Entertainment Books

Lots Of good information on NXT G-code,Bluetooth programming for the NXT, and an informative guide to designing your NXT bots.I thought this book was well worth the money. The "LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT-G Programming Guide (Technology in Action) is a very good intro to this book.

The LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Idea Book: Design, Invent, and Build

I read this book and I really enjoyed it. This was the first Mindstorms book that I read and it was really easy to understand and got me off to a quick start. The only reason that I didn't give it 5 stars was that the graphics and text are printed on an off white background and it made it a little harder to read and the graphics themselves are all black and white and some of them were a little hard to figure out the robot designs because of it. But dont let this keep you from getting this great robotics book. [...]

The problem with this book is it has black and white photos of black and white pieces. They don't give a close up of what your adding to your structure. Writing is too small to look at without a magnify glass.
Programming was screwed up in some places.

'The LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Idea Book: Design, Invent, and Build' is an absolutely wonderful book with one MAJOR flaw in that the entire book is in black and white. Packed with 16 chapters written wonderfully with exciting examples and content, this would have been a easy 5 star recommendation but I simply cannot do that. Legos are bold, bright, and full of color, the decision to publish this in black and white was a terrible one. I understand this decision was made to no doubt save costs, but it shouldn't have been published (no matter how good the content is) in this form. Some books would benefit from color, some books require it and this is one of those cases. If you enjoy Legos and want to learn how to use Mindstorms NXT and all the fun, amazing things you can do with them this book will show you how, but I would wait for version 2.0 of this book with color. Not only is the black and white unfavorable, it's downright hard to follow.

Great content, great layout, thumbs WAY down for no color

**** RECOMMENDED

This book contains very clear instructions and diagrams for NXT-G program. The sample robots are creative and very well designed. You can feel the intelligence behind when you build. I especially like the binding of this book, so it can lay open while you build. So I will probablly purchase more book from this press. In fact I have pre-order one. One thing I doesn't like is one of the samples requires two NXT kits, which I don't have at the moment. I guess it's because this book is targeting more senior builders.

An unbelievably depressing and simplistic memoir of sorts by a woman who evidently finds her ineptitude as a mother hilarious, this book manages to make babies sound like a cross between cancer and the IRS. The constant references to drug use are sickening, and her aversion to natural processes disturbing. Note to the author: motherhood can be a blast, and not just because of the hormones.

This book takes all the normal cliches and overplays the jokes - it's dumbed down "entertainment" that's not all that entertaining.

Stefanie Wilder-Taylor's book "Sippy Cups are Not for Chardonnay" is a refreshing find in the world of baby texts and parenting narrative. Straightforward, modern, and completely human, Wilder-Taylor's take on motherhood is a great find for first-time-moms and veterans alike. You won't agree with everything she has to say, but the beauty of the narrative is that you don't have to - one woman offers her experience as a new mother, and shows that not everything has to be "by the book."

I read this when I was pregnant. It makes you laught out loud...and it's the perfect book if you aren't one of those "What to Expect When You're Expecting" moms...

I see responses from parents complaining about the use of language in Wilder-Taylor's book(s). The truth is, if you're a parent who doesn't swear in real life you may also want to shy away from a book about the realism of kids (and by proxy, things that might eventually make you swear). Hint: if you are into attachment parenting, holistic birthing, and keeping things au naturale, you will most likely read this book with a grain of salt. Does that mean you'll hate it? Maybe, maybe not. But even though I gave birth naturally I embraced this book with open arms and laughed my arse off.

Given her background--a television starlet, who didn't quite make it to the top--it was impossible that Jacqueline Susann had written a novel. It was even more impossible that she had written anything worth reading. However, as it figures out, Jacqueline Susann didn't care about logic, and instead of the smutty predecessor of the modern chick lit novel, we get a socially conscious, audaciously feminist literary novel underneath the veil of a roman á clef in the now infamous and classic 1966 Valley of the Dolls. Chronicling the lives of three friends in a twenty year period, from 1945 to 1965, as they strive to reach the top in the social world of men, Susann's novel is stirring and beckons the reader to turn the page--again and again. Yet most striking, and what makes its readers continue, are her characters: Anne, the plainly beautiful protagonist who just wants to make a life of her own; Neely, a small but powerful lady with a voice to match; and Jennifer, the gorgeous lady who wields her power with her youthful body, all of whom are drawn out so completely, in their flaws, perfections, and most of all their power and claim to it, that readers have not choice but to believe and most importantly care. Simply put, Susann is a masterful storyteller. Running through the plot are themes of woman empowerment, the ability to choose, and the disdainful society treat women who have mastered these concepts. Sadly, this is lost in Susann's legacy of shock and scandal and perhaps at her sometimes (very) unskillful and clumsy writing, or as Truman Capote phrased it "typing." However, in the same vain that Jennifer Weiner claimed that chick lit was an elitist term, perhaps holding and labeling Susann's novel as merely romance (which is it not for many reasons) and popular literature of no use for serious readers is an elitist practice that bars us from socially active literature such as this 400-page volume of a story.

Not overly impressed - disgusted by the way the women allowed men to use them - all I can say is eeeeeehhh...

To encounter this book in 2007 is to be reminded why women needed a feminist movement to self-actualize and appreciate that they did not need a man to fulfill their destinies or validate their worth. The book is...tres yucky on other levels, as well. The writing has an adolescent twang that is grating and inescapable; the author's inability to render the characters with any depth results in cardboard facsimiles of characters that are not believable and impossible to care about; the circumstances the characters find themselves in are so utterly cliche as to be ridiculous. Enough already with the pills! This is even worse than "The Nanny Diaries" or "The Devil Wears Prada" - my first and last forays into contemporary chick lit. What a bore! Campy? Creepy! Not even ironic. Moronic, perhaps. Back to the Goodwill bookshelf from whence you came, dolls.

This was one of those books where I wanted to go back and re-read it immediately. However, I don't re-read books back-to-back, so alas, I'm going to have to wait to do that. Needless to say, I loved this book.

Valley of the dolls follows three women--Anne, Neely, and Jennifer--over the course of twenty years, as they rise through the ranks of the entertainment industry, eventually becoming addicted to "dolls"--sleeping pills, you name it, they take it. The result is heartbreaking and tragic.

Ultimately about female friendship and love for a city (New York), Valley of the Dolls is the kind of book that stays with you for a long, long time after you read it. I recommend this book to anyone who's a fan of Sex And The City--so much of that show's premise is based around the same kind of themes as this book. Valley of the Dolls has been called chick lit, but its so much that that.

On the back of the book, there is a quote by a reviewer who spouts that most tired of cliches "I literally couldn't put it down" or something liked that. For once, I'd have to agree wholeheartedly - 450 pages and never a dull moment. The prose is lively, sensitive and articulate. The story itself - the trials and tribulations of three women in the entertainment industry over a 20 year period - captivating and engaging. Also dug the way Susann rejects explicit sex scenes and places sexual/personal politics in its place. Makes the whole thing far more believable and realistic (plus her ability to write 'romantic' scenes is more cheesy than sexual as the few ill-advised attempts here seem to confirm).

Actually, Valley Of The Dolls (the book, not the film) reminded me of Goodfellas in a way which may sound like a bizarre comparison but it has that same quasi-documentary feel, a whirlwind tour of 20 years in the lives of a small microcosm of people. Like the Scorsese masterpiece, significant events occur, are pondered briefly and then swiftly forgotten in a heady rush to get to the end of the gals' glamorous/sordid lives.

If there are drawbacks, it's to do with inconsistent characterisations. People's personas suddenly change totally at various points in the book and at times you feel as though you're dealing with a totally different person. Also, Susann doesn't seem to like her characters equally, or she starts with a concept about them (Jennifer) and gets bored midway through and ceases to bother developing them after a while. Of the three main characters, it's clearly Neely who seems to interest Susann most and she gets quite deeply into her. But I think it's at the expense of the other characters and does weaken the novel if we were to look at it from a technical standpoint (which I don't). On the plus side, super-tuff ending! Why don't we ever get stuff like this in the movies!?! Very dark and downbeat, again giving it a more realistic tinge.

Finally, don't dismiss this as chick lit or proto-feminism etc or whatever crass marketing terms are currently in vogue to describe writing by women. This is a great novel in its own right and just cos its written by a girl doesn't necessarily mean its FOR girls. Women may be the central characters in this tale of the ups and downs of the post-war showbiz world, but ultimately, it's a book about people.

So read it, everyone!

It's got some funny parts, mixed in with a lot of bland ranting. Overall, I'd say it's worth a read for sentences like "women couldn't do math even if it tasted like chocolate". But I wouldn't put this guy on the same level as Maddox and the others.

I was very depressed after two of my girlfriend broke up with me. I walked into Barnes and Nobles just to spend my time. I was just feeling so sad.
Then I found this book and within a few minutes I was laughing out loud.
If you are man, seriously , get this book. This will make you laugh out loud. Yes this book might be offensive to women and feminist. But it is a great survival guide book for the recently divorced guy or your nerdy male friend who just got dumped by his girlfriend. We guys are too sensitive to women. But women don't appreciate sensitivity. They want a strong man who can lead them. This book will also teach you to be a man. This is the first amazon book review I am writing. This is the best book I have ever read that helped me get over my long time depression of getting dumped by two girlfriends. Get it man, and buy another for your buddy, you won't regret it.

The funniest book I've read since Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. All men and women should read this quick read book!

Listen boys, this book is an absolute MUST in this world of ours. Dick Masterson lays it out plain and simple: Men ARE better than women.

Have you ever had a negative experience with a woman? Relationship gone awry? False accusations? Affirmative action?

Well, you have always known deep down inside that there was something you were missing. Some piece of the puzzle that you just didn't have. And Dick Masterson provides you with that missing piece with his book, "Men are better than woman."

Now, a lot of people will say this book is sexist, chauvinist, and politically incorrect. And they would be right. And that is PRECISELY why this book exists!

Our culture of political correctness has created a haven for fallacy and deception. We are constantly bombarded by images and words that tell us that everyone is the same, that we are all equal. And most importantly, that women can do anything men can do.

But that simply isn't true.

We do not HAVE equality in western culture. What we have is a biased legal system, favoring women.

Don't believe me? Perhaps you should look up the following statistics:

Percentage of men who commit suicide VS women.
Percentage of false rape accusations against men VS women.
Percentage of child custody between men and women.
Percentage of deadbeat child support payers between men and women.
Percentage of homeless men VS women.
Percentage of of men VS women who are criminals.
Percentage of criminals who were raised by single mothers.
Percentage of men who initiate divorce VS women.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Men, I am not saying that women are evil creatures who deserve death. I am saying that in our modern culture, women have been given a free pass for bad behavior, and it needs to stop.

Buy this book, go to menarebetterthanwomen.com, and sign up for the forums at menarebetterthanwomen.com/forums. You won't be disappointed.

Listen, I JUST got the book in the mail today, and I'm half way through it. But I couldn't wait until the end to rite a review. Men simply need to buy this book. And I guarantee you that you won't be disappointed if you do.

I bought this book because of the great cover and the many positive reviews I read on this site. Boy, was I duped. The writing style is completely horrid, as if the author didn't even graduate from high school. The amount of obscenities significantly takes away from what little humor there was and makes me wonder why I hadn't popped in a N.W.A. album instead. Every aspect of this book screams amateur. If you want a couple of cheap laughs at essentially the same joke rehashed several times, this is the book for you.

Must admit that the size of the book was daunting as I was expecting pages of analysis on why wrestling is what it is, and what can be done about it (ala Mick Foleys second book) but I was pleasantly surprised to read a brilliant piece of work.

Bret Hart pulled no punches writing about the sport, the wrestlers, promoters, his family and most importantly himself. He is open in discussing his affairs and drug use.

Bret's love for his family (ok, for most of the family) is heartfelt and discussing the passing of his father was a tough read as it was so emotional.

While it is but one man's version of the events in the book, Hart's story does have a ring of truth to it.

Quite possible the best wrestling book ever written.

Only a hero would expose the real and honest truth and that is what this is. I got it signed by Bret the same day I got it. Hes a great person and will always be my hero!

I am a huge Bret "The Hitman" Hart fan and when I read his book I was amazed. It really gives you an insight as to who Bret is and how he became this world wide phenomenon and how it all came down. He mentions his early life as a professional wrestler, how he met his wife...etc. Overall I really enjoyed the book. And if you are a fan of his I really recommend it. I really liked the pictures of his family. The book contains a lot of happiness, sadness, it's funny,...etc. Must read.

This book has been hyped as an encyclopedic tome; the best wrestling autobiography ever written, and there are not understatements. Simply put, this is one of the best books, not just autobiographies, that I have ever had the pleasure of reading.

This is a fantastic book. Reading this book was the only time I never wanted my train rides home from work to end. I didn't want this book to end, period!

Yes Bret does have a very high opinion of himself, loves to pat himself on the back, is still bitter about a lot of things, and will surprise you by how much of a mark he is (he took his work so seriously you got the impression Bret would fool himself into thinking it was all real), but at the same time Bret is also an honest, prideful man with dignity and he pulls no punches in this book whether he is discussing his fellow wrestlers, his infidelities, his occasional drug use, and most importantly his family. I have a lot of respect for the man. The life he lived during his career certainly wasn't an easy one.

Bret's accounts of travelling the world are also fascinating to read.

The bottom line is if you are a fan of Bret Hart or a wrestling fan in general you owe it to yourself to read this book.

Thanks Bret for an awesome read.

Nantz seems like a really good guy. And if you're a sports fan, you'll enjoy some of the behind the scenes and inside stories no doubt, as I did. But throughout I thought it was a bit self indulgent on Jim's part, and quite a bit schmaltzy. That is, overly sentimental. At least for my taste. Am I the only one felt that way ?

We gave it to our son after we had read it and it was excellent. We wanted to share with him.

I ordered three copies of the book for Father's Day gifts for two of my sons and my husband. According to the recipients, it was a great read. Amazon service was, as always, superb!

I gave this book as a Father's Day gift to my son, who lost his Dad a few years ago. We both read it. What an inspiration.

Like me Jim Nantz is from the Houston area, so based on that commonality I've always been a fan. This book details a professional career that's gone very right and a personal life that's posed one significant challenge. There are points where everything that is written, said, etc. has been so perfect that you just want a strong cup of black coffee to wash the sugary taste from your mouth. Then you read the challenges with his Dad and it makes you want to tip you hat to the man and hope that I would react in the same way that he's done.

Great behind-the-scenes and name-dropping book that makes a good summer read.

I didn't expect much from this book - who writes his life story when he's just pushing 40? But this is a fun and funny, stream of consciousness autobiography, roped into some order by his coauthor sister, complete with humorous/explanatory footnoted asides (well, his sister IS an English professor) and lots of great photos of wee John from childhood on up and his beloved and wacky extended family and friends, productions he was in, up to present day Captain Jack on 'Torchwood.' It's written for a British audience, but anyone on either side of the Atlantic would enjoy it. I laughed out loud at several of his stories of various theatrical escapades and disasters. Not surprisingly, the story is just like the actor seems - what you see is what you get - funny, exuberant, charming, a bit naughty, and full of life.

I actually listened to the audiobook version, read very entertainingly by John Barrowman himself. I can't say whether the book benefits from a slight abridgment, but I suspect it benefits quite a bit by the addition of John Barrowman's always charming delivery. I smiled all the way through, laughed aloud in places, and found myself touched in more.
Besides the look into his life thus far (his coming out tale, for example), the book serves as good introduction to the hard work a professional entertainer has in store for themselves before reaching success (or at least steady employment!) Talent - something John has in almost unfair spades - and looks, another thing John can't truthfully deny he possesses - are not enough. He details the work he put in, the learning he had to do (and his gratitude to his many teachers), as well as his trials (amusing to hear how he didn't get a part he wasn't considered 'gay enough' for) on the long yet interesting road to Doctor Who, Torchwood and becoming a National Treasure.
There's also a smattering of fun "behind the scenes" Doctor Who and Torchwood stories for fans like me!

I got turned on to John Barrowman last year after discovering Torchwood. I find it refreshing, in this day and age, to come across someone who is living his life to the fullest, no apologies, no regrets.

The book gives us a brief overview of what seems to be, his very charmed life. I am sure he has had much more grief and frustration in his 40 years then the book lets on, but maybe that's left for another book.
(And according to Carole, they are in talks to do another one)

He gives us tales of his growing up in Scotland and later spending his formative years in Illinois, becoming an American boy. He returns to the UK for schooling and gets his big break, starring in a big West End show.
Charmed indeed.

The love he has for his family and partner is evident throughout the book. I had the pleasure of talking to his mother and father at a booksigning in Milwaukee and they were absolutely charming people who are so proud of their son.

It's a really quick read and you will find yourself laughing out loud at some of his stories and sniffling at others. I enjoyed the audio version too as it's kind of fun listening to him talk about his life, almost like you're sitting there and he's talking to you personally.
Plenty of great pictures too.
So, if you're just discovering John or just want to know more about him, it's a great place to start.

(I have to admit though, I hate the cover photo.)

When I first read others' comments about this book (as I waited...and waited...and waited for Amazon to send it) I just figured the negative ones came from a bunch of John and/or gay haters. I now have to concede that they had some valid points. At times, I wonder if the John I've seen in interviews is the same guy as the one in this book! I'd already listened to the audio version, and there were times when he came off as a bit of a d*** in it, but hearing the anecdotes in his own voice softened the bite. In print, he does not come off well. He comes off as a brat. Where's the guy who helped those two ladies after one of his shows? (A cute anecdote about some fans who were stranded after a thief nabbed a purse.) Where's the guy who got so irritated at the protesters at London Pride that he told the crowd that "THEY'RE the ones who need saving, not me"? THAT man has more passion and integrity than the one I've seen so far here. Save your money - watch and buy some Torchwood and Who instead. And watch his interview from Heaven and Earth. I think you'll see Another - and better - Side of John.
All that said, some of the photos are absolutely gorgeous!!!!!!!!!

I am a huge fan of Torchwood and John Barrowman (discovered both recently)and was waiting eagerly for this book to learn more about him and his life. But I'm sorry to say this highly anticipated book was a disappointment -- the incidents portrayed are so arbitrary and without depth. I get no sense of his deepest feelings, fears, dreams. Has his whole life been wonderful, or did he and sister just decide to stress the positive and funny things? What was it like when he first came to NY? How did he survive the bad times or were they all good? What about some REAL gossip? What's the real scoop on the Will and Grace audition?

I remember reading Tennessee Williams' autobiography and Christopher Isherwood's Christopher and His Kind and wondering how such great writers could write such juvenile autobiographies, but at least it showed them flaws and all including a lot of sordid sexual encounters.

This is probably written mostly by Carole Barrowman and is too slick and surface like a magazine article. Yes there are a some well-adjusted positive totally happy people in the world (none of them live in NYC I suspect) I'm sure he's a good natured "bloke" but no one's life is that smooth. It makes for superficial reading. The pictures are great!

Bess in the Big Apple

Two things I really loved about this book are that you get to read about Chris' life and learn about how he became the magician that he is. He's a very special person and he shares a lot of himself in this book. Second is that the back of the book is filled with magic tricks that ANYONE can learn. I say that because I've never tried learning magic before and had a blast with these tricks. I got a huge kick out of showing the tricks to people and seeing them freak out trying to figure out how I did them. Way cool!

One of the best magician in the world. In this book, takes us on a personal tour of his surreal world, a special place where he seamlessly blends illusion and reality. Prepare yourself for a stunning look into his mind, life, and philosophy.

This book is amazing! It gives you the history of Criss. It tells you the experiances he went through during his life, and his rise to fame. It also teaches you lots of tricks that you can do at home. I reccommend this book to everybody!!!!

I purchased this book from the MINDFREAK store in Luxor, Las Vegas. Less of a mindFREAK than a mindNUMB... This was one of the very worst books I have ever read, and I wasn't expecting much (he is, after all, a magician and not a writer).

The book was rambling and contained very little meaningful discussion. Instead, Angel spends page after page (after page...) lauding himself and his self-reported "laser-like" focus on his goals, his amazing imagination, and his laughable "signature poses". The "biography" portion of the book is thankfully short, with the balance of the book consisting of 40 "Mindfreaks" -- Magic 101-level tricks complete with photos of an "intense" looking Criss (who mostly just looks silly).

I actually felt LESS smart after reading this book. The real magic is how Angel makes your money disappear without providing you anything worthwhile in exchange.

Avoid this book.

I like Criss Angel and appreciate his skill with magic, but found the book to be very short, and low on any substance. It focuses on his own belief in himself. I hope a proper biography or autobiography gets written at a later date