Pierce Brosnan: The Biography

Book Description

Actor Pierce Brosnan has been described as the best James Bond ever - even by Sean Connery. This revealing biography tells his compelling rags-to-riches tale, from his birth into a poor Irish family to his success in Remington Steele, the 1995 Bond film - Golden Eye - and beyond. It details the births, deaths and marriages along the way, as well as his work as a producer on blockbuster films such as the Thomas Crowne Affair.

- Includes all Brosnan's Bond films, his recent marriage and his move into producing movies.

Customer Reviews:

Wait for an Offical Bio!.......2003-08-04

Let me start off by saying that I am a huge Pierce Brosnan fan. I loved him in "Remington Steele". I loved him in "Evelyn". I love him as Bond. I've seen and read every interview I've come across, and was looking forward to reading his biography.

York Membery's statement that the biography is unofficial and was conducted without the direct support of the actor is probaby the biggest understatement I've seen in a long time. After reading the book for a few pages, I flipped to the acknowledgements, where the National Enquirer, Sun, and many other tabloids were listed as helpful sources of information.

Though some parts seem to be true, compared with what Brosnan has said in recent interviews, the majority of it reads like an over-dramatized soap opera. It's not that Pierce's story is bad. His biography, I'm sure, would be immensely interesting to read. However, this book feels like nothing more than a rumor mill of over a hundred pages. Some things that supposedly happened Brosnan has blatantly denied in recent interviews, and this makes me want to take most of what's in it with a grain of salt. Certain suggestions that the book makes seem unreal compared with what has been printed and screened by credible sources, such as Entertainment Tonight.

Honestly, I would have loved to have read a biography about my favorite actor. This, however, is not that. The sleazy suggestions the book makes belong more on the cover of a tabloid than in the biography section of a bookstore. The writing is atrocious, and the sources seem only somewhat credible at best. If you're a Brosnan fan, as I am, I would wait for an official bio to come out - or watch something like E!s "Pierce Brosnan Revealed", which condcted actual interviews with Pierce and his family. Pass on this one. You'll be glad you did.

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Worthwhile Profile of Hollywood's Leading Irishmen

Insightful interviews.

Great Look at the Lives of Some of Hollywoods Finest Actors

Hollywood Irish: In Their Own Words : Illustrated Interviews With Gabriel Byrne, Liam Neeson, Pierce Brosnan, Stephen Rea, Aidan Quinn and Patrick Bergin

Manufacturer: Roberts Rinehart Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Pictures in My Head

ASIN: 1570981094

Customer Reviews:

Worthwhile Profile of Hollywood's Leading Irishmen.......2001-12-10

_Hollywood Irish_ is a fantastic collection of interviews and photographs of six handsome and talented actors: Gabriel Byrne, Liam Neeson, Stephen Rea, Pierce Brosnan, Aidan Quinn and Patrick Bergin. The simple introduction provided by Áine O'Connor sets the mood for the rest of the book well. As she mentions, the interviews do reveal insightful, private information: "Liam Neeson reveals how he considered leaving acting and how he found the confidence to continue; Pierce Brosnan, simply and openly, shares the painful story of his wife Cassie's death; Stephen Rea discusses the relationship between acting and politics; Aidan Quinn talks about the Irish identity and its many paradoxes; Patrick Bergin reveals the temptations of an actor's life and the difficulties of doing love scenes; Gabriel Byrne tells us about the risks and illusions that surround fame." In a nutshell, that's the book. Each actor discusses his beginnings, both in life and as an actor. Each discusses, in some capacity, how being Irish has impacted him. Each actor's profile comes with several b/w photos from childhood, movies and family collections. At the end, one can find each actor's filmography. The only complaint I would have regarding the book is that the material is dated (only current to 1997) and I wish an updated version could be compiled. That criticism aside, though, this is certainly a title worth owning.

Insightful interviews........2000-05-03

Aine O'Conner manage to capture the cadences of the various actors very well. While reading the text, I could almost hear the men speaking their words. I suspect that she didn't edit the tapes very much, save for verbal pauses (the usual "uhs" and "you knows") and for length. Ms. O'Conner also included several photographs (many were candid) that were sprinkled throughout the various sections.

While Ms. O'Conner asked many insightful questions, she didn't follow through on many. Indeed, at times I was a little disappointed that she failed to follow up on specific points; however, that point is trivial compared to the overall effort of the book.

If you are a fan of any or all of the actors listed, or simply are curious to see how contemporary Irish actors are dealing with the joys and disappointments of Hollywood, then you should enjoy this book.

Great Look at the Lives of Some of Hollywoods Finest Actors.......2000-03-26

This book provides a facinating, indepth journey into the lives of six very capable and successful actors. Many humourous and sometimes tradgic tales of life in Ireland and struggles to make a name for themselves there and in America. Each actor tells of personal hardships that they have battled throughout their lives and how they have created such prominent status in today's Hollywood scene. Each story is spoken first hand which adds to the richness of these beautiful retold memories. This book provides a greater sense of who these men are by recalling tales from childhood, adolecence and adulthood which explain their journeys to becoming the great actors they are.

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Pierce Brosnan Biography
Boring

Pierce Brosnan
Peter Carrick
Manufacturer: Citadel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0806524022

Customer Reviews:

Pierce Brosnan Biography.......2007-05-22

The order was filled quickly. The book is perfect. Thank You!!!

Boring.......2004-06-01

I've been a fan of Pierce Brosnan since I was eleven years old and watched him twice a day in Remmington Steele, on the USA network sindication. When I spotted this biography in the library, I picked it up and knew it would be interesting reading about one of my favorite actors. I was wrong. This book has got to be one of the most stone boring biographies I have ever read, about anyone. Most of the chapters are a few short pages and tend to snap off facts about Brosnan in a dossiere-type fashion. And the author tends to wander off into writing a full page or two, or three, about other people besides Brosnan (by other people, I mean just about everyone he's ever lived or worked with). These, too, are boring little summaries of fact. It seems unlikely that Brosnan cooperated with the book, as there are only a few short quotes from him, which seem to be taken from other interviews he's given. The author just fails to flesh out a person for his readers. Rather, the reader is offered a book-long resume that will tell them nothing they didn't already know if they are Brosnan fans. I suggest readers skip this book and hope for an autobiography, or at least one that the actor will be cooperating with.

Biography Magazine December 2002 - Pierce Brosan..Virginia Woolf..Ray Liotta

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Biography Magazine December 2002 - Pierce Brosan..Virginia Woolf..Ray Liotta

Manufacturer: Biography Magazine
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GTB7EI

Pierce Brosnan: The New Unauthorised Biography

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This is by far the best biography.
Interesting Book!
a masterpiece

Pierce Brosnan: The New Unauthorised Biography
York Membery
Manufacturer: Virgin Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0753501589

Customer Reviews:

This is by far the best biography........1999-04-26

I can vividly remember how Pierce Brosnan grew up as a child and can only imagine how hard it must have been. The death of his wife Cassandra Harris and all her determination, fight, and powerful quotes about beating cancer really touched me. Also, he is such a great actor and the best James Bond. It is very detailed, and well done. I remember clearly how he felt when he met Cassandra, and how much he meant to her, and how depressed he must have been when she died. He sure had a beautiful heart for what he did. His "long and winding" road to fame, was hard, I can tell by his words. He seems to have a nice family- beautiful people, who are also frequently mentioned (Charlotte, Sean, Christopher, girlfriend Keely, Dylan Thomas (son with Keely.) This is definetly a must read, must see. It is for any Pierce fan!

Interesting Book!.......1999-02-28

After I finished the first couple of chapters I was amazed at what I read. I never thought that could happen to anybody. You have to find out for yourself. Just read it, and you will see!

a masterpiece.......1998-08-05

I was recommended this book by a very good friend and even though I can honestly say that I cannot stand Brosnan as Bond, I thought at least I'd do a little background reading on the man. What a delightful surprise. A witty, urbane, wonderfully researched book on a greatly misunderstood character actor. I thought York Membery's painfully funny description of the death of Brosnan's dog in chapter 2 was the highight for me. I'll look more kindly on Brosnan's future roles in future. I thought some of the photographs were particularly good. I just wish the book could have been longer. I didn't want it to end.

"Q", James Bond's Gadget Master: The Biography of Desmond Llewelyn

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"Q", James Bond's Gadget Master: The Biography of Desmond Llewelyn
Sandy Hernu
Manufacturer: SB Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 1857701879

Book Description

This book is the fascinating, officially authorized biography of actor Desmond Llewelyn, better known by movie fans around the world as "Q", James Bond's ill-tempered gadget master. Between 1963 and 1999, Desmond appeared in eighteen James Bond films and became an indispensable part of the series' success. He was the only regular cast member to work with all five James Bond actors: Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan. However, there was much more to Desmond as a man and an actor than his role as "Q". In this authorized biography, as told to author Sandy Hernu, Desmond describes his hellish WWII experiences, having been interned in a German POW camp. He later evolved into a successful character actor appearing in films as diverse as "Cleopatra" and "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang". Much of the book, of course, is relegated to his wonderful anecdotes about the Bond films and his candid opinions of the people he worked with. The book is filled with rare, never-before-published family photos as well as superb stills from the archives of Eon Productions, producers of the James Bond films. Desmond passed away shortly after completing this book, but his legacy lives on in it's pages. No James Bond fan will want to be without this fascinating volume in their collection. Foreword by Roger Moore; Introduction by Desmond Llewelyn.

The Wild East: A Biography of the Great Smoky Mountains and The Great Smokies: From Natural Habitat to National Park.: An article from: Journal of Southern History

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The Wild East: A Biography of the Great Smoky Mountains and The Great Smokies: From Natural Habitat to National Park.: An article from: Journal of Southern History
Kathleen A. Brosnan
Manufacturer: Southern Historical Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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Book Description

This digital document is an article from Journal of Southern History, published by Southern Historical Association on May 1, 2002. The length of the article is 895 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The Wild East: A Biography of the Great Smoky Mountains and The Great Smokies: From Natural Habitat to National Park.
Author: Kathleen A. Brosnan
Publication: Journal of Southern History (Refereed)
Date: May 1, 2002
Publisher: Southern Historical Association
Volume: 68 Issue: 2 Page: 515(3)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Book Description

In the early nineties, rave culture exploded with the availability of cheap computers and sampling technology, causing a punk-style do-it-yourself revolution. The resulting upsurge of independent labels and home studio-based artists spawned a legion of subgenres: hardcore, trance, jungle, ambient, gabba, big beat, and many more. Today, DJs and producers such as Fatboy Slim, Prodigy, Goldie and The Chemical Brothers have huge followings, while mainstream artists like Madonna and Bjork have turned to rave's offspring for artistic rejuvenation.

In Generation Ecstasy, Simon Reynolds takes the reader on a guided tour of this end-of-the-millenium phenomenon, telling the story of rave culture and techno music as an insider who has dosed up and blissed out. The first critical history of techno music--and the drug culture that accompanies it--Generation Ecstasy traces rave's origins in Detroit techno and Chicago house, then shows how these black American genres were transformed by British and European youth. Here is everything you ever wanted to know about the artists and the DJs who created dance culture, the fans for whom it is a way of life, and the dance club and outdoor rave scenes that brought it both fame and infamy.

A celebration of rave's quest for the perfect beat and the ultimate rush, Generation Ecstasy is the definitive chronicle of rave culture and electronic dance music.

Customer Reviews:

Respectful and Ambitious.......2006-08-25

If you told me in 1992 that in 2006 I would be reading a book about "Rave" culture in the local public library I don't think I would have believed you. But..here I am.
AT the time of this writing it has already been at least 8 years since this book was published and I think we can see how the author's takes on the phenomenon has held up.

Good points:
The author has a great understanding of the esthetic strengths of the genre,i.e. what makes these songs and their various presentations work.
He has a good knowledge of the artists, events and venues that helped to shape it (leaning mostly from a UK perspective, while very relevant, isn't the whole story).
He has a great understanding of the techincial aspects of the music and how cheap and malfunctioning gear is sometimes used and how these songs really often take a good degree of skill and effort to produce despite popular public misconceptions to the contrary.
I particulary loved his observation that a tepid corporate pop production like Celine Dion uses much much more expensive state of the art equipment than your techno record.
The author also has a great understanding of the, in my opinion, wonderous and vibrant philosophical concepts that went into this music and scene, and emerged through and because of this music and scene both expected, intended and unexpected and unintended. I would love to go on about them but I will spare Amazon this forum.

Bad Points:
I am sad that this author thinks that ecstacy and many other drugs were so important to this movement. I found this element to make for more boring music and conversation. It was also a cause for tragedy.
I am disappointed that this author dismisses so much of the more "avant garde" elements that came out of this scene. He even, very wrongly, suggests that this side was not somehow as legitimatly rooted in the scene as a whole. This is complete nonsense.
In fact, 8 years after this book was published..when I bump into people I remember from this scene I get the following:
The big druggies are dead or crippled.
The main scene is declared "dead".
And..the avant garde is alive and blissfully unaware of their own reinvention in progress.

Comprehensive but flawed.......2006-04-05

This is still by far the most comprehensive and wide-ranging history of EDM, which is in some ways an indictment of more recent works on EDM (although some recent and more focused histories of particular styles and periods have been very valuable). While no fan, musician and/or scholar of EDM should ignore this book, you'll probably find yourself wrestling with it from time to time. Reynolds has a clear anti-intellectual / pro-proletarian bias that makes him quick to dismiss the importance of certain genres. Also, he tends to make a teleological history out of the whole phenomenon, where new styles displace previous ones--which doesn't explain why many "old" styles continue to develop in contemporary EDM scenes. Also, good luck trying to trace the source of many of his quotations.

Good book.......2005-09-30

It can be a little in-depth sometimes, almost to the point of being inane, but the author carries the story so well, you find yourself being swept up in the madness, almost as if you were standing in the middle of the rave culture yourself.

It sheds an important light on a rarely-reported but highly relevant side of music history; a must-have for any true fan of the art.

The Best Book on Electronic Dance Music...so far........2005-08-07

Some of the reviews here are quite articulate so I won't repeat what others have said; but I will add that the original title for this book in the U.K. was 'Energy Flash' which is a little cheesy but more appropriate than 'Generation Ecstasy.'

'Energy Flash' is an early hardcore track and this title captures the ideas and spirit of Reynolds' book.

Those who come to this book looking for a history of ecstasy and the pseudo-hippie 'idealogy' behind rave may be misled by the U.S. title.

I also don't think the criticism that Reynolds is biased makes any sense. We read music criticism to hear others views and Reynolds' are well-thought-out and coherent. I respect that, even when I don't always agree with him.

From the "Second Summer of Love" to the "Post-Rave Diaspora".......2005-01-02

Despite its limitations, this is still the best empirical book about the history of rave culture to date. Reynolds is an English dance music journalist who positions himself at the popular/danceable wing of the dance movement in contrast with its elitist/"intelligent" sections. (My sources in Ibiza/UK, though, tell me that he in fact belongs to London's clubbing elite...).

The bulk of the book consists of a long series of interweaved magazine articles that Reynolds published throughout the years. He describes dance music subgenres, artists/promoters/clubs, and how music changes. He also connects rave culture with the rise of harsh neoliberal capitalism in 1980s UK and US. However, Reynolds hyperventilates in excessive descriptions of sounds and theis effects in the communal experience of 'raving' that bonds the "generation ecstasy".

Despite the emphasis on musical descriptivism and on the British case, the book demonstrates how dance movement develops in general: in relation to the social tension between the underground and the mainstream, to the repressive action of the neoliberal state, and to the development of a global dance subculture: from the Second Summer of Love (1988) to what he aptly terms as "post-rave diaspora" (since 1997).

In the "post-rave diaspora", Reynolds notes that ecclectic experiments have gotten stuck in formal conventions of House, Techno and DnB, and that nobody knows where Techno movement will lead to. (As an example of this claim, see my review of album "Creamfield" by Paul Oakenfold).

Generation Ecstasy : Into the World of Techno and Rave Culture

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Generation Ecstasy : Into the World of Techno and Rave Culture
Simon Reynolds
Manufacturer: Little Brown and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OU1LOA

Book Description

Vince Lombardi is considered by most to be the greatest NFL coach ever. His leadership and motivational skills drove the Green Bay Packers to four NFL titles in seven years, an amazing record that has yet to be equaled. The Lombardi Rules examines the strategies and techniques that Lombardi followed to achieve his unprecedented success. Especially valuable in today's take-no-prisoners business environment, it provides an insider's look at Lombardi's remarkable methods and how they can be transformed to any field or endeavor.

Download Description

"Vince Lombardi - loved by some, feared by others, but respected by all - was first and foremost a winner. The greatest sports coach of his time, perhaps of all time, Lombardi was also a thoughtful man with uncommon passion, a motivator with uncompromising values, and a leader with unprecedented wisdom and authority. More than three decades since Lombardi's untimely passing, his words continue to resonate. In The Lombardi Rules, Vince Lombardi Jr. examines many of his father's most celebrated quotes to reveal the bedrock principles behind his legendary success."

Customer Reviews:

Short but powerful book with a lot of useful information!.......2006-03-07

C. THE LOMBARDI RULES by Vince Lombardi Jr. is a
short but powerful book that has a lot of information in it that can be
used by coaches, business executives and just about anybody else
looking to succeed in today's world.

The author, whose father led the Green Bay Packers to five NFL
titles in seven years, compiled several of Lombardi's most
famous quotes; for example:

I would say that the quality of each man's life is the full measure
of that man's personal commitment to excellence and to victory--whether
it be football, whether it be business, whether it be politics or
government.

He then transformed the quote into a rule, such as: Be
Completely Committed . . . and after a brief discussion
of what it meant, Lombardi Jr. showed various techniques
to implement the rule in any organization.

In the case of how to up the "commitment quotient," he
suggested:

Start with yourself: Inspire those around you with your own level
of commitment. When leaders go the extra mile, their troops will
follow.

Talent only gets you so far: A person with 100 percent ability
and 50 percent commitment can throw a wrench into the whole
system through inattention, inconsistency and laziness.

Weed out the uncommitted: The organization that wins is
populated by winners. Weed out the uncommitted and get
the last 10 percent out of everyone.

A cute cartoon that accompanied each chapter also added
to my enjoyment of THE LOMBARDI RULES.

Great book for employees, employers, players and coaches........2004-01-02

The Lombardi Rules provides an insiders look at Lombardi's extroidinary methods and shows you how to adapt and adopt those methods for leadership success in your own career.
Pages 53 paperback

Exerpt Favorite chapter Page 1-2
"The Lombardi code is founded on the belief that you can only become a leader after developing your character-that is, after building integrity, honesty, and commitment. The way to develop these attributes is through self-knowledge. You can't improve what you don't understand.....The first steps on the road to self-knowledge involve asking ourselves the tough questions."

The employee handbook for enhancing corporate performace.
Table of contents
1. Ask yourself tough questions.
2. Look the straight truth on.
3. Play to your strengths.
4. Write your character.
5. Think big picture.
6. Be Completely committed.
7. Work harder than everybody.
8. Be prepared to sacrifice.
9. Be mentally tough.
10. Balance humility and pride.
11. Lead with Integrity.
12. Build team spirit.
13. Explain the whys.
14. Strike the balance.
15. Build confidence.
16. Use your mission.
17. Know your stuff.
18. Demand autonomy.
19. Respect legitimate authority.
20. Act, Don't React.
21. Keep it simple.
22. Chase perfection.
23. Tailor your motives.
24. Motivate by degrees.
25. Focus on fundamentals.
26. Run to win.

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LOMBARDI RULES
Vince Lombardi
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OGGTHS

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