, can offer the dying and their loved ones an opportunity to gain valuable insight and wisdom. Coberly argues that the Tibetan Buddhist outlook can be a useful antidote to the culture of fear and denial that surrounds death in the West and can help caregivers become more fully present, fearless, honest, and compassionate. Sacred Passage highlights two very practical teachings on death and dying from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and presents them in clear, nontechnical language. Readers learn about the "eight stages of dissolution leading to death," a detailed roadmap of the dying process that describes the sequence of physical, psychological, and spiritual changes that occur as we die. Coberly also presents the "death meditation," a contemplative exercise for developing a new relationship to death—and life. The book also includes a lengthy, annotated list of recommended readings for added guidance and inspiration. Topics include: How the terminally ill can experience emotional and spiritual healing even when they can't be cured Why Western medicine's relentless focus on curing disease has led to inadequate care for the dying What to expect during the dying process How our fear and denial of death harm the dying Techniques to help caregivers promote a peaceful environment for the dying and their loved ones How to meet the changing physical and emotional needs of the dying Helpful advice on what to say and how to behave around the terminally ill Registered nurses can earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) by passing a written test based on this book. For more information, see http://www.shambhala.com/sacredpassage.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting but not for practical use.......2007-03-02

I purchased this book as a practical guide and read to help navigate life as a caregivier and support system of a close friend. I found it a bit too ethereal and very heavily weighted toward the Tibetan Buddhist views on life and death. Although, interesting, it's hardly useful on a daily basis. It is an interesting book to read, but it's not for those who are looking for hands on answers.

Well written, inspirational, and practical!!!.......2006-12-22

Anybody who knows somebody dear to them who is going to die should read this book.

Every nurse needs to read this book.......2003-11-13

This book was such a surprise to me. I didn't realize how much I needed to hear what was in it. I think all nurses, everywhere,
would get something out of what this book talks about. By the title it seems like it's a book for people who are dying, but it seems just as useful for anyone who cares about people whether they are dying or not. I am so glad that another nurse friend of mine gave me this book to read.

Extremely helpful and easy to read too.......2003-07-29

I have a friend who is dying and I am afraid to visit him because I don't know how to act or what I am not supposed to say. I bought some other books about death and dying and Sacred Passage was also suggested. I didn't think I would like it because it has some Tibetan Buddhist stuff in it and I am a Catholic. But, anyway, I got it and liked it better than the other ones because it gave me some actual ways to act and also told me that if I don't know what to say I am not obligated to say anything, really. That was such an eye opener for me. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is forced to be around a dying person and feals afraid, like I am. This book gave me hope that I would be able to do it. I even bought two more copies to give to people for presents.
Thank you to the author for helping me so much.

Buddhist Spiritual-Principals Advisory.......2003-07-01

This is a very useful book and a quick read for those inclined to the buddhist approach to dying. However, if the dying person is of another faith or faithless..it has limited applications for the dying person and will be mostly useful to the care-giver. Also, application in the dying person's life of these ideas is not a "quick fix", so if you are not the full-time care-giver, it is difficult to find a place to wedge such new ideas into the dying persons paradigm.

Book Description

Make Your Mark ON-THE-JOB ENGLISH LEARNING Illustrates situations and enhances workplace literacy that span four major industries: food service, the hotel industry, retail, and health services. JOB-FOCUSED TOPICS Focus on teaching terminology, common idioms, general job information, and strategies for success. INDIVIDUAL AND COOPERATIVE LEARNING ACTIVITIES Provide opportunities for enhancement of speaking, listening, reading, writing, and aritificial-thinking skills. TEACHER'S GUIDES Offers instructional strategies, classroom management tips, and cross-references to levels three and four of Put English to Work.

Book Description

For centuries, the people of Morocco have been producing magnificent embroideries, pile rugs, and flatweaves. The Fabric of Moroccan Life showcases rare embroideries, hangings, and rugs that reflect the broad range of traditions and cultural influences active in Morocco during the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. The book explores the artistic importance of these superb weavings as well as their central role in Moroccan culture.

Approximately 150 pieces -- and numerous details -- are illustrated in color, and additional photographs (including many that were taken in the 1930s) show how they were once used in everyday life in Morocco. The book includes essays on Moroccan embroidery and its origins, traditional costumes of the cities and rural areas, the weavings of the Berbers and other ethnic groups, and the distinctive characteristics of items made by particular ethnic sub-groups. The contributing writers are eminent scholars and experts in a variety of fields, including Moroccan history and culture; Moroccan rugs, textiles, and clothing; and natural dyes. A wealth of information is included that has never before been available in one volume.

Rx for Quilters: Stitcher-Friendly Advice for Every Body
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Rx for Quilters: Stitcher-Friendly Advice for Every Body
Susan Delaney Mech
Manufacturer: C&T Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Women's Health | Personal Health | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1571200924

Book Description

To avoid injuries that afflict stitchers due to repetitive wrist movements, neck strain, or related problems, this helpful book gives readers gentle health advice from an M. D. who is also an experienced quilter. The book explains how the quilter's stitching life can be comfortable, free of stressed hands, shoulders, joints, and back. Simple daily exercises, setting up a good work area, healthful eating, and other positive ideas are offered.

Sketches in architecture: Consisting of original designs for cottages and rural dwellings suitable to persons of moderate fortune, and for convenient retirement, ... with plans and appropriate scenery to each
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Sketches in architecture: Consisting of original designs for cottages and rural dwellings suitable to persons of moderate fortune, and for convenient retirement, ... with plans and appropriate scenery to each
Thomas Downes Wilmot Dearn
Manufacturer: Published by J. Taylor
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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ASIN: B00089LKDY

The Weatherly Guide to Drawing Animals
Average customer rating:

one of the best books on subject

Finally, a "How To" book that's worth getting!!!

Excellent Reference for drawing animals

Animal drawings so live you might have to feed them

I cant believe how good this book is!!!

The Weatherly Guide to Drawing Animals
Joe Weatherly
Manufacturer: Joe Weatherly
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Drawing | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Drawing | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 097103141X

Book Description

The WEATHERLY GUIDE TO DRAWING ANIMALS focuses on learning how to draw animals using solid drawing principles. The emphasis of the book is on learning to draw animals by understanding action,analysis of form, construction, expressive drawing, and simplified anatomy. An approach to drawing animals from life (a challenging and somewhat frustrating exercise) can be learned from the principles layed out in this book.

The importance of drawing from imagination and methods to go about it are also a key topic. THE WEATHERLY GUIDE TO DRAWING ANIMALS is geared toward all levels of artists from beginning to advanced. Anyone interested in learning how to draw animals or take their current animal drawing to the next level, will greatly benefit from this book.

Customer Reviews:

one of the best books on subject.......2007-09-28

If one is seriously interested in animal drawing, he/she should purchase Ambrus' and Hultgren's books. Then, you can order this one, as well. It is good complement to mentioned titles.
The book is very well organized, and the drawings are very good, unlike those in some other titles on the subject which I had opportunity to browse. The author's idea was "less words - more pics". It works.

Finally, a "How To" book that's worth getting!!!.......2006-04-06

The Weatherly Guide to Drawing Animals is the best animal drawing book I've ever seen. There's very few books out there that shows the nitty gritty side of sketching and drawing animals. I love how the writing is thorough and to the point. The book gives you the barebones on how to approach drawing animals from direct observation and from your imagination. It covers other topics like how to simplify muscle shapes and how to spot boney landmarks, which are very important in drawing any living creature. I highly recommend this book for those who always wanted to learn how to draw animals, but never knew where to begin.

Excellent Reference for drawing animals.......2006-02-04

This is an excellent reference for drawing animals. If I was only going to get one book on drawing animals.... this would be the one I would want!

Animal drawings so live you might have to feed them.......2005-07-20

Joe Weatherly stresses from the beginning that knowing your subject, knowing the anatomy is the only way to accurately draw. If you know the animal, you can draw him from any angle or position with or without a live example. This is true even in quick gestures. As a result he offers no shortcuts and no formulae, just a sound, understandable method by which you can construct anything.

Weatherly backs up what he says with hundreds of beautiful, lively examples using many different mediums and in many different styles. The idea is not to copy his drawings, but to see the possibilities.

I also enjoyed Jack Hamm's book, but I will say that this one wins easily. Hamm's is more of a formulae book, showing you exactly how to draw this or that animal in a particular pose. This may be comforting for early beginners, but it won't lead you close to true mastery. Also, the difference in method between Hamm and Weatherly clearly produces different finished products. Weatherly's animals are enfused with life and action, while Hamm's seem more static in comparision. This is the result of Weatherly's laying down action lines before constructing the figure.

A definite must for drawing animals or any form of life

I cant believe how good this book is!!!.......2005-06-19

I needed a book that would cover all my needs on developing my skills in drawing animals and creatures...and this book helped so much in just the first day of looking through it. It uses all the lingo of life drawing and isnt hard at all for those who are beginners who need to understand terms used. There are so many images for reference and sections that cover a number of animals individually. I seriously recommend this book, it isnt just a picture book, its a guide book to animal drawing with pictures.

Average customer rating:

Weatherly Animal Drawing Guide
BEST ANIMAL DRAWING BOOK SINCE HULTGREN
Finally! A new book on animal drawing!!!

Weatherly Animal Drawing Guide
Joe Weatherly
Manufacturer: Joe Weatherly
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Drawing | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Drawing | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0971031401

Book Description

The Weatherly animal Drawing Guide is a unique new book on how to draw animals that deals with a variety of methods that lead to sound draftsmanship. The empasis of the book is on construction, action , anatomy, and how to make solid animal drawings that are full of energy and expression. Animals are difficult to draw because they are constantly moving,this book will reveal the mystery behind animal drawing by breaking down certain methods , such as drawing from imagination and life to achieve results.

Customer Reviews:

Weatherly Animal Drawing Guide.......2001-04-30

As an artist, I find myself using this animal drawing book as a constant reference point to improve my drawing skills. This book is by far the best animal drawing book on the market today. It is very easy to follow and shows exactly how to break down the forms of animals into basic shapes while retaining the "essence" of the pose, or gesture. I've found that my human anatomy drawings have improved dramatically as well by applying Weatherly's approach to drawing animals. The book is very easy to learn from, and gives artists a great starting point as they approach animal drawing. Drawing in itself is a visual application of a mental concept. This book is very good at teaching artists how to think in a structural way, while still dealing with a sense of gesture. I've used this comprehensive approach to drawing as I teach art classes in the chicago area, and I've been very pleased with the results it has brought.

BEST ANIMAL DRAWING BOOK SINCE HULTGREN.......2001-04-29

THIS IS THE BEST ANIMAL DRAWING GUIDE SINCE KEN HULTGREN'S BOOK. THERE IS DEFINETLY A LACK OF INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SUBJECT. THE CLEAR AND PRECISE ANALYSIS AND CONSTRUCTION MAKES IT EASY TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO DRAW MANY ANIMALS. AS AN ANIMATION MAJOR THIS BOOK HAS ENABLED ME TO ENHANCE MY ANIMAL DRAWING IN MY PORFOLIO. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ANY ASPIRING ARTIST.

Finally! A new book on animal drawing!!!.......2001-04-28

It's about time somebody wrote a new book about how to draw animals that deals with solid drawing. This book has all the components of how to draw active, three-dimensional animals. The Weatherly Animal Drawing Guide is a must for anybody who wants to learn how to draw animals, especially those who are interested in animation. The book is loaded with lots of wonderful, loose gesture drawings, solid sculptural construction drawings, tips on how to get the action of the pose, how to learn to draw, moving animals by building your imaginative power and much, much more. This book deals almost exclusively with how to draw animals from life. I think this is a fine edition to any artist's book collection and a "must have" for all animators and wildlife artists. ~Tom Silk, Irvine, California.

Amazon.com

American culture celebrates inventors as heroes: Alexander Graham Bell, Edison, Henry Ford. In the fascinating The Boy Genius and the Mogul, Daniel Stashower adds a new name to the pantheon: Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor of TV. "The general public has only the vaguest notion of how--or by whom--television was created," writes Stashower, who feels the story has been mistold, depriving the boy genius from rural Idaho of due credit. Stashower, a mystery novelist and biographer of Arthur Conan Doyle, uncovers the hidden history of Farnsworth's "image dissector." If RCA's David Sarnoff (the "mogul" of the title) had chosen to work with Farnsworth, the young man would have become a household name. But Farnsworth lost his chance at fame, mentally collapsed, and spent his last years bitterly disappointed. Watching the moon landing on a picture tube less than two years before his death, however, he turned to his wife and said, "This has made it all worthwhile." --John Miller

Book Description

The world remembers Edison, Ford, and the Wright Brothers. But what about Philo T. Farnsworth, the inventor of television, an innovation that did as much as any other to shape the twentieth century? That question lies at the heart of The Boy Genius and the Mogul, Daniel Stashower's captivating chronicle of television's true inventor, the battle he faced to capitalize on his breakthrough, and the powerful forces that resulted in the collapse of his dreams.

The son of a Mormon farmer, Farnsworth was born in 1906 in a single-room log cabin on an isolated homestead in Utah. The Farnsworth family farm had no radio, no telephone, and no electricity. Yet, motivated by the stories of scientists and inventors he read about in the science magazines of the day, young Philo set his sights on becoming an inventor. By his early teens, Farnsworth had become an inveterate tinkerer, able to repair broken farm equipment when no one else could. It was inevitable that when he read an article about a new idea -- for the transmission of pictures by radio waves--that he would want to attempt it himself. One day while he was walking through a hay field, Farnsworth took note of the straight, parallel lines of the furrows and envisioned a system of scanning a visual image line by line and transmitting it to a remote screen. He soon sketched a diagram for an early television camera tube. It was 1921 and Farnsworth was only fourteen years old.

Farnsworth went on to college to pursue his studies of electrical engineering but was forced to quit after two years due to the death of his father. Even so, he soon managed to persuade a group of California investors to set him up in his own research lab where, in 1927, he produced the first all-electronic television image and later patented his invention. While Farnsworth's invention was a landmark, it was also the beginning of a struggle against an immense corporate power that would consume much of his life. That corporate power was embodied by a legendary media mogul, RCA President and NBC founder David Sarnoff, who claimed that his chief scientist had invented a mechanism for television prior to Farnsworth's. Thus the boy genius and the mogul were locked in a confrontation over who would control the future of television technology and the vast fortune it represented. Farnsworth was enormously outmatched by the media baron and his army of lawyers and public relations people, and, by the 1940s, Farnsworth would be virtually forgotten as television's actual inventor, while Sarnoff and his chief scientist would receive the credit.

Restoring Farnsworth to his rightful place in history, The Boy Genius and the Mogul presents a vivid portrait of a self-taught scientist whose brilliance allowed him to "capture light in a bottle." A rich and dramatic story of one man’s perseverance and the remarkable events leading up to the launch of television as we know it, The Boy Genius and the Mogul shines new light on a major turning point in American history.

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The son of a Mormon farmer, Farnsworth was born in 1906 in a single-room log cabin on an isolated homestead in Utah. The Farnsworth family farm had no radio, no telephone, and no electricity. Yet, motivated by the stories of scientists and inventors he read about in the science magazines of the day, young Philo set his sights on becoming an inventor. By his early teens, Farnsworth had become an inveterate tinkerer, able to repair broken farm equipment when no one else could. It was inevitable that when he read an article about a new idea -- for the transmission of pictures by radio waves -- that he would want to attempt it himself. One day while he was walking through a hay field, Farnsworth took note of the straight, parallel lines of the furrows and envisioned a system of scanning a visual image line by line and transmitting it to a remote screen. He soon sketched a diagram for an early television camera tube. It was 1921 and Farnsworth was only fourteen years old.

Farnsworth went on to college to pursue his studies of electrical engineering but was forced to quit after two years due to the death of his father. Even so, he soon managed to persuade a group of California investors to set him up in his own research lab where, in 1927, he produced the first all-electronic television image and later patented his invention. While Farnsworth's invention was a landmark, it was also the beginning of a struggle against an immense corporate power that would consume much of his life. That corporate power was embodied by a legendary media mogul, RCA President and NBC founder David Sarnoff, who claimed that his chief scientist had invented a mechanism for television prior to Farnsworth's. Thus the boy genius and the mogul were locked in a confrontation over who would control the future of television technology and the vast fortune it represented. Farnsworth was enormously outmatched by the media baron and his army of lawyers and public relations people, and, by the 1940s, Farnsworth would be virtually forgotten as television's actual inventor, while Sarnoff and his chief scientist would receive the credit.

Restoring Farnsworth to his rightful place in history, The Boy Genius and the Mogul presents a vivid portrait of a self-taught scientist whose brilliance allowed him to "capture light in a bottle." A rich and dramatic story of one man's perseverance and the remarkable events leading up to the launch of television as we know it, The Boy Genius and the Mogul shines new light on a major turning point in American history.

Customer Reviews:

The truth to TV.......2005-04-01

The Boy Genius and the Mogul: The Untold Story of Television recounts the story of Philo T. Farnsworth, the uncredited but true mastermind of television. A true genius from a young age, Philo encompassed a scientific mind unlike most people of his time and background.Managing to acquire a scientific as well as mechanical knowledge primarily through his own means, Philo toiled and eventually created the first digital image we reocognize as television today. This story, however, details the struggles and theft of the television the inventor faced. RCA mogul, David Sarnoff, would play a fundamental role in destroying Farnsworth's credibility. The book follows the rollercoaster ride of Farnsworth's invention and loss of the television, from the successes to the failures and mishaps with luck. The Boy Genious and the Mogul... provides the great tug of war between the common man and big business of the early twentieth century.
Daniel Stasworth writes an eloquent novel about the challenges faced by Philo Farnsworth. This exposure of the true workings and toilings of nature provides literally unknown or hidden knowledge of one of mankind's most influential innovations. The conflict and suspense of the heated battles between Farwnsworth and Sarnoff provides a well balanced drama for this biographical sketch. The essense of politics, business, science, and intelligence all combine in this story to provide a great novel about everyone's favorite little black box. It is a story that will amaze, interest, and educate any reader about a true-life story of hardwork, loss, and contentment through the workings of Philo T. Farnsworth. A great read- you should pick it up!

"Boy Genius" is an important historical piece........2005-03-27

Daniel Stashower has written a very important historical book. "The Boy Genius and the Mogul: The Untold Story of Television" is both educational and compelling. It is a remarkable telling of the invention or our most used product. To read about the precocious mind of this young inventor is absolutely magnetic. As a previous owner of one of those embryonic television sets, the information becomes even more personal. It gives life to that old brand, "Philco", stamped on those TV tubes of the late 40's. There is the interesting interplay with his mentors as well, and there is the everpresent dominance of money as the eventual driving force. This book is a two thumbs up, and it should be read by all who have an interest in our most prized electronic gadget.

The Mythic Inventor.......2002-10-30

I had an impulse to pick this book up after seeing a documentary on Philo T. Farnsworth on PBS's "the American Experience" about four years ago. The account on the show was somewhat breezy owing to the hour long format. I was hoping to find more detail in Stashower's book. I was both satisifed and maybe just a little disappointed. Part of me wished that more technical detail had been covered in the book, though the other part of me realizes that this is primarily a dramatic story of an individual's struggle to bring a new technology to market while being raced and opposed by a capitalist juggernaut (David Sarnoff and RCA). This book is more of a showcase for drama, not for technology.

If you're looking for a quick read on the trials and tribulations of one of the key inventors of television, this is a good book. If you're looking for either a primer on early television technology or an extremely detailed account of Farnsworth's battle with Sarnoff, you may be a bit disappointed.

Complicated History of Television.......2002-06-29

The Boy Genius and the Mogul (The Untold Story of Television) is not quite an untold story but it is still one worth repeating and Daniel Stashower does a good job of taking the reader easily through a story that could be much more complicated in other hands (it does after all touch on both science and the legal system, never friendly topics for the casual readers of history). Farnsworth and Sarnoff of the title make interesting protanganists and steep this book in human interest. The story droops at times but it still generally makes for a fascinating read.

The Boy Genius and the Mogul SMECC Recommends!.......2002-05-25

If you have any interest in the history of radio and television from the lay person to the engineer you will desire to read a copy of "The Boy Genius and the Mogul" by Daniel Stashower. The hero that we root for of course is Philo T. Farnsworth, one of the inventors of Television technology.
Daniel Stashower, a mystery novelist and biographer of Arthur Conan Doyle, discusses the history and development of Farnsworth's "image dissector." RCA's David Sarnoff (the "mogul" of the title) of course is portrayed as Farnsworth's nemesis. There is a fantastic amount of information on both of these brilliant people and the folk that surrounded them including a good background on Sarnof's TV developers Alexanderson (RCA Mechanical TV system) and Zworykin (Iconoscope ). There is also interesting history on Jenkins(US) and Baird (UK), both being developers of mechanical television fame...

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