Book Description
Almost all students have seen 2001, but virtually none understand its inheritance, its complexities, and certainly not its ironies. The essays in this collection, commissioned from a wide variety of scholars, examine in detail various possible readings of the film and its historical context. They also examine the film as a genre piece--as the summa of science fiction that simultaneously looks back on the science fiction conventions of the past (Kubrick began thinking of making a science fiction film during the genre's heyday in the fifties), rethinks the convention in light of the time of the film's creation, and in turn changes the look and meaning of the genre that it revived--which now remains as prominent as it was almost four decades ago. Constructed out of its director's particular intellectual curiosity, his visual style, and his particular notions of the place of human agency in the world and, in this case, the universe, 2001 is, like all of his films, more than it appears, and it keeps revealing more the more it is seen. Though their backgrounds and disciplines differ, the authors of this essay collection are united by a talent for vigorous yet incisive writing that cleaves closely to the text--to the film itself, with its contextual and intrinsic complexities--granting readers privileged access to Kubrick's formidable, intricate classic work of science fiction.
Book Description
Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), based on Arthur C. Clarke's novel, is one of the most ambitious films ever made, an epic of space exploration that takes in the whole history of humanity (as well as speculation about its future). A technical triumph that stands up today, 2001 is topical also because of its meditation on the relationship between man, animal, and machine. Haunting and enigmatic, it's a film that contains myriad images that seem to defy explanation.
In this multilayered study, acclaimed critic and theorist of film sound Michel Chion offers some keys to understanding 2001. Setting the film first in its historical and cultural contexts (the Space Race, the Cold War, 60s psychedelia), Chion goes on to locate it within Kubrick's career. He then conducts a meticulous and subtle analysis of its structure and style, arguing that 2001 is an "absolute film," a unique assemblage of cinema's elements, through which pulses a vision of human existence. "Animals who know they will die, beings lost on earth, forever caught between two species, not animal enough, not cerebral enough."
In a supplementary chapter, Chion argues that Kubrick's last film, Eyes Wide Shut (1999), is a return to 2001, a final statement of its concerns. And in a series of appendices Chion provides production details, an analytic synopsis, credits and a consideration of the legacy of 2001.
Customer Reviews:
Highly disingenuous.......2007-06-27
This book is highly disingenuous in a number of respects, and hence is pure propaganda. Hilal's underlying goal is to promote the view that Israel should be destroyed, pure and simple. Hilal's perspective is that of extremist Arab nationalism/racism, an attitude that has wrought multiple genocides during the 20th century against Middle Eastern Jews, Kurds, Berbers, Darfur Blacks, and Christians. Events now happening in "Hamastan" Gaza, the Arab-on-Arab massacres (in addition to the Arab-on-Arab massacres during the civil war in Lebanon during the 1970s) illustrate the ultimate goal that Hilal would like to see played out, his sophisticated-but-propagandistic double-talk notwithstanding. Most importantly, Hilal wants to obscure the most sensible resolution of the Palestinians' self-made plight, namely, federation with Jordan. The only people who would really "benefit" from this book are die-hard racists who want to see the Jewish population of Israel massacred. This book is intended to provide them with the propaganda-cover they seek.
flawed but worthwhile.......2002-04-21
This analysis of 2001 is one of the most unique and enlightening I've read to date. It finally acknowledges Kubrick's brilliant use of sound and music which few other directors besides Godard and Scorsese have ever rivaled. It's utterly perplexing, however, that for all of Chion's insights he fails to even acknowledge Kubrick's manipulation of Ligeti's "Adventures" for the alien sounds in the 18th Century bedroom sequence (and the composer's successful legal action for this alteration.) His interpretation of "Eyes Wide Shut" is simply bizarre and neglects to regard the return of Ligeti's music and its insistent and concise use in the film. Regardless, Chion's book certainly expands on the formal understanding of what still remains the greatest film ever made.
A Poor Examination.......2001-12-24
I have enjoyed the film "2001" countless times, and decided to buy this book; what a waste of time. This book offers little other than very basic scene analyisis, and some general (and fairly weak) speculations about the film. I was also supprised that the author was mistaken about which characters were in what scenes, and seemed to think that both Frank and Dave are interchangble. A large portion of the book doesn't even pertain to 2001, and mostly served as an excuse for the author to promote his other books, which he shamlessly suggests you buy. Well I'm sorry I got this book and certainly won't be purchasing any of his other books. If you want a book about 2001, I suggest looking elsewhere; as I will be!
Average customer rating:
- Finally questions are answered
- A Triple Allegory? Well...Not exactly
- Mind Boggling Detail
- Loving and terribly misguided
- But he would think of something.
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Kubrick's "2001"
Leonard F. Wheat
Manufacturer: The Scarecrow Press, Inc.
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The Making of 2001: A Space Odyssey (Modern Library Movies)
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Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey: New Essays
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Moonwatcher's Memoir: A Diary of 2001: A Space Odyssey
ASIN: 081083796X |
Book Description
Three allegories--an Odysseus (Homer) allegory, a man-machine symbiosis (Arthur Clarke) allegory, and a Zarathustra (Nietzsche) allegory--are simultaneously concealed and revealed by well over 200 highly imaginative and sometimes devilishly clever symbols. In bringing Kubrick's secrets to light, Wheat builds a powerful case for his assertion that 2001 is the grandest motion picture ever filmed.
Customer Reviews:
Finally questions are answered.......2006-03-19
So much confusion and mystery have surrounded "2001: A Space Odyssey", that it was with great happiness that I found many of the answers to my questions about this film in Mr. Wheat's book, "Kubrick's 2001: A Triple Allegory". As most fans of this movie will agree, it's a fascinating surface story, using ground-breaking special effects, wonderful music, including the use of ambient sound that was far ahead of its time. But the additional idea that the film is also deliberately allegorical -- with not one, not two, but three allegories -- propels it to a unique status apart from all other achievements on the big screen.
Of course, other reviewers will criticize Mr. Wheat's observations of these three allegories by picking out various areas of debate. Whether or not "a chapter in the Odyssey" was or was not titled "The Great Bow", does not take away from the very concept that it is right there in Homer's work for us all to read. The criticism of "TMA-1" (TMA-ONE) being an anagram for "NO MEAT", is at first site understandable... until you see all of the other references in the film just before the appearance of the Moon Monolith ("Ham, ham, ham... it all tastes like chicken anyway" and "That speech you gave really beefed up moral"), and then afterward as the astronauts collapse after touching the monolith (sound/Greeks emitted OUT of the monolith/Trojan horse overpowers astronauts/Trojans) make it obvious that the allegory fits, and when you understand that, it's not so hard to understand why TMA-1 is an anagram. Why not just call it TMA? There was no second TMA ever mentioned - nor could there be -- there was no other monolith. TMA-1 was a unique, one-of-a-kind discovery, and they all knew it. No, adding the number "1" after "TMA" must have been intentional, and it does create the anagram that fits perfectly into the allegory.
The funniest of the criticisms are from people who actually say things like "2001 was co-written by Arthur C. Clarke, so how can he allegorize himself?" is to be completely ignorant of the fact that Clarke had very little to do with the making of this movie. Arthur C. Clarke has gone on record of not knowing exactly what Kubrick was up to when making the film, even going as far to say that "2001 reflects about ninety percent on the imagination of Kubrick, about five percent on the genius of the special effects people, and perhaps five percent on my contribution." (http://www.palantir.net/2001/meanings/essay08.html)
No, the truth is that many people just don't want to believe what Mr. Wheat is telling them. This is understandable, as so many people have had their own pre-conceived interpretations of this film for many years, and reading Mr. Wheat's work may unsettle them and provoke negative reviews, or even outright hostility!
What Stanley Kubrick did in this film is absolutely extraordinary in all the world of cinematography, but he remained silent about these debates to the end of his life. I believe he did this on purpose. I believe Mr. Kubrick would have enjoyed Mr. Wheat's interpretation of his film, but I think he would more enjoy the debate, hostility, interest and celebration of what many of us believe is the greatest film of all time.
A Triple Allegory? Well...Not exactly.......2005-01-25
"2001: A Space Odyssey" is a truly astounding motion picture. After experiencing it numerous times over the past 32 years, I find myself still uncovering its mysteries. I love discussing the film and in doing so, I've discovered one of the most fascinating aspects is that everyone who sees it, interprets its many themes and symbols differently.
Leonard Wheat's "Kubrick's 2001: A Triple Allegory" is a discussion of Mr. Wheat's interpretations of this film. He obviously has deeply scrutinized the film and has drawn many conclusions about what it all means. His primary focus in this book is that he feels that the film allegorizes three different works. These works are Homer's "The Odyssey", Nietzsche's "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" and Clarke's man-machine symbiosis. The author goes into point by point detail of how he interprets various parts of the film and how they apply to his allegorical assertions.
For the most part, his observations are unique and make sense and quite honestly, opened my mind to ideas about the film I hadn't thought about before. This is a good thing as now I have more food for thought and an even better understanding about director Stanley Kubrick's motivations in this deceivingly complex film.
However, I do have some points of contention. My biggest problem is the tone of the writing. Mr. Wheat writes this as though he is the supreme authority of 2001. Most of his assertions are written as though they are indisputable facts, as if he knew exactly what Kubrick was intending. He even goes as far as to criticize other people's opinions and state point by point, why he is right and they are wrong. If all of this were written in the tone of it being his opinion, that would be fine, but I could not help but feel that the author was feeling superior (overman?) in his discussions of other people's opinions. There are several points he makes where I personally disagree and I believe I can come up with convincing arguments of why I'm right. I, at least realize, I am expressing an opinion.
Keeping in the spirit of opinionated interpretation, let me say that I disagree with the author about 2001 being a triple allegory. Mr. Wheat splendidly shows the allegorical ties to Homer and Nietzsche, but I just don't see how 2001 is allegorical of Clarke.
First of all, 2001 was co-written by Arthur C. Clarke so how can he allegorize himself? The author states in the book that Clarke wrote the novel after the film was released. This is outrightly incorrect. The novel was written at the same time as the screenplay. Both were written by both Clarke and Kubrick. They had mutually agreed that Clarke would get credit for the novel and Kubrick would get credit for the screenplay (read "The Lost Worlds of 2001" or "Arthur C. Clarke the Authorized Biography"). The author states that prior Clarke works incorporate his man and machine symbiosis. That is, that Clarke holds a strong belief that in the future, human and machine will combine to form a "better human". I'd like to know what works Mr. Wheat is referring to as I don't recall any other novel or short story that makes use of this theme to any degree. I've read a great deal of Mr. Clarke's novels and short stories and the only work I know of that carries out this theme is "2001: A Space Odyssey" and to a lesser degree, the sequels to it. The author has a whole section devoted to this theme and I agree that it's a fascinating theme, I just don't believe it is allegorical to anything, it's part of the actual story of 2001.
Maybe it should be titled "Kubrick's 2001: A Double Allegory" but that's just my opinion.
Mind Boggling Detail.......2001-08-28
This is an astounding work. Mr. Wheat has been, by his own admission, obsessed by this film since it opened, and it shows. Having just completed a rather intensive study of this film myself (but strictly from the hardware side) I was extremly curious to see what the latest existential thinking was. I was not dissapointed.
The mind boggling detail with which Mr. Wheat turns over every stone in the search for alligorical meaning is almost overwhelming. He creates a strong logical argument for his premise that the film is actually telling an unprecidented four stories (the surface story, plus three alligorical stories) simultaneously.
My only problem with the book (which kept me from giving it a full five stars) is that sometimes the arguments get divided too finely. Having some knowledge myself of the turbulent and volitile manner in which the film was made, I really have trouble believing that Kubrick had everything wrapped that tightly with that sort of intricacy for the entire film. Example: Wheat says that the bug-like appearance of the moon bus, with its multiple pontoon feet, symbolizes a millipede, or "thousand feet" in latin. This, he says, represents Menelaus's "fleet of a thousand ships" with which he left to rescue Helen in Troy. I know that the Moon Bus design underwent significant evolution during production (the feet were originally catipillar-like belts)and it only became the version we see on the screen very late in pre-production.
That said, this is still an astounding work. My frustration comes in that I do not posess Mr. Wheat's powers of analysis and observation. Everything fits into his logical framework, and when I come across something, like my example above, that seems like he's gone too far, I can't dispute it logically. I would highly reccomend this book for anyone still curious as to "what it all means."
Loving and terribly misguided.......2001-06-12
Wheat clearly adores _2001_. His rapture at the complexities and nuances of the film are manifest.
But his analyses are a very unfortunate combination of the inaccurate, the simplistic and the unsupportable.
He claims that "chapter 21 in _The Odyssey_ is titled 'The Great Bow." The Odyssey doesn't have chapters or titles above them. He bases his conclusion that the octahedrons floating in the stargate are alien life forms (a reasonable claim, to be sure) on an interview of Steven Wolfram by David Stork. Stork says "Actually, the octahedra were Kubrick and Clarke's extraterrestials - sort of escorts bringing Dave through the stargate." Wheat, then writes "The crucial point here is that Stork refers to the aliens as _escorts_. Here we have the plural of the very word Homer put in Odysseus's mouth when Odysseus said to the Phaeacians, 'I have secured your _escort_." Last I checked, Homer wrote in archaic Greek. Wheat bases his interpretation on the choices of the translator rather than the text of the ostensible allegorical source.
He writes, "We see, then, that 'the infinite' is God. And 'beyond the infinite' means beyond God - after God, after God's death. Kubrick is alluding to the death of God. And who is it that has just died? Hal. Conclusion: Hal... is God."
He writes, "it is indeed plausible that HEYWOOD R. FLOYD encodes Helen as HE, wooden worse as WOOD, and Troy as OY. But what about that Y between HE and WOOD. And what about the R, F, L, and D? Consider these answers. Y is Spanish for 'and.' R, F, and L, in turn, are in ReFLect. And D could stand for downfall, demise, death, doom, or destruction, of which the first - downfall - best fits 'the fall of Troy.' When you put all the pieces together, Heywood R. Floyd inflates to Helen and Wooden Horse Reflect Troy's Downfall."
Wheat has undeniable insights into Kubrick's film, but they are overwhelmed by the unconvincing character of his argumentation. One of the best sections in the book is a detailed dismantling of a psychoanalytic reading by Geduld. Wheat does his most interesting and complicated work here, and for those pages alone I would reccomend this book.
Of the three allegories that Wheat finds in the narrative, there is considerable and very interesting work on at least two, _The Odyssey_ and Zarathustra, that Wheat seems unfamiliar with. Admittedly, I have not seen them delved into in such detail, but much of that detail weakens rather than strengthens the correspondences simply because Wheat seems to throw in every scrap of comment or anagram that he thinks of or finds.
Overall, this should not be your first book on Kubrick. That honour needs to belong either to Michel Ciment's book _Kubrick_ or to Nelson's _Inside a Film Artist's Maze_. Nevertheless, the ground churned over by Wheat is not at rest, and the allegories he discovers remain a realm for further inquiry.
But he would think of something........2001-04-17
2001: A Space Odyssey is one of the greatest, wondrous movies ever made. Part of its attraction is in its visuals: It advancing the story without taking the time to explain it. Many people left confused, others were dumbfounded.
Leonard's Wheat's, Kubrick's 2001 A Triple Allegory attempts to explain Kubrick masterpiece by suggesting that it really three allegories, three stories that are based on other stories: · Homer's The Odyssey · The Man Machine Symbiosis · Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra
By its title and its music, it first seems clear that Mr. Wheat has a point. Comparing the Voyage of the crewman on Discovery to Jupiter to the Odyssey, or comparing Dave Bowman name Odysseus (who was an archer) is not new. But Mr. Wheat brought in new insight. He compares Hal, to the Cyclops who also had just one eye. He then points out that when moon Watcher kills with the first made weapon and throws it into the sky, the next shot is of an orbiting bomb, a point I never realized.
But then Mr. Wheat loses me. He contents that the monolith, known as TMA-One is a version of the Trojan House. Fine. But his reasoning is a stretch. He claims this is true because if you mix up the letters to TMA-One it comes out to "NO MEAT" a reference to the Trojan Horse being made out of wood. (Can't you see Mr. Kubrick and Mr. Clark staying up nights mixing up these letters.)? Of course when you mix up the letters to TMA ONE you can get No MATE, which may mean the Monolith represented Ernest Borg nine in the movie "Marty," or you can get NO TEAM which could represent Brooklyn after the Dodgers left.
Mr. Wheat contends that Kubrick put the three bombs in orbit to represent Aphrodite, Hear and Athena. That a bomb represents the goddess of Love is interesting, but out of place. And it goes on.
Reading the book is similar to taking a quiz. Mr. Wheat asks you, by leaving vague clues, to figure out conclusions before he gets to them. The anagram of TMA-1 is one of them. He mentions David Bowman's name is allegoric and doesn't get back to telling us why for a couple of chapters. Mr. Wheat often turns to and then turns away from what Arthur C. Clarke has said and written about 2001.
2001: A Space Odyssey should be a dated movie by now, but it is not. It is thought provoking, open ended and it remains a great visual experience, far different to any other movie made. Mr. Wheat's book brings up and explains many different and interesting ideas, but it also goes so far off into outer space ....
Book Description
Ever wondered what the Ms in M&Ms stand for?
If Scotch tape was invented in Scotland?
Why a cereal that contains neither grapes nor nuts is called Grape Nuts?
Who thought Gap was a good name for a clothing store?
From the Adidas we wear to the Volkswagens we drive, the daily lives of Americans are dominated by the manufacturers' trademarks that adorn nearly everything we own. Food, clothes, cars, household furnishings, even cell phones are all chosen by brand name. Yet many of these trademarks and product names pose mysteries.
But not when Evan Morris, creator of the award-winning The Word Detective website, is on the case! In From Altoids to Zima he reveals the fascinating, often wacky stories behind 125 brand names. Organized by product categories -- food and drink; clothing; technology, toys, and assorted bright ideas; cars; and drugs and cosmetics -- the story of each product is told with Morris's trademark wit and humor, complete with sidebars that highlight brand names that have become "genericized" (aspirin); a "What Were They Thinking?" honor roll of strange and often disastrous product names (Edsel); what happens when good brand names go bad (Kool-Aid after the Jonestown mass suicide); and debunked urban legends (the combination of Pop Rocks and soda that was rumored to be lethal).
Download Description
"Ever wondered what the Ms in M&Ms stand for? If Scotch tape was invented in Scotland? Why a cereal that contains neither grapes nor nuts is called Grape Nuts? Who thought Gap was a good name for a clothing store? From the Adidas we wear to the Volkswagens we drive, the daily lives of Americans are dominated by the manufacturers' trademarks that adorn nearly everything we own. Food, clothes, cars, household furnishings, even cell phones are all chosen by brand name. Yet many of these trademarks and product names pose mysteries. But not when Evan Morris, creator of the award-winning The Word Detective website, is on the case! In From Altoids to Zima he reveals the fascinating, often wacky stories behind 125 brand names. Organized by product categories -- food and drink; clothing; technology, toys, and assorted bright ideas; cars; and drugs and cosmetics -- the story of each product is told with Morris's trademark wit and humor, complete with sidebars that highlight brand names that have become ""genericized"" (aspirin); a ""What Were They Thinking?"" honor roll of strange and often disastrous product names (Edsel); what happens when good brand names go bad (Kool-Aid after the Jonestown mass suicide); and debunked urban legends (the combination of Pop Rocks and soda that was rumored to be lethal). "
Customer Reviews:
From Altoids to Zima: The Surprising Stories Behind 125 Famous Brand Names.......2005-08-13
Great trivia book. My family has taken this book to work and treated co-workers to interesting tidbits of information that surprised people who have used different brands in the book and didn't know how the products were named or invented. Great fun.
Customer Reviews:
Great.......2000-01-15
Great Stratigic guide for those who can't realize that you must stay close to cover etc.
Not bad, but difficult to find what you're looking for.......1999-04-15
I was a little thrown off by the author's admission that he never really sat down to play the game until he was offered the chance to write this book. (This was before he became the lead man for the X-Com series) My initial thought was that it should have been written by someone who had played and loved the game since the beginning. That aside, he did a decent job.
However, having played the game for several years before reading this book, I found that I had difficulties in locating the information I wanted. Some of the tables and charts that seem like they should be grouped together are spread out - thus making me hunt for them.
As for the content of the book itself, it has *nearly* everything you could ask for. The small amount of expert advice in the back may or may not be useful but it is the only strategy tips available, and I noticed a few errors thoughout the book (nothing major, however). At times I find that a lot of pages go by before some useful information turns up. Too much talk about what the game is doing and not enough strategy tips for my tastes. I don't think the book needs to be as thick as it is.
Bottom line: The info is in there. Sifting the proverbial wheat out of the chaff is another thing altogether.
Average customer rating:
- Good. Not Great.
- An excellent reference and how-to guide
|
X-COM Terror from the Deep: The Official Strategy Guide (Secrets of the Game Series,)
Dave Ellis
Manufacturer: Prima Games
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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X-COM UFO Defense: The Official Strategy Guide (Prima's Secrets of the Games)
ASIN: 076150074X
Release Date: 1995-06-21 |
Customer Reviews:
Good. Not Great........1999-07-13
David Ellis' second time out writing a X-Com strategy guide brings some mixed results this time around.
The Bad: Around half of the guide is a simply re-print of the manual, with a few added details. Although good, many other sections of the guide were simply too short and did not go into enough depth (who ever heard of devoting only 1 chapter to the tactical part of an X-Com game?).
The Good: Aside from the manual re-print, the entire quality of the material was very very high. Combat tips are right on the mark, and information is presented in an easy to find/read way. The tables are placed in the chapters they relate to, not some "Tables and Reference information" chapter at the end of the guide. It is a very easy to use companion to the game, not diving into meaningless details (for the most part) but not skimming important subjects (for the most part) either.
Bottom line: Mostly Excellent quality, just not enough of it.
An excellent reference and how-to guide.......1999-01-19
One of the best game guides I have ever read, this book greatly enhances the Terror from the Deep experience. Rather than being a step-by-step guide that you must follow like a robot without understanding _why_(something that would be almost impossible anyway, due to the nature of the game), this guide provides the detailed information you need to make your _own_ decisions. Statistics on literally everything in the game, along with detailed explanations of how crucial game aspects like movement, combat, and finances _really_ work, make this one a keeper.
Average customer rating:
- A must-have it you want to fully enjoy the pc game
- Good but could of been better.
|
X-COM Apocalypse: The Official Strategy Guide (Secrets of the Games Series.)
Dave Ellis
Manufacturer: Prima Games
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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X-COM UFO Defense: The Official Strategy Guide (Prima's Secrets of the Games)
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X-Com: Apocalypse (DOS)
ASIN: 0761502777
Release Date: 1997-08-26 |
Book Description
So you?ve been promoted to Commander of the X-COM force, now what? You?ll have to gather information on alien technology, create a strong base of operations, and defeat the alien incursion—you need this book! With
X-COM Apocalypse: The Official Strategy Guide, you get:
• Tips on navigating and surviving the unfriendly skies of Mega-Primus
• Proven research strategies
• Statistics and descriptions of the alien invaders
• Battlefield strategies for achieving tactical superiority
• Inside information on the buildings and structures of the insidious aliens
About the Author
David Ellis is a game designer at MicroProse Software, Inc. and author of several titles, including the official guides for X-COM: Terror From the Deep, Sid Meier?s Civilization II, and Master or Orion II: Battle at Antares (with John Possidente), all from Prima.
Customer Reviews:
A must-have it you want to fully enjoy the pc game.......2000-01-24
This book is a great help when playing the game. There are detailed breakdowns for each weapon, alien, and human enemy. The section on research is crucial if you want to maximize the work of your research team. X-com Apocolypse rocks and having this book makes it that much cooler. I don't suggest you get this book untill AFTER you have already played through the game at least once though, you don't want to spoil it!
Good but could of been better........1998-07-17
The offical Strategy guide is very helpful, the states on weapons and saliens is particularly help ful. However since the actually combat stages change each time your in them it's help on the missions is severly lacking. The help on bases is also somewhat useless as it's very expensive to build one from scratch, and it's almost imposible to redo the orignal one.
Average customer rating:
|
X-Com: Interceptor Official Strategies & Secrets
David Ellis
Manufacturer: Sybex Inc
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0782123767 |
Amazon.com
Who better to write a strategy guide than the game's designer? David Ellis, the creative mind behind Microprose's X-COM Interceptor, provides some key insights into the game and its many intricacies. For example, not only do you get extensive strategies and walk-throughs for each type of mission in the game, but you'll also find out exactly how the game universe is generated each time you start a new game. The book also goes to great lengths to describe the game's complex resource management and research elements. The various interceptor models and weapon systems at your disposal are described in detail as well, typically with plenty of specification charts and statistics to accompany the text. In fact, this book is awash with stats and specifications--for everything from monetary exchange rates to interceptor weapons loadouts. The guide closes with some interesting behind-the-scenes information on the making of X-COM Interceptor. --Michael Ryan
Book Description
If you want to save the whales, birds, trees, and yourself, read this book! This unique book was developed with the help of online discussion groups, X-COM gamers nationwide, and many different playtesters. The outcome is a masterpiece of research and presentation, offering successful strategies and thoughtful answers to every major question of gamers across the country.
Book Description
Classic investment guidance for everyone
As Chairman and CEO of one of the most respected mutual fund companies in the world, The Vanguard Group, Jack Brennan has made a career out of helping people invest for long-term success. In Straight Talk on Investing, he cuts to the chase and provides readers with sound advice and solid guidance to investing for today and tomorrow, in a bull market or bear market. Starting with a clear explanation of the financial facts of life, Brennan explains that investing is a lot easier than most people think. He shows readers how to develop a financial plan, construct and manage a sensible investment program, and maintain perspective in a sometimes crazy world. Refreshing in its simplicity and honesty, Straight Talk on Investing is a badly needed tonic to the hangover of the bull market of the 1990s. Filled with meaningful guidance for investors from a leading investment luminary, this invaluable resource will help readers make better investment decisions and restore financial faith in themselves, so they can confidently navigate the markets toward their financial goals.
Jack Brennan (Wayne, PA) is the Chairman and CEO of The Vanguard Group, the world's second-largest mutual fund company, with $600 billion in assets under management and 15 million shareholder accounts. Mr. Brennan is a frequent guest on financial news programs and is regularly quoted in leading business and personal finance publications, including The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. In 2000 and 2001, SmartMoney ranked him as one of the most influential individuals in investing.
Marta McCave (Wayne, PA) is a senior financial writer for The Vanguard Group and a former journalist. She was a founding member of the national reporting staff of USA Today and was a contributor to a number of newspapers and magazines before joining Vanguard.
Customer Reviews:
very good primer on investing fundamentals.......2007-03-15
Simple, basic, conservative advice on investing basics. His main points: spend-less-than-you-make, pay off high credit card debt, become a disciplined saver and investor, pay yourself first, invest in no-load mutual funds (preferably low cost index funds), reduce risk through buy-and-hold strategy over a long period of time, employ balance and diversification, re-balance your portfolio periodically, dollar cost average.
Suffice it to say, there's very little new here. This advice has been said many times before in many different ways. However, he does say things very clearly and has nice, short chapters.
Very easy for novices to learn basic principles of successful investing.
The best part of this book are the graphs and tables. He uses them very effectively to show how your total returns are affected under different scenarios.
This is a book, though, that concentrates on principles. You'd probably still need to sit down with an adviser and figure out exactly which funds to buy.
surpises: He should have been more up-front in admitting his bias for index funds. He is, after all, running the company that brought them to the masses.
Also, as another reviewer wrote, why no references in appendix to the books by John Bogle? He founded Vanguard and practically invented low MER index fund investing.
Outstanding book for investing beginners!.......2007-01-02
I have limited investing knowledge and have read a few books on financial planning and investing. This book, by far, has given me the knowledge and confidence to invest my retirement, as well as short term investment funds. The book is laid out very simply and is presented in a conscise, yet easy to read manner.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone with money in some form of retirement account. I am purchasing an additional 5 copies this visit to give to friends and family!
Good solid book on investing.......2006-10-12
This book is very appropriately titled. "Straight Talk on Investing" is just that, straight talk on investing. I've read many books on investing stressing the buy-and-hold approach and this book is by far the friendliest to read. Most other books read more like text books but this author gives it to you in plain english. I highly recommend this to the beginning investor as they are not interested in academic hoopla. That said, the author is somewhat biased to mutual funds specifically index funds since he is the CEO of Vanguard, the 2nd largest fund company in the US. But objectively speaking, other books that are totally unrelated to Vanguard also stress buying Vanguard index funds since they have the lowest fees and are virtually the pioneers in index funds. Basically, buying an index fund allows you achieve market performance which, according to research, is pretty good performance - beats 2/3 to even 3/4 of other actively managed funds. Unless you know for sure that the fund you own is part of that elite 1/4 that beats the street, I'm guessing you better go with market performance. It's really hard to argue on tried-and-tested approaches such as indexing, buy-hold, or dollar-cost averaging. Even from my own experience, I realized had I just bought an index fund such as the Vanguard 500 and hold it for the last ten years, I be up 20%. But instead, I thought I could beat the market with my own stock picks and as of current I'm still down 10% from the bubble (I'm firm on buying-and-holding). I've read other books and they all say the same things with the exception of those "get-rich" trading books so there is something to be said of those techniques. Sadly, you would think more people would follow the advice, but in the world of investing, everyone is still after that quick buck or the excitement of the possibility of discovering something that will give them an edge. One thing for sure, if such a way exists, you won't be reading about it soon. I remember once when I was working for this company specializing in financial software, the tools which will allow the professional investor/trader achieve what they desire and I ask if their stuff really works. They gave me a vague answer about it being able to access the situation better - baloney sandwich anyone - and ended with something I never forget: "When we do find a way, we won't tell anyone" Makes you wonder whether that 1/4 that do beat the street found "the way". Oh well, back to reality...let me get some more shares of that index fund.
Highly Recommended!.......2004-12-22
The Vanguard Group is the world's second-biggest mutual fund company, and author Jack Brennan is its chairman and CEO. When this book was published, Vanguard had 15 million shareholders and approximately $600 billion under management. Vanguard pioneered index funds, a type of investment that aims to reflect, not beat, the returns of the market. Because Vanguard does not pay fund managers to outguess the market, it can keep fund fees and expenses low. This economy is one of its primary assets. Brennan's book, written with Marta McCave, recapitulates sound principles of long-term investing in a straightforward, user-friendly way and details numerous kinds of investments. He does not tell you how to strike it rich in the markets or discover the next Microsoft or recognize unusual patterns in price charts. Better yet, he tells you how to build wealth the unexciting but generally reliable way: slowly, carefully and dispassionately. We recommend this excellent book to those who don't want to get rich quick, but who would be very content to get rich eventually. Warning: this book is not for the greedy.
STRAIGHT TALK ON INVESTING.......2003-01-24
FOR A BEGINNER I FOUND THIS BOOK TO HAVE VERY LITTLE INFORMATION THAT HELPED ME. THE DUMMIES BOOK ARE FAR BETTER. MOST OF IT WAS THINGS I ALREADY NEW AND WHAT I DID NOT KNOW I STILL DO NOT KNOW BECAUSE IT WAS NOT EXPLAINED IN SIMPLE ENOUGH TERMS.
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