Average customer rating:
- What Could've Been....
- John Belushi Was Not Funny
- Life In The Fast Lane
- With Friends Like These . . .
- Very interesting and sad book, but not very well written.
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Wired: The Short Life and Fast Times of John Belushi
Bob Woodward
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Wired
ASIN: 0671473204 |
Customer Reviews:
What Could've Been...........2007-02-16
1,000 friends and family members were at the funeral. So many were such a big part of his life. They loved him and would do anything for him, but they didn't do enough. None could or would save him from himself.
"Wired: The Short Life & Fast Times of John Belushi" by Bob Woodward takes a good look at the events of his life that led him to sudden fame and his fast spiral downward of fast living and drugs that led to his death much too early for this brilliant and much loved comic genius.
You may learn more then you want to know about some pretty big names in the entertainment industry, that either unwittingly helped Belushi or partied hardy with him on his road to self-destruction. I admire them for stepping up and telling their stories to Author Woodward(even the drug dealers themselves have some interesting accounts), and although some actually lectured John on the evils of what he was doing to himself, and at one point a self-professed anti-drug enforcer was hired to help out,I was dismayed by the lack of courage on any of these giants, and those closest to him, to take drastic measures to save his life. Many times the interviewees say, he was headed for death. Woodward does an excellent job of supplying the details of his life and times,his fast rising career, the attitudes of his friends, the movie studio execs, his family and even his Doctors. No one could say NO to him.
It is clear that alot of time,hundreds of interviews, and extensive research has gone into this book, making it a must read for fans. John's bigger then life personality, his constant demand and need for artistic freedom and control are a very big part of this story. My problem came in about the first third of the book. To be honest I found this part a bit tedious and repetitive. Adoring fans, need not be reminded of nearly every line he spoke or wrote for the Saturday Night Live sketches. Long ago, we already made his famous phrases our own("Cheezbugga, Cheezbugga".... "But Nooooooo...." ), and we could probably still recall in great detail, all the great moments he gave us. I did however find the look behind the scenes of this great show, and the movie ranglings most interesting. Each film he did or had a script for is talked about in detail, along with his state of being during that time.As the book goes on though, and especially towards the end where we are with him every one of his last hours on earth, we get a very good look into the craziness his life spiraled.
By the end I was saddened once again by the loss of one of my favorites, and thought about all the laughs the world has missed out on. I also felt angered by the lack of help he received from all those close to him, and thought there were some matters that were just sluffed off by the particiapnats and not detailed enough by the Author, for example the police investigation.The book also has numerous pix..my favorite..John in his Samauri warrior costume.
An interesting read, one that may stir fans to say:
"'Bluto'....you have been truly missed" .....Laurie
John Belushi Was Not Funny.......2006-09-29
He guzzzled some JD in Animal House and pretended he was a zit; he also sliced some things up, over and over, in virtually the same skit repeatedly on SNL. Blues Brothers? Give me a fricking break already; he himself even advises you on one recording to "go out and buy all the blues you can" because he felt guilty making so much cash ripping off true artists.
He was a second-rate "performer" and major-league cokehead who happened to be at the right place at the right time. Apologies to his family, whom he apparently had no feeling or respect for, no one really misses him.
Hope some Playboy Bunnies are slurping coke off your sweat-drenched, bloated face now John; at least you're not boring everyone in Continental Divide.
Life In The Fast Lane.......2006-08-24
I read the book when it was first published and feel as strongly that it is a must read twenty years later.
John Belushi in many ways defined Saturday Night Live and was one of the first cast members to emerge as a prime time player in a string of successful movies. His success did not happen overnight and his tragic death was not caused at the final raucous party.
Bob Woodward leads the reader through Belushi's life and times, which in many ways defined the Wild West of the 1970s with celebrities and the many drugs of choice.
Woodward has been taken to task over the years by friends and family members of Belushi; typically with the criticism that Woodward relied too much on hired researchers to gather material and the portrait presented is not of the person they knew. At times I wonder if it's criticism of guilt, not of the finished work.
Wired remains my favorite book and I strongly suggest that you find a copy on Amazon or through a second-hand bookstore.
With Friends Like These . . . .......2006-02-19
The problem with this book is not that Woodward is too tough on Belushi. He's too easy on his sources. The breakdown is this:
Belushi, being dead, can't tell Woodward what happened to him. However, there are (literally!) hundreds of dope pushers, groupies, strippers, bikers, has-been comics, bar flies, scum bags, scrounge artists, movie directors, session musicians, and network television executives, who are HAPPY to sit down and tell Woodward THEIR version of John Belushi. And each and every one of these people has only ONE objective -- cover his own rear end. In other words, EVERY person here has to explain how HE didn't make John flip out, it was those other guys! The book reads like this for two hundred pages --
"Joe Blow had never made it as an actor, but now he liked to think of himself as a dope dealer with heart. It caused him a lot of pain to see John out of control, begging for more dope. Joe felt bad about selling to him, but what could he do? If he didn't, some other guy would -- some guy not as talented and well meaning."
Or it goes more like this --
"Harvey Katzenberg knew there was a good chance John would die before the film wrapped -- he was doing too much dope. On the other hand, if Harvey complained about the constant dope, the crowd of bikers and strippers, John might get mad and leave the set early. Then Harvey would be out millions. It was better, he thought, to let John keep on doing his drugs, at least until the film wrapped. At least then the film would get made and Harvey's daughter could get that new Porsche."
The book is so dry that you can't tell if Woodward is allowing these slimy parasites to kid him along -- or if he's laughing at them the whole time. I did read a fascinating PLAYBOY interview with Woodward some years later, where he indicated the whole Hollywood community hated him for showing them up --showing how they let their good buddy John kill himself right in front of them. Problem is, the book itself is dull because Woodward never imposes any kind of authorial voice or objective truth. All we get are 101 lying parasites rationalizing away, with Belushi's corpse stinking up the back room.
Very interesting and sad book, but not very well written........2005-05-17
The story of John Belushi's life was a rollercoaster ride of very low times of self destruction, separated by short rises of happiness and accomplishment. John seemed to be someone that just could not be happy in his own skin, he did not see himself as a worthy human being who deserved to be happy, but instead someone who did not deserve his fame, or did not feel he was respected in the ways he thought he should be, he was constantly trying to prove himself. John was selfish, yes, he would binge for weeks on drugs, parties, and the fast life looking to fill that void regardless of who it hurt. He destroyed friendships as fast as he made them, but was always the one quick to apologize and try to mend the bridge he had just burned. I feel sorry for John and wish that he would of been given the help he was crying out to receive. Like so many before and after him his problems were ignored in hopes that he would somehow see the light and snap out of it on his own. John is to blame for his own death, and partial blame goes to his friends, but a huge part of the blame rests on Hollywood's shoulders. A town that rewards it successful entertainers with money and fame, and then quickly shuns them the minute that entertainers value has been sucked dry. Hollywood glorifies a lifestyle, in it's movies, that in reality is an impossible one to maintain. The book is very poorly written in my opinion, and Woodward easily confuses the reader by jumping from quote to quote. The readers many times is left unsure of who the quote is being taken from or who exactly the quote is about. There are a lot of scattered bits of information in the book as well and also many typos. For example in one section John's heart is described as being 222 lbs after his death. The book was interesting but so scattered I found my self struggling to stay focused and had to re-read many paragraphs to fully understand what exactly Woodward was trying to say.
Customer Reviews:
Belushi?...by Woodward?..........2006-09-08
I read this book soon after it was published, mainly out of curiosity. Having come from the same town in Illinois, Woodward paints a fascinating and tragic portrait of the SNL funnyman. His rise and fall is the stuff of Hollywood legend and this book covers his childhood, professional life, relationships, and death by heroin overdose, despite the efforts of friends and loved ones to intervene. An interesting read.
Customer Reviews:
Pretty Cool!.......2005-09-27
I thought it was going to be a neat journal, but instead its a neat little notes to go book that come in handy!
A fun and useful book for scheduling........2003-01-31
This book has small notes that can be removed easily. You can use the notes for your own reminders, but even better give them to others. They have sayings on them that make almost everyone smile. Even guys get the joke. For example I gave a male friend one about how when you ask a date what they're thinking and they reply nothing, they are unfortunately speaking the truth. It makes a great gift also.
Customer Reviews:
THE Classic!.......2007-07-18
Of all the books I have seen, this one is the classic that I compare others to. One of the authors (Strong) was a long time editor of the Scientific American Amateur Scientist column, and really knows his business. Some of the information is a little dated, but overall the older techniques are very practical for those who cannot afford the more expensive tools of todays glass blowing and lampworking gurus. The scientific glass working information is priceless. This book is a little hard to find, but worth it.
Good overall reference to glass blowing and glass history.......2005-02-08
Wonderfull introduction to the art and science of glass blowing, and also the best introduction to the history of glass and glass technology that I've seen.
It covers the tools and techniques to get started, down to the experiment of making your own glass.
It covers the chemestry of not only the traditional glasses, but also borosilicates, lead glasses, and others.
Well worth having, with many clean "How to" illistrations.
(And some very nice pictures of glasswork.)
Customer Reviews:
Inspiring and delightful.......2007-09-08
I have to admit that, despite a few flaws, this remains one of my favorite books on making your own glass. Ms. Eberle has written a book that gets my creative juices flowing every time I read it. Her approach to creating functional/decorative glass is (or was at the time) unique, and I especially appreciate her use of mass-produced glassware to create some really beautiful things. It's well-illustrated.
That said, there are some frustrating aspects to this book. She doesn't really explain where to find some of the materials she uses, such as her "paints" and "crystal ice." While I can guess at their identity I can't be quite sure. I've also tried to locate the author (and in fact have sent several e-mails to what I *think* is the correct address) with no luck. She does describe the mechanics of full-fuse firing, but you'll need a pretty good understanding of firing schedules to fill in the blanks.
Even with the frustrations, though, this book is well worth the purchase price. I would love to see more from this author!
Great fusing book.......2007-04-27
I have been fusing for 3 years now. I started with this book and still look back and get good ideas. You evolve and still can get something on a different level. Buy it.
Good fusing book!.......2007-01-04
Great pictures. Lots of projects. Good adition to any fusing book collection.
Encouraging start up.......2002-04-18
With no experience in glass work, this book is very encouraging for the beginner. Exercises are simple and clear to understand.
But I find the content of the projects very kitch, especially the finished works in the painting on glass section. I would have preferred if the creative quality be of far greater substance.
I am comming from an art/design profession, so the designs are not inspiring to me at all. Its approach may be too sunday hobbiest for practicing artists/designers.
Pretty but shallow.......2002-01-18
I bought this book based on reviews from this page. I agree that the projects are beautiful and the artist very talented. The book is not really a "how to" in my opinion as it gives very sketchy technical information on all three glass techniques. I would not feel comfortable investing in an expensive kiln and supplies or attempting these projects without reading a far more thorough treatment of the subject first. It is very inspirational to look at: pretty but shallow.
Book Description
Markets in Profile explores the confluence of three disparate philosophical frameworks: the Market Profile, behavioral finance, and neuroeconomics in order to present a unified theory of how markets work. The Market Profile is an ever-evolving, multidimensional graphic that gives visual form to the market's continuing auction process, revealing the myriad underlying dynamics that influence market activity. Behavioral finance posits that investors are driven more by emotional factors and the subjective interpretation of minutia than by "rationality" when making investment decisions. And neuroeconomics is the study of how investor psychology permeates and affects the financial markets. Mr. Dalton explicates the ways in which irrational human behavior influences the market's natural auction process, creating frequently predictable market structure, which results in opportunities for investors to ameliorate risk. The book will improve investors ability to interpret change in markets, enabling better, more confident investment decisions.
Customer Reviews:
Essential.......2007-08-22
I am a fan of the Dalton (and Jones) Gang. See my review of their other superb work, Mind Over Markets.
I am not an author, like some of the reviewers here. I am a trader. We are all aware of the favorable reviews that authors often provide one another, however, these 5 star ratings are legitimate. Rest assured.
Simply, Markets in Profile is an essential addition to a trader's library. Read it, and read it often. I will likely consume the entire text every year. It is that valuable. This will become, if it is not already, a classic, not only in the field of Market Profile, but for trading in general.
I use concepts from Market Profile in my trading every day. With these concepts I am able to determine mundane things like, support/resistance areas, something I call price level magnets, i.e., areas of price that will be revisited during the trading day, and overnight trading strategies for the futures contracts that I trade. But more importantly, given the current day's profile, and profiles from the past several days, it is when price does NOT perform as expected that can lead to some of the largest profits.
No other author has produced the quality of work that is presented here, as it relates to MP. The discussion of the three time frame participants and their styles is required reading for understanding the financial markets. Each time frame player has an agenda. The authors do an excellent job describing how to identify their activity, and more.
I could write more in praise of this fine work, but others have provided a volume of commentary that may be unsurpassed for review of a book about trading.
My advice is to read this book, and read reviews written by traders who trade every day (and Brett Steenbarger, he is a wonderful author too).
Looking at what price alone doesn't tell you.......2007-04-12
At only 200 pages, Markets in Profile isn't exactly a hefty tome. Don't let its length deceive you, though. This is an intellectual book which incorporates a fairly wide array of topics, including some common academic theories, in to the mix. While there are loads of graphics included to provide visual examples in support of the text, which serves to cut down the actual amount of textual content, do not expect to breeze through this book in an afternoon sitting. It delves in to the heart of trading in a way that will force you to examine how you approach the markets.
One of the things that most, if not all of us forget when we're analyzing and trading the markets is exactly what's going on. We see the movement of prices and fail to remember what is really happening to create that price movement. That's the auction process. To quote the authors, "... price and volume move over time to facilitate trade in the pursuit of value."
A great deal of effort is expended by market participants to determine value. Fundamental stock market analysts spend hour upon hour trying to come up with a figure that represents the worth of a company based on earnings, book value, and other factors. That is all fine and good, but it is the market, in the end, which defines value. And it does so on a running basis.
The problem we market participants have is that we focus too much on price, which the authors indicate is merely the advertising side of the auction process. They demonstrate how price is just a way for the market to seek value. There's an important distinction here. Price is not value. It is just a way for the market to find value, which is defined as the price area where volume is generated because buyers and sellers meet in agreement.
To help us understand that process, the authors use some easily understood examples to define the basic mechanisms of the financial markets. They are the same as in other markets, after all. The process might operate faster and on a broader scale, but otherwise it is the same. Sellers are trying to recieve the highest possible value in the sales price, while buyers are trying to minimize the price they pay in relation to the value the expect to recieve. When there is disagreement between the two, little trading takes place. When they agree, lots of trading happens. It doesn't matter if the product is automobiles, banannas, or stocks.
About the first half of Markets in Profile is laying the kind of mental groundwork needed for really getting in to the analytic method known as Market Profile. Market Profile is the technique the authors use to identify the levels where the market has found value and when the market is in search of value. It is an approach first developed by Peter Steidlmayer (see Steidlmayer on Markets) at the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) for the futures market, and which they spent considerable time defining and outlining in their previous book, Mind Over Markets.
On the surface, Market Profile appears to be just another way to present price history in graphic form. The authors, however, demonstrate how the Market Profile distribution patterns put "market-generated information" to excellent use in identifying value and the market's pursuit of it.
Using numerous examples, the authors explain in detail the ways Market Profile can be used to identify what they refer to as "asymmetric opportunities". These are market set-ups where not only do the odds more favor a move in one particular direction, but the situation is such that a move in that direction is likely to be substantially larger than were the market to go the other way. Think of it as you would a trading system that has a win rate incess of 50% and a high average winner to average loser ratio. That's a pretty good combination!
This is a book that can make a huge difference in the way you look at the markets, and by extention, the way you trade, but only if you let it. The authors challenge quite a view elements of trading. Some readers may put up walls where that happens. The open-minded reader, though, will find themself thinking along completely new paths and gaining massive insights in to the way they see price action.
(For the record, years ago, when I was a professional analyst focusing on the futures market, I used Market Profile extensively and with considerable success. In the intervening years I fell away from it when I shifted market focus, but I'm not making a move back.)
Highly Recommend.......2007-03-08
Trading is never easy and this isn't one of those books which gives you a system to beat the market. Instead, it shows you how to read the market, organize market information around the auction process, and interpret the actions of other traders. It provides a framework for making rational, informed trading decisions -- and that alone will put you head and shoulders above most speculative traders. This is one of the best, most honest trading books I've read in years.
A Must Read.......2007-03-07
Context, context, context is one of Dalton's key themes in his new book "Markets in Profile". It is interesting that this new book "Markets in Profile" provides the needed context for Dalton's earlier book "Mind over Markets". In "Markets in Profile", Dalton displays great care in crafting a framework that shows how to leverage Market Profile to identify asymmetric opportunities (low risk high reward trades) which can lead to long term trading success. A must read!
Compelling addition to Market Profile literature.......2007-03-07
Having read all the books on Market Profile, I have to say this is the most informative and best-written guide on the subject. I studied Market Profile when it first surfaced in the mid-1980s. In retrospect the problem I had in using the Profile was my focus on the single day time frame and my inability to detect the transistion from trending to bracketing markets. Dalton and co-authors provide a clear explanation of how markets change conditions and show how to use the profile to interpret market behavior in different time frames. The Market Profile remains the single best way to organize and interpret market action and this book is an excellent addition to the literature.
Book Description
Learn the concepts and transform your business!
- See why process management is an inevitable trend that won't go away.
- Understand why relationship management needs effective processes to work.
- Define your stakeholders and determine their needs.
- Discover what other organizations have done to manage processes successfully.
- Explore a complete framework for managing business, process, and human change.
- Apply your knowledge to manage process projects effectively and efficiently.
- Learn what to do and what to avoid in every step.
- Develop processes to align technology, organization, and facility transformation.
- Gain cross-organizational acceptance of process and personal change.
- Anticipate objections and proactively manage stakeholder concerns.
Download Description
Business processes are the production lines of the new economy. When they fail us, our products and services fail our customers, and our business fails its owners. The more businesses change, the more they must concern themselves with their stakeholder relationships and manage their processes so that technologies and organization designs have a common business purpose. This book shows you how to deliver integral processes and helps you build a fully process-managed enterprise. The Process Management Framework provides the strategic guidance and tactical steps to make the switch. Encompassing eight phases, the Framework migrates organizational and process transformation through strategy, design, realization, and actual operations. For each phase, this book provides detailed descriptions of the steps, their inputs, outputs, guides, and enablers, as well as the tricks, traps, and best practices learned by experienced practitioners. It also covers the related disciplines of managing programs, risk, quality, projects, and human change, and how process management is the key to ensure a fit among all these areas. For those of you about to embark on a process journey, this book provides a compelling call to action, a guide for management, and an invaluable reference. Learn the concepts and transform your business! See why process management is an inevitable trend that won't go away. Understand why relationship management needs effective processes to work. Define your stakeholders and determine their needs. Discover what other organizations have done to manage processes successfully. Explore a complete framework for managing business, process, and human change. Apply your knowledge to manage process projects effectively and efficiently. Learn what to do and what to avoid in every step. Develop processes to align technology, organization, and facility transformation. Gain cross-organizational acceptance of process and personal change. Anticipate objections and proactively manage stakeholder concerns.
Customer Reviews:
Too old fashioned.......2006-07-26
This book provides an interesting framework but lacks the modern thinking of the Third Wave by Smith and Fingar and contains more of the old Business Process Reengineering stuff
Getting the Business Value from BPM.......2005-12-08
As a Trainer and Consultant in the Business process space it is important to read as widely as possible. This can often be a chore, but in the case of this book it was a real pleasure. Roger really focusses in on getting the Business Architecture right first and then drilling down into process. As with so many books this too can be viewed as several books in one. The first 1/3 or so is great reading for any manager involved in helping their organization move to being process based. The framework suggested is readily useable by all organizations. then the book does get a little more technical and might lose the business readers, but provides valuable resource and insight for analysts involved in process improvement.
An enjoyable read and well worth the time it takes to do so.
A Business Process Management toolkit must have........2002-10-31
Rogers new book is notable for a number of reasons. It presents the subject of Business Process Management with a practical 'can do' approach that will appeal to organisation leaders and practitioners alike. It's direct style is accessible and provides a framework which leads both the reader and the BPM implementer through a tried and tested approach harnessing people, process and technology.
This is a definite must have in your BPM toolkit.
Best in class book with a full view of the subject.......2001-09-17
Among the stack of business process and process design books I've read this one stands out as the best. The reason for this bold statement is this is the only one that carefully examines business processes from the four dimensions of (1)Business, (2) Process, (3) Knowledge and (4)Business Rules. Contrast the four-dimensional view this book provides with the two-dimensional view most business process books take (business and process), and you'll begin to see why I like it so much and how this book is a good fit for process analysts and engineers who are faced with aligning business processes to e-commerce initiatives, or aligning IT to business.
What I like most is the book is divided into a management guide and a practitioner's guide. This is a unique approach that has a significant benefit: it aligns the sponsors and business process owners (managers) and the design and implementation teams (practitioners) into a unified team by giving each group the necessary information for business process management in their own language and from their own points of view. Among the "necessary information" are" ten guiding principles, a common framework and project management essentials.
I also like the way knowledge management is included, the clear focus on end results and the fact that the processes are designed for contemporary business (e-commerce, supply chain management, etc.), and incorporation of business rules. Combined, these make this book stand out as the best on the topic (in my opinion).
This book blends the no-nonsense process approach of pure process books with the fresh views of the current flood of "e" books, and does so without hype or gushing promises. It's down-to-earth, copiously illustrated and methodical. I strongly recommend this as the primary book on business process management and give it 5 stars.
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Products Finishing, published by Gardner Publications, Inc. on December 1, 2000. The length of the article is 2089 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: Profiting from Control -- The (Up)Right Way.(UpRight Inc.'s use of the Coral Technologies' GL Controller)(monitoring and control of processes)
Author: Steven R. Jr. Kline
Publication:
Products Finishing (Magazine/Journal)
Date: December 1, 2000
Publisher: Gardner Publications, Inc.
Volume: 65
Issue: 3
Page: 50
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Books:
- Wit and Wisdom of the Movies (Wit & Wisdom)
- Writer's Guide to Hollywood Producers, Directors, and Screenwriter's Agents, 1999-2000 (Writer's Guide): Who They Are! What They Want! And How to Win Them Over!
- Adaptation: Studying Film and Literature
- Agent of Challenge and Defiance: The Films of Ken Loach (Contributions to the Study of Popular Culture , No 64)
- Allan King: Filmmaker
- American Cinema and Hollywood: Critical Approaches
- American Cinema: One Hundred Years of Filmmaking
- American Religious and Biblical Spectaculars
- And the Mirror Cracked: Feminist Cinema and Film Theory
- Approaches to Popular Film (Inside Popular Film)
Books Index
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