Today I Am a Ma'Am: And Other Musings on Life, Beauty, and Growing Older

Book Description

Valerie Harper has a message for women of a certain age: "Work those laugh lines!" With the irreverence and wit that made her one of television's most beloved personalities, Harper (a.k.a. Rhoda Morgenstern) takes on those phony "fabulous at 50" books written by women whose skin is free of laugh lines and who wouldn't know a cellulite pocket if it bit them on the backside. With her trademark shoot-from-the-hip, call-'em-like-she-sees-'em style, she helps women celebrate, with humor and grace, what it means to be middle aged.

Harper's essays explore the treacherous terrain women must travel -- from the tyrannies of fashion to the unmentionables of menopause. She tackles the most perplexing questions of the day: If you wear a size zero, do you exist? Would menopause be revered if it happened to men? Do calories count if you eat standing up? Are dressing rooms fitted with fun house mirrors? Today I Am a Ma'am is the perfect antidote to the youth obsession of our culture, offered by America's most reliable girlfriend. It is Humor Replacement Therapy for midlife women, a book you can pick up when ever you need a laugh or a reminder that midriff drift is not the end of the world.

Customer Reviews:

A Must Read For Any Age.......2004-01-31

Valerie Harper's Today I am a Ma'm is a must read for all ages. Valerie sets forth the many feelings and thoughts that we all have as age creeps upon us and all of a sudden we realize "Hey what happened? I was just 21 years old". The younger generation could serve well to read it also and realize what Mom is up against and that their turn will also come. I've re-read Valerie's book at least 7 times. It is written not to emphasize what is happening in a negative way - but to make light of what could be traumatic to some. I URGE anyone who needs a light approach to growing older to read it. It just doesn't get any better than this. And to Valerie I say thank you so much for giving us a "smiling approach to aging".

this one's a keeper.......2002-01-17

Valerie Harper's book will make you laugh out loud, and reach for the phone to share the lines with your friends "of a certain age." Universal humor shines with universal truths, and wisdom.
This book is for women who have lived and laughed and have the grey (or in my case, as a former redhead, white) hairs, and grin wrinkles, to prove it! Valerie Harper reminds us that life at any phase, is to be celebrated.

If you are 40 and over, you will really enjoy this book.......2001-12-30

This book was a quick read and good for deep hearted laughter. I say it is for those over 40 as you have to have lived some of life to see the realistic humor and feel it as well. Enjoy!

Write your biography instead, Valerie.......2001-08-23

This audio cassette is a huge disappointment. Not only is the content unamusing, but Valerie reads the lines s-l-o-w-l-y ... perhaps to try to fill 90 minutes (yes - the whole thing, unabridged, fits on one 90 minute tape!) How many pages were in the book version I wonder ... 6? It is hard to fathom what Valerie is trying to achieve with this mis-mash of supposedly woman-empowering babble, but she has failed dismally - she isn't even funny or interesting when quoting the odd line from Rhoda. Valerie, if you read this - PLEASE sit down and write your autobiography. I am sure all your fans would much rather hear about your rise to TV superstardom than hear tired old rants along the lines of "wouldn't it be different if men got menopause", etc.

Cute but not enough original material.......2001-05-31

Although Valerie has always been one of my favorite actors and comes across in interviews as one of the most sincere personalities out there today, I was disappointed in this book. It seems that most of the really funny stuff was mined from the internet and after being online for 6 years myself, it wasn't the first time I had seen it. (such as "If Men had menopause" and "Diet Fibs") There were also many cliches about aging that were, frankly, OLD. The book (and publicity material) also uses a phrase that was coined by someone else, but that person was not given credit. As a writer myself, I'm very surprised that credit was not given for the "Humor Replacement Therapy", which is a trademark of the minniepauz.com site that Valerie mentions in her book.

I did enjoy the stories that were original. We always like to peek inside a celebrity's life and hear familiar names mentioned. Also, the illustrations were very funny. I guess I just expected more from one of TV's funny ladies.

Average customer rating:
Today I Am a Ma'Am: And Other Musings on Life, Beauty, and Growing Older
Valerie; Whitney, Catherine; Tulka, Rick Harper
Manufacturer: HarperEntertainment
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OEAVAG

Book Description

In the early 1950s, a rising star flickered across millions of black-and-white TV sets. Nick-named 'The Grey Ghost,' Native Dancer was a blue-blood thoroughbred with a taste for drama, courtesy of his come-from-behind running style, and impressive credits: He finished first in 21 of his 22 career starts, his only loss by a nose in the 1953 Kentucky Derby; was named Horse of the Year-twice; and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame. His popularity was so great, Time magazine put him on its cover, and TV Guide named him one of America's top three TV stars, along with Ed Sullivan and Arthur Godfrey. Legend says his ghost haunts Churchill Downs. Set against the nostalgic events of an America long past, NATIVE DANCER is the definitive account of one of the greatest champions of horse racing's golden age.

Download Description

In the early 1950s a star was born. Native Dancer captured the imagination of millions of Americans as his grey image flickered across their black and white television sets. He was aptly nicknamed the Grey Ghost, a name that would quickly gain a permanent place in the nation's vocabulary. A thoroughbred champion with blue-blood roots and a knack for drama courtesy of his come-from-behind running style, Native Dancer would finish first in 21 of 22 races in his career-his only loss coming by a nose in the Kentucky Derby. This book is the definitive look at the life and times of Native Dancer set against a nostalgic journey back to the golden age of horse racing, and our nation's history.

Customer Reviews:

One of the greatest...........2007-06-29

Native Dancer was a monstrous animal with a light grey, almost white coat. He had a mind of this own and some thought that it was almost human. In his heyday, only losing one race, was at the birth of American TV so everyone knew the Dancer. Thousands loved him. He had the popularity of the Beatles but in the early 50's. This book is a must read for anyone mildly interested in horses or horse racing. I am so inspired that I am going to make a trip to see his burial sight this summer just north of Baltimore. Man. What a horse!!!!!

Good facts but not much story.......2006-10-14

Forgive me if I forget details, as it's been a year since I read this book. Eisenberg presents pretty straight facts and so forth, as far as I know (unlike "Seabiscuit" which has a bit of embellishment in some places), but it is not very exciting reading. Thankfully, it is not as big a book as "Seabiscuit". It's so-so story-telling and seems to drag on in some ways. I got some info out of it, but that's about it. Nothing against "the Dancer" (that was one annoying thing - Eisenberg always referring to the horse as "the Dancer" as if it was cute, but it was monotonous and pretentious after 10x on 1 page, with no pronouns or actual name used), but the writing just doesn't quite thrill me.

Good, but no Seabiscuit.......2006-01-15

Eisenberg does a very good job of the research on this project and accurately puts the reader on the scene for some of the Grey Ghost's memorable moments. Through no fault of his own, however, the people around him aren't overly interesting. It's nice to have the backgrounds and bio's of the team, but there is something that falls short of making them memorable. There are several horse bio's that I have read recently, and the Ruffian, Secretariat, and Seabiscuit stories just seem to keep you turning pages.

Hero Of The 50's.......2005-10-01

Eisnberg takes you back, all the way back to Native Dancer himself's stall and tells you this story as if you were there, watching it all happen. I don't know about anyone else, but this book was very real to me. Maybe some need to re-read it to get the vivid picture that is immediately put into your mind, from start to finish with this book. This horse was a great horse. A once-defeated and ran more than Man o' War did. You only need to win by enough to win, and don't over-exert or you lose some horse. Native Dancer comes to me as a horse ahead of his time. The colt is strikingly intelligent and is humbled with a #7 ranking of all time. I clearly enjoy this book. Highly reccomended for horse racing historians.

The Grey Ghost came within a nose of immortality.......2005-03-09

Wow. This horse was an amzing grey. Native Dancer was a superb racehorse that did the things that went beyond people's expectations at the time. I was fully intrigued while reading this book. Just as many people would later argue that Riva Ridge should have been the ninth triple crown winner, that arguement should have sparked up that Native Dancer almost got the title. Losing the derby by a nose his only defeat. An amazing book on this speedy grey thoroughbred.

Native Dancer, The Grey Ghost, Hero Of A Golden Age

Average customer rating:

"Racing's original pop star, the equine Elvis Presley."

Native Dancer, The Grey Ghost, Hero Of A Golden Age
John Eisenberg
Manufacturer: Warner Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0965751759

Product Description

Story of the champion racehorse.

Customer Reviews:

"Racing's original pop star, the equine Elvis Presley.".......2005-09-20

In 1953, Native Dancer, a grey, 3-year-old racehorse bred and owned by Alfred Vanderbilt, captured the hearts and imagination of America and was declared "one of the three most popular figures in the country," along with TV personalities Arthur Godfrey and Ed Sullivan. Winning an incredible twenty-one of his twenty-two races, he was only a few inches away from having a perfect record, losing that one race "by a nose." Horse of the Year in 1954, Native Dancer was an unprecedented choice to grace the cover of Time magazine in May, 1954, just before he retired from racing as a four-year-old.

Author John Eisenberg reports here on the horse, the stable, and all the individuals who were part of his illustrious career, explaining the circumstances which made Native Dancer the darling of the country. Seen by more race fans than any other racehorse in history, thanks to America's recent discovery of the joys of television, he stood out visually from the pack and became "America's first matinee idol." When he began racing in 1952, World War II had been over for only a few years, and the fifties were a decade in which "institutions were to be admired, not challenged." Americans "saw their country as wealthy and invincible," and Native Dancer became a symbol of this power. He was, in fact, so big and so powerful that when he ran, "you could draw a horizontal straight line from his airborne back feet to the tips of his forelegs," his stride measuring an incredible twenty-nine feet.

Having thoroughly researched every conceivable aspect of his story, Eisenberg writes with the journalistic brio of a true lover of horse-racing, and makes the horse, his stupendous bursts of speed out of the pack in the final seconds of his races, and the people surrounding him live again. Through newspaper accounts, photographs, step-by-step reconstructions of the races, interviews with the participants and their heirs, and personal stories by people who remember the horse and his quirks, he turns back the clock to a simpler era and recreates the spirit of the fifties when all the world looked bright. Though Native Dancer was never as lovable as Seabiscuit (and, in fact, once bit off the finger of someone he did not trust), he was a huge and positive presence, an immensely powerful racer who had a tremendous desire to win and the intelligence to know how hard he had to work to accomplish that win. Mary Whipple

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Native Dancer: The Grey Ghost: Hero of a Golden Age

Manufacturer: Books on Tape, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
ASIN: 0736694056

Product Description

9 CDs

Book Description

The golden age of animation stretched from the early 1930s to the mid-1950s, with movie cartoons reaching an extraordinarily high level of artistry and technique—far higher than today's TV cartoons, for instance.

Nearly 1000 cartoons were produced by the seven major animation studios in the U.S. between January 1, 1939, and September 30, 1945—the immediate pre-World War II period up to the cessation of hostilities. More than a quarter of the cartoons substantially refer to the war, and thereby are invaluable in helping to understand American attitudes and Hollywood's reflection of them.

The meat of Doing Their Bit is a filmography with extremely detailed summaries of the 260 or so commercially produced, animated, war-related shorts, 1939-1945. There is also a good bit of overall commentary on these films as a group. Two chapters wrap up animated cartoons of World War I and the general political tenor of animated talkies of the 1930s.

Customer Reviews:

Cartoons go to war - An excellent look at WWII Hollywood.......2001-02-02

This book is a must for anyone interested in animation history, because it focuses primarily on Hollywood cartoons produced during the years surrounding World War II. All the major studios, from Disney to Warners produced animated cartoons that in some way or another touched on the European conflict, and stepped up production when the war approached their native soil.

The cartoons would often be morale boosters for those who had family fighting the war, and topical humor would be found in cartoons poking fun at Hitler, Mussolini and Hirohito, although many would also make light of situations on the home front - women in the work force, rationing, war bonds, etc.

Complete essays discussing different periods of WWII give examples of the rise of wartime references and their eventual disappearance when the war ended. A very thorough list of cartoons is featured with plot summaries and notes of what type of topical references appear in the films.

Reading this book gives one a surprising look at the social impact of cartoons produced during these years, and since many of these cartoons contain what are considered nowadays racial caricatures, it is certain to make you look at cartoon animation in a whole different perspective from much of the tripe that passes for animation today. If you own books by Leonard Maltin or Jerry Beck, this is a perfect companion.

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Music in New Orleans the Formative Years, 1791-1841
Henry A. Kmen
Manufacturer: Louisiana State University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Textbook Binding
ASIN: 0807105481

Customer Reviews:

Old But A Goody........2002-04-21

This book is old and great. it has pictures and diagrams, and some good strategies! It's also very humorous, being written in the 80's and all, how people thought these games were ingenious. :)

Book Description

Titles in Barron's Business Success series are quick reads for busy people. They advise career-minded men and women on how to succeed at all levels of management, marketing, and other business undertakings, with emphasis on survival in the corporate environment. This book helps make business writing easy, with tips on matching business language to the proper format—memos, reports, proposals, letters, and more. This new edition also gives attention to e-mail, which in recent years has become a dominant medium for business communication. An appendix presents a quick-reference grammar guide, and cartoon-style line art captures the author's light approach.

Right Way to Write: How to Write Effective Business Letters, Reports, Memos and E-Mail

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Right Way to Write: How to Write Effective Business Letters, Reports, Memos and E-Mail
Rupert Morris
Manufacturer: Virgin Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Writing | Reference | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Running Meetings & Presentations | Skills | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Writing | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0749918780

Book Description

Here are the most remarkable stories imaginable of maroons, castaways, and other survivors from the 1500s to the present - their moral dilemmas, their personalities, and their influence on society, literature, and art.

Customer Reviews:

Too academic.......2007-09-22

This book dissapointed me in so far as I thought it was too academically written. It failed to capture my imagination.

Thank you, Mr. Leslie........2007-08-14

I have often wanted to write a thank you note to Mr. Leslie for this wonderful book. It is a touchstone for me. I re-read it once in a while to remind myself of the strength of the human spirit, the determination of character and the resourcefulness of our species. It also gives you something to think about when you think YOU are having problems! I appreciate that Mr. Leslie never assigns any of the successful survivals to the intervention of a devine being. To the contrary, scoundrals seem to fair better at the survival game than those who believe they have somewhere better to go. Certainly a keen interest in your own best interests and a refusal to give up on yourself is a factor in most of these stories. In short, this book is a guide book on survival for anyone who is mortal. Add to all this the fact that Mr. Leslie is a very talented writer and researcher, and you have a book that is a great read and refreshing to your soul. Thanks, Mr. Leslie.

Fascinating and well-written.......2007-02-18

This is a gripping account of how castaways and survivors struggle with nature and, sometimes, man. It is a huge book and I agree that the author could have eliminated the last section of the book. Actually, he should have written two books, one of them on the detailed survival of people like Alexander Selkirk and Herman Melville and the other book a short one on modern survivalists.

This is because the last section of the book is a different format than the first much larger section. On the last section, the author provides only brief synopsis of events and facts and most of them are WWII related nature-related survivals. I would have suggested that he expand one of two of the stories and save the others for another book.

However, what I enjoyed most about this book is the author's writing. He often used a turn of phrase that was unique, humorous and subtle. Don't get me wrong - the book is not humorous but the author has inserted a comment or phrase periodically that summed up someone's plight or segued into their next calamity. I found it very enjoyable and would mark the pages because I enjoyed that writing so much.

I enjoy this genre and know that well written books in this genre are a rarity so I gave this book 5 stars. Whether you like this genre or not, you will enjoy this book!

unforgettable and gripping!.......2005-10-26

this is one of the few books i've read that i can't get out of my mind. i keep thinking about the different stories. i lend it out far too often! you don't have to read it all at once; it's a great book to dip into.

Good book, readable and amazing.......2005-09-20

A very good book. The author writes in a way that holds your attention from the begining to end. Almost to the end, because he loses rhythm in the last chapter. But this does not reduce its value.

If you like knowing about how people behave under extreme situations, this is the book.

Book Description

A classic work, Munitions of the mind traces how propaganda has formed part of the fabric of conflict since the dawn of warfare, and how in its broadest definition it has also been part of a process of persuasion at the heart of human communication. Stone monuments, coins, broadsheets, paintings and pamphlets, posters, radio, film, television, computers and satellite communications - throughout history, propaganda has had access to ever more complex and versatile media.

This third edition has been revised and expanded to include a new preface, new chapters on the 1991 Gulf War, information age conflict in the post-Cold War era, and the world after the terrorist attacks of September 11. It also offers a new epilogue and a comprehensive bibliographical essay.

The extraordinary range of this book, as well as the original and cohesive analysis it offers, make it an ideal text for all international courses covering media and communications studies, cultural history, military history and politics. It will also prove fascinating and accessible to the general reader.

Customer Reviews:

An Undergraduate's Perspective.......2005-06-12

As an undergraudate studying a Propaganda course at Durham University, the book was invaluable. For everyone on the course, it was the unofficial textbook.

The key to its success is its masterful combination of bredth and depth. It illuminates critical issues well with examples giving a lively history of propaganda throughout. It also never isolates propaganda from the wider context.

I paid particular attention to the Second World War chapter, which was a bit thin on Soviet Propaganda and gave too many lists (esp. of films) but was overall a wonderful chapter. The chapter on the Gulf War was also especially good.

My only criticisms would be that it needs more awareness of the metholodigical issues for the propaganda historian and more on Vietnam given its significance as the first mass television war. Could also do with some more pictures given its emphasis on visual propaganda.

Thanks for a splendid book and a great website accessible through Leeds University School of Communication.

Joe

An excellent survey of Western history and propaganda.......1998-05-07

"Munitions of the Mind" is a broad survey of propaganda and its use through history. Perhaps the one book of its kind, "Munitions of the Mind" takes the reader from early Western civilization to the Gulf War, briefly describing how propaganda was used to promote military and political goals of empires, democracies, and ideologies across the eons.

The book is an excellent basic resource for those seeking to understand how propaganda has been used through history. Clearly and insightfully written, it forces the reader to think about how emerging media may be used by entities to promote their goals.

The book contains some minor irritations, such as its references to Margaret Mead's somewhat controversial "Coming of Age in Samoa," and a section on the Cold War that appeared (to this reader) to place both sides on equal moral footing. This reviewer also hungered for more details on peacetime propaganda, more pre-20th century examples, and the an explanation about how modern marketing techniques affected propaganda. The non-Western world is virtually ignored. Visuals would have also helped the reader understand how graphics are used in conveying ideas without words. However, these are small problems in a work of such amazing scope and interest.

Book Description

This much-needed handbook offers conflict resolution professionals working (or planning to work) in foreign countries a critical, step-by-step guide for dealing with difficult and potentially dangerous disputes in other nations. The editors, John Paul Lederach and Janice Moomaw Jenner, have gathered a stellar panel of seasoned experts who illustrate how to approach international peacebuilding with effective actions and approaches gained through experience that will contribute ultimately to a more positive outcome. Based on the experience of the contributors— work as global peace brokers, the book includes a wide array of guidelines, pragmatic approaches, and models of constructive, culturally appropriate ways to respond to conflict.

Book Description

Journey along with Dr. Meg Lowman, a scientist who, with the help of slings, suspended walkways, and mountain-climbing equipment, has managed to ascend into one of our planet’s least accessible and most fascinating ecosystems--the rain-forest canopy. “Fresh in outlook and intriguing in details, this book will strengthen any library collection on the rainforest.”--Booklist

Inside the Dzanga-Sangha Rain Forest : Exploring the Heart of Central Africa

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Inside the Dzanga-Sangha Rain Forest
Exceptional and Exciting: A Rain Forest Experience

Inside the Dzanga-Sangha Rain Forest : Exploring the Heart of Central Africa
Francesca Lyman
Manufacturer: Workman Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books

Natural History | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books

History of Technology | Technology | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 076110870X

Book Description

Inside the Dzanga Sangha Rain Forest follows a team of scientists, artists, and filmmakers as they search for the elusive lowland gorilla, rare birds, leopards, a universe of insects, not to mention the powerful elephants for whom the forest is named. The team is guided by local BaAka people through elephant dung, swarms of sweat bees, and unexpected swamps as they explore and record everything they can about the rain forest. Readers learn about the rain forest, from the layers of forest canopy and the lives of the BaAka to practical skills, such as what to do if approached by a gorilla, and how to eat a termite. At the end of the expedition, the team sends back 6,000 pounds of specimens and materials and an incomparable first-hand account of life in the rain forest in order to create a unique walk-through exhibit, complete with sounds and smells.

Customer Reviews:

Inside the Dzanga-Sangha Rain Forest.......2002-06-14

Inside the Dzanga-Sangha Rain Forest is a spectacular book that follows a team of twenty scientists, artists, photographers, and filmmakers, into the heart of Africa in their search to find the essence of the rain forest. Guided by the BaAka people, a local tribe, the team spends two months filming and recording the beauty of Africa. They trudge through elephant dung, swarms of "sweat" bees, and thigh-deep flood plains, or bai as it is called in the national language of Sango, to collect items for a unique walk-through rain forest exhibit in New York City. In summary, this book takes readers on a vicarious trip through the rain forest so they can experience its beauty, meet its inhabitants, and learn practical survival skills such as gathering honey, eating termites, and playing basketball BaAka style. Regardless of age, you will find fun and adventure between the covers of Inside the Dzanga-Sangha Rain Forest!

Exceptional and Exciting: A Rain Forest Experience.......2000-04-15

You may not have recently toured the rain forests of Central Africa, but you can enjoy the lush photographs and readable text about this facinating corner of the world, the Dzangu-Sangha Rain Forest. I am a lover of African lore and found this book to use in my class. My students and I have eaten it up. We marveled at the marvelous pictures and were fascinated by the facts and information we found in the text. We all loved the information about driver ants that can be used to close up wounds that formerly required stitiches. The BaAka people and their customs are carefully documented with care and with dignity. Three sections of ninth graders who have been studying Afrian literature and folklore adored this book. To boot, my own kids, ages 5-13, have poured over the book during family reading hour. I recommended our high school library acquire a copy for student use. It is incredibly readable and suitable for a large audience. It is not to be missed.

The High Frontier: Exploring the Tropical Rainforest Canopy

Average customer rating:

solid science, unforgettable images

The High Frontier: Exploring the Tropical Rainforest Canopy
Mark Moffett , and Edward O. Wilson
Manufacturer: Harvard University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books

Rain Forests | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0674390393

Customer Reviews:

solid science, unforgettable images.......2001-04-19

This is a great popular science book, written by an adventurer/explorer who also has a Harvard PhD in biology. He travels all over the world for National Geographic, taking nature photos as well as reporting on cutting-edge discoveries in the rainforests. As such, he succeeds at mixing art and science in this book, which is somewhat technical, but explained in clear language that laymen can understand. THis book changed the way I saw rainforests: fully 9/10s of their biota are in the canopy, in the leaves high above, which you would never from the ground. And Moffet went up there with camera to photograph it with some of the world's best scientists. The result is masterful.

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