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Joy In Mudville: The Big Book of Baseball Humor
Manufacturer: Main Street Books
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Baseball: A History of America's Favorite Game (Modern Library Chronicles)
ASIN: 0385469535
Release Date: 1997-02-17 |
Book Description
A comic lineup of stories, essays, cartoons, and more, from Lardner and Runyon to Philip Roth, Charles Addams to Charles Schulz, plus dozens of other funny fans. "The best baseball book of the season." -- Los Angeles Times Book Review.
B & W photographs and illustrations throughout.
Customer Reviews:
Hilarious.......2001-03-12
Joy in Mudville is an excellent book that takes humorous articles from varioius authors and joins them to create one book. The selections are hilarious(especially one using Abbot and Costello's classic Who's on First routine with real names and players) and include comic strips, poems, magazine articles and excerpts from books all joined together by comments from editor Dick Schaap. The book is an easy read that can be enjoyed by sports fans of all ages, it should be in any sports fans collection.
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The Infinite Arena: Seven Science Fiction Stories About Sports: Joy in Mudville, Bullard Reflect, Body Builders, Great Kladnar Race, Mr. Meek Plays Polo, Sunjammer, Run to Starlight
Poul Anderson ,
Gordon R. Dickson ,
Malcolm Jameson ,
Keith Laumer ,
Robert Silverberg ,
Randall Garrett ,
Clifford D. Simak ,
Arthur C. Clark , and
George R. Martin
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Anderson, Poul
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ASIN: 0525665382 |
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Joy in Mudville
Gordon McAlpine
Manufacturer: Dutton Adult
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Binding: Hardcover
United States
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ASIN: 0525247483 |
Book Description
JOY / / It's 1932 and a new star has risen from the east, arching toward Los Angeles. / / A man, woman and child set off by rail from Chicago to follow the star. / / Along the way they'll meet figures from the pantheon of the American imagination -- figures who make us the people we are today: Woody Guthrie, Clark Kent, Al Capone, Babe Ruth, the Wizard of Oz and the ghost of Abner Doubleday. / / And when the three find their fates, the stars that guide us all will be forever changed. / / / "An absolutely joyful novel . . . wonderfully funny and uplifting. A mixture of fact and fantasy, fiction and frolic, this novel skips, jumps, and ultimately flies." / -- West Coast Review of Books / / "A fast-moving and entertaining romp across country and through time." / -- Los Angeles Times / / "McAlpine is a gifted stylist, with clean, clear and muscular prose." / -- Publisher's Weekly / / "A quirky, quixotic tale . . . Unusual and entertaining." / -- Library Journal
Customer Reviews:
An American Pie.......1998-01-19
Joy in Mudville is a quest for the dream, a creation of delight with all the magic ingredients that make it one of the most tasty dishes of American Pie ever baked in a modern literary oven. Where else can the archetypel characters of Babe Ruth, Woody Guthrie, Al Capone, Superman, and the Wizard of Oz cross paths to help define the honest jopes of men, women, and childhood innocence. If Gabriel Garcia Marquez were an American, this is the novel he would have written. Read it and you will be educated and entertained. You will know more about the country, it's mythology, and the nature of your own wonder. Gordon McAlpine is truly one of the most compassionate of America's new authors, and one of whom, I am sure, you will here a great deal more.
Amazon.com
Little League baseball parents are the stage mothers of our era. Hardly a summer goes by without another story about them brawling, threatening the umpire, or berating their own kids or others to the point of tears. Former Crawdaddy editor Greg Mitchell's father wasn't like that: he played catch with young Greg exactly once. Determined to do better, Mitchell volunteered to manage his son Andy's Little League team in Nyack, New York. Joy in Mudville is the delightful result, restoring sanity, perspective, and fun to what is, after all, a kids' summer game.
The book chronicles Mitchell's first two seasons as manager of the Red Sox and the A's, nicknamed the Aliens for the rubber alien head mascot that the kids rub for luck before (almost) every game or at-bat. The Aliens' inspiring 1998 season provides the drama, from draft-day rumor-mongering to the brilliant late-inning playoff stratagem Mitchell employed to protect a thin lead (and his son the pitcher's psyche). With solid knowledge of baseball traditions--superstitions, nicknames, even a pilgrimage to Cooperstown--coupled with a good father's sense of what's best for his son, Mitchell spins a masterful yarn sure to keep parents and fans of all ages on the edges of their seats--when they're not laughing out loud.
Best known for political books (Tricky Dick and the Pink Lady, The Campaign of the Century), Mitchell shows his versatility with this warm, lighthearted, and deftly told memoir of one of the great pleasures of summer. Joy in Mudville will have readers in stitches, and it might even keep a few Little League parents out of the headlines. --Bill Penrose
Book Description
Joy in Mudville chronicles the author's time as manager of his son's Little League team, and explores the many issues surrounding this seemingly simple situation: the relationship between father and sons, coaches and players, kids of different races and backgrounds all playing the same game. Mitchell also reflects on his own childhood baseball and Little League experiences. In the end, Mitchell and his son Andy's team go from losers to champs, and everyone takes away life lessons that far outweigh the ecstatic pleasure of a winning season. Published in time for Father's Day, the book will surely strike a chord as it touches on some of the most American of subjects: Dads and baseball.
Customer Reviews:
A Sinking Feeling.......2001-04-10
Much of Mudville was cute and fun, and the author/Little League manager clearly loves his son. But I had to wonder about the kids on the team who didn't get a lot of playing time -- they didn't get much book time either. I also thought that the author got a little too hung up on winning. The whole thing made me wish that the author, instead plotting out winning lineups and agonizing over pitching rotations, just would have rotated the kids through every position and given them equal playing time. But that would have been too...fair?
A Joyous Read.......2000-08-02
This book was a birthday gift to me from my son, former Little League pitcher and recent college graduate, who I hope sent it with positive feelings for the days that I was also a father coach, and not as an indictment of my coaching. Actually, I know it was spent in the spirit of nostalgia for those days for both of us. It was great to relive those days again, think about all of the characters involved, and recall the camraderie I shared with my son during those springs. This is a great read for any parent with a child in an organized baseball league, from tee ball to Babe Ruth on up.
Little League is for the kids, not the parents.......2000-07-27
Greg has done a super job of describing how I feel a father should be involved with his son's baseball team. As the founder/president of a 2 yr. old Little League program myself...I can't tell you enough of what a great job Greg did in putting youth baseball in the proper prospective, with a nice touch of humor. My 11 yr. old is now reading it and loves it too! Little League....it's just for the kids!
It's Funny Because It's True.......2000-07-10
Greg Mitchell's "Joy In Mudville" is a fantastic book. I think that anyone who picks it up will quickly become engaged in this John Feinsteinesque memoir about a season spent by a father coaching his son's little league team. But for anyone who has ever been involved with any type of city-league baseball, this book is a must because throughout the whole book, you will be laughing about how close to home it hits. This is true for coaches/parents of little leaguers, former players (like myself), and parents (the spectating variety) of the players. With each person that Mitchell desribed, I found myself realizing that there was the exact same person in one of the leagues in which I had played over the years. I am still trying to figure out if that is comforting or worrisome. Actually, if all parents were like Mr. Mitchell, little league would be a better environment for enjoyment, learning, and competition. (I guess there would also be many more great books in stores to read). Anyway, I guess that if parents and coaches were all normal, supportive, and appropriate, this book would not be nearly as enjoyable. So, read the other reviews if you want more details about the book. But trust me, if you have ever been involved in any way in little league baseball, pick up this book. Like me, you'll find yourself doing atypical things like writing glowing reviews and sending congratulatory e-mails to the author. It's that good.
It's Funny Because It's True.......2000-07-10
Greg Mitchell's "Joy In Mudville" is a fantastic book. I think that anyone who picks it up will quickly become engaged in this John Feinsteinesque memoir about a season spent by a father coaching his son's little league team. But for anyone who has ever been involved with any type of city-league baseball, this book is a must because throughout the whole book, you will be laughing about how close to home it hits. This is true for coaches/parents of little leaguers, former players (like myself), and parents (the spectating variety) of the players. With each person that Mitchell desribed, I found myself realizing that there was the exact same person in one of the leagues in which I had played over the years. I am still trying to figure out if that is comforting or worrisome. Actually, if all parents were like Mr. Mitchell, little league would be a better environment for enjoyment, learning, and competition. (I guess there would also be many more great books in stores to read). Anyway, I guess that if parents and coaches were all normal, supportive, and appropriate, this book would not be nearly as enjoyable. So, read the other reviews if you want more details about the book. But trust me, if you have ever been involved in any way in little league baseball, pick up this book. Like me, you'll find yourself doing atypical things like writing glowing reviews and sending congratulatory e-mails to the author. It's that good.
Average customer rating:
- It's As If We Were Having A Conversation
- A surprisingly good read, in many ways . . .
- Is there all that is?
- Kudos To Tony
- Wish It Could Have Been Longer
|
The Good Life: The Autobiography Of Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett
Manufacturer: Atria
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Binding: Hardcover
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What My Heart Has Seen
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MTV Unplugged
ASIN: 0671024698 |
Book Description
He's that regular guy from Astoria, Queens, who left his heart in San Francisco. He's the postwar heartthrob who inspired hundreds of young girls to wear black outside St. Patrick's Cathedral on his wedding day. He's the darling of the MTV generation who made music history when, at the age of 68, he won the coveted Grammy Award® for Album of the Year. He's the consummate artist known worldwide for his paintings. He's Tony Bennett, whose star shines brighter than ever as he enters his fifth decade of performing. Now, for the first time, this legend shares his amazing life story -- in a voice that's pure Tony Bennett: warm, resonant, and unforgettable.
"Tony Bennett has not just bridged the generation gap, he has demolished it," praised The New York Times. Since his appearance with the Red Hot Chili Peppers of the 1993 MTV Video Awards, and the addition of his seminal video, "Steppin' Out," to the MTV playlist, Bennett has become the hottest -- and coolest -- pop-culture icon for today's younger listeners, while remaining beloved by their parents and grandparents. An astonishing four generations have experienced the Tony Bennett magic -- the mesmerizing spell of a singer in love with singing, who embraces his audience with a soulful serenity communicated by both the man and his music.
Honored with countless awards, including eight Grammys, and with more than ninety albums to his credit (more than thirty million sold for the Columbia label alone), no other recording artist has attained Bennett's stature -- or garnered the half-century of memories shared in The Good Life. From Sinatra, Judy Garland and Ella Fitzgerald, to k.d. lang and Elvis Costello, Bennett shares his unique takes on the most fascinating talents of our time. Here is the story of his lifelong love affair with art, music, and performing -- from his childhood in Depression-era Queens, where opera and Billie Holiday flowed freely; to his stint as a singing waiter; to soaking up the New York jazz scene in the 1940s. With crisp wit and firmly grounded emotion, Bennett captures the people and places that shaped his sublime performances. The dozens of hits he introduced to the great American songbook, including "Because of You," "Rags to Riches," "Cold, Cold Heart," and his signature song, "I Left My Heart in Son Francisco," remain a legacy of truth and beauty for the classic art of intimate singing.
In this wonderfully revealing self-portrait, we get to know Tony Bennett as he really is: an unpretentious and thoughtful human being. His key to success is consistency: His constant dedication in his pursuit of excellence has never wavered, despite the trials and tribulations one can encounter when placing integrity above all else. Through all of his personal and artistic challenges, he has remained, in his own words, "a humanist" whose Zen-like philosophy of life is an inspiration for all ages. Like the fascinating story he shares in The Good Life, Tony Bennett is one of a kind, an American treasure, an enduring artist seasoned with experience and self-knowledge, and a true class act.
Customer Reviews:
It's As If We Were Having A Conversation.......2007-10-04
I received this book as a gift from a friend after see Tony Bennett live here in San Francisco. I decided to take a little time and thought I'd read a couple of paragraphs then go on with my day. Well, from the introduction on I found that I could not put the book down. I read it from cover to cover in one sitting which I normally do not do unless the book is of real interest.
The writing style was conversational and had me thinking to myself I feel as though he's right here sitting and talking with me. The book begins with accounts of his parents and family immigrating to the US from Italy. His stories of his early childhood with his Mother working so hard to make ends meet along with cherished memories of family get togethers etc... had me remembering and relating in so many ways to my Italian/Greek upbringing. The pictures he paints with words are vivid as are his real life paintings of which some are showcased within the pages of the book. I never knew he was also a painter and was pleasantly surprised.
His accounts of his time in World War II with all the racism and horrible treatment, specifically the "grave registration" incident, you'll have to read the book, I won't go into it here, was an eye opener and a learning process. Though my Father never spoke of his time in the war I now can understand how it affected his life and as a result gives me a better understanding of what he went through & why he was the person he turned out to be. It was somewhat of an awakening for me that I never would have known had I not read the accounts in this book.
Tony's stories of the entertainment world and his constant fight not wanting to comprimise his work is fascinating, entertaining and shows the reader exactly what a cut throat business the music industry can be. His struggles balancing the day to day life of his family against his work was very difficult and portrayed in hearfelt sentiment throughout the book. His struggles with drugs, money and near death are chilling and allows the reader to see inside the singer's life in an intimate way.
This living legend worked hard for every penny he made, without comprimise. This book is a wonderful read and whether a fan or not The Good Life makes for a great lesson on the ups and downs in life and how to overcome all the odds.
A surprisingly good read, in many ways . . ........2001-12-18
There's a Bennett anecdote I remember hearing reported on local (San Francisco) radio back in the early '60s: A local woman, gardening in her backyard one Saturday afternoon, was listening to Bennett's then-new "I Left My Heart In San Francisco;" suddenly, she realized, the singing had become somehow stereophonic. Looking up, she found Tony Bennett grinning at her over her backyard fence. In town for an appearance at the Fairmont Hotel, Bennett had been out for a walk; hearing her phonograph, he'd been unable to resist . . .
This is the Tony Bennett you get to meet in the pages of "The Good Life." If you're a fan, nothing in this book will change your mind. If you're not, well then, despite the fact that there does appear a certain sense of "glossiness" in his account of his life, loves, marriages, etc., you may well find yourself coming to nonetheless admire the man.
A word about that "glossiness": It may well arise from nothing more than a yearning towards fairness (and not only to himself). He discusses failed marriage, for example, as well as his work-induced absences as a parent, taking responsibility for his actions without -- on the one hand -- pointing out that it "takes two to tangle," or -- on the other -- seeking to overly justify his absences as the price of building a successful career. He also talks of his marijuana use (as first disclosed by his exwife, years after they'd split) in an explanatory tone, with regret, and without seeking to justify that use. Again, there is a sense of fairness about him, even as he talks of a fairly prevalent drug use among musicians of the era. In his desire to explain the musician's life and its pressures and demands, there is what some may (wrongfully)interpret as an impulse to self-expiate. This is wrong, as evidenced, not only by his own mea culpa approach, but by his account of a conversation with longtime friend -- and onetime collaborator -- Bill Evans, shortly before the latter's death.
This fairness carries over in his account of his early disputes with then-Columbia Records A&R head, Mitch Miller (best remembered today, probably, for his subsequent "Sing Along With Mitch" records and TV series of the late '50s). By all accounts, Miller was -- to say the least -- dictatorial and patriarchial in his belief that he knew what was best for the artists under his control. Bennett could have savaged the man in this account (and justifiably); after all, Miller's long gone from the scene, others have already reminisced about his iron-handed control; so what stops Bennett . . . save for a humanistic impulse toward fairness?
For me, one of the most telling portions of this autobiography occur in Bennett's recounting of his World War II experiences as a G.I. in the European theatre. Without self-aggrandizement, he talks -- movingly so -- of what he saw, and how those horrors turned him against war for all time; strikingly, it is this same absence of 'been-there-done-that' self-absorption that colors (and which underplays) the reminiscences of his considerable involvement in the early-60s civil rights movement down in Mississipi-Alabama. If he avoids the urge to expiate himself, he likewise eschews the temptation towards self-canonization.
From his August 3, 1926 birth (one day too late, by the way, to be my twenty-years-older "birthday twin"), through the intervening years including his "renaissance" for yet future generations via MTV, Bennett presents himself in this autobiography as a man who caught more than his share of lucky breaks (and who, inferentially, made a few more of his own, although you won't get him to admit it, at least in this book) on his way to (as in the title of one his best-known songs) "The Good Life."
Is there all that is?.......2001-08-22
Considering talents of both Tony Bennett and Will Friewald,I was very disapointed with such a feather-light collection of show-biz anecdotes.Bennett is a classy singer whom I really appreciate,with both taste and style,while Friewald already stunned me with his books about Jazz singers and Frank Sinatra.... its a little,tiny,short book that strangely lacks any personal comments and views - not different from Duke Ellington's famous autobiography in which he mostly lists his "dear friends and colleagues" with short anecdotes about how he met them,but no opinions whatsoever.Bennett goes into detailed count of every piano player in his long career,but some important points of his life (wife,children,divorce,drug addiction) are mentioned briefly and in one sentence.While counting backing musicians perhaps shows good nature and warm personality,both Ellington and Bennetts books are too breezy considering they are coming from music giants - just another proof that not every talented musician/singer/actor is capable of writting a interesting book.
Kudos To Tony.......1999-11-15
Thank you Tony - for your great story! Well written & well told, never a dull moment. What a warm, wonderful & multitalented man! I agree with the reviewer from NY, Tony's story would make an excellent movie. God Bless you, Tony, & keep those glorious albums coming.
Wish It Could Have Been Longer.......1999-03-24
Tony Bennett's story would make a great movie, and while this book tells alot about the man I really wish it was a longer story. Guess I hated to see it end so fast, but it did give insight on things I did not know about Tony. He was in the Army and saw action in Europe during WW2, even if only for about 4-5 months, he saw alot and came very close to becoming a statistic himself. Most enjoyable, though, was Tony recalling the days when he first started out professionally and how he fought to make records that were important to him, not what the pop charts dictated. The mutual admiration between Tony & Frank(no last name needed)is also mentioned quite a few times, making it clear there was great affection between these two superstars. Highly recommended for all Tony Bennett fans, and please, how about a movie version starring that kid on Happy Days(Eddie Mekka-who portrayed the Big Ragu)who sings just like Tony? Oh well, just a suggestion...
Average customer rating:
|
The Good Life: The Autobiography Of Tony Bennett Uk Edition
Bennett
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 068485872X |
Average customer rating:
- It's As If We Were Having A Conversation
- A surprisingly good read, in many ways . . .
- Is there all that is?
- Kudos To Tony
- Wish It Could Have Been Longer
|
The Good Life: The Autobiography Of Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett
Manufacturer: Atria
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
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ASIN: 1416573666 |
Book Description
He's that regular guy from Astoria, Queens, who left his heart in San Francisco. He's the postwar heartthrob who inspired hundreds of young girls to wear black outside St. Patrick's Cathedral on his wedding day. He's the darling of the MTV generation who made music history when, at the age of 68, he won the coveted Grammy Award® for Album of the Year. He's the consummate artist known worldwide for his paintings. He's Tony Bennett, whose star shines brighter than ever as he enters his fifth decade of performing. Now, for the first time, this legend shares his amazing life story -- in a voice that's pure Tony Bennett: warm, resonant, and unforgettable.
"Tony Bennett has not just bridged the generation gap, he has demolished it," praised The New York Times. Since his appearance with the Red Hot Chili Peppers of the 1993 MTV Video Awards, and the addition of his seminal video, "Steppin' Out," to the MTV playlist, Bennett has become the hottest -- and coolest -- pop-culture icon for today's younger listeners, while remaining beloved by their parents and grandparents. An astonishing four generations have experienced the Tony Bennett magic -- the mesmerizing spell of a singer in love with singing, who embraces his audience with a soulful serenity communicated by both the man and his music.
Honored with countless awards, including eight Grammys, and with more than ninety albums to his credit (more than thirty million sold for the Columbia label alone), no other recording artist has attained Bennett's stature -- or garnered the half-century of memories shared in The Good Life. From Sinatra, Judy Garland and Ella Fitzgerald, to k.d. lang and Elvis Costello, Bennett shares his unique takes on the most fascinating talents of our time. Here is the story of his lifelong love affair with art, music, and performing -- from his childhood in Depression-era Queens, where opera and Billie Holiday flowed freely; to his stint as a singing waiter; to soaking up the New York jazz scene in the 1940s. With crisp wit and firmly grounded emotion, Bennett captures the people and places that shaped his sublime performances. The dozens of hits he introduced to the great American songbook, including "Because of You," "Rags to Riches," "Cold, Cold Heart," and his signature song, "I Left My Heart in Son Francisco," remain a legacy of truth and beauty for the classic art of intimate singing.
In this wonderfully revealing self-portrait, we get to know Tony Bennett as he really is: an unpretentious and thoughtful human being. His key to success is consistency: His constant dedication in his pursuit of excellence has never wavered, despite the trials and tribulations one can encounter when placing integrity above all else. Through all of his personal and artistic challenges, he has remained, in his own words, "a humanist" whose Zen-like philosophy of life is an inspiration for all ages. Like the fascinating story he shares in The Good Life, Tony Bennett is one of a kind, an American treasure, an enduring artist seasoned with experience and self-knowledge, and a true class act.
Customer Reviews:
It's As If We Were Having A Conversation.......2007-10-04
I received this book as a gift from a friend after see Tony Bennett live here in San Francisco. I decided to take a little time and thought I'd read a couple of paragraphs then go on with my day. Well, from the introduction on I found that I could not put the book down. I read it from cover to cover in one sitting which I normally do not do unless the book is of real interest.
The writing style was conversational and had me thinking to myself I feel as though he's right here sitting and talking with me. The book begins with accounts of his parents and family immigrating to the US from Italy. His stories of his early childhood with his Mother working so hard to make ends meet along with cherished memories of family get togethers etc... had me remembering and relating in so many ways to my Italian/Greek upbringing. The pictures he paints with words are vivid as are his real life paintings of which some are showcased within the pages of the book. I never knew he was also a painter and was pleasantly surprised.
His accounts of his time in World War II with all the racism and horrible treatment, specifically the "grave registration" incident, you'll have to read the book, I won't go into it here, was an eye opener and a learning process. Though my Father never spoke of his time in the war I now can understand how it affected his life and as a result gives me a better understanding of what he went through & why he was the person he turned out to be. It was somewhat of an awakening for me that I never would have known had I not read the accounts in this book.
Tony's stories of the entertainment world and his constant fight not wanting to comprimise his work is fascinating, entertaining and shows the reader exactly what a cut throat business the music industry can be. His struggles balancing the day to day life of his family against his work was very difficult and portrayed in hearfelt sentiment throughout the book. His struggles with drugs, money and near death are chilling and allows the reader to see inside the singer's life in an intimate way.
This living legend worked hard for every penny he made, without comprimise. This book is a wonderful read and whether a fan or not The Good Life makes for a great lesson on the ups and downs in life and how to overcome all the odds.
A surprisingly good read, in many ways . . ........2001-12-18
There's a Bennett anecdote I remember hearing reported on local (San Francisco) radio back in the early '60s: A local woman, gardening in her backyard one Saturday afternoon, was listening to Bennett's then-new "I Left My Heart In San Francisco;" suddenly, she realized, the singing had become somehow stereophonic. Looking up, she found Tony Bennett grinning at her over her backyard fence. In town for an appearance at the Fairmont Hotel, Bennett had been out for a walk; hearing her phonograph, he'd been unable to resist . . .
This is the Tony Bennett you get to meet in the pages of "The Good Life." If you're a fan, nothing in this book will change your mind. If you're not, well then, despite the fact that there does appear a certain sense of "glossiness" in his account of his life, loves, marriages, etc., you may well find yourself coming to nonetheless admire the man.
A word about that "glossiness": It may well arise from nothing more than a yearning towards fairness (and not only to himself). He discusses failed marriage, for example, as well as his work-induced absences as a parent, taking responsibility for his actions without -- on the one hand -- pointing out that it "takes two to tangle," or -- on the other -- seeking to overly justify his absences as the price of building a successful career. He also talks of his marijuana use (as first disclosed by his exwife, years after they'd split) in an explanatory tone, with regret, and without seeking to justify that use. Again, there is a sense of fairness about him, even as he talks of a fairly prevalent drug use among musicians of the era. In his desire to explain the musician's life and its pressures and demands, there is what some may (wrongfully)interpret as an impulse to self-expiate. This is wrong, as evidenced, not only by his own mea culpa approach, but by his account of a conversation with longtime friend -- and onetime collaborator -- Bill Evans, shortly before the latter's death.
This fairness carries over in his account of his early disputes with then-Columbia Records A&R head, Mitch Miller (best remembered today, probably, for his subsequent "Sing Along With Mitch" records and TV series of the late '50s). By all accounts, Miller was -- to say the least -- dictatorial and patriarchial in his belief that he knew what was best for the artists under his control. Bennett could have savaged the man in this account (and justifiably); after all, Miller's long gone from the scene, others have already reminisced about his iron-handed control; so what stops Bennett . . . save for a humanistic impulse toward fairness?
For me, one of the most telling portions of this autobiography occur in Bennett's recounting of his World War II experiences as a G.I. in the European theatre. Without self-aggrandizement, he talks -- movingly so -- of what he saw, and how those horrors turned him against war for all time; strikingly, it is this same absence of 'been-there-done-that' self-absorption that colors (and which underplays) the reminiscences of his considerable involvement in the early-60s civil rights movement down in Mississipi-Alabama. If he avoids the urge to expiate himself, he likewise eschews the temptation towards self-canonization.
From his August 3, 1926 birth (one day too late, by the way, to be my twenty-years-older "birthday twin"), through the intervening years including his "renaissance" for yet future generations via MTV, Bennett presents himself in this autobiography as a man who caught more than his share of lucky breaks (and who, inferentially, made a few more of his own, although you won't get him to admit it, at least in this book) on his way to (as in the title of one his best-known songs) "The Good Life."
Is there all that is?.......2001-08-22
Considering talents of both Tony Bennett and Will Friewald,I was very disapointed with such a feather-light collection of show-biz anecdotes.Bennett is a classy singer whom I really appreciate,with both taste and style,while Friewald already stunned me with his books about Jazz singers and Frank Sinatra.... its a little,tiny,short book that strangely lacks any personal comments and views - not different from Duke Ellington's famous autobiography in which he mostly lists his "dear friends and colleagues" with short anecdotes about how he met them,but no opinions whatsoever.Bennett goes into detailed count of every piano player in his long career,but some important points of his life (wife,children,divorce,drug addiction) are mentioned briefly and in one sentence.While counting backing musicians perhaps shows good nature and warm personality,both Ellington and Bennetts books are too breezy considering they are coming from music giants - just another proof that not every talented musician/singer/actor is capable of writting a interesting book.
Kudos To Tony.......1999-11-15
Thank you Tony - for your great story! Well written & well told, never a dull moment. What a warm, wonderful & multitalented man! I agree with the reviewer from NY, Tony's story would make an excellent movie. God Bless you, Tony, & keep those glorious albums coming.
Wish It Could Have Been Longer.......1999-03-24
Tony Bennett's story would make a great movie, and while this book tells alot about the man I really wish it was a longer story. Guess I hated to see it end so fast, but it did give insight on things I did not know about Tony. He was in the Army and saw action in Europe during WW2, even if only for about 4-5 months, he saw alot and came very close to becoming a statistic himself. Most enjoyable, though, was Tony recalling the days when he first started out professionally and how he fought to make records that were important to him, not what the pop charts dictated. The mutual admiration between Tony & Frank(no last name needed)is also mentioned quite a few times, making it clear there was great affection between these two superstars. Highly recommended for all Tony Bennett fans, and please, how about a movie version starring that kid on Happy Days(Eddie Mekka-who portrayed the Big Ragu)who sings just like Tony? Oh well, just a suggestion...
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