The whole sweeping saga of rock and roll is here in one book. This book will endure as the best way to tell the history of rock and roll -- in the words of the people who played it, produced it, sold it and studied it.

OK, so we all know a lot about rock n roll, right? But when you read William McKeen's anthology of great rock writing, you realize that you have only scratched the surface. This book, in a word, rocks. McKeen clearly had a tough assignment: track down the best writing about rock n roll, and use those writings to define the elusive beast that is rock music. He succeeds on both accounts. Sure, there are the expected authors -- Lester Bangs, Peter Guralnick, Greil Marcus, Charlie Gillett, and Robert Palmer -- but also unexpected gems and defining lyrics from Patti Smith, Tom Wolfe, Don DeLillo and Terry Southern. Each section of the book illustrates a facet of rock n roll, and the usually bite-size chunks of writings make it easy to pick this book up anytime and blow through a couple of dozen pages without knowing time has passed. I guess my favorite aspect of the book, however, is that it touches a place deep inside of us that music also touches. Two stories stand our for me in this regard: Alan Lomax's account of his visit with blues legend Robert Johnson's mother, who relates her son's dying moments in stunning vividness (the dying Johnson, allegedly the victim of a lover's poison, gives his devil-cursed guitar to his mother and tells her to hang it on the wall "cause I done pass all that by." He dies while she was hanging it on the wall.) The final moment of goosebumps comes in the book's ultimate selection, the legendary producer Phil Spector's induction speech for the late Doc Pomus, who wrote "Save the Last Dance for Me," among other early rock gems. The writing in this book is stunning. The arrangement of chapters and selections by McKeen, a University of Florida journalism professor, borders on the genius also. For anyone who ever had a melody stuck in their head, who ever slam danced at their first punk concert, who ever saw Duane Allman play slide guitar, who ever jammed with their buddies in a miniwarehouse till dawn, or who ever just simply turned on a car radio, this book is indispensible.

This is a fun book with great stories. I enjoyed the writing and the selection of events in "history."

This definitely my stocking-stuffer for the holidays.

i enjoyed this book so much, I just ordered copies for all of my music-loving friends. Very fun read.

A picture is worth 1000 words and this book uses color pictures well. The book is fairly short, but covers the subject with concise grace. I am a rank beginner. My first climb was 3 days ago, my second was yesterday (both indoors). I took my 3 year old and 10 year old yesterday and they loved it! In the past 2 days I've read 5 books on climbing, and so far this has been the best.

I read a 250 page "textbook" on climbing, and only saw about 10% that I cared about right now. At this point I really don't want to know 75 different ways to wrap a rope around my body to rappel. (you know what I mean?) Teach me something fast, show me some good graphics. Get me started on the right foot! That's what this book does in spades.

The author's best use of pictures are to show both the right way and the wrong way to do something (like run rope through a 'biner). Also, I have done alot of equipment pricing over the past few days, and this book is DEAD ON when it comes to costs of climbing equipment and accessories.

This book is everything the beginner needs to start crawling up walls, just make sure you have a belay partner so you don't kill yourself. :-)

Rock Climbing is an excellent resource for beginning courses offered through high school and university programs. The text is full color and includes many exciting photographs by noted climbing photographers and very nice artist renderings of gear and techniques. All the basics for getting started are covered. The text describes techniques and methods for Traditional and Sport Leading as well as for Top-roping routes. Information on specific training for climbing is provided and one chapter even presents a mini-guide to some of the best areas around the world. Of course, I am a bit biased since I wrote the book

While this is subtitled "A Christmas Tale", this wonderfully written story is a story of belonging in a small, isolated community - a wonderful gift that is set at Christmas. Two aspects of the story make this a memorable bit of literature: First, the discription of the physical setting and the small details making the village unique, isolated and realistic are superb. Second, the understanding of human group behavior is outstanding - both in the definition of "outsiders" and in the common story required to become an "insider". This aspect is established early and confirmed by the climax of the story.

Excellent writing, excellent control of characters, interesting and simple plot ... well worth your time.

This is one of the most fascinating books I have ever read. The story is simple: A boy and a girl get lost in the mountains on their way home; it's Christmas Eve, and the two are somewhere in the Alps. What makes the books so unique is the way in which the children's ordeal is described: They are moving through a landscape that is made almost abstract by the snow; this is pure poetry! - Stifter is a forgotten genius of 19th century European literature; I'm glad that his touching Christmas Tale - and ideal Christmas present, by the way - is now available in this beautiful edition!

Clearly a work of long effort and love, this magnificent volume shows what'you've always wanted to grow in your rock garden'...including some very rare, very astonishing plants. The only thing it seems to lack is a discussion of some of the finer points of culture of some of these gems, but if you've gotten to the point of growing some of them, well, you'll know.

One of the most difficult parts of selecting rock garden plants is anticipating what they will look like in one's own rock garden. The pictures and descriptions in Baldassare Mineo's book are extraordinarily accurate, interesting and authoritative. We've seen Mineo's thrilling gardens and know that he understands his subject from the scree up! This book will become a classic.

Bob Kennedy has some real background experience on this topic as he has been a part of the bodybuilding scene for decades. This book is the first title I have bought that has been authored by Bob Kennedy, who clearly demonstrated to me that he is competent in the area of bodybuilding nutrition.
Perhaps most appealing, for me, was the simple recipes available to the layperson who doesn't want to spend a lot of time hunting around health food stores for the best foods. Also, straight forward nutrition concepts are tossed around that gave me more confidence in picking good food choices. An encore for Bob Kennedy's Rock Hard!

This book is a must for anyone from beginer to expert. All you ever wanted to know about bodybuildning nutrition from bulking up to cutting down. The recipies are simple and use everyday ingredients you don't need a charge card at Mrs. Gooches to afford. The one-dish main meals are a heaven send as are the protein shake recipies. If you find this book, buy it!!!

This is my favorite book,and possibly Long's best (ROCK JOCKS... is more factual and interesting but less entertaining.) This collection of Long's short stories, drawn from his incredible personal experiences, is creative, adventurous, and riveting as ever, but here he has truly perfected his writing style which flows seemlessly. "My Friend Phil" is worth the purchase price alone, and is the roaring gut laugh til you are crying funniest prose in the history of the english language. Any outdoors person with a pulse must own this book!

Yet another anthology from John Long, however, this time it's all his own stuff, which is infinitely better than a collection of other writers. This includes some fiction, based on fact, and fact. Some stuff is repeated here from his previous books and instructional rock climbing guides. Surprise! 'Green Arch' again. This does, however, still has enough new stuff to keep any John Long fan happy. His fiction I haven't seen anywhere else and it is very good. Overall, next to 'Rock Rats,' his best book.

I read this book, Its great. Easy to read and understand. Author tells you what you need and how to use the stones for improved health. Good for beginners. I hope she will continue with more information. A good informative book.

I enjoyed reading Sela Weidemann Randazzo's book. I feel that it not only gives remedies for various ailments, it gives hope and optimism for the future itself. It doesn't matter what religion you are. This book carries a universal message of love and of healing. I only hope that Sela will continue to write and share her knowledge with us.

"I received "Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy" in the mail last night and spent the whole day reading it at work. If I get fired, IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT! I thought it was fantastic and brought back a ton of great memories from the late '70's."
Wayne R.
New Jersey

...For anyone interested in first hand stories about bands like AC/DC, Kiss, Ted Nugent, Van Halen, Cheap Trick (and many others) this is a must-have book! Tons of rare photos and interesting stories from Rock journalist Susan Masino.
I highly recommend this to anyone interested in reading about all the "behind the scenes" stories about some of the greatest bands ever.
Excellant! Couldn't stop reading it once I started!

I've always been interested in paleontology and fossils, and in my wildest dreams I never hoped for a book as wonderful as this one. Barbara Page has created three-dimensional panels that track the evolution of life on earth, and this book reproduces them so superbly that the two-dimensional surfaces of the pages almost become three dimensional. Fossil ammonites and trilobites, fishes, reptiles, birds, and mammals emerge from the panels to illustrate the history of life in an entirely new way. Here a fragment of a wing, there a piece of dinosaur jaw, just as the fossils emerge from rock. The full color printing is gorgeous, and the text is terrific--not overwhelming but supporting the marvelous art. If you know of any amateur of professional fossil fan, this is THE gift book of the year! It cannot disappoint. Wow!

Impeccably designed and magnificently printed, this book offers the reader a remarkable opportunity to view Barbara Page's important work in another venue before final installation at the Museum of the Earth in Ithaca, New York.

It is rare to experience a combination of intelligent and informative prose as that of Rosamund Wolff Purcell and Warren Allmon with such truly breathtaking art as the work of Barbara Page in one edition. This book celebrates what those of us in publishing know to be true--there will ALWAYS be a hunger for beautiful and important books on ink-printed pages.