Entertainment Books

Excellent book about pro wrestling business. Lots of facts about Chris Benoit but also about other aspects of the business. Well written and entertaining.

I am one of those former "crazy Philly fans" who sat ringside at ECW for years. Oh the stories I could tell....whew....The toughest thing about being a female ECW fan, besides the boys thinking you're a rat, was watching the guys put their bodies through hell for us. I did not like the blood crazed matches - I am a purist.

Chris Benoit is still my favorite wrestler. I know the pain he went through in the ring. And I know the "high" of hearing the fans pop and feeling he got when a match went well was one of the things that was hard to walk away from or hear any arguments about.

Nancy was an inspiration. Despite "marrying a midget" (only an ECW fan, and Steve Austin will get that), she was a strong sexy and smart role model. No valet/manager/eye candy has compared to her - period.

My heart broke when details of this crime came to life. I thought those two would pull if off - the happily ever after wrestling couple.

Oh the book? Hmmm....between Jericho's book, Eddy's book, Dynamite Kid's book and Mic Foley's books I kinda got the jist of it (read them all). I agree with everyone, who is a fan of pro wrestling who, says that this book seems a little bit caustic. But the business itself isn't something that's full of glamour. Wrestlers who don't "pay dues" don't have as much respect as one who have. And paying dues isn't meant to be pretty. Neither are the drugs, the booze or the sexual escapades. But it is real.

If you are a dirt sheet reading, smart mark you may feel a little insulted by his tone (I was). But I ould not put it down.

Now excuse me while I wonder why CM Punk is no longer getting his push.......

The Benoit story is a very sad episode. But I can't blame professional wrestling for it. These guys can make a lot of money and there are costs for those opportunities. Look at all professional athletes. Most of them end up with injuries that affect the rest of their lives.

This author presents a case against the McMahon family that is seriously one-sided and hateful. Vince is a great entertainer and he has some bad ideas every now and then, but a lot of folks really enjoy his shows. And a lot of athletes end up making plently of money because of the extraordinary opportunities given to them by the McMahons.

I thought the material about Benoit in Japan was facinating. That was probably worth the price of the book.

The author's obvious dislike of the business, the McMahons, the wrestling fans and most of the wrestlers make this an unpleasant read.

Do you know why Hulk Hogan wears a fanny pack everywhere he goes? Do you know who Hulk Hogan really is off camera? Did you know that the President of one of the biggest promotions in wrestling history was hired off a gig selling meat off the back of a truck -- possibly in an attempt by TV execs to sabotage the show? Did you know one of the biggest names in wrestling now works at a Target? What does Vince McMahon reveal to those who work with him the closest? How does the hard line between real life and fictional play on TV fade away for some wrestlers? And when is what you see on TV really a reflection of reality? The answers to these questions and so much more will be answered in this book.

Outrageous and hilarious, disturbing and revealing, Ring of Hell reads like a New Yorker piece, proving to be entertaining, well-written, and relentlessly probing. You will not find such brutally honest and unrefined opinions, personal recollections, and anecdotes about this business in any other book on wrestling. Regardless of what people think of wrestling (even if they think it is garbage), should still take interest in this book because of the adverse effects it has on both regular hard-working people, for who wrestling is a means for putting food on the table, and for those in the public eye, for who wrestling is a struggle for political power, fame, and fortune. Wrestling a side, it is an extremely well written investigative piece. Both outright funny and other times intense and grisly, this expose neither censors nor sugar coats some of the darkest traditions and aspects of an industry that has, like it or not, been a part of the history of American entertainment (especially kids entertainment) and recreation. Know the truth about your childhood heroes and what happens outside the ring. It will shock you. Read this book!

First, this is where I'm coming from: In the late '80s and early to mid-'90s, I was a pro wrestling fan. My brother was interested in it, and I started watching because I wanted to see what interested him about pro wrestling. I found it to be fun, and he and I started going to shows and conventions together. I even wrote up a couple of indy shows for a pro wrestling newsletter. I stopped watching as pro wrestlers started dying, and their deaths were increasingly linked to steroid abuse. I was never so naive as to believe that the matches were free and fair bouts, I knew they were pre-determined, I even knew there was a certain level of physical risk in pro wrestling. But over the years, the more I watched, saw, and learned, the more I came to believe that my support of pro wrestling was tantamount to participation in a profoundly immoral business. And I could not continue to support a form of entertainment that left so many of its participants dead or physically disabled.

So I write this review as a former fan. By the time, Chris Benoit reached national prominence in the pro wrestling world, I had stopped watching. That said, I believe that in writing and publishing Ring of Hell, Matthew Randazzo V has performed a valuable service to pro wrestlers and their fans. The book has its flaws, chief among them being poor copyediting and a few too many f-bombs for my middle-aged tastes, but these are far outweighed by the rocks he turns over in the world of pro wrestling. Under those rocks are some dark and festering creatures, not the least of which is Vince McMahon, Jr., the man who currently has an effective monopoly on pro wrestling in the USA. Anyone with any aspirations in the world of pro wrestling will have to work for McMahon and his organization, the WWE.

Ring of Hell looks at the world of pro wrestling during the past 30 years through the lens of the rise and horrific fall of Chris Benoit, a small-sized wrestler who was obsessed with achieving success in the industry during a time when gigantic, musclemen ruled in the squared circle. As a result, if a man the size of Chris Benoit was ever to gain a foothold in this fiercely competitive, unforgiving business, he was going to have to rely on artificial enhancements and an obsessive drive to succeed. This meant taking enormous doses of steroids, and even greater physical risks in the ring. Chris Benoit dosed himself with mind-boggling quantities of drugs of all kinds and endured literal beatings in the ring on a daily basis. The demands of the WWE and other organizations he wrestled for seldom allowed him any time to adequately recover from his injuries, so he ended up taking even more steroids and pain-killers. As a result he wound up a barely functional, profoundly brain-damaged, drug addict. After years of watching his friends die, in and out of the ring, he ended up murdering his wife and child and taking his own life. A postmortem study of his brain revealed extensive damage to all four lobes, plus the brain stem. This was due to his having sustained an estimated 1,000 concussions over the course of his career. The doctor who studied his brain compared it to that of an 85 year old Alzheimer's patient.

Although I deducted a point for the lackadaisical copyediting, I highly recommend that anyone who loves pro wrestling, or has a child who watches pro wrestling, read this book and absorb the lessons of Chris Benoit's career and tragic fall from grace. Then decide for yourself if this is a form of entertainment you can continue to support with a clear conscience.

As for me, I'm glad I stopped watching all those years ago. And I wish I had never watched to begin with.

I loved how much heart Johnny Cash put into this book. Every detail, every aspect of his life are told with huge honesty and intensity, showing his affection to everyone who's been close to him during the years. if you love this legend, you'll be delighted by this book.

This book was good. I can't say it any simpler. I enjoyed reading it and feel a little closer to the man whose music I admire.

This is a very readable book. The writing is simple, yet interesting. It reads just like Johnny Cash is having a conversation with the reader. Thumbs up.

What really makes this better than most autobiographies is that Johnny Cash is a good story teller, and avoids the temptation to tell his life story strictly in a linear fashion from his upbringing to the present. Instead, he presents his life story as a set of stories during a tour, as if we are on the tour bus with him going to place to place. And it hits the right note since he's spent so much of his life on the road. And the moments he talks about his various homes have a certain intimacy, since we realize home for a person like Johnny Cash has probably been pretty fleeting. Subtly powerful stuff, just like his music.

Cash comes across as a pretty worldly figure, despite being heavily grounded by his country roots. We get pretty frank and open discussions about his failures and battles with addiction. As someone pretty non-religious, I found his discussions about Christianity and what it means to him and his family completely open and approachable, and it never comes across as preachy or patronizing. Yes, the endless talk about his various grandkids and non-stop effusive praise of the exhaustive list of people he's performed with started getting a little old, but I can forgive that. Very enjoyable read. 4 1/2 stars out of 5, so I'll round it up to 5.

Note: As someone who would listen to Cash read aloud the phone book underwater to the sounds of fingernails across a chalk board, you might say I'm a little biased.

I really liked the book and I am glad I bought it but it wasn't as in depth as I was hoping it would be. Some of the names he drops would have been easier to follow if he had used last names and the book assumes you have kept up with his history and his career but what it does do is makes me want to purchase "Man in Black" just that much more.

Very good book to read. He always did look shy. The book is very relaxing.

I must say thank you to Sir Sidney (as we call him in the Bahamas)for looking back over his life and sharing all the wonderful memories. We can all learn from his advice along with his great - granddughter. He has lived a fantastic life which would have made Horatio Alger proud. I have had the good fortune to have met him and he is always gracious and charming.
You will enjoy this book from cover to cover and get to peak inside the life of this great man who is respected all over the world.

I love this book, it is so personal, I wish I was not so lazy and do the same for my grand/greatgrand children.

For months, I've wanted to share some of my experiences with my granddaughters specifically and my grandchildren in general . . . but where to start, how much to share, which topics are taboo, how to share without influencing or preaching, etc.??? THANK YOU Mr. Poitier! I've only finished half the book, but already I know that I want all of my grandchildren to read it! In fact, I want everyone to read it.
I was struck by Mr. P's loving, honest and forgiving thoughts about life. I was warmed because he has struggled with many of the same notions most dreamers ponder: GOD? Relationships, hardships, money, self-discipline, determination, respect . . .
I'm sure I'll have more to type after I've finished the entire book, but before life happens, I wanted to say thanks and advise everyone, this is the book to read and share!

As a grandmother, I wish I could write as such for my grandchildren.
Sincere, family history to be cherished by all of his children and grandchildren.

Great background info on the making of everything up to and including Evil Dead (well, and many subsequent flicks and tv shows). Campbell, silly to the core with serious on the side, celebrates the B movie world in all of its glory. Lots of fun facts about Sam Raimi included. I'm guessing, though, that a reader's enjoyment of this material is directly proportional to his/her appreciation level of Campbell's ouvre (i.e., not for everyone, but if you get a kick out of Cambpell, it's a must-read).

Such a great read, I mustve recommended it to at least 100 people who have all enjoyed it. Such a fun time to be had making your way through this one. I love the emails from fans he has included too. Also the paperback has a bonus chapter updating you on his book tour from when the hardback came out.

I gave this as a gift to a friend who is a HUGE Bruce Campbell fan.
She loved it! Definitely worth checking out for anyone who enjoys his work. Hilarious guy, Awesome book!

Campbell, Bruce. "If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor". LA Weekly, 2002.

What a Book!

Amos Lassen

Bruce Campbell has written quite a book with "If Chins Could Kill". He writes as if we are having a conversation with him and he gives some very interesting and provocative information.
Campbell begins with his childhood in Michigan and how the Raimi brothers transformed his life when he was still in high school. He tells us of the various friends he had as a kid and about backstabbing and betrayals which probably are the reason as to why he never became a big star. Eventually he and the Raimis got together and began to produce "The Evil Dread" which quickly became a cult horror classic.
Campbell has no glamour whatsoever but he is a ham. He does his own stunts, has never studied acting yet he has had a job in the film industry for almost 30 years. He is a hard worker and few of us have any idea of who he is except for those that make "B" movies. In his book he shows us blue collar Hollywood. He is offbeat and he works cheap--but, he works. Campbell makes no pretense about being a god writer but he is honest.
In following Campbell's career, he tends to be a little private about his personal life but wide open about his career. I have the feeling that he is a very human and down to earth guy. His book is funny and satiric and I had a great time reading it.

If you want intreague, laughs, and weather your a Campbell fan like myself or not this book can be enjoyed on so many levels. Best book i've ever read.

I feel sorry for theses women's children (Carmen & SuperHead). Why are they putting their kids names & pictures out here for everyone to see. It's not a good look. I maen I didn't really beleive 50% of this story. I don't beleive that she had a realtionship with SC for 5 years and they never went out or took pictures. She just sounds like an idiot. I mean the book kept me reading because I thought it would get better I guess, but I was very disappointed.

After reading Carman Bryan's book, I honestly saw that this woman did nothing but spend her time being promiscuous with anyone that seemed to be in the business while Destiny ,her and Nas'daughter, was constantly being watched by Sha Sha, Nas' mother, and anyone else that would agree. It saddens me that this woman, who had at least 4 abortions in this book, felt the need to drag everyone's character through the mud.She constantly blamed her behavior on something that Nas' father said about not committing because they were not married. Besides having a hard time sympathizing with Bryan, I had a hard time sorting out the friends that she kept throwing into the book. It seems like she talked more about her travels and her random friends then how she had attempted to better her daughter's life. Her mother, whom she calls Sha Sha, was the only rational person in this immature woman's life. I believe that she should have let Sha Sha raise her daughter to give the girl a normal life. This woman moved all over the place without the regard of her young daughter.
I can go on and on about how bad this book was, but I just want to say that if you are going to be promiscuous, own up to it! Stop blaming others, ladies. If you have a child, raise him/her. Stop chasing these good for nothings; you have someone else to think for/about besides your shallow self. If you are constantly being burned by a man (she claimed Nas beat her, went through her things, lied to her, cheated on her,on and on and on) then LEAVE. Stop using him as a crutch, so you can act a damn fool. Get a job! Stop waiting on your monthly check! Lastly, stop writing these tell-all books about full of lies to make yourself feel better.

Next time, I will stick to Eric Jerome Dickey when I want a little African American Literature.

Don't waste you time on this one!

If I could this book would have recieved 1/2 a star that is only because there were some interesting photos in the middle of the book, otherwise this was a poor excuse for a tell all. First of all, I don't believe much of what was written should have been written, is Carmen completely unaware of the fact that her daughter will have to live with this for the rest of her life. What child do you know wants their mother's sexual escapades splashed in a book for the world to read. Secondly so many of her words toward the end of the book tended to be cheap shots at the women who won the hearts of the men who just used her. It seemed like alot of sour grapes. I mean does anyone really believe that she kept Jay Z at arms length? All in all, this was a pathetic attempt.

I did not get a good impression of this young woman and wondered what those two high profile hip hop stars saw in her. She thinks nothing of her promiscuity, and seems to enjoy describing her sexcapades with all these different men. And anybody who allows her apartment to be turned into a crack lab can't be too bright, especially the glib, matter-of-fact way she describes this in her book. She makes the same mistakes over and over again, which becomes really annoying, but then again, this woman is not the sharpest pencil in the box.

The only reason she was able to get published is because of her affiliation with two high-profile hip hop stars. I feel sorry for her daughter Destiny, because this woman is not a good role model for her little girl.

I bought this book because I was tired & bored of reading "serious" literature. It took 6 months for me to finally pick it up and read it and all I can tell you is that it's a waste of time. If you have graduated from high school or have even obtained a GED - don't read it. Its an insult even to a mentally challenged persons intelligence. This chick is nothing but a bird. Three quarters of the book made me angry at her. One that she is a woman and two she is black. She is no Helen of Troy - she's not even a Flavor of Love chick.

History should be preserved. That is both the paradox and challenge of an encyclopedia of a 'present' company. However, Vertigo titles cover an amazing variety of topics, and include a talented mix of artists and writers allowed to flex their creative muscle to an audience that appreciates and rewards creative risk taking.

To wit, consider the imaginiative 100 Bullets, the poetic Sandman, Y (the Last Man), Madame Xanadu, Testament, Scalped, Preacher, Lucifer, and Jack of Fables. What genre haven't they touched?

The encyclopedia format works well for Alex Irvine. Listing each title alphabetically with spin offs as a secondary entry, and then including the one shots at the back was the only way to do this. Pertinent story lines, artwork culled from the books, and character bios where necessary make this a fantastic guide to almost every Vertigo title. Unfortunately, the space required to properly document the longer running titles is not possible. I guess we have to buy the comics (sigh).

The slick paper and presentation make this a volume every collector should have. The Vertigo experience is remarkable, share it with your friends.

This book is the most incredible collection of circus images i've ever seen!
love it!

A great Circus lovers book! I was unaware of its size and scope when I ordered it, but was more than pleased with it upon arrival. Although a bit expensive, the book is definitely well worth it. Even if you don't read the text (a big mistake), the photogaphs and circus posters in this book portray a much needed human side to the American circus and its performers. I will enjoy this book for years to come. Now, if I could only find a shelf big enough to hold it.....

This is a huge book. This coffee table book is too big for the coffee table. Buy two and you have a coffee table. It's a heavy book - you can't red it bed. You can't read it waiting at the airport, on the train or the bus. They don't build bookcases in this size. It's freak book. But it's also a beautiful book. Most circus books can be put in one of two categories - books about particular circuses /circus dynasties or books about the life in circus. This book is in a category of it's own - it describes the circus as an important factor in the development of the American popular culture. The picture material is beautiful but the text, in three languages, is even better. It's easy to make this oversized publication to a laugh matter. But it's also a really good buy if you are interested in circus and popular culture. You get a lot of book for your money - $ 6.90/pound or $ 2.3/square yard. Buy it.

Whilst by size this may be considered a novelty item and of particular interest to students of American Circus this has much more value than that. The oversize format and use of fold out pages presents an opportunity to display visual reproductions which otherwise would not be possible on this scale. Of particular interest to me was the presentation of items from very early circus history. This must have been a mamouth publishing enterprise with some commercial risk considering the total scope of the circus book reading customer base but the contributors and publishers must be complemented upon the finished product.

Not one to read in bed but a valuable addition to the collections of those interested in circus and visual presentation.

AC.

I own many circus books and i was advised about this one is a must.
For a $200 circus book it better be great one and the waters better part.
When it arrived I was amazed at the size and the weight of it. Then i open it up and it was like the land of Oz going from black and white to TECHNICOLOR.
In all my life I have never seen a book printed like this with all those beautiful color photos of the circus. Where ever they got those photos they are the best I have even seen in any book.
The WOW factor and it is just amazing book.
It is a must for the circus collector.
I am so glad I got a copy and it is worth every penny of the price.
Harry Kingston

This answers so many questions I had about The Band. Lags in some places with too many "Monday we did this and then drove to...on Tues" A good glimpse of very complicated and utterly talented people.

This book is informative to a point, but Levon Helm should have kept his personal complaints about Robbie Robertson to himself. Publishing bitter remarks about a former close friend and bandmate just isn't cool. If there's a problem, let their lawyers work it out, don't involve the public.

I love the way Levon writes, you can hear his southern Arky drawl in the words. i love how he remembers the names of childhood friends and old band members like he was writing it down then. he also includes other peoples perspectives like Danko's and some other people involved with the group back then, but sadly, there is no quotes directly from Robertson as he and Helm are still estranged. Oh well, will Genesis ever get back together either?

This is a great book. Levon Helm has a great story to tell. I had first started listening to The Band back in the late '60s, but had never followed the ins and outs of all of these people's lives. I enjoyed reading the book and wished it was longer.

Today is the day I turn 33 years old, and out of all those years, and all of the books I've read, this one takes the proverbial cake. Birthday cake, if you will. Levon Helm is one of my heroes, and with a little help from his friends, he's managed to write a book that truly takes the reader through time and space to where modern rock was conceived, born, and learned to run like an antelope out of control. I highly recommend that you purchase this book, read it over and over again, and give it to your best friend to read, too.

It's fun to flip these pages. You'll see a lot of writing, less of art. There is no story telling or even coherence in this published work. Really cool to own, sometimes you'll get a glimpse of what was going on in his mind.

If you are a fan of Kurt Cobain and or Nirvana, then this book is a MUST read. I've not finished the book just yet, I got it this morning and I am already on page 205, I just can't seem to put it down, and I rarely like to sit and read anything.

This book is simply great. I'm very impressed with its quality and have learned a lot about this iconic figure by reading Kurt's entries. I hope everyone picks up a copy! = )

great product, fast shipping. Shipping package ripped when received. Slight scratches and bending. shipper may want to consider better packing method for shipping but, all in all a good experience!

I can definitely see both sides of the issue of the moral quandary concerning this book. However, I think it's really pathetic that people on both sides are trying to assume what Kurt would or wouldn't want. I don't think that by reading these journals you somehow aren't a true fan of Nirvana just as not reading them somehow makes you a true fan. That's absurd. I will say, though, that in my personal opinion this book is a blatant and disgusting invasion of privacy. I think that it's rather obvious that Courtney Love is lacking scruples with her obviously cavalier attitude about releasing things that probably should have stayed private. I'm sure she will suffer some sort of karmic retribution (if she hasn't already) for doing so.

Regardless, I personally have never read these journals, nor will I ever do so. I'm not trying to be elitist by pretending to have any kind of moral high ground. It's a personal choice. I'm genuinely not interested to see what is in them. I think that the music kind of speaks for itself. That is, after all, why I personally am a fan of Nirvana and of Kurt. I don't think that reading some personal journal entries is going to suddenly give me or anyone insight into his genius or what led to his death. The story surrounding his death is tragic enough without crap like this being commercialized and his overall image being exploited and sold, which is really why he despised being famous to begin with. I think stuff like this is further evidence that far too much attention is being paid to the personal lives of celebrities as opposed to their work. This is precisely why people like Paris Hilton and Britney Spears are famous.

I don't think that by reading these journals anyone is going to be less of a fan or suffer any karmic retribution. I think that will be reserved for the person who allowed it to be released to the public in the first place. Regardless, I can also definitely understand the curiosity that people have and I don't think they should be judged for having a thirst for more information about a very important and brilliant musician.

Very good and comprehensive instructions for excellent classical guitar tone production. Very useful are the examples for right and left hand training and coordination.The best teaching material I found on this subject.

I'm sure I'll enjoy this book.I liked the fast shipping, and I would do business with this seller again.

Best overall technique book i've ever read, and i used to work at a music store for 2 years. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to straighten out their bad habits or learn new good habits in order to improve your coordination, speed, and reduce tension while playing all while improving your sound and of course, strengthening your fingers.

This is a great book for the beginner classical guitar player. It is worth every cent for the information within the book.

This is not a method book about learning to play the classical guitar. It's aim is to refine and re-examine how one can approach a specific technical challenge, for example, tremelo. I find Scott Tenant's ability to view a particular technical challenge from an almost psychological perspective and understanding, to be a great aid in overcoming the mental barriers we place on ourselves. Many of the greatest guitarists have found methods to overcome these self-defeating attitudes and Scott Tenant is one of them. He is an absolutely amazing guitarist and musician for whom I have tremendous respect. He's also a very likable guy and very willing to share what worked for him with the rest of us.

It is best to use this book in conjunction with a qualified classical guitar teacher if you are relatively new to classical guitar. I teach classical guitar and will refer to this book to improve my own playing skills. He doesn't include complete musical pieces but gives plenty of drills which when mastered will act as a catalyst in propelling the student to new level of guitar playing on whatever selections they choose. I also like that he included the 110 Giuliani right-hand studies that most other books omit.