Other books that might interest you

• 

  The Improv - An Oral History of...

  Budd Friedman, Tripp Whetsell

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  In 1963, thirty-year-old Friedman—who had recently quit his job as a Boston advertising executive and returned to his hometown of New York to become a theatrical producer—opened a coffee house for Broadway performers called the Improvisation. His goal? Simply to make a living, and if all went according to plan, to also make enough professional contacts to be able to mount his first Broadway show within a year's time. 
  Later shortened to the Improv, its first West 44th Street location in a seedy section of Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen had previously been a Vietnamese restaurant. Initially attracting the likes of Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Albert Finney, Christopher Plummer, and Jason Robards, as well as a couple of then-unknowns named Dustin Hoffman and Bette Midler, Friedman's new venture was an instant hit. 
  But while it drew near capacity crowds almost from day one, it wasn't until comedians began dropping by to try out new material that the Improv truly hit its stride, not only becoming the first venue ever to present live stand-up in a continuous format, but in the process reinventing the art form and creating the template for all other comedy clubs that followed.

  Show book

• 

  The Blessed Lens - A History of...

  Joseph Luzzi

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Professor Joseph Luzzi, the director of Italian studies at Bard College and an award-winning author, offers a comprehensive look at Italian cinema from its inception in 1895 through its major periods and influences. Having altered the landscape of Italian art and society, as well as inspiring filmmakers the world over, Italian cinema proves a fascinating study. Major focuses of the course include neorealism, the Spaghetti Western, the Italian giallo, and Italian-style comedy.

  Show book

• 

  Robert Plant - The Voice that...

  Dave Thompson

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Robert Plant: The Voice That Sailed the Zeppelin follows the iconic singer through his heights of fame with classic rock giant Led Zeppelin, his second life as a multimillion-selling solo artist, and his more idiosyncratic pursuits. A wealth of former associates lend their voices and recollections to an account that steps far beyond the tried and tested tales of Zeppelin's life and times.This biography details Plant's early years as an unknown in Birmingham, England, with fresh depth and insight. It likewise tells the Zeppelin story from new and unexpected angles, focusing on Plant's contributions to the band's success and on the toll/effect of that success on him as a performer and an individual.After drummer John Bonham died in 1980 and Zeppelin broke up, Plant went solo two years later, in time becoming the only former band member to maintain an unbroken career to this day. His single-mindedness in meeting this challenge might well be his greatest personal attribute, enabling him to push forward without regard for his past or any related expectations. Dave Thompson shows how it is Plant's determination alone that ensured Zeppelin reunions would not become a routine part of the classic rock furniture, as he created a body of work that in so many ways artistically rivals what he recorded with the band.

  Show book

• 

  Dave Barry's Book of Bad Songs

  Dave Barry

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  The humorist asked his readers to share their least favorite tunes and chronicles the hilarious responses. 
   
  When funnyman Dave Barry asked readers about their least favorite tunes, he thought he was penning just another installment of his weekly syndicated humor column. But the witty writer was flabbergasted by the response when over 10,000 readers voted. “I have never written a column that got a bigger response than the one announcing the Bad Song Survey,” Barry wrote. 
   
  Based on the results of the survey, Dave Barry’s Book of Bad Songs is a compilation of some of the worst songs ever written. Dave Barry fans will relish his quirky take. Music buffs too will appreciate this humorous stroll through the world’s worst lyrics. The only thing wrong with this book is that readers will find themselves unable to stop mentally singing the greatest hits of Gary Puckett. 
   
  Praise for Dave Barry’s Book of Bad Songs 
   
  “Barry is his usual puckish self, but the real surprise here is how funny many of the survey respondents are.” —Kirkus Reviews 
   
  “Who can resist such a book?” —Publishers Weekly

  Show book

• 

  Heartful Business

  Michael Kieschnick

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Kieschnick explains why leadership that makes a difference is local, community-based, and value-driven.  He says, "I think people are just hungry for a different way of looking at things."

  Show book

• 

  This Above All - How to Live an...

  Jason Cannon

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  MAY YOU BE EVER BRAVE... 
  Is there something holding you back from what you know you can do? From who you know you can be? 
  Are you always starting but never finishing? Your novel? Your music? Your painting, poetry, sculpture, or play?  
  Do you struggle to maintain passion and balance in your work, your exercise routine, or your relationships? 
  Don’t hang your head if you answered “yes” to any of those questions. Chin up and crack open… 
  THIS ABOVE ALL 
  In this galvanizing, pull-no-punches examination of the obstacles and rewards to living an artistic life, award-winning actor, director, playwright, and author Jason Cannon shows readers how to harness their creativity, rediscover their courage, and break free of the forces holding them back. 
  Even if you’ve never picked up a paintbrush, even if you can’t carry a tune in a bucket, even if just the thought of getting up on a stage makes you break out in a cold sweat, THIS ABOVE ALL will inspire you to unleash your inner artist and live true. 
  If you liked THE WAR OF ART or THE ARTIST’S WAY, then you’ll love THIS ABOVE ALL.

  Show book