Customer Reviews:
rommel papers .......2007-09-11
great book written from the surviving papers after his death there would have been more but a lot of his stuff was taken by the Nazis, and much more was lost to the US Army but his wife and son saved some and from this B.H. LIDDELL-HART was with the help of the wife and son to put his great skill as a battlefield commander in a new light A must read for any student of WWII also checkout ATTACKS by Rommel this book is about his time as a young lieutenant in WW I
Up there with the master himself.......2007-06-06
This is one of those books that made the shivers run down my spine while reading it. It felt like being right there in the thick of it with this amazing field commander. This man is a born leader and has the audacity and knighthood to fight an honest fight. He did what he believed was right and he is portrayed as human as possible in this text. War is a terrible thing, but it still is a part of our way of life. This cannot be denied! These memoirs are of the highest value and a must-read for anyone interested in the war in Northern Africa.
Fascinating!.......2006-12-31
This book is one of the best memoirs I have read. It is Erwin Rommel's account of the Second World War from start through finish. The best and most interesting thing about this book are Rommel's thoughts. He talks about all of his battles, and experiences throughout the war, but he weaves in personal things as well which make this a superb piece of writing. You will definately not be disappointed in purchasing this book. Anyone interested in Rommel, the German view of WWII, or WWII in general, should buy this book, hands down.
War as Only He Knew It!.......2006-02-11
Legendary Field Marshall Erwin Rommel narrates the war effort from the German point of view. Outnumbered, out gunned, but never out "generaled," Rommel explains both his early successes and ultimate defeat. His work is rightly considered a military classic and also provides a unique insight into the Nazi high command.
Rommel begins by talking about the victory in France. Utilizing superior tactics and equipment the Germans achieved in six weeks what they failed to accomplish in four years in World War I. The lesson is simple: Military planners should always plan for the next war, not the last one.
Then it was off to Africa. Rommel again outclassed his opponents until the material superiority of the U.S. and British destroyed any chance of success. He repeatedly decries his inadequate air support and lack of supplies. Only much later was ULTRA revealed to be the cause of much of his difficulty. (See, The ULTRA Secret, by F.W. Winterbotham, Harper and Row, Publishers, 1974.) Read this section with a map of North Africa in hand!
Last, was his defense of Normandy. Knowing he would have only Goering's promises for air cover, the once foremost exponent of mobile warfare opted to defend at the shoreline in an attempt to force the Allies into a negotiated peace. Alone, with grossly inadequate supplies, and only a short time to prepare he orchestrated a masterful defense which well might have succeeded if Hitler had allowed him to fight his own battle.
Finally, after service in two wars, and fighting valiantly against overwhelming odds, Hitler gave him his "reward." In true Nazi fashion, he was "allowed" to commit suicide to save his family rather than face a Peoples Court.
This work shows how the Nazi high command repeatedly violated the Principles of War of Mass and Unity of Command with disastrous results. Furthermore, it shows how a dynamic leader can accomplish nearly miraculous results even against all odds. The fact he unwittingly served an evil regime in no way diminishes his greatness as a military leader. When the names of the great Generals of history are recited: Lee, Jackson, Forrest, Guderian, and Patton; Rommel's name is sure to be included. A true classic in military literature; 5 stars!!
Harold Y. Grooms
Great Insight.......2005-07-07
Very insightful and interesting look inside the mind of one of the greatest generals of WWII. He was a true soldier - it's unfortunate he was associated with Hitler and the Nazis. He may have been considered one of the greatest generals of all time if it weren't for the evil of the regime he fought on behalf of.
Worthwhile reading if you want to understand what "the other side" had to deal with during the war. It allows you to better understand the mind of the soldiers who believed they were fighting for their country without simpathizing with the Nazi government.
Rommel's support for the assasination of Hitler, while not proven, also offers an interesting perspective on how the army came to fear and distrust Hitler's intentions.
Book Description
DA CAPO reviews and expands all aspects of Italian grammar while providing readings and oral practice within the framework of everyday Italian life.
Customer Reviews:
DA Capo As An Italian Textbook.......2007-10-05
Da Capo, as the title "From the Begining" states, does start with basic Italian essentials; it is not, however, a true beginner's text. It is an excellent text for intermediate students who have had classes, had some working knowledge of Italian, or had finished using a primary test. The book offers vocabulary, dialogues, reading pieces and exercises which showcase Italian culture. It does not, as do some of the other Italian texts, offer inane conversation or translation pieces simply to illustrate the lesson's grammar and vocabulary. The lessons include day-to-day speech patterns, not just the stiff grammatically correct phrases that one is unlikely to hear in everyday Italian conversation. The grammar lessons are well designed in a concentrated fashion. Da Capo is a worthwhile follow-on textbook for students who are both serious about studying the Italian language and putting some effort into that study.
Great content, unfortunate binding.......2006-06-30
I used the softcover version of this text in a class a few years ago, and it's great. It's truly unfortunate that the publisher has decided to upsell the book my reintroducing in hardcover format. I wish I could recommend something better, but I can't. My advice is to find a gently used copy for the softcover edition.
DeCapo Italian textbook / CD.......2005-07-09
The book arrived promptly in good condition but without the CD.
The seller offered to send a CD should he find one.
Overall,I was satisfied with this purchase
excellent grammar book.......2002-05-02
I bought this a few years ago for an evening class. The class wasn't too good, but I worked my way through the book and found it excellent. The explanations are clear and straightforward, the vocabulary is useful, and you can actually learn a lot about how to use the subjunctive and the conditional. It also has useful information about troublesome cognates and word usage. I would recommend this quite highly for anyone trying to learn Italian. It's a review grammar so in theory you should already know a little Italian, but if you have some knowledge of French, Spanish or Latin, or if you just have a positive attitude, you should have no problems with this book.
Mi piace bene!.......2001-05-01
Having started Advanced Italian lessons, I find Da Capo an excellent review of the grammar structure and a good vocabulary enhancer for those who have had a comprehensive overview of Italian through beginning and intermediate classes. It starts off at a steady pace that allows students to review rules and those pesky exceptions. It maintains a good level of interest, espcially important since it main task is to review previously learned materials. Although I find the book a bit pricey, especially for a paperback, it is a great way to master previously studied material and bridge the gap from familiarity to fluency in the Italian Language. Bravo!
Customer Reviews:
A Filmmaking Insider Talks About His Craft.......2001-08-23
This is a fascinating look inside filmmaking. Most of the examples are from the 1960s and 1970s, but that does not lessen the impact or relevance.
The author is a master of the film editing craft. He also writes with insight and emotion. As you read, you'll learn how a film is "cut", how a film evolves, and what makes a film "work."
This book deserves a place in the bookcase of any student of the filmmaking art or craft.
A veteren film editor shares his life.......2000-08-07
Rosenblum edited feature films from the late 50s until early 80s, and is most noted for his collaborative efforts with Woody Allen in the 1970s. But his most interesting stories in the book are from a decade earlier when he was still experimenting. Though, I have only seen about half of the movies Rosenblum writes of, it makes the stories no less fascinating.
Rosenblum's major accomplishment in the book is to shed light on the importance of the film editor in motion pictures. He's not wrong in stating that their efforts have been largely ignored by critics and the public at large. What's interesting is that the editor as an influence in film is rarely even discussed by film critics and historians. It's probably because people are largely unsure of what an editor's true contributions are to any one motion picture.
Through the course of the book, Rosenblum takes apart THE RAID ON MINSKY'S, THE PAWNBROKER, and ANNIE HALL in depth. He also gives examples of how much an initial cut of a film can differ from the final cut.
I found the book quite informative, and learned more about film editing than I had expected.
Average customer rating:
- Wonderful survey of her life in dance from 1920-1959
|
Dance to the Piper and Promenade Home (A Da Capo paperback)
Agnes De Mille
Manufacturer: Da Capo Pr
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Customer Reviews:
Wonderful survey of her life in dance from 1920-1959.......1997-08-02
I thoroughly enjoy this book. Agnes has an easy, literate writing style, with a sense of humor about herself and her life. What I particularly enjoyed were the descriptions of the times, especially Hollywood in the late teens. She also talks about the influence of Pavlova, Marie Rambert, Martha Graham, Anthony Tudor, and of course, was around all the great theatre and movie stars who were working with either her father or her uncle (Cecil B.). I highly recommend this book for dance history enthusiasts
Customer Reviews:
Interesting and arresting articles !.......2004-12-21
Godard displays all his unimaginable masterful in this set of reviews originally written for Les Cahiers du Cinema in the far Fifties .
The charm , of this enfant terrible is present all alnog the text .
The reviews about Orosn Welles , Ingmar Bergman , Francois Truffaut , Mizoguchi and his favorite western Seven men from now of Budd Boeticher (I have not watched it) are specially revealing .
Acquire this book , because despite the fact you may argue these reviews are dated , constitute - and who denies? - a crucial period in the cinema story .
Godard and Films.......2000-02-01
I've just read the book and though it dragged at some points because I wasn't familiar with a couple of the films he was talking about it, the overall experience was uplifting. If you have the slightest interest in Godard and the New Wave read the book and get inside a New Wave director's head and see how he looks at films. The book contains a number of his Cahiers du Cinema reviews and articles, and some interviews he gave later in life. By the end of the book you finally begin to understand a little of how this genius thinks.
"Negation of all surreal (capitalist) values.".......1997-12-25
"Weekend (best pre-packaged volition)." -Premature Positivity
Customer Reviews:
important and relevant after half a century.......2007-02-26
More than fifty years after its initial publication, this book remains as relevant and prophetic as it is brilliant and exhilarating.
To start, Wiener explains cybernetics in a way that the intelligent layperson can understand; he discusses how human beings, animals, and machines relate to one another through communication and feedback, thus becoming systems that limit or temporarily reverse the universal tendency toward disorganization (entropy). After establishing this framework, he discusses the implications of cybernetics on society. As he takes cybernetic theory to its logical conclusions--that is, accounting for the communication and feedback between human beings, machines, and the environment as a whole--his insights are shown to be profoundly humane and ultimately very inspiring.
This is no ordinary scientific text. There are discussions of Augustinian vs. Manichaean worldviews and their implications; the inevitable spread of dangerous information (such as that resulting in the atomic bomb) despite the strenuous efforts of governments; and the need not to rely on machines--non-human machines as well as "human machines" such as bureaucracies and corporations--to do the difficult work that human beings must do to remain ethical, responsible, and free.
All in all, this is an outstanding book written in lucid, beautiful prose. The book tells us as much about the systems that make up our world as it does about the brilliance, humility, and humanity of Wiener himself. No summary of this book, in blurb or review format, can possibly do justice to Wiener's achievement.
A concerned and conscienscious genius .......2005-07-04
Wiener was acutely aware of the promise and the danger of the new technolgies he was helping to invent. He worked very hard during the Second World War to help develop an anti- aircraft system which would make use of some of his mathematical and technical innovations. However the dropping of the Atomic Bomb turned him wholly against the military establishment and he became an insistent voice calling for regulation of military technologies.
His own vision of a humane society is one in which the cybernetic and feedback elements enable a better managing of the economy and society as a whole. And this when he again was very concerned about the possible destructive elements of technologies which would provide unreasonable means of control over individual human lives. He very much was concerned that a society in which machine- slaves produced everything would deprive humanity of its freedom and dignity.
In other words he saw great promise in the new technologies but also was concerned that might exercise a degree of control over humanity which would make them more harmful than beneficial.
Another Wiener Gem.......2001-12-28
Norbert Wiener was a child prodigy and Professor of Mathematics at MIT from 1919 until his death in 1964. He invented the science of cybernetics (look it up in the dictionary) and the guided missile but refused to help the military during the cold war. This volume includes an open letter published in the January, 1947 Atlantic Monthly magazine entitled "A Scientist Rebels" by Norbert Wiener. An introduction by Wiener biographer Steve J. Heims provides a context for Wiener's works.
If you are at all interested in cybernetics, and particularly interested in the effects it is having and will have on society, this book is must reading. Of course, this book does not approach Wiener's "God & Golem, Inc."(reviewed elsewhere in Amazon.com) for sheer brilliance, but then, what does, except perhaps the "Bahir."
intriguing ideas made plain.......2000-01-21
For those of us who cannot grasp the mathematical, technical version of Wiener's theory of messages in _Cybernetics_, this book is a wonderful stand-in. Wiener wrote this entirely equationless text as a populariztion of his ideas about humans and machines. this book is a fascinating piece of philosophy and sociology also, as Wiener expands his theories and brings them to bear on history, journalism etc. He never loses his scientific perspective though; this gives his writing and ideas a clarity freshness that is uncommon in theoretical writings about society. This is a great and important book
prophetic book.......1999-09-06
where could i find a reedited french traduction of this book published in 62 in france,second hand also ?
Customer Reviews:
A Wonderful History of what a Theatre should be.......2006-03-09
What a wonderful book. I've always loved reading history and books of all topics and times of history dominate my shelf. However there is a void that is now apparent of books of the theatre and of the artists working within it. This has been a wonderful introduction to how much can really be said about the formation of a theatre and the ups and downs of its life.
Certainly anyone aspiring to be an actor or anyone in the business looking to see what finding the art in your work is all about, this is a must read. Clurman has an amazing memory, vividly retells all that took place during those turbulent years, and does so with a powerful, strong refreshingly opinionated point of view.
All in all, really a wonderful book in both story telling and lessons that I would love to revisit soon.
Required Reading for any theatre enthusiast.......2005-07-28
As an actor this book filled me with a rediscovery of why my work matters and it inspired me to continue in an industry where success is so dificult. Though I am not a method actor i respect the accomplishments of the group theatre immensely and to hear harold clurman tell it is to hear it thorugh the glue of it all. Read this if you love theatre.
A wonderful book about a passionate endeavor........2002-06-10
This book is a beautiful account of the struggles and events surrounding Harold Clurman during his time with the Group Theater. Harold starts off by revealing how his life brought him to establish the Group along with Lee Strasberg and Cheryl Crawford. It then continues and describes the significant struggles and events encountered by the Group and its members along with some beautiful and extremely important observations Harold made, not only regarding the theater community and its participants, but also about our society in general and its effect on art in general.
This book is an absolute must for any serious actor or director. For that matter, anyone serious about life would gain from reading this book. The Group Theater was a wonderful "experiment" fostered by some very passionate people who not only helped to shape theater in America, but they also played a significant role in laying the groundwork from which some of the best acting and directing has emerged as seen in films and theater since that time.
I stand in disbelief when folks in the "business" don't know about Harold Clurman or the Group Theater and it members.
A magnificent and inspiring historical document.......2001-04-10
The Group Theatre, modeled off of the equally influencial Moscow Art Theatre, was an artistic organization that completely and drastically revolutionized not only American Theatre, but World Theatre as well.
Formed in the 1930's and comprised of what has become a literal who's who of Theatre: Clifford Odets, Elia Kazan, Harold Clurman, Robert Lewis, Stella Adler, Lee Strasberg, Cheryl Crawford, John Garfield, Sanford Meisner and many others, The Group Theatre sought to create a vibrant and organic native theatre that sought to not only mirror the times but also instigate radical social change.
At no other time in American history has an artistic group been comprised of so many talented individuals focused on one aesthetic and political goal. Despite one's political leanings (make no mistake, The Group Theatre were extreme leftest liberals), The Fervent Years provides and endless and bountiful amount of inspiration and stimulation for any theatre artist.
Clurman writes in a fine dramatic style that boils with passion, wit and insight. The Fervent Years is required reading for all devotees of The Theatre. But don't let that scare you, it is a most entertaining read at the same time.
A Motivating, Historical Piece.......2000-11-10
Admittedly, I read this under duress in my "Theatre History Seminar" course in college. However, it turned out to be one of the most inspiring pieces I have ever read.
_The Fervent Years_ chronicles the birth and triumph of The Group Theater. This group of actors, directors, producers, and theater enthusiasts sacrificed time, money, and easy fame to explore the roots of drama. The product of their efforts was the creation of a truly American style of theater.
Although the book has a decidedly theatrical spin, I think that all readers (from all backgrounds and interests) can benefit from reading this excellent piece. Right before I have to face a major challenge, I whip out my copy and give it another read.
Also, Clurman's self-centered, self-celebrating anecdotes never cease to amuse.
Customer Reviews:
Marcel Duchamp interviewed late in life........1999-10-28
This interview with Marcel Duchamp by Pierre Cabanne provides clarity to the myth that surrounds Duchamp and his non art. Duchamp gave the interview about 2 years before his death. He answers directly and in context the meaning of his work and non work. Others books attempt to tell us not only what his production means but try to tell us what his words mean as well. This books makes clear that Duchamp did not like the art world (although he used it to his advantage), he did not like art that appealed to the eye, he did not make art, he amused himself making objects and he played games. Its an honest interview and needs no interpreters. You can understand the valve of this mans ideas and what they mean to current conceptual art. Or is it conceptual non art.
Customer Reviews:
Note Regarding Quality of Illustrations.......2006-07-19
Genesis Of A Music is illustrated with photographs of the instruments constructed by Harry Partch for the performance of his music. Unfortunately the illustrations for successive editions have been prepared haphazardly by re-screening the pictures from previous editions. The result is that the pictures in the current edition are inadequate.
People interested in purchasing this book should seek out the previous paperback edition which still had serviceable illustrations.
Highly Recommended.......2005-03-10
This book was recommended to me by James Tenney, that was enough for me. After reading it I discovered, to NO surprise, it is a must read. Tenney giving you musical advice is like EF Hutton giving you financial advice, YOU LISTEN to it very carefully.
You had to be there........2005-01-23
I was a part of Harry's world for a time in the mid 1950s, maybe even a colleague as well as a devotee of sorts. I took a 40 year sabbatical and am again working in the field of musical instrument design/manufacture/performance.
This book is like a bible to me in many ways but what most of the reviews lack is the experience of having "been there, heard/felt that" which is a requirement for really getting it.
All the theoretical/philosophical considerations are mere historical/philosophical blather compared to actually being around the music itself. The implications of "corporeal" in terms of making/experiencing music rather than talking *about* music are very profound. You can get some idea from sound recordings, videos/films, or Web sites but unless you take part in the experience, you have no idea what's happening here.
I'm sure plenty (most?) people who encountered it were isolated from experiencing it fully by their backgrounds (nature or nurture), but for those who were moved, his work was the palpable exemplification of "profound". His picture should appear in the dictionary entry for "genius".
Love.
Most of today's innovators started with this book.......2005-01-18
I disagree that you shouldn't start with this book. Most books that even mention the subject of JI gloss over it, insult your intelligence without providing any real data to make your own decisions, because most of the people writing those books consider JI a curiosity. If you ever read more than one reference to JI, you already know most of what most sources tell you.
Partch is certainly bombastic, which gave me many a chuckle. He was very very defensive, with good reason.
He also deals with subharmonic series- minor tonalities- which makes up a full half of his system, and which is explicitly eschewed by Doty's Primer. Doty denies there is any consonance to it and refuses to discuss it, reducing every harmony into least-common-denominators to find some sort of "absolute consonance level", which results in ratios with huge numbers that tell you nothing about the purpose of the chord. For a minor triad, Partch would say "1/4;1/5;1/6" and Doty would say 10:12:15. Partch also backs his ideas up with everyone from Archytas to Ptolemy to Galilei.
Any other book about or by Partch is focused on the novelty of his instruments, his "43 notes!!!" (which sickened him, being that he often used more or less in various pieces- it is not about the number of notes) or his feelings on life and aesthetics. Partch despised concert music- which doesn't mean a thing to me. This book gives you the facts, the background to actually be able to use the innovations Partch gave to the world.
I would recommend, in addition to this, reading George A. Miller's essay "The Magical Number 7, +/- 2" and any resources you can find on Gestalt perception and the Law of Pragnanz. Without these fundamental perceptual ideas, your 10,000-note octaves will sound like chaos.
Use as directed ONLY........2001-04-09
I'd give this another star, it's a very interesting artifact after all, but I'm afraid my review might be construed, as I'm afraid many readers are approaching this book the wrong way. It is not (nor is it intended to be) a just tuning reference book; it is instead a book about one man's personal musical odyssey: hence the title. If you use it to try to learn about just tuning in particular or tuning in general without already possessing a solid background in acoustics and the history of music theory, you will come away from it with a very warped viewpoint, and when you encounter those who do have a solid background in acoustics and the history of music theory you will embarrass yourself badly.
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Attacks: ROMMEL
Lost Victories: The War Memoirs of Hitler's Most Brilliant General
Panzer Leader
War As I Knew It
Infantry Attacks
