Other books that might interest you

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  Goldwyn - A Biography

  A. Scott Berg

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  In 1895, teenager Schmuel Goldfisz left the Warsaw ghetto to become Samuel Goldwyn, one of the most acclaimed producers in Hollywood history. Among Goldwyn' s films are such classics as The Pride of the Yankees, Wuthering Heights, and The Bishop' s Wife— all famous for conveying the " Goldwyn Touch." In this detailed biography, acclaimed author A. Scott Berg recounts the fascinating life of one of the most colorful personalities of Hollywood' s Golden Age. From his escape to the United States at the turn of the century to his Academy Award-winning triumph with The Best Years of Our Lives, Goldwyn' s story would have played well in one of his own films. Here is a very special look at Hollywood and one of its leading figures— as read by Hollywood icon Roddy McDowell.

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  George Michael's Faith

  Matthew Horton

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  On Saturday, June 28, 1986, George Michael picked up his tasseled leather jacket, walked out of London’s Wembley Stadium and cheerfully tore up five years of glittering pop history. He’d just disposed of Wham!, the band he’d formed with school friend Andrew Ridgeley when they were teenagers, and now, at 23, he knew he was all grown up. He just needed to convince everyone else. Faith is what happens when you’ve outstripped your dreams, your peers, your friends and your fans, and no one’s caught up yet. It’s about pouring all of that confusion, insecurity and sizzling ambition into music that comes out confused, insecure and ambitious – and then selling 25 million copies of it. George Michael was always preparing for this and, in the process, he set a template for all disaffected singers making that move. This book examines that model and the themes that went into Faith – from engaging in politics to crossing over to a Black audience and writing classic pop songs to endure – and speaks to the surviving key players to tell the story of how it was made.

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  Taste in Music - Eating on Tour...

  Luke Pyenson, Alex Bleeker

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  Through original essays and engaging conversations with dozens of indie musicians representing several subgenres, scenes, and eras, food takes center stage in stories about being on tour and eating on tour and how this basic human necessity can create a sense of community and interconnectedness in one of the most mobile industries in the world. Based broadly on the subject of eating on tour, these entries each spin off into their own focused and exciting behind-the-scenes story, but all confirm what Pyenson and Bleeker suspected all along—food looms large in the lives of touring musicians, and it can be used as a gateway into understanding what going on tour is really like. 
   
   
   
  Stories that deal with the best parts of touring: meaningful cultural exchange, hospitality-induced euphoria, and the opportunity to build relationships around the world. And the worst: loneliness, exhaustion, estrangement from family and friends, struggles with disordered eating, and unsteady access to medical care. 
   
   
   
  So the question isn't, "How was tour?" It's, "What do you eat on tour?" Like the best songs or meals, these conversations and essays evoke something central about the human experience. They show us all the ways that music and food bring us together, break us down, lift us up, and add color to our lives.

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  We Had Fun and Nobody Died -...

  Amy T. Waldman, Peter Jest

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  This irreverent biography provides a rare window into the music industry from a promoter’s perspective. From a young age, Peter Jest was determined to make a career in live music, and despite naysayers and obstacles, he did just that, bringing national acts to his college campus at UW–Milwaukee, booking thousands of concerts across Wisconsin and the Midwest, and opening Shank Hall, the beloved Milwaukee venue named after a club in the cult film This Is Spinal Tap. This funny, nostalgia-inducing book details the lasting friendships Jest established with John Prine, Arlo Guthrie, and Milwaukee’s own Violent Femmes, among others. It also shines a light into the seldom-seen world of music promotion, as Jest attempts to manage a turbulent band on the road, negotiates with agents, deals with fires (both real and metaphorical), struggles through a pandemic, and takes pleasure in presenting music of all kinds—from world-famous acts to up-and-coming local bands. The book documents decades of rock, folk, and alternative shows that helped put Milwaukee on the live music map. As the music industry has become dominated by profit-driven corporations, We Had Fun and Nobody Died chronicles the career of a one-of-a-kind independent promoter whose hardheadedness and love of music have helped him keep it real and make it in the music business for more than forty years.  "[An] adventure-filled biography of music promoter Peter Jest. . . . Reflecting decades of changes to the music business, We Had Fun and Nobody Died is a fascinating biography of a passionate promoter’s work to transform Milwaukee’s music scene."  —Foreword Reviews  “Amy Waldman and Peter Jest weave a thrilling tale of fanhood gone pro. Dreams followed, dragons slain, and the roof of a venerable venue repeatedly blown sky-high. We’re proud to have provided the name [for Shank Hall]; it took men and women of sterner stuff to do the heavy lifting.”   —Michael McKean, actor and comedian, This Is Spinal Tap

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  African Myths and Legends -...

  Odessa Nightshade

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  African mythology is a vast and intricate tapestry woven from the oral traditions of countless ethnic groups across the continent. Unlike written records, these stories have been passed down through generations by storytellers, elders, and spiritual leaders who use them to explain the world, instill moral values, and preserve the history of their people. The myths and legends of Africa are deeply connected to the land, the ancestors, and the spiritual beliefs that guide daily life. They reflect not only the diversity of the continent but also the shared themes that bind its cultures together.  
  Myths in African societies serve multiple functions beyond simple entertainment. They provide explanations for natural phenomena, such as the origins of the sun, moon, and stars, as well as the formation of rivers and mountains. Many myths are also tied to religious beliefs, detailing the actions of gods, spirits, and ancestors who shape the destiny of human beings. These stories help maintain social order by offering lessons about morality, justice, and respect for tradition. In many communities, mythology is a central aspect of spiritual life, reinforcing the belief that the unseen world is just as real and influential as the physical one.  
  Oral tradition is the primary vehicle for preserving African myths and legends. Storytelling is an art form, often accompanied by music, dance, and dramatic performance. The storyteller, known in some cultures as a griot, holds a respected position in society, responsible for keeping the wisdom of the past alive. These narratives evolve over time, adapting to new circumstances while retaining their core lessons. Because of this, African folklore is dynamic, shaped by the voices of those who tell and retell the stories. 

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  Banksy: Completed

  Carol Diehl

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  There's more to Banksy than the painting on the wall: the first in-depth investigation into the mysteries of the world's most famous living artist. 
  Banksy is the world's most famous living artist, yet no one knows who he is. For more than twenty years, his wryly political and darkly humorous spray paintings have appeared mysteriously on urban walls around the globe, generating headlines and controversy. Art critics disdain him, but the public (and the art market) love him. With this generously illustrated book, artist and critic Carol Diehl is the first author to probe the depths of the Banksy mystery. Through her exploration of his paintings, installations, writings, and Academy Award-nominated film, Exit through the Gift Shop, Diehl proves unequivocally that there's more to Banksy than the painting on the wall. 
  Seeing Banksy as the ultimate provocateur, Diehl investigates the dramas that unfold after his works are discovered, with all of their social, economic, and political implications. She reveals how this trickster rattles the system, whether during his month-long 2013 self-styled New York "residency" or his notorious Dismaland of 2015, a full-scale dystopian "family theme park unsuitable for children" dedicated to the failure of capitalism. Banksy's work, Diehl shows, is a synthesis of conceptual art, social commentary, and political protest, played out not in museums but where it can have the most effect--on the street, in the real world. The questions Banksy raises about the uses of public and private property, the role of the global corporatocracy, the never-ending wars, and the gap between artworks as luxury goods and as vehicles of social expression, have never been more relevant. 
  Published in hardback by The MIT Press, this audiobook version is read by the author.

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