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Labelled illustrations depict a teddy bear, bottle, mother, car, rattle, toy train, rubber duck, sun, moon, and blocks. ... Read more

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Packed with practical tips on every aspect of guitar playing. Hundreds of essential riffs, licks, and turnarounds for rock, blues, country, and jazz guitar. Includes the Survivor’s Guide to Gigging. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Advice
Don't bother learning *the tricks of the trade* -- learn the trade. In this case, the trade is playing music on a guitar, and its not just a series of tricks. With this sort of attitude and say, ten years, you'll have 10 years experience being a first-year wannabe. Music is made from Melody, Harmony, Rhythm... so, do the work: learn Music, not tricks about music.

EXCELLENT
I originally bought this book as a gift for a friend. When I went over to his house again, I looked it over out of curiousity and realized I should have bought an extra copy for myself!!!! The tips given are the perfect fora beginner or even an expert such as Eric Clapton. Overall this book wasgood family fun and I recommend it for guitar players of all ages andlevels of expertise. ... Read more

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Chapters: Andie Macdowell, Chris Rock, Stephen Colbert, Eartha Kitt, Angie Stone, Andy Dick, Shawnee Smith, Mary-Louise Parker, Bill Oberst Jr., Ann Savage, Viola Davis, Monique Coleman, Kristin Davis, Barton Maclane, Will Patton, Mackenzie Rosman, Mabel King, Ashley Scott, Lauren Hutton, Jessica Stroup, Mary Jane Irving, Lee Thompson Young, Nina Mae Mckinney, Bobbie Phillips, David Thornton, Bettye Ackerman, Samuel E. Wright, Josh Strickland, Allison Munn, J. Smith-Cameron, Britt Robertson, Thomas Gibson, Scott Holroyd, Anna Camp, Angell Conwell, Paul Benjamin, Frances Fuller, Leon Rippy, Clinton Rosemond, Evan Jones, Joseph Attles. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 218. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Sir Stephen Tyrone Colbert, KSJ, DFA, (pronounced ; born on May 13, 1964) is an American political satirist, writer, comedian and television host. He is the host of Comedy Central's The Colbert Report, a satirical news show in which Colbert portrays a caricatured version of conservative political pundits. Colbert originally studied to be an actor, but became interested in improvisational theatre when he met famed Second City director Del Close while attending Northwestern University. He first performed professionally as an understudy for Steve Carell at Second City Chicago; among his troupe mates were comedians Paul Dinello and Amy Sedaris, with whom he developed the critically acclaimed sketch comedy series Exit 57. Colbert also wrote and performed on the short-lived Dana Carvey Show before collaborating with Sedaris and Dinello again on the cult television series Strangers with Candy. He gained considerable attention for his role on the latter as closeted, gay history teacher Chuck Noblet. It was his work as a correspondent on Comedy Central's news-parody series The Daily Show, ho...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=335195 ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from Telephone IP News, published by Worldwide Videotex on April 1, 2009. The length of the article is 356 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: ATOM.COM HOLES UP WITH ANDY DICK.
Author: Gale Reference Team
Publication: Telephone IP News (Newsletter)
Date: April 1, 2009
Publisher: Worldwide Videotex
Volume: 20Issue: 4Page: NA

Distributed by Gale, a part of Cengage Learning ... Read more

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Chapters: Mike Myers, Tina Fey, Chris Farley, Andy Dick, David Koechner, Phil Lamarr, Amy Poehler, Andy Richter, Bob Odenkirk, Jason Sudeikis, Brian Stack, Del Close, Seth Meyers, Rachel Dratch, Matt Walsh, Harold, Angela Kinsey, Keegan-Michael Key, Scott Adsit, Jon Glaser, Tim Meadows, Horatio Sanz, Adam Mckay, Matt Besser, I.o., Kate Flannery, Jerry Minor, Miles Stroth, Jack Mcbrayer, T. J. Jagodowski, Stephnie Weir, John Lutz, Nasim Pedrad, Ian Roberts, I.o. West, the Players Workshop, Bill Chott, Lennon Parham, Dan Bakkedahl, David Pasquesi, Kay Cannon, Susan Messing, Rick Roman, Charna Halpern. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 222. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Elizabeth Stamatina "Tina" Fey (pronounced ; born May 18, 1970) is an American actress, comedienne, writer, and producer. She has received seven Emmy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, four Screen Actors Guild Awards, and four Writers Guild of America Awards. She was singled out as the performer who had the greatest impact on culture and entertainment in 2008 by the Associated Press, who gave her their AP Entertainer of the Year award. After graduating from the University of Virginia in 1992, Fey moved to Chicago to take classes at the improvisational comedy group The Second City, where she became a featured player in 1994. Three years later, Fey became a writer for the sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live (SNL). She was promoted to the position of head writer in 1999. The following year, Fey was added to the cast of SNL. During her time there, she was co-anchor of the show's Weekend Update segment. After leaving SNL in 2006, she created her own television series called 30 Rock, a situation comedy loosely based on her experiences at SNL. In the series, Fey portrays the head writer of a fictional sketch comedy serie...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=102685 ... Read more

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San Francisco lies under a cloud of radioactive dust. People live in half-deserted apartment buildings, and keep electric animals as pets because so many real animals have died. Most people emigrate to Mars - unless they have a job to do on Earth. Like Rick Deckard - android killer for the police and owner of an electric sheep. This week he has to find, identify, and kill six androids which have escaped from Mars. They're machines, but they look and sound and think like humans - clever, dangerous humans. They will be hard to kill. The filmBlade Runner was based on this famous novel. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (243)

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep
America's Galactic Foreign Legion - Book 1: Feeling Lucky

I am a fan of the clasic movie:"Blade Runner."But forget that!Do not read this book expecting to just read a version of the movie.Just read for the enjoyment of great science fiction.

Not bad, but failed to really pull me in
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep is one of those rare works where the movie that is based on the book (Blade Runner) is actually better than the book. This book is decent enough, but it never really pulled me in.

The world is in a post-apocalyptic state as a result of a nuclear war. Many animals have become extinct or are rare so just owning one is highly desirable, not just because of the rarity but also because of the emotional attachment. Some humans, like the protagonist Rick Deckard, have problems affording a real animal so they go for an electrical equivalent, but owning one (if you're found out) is frowned upon and worse yet there's no real emotional attachment between the animal and human. Able-humans are encouraged to emigrate off of Earth, though some refuse. The promise if you emigrate is that you will receive an 'andy' or android robot. Some andy's are emigrating back to Earth because they no longer want to serve humans. The problem is they are very hard to tell apart from humans so bounty hunters like Rick Deckard make it a mission to 'retire' them. Deckard is awarded $1,000.00 for each retired andy. The most reliable way to distinguish humans from andys is to administer the 'Voight-Kampff' test, which tests empathy. Since andy's aren't humans their empathetic readings differ. Retiring andy's starts to become a moral issue for Deckard.

This is all a great setup and right in the beginning I was hooked. The problem is that this book starts with a bang, but it quickly fizzles into somewhat weak prose. I never felt attached to any of the characters and many of the moments that were supposed to be exciting, including the climax of the book, just fell flat for me. It was like going to Denny's when you're craving a real steak dinner. Sure, it might be edible and taste fine enough, but it just doesn't 'hit the spot'.

This is a breeze of a book and it's certainly not terrible, it just wasn't wholey satisfying for me. I still recommend checking it out.

Wrong Book
Frankly, I find it freakish that the one version of this novel available on Amazon is not written by Philip K. Dick, though it appears to be.The original is spectacular; however, this re-written version by Andy Hopkins and Joc Potter is a watered down, sanitized, ersatz-version of the original. And by the way--it is extremely hard to tell that this is NOT the original version.Philip K. Dick, however, would probably belch a dark laugh at the irony.

Yech!!!
I absolutely hated this book.It was just a little too weird for my tastes.I'm more of a traditional Heinlein, Asimov, H.G Wells fan and I just didn't get it.I know it is a popular book, I just can't understand why.

Great Ideas, Poor Prose
"On his way to work Rick Deckard, as Lord knew how many other people, stopped briefly to skulk about one of San Francisco's larger pet shops, along animal row."

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is a Science Fiction classic, the inspiration for Blade Runner, and sports one of the best written blurbs I've ever read. The good ideas don't stop on the back cover. The book tackles several interesting themes and presents a whole host of unique, and well integrated, ideas. Despite all this, Do Androids... fails to live up to its reputation.

The book's cornerstones are the androids and the concept of empathy. As more and more realistic androids are built, it becomes almost impossible to distinguish them from humans. On almost all levels, intellectual, emotional, etc, they conform perfectly to the norm. The humans still on earth are terrified by this. What if, one day, there is an android so advanced that no test, no matter how intricate, can separate them from people? How will they be hunted down, kept separate and subjugated? More importantly - for the reader, if not for the police organizations of future earth - how can we justify hunting down and killing something that is the same as us save for its manner of birth?

Ironically for a book so focused on empathy, where Do Androids... falls short is the prose's ability to convey emotion. Put simply, the text conveys none at all; everything is conveyed in the same listless monotone. Let's imagine a standard metal song, beginning with an acoustic intro. After a minute or two of the introduction, the electric guitar comes in and the feel of the song completely changes. We go from atmospheric and quiet to loud and aggressive. Do Androids... is the equivalent of the entire song played by the acoustic. Yes, the notes are the same, but the feeling's totally changed; it's no longer dynamic in the slightest.

This fundamental lack of vibrancy, of change, in the text hampers it in many ways. Fight scenes and climaxes are both stripped of their power:

"'Why won't my laser tube fire?' [The Android] said, switching on and off the miniaturized triggering and aiming device which he held in the palm of his hand.

'A sine wave,' Rick said. 'That phases out laser emanation and spreads the beam into ordinary light.'

'Then I'll have to break your pencil neck.' The android dropped the device and, with a snarl, grabbed with both hands for Rick's throat.

As the android's hands sank into his throat, Rick fired his regulation issue old-style pistol from its shoulder holster; the .38 magnum slug struck the android in the head and its brain box burst. The Nexus-6 unit which operated it blew into pieces, a raging, mad wind which carried throughout the car. Bits of it, like the radioactive dust itself, whirled down on Rick. The retired remains of the android rocked back, collided with the car door, bounced off, and struck heavily against him; he found himself struggling to shove the twitching remnants of the android away."

The above is supposed to be a thrilling moment, a betrayal, an abrupt ambush-like action scene, and yet the explanatory dialogue dulls the effect entirely. Deckard's reaction to having a gun pointed at him is to explain the precise mechanics preventing his skull from decorating the car door. In addition, the entire affair is over before it can begin. When, after the lackluster opening ripostes are exchanged, the fight begins in earnest, there's barely a paragraph of the android's execution; there isn't time for even the most involved of readers to detect even the faintest whiff of danger before said danger's dispatched, a process matched only in speed by the writing's desire to meander about explaining the cranial anatomy of androids. In this manner, almost all of the book's climaxes are disposed of, after pages of buildup, as a vague flash in the rear view mirror and with the faintest feeling of: that's it?

Worse, the reader is prevented from ever identifying with Deckard at all, not just when he's in mortal danger. Deckard's relationships never draw us in, we never get to develop our own feelings for any of the character's, and we don't truly get to share Deckard's, leaving us with just the shallow knowledge of his physical and verbal response to those around him. As a result, the conflicts of interests, and what should have been the validation of all the novel's themes, falls almost wholly flat.

Furthermore, moving past the prose, there're instances where things seem to be done in order to augment a certain theme, or just for convenience, when it's hard to think of a rational reason for them to be done that way. For instance, there are several companies that make androids. Everyone who goes to Mars - and everyone who isn't dirt poor goes - gets a free android. So, if the demand is on Mars (it is, in fact, illegal to be an android running around on earth), and the companies are rich enough to go (they're described as, essentially, swimming in money), why the hell are they still on earth? In addition, partway through the novel, Deckard stumbles onto a nest of androids. In the middle of the nest is a single human. The man's existence eventually leads to a thematic coup de grace, but I'm unable to think of a single reason for him to be there at all.

Amazingly enough, almost none of these flaws exist when the point of view switches over to John Isidore, a mentally crippled "Chickenhead." Contrary to in Deckard's sections (where any semblance of emotion is subtle-ized itself right out of existence), Isidore's moods are painted in broad brushes. The effect can occasionally be comic, but amidst the overacting the character gained my sympathy in a way that no one else in the book came even close to matching. I guess I'm a bigger fan of melodrama than I am of blank stares.

Perhaps a part of my liking for Isidore comes from his job as an ambulance driver for an electric animal company. The obsession with animals was by far my favorite aspect of Dick's work; it showcases the changes to earth perfectly. The most interesting portion of the entire novel comes from a discussion of the merits of real and mechanical cats.

Approaching the question raised between humans and androids in a totally different way, Dick makes us look a bit closer at our own empathy. The majority of the technology is of a similar vein, seamlessly integrated and fascinating. Perhaps chief among them is the Penfield Mood Organ, a device that dictates your mood upon the dials you push. All of these devices are treated so irreverently by the characters that it often takes several seconds to realize that we don't (yet) have real world equivalents, and all of them are thematically charged to an impressive degree.

Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is a novel that I failed to connect with on any meaningful level. That being said, it's not a novel that I could advise someone to not read. The book has enough interesting ideas that I can easily see why it's considered such a classic...it's just a pity that those ideas are so let down by the prose. ... Read more

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These exciting stories of pioneer life capture the events and spirit of the times surrounding the settling of the American frontier.The "Adventures in Frontier America" series sweeps young readers into key events in U.S. history.Illustrated and indexed. ... Read more

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Seething with power
I found this book to be very informative, though it was kind of repetitive at times.Many different styles were covered and I think it was one of the best guitar books I've ever read. ... Read more

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These exciting stories of pioneer life capture the events and spirit of the times surrounding the settling of the American frontier.The "Adventures in Frontier America" series sweeps young readers into key events in U.S. history.Illustrated and indexed. ... Read more

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A cardboard puzzle piece, in the shape of a puppy, attached to this sturdy board book by a ribbon encourages young readers to take the puppy for a walk, help him chase butterflies, and more. ... Read more

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A cardboard puzzle piece, in the shape of a car, attached to this sturdy board book by a ribbon encourages young readers to fill the car up with gas, drive up a steep hill, and more. ... Read more

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A humorous look at what really goes on behind closed doors at the White House includes paper dolls of Bill, Al, Hillary, and Tipper and cutouts of Woodstock soundtrack CDs, lava lamps, and fun paper clothing ensembles.50,000 first printing. ... Read more

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VERY HUMEROUS !
This is a very funny book, bought as teenager and still enjoy reading for a laugh!Never seen a presidential book quite like this! The outfits for the paper dolls are very funny!

An absolute great gift for expatriot friends
Bill & Al's Excellent Adventure : A Paper Doll Book takes a humorous stab at the top dogs in the White House, the Clintons and the Gores, by casting them as punch-out paper dolls.If you're in the market for a gag gift, particularly for friends living overseas or anyone remotely interested in Federal politics, I would highly recommend this book.The wardrobes are great and you do not have to be highly literate or politically astute to enjoy it immensely. We received this book as a gift from friends in Washington DC and we use it as a coffee table book.Our Australian friends all get a charge out of it, and it reminds us that we probably aren't missing any serious political developmentwith historical significance by living offshore. It's truly an argument for abstaining from voting in US Federal elections all by itself. I would recommend keeping this book 'out of reach' if there are any pre-pubescent male children living in your house, or run the risk of them developing crushes on the 'White House Wives'. ... Read more

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Cut-out and dress-up all nine members of the loveable, laughable Supreme Court. Each cut-out and stand-up Justice, from Bryon "Whizzer" White to John Paul "Pee Wee" Stevens, is featured in his or her very own spread, along with a full range of after-hours outfits and accessories. ... Read more

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Chapters: Bert Bell, Dick Vermeil, Buddy Ryan, Andy Reid, List of Philadelphia Eagles Head Coaches, Ray Rhodes, Joe Kuharich. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 51. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Richard Albert "Dick" Vermeil (pronounced ; born October 30, 1936) is a former American head coach for the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles (19761982), St. Louis Rams (19971999) and Kansas City Chiefs (20012005). He is in the Sid Gillman coaching tree and has coached at every level; Vermeil owns the distinction of being named Coach of the Year on four levels: High School, Junior College, NCAA Division I and Professional Football. Vermeil graduated in 1959 with an M.A. from San Jose State University, where he was the backup quarterback. After serving as assistant coach for San Joses Del Mar High School football team for one season and for Hillsdale High School in nearby San Mateo, he then went to Foothill College with coach Bill Walker. In 1965, he coached Stanford University's freshman football team. Vermeil was hired as the NFL's first ever Special Teams coach by George Allen's Los Angeles Rams in 1969. Except for 1970, when he was an assistant coach with UCLA, he would remain with the Rams until 1974 when he was named as head coach by UCLA. Vermeil compiled a 1553 record in two seasons (19741975) as head coach at UCLA, including a 921 record in 1975 when Vermeil led the Bruins to their first conference championship in 10 years, and a win in the Rose Bowl over an undefeated and number 1 ranked Ohio State team. Vermeil began his NFL head coaching career in 1976 with the Philadelphia Eagles. Before his first season, he decided to host open tryouts. Because of bad trades by past Eagles coaches, Vermeil did not have a 1st round draft pick until 1978, but Vermeil did big things ...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=2385228 ... Read more