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PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives

Average customer rating:

A Great Coffee Table Book
Kind of Disturbing
Great Book, Quick Read
Great for all ages
A daring coffee table book

PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives
Frank Warren
Manufacturer: Regan Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Similar Items:

My Secret: A PostSecret Book (Postsecret)
The Secret Lives of Men and Women: A PostSecret Book
Found: The Best Lost, Tossed, and Forgotten Items from Around the World
Fuck This Book
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ASIN: 0060899190
Release Date: 2005-11-29

Book Description

The project that captured a nation's imagination.

The instructions were simple, but the results were extraordinary.

"You are invited to anonymously contribute a secret to a group art project. Your secret can be a regret, fear, betrayal, desire, confession, or childhood humiliation. Reveal anything -- as long as it is true and you have never shared it with anyone before. Be brief. Be legible. Be creative."

It all began with an idea Frank Warren had for a community art project. He began handing out postcards to strangers and leaving them in public places -- asking people to write down a secret they had never told anyone and mail it to him, anonymously.

The response was overwhelming. The secrets were both provocative and profound, and the cards themselves were works of art -- carefully and creatively constructed by hand. Addictively compelling, the cards reveal our deepest fears, desires, regrets, and obsessions. Frank calls them "graphic haiku," beautiful, elegant, and small in structure but powerfully emotional.

As Frank began posting the cards on his website, PostSecret took on a life of its own, becoming much more than a simple art project. It has grown into a global phenomenon, exposing our individual aspirations, fantasies, and frailties -- our common humanity.

Every day dozens of postcards still make their way to Frank, with postmarks from around the world, touching on every aspect of human experience. This extraordinary collection brings together the most powerful, personal, and beautifully intimate secrets Frank Warren has received -- and brilliantly illuminates that human emotions can be unique and universal at the same time.

Customer Reviews:

A Great Coffee Table Book.......2007-06-07

A great idea .. great for a conversation piece.

Prompted me to mail in my own secret moments after reading it.

If you appreciate the creativity of others, you'll appreciate this book.

Kind of Disturbing.......2007-06-06

I thought this would be a fun and quick read. And it was, I just wasn't expecting it to be so disturbing. Some of these poor people!

Great Book, Quick Read.......2007-05-30

I have loved all of the Post Secret books. They are such a different concept, not like anything you've ever read. I can't wait for the next one.

Great for all ages.......2007-05-25

A great addition to any coffee table. Some of the confessions are hilarious, some of them so sad. All are thought provoking.
This book really is something that anyone can pick up and enjoy - my husband isnt a reader and has enjoyed flicking through it many times.

A daring coffee table book.......2007-05-19

Insightful and provocative, the Post Secret book exposes the dark hidden secrets of everyday people. Definately not for the most conservative this book would make a daring coffee table book for those who aren't afraid to see the truth.

Average customer rating:

Confessions of an Economic Hit Man
John Perkins
Manufacturer: Plume
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0452287081

Amazon.com

John Perkins started and stopped writing Confessions of an Economic Hit Man four times over 20 years. He says he was threatened and bribed in an effort to kill the project, but after 9/11 he finally decided to go through with this expose of his former professional life. Perkins, a former chief economist at Boston strategic-consulting firm Chas. T. Main, says he was an "economic hit man" for 10 years, helping U.S. intelligence agencies and multinationals cajole and blackmail foreign leaders into serving U.S. foreign policy and awarding lucrative contracts to American business. "Economic hit men (EHMs) are highly paid professionals who cheat countries around the globe out of trillions of dollars," Perkins writes. Confessions of an Economic Hit Man is an extraordinary and gripping tale of intrigue and dark machinations. Think John Le Carré, except it's a true story.

Perkins writes that his economic projections cooked the books Enron-style to convince foreign governments to accept billions of dollars of loans from the World Bank and other institutions to build dams, airports, electric grids, and other infrastructure he knew they couldn't afford. The loans were given on condition that construction and engineering contracts went to U.S. companies. Often, the money would simply be transferred from one bank account in Washington, D.C., to another one in New York or San Francisco. The deals were smoothed over with bribes for foreign officials, but it was the taxpayers in the foreign countries who had to pay back the loans. When their governments couldn't do so, as was often the case, the U.S. or its henchmen at the World Bank or International Monetary Fund would step in and essentially place the country in trusteeship, dictating everything from its spending budget to security agreements and even its United Nations votes. It was, Perkins writes, a clever way for the U.S. to expand its "empire" at the expense of Third World citizens. While at times he seems a little overly focused on conspiracies, perhaps that's not surprising considering the life he's led. --Alex Roslin

Book Description

The runaway bestseller that has generated a major movie deal—and an international dialogue—with over 170,000 copies sold in hardcover and seven weeks on the New York Times list

“Economic hit men,” John Perkins writes,” are highly paid professionals who cheat countries around the globe out of trillions of dollars. Their tools include fraudulent financial reports, rigged elections, payoffs, extortion, sex, and murder. They play a game as old as Empire but one that has taken on terrifying dimensions during this time of globalization.”

John Perkins should know—he was an economic hit man for an international consulting firm that worked to convince developing countries to accept enormous loans and to funnel that money to U.S.corporations. Once these countries were saddled with huge debts, the American government and international aid agencies were able to request their “pound of flesh” in favors, including access to natural resources, military cooperation, and political support.

Confessions of an Economic Hit Man is the story of one man's experiences inside the intrigue, greed, corruption and little-known government and corporate activities that America has been involved in since World War II, and which have dire consequences for the future of democracy and the world.

“[A] gripping tell-all book.”—The Rocky Mountain News
“Astonishing.”—Boston Herald
“This riveting look at a world of intrigue reads like a spy novel . . . Highly recommended.”— Library Journal
“Here are the real-life details—nasty, manipulative, plain evil—of international corporate skullduggery spun into a tale rivaling the darkest espionage thriller.”—Greg Palast, author of The Best Democracy Money Can Buy

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister: A Novel

Average customer rating:

Very dark retelling.
Solid
The "True" story of Cindarella
Cinderella stripped of the myth
Incredible

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister: A Novel
Gregory Maguire
Manufacturer: Regan Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Mirror Mirror: A Novel
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ASIN: 0060987529

Amazon.com

Gregory Maguire's chilling, wonderful retelling of Cinderella is a study in contrasts. Love and hate, beauty and ugliness, cruelty and charity--each idea is stripped of its ethical trappings, smashed up against its opposite number, and laid bare for our examination. Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister begins in 17th-century Holland, where the two Fisher sisters and their mother have fled to escape a hostile England. Maguire's characters are at once more human and more fanciful than their fairy-tale originals. Plain but smart Iris and her sister, Ruth, a hulking simpleton, are dazed and terrified as their mother, Margarethe, urges them into the strange Dutch streets. Within days, purposeful Margarethe has secured the family a place in the home of an aspiring painter, where for a short time, they find happiness.

But this is Cinderella, after all, and tragedy is inevitable. When a wealthy tulip speculator commissions the painter to capture his blindingly lovely daughter, Clara, on canvas, Margarethe jumps at the chance to better their lot. "Give me room to cast my eel spear, and let follow what may," she crows, and the Fisher family abandons the artist for the upper-crust Van den Meers.

When Van den Meer's wife dies during childbirth, the stage is set for Margarethe to take over the household and for Clara to adopt the role of "Cinderling" in order to survive. What follows is a changeling adventure, and of course a ball, a handsome prince, a lost slipper, and what might even be a fairy godmother. In a single magic night, the exquisite and the ugly swirl around in a heated mix:

Everything about this moment hovers, trembles, all their sweet, unreasonable hopes on view before anything has had the chance to go wrong. A stepsister spins on black and white tiles, in glass slippers and a gold gown, and two stepsisters watch with unrelieved admiration. The light pours in, strengthening in its golden hue as the sun sinks and the evening approaches. Clara is as otherworldly as the Donkeywoman, the Girl-Boy. Extreme beauty is an affliction...

But beyond these familiar elements, Maguire's second novel becomes something else altogether--a morality play, a psychological study, a feminist manifesto, or perhaps a plain explanation of what it is to be human. Villains turn out to be heroes, and heroes disappoint. The story's narrator wryly observes, "In the lives of children, pumpkins can turn into coaches, mice and rats into human beings. When we grow up, we learn that it's far more common for human beings to turn into rats." --Therese Littleton

Book Description

Is this new land a place where magics really happen?

From Gregory Maguire, the acclaimed author of Wicked, comes his much-anticipated second novel, a brilliant and provocative retelling of the timeless Cinderella tale.

In the lives of children, pumpkins can turn into coaches, mice and rats into human beings.... When we grow up, we learn that it's far more common for human beings to turn into rats....

We all have heard the story of Cinderella, the beautiful child cast out to slave among the ashes. But what of her stepsisters, the homely pair exiled into ignominy by the fame of their lovely sibling? What fate befell those untouched by beauty . . . and what curses accompanied Cinderella's exquisite looks?

Extreme beauty is an affliction

Set against the rich backdrop of seventeenth-century Holland, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister tells the story of Iris, an unlikely heroine who finds herself swept from the lowly streets of Haarlem to a strange world of wealth, artifice, and ambition. Iris's path quickly becomes intertwined with that of Clara, the mysterious and unnaturally beautiful girl destined to become her sister.

Clara was the prettiest child, but was her life the prettiest tale?

While Clara retreats to the cinders of the family hearth, burning all memories of her past, Iris seeks out the shadowy secrets of her new household--and the treacherous truth of her former life.

God and Satan snarling at each other like dogs.... Imps and fairy godmotbers trying to undo each other's work. How we try to pin the world between opposite extremes!

Far more than a mere fairy-tale, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister is a novel of beauty and betrayal, illusion and understanding, reminding us that deception can be unearthed--and love unveiled--in the most unexpected of places.

Customer Reviews:

Very dark retelling........2007-06-19

This was a great book. That said, I absolutely hated it. It's strange, being able to recognize that something is very good but still to hate it. I feel the same way about Steinbeck and the movie 21 Grams.

The characters were vivid and deep and interesting, which is greatly important to me. The story was very dark, and I guess I may need to consider the possibility that such a dark story is simply not to my taste. I found this book to be one of the most draining I've ever read, with Wicked still up there as number one. I still have Mirror Mirror on my shelf waiting to be read, because I keep thinking that as talented as this author is, maybe I'll like other pieces of his work, but isn't the definition of insanity to do the same thing repeatedly and expect a different result? Maybe I'll give that other book to a friend.

Solid.......2007-06-03

I didn't like this book as much as Wicked, and it was painfully slow at the start, but it wound up being a very enjoyable read.

The "True" story of Cindarella.......2007-05-17

Confessions is another in the series of books that Gregory Maguire writes where he takes a well known story and twists it around. This time, he takes on the story of Cindarella. We all know about the ugly stepsisters, the evil mother-in-law, the glass slipper and all the magical mice of Disney fame. What the author does here is add more to the story and twist it around in terms of its viewpoints and explains "what really happened".

I liked this story much more than I liked "Wicked" (His rendition of The Wizard of Oz) because he twists the storyline into a believable context. For one, he takes out all the magical elements - so, if you are looking for the Fairy Godmother, the mice, the pumpkin, and so on, you will not find them. Instead, he places the story in the context the Netherlands at the time of Rembrandt and the Tulip Bulb Bubble. The stepsisters and the mother in law are real people - they are a dutch family that had emigrated to England but come back home when the English husband dies. They are poor and destitute and searching for any assistance. The mother works as a housekeeper for a painter who tries to rival Rembrandt in his efforts. For one particular commission, the painter decides to paint one of the ugly sisters as a counterpoint to the beautiful tulips that are all the rage at that time.

The story is told from the viewpoint of this sister. She tells the story of the family as it escaped from England and settles in the Dutch town. She tells how her mother begs for work and how they get ensconced in the painter's household.

The painting is a success and actually leads to the family moving from the painter's house to the house of the wealthy merchant who commissioned it. This family has the wealthy wife who runs the household who gets pregnant and needs help as well as a mysterious teenaged daughter who is beautiful beyond belief but who refuses to set foot outside of the house. The three young girls get to know each other and play with each other including some trips outside the walls of the house during which we find out that there is some terrible reason why Clara (the beautiful one) does not leave the house.

Then, one day, something goes terribly wrong with the matron's pregnancy and both she and the baby die. This is not unusual in those days, nor is it unusual that soon thereafter the merchant marries the mother of the two sisters. So, now the family situation we now is set up. So, what makes the father disappear?

Mr. Maguire's answer is to have the merchant speculating on Tulip bulbs at exactly the wrong time and end up losing all of his fortune - throwing the merchant into a deep depression which has him locking himself up in a bedroom, mostly comatose.

As the house is slowly denuded of all of its possessions to pay off the creditors, the dowager Queen of France comes to town and announces that she would like a ball to introduce the local young women to a young male relative of hers. Of course the whole town is thrown into a tizzy and everyone who has eligible young women in their households are competing to go. This household, with three eligible women, is definitely invited and they all make plans to go - although Clara is very reluctant. Ultimately, the sister who is telling the story manages to convince her beautiful step-sister to come to the ball by setting up an elaborate scheme that will make sure no one recognizes her involving a separate coach ride, and an outfit that is borrowed but including white slippers made from silk so that, in the right light, they look like they are made of glass (another element explained).

The night of the ball comes, all the young women are paraded in front of the young man, and the sister telling the story manages to hold his attention for a few minutes due to her smarts and ability to converse in English as well as Dutch. Then, in comes Cindarella - I mean Clara and takes over. She is the most beautiful of the young women there by a large margin and immediately captivates the prince. She and the prince repair to a private room and are not seen again while the ball continues. One thing leads to another and a fire breaks out which has everyone scurrying out of the mansion and into the countryside. The girls reconvene at their home in the morning after having walked back from the mansion to discover that one of Clara's slippers is missing.

The prince comes looking for the young woman who lost the slipper and discovers Cindarella, takes her off to marry, and they live happily ever after. Right?

Well, almost. There is a final chapter in the book which is written by the other sister. The one who was considered dumb throughout the whole book. This chapter ties all the loose ends together and tells the end of the story. It talks about all three sister's lives and early deaths and their family situations. It clears up any remaining mysteries and puts a final twist into the story in the way in which this silent sister saw the things that went on.

By telling the story in this way, and tying it so carefully to plausible events, this book is a great read. The reader can clearly see how the fairy tale elements could come together from a story that is really the lives of some common people. The magic is in the way it is perceived rather than the way people really behaved. That is another aspect of what makes this book such a great read - it is a plausible story that is believable. There is only one element that I was unhappy with - the mother's role as an evil person is unduly enlarged when she reveals some of her misdeeds to her daughter. There was really no point in adding this plot device as without it we simply have a very determined woman trying to make her way in the world while supporting her daughters. Adding criminal elements to the mother's actions makes them more bizarre than is warranted.

So, I recommend you read this book and enjoy it as I did. It is a fun retelling of the story of Cindarella that twists it into a view of what life might have been like in 17th century Holland!

Cinderella stripped of the myth.......2007-04-12

I really enjoyed this book. Although, I also liked Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, the first of Gregory Maguire's books, this was my favourite.
Confessions is set in 17th century Holland, the premise is that this is the true version, as told by an "Ugly Stepsister" before the story was retold and retold and eventually turning into the Fairy tale it is today.
An interesting take on Cinderella, with good value as a historcal fiction also.

Incredible.......2007-04-02

This is by far the best of Maguire's books. The dry delivery, I thought, was a positive not a negative, and allowed you to see characters in a simpler way. It turned Cindrella literally upside down, and I was so thrilled by the happy(ish) ending(such a novelty in GM's books!). I found myself literally sympathizing with all of the characters, including Margarethe, whom was somewhat shady. Even as a child I found the Cinderella story to be a bit cut-and-dry and one deminsional, and the characters unrealistic(I was a bright child). I adored the perspective, and I hope he writes the rest of his books in this manner.
As a history major, I was also tickled by the reference to Catherine de Medicini.

Average customer rating:

Very Cute
very entertaining!!!
SOUNDS LIKE MY LIFE STORY!
This is me only a lot worse - phew!
What can i say this book is crazy funny

Confessions of a Shopaholic
Sophie Kinsella
Manufacturer: Dell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Similar Items:

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Accessories:

Conair Pro Color Accents Temporary Hair Color Kit
Conair MDF2R Facial Sauna With Timer

ASIN: 0440241413
Release Date: 2003-11-04

Amazon.com

If you've ever paid off one credit card with another, thrown out a bill before opening it, or convinced yourself that buying at a two-for-one sale is like making money, then this silly, appealing novel is for you. In the opening pages of Confessions of a Shopaholic, recent college graduate Rebecca Bloomwood is offered a hefty line of credit by a London bank. Within a few months, Sophie Kinsella's heroine has exceeded the limits of this generous offer, and begins furtively to scan her credit-card bills at work, certain that she couldn't have spent the reported sums.

In theory anyway, the world of finance shouldn't be a mystery to Rebecca, since she writes for a magazine called Successful Saving. Struggling with her spendthrift impulses, she tries to heed the advice of an expert and appreciate life's cheaper pleasures: parks, museums, and so forth. Yet her first Saturday at the Victoria and Albert Museum strikes her as a waste. Why? There's not a price tag in sight.

It kind of takes the fun out of it, doesn't it? You wander round, just looking at things, and it all gets a bit boring after a while. Whereas if they put price tags on, you'd be far more interested. In fact, I think all museums should put prices on their exhibits. You'd look at a silver chalice or a marble statue or the Mona Lisa or whatever, and admire it for its beauty and historical importance and everything--and then you'd reach for the price tag and gasp, "Hey, look how much this one is!" It would really liven things up.

Eventually, Rebecca's uncontrollable shopping and her "imaginative" solutions to her debt attract the attention not only of her bank manager but of handsome Luke Brandon--a multimillionaire PR representative for a finance group frequently covered in Successful Saving. Unlike her opposite number in Bridget Jones's Diary, however, Rebecca actually seems too scattered and spacey to reel in such a successful man. Maybe it's her Denny and George scarf. In any case, Kinsella's debut makes excellent fantasy reading for the long stretches between white sales and appliance specials. --Regina Marler

Book Description

Rebecca Bloomwood just hit rock bottom. But she's never looked better....

Becky Bloomwood has a fabulous flat in London's trendiest neighborhood, a troupe of glamorous socialite friends, and a closet brimming with the season's must-haves. The only trouble is that she can't actually afford it—not any of it.

Her job writing at Successful Savings not only bores her to tears, it doesn't pay much at all. And lately Becky's been chased by dismal letters from Visa and the Endwich Bank—letters with large red sums she can't bear to read—and they're getting ever harder to ignore.

She tries cutting back; she even tries making more money. But none of her efforts succeeds. Becky's only consolation is to buy herself something ... just a little something....

Finally a story arises that Becky actually cares about, and her front-page article catalyzes a chain of events that will transform her life—and the lives of those around her—forever.

Sophie Kinsella has brilliantly tapped into our collective consumer conscience to deliver a novel of our times—and a heroine who grows stronger every time she weakens. Becky Bloomwood's hilarious schemes to pay back her debts are as endearing as they are desperate. Her "confessions" are the perfect pick-me-up when life is hanging in the (bank) balance.

From the Trade Paperback edition.

Download Description

Rebecca Bloomwood just hit rock bottom. But she's never looked better...

Becky Bloomwood has a fabulous flat in London's trendiest neighborhood, a troupe of glamorous socialite friends, and a closet brimming with the season's must-haves. The only trouble is that she can't actually afford it -- not any of it.

Her job writing at Successful Savings not only bores her to tears, it doesn't pay much at all. And lately Becky's been chased by dismal letters from Visa and the Endwich Bank -- letters with large red sums she can't bear to read -- and they're getting ever harder to ignore.

She tries cutting back; she even tries making more money. But none of her efforts succeeds. Becky's only consolation is to buy herself something... just a little something....

Finally a story arises that Becky actually cares about, and her front-page article catalyzes a chain of events that will transform her life -- and the lives of those around her -- forever.

Sophie Kinsella has brilliantly tapped into our collective consumer conscience to deliver a novel of our times -- and a heroine who grows stronger every time she weakens. Becky Bloomwood's hilarious schemes to pay back her debts are as endearing as they are desperate. Her "confessions" are the perfect pick-me-up when life is hanging in the (bank) balance.

Customer Reviews:

Very Cute.......2007-06-20

This book is really entertaining. I wouldn't call it laugh out loud hilarious but its really funny to watch her justify her purchases. It does kind of make you feel sorry for compulsive spenders though. You just want to grab Rebecca and shake her and say "What Is The Matter With You?!!!!"

very entertaining!!!.......2007-05-30

i could not put this book down, it is great!! i just love the character of rebecca, but sometimes i want to kick her, she is crazy!! i am looking forward to read the other shopaholic series!

SOUNDS LIKE MY LIFE STORY!.......2007-05-25

THIS BOOK WAS REALLY FUNNY AND I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!

This is me only a lot worse - phew!.......2007-05-16

This book was un-put-downable - I became a reading-aholic! It was funny, charming, sweet, and eerily familiar.

I'm a lot more sensible with my money than Becky but I certainly understand where she's coming from, and her daydreaming is so funny cos it's so true eg. 'this chap isnt as nasty as I thought... maybe we'll become friends and I'll get to know his daughter, and through her connections with the TV industry I'll get a job in television and I'll go round there for dinner and help her mum do a salad..' - awesome stuff!

The author is obviously a fan of Helen Fielding who wrote the Bridget Jones books, but it pays off - the girlie English humour is priceless (unlike those Prada sunnies - they have a price tag)

If you like good chick lit and a good giggle, this is the book for you!

What can i say this book is crazy funny .......2007-05-13

I bought this book while i was shopping in chicago. It was so nice to read and see other have shopping problems too. This book was a awesome fine. I normally only read romance but i love the character and find the stories great. The book starts out good then slows down a little but then it speeds up to the end. I love the main character and this book as given me good ideas also.

Average customer rating:

Confessions of an Advertising Man
David Ogilvy
Manufacturer: Southbank Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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A Technique for Producing Ideas (Advertising Age Classics Library)

ASIN: 1904915019

Book Description

The long–awaited reissue of the million–copy best–seller that FORBES magazine called “A valuable primer on advertising for any businessman or investor.” With a new Foreword by Sir Alan Parker.

The Ice Man: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer

Average customer rating:

The Ice Man: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer
Philip Carlo
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0312349289
Release Date: 2006-07-01

Book Description

Richard "The Iceman Kuklinski" led a double life beyond anything ever seen on The Sopranos, becoming one of the most notorious professional assassins in American history while hosting neighborhood barbecues in suburban New Jersey. Now, after 240 hours of face-to-face interviews with Kuklinski and his wife and daughters, author Philip Carlo tells his extraordianry story. Kuklinski was Sammy "The Bull" Gravano's partner in the killing of Paul Castellano at Spark's Steakhouse. John Gotti hired him to kill the neighbor who accidentally ran over his child. For an additional price, he would make victims suffer; he conducted this sadistic business with cold-hearted intensity, never disappointing his customers. By his own estimate, he killed over two hundred men, taking enormous pride in his variety and ferocity of technique. Kuklinski's story, once known, captivated the public and became the subject of three HBO documentaries about which the New York Times raved "Few viewers are ever likely to forget this thoroughly chilling portrait. As for possible movie competition, it would work on the level of The Silence of the Lambs." The Ice Man is the most complete portrait of a killer since Peter Maas' New York Times bestselling biography of Sammy the Bull, Underboss, or Gay Talese's Honor Thy Father.

Essentials of the Reid Technique: Criminal Interrogations and Confessions (Criminal Justice Illuminated)

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Essentials of the Reid Technique: Criminal Interrogations and Confessions (Criminal Justice Illuminated)
Joseph P. Buckley
Manufacturer: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Criminal Interrogation and Confessions
Never Be Lied to Again: How to Get the Truth In 5 Minutes or Less in Any Conversation or Situation
Practical Aspects of Interview and Interrogation, Second Edition (Practical Aspects of Criminal and Forensic Investigations)
Conquering Deception
Detecting Lies and Deceit: The Psychology of Lying and the Implications for Professional Practice (Wiley Series in Psychology of Crime, Policing and Law)

ASIN: 0763727288

Book Description

Considered the Bible for interviewing and interrogation techniques, the book is currently in its forth edition and hundreds of thousands of investigators have received training on the Reid Technique. Now for the first time, an abridged and more affordable version of this best-selling book.

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Confessions of a Video Vixen
Karrine Steffans , and Karen Hunter
Manufacturer: Amistad
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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It's No Secret: From Nas to Jay-Z, from Seduction to Scandal--a Hip-Hop Helen of Troy Tells All
The Interruption of Everything
The Wendy Williams Experience
Chyna Black
Life Is Not a Fairy Tale

ASIN: 006089248X
Release Date: 2006-10-17

Book Description

An instant bestseller upon publication, Confessions of a Video Vixen is the page-turning memoir of Karrine Steffans: dancer, actress, and companion to many a celebrity. But more than a glimpse at what happens in the boardrooms and bedrooms of hip hop's A list, Confessions of a Video Vixen is also the first true account of how women are treated in the music industry, and its honest, direct revelations have generated debates and controversy across the country.

By sharing her story, Steffans hopes to shed light on an otherwise romanticized industry and help young women avoid the same pitfalls she encountered—and if they're already in danger, she hopes to inspire them to find a way to pull themselves out of what she knows firsthand to be a cycle of hopelessness and despair.

Confessions of a Reformission Rev.: Hard Lessons from an Emerging Missional Church (The Leadership Network Innovation)

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Humbling, Helpful, Honest and sometimes Painful
no 3-point breakdown, or filled with theological buzz words...
I LOVE THIS BOOK!
Compelling Truths
Raw and Real

Confessions of a Reformission Rev.: Hard Lessons from an Emerging Missional Church (The Leadership Network Innovation)
Mark Driscoll
Manufacturer: Zondervan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Radical Reformission: Reaching Out without Selling Out
Breaking the Missional Code: Your Church Can Become a Missionary in Your Community
Listening to the Beliefs of Emerging Churches: Five Perspectives
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The Missional Leader: Equipping Your Church to Reach a Changing World (J-B Leadership Network Series)

ASIN: 0310270162

Book Description

An inside snapshot view of the innovative Seattle church called Mars Hill and its Acts 29 network, providing--with a touch of sarcasm and humor--both principles and practices shared from the people actually doing missional church ministry with people often untouched by today’s traditional and contemporary churches.

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Humbling, Helpful, Honest and sometimes Painful.......2007-06-21

This book had the interesting effect of making me laugh, wince, and take notes, sometimes all on the same page! At the end of the day, I could not put the book down. I was captivated by a transparent pastor's heart who struggled day after day to put Jesus before his city in effort to see many converted.

The book chronicles the life of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington where Mark Driscoll has been the Senior Pastor since its inception. Driscoll takes readers through the various stages of growth from a small broken down Bible study with "Indie Rockers" and "artsy" folks to a thriving megachurch of over 4,000 impacting one of the most unchurched regions in the US.

In his narrative Driscoll explains, from first hand experience, some of the gestational development of the now prominent Emergent Church. Driscoll himself was involved, and in fact a leader in, a movement in the mid-90's to mobilize missionaries to their culture, impacting them with the gospel of Christ. As this movement expanded and gained traction Driscoll had to separate himself from it:

"I had to distance myself, however, from one of the many streams in the emerging church because of the theological differences. Since the late 1990's this stream has become known as Emergent. The Emergent Church is part of the Emerging Church Movement but does not embrace the dominant ideology of the movement. Rather the emergent church is the latest version of liberalism. The only difference is that the old liberalism accommodated modernity and the new liberalism accommodates postmodernity." (p. 21)

So here Driscoll is distinquishing between Emerging and Emergent...himself clinging to the prevailing positives of the Emerging movement (missional, theological, active) while distancing himself from the atheolgoical wing of the movement (Emergent).

In many ways this book appears to be a living apologetic of the Emerging movement while distinguishing Driscoll as one of its most outspoken and able leaders. Perhaps this is why we see Driscoll speaking at a conference along with Brian McLaren, the outspoken leader of the Emergent wing.

In fact Driscoll references McLaren in Confessions:

"Although I sincerely love Brian and appreciate the kindness he has shown me, I generally disagree with many of his theological conclusions. Because he comes from a pacifistic Brethren background, such things as power and violence greatly trouble him. His pacifism seems to underlie many of our theological disagreements since he has a hard time accepting such things as the violence of penal substitutionary atonement, parts of the Old Testament where God killed people, and the concept of conscious eternal torment in hell. Curiously, it is also Brian's pacifism that makes him such a warmly engaging person who is able to speak and write about theologically controversial issues while being gracious. Ironically, my love for and disagreement with Brian are both borne out of his pacifism. But I find it curious that, from my perspective, he is using his power as a writer and speaker to do violence to Scripture in the name of pacifism." (p.99)

His point here about pacifism and violence to God's word is worth the price of the book. That is the type of silent violence that characterizes the neo-liberalism named Emergent.

I love the resolve of Driscoll throughout the book. There were resistance and trials at every bend and still God graciously moved the church and its leadership through each. In fact, Driscoll regularly attaches the growth to the respective trials. On one occasion Mars Hill tried to do concerts and preaching outside by the river and were mooned and flashed by boaters going by. This, according to Driscoll, increased interest in the community and ultimately attendance.

There are so many pages that are outright hilarious. The following is a quote concerning a worship pastor:

"I really liked Tim because he is one of the few manly men whom I have ever seen leading worship. I am not supposed to say this, but most of the worship dudes I have heard are not very dudely. They seem to be very in touch with their feelings and exceedingly chickified from playing too much acoustic guitar and singing prom songs to Jesus while channeling Michael Bolton and flipping their hair. Tim was a guy who brewed his own beer, smoked a pipe, rock climbed, mountain biked, river rafted, carried a knife in his belt, and talked about what he thought more than what he felt.

We clicked because I drive a 1978 Chevy truck that gets single digits to the gallon and has a bacon air freshener and no functioning speedometer and because I fashion myself as the self-appointed leader of a heterosexual male backlash in our overly chickified city filled with guys drinking herbal tea and rocking out to Mariah Carey in their lemon yellow Volkswagen Cabriolets while wearing fuchsia sweater vests that perfectly match their open-toed shoes." (pp. 146-7)

Mark Driscoll is definitely a guy that I would want to have at a barbecue but may be reluctant to have speak at my church...but ironically both for the same reasons.

Overall I really enjoyed the book. From a pastor's perspective it was awesome; refreshing and encouraging. The positives for this book are found in Driscoll's willingness to share the ecclesiastical lab that he has worked in for the last 15 years. Driscoll understands church, leadership and has a passion to reach and change culture for the glory of Christ.

At the same time I am reluctant to openly recommend it. Driscoll does use crass language throughout the book (which is alarming and curious in light of 1 Tim. 4.12 & Eph. 4.29), and so therefore I am not comfortable putting it on a top 10 list. At the same time, from what I have read in the blogosphere and its relative outrage of Driscoll's language, I think they have, in large part, overreacted and missed the many of the great points and lessons of the book.

Driscoll also sympathizes with Rick Warren, even crediting him with significant pastorly influence on him. This is not surprising considering Driscoll's continued affiliation with Robert Schuller and company at the Crystal Cathedral. This is curios and I do not understand why he is holding hands with these guys who are not straightforward about the truth of the gospel (Warren) and who deny the truth of the gospel (Schuller).

Driscoll also makes it clear that he is charismatic, even asserting regularly that he receives additional revelation from God, prays and speaks against demons (however, Driscoll does say that he does not speak in tongues).

As an aside, I look forward to the upcoming Desiring God Conference where Driscoll will be on the panel with conservatives such as John Piper, DA Carson & David Wells. I would love to be a fly on the wall when DA Carson and him chat about life and ministry and Driscoll mixes in a reference to Jesus as a dude....oh the diversity of the body... "Christ is all and in all" (Col. 3.11).

no 3-point breakdown, or filled with theological buzz words..........2007-06-17

I really liked the book. I like the honesty from Mark, his willingness to be vulnerable, the insights to tough situations and early challenges of building a Christ-centered Mars Hill, the humor, and its "rough draft" form. On a side note...this air filter kicks some serious butt---->Duracraft DY-012 Oscillating 3-Speed Tower Fan :>

I LOVE THIS BOOK!.......2007-06-13

No punches pulled. This not ecclesiology for those who like organs, robes, cut flowers, tapestry upholstery, "preacher voices", and Psalty.

The church is in turmoil. What should it look like in the 21st century? what is a missional church? How, exactly, are we to be salt in a no-sodium age? The story of Driscoll's planting experience with Mars Hill Church in Seattle is one that EVERY Christian should read and heed. (And no, mainstream keyboard/skit/sermonette formulas are not the answer either.) We gotta open the BIBLE, preach tough sermons that proclaim the truth in a culturally relevant way, and get over ourselves. Read this book and let's get busy...

Compelling Truths.......2007-06-10

Just so we all know, i fit comfortably within Mark's theological framework, which i understand some people struggle with. I guess i simply see it as truth and i don;t see it as being arrogant, in fact one of the things i loved about the book was Mark's refreshing honesty and humility that shines through every page.

Mark is a brilliant writer, easy to read with hilarious yet insightful stories which add to his commentary on the growth of Mars Hill. it is wonderful to hear a guy stating his full reliance upon God and belief in the power of the gospel for salvation, and then to see him living it out, mistakes and all.

For anyone younger, in particular i believe, who is considering planting churches or who is involved in frontline ministry i wholeheartedly recommend this book to you.

Raw and Real.......2007-05-18

This is the second book I've read by Pastor Mark Driscoll. I listen to his podcasts as well.

Though agreeing with him in all points might get me kicked out of my denomiation, I find that many things about what he says need to be said.

I'm in a denominational church that looks to the past and seeks to engage the culture thru means of the social gospel. That's then. We live in the now.

Pastor Mark talks about engaging the current culture, and his stories about how Mars Hill grew demonstrate what can happen when one gets serious about engaging the culture and contextualizing the gospel, and being unambigously clear about what is believed.

I found it a such a humorous and raw read that perhaps i was waking the neighbors laughing so hard.

The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band

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Dirt is really Dirty....and oh, so good!
Get the book
Fascinating (and Surprising) Read!
The epitome of sex, drugs and rock and roll!
the dirt by motley crue

The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band
Tommy Lee , Vince Neil , Mick Mars , Nikki Sixx , and Neil Strauss
Manufacturer: Regan Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Tommyland
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Walk This Way: The Autobiography of Aerosmith

ASIN: 0060989157
Release Date: 2002-07-09

Book Description

The most influential, enduring, and iconic metal band of the 1980's reveals everything a tell-all of epic proportions.

This unbelievable autobiography explores the rebellious lives of four of the most influential icons in American rock history.

Motley Crue was the voice of a barely pubescent Generation X, the anointed high priests of backward-masking pentagram rock, pioneers of Hollywood glam, and the creators of MTV's first “power ballad.” Their sex lives claimed celebrities from Heather Locklear to Pamela Anderson to Donna D'Errico. Their scuffles involved everyone from Axl Rose to 2LiveCrew. Their hobbies have included collecting automatic weapons, cultivating long arrest records, pushing the envelope of conceivable drug abuse, and dreaming up backstage antics that would make Ozzy Osbourne blanch with modesty.

Provocatively written and brilliantly designed, this book includes over 100 photos, many never before published, for the most exciting and insightful look ever into the Crue.

Customer Reviews:

Dirt is really Dirty....and oh, so good!.......2007-06-19

If you are a rocker then you must read this book. They leave nothing out and it opens yours eyes to just what kind of life these crazy people live. This is much better than Tommyland. Much better. If offends, it makes you think and it makes you realize that you may not have been nearly as bad as you thought you were when you were sneaking off with your friends to catch that elusive buzz. I was an angel compared to these dudes, and believe me....I left my mark, but compared to these lunatics Mother Tereasa would have made me Saint Carol of Chesterfield.
Read it, just for the kicks and to make yourself feel a whole lot less like a loser. It sure can't hurt and it is good for a laugh. If you have a pool and a free afternoon then hit the ABC store, drag out your lounge chair and whatever gets you through the Munchies and enjoy an afternoon of pure raunchhy decadence. Everyone needs to get away from the real world for awhile, so why not spend it in Motley Crew's World? You will come out of it smelling like a Rose.

Get the book.......2007-06-12

All I can say is im not a "reader". I barley did the summer reading in High School. This book is approx 350-375 pages. I could of finished it in a day or two. But I pased myself and in two weeks I was done. Incredible read! & I'm not planning on cutting my hair anytime soon!...Just Epic

Fascinating (and Surprising) Read!.......2007-06-07

This book is a real page-turner. Even at over 400 pages, I read it in three settings. What surprised me the most about the book was the honesty that the guys put in, revealing their own insecurities and vulnerabilities. Of course, there's plenty of raucous partying to balance that out.

What I enjoyed most was the narrative style. The book is basically a compilation of interviews with the band members and others who became part of the story. I like how you can get multiple perspectives on the same event.

The epitome of sex, drugs and rock and roll!.......2007-05-25

This was a really good book. I am not a big Crew fan. However, Motley Crew was big when I was a teenager in the 80's. I saw the "Behind the Music" special on them and was intrigued. Any group that is going to get together and write an autobiography should read this book first. This, to me, is the epitome of how a band should write about their life. This was definitely a group effort and every one in the band (and then some) had the opportunity to contribute. The guys in this band lived the ultimate teenagers dream. Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll. They lived the extreme. I am surprised they are still alive. I appreciate their openness and honesty. Nikki did have a rough childhood and it still haunts him. But I think he has come full circle and has quite simply, "grown up". He seems to be the focal point of the group. Very smart and very focused on the band. Tommy, in my opinion, is still a kid. I think prison helped him reflect on his life and make some positive changes though. Vince will probably live with his demons for the rest of his life. Can't say I blame him. And Mick, the myserious one. I think he says a lot keeping quiet. I may not be a fan of their music, but I am definitely a fan of their celebrity. Great work! Highly recommend. You don't have to be a fan to enjoy this book!

the dirt by motley crue.......2007-05-24

this book was AMAZING very interesting and i could not put this book down, this book gives you all the ups and downs of all of there lives. i cannot tell you how great this book was.nikki sixx has had one hell of a life and vinces life has not been the greatest either. i recommend this book to anyone who loves motely crue or heavy metal. this is one of the best books iv ever read.you will want to read this again and again i have.

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